bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Increasing weed flora in Danish arable fields and its importance for biodiversity
Authors: ANDREASEN C , STRYHN H 
Published: September 2010

SummaryA number of political initiatives have been implemented to meet growing concerns about negative side effects of the intensification of land‐use practice over the past 25 years. Declining species diversity and abundance and pollution of the environment have been reported worldwide. In order to assess the overall effect on wild flora of the changing management of arable land, national surveys are necessary. Surveys of the weed flora in Danish arable fields were conducted in 1987–89 and 2001–04. The frequency of common weed species in spring barley, spring rape, winter rye, winter wheat and grass leys was compared between time periods. Weed frequency increased overall during the interval. Species that are of particular importance as food sources for invertebrates and birds increased considerably in some of the crops. The frequency of some grass species increased remarkably, possibly because of increased areas of winter crops. Some perennial weeds also became more frequent, probably caused by less mechanical weed control and a reduction in the use of specific herbicides. The dominant weed species in 2001–04, with frequency higher than 10%, were largely the same as in 1987–89, but included three new species in 2001–04. Only a few species occurred less frequently in 2001–04 than in 1987–89 and only in some crops. As common weed species make up an important food reservoir for wildlife, new trends in the management of arable land in Denmark seem to have led to more biodiversity.
Local spread of the invasive Cyperus esculentus (Cyperaceae) inferred using molecular genetic markers
Authors: DODET M , PETIT R J , GASQUEZ J 
Published: September 2010

SummaryOver the last 20 years Cyperus esculentus (yellow nutsedge) has become invasive in south‐west France. Because the genetic variation of invasive species can affect the success of management strategies, amplified fragment length polymorphism markers were used to assess the amount and distribution of genetic diversity in this clonally reproducing weed. Population samples of C. esculentus were collected mainly in south‐west France, with 21 samples of C. eragrostis also included in this study. A total of 113 polymorphic loci were identified (50% of the bands scored) in C. esculentus. A low level of genetic diversity (0.140) was detected, of which 95% were partitioned among sites. The regional patterns of variation could have been caused by rapid range expansion of clones propagated by harvesting machinery. Implications of the high clonality detected in C. esculentus are discussed in the context of the development of weed management strategies: because reproduction of the weed in Haute Lande occurs by tubers only, vegetable production should be reduced in infested areas.
Cranio‐lenticulo‐sutural dysplasia associated with defects in collagen secretion
Authors: Boyadjiev SA , Kim S‐D , Hata A , Haldeman‐Englert C , Zackai EH , Naydenov C , Hamamoto S , Schekman RW , Kim J 
Published: September 2010

Boyadjiev SA, Kim S‐D, Hata A, Haldeman‐Englert C, Zackai EH, Naydenov C, Hamamoto S, Schekman RW, Kim J. Cranio‐lenticulo‐sutural dysplasia associated with defects in collagen secretion.Cranio‐lenticulo‐sutural dysplasia (CLSD) is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome manifesting with large and late‐closing fontanels and calvarial hypomineralization, Y‐shaped cataracts, skeletal defects, and hypertelorism and other facial dysmorphisms. The CLSD locus was mapped to chromosome 14q13‐q21 and a homozygous SEC23A F382L missense mutation was identified in the original family. Skin fibroblasts from these patients exhibit features of a secretion defect with marked distension of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), consistent with SEC23A function in protein export from the ER. We report an unrelated family where a male proband presented with clinical features of CLSD. A heterozygous missense M702V mutation in a highly conserved residue of SEC23A was inherited from the clinically unaffected father, but no maternal SEC23A mutation was identified. Cultured skin fibroblasts from this new patient showed a severe secretion defect of collagen and enlarged ER, confirming aberrant protein export from the ER. Milder collagen secretion defects and ER distention were present in paternal fibroblasts, indicating that an additional mutation(s) is present in the proband. Our data suggest that defective ER export is the cause of CLSD and genetic element(s) besides SEC23A may influence its presentation.
High antigen levels do not preclude B‐cell tolerance induction to α1,3‐Gal via mixed chimerism
Authors: Haspot Fabienne , Bardwell Philip D. , Zhao Guiling , Sykes Megan 
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  Background:  Studies of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) from wild‐type mice or rats to α1,3‐galactosyltransferase (GalT) knockout mice have demonstrated that induction of mixed chimerism tolerizes not only T cells, but also natural antibody‐producing B cells, even across xenogeneic barriers. Given that rodent cells express lower levels of the αGal epitope than the more clinically relevant porcine species, the consequences of exposure to cells expressing high levels of αGal on the ability to induce B‐cell tolerance are unknown.Methods:  The effects on chimerism and anti‐αGal B‐cell tolerance of an i.p. injection of 109 porcine RBC were evaluated in GalT knockout mice receiving wild‐type allogeneic BMT after non‐myeloablative conditioning with T‐cell depleting monoclonal antibodies, thymic irradiation, and low‐dose total body irradiation.Results:  Achievement of mixed chimerism and tolerance of anti‐αGal‐producing B cells was not affected by exposure to high‐density αGal at the time of BMT. The absence of induced anti‐αGal or anti‐pig antibody responses in conditioned control mice suggested that the B‐cell xeno‐response to pig is T‐cell‐dependent.Conclusion:  High αGal density on pig cells might not preclude the ability to achieve tolerance of pre‐existing αGal‐reactive human B cells via induction of mixed chimerism. This strategy has the potential to induce B‐cell tolerance to non‐αGal epitopes, against which natural antibodies have been found in the sera of healthy humans.
Xenotransplantation: immunological barriers and strategies to overcome them
Authors: Schwinzer R. , Plege A. 
Published: September 2010

Hyperacute and acute vascular rejection of xenografts are well defined barriers to clinical pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation. Enormous progress has been made in recent years to overcome these immunological barriers. For example, transgenic expression of human complement regulatory molecules (e.g. CD46, CD55) in pigs has been shown to be an effective strategy to prevent hyperacute rejection in pre‐clinical models of xenotransplantation. Alpha1,3‐galactosyltransferase knock‐out pigs are available and provide a second possibility to avoid hyperacute rejection mediated by pre‐existing antibodies. Furthermore, transfer of protective genes (e.g. A20, HO‐1) to endothelial cells is expected to reduce their susceptibility to effector mechanisms leading to acute vascular rejection. In addition, the efficiency of strategies to avoid coagulation/thrombosis after pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation (e.g. transgenic expression of human thrombomodulin, CD39) is currently tested. Thus, for further development of clinical xenotransplantation immunological concepts are now required facilitating the control of human anti‐pig cellular immune responses. Our group focuses on the inhibition of human anti‐pig T cell responses by targeting “negative” costimulatory pathways. We tested the hypothesis that overexpression of the human negative costimulatory ligands PD‐L1 and PD‐L2 on pig antigen presenting cells will result in reduced human anti‐pig T cell responses. The data so far show that (i) human CD4+ T cells respond with reduced proliferation and cytokine synthesis to PD‐L1/PD‐L2 expressing pig cells, (ii) PD‐L1/PD‐L2 pig transfectants induce human regulatory T cells (Treg) which suppress the activation of conventional T cells, and (iii) PD‐L1/PD‐L2 expressing pig cells are protected from lysis mediated by CD8+ human cells. Together these observations support the assumption that transgenic expression of human PD‐L1 and/or PD‐L2 in pig cells and tissues could be an approach to prevent T cell reactivity after pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Transregio Forschergruppe “Xenotransplantation”, FOR 535).
Prolonged survival of pig islets xenograft by adenovirus‐mediated expression of either the membrane‐bound human FasL or the human decoy Fas antigen gene
Authors: Kawamoto Koichi , Tanemura Masahiro , Ito Toshinori , Deguchi Takashi , Machida Tomohiko , Nishida Toshirou , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki , Sawa Yoshiki 
Published: September 2010

Abstract:  Background:  Pig islets are considered an attractive alternative treatment for patients with Type 1 diabetes. However, pig islet xenografts, transplanted into non‐human primates, are directly rejected by cell‐mediated processes. We have previously reported that cell‐mediated xenograft‐rejections, and especially human CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)‐mediated cytotoxicity, are highly detrimental to pig xenograft cells. Moreover, we have explored novel strategies for the prevention of CTL killing by overexpression of either human decoy Fas antigen or membrane‐bound human FasL in pig endothelial cells. In this study, we assessed the cytoprotective effects of these molecules for pig islets both in vitro and in vivo.Materials and methods:  Pig islets were freshly isolated by modified Ricordi’s methods. Subsequently, these islets were transfected with an adenoviral expression vector containing the DNA fragments of either membrane‐bound human FasL or human decoy Fas. Transfected islets were transplanted into preimmunized diabetic rats under the kidney capsule. Control pig islets (i.e., MOCK), which were transfected with an adenoviral expression vector containing only the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene, were also transplanted.Results:  Efficiency of adenoviral expressions of these molecules in pig islets was approximately 80% at a multiplicity of infection of 100. In an in vitro assay, approximately 80% suppression of cytotoxicity was observed in membrane‐bound human FasL‐expressing pig islets and 60% inhibition of CTL killing was displayed in decoy Fas expression pig islets. In an in vivo transplant model, prolonged survival of pig islets xenografts, expressing either membrane‐bound human FasL or human decoy Fas genes, was elicited in comparison with that of control islets xenografts.Conclusion:  The extracellular remodeling of either death receptor or death ligand genes by adenoviral expression was effective for the prevention of CTL‐mediated xenocytotoxicity in pig islets.
Identification of a quantitative trait locus for resistance to Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), the orange wheat blossom midge, in spring wheat
Authors: Blake N. K. , Stougaard R. N. , Weaver D. K. , Sherman J. D. , Lanning S. P. , Naruoka Y. , Xue Q. , Martin J. M. , Talbert L. E. 
Published: September 2010

With 3 figures and 3 tables Abstract Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin), the orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM), causes sporadic damage to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) throughout the northern hemisphere. Cultivars have been shown to differ in levels of OWBM infestation. In this experiment, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between cultivars representing extremes of OWBM infestation was tested for 2 years in Creston MT. Parental cultivar ‘Reeder’ showed average infestation levels approximately three times less than ‘Conan’ in both years. The RIL population showed significant variation, with heritability of 0.75 in 2008 and 0.26 in 2009. A genetic map of the population identified a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 1A (QSm.mst‐1A), controlling 17% and 34% of the variation in 2008 and 2009, respectively. Near isogenic lines developed for this QTL in three backgrounds showed a significant effect of the QTL, with the ‘Reeder’ allele reducing infestation by approximately 42%. Differential infestation conferred by the QTL QSm.mst‐1A may complement previously identified resistance due to antibiosis.
Are there any cross‐ethnic differences in menstrual profiles? A pilot comparative study on Australian and Chinese women with primary dysmenorrhea
Authors: Zhu Xiaoshu , Wong Felix , Bensoussan Alan , Lo Sing Kai , Zhou Chunxiang , Yu Jin 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim:  To explore and compare the features of menstruation, perception and management of menstrual pain between two cohorts of Australian and Chinese women.Methods:  A pilot comparison study was carried out using modified valid menstrual questionnaires. The study included 120 Australian women and 122 Chinese women aged from 18 to 45 years with primary dysmenorrhea.Results:  Australian women rated menstrual pain as more intense than Chinese women (8.5 ± 1.5 on a 10‐point pain scale vs 7.3 ± 1.8, P < 0.001), duration of pain was 36% longer (3.0 ± 2.5 vs 2.2 ± 0.9 days, P = 0.002) and menarche commenced earlier (12.7 ± 1.5 vs 14.2 ± 1.4 years, P < 0.001). The mean reported menstrual interval was also shorter (29.2 ± 5.3 vs 30.52 ± 3.7, P = 0.020) with heavier overall menstrual flow (P = 0.002) and fewer clots in menstrual blood (83% vs 95.8%, P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in duration of menstruation (5.2 ± 1.3 vs 5.4 ± 1.1 days; P = 0.180). Correlations were found between earlier menarche and increased intensity of menstrual pain (r = −0.16, P = 0.011), and between heavier menstrual flow and increased intensity of menstrual pain (r = 0.19, P = 0.003).Conclusion:  Evidence from this pilot study suggested that the clinical menstrual presentations in the cohorts of Australian and Chinese women were different. Although the findings are preliminary, evaluating ethnic differences in menstruation and experimental menstrual pain models may not only provide some information about underlying mechanisms but may also predict or explain group differences.
Long‐term follow up of cervical cancer patients with unexplained squamous cell carcinoma antigen elevation after post‐therapy surveillance using positron emission tomography
Authors: Jao Mei‐Shan , Chang Ting‐Chang , Chang Hsiu‐Ping , Wu Tzu‐I. , Chao Angel , Lai Chyong‐Huey 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim:  We aimed to define the long‐term follow‐up results in cervical cancer patients with unexplained squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC‐Ag) elevation (negative conventional imaging studies, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) after definitive treatment using positron emission tomography (PET).Methods:  Of the 27 women with unexplained SCC‐Ag elevation, 13 died or were alive with disease (12 PET true‐positive, one PET false‐negative) in our previous report. In this study, we reported long‐term follow‐up results for all the 14 patients remaining cancer‐free at cut‐off of our previous analysis (seven with true‐negative PET and two with false‐positive PET, and five with true‐positive PET having received successful curative salvage therapy).Results:  The seven patients with true‐negative PET studies remained recurrence‐free (median follow up, 70 months; range, 11–84). Two patients had pelvic inflammatory disease; their SCC‐Ag levels returned to the normal range after eradication of infection. Two other patients had recurrent cystitis, and their SCC‐Ag levels normalized at 5 and 36 months, respectively. The two patients with false‐positive PET/computed tomography were disease‐free 73.5 and 70 months from original PET studies, respectively. In contrast, of the five patients with successful salvage, two are alive without disease (at 80 and 86.7 months), one died of radiation cystitis at 54 months, and two died of their cancer subsequent to previous analysis.Conclusion:  Cystitis or pelvic inflammatory disease may cause unexplained elevation of SCC‐Ag after definitive treatment. A negative PET study usually indicates absence of disease. PET is a useful tool to identify curable recurrences, especially when SCC‐Ag < 4 ng/mL.
Significant effects of lymph and blood vascular invasion on the prognosis of early‐stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yanna , Yan Ming , He Jiehua , Sun Jinrui , Sun Xueming 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim:  In the past 10 years, therapeutic advances have led to improved short‐term efficacy for cervical carcinoma; however, the 5‐year survival rate was not significantly enhanced. To investigate the effects of blood vessel invasion (BVI) and lymph vessel invasion (LVI) on the prognosis of early‐stage cervical squamous carcinoma, we carried out immunohistochemical staining to distinguish blood and lymph vessels.Methods:  Specimens from 111 IB‐stage or IIA‐stage cervical squamous carcinoma cases were examined for BVI and LVI by streptavidin‐peroxidase immunohistochemistry using CD‐34 and D2‐40 monoclonal antibodies. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 13.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) statistical software. The survival rate and survival curve were derived by using the life table method and the Kaplan–Meier method, respectively. Multivariate prognosis analysis was conducted with Cox regression model, and prognosis was evaluated by measuring overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS).Results:  BVI/LVI double positivity was an independent prognostic factor for both OS and PFS, whereas lymph node metastasis and surgical margin positivity affected only PFS. Patients inflicted with either BVI or LVI displayed no significant difference in survival time. Lymph‐vascular space invasion (LVSI), referring to blood and/or lymph vessel invasion correlated with lymph node metastasis, surgical margin positivity, depth of cervical interstitial invasion, squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SccAg) and age. LVSI was a risk factor for both recurrence (P = 0.013, relative risk 3.060) and death (P = 0.005, relative risk 4.512). Post‐operation auxiliary external radiation did not improve survival for LVSI‐positive cases.Conclusion:  BVI/LVI double positivity constitutes an independent prognostic factor for early‐stage cervical squamous carcinoma.
Rubella outbreak on Tokunoshima Island in 2004: A population‐based study of pregnant women
Authors: Kusumoto Kazumi , Kaneko Masatoki , Sameshima Hiroshi , Minematsu Toshio , Furuta Ken , Ikenoue Tsuyomu 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAim:  The purpose of this study was to clarify the risk of rubella infection for pregnant women in the outbreak area.Material & Methods:  We performed a retrospective, population‐based study on all 232 pregnant women during the rubella outbreak period in Tokunoshima Island. All women had a rubella hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titer drawn during their current pregnancy. In 61 women, HI titers were compared between the current and past pregnancies. Rubella IgG antibody titers were measured and IgG avidity index (AI) was calculated for 92 non‐infected pregnant women.Results:  Of the 232 candidates, 22 pregnant women contracted rubella infection (congenitally infected infants: 2). Seventeen of 61 pregnant women showed a four‐fold or greater elevation in HI titer when compared with previous titers. Their previous HI titers were all ≤64. Low IgG AIs (<30%) were only observed in women with a HI titer of ≤64 (92 non‐infected women).Conclusions:  The risk of maternal rubella infection in the outbreak was as follows: non‐immunized pregnant woman and pregnant woman with a rubella HI antibody titer ≤64 and low IgG AI.
Tonic GABAergic control of mouse dentate granule cells during postnatal development
Authors: Holter Nadine I. , Zylla Maura M. , Zuber Nadine , Bruehl Claus , Draguhn Andreas 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe dentate gyrus is the main hippocampal input structure receiving strong excitatory cortical afferents via the perforant path. Therefore, inhibition at this ‘hippocampal gate’ is important, particularly during postnatal development, when the hippocampal network is prone to seizures. The present study describes the development of tonic GABAergic inhibition in mouse dentate gyrus. A prominent tonic GABAergic component was already present at early postnatal stages (postnatal day 3), in contrast to the slowly developing phasic postsynaptic GABAergic currents. Tonic currents were mediated by GABAA receptors containing α5‐ and δ‐subunits, which are sensitive to low ambient GABA concentrations. The extracellular GABA level was determined by synaptic GABA release and GABA uptake via the GABA transporter 1. The contribution of these main regulatory components was surprisingly stable during postnatal granule cell maturation. Throughout postnatal development, tonic GABAergic signals were inhibitory. They increased the action potential threshold of granule cells and reduced network excitability, starting as early as postnatal day 3. Thus, tonic inhibition is already functional at early developmental stages and plays a key role in regulating the excitation/inhibition balance of both the adult and the maturing dentate gyrus.
Individual differences in error monitoring in healthy adults: psychological symptoms and antisocial personality characteristics
Authors: Chang Wen‐Pin , Davies Patricia L. , Gavin William J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractRecent studies have investigated the relationship between psychological symptoms and personality traits and error monitoring measured by error‐related negativity (ERN) and error positivity (Pe) event‐related potential (ERP) components, yet there remains a paucity of studies examining the collective simultaneous effects of psychological symptoms and personality traits on error monitoring. This present study, therefore, examined whether measures of hyperactivity–impulsivity, depression, anxiety and antisocial personality characteristics could collectively account for significant interindividual variability of both ERN and Pe amplitudes, in 29 healthy adults with no known disorders, ages 18–30 years. The bivariate zero‐order correlation analyses found that only the anxiety measure was significantly related to both ERN and Pe amplitudes. However, multiple regression analyses that included all four characteristic measures while controlling for number of segments in the ERP average revealed that both depression and antisocial personality characteristics were significant predictors for the ERN amplitudes whereas antisocial personality was the only significant predictor for the Pe amplitude. These findings suggest that psychological symptoms and personality traits are associated with individual variations in error monitoring in healthy adults, and future studies should consider these variables when comparing group difference in error monitoring between adults with and without disabilities.