bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The biology of Meteorus gyrator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary endoparasitoid of the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleracea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Bell H.A. , Marris G.C. , Bell J. , Edwards J.P. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThere is a need to identify potential biological control agents for use against lepidopterous pests in greenhouses. The solitary endoparasitoid Meteorus gyrator(Thunberg) attacks a range of macrolepidopterous larvae, including those of some important horticultural pest species. Laboratory trials designed to investigate the biology of M. gyrator on larvae of the tomato moth, Lacanobia oleraceaLinnaeus, reveal that this parasitoid is capable of parasitizing all larval stages of its host, third instars being parasitized most frequently. Each female parasitoid lives for up to 40 days (at 25°C), ovipositing into an average of 78 hosts. Preadult development is rapid (~ 2 weeks), and the sex ratio of offspring is 1:1. Parasitism by M. gyrator suppresses the growth of both early and late host instars, and there is a concomitant reduction in the amount of food consumed (overall feeding reduction over a 12 day period is 68%). Our results indicate that inoculative releases of M. gyrator could provide effective biological control of L. oleracea and other noctuid pests of greenhouses.
Sublethal concentrations of azadirachtin affect food intake, conversion efficiency and feeding behaviour of Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Martinez S.S. , van Emden H.F. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractSublethal concentrations of azadirachtin incorporated into artificial diet and offered to third-instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) prolonged larval instars and reduced food intake. These effects were observed after the treated larvae had been transferred to plain diet; the reduced food intake was therefore a secondary antifeedant effect. Azadirachtin did not influence digestion efficiency but diminished the ability of the larvae to convert both ingested and digested nutrients into growth, particularly immediately after treatment. This effect declined with time once the treatment with azadirachtin had ceased. Growth was more severely reduced than food intake, and the reduction in growth also occurred during periods when food intake was not affected, possibly due to post-ingestive effects.
Electrophoretic and DNA identification of Anopheles bwambae and A. gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) in western Uganda
Authors: Charalambous M. , Townson H. , Harbach R.E. , Mukwaya L.G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractCollections of mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex were made from the geothermal springs and surrounding area in the Semliki Valley, Bwamba County, Uganda, which is the only known locality of A. bwambae White. Specimens were analysed in one of three ways: rDNA-PCR for unequivocal species identification, allozyme electrophoresis to determine superoxide dismutase (Sod) and octanol dehydrogenase (Odh) genotypes, or both methods. Ribosomal DNA-PCR identification revealed the presence of A. bwambae and A. gambiae. Allozyme electrophoresis of 181 individuals showed that A. bwambae possessed the Sod105and Sod100 alleles and was not monomorphic for Sod105as reported previously. In adults reared from collections made in the vicinity of the geothermal springs, the frequency of Sod105 was found to be 0.614. Anopheles gambiae was fixed for Sod100. The majority of individuals homozygous for the Sod100 allele could be identified to species using Odh. Odh95 was found to be common in A. bwambae (frequency = 0.988) while A. gambiae appeared to be fixed for Odh100. Since Odh100occurred at a frequency of 1.2% in A. bwambae (concomitant with Sodgenotypes of 105/105, 100/105 or 100/100), individuals homozygous for Sod100 and Odh100 could be either species. Among 25 A. bwambae specimens homozygous for Sod100, one (4%) was also homozygous for Odh100. At present, this subset of the A. bwambae population can only be correctly identified to species using rDNA-PCR analysis.
Responses ofGlossina fuscipes fuscipes(Diptera: Glossinidae) and other Diptera to carbon dioxide in linear and dense forests
Authors: Mohamed-Ahmed M.M. , Mihok S. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe responses ofGlossina fuscipes fuscipesNewstead and other Diptera to carbon dioxide were studied in linear and dense forests along the shores of Lake Victoria, Kenya. Flies were caught in biconical traps and were intercepted with electric nets while in flight near traps. Carbon dioxide dispensed at a high rate (5 l min–1) in linear forest failed to increase the numbers of tsetse attracted to or caught in traps. In contrast, catches of non-biting Muscidae, Stomoxyinae and Tabanidae were improved by up to 11 times. Inside dense forest, carbon dioxide released at half this rate increased both the numbers of female tsetse attracted to a trap and the catches in a trap by about 2–3 times. Catches of male tsetse were, however, not affected. Striking improvements for other Diptera were also realized (up to 102 times). Under a variety of conditions, unbaited biconical traps attracted many Diptera to the vicinity of a trap, but caught few flies due to low capture efficiencies (typically less than 10%). In contrast, efficiency estimates forG. f. fuscipeswere good, varying from 37 to 82% in different habitats and seasons. These results are discussed in relation to the search for practical odour attractants for riverine tsetse.
Parasitoid assemblage size and host ranges in a parasitoid (Hymenoptera)–agromyzid (Diptera) system from central Argentina
Authors: Salvo A. , Valladares G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractA parasitoid community on agromyzid leafminers from Cordoba, Argentina was analysed in terms of parasitoid assemblage size and host ranges of parasitoid species. Samples were taken during 1991–1995 at natural, urban and agricultural habitats. The system consisted of 69 parasitoid species and 51 leafminer species on 109 plant species. On average, 12 species parasitized each host, when only numerically well represented leafminer species were considered for analysis. Each parasitoid species exploited on average seven species and three genera of agromyzid leafminers. Both parasitoid assemblage size and parasitoid host range were notably high when compared with similar systems from other regions.
Learning inHelicoverpa armigera(Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): a new look at the behaviour and control of a polyphagous pest
Authors: Cunningham J.P. , Zalucki M.P. , West S.A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractRecent experimental evidence has shown that learning occurs in the host selection behaviour ofHelicoverpa armigera(Hübner), one of the world‘s most important agricultural pests. This paper discusses how the occurrence of learning changes our understanding of the host selection behaviour of this polyphagous moth. Host preferences determined from previous laboratory studies may be vastly different from preferences exhibited by moths in the field, where the abundance of particular hosts may be more likely to determine host preference. In support of this prediction, a number of field studies have shown that the ‘attractiveness’ of different hosts forH. armigeraoviposition may depend on the relative abundance of these host species. Insect learning may play a fundamental role in the design and application of present and future integrated pest management strategies such as the use of host volatiles, trap crops and resistant crop varieties for monitoring and controlling this important pest species.
Development of odour-baited traps for Glossina swynnertoni (Diptera: Glossinidae)
Authors: Ndegwa P.N. , Mihok S. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThree new prototype traps, (S1–S3), were developed during studies of the behavioural ecology of Glossina swynnertoni Austen in Kenya and Tanzania. The traps were compared in latin square experiments relative to the regular biconical trap as a standard and a selection of other conventional tsetse traps. Observations were also made on fly behaviour in the vicinity of traps using electric nets and sticky materials. When baited with acetone and 1-octen-3-ol, the S1 trap was 3.5 times as effective in catching G. swynnertoni in Kenya as the biconical trap. In Tanzania, the relative performance of the S1 and biconical traps differed; also, both traps were found to be inferior to an all-black, sticky 1-m2target. A second prototype (S2) performed slightly better than the biconical trap, but was still inferior to the black target. The final prototype (S3) was 2.9 times as effective as the biconical trap and performed as well as the black target. The potential for further improvement of traps for capturing G. swynnertoni and flies of the G. morsitans Westwood group is discussed.
Biogeography of theCinara cupressicomplex (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Cupressaceae, with description of a pest species introduced into Africa
Authors: Watson G.W. , Voegtlin D.J. , Murphy S.T. , Foottit R.G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIn recent decades, aphids identified asCinara cupressi(Buckton) have seriously damaged commercial and ornamental plantings and native stands ofCupressus,Juniperus,Widdringtoniaand other Cupressaceae in Africa, Italy, Jordan, Yemen, Mauritius and Colombia. Aphids currently identified asCinara cupressiappear to belong to a species complex. This work was undertaken to identify the pest, its likely area of origin and any specific natural enemies, to facilitate a biological control programme. The biogeography of the species complex was studied using morphometric analysis of specimens from all the major regions where they have been collected, and analysis of host-plant ranges, parasitoid records and host association information. The cause of tree damage is shown to be an unnamed species, here described asC. (Cupressobium)cupressivoraWatson & Voegtlinsp. n., which probably originated onCupressus sempervirensin a region from eastern Greece to just south of the Caspian Sea. The remainder of the complex,Cinara cupressisensu lato, apparently consists of three morphologically similar species (C. sabinae(Gillette & Palmer) andC. cupressi(Buckton), probably originating in North America, and an unidentified species). There is insufficient data available to separate these taxa, or to determine the status ofC. canadensisHottes & Bradley, soC. sabinaeandC. canadensisare left in synonymy underC. cupressi(Buckton).Lachniella tujaedel Guercio andL. juniperi signatadel Guercio, thought to be part of theC. cupressicomplex, were found to be junior synonyms ofC. tujafilina(del Guercio); these new synonymies are proposed and lectotypes ofL. tujaeandL. juniperi signataare designated.
Physicians’ career satisfaction, quality of care and patients’ trust: the role of community uninsurance
Authors: PAGÁN JOSÉ A. , BALASUBRAMANIAN LAKSHMI , PAULY MARK V. 
Published: November 2007

Abstract:There is evidence that health care providers located in communities with relatively large uninsured populations face financial difficulties because of low service demand and high levels of uncompensated care. Data on 4,920 physicians from the 2000–2001 Community Tracking Study Physician Survey and from 25,637 adults from the 2003 Community Tracking Study Household Survey were used to analyze whether the relative size of the local uninsured population is associated with the level of career satisfaction and the quality of care provided by physicians and to assess whether patient trust is associated with the level of community uninsurance. The results indicate that the proportion of uninsured adults in a given community is negatively related to physicians’ career satisfaction and the perceived quality of health care provided. Community uninsurance is also negatively related to patient trust in their doctor and positively related to whether insured patients believed that their doctor was influenced by rules from health insurance companies. Physicians in communities with relatively large uninsured populations may have lower career satisfaction and lower perceptions of the quality of care provided due to financial difficulties. Patients in these communities are also less likely to trust their physician.
ULTRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES CAUSED BY SWAINSCWA GALEGIFOLIA POISONING IN THE GUINEA‐PIG
Authors: Huxtable CR 
Published: November 2007

SummaryVacuolation of the cells of many tissues has been produced by feeding guinea‐pigs on Swainsona galegifolia.Medullary neurones, hepatocytes, hepatic sinusoidal cells and pancreatic acinar cells from such animals have been examined with the electron microscope.In each case the vacuoles have been found to be single membrane‐bound and to have no clear‐cut morphological relationship with the normal organelles.Their possible relationship with lysosomes is discussed.
Ligand discovery and virtual screening using the program LIDAEUS
Authors: Taylor P , Blackburn E , Sheng Y G , Harding S , Hsin K‐Y , Kan D , Shave S , Walkinshaw M D 
Published: November 2007

This paper discusses advances in docking and scoring approaches with examples from the high‐throughput virtual screening program LIDAEUS. We describe the discovery of small molecule inhibitors for the immunophilin CypA, the cyclin‐dependent kinase CDK2 and the cyclapolin series of potent Polo‐like kinase inhibitors. These results are discussed in the context of advances in massively parallel computing and in the development of annotated databases.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, S55–S67; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707532; published online 26 November 2007
G‐protein‐coupled receptor heteromers: function and ligand pharmacology
Authors: Franco R , Casadó V , Cortés A , Mallol J , Ciruela F , Ferré S , Lluis C , Canela E I 
Published: November 2007

Almost all existing models for G‐protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are based on the occurrence of monomers. Recent studies show that many GPCRs are dimers. Therefore for some receptors dimers and not monomers are the main species interacting with hormones/neurotransmitters/drugs. There are reasons for equivocal interpretations of the data fitting to receptor dimers assuming they are monomers. Fitting data using a dimer‐based model gives not only the equilibrium dissociation constants for high and low affinity binding to receptor dimers but also a ‘cooperativity index’ that reflects the molecular communication between monomers within the dimer. The dimer cooperativity index (DC) is a valuable tool that enables to interpret and quantify, for instance, the effect of allosteric regulators. For different receptors heteromerization confers a specific functional property for the receptor heteromer that can be considered as a ‘dimer fingerprint’. The occurrence of heteromers with different pharmacological and signalling properties opens a complete new field to search for novel drug targets useful to combat a variety of diseases and potentially with fewer side effects. Antagonists, which are quite common marketed drugs targeting GPCRs, display variable affinities when a given receptor is expressed with different heteromeric partners. This fact should be taken into account in the development of new drugs.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153, S90–S98; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707571; published online 26 November 2007
Chlorthalidone inhibits the KvLQT1 potassium current in guinea‐pig ventricular myocytes and oocytes fromXenopus laevis
Authors: Mancilla‐Simbro C , López A , Martinez‐Morales E , Soto‐Perez‐de‐Celis E , Millan‐PerezPeña L , Tsushima R , Salinas‐Stefanon E M 
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:Chlorthalidone is used for the treatment of hypertension as it produces a lengthening of the cardiac action potential. However, there is no experimental evidence that chlorthalidone has electrophysiological effects on the potassium currents involved in cardiac repolarization.Experimental approach:Ventricular myocytes and oocytes, transfected with human ionic channels that produceIK current, were exposed to different concentrations of chlorthalidone. Action potentials and potassium currents were recorded using a patch clamp technique. To determine which component of the current was affected by chlorthalidone, human channel proteins (hERG, minK and KvLQT1) were used.Key results:Chlorthalidone prolonged the ventricular action potential at 50 and 90% by 13 and 14%, respectively. The cardiac potassium currentsItoandIK1were not affected by chlorthalidone at any concentration, whereas the delayed rectifier potassium current,IK, was blocked in a dose‐response, voltage‐independent fashion. In our preparation, 100 μM chlorthalidone blocked the two components of the delayed rectifier potassium current with the same potency (50.1±5% forIKrand 54.6±6% forIKs) (n=7,P<0.05). The chlorthalidone‐sensitive current was slow and saturated at potentials greater than +30 mV. In our conditions only the KvLQT1 potassium current was affected by the drug, by 14%.Conclusions and implications:Chlorthalidone was demonstrated to have a direct effect on cardiac ventricular myocytes; it blocked the delayed rectifier potassium current (IK), specifically the KvLQT1 component of the potassium current. These results indicate that it has potential for use as an antiarrhythmic but further studies are needed.British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, 448–458; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707579; published online 26 November 2007
CB2receptors in the brain: role in central immune function
Authors: Cabral G A , Raborn E S , Griffin L , Dennis J , Marciano‐Cabral F 
Published: November 2007

Recently, it has been recognized that the cannabinoid receptor CB2may play a functionally relevant role in the central nervous system (CNS). This role is mediated primarily through microglia, a resident population of cells in the CNS that is morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally related to macrophages. These cells also express the cannabinoid receptor CB1. The CB1receptor (CB1R) is constitutively expressed at low levels while the CB2receptor (CB2R) is expressed at higher levels and is modulated in relation to cell activation state. The relatively high levels of the CB2R correspond with microglia being in ‘responsive’ and ‘primed’ states, suggesting the existence of a ‘window’ of functional relevance during which activation of the CB2R modulates microglial activities. Signature activities of ‘responsive’ and ‘primed’ microglia are chemotaxis and antigen processing, respectively. The endocannabinoid 2‐arachidonylglycerol has been reported to stimulate a chemotactic response from these cells through the CB2R. In contrast, we have shownin vivoandin vitrothat the exogenous cannabinoids delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and CP55940 inhibit the chemotactic response of microglia toAcanthamoeba culbertsoni, an opportunistic pathogen that is the causative agent of Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis, through activation of the CB2R. It is postulated that these exogenous cannabinoids superimpose an inhibitory effect on pro‐chemotactic endocannabinoids that are elicited in response toAcanthamoeba. Furthermore, the collective results suggest that the CB2R plays a critical immune functional role in the CNS.British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, 240–251; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707584; published online 26 November 2007
Comparison of the induction profile for drug disposition proteins by typical nuclear receptor activators in human hepatic and intestinal cells
Authors: Martin P , Riley R , Back D J , Owen A 
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:Certain nuclear receptors (NRs) such as the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), pregnane X receptor (PXR) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) mediate induction of some cytochrome P450 enzymes and ABC transporters but conflicting reports exist. The purpose of this study was to assess the reasons for these discrepancies and use a standardized approach to compare activators of NRs.Experimental approach:Dexamethasone, pregnenolone 16α‐carbonitrile, rifampicin, phenobarbital and chenodeoxycholic acid were incubated with HepG2, Caco‐2 and cryopreserved human hepatocytes prior to analysis of mRNA and protein for CYP2B6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCC2, PXR, CAR and FXR.Key results:Dexamethasone significantly up‐regulated PXR, CYP3A4 and ABCB1 expression in HepG2 and Caco‐2 cells. As a result, including dexamethasone as a media supplement masked the induction of these genes by pregnenolone 16α‐carbonitrile, which may explain discrepancies between previous reports. In the absence of dexamethasone, significant activator‐dependent induction was observed in all cell types. Significant correlations were observed between the fold increase in mRNA and in protein, which were, for most instances, logarithmic. Changes in mRNA expression were greater in cell lines than primary cells but for most transcripts correlations were observed between fold increases in HepG2 and hepatocytes.Conclusions and implications:Clearly, noin vitrosystem can imitate the physiology of a hepatocyte or intestinal cell within an intact organin vivo, but these data explain some of the discrepancies reported between laboratories and have important implications for study design.British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, 805–819; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707601; published online 26 November 2007
Construction of recombinant Lactobacillus casei efficiently surface displayed and secreted porcine parvovirus VP2 protein and comparison of the immune responses induced by oral immunization
Authors: Yigang X. U. , Yijing L. I. 
Published: November 2007

Summary Lactobacillus casei ATCC 393 was selected as a bacterial carrier for the development of mucosal vaccine against porcine parvovirus (PPV) infection. The PPV major structural polypeptide VP2 was used as the model parvovirus antigen. Two inducible expression systems, namely pPG611.1 of the cell‐surface expression system and pPG612.1 of the secretion expression system based on the xylose operon promoter were used to express the VP2 protein. The immunogenicity of recombinant strains producing VP2 protein in two cellular locations, cell‐surface exposed and secreted, was compared to each other by immunizing mice through the intragastric administration. The two types of constructs were able to induce strong specific immune responses against VP2 via intragastric administration and maximum titres of IgA and IgG were attained on days 46 post oral immunization, while the highest antibody levels were obtained with the strain producing the VP2 protein in extracellular milieu. The induced antibodies demonstrated neutralizing effects on PPV infection.