bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Traction forces exerted through N‐cadherin contacts
Authors: Ganz Arthur , Lambert Mireille , Saez Alexandre , Silberzan Pascal , Buguin Axel , Mège René Marc , Ladoux Benoît 
Published: November 2006

Background information. Mechanical forces play an important role in the organization, growth and function of living tissues. The ability of cells to transduce mechanical signals is governed by two types of microscale structures: focal adhesions, which link cells to the extracellular matrix, and adherens junctions, which link adjacent cells through cadherins. Although many studies have examined forces induced by focal adhesions, there is little known about the role of adherens junctions in force‐regulation processes. The present study focuses on the determination of force transduction through cadherins at a single cell level.Results. We characterized for the first time the distribution of forces developed by the cell through cadherin contacts. A N‐cadherin (neural cadherin)–Fc chimaera, which mimicks the cell adhesion molecule N‐cadherin, was immobilized on a μFSA (micro‐force sensor array), comprising a dense array of vertical elastomer pillars, which were used both as a cell culture support for N‐cadherin‐expressing C2 myogenic cells and as detectors for force mapping. We coated the top of the pillars on which cells adhere and recruit adhesion complexes and F‐actin. Individual pillar bending allowed the measurement of forces that mainly developed at the cell edge and directed toward their centre. Similar force distribution and amplitude were detected with an unrelated cell line of neuronal origin. Further comparison with forces applied by cells on pillars coated with fibronectin indicates that mechanical stresses transduced through both types of adhesions were comparable in distribution, orientation and amplitude.Conclusions. These results present a versatile method to measure and map forces exerted by cell—cell adhesion complexes. They show that cells transduce mechanical stress through cadherin contacts which are of the same order as magnitude of those previously characterized for focal adhesions. Altogether, they emphasize the mechanotransduction role of cytoskeleton‐linked adhesion receptors of the cadherin family in tissue cohesion and reshaping.
Identity Management: Is an Identity Card the Solution for Australia?
Authors: Jackson Margaret , Ligertwood Julian 
Published: November 2006

Abstract
This paper explores how an identity card scheme might work in Australia by using the UK Identity Card Scheme as a model. It explores the proposal for a national UK identity card scheme and assesses how it would reduce identity theft and fraud, improve national security, and maintain adequate privacy protection. The paper discusses the legal and social difficulties associated with the introduction of such a national identity card scheme and the issues which arise when a government seeks to broaden the scope of the scheme from identity fraud and security issues to include the efficient and effective delivery of public services. It suggests alternative approaches to ensuring identity management which are consistent with privacy and data protection restraints. This paper should contribute to the development of Federal Government policy in the area of a regulatory and legal framework for identity management.
Restoring the chambo in Southern Malawi: Learning from the past or re-inventing the wheel?
Authors: Hara Mafaniso 
Published: November 2006

Chambo is an important fish to Malawi's economy and to the livelihoods of local people in the southern end of Lake Malawi. Overexploitation of the chambo has been a source of concern since the 1930s. The biological and economic collapse of the fishery in Lake Malombe and the Upper Shire River in the early 1990s, and growing evidence in recent years of its decline in the Southeast Arm of Lake Malawi (the major productive area for the species) have galvanised the Government of Malawi into making an attempt to restore the chambo to former levels of production.
This paper argues that while the proposed solutions for restoring the chambo might be well intentioned, they nevertheless ignore existing knowledge and scholarship about fisheries management in African freshwater lakes gathered over the last six decades. A body of knowledge on the biological and scientific basis for regulating the chambo already exists. The missing link is an understanding and appreciation of the social, economic, political and institutional drivers on exploitation patterns of the chambo. Future management solutions must be based on the collective concerns of all potential users. More specifically, such solutions should be cognisant of local knowledge, fishers' experiences and the way they view and define their problems. If these are disregarded, finding solutions to the enormous challenge of restoring chambo stocks to their former status will be as difficult as grappling in the dark.
Freshwater fishes of Greece: Their biodiversity, fisheries and habitats
Authors: Bobori D. C. , Economidis P. S. 
Published: November 2006

In the present work, we review the current state of knowledge and research trends on freshwater fishes of Greece to assess a) the status of fish populations and their habitats; b) the state and priorities of fisheries science and legislation; c) priority gaps and needs in freshwater fish habitat management; and d) future strategies for freshwater fishes and aquatic resources. Freshwater fish fauna of Greece currently consists of 135 taxa including diadromous and introduced species. The taxonomy of some taxa is unclear. The distribution and origin of freshwater fishes, especially endemics, has been attributed mainly to the geological history of the country.Commercial fishing in inland waters is conducted mainly in 32 natural or artificial water systems. The total annual commercial catch for the 1988–2000 period ranged from 1,950 t in 1988 to 1,810 t in 2000 with a mean annual catch of about 1,500 t. The major part of inland catches comes from lakes, while catches from rivers are of minor importance. Aquaculture contributes greatly to the total production of freshwater fishes. The total annual aquaculture production for the period 1988–2000 ranged from 2,638 t to 3,656 t with a mean annual production of 2,832 t, 1.33 to 2.02 times higher than the traditional inland catches.Due to human activities, Greece has lost 75% of its wetland area since 1900. Today, the pressures upon the surface freshwater resources are moderate with the exception of some systems where human intervention is intense, leading to species extirpations from their type localities. Recently, surface waters have been classified under the auspices of the European Union Water Framework Directive where fishes have an essential role as indicators of the ecological integrity of running waters. Under this concept, there is an increasing emphasis on gathering biological data, to serve a broad-spectrum of environmental objects and plans such as the protection of endangered and threatened species. However, to date effective management and conservation of freshwater fishes and fisheries have not been much considered in the management of freshwaters of Greece. Existing plans for managing aquatic inland resources primarily focus on water usage and do not include specific, enforceable monitoring and management objectives, conservation actions, and control measures for aquatic habitats and fish communities, including endangered and threatened fishes. It is concluded that future efforts need to be directed to severely endangered or nearly extinct species. Furthermore, the creation of GIS-based databases for incorporating all the information on species, habitats and genetic diversity should be addressed under the guiding principle of conserving aquatic biodiversity.
Cox rings and combinatorics
Authors: Berchtold Florian , Hausen Jürgen 
Published: November 2006

Given a variety

X
X

with a finitely generated total coordinate ring, we describe basic geometric properties of

X
X

in terms of certain combinatorial structures living in the divisor class group of

X
X

. For example, we describe the singularities, we calculate the ample cone, and we give simple Fano criteria. As we show by means of several examples, the results allow explicit computations. As immediate applications we obtain an effective version of the Kleiman-Chevalley quasiprojectivity criterion, and the following observation on surfaces: a normal complete surface with finitely generated total coordinate ring is projective if and only if any two of its non-factorial singularities admit a common affine neighbourhood.
Effectiveness of a smoking cessation intervention in older adults
Authors: Tait Robert J. , Hulse Gary K. , Waterreus Anna , Flicker Leon , Lautenschlager Nicola T. , Jamrozik Konrad , Almeida Osvaldo P. 
Published: November 2006

ABSTRACTAims  To: (a) identify characteristics of older smokers considering cessation of smoking; (b) evaluate a cessation intervention plus access to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT); (c) identify predictors of those who successfully quit; and (d) evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in those aged ≥ 75 years.Design  Self‐selection of: (a) a cessation of smoking programme; or (b) ongoing smoking.Setting  Teaching hospital, Perth, Western Australia.Participants  A larger study recruited smokers and never smokers: from this the 215 community‐dwelling smokers (≥ 5 cigarettes/day) aged ≥ 68 years (171 males) were enrolled.Intervention  Brief intervention with telephone support and access to NRT versus no intervention.Measurements  (a) Profile of older adults planning to quit smoking compared with continuing smokers; (b) cessation at 6 months defined as 30‐day point prevalence validated via expired carbon monoxide; and (c) factors predictive of successful cessation.Findings  There were 165 intervention participants. Compared with the 50 continuing smokers, participants in the intervention were younger and had significantly less years of regular smoking, more previous quit attempts and greater nicotine dependence scores. At 6 months, the point prevalence of ex‐smokers was 25% (n = 42) with 20% (n = 33) being abstinent throughout the study. No continuing smoker had ceased smoking. Among the intervention group, logistic regression showed that those who used NRT (OR 4.36), were male (OR 3.17), had higher anxiety (OR 1.67) or rejected ‘more colds and coughs’ as a reason for quitting (OR 2.91) were more likely to be successful quitters. Of those aged ≥ 75 years (n = 77), 25% matched cessation criteria.Conclusions  Older smokers can be engaged successfully in a brief intervention plus NRT as aids to cessation of smoking. The intervention was also effective in the older subgroup of participants. Social factors may provide an additional means of motivating older smokers to quit.
Clinical assessment and molecular analysis of GnRHR and KAL1 genes in males with idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism
Authors: Versiani Beatriz R. , Trarbach Ericka , Koenigkam‐Santos Marcel , Dos Santos Antonio Carlos , Elias Lucila L. K. , Moreira Ayrton C. , Latronico Ana Claudia , De Castro Margaret 
Published: November 2006

SummaryObjective  The pathogenesis of idiopathic hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (IHH) is mostly unclear. We characterized the clinical findings and molecular analysis of GnRHR and KAL1 genes in 26 Brazilian males with IHH with and without hyposmia/anosmia.Design  Clinical assessment was performed for endocrine status, olfactory structure and function, renal lesion, and mirror movement. The diagnosis of Kallmann syndrome (KS) included HH and the clinical complaint of hyposmia/anosmia or decreased olfactory acuity obtained by the Smell Identification Test™ (SIT). We analysed GnRHR and KAL1 genes using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) direct sequencing method.Results  A variable degree of HH was observed, including various clinical abnormalities, such as cryptorchidism, hearing loss, strabismus, cleft lip/palate, high‐arched palate, dental agenesis, psychiatric disorders, learning dysfunction, and bimanual synkinesia. Twenty‐two out of 26 patients with IHH (85%) were classified as KS. Abnormalities of olfactory bulbs/sulci were observed in 79% of KS patients. One‐third of KS patients had renal defects and 45·5% had a positive family history. GnRHR gene sequence analysis showed no mutations. KAL1 sequence analysis identified two novel missense mutations: c.1061A to G in exon 7 (N304S) and c.1583C to A in exon 10 (S478X). We also observed a 14‐bp deletion within exon 11 that caused a premature termination. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)‐Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) database, two previously described polymorphisms (rs808119 and rs809446) were detected.Conclusion  KAL1 mutations accounted for 12% of KS patients. This low prevalence of KAL1 mutations indicates that other genes, such as the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) gene or other as yet undiscovered genes, epigenetic events and/or environmental factors might be involved in the aetiology and phenotypic variability of KS.
Re‐establishment of local populations of vectors of Chagas disease after insecticide spraying
Authors: ZU DOHNA HEINRICH , CECERE MARÍA C. , GÜRTLER RICARDO E. , KITRON URIEL , COHEN JOEL E. 
Published: November 2006

Summary

Prevention of Chagas disease is mainly dependent on control of the insect vectors that transmit infection. Unfortunately, this control is not wholly successful and the vectors have been resurgent in some areas. Where re‐infestation has occurred, it is important to understand the dynamics of the process. We investigated how a metapopulation framework can elucidate key aspects of re‐infestation and thereby contribute to more efficient disease control.
Triatoma infestans, the main vector of Chagas disease, re‐infested sites in three villages in north‐west Argentina after community‐wide insecticide spraying in October 1992. Ten surveys were carried out at 6‐monthly intervals from November 1994 to May 1999.
Comparisons were made of different methods of estimating the sources of dispersal and the number of sites in which bug infestations became established.
The results indicated that (i) the number of dispersing Triatoma infestans from a given site was proportional to the number of bugs found at the site; (ii) there was a 6‐month time lag between detection of a new infestation and dispersal events; (iii) the relationship between infestations and new establishments varied by season.
Three of 156 sites at which bugs were found were estimated to be the source of more than 50% of establishment events. These three sites were the only ones with large, persistent bug populations.
Synthesis and applications. To reduce the risk of human Chagas disease, identifying those few sites infested with large, persistent bug populations and targeting control measures at those sites should greatly improve the efficiency of vector control. The appropriate seasonal timing of vector control could also greatly increase its efficiency. Specific recommendations for the timing of insecticide spraying require further research to establish how the observed temporal pattern of bug establishment is associated with the seasonality of bug dispersal.
Mechanisms driving avoidance of non‐native plants by lizards
Authors: VALENTINE LEONIE E. , ROBERTS BRADY , SCHWARZKOPF LIN 
Published: November 2006

Summary

Introduced plant species modify the environment and alter ecological interactions in communities, often to the detriment of native fauna, but the causes driving negative effects on fauna are rarely examined. We used native Australian scincid lizards Carlia munda and Carlia pectoralis and the introduced weed rubber vine Cryptostegia grandiflora as a model system to determine the possible underlying mechanisms driving habitat selection by native fauna in an environment invaded by weeds.
Lizards were allowed to select between rubber vine and native eucalypt leaf litter in semi‐natural enclosures. To determine the mechanisms of habitat preference, we examined differences in temperature, prey (arthropod) availability and composition, and leaf shape of naturally occurring rubber vine and native vegetation.
Lizards discriminated between leaf litter types: 85% of Carlia pectoralis and 80% of Carlia munda chose native leaf litter over rubber vine, clearly indicating a preference for native habitat.
In the field, rubber vine leaf litter was cooler at the surface than native leaf litter, and during peak lizard activity was below the temperature range of Carlia. Rubber vine also contained significantly fewer arthropod taxa and a significantly different composition of arthropod taxa, with fewer preferred prey items of Carlia than native vegetation.
Finally, rubber vine leaves were significantly shorter than native leaves and the lizards themselves. The shape of rubber vine leaves was different from that of the lizards, potentially making the lizards more obvious on rubber vine litter. This may increase the susceptibility of the lizards to detection by predators.
Synthesis and applications. In comparison with native habitat, rubber vine provided a suboptimal environment for litter‐dwelling lizards because of the lower ambient temperatures, reduced availability of prey and a reduction in camouflage from predators (dissimilar leaf and lizard shapes). Our study has identified three possible mechanisms by which an introduced plant species can alter the availability of resources in an environment, making it less attractive to native fauna. Our results highlight the importance of understanding how alien plants alter the environment and further emphasize the critical need for management of plants that replace native habitat with a suboptimal environment.
Peptide anchoring spore coat assembly to the outer forespore membrane in Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Ramamurthi Kumaran S. , Clapham Katie Rose , Losick Richard 
Published: November 2006

SummarySpore formation in Bacillus subtilis involves the formation of a thick, proteinaceous shell or coat that is assembled around a specialized membrane known as the outer forespore membrane. Here we present evidence that the assembling coat is tethered to the outer forespore membrane by a 26‐amino‐acid peptide called SpoVM, which is believed to form an amphipathic helix. We show that proper localization of SpoVM is dependent on SpoIVA, a morphogenetic protein that forms the basement layer of the spore coat, and conversely, that proper localization of SpoIVA is dependent on SpoVM. Genetic, biochemical and cytological evidence indicates that this mutual dependence is mediated in part by contact between an amino acid side‐chain located near the extreme C‐terminus of SpoIVA and an amino acid side‐chain on the hydrophilic face of the SpoVM helix. Evidence is also presented that SpoVM adheres to the outer forespore membrane via hydrophobic, amino acid side‐chains on the hydrophobic face of the helix. The results suggest that the SpoVM helix is oriented parallel to the membrane with the hydrophobic face buried in the lipid bilayer.
Dimeric structure of the cell shape protein MreC and its functional implications
Authors: Van Den Ent Fusinita , Leaver Mark , Bendezu Felipe , Errington Jeff , De Boer Piet , Löwe Jan 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThe bacterial actin homologue MreB forms helical filaments in the cytoplasm of rod‐shaped bacteria where it helps maintain the shape of the cell. MreB is co‐transcribed with mreC that encodes a bitopic membrane protein with a major periplasmic domain. Like MreB, MreC is localized in a helical pattern and might be involved in the spatial organization of the peptidoglycan synthesis machinery. Here, we present the structure of the major, periplasmic part of MreC from Listeria monocytogenes at 2.5 Å resolution. MreC forms a dimer through an intimate contact along an N‐terminal α‐helix that connects the transmembrane region with two C‐terminal β‐domains. The translational relationship between the molecules enables, in principle, filament formation. One of the β‐domains shows structural similarity to the chymotrypsin family of proteins and possesses a highly conserved Thr Ser dipeptide. Unexpectedly, mutagenesis studies show that the dipeptide is dispensable for maintaining cell shape and viability in both Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. Bacterial two‐hybrid experiments reveal that MreC interacts with high‐molecular‐weight penicillin‐binding proteins (PBPs), rather than with low‐molecular‐weight endo‐ and carboxypeptidases, indicating that MreC might act as a scaffold to which the murein synthases are recruited in order to spatially organize the synthesis of new cell wall material. Deletion analyses indicate which domains of B. subtilis MreC are required for interaction with MreD as well as with the PBPs.
Hajdu‐Cheney syndrome: Report of a family and a short literature review
Authors: Marik I , Kuklik M , Zemkowa D , Kozlowski K 
Published: November 2006

SummaryWe report three members of an Armenian family with Hajdu‐Cheney syndrome. The history suggested that five other members of the family were also probably affected. This disorder is important for the radiologist because distinctive radiographic findings make the diagnosis possible before clinical signs and symptoms are fully developed. Additionally, radiographic examination is essential in all patients suspected of Hajdu‐Cheney syndrome for confirmation of the clinical diagnosis. Radiographic examination also detects complications of the syndrome not evident on clinical examination.
Usefulness of scintimammography as an adjunct to mammography and ultrasound in the diagnosis of breast diseases
Authors: Gupta R , Collier D , Abdeen S , Roberts L , Hussein AYT , Al‐Bader I , Syed GM 
Published: November 2006

SummaryThis study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of 99mtechnetium methoxyisobutylisonitrile scintimammography (SM) and combined use of mammography and ultrasound in the detection of the breast lesions in the symptomatic breast. Histopathological findings were the gold standard. Eighty patients with symptomatic breasts underwent mammography and/or ultrasound breast followed by SM. In 25 patients there were 27 lesions that were malignant and 55 patients had 65 lesions that were benign. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of SM were found to be 92, 72, 58, 96 and 78%, respectively, as compared with the combined use of mammography and ultrasound, which showed these parameters to be 89, 94, 86, 95 and 92%, respectively. In this study, SM showed slightly better sensitivity than combined mammography and ultrasound, whereas the specificity was clearly shown as higher in the latter.