bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An historical overview of selected rare ruminants in captivity
Authors: THOMAS WARREN D. , BARNES ROBERT , CROTTY MICHAEL , JONES MARVIN 
Published: September 2008

SUMMARYIn assessing the situation revealed by the survey, we concluded that in general when sufficient numbers of founders were available and attention paid to the animals general and specific needs, including preventative medicine, the captive populations have done reasonably well.Is is obvious that some small groups, such as the small African antelope and the duikers, need highly specialised care and there is a great deal of work still to be done on their husbandry.The mountain or alpine species have been fairly successful with the goats showing the greatest adaptability. We feel there are grounds for optimism for the future of such animals as the Rocky mountain goat, the Japanese serow and even the Blue sheep.Of those species whose captive future is still in doubt, particularly those which are threatened in the wild, our researches indicate that concentrated efforts should be made to obtain sufficient founder stock to establish self‐sustaining populations as a hedge against total disaster in the wild. We felt that the evidence was strong that any of the ungulate species reviewed could be successfully maintained in captivity given the right circumstances.Basically, the husbandry procedures of all the reporting zoos were similar, although, of course, each zoo had its own variations. In some cases these measurably affected the success of the animal population. In the last 20 to 25 years inter‐zoo co‐operation and sharing of information has greatly expanded. Nevertheless we would now urge that even more emphasis should be put on the exchange of information to provide each zoo with up‐ to‐date data which would ensure that all zoos are kept abreast with the 'state of the art. With such a spirit of co‐operation the prospect of managing species as total captive populations appears to be practical and promising.
Chronic inhibition of standing behaviour alters baroreceptor reflex function in rats
Authors: Waki H. , Katahira K. , Yamasaki M. , Katsuda S. , Shimizu T. , Maeda M. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAim: To investigate whether daily orthostatic stress during development is an important factor affecting arterial baroreceptor reflex function, we examined the effect of chronic inhibition of upright standing behaviour on the baroreceptor reflex function in rats.Methods: Upright standing behaviour was chronically inhibited during the developmental period between 3 and 8 weeks of age in Sprague–Dawley rats and heart rate (HR) and aortic nerve activity in response to increased and decreased mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured after the treatment period.Results: The baroreceptor cardiac gain in the rats grown without standing behaviour was significantly lower than the control rats grown in a normal commercial cage (1.0 ± 0.1 beats min−1 mmHg−1vs. 1.6 ± 0.2 beatsmin−1 mmHg−1,P < 0.05). The range of HR change in the MAP–HR functional curve was also lowered by chronic inhibition of orthostatic behaviour (56.2 ± 5.9 beats min−1) compared with that of the control rats (76.8 ± 6.9 beats min−1,P < 0.05). However the aortic afferent function remained normal after the treatment period, indicating that the attenuated baroreceptor reflex function may be due to other mechanisms involving functional alterations in the cardiovascular centres, efferents and/or peripheral organs. Body weight and adrenal weight were not affected by the inhibition of orthostatic behaviour, suggesting that the animals were not exposed to specific stress by this treatment.Conclusion: These results indicate that active haemodynamic changes induced by orthostatic behaviour are an important factor for setting the basal level of reflex function during development. Moreover, our experimental model may be useful for studying mechanisms of attenuated baroreceptor reflex observed after exposure to a chronic inactive condition.
Tutorial on Computational Linguistic Phylogeny
Authors: Nichols Johanna , Warnow Tandy 
Published: September 2008

AbstractOver the last 10 or more years, there has been a tremendous increase in the use of computational techniques (many of which come directly from biology) for estimating evolutionary histories (i.e., phylogenies) of languages. This tutorial surveys the different methods and different types of linguistic data that have been used to estimate phylogenies, explains the scientific and mathematical foundations of phylogenetic estimation, and presents methodologies for evaluating a phylogeny estimation method.
Language Ecology and Linguistic Diversity on the African Continent
Authors: Dimmendaal Gerrit J. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractAfricanists have been criticized by comparative linguists working on language families in other parts of the world for being lumpers. The present contribution reviews current views among specialists on genetic diversity on the African continent. In addition, some of the causal mechanisms behind this language diversity are investigated. More specifically, the role played by innovations in subsistence economies and climatological changes is discussed. Special emphasis, however, is put on attitudes towards the role of language as a marker of social identity and their effect on language diversity.
Historical Pragmatics
Authors: Jucker Andreas H. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractIn a broad, sociologically based view of pragmatics, historical pragmatics is a field of study that wants to understand the patterns of intentional human interaction (as determined by the conditions of society) of earlier periods, the historical developments of these patterns, and the general principles underlying such developments. It is based on an empirical study of historical data in all the diversity in which it has survived. Written texts are seen as communicative acts in their own right and they are taken to comprise a broad range of varieties of language that can be located on several different variability scales, such as the scale from the language of immediacy to the language of distance. The field of historical pragmatics can be split into subfields on the basis of the linguistic unit under investigation; from expressions to utterances, discourses, and discourse domains. Future work in historical pragmatics is expected to rely even more heavily on corpus‐linguistic methodologies and to increase the sophistication of such analyses, particularly in terms of pattern searches for functional elements and the inclusion of contextual features.
The Sociology of the Future: Tracing Stories of Technology and Time
Authors: Selin Cynthia 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe sociology of the future is an emerging field of inquiry that works to understand future consciousness drawing from a mix of Science & Technology Studies and the practice of foresight. Through an exploration of the theories, methodologies, and quagmires of anticipation employed in the study of nanotechnology, this piece introduces the sociology of the future and suggests some ways the field is taking definition. Exploring the future tense provides a means of taking responsibility for what is to come; yet, the movement of the social sciences into the tricky terrain of the future presents tensions. Understanding plausibility, how different communities use anticipatory knowledge, and the performative role of expectations in innovation remain areas of research rich with dilemmas and delights. As social scientists begin to weave their own accounts of futures, they should pay attention to the politics of such rendering.
Analysis of the clinical efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab in the treatment of iris neovascularization caused by proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Jiang Yanrong , Liang Xiaoying , Li Xiaoxin , Tao Yong , Wang Kai 
Published: September 2008

Abstract.Purpose:  To evaluate the therapeutic effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin®) (IVB) in the treatment of iris neovascularization (INV) in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).Methods:  A retrospective analysis on data collected from 28 eyes of 22 patients with PDR was performed. The analysis included grading of INV, visual acuity (VA) and intraocular pressure (IOP) prior to and after IVB treatment.Results:  Significant regression was noted in 20 eyes (71.4%); six eyes (21.4%) showed partial regression; no change or worsening was observed in two eyes (7.2%). VA (measured with a Snellen acuity chart) improved in five eyes (17.9%) while the remaining 23 eyes (82.1%) had no improvement. In the 11 eyes with preoperative neovascular glaucoma, IOP decreased in 10 eyes (91%) and increased in one eye (9%) after treatment.Conclusion:  IVB treatment of INV in PDR patients shows a promising short‐term result. Further studies are needed to evaluate long‐term results.
Evaluation of a Commercial
Echinococcus
Western Blot Assay for Serological Follow-Up of Patients with Alveolar Echinococcosis
Authors: Tappe Dennis , Grüner Beate , Kern Peter , Frosch Matthias 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

A total of 20 patients with alveolar echinococcosis in different clinical stages according to the WHO-PNM staging system (P, parasitic mass in the liver; N, involvement of neighboring organs; M, metastasis) were followed up serologically with the commercial
Echinococcus
Western Blot IgG assay and a crude antigen extract enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The cohort included patients after curative resection and patients who had unresectable lesions with stable disease or progressive infection. There were visible correlations of the crude antigen ELISA index and the presence and intensity of diagnostic bands in the Western blot. In most patients after curative resection, bands at 7, 16, and 18 kDa markedly decreased or vanished after 1 to 4 years. In a patient with a nonviable lesion (it died out), bands at 16 and 18 kDa vanished after 4 years. Among individuals with unresectable lesions but stable disease under antiparasitic chemotherapy, a decrease of all diagnostic bands was visible after 2 to 3 years in half of the patients, whereas the other half had unchanged blot results after 4 to 6 years. Patients with progressive disease showed increasing intensities of bands at 16, 18, and 7 kDa. The change of banding patterns was not influenced by the PNM stage in patients after curative surgery or with unresectable lesions. Our data indicate a correlation of the 7-, 16-, and 18-kDa-Western blot bands with disease activity independent of the PNM stage. This study demonstrated the usefulness of the
Echinococcus
Western Blot IgG assay as an additional serological test for the follow-up of patients with alveolar echinococcosis.
Development of Natural Culture Media for Rapid Induction ofFonsecaea pedrosoiSclerotic Cells In Vitro
Authors: da Silva Moises Batista , da Silva Jorge Pereira , Sirleide Pereira Yamano Suellen , Salgado Ubirajara Imbiriba , Diniz José Antonio Picanço , Salgado Claudio Guedes 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTFonsecaea pedrosoiis the main agent of chromoblastomycosis, a skin disease presenting verrucous lesions, in which round, thick-walled sclerotic cells are found. In vitro induction of sclerotic cells is time-consuming (20 to 45 days) and temperature dependent. We present two new natural media that reduce the sclerotic-cell induction time to only 2 days.
Fatal Wound Infection Caused by
Chromobacterium violaceum
in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Authors: Baker Stephen , Campbell James I. , Stabler Richard , Nguyen Hoang V. M. , To Diep S. , Nguyen Dung V. , Farrar Jeremy 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

Chromobacterium violaceum
is a proteobacterium found in soil and water in tropical regions which rarely causes infection in humans. Here, we report a fatal bacteremia caused by
Chromobacterium violaceum
in Vietnam. We describe a number of clinical, microbiological, and molecular aspects associated with this bacterial infection.
Analysis of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 (HPV16) DNA Load and Physical State for Identification of HPV16-Infected Women with High-Grade Lesions or Cervical Carcinoma
Authors: Saunier Maëlle , Monnier-Benoit Sylvain , Mauny Frédéric , Dalstein Véronique , Briolat Jenny , Riethmuller Didier , Kantelip Bernadette , Schwarz Elisabeth , Mougin Christiane , Prétet Jean-Luc 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

Integration of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA into the host cell genome is a frequent event in cervical carcinogenesis, even though this phenomenon does not seem to be mandatory for cervical cancer development. Our objective was to describe the load and physical state of HPV type 16 (HPV16) DNA in a series of cervical samples representative of the natural history of cervical cancer. We used a combination of three real-time PCR assays targeting E6, E2, and albumin genes to calculate HPV16 load (E6 and albumin) and the E2/E6 ratio as a surrogate of integration. This method was applied to 173 HPV16-positive cervical samples. Results show that viral load increases with the lesion grade (from 102 HPV16 DNA copies per 10
3
cells in normal samples up to 56,354 copies per 10
3
cells in cancers), while E2/E6 ratio decreases (from 1 in normal samples down to 0.36 in cancers). We propose that, according to this technique, an HPV16 viral load of higher than 22,000 copies/10
3
cells or an E2/E6 ratio of lower than 0.50 allows the identification of women with prevalent high-grade lesions or worse with a high specificity. In conclusion, both viral load and E2/E6 ratio, used in combination with an appropriate cutoff value, are suitable to screen women with prevalent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3 or cancer. Therefore, these assays would be useful in addition to routine HPV testing to more accurately identify women with (pre)cancerous lesions.
Comparison of Carrot Broth- and Selective Todd-Hewitt Broth-Enhanced PCR Protocols for Real-Time Detection of
Streptococcus agalactiae
in Prenatal Vaginal/Anorectal Specimens
Authors: Block Timothy , Munson Erik , Culver Anne , Vaughan Katharine , Hryciuk Jeanne E. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

The reporting of accurate
Streptococcus agalactiae
screening results in a short time frame is of tremendous clinical benefit. A total of 203 consecutive primary vaginal/anorectal specimens were cultured in selective Todd-Hewitt broth (LIM broth) and with the StrepB carrot broth kit (carrot broth). One-day broth cultures were subjected to both centrifugation and clarification of a 500-μl aliquot prior to sample lysis (protocol A) and direct lysis of a 50-μl aliquot (protocol B). The lysates were subsequently analyzed by the BD GeneOhm StrepB assay. The results were compared to the carrot broth culture results derived from visualization of pigment on day 1 or from a subculture of carrot broth. Thirty-four carrot broth cultures (16.7%) generated diagnostic pigment following overnight incubation; an additional 26 (12.8%) were positive for
S. agalactiae
upon subculture. Carrot broth-enhanced PCR by the use of either protocol A or protocol B trended toward a higher rate of positive results (33.0%) than the rate observed by either the LIM broth-enhanced PCR (30.5%) or full carrot broth culture analysis (29.6%). In the context of the result on day 1, both carrot broth- and LIM broth-enhanced PCRs generated more true-positive results (
P
< 0.001) than carrot broth culture visualization. The predictive values for both protocols of carrot broth- or LIM broth-enhanced PCR were ≥95.4%. Whereas protocol A resolved the results for 99.8% of the specimens in the evaluation upon initial testing, a 5.7% initial unresolved rate and a 1.5% final unresolved rate were determined by the use of protocol B. The use of carrot broth within a rapid and highly accurate molecular reflex testing algorithm can limit follow-up testing to cultures without evidence of pigmentation.
Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 Tax Relieves Repression of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Gene Expression
Authors: Edwards Dustin C. , Marriott Susan J. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia. The transforming ability of Tax, the viral oncoprotein, is believed to depend on interactions with cell cycle regulators and on transactivation of genes that control cellular proliferation, including proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a cofactor associated with DNA replication and repair. Tax associates with cellular transcription factors to alter their affinity for cognate DNA elements, leading to increased or decreased transcription from that promoter. Although it has been demonstrated that Tax transactivates the PCNA promoter, the mechanism of transcriptional activation is unknown. Here we report a cellular complex that binds specifically to a novel site within the minimal Tax-responsive element of the TATAA-less PCNA promoter. Mutation at this binding site or Tax expression inhibited complex formation and increased promoter activity, suggesting that the complex is a transcriptional repressor. The activation of PCNA gene expression by Tax and consequential decrease in nucleotide excision repair mediated by PCNA overexpression could contribute to the reduced DNA repair capacity and genomic instability observed in HTLV-1-infected cells.
Asymptomatic Human CD4+Cytotoxic T-Cell Epitopes Identified from Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoprotein B
Authors: Chentoufi Aziz Alami , Binder Nicholas R. , Berka Noureddine , Durand Guillaume , Nguyen Alex , Bettahi Ilham , Maillère Bernard , BenMohamed Lbachir 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACTThe identification of “asymptomatic” (i.e., protective) epitopes recognized by T cells from herpes simplex virus (HSV)-seropositive healthy individuals is a prerequisite for an effective vaccine. Using the PepScan epitope mapping strategy, a library of 179 potential peptide epitopes (15-mers overlapping by 10 amino acids) was identified from HSV type 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B (gB), an antigen that induces protective immunity in both animal models and humans. Eighteen groups (G1 to G18) of 10 adjacent peptides each were first screened for T-cell antigenicity in 38 HSV-1-seropositive but HSV-2-seronegative individuals. Individual peptides within the two immunodominant groups (i.e., G4 and G14) were further screened with T cells from HLA-DR-genotyped and clinically defined symptomatic (n= 10) and asymptomatic (n= 10) HSV-1-seropositive healthy individuals. Peptides gB161-175and gB166-180within G4 and gB661-675within G14 recalled the strongest HLA-DR-dependent CD4+T-cell proliferation and gamma interferon production. gB166-180, gB661-675, and gB666-680elicited ex vivo CD4+cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) that lysed autologous HSV-1- and vaccinia virus (expressing gB)-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines. Interestingly, gB166-180and gB666-680peptide epitopes were strongly recognized by CD4+T cells from 10 of 10 asymptomatic patients but not by CD4+T cells from 10 of 10 symptomatic patients (P< 0.0001; analysis of variance posttest). Inversely, CD4+T cells from symptomatic patients preferentially recognized gB661-675(P< 0.0001). Thus, we identified three previously unrecognized CD4+CTL peptide epitopes in HSV-1 gB. Among these, gB166-180and gB666-680appear to be “asymptomatic” peptide epitopes and therefore should be considered in the design of future herpes vaccines.
Crystal Structure of the Avian Reovirus Inner Capsid Protein σA
Authors: Guardado-Calvo Pablo , Vazquez-Iglesias Lorena , Martinez-Costas José , Llamas-Saiz Antonio L. , Schoehn Guy , Fox Gavin C. , Hermo-Parrado X. Lois , Benavente Javier , van Raaij Mark J. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
Avian reovirus, an important avian pathogen, expresses eight structural and four nonstructural proteins. The structural σA protein is a major component of the inner capsid, clamping together λA building blocks. σA has also been implicated in the resistance of avian reovirus to the antiviral action of interferon by strongly binding double-stranded RNA in the host cell cytoplasm and thus inhibiting activation of the double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase. We have solved the structure of bacterially expressed σA by molecular replacement and refined it using data to 2.3-Å resolution. Twelve σA molecules are present in the P1 unit cell, arranged as two short double helical hexamers. A positively charged patch is apparent on the surface of σA on the inside of this helix and mutation of either of two key arginine residues (Arg155 and Arg273) within this patch abolishes double-stranded RNA binding. The structural data, together with gel shift assay, electron microscopy, and sedimentation velocity centrifugation results, provide evidence for cooperative binding of σA to double-stranded RNA. The minimal length of double-stranded RNA required for σA binding was observed to be 14 to 18 bp.
Nuclear Localization of Cytoplasmic Poly(A)-Binding Protein upon Rotavirus Infection Involves the Interaction of NSP3 with eIF4G and RoXaN
Authors: Harb Maya , Becker Michelle M. , Vitour Damien , Baron Carolina H. , Vende Patrice , Brown Spencer C. , Bolte Susanne , Arold Stefan T. , Poncet Didier 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT
Rotavirus nonstructural protein NSP3 interacts specifically with the 3′ end of viral mRNAs, with the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF4G, and with RoXaN, a cellular protein of yet-unknown function. By evicting cytoplasmic poly(A) binding protein (PABP-C1) from translation initiation complexes, NSP3 shuts off the translation of cellular polyadenylated mRNAs. We show here that PABP-C1 evicted from eIF4G by NSP3 accumulates in the nucleus of rotavirus-infected cells. Through modeling of the NSP3-RoXaN complex, we have identified mutations in NSP3 predicted to interrupt its interaction with RoXaN without disturbing the NSP3 interaction with eIF4G. Using these NSP3 mutants and a deletion mutant unable to associate with eIF4G, we show that the nuclear localization of PABP-C1 not only is dependent on the capacity of NSP3 to interact with eIF4G but also requires the interaction of NSP3 with a specific region in RoXaN, the leucine- and aspartic acid-rich (LD) domain. Furthermore, we show that the RoXaN LD domain functions as a nuclear export signal and that RoXaN tethers PABP-C1 with RNA. This work identifies RoXaN as a cellular partner of NSP3 involved in the nucleocytoplasmic localization of PABP-C1.
Retroviruses Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Murine Leukemia Virus Are Enriched in Phosphoinositides
Authors: Chan Robin , Uchil Pradeep D. , Jin Jing , Shui Guanghou , Ott David E. , Mothes Walther , Wenk Markus R. 
Published: September 2008

ABSTRACT

Retroviruses acquire a lipid envelope during budding from the membrane of their hosts. Therefore, the composition of this envelope can provide important information about the budding process and its location. Here, we present mass spectrometry analysis of the lipid content of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and murine leukemia virus (MLV). The results of this comprehensive survey found that the overall lipid content of these viruses mostly matched that of the plasma membrane, which was considerably different from the total lipid content of the cells. However, several lipids are enriched in comparison to the composition of the plasma membrane: (i) cholesterol, ceramide, and GM3; and (ii) phosphoinositides, phosphorylated derivatives of phosphatidylinositol. Interestingly, microvesicles, which are similar in size to viruses and are also released from the cell periphery, lack phosphoinositides, suggesting a different budding mechanism/location for these particles than for retroviruses. One phosphoinositide, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P
2
], has been implicated in membrane binding by HIV Gag. Consistent with this observation, we found that PI(4,5)P
2
was enriched in HIV-1 and that depleting this molecule in cells reduced HIV-1 budding. Analysis of mutant virions mapped the enrichment of PI(4,5)P
2
to the matrix domain of HIV Gag. Overall, these results suggest that HIV-1 and other retroviruses bud from cholesterol-rich regions of the plasma membrane and exploit matrix/PI(4,5)P
2
interactions for particle release from cells.