bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetics of the allodapine bee genus Braunsapis: historical biogeography and long‐range dispersal over water
Authors: Fuller Susan , Schwarz Michael , Tierney Simon 
Published: October 2005

AbstractAim  A previous study of the allodapine bee genus Braunsapis suggested an African origin, with dispersal events into Madagascar and Asia, and from Asia into Australia. We re‐examine the phylogeny of this genus, using an expanded set of taxa from Madagascar and Malawi and additional sequence data, in order to determine the number of dispersals and the timeframe over which they occurred.Location  Africa, Madagascar, Malawi, Asia and Australia.Methods  One nuclear (EF‐1α F2) and two mitochondrial (CO1 and Cyt b) gene regions were sequenced for 36 allodapine bee species (including members of the genera Braunsapis, Nasutapis, Allodape, Allodapula, and Macrogalea) and one ceratinine species (Ceratina japonica). We used Bayesian analyses to examine phylogenetic structure and a penalized likelihood approach to estimate approximate ages for key divergences in our phylogeny.Results  Our analyses indicate a tropical African origin for Braunsapis in the early Miocene followed by very early dispersal into Asia and then a subsequent dispersal, following Asian diversification, into Australia during the late Miocene. There have also been two dispersals of Braunsapis from Africa to Madagascar and this result, when combined with phylogenetic and biogeographical data for other allodapines, suggests that these bees have the ability to cross moderately large ocean expanses. These dispersals may have been aided by the West Wind Drift, but rafting across the Mozambique Channel is also possible, and could be aided by the existence of developmental stages that require minimal or no feeding and by tolerance to sea water and spume. Accumulating evidence suggests that many biogeographical patterns in the southern hemisphere may be better explained by dispersal than by Gondwanan vicariance hypotheses. Our results add to this growing body of data and raise the possibility that some puzzling trans‐Indian Ocean distributions may also be explained by historical dispersal events across oceanic barriers that now seem insuperable.
Biogeographical and geological evidence for a smaller, completely‐enclosed Pacific Basin in the Late Cretaceous
Authors: McCarthy Dennis 
Published: October 2005

AbstractAim To use biogeographical, palaeomagnetic, palaeosedimentary, and plate circuit data from Late Cretaceous regions in and around the Pacific to test the plate tectonic hypothesis of a pre‐Pacific superocean.Location East Asia, Australia, Antarctica, the western Americas, and the Pacific.Methods Literature surveys of the distributions of Cretaceous, circum‐Pacific taxa were compared with palaeomagnetic and palaeosedimentary data. Uncontroversial plate motions based on seafloor spreading data were also used to test the results of the biogeographical and palaeomagnetic analyses.Results The distributions of Cretaceous terrestrial taxa, mostly dinosaurs, imply direct, continental connections between Australia and East Asia, East Asia and North America, North America and South America, South America and Antarctica, and Antarctica and Australia. Palaeomagnetic, palaeosedimentary, and basic plate circuit analyses require little to no latitudinal motion of the Pacific plate with respect to the surrounding continents. Specifically, the data implies that western North America, East Asia, and the Pacific plate all increased in latitude by roughly the same amount (c. 11 ± 5°) since the Campanian – and that the Pacific Ocean Basin has increased in length north‐to‐south.Main conclusions Each of the analyses provides independent corroboration for the same conclusion: the Late Cretaceous Pacific plate was completely enclosed by the surrounding continents and has not experienced significant latitudinal motion with respect to North America, East Asia, or the Bering land bridge. This contrasts significantly with the plate tectonic history of the Pacific, implying instead that the Pacific plate formedin situ, pushing the continents apart as the plate and basin expanded. These results also substantiate recent biogeographical analyses that have concluded that a narrower Pacific Ocean Basin in the Mesozoic and early Tertiary provides the most reasonable explanation for the great number of trans‐Pacific disjunctions of poor dispersing taxa.
Ca2+‐dependent lipid binding and membrane integration of PopA, a harpin‐like elicitor of the hypersensitive response in tobacco
Authors: Racapé Judith , Belbahri Lassaad , Engelhardt Stefan , Lacombe Benoit , Lee Justin , Lochman Jan , Marais Antoine , Nicole Michel , Nürnberger Thorsten , Parlange Francis , Puverel Sandrine , Keller Harald 
Published: October 2005

SummaryPopA is released by type III secretion from the bacterial plant pathogenRalstonia solanacearumand triggers the hypersensitive response (HR) in tobacco. The function of PopA remains obscure, mainly because mutants lacking this protein are not altered in their ability to interact with plants. In an attempt to identify the site of PopA activity in plant cells, we generated transgenic tobacco plants expressing thepopAgene under the control of an inducible promoter. Immunocytologic analysis revealed that the HR phenotype of these plants correlated with the presence of PopA at the plant plasma membrane. Membrane localization was observed irrespective of whether the protein was designed to accumulate in the cytoplasm or to be secreted by the plant cell, suggesting a general lipid‐binding ability. We found that the protein had a high affinity for sterols and sphingolipidsin vitroand that it required Ca2+for both lipid binding and oligomerization. In addition, the protein was integrated into liposomes and membranes fromXenopus laevisoocytes where it formed ion‐conducting pores. These characteristics suggest that PopA is part of a system that aims to attach the host cell plasma membrane and to allow molecules cross this barrier.
Fibronectin‐binding proteins of Staphylococcus aureus mediate activation of human platelets via fibrinogen and fibronectin bridges to integrin GPIIb/IIIa and IgG binding to the FcγRIIa receptor
Authors: Fitzgerald J. Ross , Loughman Anthony , Keane Fiona , Brennan Marian , Knobel Morris , Higgins Judy , Visai Livia , Speziale Pietro , Cox Dermot , Foster Timothy J. 
Published: October 2005

Summary Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of infective endocarditis (IE). Platelet activation promoted by S. aureus resulting in aggregation and thrombus formation is an important step in the pathogenesis of IE. Here, we report that the fibrinogen/fibronectin‐binding proteins FnBPA and FnBPB are major platelet‐activating factors on the surface of S. aureus from the exponential phase of growth. Truncated derivatives of FnBPA, presenting either the fibrinogen‐binding A domain or the fibronectin‐binding BCD region, each promoted platelet activation when expressed on the surface of S. aureus or Lactococcus lactis, indicating two distinct mechanisms of activation. FnBPA‐promoted platelet activation is mediated by fibrinogen and fibronectin bridges between the A domain and the BCD domains, respectively, to the low affinity form of the integrin GPIIb/IIIa on resting platelets. Antibodies recognizing the FnBPA A domain or the complex between the FnBPA BCD domains and fibronectin were essential for activation promoted by bacteria expressing the A domain or the BCD domain respectively. Activation was inhibited by a monoclonal antibody (IV‐3) specific for the FcγRIIa IgG receptor on platelets. We propose that the activation of quiescent platelets by bacteria expressing FnBPs involves the formation of a bridge between the bacterial cell and the platelet surface by (i) fibronectin and fibrinogen interacting with the low affinity form of GPIIb/IIIa and (ii) by antibodies specific to FnBPs that engage the platelet Fc receptor FcγRIIa. Platelet activation by S. aureus clinical IE isolates from both the exponential and stationary phases of growth was completely inhibited by monoclonal antibody IV‐3 suggesting that the IgG–FcγRIIa interaction is of fundamental importance for platelet activation mediated by this organism. This suggests new avenues for development of therapeutics against vascular infections.
Differential effects of chemoreceptor methylation‐domain mutations on swarming and development in the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus
Authors: Astling David P. , Lee Josephine Y. , Zusman David R. 
Published: October 2005

SummaryThe soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus is a model organism for the study of multicellular behaviour and development in bacteria. M. xanthus cells move on solid surfaces by gliding motility, periodically reversing their direction of movement. Motility is co‐ordinated to allow cells to effectively feed on macromolecules or prey bacteria when nutrients are plentiful and to form developmental fruiting bodies when nutrients are limiting. The Frz signal transduction pathway regulates cellular movements by modulating cell reversal frequency. Input to the Frz pathway is controlled by the cytoplasmic receptor, FrzCD, a methyl‐accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP). FrzCD lacks the transmembrane and periplasmic domains common to MCPs but contains a unique N‐terminal domain, the predicted ligand‐binding domain. As deletion of the N‐terminal domain of FrzCD only results in minor defects in motility, we investigated the possibility that the methylation of the conserved C‐terminal domain of FrzCD plays a central role in regulating the pathway. For this study, each of the potential methylation sites of FrzCD were systematically modified by site‐directed mutagenesis, substituting glutamine/glutamate pairs for alanines. Four of the seven mutations produced dramatic phenotypes; two of the mutations had a stimulatory effect on the pathway, as evidenced by cells hyper‐reversing, whereas another two had an inhibitory effect, causing these cells to rarely reverse. These four mutants displayed defects in vegetative swarming and developmental aggregation. These results suggests a model in which the methylation domain can both activate and inhibit the Frz pathway depending on which residues are methylated. The diversity of phenotypes suggests that specific modifications of FrzCD act to differentially regulate motility and developmental aggregation in M. xanthus.
Mutagenesis via IS transposition in Deinococcus radiodurans
Authors: Mennecier Samuel , Servant Pascale , Coste Geneviève , Bailone Adriana , Sommer Suzanne 
Published: October 2005

SummaryAnalysis of the complete genome indicates that insertion sequences (ISs) are abundant in the radio‐resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. By developing a forward mutagenesis assay to detect any inactivation events in D. radiodurans, we found that in the presence of an active mismatch repair system 75% of the mutations to trimethoprim‐resistance (TmpR) resulted from an IS insertion into the thyA coding region. Analysis of their distribution among the spontaneous TmpR mutants indicated that five different ISs were transpositionally active. A type II Miniature Inverted‐repeat Transposable Element (MITE), related to one of the deinococcal ISs, was also discovered as an insertion into thyA. Seven additional genomic copies of this MITE element were identified by BLASTN. γ‐ray irradiation of D. radiodurans led to an increase of up to 10‐fold in the frequency of TmpR mutants. Analysis of the induced mutations in cells exposed to 10 kGy indicated that γ‐irradiation induced transposition of ISDra2 approximately 100‐fold. A 50‐fold induction of ISDra2 transposition was also observed in cells exposed to 600 J m−2 UV‐irradiation. Point mutations to rifampicin resistance (RifR) were also induced by γ‐irradiation to reach a plateau at 2 kGy. The plateau value represented a 16‐fold increase in the mutant frequency over the background. Although error‐free repair strategies predominate in D. radiodurans, an upregulation of transposition, as well as induction of point mutations in cells recovering from DNA damage, provide a genetic variability that may have long‐term evolutionary consequences on the fitness of this organism in its habitat.
High‐frequency homologous recombination in plants mediated by zinc‐finger nucleases
Authors: Wright David A. , Townsend Jeffrey A. , Winfrey Ronnie Joe , Irwin Phillip A. , Rajagopal Jyothi , Lonosky Patricia M. , Hall Bradford D. , Jondle Michael D. , Voytas Daniel F. 
Published: October 2005

SummaryHomologous recombination offers great promise for plant genome engineering. This promise has not been realized, however, because when DNA enters plant cells homologous recombination occurs infrequently and random integration predominates. Using a tobacco test system, we demonstrate that chromosome breaks created by zinc‐finger nucleases greatly enhance the frequency of localized recombination. Homologous recombination was measured by restoring function to a defective GUS:NPTII reporter gene integrated at various chromosomal sites in 10 different transgenic tobacco lines. The reporter gene carried a recognition site for a zinc‐finger nuclease, and protoplasts from each tobacco line were electroporated with both DNA encoding the nuclease and donor DNA to effect repair of the reporter. Homologous recombination occurred in more than 10% of the transformed protoplasts regardless of the reporter's chromosomal position. Approximately 20% of the GUS:NPTII reporter genes were repaired solely by homologous recombination, whereas the remainder had associated DNA insertions or deletions consistent with repair by both homologous recombination and non‐homologous end joining. The DNA‐binding domain encoded by zinc‐finger nucleases can be engineered to recognize a variety of chromosomal target sequences. This flexibility, coupled with the enhancement in homologous recombination conferred by double‐strand breaks, suggests that plant genome engineering through homologous recombination can now be reliably accomplished using zinc‐finger nucleases.
Do growth monitoring and promotion programs answer the performance criteria of a screening program? A critical analysis based on a systematic review
Authors: Roberfroid D. , Kolsteren P. , Hoerée T. , Maire B. 
Published: October 2005

SummaryObjective  Growth Monitoring and Promotion programs (GMP) have been intensively promoted to improve children's health in developing countries. It has been hoped that regularly weighing children would result in the early detection of growth falterers, and that the growth chart would serve as an educational tool to make that state apparent to both health workers and caretakers in order to trigger improved caring practices. Our objective was to review whether GMP answers the theoretical grounds of a screening and intervention program.Method  A systematic literature review was performed. The WHO framework developed by Wilson and Jungner for planning and evaluating screening programs guided the analysis.Results  Sixty‐nine studies were retrieved. Overall, evidence is weak on the performance of GMP as a screening program for malnutrition through early detection of growth falterers. The main results are: (1) malnutrition remains a public health problem, but its importance is context specific; (2) the value of a low weight velocity to predict malnutrition is unknown and likely to vary in different contexts; (3) the performance of GMP for improving nutrition status of children and in reducing mortality and morbidity is unknown; (4) the performance of the screening is affected by the unreliability of weight measurements; (5) the promotional and educational effectiveness of GMP is low, in particular the growth chart is poorly understood by mothers; (6) the acceptability seems low in regards of low attendance rates; (7) evidence is lacking regarding cost‐effectiveness.Conclusions  We conclude that there is too little scientific evidence to indiscriminately support international promotion of GMP. However GMP could constitute a valid strategy of public nutrition in specific situations. We indicate paths for further research and how prevention programs could be developed.
Evaluation of long‐lasting insecticidal nets after 2 years of household use
Authors: Lindblade Kim A. , Dotson Ellen , Hawley William A. , Bayoh Nabie , Williamson John , Mount Dwight , Olang George , Vulule John , Slutsker Laurence , Gimnig John 
Published: October 2005

SummaryDevelopment of long‐lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) may eliminate the need for insecticide retreatment of ITNs. While two LLINs (Olyset®, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Japan; and PermaNet® 1.0, Vestergaard‐Frandsen, Denmark) have received recommendations from the World Health Organization Pesticide Evaluation Scheme, field‐testing under normal use has been limited. We used a survival analysis approach to compare time to net failure of conventional polyester bednets treated only with deltamethrin to two LLINs and two candidate LLINs (Olyset®; PermaNet®; Insector, Athanor, France; and Dawa®, Siamdutch Mosquito Netting Co., Thailand). Additionally, we evaluated nets treated with a process designed to increase the wash‐durability of permethrin‐treated nets through the addition of cyclodextrin (a starch) in the treatment process. Houses in western Kenya were randomly assigned to one of the six net types and nets were distributed to cover all sleeping spaces. Households were visited monthly to assess reported side effects in inhabitants and washing frequency. Nets were evaluated for insecticidal activity by periodic WHO cone bioassays with mortality assessed at 24 h. Nets with bioassay mortality <70% were assayed monthly until failure, defined as the first of two consecutive bioassay mortality rates <50%. Time to failure was analyzed using an extended Cox Proportional Hazards model controlling for the cumulative number of washes. We distributed 314 nets to 177 households in June–July 2002; 22 nets (7.0%) were lost to follow‐up and 196 (62.4%) failed during the first 2 years of the evaluation. Controlling for cumulative number of washes, PermaNet® 1.0 [Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.14, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.06–0.31] had a significantly lower risk of failure than conventional nets while Insector had a significantly higher risk of failure (HR 2.57, 95% CI 1.06–4.15). The risks of failure of the remaining nets (Olyset®: HR 1.29, 95% CI 0.79–2.10; Dawa®: HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.32–1.18; cyclodextrin: HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.40–1.1) were not significantly different from that of a conventional net. PermaNet® 1.0 performed significantly better than conventional nets and should be recommended to malaria control programs.
A review of the quality of randomized clinical trials of adjunctive therapy for the treatment of cerebral malaria
Authors: Enwere Godwin 
Published: October 2005

SummaryBackground  Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) of adjunctive treatment to reduce the high‐mortality associated with cerebral malaria (CM) have so far failed to show any benefit. This may be due in part to improperly designed and/or conducted trials. Therefore a systematic review of quality of RCTs for the treatment of CM with mortality as either primary or secondary outcome published between 1980 and 2000, was conducted.Methods  RCTs from the peer‐reviewed literature using electronic searches. Methodological quality was assessed using an individual component approach (adequacy of concealment of allocation schedule, generation of allocation sequence, double blinding and analysis of participant as randomized). Sample sizes were recalculated for the ability of reviewed trials to detect 25% and 50% reductions in mortality.Results  Nine trials satisfied the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Only two had sufficient power to detect a 50% reduction in mortality, and none could detect a 25% reduction. All the trials had inadequate methodological quality in one or more of the components, although in two trials these deficiencies were few.Conclusion  There is a need for researchers and donors to ensure proper planning and implementation of RCTs in developing countries. In CM, demonstration of worthwhile reduction in mortality by a single intervention will require a large number of subjects, which a single centre may not be able to recruit.
The SCAR‐3 study: 5‐year adhesion‐related readmission risk following lower abdominal surgical procedures
Authors: Parker M. C. , Wilson M. S. , Menzies D. , Sunderland G. , Clark D. N. , Knight A. D. , Crowe A. M. ,   the Surgical and Clinical Adhesions Research (SCAR) Group
Published: October 2005

AbstractObjective  The Surgical and Clinical Adhesions Research (SCAR) and SCAR‐2 studies demonstrated that the burden of adhesions following lower abdominal surgery is considerable and appears to remain unchanged despite advances in strategies to prevent adhesions. In this study, we assessed the adhesion‐related readmission risk directly associated with common lower abdominal surgical procedures, taking into account the effect of previous surgery, demography and concomitant disease.Methods  Data from the Scottish National Health Service medical record linkage database were used to assess the risk of an adhesion‐related readmission following open lower abdominal surgery during April 1996–March 1997.Results  Patients undergoing lower abdominal surgery (excluding appendicectomy) had a 5% risk of readmission directly related to adhesions in the 5 years following surgery. Appendicectomy was associated with a lower rate of readmission (0.9%), but contributed over 7% of the total lower abdominal surgery patient readmission burden. Panproctocolectomy (15.4%), total colectomy (8.8%) and ileostomy surgery (10.6%) were associated with the highest risk of an adhesion‐related readmission. Overall, the risk of readmission was doubled in patients who had undergone abdominal or pelvic surgery within 5 years of the incident operation. A higher risk of readmission was also recorded in patients aged < 60 years compared with those aged ≥ 60 yrs. The effect of gender was assessed. However, as the surgical codes used were found to be skewed towards women, these data have not been reported. Readmission risk was slightly higher in patients with concomitant peritonitis compared with patients without peritonitis. In contrast, Crohn's disease had no effect on risk. Patients with colorectal cancer had a lower risk of adhesion formation. However, this may have been due to the type of surgery performed in this patient group.Conclusion  The identification of high‐risk patient subgroups may assist in effectively targeting adhesion‐prevention strategies and the proffering of preoperative advice on adhesion risk.