bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of temporal variation of the seaweed Caulerpa prolifera cover on the associated crustacean community
Authors: Emilio Sánchez‐Moyano Juan , García‐Asencio Isabel , Carlos García‐Gómez José 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe aim of this study was to establish the effect of temporal variation of the alga Caulerpa prolifera cover on the composition and stability of the associated crustacean community. Forty‐five crustacean species were found, amphipods and tanaidaceans being the most abundant groups. The stations were grouped mainly based on the gradient of algal cover, independently of location or sampling period (MDS analyses). Considering separately epifaunal and infaunal species, the epifauna occurred mainly at high cover (HC) and medium–low cover (MLC) stations, while the infauna occurred at MLC and unvegetated (UV) stations. Infaunal species were predominant in all stations and sampling periods, and the abundance and numbers of epifaunal species showed a clear dependence of algal cover. To quantify the loss of biodiversity due to the plant cover variations, we applied the average and variation in taxonomic distinctness (Δ+ and Λ+, respectively). The HC stations, especially those with fewer algal cover variations along the study period, showed few fluctuations of Δ+,and Λ+ was usually located near mean; however, UV stations tended to fall in the area where the statistical power of the test is reduced and showed more oscillations of Λ+. The ability of these indices to test the fauna composition in function of the alga presence is discussed.
Cold‐seep assemblages on a giant pockmark off West Africa: spatial patterns and environmental control
Authors: Olu‐Le Roy K. , Caprais J.‐C. , Fifis A. , Fabri M.‐C. , Galéron J. , Budzinsky H. , Le Ménach K. , Khripounoff A. , Ondréas H. , Sibuet M. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractA giant pockmark colonised by dense cold‐seep assemblages near 3160 m depth along the Congo‐Angola margin has been surveyed by the ROV Victor 6000. The quantitative distribution of chemosynthetic communities was mapped along the dive tracks from a video study using GIS and image mosaicking. Several types of faunal assemblages, either dominated by bivalves of the families Mytilidae (Bathymodiolus sp.) or Vesicomyidae (Calyptogena sp., ‘Vesicomya’ aff. chuni), or by Siboglinidae polychaetes (Escarpia southwardae) were mapped over the 800‐m diameter pockmark area and sampled for fauna, water and sediment. The isotopic analyses (δ13C) of tissues from symbiont‐bearing species were within the range typical of nutrition via symbiosis using methane for mussels and sulphide for vesicomyids and siboglinids. The living chemosynthetic communities were distributed on a SW‐NE axis, corresponding to the expression at the sediment surface of a main buried channel providing fluids to the pockmark. The site was characterised by a more active central part in a depression with abundant carbonate concretions where high‐density clusters of siboglinids and mytilids dominate. Large fields of dead and live vesicomyids with a lower mean density were observed in the external areas. The mean coverage of each of the three symbiotic taxa in these two contrasted areas was estimated from mosaic analysis and was up to 30% in the central area dominated by E. southwardae bushes (23%). Symbiont‐bearing species distribution was consistent with methane concentrations in seawater that were generally higher in mytilid beds than in the vicinity of siboglinids and vesicomyids. A Principal Component Analysis performed on environmental factors at the ten sampling sites revealed that 37% of the observed variance in the distribution of symbiont‐bearing species may be explained by variation in both methane and oxygen concentrations, while a Canonical Redundancy Analysis selected methane concentration as the only variable which explains symbiont‐bearing species densities. This spatial distribution of chemosynthetic species at the pockmark scale may reflect temporal patterns of succession of both substrate and fauna, and may be related to different individual pockmarks visible on the microbathymetry mapped using ROV data.
Exploiting natural genetic diversity and mutant resources of Arabidopsis thaliana to study the A. thaliana–Plasmodiophora brassicae interaction
Authors: Alix K. , Lariagon C. , Delourme R. , Manzanares‐Dauleux M. J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractClubroot, caused by the obligate biotroph Plasmodiophora brassicae Woron., is one of the most damaging diseases of Brassica crops in the world. Because the pathogen can infect all the Brassicaceae, including Arabidopsis thaliana, possible advantages have been found by identifying sources of resistance to P. brassicae in this model plant. Fifty‐seven ecotypes of A. thaliana, including the INRA Arabidopsis core collection, were assessed for resistance to clubroot disease. Ecotypes Burren (Bur‐0), Tsu (Tsu‐0) and Kaunas (Kn − 0) were identified as partially resistant to P. brassicae isolates eH and/or Ms6. Fifteen Arabidopsis mutant lines known for certain physiological processes potentially involved in the host‐pathogen interaction were evaluated for their resistance/susceptibility to P. brassicae. Mutant axr3‐1 appeared to be less susceptible than the wild type Columbia, supporting the hypothesis of the involvement of the auxin pathway in the development of clubs.
Prospects of breeding biofortified pearl millet with high grain iron and zinc content
Authors: Velu G. , Rai K. N. , Muralidharan V. , Kulkarni V. N. , Longvah T. , Raveendran T. S. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractDevelopment of crop cultivars with elevated levels of micronutrients is being increasingly recognized as one of the approaches to provide sustainable solutions to various health problems associated with micronutrient malnutrition, especially in developing countries. To assess the prospects of this approach in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum), a diverse range of genetic materials, consisting of 40 hybrid parents, 30 each of population progenies and improved populations, and 20 germplasm accessions, was analysed for grain iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content, deficiencies of which adversely affect human health. Based on the mean performance in two seasons at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India, large variability among the entries was found, both for Fe (30.1–75.7 mg/kg on dry weight basis) and Zn (24.5–64.8 mg/kg). The highest levels of grain Fe and Zn were observed in well‐adapted commercial varieties and their progenies, and in the parental lines of hybrids, which were either entirely based on iniari germplasm, or had large components of it in their parentage. There were indications of large within‐population genetic variability for both Fe and Zn. The correlation between Fe and Zn content was positive and highly significant (r = 0.84; P < 0.01). These results indicate that there are good prospects of simultaneous selection for both micronutrients, and that selection within populations, especially those with the predominantly iniari germplasm, is likely to provide good opportunities for developing pearl millet varieties and hybrid parents with significantly improved grain Fe and Zn content in pearl millet.
Development, characterization and utilization of microsatellite markers in pigeonpea
Authors: Odeny D. A. , Jayashree B. , Ferguson M. , Hoisington D. , Crouch J. , Gebhardt C. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPigeonpea is a major legume of the semi‐arid tropics that has been neglected in terms of molecular breeding. The objectives of this study were to develop microsatellite markers and evaluate their potential for use in pigeonpea genetics and breeding. Two hundred and eight microsatellite loci were isolated by screening a non‐enriched partial genomic library. Primers were designed for 39 microsatellite loci, 20 of which amplified polymerase chain reaction products of the expected size. Nineteen of the primer pairs were polymorphic amongst 15 cultivated and nine wild pigeonpea accessions providing evidence for cross‐species transferability within the genus Cajanus. A total of 98 alleles were detected at the 19 polymorphic loci with an average of 4.9 alleles per locus. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.17 to 0.80 with a mean of 0.42 per locus. Less allelic variation (31 alleles) was observed within the cultivated species than across the wild species (92 alleles). The diversity analysis readily distinguished all wild relatives from each other and from the cultivated germplasm. Development of more microsatellites is recommended for future genomic studies in pigeonpea.
Comparative study of the discriminating capacity and effectiveness of AFLP, STMS and EST markers in assessing genetic relationships among evergreen azaleas
Authors: Scariot V. , De Keyser E. , Handa T. , De Riek J. 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThe application of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), sequence tagged microsatellite site (STMS) and expressed sequence tag (EST) markers to study the genetic relationships in an evergreen azalea gene pool was investigated. STMS and EST markers revealed a higher genetic distance detection capacity than AFLPs, which, nevertheless, were the most efficient marker system due to their highest polymorphism detection capacity. Similarity matrices showed weak, yet significant, correlations when Mantel's test was applied. To assess the usefulness of the overall information provided by these marker data for establishing phylogenetic relationships and horticultural classification, cluster analysis was performed. The joint AFLP, STMS and EST data were demonstrated to be remarkably effective for group discrimination and phylogenetic studies. The use of these polymerase chain reaction marker systems is discussed in terms of the choice of appropriate marker techniques for different aspects of evergreen azalea germplasm evaluation.
Indigenous child oral health at a regional and state level
Authors: Jamieson Lisa M , Parker Eleanor J , Armfield Jason M 
Published: February 2007

Aim:  To compare the dental disease experience of Indigenous and non‐Indigenous children in South Australia’s mid‐north region (regional area) and to assess Indigenous oral health differences at a regional‐ and state‐level.Methods:  Data were collected from a School Dental Service based in an Aboriginal‐owned medical health service and standard school dental clinics in the regional area from March 2001 to March 2006. State‐level data were obtained over a 12‐month period in 2003. Caries prevalence (per cent dmft or DMFT >0) and severity (mean dmft or DMFT, SiC and SiC10) measures were used to assess dental disease experience.Results:  In the regional area, Indigenous children aged <10 years had 1.6, 1.9, 1.6 and 1.4 times the percent dmft >0, mean dmft, SiC primary and SiC10 primary, respectively, of their non‐Indigenous counterparts, while Indigenous children aged 6+ years had 1.3, 1.7, 1.7 and 1.6 times the percent DMFT > 0, mean DMFT, SiC permanent and SiC10 permanent, respectively, of non‐Indigenous children. Indigenous children in the regional area had significantly higher caries prevalence and severity than Indigenous children at a state‐level.Conclusion:  Indigenous children in South Australia’s mid‐north region are dentally disadvantaged in comparison with their non‐Indigenous counterparts and with the general South Australian Indigenous child population.
Comparison of mental health symptoms between children attending developmental/behavioural paediatric clinics and child and adolescent mental health service
Authors: Roongpraiwan Rawiwan , Efron Daryl , Sewell Jill , Mathai John 
Published: February 2007

Aim: Australian paediatricians are being referred many children with severe and complex behavioural presentations. Australian paediatricians are being referred many children with severe and complex behavioural presentations. The aim of this study was to compare patients seen in the developmental/behavioural paediatric clinic (DBP) with those seen in the community child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) of a paediatric teaching hospital. We hypothesised that the burden of emotional‐behavioural symptoms of children referred to these two services would be similar.Method: The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was completed by parents of children seen in both the DBP and the CAMHS of a paediatric teaching hospital over a 6‐month period. The self‐report version was completed by patients aged over 11 years. Data were compared both continuously and categorically, for total scores and subscale scores.Results: For patients aged 4–10 years, the total scores were higher for the CAMHS (mean = 20.4) than the DBP (mean = 16.6) sample (P < 0.001). For patients aged 11–17 years, there was no difference between the groups in either the parent report total scores (CAMHS 19.4; DBP 19.3,P = 0.92) or the self‐report total scores (CAMHS 17.5; DBP 15.7,P = 0.11).Conclusion: Children referred to a DBP clinic had a comparable burden of emotional/behavioural symptoms to those referred to a CAMHS service, although the degree of impairment was higher in the CAMHS sample. The complexity and severity of clinical work undertaken in DBP services needs to be taken into account in paediatric training, and in the broad planning of child and adolescent mental health service delivery.
Occurrence and management of acute respiratory illnesses in early childhood
Authors: Kusel Merci MH , De Klerk Nicholas , Holt Patrick G , Landau Louis I , Sly Peter D 
Published: February 2007

Aim:  Acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) impose massive economic burden on health services. The growing costs, limited benefits of pharmacotherapeutic agents, and alarming rise in antibiotic resistance poses a major health challenge. Analysis of the nature and burden of ARI through well‐designed epidemiologic studies will help in the development of a uniform public health approach to identify methods to reduce disease transmission and maximise prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to analyse the nature and magnitude of the burden of ARI encountered by a cohort of children in the first 5 years of life.Methods:  This community‐based prospective study of ARI followed a cohort of children from birth until 5 years of age. Information on all episodes of ARI encountered, and their management, was collected through daily symptom diary and fortnightly telephone calls.Results:  Four episodes of ARI/year were reported in the first 2 years and 2–3 episodes/year between 2 and 5 years. The majority were upper respiratory infections. 53% had at least one lower respiratory infection in the first year. For the majority, symptoms lasted 1–2 weeks. 53% were treated with antitussives or cough mixtures, 44% with paracetamol and 23% with antibiotics. A total of 46% of the episodes presented to a family physician, with younger children and those with lower respiratory infection more likely to seek attention.Conclusion:  ARI are common in childhood and although symptoms may last for 4 weeks, the majority resolve spontaneously. Use of medication does not appear to significantly alter the course or duration of symptoms of ARI.
Survival by ethnicity for children diagnosed with cancer in New Zealand during 1990–1993
Authors: Douglas Nicholas M , Dockerty John D 
Published: February 2007

Aim: This study aimed to assess survival by ethnicity for all New Zealand children (0–14 years) diagnosed with cancer during 1990–1993 and second, to determine the accuracy of the children’s routinely collected ethnicity information.Methods: Four hundred and nine children were followed up using two largely independent sources. We compared survival using the Cox model.Results: Maori and Pacific Island children had the same survival as non‐Maori/non‐Pacific children for ‘all cancers combined’ (hazard ratios (HR): 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.64–1.50 and 1.01; 95% CI: 0.53–1.89 respectively) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (HR: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.45–2.62 and 0.99; 95% CI: 0.24–4.16, respectively). The ethnicity data stored within the National Health Index and the New Zealand Cancer Registry showed reasonably close agreement with ethnicity data provided by the children’s mothers at interview (Kappa statistics: 0.82 and 0.81 respectively) while the Mortality Collection showed only moderate agreement (Kappa statistic: 0.63).Conclusion: The point estimates in this study provide no evidence of ethnic disparities in survival from childhood cancer in New Zealand. However, even in this national study there were small numbers of Maori and Pacific children leading to wide confidence intervals. We therefore recommend cautious interpretation.
Antisperm antibodies in infertile men and their correlation with seminal parameters
Authors: GARCIA PATRICIA C. , RUBIO ELIANA M. , PEREIRA ODUVALDO C.M. 
Published: February 2007

Aim:  Antisperm antibodies (ASA) in males cause the autoimmune disease ‘immune infertility’. The present study intended to detect the presence of ASA and their incidence in men with unexplained infertility, as well as to evaluate the correlation between the presence of ASA and semen parameter alterations.Methods:  Blood and sperm assessment were collected to carry out a direct and indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test and semen analysis in infertile and fertile men from the University Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine, Sao Paulo State University, Sao Paulo.Results:  In the MAR test, 18.18% of infertile men were positive for ASA. In fertile men, no positivity was found. A significant correlation between the presence of ASA with an increased white blood cell count plus a decreased hypoosmotic swelling test result was observed.Conclusions:  The results indicate that ASA are involved in reduced fertility. It is not ASA detection per se that provides conclusive information about the occurrence of damage to fertility. The correlation between infertility and altered seminal parameters reinforce the ASA participation in this pathology. (Reprod Med Biol 2007; 6: 33–38)
Estrogen to progesterone ratio affects hormonal and lipid follicular fluid profiles in dairy cows
Authors: RENAVILLE BENEDICTE , COMIN ANTONELLA , FAZZINI UBERTO , MARCHINI ELENA , MAIERO STEFANO , MARCHI VITTORIO , PRANDI ALBERTO 
Published: February 2007

Aim:  The present study described hormonal and lipids concentrations of follicles that develop under high progesterone plasmatic levels, mimicking the second follicular wave.Methods:  All follicles were removed by aspiration in order to generate a new follicular wave. Follicular fluid was then obtained from either 3 day old follicles (F3) or 6 day old follicles (F6). This experimental protocol was carried out at 20 days and 90 days post‐partum on Frisian dairy cows that had already returned to cyclicity.Results:  Estrogen active follicles (ratio of estrogen to progesterone in follicular fluid higher than 1) have higher levels of VEGF, IGF‐I and linoleic acid, and have lower levels of NEFA, oleic and arachidonic acid. Non‐estrogen active follicular fluid concentrations of IGF‐I and NEFA were similar to plasma concentrations. In contrast, estrogen active follicles showed higher IGF‐I and lower NEFA levels than plasmatic ones that could be used to sustain follicular growth.Conclusions:  The results show that estrogen active follicles might have their own metabolism. (Reprod Med Biol 2007; 6: 45–51)
Clinical outcomes of two different endometrial preparation methods for cryopreserved‐thawed embryo transfer in patients with a normal menstrual cycle
Authors: KAWAMURA TOSHIHIRO , MOTOYAMA HIROSHI , YANAIHARA ATSUSHI , YORIMITSU TAKESHI , ARICHI AKANE , KARASAWA YASUHIRO , SUGA KAHORI , MIYA KAORU , ISHIKAWA SEIKA , MIZUSHIMA SHIHO , KAWAMURA MAKIKO 
Published: February 2007

Aim:  To compare the clinical outcomes of cryopreserved‐thawed embryo transfer among patients with a normal menstrual cycle who had natural or hormone‐replacement cycles.Methods:  From January 2004 to June 2006, cryopreserved embryos following conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were thawed and transferred in a total of 720 natural cycles and 136 hormone‐replacement cycles.Results:  Cryopreserved‐thawed embryo transfer in patients who had a natural or hormone‐replacement cycle resulted in clinical pregnancy in 43.1% and 40.4%, respectively; a rate of miscarriage of 14.5% and 23.6%, respectively; and a rate of ongoing pregnancy and delivery of 36.5% and 30.9%, respectively. None of these differences were statistically significant.Conclusions:   Patients with a normal menstrual cycle who have natural or hormone‐replacement cycles can be expected to have comparable clinical outcomes with cryopreserved‐thawed embryo transfer. (Reprod Med Biol 2007; 6: 53–57)
Importance of early lighting conditions in maternal care by dam as well as anxiety and memory later in life of offspring
Authors: Toki Shigeru , Morinobu Shigeru , Imanaka Akihiro , Yamamoto Shigeto , Yamawaki Shigeto , Honma Ken‐ichi 
Published: February 2007

AbstractRodent studies have revealed that the early rearing environment plays an important role in the development of stress vulnerability, memory and cognition. Although early lighting conditions (ELC) are involved in these neuronal developments through both maternal and offspring behavior, their influence has not been fully elucidated. Thus, by using Sprague‐Dawley rats, we examined whether ELC affected maternal care by the dam and the subsequent neurodevelopment of the offspring. Prolonged dark phase conditions (PDC) (light/dark, 6/18 h) and prolonged light phase conditions (light/dark, 18/6 h) were administered from postnatal day 2 to postnatal day 14. Throughout this period, maternal care and the circadian rhythmicity of dams were investigated. In adolescence and adulthood of the offspring, we measured anxiety‐like behavior, social interaction, object recognition memory, activity rhythm and corticosterone response to stress with hippocampal expression of N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate and glucocorticoid receptor mRNAs. PDC altered maternal care and circadian rhythmicity in the dam compared with normal lighting conditions and prolonged light phase conditions. PDC markedly increased anxiety‐like behavior, decreased social interaction and object recognition memory, and inhibited corticosterone feedback in offspring later in life. Furthermore, hippocampal levels of glucocorticoid receptor mRNA and N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor 2B mRNA in rats subjected to PDC were significantly lower than in animals subjected to normal lighting conditions. In the adult offspring, the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity was not affected. These findings suggested that ELC affect mother–infant interactions and subsequently at least partially alter the neurobehavioral development of offspring.