bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimental analysis of body size and shape during critical life‐history events of hatchling slider turtles, Trachemys scripta elegans
Authors: MYERS E. M. , TUCKER J. K. , CHANDLER C. H. 
Published: September 2007

Summary

A fundamental goal of examining life‐histories is to identify those traits that enable organisms to move from one stage of life to another; however, traits that are important in one stage or event may not be important in subsequent cases. For long‐lived taxa like turtles, studies of early life stages might be especially revealing because mortality is high during those times.
In this study, we examined several morphological characters in hatchling turtles to assess their relationships with hatchling performance and survival. We assessed hatchling plastron shape and body size during a release–recapture field experiment and in subsequent swimming performance trials in the laboratory.
Hatchling mass and plastron shape were correlated. Heavier turtles were relatively shorter and wider than lighter turtles.
Hatchling mass had a significant positive correlation with both recapture rate, a proxy measure of survivorship, and with swimming speed.
Plastron shape and recapture probability were not significantly correlated, but shape was a significant predictor of swimming performance. Shorter, wider turtles swam faster than longer, skinnier individuals. We hypothesize that this may be advantageous for quick‐start swimming to escape predation, a function of longer legs, or improved range of motion.
These data support previous studies that demonstrated the importance of hatchling size for survival in the critical overland migration from nests to the water and also document the impact of body shape on basic life‐history traits for neonatal turtles.
Demographic response of snake‐necked turtles correlates with indigenous harvest and feral pig predation in tropical northern Australia
Authors: FORDHAM DAMIEN A. , GEORGES ARTHUR , BROOK BARRY W. 
Published: September 2007

Summary

Species that mature late, experience high levels of survival and have long generation times are more vulnerable to chronic increases in mortality than species with higher fecundity and more rapid turnover of generations.
Many chelonians have low hatchling survival, slow growth, delayed sexual maturity and high subadult and adult survival. This constrains their ability to respond quickly to increases in adult mortality from harvesting or habitat alteration. In contrast, the northern snake‐necked turtle Chelodina rugosa (Ogilby 1890) is fast‐growing, early maturing and highly fecund relative to other turtles, and may be resilient to increased mortality.
Here we provide correlative evidence spanning six study sites and three field seasons, indicating that C. rugosa is able to compensate demographically to conditions of relatively low subadult and adult survival, caused by pig Sus scrofa (Linnaeus 1758) predation and customary harvesting by humans.
Recruitment and age specific fecundity tended to be greater in sites with low adult and subadult survival (and thus reduced densities of large turtles), owing to higher juvenile survival, a smaller size at onset of maturity and faster post‐maturity growth.
These patterns are consistent with compensatory density‐dependent responses, and as such challenge the generality that high subadult and adult survival is crucial for achieving long‐term population stability in long‐lived vertebrates such as chelonians.
We posit that long‐lived species with ‘fast’ recruitment and a capacity for a compensatory demographic response, similar to C. rugosa, may be able to persist in the face of occasional or sustained adult harvest without inevitably threatening population viability.
Sharing life with a gluten‐intolerant person – the perspective of close relatives
Authors: Sverker A. , Östlund G. , Hallert C. , Hensing G. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground  Several studies indicate the importance of social support in the case of chronic disease.Aim  The aim was to explore dilemmas experienced by close relatives living with a person suffering from coeliac disease, and to describe the strategies they used to deal with these dilemmas.Methods  Twenty‐three informants were interviewed. A systematic inductive qualitative method, the critical incident technique was used.Results  Disease‐related worries included having bad conscience about not being affected by the disease, experiencing anxiety and witnessing the vulnerability of the affected relative in social situations. Dilemmas related to manage daily life were connected with increased domestic work, restricted freedom of action and the diseased person’s preferential right of interpretation of health risks associated with the coeliac disease and deviations from the diet restrictions. Dilemmas related to disturbances in social life, concerned lack of information, knowledge and understanding. Different strategies were described to manage daily life.Conclusions  Close relatives experienced a variety of dilemmas that affected the situation of the whole family. The role of relatives in handling the coeliac disease with the diseased person in the everyday life might be underestimated, and to provide relatives with better knowledge regarding the disease might improve the situation also for patients.
TEM characterization of precipitates in the segregated regions of a low‐carbon, low‐manganese, titanium‐added steel
Authors: AMINORROAYA SIMA , DIPPENAAR RIAN 
Published: September 2007

SummaryA concentric solidification technique has been employed to simulate sulphide precipitation at the centreline of a continuously cast low‐carbon, low‐manganese, titanium‐added steel slab. Selected precipitates were identified using transmission electron microscopy following sample preparation by focused ion beam milling techniques. FeTiS2 and hexagonal MnS containing iron atoms form in close proximity to each other in super‐saturated areas of the concentrically solidified sample. The presence of FeTiS2 precipitates in low‐carbon steel has been verified for the first time, and the crystal structure determined by electron diffraction analysis as a trigonal CdI2‐type with a P3 m1 space group and lattice parameters of a= 0.341 nm and c= 0.569 nm.
Topology of the mammalian cell via cryo‐FIB etching
Authors: MCGEOCH J. E. M. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryMapping of a mammalian cell down to a feature size of 20–30 nm in 3D is a goal that will answer many questions concerning the connectivity (topology) of a Eukaryotic cell's traffic routes. These routes are defined and separated from one another by the protein‐impregnated lipid membrane barrier of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). We trace the routes from outside a live flash frozen buccal epithelial cell via gold (Au) labelled pores in the plasma membrane to the ER below and then through the cell as isosurfaces in 3D maps. The outer tubular ER with three‐way branching changes to a sheet‐like ER nearer the nucleus, and the cytoplasmic space between the ER membranes continues as a volume into the nuclear interior via the nuclear pores. We find some evidence that the last layer of the cytoplasmic ER membrane, also termed the outer nuclear membrane, has discrete gaps, so the ER lumen in these areas is continuous with the nuclear luminal domain and further, the inner nuclear membrane has small protrusions into the nucleus. The routes were established in live, unstained, unfixed, cells etched with a pAmp current of a focused ion beam (cryo‐FIB) dual beam electron microscope, at −150°C, 1e‐4Pa, and confirmed at 37°C in lipid‐dye stained cells. The cryo‐FIB etch of a cuboid of 2D planes, and its reconstruction into many 3D maps, takes only hours, facilitating the execution of experiments with comparative conditions in a few days.
Comparison of quantitative methods for cell‐shape analysis
Authors: PINCUS Z. , THERIOT J. A. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryMorphology is an important large‐scale manifestation of the global organizational and physiological state of cells, and is commonly used as a qualitative or quantitative measure of the outcome of various assays. Here we evaluate several different basic representations of cell shape – binary masks, distance maps and polygonal outlines – and different subsequent encodings of those representations – Fourier and Zernike decompositions, and the principal and independent components analyses – to determine which are best at capturing biologically important shape variation. We find that principal components analysis of two‐dimensional shapes represented as outlines provide measures of morphology which are quantitative, biologically meaningful, human interpretable and work well across a range of cell types and parameter settings.
Oblique incidence reflection imaging of live cells: improving contrast and image quality with an objective mask
Authors: LANDRY S. , DeGAGNE L. H. , McGHEE P. L. , KEELER W. J. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryDry 40× and 60× microscope objectives were fitted with opaque black masks in order to eliminate reflection and scattering of light off the objective front lens assembly during oblique incidence reflection (OIR) microscopy. The reflection and scattering are shown to induce background glare that leads to degradation in the quality of the OIR images. Mask prototypes were designed and machined to snap onto the spring‐loaded retractable front lens assembly of each objective. OIR images of live cells and normalized intensity line profiles are used to demonstrate that, if these alterations to the housing of the objective are implemented, background glare is significantly reduced with the 60× objective, and virtually eliminated with the 40× objective.
Birdsong and anthropogenic noise: implications and applications for conservation
Authors: SLABBEKOORN HANS , RIPMEESTER ERWIN A. P 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThe dramatic increase in human activities all over the world has caused, on an evolutionary time scale, a sudden rise in especially low‐pitched noise levels. Ambient noise may be detrimental to birds through direct stress, masking of predator arrival or associated alarm calls, and by interference of acoustic signals in general. Two of the most important functions of avian acoustic signals are territory defence and mate attraction. Both of these functions are hampered when signal efficiency is reduced through rising noise levels, resulting in direct negative fitness consequences. Many bird species are less abundant near highways and studies are becoming available on reduced reproductive success in noisy territories. Urbanization typically leads to homogenization of bird communities over large geographical ranges. We review current evidence for whether and how anthropogenic noise plays a role in these patterns of decline in diversity and density. We also provide details of a case study on great tits (Parus major), a successful urban species. Great tits show features that other species may lack and make them unsuitable for city life. We hypothesize that behavioural plasticity in singing behaviour may allow species more time to adapt to human‐altered environments and we address the potential for microevolutionary changes and urban speciation in European blackbirds (Turdus merula). We conclude by providing an overview of mitigating measures available to abate noise levels that are degrading bird breeding areas. Bird conservationists probably gain most by realizing that birds and humans often benefit from the same or only slightly modified measures.
High genetic diversity and population differentiation in Boechera fecunda, a rare relative of Arabidopsis
Authors: SONG BAO‐HUA , MITCHELL‐OLDS THOMAS 
Published: September 2007

AbstractConservation of endangered species becomes a critical issue with the increasing rates of extinction. In this study, we use 13 microsatellite loci and 27 single‐copy nuclear loci to investigate the population genetics of Boechera fecunda, a rare relative of Arabidopsis thaliana, known from only 21 populations in Montana. We investigated levels of genetic diversity and population structure in comparison to its widespread congener, Boechera stricta, which shares similar life history and mating system. Despite its rarity, B. fecunda had levels of genetic diversity similar to B. stricta for both microsatellites and nucleotide polymorphism. Populations of B. fecunda are highly differentiated, with a majority of genetic diversity existing among populations (FST = 0.57). Differences in molecular diversity and allele frequencies between western and eastern population groups suggest they experienced very different evolutionary histories.
Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes: still many secrets of a hidden life
Authors: Alano Pietro 
Published: September 2007

SummarySexual differentiation and parasite transmission are intimately linked in the life cycle of malaria parasites. The specialized cells providing this crucial link are the Plasmodium gametocytes. These are formed in the vertebrate host and are programmed to mature into gametes emerging from the erythrocytes in the midgut of a blood‐feeding mosquito. The ensuing fusion into a zygote establishes parasite infection in the insect vector. Although key mechanisms of gametogenesis and fertilization are becoming progressively clear, the fundamental biology of gametocyte formation still presents open questions, some of which are specific to the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Developmental commitment to sexual differentiation, regulation of stage‐specific gene expression, the profound molecular and cellular changes accompanying gametocyte specialization, the requirement for tissue‐specific sequestration in P. falciparum gametocytogenesis are proposed here as areas for future investigation. The epidemiological relevance of parasite transmission from humans to mosquito in the spread of malaria and of Plasmodium drug resistance genes indicates that understanding molecular mechanisms of gametocyte formation is highly relevant to design strategies able to interfere with the transmission of this disease.
A comparison of autonomic function in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and in healthy controls
Authors: Ganguli S. C. , Kamath M. V. , Redmond K. , Chen Y. , Irvine E. J. , Collins S. M. , Tougas G. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract We evaluated autonomic function, symptoms and psychological parameters in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn’s disease (CD) and matched controls to assess whether UC patients have greater basal sympathetic autonomic activity. Outpatients with UC (n = 15), CD (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 28) underwent spectral analysis of heart rate variability to assess cardiac autonomic function, a methacholine challenge to assess cholinergic pulmonary responsiveness, and questionnaires assessing disease severity, anxiety and depression. UC but not CD patients had greater sympathetic activity than controls with increased absolute (6600 vs 5884; P = 0.04) and relative (62.8%vs 54.8%; P = 0.02) low frequency areas. This was not because of increased overall autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation and was independent of disease activity. In UC patients, trait (personality‐related) anxiety correlated strongly with disease symptoms (R = 0.84; P < 0.001) and quality of life (R = −0.81; P < 0.001) while situational (state) anxiety did not. In CD patients, ANS measures were similar to controls and disease activity was unrelated to psychological measures. Cholinergic pulmonary responsiveness was normal in both UC and CD patients. UC patients have an increased sympathetic ANS activity which is independent of symptom severity. In these patients symptom severity is strongly associated with measures of personality related (but not current) anxiety.
Mature monomeric forms of Hop stunt viroid resist RNA silencing in transgenic plants
Authors: Gómez G. , Pallás V. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryViroids, small non‐coding pathogenic RNAs, are able to induce RNA silencing, a phenomenon that has been associated with the pathogenesis and evolution of these small RNAs. It has been recently suggested that viroids may resist this plant defense mechanism. However, the simultaneous degradation of non‐replicating full‐length viroid RNA, and the resistance of mature forms of viroids to RNA silencing, have not been experimentally demonstrated. Transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing a dimeric form of Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) that have the capability to cleave and circularize this viroid RNA were used to address this question. A reporter construct, consisting of a full‐length HSVd RNA fused to GFP‐mRNA, was agroinfiltrated in these plants and its expression was suppressed. Interestingly, both circular and linear HSVd molecules were stable and able to traffic through grafts in these restrictive conditions, indicating that the mature forms of HSVd are able, in some way, to resist the RNA‐silencing mechanism. The observation that a full‐length HSVd RNA fused to GFP‐mRNA, but not circular and/or linear viroid forms, was fully susceptible to RNA degradation strongly suggests that structures adopted by the free mature monomer protect the pathogenesis‐associated forms of the viroid from RNA silencing.
Vitiligo: the historical curse of depigmentation
Authors: Millington George W. M. , Levell Nick J. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractVitiligo has been mentioned in the tomes of every major religion, with its first description dating back more than 3000 years, to the earliest Vedic and Egyptian texts. Despite this ancient recognition, confusion with disorders such as leprosy has been a problem throughout the ages. This has lead to the stigmatization of vitiligo sufferers. This is a social problem that is still widespread in some, but not all, parts of the world. The ancients also practiced phototherapy for vitiligo. This practice only became common in the Western world with development of psoralen plus ultraviolet A and later ultraviolet B phototherapy in the latter half of the 20th century. In this article, the history of vitiligo up until the end of the 20th century is outlined, covering medical, scientific, and social aspects.
Change in pattern of skin disease in Kaduna, north‐central Nigeria
Authors: Yahya Husain 
Published: September 2007

AbstractBackground  We report our experience on the pattern of skin disease in Kaduna, north‐central Nigeria over a 6‐year period, and compare it with a similar survey conducted in the same area 30 years ago and with surveys from Nigeria and from other parts of Africa.Methods  The medical records of new patients attending the dermatology outpatient clinics of Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital and Habbat Medical Center from March 2000 to December 2005 were retrieved. Demographic data (age and sex) and the diagnoses of skin disease were extracted and analyzed.Results  A total of 5982 cases was seen. Forty‐nine per cent were males and 51% were females. One‐third of the patients were aged under 20 years, and three quarters were aged below 40 years. Eczematous dermatitis was the most common skin disorder seen, making up 35% of cases, and had replaced dermatophyte infections and scabies, which were the most dominant skin diseases 30 years previously (now constituting 6% and 1.4% of cases, respectively). Atopic dermatitis had more than doubled in frequency (13.8% vs. 5.2%), and contact dermatitis had tripled in frequency (5.8% vs. 1.8%). Acne vulgaris (6.7%), pigmentary disorders (3.9%), urticaria (3.6%), papular urticaria (3.6%), hair disorders (3.3%), lichen simplex chronicus (3%), viral warts (2.9%), and drug eruptions (2.7%) had also increased. Human immunodeficiency virus‐related skin disease constituted 4.3% of cases, with pruritic papular eruption being the most common condition.Conclusion  These changes in skin disease can be attributed mainly to an increase in urbanization and improved socio‐economic conditions.
Wade's histoid leprosy: three clinical presentations
Authors: Pereyra Susana B. , Danielo Cristián A. , Ponssa Gustavo J. , Consigli Javier E. , Papa Mariana B. , Ghirardi Graciela 
Published: September 2007

AbstractWade's histoid leprosy is a rare form of multibacillary leprosy with distinctive characteristics which were first described in patients treated with a short course of sulfones. Wade's histoid leprosy may occur as a relapse, in the setting of sulfone resistance, or may present de novo. We report the clinical, histologic, immunologic, and bacteriologic features of three adult male patients with this rare variant of lepromatous leprosy as the initial presentation of the disease, observed in the Dermatology Department of Hospital Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina between 1999 and 2003. Two of the three patients were from an endemic leprosy area. All patients presented with a number of erythematous to brownish gray, firm but elastic nodules involving mainly the extremities, which responded to treatment for multibacillary leprosy without reactional episodes.
The effect of eflornithine 13.9% cream on the bother and discomfort due to hirsutism*
Authors: Jackson Joseph , Caro J. Jaime , Caro Graciela , Garfield Frances , Huber Ferdinand , Zhou Wenjiong , Lin Chen‐Sheng , Shander Douglas , Schrode Kathy ,   the Eflornithine HCl Study Group
Published: September 2007

AbstractAlthough unwanted facial hair often leads to anxiety and avoidance of social situations, evaluation of treatment outcomes in clinical trials has relied largely on measures external to the patient such as the extent of hair growth or an expert physician's assessment, neglecting to include patient reported outcomes (PRO). To assess the level of bother caused by a dermatological condition (hirsutism) and changes brought on by treatment, the instrument ESTEEM was developed by expanding the Bother Assessment in Skin Conditions (BASC) scale to six questions to cover the discomfort felt in four social situations and bother due to removing facial hair. Each question elicits responses on a visual analog scale. Women participating in two randomized clinical trials evaluated a new treatment (eflornithine 13.9% cream). Analyses examined the level of bother at each visit, the changes with treatment, the correlations with the Physician's Global Assessment, and the effect size. Hirsutism bothers patients considerably. The mean for overall bother was 89% and the mean discomfort in social situations exceeded 80% in nearly all cases. Treatment led to significant reductions in bother on all six items with effect sizes ranging from 0.46 to 1.62. Eflornithine is an effective treatment for unwanted facial hair in women, as reported by the patients. ESTEEM addresses the specific concerns of women with hirsutism.