bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
UGT1A6 genotype‐related pharmacokinetics of deferiprone (L1) in healthy volunteers
Authors: Limenta Lie Michael George , Jirasomprasert Totsapol , Tankanitlert Jeeranut , Svasti Saovaros , Wilairat Prapin , Chantharaksri Udom , Fucharoen Suthat , Morales Noppawan Phumala 
Published: March 2008

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT• UGT1A6 has been proposed as the predominant isoform responsible for the glucuronidation of deferiprone.• UGT1A6*2allele has been associated with the altered enzyme activity.WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS• There is no statistically significant effect ofUGT1A6genotype on the single‐dose pharmacokinetics of deferiprone in healthy volunteers.• Gender influences serum pharmacokinetics of deferiprone.• Body iron stores reflected by serum ferritin levels may have an influence on the extent of extravascular deferiprone distribution.AIMSTo examine the effects ofUGT1A6polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of deferiprone in healthy volunteers.METHODSTwenty‐two healthy volunteers were enrolled and grouped according toUGT1A6genotype. After an overnight fast, the subjects received a single oral dose of 25 mg kg−1deferiprone. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min after dosing. Urine output was collected at 0, 0–2, 2–4, 4–8, 8–12 and 12–24 h. Deferiprone (L1) and deferiprone‐glucuronide (L1G) concentrations in serum and urine were determined using a validated high‐performance liquid chromatography method.UGT1A6genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.RESULTSNo statistically significant differences in any pharmacokinetic parameters of either deferiprone or deferiprone‐glucuronide among the genotype groups were noted. Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in 24‐h urinary deferiprone and deferiprone‐glucuronide excretion among the genotype groups. Significant differences between men and women were found in AUC0–∞,Vd/F, and CL/Fof deferiprone. Gender differences in 24‐h urinary deferiprone and its metabolite excretion, however, failed to reach statistical significance. TheVd/Fof deferiprone was found to correlate significantly with serum ferritin (rs = 0.665;P = 0.001).CONCLUSIONThe studied single nucleotide polymorphisms inUGT1A6do not appear to exert statistically significant effects on the single‐dose pharmacokinetics of deferiprone. Gender appears to influence the serum pharmacokinetics of deferiprone, but not urinary excretion of deferiprone and its metabolite. Body iron stores may have an influence on the extent of extravascular deferiprone distribution.
Direct and indirect effects of soil structure on the density of an antlion larva in a tropical dry forest
Authors: FARJI‐BRENER ALEJANDRO G. , CARVAJAL DORIAN , GEI MARÍA GABRIELA , OLANO JUANITA , SÁNCHEZ JUAN DAVID 
Published: March 2008

Abstract 1. We used structural equation models to discriminate direct and indirect effects of soil structure on the abundance of the antlion Myrmeleon crudelis, a neuropteran larva that digs conical pits in soil to capture small arthropods. We proposed that soil structure may modify antlion density indirectly through its influence on tree cover, which in turn directly alters the amount of sun and rain that can reach the forest floor and the amount of litter fall.2. The proportion of finer soils positively affected antlion density directly, but negatively tree cover. Tree cover positively affected both the amount of leaf litter and antlion density. Leaf litter negatively affected antlion density. The indirect effects of soils varied in strength and sign depending on whether trees are considered shelters against sun and rain, or leaf litter sources. The relative importance of these effects might also vary between years and seasons.3. Antlions may select patches of finer soils not only because they are easy substrates in which to build pits, but also for their indirect benefit as sites with low leaf litter, illustrating how indirect interactions may affect the local abundance of semi‐sedentary insects.
Intraguild predation of the aphid pathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis by the invasive coccinellid Harmonia axyridis
Authors: ROY H. E. , BAVERSTOCK J. , WARE R. L. , CLARK S. J. , MAJERUS M. E. N. , BAVERSTOCK K. E. , PELL J. K. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract 1. The ladybird Harmonia axyridis is an invasive alien species in many countries and is predicted to have a negative impact on native biodiversity. However, little is known on the status of this aphidophage as an intraguild predator of natural enemies of aphids such as insect‐pathogenic fungi.2. The study assessed the predation of the aphid‐specific pathogenic fungus Pandora neoaphidis by adult and larval H. axyridis collected from the U.K. (an invasive population) and Japan (a native population) relative to that of the ladybird Coccinella septempunctata (native to the U.K.) and the non‐U.K. C. septempunctata subspecies brucki that were either starved or unstarved.3. Overall, predation of uninfected aphids was greater than infected aphids and, when given a choice, a preference for aphids was shown. However, the extent of this preference was dependent on the species and origin of the coccinellid. Harmonia axyridis (U.K.) consumed the greatest quantity of fungal cadavers and showed little preference for uninfected aphids over infected aphids. In contrast, C. septempunctata rarely consumed infected aphids. Life stage had no direct effects on predation but starved coccinellids consumed more uninfected aphids than infected aphids.4. Harmonia axyridis (U.K.) is a stronger intraguild predator of P. neoaphidis cadavers than the native species C. septempunctata and, therefore, may have an impact on the occurrence and persistence of P. neoaphidis. The differences in intraguild predation by H. axyridis collected in the U.K. and those from Japan suggests that individuals that invaded the U.K. could have a different genetic profile to those in its native range.
The rapid effects of a whole‐lake reduction of coarse woody debris on fish and benthic macroinvertebrates
Authors: HELMUS MATTHEW R. , SASS GREG G. 
Published: March 2008

Summary1. Ecosystems can enhance the biodiversity of adjacent ecosystems through subsidies of prey, nutrients and also habitat. For example, trees can fall into aquatic ecosystems and act as a subsidy that increases aquatic habitat heterogeneity. This habitat subsidy is vulnerable in lakes where anthropogenic development of shorelines coincides with a thinning of riparian forests and the removal of these dead trees (termed coarse woody debris: CWD). How the disruption of this subsidy affects lake ecosystems is not well understood.2. We performed a whole ecosystem experiment on Little Rock Lake, a small (18 ha), undeveloped, and unfished lake in Vilas County, WI, U.S.A., that is divided into two similar‐sized basins by a double poly‐vinyl chloride curtain that prevents both fish and water exchange between basins. In 2002, we removed about 70% of the littoral CWD in the treatment basin, while the reference basin was left unaltered. We tested for changes in both fish and benthic macroinvertebrate community composition in the two years following the CWD reduction.3. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) was the most abundant fish species in the lake prior to our experiment, but declined to very low densities in the treatment basin after manipulation. We found no evidence of an effect on macroinvertebrates – the treatment basin’s macroinvertebrate community composition, diversity and density did not change relative to the reference basin.4. Our results indicate that different trophic groups may have differential responses to the loss of a habitat subsidy, even if anthropogenic effects on that subsidy are severe. In the case of Little Rock Lake, fish community responses were evident on a short‐time scale, whereas the macroinvertebrate community did not rapidly change following CWD reduction.
Ski tourism affects habitat use and evokes a physiological stress response in capercaillie Tetrao urogallus: a new methodological approach
Authors: Thiel Dominik , Jenni‐Eiermann Susanne , Braunisch Veronika , Palme Rupert , Jenni Lukas 
Published: March 2008

Summary

Human outdoor recreational activities are increasing and have a significant impact on wildlife. There are few methods suitable for investigating the response of rare and endangered species to human recreational activities, although the impact can be assessed at various scales by measuring both physiological and behavioural responses to disturbance.
Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus are suffering strong population declines throughout central Europe. We examined the effects of ski tourism on capercaillie habitat use and adrenocortical activity, measured non‐invasively in droppings.
During three winters, 2003–06, we radio‐tracked 13 capercaillie. In the southern Black Forest in Germany, we sampled 396 droppings of these and additional individuals before and after the start of the ski season. We tested whether the intensity of human winter recreational activities affected home range location and habitat use, and we identified those factors influencing the concentration of corticosterone metabolites (CM) in droppings.
Capercaillie used habitats subject to ski tourism. Although the latter did not affect home range location, capercaillie preferred undisturbed forests within their home ranges and avoided areas with high recreation intensity in the ski season. Faecal CM levels of individuals in areas with low recreation intensity were significantly lower than those in areas with moderate or high recreation intensity during the entire study period.
We conclude that ski tourism affects both habitat use and endocrine status in capercaillie, with potential negative consequences on body condition and overall fitness.
Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates the relevance of studying wildlife responses at various temporal and spatial scales, and the value of using multiple methods applied to the same individuals to monitor the impact of human recreational activities on a free‐ranging species. In order to protect capercaillie populations, we recommend that managers keep forests inhabited by capercaillie free from tourism infrastructure and retain undisturbed forest patches within skiing areas.
AtMSH5 partners AtMSH4 in the class I meiotic crossover pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana, but is not required for synapsis
Authors: Higgins James D. , Vignard Julien , Mercier Raphael , Pugh Alice G. , Franklin F. Chris H. , Jones Gareth H. 
Published: March 2008

Summary MSH5, a meiosis‐specific member of the MutS‐homologue family of genes, is required for normal levels of recombination in budding yeast, mouse and Caenorhabditis elegans. In this paper we report the identification and characterization of the Arabidopsis homologue of MSH5 (AtMSH5). Transcripts of AtMSH5 are specific to reproductive tissues, and immunofluorescence studies indicate that expression of the protein is abundant during prophase I of meiosis. In a T‐DNA tagged insertional mutant (Atmsh5‐1), recombination is reduced to about 13% of wild‐type levels. The residual chiasmata are randomly distributed between cells and chromosomes. These data provide further evidence for at least two pathways of meiotic recombination in Arabidopsis and indicate that AtMSH5 protein is required for the formation of class I interference‐sensitive crossovers. Localization of AtMSH5 to meiotic chromosomes occurs at leptotene and is dependent on DNA double‐strand break formation and strand exchange. Localization of AtMSH5 to the chromatin at mid‐prophase I is dependent on expression of AtMSH4. At late zygotene/early pachytene a proportion of AtMSH5 foci co‐localize with AtMLH1 which marks crossover‐designated sites. Chromosome synapsis appears to proceed normally, without significant delay, in Atmsh5‐1 but the pachytene stage is extended by several hours, indicative of the operation of a surveillance system that monitors the progression of prophase I.
Mitochondrial respiratory pathways modulate nitrate sensing and nitrogen‐dependent regulation of plant architecture in Nicotiana sylvestris
Authors: Pellny Till K. , Van Aken Olivier , Dutilleul Christelle , Wolff Tonja , Groten Karin , Bor Melike , De Paepe Rosine , Reyss Agnès , Van Breusegem Frank , Noctor Graham , Foyer Christine H. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryMitochondrial electron transport pathways exert effects on carbon–nitrogen (C/N) relationships. To examine whether mitochondria–N interactions also influence plant growth and development, we explored the responses of roots and shoots to external N supply in wild‐type (WT) Nicotiana sylvestris and the cytoplasmic male sterile II (CMSII) mutant, which has a N‐rich phenotype. Root architecture in N. sylvestris seedlings showed classic responses to nitrate and sucrose availability. In contrast, CMSII showed an altered ‘nitrate‐sensing’ phenotype with decreased sensitivity to C and N metabolites. The WT growth phenotype was restored in CMSII seedling roots by high nitrate plus sugars and in shoots by gibberellic acid (GA). Genome‐wide cDNA‐amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of leaves from mature plants revealed that only a small subset of transcripts was altered in CMSII. Tissue abscisic acid content was similar in CMSII and WT roots and shoots, and growth responses to zeatin were comparable. However, the abundance of key transcripts associated with GA synthesis was modified both by the availability of N and by the CMSII mutation. The CMSII mutant maintained a much higher shoot/root ratio at low N than WT, whereas no difference was observed at high N. Shoot/root ratios were strikingly correlated with root amines/nitrate ratios, values of <1 being characteristic of high N status. We propose a model in which the amine/nitrate ratio interacts with GA signalling and respiratory pathways to regulate the partitioning of biomass between shoots and roots.
Stable prevalence of asthma symptoms in school‐aged children in the Torres Strait region
Authors: VALERY Patricia C. , CHANG Anne B. , MASTERS Ian B. , STIRLING Janelle , LAIFOO Yancy , TWIST Aletia 
Published: March 2008

Background and objective:  To (i) determine if the prevalence of asthma has altered in two previously studied communities and (ii) obtain baseline measures in two further communities in the Torres Strait region, Australia.Methods:  A population‐based cross‐sectional study of school‐aged children was conducted. Five schools in four communities were selected: 361 children aged 5–17 years participated. The study used the same epidemiological tool that had been utilized to measure asthma prevalence (locally adapted International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood questionnaire).Results:  The overall response rate was 30%; response rates in individual communities ranged from 23% to 100%. The prevalence of self‐reported wheezing in the last 12 months decreased from 10.7% to 6.6% (P = 0.109) on Thursday Island and from 3.1% to zero (P = 0.358) on Warraber Island. The percentage of children with asthma symptoms was lower in this current study but changes were not statistically significant. Overall self‐reported prevalence of ever wheezing was 12.5%; 5.4% reported wheezing in the previous 12 months, 5.9% reported wheezing after exercise and 12.2% reported ever having asthma. There was considerable inter‐community variation in the prevalence of symptoms.Conclusions:  Asthma prevalence in school‐aged children living in the Torres Strait region remains high but, as in mainstream Australian children, the prevalence is stable.
Magnetic resonance imaging in rectal cancer downstaged using neoadjuvant chemoradiation: accuracy of prediction of tumour stage and circumferential resection margin status
Authors: Kulkarni T. , Gollins S. , Maw A. , Hobson P. , Byrne R. , Widdowson D. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractObjective  The aim was to examine the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement, T‐ and N‐stage in patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the rectum, who had undergone long‐course downstaging chemoradiation (CRT).Method  Patients with rectal cancer were selected for long‐course downstaging CRT if their tumour was considered to threaten (≤1 mm) or involve the CRM on MRI. Eighty such patients had a repeat MRI at a median of 6 weeks post‐CRT followed by surgical excision soon thereafter. The findings on the post‐CRT MRI were compared with histological examination of the surgical specimen.Results  For CRM involvement, post‐CRT restaging MRI had an accuracy of 81% (65/80) a sensitivity of 54% (7/13), a specificity of 87% (58/67), a positive predictive value of 44% (7/16) and a negative predictive value of 91% (58/64). Accuracy for T‐ and N‐staging was 43% (34/80) and 78% (62/80), respectively. 38% of T‐stages were overstaged and 20% understaged. 4% of N‐stages were overstaged and 19% understaged. The 13 patients with histological positive CRM had worse clinical outcomes than the 67 patients with negative CRM in terms of disease‐free survival (relative risk of reduced DFS 4.6, P = 0.001) and overall survival (relative risk of death 3.6, P = 0.016).Conclusion  Magnetic resonance imaging has good specificity and negative predictive value for predicting an uninvolved CRM post downstaging CRT in locally advanced rectal cancer although sensitivity and positive predictive value for an involved CRM were unsatisfactory. The shortcomings of MRI stem from poor differentiation of viable tumour from posttreatment changes and inability to identify small nodal and tumour deposits. Clinical correlates in this group of patients have confirmed the importance of achieving a clear CRM at surgery.
The Intervening Role of Relational Aggression between Psychological Control and Friendship Quality
Authors: Soenens Bart , Vansteenkiste Maarten , Goossens Luc , Duriez Bart , Niemiec Christopher P. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis study investigated the associations among psychologically controlling parenting, relational aggression, friendship quality, and loneliness during adolescence. A model was proposed in which relational aggression plays an intervening role in the relations between both parental psychological control and friendship outcomes. In a sample comprised of middle adolescents and their parents, process analyses revealed that psychological control (indexed by parent and adolescent reports) positively predicted adolescents' self‐reported relational aggression that, in turn, negatively predicted friendship quality and positively predicted loneliness. The model held for both mothers and fathers and was not moderated by adolescent gender. The discussion focuses on possible mechanisms explaining the relations among psychological control, relational aggression, and friendship outcomes.
An Approach for the Classification of Urban Building Structures Based on Discriminant Analysis Techniques
Authors: Steiniger Stefan , Lange Tilman , Burghardt Dirk , Weibel Robert 
Published: March 2008

AbstractRecognition of urban structures is of interest in cartography and urban modelling. While a broad range of typologies of urban patterns have been published in the last century, relatively little research on the automated recognition of such structures exists. This work presents a sample‐based approach for the recognition of five types of urban structures: (1) inner city areas, (2) industrial and commercial areas, (3) urban areas, (4) suburban areas and (5) rural areas. The classification approach is based only on the characterisation of building geometries with morphological measures derived from perceptual principles of Gestalt psychology. Thereby, size, shape and density of buildings are evaluated. After defining the research questions we develop the classification methodology and evaluate the approach with respect to several aspects. The experiments focus on the impact of different classification algorithms, correlations and contributions of measures, parameterisation of buffer‐based indices, and mode filtering. In addition to that, we investigate the influence of scale and regional factors. The results show that the chosen approach is generally successful. It turns out that scale, algorithm parameterisation, and regional heterogeneity of building structures substantially influence the classification performance.
Defining a Digital Earth System
Authors: Grossner Karl E. , Goodchild Michael F , Clarke Keith C. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn a 1998 speech before the California Science Center in Los Angeles, then US Vice‐President Al Gore called for a global undertaking to build a multi‐faceted computing system for education and research, which he termed “Digital Earth.” The vision was that of a system providing access to what is known about the planet and its inhabitants’ activities – currently and for any time in history – via responses to queries and exploratory tools. Furthermore, it would accommodate modeling extensions for predicting future conditions. Organized efforts towards realizing that vision have diminished significantly since 2001, but progress on key requisites has been made. As the 10 year anniversary of that influential speech approaches, we re‐examine it from the perspective of a systematic software design process and find the envisioned system to be in many respects inclusive of concepts of distributed geolibraries and digital atlases. A preliminary definition for a particular digital earth system as: “a comprehensive, distributed geographic information and knowledge organization system,” is offered and discussed. We suggest that resumption of earlier design and focused research efforts can and should be undertaken, and may prove a worthwhile “Grand Challenge” for the GIScience community.
Polymorphisms of the Tumor Suppressor GeneLSAMPare Associated with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Wang L. , Hauser E. R. , Shah S. H. , Seo D. , Sivashanmugam P. , Exum S. T. , Gregory S. G. , Granger C. B. , Haines J. L. , Jones C. J. H. , Crossman D. , Haynes C. , Kraus W. E. , Freedman N. J. , Pericak‐Vance M. A. , Goldschmidt‐Clermont P. J. , Vance J. M. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryPrevious association mapping on chromosome 3q13‐21 detected evidence for association at the limbic system‐associated membrane protein (LSAMP) gene in individuals with late‐onset coronary artery disease (CAD).LSAMPhas never been implicated in the pathogenesis of CAD. We sought to thoroughly characterize the association and the gene. Non‐redundant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the gene were examined in an initial dataset (168 cases with late‐onset CAD, 149 controls). Stratification analysis on left main CAD (N = 102) revealed stronger association, which was further validated in a validation dataset (141 cases with left main CAD, 215 controls), a third control dataset (N = 255), and a family‐based dataset (N = 2954). A haplotype residing in a novel alternative transcript of theLSAMPgene was significant in all independent case‐control datasets (p = 0.0001 to 0.0205) and highly significant in the joint analysis (p = 0.00004). Lower expression of the novel alternative transcript was associated with the risk haplotype (p = 0.0002) and atherosclerosis burden in human aortas (p = 0.0001). Furthermore, silencingLSAMPexpression in human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) substantially augmented SMC proliferation (p<0.01). Therefore, the risk conferred by theLSAMPhaplotype appears to be mediated byLSAMPdown‐regulation, which may promote SMC proliferation in the arterial wall and progression of atherosclerosis.