bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
BSACI guidelines for the management of chronic urticaria and angio‐oedema
Authors: Powell R. J. , Du Toit G. L. , Siddique N. , Leech S. C. , Dixon T. A. , Clark A. T. , Mirakian R. , Walker S. M. , Huber P. A. J. , Nasser S. M. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryThis guidance for the management of patients with chronic urticaria and angio‐oedema has been prepared by the Standards of Care Committee (SOCC) of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI). The guideline is based on evidence as well as on expert opinion and is aimed at both adult physicians and paediatricians practising in allergy. The recommendations are evidence graded. During the development of these guidelines, all BSACI members were included in the consultation process using a web‐based system. Their comments and suggestions were carefully considered by the SOCC. Where evidence was lacking a consensus was reached by the experts on the committee. Included in this guideline are clinical classification, aetiology, diagnosis, investigations, treatment guidance with special sections on children with urticaria, and the use of antihistamines in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Finally, we have made recommendations for potential areas of future research.
Distinct signalling pathways promote phagocytosis of bacteria, latex beads and lipopolysaccharide in medfly haemocytes
Authors: Lamprou Irene , Mamali Irene , Dallas Kostas , Fertakis Vassilis , Lampropoulou Maria , Marmaras Vassilis J. 
Published: March 2007

SummaryIn insects, phagocytosis is an important innate immune response against pathogens and parasites, and several signal transduction pathways regulate this process. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are of central importance because their activation upon pathogen challenge regulates phagocytosis via haemocyte secretion and activation of the prophenoloxidase (proPO) cascade. The goal of this study was to explore further the mechanisms underlying the process of phagocytosis. In particular, in this report, we used flow cytometry, RNA interference, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis to demonstrate that (1) phagocytosis of bacteria (both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive) is dependent on RGD‐binding receptors, FAK/Src and MAPKs, (2) latex bead phagocytosis is RGD‐binding‐receptor‐independent and dependent on FAK/Src and MAPKs, (3) lipopolysaccharide internalization is RGD‐binding‐receptor‐independent and FAK/Src‐independent but MAPK‐dependent and (4) in unchallenged haemocytes in suspension, FAK, Src and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signalling molecules participating in phagocytosis show both a functional and a physical association. Overall, this study has furthered knowledge of FAK/Src and MAPK signalling pathways in insect haemocyte immunity and has demonstrated that distinct signalling pathways regulate the phagocytic activity of biotic and abiotic components in insect haemocytes. Evidently, the basic phagocytic signalling pathways among insects and mammals appear to have remained unchanged during evolution.
Altered editing in RNA editing adenosine deaminase ADAR2 gene transcripts of systemic lupus erythematosus T lymphocytes
Authors: Laxminarayana Dama , O'Rourke Kenneth S. , Maas Stefan , Olorenshaw Irene 
Published: March 2007

Summary Adenosine Deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) edit gene transcripts through site‐specific conversion of adenosine to inosine by hydrolytic deamination at C6 of the adenosine. ADAR2 gene transcripts are substrates for the ADAR1 and ADAR2 enzymes and their expression is regulated by editing at the − 1 and − 2 sites. Our previous experiments demonstrated up‐regulation of type I interferon (IFN) inducible 150 kDa ADAR1 in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) T cells. In this study we investigate the role of ADAR1 and ADAR2 in editing of ADAR2 gene transcripts of healthy controls and SLE patients. The ADAR2 gene transcripts were cloned into pCR2.1‐TOPO vectors. A total of 150 clones from SLE and 150 clones from controls were sequenced. Sequence analysis demonstrated A to I editing at − 1, + 10, + 23 and + 24 in normal T cells. In SLE clones site‐selective editing of the − 2 site was observed as a result of type I IFN‐inducible 150 kDa ADAR1 expression. These results are confirmed by analysing ADAR2 transcripts of normal T cells activated with type I IFN‐α. Editing of the + 23 and + 24 sites was decreased in SLE T cells compared to normal controls. In addition to A to G changes, U to C discrepancies were observed in normal and SLE T cells. In SLE cells, positions − 6 and + 30 were frequently edited from U to C compared to normal controls. Taken together, these results demonstrate altered and site‐selective editing in ADAR2 transcripts of SLE patients. Based on these results, it is proposed that altered transcript editing contributes to the modulation of gene expression and immune functions in SLE patients.
Simulation study of the competitive ability of erect, semi‐erect and prostrate cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes
Authors: WANG G , MCGIFFEN ME , LINDQUIST JL , EHLERS JD , SARTORATO I 
Published: March 2007

SummaryEcophysiological simulation models provide a quantitative method to predict the effects of management practices, plant characteristics and environmental factors on crop and weed growth and competition. The INTERCOM interplant competition model was parameterised, calibrated by monoculture data for three cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes that differed in growth habit, common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and common purslane (Portulaca oleracea), and used to simulate competition of cowpea cover crops with sunflower or purslane. The simulation results were compared with observations from field competition experiments in 2003 and 2004. INTERCOM more accurately simulated actual field data for the competition of cowpea genotypes and sunflower than companion field experiments for the competition of cowpea and purslane. The validated simulation model of cowpea and sunflower at two densities was used to study the effects of cowpea growth habit on final biomass production of cowpea and sunflower. The model suggested that erect growth habit was more competitive than semi‐erect and prostrate growth habit, when cowpea genotypes were grown with sunflower. Cowpea leaf area distribution was important to higher cowpea biomass production, while cowpea height growth was important to reduce sunflower biomass. Our simulation approach is suggested as a method for crop breeders to gauge the likely success of selection for competitive crops before undertaking expensive long‐term breeding experiments.
Mapping Ridolfia segetum patches in sunflower crop using remote sensing
Authors: PEÑA‐BARRAGÁN J M , LÓPEZ‐GRANADOS F , JURADO‐EXPÓSITO M , GARCÍA‐TORRES L 
Published: March 2007

Summary Ridolfia segetum is a frequent umbelliferous weed in sunflower crops in the Mediterranean basin. Field and remote sensing research was conducted in 2003 and 2004 over two naturally infested fields to determine the potential of multispectral imagery for discrimination and mapping of R. segetum patches in sunflower crops. The efficiency of the four wavebands blue (B), green (G), red (R) and near‐infrared (NIR), selected vegetation indices and the spectral angle mapper (SAM) classification method were studied using aerial photographs taken in the late vegetative (mid‐May), flowering (mid‐June) and senescence (mid‐July) crop growth stages. Discrimination efficiency of R. segetum patches in sunflower crops is consistently affected by their phenological stages, in this order: flowering > senescence > vegetative. In both fields, R. segetum patches were efficiently discriminated in mid‐June, corresponding to the flowering phase, by using the waveband G, the ratio R/B or SAM with overall accuracies ranging from 85% to 98%. The application of the median‐filtering algorithm to any of the classified images improved the accuracy. Our results suggest that mapping R. segetum weed patches in sunflower to implement site‐specific weed management techniques is feasible with aerial photography when images are taken from 8 to 10 weeks before harvesting.
Multivariate Cluster Analysis Regression Procedures as Tools to Identify Motile Sperm Subpopulations in Rabbit Semen and to Predict Semen Fertility and Litter Size
Authors: Quintero‐Moreno A , Rigau T , Rodríguez‐Gil JE 
Published: March 2007

ContentsComputerized motility analysis (CASA) shows that four separate subpopulations of spermatozoa with different motility characteristics co‐exist in rabbit ejaculates. There were significant (p < 0.01) differences in the distribution of these subpopulations among separate genetic lines, total sperm abnormalities and the percentage of altered acrosomes. Furthermore, logistic and linear multivariate regressions among several parameters of rabbit semen quality analysis were tested for use as predictive tools for the fertilizing ability of a specific artificial insemination semen sample. Logistic regression analysis rendered two mathematical, significant (p < 0.01) models: one between sperm viability and conception rate and the other between total sperm abnormalities and conception rate. Multiple linear regression analyses also yielded some significant relationships between both fertility (p < 0.001) and litter size (p < 0.05), with respect to some semen characteristics. Our results support the hypothesis that the predictive in vivo fertility use of the standard rabbit semen quality analysis coupled with a CASA determination could be reasonably achieved by applying linear and logistic regression analyses among several parameters of rabbit semen quality analysis.
Complexed prostate‐specific antigen for the diagnosis of biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Parsons J. Kellogg , Partin Alan W. , Trock Bruce , Bruzek Debra J. , Cheli Carol , Sokoll Lori J. 
Published: March 2007

OBJECTIVESTo determine the validity of using complexed prostate‐specific antigen (cPSA) levels for diagnosing biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP).PATIENTS AND METHODSWith linear regression modelling, we determined threshold cPSA levels for biochemical recurrence in patients after RP for clinically localized prostate cancer. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and likelihood ratio tests of each threshold for diagnosing biochemical recurrence using total PSA (tPSA) as the reference standard.RESULTSIn the regression models, tPSA and cPSA were highly correlated (r = 0.99). For the diagnosis of biochemical recurrence, tPSA thresholds of 0.20 and 0.40 ng/mL corresponded to cPSA thresholds of 0.12 ng/mL (95% confidence interval 0.08–0.17) and 0.29 (0.22–0.28)  ng/mL, respectively. For the detection of biochemical recurrence, a cPSA threshold of 0.12 ng/mL had a sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 88%, positive predictive value of 89%, negative predictive value of 88%, positive likelihood ratio of 8, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.05; the respective values for a cPSA threshold of 0.29 ng/mL were 96%, 96%, 96%, 96%, 24 and 0.04.CONCLUSIONScPSA has high validity for the diagnosis of biochemical recurrence after RP. Pending external validation, cPSA might be useful for biochemical surveillance after RP.
Plasma glucagon decreases during night‐time sleep in Type 1 diabetic patients and healthy control subjects
Authors: Jauch‐Chara K. , Hallschmid M. , Schmid S. M. , Oltmanns K. M. , Peters A. , Born J. , Schultes B. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractAims  In Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), the glucagon response to hypoglycaemia is known to disappear within a few months after the onset of the disease, whereas the response to other stimuli remains intact. The dynamics of spontaneous glucagon release have rarely been assessed. We monitored spontaneous glucagon release in T1DM patients and healthy subjects during a 7‐h period of night‐time sleep.Methods  Measurements were made in 14 T1DM patients and 14 control subjects matched for age, gender and body mass index after one night's adaptation in our laboratory. Circulating glucose, insulin and glucagon concentrations were measured at 30‐min intervals. In diabetic patients, hypoglycaemia (< 3.9 mmol/l) was avoided by infusion of glucose whenever necessary.Results  During the entire night, plasma glucose and serum insulin levels were higher in T1DM patients than in healthy subjects (P < 0.03 and P < 0.001, respectively). Plasma glucagon concentrations decreased throughout the night in both groups (P < 0.001). Glucagon levels were similar in T1DM patients and healthy subjects (P > 0.87). The duration of diabetes (less and more than 5 years) did not affect glucagon secretion (P > 0.87).Conclusions  Plasma glucagon levels decrease significantly during night‐time sleep in healthy control subjects. This nocturnal decrease is preserved in T1DM patients regardless of the duration of diabetes. These observations point to distinct nocturnal regulation of spontaneous glucagon release that does not depend on circulating glucose and insulin levels and is unaltered in T1DM patients.
Dose–response of the cultured bovine lens to butyl, methyl and propyl parabens
Authors: Sivasegaran K. , Ho L. , Moran K. L. , Bantseev V. , Sivak J. G. 
Published: March 2007

SynopsisPre‐screening of cosmetic ingredients is vital for consumer safety. Previous in vivo techniques, such as the Draize test, have proved to be unreliable in predicting ocular irritancy and therefore there is a need for alternate testing methodologies. One such test is the scanning laser in vitro assay system which quantifies irritancy based on the focusing ability of the cultured bovine lens. In combination with confocal microscopy, a more thorough documentation of ocular irritancy can be achieved. This study investigates the response of cultured bovine lenses over time to butyl, methyl and propyl parabens, which are common antimicrobial agents found in cosmetic and ophthalmic products. The focusing ability of the lens was measured with an automated laser scanner over a period of 96 h. At 120 h post‐treatment, the lenses were analysed by using a confocal laser scanning microscope to determine the characteristics of nuclei, and the morphology and distribution of mitochondria within the lenses. Irritancy to the three parabens was investigated at both an optical and cellular level. Each of the parabens was tested at 0.002% and 0.2%, where the 0.2% butyl paraben was found to be the most irritating.
Growth, survival and inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains of various origin in the presence of ethanol
Authors: Pinon A. , Alexandre V. , Cupferman S. , Crozier A. , Vialette M. 
Published: March 2007

SynopsisThe influence of ethanol on the behaviour of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus strains was evaluated throughout this study. Strains of different origin were used: collection, clinical and industrial strains were selected. Concentrations of ethanol from 0 to 20% (v/v) were evaluated by automated optical density measurements and by enumeration. When growth conditions were observed, predictive microbiology models were used to assess quantitatively for the ethanol effect. Primary modelling of kinetics was performed to determine growth rate values; secondary modelling was performed on these growth rates as influenced by ethanol, and minimum inhibitory concentrations of ethanol were determined for each strain. Staphylococcus aureus strains were more resistant to ethanol than P. aeruginosa strains, in growth conditions as well as in inactivation conditions. Furthermore, clinical S. aureus strains were more resistant than the collection strain. The method was promising for management of microbiological safety in cosmetics.
DOMESTICATING GLOBALISATION, NEW ECONOMIC SPACES AND REGIONAL POLARISATION IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA
Authors: LU LACHANG , WEI YEHUA DENNIS 
Published: March 2007

ABSTRACTConcerns over the effects of globalisation and liberalisation have intensified the debates over the trajectories and underlying sources of regional inequality. This paper attempts to link macro studies of regional inequality to micro studies of local development and to expand the research on intraprovincial inequality in China to Guangdong Province. First, substantial evidence has been provided to illustrate the extent of polarisation between the Pearl River Delta (PRD) and the periphery, especially since the early 1990s. Second, it has been found that new economic spaces centred on exoproduction centres, high‐tech zones, university clusters, and entrepreneurial spaces driven by the domestication of globalisation and the growth of the knowledge economy have emerged as new engines of regional growth. The orthodox notion of the PRD development as externally driven has become obsolete, and a new conceptualisation centred on the knowledge economy and integrated development better explains regional development and polarisation in Guangdong. Finally, the theoretical and policy implications of the research are discussed. The emerging form of regional development in the PRD represents an effort to make the knowledge economy the new engine of regional development and indicates that developing countries such as China are attempting to move beyond being a manufacturing assembler. The emergence of the knowledge economy in the PRD also has important implications for the recent efforts to develop the Greater Pearl River Delta, which needs to pay more attention to global networks for innovation and creativity. Moreover, the emergence of the knowledge economy makes the development of the periphery even more challenging due to the effects of self‐reinforcing agglomeration and the constraints of geographical barriers.
An open‐label efficacy pilot study with pimecrolimus cream 1% in adults with facial seborrhoeic dermatitis infected with HIV
Authors: De Moraes AP , De Arruda ÉÂG , Vitoriano MAV , De Moraes Filho MO , Bezerra FÂF , De Magalhães Holanda E , De Moraes MEA 
Published: March 2007

AbstractBackground  Seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) is a common dermatosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐positive patients, many of whom do not respond satisfactorily to conventional topical treatments such as corticosteroids and antifungals.Objective  A pilot study to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of pimecrolimus cream 1% in HIV‐positive patients with facial SD.Methods  In a single‐centre study, 21 HIV‐infected patients with mild to severe SD were treated twice daily with pimecrolimus cream 1% for 14 days. Thereafter, treatment was discontinued and patients followed up for 5 weeks. Skin involvement at baseline and on days 7, 14, 21, 35 and 49 was assessed using a four‐point clinical score and digital photography.Main outcome measures  Efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus cream 1% treatment and incidence of relapse in the follow‐up phase.Results  Marked improvement was seen in clinical parameters at day 7, with ≥ 90% patients clear of symptoms at day 14. Relapse was observed at day 35 but signs were milder than at baseline. All patients responded to therapy, despite their immunological status. Pimecrolimus did not alter CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell counts or viral load during the treatment period.Conclusion  Pimecrolimus cream represents a new, effective therapeutic option for facial SD in HIV patients.
Effects of stimulus probability on pupillary dilation and reaction time in categorization
Authors: Reinhard Günter , Lachnit Harald , König Stephan 
Published: March 2007

AbstractStimuli presented with a low frequency elicit larger pupillary responses than those presented with a high frequency. Similar effects are known for motor responses observed in reaction time experiments. Utilizing this stimulus probability effect, we conducted a Go/NoGo reaction time experiment and measured pupillary dilation to evaluate categorization. We found no probability effect when participants used distinctive features to classify stimuli with different frequencies into the same category. If no distinctive features could be applied, however, the effect was observed in both pupillary and reaction time data. The stimulus probability effect can serve as a tool for the evaluation of categorization and is discussed in the context of orienting.
Microsatellite markers isolated from saltgrass (Distichlis spicata)
Authors: TSYUSKO OLGA V. , PETERS MAUREEN B. , TUBERVILLE TRACEY D. , HAGEN CRIS , EPPLEY SARAH M. , GLENN TRAVIS C. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractTwelve polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci were isolated from saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) and optimized for future studies of its breeding system. The loci were screened for variability among 24 individuals from two populations. The primers amplified loci with numbers of alleles ranging from four to 14 per locus and polymorphic information content from 0.481 to 0.951. Observed heterozygosity varied from 0.227 to 0.958.
Development of polymorphic microsatellite and single nucleotide polymorphism markers for Cercospora beticola (Mycosphaerellaceae)
Authors: GROENEWALD MARIZETH , GROENEWALD JOHANNES Z. , LINDE CELESTE C. , CROUS PEDRO W. 
Published: March 2007

AbstractThe plant pathogenic fungus, Cercospora beticola, causes the most important foliage disease of sugar beet. A previous study has shown that isolates of opposite mating types are present in equal proportions in natural populations; therefore, the aim of this study was to develop highly reproducible polymorphic markers for analysing populations of C. beticola. Five microsatellite and four single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were developed that allow rapid screening of genetic diversity in C. beticola. Six populations were screened with these markers and all were found to be in gametic equilibrium, indicating random mating in C. beticola.
A Change of Power in Romania: The Results and Significance of the November 1996 Elections
Authors: Popescu Liliana 
Published: March 2007

THE ELECTIONS IN ROMANIA IN NOVEMBER 1996 WERE A TURNINGpoint in the political life of the country. They resulted in the victory of the Democratic Convention (DCR) and its presidential candidate, Emil Constantinescu, over the party dominated by reformedcommunists (the Party of Social Democracy of Romania, PSDR) and its candidate, the former president, Ion Iliescu.Professor Ghiţa Ionescu would have rejoiced in this long-awaited victory for the DCR. During his visit to Romania in 1993 he met many leading figures of the Democratic Convention, including Mr Constantinescu himself who, as Rector of the University of Bucharest, conferred upon him the doctorate honoris causa. He was also pleased to discover that one of his major books, Communism in Romania, had already been translated into Romanian (in 1992). Professor Ionescu was warmly welcomed and was particularly impressed by the enthusiasm of the young people, some of them academics, who were very actively engaged in the political struggle against the Iliescu regime.