bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Severe aseptic inflammation caused by long distance running (246 km) does not increase procalcitonin
Authors: Papassotiriou I. , Alexiou V. G. , Tsironi M. , Skenderi K. , Spanos A. , Falagas M. E. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  The Spartathlon ultra distance running race (246 kilometres) is an exhausting physical exercise leading to a state of systemic inflammation associated with dramatic elevation of interleukin‐6 and acute‐phase reactants to levels seen only in critically ill or patients near death. We sought to study the effect of this severe inflammatory response on the levels of serum procalcitonin.Materials and methods  Fifteen healthy endurance‐trained runners who participated in the 2006 Spartathlon were studied. Blood samples were taken the day before the race, within 15min after the end of the race and 48 h after the end of the race. Serum interleukin‐6, serum amyloid A protein, C‐reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor‐alpha and procalcitonin concentrations were determined.Results  Serum interleukin‐6, serum amyloid A protein and C‐reactive protein were dramatically increased after the end of the race (150‐, 116‐ and 10 470‐ fold increase of the mean values, respectively). Procalcitonin levels remained within normal range (mean ± standard error of mean, 0·27 ± 0·02 µg L−1, 0·26 ± 0·02 µg L−1 and 0·27 ± 0·02 µg L−1 before, at the end, and 48 h after the race, respectively). Tumour necrosis factor‐alpha measurements revealed no significant changes.Conclusions  This study provides strong evidence that Spartathlon, a prolonged endurance exercise resulting in severe stimulation of inflammatory mediators followed by muscle and liver damage, does not induce procalcitonin secretion. The findings cannot directly be applied to other causes of aseptic inflammation.
Metabolic and anti‐inflammatory benefits of eccentric endurance exercise – a pilot study
Authors: Drexel H. , Saely C. H. , Langer P. , Loruenser G. , Marte T. , Risch L. , Hoefle G. , Aczel S. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Eccentric endurance exercise (e.g. hiking downwards) is less strenuous than concentric exercise (e.g. hiking upwards) but its potential to reduce cardiovascular risk is unknown.Materials and methods  We randomly allocated 45 healthy sedentary individuals (16 men and 29 women, mean age 48 years) to one of two groups, one beginning with two months of hiking upwards, the other with two months of hiking downwards the same route, with a crossover for a further two months. For the opposite way, a cable car was used where compliance was recorded electronically. The difference in altitude was 540 metres; the distance was covered three to five times a week. Fasting and postprandial metabolic profiles were obtained at baseline and after the two month periods of eccentric and concentric exercise, respectively.Results  Forty‐two of the 45 participants completed the study; the compliance rate was therefore 93%. Compared with baseline, eccentric exercise lowered total cholesterol (by 4·1%; P = 0·026), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (by 8·4%, P = 0·001), Apolipoprotein B/Apolipoprotein A1 ratio (by 10·9%, P < 0·001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance scores (by 26·2%, P = 0·017) and C‐reactive protein (by 30·0%; P = 0·007); the magnitude of these changes was comparable to that of concentric exercise. Eccentric exercise improved glucose tolerance (by 6·2%, P = 0·023), whereas concentric exercise improved triglyceride tolerance (by 14·9%, P = 0·022).Conclusions  Eccentric endurance exercise is a promising new exercise modality with favourable metabolic and anti‐inflammatory effects and is well applicable to sedentary individuals.
The changes in the T‐lymphocyte subsets in a population of Turkish children with puberty gingivitis
Authors: DEMIR TURGUT , ORBAK RECEP , TEZEL ADNAN , ÇANAKÇ VAROL , KAYA HASAN 
Published: March 2008

Objective.  The aim of the study was to investigate the number of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, analyse subjects with gingivitis and those without, and determine the role of T lymphocytes in the pathobiology of puberty gingivitis.Material and methods.  Fifty individuals with and without puberty gingivitis were recruited for this study. The CD4+ and CD8+ T‐lymphocyte counts were determined using flow cytometry on the biopsy samples, and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was calculated. At the same time, periodontal index scores were recorded to assess the periodontal status. Acquired data were analysed statistically using a paired t‐test to compare laboratory values obtained before and after the treatment in individuals with puberty gingivitis and disease‐free individuals. In addition, Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relation between laboratory values and clinical measurements.Results.  The CD4+/CD8 ratio in gingival tissues obtained from test group was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that found in the gingival tissue obtained from control group. We found that the CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte counts continued to increase significantly (P < 0.001) and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio continued to drop significantly (P < 0.05) after treatment in test group.Conclusions.  T lymphocytes could play a significant role in the pathobiology of puberty gingivitis
Restoration of a ponderosa pine forest increases soil CO2efflux more than either water or nitrogen additions
Authors: Selmants Paul C , Hart Stephen C , Boyle Sarah I , Gehring Catherine A , Hungate Bruce A 
Published: March 2008

SummaryEcological restoration often involves returning ecosystem structure to some predisturbance reference state, but ecosystem function must also recover if restoration efforts are to be self‐sustaining over the long term. In the south‐western United States, ponderosa pine forest structure was altered by disruption of the fire regime following Euro‐American settlement. Forest structure is now being restored to presettlement conditions through the application of thinning and burning treatments. However, the effects of these treatments on below‐ground ecosystem processes remain unclear.We conducted a water and nitrogen (N) addition experiment in adjacent restored and unrestored ponderosa pine stands and compared soil CO2efflux in response to these treatments over a 13‐month period. Our goals were to (i) quantify water and N limitation to below‐ground carbon (C) cycling in contemporary high‐density ponderosa pine forests; and (ii) determine if restoration alleviates water and N limitations.Restoration thinning and burning increased soil CO2efflux, along with surface soil water content, temperature and herbaceous fine root biomass, while total fine root biomass decreased as a result of restoration.Water and N additions increased C flux from soils to a similar degree in both restored and unrestored ponderosa pine stands, but the increase was relatively small when compared to that stimulated by restoration.Synthesis and applications.An understanding of how ecosystem processes respond to treatments designed to restore ecosystem structure is critical in ensuring the long‐term success of restoration efforts. Here we show that, although water and N stimulate C flux from soils in these semi‐arid forests, restoration treatments have a much greater effect on soil C balance than increased water and N availability by themselves. This suggests that increased quality of C inputs from a recovering understorey herbaceous community is a key component of restoring ecosystem function (e.g. below‐ground C cycling) in south‐western ponderosa pine forests.
Fitness costs associated with three mutant acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase alleles endowing herbicide resistance in black‐grass Alopecurus myosuroides
Authors: Menchari Y , Chauvel B , Darmency H , Délye C 
Published: March 2008

Summary

Pleiotropic effects associated with genes endowing resistance to herbicides are generally predicted to reduce plant fitness. Quantifying these effects is necessary to develop management strategies against herbicide‐resistant weeds. We assessed the pleiotropic effects associated with three mutant alleles of the herbicide target enzyme acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) on plant growth and seed production in black‐grass Alopecurus myosuroides.
In each of two field experiments, black‐grass populations segregating for Leu‐1781 (five populations), Asn‐2041 (three populations) or Gly‐2078 (two populations) ACCase were produced to obtain several distinct, homogenized genetic backgrounds and to permit reliable comparisons among wild‐type, heterozygous and homozygous mutant ACCase plants grown in competition with a wheat crop.
No significant differences from wild‐type plants in vegetative biomass, height and seed production were observed in Leu‐1781 or Asn‐2041 ACCase plants.
Over both experiments, homozygous Gly‐2078 ACCase plants displayed a significant reduction in biomass (42%), height (6%) and seed production (36%). Reduction varied with the segregating population and between field experiments.
Synthesis and applications. Our work illustrates the variation in fitness cost depending on the resistance gene, the plant genetic background and the environment. This underlines the necessity to identify the resistance gene(s) present in a weed population before designing resistance‐management strategies. Competitive crops should be effective against Gly‐2078 ACCase plants. The effect of resistant ACCase alleles on seed survival and germination needs to be studied in order to develop cultural practices creating or maximizing fitness costs in resistant plants. However, the variation of fitness cost with the environment and the weed population, as well as the likely absence of fitness cost associated with resistance genes such as Leu‐1781 ACCase, renders the success of specific cultural control practices uncertain. A solution could be a weed control programme maximizing the diversity of cultural practices and including anti‐resistance cultural practices to avoid or reduce selection for resistant ACCase alleles.
Dispersal, disturbance and the contrasting biogeographies of New Zealand’s diadromous and non‐diadromous fish species
Authors: Leathwick J. R. , Elith J. , Chadderton W. L. , Rowe D. , Hastie T. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractAim  To examine the relationship between diadromy and dispersal ability in New Zealand’s freshwater fish fauna, and how this affects the current environmental and geographic distributions of both diadromous and non‐diadromous species.Location  New Zealand.Methods  Capture data for 15 diadromous and 15 non‐diadromous fish species from 13,369 sites throughout New Zealand were analysed to establish features of their geographic ranges. Statistical models were used to determine the main environmental correlates of species’ distributions, and to establish the environmental conditions preferred by each species. Environmental predictors, chosen for their functional relevance, were derived from an extensive GIS database describing New Zealand’s river and stream network.Results  In terms of geography, most diadromous species occur in a scattered fashion throughout extensive geographic ranges, and occupy large numbers of catchments of widely varying size. By contrast, most non‐diadromous species show relatively high levels of occupancy of smaller geographic ranges, and most are restricted to a few large catchments, particularly in the eastern South Island. In terms of environment, there is marked separation of diadromous from non‐diadromous species, with diadromous species generally caught most frequently in low‐gradient coastal rivers and streams with warm, maritime climates. With a few notable exceptions, most diadromous species have lower occurrence in river segments that are located above obstacles to upstream migration. Non‐diadromous species are usually caught in inland rivers and streams with cool, strongly seasonal climates, typified by a low frequency of high‐intensity rainfall events.Main conclusions  We interpret the contrasting biogeographies of New Zealand’s diadromous and non‐diadromous species as reflecting interaction between their marked differences in dispersal ability and a landscape that is subject to recurrent, often large‐scale, natural disturbance. While both groups are likely to be equally susceptible to local, disturbance‐driven extinction, the much greater dispersal ability of diadromous species has allowed them to persist over wide geographic ranges. By contrast, the distributions of most non‐diadromous species are concentrated in a few large catchments, mostly in regions where less intense natural disturbance regimes are likely to have favoured their survival.
Endogenous sex hormones and C‐reactive protein in healthy postmenopausal women
Authors: Störk S. , Bots M. L. , Grobbee D. E. , Van Der Schouw Y. T. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract.Background.  Oral oestrogen replacement therapy increases levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP). CRP is an established strong predictor of cardiovascular events. It is unknown whether endogenous oestrogen levels are associated with CRP. We therefore studied the relationship between endogenous sex hormones and CRP in healthy postmenopausal women emphasizing the role of body composition as peripheral fat is both a main source of oestrogen production after menopause and an endocrine tissue with inflammatory activities.Subjects and methods.  The study population comprised 889 women participating in the PROSPECT study, an ongoing population‐based cohort study. Information on risk factors was collected by questionnaires and clinical examination. Endogenous sex hormone levels and CRP were measured with double antibody radio immuno assay (RIA) from fasting plasma samples. In this cross‐sectional study, associations between risk factors and lnCRP were studied using linear regression models.Results.  Increases in oestrone and free oestradiol levels and the free androgen index were related to an increase in lnCRP of 1.19, 1.23 and 1.21 mg dL−1 respectively. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and physical activity were strongly related to CRP levels, independent of age and other cardiovascular risk factors. Levels of all sex steroids but dehydroepiandrostenedione decreased with age. In age‐adjusted analyses, an increase in waist circumference or BMI by one quartile was associated with a 1.28‐fold and 1.26‐fold increase in CRP. The relationship between endogenous hormones and CRP was modestly attenuated but remained highly significant after adjustment for body composition, physical activity and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors.Conclusions.  Our findings show that in postmenopausal women high levels of endogenous oestrogenic and androgenic sex steroids coincide with high CRP levels. This was only explained in part by markers of body composition or intra‐abdominal fat.
A club‐shaped hair found on the first‐instar nymphs of Schistocerca gregaria
Authors: BERNAYS E. A. , COOK A. G. , PADGHAM D. E. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA receptor found mainly on the antero‐dorsal regions of the first‐instar nymph of Schistocerca gregaria is described. The fine structure of the sensillum and its associated cells is described and its possible functions discussed in relation to its unusual structure.
The orientation of walking honeybees in odour fields with small concentration gradients
Authors: KRAMER ERNST 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe behaviour of walking honeybees in small gradient odour fields was investigated by means of a simulation technique. The bee was kept in one place by a locomotion compensator (‘running sphere’). This compensator allowed for a precise reconstruction of the bee's actual locomotion on the sphere, and presented the bee with a stimulating odour whose concentration was controlled by feedback from the reconstructed locomotion. This rendered possible the application of well‐defined odour fields and revealed that: (1) honeybees are capable of finding odour sources in the absence of optical cues and with concentration gradients too small to allow tropotactic or klinotactic orientation; (2) bees are capable of memorizing odour concentrations with a high degree of accuracy; (3) this orientation system is based on a switching over from negative to positive anemotaxis at a ‘reference’ concentration; (4) this reference is a function of the odour concentration at which a sugar reward is given. The results do not support any hypothesis for an orientation system based on the detection and comparison of successive values of odour concentration. A hypothesis on the nature of the ‘reference value’ is discussed and supported by experiments.
The effect of leaf excision on the performance of Myzus persicae and Brevicoryne brassicae in relation to the nutrient treatment of the plants
Authors: van EMDEN H. F. , BASHFORD MARGRETHE A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTwo groups of brussels sprout plants of one variety given different fertilizer treatments proved ‘resistant’ and ‘susceptible’ to both Myzus persicae and Breicoryrie brassicae, as measured by aphid mean relative growth rate. The hypothesis that leaf disc would fail to reflect differences in ‘nutritionallybased’ plant resistance was confirmed with B.brussicue but not M.persicae. Both aphids grew more slowly on discs than leaves of ‘susceptible’ plants; the reverse tendency showed on ‘resistant’ material. Total:(, amino nitrogen proved poorly correlated with aphid performance. Previously published (van Emden & Bashford, 1971) equations relating individual amino acids to aphid performance gave a better fit to the results, but still failed to account for the reduced performance of the aphids on ‘susceptible’ discs.
Courtship behaviour in Meraporus gramivticola (Hymenoptera) and other Pteromalinae
Authors: BARRASS ROBERT 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe courtship of Meraporus graminicola Walker is described and compared with that of other Pteromalinae. The sequence of courtship movements is characteristic of each species, and in all species studied the male's mating attempt is made not during a sequence of courtship movements but at the end of the sequence. Then the male extends its mouthparts, an action common to all species, and if there is no contact with the female's antennae a mating attempt follows.
Factors governing the induction of diapause in Ephestia elutella and Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera)
Authors: BELL C. H. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractDiapause in fully grown larvae of Ephestia elutella and Plodia inferpunctella was induced by low temperature and short photoperiods. Light intensities below 1 lx affected the induction of diapause in both species. At 20 and 25d̀C, the critical photo‐period for E.elutella was c. 14 h, and for P.interpunctella c. 13 h. The sensitive phase in both species occurred at about the time of the fourth larval moult. In E.elutella about seven short photoperiods were required for larvae to enter diapause. In P.interpunctella high population density during larval development increased the proportion of larvae entering diapause.The conditions inducing diapause in laboratory stocks, and in stocks collected from the field, were different. Laboratory stocks of both species did not enter diapause at 25d̀C and required short photoperiods for diapause at 20d̀C. Some larvae of the field stock of E.elutella entered diapause in constant darkness at 30d̀C, the number being increased at low R.H., and almost all did in short photoperiods at 25°C. At 20T, most larvae of this stock entered diapause regardless of photoperiod, and at 15°C all did. In P.interpunctella up to one‐third of larvae of the field stock entered diapause in short photoperiods at 25d̀C, and all did if transferred to short photoperiods at 20d̀C.In unheated premises, falling temperatures normally induce diapause in E.elutella each autumn, photoperiod only being important if temperatures are high. In P.interpunctella, photoperiod is a more important factor because it can override the effect of falling temperature to a greater extent than in E.elutella. In both species, however, different field populations may respond in different ways.
Grooming and pollen manipulation in bees (Apoidea): the nature and evolution of movements involving the foreleg
Authors: JANDER RUDOLF 
Published: March 2008

Three modes of self cleaning occur in insects: nibbling by the maxillae, scraping one structure by another in one direction only, and rubbing back and forth while the respective parts are in continuous contact. This paper describes a comprehensive and comparative account of this behaviour in bees, with special reference to the cleaning of or by the forelegs.Bees, like all Hymenoptera, clean various parts of the head, including the mouthparts and the antennae, with the forelegs. Lower Hymenoptera scrape each antenna with either foreleg; in the species of Aculeata that possess the antenna cleaner (strigil) on the foreleg, only the ipsilateral leg is used. The thoracic dorsum of most bees, as in many sphecoid wasps, is scraped in a forward direction by the middle leg;Triepeolusspp., however, use the hind leg, and the Anthophorinae the foreleg.Some beetles and lacewings clean their forelegs in the mouthparts by nibbling and scraping. Most higher Hymenoptera as a rule scrape the foreleg between the ipsilateral maxilla and the labium; bees, however, clamp the foreleg between the flexed ipsilateral middle leg and then scrape it. An evolution of this behaviour is postulated via several intermediate forms derived from original stepping movements.Halictidae and Andrenidae clamp the foreleg for scraping underneath the middle tibia, whereas all other bees nearly always clamp it underneath the middle basitarsus. Very similar movements are used in various species for transferring pollen, oil, or nest materials from the foreleg to the middle leg.It is argued that the original way of pollen carrying in bees must have been by filling the crop through direct eating or by scraping pollen off the foreleg between the ipsilateral maxilla and the labium. The latter movement is widespread among bees and is homologous to the normal foreleg cleaning in the mouthparts of most other Hymenoptera. The efficiency of this behaviour is enhanced in many lower bees by a comb on the galea, which is the homologue of a similar structure widespread among aculeate wasps. In higher bees, Apidae and Anthophoridae, the galeal comb is replaced by an equifunctional stipes comb. Many bees have neither of these types of maxillary combs.
The dynamics of ovarian maturation and oocyte resorption in the Queensland fruit fly, Dacus tryoni, in daily‐rhythmic and constant temperature regimes
Authors: MEATS A. , KHOO K. C. 
Published: March 2008

The rate of oocyte development in constant regimes corresponded to the rates predicted by Pritchard's (1970) relationship which indicates that the lower temperature threshold is 13.5dgC. Rates in fluctuating regimes indicated that development occurs at certain temperatures below the constant threshold if these are alternated with higher temperatures on a daily basisIn certain fluctuating regimes, oocyte development occurred at a rate in excess of 3.5% per day and maturation proceeded to completion. In such regimes resorption occurred only if egg laying was prevented; when this happened the terminal oocytes usually remained intact and the penultimate ones were resorbed. In other fluctuating regimes, oocyte development proceeded at a rate of less than 3.5% per day and no maturation was achieved because the most advanced oocytes were resorbed‐either before or during the vitellogenic phase.The 3.5% threshold corresponds to a value of 2 day‐degrees per day (2DDPD) above 13.5d̀C. Resorption, but no development, was observed in partly mature flies around O DDPD, whereas neither occurred in a still colder regime. These results are shown to be in accord with Fletcher's (1975) field data which are also used to discuss the significance of resorption. Finally, the DDPD relationship is used to define those daily temperature profiles which may permit maturation in the field.