bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Double checking medicines: defence against error or contributory factor?
Authors: Armitage Gerry 
Published: September 2007

AbstractRationale and aim  The double checking of medicines in health care is a contestable procedure. It occupies an obvious position in health care practice and is understood to be an effective defence against medication error but the process is variable and the outcomes have not been exposed to testing. This paper presents an appraisal of the process using data from part of a larger study on the contributory factors in medication errors and their reporting.Methods  Previous research studies are reviewed; data are analysed from a review of 991 drug error reports and a subsequent series of 40 in‐depth interviews with health professionals in an acute hospital in northern England.Results  The incident reports showed that errors occurred despite double checking but that action taken did not appear to investigate the checking process. Most interview participants (34) talked extensively about double checking but believed the process to be inconsistent. Four key categories were apparent: deference to authority, reduction of responsibility, automatic processing and lack of time. Solutions to the problems were also offered, which are discussed with several recommendations.Conclusions  Double checking medicines should be a selective and systematic procedure informed by key principles and encompassing certain behaviours. Psychological research may be instructive in reducing checking errors but the aviation industry may also have a part to play in increasing error wisdom and reducing risk.
The development of probiotics for the control of multiple bacterial diseases of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)
Authors: Brunt J , Newaj‐Fyzul A , Austin B 
Published: September 2007

AbstractJB‐1 and GC2, which were equated with Bacillus sp. and Aeromonas sobria respectively, were recovered from the digestive tract of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss and ghost carp, Cyprinus sp. respectively, and demonstrated effectiveness as probiotics for the control of infections caused by Aeromonas salmonicida, Lactococcus garvieae, Streptococcus iniae, Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio ordalii and Yersinia ruckeri. When administered to rainbow trout (average weight = 12 g) for 14 days in feed dosed at 2 × 108 cells g−1 of feed, JB‐1 led to a reduction in mortalities to 0–13% after challenge with a range of bacterial pathogens compared to 80–100% mortalities of the controls. Similarly, use of GC2 reduced mortalities to 0–16% following the challenge compared to 80–100% mortalities of the controls. The mode of action reflected nutrition, production of inhibitory substances and stimulation of the innate immune responses. Specifically, JB‐1 and especially GC2 were positive for siderophore and chitinase production, and increased lysozyme, phagocytic and respiratory burst activity.
Susceptibility of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), to Edwardsiella ictaluri challenge following copper sulphate exposure
Authors: Griffin B R , Mitchell A J 
Published: September 2007

AbstractChannel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque), with or without a preliminary 24 h exposure to 2 mg copper sulphate L−1, were challenged with 7.5 × 106 colony forming units L−1 of Edwardsiella ictaluri to determine the effect of copper sulphate on disease resistance. Catfish previously exposed to copper sulphate were significantly more resistant to the bacterial challenge than those not exposed. Catfish not exposed to copper sulphate suffered 35.5% mortality while catfish exposed to copper sulphate experienced 14.1% mortality. Copper concentrations were the same in tank waters of both exposed and control fish at the time of challenge, eliminating the possibility that copper in the water may have been toxic to bacteria. Copper concentrations in freeze dried and ground tissues of unexposed, exposed, and purged channel catfish were highest in fish before copper sulphate exposures suggesting that elevated tissue levels of copper were not responsible for the increased resistance to bacterial challenge. Competition for sites of bacterial attachment to gill or epithelial cells may account for the reduction in mortality; although this is not supported by the low copper content of fish tissue after copper exposure.
Experimental exposure of zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton), to Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium peregrinum reveals the gastrointestinal tract as the primary route of infection: a potential model for environmental mycobacterial infection
Authors: Harriff M J , Bermudez L E , Kent M L 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThe natural route by which fish become infected with mycobacteria is unknown. Danio rerio (Hamilton) were exposed by bath immersion and intubation to Mycobacterium marinum and Mycobacterium peregrinum isolates obtained from diseased zebrafish. Exposed fish were collected over the course of 8 weeks and examined for the presence of mycobacteriosis. Mycobacteria were consistently cultured from the intestines, and often from the livers and spleens of fish exposed by both methods. Mycobacteria were not observed in the gills. Histological analysis revealed that fish infected with M. marinum often developed granulomas accompanied by clinical signs of mycobacteriosis, while infection with M. peregrinum infrequently led to clinical signs of disease. Passage of the bacteria through environmental amoebae (Acanthamoeba castellani) was associated with increased growth of M. peregrinum over the course of 8 weeks, when compared to infection with the bacteria not passed through amoebae. The results provide evidence that zebrafish acquire mycobacteria primarily through the intestinal tract, resulting in mycobacterial dissemination.
Increased systemic vascular resistance in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., affected with amoebic gill disease
Authors: Leef M J , Hill J V , Harris J O , Powell M D 
Published: September 2007

AbstractPrevious investigations into the pathophysiology of amoebic gill disease (AGD) have suggested that there are probable cardiovascular effects associated with this disease. In the present study Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were experimentally infected by cohabitation with diseased individuals. Two commonly used vasodilators, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and captopril, the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, were used as tools to investigate possible vasoconstriction and/or renin–angiotensin system (RAS) dysfunction in AGD‐affected animals. Within the SNP trial, results showed that AGD‐affected fish exhibited lowered cardiac output (Q), lowered cardiac stroke volume (VS) and a significantly elevated systemic vascular resistance (RS) compared with non‐affected naïve counterparts. These effects were totally abolished following SNP administration (40 μg kg−1), however significant cardiovascular effects associated with SNP were not observed. Within the captopril trial, where AGD‐affected fish were more diseased compared with the SNP trial, a significant hypertension was observed in AGD‐affected fish. Captopril administration (10−4 mol L−1 at 1 mL kg−1) resulted in a significant drop in dorsal aortic pressure (PDA) for both AGD‐affected and naïve control fish. In terms of peak individual responses, captopril administration effectively lowered PDA in both AGD‐affected and naïve control groups equally. The drop in PDA following SNP administration however was significantly greater in AGD‐affected fish potentially suggesting disease‐related vasoconstriction. The lack of significant cardiovascular effects directly associated with both SNP and captopril administrations possibly relate to the 6 h recovery period following surgical procedures. However, while variable, these results do suggest that there are significant cardiovascular effects including vasoconstriction and hypertension associated with AGD.
Suspected myocardial necrosis in farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.: a field case
Authors: Poppe T T , Taksdal T , Bergtun P H 
Published: September 2007

AbstractArteriosclerosis of the coronary artery has been described as a ‘fact of life’ for Pacific and Atlantic salmonids due to the high prevalence in spawning fish. The lesions are believed to be the result of overstretching of the highly distensible bulbus arteriosus whereby the endothelium of the main coronary vessel becomes mechanically damaged and a smooth muscle proliferation ensues with resultant partial occlusion of the vessel. The physiological significance for the function of the heart has yet to be demonstrated, but experimental studies show that, for example, swimming performance is compromised in fish in which the coronary artery has been ligated. This paper describes a case of myocardial necrosis in harvest‐size Atlantic salmon during and after transportation to the slaughterhouse. Mortality during this process reached 10% in some of the transports and affected fish showed characteristic signs of congestive cardiac failure. Histology revealed extensive myointimal proliferation in the coronary artery and patchy necrosis of the compact ventricular myocardium. Several unfavourable factors such as high water temperature, skeletal malformations and crowding all probably contributed to extra cardiac workload. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported field case showing a link between coronary lesions and severe cardiac pathology.
Detection of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) from the environment in the vicinity of IPNV‐infected Atlantic salmon farms in Scotland
Authors: Gregory A , Munro L A , Wallace I S , Bain N , Raynard R S 
Published: September 2007

AbstractInfectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) has been isolated from mussels, sediment and surface water in the vicinity of clinically infected salmon farms, at shore bases supplying the farms and for several hundred metres distance from farms in the direction of current flow. There was evidence of decreasing prevalence of IPNV in mussels from Shetland once IPN outbreaks subsided, indicating they are an unlikely source of re‐infection on farms. There was little evidence of persistence in the environment, although conclusions were complicated by the presence of IPNV on neighbouring farms 1 year after the outbreak.
Obesity‐induced inflammation: a metabolic dialogue in the language of inflammation
Authors: Ferrante A. W. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract.Obesity induces an inflammation state that is implicated in many clinically important complications, including insulin resistance, diabetes, atherosclerosis and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. Although the cause and the molecular participants in this process remain incompletely defined, adipose tissue has a central role. Obesity‐induced production of pro‐inflammatory molecules, typified by TNF‐α was recognized more than a dozen years ago, and since then more than two dozen other pro‐inflammatory molecules induced by obesity have been identified. More recently a critical role for immune cells, specifically mononuclear phagocytes, in generating the obesity‐induced inflammation has been identified. Defining the molecular and cellular components of obesity‐induced inflammation offers the potential of identifying therapeutic targets that can ameliorate the complications associated with obesity.
The value of infrared thermography for research on mammals: previous applications and future directions
Authors: MCCAFFERTY DOMINIC J. 
Published: September 2007

ABSTRACT

Infrared thermography (IRT) involves the precise measurement of infrared radiation which allows surface temperature to be determined according to simple physical laws. This review describes previous applications of IRT in studies of thermal physiology, veterinary diagnosis of disease or injury and population surveys on domestic and wild mammals.
IRT is a useful technique because it is non‐invasive and measurements can be made at distances of <1 m to examine specific sites of heat loss to >1000 m to count large mammals. Detailed measurements of surface temperature variation can be made where large numbers of temperature sensors would otherwise be required and where conventional solid sensors can give false readings on mammal coats. Studies need to take into account sources of error due to variation in emissivity, evaporative cooling and radiative heating of the coat.
Recent advances in thermal imaging technology have produced lightweight, portable systems that store digital images with high temperature and spatial resolution. For these reasons, there are many further opportunities for IRT in studies of captive and wild mammals.
Genetic isolation and cryptic variation within the Lycaena xanthoides species group (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Authors: OLIVER JEFFREY C. , SHAPIRO ARTHUR M. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractSpecies exist as biological entities with patterns of discontinuous phenotypic variation. However, the distinctness of taxa is called into question when morphological intermediates exist in areas of sympatry, reflecting either gene flow among variants of a species or hybridization between different species. Studying the partitioning of genetic variation provides a means to discern between the two possibilities. We used genetic and morphometric approaches to investigate the degree of isolation among the three members of the Lycaena xanthoides species group. Lycaena xanthoides, L. editha, and L. dione are predominantly allopatric and have been treated both as three separate species and as a single polytypic species. Using 618 bp of the mitochondrial gene COII, we found little phylogenetic resolution, but significant among‐taxa genetic variance partitioning. Divergence among these taxa has been relatively recent, as evidenced by relatively low pairwise sequence divergence. Also, the existence of two well‐supported clades within L. xanthoides sensu stricto, concordant with the Transverse Ranges of southern California, indicates divergence within this taxon, and a possible cryptic species. Significant morphological differentiation between L. editha and L. xanthoides supports the hypothesis that these taxa represent separate gene pools. Populations occurring in a narrow zone where the two species’ ranges approach are characterized by intermediate morphology, suggesting incomplete morphological divergence or recent hybridization. These findings highlight the utility of genetic data in inferring species boundaries and the identification of cryptic lineages.
Shared quantitative trait loci underlying the genetic correlation between continuous traits
Authors: GARDNER KYLE M. , LATTA ROBERT G. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractWe review genetic correlations among quantitative traits in light of their underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL). We derive an expectation of genetic correlation from the effects of underlying loci and test whether published genetic correlations can be explained by the QTL underlying the traits. While genetically correlated traits shared more QTL (33%) on average than uncorrelated traits (11%), the actual number of shared QTL shared was small. QTL usually predicted the sign of the correlation with good accuracy, but the quantitative prediction was poor. Approximately 25% of trait pairs in the data set had at least one QTL with antagonistic effects. Yet a significant minority (20%) of such trait pairs have net positive genetic correlations due to such antagonistic QTL ‘hidden’ within positive genetic correlations. We review the evidence on whether shared QTL represent single pleiotropic loci or closely linked monotropic genes, and argue that strict pleiotropy can be viewed as one end of a continuum of recombination rates where r = 0. QTL studies of genetic correlation will likely be insufficient to predict evolutionary trajectories over long time spans in large panmictic populations, but will provide important insights into the trade‐offs involved in population and species divergence.
Restrictive mating by females on black grouse leks
Authors: LEBIGRE C. , ALATALO R. V. , SIITARI H. , PARRI S. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractIn bird species with pair bonds, extra‐pair matings could allow females to choose genetically superior males. This is not needed in lekking species because female choice is not constrained by pairing opportunities. However, polyandry has been reported in most lekking species studied so far. Using 12 microsatellite loci, we determined the paternity of 135 broods of black grouse sampled between 2001 and 2005 (970 hatchlings and 811 adult birds genotyped). The paternity assignments were combined to lek observations to investigate the mating behaviour of black grouse females. About 10% of the matings seemed to take place with males displaying solitarily. Forty per cent of the copulations between males displaying on the studied leks and radio‐tagged females were not recorded. This was due to difficulties in identifying the females and because our observations did not cover all the possible time for matings. However, females of the undetected copulations had chosen males that were already known to be successful on the leks. There was a strong consistency between the observations and true paternity, even when the copulation was disturbed by a neighbouring male. Multiple mating and multiple paternities were rare. We can now confidently ascertain that most females mate only once with one male for the whole clutch. This mating behaviour requires that a single insemination is sufficient to fertilize a clutch and that females can determine whether the sperm has been successfully transferred. Grouse Tetraoninae with many lekking species may be the only bird taxon that has evolved these traits.
Hybridization in postglacial marine habitats
Authors: RIGINOS CYNTHIA , CUNNINGHAM CLIFFORD W. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractWithin the last few million years, repeated invasions from the North Pacific have brought evolutionarily divergent lineages ofMacoma balthicaclams into contact in the marginal and inland seas of northern Europe (Strelkovet al. 2007). These divergentM. balthicalineages now co‐occur and hybridize extensively, blurring the distinction between the lineages and with some populations best described as ‘hybrid swarms’. This scenario matches the prediction that hybridization between distinct genetic entities can generate evolutionary novelty, particularly in new environments where hybrid fitness is equal to or exceeds parental types (Arnold 1997; Seehausen 2004).
Molecular and quantitative trait variation across the native range of the invasive species Hypericum canariense: evidence for ancient patterns of colonization via pre‐adaptation?
Authors: DLUGOSCH K. M. , PARKER I. M. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractTo understand the success of invasive species, it is important to know whether colonization events are facilitated by adaptive evolution or are limited to sites where a species is pre‐adapted to thrive. Studies of the ancient colonization patterns of an invader in its native range provide an opportunity to examine its natural history of adaptation and colonization. This study uses molecular (internal transcribed spacer sequence and amplified fragment length polymorphism) and common garden approaches to assess the ancient patterns of establishment and quantitative trait evolution in the invasive shrub Hypericum canariense. This species has an unusually small and discrete native range in the Canary Islands. Our data reveal two genetic varieties with divergent life histories and different colonization patterns across the islands. Although molecular divergence within each variety is large (pairwise FST from 0.18 to 0.32 between islands) and nearly as great as divergence between them, life‐history traits show striking uniformity within varieties. The discrepancy between molecular and life‐history trait divergence points to the action of stabilizing selection within varieties and the influence of pre‐adaptation on patterns of colonization. The colonization history of H. canariense reflects how the relationship between selective environments in founding and source populations can dictate establishment by particular lineages and their subsequent evolutionary stasis or change.
Genetic response to rapid climate change: it's seasonal timing that matters
Authors: BRADSHAW W. E. , HOLZAPFEL C. M. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractThe primary nonbiological result of recent rapid climate change is warming winter temperatures, particularly at northern latitudes, leading to longer growing seasons and new seasonal exigencies and opportunities. Biological responses reflect selection due to the earlier arrival of spring, the later arrival of fall, or the increasing length of the growing season. Animals from rotifers to rodents use the high reliability of day length to time the seasonal transitions in their life histories that are crucial to fitness in temperate and polar environments: when to begin developing in the spring, when to reproduce, when to enter dormancy or when to migrate, thereby exploiting favourable temperatures and avoiding unfavourable temperatures. In documented cases of evolutionary (genetic) response to recent, rapid climate change, the role of day length (photoperiodism) ranges from causal to inhibitory; in no case has there been demonstrated a genetic shift in thermal optima or thermal tolerance. More effort should be made to explore the role of photoperiodism in genetic responses to climate change and to rule out the role of photoperiod in the timing of seasonal life histories before thermal adaptation is assumed to be the major evolutionary response to climate change.
The origins of weedy rice
Authors: KANE NOLAN C. , BAACK ERIC J. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractWhere do weeds come from? How do they evolve from nonweedy ancestors? In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Londo and Schaal examine the origin of weedy rice (Oryza sativa) populations in the USA. Analysing nuclear DNA sequence and microsatellite data, they show the importance of parallel evolution, hybridization, gene flow, and migration in the evolution of these weeds.
RrgA is a pilus‐associated adhesin in Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Nelson A. L. , Ries J. , Bagnoli F. , Dahlberg S. , Fälker S. , Rounioja S. , Tschöp J. , Morfeldt E. , Ferlenghi I. , Hilleringmann M. , Holden D. W. , Rappuoli R. , Normark S. , Barocchi M. A. , Henriques‐Normark B. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryAdherence to host cells is important in microbial colonization of a mucosal surface, and Streptococcus pneumoniae adherence was significantly enhanced by expression of an extracellular pilus composed of three subunits, RrgA, RrgB and RrgC. We sought to determine which subunit(s) confers adherence. Bacteria deficient in RrgA are significantly less adherent than wild‐type organisms, while overexpression of RrgA enhances adherence. Recombinant monomeric RrgA binds to respiratory cells, as does RrgC with less affinity, and pre‐incubation of epithelial cells with RrgA reduces adherence of wild‐type piliated pneumococci. Non‐adherent RrgA‐negative, RrgB‐ and RrgC‐positive organisms produce pili, suggesting that pilus‐mediated adherence is due to expression of RrgA, rather than the pilus backbone itself. In contrast, RrgA‐positive strains with disrupted rrgB and rrgC genes exhibit wild‐type adherence despite failure to produce pili by Western blot or immunoelectron microscopy. The density of bacteria colonizing the upper respiratory tract of mice inoculated with piliated RrgA‐negative pneumococci was significantly less compared with wild‐type; in contrast, non‐piliated pneumococci expressing non‐polymeric RrgA had similar numbers of bacteria in the nasopharynx as piliated wild‐type bacteria. These data suggest that RrgA is central in pilus‐mediated adherence and disease, even in the absence of polymeric pilus production.