bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimates of batch fecundity and spawning fraction for the southern stock of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in ICES Division IXa
Authors: Gonçalves Patrícia , Costa Ana Maria , Murta Alberto G. 
Published: April 2009

Abstract
Gonçalves, P., Costa, A. M., and Murta, A. G. 2009. Estimates of batch fecundity, and spawning fraction for the southern stock of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in ICES Division IXa. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 617–622. Since 1995 the annual egg production method has been applied triennially to the southern stock of horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in the Northeast Atlantic (ICES Division IXa). This method assumes that fecundity is determinate, but increasing evidence indicates that horse mackerel are indeterminate spawners. The daily egg production method (DEPM) does not rely on the assumption of determinate fecundity, making it the appropriate method for this species. Therefore, we reanalysed samples collected from previous surveys (2002, 2004, 2005, and 2007) to obtain estimates for batch fecundity and spawning fraction, which are important DEPM parameters. The estimates of batch fecundity are around 200 oocytes g−1 of female (total ovary-free weight). Several criteria were used to estimate spawning fraction (migratory nucleus stage, hydrated oocytes, and post-ovulatory follicles) and all showed the same trend among years, varying between 0.10 and 0.30 d−1. The estimates were significantly different among methods, but those differences were similar across surveys, indicating that a consistent bias would be reflected in the final spawning-stock biomass (SSB) estimates obtained from the DEPM. Until further information is available regarding the accuracy of the criteria used to estimate spawning fraction, the southern horse mackerel SSB estimates from the DEPM should only be taken as indicative of trends rather than measures of absolute abundance.
Early identification of haemodynamic response to pharmacotherapy is essential for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding in patients with ‘high‐risk’ varices
Authors: SHARMA P. , KUMAR A. , SHARMA B. C. , SARIN S. K. 
Published: April 2009

SummaryBackground  A beta‐blocker is recommended for primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding; however, only one‐third have hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) response. The role of addition of isosorbide‐5‐mononitrate (ISMN) to beta‐blocker and benefits of HVPG‐guided ‘a la carte’ approach remain unclear.Aim  To determine the benefits of HVPG‐guided pharmacotherapy in primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding using beta‐blocker and ISMN.Patients and methods  Consecutive patients of cirrhosis, with high‐risk varices, with no previous variceal bleeding were included. After baseline HVPG, patients received incremental propranolol to achieve HR of 55/min. After one‐month, HVPG was repeated to determine response (<12 mmHg or ≥20% reduction). ISMN was added in nonresponders and HVPG repeated. Patients were followed up for 24 months.Results  Of 56 patients (age 47 ± 13, males 79%) from 89 eligible patients, 21 (38%) responded to beta‐blocker alone. Six additional patients responded to combination. Thus, overall 48% (27/56) patients responded. Variceal bleeding occurred in seven of 56 (13%) patients [one of 27 (4%) responder, five of 23 (22%) nonresponders and one of six (17%) with unknown response; P = N.S.]. The actuarial probability of variceal bleeding at median 24 months was 4% in responders and 22% in nonresponders (P < 0.05). Ten (18%) patients developed adverse effects to propranolol and six of 35 (17%) to nitrates requiring dose reduction. Risk factors of variceal bleed were grade IV varices and haemodynamic nonresponse.Conclusions  For primary prophylaxis, a beta‐blocker is effective in 38% and addition of ISMN raises the response rate to about half of patients. The HVPG‐guided ‘a la carte’ approach may be considered for these patients.
Short treatment with the tumour necrosis factor-α blocker infliximab diminishes chronic chagasic myocarditis in rats without evidence of Trypanosoma cruzi reactivation
Authors: Pérez A R , Fontanella G H , Nocito A L , Revelli S , Bottasso O A 
Published: April 2009

Summary
Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α is crucial for resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi acute infection, but there is scant information on its role during the chronic phase. To address this issue, we analysed whether a short treatment with a TNF-α blocker affected the course and characteristics of chronic disease in a rat experimental model of T. cruzi infection. An anti-TNF-α agent (infliximab) was administered during the chronic phase for a period of 4 weeks (3 mg/kg/week), while control infected rats were inoculated with saline physiological solution. Search for parasites yielded non-successful results in all infected groups, irrespective of treatment. Nevertheless, the presence of T. cruzi kDNA in heart tissue was detected in infected and infected plus treated animals. Because infliximab might induce changes in the anti-parasite cytokine response, circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-10, interferon-gamma and nitric oxide were evaluated. An increase in IL-10 levels was observed only in the infected group treated with the anti-TNF-α blocker compared to the remaining groups (P &lt; 0·05). A clear attenuation of histological damage associated with a diminution of cardiac TNF-α mRNA expression was observed in the infected and treated animals compared to the infected and non-treated group. Blocking of TNF-α during a relatively short period in chronically infected rats did not lead to evident parasite reactivation but reduced myocarditis severity significantly, indicating a role of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of chronic myocardial damage.
Development of troponin autoantibodies in experimental coxsackievirus B3 myocarditis
Authors: Latva‐Hirvelä J. , Kytö V. , Saraste A. , Eriksson S. , Vuorinen T. , Pettersson K. , Saukko P. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractBackground  Autoantibodies against various endogenous proteins are found in myocarditis. Troponin autoantibodies are detected in patients with chronic dilated cardiomyopathy, but their presence in myocarditis remains unknown. We set out to study the presence of troponin autoantibodies in experimental viral myocarditis.Materials and methods  BALB/c mice infected with coxsackievirus B3 Nancy strain were followed‐up at days 1–7 and 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after infection. Levels of circulating cardiac troponin I and circulating troponin autoantibodies were measured. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed. Myocarditis was histopathologically graded and cardiomyocyte apoptosis was quantified (TUNEL).Results  Histopathologically relatively mild acute myocarditis followed by persistent cardiomyocyte damage was observed. Rate of cardiomyocyte apoptosis was the highest on day 5 (0·16 ± 0·01% vs. 0·03 ± 0·01% in controls, P < 0·001). Circulating troponin I levels were increased to day 5 (45·2 ± 6·5 ng mL−1, P < 0·005 vs. controls). Troponin autoantibodies were detected from 2 weeks after infection (20% of animals had autoantibodies at 2 weeks, 60% at 4 and 8 weeks and 20% at 12 weeks, P < 0·05 vs. controls). Fractional shortening remained decreased after acute myocarditis (0·36 ± 0·02 at 4 weeks, 0·30 ± 0·02 at 8 and 12 weeks vs. 0·41 ± 0·01 before infection, P < 0·01) parallel to development of troponin autoantibodies.Conclusion  Troponin autoantibodies are formed in experimental virus induced myocarditis following troponin I release and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The definite role of these autoantibodies remains to be further characterized.
Dissipation rates of fenitrothion in greenhouse grown lettuce and under cold storage conditions
Authors: Fenoll José , Hellín Pilar , López Josefa , González Alberto , Lacasa Alfredo , Flores Pilar 
Published: April 2009

SummaryThe dissipation of fenitrothion (O,O‐dimethyl O‐p‐nitro‐m‐tolyl phosphothioate) was evaluated by gas chromatography (GC) with nitrogen‐phosphorus detection (NPD) in lettuce samples grown in an experimental greenhouse and harvested over a 4 weeks period following treatment with this insecticide. Dissipation followed a pseudo‐first‐order kinetics (r was 0.996). The recommended preharvest time (PT) of application is 15 days, and when the residual value of fenitrothion was evaluated at harvest, it was found to be above the maximum residue limit (MRL) established by Spanish law in the field experiment for this compound. During the experiment, the evolution of the two main fenitrothion metabolites (3‐methyl‐4‐nitrophenol and fenitrothion‐oxon) was also evaluated. When the dissipation of fenitrothion was evaluated in cold‐stored lettuce the half‐life was 9–10 times greater than in greenhouse conditions.
Biochemical changes in cut vs. intact lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella olitoria) leaves during storage
Authors: Ferrante Antonio , Martinetti Livia , Maggiore Tommaso 
Published: April 2009

SummaryConsumers are oriented towards fresh‐cut vegetables that provide phytonutrients useful for preventing stress‐related diseases. The aim of this work was to evaluate the cut operations on the quality changes of lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella olitoria L.) cv. Trofy during storage at 4 °C for 8 days. Results showed that chlorophyll and carotenoids reduction was observed after 8 days of storage. In both treatments, total carotenoids after 8 days decreased from 20 to 16 mg g−1 FW. Free and total phenols increased with storage in both treatments. Total phenols were 23% higher in control (32 μmol g−1 FW) compared to cut leaves (25 μmol g−1 FW) after 8 days of storage. Anthocyanins increased after 8 days and reached 30 mg 100 g−1 FW without significant difference between treatments. Ascorbic acid (AsA) and dehydroascorbic (DHA) acid increased in cut leaves compared to control. After 1 day AsA concentration was 3 300 nmol g−1 FW in cut leaves, while in control leaves was 1 500 nmol g−1 FW. Analogously AsA + DHA was higher in cut leaves, 4 100 nmol g−1 FW, while in control leaves the mean was 3 000 nmol g−1 FW. After 5 days of storage the values of AsA returned to initial values, while AsA + DHA were lower.
The use of packaging techniques to maintain freshness in fresh‐cut fruits and vegetables: a review
Authors: Rojas‐Graü Mª Alejandra , Oms‐Oliu Gemma , Soliva‐Fortuny Robert , Martín‐Belloso Olga 
Published: April 2009

SummaryBrowning and other discolourations, softening, surface dehydration, water loss, translucency, off‐flavour and off‐odour development, as well as microbial spoilage are some of the most frequent causes of quality loss in fresh‐cut products. Nowadays, the use of innovative modified atmospheres and edible coatings stands out among other techniques in the struggle for maintaining freshness and safety of fresh‐cut fruits and vegetables. A few studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these techniques when applied to different fresh‐cut commodities. However, treatment and storage conditions for fresh‐cut fruits are still being largely explored to better keep their fresh‐like quality attributes. This review discusses the recent advances in the use of innovative modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems to maintain freshness of fresh‐cut fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, special attention is devoted to the development of coatings that can be used as a complement or alternative to MAP.
A UK wide survey of insulin initiation in children with type 1 diabetes and nurses’ perceptions of associated decision‐making
Authors: Lowes Lesley , Davis Ruth ,   on behalf of the UK Insulin Initiation Study (UKIIS) Group
Published: April 2009

Aim and objectives.  The aim of this study was to examine insulin initiation practice across the UK in relation to children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. Objectives of this study were to explore practices surrounding insulin initiation in children and nurses’ perceptions of associated decision‐making.Background.  There are comparative studies of insulin treatments and regimens for children but few that describe the insulin initiation process or associated decision‐making. The literature suggests a heavy workload for nurses working in practice and insufficient resources for home initiation of insulin.Design.  A survey design.Method.  A questionnaire regarding insulin initiation was distributed to 247 diabetes specialist nurses working with children from all four UK countries.Results.  One hundred and twelve responses (45%). Only 37 (33%) started clinically well, newly diagnosed children on insulin at home, but most would do so with adequate resources. The most common insulin regimen at diagnosis was twice daily injections, with 86% (n = 96) using re‐usable pens to deliver the insulin. As expected, no one commenced children on pump therapy at diagnosis. Analogue insulin was seen as the drug of choice by over a quarter of the nurses (29%, n = 32). Doctors appeared to be the main decision‐makers, supplemented by other members of the paediatric diabetes multi‐disciplinary team and decision‐making aids.Conclusion.  Approaches to treatment at onset of type 1 diabetes in children remain relatively traditional. Nurses expressed a desire to stabilise clinically well children at home but were restricted by lack of resources. Decision‐making in most domains was largely medically dominated.Relevance to clinical practice.  The study provides an insight into current insulin initiation practice in childhood diabetes and offers a useful comparator as practices change in the light of advances in treatment (medication and equipment), changes in professional roles (e.g. independent prescribing) and policy shifts (the move away from hospitals and resource constraints).
Validation of CARE‐Q in residential aged‐care: rating of importance of caring behaviours from an e‐cohort sub‐study
Authors: Tuckett Anthony G , Hughes Karen , Schluter Philip J , Turner Cathy 
Published: April 2009

Aim and objective.  To validate the Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q‐sort questionnaire in the residential aged‐care setting. Based on this determination, to conclude with what degree of confidence the questionnaire can be used to determine the ranking of the importance of caring behaviours amongst aged‐care nurses and residents in residential aged‐care.Background.  Perceptions of caring may be context specific. Caring in residential aged‐care may stand in contrast to the sense of caring understood and practiced in other settings.Design.  Self‐administered survey.Methods.  Residents from three not‐for‐profit aged‐care facilities, across both high‐care (nursing‐home) and low‐care (hostel care) were surveyed relying on the Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q‐sort questionnaire. A sub‐sample of registered and enrolled nurses working in residential aged‐care and registered with the Nurses & Midwives e‐cohort study completed the same survey.Results.  Although the Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q‐sort questionnaire showed good internal consistency for the sample of nurses, the results for the residents were more erratic. Both groups displayed large ranges for the inter‐item correlations. The results of the Mann–Whitney U‐test indicated that the nurses rated the Comforts, Anticipates and Trusting relationship as significantly more important than the residents. Both groups rated the Explains and facilitates subscale as least important. All subscales, however, received median scores greater than, or equal to, six (seven‐point, Likert scale) indicating that all were considered important overall.Conclusion.  Based on poor Cronbach's alpha coefficients, negative inter‐item correlations and qualitative observations, without further development within the residential aged‐care facility the free response format version of the Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q‐sort may not be an appropriate measure to use with residential aged‐care residents. More research needs to be conducted into how residents and nurses are interpreting the items in the Caring Assessment Report Evaluation Q‐sort.Relevance to clinical practice.  There will always remain a need for nurses to enact behaviours that are meaningful to residents (and patients generally).
Biological Flora of the British Isles: Primula veris L.
Authors: Brys Rein , Jacquemyn Hans 
Published: April 2009

Summary

This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Primula veris that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and diseases, history and conservation.
Primula veris is a distylous, perennial rosette hemicryptophyte, mostly found in well‐drained, herb‐rich meadows and grasslands, in scrub or woodland rides and edges, and on calcareous cliffs. It occurs on base‐rich loams or clays, on limestone, and sometimes in dunes.
Native to the British Isles, it is characteristic of many mesotrophic and calcicolous lowland grassland communities, but it also extends into upland valleys in northern England and Scotland. In Ireland it is also native and most abundant in the central plain. Primula veris occurs throughout the temperate areas of Europe as far east as the Russian border.
Primula veris is a shade‐intolerant species that shows reduced performance and flowering under shade or increased competition. The species is not able to penetrate anoxic soil layers and is therefore mostly absent from locations that are characterized by a high water table. It has a well‐developed drought tolerance.
Primula veris is an obligate outbreeder which entirely depends on foraging insects for successful pollination. Although the species shows heterostyly, with two reciprocal morphs (pin and thrum), only relatively low levels of intermorph pollination have been reported. Seed dispersal is restricted to a few centimetres from maternal plants, whereas pollen flow is wider, but still limited to a few metres from parental plants. Both are factors that contribute to a significantly fine‐scale spatial genetic structure and small neighbourhood size.
At several locations throughout the British Isles, P. veris occurs together with P. elatior and especially P. vulgaris. The hybrid P. veris × P. vulgaris = P. × polyantha occurs frequently in mixed populations, whereas the hybrid P. veris × P. elatior = P. × media has been rarely reported in Britain.
Although P. veris is still a widespread grassland herb, it is less abundant in the British Isles and continental Europe than before. This decline can be attributed to changes in land‐use practices, such as the loss of traditional hay–meadow management, the loss of grazing and an increase of ploughing, in combination with ongoing destruction and nutrient enrichment of permanent grasslands. However, from 1980 onwards the species has increased substantially in many areas of the UK, largely because its seeds are included in wildflower seed‐mixtures that are sown on new or upgraded road and motorway verges, embankments and urban conservation areas.
Performance characteristics of a monoclonal antibody cocktail‐based ELISA for detection of allergen‐specific IgE in dogs and comparison with a high affinity IgE receptor‐based ELISA
Authors: Lee Kenneth W. , Blankenship Karen D. , McCurry Zachary M. , Esch Robert E. , DeBoer Douglas J. , Marsella Rosanna 
Published: April 2009

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to define the operational and performance characteristics of a commercially available monoclonal antibody based (mac) ELISA for detection of allergen‐specific IgE in dogs. The average intra‐assay variance over 1 year was 9.7% (range 2.5–62.7%), while the interassay variance averaged 10.8% (range 8.1–13.8%). The average positive control responses observed for grass, weed, tree and mite allergens during each month remained relatively constant; the average monthly variance was 11.6% (range 8.3–19.2%) for grass pollens, 13.3% (range 9.1–20.4%) for weed pollens, 13.3% (range 9.8–18.2%) for tree pollens and 13.6% (range 8.9–18.7%) for mite allergens. The interlaboratory concordance of results for the macELISA was approximately 91%. The interlaboratory concordance of results comparing the macELISA and a high affinity IgE receptor‐based ELISA was approximately 92%. The results demonstrate that the macELISA is reproducible and the results are comparable to the high affinity IgE receptor based ELISA within and between laboratories.
The current and future potential distribution of Cytisus scoparius: a weed of pastoral systems, natural ecosystems and plantation forestry
Authors: POTTER K J B , KRITICOS D J , WATT M S , LERICHE A 
Published: April 2009

Summary Cytisus scoparius is a serious weed of pastoral systems, natural ecosystems and plantation forestry, which has become invasive in a number of countries. CLIMEX™ was used to infer the climatic requirements of C. scoparius from its native range, as well as its current range as an exotic in the United States and New Zealand. The parameterised model was used to examine the invasive potential of C. scoparius under current and future climatic conditions, assuming a range of climate‐change scenarios. The modelled global potential distribution of C. scoparius compared favourably with the known distributions, in both the fitted and validation dataset, encompassing almost all temperate and Mediterranean regions. The predicted distribution also included most sub‐tropical regions and extended into continental areas in North America and Europe and savanna regions in Africa. Under current climate, the projected potential distribution exceeded the known distribution. Places most at risk from range expansion include China, Australia, Argentina and North America, as C. scoparius is already present, but has not yet colonised all areas with apparently high climatic suitability. Climate change is likely to lead to a poleward shift in the range of C. scoparius and a contraction of areas of suitable climate for the species in southern Europe, central Africa, Australia, China, Brazil and the southern United States. With climate change, currently uncolonised areas within northern Scandinavia, southern Canada and western regions of the Russian Federation are projected to become climatically suitable.
Invariant natural killer T cells: innate‐like T cells with potent immunomodulatory activities
Authors: Wu L. , Gabriel C. L. , Parekh V. V. , Van Kaer L. 
Published: April 2009

AbstractInvariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells are a subset of T lymphocytes that react with glycolipid antigens presented by the major histocompatibility complex class I‐related glycoprotein CD1d. Although iNKT cells express an antigen‐specific receptor of the adaptive immune system, they behave more like cells of the innate immune system. A hallmark of iNKT cells is their capacity to produce copious amounts of immunoregulatory cytokines quickly after activation. The cytokines produced by iNKT cells can influence the level of activation of many cell types of the innate and adaptive immune systems as well as the quality of an adaptive immune response. As such, iNKT cells have emerged as important regulators of immune responses, playing a role in microbial immunity, autoimmunity, tumor immunity, and a variety of inflammatory conditions. Although several endogenous and exogenous glycolipid antigens of iNKT cells have been identified, how these glycolipids orchestrate iNKT‐cell functions remains poorly understood. Nevertheless, iNKT cells hold substantial promise as targets for development of vaccine adjuvants and immunotherapies. These properties of iNKT cells have been investigated most extensively in mouse models of human disease using the marine sponge‐derived agent α‐galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer) and related iNKT‐cell antigens. While these preclinical studies have raised enthusiasm for developing iNKT‐cell‐based immunotherapies, they also showed potential health risks associated with iNKT cell activation. Although α‐GalCer treatment in humans was shown to be safe in the short term, further studies are needed to develop safe and effective iNKT‐cell‐based therapies.