bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
s- and r-Process Element Abundances in the CMD of 47 Tucanæ Using the Robert Stobie Spectrograph on SALT
Authors: Worley C. C. , Cottrell P. L. , Wylie de Boer E. C. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA recent study by Wylie et al. (2006) has revealed that s-process element abundances are enhanced relative to iron in both red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch stars of 47 Tuc. A more detailed investigation into s-process element abundances throughout the colour-magnitude diagram of 47 Tuc is vital in order to determine whether the observed enhancements are intrinsic to the cluster. This paper explores this possibility through observational and theoretical means. The visibility of s- and r-process element lines in synthetic spectra of giant and dwarf stars throughout the colour magnitude diagram of 47 Tuc has been explored. It was determined that a resolving power of 10 000 was sufficient to observe s-process element abundance variations in globular cluster giant-branch stars. These synthetic results were compared with the spectra of eleven 47 Tuc giant branch stars observed during the performance verification of the Robert Stobie Spectrograph on the Southern African Large Telescope. Three s-process elements (Zr, Ba and Nd) and one r-process element (Eu) were investigated. No abundance variations were found such that [X/Fe] = 0.0 ± 0.5 dex. It was concluded that this resolving power, R ∼ 5000, was not sufficient to obtain exact abundances but upper limits on the s-process element abundances could be determined.
The Coherent Radio Emission from the RS CVn Binary HR 1099
Authors: Slee O. B. , Wilson W. , Ramsay G. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe Australia Telescope was used in March–April 2005 to observe the 1.384 and 2.368-GHz emissions from the RS CVn binary HR 1099 in two sessions, each of 9-h duration and 11 days apart. Two intervals of highly polarised emission, each lasting 2–3 h, were recorded. During this coherent emission we employed a recently installed facility to sample the data at 78-ms intervals to measure the fine temporal structure and, in addition, all the data were used to search for fine spectral structure. We present the following observational results: (1) ∼100% left-hand circularly polarised emission was seen at both 1.384 and 2.368 GHz during separate epochs; (2) the intervals of highly polarised emission lasted for 2–3 h on each occasion; (3) three 22-min integrations made at 78-ms time resolution showed that the modulation index of the StokesVparameter increased monotonically as the integration time was decreased and was still increasing at our resolution limit; (4) the extremely fine temporal structure strongly indicates that the highly polarised emission is due to an electron-cyclotron maser operating in the corona of one of the binary components; (5) the first episode of what we believe is ECME (electron-cyclotron maser emission) at 1.384 GHz contained a regular frequency structure of bursts with FWHM ∼48 MHz, which drifted across the spectrum at ∼0.7 MHz min−1. Our second episode of ECME at 2.368 GHz contained wider-band frequency structure, which did not permit us to estimate an accurate bandwidth or direction of drift; (6) the two ECME events reported in this paper agree with six others reported in the literature in occurring in the binary orbital phase range 0.5–0.7; (7) in one event of 8-h duration, two independent maser sources were operating simultaneously at 1.384 and 2.368 GHz.We discuss two kinds of maser sources that may be responsible for driving the observed events that we believe are powered by ECME. One is based on the widely reported ‘loss-cone anisotropy', the second on an auroral analogue, which is driven by an unstable ‘horseshoe' distribution of fast-electron velocities with respect to the magnetic field direction. Generally, we favour the latter, because of its higher growth rate and the possibility of the escape of radiation which has been emitted at the fundamental electron cyclotron frequency. If the auroral analogue is operating, the magnetic field in the source cavity is ∼500 G at 1.384 GHz and ∼850 G at 2.368 GHz; the source brightness temperatures are of the orderTB∼ 1015K.We suggest that the ECME source may be an aurora-like phenomenon due to the transfer of plasma from the K2 subgiant to the G5 dwarf in a strong stellar wind, an idea that is based on VLBA maps showing the establishment of an 8.4 GHz source near the G5 dwarf at times of enhanced radio activity in HR 1099.
A Pilot Survey for the H2O Southern Galactic Plane Survey
Authors: Walsh Andrew J. , Lo Nadia , Burton Michael G. , White Graeme L. , Purcell Cormac R. , Longmore Steven N. , Phillips Chris J. , Brooks Kate J. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe describe observations with the Mopra radiotelescope designed to assess the feasibility of the H2O Maser Southern Galactic Plane Survey. We mapped two one-square-degree regions along the Galactic plane using the new 12-mm receiver and the UNSW Mopra spectrometer. We covered the entire spectrum between 19.5 and 27.5 GHz using this setup with the main aim of finding out which spectral lines can be detected with a quick mapping survey. We report on detected emission from H2O masers, NH3 inversion transitions (1,1), (2,2) and (3,3), HC3N (3–2), as well as several radio recombination lines.
Gender Differences in Mesenteric Vasoconstrictor Reactivity following Chronic Hypoxia
Authors: GONZALES RAYNA J. , BRYANT JESSICA M. , NAIK JAY S. , RESTA THOMAS C. , WALKER BENJIMEN R. 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTMale rats demonstrate persistent endothelium‐dependent attenuation of vasoconstrictor reactivity following chronic hypoxia (CH). Since estrogen may interfere with hypoxia‐induced gene expression, we hypothesized that gender differences exist in this response to CH. However, in conscious, instrumented rats, we found that CH resulted in a similar persistent reduction of pressor/total peripheral resistance responses to phenylephrine (PE) in rats of both genders. In contrast, although previous studies show mesenteric vascular responses to PE are reduced in CH males, we found that mesenteric reactivity was maintained in CH females. Since normoxic females demonstrate greater nitric oxide (NO) production, we hypothesized that the failure of CH to further diminish mesenteric reactivity in females was due to the inhibition of NO‐dependent vasodilation. To test this hypothesis, constrictor reactivity of mesenteric arteries from male and female rats was examined. NO synthase (NOS) inhibition augmented constrictor responses to PE in arteries from both normoxic and CH males and normoxic females. In contrast, NOS inhibition had no effect in CH female vessels. Endothelial NOS (eNOS) levels were not different in arteries from control and CH females. Endothelial [Ca2 +]iwas greater in arterioles from CH females. Thus, CH reduces NO‐dependent mesenteric dilation in females; this effect is not due to altered eNOS levels or diminished endothelial [Ca2 +]i.
Fluid Shear Attenuates Endothelial Pseudopodia Formation into the Capillary Lumen
Authors: HUECK ISGARD S. , ROSSITER KATHARINE , ARTMANN GERHARD M. , SCHMID‐SCHÖNBEIN GEERT W. 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTObjective: Endothelial cells have the ability to undergo morphological shape changes, including projection of cytoplasmic pseudopodia into the capillary lumen. These cytoplasmic projections significantly influence the hemodynamic resistance to blood flow. To examine mechanotransduction mechanisms, we investigated in vivo the hemodynamic conditions in capillaries that control endothelial pseudopod formation.Materials and Methods: Capillaries in rat skeletal muscle were fixed under carefully controlled perfusion conditions. The formation of endothelial pseudopodia were observed in cross‐sections with electron microscopy and quantified with differential interference contrast microscopy under physiological, stasis, and reperfusion flow conditions.Results: Application of physiological levels of fluid flow prevents capillary endothelium to project pseudopodia into the capillary lumen. Reduction of fluid flow to near zero promotes the incidence of pseudopod projection from 5% to 55% of capillaries. After capillary pseudopodia have formed under static conditions, about one‐half retract upon restoration of fluid flow. The presence of red blood cells in the capillary lumen prevents pseudopod formation.Conclusions: The results suggest that there is a mechanism that serves to control cytoplasmic projections in capillary endothelium that is under the control of hemodynamic fluid stress. Investigation of pseudopodia growth on endothelial cells may be significant in understanding capillary obstruction in cardiovascular diseases.
iFoldRNA: three-dimensional RNA structure prediction and folding
Authors: Sharma Shantanu , Ding Feng , Dokholyan Nikolay V. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
Summary: Three-dimensional RNA structure prediction and folding is of significant interest in the biological research community. Here, we present iFoldRNA, a novel web-based methodology for RNA structure prediction with near atomic resolution accuracy and analysis of RNA folding thermodynamics. iFoldRNA rapidly explores RNA conformations using discrete molecular dynamics simulations of input RNA sequences. Starting from simplified linear-chain conformations, RNA molecules (&lt;50 nt) fold to native-like structures within half an hour of simulation, facilitating rapid RNA structure prediction. All-atom reconstruction of energetically stable conformations generates iFoldRNA predicted RNA structures. The predicted RNA structures are within 2–5 Å root mean squre deviations (RMSDs) from corresponding experimentally derived structures. RNA folding parameters including specific heat, contact maps, simulation trajectories, gyration radii, RMSDs from native state, fraction of native-like contacts are accessible from iFoldRNA. We expect iFoldRNA will serve as a useful resource for RNA structure prediction and folding thermodynamic analyses.
Availability: http://iFoldRNA.dokhlab.org.
Contact: dokh@med.unc.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Female reproductive biology of Platygaster diplosisae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Aprostocetus procerae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), two parasitoids associated with the African Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia oryzivora (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)
Authors: NACRO Souleymane , NÉNON Jean‐Pierre 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe investigated the female reproductive system of Platygaster diplosisae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Aprostocetus procerae (= Tetrastichus pachydiplosisae) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), two parasitoids associated with the African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Both optical and electron microscopy were used. The female reproductive system of P. diplosisae includes two large ovaries of the meristic polytrophic‐type, each composed of several tens of ovarioles. The system includes also a venomous gland that extends to a common oviduct. This gland had a filiform secretory portion, in which the epithelium was thin and surrounded a common evacuation canal. The secretory cells secrete into a large reservoir. Parasitism due to P. diplosisae is gregarious. The female reproductive system of A. procerae includes two ovaries of the meristic polytrophic‐type, and each ovary has a few ovarioles. Each ovariole includes one or two oocytes, which can be seen in the vitellarium. Two accessory glands, which extend to the oviduct, are also visible. The secretory epithelium of the accessory gland is made up of a dense network of secretory cells surrounded by muscle fibers. Females of A. procerae pierce the tissues of the gall and probably deposit one egg on or close to the pupa of the midge. Aprostocetus procerae is a solitary parasitoid of the midge. The two parasitoids exploit the same host at different developmental stages. These findings improve our knowledge of the reproductive biology of these two parasitoids associated with the African rice gall midge, an important pest in Africa.
Life history and host specificity of the Japanese flea beetles Trachyaphthona sordida and T. nigrita (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), potential biological control agents against skunk vine, Paederia foetida (Rubiaceae), in the southeastern parts of the United States and Hawaii
Authors: OKAMOTO Chie , TSUDA Kiyoshi , YAMAGUCHI Daisuke , SATO Shinsuke , PEMBERTON Robert W. , YUKAWA Junichi 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSkunk vine, Paederia foetida (Rubiaceae), is native to Asia and has been recognized as an invasive weedy vine of natural areas in Florida and Hawaii. Two insects, Trachyaphthona sordida and Trachyaphthona nigrita (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Japan are being considered as potential biological control agents against skunk vine. To gather fundamental information on their biology, we carried out field surveys and laboratory experiments in Kyushu, southern Japan, between 2003 and 2006. We found that T. sordida is commonly distributed in Kyushu and T. nigrita is restricted to the southern parts of Kagoshima Prefecture on the southern part of Kyushu. These species are fundamentally univoltine and adults appear in late April to early July. Trachyaphthona sordida overwinters as mature larvae and T. nigrita as mature larvae or rarely as adults. Larvae of both species feed on fine roots of P. foetida in the field and Serissa foetida (Rubiaceae) under rearing conditions, and they appear to have tribe‐level host specificity in their host range. On the basis of these results, we suggest that both species are suitable as biological control agents.
Systematic and morphological evaluations of a new species of Kuenburgia Schmitz (Diptera: Phoridae) with remarkable asymmetry of the male genitalia, including a bifurcated left surstylus
Authors: NAKAYAMA Hiroto 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe monotypic genus Kuenburgia is revised, with description of a second species, K. bifurcata sp. nov., based on both sexes from Japan, and redescription of the type species, K. vidua, based on additional Japanese females. Kuenburgia bifurcata sp. nov. more closely fits the characters of Kuenburgia as represented by K. vidua than those of any other genera. The male genitalia of K. bifurcata sp. nov. lack the right surstylus, a character shared with the genus Trispiniphora, indicating a close relationship between these genera. The left surstylus of K. bifurcata sp. nov. is bifurcated and functions as a clasping device, balancing itself in a complex fashion with the right side of the epandrium and the left and right lobes of the hypandrium, and compensates for the loss of the right surstylus. The inner wall of the bifurcated left surstylus is well developed and also bifurcates along the left and right tines. It is considered to be homologous with the subepandrial sclerite + bacilliform sclerite in Eremoneura. The aedeagus of the male genitalia is composed of an inner core plate and an outer jacket plate, with the outer jacket plate wrapping in a sinistral fashion around the inner core plate.
Middle Jurassic fossils of the genus Sharasargus from Inner Mongolia, China (Diptera: Archisargidae)
Authors: ZHANG Kuiyan , YANG Ding , REN Dong 
Published: June 2008

AbstractTo date, only two species of the genus Sharasargus are known. These Upper Jurassic species were found in Mongolia and Kazakhstan, respectively. We herein describe two new species from the Middle Jurassic, which were found in Inner Mongolia, China. They are the oldest known fossils of this genus. A key to Sharasargus species is given.
Clonal reproduction by males of the ant Vollenhovia emeryi (Wheeler)
Authors: KOBAYASHI Kazuya , HASEGAWA Eisuke , OHKAWARA Kyohsuke 
Published: June 2008

AbstractIn colonies of the queen‐polymorphic ant Vollenhovia emeryi, some colonies produce only long‐winged (L) queens, while others produce only short‐winged (S) queens. At four nuclear microsatellite loci, males in the S colony had alleles that were different from those of their queen. This suggests that the nuclear genome of males is not inherited from their colony queen, as has also been described for Wasmannia auropunctata (Roger). In V. emeryi the possibility of male transfer from other colonies has not been ruled out because previous studies of this species have obtained only nuclear gene information. We analyzed both mitochondrial and nuclear genes for S queens, S males and L queens to clarify the origins of males. Sequence analyses showed that although S queens and S males shared the same mtDNA haplotype, they had a different genotype at a nuclear gene (long‐wavelength opsin) locus. Neighbor‐joining analysis based on the four microsatellite loci also suggested gene pool separation between S queens and S males. These results are consistent with predictions of clonal reproduction by males. While L queens share opsin genotypes with S males, they have very different mtDNA sequences. Hybridization in the near past between S queens and L males or gene transmission from S males to L queen populations in the present would explain these differences.
Molecular phylogeny and phylogeography of flightless beetles Parechthistatus gibber and Hayashiechthistatus inexpectus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) inferred from mitochondrial COI gene sequences
Authors: NAKAMINE Hiroshi , TAKEDA Makio 
Published: June 2008

AbstractTo elucidate the speciation patterns of two endemic flightless cerambycid beetles, Parechthistatus gibber and Hayashiechthistatus inexpectus, molecular phylogenetic analysis was carried out. A 1144 bp region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene was sequenced for individuals from 51 local populations of these species. There were nine haplotype lineages of P. gibber, and H. inexpectus was included within a P. gibber lineage. These lineages were highly divergent and occurred in different regions. Based on previously published molecular change rates for the COI gene (1.5–2.3% per million years), the time of divergence of P. gibber COI haplotypes was inferred to be 3.0–4.6 million years ago, in the Pliocene.
Therapeutic target for chronic liver fibrosis by regulation of transforming growth factor‐beta
Authors: Jeong Kyu‐Shik 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACTLiver fibrosis is the common scarring response of the liver to most chronic liver damage. Continuous chronic liver damage leads to a progressive accumulation of scarring proteins and finally, alters normal tissue structure and function by inducing fibrosis, cirrhosis and ultimately liver failure. Despite the considerable evolution on the study of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis during the past decade, a full understanding of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis still remains a goal for scientists. Although liver fibrosis and cirrhosis is mediated by various cytokines including tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, interleukin‐10 and transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β), it has been shown that TGF‐β plays the most significant role in chronic liver disease. In early liver injury stage, TGF‐β is mainly released by necrotic hepatocytes, activated hepatic stellate cells and macrophages (Kupffer cells). In the middle stage of fibrosis or cirrhosis, TGF‐β is produced predominantly in hypoxic hepatocytes. Therefore, understanding the role of TGF‐β, and inhibiting TGF‐β release in chronic liver disease, might be the key to developing an effective therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and chronic liver disease.
CDX2 protein expression in gallbladder carcinoma
Authors: Kang Gu Hyun , Lee Choong Sik , Park Eun Su , Kang Dae Young 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACT Background and aim: CDX2 is a caudal‐type homeobox gene encoding a transcription factor that has an important role in proliferation and differentiation of the intestinal epithelium. Although CDX2‐mediated intestinal metaplasia and its association with gastric and esophageal carcinoma have been well described, its function in gallbladder carcinoma remains unclear. Methods: CDX2, MUC2 and MUC5AC expression were examined in carcinoma, intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia of the gallbladder by immunohistochemical staining. Results: CDX2 was not observed in the normal epithelium of the gallbladder but was expressed in 71.4% (20/28) of gallbladder carcinomas including 10 of 18 adenocarcinomas, not otherwise specified, 9 papillary adenocarcinomas and 1 intestinal‐type adenocarcinoma. In adenocarcinomas, CDX2 was observed more frequently in well differentiated types than in moderately and poorly differentiated types (P= 0.009). MUC2 and MUC5AC was expressed in 53.6% (15/28) and 71.4% (20/28) of gallbladder carcinomas, respectively. Both CDX2 and MUC2 were observed in 50.0% (14/28) and CDX2 expression was related to MUC2 (P= 0.006) rather than MUC5AC (P= 0.234) in gallbladder carcinomas. CDX2 was also expressed in intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia, which are considered to be premalignant conditions. Conclusions: These results suggest that CDX2 may play an important role in gallbladder carcinogenesis with intestinal differentiation.
Impact of fixatives on preservation of RNA in paraffin‐embedded and laser capture microdissected human tissues
Authors: Park In Suh , Kim Ye Ji , Kim Lucia , Choi Suk Jin , Han Jee Young , Chu Young Chae , Kim Han Kyum , Jin Xianji , Kim Joon Mee 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACT Background and aim: Laser capture microdissection is used to obtain pure cell populations, thus allowing the study of molecular pathological mechanisms from specific cell populations, yet RNA from tissues fixed in formalin (the most common fixative for analysis of gene expression) is usually degraded during microdissection and RNA extraction. In this study we investigate the best fixative for use in the preparation of human tissues for laser capture microdissection, and for the preservation of RNA molecules and histomorphologic structure. Methods: Here we examine Methacarn, Carnoy's solution, 4% paraformaldehyde and 10% neutral‐buffered formalin. Forty‐three sides of various human organs were compared to determine the tissue‐fixing ability and RNA quality according to the fixatives. Results: Methacarn was the best suitable fixative for histomorphologic preservation as well as protection against RNA degradation after microdissection. However, Methacarn was not good for preservation of proteins. Conclusions: Methacarn is an excellent fixative for human tissue samples obtained by microdissection. It is an optimal fixative that is not only excellent for preservation of morphology, but also RNA extraction.
Impact of Exogenous Sequences on the Characteristics of an Epidemic Type 2 Recombinant Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus
Authors: Riquet Franck B. , Blanchard Claire , Jegouic Sophie , Balanant Jean , Guillot Sophie , Vibet Marie-Anne , Rakoto-Andrianarivelo Mala , Delpeyroux Francis 
Published: June 2008

ABSTRACT
Pathogenic circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) have become a major obstacle to the successful completion of the global polio eradication program. Most cVDPVs are recombinant between the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) and human enterovirus species C (HEV-C). To study the role of HEV-C sequences in the phenotype of cVDPVs, we generated a series of recombinants between a Madagascar cVDPV isolate and its parental OPV type 2 strain. Results indicated that the HEV-C sequences present in this cVDPV contribute to its characteristics, including pathogenicity, suggesting that interspecific recombination contributes to the phenotypic biodiversity of polioviruses and may favor the emergence of cVDPVs.