bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Groundwater influence on alpine stream ecosystems
Authors: BROWN LEE E. , MILNER ALEXANDER M. , HANNAH DAVID M. 
Published: March 2007

Summary1. Spatial and temporal variability of relative snow‐melt, glacier‐melt and groundwater contributions to streams play important roles in shaping alpine freshwater ecosystems. Although meltwater (particularly glacier‐fed) streams have received much attention in recent years, the influence of groundwater on alpine freshwater ecosystems remains poorly understood.2. This study tested the hypotheses that increased groundwater contributions to meltwater‐dominated alpine streams would yield increases in water temperature, channel stability, electrical conductivity and particulate organic matter (POM) and decreases in suspended sediment concentration (SSC). These more favourable habitat conditions were hypothesised to result in increased macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity.3. Groundwater contributions, physicochemical habitat variables and benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled throughout the 2002 and 2003 summer‐melt seasons in three streams in the French Pyrénées.4. Increased groundwater contributions were significantly correlated with higher discharge, water temperature, electrical conductivity, POM and channel stability, but lower SSC.5. Macroinvertebrate total abundance, taxonomic richness, number of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera genera, and per cent Plecoptera all increased significantly with greater groundwater contributions to streamflow. However, beta diversity and Trichoptera relative abundance decreased.6. Abundance of most macroinvertebrate taxa was highest under groundwater‐dominated conditions but a gradient of optimum groundwater preferences was evident across all taxa. Some taxa were found only where groundwater contributions were low (i.e. in predominantly meltwater‐fed streams).7. This study provides evidence that water source, physicochemical habitat and stream biota are strongly linked. Therefore, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary for future studies aiming to develop conservation strategies or predict the response of alpine river ecosystems to global climate change.
Quantifying habitat complexity in aquatic ecosystems
Authors: SHUMWAY CAROLY A. , HOFMANN HANS A. , DOBBERFUHL ADAM P. 
Published: March 2007

Summary1. Many aquatic studies have attempted to relate biological features, such as species diversity, abundance, brain size and behaviour, to measures of habitat complexity. Previous measures of habitat complexity have ranged from simple, habitat‐specific variables, such as the number of twigs in a stream, to quantitative parameters of surface topography, such as rugosity.2. We present a new video‐based technique, called optical intensity, for assaying habitat complexity in aquatic ecosystems. Optical intensity is a visual, quantitative technique modifiable for any scale or for a nested analysis. We field‐tested the technique in Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, on 38 quadrats (5 × 5 m) to determine if three freshwater habitats (sand, rock and intermediate) were quantitatively different.3. A comparison of the values obtained from optical intensity with a previous measure of surface topography (rugosity) showed that the two corresponded well and revealed clear differences among habitats. Both the new measure and rugosity were positively correlated with species diversity, species richness and abundance. Finally, whether used alone or in combination, both measures had predictive value for fish community parameters.4. This new measure should prove useful to researchers exploring habitat complexity in both marine and freshwater systems.
Phylogeny and biogeography of the freshwater crab genusJohora(Crustacea: Brachyura: Potamidae) from the Malay Peninsula, and the origins of its insular fauna
Authors: Yeo Darren C. J. , Shih Hsi‐Te , Meier Rudolf , Ng Peter K. L. 
Published: March 2007

The phylogeny and biogeography of the Malayan freshwater crab genusJohorawas studied using two mitochondrial genes, 16S rRNA (560 bp) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) (616 bp), and one nuclear gene, histone 3 (H3) (328 bp).Johorais shown to be monophyletic and composed of three clades that correspond with the topography of the Malay Peninsula. The three clades were estimated to be of similar age (c. 11 million years ago (mya)). The Malayan island of Pulau Tioman (with five species) was determined to have been colonised independently by two separate clades (atc. 11 and 5 mya, respectively), one of which evolved semiterrestrial habits, possibly in response to competition by the second. A partitioned Bremer support (PBS) analysis reveals that most of the support for the phylogenetic tree comes from the COI gene fragment and that the nuclear protein‐encoding genes H3 is useful for reconstructing the relationships ofJohora.
The association between customised small for gestational age infants and pre‐eclampsia or gestational hypertension varies with gestation at delivery
Authors: Groom KM , North RA , Poppe KK , Sadler L , McCowan LME 
Published: March 2007

Objectives  (1) To describe the association between small for gestational age (SGA) infants and pre‐eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH) and (2) to determine how this association changes with gestational age at delivery using customised centiles to classify infants as SGA.Design  A retrospective observational study.Setting  National Women’s Hospital, a Tertiary Referral Centre in Auckland, New Zealand.Population  A total of 17 855 nulliparous women delivering between 1992 and 1999.Methods  A comparison of the number of women with a customised SGA infant, PE and GH according to gestational age at delivery.Main outcome measures  The incidence of SGA infants (defined as birthweight <10th customised centile), PE and GH at <34, 34–36+6 and ≥37 weeks.Results  A total of 1847 (10.3%) infants were SGA, 520 (2.9%) women had PE and 1361 (7.6%) had GH. SGA, PE and GH all occurred more commonly with increasing gestation at delivery with 85%, 62% and 90% of cases delivered at term. In women delivering SGA infants, coexisting PE was more likely to occur among those delivered preterm than at term (38.6% at <34 weeks [relative risk, RR 10.2 95%CI 7.3–14.4], 22.4% at 34–36+6 weeks [RR 6.0 95%CI 4.1–8.6] and 3.8% at ≥37 weeks [OR 1.0]). Women with preterm PE were more likely to have a SGA infant than women with term PE (57.1% at <34 weeks [RR 3.1 95%CI 2.3–4.2], 31.7% at 34–36+6 weeks [RR 1.7 95%CI 1.2–2.5]) and 18.3% at ≥37 weeks [OR 1.0]). There was a similar association between GH and SGA infants as gestation advanced (57.6% at <34 weeks [RR 4.8 95%CI 3.4–6.6], 30.5% at 34–36+6 weeks [RR 2.5 95%CI 1.8–3.5] and 12.1% ≥37 weeks [OR 1.0]).Conclusions  SGA infants and PE are more likely to coexist in preterm births compared with term births. This is likely to reflect the degree of placental involvement in each disease process.
Differential effects of intravenous R,S‐(±)‐3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) and its S(+)‐ and R(−)‐enantiomers on dopamine transmission and extracellular signal regulated kinase phosphorylation (pERK) in the rat nucleus accumbens shell and core
Authors: Acquas Elio , Pisanu Augusta , Spiga Saturnino , Plumitallo Antonio , Zernig Gerald , Chiara Gaetano Di 
Published: March 2007

AbstractR,S(±)‐3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (R,S(±)‐MDMA, ‘Ecstasy’) is known to stimulate dopamine (DA) transmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). In order to investigate the post‐synaptic correlates of pre‐synaptic changes in DA transmission and their relationship with MDMA enantiomers, we studied the effects of R,S(±)‐MDMA, S(+)‐MDMA, and R(−)‐MDMA on extracellular DA and phosphorylated extracellular signal regulated kinase (pERK) in the NAc shell and core. Male Sprague–Dawley rats, implanted with a catheter in the femoral vein and vertical concentric dialysis probes in the NAc shell and core, were administered i.v. saline, R,S(±)‐MDMA, S(+)‐MDMA, or R(−)‐MDMA. Extracellular DA was monitored by in vivo microdialysis with HPLC. Intravenous R,S(±)‐MDMA (0.64, 1, and 2 mg/kg) increased dialysate DA, preferentially in the shell, in a dose‐related manner. S(+)‐MDMA exerted similar effects but at lower doses than R,S(±)‐MDMA, while R(−)‐MDMA (1 and 2 mg/kg) failed to affect dialysate DA. R,S(±)‐ and S(+)‐MDMA but not R(−)‐MDMA increased ERK phosphorylation (expressed as density/neuron and number of pERK‐positive neurons/area) in both subdivisions of the NAc. The administration of the D1 receptor antagonist, SCH 39166, prevented the increase in pERK elicited by R,S(±)‐MDMA and S(+)‐MDMA, while the D2/3 receptor antagonist, raclopride, increased pERK in the NAc core per se but failed to affect the R,S(±)‐MDMA‐elicited stimulation of pERK. The present results provide evidence that the DA stimulant effects of racemic MDMA are accounted for by the S(+)‐enantiomer and that pERK may represent a post‐synaptic correlate of the stimulant effect of R,S(±)‐MDMA on D1‐dependent DA transmission.
Impaired processing of FLP and NLP peptides in carboxypeptidase E (EGL‐21)‐deficient Caenorhabditis elegans as analyzed by mass spectrometry
Authors: Husson Steven J. , Janssen Tom , Baggerman Geert , Bogert Brigitte , Kahn‐Kirby Amanda H. , Ashrafi Kaveh , Schoofs Liliane 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBiologically active peptides are synthesized from inactive pre‐proproteins or peptide precursors by the sequential actions of processing enzymes. Proprotein convertases cleave the precursor at pairs of basic amino acids, which are then removed from the carboxyl terminus of the generated fragments by a specific carboxypeptidase. Caenorhabditis elegans strains lacking proprotein convertase EGL‐3 display a severely impaired neuropeptide profile (Husson et al. 2006, J. Neurochem.98, 1999–2012). In the present study, we examined the role of the C. elegans carboxypeptidase E orthologue EGL‐21 in the processing of peptide precursors. More than 100 carboxy‐terminally extended neuropeptides were detected in egl‐21 mutant strains. These findings suggest that EGL‐21 is a major carboxypeptidase involved in the processing of FMRFamide‐like peptide (FLP) precursors and neuropeptide‐like protein (NLP) precursors. The impaired peptide profile of egl‐3 and egl‐21 mutants is reflected in some similar phenotypes. They both share a severe widening of the intestinal lumen, locomotion defects, and retention of embryos. In addition, egl‐3 animals have decreased intestinal fat content. Taken together, these results suggest that EGL‐3 and EGL‐21 are key enzymes for the proper processing of neuropeptides that control egg‐laying, locomotion, fat storage and the nutritional status.
I love my hair but I don't want rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: SALUJA Manjit , JOSHI Vaijayanti L. , CHOPRA Arvind 
Published: March 2007

SummaryWe describe serious and severe hair loss in a young Indian (Asian) woman suffering from rheumatoid arthritis on treatment with leflunomide. Hair loss due to antirheumatic drugs is not too infrequent but needs to be better recognized in rheumatology. In our context, it often has socio‐cultural ethnic connotations.
Concomitant methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus pericaditis, Cryptococcus neoformans pneumonia and invasive cytomegalovirus pneumonitis in a lupus patient with rare homozygous structural mutant variant at codon 54 of mannose binding lectin gene
Authors: CHONG Yong‐Yeow , TIN Soe‐Kyaw , FONG Kok‐Yong 
Published: March 2007

AbstractMannose‐binding lectin (MBL) is a mediator of innate immunity. Individuals with exon 1 structural mutant genotypes are associated with unusual and recurrent infections. We describe a lupus patient who had life‐threatening, concomitant infections – methicillin‐resistant staphylococcal aureus (MRSA) pericarditis with tamponade, cryptococcal pneumonia and cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonitis. Tests were negative for complements or immunoglobulins deficiencies. There was no human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. She has a homozygous structural mutant variant at codon 54 of the MBL gene. We surmised the severe multiple infections are related to this rare mutant variant, and may be triggered off by corticosteroid therapy.
The Allocation of Governmental Regulatory Authority: Federalism and the Case of Insurance Regulation
Authors: Grace Martin F. , Phillips Richard D. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractWe investigate the incentives states have to provide insurance regulatory services in an efficient manner. Regulation of the insurance industry in the United States is unique, as it is conducted primarily at the state level whereas the majority of insurance sales are interstate. Consistent with predictions from the federalism literature, we find evidence of trans‐state externalities, as states with small domestic insurance markets are less efficient producers of insurance regulation and appear to allow states that choose to expend the greatest resources to regulate for them. In addition, states with more profitable domestic insurers are shown to export greater levels of regulation, suggesting extraterritorial regulation may erect modest barriers to entry. We find evidence of increasing economies of scale in the production of insurance regulation after controlling for these regulatory externalities.
Cyclosporin‐A inhibits the expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 in gingiva
Authors: Chiang C.‐Y. , Chen Y.‐T. , Hung F.‐M. , Tu H.‐P. , Fu M. M.‐J. , Fu E. 
Published: March 2007

Background and Objective:  Various inflammatory mediators are involved in the development of cyclosporine A‐induced gingival overgrowth. In this study, the gingival expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 after cyclosporine A therapy was examined in vivo and in vitro.Material and Methods:  After edentulous ridges on maxilla were established, 21 Sprague‐Dawley rats received cyclosporine A daily for 4 wk, and a further 21 rats received solvent. After the rats were killed, the expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 mRNA, interleukin‐1β mRNA, tumor necrosis factor‐α mRNA, and interleukin‐6 mRNA was examined in the edentulous gingiva. The expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 protein and the production of prostaglandin E2 were also evaluated.Results:  In cultured human gingival fibroblasts and epithelial cells, the expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 mRNA was measured after treatment with cyclosporine A. Significantly lower expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 and interleukin‐1β mRNA, but higher interleukin‐6 expression, were observed in gingiva from cyclosporine A‐treated rats than in those from the control rats. Significantly less prostaglandin E2 production was observed in cyclosporine A‐treated rats. Immunohistochemistry revealed that fewer gingival stromal cells were positively stained for cyclooxygenase‐2 in cyclosporine A‐treated rats. In cultured cells, significantly less cyclooxygenase‐2 mRNA was detected after treatment with cyclosporine A.Conclusion:  The expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 was lower in the plaque nonretentive gingivae and the in vitro gingival cells upon treatment with cyclosporine A. Thus, we propose that cyclosporine A inhibits the expression of gingival cyclooxygenase‐2.
In vivo measurement of human dermis by 1064 nm‐excited fiber Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Naito S. , Min Y.‐K. , Sugata K. , Osanai O. , Kitahara T. , Hiruma H. , Hamaguchi H. 
Published: March 2007

Background/aims: Although chemical information on the dermis in vivo is highly important in skin research, an efficient method for gathering this information is yet to be developed. Here, we demonstrate that newly developed near‐infrared (1064 nm) excited Raman spectroscopy is a powerful method for chemical analysis of human skin in vivo.Methods: We used a laboratory‐constructed Raman spectrometer equipped with a highly sensitive near‐infrared detector (Hamamatsu Photonics), an optical fiber probe and a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. Raman spectra of porcine skin (in vitro) and human skin (in vivo) were measured with this spectrometer.Results: The Raman spectrum of porcine skin measured from the outer side resembles that of the dermis more than that of the epidermis. The Raman spectra of human skin (cheek, forehead, inner forearm, outer forearm, palm) depend on the portion measured with the probe. The spectra of the forehead and inner forearm show larger lipid signals than that of the palm.Conclusions: The Raman spectrum of skin measured with the 1064 nm Raman system primarily reflects the chemical composition of the dermis. The 1064 nm excited Raman spectroscopy is useful for research of the dermis and skin appendages.
Lexical and Sublexical Influences on Eye Movements During Reading
Authors: Liversedge Simon P. , Blythe Hazel I. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractIn this paper, we briefly review some recent studies that have clearly demonstrated in importance of lexical factors on eye movements during reading. We introduce the reader to eye‐movement recording and explain its importance within the field of experimental psychology as a tool with which we can examine the psychological processes underlying reading. We then provide a summary of (mainly) eye‐movement experiments in three areas: reading disappearing text, reading text with transposed letters, and morphological processing of compound words. Throughout the paper our central claim is that processes associated with lexical identification exert a strong and quite immediate effect on eye‐movement behaviour during reading.
Structural Analysis and Characterization of Lacticin Q, a Novel Bacteriocin Belonging to a New Family of Unmodified Bacteriocins of Gram-Positive Bacteria
Authors: Fujita Koji , Ichimasa Shiro , Zendo Takeshi , Koga Shoko , Yoneyama Fuminori , Nakayama Jiro , Sonomoto Kenji 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

Lactococcus lactis
QU 5 isolated from corn produces a novel bacteriocin, termed lacticin Q. By acetone precipitation, cation-exchange chromatography, and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, lacticin Q was purified from the culture supernatant of this organism, and its molecular mass was determined to be 5,926.50 Da by mass spectrometry. Subsequent analyses of amino acid and DNA sequences revealed that lacticin Q comprised 53 amino acid residues and that its N-terminal methionine residue was formylated. In contrast to most bacteriocins produced by gram-positive bacteria, lacticin Q had no N-terminal extensions such as leader or signal sequences. It showed 66% and 48% identity to AucA, a hypothetical protein from
Corynebacterium jeikeium
plasmid pA501, and aureocin A53, a bacteriocin from
Staphylococcus aureus
A53, respectively. The characteristics of lacticin Q were determined and compared to those of nisin A. Similar to nisin A, lacticin Q exhibited antibacterial activity against various gram-positive bacteria. Lacticin Q was very stable against heat treatment and changes in pH; in particular, it was stable at alkaline pH values, while nisin A was inactivated. Moreover, lacticin Q induced ATP efflux from a
Listeria
sp. strain in a shorter time and at a lower concentration than nisin A, indicating that the former affected indicator cells in a different manner from that of the latter. The results described here clarified the fact that lacticin Q belongs to a new family of class II bacteriocins and that it can be employed as an alternative to or in combination with nisin A.
Characterization of a Latent Virus-Like Infection of Symbiotic Zooxanthellae
Authors: Lohr Jayme , Munn Colin B. , Wilson William H. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

A latent virus-like agent, which we designated zooxanthella filamentous virus 1 (ZFV1), was isolated from
Symbiodinium
sp. strain CCMP 2465 and characterized. Transmission electron microscopy and analytical flow cytometry revealed the presence of a new group of distinctive filamentous virus-like particles after exposure of the zooxanthellae to UV light. Examination of thin sections of the zooxanthellae revealed the formation and proliferation of filamentous virus-like particles in the UV-induced cells. Assessment of
Symbiodinium
sp. cultures was used here as a model to show the effects of UV irradiance and induction of potential latent viruses. The unique host-virus system described here provides insight into the role of latent infections in zooxanthellae through environmentally regulated viral induction mechanisms.
A Novel Reductive Dehalogenase, Identified in a Contaminated Groundwater Enrichment Culture and in
Desulfitobacterium dichloroeliminans
Strain DCA1, Is Linked to Dehalogenation of 1,2-Dichloroethane
Authors: Marzorati Massimo , de Ferra Francesca , Van Raemdonck Hilde , Borin Sara , Allifranchini Elena , Carpani Giovanna , Serbolisca Luca , Verstraete Willy , Boon Nico , Daffonchio Daniele 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

A mixed culture dechlorinating 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) to ethene was enriched from groundwater that had been subjected to long-term contamination. In the metagenome of the enrichment, a 7-kb reductive dehalogenase (RD) gene cluster sequence was detected by inverse and direct PCR. The RD gene cluster had four open reading frames (ORF) showing 99% nucleotide identity with
pceB, pceC, pceT
, and
orf1
of
Dehalobacter restrictus
strain DSMZ 9455
T
, a bacterium able to dechlorinate chlorinated ethenes. However,
dcaA
, the ORF encoding the catalytic subunit, showed only 94% nucleotide and 90% amino acid identity with
pceA
of strain DSMZ 9455
T
. Fifty-three percent of the amino acid differences were localized in two defined regions of the predicted protein. Exposure of the culture to 1,2-DCA and lactate increased the
dcaA
gene copy number by 2 log units, and under these conditions the
dcaA
and
dcaB
genes were actively transcribed. A very similar RD gene cluster with 98% identity in the
dcaA
gene sequence was identified in
Desulfitobacterium dichloroeliminans
strain DCA1, the only known isolate that selectively dechlorinates 1,2-DCA but not chlorinated ethenes. The
dcaA
gene of strain DCA1 possesses the same amino acid motifs as the new
dcaA
gene. Southern hybridization using total genomic DNA of strain DCA1 with
dcaA
gene-specific and
dcaB
- and
pceB
-targeting probes indicated the presence of two identical or highly similar dehalogenase gene clusters. In conclusion, these data suggest that the newly described RDs are specifically adapted to 1,2-DCA dechlorination.
Optimization of a 12-Hour TaqMan PCR-Based Method for Detection of
Salmonella
Bacteria in Meat
Authors: Josefsen M. H. , Krause M. , Hansen F. , Hoorfar J. 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACT

We developed a 12-h
Salmonella
detection method, based on 8 h of preenrichment, followed by automated DNA extraction and a sensitive real-time PCR. The method was optimized to obtain the highest possible yield of cells and DNA. The growth of different
Salmonella
strains in various preenrichment media and the effects of adding growth-promoting and selective reagents were explored, taking into account their PCR compatibility. The effects of (i) analyzing larger volumes (1 to 5 ml) from preenriched samples and introducing wash steps prior to DNA extraction, (ii) regulating the amount of paramagnetic particles (increasing it from 60 to 90 μl) in the DNA extraction, (iii) eluting the DNA in reduced volumes (25 or 50 μl rather than 100 μl), and (iv) increasing the PCR template volume (from 5 to 20 μl) were investigated. After 8 h of preenrichment, buffered peptone water yielded the highest number of salmonellae. When analyzing minced meat samples, positive effects of increasing the initial sampling volume from 1 to 5 ml and increasing the amount of paramagnetic particles to 90 μl were observed. However, washing the pellet and eluting the DNA in reduced volumes (25 and 50 μl) had no positive effects and resulted in decreased reproducibility. Increasing the amount of PCR template DNA from 5 to 20 μl improved the threshold cycle value by approximately 2. The improved 12-h PCR method was successfully compared to a reference culture method with 100 minced meat and poultry samples, with a relative accuracy of 99%, a relative sensitivity of 98%, and a relative specificity of 100%.