bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on the amount and depth distribution of plant water uptake in a California annual grassland
Authors: MOORE LISA A. , FIELD CHRISTOPHER B. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractSoil moisture profiles can affect species composition and ecosystem processes, but the effects of increased concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide ([CO2]) on the vertical distribution of plant water uptake have not been studied. Because plant species composition affects soil moisture profiles, and is likely to shift under elevated [CO2], it is also important to test whether the indirect effects of [CO2] on soil water content may depend on species composition. We examined the effects of elevated [CO2] and species composition on soil moisture profiles in an annual grassland of California. We grew monocultures and a mixture of Avena barbata and Hemizonia congesta– the dominant species of two phenological groups – in microcosms exposed to ambient (∼370 μmol mol−1) and elevated (∼700 μmol mol−1) [CO2]. Both species increased intrinsic and yield‐based water use efficiency under elevated [CO2], but soil moisture increased only in communities with A. barbata, the dominant early‐season annual grass. In A. barbata monocultures, the [CO2] treatment did not affect the depth distribution of soil water loss. In contrast to communities with A. barbata, monocultures of H. congesta, a late‐season annual forb, did not conserve water under elevated [CO2], reflecting the increased growth of these plants. In late spring, elevated [CO2] also increased the efficiency of deep roots in H. congesta monocultures. Under ambient [CO2], roots below 60 cm accounted for 22% of total root biomass and were associated with 9% of total water loss, whereas in elevated [CO2], 16% of total belowground biomass was associated with 34% of total water loss. Both soil moisture and isotope data showed that H. congesta monocultures grown under elevated [CO2] began extracting water from deep soils 2 weeks earlier than plants in ambient [CO2].
Drought effect on isoprene production and consumption in Biosphere 2 tropical rainforest
Authors: PEGORARO EMILIANO , REY ANA , ABRELL LEIF , VAN HAREN JOOST , LIN GUANGHUI 
Published: March 2006

AbstractIsoprene is the most abundant of the hydrocarbon compounds emitted from vegetation and plays a major role in tropospheric chemistry. Models predict that future climate change scenarios may lead to an increase in global isoprene emissions as a consequence of higher temperatures and extended drought periods. Tropical rainforests are responsible for more than 80% of global isoprene emissions, so it is important to obtain experimental data on isoprene production and consumption in these ecosystems under control of environmental variables. We explored isoprene emission and consumption in the tropical rainforest model ecosystem of Biosphere 2 laboratory during a mild water stress, and the relationship with light and temperature. Gross isoprene production (GIP) was not significantly affected by mild water stress in this experiment because the isoprene emitters were mainly distributed among the large, canopy layer trees with deep roots in the lower soil profile where water content decreased much less than the top 30 cm. However, as found in previous leaf level and whole canopy studies, the ecosystem gross primary production was reduced by (32%) during drought, and as a consequence the percentage of fixed C lost as isoprene tended to increase during drought, from ca. 1% in wet conditions to ca. 2% when soil water content reached its minimum. GIP correlated very well with both light and temperature. Notably, soil isoprene uptake decreased dramatically during the drought, leading to a large increase in daytime net isoprene fluxes.
Sealing capacity of a photochromatic flowable composite as protective base in nonvital dental bleaching
Authors: Llena C. , Amengual J. , Forner L. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAim  To evaluate microleakage of a flowable composite used as a protective isolating base, applied with different adhesive systems.Methodology  Seventy root‐filled teeth were divided into seven groups. A flowable composite base (Tetric Flow Chroma) was used with three adhesive techniques (Syntac, Excite, Excite DCS; in the three cases with and without acid etching) and in a control group without dentine conditioning or adhesive placement. A 30% hydrogen peroxide solution was applied for 24 h in the pulp chambers, followed by the placement of a dye (silver nitrate) for 4 h. Each tooth was sectioned longitudinally, and examined under 4× magnification to assess the tooth/restoration dye leakage following a four‐degree scale. Percentage of dye penetration was registered. Statistical analysis was made through the Tukey and Mann–Whitney U‐tests.Results  Maximum leakage (100% of specimens) was recorded in the control group without an adhesive system. In the groups subjected to acid etching, the percentage of leakage corresponded to Excite DSC (10%), followed by Syntac (20%) and Excite (30%). In the groups in which only an adhesive system was used, 50% of the teeth demonstrated dye leakage. Statistically significant differences in terms of leakage were observed between the control group and the experimental groups (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences among the experimental groups, but comparing the leakage percentages obtained between the groups in which the teeth were subjected to prior acid etching, and those in which no etching was carried out, observed differences were significant (P = 0.04).Conclusions  There were no significant differences between the adhesive systems in terms of leakage. Acid etching significantly reduced leakage.
Comparative study on the shaping ability and cleaning efficiency of rotary Mtwo instruments. Part 2. Cleaning effectiveness and shaping ability in severely curved root canals of extracted teeth
Authors: Schäfer E. , Erler M. , Dammaschke T. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAim  To compare the cleaning effectiveness and shaping ability of Mtwo, K3, and RaCe nickel–titanium rotary instruments during the preparation of curved root canals in extracted human teeth.Methodology  A total of 60 root canals of mandibular and maxillary molars with curvatures ranging between 25° and 35° were divided into three groups of 20 canals. Based on radiographs taken prior to instrumentation with the initial instrument inserted into the canal, the groups were balanced with respect to the angle and the radius of canal curvature. Canals were prepared using a low‐torque control motor. Using pre‐ and post‐instrumentation radiographs, straightening of the canal curvatures was determined with a computer image analysis program. The amount of debris and smear layer was quantified on the basis of a numerical evaluation scale. The data established for scoring the debris and the smear layer was separately recorded and analysed statistically using the Kruskal–Wallis test.Results  During preparation no instrument separated. Completely clean root canals were never observed. For debris removal Mtwo instruments achieved significantly better results (P < 0.001) than K3 and RaCe instruments. The results for remaining smear layer were similar and not significantly different (P > 0.05). Mtwo instruments maintained the original canal curvature significantly better (P < 0.05) than the other instruments. Instrumentation with Mtwo files was significantly faster than with K3 or RaCe instruments (P < 0.05).Conclusions  Under the conditions of this study, Mtwo instruments resulted in good cleaning and maintained the original curvature significantly better than K3 or RaCe files.
A comparative study of selected properties of ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate and two Portland cements
Authors: Danesh G. , Dammaschke T. , Gerth H. U. V. , Zandbiglari T. , Schäfer E. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAim  To compare solubility, microhardness and radiopacity of ProRoot mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with two Portland cements (PC: CEM I and CEM II).Methodology  Solubility: for standardized samples (n = 12/group) ring moulds were filled with the cements. These samples were immersed in double‐distilled water for 1 min, 10 min, 1 h, 24 h, 72 h, and 28 days. Mean loss of weight was determined. Microhardness: five samples of each cement were produced. All samples were loaded with a diamond indenter point with a weight of 100 g for 30 s. Radiopacity: five samples per cement were produced. These samples were tested according to the ISO standards to compare their radiodensity to that of an aluminium step wedge (1–9 mm). Differences between the three materials with respect to their solubility, microhardness and radiopacity were analysed using anova and Student–Newman–Keuls.Results  After 28 days MTA was of low solubility (0.78%) compared with CEM I (31.38%) and CEM II (33.33%). At exposure times >1 min the two PCs were significantly more soluble than MTA (P < 0.05). The microhardness for MTA was significantly higher (39.99 HV; P < 0.001) compared with the two PC (CEM I: 16.32 HV; CEM II: 13.51 HV). MTA was significantly more radiopaque (5.34 mm Al) than CEM I (3.32 mm Al) and CEM II (2.52 mm Al) (P < 0.05), whereas CEM I was significantly more radiopaque than CEM II (P < 0.05).Conclusions  Mineral trioxide aggregate displayed superior material properties than both Portland cements.
Mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase activation of cultured human dental pulp cells by low‐power gallium‐aluminium‐arsenic laser irradiation
Authors: Miyata H. , Genma T. , Ohshima M. , Yamaguchi Y. , Hayashi M. , Takeichi O. , Ogiso B. , Otsuka K. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAim  To examine whether low‐power laser irradiation (LPLI) promotes cellular proliferation of human dental pulp‐derived fibroblast‐like cells (dental pulp cells).Methodology  Dental pulp cells were obtained by primary culture of human dental pulp tissues from extracted third molar teeth. The phosphorylation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) family after LPLI of these cells was investigated by Western blotting. By using a specific MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor (PD098059), the specific effect of LPLI on the MAPK pathway was also investigated by Western blotting as described above. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine into the cells after LPLI was determined, and statistical analysis was performed by Wilcoxon signed‐ranks test.Results  Extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (ERK) 1/2 was phosphorylated between 5 and 30 min after LPLI. Moreover, PD098059 inhibited LPLI‐mediated ERK1/2 activation. LPLI did not affect p38 MAPK or c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation. But LPLI did not stimulate [3H]thymidine incorporation into these cells.Conclusions  These results indicated that LPLI activated MAPK/ERK, a signal for proliferation, differentiation and survival, but did not activate the stress signals p38 MAPK and JNK in human dental pulp cells.
Risk factors for psychopathology in children with intellectual disability: a prospective longitudinal population‐based study
Authors: Wallander J. L. , Dekker M. C. , Koot H. M. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  This study examined risk factors for the development of psychopathology in children with intellectual disability (ID) in the developmental, biological, family and social‐ecological domains.Methods  A population sample of 968 children, aged 6–18, enrolled in special schools in the Netherlands for educable and trainable ID were assessed at Time 1. A random 58% were re‐contacted about 1 year later, resulting in a sample of 474 at Time 2.Results  Psychopathology was highly consistent over 1 year. Risk factors jointly accounted for significant, but small, portions of the variance in development of psychopathology. Child physical symptoms, family dysfunction and previous parental mental health treatment reported at Time 1 were uniquely associated with new psychopathology at Time 2.Conclusions  Prevention and early intervention research to find ways to reduce the incidence of psychopathology, possibly targeting family functioning, appear important.
Psychiatric symptoms and problem behaviours in people with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Hemmings C. P. , Gravestock S. , Pickard M. , Bouras N. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  Previous studies have suggested different patterns of associations between psychiatric symptoms and problem behaviours in people with intellectual disabilities (ID). The aim of this study was to investigate which problem behaviours are associated with specific psychiatric symptoms and the relative strength of these specific associations.Method  A cross sectional survey using the Psychiatric Assessment Schedule for Adults with Developmental Disabilities Checklist and the Disability Assessment Schedule was carried out in a sample of 214 adults with ID.Results  Self‐injurious and, to a lesser extent, aggressive problem behaviours were most associated with affective type symptoms. Screaming and destructive behaviours tended to be more associated with autism‐related social impairment rather than conventional psychiatric symptoms.Conclusions  This study gives further evidence of associations between psychiatric symptoms and specific problem behaviours in people with ID. It may be particularly useful to consider the diagnosis of affective disorders if a person with ID shows self‐injurious or aggressive behaviours.
The impact of intellectual functioning on symptoms and service use in schizophrenia
Authors: Chaplin R. , Barley M. , Cooper S. J. , Kusel Y. , McKendrick J. , Stephenson D. , Obuaya T. , Stockton‐Henderson J. , O'Brien L. S. , Burns T. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractBackground  This study aims to evaluate differences in the clinical profiles and use of psychiatric services by people with schizophrenia with and without borderline intellectual functioning. Both groups in this study were receiving standard community psychiatric care.Methods  A naturalistic sample of 372 people with schizophrenia completed the National Adult Reading Test. Data were collected prospectively over 18 months on psychiatric symptoms and service use. Three hundred and thirteen had normal intellectual functioning (mean age 43, range 20–76 years) and 59 had borderline or lower intellectual functioning (mean age 45, range 21–81 years). This was defined by a National Adult Reading Test error score of more than 40.Results  People with borderline or lower intellectual functioning had a lower quality of life, more severe psychotic symptoms, reduced functioning and fewer antidepressant prescriptions. There were no significant differences in service use including hospital admission.Conclusions  People with schizophrenia and borderline or lower intellectual functioning are a more disabled group within general adult psychiatric services who should be the focus of initiatives for improved service delivery.
Assessment of the integral membrane protein topology in living cells
Authors: Zamyatnin Andrey A. , Solovyev Andrey G. , Bozhkov Peter V. , Valkonen Jari P.T. , Morozov Sergey Yu. , Savenkov Eugene I. 
Published: February 2006

SummaryThe bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) phenomenon has been successfully applied for in vivo protein–protein interaction studies and protein tagging analysis. Here we report a novel BiFC‐based technique for investigation of integral membrane protein topology in living plant cells. This technique relies on the formation of a fluorescent complex between a non‐fluorescent fragment of the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) targeted into a specific cellular compartment and a counterpart fragment attached to the integral membrane protein N‐ or C‐terminus or inserted into the internal loop(s). We employed this technique for topological studies of beet yellows virus‐encoded p6 membrane‐embedded movement protein, a protein with known topology, and the potato mop‐top virus‐encoded integral membrane TGBp2 protein with predicted topology. The results confirm that p6 is a type III integral transmembrane protein. Using a novel method, the central hydrophilic region of TGBp2 was localized into the ER lumen, whereas the N‐ and C‐termini localized to the cytosol. We conclude that the BiFC‐based reporter system for membrane protein topology analysis is a relatively fast and efficient method that can be used for high‐throughput analysis of proteins integrated into the endoplasmic reticulum in living plant cells.
Early determination of the reproductive number for vector‐borne diseases: the case of dengue in Brazil
Authors: Favier C. , Degallier N. , Rosa‐Freitas M. G. , Boulanger J. P. , Costa Lima J. R. , Luitgards‐Moura J. F. , Menkès C. E. , Mondet B. , Oliveira C. , Weimann E. T. S. , Tsouris P. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective To evaluate a new method of deriving the reproductive number for vector‐borne diseases from the early epidemic curves for vector‐borne diseases with incubations in the vectors and in the hosts.Method We applied the model to several dengue epidemics in different climatic regions of Brazil: Brasilia, Belém, Fortaleza, Boa Vista.Results The new method leads to higher estimates of the reproductive number than previous models.Conclusion At present,Aedes aegyptidensities, the meeting of more compatible strains of viruses and mosquitoes, may lead to re‐emergence of urban yellow fever epidemics.
Treatment of Leprosy: science or politics?
Authors: Naafs Bernard 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective  To review the history of the treatment of leprosy and leprosy reactions after World War II.Methods  Treatments based on experience and clinical evidence are compared with those advised by the WHO in their quest to eliminate leprosy by the year 2000, later extended to 2005.Results  Leprosy is not eliminated. Analyses of data on reaction treatment suggest that the treatment regimens for leprosy reactions as advised by the WHO may lead to more impairment among leprosy patients than the ‘old’ established regimes.Conclusion  WHO policies to eliminate leprosy may have jeopardized the proper treatment of leprosy for years to come.
Factors predicting uptake of voluntary counselling and testing in a real‐life setting in a mother‐and‐child center in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Authors: Pignatelli Salvatore , Simpore Jacques , Pietra Virginio , Ouedraogo Laurent , Conombo Ghislaine , Saleri Nuccia , Pizzocolo Cecilia , Iaco Giuseppina De , Tall Francois , Ouiminga Adama , Carosi Giampiero , Castelli Francesco 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective  To identify factors predicting uptake of voluntary HIV counselling and testing in pregnant women.Methods  All pregnant women receiving ante‐natal group health education at St Camille Medical Center, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from 1 May 2002 to 30 April 2004 were offered voluntary HIV counselling and testing. If they consented, the women were pre‐test counselled, tested by two rapid tests giving immediate results and post‐test counselled.Results  Less than one‐fifth of pregnant women [1216/6639 (18.3%, CI 17.4–19.3%)] accepted voluntary HIV counselling and testing, mainly at the first ante‐natal visit (83.4%) and at early gestational age (73.4% before week 24). The HIV seroprevalence rate was 10.6% (8.8–12.5%). The uptake rate was independently associated with age, the number of previous pregnancies and the number of previous miscarriages.Conclusions  Our two‐step approach of group education followed by voluntary HIV counselling and testing yielded a low uptake rate in this setting. However, the drop‐out rate after enrolling in the programme was nearly zero. The timing of programme uptake would permit implementation of earlier prophylactic courses. Effective scaling‐up of voluntary HIV counselling and testing outside the clinical trial requires a mass sensibilization campaign pointing out the programme's benefits and addressing the stigma of HIV. The independent value of age and previous obstetrical episodes show how important social factors are in influencing the voluntary HIV counselling and testing uptake rate.
Serotype distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of invasive and nasopharyngeal isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae among children in rural Mozambique
Authors: Vallès Xavier , Flannery Brendan , Roca Anna , Mandomando Inacio , Sigaúque Betuel , Sanz Sergi , Schuchat Anne , Levine Myron , Soriano‐Gabarró Montserrat , Alonso Pedro 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective  To describe and compare serotype distribution and antibiotic susceptibility of invasive and nasopharyngeal isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from children in rural Mozambique.Methods  From August 2002 to July 2003, we prospectively obtained invasive pneumococcal isolates from children <15 years of age admitted to the paediatric ward of Manhiça District Hospital. During a cross‐sectional study of children <5 years of age with mild illnesses, attending the outpatient department of the hospital in March and April 2003, we collected nasopharyngeal isolates. Serotypes and antibiotic susceptibilities were determined using standardized methods.Results  The two most common pneumococcal serotypes among invasive isolates were types 1 (40% of 88 isolates serotyped) and 5 (10%), but these types were rare among nasopharyngeal isolates. Compared with invasive isolates, nasopharyngeal isolates were more likely to be serotypes in the licensed seven‐valent conjugate vaccine (49%vs. 20%, P < 0.01), to have intermediate‐level penicillin resistance (52%vs. 14%, P < 0.01) and to be non‐susceptible to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (61%vs. 45%, P < 0.01). Recent receipt of antibiotics or sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine were associated with carriage of antibiotic non‐susceptible isolates.Conclusions  These data indicate that a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine containing serotypes 1 and 5 could substantially reduce pneumococcal invasive disease among young children in rural Mozambique. Carriage surveys can overestimate potential coverage of the seven‐valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in settings where serotypes 1 and 5 predominate.
Community incidences of respiratory infections in an actively followed cohort of children <1 year of age in Manhiça, a rural area of southern Mozambique
Authors: Roca A. , Quintó L. , Saúte F. , Thompson R. , Aponte J. J. , Alonso P. L. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryObjective  To estimate the community incidence‐rates of respiratory infections among infants in Manhiça, southern Mozambique, and to determine risk factors associated with these infections.Methods  A cohort of children <1 year of age were visited at home every week until they turned one. During the visits, field workers recorded signs/symptoms of respiratory infections and tested the children for malaria parasites when they had fever.Results  Between 1 July 1998 and 30 June 1999, 1044 children contributed with 23 726 weeks at risk. Children met the criteria for acute respiratory infection in 19.2% of the visits, for lower respiratory infection in 0.9% and for severe lower respiratory infection in 0.2%. The crude incidence rate measured for acute respiratory infections was 23.0, that for lower respiratory infection was 0.9 and that for severe lower respiratory infection was 0.2 per 100‐person‐week‐at‐risk. The risk of acute and lower respiratory infection was inversely related to age. Females were at significantly lower risk for all three conditions than males. A trend of increased risk of severe lower respiratory infection was noted among children born during the rainy season (adjusted rate ratio = 1.95, P = 0.122 in only 47 episodes). Malaria was strongly associated with an increased risk of all three respiratory infections [rate ratio of 2.35, 10.90 and 13.82 (P < 0.001) in the adjusted analysis, respectively]. Thirty‐five children died during the follow‐up period; 20% of them from lower respiratory infection.Conclusions  Respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among infants in rural Mozambique. Our study provides a better understanding of the associated determinants.