bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The identification of 100 ecological questions of high policy relevance in the UK
Authors: SUTHERLAND WILLIAM J. , ARMSTRONG‐BROWN SUSAN , ARMSWORTH PAUL R. , TOM BRERETON , BRICKLAND JONATHAN , CAMPBELL COLIN D. , CHAMBERLAIN DANIEL E. , COOKE ANDREW I. , DULVY NICHOLAS K. , DUSIC NICHOLAS R. , FITTON MARTIN , FRECKLETON ROBERT P. , GODFRAY H. CHARLES J. , GROUT NICK , HARVEY H. JOHN , HEDLEY COLIN , HOPKINS JOHN J. , KIFT NEIL B. , KIRBY JEFF , KUNIN WILLIAM E. , MACDONALD DAVID W. , MARKER BRIAN , NAURA MARC , NEALE ANDREW R. , OLIVER TOM , OSBORN DAN , PULLIN ANDREW S. , SHARDLOW MATTHEW E. A. , SHOWLER DAVID A. , SMITH PAUL L. , SMITHERS RICHARD J. , SOLANDT JEAN‐LUC , SPENCER JONATHAN , SPRAY CHRIS J. , THOMAS CHRIS D. , THOMPSON JIM , WEBB SARAH E. , YALDEN DEREK W. , WATKINSON ANDREW R. 
Published: May 2006

Summary

Evidence‐based policy requires researchers to provide the answers to ecological questions that are of interest to policy makers. To find out what those questions are in the UK, representatives from 28 organizations involved in policy, together with scientists from 10 academic institutions, were asked to generate a list of questions from their organizations.
During a 2‐day workshop the initial list of 1003 questions generated from consulting at least 654 policy makers and academics was used as a basis for generating a short list of 100 questions of significant policy relevance. Short‐listing was decided on the basis of the preferences of the representatives from the policy‐led organizations.
The areas covered included most major issues of environmental concern in the UK, including agriculture, marine fisheries, climate change, ecosystem function and land management.
The most striking outcome was the preference for general questions rather than narrow ones. The reason is that policy is driven by broad issues rather than specific ones. In contrast, scientists are frequently best equipped to answer specific questions. This means that it may be necessary to extract the underpinning specific question before researchers can proceed.
Synthesis and applications. Greater communication between policy makers and scientists is required in order to ensure that applied ecologists are dealing with issues in a way that can feed into policy. It is particularly important that applied ecologists emphasize the generic value of their work wherever possible.
A genome rearrangement has orphaned the Escherichia coli K‐12 AcpT phosphopantetheinyl transferase from its cognate Escherichia coli O157:H7 substrates
Authors: De Lay Nicholas R. , Cronan John E. 
Published: May 2006

SummaryPhosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTases) are enzymes that catalyse the transfer of a 4′‐phosphopantetheine moiety from CoA to a conserved serine residue of a carrier protein. These carrier proteins use the 4′‐phosphopantetheine thiol to shuttle intermediates between the active sites of biosynthetic enzymes involved in fatty acid, non‐ribosomal peptide and polyketide synthesis. Three PPTases have been previously been identified in Escherichia coli K‐12 and other E. coli strains by homology searches and are encoded by the genes acpS, entD and acpT. Both AcpS and EntD have been well studied whereas the function of AcpT has been an enigma because no carrier protein substrate could be found. We report genetic and biochemical evidence that AcpT modifies two carrier proteins encoded in O‐island 138, a cluster of fatty acid biosynthesis‐like genes located adjacent to acpT in the genome of the pathogenic E. coli strain O157:H7 (E. coli K‐12 and several other sequenced E. coli and Shigella strains lack O‐island 138). The two carrier proteins of O‐island 138 of strain O157:H7 are not modified (or only very poorly modified) by AcpS, the PPTase responsible for 4′‐phosphopantetheine attachment to the acyl carrier protein (AcpP) of fatty acid synthesis. We demonstrate that AcpT cannot functionally replace AcpS in E. coli K‐12 either in its native chromosomal location or upon insertion of acpT into the acpS chromosomal location. However, in the absence of AcpS activity AcpT does allow very slow growth thus providing a rationale for its retention in the absence of its cognate substrates. These results together with phylogenetic analyses and comparisons of the E. coli and Shigella strains of known genome sequence strongly argue that AcpT has been orphaned from its cognate substrates by a deletion event that occurred in a common ancestor of these organisms. This seems one of the few cases where a chromosomal rearrangement has been functionally demonstrated to be a deletion event rather than an insertion event in the reference organism. We also show that the previously reported suppression of an acpS mutation by the deletion of Lon protease is an artifact of the increased capsular polysaccharide production of lon strains.
Genetic diversity of Australian Fusarium graminearum and F. pseudograminearum
Authors: Akinsanmi O. A. , Backhouse D. , Simpfendorfer S. , Chakraborty S. 
Published: May 2006

Genotypic diversity in Fusarium pseudograminearum and F. graminearum from Australia and the relationship between diversity and pathogen aggressiveness for head blight and/or crown rot of wheat were examined. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis revealed a high level of genotypic diversity within each species. Sixty‐three of the 149 AFLP loci were significantly different between the two species and 70 of 72 F. pseudograminearum and 56 of 59 F. graminearum isolates had distinct haplotypes. When head blight and crown rot severity data from a recently published work on isolates representing the entire range of aggressiveness were used, only the genotypic diversity of F. pseudograminearum was significantly associated with its aggressiveness for the two diseases. Cluster analyses clearly demonstrated the polyphyletic structures that exist in both pathogen populations. The spatial diversity within F. graminearum was high within a single field, while frequent gene flow (Nm ∼ 14) and a low fixation index (Gst = 0·03) were recorded among F. pseudograminearum isolates from the adjacent states of New South Wales and Queensland. The differences in population structure between the heterothallic F. pseudograminearum (teleomorph G. coronicola) and the homothallic F. graminearum (teleomorph G. zeae) were not as pronounced as expected given their contrasting mating systems. Neither species was panmictic or strictly clonal. This points to sexual recombination in F. pseudograminearum, suggesting that ascospores of G. coronicola may also play a role in its biology and epidemiology.
Eccrine squamous syringometaplasia mimicking a herpetic infection
Authors: Alonso Vicent , Ramón Dolores , Monteagudo Carlos , Llombart Beatriz , Martín José M. , García Laura , Jordá Esperanza 
Published: May 2006

A 69‐year‐old woman with a history of hypertension and essential tremor was diagnosed with a Burkitt‐like diffuse large‐cell lymphoma. She received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and adriamycin (HyperCVAD). Ten days after starting the second cycle of chemotherapy (HyperCVAD), she presented with well‐defined, intense, erythematous macules which coalesced to form a symmetric diffuse erythema located on the upper back. Later, the lesions progressed and affected the lower back and perineal areas, extending to the groin. In a few days, a gradual diminution of the erythema was seen, with subsequent development of postinflammatory gray‐brownish hyperpigmentation. On the lower back, there were also superficial erosions. Some asymptomatic, closely grouped, gray papules, vesicles, and blisters were found in the groin, resembling the typical lesions of herpetic infection (Fig. 1). Two biopsies of the groin and one of the upper back were performed, and were processed for histopathologic and microbiologic study.Closely grouped gray papules, vesicles, and blisters on the groin mimicking a herpetic infectionimageThe histopathologic study showed epidermal hyperplasia with acanthosis and papillomatosis. In both biopsies, eccrine ducts covered by mature squamous epithelium were found in the reticular dermis (Fig. 2a−c). In the sample from the groin, an intracorneal bulla was found. Numerous normal isolated cornified cells were seen within the lumen of the bulla (Fig. 2d). An inflammatory mononuclear infiltrate was also present in a periductal and perivascular distribution. No multinucleation, ground‐glass nuclei, or peripheral margination of chromatin were found. Therefore, no morphologic evidence of herpes virus infection was present.Low (a), medium (b), and high (c) magnification showing epidermal hyperplasia and squamous syringometaplasia involving dermal eccrine ducts. (d) Medium power magnification of the intracorneal bulla (hematoxylin and eosin staining; a, ×40; b, ×100; c, ×400; d, ×100)imageCultures and serologic analyses for herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were negative. The lesions were treated with topical corticosteroids, with a good response in a few days.
Use of etanercept in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients
Authors: Ting Patricia T. , Koo John. Y. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground  Etanercept (Enbrel™, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA), a soluble p75 tumor necrosis factor receptor:FC (TNFR:FC) fusion protein for plasma cytokines, specifically tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), is used in the treatment of immune‐mediated rheumatic diseases. To our knowledge, the use of etanercept in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is relatively uncommon.Objective  The main purpose of this short review is to examine the safety of etanercept in patients with HIV/AIDS.Methods  A Medline search was conducted using the keywords etanercept and HIV and/or AIDS for any published articles between 1966 to the present (September 2004).Results  A case report, one case series, and one clinical trial pertained to the use of etanercept in HIV patients. No reports were found on the use of etanercept in AIDS. In addition, two case reports were found documenting the use of infliximab in HIV patients.Discussion  Preliminary reports indicate that the administration of etanercept does not appear to increase the morbidity or mortality rates in HIV. The inhibition of TNF‐α may actually improve the symptoms of HIV/AIDS‐associated aphthous ulcers, cachexia, dementia, fatigue, and fever, as well as help manage concomitant rheumatic diseases and psoriasis.Conclusion  The use of etanercept shows promise for applications in disease management in patients with HIV/AIDS. Continued research efforts are necessary to establish the long‐term safety and efficacy of etanercept and other biologic agents in this patient population.
Correlation of clinical features and skin barrier function in adolescent and adult patients with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Kim Do‐Won , Park Jee‐Young , Na Gun‐Yoen , Lee Seok‐Jong , Lee Weon‐Ju 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground  Xerotic changes in atopic skin are considered to be related to a decrease in the water permeability barrier. Whether abnormal skin barrier function is the main cause of atopic dermatitis (AD) or a secondary change of the disease is still controversial. Noninvasive bioengineering methods, including the measurement of the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and water capacitance, have been commonly used to evaluate skin barrier function.Aim  To evaluate the correlation between the clinical features of each evaluation site (severity of AD) and skin barrier function.Methods  TEWL, capacitance, and pH were checked on five evaluation sites: postauricle, forearm, abdomen, thigh, and popliteal fossa. The subjects included 25 patients, both adolescents and adults, with AD and 25 age‐matched normal controls. The clinical severity, from 0 (no clinical manifestation) to 3 (severe), was also scored for erythema, induration/papulation, lichenification, and xerosis on each evaluation site of the AD patients.Results  Based on the data, we found that the clinical severity score was correlated with TEWL and capacitance in more than one‐half of the evaluation sites. Erythema and induration/papulation showed a statistically significant correlation with TEWL in most cases (P < 0.05, four sites). Lichenification and xerosis showed a significant correlation with capacitance in most cases (P < 0.05, four sites). In most cases, severity scoring of the clinical features did not show a significant correlation with skin pH. The patients showed higher TEWL and lower capacitance than normal controls (P < 0.05, all five sites).Conclusions  The results of our study suggest that skin barrier function, measured by TEWL and capacitance, and clinical severity show a statistically significant correlation in patients with AD.
Pulmonary involvement in Sweet's syndrome: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Astudillo Leonardo , Sailler L. , Launay F. , Josse A. G. , Lamant L. , Couret B. , Arlet‐Suau E. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractPulmonary involvement in Sweet's syndrome (SS) is rare. We report a case of SS with severe respiratory involvement responding to corticosteroid therapy. A 82‐year‐old man presented fever of 39 °C associated with cough and dyspnea, and crackles in the left lung. The infection work‐up was negative. Chest X‐ray showed cardiomegaly and left lower lobe pulmonary infiltrates. Pulmonary signs did not improve on treatment with antibiotics, and after 1 week maculopapular lesions appeared, localized on the knees, the periombilical area and the back. The antibiotics were changed without improvement. A skin biopsy revealed infiltration by neutrophilic granulocytes and marked edema in the dermis, consistent with SS. The patient's condition progressively worsened, requiring high oxygenotherapy, and he was transferred to an intensive care unit. Chest X‐ray revealed an important alveolar and interstitial syndrome. Bronchoalveolar lavage found 170 leukocytes with 30% neutrophils (N < 5%), 7% lymphocytes and 63% macrophages. A search for bacteria, viruses or parasites in bronchoalveolar lavage was negative. The patient was treated with antibiotics, a high dose of furosemide and steroids for 4 days. Because the patient improved dramatically within 5 days, with a negative infection work‐up and a dramatic decrease of C‐reactive protein, the antibiotics were stopped. Steroids were secondarily tapered very slowly. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan showed a substantial improvement of pulmonary lesions. We also review the 22 cases of pulmonary involvement of SS reported in the literature.
Lupus erythematosus profundus in black South Africans
Authors: Jacyk W. K. , Bhana K. N. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBackground  Lupus erythematosus profundus (lupus panniculitis) is a rare variant of lupus erythematosus with predominant involvement of the subcutaneous tissue. There are only a few reported series of patients with this condition; none in individuals of African ancestry. The aim of the study was to evaluate clinical, histopathological and laboratory findings in black South African patients with lupus profundus.Patients and methods  Ten prospectively observed patients were studied. Skin biopsies were performed, and several laboratory tests routinely employed in patients with lupus erythematosus were carried out. All patients were followed up for at least a year and their response to treatment was assessed.Results  All patients were females. Mean age at diagnosis was 28.5 years. Face was the most common site of involvement. In five patients, the periorbital edema was the initial manifestation. Only one patient had systemic lupus, and three patients also showed lesions of discoid lupus. In only 30% of the patients were the ANA titers greater than 1 : 80, and positivity in other lupus tests was rare and inconsistent. In general, patients responded to antimalarials and/or systemic corticosteroids.Conclusion  African patients with lupus profundus when compared with other series comprising Asian and white patients showed greater frequency of periorbital edema as the initial manifestation. Review of the literature disclosed that this subset of lupus profundus appears to have a more benign course.
Chromosomal basis of viability differences in Tigriopus californicus interpopulation hybrids
Authors: Harrison J. S. , Edmands S. 
Published: May 2006

Abstract
Crosses between populations of Tigriopus californicus result in backcross and F2 hybrid breakdown for a variety of fitness related measures. The magnitude of this hybrid breakdown is correlated with evolutionary divergence. We assessed the chromosomal basis of viability differences in nonrecombinant backcross hybrids using markers mapped to individual chromosomes. To assess effects of evolutionary divergence we crossed one population to three different populations: two distantly related (∼18% mitochondrial COI sequence divergence) and one closely related (∼1% mitochondrial COI sequence divergence). We found that all three interpopulation crosses resulted in significant deviations from expected Mendelian ratios at a majority of the loci studied. In all but one case, deviations were due to a deficit of parental homozygotes. This pattern implies that populations of T. californicus carry a significant genetic load, and that a combination of beneficial dominance and deleterious homozygote–heterozygote interactions significantly affects hybrid viability. Pairwise tests of linkage disequilibrium detected relatively few significant interactions. For the two divergent crosses, effects of individual chromosomes were highly concordant. These two crosses also showed higher heterozygote excess in females than males across the vast majority of chromosomes.
Messenger RNA expression of RANTES in the urinary sediment of patients with lupus nephritis
Authors: CHAN REBECCA WING‐YAN , LAI FERNAND MAC‐MOUNE , LI EDMUND KWOK‐MING , TAM LAI‐SHAN , CHOW KAI‐MING , LI PHILIP KAM‐TAO , SZETO CHEUK‐CHUN 
Published: May 2006

SUMMARY:Background:  Lupus nephritis is characterized by intra‐renal inflammation. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) showed abnormal T‐cell expression of RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed) and its level in their serum. The authors studied the mRNA expression of RANTES in the urinary sediment of lupus patients.Methods:  The authors studied 88 lupus patients, who were classified into active, remission and non‐renal SLE groups according to the disease activity, 29 non‐SLE and 10 healthy controls. Lupus activity was assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Urinary mRNA expression of RANTES was studied by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.Results:  The expression of RANTES in urinary sediment was significantly elevated in active group (P < 0.001). Expression level of RANTES correlated with the SLEDAI score (r = 0.57; P < 0.001) and renal score in SLEDAI (r = 0.60; P < 0.001). In addition, urinary expression of RANTES had significant correlation with degree of proteinuria, serum creatinine, albumin and estimated glomerular filtration rate.Conclusion:  The authors conclude that the mRNA expression of RANTES was elevated in the urinary sediment of patients with active lupus nephritis. Measurement of urinary mRNA expression may be a novel non‐invasive method for the assessment of lupus disease activity and the severity of renal involvement.
Hypertension, erythrocyturia and proteinuria in childhood non‐Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Authors: OLOWU WASIU A , ADELUSOLA KAYODE A , SENBANJO IDOWU O , ADENOWO OLUSOLA A , BADMOS KABIR B 
Published: May 2006

SUMMARY:Aim:  The objectives were to determine the prevalence and outcome of hypertension, significant microerythrocyturia and proteinuria among children with acute renal failure (ARF) due to Burkitt‐type non‐Hodgkin’s lymphoma (BNHL).Methods:  A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory data of children with BNHL/ARF was undertaken.Results:  Nine of 23 (39.13%) BHNL/ARF children aged 5–14 years were found to have significant microerythrocyturia and proteinuria as urinary markers of glomerulonephritis (GN). Eight of nine were hypertensive with hypertensive encephalopathy (HTE) in three, and congestive heart failure (CCF)/pulmonary oedema in six. Three of nine patients (33.3%) died from these complications; two from CCF and one from a combination of CCF and HTE. A fourth death was due to uraemia. Treatments with cytotoxic drugs and anti‐tumour lysis syndrome therapy resulted in normotension, improved clinical outcome and normalisation of laboratory features of ARF and GN in all five (55.6%) survivors.Conclusion:  We conclude that all the children with BNHL/ARF had enlarged kidneys and evidence of glomerular disease. The mechanism of the glomerular disease is unclear. It is associated with a high mortality rate.
Herbivore impact on grassland plant diversity depends on habitat productivity and herbivore size
Authors: Bakker Elisabeth S. , Ritchie Mark E. , Olff Han , Milchunas Daniel G. , Knops Johannes M. H. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractMammalian herbivores can have pronounced effects on plant diversity but are currently declining in many productive ecosystems through direct extirpation, habitat loss and fragmentation, while being simultaneously introduced as livestock in other, often unproductive, ecosystems that lacked such species during recent evolutionary times. The biodiversity consequences of these changes are still poorly understood. We experimentally separated the effects of primary productivity and herbivores of different body size on plant species richness across a 10‐fold productivity gradient using a 7‐year field experiment at seven grassland sites in North America and Europe. We show that assemblages including large herbivores increased plant diversity at higher productivity but decreased diversity at low productivity, while small herbivores did not have consistent effects along the productivity gradient. The recognition of these large‐scale, cross‐site patterns in herbivore effects is important for the development of appropriate biodiversity conservation strategies.
Insulin glargine benefits patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral antidiabetic treatment: an observational study of everyday practice in 12,216 patients
Authors: Schreiber S. A. , Haak T. 
Published: May 2006

Aims:  This observational study aimed to investigate the long‐term efficacy and safety of adding insulin glargine (LANTUS®) to support oral antidiabetic (OAD) treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes in everyday practice.Methods:  A 9‐month, open‐label, multicentre, observational study, with an optional 20‐month extension phase, in which add‐on insulin glargine therapy was initiated in 12,216 patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on OADs. The insulin glargine dose was adjusted at the physician’s discretion, reflecting everyday practice. The main outcome measures were changes in HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin dose and body mass index (BMI).Results:  At baseline, mean (± s.d.) age was 63.9 ± 11.3 years; disease duration was >5 years in 47% of patients, 1–5 years in 39% of patients and <1 year in 10% of patients, while 4% of patients were newly diagnosed. Addition of insulin glargine to OAD therapy led to reductions in mean HbA1c (−1.5% from 8.7%) and FBG (−69 mg/dl from 202 mg/dl) levels after 3 months, which were maintained after 9 months [HbA1c: −1.7%; FBG: −71 mg/dl (−3.9 mmol/l)] without an increase in BMI. Similar glycaemic control was observed after 20 months in the 2721 patients in the extension study. Adverse drug reactions were documented in 26 patients (0.2%). Of 47 adverse events documented, 19 were due to hypoglycaemia.Conclusions:  In everyday practice, patients with type 2 diabetes who are inadequately controlled on OADs benefit from add‐on basal insulin treatment with insulin glargine as they demonstrate improved glycaemic control without weight gain.