bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Current range condition in relation to land management systems in semi‐arid savannas of Swaziland
Authors: Tefera Solomon , Dlamini B. J. , Dlamini A. M. , Mlambo V. 
Published: September 2007

AbstractRangeland condition was assessed in the lowveld of Swaziland to determine the current status with emphasis on contrasting different land management systems and soil classes in two study areas. The assessment incorporated the grass and woody plant layer. The methods employed to evaluate the grass layer were ecological condition index (ECI) and weighted palatability composition (WPC). The government ranch had significantly higher ECI (mean 714.5) and WPC (mean 61) than the communal land (mean: ECI – 533.5; WPC – 48.7) and the game reserve (mean: ECI – 578.9; WPC – 47.9). The ECI and WPC values did not differ between the soil classes in most cases (range: ECI 551.5–645.9 and WPC – 43.7–57.6). The density of all woody plants and encroaching plants alone were the highest in communal land. Basal cover ranged from poor (2–3%) to good (>5%), while bare ground was rated from low (<1%) to high (>5%). Overall results showed great variability of studied variables at site and landscape levels of resolution. Generally, the grass layer was rated between fair and good when assessed on the basis of ecological and palatability merits. There was a clear indication of advancement of bush encroachment.
Myelodysplastic syndrome with isolated deletion of chromosome 20q: an indolent disease with minimal morphological dysplasia and frequent thrombocytopenic presentation
Authors: Gupta Raavi , Soupir Chad P. , Johari Vandita , Hasserjian Robert P. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryThe present study analysed the clinicopathological features of nine myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients in which del(20q) was the sole cytogenetic abnormality and a control group of 17 adult patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Seven of nine del(20q) patients were thrombocytopenic and six of nine were mildly anaemic at presentation. There was no significant morphological dysplasia identified in the del(20q) group as compared with the ITP group. These results indicate that MDS with del(20q) commonly presents with thrombocytopenia and has minimal morphological dysplasia. Cytogenetic analysis on adult patients undergoing bone marrow sampling for thrombocytopenia may help avoid misdiagnosis of MDS with del(20q) as ITP.
Long‐term GH treatment is not associated with disadvantageous changes of inflammatory markers and adipocytokines in children born small for gestational age
Authors: Willemsen Ruben H. , Mulder Paul G. H. , Van Toorenenbergen Albert W. , Hokken‐Koelega Anita C. S. 
Published: September 2007

SummaryContext  Low birth weight is associated with increased risks for adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Adiponectin and resistin are hormones, considered, respectively, protective and disadvantageous regarding these risks. No data exist on the effect of long‐term GH treatment on these hormones and inflammatory markers in children born small for gestational age (SGA).Objective  To describe longitudinal changes in inflammatory markers and adipocytokines during and after a long‐term dose–response GH study.Design  Longitudinal dose–response study [group A: 1 mg/m2 body surface area (BSA) (approximately 0·033 mg/kg/day) vs. group B: 2 mg/m2 BSA (approximately 0·067 mg/kg/day)] and comparison with age‐related controls.Patients  One hundred and three SGA children.Measurements  We measured adiponectin, resistin, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels at baseline, after 1 and 7 years of GH treatment and 6 months after discontinuation of GH.Results  Adiponectin levels decreased over time, but remained comparable with controls. Resistin levels increased and remained lower or comparable with controls. There were no significant differences between the GH dosage groups. After the GH treatment was stopped, adiponectin was decreased in group B and resistin increased in group A. GH therapy did not affect IL‐6 and CRP levels at any time point. An increase in body mass index (BMI) standard deviation score (SDS) over time was associated with a decrease in adiponectin levels. None of the markers were associated with insulin sensitivity.Conclusions  Long‐term GH treatment is not associated with disadvantageous changes in adiponectin, resistin, IL‐6 and CRP levels, neither during nor after GH treatment.
Vicariance, dispersal and scale in the aquatic subterranean fauna of karst regions
Authors: CULVER DAVID C. , PIPAN TANJA , SCHNEIDER KATIE 
Published: September 2007

Summary1. The causes of distribution patterns of stygobionts (obligate subterranean‐dwelling aquatic species) were examined with special emphasis on vicariance and dispersal.2. Dispersal was investigated on the premise that if migration is important, then migration at small scales should predict patterns at larger scales. Data on the copepod fauna of epikarst in Slovenia were especially useful for the study of migration, because data on habitat occupancy could be collected at scales of individual drips located metres apart to the scale of individual caves to entire karst regions. Occupancy of drips in one cave was a remarkably good predictor of occupancy of caves in a region, although not of the overall range of a given species. These results were also supported by occupancy patterns of the general stygobiotic fauna of West Virginia caves, compared at different scales.3. Vicariance was investigated by noting that proximity to marine embayments increases the likelihood of vicariant speciation. In the U.S.A., only the fauna of the Edwards Aquifer of Texas has a significant component of marine‐derived species. Differences in shape of the relationship between species number and number of caves in a county indicated that the marine‐derived component represented an addition to rather than a replacement of the other stygobiotic species.4. Thus, we found evidence for the importance of both vicariance and dispersal. The techniques employed could be used to study these patterns more generally, as more data become available.
Submersed macrophyte growth at low pH: carbon source influences response to dissolved inorganic carbon enrichment
Authors: PAGANO ANGELA M. , TITUS JOHN E. 
Published: September 2007

Summary1. Twenty‐one submersed macrophyte species were grown in the greenhouse at low and high dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and at pH 6 to test the hypothesis that growth response to DIC enrichment in the water column would be greatest for species able to use both bicarbonate (HCO) and free CO2 from the water column, intermediate for species restricted to free CO2 in the water column, and least for those species able to use free CO2 from both sediment porewater and the water column.2. Relative growth rates (RGR) increased significantly with DIC enrichment for 12 of the 21 species. Bicarbonate users as a group averaged a 4.6‐fold increase in RGR with DIC enrichment, significantly greater than the 2.5‐ and 1.7‐fold increases of the water column CO2 users and sediment CO2 users, respectively.3. The ability to use HCO, as measured by a pH drift technique, was positively correlated with the ratio of RGR at high DIC to RGR at low DIC for the 21 species.4. Bicarbonate users also exhibited significantly lower belowground : total biomass (R : T) ratios than the other two groups, and alone showed a significant increase in R : T ratio with DIC enrichment.5. Our results indicate that DIC availability may influence community structure in acidic and circumneutral lakes.
Separation of decay‐accelerating and cofactor functional activities of Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus complement control protein using monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Mark Linda , Proctor David G. , Blackbourn David J. , Blom Anna M. , Spiller O. Brad 
Published: September 2007

SummaryComplement is an essential part of the innate immune system, which clears pathogens without requirement for previous exposure, although it also greatly enhances the efficacy and response of the cellular and humoral immune systems. Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the most recently identified human herpesvirus and the likely aetiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. We previously reported that the KSHV complement control protein (KCP) was expressed on infected cells and virions, and could inhibit complement through decay‐accelerating activity (DAA) of the classical C3 convertase and cofactor activity (CFA) for factor I (FI)‐mediated degradation of C4b and C3b, as well as acting as an attachment factor for binding to heparan sulphate on permissive cells. Here, we determined the ability of a panel of monoclonal anti‐KCP antibodies to block KCP functions relative to their recognized epitopes, as determined through binding to recombinant KCP containing large (entire domain) or small (2–3 amino acid residue) alterations. One antibody recognizing complement control protein (CCP) domain 1 blocked heparin binding, DAA and C4b CFA, but was poor at blocking C3b CFA, while a second antibody recognizing CCP4 blocked C3b CFA and 80% DAA, but not C4b CFA or heparan sulphate binding. Two antibodies recognizing CCP2 and CCP3 were capable of blocking C3b and C4b CFA and heparan sulphate binding, but only one could inhibit DAA. These results show that, while KCP is a multifunctional protein, these activities do not completely overlap and can be isolated through incubation with monoclonal antibodies.
Balancing ecological complexity in predictive models: a reassessment of risk models in the mountain pine beetle system
Authors: Nelson William A. , Potapov Alex , Lewis Mark A. , Hundsdörfer Anina E. , He Fangliang 
Published: September 2007

SummaryThe nature of ecological risk assessment is to predict the probability of an event, such as extinction or invasion, in a location where the event has rarely occurred. This typically requires developing risk models from data on events in different locations. One perplexing challenge in developing these models is to find the optimal balance of model complexity that reflects the tactical details of a system, but is sufficiently strategic to be applicable under a wide range of situations.Here we address the balance of complexity in risk models for the mountain pine beetle system. Mountain pine beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosaeHopkins) are destructive pests of pine forests in western North America. Much effort has gone into collecting empirical evidence and developing mechanistic models of infestation dynamics, which has resulted in a wealth of process‐based information. Current risk models, however, are based solely on indices of stand susceptibility that do not incorporate much of this ecological understanding. In practice, current risk models have proven ineffective at predicting the risk or extent of an infestation.We assemble an ecological framework of the beetle–host interaction that allows us to compare across phenomenological and mechanistic models. We demonstrate that current risk models predict only ranked risk among forest stands, as opposed to absolute risk, and thereby provide an explanation for their limited ability to predict risk in practice. By comparing existing models with the ecological framework, we identify the primary factors determining risk, and propose which dynamical processes should be modelled explicitly, and which might be strategically abstracted.Synthesis and applications. Balancing model complexity in predictive risk models is challenging for systems with complex ecology and imperfect information. Here we draw together a wide range of empirical and modelling work in the mountain pine beetle system to develop a strategic framework of the ecological interactions. Through this framework, we demonstrate why current risk models have been ineffective in predicting risk, and suggest a starting point for future risk models that explicitly describe the dynamical processes necessary to predict absolute risk.
Empirical photometric redshifts of luminous red galaxies and clusters in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Authors: Lopes P. A. A. 
Published: September 2007

Abstract
In this work I discuss the necessary steps for deriving photometric redshifts for luminous red galaxies (LRGs) and galaxy clusters through simple empirical methods. The data used are from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). I show that with three bands only (gri) it is possible to achieve results as accurate as the ones obtained by other techniques, generally based on more filters. In particular, the use of the (g−i) colour helps improving the final redshifts (especially for clusters), as this colour monotonically increases up to z∼ 0.8. For the LRGs I generate a catalogue of ∼1.5 million objects at z &lt; 0.70. The accuracy of this catalogue is σ= 0.027 for z≤ 0.55 and σ= 0.049 for 0.55 &lt; z≤ 0.70. The photometric redshift technique employed for clusters is independent of a cluster selection algorithm. Thus, it can be applied to systems selected by any method or wavelength, as long as the proper optical photometry is available. When comparing the redshift listed in literature to the photometric estimate, the accuracy achieved for clusters is σ= 0.024 for z≤ 0.30 and σ= 0.037 for 030 &lt; z≤ 0.55. However, when considering the spectroscopic redshift as the mean value of SDSS galaxies on each cluster region, the accuracy is at the same level as found by other authors: σ= 0.011 for z≤ 0.30 and σ= 0.016 for 030 &lt; z≤ 0.55. The photometric redshift relation derived here is applied to thousands of cluster candidates selected elsewhere. I have also used galaxy photometric redshifts available in SDSS to identify groups in redshift space and then compare the redshift peak of the nearest group to each cluster redshift. This procedure provides an alternative approach for cluster selection, especially at high redshifts, as the cluster red sequence may be poorly defined.
Biological functions of glucan‐binding protein B of Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Fujita K. , Matsumoto‐Nakano M. , Inagaki S. , Ooshima T. 
Published: September 2007

Introduction:  Streptococcus mutans has been implicated as a major causative agent of dental caries in humans. Bacterial components associated with the adhesion phase of S. mutans include glucosyltransferases, protein antigen C and proteins that bind glucan. At least four glucan‐binding proteins (Gbp) have been identified; GbpA, GbpB, GbpC and GbpD.Methods:  In our previous study, the contributions of GbpA and GbpC to the virulence of S. mutans were investigated; however, the biological function of GbpB and its role in the virulence of S. mutans remain to be elucidated. Using a GbpB‐deficient mutant strain (BD1), we demonstrated in the present study that GbpB has a role in the biology of S. mutans.Results:  The growth rate of BD1 was lower than that of other strains, while it was also shown to be less susceptible to phagocytosis and to form longer chains than the parental strain MT8148. In addition, electron microscope observations of the cell surfaces of BD1 showed that the cell‐wall layers were obscure.Conclusion:  These results suggest that GbpB may have an important role in cell‐wall construction and be involved in cell separation and cell maintenance.
Candida albicans THI13 disruption affects production of monocytic cytokines
Authors: Zhu Z. Y. , Cao Y. Y. , Wang Y. , Quan H. , Zhao J. X. , Jia X. M. , Cao Y. B. , Gao P. H. , Xu Z. , Jiang Y. Y. 
Published: September 2007

Introduction:  The Candida albicansTHI13 gene was identified by its homology to the Candida tropicalis CtNMT1 gene, which is involved in pyrimidine precursor biosynthesis.Methods:  Disruption of THI13 revealed that this gene played a minor role in thiamin biosynthesis in C. albicans. Purified human monocytes were incubated with C. albicans at the optimal Candida: monocyte ratio of 0.5 and cytokines in the supernatants were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.Results and discussion:  This experiment showed that the wild‐type strain significantly induced interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) production but had little effect on IL‐12 production, and that THI13 mutants had no significant effect on IL‐10 production, though the IL‐12 level was increased in the supernatants. These results suggest that THI13 is involved in the host effective immune response by regulating IL‐10 and IL‐12 production.
Activity of anti‐Porphyromonas gingivalis egg yolk antibody against gingipains in vitro
Authors: Yokoyama K. , Sugano N. , Rahman A. K. M. S. , Oshikawa M. , Ito K. 
Published: September 2007

Introduction:  We investigated the effect of anti‐Porphyromonas gingivalis egg yolk antibody against gingipains [immunoglobulin Y (IgY)‐GP] on gingipain activity in vitro.Methods:  IgY‐GP was isolated from the yolks of White Leghorn hens immunized with purified gingipains. Control antibody (IgY) was isolated from the yolks of non‐immunized hens. Gingipain activity was assessed according to the rate of enzymatic substrate hydrolysis. Human epithelial cells were cultured with or without gingipains and with gingipains pretreated with either IgY‐GP or IgY.Results:  Hydrolytic activity decreased in the presence of IgY‐GP. Cells incubated with gingipains showed a dose‐dependent loss of adhesion activity. Pretreatment of gingipains with IgY‐GP was associated with strong inhibition of cell detachment, whereas pretreatment with IgY was not.Conclusion:  Our findings suggest that IgY‐GP may be an effective immunotherapeutic agent in the treatment of periodontitis.
Susceptibility of oral obligate anaerobes to telithromycin, moxifloxacin and a number of commonly used antibacterials
Authors: Tomás I. , Tomás M. , Álvarez M. , Velasco D. , Potel C. , Limeres J. , Diz P. 
Published: September 2007

Introduction:  Obligate anaerobes are closely involved in the pathogenesis of oral and focal infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility profiles of obligate anaerobes of oral origin to telithromycin (TLM), moxifloxacin (MXF), and other antibiotics that are commonly used in dentistry.Methods:  The study sample comprised 172 obligate anaerobes isolated from the saliva of 43 adult volunteers. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the agar dilution technique in Brucella agar medium supplemented with vitamin K, haemin and 5% (volume/volume) laked sheep blood, and incubated under anaerobic conditions. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methodology was followed and its criteria were used for the qualitative interpretation of the results. The antibiotics evaluated were: amoxicillin (AMX), amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid (AMX‐CLA), clindamycin (CM), metronidazole (MTZ), azithromycin (AZM), TLM and MXF.Results:  Resistance to AMX (MIC90  16 mg/l) was observed in 45.3% of the obligate anaerobes and resistance to CM (MIC90  16 mg/l) was found in 18.6%. All the isolates were sensitive to MTZ (MIC90 = 1 mg/l) and 98.8% were sensitive to AMX‐CLA (MIC90 = 2 mg/l). The MIC90 values for AZM, TLM and MXF were 16, 8 and 2 mg/l, respectively.Conclusion:  Pathogenic, opportunistic and non‐pathogenic obligate anaerobes showed high percentages of resistance to AMX and CM, and high MIC values for AZM in the absence of recently administered antibiotics. MXF showed a higher activity than TLM, similar to that detected for AMX‐CLA and MTZ. In consequence, MXF could represent a possible alternative antimicrobial against obligate anaerobes of oral origin, particularly in those patients with allergy, intolerance or lack of response to AMX‐CLA or MTZ.
The role of cytokines in a Porphyromonas gingivalis‐induced murine abscess model
Authors: Alayan J. , Gemmell E. , Ford P. , Hamlet S. , Bird P. S. , Ivanovski S. , Farah C. S. 
Published: September 2007

Introduction:  Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important periodontopathic bacterium that is strongly associated with periodontal disease and is part of human dental plaque. Periodontal disease results from the interaction of the host with bacterial products, and T‐cell‐derived cytokines remain critical in the immunoregulation of periodontal disease.Methods:  The aim of this study was to examine the role of T helper type 1 [interleukin‐12p40 (IL‐12p40), interferon‐γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)] and type 2 (IL‐4, IL‐10) cytokines in the immune response to a subcutaneous challenge with P. gingivalis using a well‐established murine abscess model, in genetically modified cytokine‐specific knockout mice.Results:  IL‐12p40−/− mice exhibited more advanced tissue destruction and a reduced inflammatory cell infiltrate after subcutaneous P. gingivalis challenge. Deficiency of IL‐4 or IL‐10 did not result in increased susceptibility to P. gingivalis‐mediated tissue destruction. Furthermore, TNF deficiency appeared to reduce local tissue destruction. Interestingly, serum‐specific antibodies suggested a strong T helper type 2 response.Conclusion:  The results of our study indicate an important role for IL‐12 in a primary P. gingivalis subcutaneous challenge.
Herpesviruses in asymptomatic apical periodontitis lesions: an immunohistochemical approach
Authors: Saboia‐Dantas C. J. , Coutrin de Toledo L. F. , Sampaio‐Filho H. R. , Siqueira J. F. 
Published: September 2007

Introduction:  Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) have been recently detected in samples from apical periodontitis lesions by means of molecular biology techniques and a role in the pathogenesis of this disease has been suggested. The present study was designed to survey asymptomatic primary apical periodontitis lesions for the presence of HCMV‐ and/or EBV‐infected cells by means of immunohistochemistry.Methods:  Apical periodontitis lesions were obtained from 35 patients [26 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ‐seronegative patients and nine HIV‐seropositive patients] after tooth extraction and subjected to immunohistochemical analysis using monoclonal antibodies specific for HCMV and EBV.Results:  Fifteen of the 35 apical periodontitis lesions were positive for the target herpesviruses. Overall, EBV was found in 31% of the samples and HCMV in 23%, with 14% of the lesions showing EBV and HCMV dual infection. No association was found between HCMV or EBV with any particular histopathological type of apical periodontitis (P > 0.05). HCMV was significantly more frequent in apical periodontitis lesions from HIV‐positive patients (67%) than in lesions from HIV‐negative patients (8%) (P = 0.001). EBV was detected in 44% of lesions from HIV‐positive patients and in 27% of lesions from HIV‐negative patients, but this difference was not significant (P = 0.91).Conclusion:  Our results showed that cells infected by HCMV and EBV can be found in apical periodontitis lesions, with a higher prevalence in HIV‐positive patients. The specific role that these viruses play in the pathogenesis of apical periodontitis remains to be described.