bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbial biodiversity in groundwater ecosystems
Authors: GRIEBLER C. , LUEDERS T. 
Published: April 2008

Summary1. Groundwater ecosystems offer vast and complex habitats for diverse microbial communities. Here we review the current status of groundwater microbial biodiversity research with a focus on Bacteria and Archaea and on the prospects of modern techniques for enhancing our understanding of microbial biodiversity patterns and their relation to environmental conditions.2. The enormous volume of the saturated terrestrial underground forms the largest habitat for microorganisms on earth. Up to 40% of prokaryotic biomass on earth is hidden within this terrestrial subsurface. Besides representing a globally important pool of carbon and nutrients in organisms, these communities harbour a degree of microbial diversity only marginally explored to date.3. Although first observations of groundwater microbiota date back to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1677, the systematic investigation of groundwater microbial biodiversity has gained momentum only within the last few decades. These investigations were initiated by an increasing awareness of the importance of aquifer microbiota for ecosystem services and functioning, including the provision of drinking water and the degradation of contaminants.4. The development of sampling techniques suitable for microbiological investigations as well as the application of both cultivation‐based and molecular methods has yielded substantial insights into microbial communities in contaminated aquifers, whereas knowledge of microbial biodiversity in pristine habitats is still poor at present.5. Several novel phylogenetic lineages have been described from groundwater habitats, but to date no clearly ‘endemic’ subsurface microbial phyla have been identified. The future will show if the rather low diversity generally found in pristine oligotrophic aquifers is a fact or just a result of low abundances and insufficient resolution of today’s methods. Refined approaches complemented by statistically rigorous applications of biodiversity estimates are urgently needed.6. Factors identified to control microbial diversity in aquifers include spatial heterogeneity, temporal variability and disturbances such as pollution with chemical anthropogenic contaminants. Although first insights into the importance of individual biogeochemical processes may be obtained from surveys of microbial diversity within functional groups, direct links to groundwater ecosystem functioning have rarely been established so far.
Deletion of PAX9 and oligodontia: a third family and review of the literature
Authors: GUALA ANDREA , FALCO VITTORIO , BREEDVELD GUIDO , DE FILIPPI PAOLA , DANESINO CESARE 
Published: April 2008

Objective.  This study was conducted to report a family affected by benign hereditary chorea in which a large deletion including TTF1, PAX9, and other genes was identified and results in oligodontia.Methods.  Clinical and radiological studies of the two affected members (mother and daughter) were used to describe the oligodontia present in both of them.Results.  The missing teeth in both patients are described in detail, and these data are compared with the dental anomalies observed in the only two other families with deletions of PAX9 and with the data available for 12 previously reported families carrying different types of PAX9 mutations.Conclusions.  There is a clinical relevance for recognizing such families, and offering available therapies since childhood is stressed. Some genotype–phenotype correlations between PAX9 mutations and dental anomalies can be drawn.
Prevalence and risk factors of maladaptive behaviour in young children with Autistic Disorder
Authors: Hartley S. L. , Sikora D. M. , McCoy R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground  Children with Autistic Disorder (AD) evidence more co‐occurring maladaptive behaviours than their typically developing peers and peers with intellectual disability because of other aetiologies. The present study investigated the prevalence of Clinically Significant maladaptive behaviours during early childhood and identified at‐risk subgroups of young children with AD.Method  Parents rated their child's maladaptive behaviours on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) in 169 children with AD aged 1.5 to 5.8 years.Results  One‐third of young children with AD had a CBCL Total Problems score in the Clinically Significant range. The highest percentage of Clinically Significant scores were in the Withdrawal, Attention, and Aggression CBCL syndrome scales. There was a high degree of co‐morbidity of Clinically Significant maladaptive behaviours. Several subject characteristic risk factors for maladaptive behaviours were identified.Conclusions  Findings highlight the need to include behavioural management strategies aimed at increasing social engagement, sustained attention and decreasing aggressive behaviour in comprehensive intervention programmes for young children with AD.
First record of greater white‐toothed shrew Crocidura russula in Ireland
Authors: TOSH DAVID G. , LUSBY JOHN , MONTGOMERY W. IAN , O'HALLORAN JOHN 
Published: April 2008

ABSTRACT

Skeletal remains of greater white‐toothed shrew Crocidura russula were recovered from barn owl Tyto alba and kestrel Falco tinnunculus pellets collected at 15 locations in Counties Tipperary and Limerick in Ireland in September 2007 and March 2008. Seven greater white‐toothed shrews were trapped at four locations in Tipperary in March 2008. This is the first Irish record of C. russula and compelling evidence that the species is established in Ireland.
The absence of C. russula from earlier surveys of owl pellets and small mammals in Ireland suggests a recent introduction by uncertain means, possibly since 2001. It seems likely that C. russula will expand its range in Ireland. Its impact on the ecology of habitats in which it is found is uncertain but may be considerable.
Epitope analysis of HLA‐DR‐restricted helper T‐cell responses to Der p II, a major allergen molecule of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Authors: Okano M. , Nagano T. , Nakada M. , Masuda Y. , Kino K. , Yasueda H. , Nose Y. , Nishimura Y. , Ohta N. 
Published: April 2008

Okano M, Nagano T, Nakada M, Masuda Y, Kino K. Yasueda H, Nose Y, Nishimura Y, Ohta N. Epitope analysis of HLA‐DR‐restricted helper T‐cell responses to Der p II, a major allergen molecule of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.T‐cell epitopes of Der p II, a major allergen of Dermatophagoidees pteronpssinus, were analyzed by using human T‐cell clones. We tested 38 cloned T cells from two Japanese patients with allergic rhinitis, and identified at least two peptides (K33–T47 and 158–C73) as helper T‐cell epitopes. The former epitope was shown to be restricted by HLA‐DRBI* 1502, and the latter by HLA‐DRB1 *0405, both of which are typical Japanese HLA‐DR alleles, suggesting that those T‐cell epitopes might be important for the onset of house‐dust mite allergy in the Japanese population. We prepared 15 analog peptides of the HLA‐DRB1*1502‐restricted 15‐mer peptide. Of those 15 residues, five (F35, L37, A39, F41. and E42) were critical for the epitope activity, and three residues (F35, A39, and E42) seemed to be included in anchor motifs for HLA‐DRB1*1502. The epitope peptide was also recognized by HLA‐DRB1*1502‐positive healthy donors; however. only allergic T cells showed Th2 functions. Antigen‐presenting cells of nonallergic donors were able to activate allergic T cells to express Th2 function. This seemed to suggest that antigen recognition of T cells, as well as additional unknown factors which promote Th2, rather than Th1, responses, might be important for the onset of house‐dust mite allergy.
The effectiveness of benzyl benzoate and different chemicals as acaricides
Authors: Kalpaklioglu A. F. , Ferizli A. G. , Misirligil Z. , Demirel Y. S. , Gürbüz L. 
Published: April 2008

Several observations have indicated that house‐dust mites (HDM) play an important role in allergic diseases. Thus, the primary form of treatment should aim at reducing exposure to HDM for these patients. Allergenavoidance measures in homes have been demonstrated to be beneficial in decreasing the risk of sensitization, severity of symptoms, bronchial reactivity, and basophil sensitivity. Various chemical methods, as well as physical measures, have been tried to eliminate mite allergens from house dust. However, none have gained wide acceptance because of the lack of effectiveness and safety, and the high cost. It is clear that new approaches are required for effective long‐term control of HDM allergens. This study compared the acaricidal activities of phenyl salicylate. tea leaf extract (high tannic acid content), and essential oils (eucalyptus and laurel) with that of benzyl benzoate. The contact, short‐duration persistence, and residual effects of various concentrations of these chemicals and benzyl benzoate were assessed in laboratory conditions with specially designed wells. Our data suggest that benzyl benzoate may not be effective when applied according to the manufacturer's instructions, but may be effective when applied more frequently (i.e., three to four times a year) and for longer periods (up to 24 h) even with lower concentrations (0.4%).Essential oils were shown to have little acaricidal activity, but virtually no effect was observed with tea. Among the chemicals used, phenyl salicylate seems to be promising as an alternative acaricide.
Complement split products and proinflammatory cytokines in intraoperatively salvaged unwashed blood during hip replacement: comparison between heparin‐coated and non‐heparin‐coated autotransfusion systems
Authors: Kvarnström A. , Schmidt A. , Tylman M. , Jacobsson M. , Bengtsson A. 
Published: April 2008

Background and Objectives  The aim of the present study was to investigate the quality of shed blood collected in a new intraoperative autotransfusion system (Sangvia®, AstraTech, Sweden) and to study whether heparin‐coated surfaces in the device reduce the production of inflammatory mediators.Material and Methods  The study was randomized and prospective. Twelve total hip arthroplasty patients whose blood was collected with a device having a heparin‐coated surface and 12 patients whose blood was collected with a device having a non‐heparin‐coated surface were included. Venous blood was drawn from the patients preoperatively. Intraoperatively 200 ml salvaged blood was collected and samples were also withdrawn; samples were obtained from the blood bag.Results  Compared to venous blood, elevated concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL‐6), IL‐8, C3a and polymorphonuclear elastase were found in collected blood. No significant differences in inflammatory mediators were found between the heparin‐coated and the non‐heparin‐coated groups. The median haemoglobin concentration in the salvaged blood was 74 g/l in both groups. Plasma haemoglobin and potassium concentrations were also elevated. There were no significant differences between the groups.Conclusion  The present study indicates that the blood salvaged intraoperatively contains elevated levels of complement split product and proinflammatory cytokines and that heparin‐coated surfaces of the salvage device do not significantly influence the formation of inflammatory mediators.
Reproductive biology of Cyrtopodium polyphyllum (Orchidaceae): a Cyrtopodiinae pollinated by deceit
Authors: Pansarin L. M. , Pansarin E. R. , Sazima M. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe genus Cyrtopodium comprises about 42 species distributed from southern Florida to northern Argentina. Cyrtopodium polyphyllum occurs on rocks or in sandy soils, in restinga vegetation along the Brazilian coast. It flowers during the wet season and its inflorescences produce a high number of resupinate yellow flowers. Cyrtopodium polyphyllum offers no rewards to its pollinators, but mimics the yellow, reward‐producing flowers of nearby growing Stigmaphyllon arenicola (oil) and Crotalaria vitellina (nectar) individuals. Several species of bee visit flowers of C. polyphyllum, but only two species of Centris (Centris tarsata and Centris labrosa) act as pollinators. Visits to flowers of C. polyphyllum were scarce and, as a consequence, low‐fruit set was recorded under natural conditions. Such low‐fruit production contrasts with the number of fruits each plant bears after manual pollination, suggesting deficient pollen transfer among plants. C. polyphyllum is self‐compatible and has a high‐fruit set in both manual self‐ and cross‐pollinated flowers. Furthermore, fruits (2%) are formed by self‐pollination assisted by rain. This facultative self‐pollination mechanism is an important strategy to provide reproductive assurance to C. polyphyllum as rainfall restricts the foraging activity of its pollinating bees. Fruits derived from treatments and under natural conditions had a similar high rate of potentially viable seed. Moreover, these seeds had a low polyembryony rate, which did not exceed 5%. C. polyphyllum acts by deceit involving optical signals and exploits other yellow‐flowered species within its habitat by attracting their pollinators. The low capsule production under natural conditions was expected, but its reproductive success is assured through self‐pollination by rain and high seed viability.
Differences of Munchausen syndrome by proxy according to predominant symptoms in Japan
Authors: Fujiwara Takeo , Okuyama Makiko , Kasahara Mari , Nakamura Ayako 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground: The purpose of the present paper was to investigate differing characteristics of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) between subjects with predominantly physical symptoms and those with predominantly psychological symptoms.Methods: A questionnaire survey was sent to 11 leading doctors in the child abuse field in Japan, each located in different hospital‐based sites. Child abuse doctors answered questions regarding the characteristics of MSBP subjects for whom they had helped care. The differences of characteristics between groups were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables and Mann‐Whitney U‐test for continuous variables.Results: Among 21 reported MSBP subjects, 16 MSBP subjects with predominantly physical symptoms (PHY) and five MSBP subjects with predominantly psychological symptoms (PSY) were found. PHY were more likely to be produced, whereas PSY cases were more often simulated. PHY cases were more often life‐threatening than PSY cases, but decisions made by the Child Guidance Center surrounding the custodial outcome of MSBP victims did not differ between PHY and PSY cases.Conclusions: Social welfare services that need to decide on custody for MSBP victims should recognize the relatively high risk of life‐threatening danger of PHY cases in their family of origin.
Positive and negative work characteristics associated with burnout among primary care pediatricians
Authors: Kushnir Talma , Cohen Avner H. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground: There is little research regarding specific work features that might cause chronic stress and burnout among primary care pediatricians. The aim of the present study was first, to assess specific negative and positive characteristics of the job that might be related to burnout; and second, to compare burnout levels and work characteristics among board‐certified versus general pediatricians; and clinic directors versus non‐directors.Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 200 pediatricians employed full‐time in pediatric primary care community centers in the largest Israeli Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Respondents replied anonymously. The questionnaires assessed sociodemographic details, burnout levels, and negative and positive job characteristics.Results: There were no differences in burnout levels between board‐certified and general pediatricians. Positive job features had stronger associations with burnout than negative features. Compared with general pediatricians, board‐certified pediatricians reported significantly higher levels of negative features (e.g. conflicts between the medical and administrative system in the HMO; parents disregarding instructions); but higher levels of autonomy and appreciation from patients. Compared with regular pediatricians, clinic directors had significantly higher levels of negative job features (e.g. less access to resources); and higher levels of positive work features.Conclusions: The absence of positive job features (e.g. autonomy, recognition for one’s work and utilization of skills) may be more important in causing burnout than the presence of negative characteristics (e.g. overload, demanding and noisy parents). It is consistent with recent suggestions that in the presence of positive features, employees can better tolerate stressful aspects of the job and still feel motivated and engaged.
Despite GABAergic neurotransmission, GABAergic innervation does not compensate for the defect in glycine receptor postsynaptic aggregation in spastic mice
Authors: Muller Emilie , Le Corronc Hervé , Scain Anne‐Laure , Triller Antoine , Legendre Pascal 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn the hypoglossal nucleus of wild‐type mice, early mixed glycinergic‐GABAergic inhibitory transmission becomes mainly glycinergic during postnatal maturation. In spastic mice (SPA), a model of human hyperekplexic syndrome, an insertion into the gene of the glycine receptor (GlyR) β subunit results in a decreased accumulation of GlyRs at postsynaptic sites and an impaired glycinergic neurotransmission. In SPA mice displaying a mild phenotype (B6C3Fe strain), a compensatory process involving an increased aggregation of GABAA receptors (GABAARs) at postsynaptic sites was proposed to explain survival of mutant animals until adulthood. However, C57BL/6J strain SPA mice which express a lower amount of GlyR β subunit die 2–3 weeks after birth, suggesting that GABAergic compensation does not necessarily take place. We performed a morphofunctional study of inhibitory synapses in the developing hypoglossal nucleus of C57BL/6J SPA mice. In this mutant, the inhibitory synaptic activity was mainly GABAergic. Accordingly, we observed a developmental loss of glycinergic presynaptic terminals and an increase in the density of GABAergic presynaptic terminals during the first two postnatal weeks. In addition, while C57BL/6J SPA mice displayed a strong impairment in GlyR aggregation at postsynaptic loci, the proportion of inhibitory presynaptic terminals facing diffuse GABAARs significantly increased during development. Our results suggest crosstalk between postsynaptic and presynaptic elements, leading to the developmental regulation of the presynaptic terminal neurotransmitter content according to the level of postsynaptic GlyR aggregation. They also indicate that GABAergic neurotransmission does not compensate for defects in GlyR postsynaptic aggregation leading to spastic syndrome in C57BL/6J SPA mice.
UNDERDEVELOPMENT AND THE PROBLEM OF CAUSATION
Authors: Kebede Messay 
Published: April 2008

Underdevelopment is the most controversial issue of our time. In a world which apparently exhibits so much power and yet does so little to drive it back, it represents the challenge par excellence. However, concerning this most pressing and controversial issue of underdevelopment, of all the disciplines which study man, philosophy is the one which until now said the least. At first sight, to mark off in the topic of underdevelopment an area of real philosophical concern does not seem feasible indeed. Underdevelopment understood as a mere failure of development appears to be within the competence of the disciplines of the social sciences, especially of economics, rather than that of philosophy. Viewed as a technical problem, it could thereby be declared outside the sphere of direct philosophical inquiry.But this reason is no sooner accepted than it comes up against itself by the very nature of the conflicts in which the social sciences got bogged down in their attempt to understand underdevelopment. Although not directly spelt out, the conflicts are unmistakably pervaded throughout by philosophical questions. It suffices to point out the main cause of the theoretical split which divides scholars, in the general issue of tradition and modernity, to really bring out the eminently philosophical nature of the debate. We are obviously referring to the conflict between modernization theory and the neo‐Marxist school. The purpose of this paper is precisely to show that the topic of underdevelopment, not only raises one of the basic and oldest problems of philosophy, namely the nature of the connection between the spiritual and the material, but also helps positively to reformulate it.
BEYOND THE LAW: A BRIEF ETHICAL ANALYSIS OF MILKEN'S SECURITIES VIOLATIONS
Authors: Dunfee Thomas W. 
Published: April 2008

SummaryLooking at the Milken case has provided an opportunity to apply a social contracts based set of rule of thumb principles to insider trading and related issues. The actions involved were found to:

always violate the principle of willing compliance with law
in certain instances violate the principle of avoiding actual conflicts of interest
in certain instances violate the principle of honoring confidentiality.
PATRIOTISM AND POLITICAL OBLIGATION
Authors: Montague Phillip 
Published: April 2008

SummaryArguments aimed at undermining certain accounts of the grounds of political obligations—no matter how successful they may be—fall far short of demonstrating that there are no such obligations. Doubts about the efficacy of these arguments in this latter regard seem even more justified when it is recognized that parallel lines of reasoning can be developed in the area of filial obligations (and probably obligations of friendship and others as well), which arguments provide rather less than conclusive reasons for denying that there are filial obligations (obligations of friendship, and so forth).Furthermore, we have good reason to believe that there are political obligations if patriotism is a virtue, and also that patriotism is indeed a virtue. We therefore have a basis on which to affirm the existence of political obligations—a basis whose soundness is independent of the acceptability of particular accounts of the grounds of political obligation. Hence, even if standard accounts of the grounds of political obligations are problematic in certain respects, we should not regard this consideration as capable by itself of establishing that there are no such obligations.