bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How secular is Europe?
Authors: Halman Loek , Draulans Veerle 
Published: May 2006

AbstractA large body of literature has developed, yielding evidence that religion in general and Churches and Church leaders in particular have lost their once dominant position in contemporary Europe. Evidence is often cited in declining levels of church attendance. Whether Europe should also be qualified as secularized in terms of religious beliefs remains unclear. In this paper we investigate the degree to which European people are secular, focusing not only on religious practices, but also on beliefs. We argue that trajectories of religious change occur all over Europe, but not at similar speeds. We formulate hypotheses regarding the differences in the degree to which individuals and societies are secularized. Data from the recent European Values Study surveys are used to empirically test these hypotheses concerning patterns of variation in religious beliefs and practices. The findings provide evidence in favour of secularization theories and in contradiction to rational choice theories. In Europe, religious pluralism produces not higher levels, but lower levels of religiosity. The findings also reveal that religious denomination as well as cultural and socio‐economic heritages are important factors in explaining the patchwork pattern in levels of religiosity and religious participation in contemporary Europe.
Expression of extracellular matrix molecules typical of articular cartilage in the human scapholunate interosseous ligament
Authors: Milz S. , Aktas T. , Putz R. , Benjamin M. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe scapholunate interosseous ligament (SLIL) connects the scaphoid and lunate bones and plays a crucial role in carpal kinematics. Its rupture leads to carpal instability and impairment of radiocarpal joint function. As the ligament is one of the first structures affected in rheumatoid arthritis, we conducted an immunohistochemical study of cadaveric tissue to determine whether it contains known autoantigens for rheumatoid arthritis. We immunolabelled the ligament from one hand in 12 cadavers with monoclonal antibodies directed against a wide range of extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules associated with both fibrous and cartilaginous tissues. The labelling profile has also enabled us to comment on how the molecular composition of the ligament relates to its mechanical function. All regions of the ligament labelled for types I, III and VI collagens, chondroitin 4 and 6 sulphates, keratan sulphate, dermatan sulphate, versican, tenascin and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). However, both entheses labelled strongly for type II collagen, aggrecan and link protein and were distinctly fibrocartilaginous. In some regions, the ligament attached to bone via a region of hyaline cartilage that was continuous with articular cartilage. Labelling for cartilage molecules in the midsubstance was most evident dorsally. We conclude that the SLIL has an ECM which is typical of other highly fibrocartilaginous ligaments that experience both tensile load and shear. The presence of aggrecan, link protein, COMP and type II collagen could explain why the ligament may be a target for autoantigenic destruction in some forms of rheumatoid arthritis.
Habitual use of the primate forelimb is reflected in the material properties of subchondral bone in the distal radius
Authors: Carlson Kristian J. , Patel Biren A. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractBone mineral density is directly proportional to compressive strength, which affords an opportunity to estimate in vivo joint load history from the subchondral cortical plate of articular surfaces in isolated skeletal elements. Subchondral bone experiencing greater compressive loads should be of relatively greater density than subchondral bone experiencing less compressive loading. Distribution of the densest areas, either concentrated or diffuse, also may be influenced by the extent of habitual compressive loading. We evaluated subchondral bone in the distal radius of several primates whose locomotion could be characterized in one of three general ways (quadrupedal, suspensory or bipedal), each exemplifying a different manner of habitual forelimb loading (i.e. compression, tension or non‐weight‐bearing, respectively). We employed computed tomography osteoabsorptiometry (CT‐OAM) to acquire optical densities from which false‐colour maps were constructed. The false‐colour maps were used to evaluate patterns in subchondral density (i.e. apparent density). Suspensory apes and bipedal humans had both smaller percentage areas and less well‐defined concentrations of regions of high apparent density relative to quadrupedal primates. Quadrupedal primates exhibited a positive allometric effect of articular surface size on high‐density area, whereas suspensory primates exhibited an isometric effect and bipedal humans exhibited no significant relationship between the two. A significant difference between groups characterized by predominantly compressive forelimb loading regimes vs. tensile or non‐weight‐bearing regimes indicates that subchondral apparent density in the distal radial articular surface distinguishes modes of habitually supporting of body mass.
An allometric analysis of the number of muscle spindles in mammalian skeletal muscles
Authors: Banks R. W. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractAn allometric analysis of the number of muscle spindles in relation to muscle mass in mammalian (mouse, rat, guinea‐pig, cat, human) skeletal muscles is presented. It is shown that the trend to increasing number as muscle mass increases follows an isometric (length) relationship between species, whereas within a species, at least for the only essentially complete sample (human), the number of spindles scales, on average, with the square root rather than the cube root of muscle mass. An attempt is made to reconcile these apparently discrepant relationships. Use of the widely accepted spindle density (number of spindles g−1 of muscle) as a measure of relative abundance of spindles in different muscles is shown to be grossly misleading. It is replaced with the residuals of the linear regression of ln spindle number against ln muscle mass. Significant differences in relative spindle abundance as measured by residuals were found between regional groups of muscles: the greatest abundance is in axial muscles, including those concerned with head position, whereas the least is in muscles of the shoulder girdle. No differences were found between large and small muscles operating in parallel, or between antigravity and non‐antigravity muscles. For proximal vs. distal muscles, spindles were significantly less abundant in the hand than the arm, but there was no difference between the foot and the leg.
Allometric studies on growth and development of the human placenta: growth of tissue compartments and diffusive conductances in relation to placental volume and fetal mass
Authors: Mayhew Terry M. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractCorrelations between placental size and fetal mass during gestation fail to account for changes in composition that accompany placental growth and maturation. This study uses stereological data on the sizes of different tissue compartments in human placentas from 10 weeks of gestation to term and relates them to placental volume and to fetal mass by means of allometric analysis. In addition, tissue dimensions are used to calculate a physiological transport measure (diffusive conductance) for the villous membrane. Histological sections randomly sampled from placentas and analysed stereologically provided estimates of structural quantities (volumes, exchange surface areas, lengths, numbers of nuclei, diffusion distances). These data were combined with a physicochemical quantity (Krogh's diffusion coefficient) in order to estimate oxygen diffusive conductances for the villous membrane and its two components (trophoblast and stroma). Allometric relationships between these quantities and placental volume or fetal mass were obtained by linear regression analyses after log‐transformation. Placental tissues had different growth trajectories: most grew more rapidly than placental volume and all grew more slowly than fetal mass. Diffusion distances were inversely related to placental and fetal size. Differential growth impacted on diffusive conductances, which, again, did not improve commensurately with placental volume but did match exactly growth of the fetus. Findings show that successful integration between supply and demand can be achieved by differential tissue growth. Allometric analysis of results from recent studies on the murine placenta suggest further that diffusive conductances may also be matched to fetal mass during gestation and to fetal mass at term across species.
Differences between sliding semi‐landmark methods in geometric morphometrics, with an application to human craniofacial and dental variation
Authors: Perez S. Ivan , Bernal Valeria , Gonzalez Paula N. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractOver the last decade, geometric morphometric methods have been applied increasingly to the study of human form. When too few landmarks are available, outlines can be digitized as series of discrete points. The individual points must be slid along a tangential direction so as to remove tangential variation, because contours should be homologous from subject to subject whereas their individual points need not. This variation can be removed by minimizing either bending energy (BE) or Procrustes distance (D) with respect to a mean reference form. Because these two criteria make different assumptions, it becomes necessary to study how these differences modify the results obtained. We performed bootstrapped‐based Goodall'sF‐test, Foote's measurement, principal component (PC) and discriminant function analyses on human molars and craniometric data to compare the results obtained by the two criteria. Results show that: (1)F‐scores andP‐values were similar for both criteria; (2) results of Foote's measurement show that both criteria yield different estimates of within‐ and between‐sample variation; (3) there is low correlation between the first PC axes obtained by D and BE; (4) the percentage of correct classification is similar for BE and D, but the ordination of groups along discriminant scores differs between them. The differences between criteria can alter the results when morphological variation in the sample is small, as in the analysis of modern human populations.
Mature pig oligodendrocytes rapidly process human recombinant pro‐nerve growth factor and do not undergo cell death
Authors: Althaus Hans H. , Klöppner Sabine 
Published: May 2006

AbstractThe neurotrophin family with its first member, nerve growth factor (NGF), binds two classes of receptors, more specifically to Trk receptors and to a shared p75NTR receptor. It has been shown that proNGF rather than NGF is predominant in the mature central nervous system. A recent finding indicated that a furin‐resistant proNGF preferentially binds to p75NTR, initiating a pro‐apoptotic cascade even in the presence of TrkA. In this context, rodent oligodendrocytes were reported to undergo cell death when exposed to proNGF. We have investigated the effect of a non‐mutated 32 kDa human recombinant proNGF (rhproNGF) on cultured pig oligodendrocytes which express TrkA, p75NTR and sortilin. Pig oligodendrocytes respond to rhproNGF (50 ng/mL) with an enhanced regeneration of their processes as already observed for NGF. Activity of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), which plays an important role in oligodendroglial process formation, was increased even when rhproNGF processing was inhibited by the furin inhibitor Decanoyl‐RVKR‐CMK. Similarly, a cleavage‐resistant proNGF (R‐1G) activated MAPK and promoted oligodendroglial process regeneration. High concentrations of rhproNGF (300 ng/mL) did not induce cell death. Sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting revealed that oligodendrocytes process rhproNGF to NGF. NGF was detected in Western blots of oligodendroglial lysates already 10 min after rhproNGF exposure, followed by a release of NGF into the culture medium. Indirect evidence indicates that rhproNGF processing occurs via an endocytotic route.
Structural stabilization of CNS synapses during postnatal development in rat cortex
Authors: Khaing Zin Z. , Fidler Lazar , Nandy Nina , Phillips Greg R. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractCNS synapses are produced rapidly upon pre‐ and post‐synaptic recruitment. However, their composition is known to change during development and we reasoned that this may be reflected in the gross biochemical properties of synapses. We found synaptic structure in adult cortical synaptosomes to be resistant to digestion with trypsin in the presence and absence of calcium ions, contrasting with previous observations. We evaluated the divalent cation dependence and trypsin sensitivities of synapses using synaptosomes from different developmental stages. In contrast to adult synapses, at postnatal day (P) 10 EDTA treatment eliminated ∼60% of the synapses, and trypsin and EDTA, together, eliminated all junctions. Trypsinization in the presence of calcium eliminated ∼60% of the junctions at P10. By P35, all synapses were calcium independent, whereas full trypsin resistance was not attained until P49. To compare the calcium dependence and trypsin sensitivity of synapses in another region of the adult brain, we examined synapses from adult (P50) hippocampus. Adult hippocampus maintained a population of synapses that resembled that of P35 cortex. Our results show that synapses are modified over a long time period in the developing cortex. We propose a model in which the addition of synergistic calcium‐dependent and ‐independent adhesive systems stabilize synapses.
Dopamine receptor regulation of Ca2+ levels in individual isolated nerve terminals from rat striatum: comparison of presynaptic D1‐like and D2‐like receptors
Authors: Wu Jianlin , Dougherty John. J. , Nichols Robert A. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWe have directly observed the effects of activating presynaptic D1‐like and D2‐like dopamine receptors on Ca2+ levels in isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) from rat striatum. R‐(+)‐SKF81297, a selective D1‐like receptor agonist, and (–)‐quinpirole, a selective D2‐like receptor agonist, induced increases in Ca2+ levels in different subsets of individual striatal synaptosomes. The SKF81297‐ and quinpirole‐induced effects were blocked by R‐(+)‐SCH23390, a D1‐like receptor antagonist, and (–)‐sulpiride, a D2‐like receptor antagonist, respectively. SKF81297‐ or quinpirole‐induced Ca2+ increases were inhibited following blockade of voltage‐gated calcium channels or sodium channels. In a larger subset of synaptosomes, quinpirole decreased baseline Ca2+. Quinpirole also inhibited veratridine‐induced increases in intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ level. Immunostaining confirmed the presynaptic expression of D1, D5, D2 and D3 receptors, but not D4 receptors. The array of neurotransmitter phenotypes of the striatal nerve endings expressing D1, D5, D2 or D3 varied for each receptor subtype. These results suggest that presynaptic D1‐like and D2‐like receptors induce increases in Ca2+ levels in different subsets of nerve terminals via Na+ channel‐mediated membrane depolarization, which, in turn, induces the opening of voltage‐gated calcium channels. D2‐like receptors also reduce nerve terminal Ca2+ in a different but larger subset of synaptosomes, consistent with the predominant presynaptic action of dopamine in the striatum being inhibitory.
Neurotrophin‐induced preprotachykinin‐A gene promoter modulation in organotypic rat spinal cord culture
Authors: Hilton Kathryn J. , Bateson Alan N. , King Anne E. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractTo study regulation of the preprotachykinin‐A gene promoter, we utilised a biolistic gene transfer protocol to deliver a DNA construct that incorporates a portion of the preprotachykinin‐A gene promoter and an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene into neonatal rat spinal cord organotypic slices. The ability of the neurokinin‐1 receptor agonist [Sar9,Met(O2)11]‐substance P, nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor to modulate positively preprotachykinin‐A gene promoter construct activity, as indicated by de novo enhanced green fluorescent protein expression, was determined. Treatment of organotypic slices with [Sar9, Met(O2)11]‐substance P (10 μm, P < 0.05), nerve growth factor (200 ng/mL, P < 0.001) or brain derived neurotrophic factor (200 ng/mL, P < 0.02) significantly increased the proportion of cytomegaloviral promoter‐DsRed transfected cells (used to visualise total transfected cells) that co‐expressed enhanced green fluorescent protein. The distribution of enhanced green fluorescent protein/DsRed‐positive neurones across spinal laminae was broadly in line with the known distribution of spinal Trk and neurokinin‐1 receptors. These data suggest a modulated activity of the preprotachykinin‐A gene promoter in spinal neurones in vitro by substance P and/or neurotrophins. The functional consequences of such transcriptional changes within central peptidergic circuitry and their relevance to chronic pain are considered.
Temporal effects of paraquat/maneb on microglial activation and dopamine neuronal loss in older rats
Authors: Saint‐Pierre Martine , Tremblay Marie‐Ève , Sik Attila , Gross Robert E. , Cicchetti Francesca 
Published: May 2006

AbstractWe investigated the effects of combined systemic exposure to the herbicide paraquat (PQ) and the fungicide maneb (MB) in 6‐month‐old rats, an animal model of Parkinson's disease resulting from environmental toxin exposure. Following two doses of PQ (10 mg/kg) and MB (30 mg/kg), 52% of animals developed fatal lung injury. Examination of the remaining animals showed degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta 6 weeks, but not 4 weeks, following PQ/MB. In contrast, microglial activation was observed at 4 weeks, but had abated by 6 weeks. Compared with our previous findings in younger rats, these results suggest increased susceptibility of older animals to lung and brain toxicity from PQ/MB exposure. Microglial activation preceded, and therefore likely contributed to, DA neurodegeneration. Further, electron microscopy revealed an abnormal appearance of the Golgi apparatus at 4 weeks that was confirmed using double immunostaining for tyrosine hydroxylase and Golgi. This suggests that PQ/MB causes protein processing dysfunction in nigral DA neurons that may be either a direct effect of PQ/MB or the result of microglial activation.
Investigation of the percentage of prescribed enteral nutrition actually delivered to hospitalized companion animals
Authors: Michel Kathryn E. , Higgins Charlotte 
Published: May 2006

AbstractObjective:To investigate the percentage of prescribed enteral nutrition that is actually delivered; the percentage of goal feeds [defined in terms of the animal's estimated resting energy requirement (RER)] that are delivered; and the reasons animals are under or overfed in a small animal teaching hospital.Design:Prospective investigation.Setting:Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.Animals:All dogs and cats that received tube feeding while admitted to the Ryan Veterinary Hospital during the months of August–December 2003.Interventions:The medical record for each animal was reviewed to determine the feeding prescription, the amount of tube feeds actually delivered, and any reasons why the amount delivered differed from the amount prescribed. The amount prescribed was also compared with the animal's goal feeds which were defined for a patient as 50% RER/day on the first day of feeding and 100% RER/day for the remaining days of hospitalization.Main results:Twenty‐five animals (23 cats and 2 dogs) were enrolled in the study. Animals received a median of 91% (range: 68–100%) of their prescribed feeds/day and a median of 90% (range: 36–133%) of goal feeds/day. Nausea or vomiting and conflict with other treatments were the most common recorded reasons for incomplete feeds.Conclusions:Both prescribed and goal feeds were delivered to the animals in this investigation with a good rate of success. Consultation with the Nutrition Support Service improved the likelihood that prescribed feeds would meet the animal's estimated RER.
Diuretic effects of fenoldopam in healthy cats
Authors: Simmons Jeffery P. , Wohl James S. , Schwartz Dean D. , Edwards Heather G. , Wright James C. 
Published: May 2006

AbstractObjective: To determine the effect of fenoldopam infusion on urine output, sodium excretion, creatinine clearance, and indirect blood pressure in healthy cats.Design: Prospective study.Setting: Veterinary medical teaching hospital.Animals: Eight purpose‐bred cats, 2–4 years old.Interventions: None.Measurements: Urine output was measured hourly for 12 hours before and after fenoldopam administration. Sodium excretion, modified creatinine clearance, and fractional sodium excretion were measured before and following fenoldopam administration. Urine specific gravity, central venous pressure, and systolic blood pressure were measured every 4 hours during the experiment.Main results: Compared with pre‐infusion values, urine output, sodium excretion, and fractional excretion of sodium increased significantly 6 hours after initiation of fenoldopam infusion. This increase was sustained throughout the observation period. The modified creatinine clearance decreased significantly following 2 hours of fenoldopam infusion, but increased significantly by 6 hours after infusion, the time of peak urine output. Changes in urine specific gravity mirrored changes in fractional sodium excretion, whereas the central venous pressure mirrored changes in modified creatinine clearance. The diuretic effect in cats was prevented when a dopamine receptor blocking agent was administered before fenoldopam infusion.Conclusion: Fenoldopam at a dose of 0.5 μg/kg/min induces diuresis in cats in a delayed manner. This increase appears to be due, in part, to dopamine receptor‐induced natriuresis. Changes in glomerular filtration rate may also occur.
Clodronate treatment of vitamin D‐induced hypercalcemia in dogs
Authors: Ulutas Bulent , Voyvoda Huseyin , Pasa Serdar , Alingan Mustafa Kemal 
Published: May 2006

AbstractObjective:To determine the effects of clodronate on vitamin D3‐induced hypercalcemia in dogs.Design:Prospective experimental study.Settings:University research laboratory.Animals:Fourteen healthy intact adult male and female mixed breed dogs.Interventions:Dogs received 7.5 mg of vitamin D3/kg of body weight once orally and were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 7 dogs each. Dogs in the saline control group were given intravenous infusions of 150 mL 0.9% NaCl solution 24 hours after vitamin D3administration. Dogs in the clodronate group were given an infusion of 4 mg/kg of clodronate in 150 mL 0.9% NaCl solution 24 hours after vitamin D3administration.Measurements and main results:Clinical signs of vitamin D3toxicosis were evaluated 48 hours after ingestion of vitamin D3. Dogs that were given clodronate had significantly lower serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), urea, and Ca × P values than dogs in the control group on days 4, 7, and 12 after administration. Additionally, alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly lower in the clodronate group compared with dogs in the control group on days 4 and 7.Conclusions:Parenteral administration of clodronate, a biphosphonate compound and osteoclastic activity inhibitor, may be a useful therapy when administered within the first 24 hours after ingestion of toxic doses of vitamin D3.