bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Failure of antibody response to polysaccharide antigen in treated panhypopituitary adults
Authors: Mukherjee A , Helbert M , Ryder W D J , Borrow R , Davis J R E , Shalet S M 
Published: February 2009

Summary
Although pituitary hormones are known to affect immune function, treated hypopituitarism is not a recognized cause of immune deficiency in humans. We set out to assess integrity of baseline and stimulated immune function in severely hypopituitary adults. Twenty-one panhypopituitary adults (group 1), on stable pituitary replacement including growth hormone, and 12 healthy volunteers (group 2) were studied. Lymphocyte subsets, pneumococcal antibody levels pre- and 1 month after polysaccharide vaccination, T cell numbers and in-vitro interferon (IFN)-γ response were studied. There were no significant differences in T cell numbers or IFN-γ secretion. B cell numbers were lower in group 1, especially those with low prolactin levels. Independent of this finding, nine of 21 patients in this group had low antibody response to polysaccharide antigen. This was most striking in those with low insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and appeared to be independent of the use of anti-convulsants or corticosteroid replacement. Significant humoral immune deficiency is seen in panhypopituitarism and may contribute to morbidity.
Time series analyses reveal transient relationships between abundance of larval anchovy and environmental variables in the coastal waters southwest of Taiwan
Authors: HSIEH CHIH‐HAO , CHEN CHIH‐SHIN , CHIU TAI‐SHENG , LEE KUO‐TIEN , SHIEH FENG‐JEN , PAN JIA‐YI , LEE MING‐AN 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe investigated environmental effects on larval anchovy fluctuations (based on CPUE from 1980 to 2000) in the waters off southwestern Taiwan using advanced time series analyses, including the state‐space approach to remove seasonality, wavelet analysis to investigate transient relationships, and stationary bootstrap to test correlation between time series. For large‐scale environmental effects, we used the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) to represent the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO); for local hydrographic conditions, we used sea surface temperature (SST), river runoff, and mixing conditions. Whereas the anchovy catch consisted of a northern species (Engraulis japonicus) and two southern species (Encrasicholina heteroloba and Encrasicholina punctifer), the magnitude of the anchovy catch appeared to be mainly determined by the strength of Eng. japonicus (Japanese anchovy). The main factor that caused the interannual variation of anchovy CPUE might change through time. The CPUE showed a negative correlation with combination of water temperature and river runoff before 1987 and a positive correlation with river runoff after 1988. Whereas a significant negative correlation between CPUE and ENSOs existed, this correlation was driven completely by the low‐frequency ENSO events and explained only 10% of the variance. Several previous studies on this population emphasized that the fluctuations of larval anchovy abundance were determined by local SST. Our analyses indicated that such a correlation was transient and simply reflected ENSO signals. Recent advances in physical oceanography around Taiwan showed that the ENSOs reduced the strength of the Asian monsoon and thus weakened the China Coastal Current toward Taiwan. The decline of larval anchovy during ENSO may be due to reduced China Coastal Current, which is important in facilitating the spawning migration of the Japanese anchovy.
Fluid‐induced seismicity: Pressure diffusion and hydraulic fracturing
Authors: Shapiro S.A. , Dinske C. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTBorehole fluid injections are common for the development of hydrocarbon and geothermic reservoirs. Often they induce numerous microearthquakes. Spatio‐temporal dynamics of such induced microseismic clouds can be used to characterize reservoirs. However, a fluid‐induced seismicity can be caused by a wide range of processes. Here we show that linear pore pressure relaxation and a hydraulic fracturing are two asymptotic end members of a set of non‐linear diffusional phenomena responsible for seismicity triggering. To account for the whole range of processes we propose a rather general non‐linear diffusional equation describing the pore pressure evolution. This equation takes into account a possibly strong enhancement of the medium permeability. Both linear pore pressure relaxation and hydraulic fracturing can be obtained as special limiting cases of this equation. From this equation we derive the triggering front of fluid induced seismicity, which is valid in the general case of non‐linear pore pressure diffusion. We demonstrate corresponding seismicity signatures on different case studies.
A fracture network model and open fracture analysis of a tight sandstone gas reservoir in Dongpu Depression, Bohaiwan Basin, eastern China
Authors: Li Qi , Wang Tuofu , Xie Xinong , Shao Suwei , Xia Qingqing 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTFracture systems can significantly influence productivity in tight sandstone reservoirs. Understanding the in situ fracture network is of importance in exploration and development of such reservoirs. This paper illustrates that stress‐strain analysis, based on geological processes, is a credible prediction method for fracture networks and enables an estimation of which fractures are likely to contribute most to flow based on fracture orientation. This study shows the workflow for fracture modelling and its application in a sandstone reservoir using structural validation tools and interactive fracture simulations constrained with lithology, well log and core data. The fracture network model can help us understand not only what a fractured reservoir looks like but also how the existing fracture network behaves. An important consideration is that we need to understand and constrain the geological history to assess the fracture network properly.
Computed tomography scan imaging of natural open fractures in a porous rock; geometry and fluid flow
Authors: Wennberg Ole Petter , Rennan Lars , Basquet Remy 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTComputed tomography scan imaging techniques have been used on core samples to investigate the effect of natural open fractures on reservoir flow in the Snøhvit Gas Condensate Field. Firstly, computed tomography (CT) scanning was used to describe the 3D geometrical properties of the fracture network including orientation and fracture density. Two types of fractures were observed: F1 fractures are short and stylolite related and F2 fractures are longer, cross‐cutting the core and without any obvious relationship to stylolites. Secondly, monitoring of single and two phase flow experiments on samples containing these two types of natural open fractures was performed under 10 and 80 bar net confining pressure while using CT scanning. 1‐phase miscible flooding experiment shows approximately 3 times higher flooding velocity in an open F2 fracture than in the matrix. 2‐phase flooding by gas injection into a 100% water saturated core gave early gas breakthrough due to flow in the fracture and thereafter very little water production. The flow experiments showed that the presence of open fractures has a significant local effect on fluid flow even in a case with relatively high matrix porosity (200–300 mD). The sample containing F1 fractures showed a complex flow pattern influenced both by open fractures and stylolites. The CT scan data enables an exact representation of the fracture network in core scale simulation models and therefore improves the understanding of fracture influence on flow in a fractured porous medium. CT scanning of core samples provides an effective tool for integrating geology and fluid flow properties of a porous fractured medium.
Development and characterization of cell lines derived from rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), and catla, Catla catla (Hamilton)
Authors: Ishaq Ahmed V P , Chandra V , Sudhakaran R , Rajesh Kumar S , Sarathi M , Sarath Babu V , Ramesh B , Sahul Hameed A S 
Published: February 2009

AbstractTwo new cell lines, designated RE and CB, were derived from the eye of rohu, Labeo rohita, and the brain of catla, Catla catla, respectively. The cell lines were maintained in Leibovitz’s L‐15 supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum. The RE cell line was sub‐cultured for more than 70 passages and the CB cell line for more than 35 passages. The RE cells are rounded and consist predominantly of epithelial cells. The CB cell line consists of predominantly fibroblastic‐like cells. Both cell lines are able to grow at temperatures between 25 and 32 °C with an optimum of 28 °C. The growth rate of the cells increased as the foetal bovine serum concentration increased from 2% to 20% at 28 °C, with optimum growth at concentrations of 15% or 20% foetal bovine serum. The cells were successfully cryopreserved and revived at different passage levels. The cell lines were not susceptible to four marine fish viruses. Extracellular products from Aeromonas sp. were toxic to the cell lines. When the cells were transfected with plasmid eukaryotic green fluorescent protein (pEGFP [Clontech, Carlsbad, CA, USA]) vector DNA, a significant fluorescent signal was observed suggesting that these cell lines could be a useful tool for transgenic and genetic manipulation studies. Polymerase chain reaction amplification of mitochondrial 12S rRNA from rohu and catla confirmed that the cell lines originated from these fish species. The cell lines were further characterized by immunocytochemistry using confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Expression of a Pteris vittata glutaredoxin PvGRX5 in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana increases plant arsenic tolerance and decreases arsenic accumulation in the leaves
Authors: SUNDARAM SABARINATH , WU SHAN , MA LENA Q. , RATHINASABAPATHI BALA 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTChinese brake fern Pteris vittata hyperaccumulates arsenic in its fronds. In a study to identify brake fern cDNAs in arsenic resistance, we implicated a glutaredoxin, PvGRX5, because when expressed in Escherichia coli, it improved arsenic tolerance in recombinant bacteria. Here, we asked whether PvGRX5 transgenic expression would alter plant arsenic tolerance and metabolism. Two lines of Arabidopsis thaliana constitutively expressing PvGrx5 cDNA were compared with vector control and wild‐type lines. PvGRX5‐expressors were significantly more tolerant to arsenic compared with control lines based on germination, root growth and whole plant growth under imposed arsenic stress. PvGRX5‐expressors contained significantly lower total arsenic compared with control lines following treatment with arsenate. Additionally, PvGRX5‐expressors were significantly more efficient in their arsenate reduction in vivo. Together, our results indicate that PvGRX5 has a role in arsenic tolerance via improving arsenate reduction and regulating cellular arsenic levels. Paradoxically, our results suggest that PvGRX5 from the arsenic hyperaccumulator fern can be used in a novel biotechnological solution to decrease arsenic in crops.
Xeml Lab: a tool that supports the design of experiments at a graphical interface and generates computer‐readable metadata files, which capture information about genotypes, growth conditions, environmental perturbations and sampling strategy
Authors: HANNEMANN JAN , POORTER HENDRIK , USADEL BJÖRN , BLÄSING OLIVER E. , FINCK ALEX , TARDIEU FRANCOIS , ATKIN OWEN K. , PONS THIJS , STITT MARK , GIBON YVES 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTData mining depends on the ability to access machine‐readable metadata that describe genotypes, environmental conditions, and sampling times and strategy. This article presents Xeml Lab. The Xeml Interactive Designer provides an interactive graphical interface at which complex experiments can be designed, and concomitantly generates machine‐readable metadata files. It uses a new eXtensible Mark‐up Language (XML)‐derived dialect termed XEML. Xeml Lab includes a new ontology for environmental conditions, called Xeml Environment Ontology. However, to provide versatility, it is designed to be generic and also accepts other commonly used ontology formats, including OBO and OWL. A review summarizing important environmental conditions that need to be controlled, monitored and captured as metadata is posted in a Wiki (http://www.codeplex.com/XeO) to promote community discussion. The usefulness of Xeml Lab is illustrated by two meta‐analyses of a large set of experiments that were performed with Arabidopsis thaliana during 5 years. The first reveals sources of noise that affect measurements of metabolite levels and enzyme activities. The second shows that Arabidopsis maintains remarkably stable levels of sugars and amino acids across a wide range of photoperiod treatments, and that adjustment of starch turnover and the leaf protein content contribute to this metabolic homeostasis.
Adjustment of growth, starch turnover, protein content and central metabolism to a decrease of the carbon supply when Arabidopsis is grown in very short photoperiods
Authors: GIBON YVES , PYL EVA‐THERESA , SULPICE RONAN , LUNN JOHN E. , HÖHNE MELANIE , GÜNTHER MANUELA , STITT MARK 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACT Arabidopsis was grown in a 12, 8, 4 or 3 h photoperiod to investigate how metabolism and growth adjust to a decreased carbon supply. There was a progressive increase in the rate of starch synthesis, decrease in the rate of starch degradation, decrease of malate and fumarate, decrease of the protein content and decrease of the relative growth rate. Carbohydrate and amino acids levels at the end of the night did not change. Activities of enzymes involved in photosynthesis, starch and sucrose synthesis and inorganic nitrogen assimilation remained high, whereas five of eight enzymes from glycolysis and organic acid metabolism showed a significant decrease of activity on a protein basis. Glutamate dehydrogenase activity increased. In a 2 h photoperiod, the total protein content and most enzyme activities decreased strongly, starch synthesis was inhibited, and sugars and amino acids levels rose at the end of the night and growth was completely inhibited. The rate of starch degradation correlated with the protein content and the relative growth rate across all the photoperiod treatments. It is discussed how a close coordination of starch turnover, the protein content and growth allows Arabidopsis to avoid carbon starvation, even in very short photoperiods.
Use of the response of photosynthesis to oxygen to estimate mesophyll conductance to carbon dioxide in water‐stressed soybean leaves
Authors: BUNCE JAMES A. 
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTMethods of estimating the mesophyll conductance (gm) to the movement of CO2 from the substomatal airspace to the site of fixation are expensive or rely upon numerous assumptions. It is proposed that, for C3 species, measurement of the response of photosynthesis to [O2] at limiting [CO2], combined with a standard biochemical model of photosynthesis, can provide an estimate of gm. This method was used to determine whether gm changed with [CO2] and with water stress in soybean leaves. The value of gm estimated using the O2 response method agreed with values obtained using other methods. The gm was unchanged over the tested range of substomatal [CO2]. Water stress, which decreased stomatal conductance (gs) by about 80%, did not affect gm, while the model parameter VCmax was reduced by about 25%. Leaves with gs reduced by about 90% had gm values reduced by about 50%, while VCmax was reduced by about 64%. It is concluded that gm in C3 species can be conveniently estimated using the response of photosynthesis to [O2] at limiting [CO2], and that gm in soybean was much less sensitive to water stress than gs, and was somewhat less sensitive to water stress than VCmax.
CTLA‐4 +49A/G polymorphism is associated with Behçet’s disease in a Tunisian population
Authors: Ben Dhifallah I. , Chelbi H. , Braham A. , Hamzaoui K. , Houman M. H. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe involvement of excessive T‐helper cell functions in the pathogenesis of Behçet’s disease (BD) has been reported. Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) plays a role in T‐cell downregulation. In this report, we investigated the possible association between BD patients and the CTLA‐4 +49A/G polymorphism in Tunisian population. A total of 135 Tunisian BD patients and 151 healthy blood donors from the same geographic area were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction for the CTLA‐4 +49 A/G polymorphism. A highly significant difference between Tunisian BD patients and healthy controls was found regarding the distribution of CTLA‐4 +49 A allele [P < 10−7; χ2 = 75.63; odds ratio (OR) = 4.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.20–6.72] and genotype frequencies (P < 10−7; χ2 = 71.02). Furthermore, in the BD group, the A allele was predominant in males (76.3%) when compared with females (62%), (P = 0.014; χ2 = 5.97; OR = 1.99; 95% CI = 1.10–3.59). No relationship was found between the studied genotype and clinical manifestations. Our results show a gene dose effect of the A allele on the BD. The A allele exerts a stronger effect on disease susceptibility in males compared with females.
HLA DRB1*130101‐DQB1*060101 haplotype is associated with acute chest syndrome in sickle cell anemia patients
Authors: Mahdi N. , Al‐Subaie A. M. , Al‐Ola K. , Al‐Irhayim A. Q. , Ali M. E. , Al‐Irhayim Z. , Almawi W. Y. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractWe investigated the association of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II alleles and haplotypes with the pathogenesis of acute chest syndrome (ACS) in 186 sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients, of whom 58 had documented ACS (new pulmonary infiltrate, fever, and other associated clinical events) and 128 with a negative history of ACS, serving as controls. HLA DRB1* and ‐DQB1* genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐specific priming. Of the DRB1* and DQB1* alleles analyzed, only DRB1*130101 (Pc < 0.001) was positively associated with ACS. DRB1*130101‐DQB1*060101 haplotype was more prevalent among ACS patients (P = 0.018), thus conferring disease susceptibility. Specific HLA alleles and haplotypes may influence ACS risk in SCA patients, and specific HLA genotypes may be useful markers for identifying high‐risk SCA ACS patients.
HLA class I allele and haplotype diversity in Ugandans supports the presence of a major east African genetic cluster
Authors: Kijak G. H. , Walsh A. M. , Koehler R. N. , Moqueet N. , Eller L. A. , Eller M. , Currier J. R. , Wang Z. , Wabwire‐Mangen F. , Kibuuka H. N. , Michael N. L. , Robb M. L. , McCutchan F. E. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractThe objective of this study was to characterize the class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic composition of the Ugandan population to better define its relationship with other African groups. Samples from 175 individuals from Kampala (Uganda) were subjected to class I HLA‐A, ‐B, and ‐C sequence‐based typing. The high concordance between the major alleles and haplotypes found in the current and Kenyan populations and interpopulation genetic distance analysis strongly supported the presence of an East African cluster that contained the current Ugandan population along with Kenyan Luo and Nandi populations. The congruence of major alleles in different populations would permit consideration of East Africa as an integrated setting when designing and evaluating much needed malaria, tuberculosis, and AIDS vaccines.
Potential for controlling codling moth Cydia pomonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Argentina using the sterile insect technique and egg parasitoids
Authors: Botto E. , Glaz P. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractCodling moth is the main pest affecting apples and pears worldwide. Most pest control strategies used against this insect have relied on the use of broad‐spectrum insecticides which have led to non‐desirable effects like pesticide resistance, residues in the environment, human health concerns and the reduction of access to international markets. Therefore, alternative pest control strategies that would result in sustainable fruit production systems while taking care of the environment are strongly promoted. The use of the sterile insect technique has proven to be a valuable pest control tactic within area‐wide integrated pest management strategies, and its synergistic effect for Lepidoptera pests when combined with other biological control tactics such as parasitoids has been documented. The purposes of this research were to evaluate the response of an Argentinean codling moth strain to a sub‐sterilizing radiation dose of 100 Gy and to assess the acceptability and suitability of sterile codling moth eggs by the egg parasitoids, Trichogramma cacoeciae (Marchal) and Trichogramma nerudai (Pintureau and Gerding). Irradiated female moths survived better than irradiated male moths and non‐irradiated male and female moths. Also, the fecundity of irradiated female moths was reduced by more than 30% as compared to non‐irradiated ones whereas their fertility was close to zero. The F1 generation was male biased with a lower fertility (inherited sterility) than the parental generation. Trichogramma cacoeciae and T. nerudai parasitized both fertile and sterile eggs. However, there was a significant reduction in acceptability for sterile eggs. Trichogramma nerudai parasitized more eggs than T. cacoeciae, but egg acceptability for this species was proportionally lower than for T. cacoeciae especially on eggs oviposited by irradiated females. Development to adult of both parasitoids species was not substantially affected by the origin of the eggs and the wasps had acceptable levels of adult emergence, survival and fecundity. These results provided useful information on the potential for controlling the codling moth using egg parasitoids and the sterile insect technique in Argentina.
Global biogeography and ecology of body size in birds
Authors: Olson Valérie A. , Davies Richard G. , Orme C. David L. , Thomas Gavin H. , Meiri Shai , Blackburn Tim M. , Gaston Kevin J. , Owens Ian P. F. , Bennett Peter M. 
Published: February 2009

AbstractIn 1847, Karl Bergmann proposed that temperature gradients are the key to understanding geographic variation in the body sizes of warm‐blooded animals. Yet both the geographic patterns of body‐size variation and their underlying mechanisms remain controversial. Here, we conduct the first assemblage‐level global examination of ‘Bergmann’s rule’ within an entire animal class. We generate global maps of avian body size and demonstrate a general pattern of larger body sizes at high latitudes, conforming to Bergmann’s rule. We also show, however, that median body size within assemblages is systematically large on islands and small in species‐rich areas. Similarly, while spatial models show that temperature is the single strongest environmental correlate of body size, there are secondary correlations with resource availability and a strong pattern of decreasing body size with increasing species richness. Finally, our results suggest that geographic patterns of body size are caused both by adaptation within lineages, as invoked by Bergmann, and by taxonomic turnover among lineages. Taken together, these results indicate that while Bergmann’s prediction based on physiological scaling is remarkably accurate, it is far from the full picture. Global patterns of body size in avian assemblages are driven by interactions between the physiological demands of the environment, resource availability, species richness and taxonomic turnover among lineages.