bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution and maintenance of pollen‐colour dimorphisms in Nigella degenii: habitat‐correlated variation and morph‐by‐environment interactions
Authors: Jorgensen Tove Hedegaard , Andersson Stefan 
Published: October 2005

Summary
Dimorphism in pollen colour is rare among flowering plants, but occurs in two geographically and morphologically distinct subspecies of Nigella degenii (Ranunculaceae). We evaluated the role of genotype‐by‐environment interactions in the maintenance of two pollen morphs within each of these subspecies.
Morph frequencies in a number of populations were related to current habitat conditions, and an extensive common‐garden experiment involving both optimal and stressful conditions (drought and nutrient deficiency) was carried out.
The putatively derived (dark) pollen morph of N. degenii ssp. barbro has a higher frequency on slopes facing north or east than on slopes facing south or west. Plants of the dark morph also have a higher mortality under drought stress or nutrient deficiency. Data available for N. degenii ssp. jenny provide little evidence for habitat‐correlated variation in morph frequency or morph‐specific differences in fitness under optimal and stressful growth conditions.
Our results suggest that morph‐by‐environment interactions in mortality could contribute to the maintenance of pollen‐colour dimorphisms in N. degenii ssp. barbro.
Noradrenaline overflow in mouse dentate gyrus following locus coeruleus and natural stimulation: real‐time monitoring by in vivo voltammetry
Authors: Yavich Leonid , Jäkälä Pekka , Tanila Heikki 
Published: October 2005

AbstractThe pattern of catecholaminergic innervation of the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, particularly the relatively dense and selective noradrenergic input, creates favourable conditions for real‐time monitoring of noradrenaline (NA) release following stimulation of the locus coeruleus (LC) by in vivo voltammetry. Two electrochemically active species with different temporal characteristics were registered in the DG following electrical stimulation of the LC. Several approaches, including testing of anatomical and pharmacological specificity, coating of microelectrodes with Nafion and use of fast cyclic voltammetry, were used to verify the characteristics of electrochemical responses. The first sharp peak that appeared immediately during stimulation was definitely associated with NA overflow. The second late peak was possibly attributable to ascorbic acid. We examined the characteristics of α‐2 adrenoceptor regulation of NA release in the DG, and showed for the first time that noradrenergic terminals resemble dopaminergic terminals in their mechanisms of increasing the refilling rate of the readily releasable pool following stimulation repeated at short intervals. Amperometric registration of NA in the DG was complicated by interference with electrical activity of hippocampus. This interference could be used, after appropriate filtration, for simultaneous recording from the same microelectrode of NA release and electrical activity of the hippocampus.
The timing, duration and pattern of moult and its relationship to breeding in a population of the European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
Authors: NEWTON I. , ROTHERY P. 
Published: October 2005

Moult was studied in 1 year among Greenfinches trapped in a garden in east‐central England. Over the period June–December 2003, 333 captures of 179 individual adults provided information on breeding condition, moult, body weight, sex and age (yearling or older adult, equivalent to birds in their second or later calendar years, respectively). About 95% of all birds (sex and age groups combined) started primary feather moult from 2 July to 14 August, and finished from 10 October to 22 November. The mean date of moult onset in the population as a whole was 24 July. On average, males began 8 days before females, and yearlings began 6 days before older birds. The mean duration of moult was 100 days, whether the figure was calculated for the population as a whole or just for the 36 individual birds that were caught more than once during moult. However, moult rate was slightly slower, and moult duration slightly longer, in yearlings than in older adults of both sexes. No evidence was found for any systematic relationship between moult onset date and rate (duration). Breeding and moult overlapped by up to 5 weeks or more in individual birds, and some birds probably started to moult as early as the incubation stage of their last clutch of the season. The cloacal protuberance (taken as indicative of breeding condition) had regressed in all males by the time the fifth primary was shed, and the brood patch had regressed and re‐feathered in all females by the time the fourth primary was shed. The bulk of feather replacement in the secondary, tail and body tracts occurred in the second half of primary moult, and after cloacal protuberances and brood patches were completely regressed. In all birds examined near the end of primary moult the secondaries were still growing, and would have continued growth for up to another 19 days or more, extending the end of the moulting season into December. Body mass during moult was affected significantly by sex and age, as well as by time of day, amount of food in gullet, reproductive condition and date. No firm evidence emerged that body mass was affected by moult stage, after allowing for effects of date and other variables (although there was a non‐significant negative relationship between moult stage and body mass in males). In the population as a whole, the breeding season (from first egg‐laying to independence of last young) was spread over 21 weeks and moult over 24 weeks. With an overlap between the two events at the population level of up to 9 weeks, the two processes together took up to 36 weeks, some 69% of the year.
Non‐breeding behaviour of Magenta Petrels Pterodroma magentae at Chatham Island, New Zealand
Authors: IMBER M. J. , TAYLOR G. A. , TENNYSON A. J. D. , AIKMAN H. A. , SCOFIELD R. P. , BALLANTYNE J. , CROCKETT D. E. 
Published: October 2005

Magenta Petrels Pterodroma magentae were caught at light‐attraction stations on southwest Chatham Island, New Zealand, and most were fitted with transmitters. Of 52 captured since 1993, 71% were males, and all 36 tracked adequately proved to be non‐breeders in the breeding season of capture. Our data indicated no sex bias in their probability of being captured at lights. Males provided 86% of trackings, and 87% of trackings of birds flying over the breeding area were males. Males landed 118 times; females 13 times. Only males were found on the ground, by night and day, apparently unassociated with burrows (three with and ten without transmitters), but subsequently digging burrows (n = 8). Of 19 birds banded as fledglings up to 2000, males were first recaptured nearing 4 years old (at lights and on the ground) and a female nearing 6 years old (in burrow). Among 37 fledglings, the sex ratio was even. Nine tracked males occupied burrows, as did two females, but the latter were older recaptures (10+ and 25+ years old). It appears that only males claimed existing, or dug new, burrows. They then attracted a mate to the burrow by means unknown, but from among females frequenting an inshore courtship area near the colony, or occasionally flying over the colony, at night. Females established in burrows, but then losing their mate, were able to re‐mate there, by calling from near the burrow or by attracting a mate in flight or from the postulated inshore courtship area. Both sexes sometimes took years to pair or re‐mate, possibly reflecting the dearth of available mates.
Indices for assessment of hemodialysis adequacy: A comparison of different formulae
Authors: Arogundade Fatiu , Barsoum Rashad S 
Published: October 2005

AbstractOf the various indices used in the assessment of dialysis adequacy, fractional urea clearance controlled for volume of distribution “Kt/V” remains the most widely used. Its determination is best performed by formal urea kinetic modeling (UKM), which is laborious and cumbersome, and the computational softwares are largely unavailable, particularly in developing countries. Consequently, different equations have been developed that approximate the formal UKM determination. Of the available formulae, that from second‐generation logarithmic equation have been found to approximate values derived from formal UKM closely. We set out to determine the clinical utility of percent reduction of urea and Kt/V formulae derived from it, using the logarithmic equation as the standard.
Antibody response to Engerix‐B® and Recombivax‐HB® hepatitis B vaccination in end‐stage renal disease
Authors: Lacson Eduardo , Teng Ming , Ong Janus , Vienneau Lori , Ofsthun Norma , Lazarus J Michael 
Published: October 2005

AbstractRecombivax‐HB® (REC) and Engerix‐B® (ENG) are FDA‐approved vaccines for hepatitis B virus (HBV) in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). This study compares antibody response rates between them in routine clinical practice. Patients completing the recommended 40 μg dose of REC (3 doses) or ENG (4 doses) between January 1, 2000 to April 30, 2003 were eligible. Patients with prior positive HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) or antibody (HBsAb) test results were excluded. The conversion rate and persistence of protective titer (HBsAb titer≥10 IU/mL) were tracked for 1 year. A supplemental analysis of a one‐to‐one matched patient sample was also performed. REC patients (N=885) were older, had longer dialysis vintage, and had a larger proportion of whites than ENG patients (N=13,661). Cumulative conversion response was greater in ENG (58%) than REC (40%) at 1 year (p<0.0001). The odds ratio for response to ENG compared with REC was 1.96 (95% limits: 1.56, 2.45; p<0.0001) adjusted for age, gender, race, diabetes, vintage, BSA, hemoglobin, and eKt/V. Persistent protective HBsAb after 1 year was 77% (ENG) vs. 53% (REC). HBsAg was positive in 208 ENG patients (1.5%) with all but 1 because of transient, vaccine‐related antigenemia. The difference in conversion response favoring ENG persisted in a one‐to‐one sample matched for age, gender, race, modality, and dialysis vintage. The study found higher seroconversion response to ENG compared with REC at several time points up to 1 year. Protective HBsAb disappeared in 23–47% of patients 1 year later, validating CDC recommendations to re‐test HBsAb yearly. The observed difference in response rates may be related to the extra ENG dose given at the second month (0, 1, 2, 6 regimen). The study raises a hypothesis that requires confirmation in a prospective clinical trial.
Intradialytic changes in reflective properties of the arterial system during a single hemodialysis session
Authors: Mardare Nicoleta‐Genoveva , Goldsmith David JA , Gusbeth‐Tatomir Paul , Covic Adrian 
Published: October 2005

AbstractIncreased aortic stiffness—measured as aortic augmentation index (AIx), a global stiffness marker—has emerged as a powerful predictor of survival in hemodialysis (HD). A single HD session is known to produce considerable improvement in aortic stiffness. We set out, for the first time, to examine the relative contributions to the post‐HD drastic improvement in aortic stiffness of ultrafiltration rate and volume, or blood pressure (BP) changes. Aortic AIx (difference between the first and the second systolic peak of the aortic pressure waveform divided by pulse wave height) was determined hourly and recorded by applanation tonometry using a SphygmoCor™ device in 20 chronic HD patients (9 males, age 55.1 years). The other parameters recorded were: weight pre‐ and post‐HD, ultrafiltration volume (UFV), hemoglobin, albumin, creatinine, urea reduction rate (URR), calcium and PTH, and BP. The dialysis significantly decreased AIx from 24.2±11.27% to 15.57±12.58% (p<0.05). In a univariate analysis, the intradialytic decrease in AIx (AIx 0–4) did not correlate with UFV, URR or with any of the biochemical markers. Significant correlations for AIx 0–4 were age (p=0.018), systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the beginning of HD (p=0.049), the intradialytic decrease in the SBP (p=0.001), and in pulse pressure (PP) (p=0.009). Multivariate stepwise regression showed that the decrease in SBP, PP, and intradialytic percentage reduction in weight explained 64.9% of the total variation in AIx 0–4. The decrease in SBP was the most important factor influencing the AIx variation (b=1.54, p=0.007). The most significant reduction in AIx was from the beginning of HD to the third hour (p=0.039), and correlated with the reduction in SBP (p=0.006) and PP (p=0.025) between the same moments. A single HD session produces a drastic improvement in aortic stiffness. The effect is not explained by the UFV depletion but is highly correlated with the decrease in SBP and PP. Further work is now needed to explore a potential role for endothelin and nitric oxide metabolism.
Automatic feedback control of relative blood volume changes during hemodialysis improves blood pressure stability during and after dialysis
Authors: Franssen Casper F M , Dasselaar Judith J , Sytsma Paulina , Burgerhof Johannes G M , de Jong Paul E , Huisman Roel M 
Published: October 2005

AbstractAutomatic feedback systems have been designed to control relative blood volume changes during hemodialysis (HD) as hypovolemia plays a major role in the development of dialysis hypotension. Of these systems, one is based on the concept of blood volume tracking (BVT). BVT has been shown to improve intra‐HD hemodynamic stability. We first questioned whether BVT also improves post‐HD blood pressure stability in hypotension‐prone patients and second, whether BVT is effective in reducing the post‐HD weight as many hypotension‐prone patients are overhydrated because of an inability to reach dry weight. After a 3‐week period on standard HD, 12 hypotension‐prone patients were treated with two consecutive BVT treatment protocols. During the first BVT period of 3 weeks, the post‐HD target weight was kept identical compared with the standard HD period (BVT‐constant weight; BVT‐cw). During the second BVT period of 6 weeks, we gradually tried to lower the post‐HD target weight (BVT‐reduced weight; BVT‐rw). In the last week of each period, we studied intra‐HD and 24 hr post‐HD blood pressure behavior by ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). Pre‐ and post‐HD weight did not differ between standard HD and either BVT‐cw or BVT‐rw. Heart size on a standing pre‐dialysis chest X‐ray did not change significantly throughout the study. There were less episodes of dialysis hypotension during BVT compared with standard HD (both BVT periods: p<0.01). ABPM data were complete in 10 patients. During the first 16 hr post‐HD, systolic blood pressure was significantly higher with BVT in comparison with standard HD (both BVT periods: p<0.05). The use of BVT in hypotension‐prone patients is associated with higher systolic blood pressures for as long as 16 hr post‐HD. BVT was not effective in reducing the post‐HD target weight in this patient group.
SCID‐repopulating activity of human umbilical cord blood–derived hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells in a nonobese diabetic/Shi‐SCID mice serial xenotransplantation model and immune cell activities in vitro: a comparative study of the filter method and the hydroxyethyl starch method
Authors: Yasutake Mikitomo , Zheng Yizhou , Inoue‐Nagamura Tokiko , Akagawa Eiji , Tokushima Yasuo , Terashima Shuji , Takahashi Tsuneo A. 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND: A novel filter system was developed for umbilical cord blood (UCB) volume reduction. The aim of this study was to compare the functions of cryopreserved UCB cells processed by the filter and by the hydroxyethyl starch (HES) sedimentation method from the aspect of the graft quality.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: UCB specimens were divided into two portions, processed in parallel by the filter or HES, and then cryopreserved in the clinical setting. The thawed UCB specimens containing 1 × 105 CD34+ cells were injected into nonobese diabetic/Shi‐SCID mice, and the engraftment capacity in primary and secondary transplants was assessed. The functions of natural killer (NK) cells and monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (DCs) were also assayed in vitro.RESULTS: The percentage of recovery of CD34+ cells by both methods was equivalent. In the marrow of the primary transplant recipients, the percentage of hCD45+ cells in the filter group and HES group was 58.2 ± 31.6 and 46.5 ± 28.4 percent, respectively (p = 0.016). The engraftment capacity and multilineage differentiation in the secondary transplantations were equal in both groups. The cytotoxic activity of the NK cells and phagocytosis activity of the DCs from both the groups were similar.CONCLUSION: The filter yielded a desirable percentage of recovery of hematopoietic cells with engraftment ability in the clinical setting. Thus, it is considered that the filter system may be useful for UCB banking for cord blood transplantation.
Delayed and acute hemolytic transfusion reactions resulting from red cell antibodies and red cell–reactive HLA antibodies
Authors: Takeuchi Chikako , Ohto Hitoshi , Miura Saori , Yasuda Hiroyasu , Ono Satoshi , Ogata Takashi 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND: It has been controversial whether HLA antibodies cause hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTR) or shortened red blood cell (RBC) survival. A patient is reported who had two episodes of HTR, the latter of which was likely due to RBC‐reactive HLA antibodies.CASE REPORT: A 77‐year‐old woman, admitted for gastric varix rupture, had no RBC‐irregular antibodies detected before transfusion. On Hospital Day 12, after transfusion of 2 units of RBCs and 2 units of fresh‐frozen plasma, the first delayed hemolytic episode occurred and anti‐E, anti‐c, anti‐Jka, and unidentified RBC‐reactive antibodies were detected in a serum sample from Day 14. Two additional units of matched RBCs were transfused with a leukoreduction filter on Days 19 and 22. After 4 hours of starting a transfusion on Day 22, the patient had fever, and a second hemolytic episode was recorded. Multireactive HLA antibodies (reactive against 20 of 20 donor panel lymphocytes) were detected in serum samples from Day 15 to Day 21. These HLA antibodies reacted strongly with HLA‐A2 and HLA‐B7 antigens, corresponding to Bgc and Bga antigens on RBCs, respectively. RBCs transfused on Day 22 were found to be HLA‐A2 by genotyping.CONCLUSION: Strong HLA alloantibodies in this recipient appear to have caused a HTR. It is suggested that HLA antibodies be considered in patients with unexplained HTRs.
SCER and SCAN: two novel high‐prevalence antigens in the Scianna blood group system
Authors: Flegel Willy A. , Chen Qing , Reid Marion E. , Martin Judy , Orsini Linda A. , Poole Joyce , Moulds Marilyn K. , Wagner Franz F. 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND: More than 20 years ago, two probands were described whose red blood cells (RBCs) typed Sc:1,‐2,3. Their serum samples contained alloantibodies reactive with all RBCs tested except those of the Sc:‐1,‐2,‐3 phenotype. Cloning of the Scianna gene allowed us to determine the molecular bases of these samples.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: In a collaborative effort, the two probands’ samples and also two

Sc:‐1,‐2,‐3 samples were obtained from frozen storage. All 11 SC (ERMAP) exons and their flanking regions were sequenced.RESULTS: The two probands with antibodies to Scianna‐related antigens were homozygous, respectively, for an ERMAP(R81Q) allele caused by a G to A substitution at nucleotide 242 in the ERMAP gene and for an ERMAP(H26Y,G35S) allele, in which the G35S substitution was caused by a G to A substitution at nucleotide 103. Two patients with the Sc:‐1,‐2,‐3 phenotype both carried ERMAP(R332X) alleles caused by a C to T substitution at nucleotide 994 that differed at one nucleotide position in the noncoding region of exon 11. In eight samples carrying orphan low‐prevalence antigens, no ERMAP variants were detected that could be implicated in Scianna antigen expression.CONCLUSION: SCER and SCAN expanded the Scianna blood group system to seven antigens, have been assigned the ISBT numbers 013.006 (Sc6) and 013.007 (Sc7), and were associated with ERMAP(R81Q) and ERMAP(G35S) proteins, respectively. ERMAP(R332X) is a second molecular basis for the Scnull phenotype. The eight low‐prevalence antigens By, Toa, Pta, Rea, Jea, Lia, SARA, and Ska do not belong to the Scianna blood group system.
Detection of bacterial contamination in apheresis platelet products: American Red Cross experience, 2004
Authors: Fang Chyang T. , Chambers Linda A. , Kennedy Jean , Strupp Annie , Fucci Mei‐Chien H. , Janas Jo Ann , Tang Yanlin , Hapip Cheryl A. , Lawrence Teri B. , Dodd Roger Y. ,   American Red Cross Regional Blood Centers
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND:  Routine quality control (QC) testing for bacterial contamination in apheresis platelet (PLT) products was implemented in all 36 regional blood centers of the American Red Cross in March 2004.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  PLT samples were cultured under aerobic conditions until the end of the product shelf life or when a positive reaction was indicated. To confirm the initial positive reaction, a new sample was taken from the unit for reculturing. All positive culture bottles were referred for bacterial isolation and identification. Bacterial testing data along with apheresis PLT collection information were collected for analysis. Reports and investigations of potential septic reactions to apheresis PLTs were reviewed.RESULTS:  In the first 10 months of bacterial testing, 226 of 350,658 collections tested initially positive. Sixty‐eight were confirmed on resampling to be bacterially contaminated for an overall confirmed‐positive rate of 0.019 percent or 1 in 5157. Staphylococcus spp. (47.1%) and Streptococcus spp. (26.5%) were the most frequently isolated bacteria; Gram‐negative bacteria accounted for 17.6 percent of the confirmed‐positive products. Of the 354 apheresis PLT products derived from all 226 initial test–positive cases, 38 (10.7%) were transfused by the time the initial positive reaction was indicated. None of these transfused products, however, had a confirmed‐positive bacterial screen and no patient who had been transfused with an unconfirmed‐positive product had evidence of a septic transfusion reaction. Three high‐probability septic transfusion reactions to screened, negative components were identified. In all three cases, a coagulase‐negative Staphylococcus was implicated.CONCLUSION:  Our experience demonstrates that bacterial testing of apheresis PLT products as a QC measure was efficiently implemented throughout the American Red Cross system and that this new procedure has been effective in identifying and preventing the transfusion of many, although not all, bacterially contaminated PLT units.
Denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography–based genotyping and genetic variation of FUT2 in Sri Lanka
Authors: Soejima Mikiko , Koda Yoshiro 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND: Human ABO‐secretor locus (FUT2) is highly polymorphic in many human populations.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The applicability of denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) analysis was evaluated for genotyping the FUT2 in two Sri Lankan populations (Tamil and Sinhalese).RESULTS: Although DHPLC failed to detect one allele, 302C>T, of eight alleles, this method reduces the number of samples to be sequenced and can detect novel polymorphisms by comparing the elution profiles.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that DHPLC analysis is a useful high‐throughput method for genotyping FUT2 and, further, that the genetic backgrounds of two Sri Lankan populations are quite similar, with little genetic flow from neighboring East and Southeast Asian populations to Sri Lanka.