bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MARGINAL DISTRIBUTIONS FOR COSMIC VARIANCE LIMITED COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND POLARIZATION DATA
Authors: Eriksen H. K. , Wehus I. K. 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACT
We provide computationally convenient expressions for all marginal distributions of the polarization cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum distribution P(C
ℓ|σℓ), where C
ℓ = {C
TT
ℓ, C
TE
ℓ, C
EE
ℓ, C
BB
ℓ} denotes the set of ensemble-averaged polarization CMB power spectra, and σℓ = {σTT
ℓ, σTE
ℓ, σEE
ℓ, σBB
ℓ} the set of the realization-specific polarization CMB power spectra. This distribution describes the CMB posterior power spectrum for cosmic variance limited data. The expressions derived here are general, and may be useful in a wide range of applications. Two specific applications are described in this paper. First, we employ the derived distributions within the CMB Gibbs sampling framework and demonstrate a new conditional CMB power spectrum sampling algorithm that allows for different binning schemes for each power spectrum. This is useful because most CMB experiments have very different signal-to-noise ratios for temperature and polarization. Second, we provide new Blackwell–Rao estimators for each of the marginal polarization distributions, which are relevant to power spectrum and likelihood estimation. Because these estimators represent marginals, they are not affected by the exponential behavior of the corresponding joint expression, but converge quickly.
A randomized trial of home telemonitoring in a typical elderly heart failure population in North West London: results of the Home‐HF study
Authors: Dar Owais , Riley Jillian , Chapman Callum , Dubrey Simon W. , Morris Stephen , Rosen Stuart D. , Roughton Michael , Cowie Martin R. 
Published: January 2009

AimsHeart failure chiefly affects the elderly, with frequent emergency admissions. Telemonitoring can identify worsening heart failure but previous randomized trials have enrolled selected patient populations. The Home‐HF study examined the impact of home telemonitoring on typical heart failure patients discharged from three acute hospitals in North West London, UK.Methods and resultsPatients hospitalized with heart failure were randomized to telemonitoring or usual specialist care. Primary outcome measures were days alive and out of hospital. Secondary outcome measures were number and duration of heart failure hospitalizations, clinic visits, and quality of life. We recruited 182 patients. There was no difference in the primary outcome measure in the two groups, but there were significantly fewer unplanned hospitalizations for heart failure decompensation, and a reduction in clinic and emergency room visits in the telemonitoring group. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean direct health service costs.ConclusionHome telemonitoring in a typical elderly population of heart failure patients produces a similar outcome to ‘usual’ specialist care, but reduces clinic and emergency room visits and unplanned heart failure rehospitalizations at little additional cost. This method of disease monitoring may allow specialist services to increase the number of patients under their care.
Relationship between oxidative stress‐related biomarkers and antioxidant status with asthma and atopy in young adults: a population‐based study
Authors: García‐Larsen V. , Chinn S. , Rodrigo R. , Amigo H. , Bustos P. , Rona R. J. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryBackground and aim
Enhanced oxidative stress has been described in adults who suffer from symptoms of asthma and poor lung function. This study assessed the relation between markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status and lung function, symptoms of asthma, atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in young adults.Methods
A sub‐sample of 589 individuals aged 22–28 years, selected from a total of 1232 included in a survey assessing early and current risk factors for chronic diseases, participated in the study. Participants were from an agricultural area of Chile, responded to a Spanish version of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire, were skin tested to eight allergens, and challenged with methacholine to assess BHR. Five hundred and eighty‐five individuals had measures of plasma biomarkers ferric reducing ability of plasma, uric acid, protein carbonyls and 564 had 8‐iso‐prostaglandin F2α (8‐iso‐PGF2α) assessed.Results
All participants had detectable plasma 8‐iso‐PGF2α and carbonyl levels. There was no indication for an association between markers of antioxidant status or oxidative stress with any of the outcomes studied.Conclusion
The levels of oxidative stress‐related biomarkers and antioxidant status in plasma may not be related to asthma in the general population in the absence of more severe symptoms or exacerbations.
Effect of levocetirizine on nasal provocation testing with adenosine monophosphate compared with allergen challenge in allergic rhinitis
Authors: Vaidyanathan S. , Nair A. , Barnes M. L. , Meldrum K. , Lipworth B. J. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryBackground
End‐organ hyperreactivity is an important feature of the allergic airway. There are no data directly comparing the responsiveness to treatment of different nasal provocation tests (NPT).Objective
We compared the effect of levocetirizine on nasal adenosine 5′‐monophosphate (AMP) with specific allergen challenge in patients with intermittent and persistent allergic rhinitis (AR).Methods
Patients with AR were randomized in double‐blind cross‐over fashion to receive single doses of levocetirizine 5 mg or identical placebo, with nasal challenge performed 12 h after dosing. Sixteen participants completed per protocol. Nasal AMP or allergen challenge was conducted on separate days with 1‐ and 2‐week washout periods in between, respectively. Measurements of peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) were made over 60 min after each challenge. The primary end‐point was the provocative concentration of AMP or allergen causing a 20% drop in the PNIF (PC20).Results
The time‐profile for PNIF recovery [area under the 60 min time–response curve as % PNIF change (min)] were significantly attenuated for AMP challenge, as mean difference [95% confidence interval (CI)]: 11.57 (3.87, 19.25), P=0.005 and for allergen challenge: 17.82 (0.11, 35.53), P=0.04. A highly significant correlation was shown between methods for the area under the curve: (R=0.86, P<0.001). A statistically significant correlation was also seen for the PC20: (R=0.94, P<0.001). PC20 improvement amounted to a 1.26 (95% CI 0.16, 2.35) and 0.16 (95% CI −0.41, 0.73) doubling‐dilution shifts for allergen and AMP challenges, respectively. Bland–Altman plots confirmed good agreement between methods.Conclusion
A high correlation and statistical agreement has been demonstrated between AMP and allergen challenge for all outcome measures. In particular, the recovery profile after NPT is a sensitive and discriminatory measure of anti‐allergic treatment.
On the origin and specificity of antibodies to neuromuscular blocking (muscle relaxant) drugs: an immunochemical perspective
Authors: Baldo B. A. , Fisher M. M. , Pham N. H. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryFollowing the demonstration 25 years ago that substituted ammonium groups on neuromuscular blocking drugs (NMBDs) are the main allergenic structures recognized by IgE antibodies in the sera of some patients who experience anaphylaxis during anaesthesia, immunoassays for these drugs were quickly applied to supplement skin tests in the diagnostic assessment of suspected adverse reactions to anaesthetic agents. Many subjects who react to an NMBD do so on first exposure and this led to the speculation that the origin of allergic sensitization is an environmental agent(s) or another drug containing an ammonium ion. Direct antibody binding and hapten inhibition studies revealed that morphine, which contains a tertiary amino group, was strongly recognized by IgE in sera from anaphylactic patients and a morphine‐solid phase immunoassay was found to be superior to NMBD‐based assays for the detection of NMBD‐reactive IgE antibodies. Extensive inhibition experiments indicate the likelihood of antibody combining site heterogeneity with recognition at the fine structural level of features additional, and adjacent to, ammonium ions. Further quantitative investigations are needed to identify these neighbouring groups on different NMBDs. Recent work has implicated the morphine analogue pholcodine as the sensitizing agent in Norway where, unlike Sweden, anaphylactic reactions to NMBDs are not uncommon and the medicament is available over‐the‐counter. This has led to the suggestion that allergenic sensitization to the ammonium group of pholcodine may account for the different incidences of anaphylaxis during anaesthesia in the two countries. This work is subjected to critical review and some alternative speculations on the nature and origin of the sensitizing agent(s) are presented.
Relevance of the hygiene hypothesis to early vs. late onset allergic rhinitis
Authors: Matheson M. C. , Walters E. H. , Simpson J. A. , Wharton C. L. , Ponsonby A.‐L. , Johns D. P. , Jenkins M. A. , Giles G. G. , Hopper J. L. , Abramson M. J. , Dharmage S. C. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryIntroduction
The hygiene hypothesis proposes that reduced exposure to infections in early life increases the risk of developing allergic conditions including allergic rhinitis. We examined the association between markers of the hygiene hypothesis and allergic rhinitis that developed before 7 years of age and allergic rhinitis that developed after 7 years of age.Methods
The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) is a population‐based cohort (n=8583) study of respiratory disease. Participants have been followed from 7 to 44 years of age. Information on potential risk factors, allergies and respiratory symptoms was collected longitudinally. Using multi‐nomial logistic regression, exposure to siblings, infections, tonsillectomy and farm residence during childhood were examined as risk factors for allergic rhinitis that developed before or after 7 years of age. All analyses were adjusted for gender, maternal and paternal atopy, mother's age at participant's birth, paternal socio‐economic status in 1968 and personal socio‐economic status in 2004.Results
Greater cumulative exposure to siblings before the age of 2 years was strongly inversely associated with early onset allergic rhinitis (<1 year sib exposure: OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.3–1.0; 1–3 years sib exposure: OR=0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.9; >3 years sib exposure: OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.3–0.8) less so with later onset allergic rhinitis. The risk of early onset allergic rhinitis decreased with increasing viral infections (OR=0.7, 95% CI 0.5–0.9) during childhood. Having a tonsillectomy before 7 years of age increased the risk of early onset allergic rhinitis (OR=1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.5). None of these factors was associated with later onset allergic rhinitis.Conclusions
Exposures relevant to the hygiene hypothesis were important predictors for the development of early onset but less so for later onset allergic rhinitis. The exact mechanisms by which siblings and infections protect against allergic rhinitis are unclear. The stronger findings for earlier onset allergic rhinitis suggest that family structure and infections have most impact on disease risk in early life. Further research should focus on early onset allergic rhinitis when exploring causal explanations for any sibling effect.
Interannual spatial variability of krill (Euphausia superba) influences seabird foraging behavior near Elephant Island, Antarctica
Authors: SANTORA JARROD A. , REISS CHRISTIAN S. , COSSIO ANTHONY M. , VEIT RICHARD R. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractWe investigate the influence of krill (principally Euphausia superba) patchiness on the foraging distributions of seabirds to understand how variation in krill influences patch dynamics between krill and birds. At sea‐surveys were conducted near Elephant Island, Antarctica, for 3 yr (2004–2006) during the annual U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) program. Standardized strip‐transect surveys were used to map seabirds, and a combination of acoustic and net surveys was used to map krill. We measured patch size of krill and seabirds and elucidated how krill patch dynamics influence foraging seabirds. The spatial association between krill and predators was influenced by the size and arrangement of krill patches. We found a negative relationship between abundance and patchiness of krill and predators, indicating that when krill is less abundant, its predators are less abundant and concentrated. We conclude that annual patch dynamics of krill strongly influences the local abundance and distribution of seabirds. Such information should be used to interpret potential interactions between seabirds and krill fisheries operating near Elephant Island.
Application of environmental scanning electron microscopy to determine biological surface structure
Authors: KIRK S.E. , SKEPPER J.N. , DONALD A.M. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe use of environmental scanning electron microscopy in biology is growing as more becomes understood about the advantages and limitations of the technique. These are discussed and we include new evidence about the effect of environmental scanning electron microscopy imaging on the viability of mammalian cells. We show that although specimen preparation for high‐vacuum scanning electron microscopy introduces some artefacts, there are also challenges in the use of environmental scanning electron microscopy, particularly at higher resolutions. This suggests the two technologies are best used in combination. We have used human monocyte‐derived macrophages as a test sample, imaging their complicated and delicate membrane ruffles and protrusions. We have also explored the possibility of using environmental scanning electron microscopy for dynamic experiments, finding that mammalian cells cannot be imaged and kept alive in the environmental scanning electron microscopy. The dehydration step in which the cell surface is exposed causes irreversible damage, probably via loss of membrane integrity during liquid removal in the specimen chamber. Therefore, mammalian cells should be imaged after fixation where possible to protect against damage as a result of chamber conditions.
A practical calibration procedure for fluorescence colocalization at the single organelle level
Authors: ANLAUF E. , DEROUICHE A. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryWe have determined practical requirements for antigen colocalization on subcellular structures. The calibration standards used were 175‐nm fluorescent microspheres and microtubules (∼255  nm) in cultured astrocytes. The colocalization problem became apparent with detection of anti‐α‐tubulin labelling in three colour channels, when images were not identical. Complete superimposition could only be achieved by shifting the single colour image stacks relative to one another in three dimension, and images in the xy plane. The errors could be traced in chromatic aberration (100 nm each between blue and green, and green and red), and to a lateral pixel shift (∼150 nm). For such colocalization, it was essential to apply image projection on the camera chip at high magnification (200×), focus steps (100 nm) smaller than required by the Nyquist criterion and very narrow band filter sets, in addition to high‐aperture achromat lenses. Several steps in the deconvolution settings and in 3D reconstruction had to be standardized. As a result, the 175‐nm microspheres, which displayed roughly symmetric diffraction patterns above and below the object plane, were reconstructed as spherical objects. Several neighbouring microtubules could be resolved with a limit <200 nm. Also, three‐colour colocalization on a single tubule was validated. Applying this setup, it was possible to colocalize several antigens in astrocytes, at the level of organelles, presumptive exocytosis vesicles. We colocalized glutamate and 14‐3‐3 protein as well as synaptophysin and 14‐3‐3 protein, which may be involved in early steps of exocytosis. The practical parameters validate colocalization on subcellular structures at a resolution limit below conventional light microscopy.
An atomic force microscope operating at hypergravity for in situ measurement of cellular mechano‐response
Authors: VAN LOON J.J.W.A. , VAN LAAR M.C. , KORTERIK J.P. , SEGERINK F.B. , WUBBELS R.J. , DE JONG H.A.A. , VAN HULST N.F. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryWe present a novel atomic force microscope (AFM) system, operational in liquid at variable gravity, dedicated to image cell shape changes of cells in vitro under hypergravity conditions. The hypergravity AFM is realized by mounting a stand‐alone AFM into a large‐diameter centrifuge. The balance between mechanical forces, both intra‐ and extracellular, determines both cell shape and integrity. Gravity seems to be an insignificant force at the level of a single cell, in contrast to the effect of gravity on a complete (multicellular) organism, where for instance bones and muscles are highly unloaded under near weightless (microgravity) conditions. However, past space flights and ground based cell biological studies, under both hypogravity and hypergravity conditions have shown changes in cell behaviour (signal transduction), cell architecture (cytoskeleton) and proliferation. Thus the role of direct or indirect gravity effects at the level of cells has remained unclear. Here we aim to address the role of gravity on cell shape. We concentrate on the validation of the novel AFM for use under hypergravity conditions. We find indications that a single cell exposed to 2 to 3 × g reduces some 30–50% in average height, as monitored with AFM. Indeed, in situ measurements of the effects of changing gravitational load on cell shape are well feasible by means of AFM in liquid. The combination provides a promising technique to measure, online, the temporal characteristics of the cellular mechano‐response during exposure to inertial forces.
Three‐dimensional reconstruction of the guinea pig inner ear, comparison of OPFOS and light microscopy, applications of 3D reconstruction
Authors: HOFMAN R. , SEGENHOUT J.M. , WIT H.P. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThree‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction of anatomical structures can give additional insight into the morphology and function of these structures. We compare 3D reconstructions of the guinea pig inner ear, using light microscopy and orthogonal plane fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy. Applications of 3D reconstruction of the inner ear are further explored. For each method two bullas were prepared for 3D reconstruction. Both methods are explained. In general, the 3D reconstructions using orthogonal plane fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy are superior to light microscopy. The exact spiral shape of the cochlea could be reconstructed using orthogonal plane fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy and the length of the basilar membrane measured. When a resolution of 20 μm is sufficient, orthogonal plane fluorescence optical sectioning microscopy is a superior technique for 3D reconstruction of inner ear structures in animals.
Microwave‐assisted rapid plant sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy
Authors: ZECHMANN B. , ZELLNIG G. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe preparation of plant leaf material for transmission electron microscopical investigations can be a very time‐ and labour‐consuming task as the reagents infiltrate the samples quite slowly and as usually most steps have to be performed manually. Fixation, buffer washes, dehydration, resin infiltration and polymerization of the resin‐infiltrated leaf samples can take several days before the specimen can be cut ultrathin and used for ultrastructural investigations. In this study, we present a microwave‐assisted automated sample preparation procedure that reduces preparation time from at least 3 days to about 5 h – with only a few steps that have to be performed manually – until the plant sample can be ultrathin sectioned and observed with the transmission electron microscope. For studying the efficiency of this method we have compared the ultrastructure of different leaf material (Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum and Picea abies) which was prepared with a conventional, well‐established chemical fixation and embedding protocol and a commercially available automated microwave tissue processor. Despite the massive reduction in sample preparation time no negative effects on cutting properties of the blocks, stability of the sections in the electron beam, contrast and ultrastructure of the cells were observed under the transmission electron microscope when samples were prepared with the microwave‐assisted protocol. Additionally, no negative effects were detected on the dimensions of fine structures of grana stacks (including membranes, inter‐ and intrathylakoidal spaces), the nuclear envelope and the plasma membrane as the diameter of these structural components did not differ between leaf samples (of the same species) that were processed with the automated microwave tissue processor or by conventional fixation and embedding at room temperature.
Stroboscopic near‐field imaging for the analysis of contraction of muscle cells
Authors: MORIGUCHI C. , EGAMI C. , KAWATA Y. , TERAKAWA S. , TSUCHIMORI M. , WATANABE O. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryWe have developed a stroboscopic near‐field optical microscope for observation of biological specimens and observed glycerinated muscles before and after muscle contraction with the developed system. In the system, the optical field distribution localized near the specimen is recorded as the surface topographic distribution of a photosensitive film surface. Our system is very useful for observing living biological specimens with high resolutions, because it is possible to get stroboscopic image by using a photosensitive film as detecting optical distributions instead of a scanning of probes. We have succeeded in observing inner structures of muscle cells with sub‐wavelength resolution and achieved higher contrast than an ordinary optical microscope.
Visualization of flagellar interactions on bacterial carpets
Authors: HESSE W.R. , KIM M.J. 
Published: January 2009

SummaryMethods for the in‐depth study of the physics of microscale actuation of microfluidics environments by flagellated bacteria ‘teamsters’ have been developed. These methods, which include single and multi‐colour fluorescent labelling and electron microscopy allow for the analysis of the effect that individual flagellar filaments have on bacterially driven microstructures, and allow for the investigation of the interaction and coordination of flagellar filaments of neighbouring bacteria on densely packed monolayers of bacteria, ‘bacterial carpets’. We show that the flagella of bacteria that are immobilized on a surface often interact with each other, and that the flagella of these bacteria do not often form multi‐flagella bundles that are aligned with the cell body.