bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of different land uses on the migration of two herbicides in a silt loam soil: unsaturated soil column displacement studies
Authors: Vincent A. , Benoit P. , Pot V. , Madrigal I. , Delgado‐Moreno L. , Labat C. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryDisplacement experiments of bromide and two herbicides, isoproturon and metribuzin, were performed in unsaturated undisturbed soil cores sampled on a unique site under (i) conventional wheat/maize rotation, (ii) 10‐year‐old grassed strip and (iii) 80‐year‐old oak/chestnut forest. Steady state conditions at constant rainfall intensity were used to compare the effect of the different land uses on soil herbicide transport and dissipation parameters. For each herbicide, mobility was similar between grassed strip and cultivated soils while it was reduced in the forest soils. The descriptive and moment analyses of the experimental breakthrough curves of bromide and herbicides demonstrated a similar degree of physical non‐equilibrium transport for the cropped and grassland soil columns, with transport ranging from a less intense physical non‐equilibrium status to the complete physical equilibrium state for the forest soil columns. Chemical non‐equilibrium transport was shown for the three situations. Degradation occurred in some columns as demonstrated by the elution of a metabolite of isoproturon. Previous data on sorption and degradation of isoproturon on the same soils were used to explain the differences observed in the analysis of the elution curves between grassed strip, forest and cultivated soil. Averaging Kd values from individual soil layers of each profile gave a satisfying understanding of isoproturon retardation factors. Sorption on soil organic matter was the main factor in herbicide mobility. However, other phenomena such as degradation and formation of non‐extractable residues were involved in the differences observed in leached masses of isoproturon between the three situations.
Cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease: common links
Authors: STAMPFER M. J. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract.Growing evidence supports a strong and likely causal association between cardiovascular disease (CVD), and its risk factors, with incidence of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Individuals with subclinical CVD are at higher risk for dementia and Alzheimer's. Several cardiovascular risk factors are also risk factors for dementia, including hypertension, high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and especially diabetes. Moderate alcohol appears to be protective for both CVD and dementia. In contrast, inflammatory markers predict cardiovascular risk, but not dementia, despite biological plausibility for such a link. The substantial overlap in risk factors points to new avenues for research and prevention.
Phenotypic plasticity of Ammannia spp. in competition with rice
Authors: CATON B. P. , FOIN T. C. , HILL J. E. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryThe annual broadleaved weeds Ammannia auriculata Wild, and A. coccinea Rottb. are widespread and competitive in California rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields. We studied Ammannia spp. biology in a greenhouse pot experiment. Weeds were grown alone and in competition with rice (cv. M–202), and harvested six times over 122 days. Compared with growth alone, competition reduced Ammannia spp. total plant dry weight (DW), shoot DW and leaf area in all but the first harvest. However, weed height differed at only one harvest (85 days after planting). Ammannia spp. responded to competition with increased shoot:root DW ratios, increased stem:other shoot DW ratios, decreased stem diameters, fewer but elongated internodes and fewer branches. This suggests that light capture was more important than nutrient capture for maintaining Ammannia spp. growth. The weeds appear to lodge easily in rice fields because competitive growth responses make them top heavy and unstable. Weed seed DW declined by 97% in competition, which showed the importance of crop interference to Ammannia spp. control. Plasticity may help Ammannia spp. to escape common control practices (e.g. high crop plant densities or early herbicide application), and probably contributes to its widespread distribution. Thus, Ammannia spp. plasticity should be more fully considered when designing management strategies.
Early Rearing Conditions Affect the Development of Body Size and Song in Bengalese Finches
Authors: Soma Masayo , Takahasi Miki , Ikebuchi Maki , Yamada Hiroko , Suzuki Madoka , Hasegawa Toshikazu , Okanoya Kazuo 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBirdsong is an acoustic ornament. According to indicator models, a trait must be costly to act as an honest signal, but the potential costs of elaborate songs are still poorly understood. The developmental stress hypothesis suggests that learned song characteristics could be an honest indicator of early developmental conditions because the brain structures associated with learning songs are susceptible to early developmental stress, which could thus affect song development. Unlike previous studies of developmental stress that examined the effect of a stress hormone or restricted nutrition, we observed Bengalese finches under semi‐natural breeding conditions in captivity to investigate the relationship between early rearing conditions (e.g., brood size and sex ratio) and the subsequent variation in body size and song among individuals. Our results suggest that the early rearing environment directly affects body size and song complexity, whereas song output is determined mainly by body size. These results support the developmental stress hypothesis. Moreover, our findings are the first to show that developmental condition affects not only the number of note types but also the syntactical complexity of the song.
The Occurrence of Campylobacter Species in Hungarian Broiler Chickens from Farm to Slaughter
Authors: Jozwiak A. , Reichart O. , Laczay P. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryThe reported number of human enteric diseases caused by thermotolerant campylobacters increased in the last few decades worldwide. The microorganism gets into the food chain mostly with poultry meat or meat products. We are not aware of the way the campylobacters infect the broiler flocks, and there is little information about the real prevalence, about the reaction of thermotolerant campylobacters to the environmental factors and about the possibilities of elimination of the bacteria from the food chain. As a part of the long study, samples were collected from a broiler flock from the first day of life to the slaughter of the animals, in summer and in winter. In the summer period, at the first two sampling days (days 0 and 12) all of the samples were negative. At day 26, one cloaca sample, one sample from the surface of the wall near the ventilation aperture and an insect‐sample were positive. At day 42, we found Campylobacter spp. on every sampling point at the slaughterhouse. In the winter period, we could not find Campylobacter spp. either from 0 day old, or from 10‐ and 31‐day‐old chickens, but we found them at 42 days of age on the slaughter plant. At the slaughtering place, 93.3% of the live birds were infected with Campylobacter spp., and at the end of the processing line, the infection rate was 100%. We could isolate campylobacters from the hands of the workers and from the processing environment as well. Out of the positive samples, 95.5% was contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni.
Effects of thalidomide in experimental models of post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis
Authors: Xiong Guang‐Su , Wu Shu‐Ming , Wang Zhen‐Hua , Mo Jian‐Zhong , Xiao Shu‐Dong 
Published: July 2006

AbstractBackground:  Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis and related systemic complications. The authors hypothesized that it may also play an important role in the development of pancreatitis after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of thalidomide, an immunomodulator that exerts an inhibitory action on TNF‐α by enhancing mRNA degradation, in reducing post‐ERCP pancreatitis in a rat model.Methods:  A total of 200 mg/kg thalidomide was given intragastric once a day (total 8 days) before the experimental models of post‐ERCP pancreatitis were established. After 24 h, histology and edema of pancreas, serum amylase, and TNF‐α mRNA in the pancreatic tissue were evaluated.Results:  Intraductal contrast infusion caused increases in serum amylase, edema, histological grade, and TNF‐α mRNA of pancreas. The prophylactic use of thalidomide significantly reduced serum amylase, pancreatic edema and the histologic grade of pancreatitis accompanied by a decrease in mRNA expression of TNF‐α in the pancreatic tissue.Conclusions:  Prophylactic intragastric administration of thalidomide provides a protective effect in post‐ERCP pancreatitis. The mechanism of the protective effects of thalidomide seems to be the reduction of expression of TNF‐α mRNA in pancreatic tissue.
Taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the genusTambjaBurn, 1962 (Mollusca, Nudibranchia, Polyceridae)
Authors: Pola Marta , Cervera J. Lucas , Gosliner Terrence M. 
Published: July 2006

This paper discusses the systematics and phylogeny of the genusTambjaBurn, 1962 throughout tropical and temperate areas in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Indo‐Pacific. The phylogenetic relationships withinTambjaare unknown and a comprehensive taxonomic revision is necessary in order to construct a phylogeny of the genus. To date,Tambjacomprises 28 nominal species, 22 of which have been examined morphologically based on newly collected and type material. The reproductive systems of four species (T. limaciformis(Eliot, 1908),T. sagamiana(Baba, 1955),T. amakusana, Baba, 1987 andT. olivaria, Yonow, 1993) were studied for the first time and two species previously considered as valid,Tambja morosa(Bergh, 1877) andTambja kushimotoensisBaba, 1987, are here synonymized. Of the remaining six nominal species, no additional material has been found since their original description. The holotypes of three (T. diaphana(Bergh, 1877),T. gratiosa(Bergh, 1890) andT. marbellensisSchick & Cervera, 1998) have been re‐examined and the original descriptions improved.Tambja diaphanais regarded asnomen dubium.Tambja amitina(Eliot, 1905),T. divae(Marcus, 1958) andT. anayanaOrtea, 1989 remain as valid species until further comparison with new specimens can be made. New structures are also described for several taxa. Morphological and anatomical data from 22 nominalTambjaspecies have been used to construct a phylogeny. The phylogenetic analysis rejects the monophyly ofTambjaand shows its preliminary relationships within the subfamily Nembrothinae.
Comparative study of the polaroid and digital non‐mydriatic cameras in the detection of referrable diabetic retinopathy in Australia
Authors: Phiri R. , Keeffe J. E. , Harper C. A. , Taylor H. R. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAim  To show that the non‐mydriatic retinal camera (NMRC) using polaroid film is as effective as the NMRC using digital imaging in detecting referrable retinopathy.Methods  A series of patients with diabetes attending the eye out‐patients department at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital had single‐field non‐mydriatic fundus photographs taken using first a digital and then a polaroid camera. Dilated 30° seven‐field stereo fundus photographs were then taken of each eye as the gold standard. The photographs were graded in a masked fashion. Retinopathy levels were defined using the simplified Wisconsin Grading system. We used the κ statistics for inter‐reader and intrareader agreement and the generalized linear model to derive the odds ratio.Results  There were 196 participants giving 325 undilated retinal photographs. Of these participants 111 (57%) were males. The mean age of the patients was 68.8 years. There were 298 eyes with all three sets of photographs from 154 patients. The digital NMRC had a sensitivity of 86.2%[95% confidence interval (CI) 65.8, 95.3], whilst the polaroid NMRC had a sensitivity of 84.1% (95% CI 65.5, 93.7). The specificities of the two cameras were identical at 71.2% (95% CI 58.8, 81.1). There was no difference in the ability of the polaroid and digital camera to detect referrable retinopathy (odds ratio 1.06, 95% CI 0.80, 1.40, P = 0.68).Conclusion  This study suggests that non‐mydriatic retinal photography using polaroid film is as effective as digital imaging in the detection of referrable retinopathy in countries such as the USA and Australia or others that use the same criterion for referral.
Relationship of glucose concentrations with PAI‐1 and t‐PA in subjects with normal glucose tolerance
Authors: Heldgaard P. E. , Sidelmann J. J. , Hindsberger C. , Olivarius N. de F. , Henriksen J. E. , Gram J. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractAims  To study metabolic risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including markers of the fibrinolytic system in relation to blood glucose levels in subjects with normal glucose tolerance and fasting blood glucose levels below 5.6 mmol/l.Methods  Cross‐sectional, community‐based study from a primary health‐care centre of adult subjects with normal glucose tolerance. Analysis of fasting and 2‐h post‐load blood glucose concentrations were centralized and related to anthropometric characteristics, metabolic variables, inflammatory markers, and coagulation and fibrinolytic variables.Results  Increasing fasting blood glucose concentrations within the normal range in subjects with normal glucose tolerance were associated with increasing age, body mass index, and waist circumference, and with increasing concentrations of metabolic risk factors for development of CVD. After adjustment for gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and fasting insulin, levels of plasmin activator inhibitor (PAI‐1) and tissue type plasminogen activator (t‐PA) increased significantly with increasing levels of fasting glucose within the normal range (P = 0.012 and P < 0.0001, respectively).Conclusions  We found risk factors for CVD, specifically key components of the fibrinolytic system, PAI‐1 and t‐PA, increased with increasing fasting glucose levels even in subjects with normal glucose tolerance. This observation may help to explain the increased risk of CVD with increasing values of fasting glucose in the normal range.
Inertial properties of hominoid limb segments
Authors: Isler Karin , Payne Rachel C. , Günther Michael M. , Thorpe Susannah K. S. , Li Yu , Savage Russell , Crompton Robin H. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractQuantitative, accurate data regarding the inertial properties of body segments are of paramount importance when developing musculo‐skeletal locomotor models of living animals and, by inference, their ancestors. The limited number of available primate cadavers, and the destructive nature of the post‐mortem, result in such data being very rare for primates. This study builds on the work of Crompton et al. (Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 1996, 99, 547–570) and reports inertial properties of the body segments of gorillas, chimpanzees, orang‐utans and gibbons. Segment mass, centre of mass and the radius of gyration of five ape cadavers were measured using a complex‐pendulum technique and compared with the results derived from external measurements of segment lengths and diameters on the same animals. With additional data from external measurements of eight more hominoid cadavers, and published data, intergeneric differences between the inertial properties and the distribution of mass between limb segments are analysed and related to the locomotor habits of the species. We found that segment inertial properties show extensive overlap between ape genera as a result of large interindividual variation. Segment mass distribution also overlaps between apes and humans, with the exception of the shank segment. However, owing to a different distribution of mass between the limb segments, the centre of mass of both the arms and the legs is located more distally in apes than in humans, and the natural pendular period of ape forelimbs is larger than that of the hindlimbs. This suggests that, in contrast to the limbs of cursorial mammals and cercopithecoid primates, hominoid limbs are not optimized for efficiency in quadrupedal walking, but rather reflect a compromise between various locomotor modes. Common chimpanzees may have secondarily evolved a more efficient quadrupedal gait.
Myosin heavy chain isoform transitions in canine skeletal muscles during postnatal growth
Authors: Štrbenc Malan , Smerdu Vika , Pogačnik Azra , Fazarinc Gregor 
Published: July 2006

AbstractTo gain a better understanding of the normal characteristics of developing canine muscles, myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform expression was analysed in the axial and limb skeletal muscles of 18 young dogs whose ages ranged from the late prenatal stage to 6 months. We compared the results of immunohistochemistry using ten monoclonal antibodies, specific to different MHC isoforms, and enzyme‐histochemical reactions, which demonstrate the activity of myofibrillar ATPase, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and α‐glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (α‐GPDH). In the skeletal muscles of fetuses and neonatal dogs the developmental isoforms MHC‐emb and MHC‐neo were prevalent. In all muscles the primary fibres, located centrally in each muscle fascicle, strongly expressed the slow isoform MHC‐I. The adult fast isoform MHC‐IIa was first noted in some of the secondary fibres on fetal day 55. During the first 10 days after birth, the expression of MHC‐emb declined, as did that of MHC‐neo during the second and third weeks. Correspondingly, the expression of MHC‐IIa, and later, of MHC‐I increased in the secondary fibres. Between the sixth week and second month the expression of MHC‐IIx became prominent. The slow rhomboideus muscle exhibited an early expression of the slow isoform in the secondary fibres. Our results indicate that the timing of muscle maturation depends on its activity immediately following birth. The fastest developing muscle was the diaphragm, followed by the fast muscles. A pronounced changeover from developmental to adult isoforms was noted at 4–6 weeks of age, which coincides with the increased physical activity of puppies.
Fine‐scale genetic structure, co‐founding and multiple mating in the Australian allodapine bee (Exoneura robusta)
Authors: Repaci V. , Stow A. J. , Briscoe D. A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractDespite the role of Australian native bees in important ecological processes, surprisingly little is known of their population structuring. In this study five microsatellite loci were used to investigate genetic structuring of the allodapine bee Exoneura robusta sampled from four locations (maximum pairwise distance c. 35 km) in the Mountain Ash forests of Victoria. Although E. robusta would seem to have high dispersal ability, several analyses show significant population subdivision and a strong pattern of isolation‐by‐distance from which limited gene flow was inferred. Limited gene flow was not associated with inbreeding at the within‐colony level, and within‐colony genetic structure implied co‐founding, multiple breeding pairs and some degree of reproductive skew. Strong population structure at such fine scales suggests that substantially divergent populations are likely within the extensive distribution currently ascribed to E. robusta.
Development of a Standardized Patient Instructor to Teach Functional Assessment and Communication Skills to Medical Students and House Officers
Authors: Williams Brent C. , Hall Karen E. , Supiano Mark A. , Fitzgerald James T. , Halter Jeffrey B. 
Published: July 2006

Professional societies have called for increased geriatrics training for all medical students and physicians.A Geriatrics Standardized Patient Instructor (GSPI) was developed in which learners assess the functional status of a patient preparing for hospital discharge. Standardized patients (SPs) rate learners on functional assessment and communication skills, and provide feedback.Seventeen SPs were trained. Correlations of ratings by SPs with ratings by three geriatricians of videotaped encounters indicated good reliability (correlation coefficient=0.69 and 0.70 for functional assessment and communication skills, respectively). Results from two learner groups illustrated the utility and feasibility of the GSPI. First, 138 house officers in nine specialties experienced the GSPI as a formative evaluation during implementation of new geriatrics curricula. Mean scores±standard deviation (on a 100‐point scale) for functional assessment and communication skills were 78±16 and 86±11, respectively. House officers rated the overall experience positively (mean rating (1=poor, 5=excellent) 3.9±0.8). Second, 171 first‐year medical students (M1 s) encountered the GSPI as part of an intense, multimodal educational intervention. Mean scores on functional assessment and communication skills were 93±10 and 93±7, respectively. Mean overall rating of the experience by M1 s was 4.1±0.8.After demonstrated success as a teaching tool in these two groups of learners, the GSPI has been successfully used with second‐ and third‐year (M3) medical students and house officers from a total of 12 specialties and incorporated into multistation Objective Standardized Clinical Examination exercises for incoming house officers and M3 s.Unlike existing diagnosis‐oriented SPs, the GSPI can be used to assess and teach geriatrics skills to physician learners across disciplines and levels of training.
Tissue Doppler Imaging Analysis at Pre‐Cardioversion Time Predicts Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation: A 12‐Month Follow‐Up Study
Authors: PARASKEVAIDIS IOANNIS A. , VARTELA VASSILIKI , TSIAPRAS DIMITRIOS , ILIODROMITIS EFSTATHIOS K. , PARISSIS JOHN , FARMAKIS DIMITRIOS , KREMASTINOS DIMITRIOS TH. 
Published: July 2006

Introduction: Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has been extensively used in several clinical settings. We aimed to investigate whether TDI can predict recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results: Seventy‐four consecutive patients (aged 62.6 ± 11.7 years) with AF (>48 hours and <6 months of duration) who underwent successful external electrical direct current cardioversion and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled. Conventional echocardiography and TDI were prospectively performed before cardioversion. Based on a cutoff point of 5.43 cm/sec for the negative systolic wave velocity (NSWV), derived by the normal controls (mean + 2 SD), patients were divided into Group I (36 patients) with a NSWV >5.43 cm/sec and Group II (38 patients) with NSWV ≤5.43 cm/sec. In Group I, 27.8% of patients were in sinus rhythm at 6 months, but had episodes of asymptomatic paroxysmal AF lasting >48 hours; all patients were in AF at 12 months. In Group II, all patients were in sinus rhythm at 12 months. However, those patients presenting with a NSWV less but near to 5 cm/sec had frequent episodes of asymptomatic paroxysmal AF lasting for <48 hours. Conclusion: One year after successful direct current cardioversion, TDI analysis at pre‐cardioversion time may be a useful marker to identify a subgroup of patients with increased risk for AF recurrence.
Japanese Enterprises' Investment in China's Software Industry
Authors: Pei Changhong , Jing Linbo 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe present paper introduces the overall situation of investment in China by Japanese enterprises. It focuses on the cooperation between Chinese and Japanese enterprises in the software industry. It gives a detailed account of strategic investment by Japanese enterprises, their joint‐venture projects with Chinese investors and establishment of R&D centers and laboratories in China's software industry, and it analyzes the problems and prospects of Japanese investment in China's software industry. The paper suggests that it is of vital to maintain friendly Sino–Japanese relations, to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation and to enhance mutual political confidence.(Edited by Xinyu Fan)