bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fault architecture, basin structure and evolution of the Gulf of Corinth Rift, central Greece
Authors: Bell R. E. , McNeill L. C. , Bull J. M. , Henstock T. J. , Collier R. E. L. , Leeder M. R. 
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACTThe style of extension and strain distribution during the early stages of intra‐continental rifting is important for understanding rift‐margin development and can provide constraints for lithospheric deformation mechanisms. The Corinth rift in central Greece is one of the few rifts to have experienced a short extensional history without subsequent overprinting. We synthesise existing seismic reflection data throughout the active offshore Gulf of Corinth Basin to investigate fault activity history and the spatio‐temporal evolution of the basin, producing for the first time basement depth and syn‐rift sediment isopachs throughout the offshore rift. A major basin‐wide unconformity surface with an age estimated from sea‐level cycles at ca. 0.4 Ma separates distinct seismic stratigraphic units. Assuming that sedimentation rates are on average consistent, the present rift formed at 1–2 Ma, with no clear evidence for along‐strike propagation of the rift axis. The rift has undergone major changes in relative fault activity and basin geometry during its short history. The basement depth is greatest in the central rift (maximum ∼3 km) and decreases to the east and west. In detail however, two separated depocentres 20–50 km long were created controlled by N‐ and S‐dipping faults before 0.4 Ma, while since ca. 0.4 Ma a single depocentre (80 km long) has been controlled by several connected N‐dipping faults, with maximum subsidence focused between the two older depocentres. Thus isolated but nearby faults can persist for timescales ca. 1 Ma and form major basins before becoming linked. There is a general evolution towards a dominance of N‐dipping faults; however, in the western Gulf strain is distributed across several active N‐ and S‐dipping faults throughout rift history, producing a more complex basin geometry.
Gut content analyses of three dominant Antarctic copepod species during an induced phytoplankton bloom EIFEX (European iron fertilization experiment)
Authors: Kruse Svenja , Jansen Sandra , Krägefsky Sören , Bathmann Ulrich 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe diet of three Antarctic copepods, Calanus simillimus, Rhincalanus gigas and Pleuromamma robusta, was studied from samples collected during the European iron fertilization experiment (EIFEX) in austral fall 2004. The diet was investigated using microscopical gut content analysis. The food spectra of the three copepod species showed a clear overlap. The pennate diatom Fragilariopsis kerguelensis was commonly found in all guts. Large numbers of cells were fractured, but some were found complete when arranged as chains. The same was true for the genus Chaetoceros, a centric diatom, of which even their long and complete setae could be observed. In general the ingested food particles extended over a wide size range up to a few 100 μm. The copepod C. simillimus, for example, fed on large foraminifera and swallowed them whole. Compared to C. simillimus and R. gigas, P. robusta guts contained a higher percentage and larger diversity of hard‐shelled protozoa including tintinnids, Radiolaria and Acantharia.
Anomalies and stock returns: Australian evidence
Authors: Gharghori Philip , Lee Ronald , Veeraraghavan Madhu 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPrior research has identified the existence of several cross‐sectional patterns in equity returns, commonly referred to as effects. This paper tests for the existence of a number of well‐known effects using data from the Australian equities market. Specifically, we investigate the size effect, book‐to‐market effect, earnings‐to‐price effect, cashflow‐to‐price effect, leverage effect and the liquidity effect. An additional aim of this paper is to investigate the capability of the Fama–French model in explaining any observed effects. We document a size, book‐to‐market, earnings‐to‐price and cashflow‐to‐price effect but fail to find evidence of a leverage or liquidity effect. Although our findings indicate that the Fama–French model can partially explain some of the observed effects, we conclude that its performance is less than satisfactory in Australia.
Transparency and Regional Integration in the Asia Pacific
Authors: Helble Matthias , Shepherd Ben , Wilson John S. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractWe show in this paper that increasing the transparency of the trading environment can be an important complement to traditional liberalisation of tariff and non‐tariff barriers. Our definition of transparency is grounded in a transaction cost analysis. We focus on two dimensions of transparency: predictability (reducing the cost of uncertainty) and simplification (reducing information costs). Using the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies as a case study, we construct indices of importer and exporter transparency for the region from a wide range of sources. Our results from a gravity model suggest that improving trade‐related transparency in APEC could hold significant benefits by raising intra‐APEC trade by approximately US$148 billion or 7.5 per cent of baseline trade in the region. Action to improve transparency measures examined could be undertaken in many forms, including within the current APEC framework or future talks on a Free Trade Area in the Asia Pacific.
Competition and coexistence in sympatric bobcats and pumas
Authors: Hass C. C. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractSpace use and diets of sympatric bobcats Lynx rufus and pumas Puma concolor were compared using sign surveys and scat analysis during 1997–2002 in south‐eastern Arizona, USA. Bobcats appeared to use grassland, scrub, riparian and woodland habitats equally, but pumas had higher activity in riparian and woodland habitats. There was little evidence that bobcats avoided pumas in space use. Bobcats ate primarily rodents (33% of items in scats), lagomorphs (32%) and ungulates (16%), whereas pumas ate primarily ungulates (69%) and carnivores (21%). Pumas had a narrower dietary niche breadth than bobcats, and puma diet overlapped bobcat diet by 56%, suggesting that pumas may be more vulnerable to changes in prey density than bobcats. Pumas also killed and consumed bobcats, indicating that interference competition may be manifesting through intraguild predation.
Role of 20‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in altering vascular reactivity in diabetes
Authors: Yousif M. H. M. , Benter I. F. , Dunn K. M. J. , Dahly‐Vernon A. J. , Akhtar S. , Roman R. J. 
Published: March 2009

Summary 1 This study examined the role of 20‐hydroxyeicosatetraenoic (20‐HETE) in altering vascular function in streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rats. 2 The expression of CYP4A protein and the formation of 20‐HETE were elevated in the kidney, but not in the renal or mesenteric vasculature, of diabetic animals. The vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine (NE), endothelin‐1 (ET‐1), and angiotensin II (Ang II) were significantly enhanced in the isolated perfused mesenteric vascular bed and renal artery segments of diabetic rats. Chronic treatment of the diabetic rats with 1‐aminobenzotriazole (ABT, 50 mg kg−1 alt−1 diem) or N‐hydroxy‐N’‐(4‐butyl‐2‐methylphenyl) formamidine (HET0016, 2.5 mg kg−1 day−1) attenuated the responses to these vasoconstrictors in both vascular beds. 3 The synthesis of 20‐HETE in renal microsomes was reduced by >80% confirming that the doses of ABT and HET0016 were sufficient to achieve system blockade. Addition of HET0016 (1 μM) in vitro also normalized the enhanced vascular responsiveness of renal and mesenteric vessels obtained from diabetic animals to NE and inhibited the formation of 20‐HETE by >90% while having no effect on the formation of epoxides. Vasodilator responses to carbachol and histamine were reduced in the mesenteric vasculature, but not in renal arteries, of diabetic rats. Treatment of the diabetic animals with HET0016 improved vasodilator responses in both vascular beds. Vascular sensitivity to exogenous 20‐HETE was elevated in the mesenteric bed of diabetic animals compared to controls. 4 These results suggest that 20‐HETE contributes to the elevation in vascular reactivity in diabetic animals. This effect is not due to increased vascular expression of CYP4A but may be related to either enhanced agonist‐induced release of substrate (arachidonic acid) by the CaMKII/Ras‐GTPase system and/or elevated vascular responsiveness to 20‐HETE.
Apolipoprotein E and Alzheimer's disease: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Cedazo‐Mínguez Angel 
Published: March 2009

Introduction
ApoE function
ApoE role in AD pathology
ApoE as a therapeutic target for AD
Conclusions

AbstractMultiple genetic and environmental factors are likely to contribute to the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The most important known risk factor for AD is presence of the E4 isoform of apolipoprotein E (apoE). Epidemiological studies demonstrated that apoE4 carriers have a higher risk and develop the disease and an early onset. Moreover, apoE4 is the only molecule that has been associated with all the biochemical disturbances characteristic of the disease: amyloid‐beta (Aβ) deposition, tangle formation, oxidative stress, lipid homeostasis deregulation, synaptic plasticity loss and cholinergic dysfunction. This large body of evidence suggest that apoE is a key player in the pathogenesis of AD. This short review examines the current facts and hypotheses of the association between apoE4 and AD, as well as the therapeutic possibilities that apoE might offer for the treatment of this disease.
Cell death in health and disease
Authors: Lockshin Richard A , Zakeri Zahra 
Published: March 2009

Cell death is important in medicine
Why do we not have a medicine based on apoptosis?
The machinery of cell death
Cells have many options other than apoptosis
The response of a cell depends heavily on its history, lineage, and current status
Proteins now assumed to be cell death proteins may in fact have “day jobs” or multiple functions not appreciated by the researcher or physician
Some promise for the future?

AbstractCell death is clearly an important factor in development, homeostasis, pathology and in aging, but medical efforts based on controlling cell death have not become major aspects of medicine. There are several reasons why hopes have been slow to be fulfilled, and they present indications for new directions in research. Most effort has focused on the machinery of cell death, or the proximate effectors of apoptosis and their closely associated and interacting proteins. But cells have many options other than apoptosis. These include autophagy, necrosis, atrophy and stepwise or other alternate means of self‐disassembly. The response of a cell to a noxious or otherwise intimidating signal will depend heavily on the history, lineage and current status of the cell. Many metabolic and other processes adjust the sensitivity of cells to signals, and viruses aggressively attempt to regulate the death of their host cells. Another complicating factor is that many deathassociated proteins may have functions totally unrelated to their role in cell death, generating the possibility of undesirable side effects if one interferes with them. In the future, the challenge will be more to understand the challenge to the cell from a more global standpoint, including many more aspects of metabolism, and work toward alleviating or provoking the challenge in a targeted fashion.
Spatial Variability of Soil‐Gas Concentrations near and beneath a Building Overlying Shallow Petroleum Hydrocarbon–Impacted Soils
Authors: Luo Hong , Dahlen Paul , Johnson Paul C. , Peargin Tom , Creamer Todd 
Published: March 2009

AbstractData requirements for assessing the significance of the soil vapor intrusion pathway are evolving, and the collection and interpretation of subslab and near‐slab soil‐gas samples are under discussion. The potential for different assessment paradigms for aerobically biodegradable and recalcitrant chemicals is also frequently debated. In this work, the soil‐gas distribution beneath and around a slab‐on‐grade building overlying shallow (0.5 to >1.5 m below ground surface) petroleum hydrocarbon–impacted coarse alluvial soils was studied. The study spanned about 12 months, including the sampling of soil‐gas hydrocarbon and oxygen concentrations, subslab soil vs. building pressure differentials and included weather conditions. Three‐dimensional soil‐gas concentration “snapshots” using samples from 79 soil‐gas sampling points are presented here. Significant spatial variability was observed with hydrocarbon and oxygen concentrations ranging from about <0.01 to 200 mg/L and 0 to 21% v/v, respectively. The presence of oxygen and the depth to petroleum‐impacted soils appeared to be the dominant factors in controlling the soil‐gas distribution; the depletion of hydrocarbons over short lateral and vertical distances (<2 m) was observed in the well‐oxygenated regions. Composition data suggest preferential biodegradation of lighter compounds at some points, as reflected in the ratio of the masses of chemicals eluting on the gas chromatography between methane and pentane (C1 and C5) and all others after pentane (>C5).
Evidence for Instantaneous Oxygen‐Limited Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Vapors in the Subsurface
Authors: Davis G.B. , Patterson B.M. , Trefry M.G. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractPetroleum hydrocarbon vapors biodegrade aerobically in the subsurface. Depth profiles of petroleum hydrocarbon vapor and oxygen concentrations from seven locations in sandy and clay soils across four states of Australia are summarized. The data are evaluated to support a simple model of biodegradation that can be used to assess hydrocarbon vapors migrating toward built environments. Multilevel samplers and probes that allow near‐continuous monitoring of oxygen and total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were used to determine concentration depth profiles and changes over time. Collation of all data across all sites showed distinct separation of oxygen from hydrocarbon vapors, and that most oxygen and hydrocarbon concentration profiles were linear or near linear with depth. The low detection limit on the oxygen probe data and because it is an in situ measurement strengthened the case that little or no overlapping of oxygen and hydrocarbon vapor concentration profiles occurred, and that indeed oxygen and hydrocarbon vapors were largely only coincident near the location where they both decreased to zero. First‐order biodegradation rates determined from all depth profiles were generally lower than other published rates. With lower biodegradation rates, the overlapping of depth profiles might be expected, and yet such overlapping was not observed. A model of rapid (instantaneous) reaction of oxygen and hydrocarbon vapors compared to diffusive transport processes is shown to explain the important aspects of the 13 depth profiles. The model is simply based on the ratio of diffusion coefficients of oxygen and hydrocarbon vapors, the ratio of the maximum concentrations of oxygen and hydrocarbon vapors, the depth to the maximum hydrocarbon source concentration, and the stoichiometry coefficient. Whilst simple, the model offers the potential to incorporate aerobic biodegradation into an oxygen‐limited flux‐reduction approach for vapor intrusion assessments of petroleum hydrocarbon compounds.
Prevalence and distribution of meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus within the environment and staff of a university veterinary clinic
Authors: Heller J. , Armstrong S. K. , Girvan E. K. , Reid S. W. J. , Moodley A. , Mellor D. J. 
Published: March 2009

Objectives: To characterise the distribution of meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus within the environment of a university small animal hospital and compare this with the distribution among staff. Methods: Samples were collected from 140 environmental sites and the anterior nares of 64 staff members at the University of Glasgow Small Animal Hospital on a single day (d1). Sixty of the environmental sites were resampled 14 days later (d14). Results: Meticillin‐resistant S aureus was isolated from two of 140 (1·4 per cent; 95 per cent confidence interval: 1·7 to 5·1) environmental sites on d1 and one of 60 (1·7 per cent; 95 per cent confidence interval: 0·4 to 8·9) on d14. Two of the 64 staff sampled were positive for meticillin‐resistant S aureus (3·1 per cent; 95 per cent confidence interval: 0·4 to 8·4). Clinical Significance: A lower prevalence of meticillin‐resistant S aureus was observed in the environment than previously reported. The location, relatedness between isolates and the presence of Panton‐Valentine leucocidin indicates that the source of the environmental meticillin‐resistant S aureus was most likely to have been human rather than animal in these cases. This study presents important information regarding the potential source and distribution of meticillin‐resistant S aureus within veterinary hospital environments and highlights potential variability of prevalence of meticillin‐resistant S aureus within and between veterinary institutions.
Prevalence of diagnostic characteristics indicating canine autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis in giant schnauzer and hovawart dogs
Authors: Ferm K. , Björnerfeldt S. , Karlsson Å. , Andersson G. , Nachreiner R. , Hedhammar Å. 
Published: March 2009

Objectives:To investigate prevalence of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAA) and/or elevated levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), indicating canine autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT) and/or hypothyroidism, in two high‐risk dog breeds.Methods:A cohort study was conducted in two birth cohorts of giant schnauzer and hovawart dogs. The cohorts were three to four and six to seven years of age at the time of blood sampling and screening for TgAA and TSH levels. Blood sampling was accompanied by one initial and one follow‐up questionnaire to the dog owners. A total number of 236 giant schnauzers and 95 hovawarts were included in the study.Results:Seventeen (7.2 per cent) giant schnauzers and three (3·2 per cent) hovawarts had been diagnosed as hypothyroid at the time of sampling. Out of the remaining dogs, 22 giant schnauzers (10·0 per cent) and nine hovawarts (10·1 per cent) had elevated TgAA and/or TSH levels. Prevalence of elevated TgAA and TSH levels varied with age.ClinicalSignificance:The high prevalence of diagnostic characteristics indicating CLT/hypothyroidism in these two breeds suggests a strong genetic predisposition. It would be advisable to screen potential breeding stock for TSH and TgAA as a basis for genetic health programmes to reduce prevalence of CLT in these breeds.
U2 snRNA variants are differentially incorporated into spliceosomes
Authors: SOMARELLI Jason A. , MESA Annia , SMAIL Shamayra S. , ARES Angel L. , HERRERA Rene J. 
Published: March 2009

AbstractIn this study, five U2 small nuclear (sn)RNA variants were detected in the posterior silk gland of the Bombyx mori Nistari strain, one of which represents a novel U2 isoform not previously identified in other strains of this species. Following glycerol gradient ultracentrifugation of B. mori silk gland whole cell lysate, the newly isolated variant, U2α, was detected at a greater frequency in total cell lysate than in a high density glycerol gradient fraction rich in spliceosomal complexes. Conversely, previously identified isoforms U2A, U2B, U2D and U2N are abundant in the fraction containing high molecular weight spliceosomal complexes, possibly indicating their greater involvement in splicing. As expected, western blot and semi‐quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction experiments indicate high levels of specific serine and arginine rich (SR) proteins and total U2 snRNA (all variants included) in the fraction enriched in spliceosomes. Free energy values for each U2 isoform, as well as their individual stem‐loops, were estimated to determine their structural stability. Due to the essential role of U2 in the transesterification reactions, it is possible that these isoforms may modulate splicing through differential incorporation into the spliceosome.
Peptide‐based polyclonal antibody against mosquito 14‐3‐3ζ recognizes 14‐3‐3 homolog from dipteran and lepidopteran insects
Authors: KIM Sun Am , NOH Mi Young , JO Yong Hun , OH Seung Han , KIM Iksoo , LEE Yong Seok , KIM Heung Cheol , SEO Sook Jae , BANG In Seok , HAN Yeon Soo 
Published: March 2009

AbstractThe 14‐3‐3 proteins are known to play an important regulatory role in apoptosis, and various cell signaling cascades. However, no investigation on mosquito 14‐3‐3 has been reported. To investigate the role of 14‐3‐3 proteins in mosquito midgut cells undergoing apoptosis, we decided to take advantage of Anopheles gambiae genome data, and were able to find Ag14‐3‐3ζ cDNA and protein sequences from Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org). Further in silico analysis using BLAST search revealed that Ag14‐3‐3ζ protein is a polypeptide of 248 amino acids, and shares high identity with 14‐3‐3ζ homologues from Aedes aegypti (100%), Drosophila melanogaster (96%) and Bombyx mori (93%). Due to the perfect match and high homology, we hypothesized that Ag14‐3‐3ζ peptide antibody may recognize 14‐3‐3ζ homologs from other anopheline mosquitoes and insects. We thus generated 14‐3‐3ζ polyclonal antibody against a unique region located in the C‐terminal end of Ag14‐3‐3ζ after in silico epitope analysis. As expected, zoo‐western blot analysis of 14‐3‐3 proteins revealed that a polyclonal antibody against Ag14‐3‐3ζ peptide recognizes 14‐3‐3 homologs from dipteran and lepidopteran insects. To our knowledge, this is the first report on polyclonal antibody production against mosquito 14‐3‐3ζ. The mosquito‐based 14‐3‐3ζ antibody will be very useful for studying the functional characterization of 14‐3‐3ζ in the context of host–pathogen interactions in midgut and other immune cells.
Coagulation assessment by rotation thrombelastometry in normal pregnancy
Authors: Carrabin Nicolas , Benchaib Mehdi , Fontaine Oriane , Levrat Albrice , Massignon Denis , Touzet Sandrine , Rudigoz René-Charles , Berland Michel , Huissoud Cyril 
Published: March 2009

SummaryWe analysed changes in coagulation during normal pregnancy with a novel point-of-care device based on thrombelastometry (ROTEM®). We compared the results obtained with those of standard coagulation tests in 104 patients: 20 non-pregnant women (controls) and 84 women in the first (T1, n=17), second (T2, n=9) and third (T3, n=58) trimesters of pregnancy. We measured the clotting time (CT), the maximum clot firmness (MCF), the early clot amplitude at 5 and 15 minutes (CA5, CA15) and the clot lysis index (CLI30) with four tests containing specific reagents. (a) The INTEM® test involving ellagic acid activated the intrinsic pathway and (b) the EXTEM® test using tissue factor triggered the extrinsic pathway; (c) The FIBTEM® test based on a platelet inhibitor (cytochalasin D) evaluated the contribution of fibrinogen to clot formation and (d) the APTEM® test was similar to the EXTEM but was based on inhibition in vitro of fibrinolysis by aprotinin. CT and CLI30 were not significantly modified during pregnancy whereas MCF, CA5 and CA15 (INTEM, EXTEM, FIBTEM) increased significantly between the second and third trimesters (e.g. median [interquartile range]: MCF-FIBTEM, 13 [11–16] mm vs. 19 [17–23] mm, respectively, in controls and T3, p< 0.001). EXTEM values were not significantly different from those measured with APTEM. There were significant correlations between the results obtained with ROTEM and those from standard coagulation tests. ROTEM analysis showed a marked increase in coagulability during normal pregnancy. ROTEM values may serve as the basis for future studies in pregnant women.