bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review of the genus Leucophenga Mik (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in India, with descriptions of five new species from northern India
Authors: FARTYAL Rajendra S. , SINGH Birendra K. , TODA Masanori J. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractA review of all Indian Leucophenga species is given, including descriptions of five new species: L. champawatensis, L. chaubattiaensis, L. kumaonensis, L. nainae and L. neointerrupta. New collection records of some species from India and adjacent countries; namely, Myanmar and China, and distribution range of each species within India are also given. Keys to species groups and species occurring in India are provided.
Improvement in colour vision parameters following successful trabeculectomy
Authors: Magacho Leopoldo , Henderer Jeffrey D. , Lankaranian Dara , Steinmann William C. , Spaeth George L. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract.Purpose:  To determine whether colour vision improves following reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients. Methods:  The medical records of 29 glaucoma patients (41 eyes) were reviewed. Inclusion criteria required subjects to have made more than four visits to the Glaucoma Service Laboratory and to undergo a thorough eye examination including a Farnsworth−Munsell 100‐hue colour vision test and Goldmann tonometry before and after pressure lowering. Colour vision parameters of total error score (TES), yellow−blue score (YBS) and red−green score (RGS) were measured. The study group consisted of 21 eyes of glaucoma patients who underwent uncomplicated trabeculectomy with an IOP reduction of ≥ 20% from baseline. The control group consisted of 21 eyes of glaucoma patients matched for age and colour vision, who received medication and/or underwent surgery with a post‐intervention IOP reduction of < 20% from baseline. The primary outcome was a comparison of pre‐ and post‐intervention colour vision parameters between the two groups. Results:  There was a statistically significant improvement in TES (43 ± 44, p < 0.001), RGS (19 ± 27, p = 0.0077) and YBS (23 ± 29, p = 0.0007) in the study group compared with the control group. The improvement in TES (r = 0.52, p < 0.001), RGS (r = 0.55, p < 0.001) and YBS (r = 0.40, p = 0.008) was correlated with the percentage of IOP reduction. There was no statistically significant difference between improvement in Y−B and R−G scores in the study group. Conclusion:  Intraocular pressure reduction of ≥ 20% post‐trabeculectomy was associated with an improvement in colour vision. Colour vision tests may be useful as an adjunctive outcome measure for therapeutic interventions.
Quantitative analysis of MC1R gene expression in human skin cell cultures
Authors: Roberts Donald W. , Newton Richard A. , Beaumont Kimberley A. , Helen Leonard J. , Sturm Richard A. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryTo address the issue of melanocortin‐1 receptor (MC1R) expression in non‐melanocytic cells, we have quantitatively evaluated the relative expression levels of both MC1R mRNA and protein in a subset of different cell types. Using semi‐quantitative reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) at high cycle numbers, we detected MC1R mRNA in all cell types examined, including human embryonic kidney‐293 (HEK 293) cells, a cell type widely used as a negative control in melanocortin expression studies. Quantitative real‐time PCR revealed the highest levels of MC1R transcripts were in melanocytic cells, whereas the keratinocyte and fibroblast cell cultures examined had only a low level of expression, similar to that of HEK 293 cells. Antibody mediated detection of MC1R protein in membrane extracts demonstrated exogenous receptor in MC1R transfected cell lines, as well as endogenous MC1R in melanoma cells. However, radioligand binding procedures were required to detect MC1R protein of normal human melanocytes and no surface expression of MC1R was detected in any of the non‐melanocytic cells examined. This was consistent with their low level of mRNA, and suggests that, if present, the levels of surface receptor are significantly lower than that in melanocytes. The capacity of such limited levels of MC1R protein to influence non‐melanocytic skin cell biology would likely be severely compromised. Indeed, the MC1R agonist [NIe4, D‐Phe7] alpha‐melanocyte stimulating hormone (NDP–MSH) was unable to elevate intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in the keratinocyte and fibroblast cells examined, whereas a robust increase was elicited in melanocytes. Although there are a variety of cell types with detectable MC1R mRNA, the expression of physiologically significant levels of the receptor may be more restricted than the current literature indicates, and within epidermal tissue may be limited to the melanocyte.
Studies of pigment transfer between Xenopus laevis melanophores and fibroblasts in vitro and in vivo1
Authors: Aspengren Sara , Hedberg Daniel , Wallin Margareta 
Published: December 2005

SummaryFrog melanophores rapidly change colour by dispersion or aggregation of melanosomes. A long‐term colour change exists where melanosomes are released from melanophores and transferred to surrounding skin cells. No in vitro model for pigment transfer exists for lower vertebrates. Frog melanophores of different morphology exist both in epidermis where keratinocytes are present and in dermis where fibroblasts dominate. We have examined whether release and transfer of melanosomes can be studied in a melanophore‐fibroblast co‐culture, as no frog keratinocyte cell line exists. Xenopus laevis melanophores are normally cultured in conditioned medium from fibroblasts and fibroblast‐derived factors may be important for melanophore morphology. Melanin was exocytosed as membrane‐enclosed melanosomes in a process that was upregulated by α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone (α‐MSH), and melanosomes where taken up by fibroblasts. Melanosome membrane‐proteins seemed to be of importance, as the cluster‐like uptake pattern of pigment granules was distinct from that of latex beads. In vivo results confirmed the ability of dermal fibroblasts to engulf melanosomes. Our results show that cultured frog melanophores can not only be used for studies of rapid colour change, but also as a model system for long‐term colour changes and for studies of factors that affect pigmentation.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FOOT IN HORSES WITH PALMAR FOOT PAIN AND CONTROL HORSES
Authors: Murray Rachel C. , Schramme Michael C. , Dyson Sue J. , Branch Marion V. , Blunden Tony S. 
Published: December 2005

Palmar foot pain is a common cause of lameness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential to detect damage in all tissues of the equine foot, but an understanding of the differences in magnetic resonance (MR) images between feet from horses with and without palmar foot pain is required. This study aimed to describe MR findings in feet from horses with no history of foot‐related lameness, and to compare these with MR findings in horses with lameness improved by palmar digital local analgesia.Thirty‐four limbs from horses euthanized with a clinical diagnosis of navicular syndrome (lameness >2 months duration, positive response to palmar digital nerve blocks and absence of other forelimb problems) (Group L), and 25 feet from age‐matched horses with no history of foot pain (Group N) were examined. For each anatomic structure, MR signal intensity and homogeneity, size, definition of margins, and relationships with other structures were described. Alterations in MR signal intensity and homogeneity were graded as mild, moderate, or severe and compared between Groups L and N.Results revealed that there were significant differences in MR images between Groups N and L. Multiple moderate–severe MR signal changes were present in 91% of limbs from Group L and moderate (none were graded severe) in 27% of limbs from Group N. In most Group L limbs, more than three structures and frequently six to eight structures were abnormal. Concomitant abnormalities involved most frequently the deep digital flexor tendon, distal sesamoidean impar ligament, navicular bone, collateral sesamoidean ligament, and navicular bursa (with significant associations in severity grade between these structures), sometimes with involvement of the distal interphalangeal joint and/or its collateral ligaments.It was concluded that findings on MR images were different between horses with and without foot pain, and that pain localized to the foot was associated with MR changes in a variety of structures, indicating that damage to several structures may occur concurrently and that MR imaging was useful for evaluation of foot pain.
A simple method for estimating nitrate nitrogen concentrations of standing Sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf) and Sudan‐type sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench ×S. sudanense) at the heading stage by the nitrate nitrogen concentration of the stem juice and the dry matter ratio
Authors: Sunaga Yoshihito , Harada Hisatomi , Hatanaka Tetsuya 
Published: December 2005

AbstractA simple method for estimating the nitrate nitrogen (NO3‐N) concentrations of standing Sudangrass and Sudan‐type sorghum at the heading stage was developed. It has been reported that the NO3‐N concentrations on a dry matter basis of these crops could be estimated from multiplying the concentration factors (CF) by the dilution factors (DF): CF was the NO3‐N concentration of the stem on a fresh matter basis and DF was the dry matter partitioning ratio of the stem divided by the dry matter ratio of the stem. In the present study, the methods for estimating the CF by NO3‐N analysis of the stem juice and the DF by the dry matter ratio of the whole crop were examined. One half of all 68 harvests was used for the CF and DF predictions, and the other half was used to validate these and NO3‐N concentration estimations. The regression equation for estimating the CF from NO3‐N concentrations of the stem juice was: CF (g kg−1 FM) = 0.61 × NO3‐N concentrations of the stem juice at the 25% position (g L−1), which means at a position corresponding to 25% of the total stem length from the bottom, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.908. The quadratic equation obtained from the relationship between the DF and the dry matter ratio of the whole crop (DM%) was: DF = 0.00652DM%2 − 0.492DM% + 11.29, and R2 = 0.953. In a comparison between the estimates and the actual CF and DF measurements for the validation samples, the CF and DF could be estimated with a high degree of accuracy from each estimate equation with an R2 of 0.845 and 0.958, respectively. The NO3‐N concentration estimates, calculated by multiplying the estimated CF by the estimated DF, corresponded to the analytical values by the established method with an R2 of 0.893.
Age‐related increase in levels of insecticidal protein in the progenies of transgenic oilseed rape and its efficacy against a susceptible strain of diamondback moth
Authors: Wei W. , Schuler T.H. , Clark S.J. , Stewart C.N. , Poppy G.M. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractMany crops transformed with insecticidal genes isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) show resistance to targeted insect pests. The concentration of Bt endotoxin proteins in plants is very important in transgenic crop efficacy and risk assessment. In the present study, changes in levels of Cry1Ac protein in the leaves of transgenic Bt oilseed rape (Brassica napus) carrying a Bt cry1Ac gene under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter were quantified during vegetative growth by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Plants were grown in a glasshouse, sampled at 2, 4, 5 and 6 weeks, and the concentration of Cry1Ac was quantified in basal, top and previous top leaves. The mean concentration differed between sowing dates when Cry1Ac concentration was expressed as ng g−1 fresh leaf weight but not when expressed as ng mg−1 total soluble protein. It was demonstrated that Cry1Ac concentration increased significantly as the leaf aged, while the total soluble plant protein decreased significantly. Levels of Cry1Ac were therefore higher in leaves at the base of the plants than in leaves close to the growing point. However, even young leaves with very low Cry1Ac concentrations caused high mortality in the larvae of a Cry1Ac‐susceptible laboratory strain of the diamondback moth. The feeding area of leaves consumed by larvae in vivo and in situ was similar. Leaf damage caused by sampling (i.e. artificially) or by feeding of larvae did not affect the levels of Cry1Ac in the leaves under the experimental conditions in this study.
Effects of 2‐benzoxazolinone on the germination, early growth and morphogenetic response of mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)
Authors: Singh H.P. , Batish D.R. , Kaur S. , Setia N. , Kohli R.K. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract2‐Benzoxazolinone (BOA), a type of hydroxamic acid present in cereals and implicated in allelopathy, is now being viewed as a potential candidate for the development of natural herbicides. A study was conducted to determine the effect of BOA on mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) through a multitude of bioassays to understand its physiological and biochemical action. It was observed that BOA significantly decreased the germination of mung bean and its early growth (measured in terms of seedling length and dry weight). A typical dose–response relationship was observed with BOA treatment, and I50 values (concentrations at which 50% inhibition occurs) for germination, seedling length and seedling dry weight were calculated to be 4.3, 0.71 and 0.77 mM, respectively. There was therefore a greater inhibitory effect on seedling growth than on germination. Treated seedlings were characterised by a loss of chlorophyll and decreased respiratory activity, indicating a possible adverse effect of BOA on photosynthetic and respiratory metabolism. Mitotic activity in root‐tip cells of onion (Allium cepa) was completely arrested in response to BOA treatment, and the cells exhibited abnormality in shape and size. BOA also adversely affected rhizogenesis in hypocotyl cuttings of mung bean, indicating an impact on morphogenetic potential. It was associated with significant changes in the protein content and activities of proteases and polyphenol oxidases during the root development phase. This study concludes that BOA interfered with essential biochemical processes in mung bean. Such studies provide useful information on the biochemical and physiological modes of actions of BOA, with a view to its use as a herbicidal compound.
Integrated Geophysical and Chemical Study of Saline Water Intrusion
Authors: Choudhury Kalpan , Saha D.K. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractSurface geophysical surveys provide an effective way to image the subsurface and the ground water zone without a large number of observation wells. DC resistivity sounding generally identifies the subsurface formations—the aquifer zone as well as the formations saturated with saline/brackish water. However, the method has serious ambiguities in distinguishing the geological formations of similar resistivities such as saline sand and saline clay, or water quality such as fresh or saline, in a low resistivity formation. In order to minimize the ambiguity and ascertain the efficacy of data integration techniques in ground water and saline contamination studies, a combined geophysical survey and periodic chemical analysis of ground water were carried out employing DC resistivity profiling, resistivity sounding, and shallow seismic refraction methods. By constraining resistivity interpretation with inputs from seismic refraction and chemical analysis, the data integration study proved to be a powerful method for identification of the subsurface formations, ground water zones, the subsurface saline/brackish water zones, and the probable mode and cause of saline water intrusion in an inland aquifer. A case study presented here illustrates these principles. Resistivity sounding alone had earlier failed to identify the different formations in the saline environment. Data integration and resistivity interpretation constrained by water quality analysis led to a new concept of minimum resistivity for ground water‐bearing zones, which is the optimum value of resistivity of a subsurface formation in an area below which ground water contained in it is saline/brackish and unsuitable for drinking.
Full‐Bayesian Inversion of the Edwards Aquifer
Authors: Jiang Yefang , Woodbury Allan D. , Painter Scott 
Published: December 2005

AbstractThe Bayesian inverse approach proposed by Woodbury and Ulrych (2000) is extended to estimate the transmissivity fields of highly heterogeneous aquifers for steady state ground water flow. Boundary conditions are Dirichlet and Neumann type, and sink and source terms are included. A first‐order approximation of Taylor's series for the exponential terms introduced by sinks and sources or the Neumann condition in the governing equation is adopted. Such a treatment leads to a linear finite element formulation between hydraulic head and the logarithm of the transmissivity—denoted as ln(T)—perturbations. An updating procedure similar to that of Woodbury and Ulrych (2000) can be performed. This new algorithm is examined against a generic example. It is found that the linearized solution approximates the true solution with an R2 coefficient = 0.96 for an ln(T) variance of 9 for the test case. The addition of hydraulic head data is shown to improve the ln(T) estimates, in comparison to simply interpolating the sparse ln(T) data alone. The new Bayesian code is also employed to calibrate a high‐resolution finite difference MODFLOW model of the Edwards Aquifer in southwest Texas. The posterior ln(T) field from this application yields better head fit when compared to the prior ln(T) field determined from upscaling and cokriging. We believe that traditional MODFLOW grids could be imported into the new Bayes code fairly seamlessly and thereby enhance existing calibration of many aquifers.
Defining and Managing Sustainable Yield
Authors: Maimone Mark 
Published: December 2005

AbstractGround water resource management programs are paying increasing attention to the integration of ground water and surface water in the planning process. Many plans, however, show a sophistication in approach and presentation that masks a fundamental weakness in the overall analysis. The plans usually discuss issues of demand and yield, yet never directly address a fundamental issue behind the plan—how to define sustainable yield of an aquifer system. This paper points out a number of considerations that must be addressed in defining sustainable yield in order to make the definition more useful in practical water resource planning studies. These include consideration for the spatial and temporal aspects of the problem, the development of a conceptual water balance, the influence of boundaries and changes in technology on the definition, the need to examine water demand as well as available supply, the need for stakeholder involvement, and the issue of uncertainty in our understanding of the components of the hydrologic system.
The effects of the myosin‐II inhibitor N‐benzyl‐p‐toluene sulphonamide on fatigue in mouse single intact toe muscle fibres
Authors: Bruton J. , Pinniger G. J. , Lännergren J. , Westerblad H. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractAim:  This study determined whether fatigue in skeletal muscle is primarily due to the repeated elevations of myoplasmic free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) or to metabolite accumulation.Methods:  We examined the effects of N‐benzyl‐p‐toluene sulphonamide (BTS) which is a potent and specific inhibitor of fast muscle myosin‐II on the development of fatigue in mouse flexor digitorum brevis (FDB) muscle fibres. Single intact FDB fibres were micro‐injected with indo‐1 to monitor changes in [Ca2+]i and stimulated repeatedly for a maximum of 150 tetani or until force declined to 40%.Results:  BTS markedly reduced tetanic force but had no effect on the tetanic [Ca2+]i transients. When fatigue was induced in the presence of BTS, the reduction in [Ca2+]i and force transients occurred much more slowly than in the absence of BTS. The extent of force depression was similar after induction of fatigue in fibres exposed to Tyrode only or to BTS and force recovered to the same extent.Conclusion:  The results suggest that the decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i and force caused during fatigue are due mainly to accumulated metabolic changes.
Counteracting venous stasis during acute lower leg immobilization
Authors: Poelkens F. , Thijssen D. H. J. , Kersten B. , Scheurwater H. , van Laarhoven E. W. , Hopman M. T. E. 
Published: December 2005

AbstractAim:  During lower limb immobilization, patients are at risk to develop deep venous thrombosis. Recently, a water‐pad was developed that should counteract venous stasis. The water‐pad, located under the plaster, mobilizes water from the foot to the calf during weight bearing and, thereby, imitates muscle pump function. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the water‐pad on venous pump function in healthy individuals.Methods:  In 21 healthy subjects (10 men and11 women) both legs were plastered. Venous pump function was assessed by plethysmography measuring lower leg venous ejection fraction and volume. Subjects were tilted from the supine position to upright standing to determine total venous volume. Hereafter, stepping was performed to measure venous ejection fraction and volume under different filling conditions of the water‐pad (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mL). Different sizes of water‐pads (small, medium and large) were applied to each plastered leg in order to test the effectiveness and to relate optimum size to anthropometrical data.Results:  The venous ejection fraction increased significantly from 30 ± 17% to a maximum of 42 ± 19% during stepping with increasing filling condition (RM anova; P = 0.009). Ejection volume also enhanced significantly during stepping with increasing filling condition from 1.3 ± 0.7 to 1.9 ± 0.9 mL (100 mL)−1 (RM anova; P = 0.006). The optimal filling condition of the water‐pad depended on the water‐pad size, while body height was the best predictive value for the water‐pad size (Pearson's R = 0.72, P < 0.001).Conclusion:  The filled water‐pad markedly increased the venous ejection fraction and volume of the lower leg during stepping, hereby counteracting stasis of venous blood in the immobilized lower leg. Therefore, the water‐pad seems to be a promising tool to prevent deep venous thrombosis during periods of lower leg immobilization.
Assessing the influence of environmental heterogeneity on bird spacing patterns: a case study with two raptors
Authors: Cornulier Thomas , Bretagnolle Vincent 
Published: December 2005

Testing for aggregation or regularity in point patterns is difficult in the presence of spatial variation in abundance due to environmental heterogeneity. Using a recently developed method generalizing Ripley's K function for non homogeneous point patterns, we test the aggregation of the nests in two species of birds (little owl and Montagu's harrier) exhibiting heterogeneous distributions in response to landscape structure. We compare the results obtained under different null models accounting for environmental heterogeneity at large and/or small spatial scales.Whereas both species were initially found to form clusters at some scale, taking spatial heterogeneity into account revealed that 1) territorial little owls showed no clustering of territories when habitat availability was considered; 2) semi‐colonial harriers still formed significant clusters, but part of the aggregation in this species could be explained by landscape structure alone. Our results highlight that it is feasible and highly recommended to account for non‐stationarity when testing for aggregation. Further, provided that sufficient knowledge of the study system is available, this approach helps to identify behavioural and environmental components of spatial variation in abundance. Additionally, we demonstrate that accounting for large or small‐scale heterogeneity affects the perception of spacing behaviours differently, so that both need to be considered.