bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deep‐penetrating MCS images of the South Gabon Basin: implications for rift tectonics and post‐breakup salt remobilization
Authors: Meyers J. B. , Rosendahl B. R. , Jr J. A. AUSTIN 
Published: November 2007

AbstractRifted margin architecture along part of the southern Gabonese margin is interpreted from four deep‐penetration, multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) profiles. A series of synthetically faulted crustal blocks are identified, separated by dominantly seaward‐dipping fault zones formed during Cretaceous rifting between Africa and South America. Extensional strain ratios are ≅ 1.5. These faults appear either to transect the entire crustal section or are interrupted by discontinuous zones of midcrustal reflections which may represent detachments.Outer acoustic basement highs are situated just seaward of the continental slope. On the combined basis of seismic geometry, an associated positive magnetic anomaly and an increase in free‐air gravity, these outer highs are interpreted to mark faulted transitions from rifted continental crust to ‘proto‐oceanic crust’, presumably composed of mafic volcanic rocks and possibly slivers of attenuated continental crustal blocks. The outer edge of Aptian salt lies °165 km south‐west of the edge of the continental shelf. The salt forms an° 1.5‐km‐thick horizon overlying the outer highs, and it may be autochthonous there, suggesting salt was deposited contemporaneously with emplacement of proto‐oceanic crust.Differential subsidence and tilting between continental rift‐blocks during post‐rift margin subsidence has resulted in a sympathetic terrace‐ramp geometry in overlying Aptian salt. Salt terraces form above tops of crustal blocks, where salt tends to rise vertically, creating pillows and diapirs. Ramps connecting terraces tend to form above seaward‐facing fault zones; salt flowage there has been both lateral and vertical, creating triangular diapirs along the footwalls of growth faults. Most of these growth‐faults sole within the salt base, but a few continue into the interpreted synrift succession.
The influence of spatial errors in species occurrence data used in distribution models
Authors: Graham Catherine H , Elith Jane , Hijmans Robert J , Guisan Antoine , Townsend Peterson A , Loiselle Bette A ,   The Nceas Predicting Species Distributions Working Group
Published: November 2007

Summary

Species distribution modelling is used increasingly in both applied and theoretical research to predict how species are distributed and to understand attributes of species’ environmental requirements. In species distribution modelling, various statistical methods are used that combine species occurrence data with environmental spatial data layers to predict the suitability of any site for that species. While the number of data sharing initiatives involving species’ occurrences in the scientific community has increased dramatically over the past few years, various data quality and methodological concerns related to using these data for species distribution modelling have not been addressed adequately.
We evaluated how uncertainty in georeferences and associated locational error in occurrences influence species distribution modelling using two treatments: (1) a control treatment where models were calibrated with original, accurate data and (2) an error treatment where data were first degraded spatially to simulate locational error. To incorporate error into the coordinates, we moved each coordinate with a random number drawn from the normal distribution with a mean of zero and a standard deviation of 5 km. We evaluated the influence of error on the performance of 10 commonly used distributional modelling techniques applied to 40 species in four distinct geographical regions.
Locational error in occurrences reduced model performance in three of these regions; relatively accurate predictions of species distributions were possible for most species, even with degraded occurrences. Two species distribution modelling techniques, boosted regression trees and maximum entropy, were the best performing models in the face of locational errors. The results obtained with boosted regression trees were only slightly degraded by errors in location, and the results obtained with the maximum entropy approach were not affected by such errors.
Synthesis and applications. To use the vast array of occurrence data that exists currently for research and management relating to the geographical ranges of species, modellers need to know the influence of locational error on model quality and whether some modelling techniques are particularly robust to error. We show that certain modelling techniques are particularly robust to a moderate level of locational error and that useful predictions of species distributions can be made even when occurrence data include some error.
The ECF sigma factor σT is involved in osmotic and oxidative stress responses in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Alvarez‐Martinez Cristina E. , Lourenço Rogério F. , Baldini Regina L. , Laub Michael T. , Gomes Suely L. 
Published: November 2007

SummarySigma factors of the ECF subfamily are important regulators of stress responses in bacteria. Analysis of Caulobacter crescentus genome sequence has indicated the presence of 13 members of the ECF (extracytoplasmic function) subfamily, suggesting that these regulators play an important role in C. crescentus physiology. This work describes the characterization of two highly similar C. crescentus ECF sigma factors, σU and σT. The corresponding genes are not essential under normal growth conditions and absence of σU does not impair bacterial resistance to the environmental stresses tested. However, absence of σT significantly affects the ability of C. crescentus cells to survive osmotic and oxidative stress. Using transcription fusions to sigT and sigU upstream regions we demonstrate that both genes are induced by osmotic stress in a σT‐dependent manner. Determination of sigU and sigT transcription start sites revealed an identical promoter motif, typical of ECF‐dependent promoters. Transcriptome analysis revealed 40 putative members of the σT regulon, including sigU and sigR, encoding another ECF subfamily member, and genes involved in general stress responses and cell envelope functions. Twenty of those genes exhibit the sigT/sigU promoter motif in their upstream regions. Our data indicate a role of σT in distinct stress responses in C. crescentus.
Maternal circulating interferon‐γ and interleukin‐6 as biomarkers of Th1/Th2 immune status throughout pregnancy
Authors: Aris Aziz , Lambert Fréderic , Bessette Paul , Moutquin Jean‐Marie 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAim:  T cells may be classified as T helper type 1 (Th1) cells, which synthesize cytokines inducing cellular immunity, or T helper type 2 (Th2), which synthesize cytokines inducing humoral immunity. According to the Th1/Th2 paradigm, it has been postulated that successful pregnancy induces an immune Th2 bias, but it is not yet clear how Th1 and Th2 systems vary simultaneously throughout the pregnancy.Methods:  Using maternal circulating interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) as biomarkers of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, respectively, we examined the variation of circulating Th1/Th2 ratio in 35 healthy pregnant women from 10 to 40 weeks of pregnancy.Results:  With increasing gestational age, maternal circulating levels of IFN‐γ decrease, whereas those of IL‐6 increase. The IFN‐γ/IL‐6 ratio switches around the 19th week of pregnancy.Conclusions:  Our results suggest that maternal systemic IFN‐γ and IL‐6 concentrations may be biomarkers of Th1/Th2 immune status during pregnancy. Moreover, our findings showed that contrary to the Th1/Th2 paradigm, the Th1 bias may be prevailing at the beginning of pregnancy, balanced in the middle of pregnancy and supplanted by the Th2 bias at the end of pregnancy.
Effects of hormone replacement therapy on bone mineral density in Turkish patients with or without COL1A1 Sp1 binding site polymorphism
Authors: Simsek Mehmet , Cetin Zafer , Bilgen Turker , Taskin Omur , Luleci Guven , Keser Ibrahim 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAim:  To evaluate the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with or without COL1A1 Sp1 binding site polymorphism.Methods:  Non‐smoking otherwise healthy postmenopausal women (n = 111), who had not received any kind of HRT for at least 3 years (between 2002 and 2005) at the onset of menopause, were included. All patients received 0.625 mg conjugated estrogen/2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone for 18 months. BMD by dual X‐ray absorptiometry was measured at the lumbar spine and the femur neck initially and after 18th months of treatment. COL1A1 Sp1 binding site polymorphism was studied using the PCR‐RFLP method.Results:  After having the results of COL1A11 Sp1 binding site polymorphism, 79 (71.2%) patients were SS, 30(27.0%) were Ss and two (1.8%) were homozygous for ss. The mean age, weight and length of menopausal period were similar between the SS and Ss patients. The Ss heterozygotes had lower BMD values both at the lumbar spine and at the femur neck compared with the SS patients. This difference was also reflected in post treatment measurements. The increase in BMD scores was higher in the SS homozygotes than in the Ss patients.Conclusion:  Our preliminary data supports the fact that HRT had a lower increase in BMD scores following 18 months of treatment in COL1A1 s allele individuals compared with normal SS individuals. Therefore our study may provide evidence that the Sp1 polymorphism may ameliorate the effects of HRT on BMD, suggesting some additional regimens may be used to support bone strength and to decrease osteoporotic fractures.
Screening for periodontitis in pregnant women with salivary enzymes
Authors: Kugahara Tomoko , Shosenji Yayoi , Ohashi Kazutomo 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAim:  To develop a test for the screening of pregnant women for periodontitis using saliva prior to a dental examination.Methods:  A cross‐sectional research design was employed. Whole unstimulated saliva was collected from 221 pregnant women prior to a dental examination at the Amagasaki Public Health Office and levels of activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and of occult blood in the saliva were measured. The data were compared with Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) scores. The diagnostic performance of LDH, ALP, and occult blood was determined in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and the area under receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. The optimal combination of parameters for screening periodontitis was determined at maximum sensitivity and specificity.Results:  Periodontitis (CPITN 3, 4) in 19 women (8.6%) and gingivitis (CPITN 1, 2) in 129 women (58.4%) were observed. The activity levels of LDH and ALP were significantly higher in the pregnant women with periodontitis than those with gingivitis or a healthy periodontium. To distinguish between the pregnant women with periodontitis and the others, a cut‐off value of 684 IU/L for LDH and of 75 IU/L for ALP were determined by a ROC analysis. The test combining LDH, ALP, and occult blood showed the highest diagnostic performance; with a sensitivity value of 0.90, specificity value of 0.62, positive predictive value of 0.18, and negative predictive value of 0.98.Conclusions:  A test combining the parameters salivary LDH, ALP and occult blood is useful for screening pregnant women for periodontitis.
Ureteral catheter placement for prevention of ureteral injury during laparoscopic hysterectomy
Authors: Tanaka Yudai , Asada Hironori , Kuji Naoaki , Yoshimura Yasunori 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAim:  Ureteral injury is among the most devastating complications of gynecologic surgery. Estimated incidence of ureteral injury during laparoscopic hysterectomy is 2.6–35 times (0.2–6.0%) that in abdominal hysterectomy. We investigated preoperative ureteral catheter (UC) placement as a way to prevent ureteral injury in laparoscopic hysterectomy.Methods:  Clinical records of 94 women who underwent laparoscopic hysterectomy between February 2006 and January 2007 in Yazaki Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan, were reviewed retrospectively. Thirty‐four patients between February and June 2006 underwent the surgery without ureteral catheterization and 60 patients between July 2006 and January 2007 underwent surgery with ureteral catheterization. Clinical outcomes were statistically compared between the two groups.Results:  The average time required for catheter insertion was 9.35 min. The ureter in which the catheter was placed was visualized clearly. In one patient, whose left ureter was deviated by a massive myoma, catheter insertion was not possible. No complications arose from catheter placement except for minor complaints including low back pain, urinary discomfort, and transient hamaturia. While one injury occurred in a patient without ureteral catheterization (1/34), no ureteral injury occurred in any patient with ureteral catheterization (0/60). Operative time, total blood loss, and hospital stay were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusions:  UC placement is simple, helping to prevent ureteral injury during laparoscopic hysterectomy and enhancing safety of this procedure.
Microscopic analysis of lizard claw morphogenesis and hypothesis on its evolution
Authors: Alibardi Lorenzo 
Published: November 2007

AbstractMorphogenesis of claws in the lizard Lampropholis guichenoti has been studied by light and electron microscopy. Claws originate from a thickening of the epidermis covering the tips of digits under which mesenchymal cells aggregate. Mesenchymal cells are in continuity with perichondrial cells of the last phalange, and are connected to the epidermis through numerous cell bridges that cross an incomplete basement membrane. The dense lamella is completed in non‐apical regions of the digit where also collagen fibrils increase. The dorsal side of the developing claw derives from the growth of the outer scale surface of the last scale of the digit. The corneous layer, made of beta‐keratin cells, curves downward by the tip of the growing claw. The epidermis of the ventral side of the claw contains keratohyaline‐like granules and alpha‐keratinocytes like an inner scale surface. The thickness of the horny layer increases in the elongating unguis while a thinner and softer corneous layer remains in the subunguis. These observations show that lizard claws derive from the modification of the last scale or scales of the digit, probably under the influence of the growing terminal phalanx. Some hypotheses on the evolution of claws in reptiles are presented.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN KOREA
Authors: Park Ki Seong 
Published: November 2007

Abstract.The wage rate, labour productivity, and labour share are examined as they relate to changing industrial relations over the last four decades in the Korea. The results imply that the labour share is greater than that of Korea's competitive equilibrium in the 1990s. We analyse the effect of industrial relations on economic growth through a theoretical model comparing the growth rate of the competitive equilibrium with that of the bargaining equilibrium. The bargaining growth rate is lower than that of the competitive equilibrium. Among bargaining equilibria, the growth rate decreases as the labour share increases.
Caveolins in glial cell model systems: from detection to significance
Authors: Silva W. I. , Maldonado H. M. , Velázquez G. , García J. O. , González F. A. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractGlial cells prevail in number and in diversity of cellular phenotypes in the nervous system. They have also gained prominence due to their multiple physiological and pathophysiological roles. Our current knowledge of the asymmetry and heterogeneity of the plasma membrane demands an in depth analysis of the diverse array of membrane microdomains postulated to exist in the context of glial cells. This review focuses and analyzes the studies reported to date on the detection of caveolae membrane rafts and the caveolin family members in glial cell model systems, the conditions leading to changes in their level of expression, and their functional and clinical significance. Outstanding in this work emerge the ubiquitous expression of caveolins, including the typically regarded ‘muscle‐specific’ cav3, in diverse glial cell model systems, their participation in reactive astrogliosis, cancer, and their key relevance to calcium signaling. The knowledge obtained to date demands incorporation of the caveolins and caveolae membrane rafts in our current models on the role of glial cells in heath and neurological disease.
Cholesterol effects on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
Authors: Barrantes Francisco J. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis short overview addresses the effects of cholesterol (Chol) on the stability, supramolecular organization, and function of the murine muscle‐type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). The biophysical properties of Chol–AChR interaction are discussed first, as they constitute, in our view, the very source of the modulation exerted by Chol on receptor structure and function. In the absence of innervation, AChRs occur in the form of aggregates that remain stable at the cell‐surface membrane of mammalian model cells over a period of hours. Acute Chol depletion drastically reduces (∼50%) the number of receptor aggregates by accelerating the rate of endocytosis in a receptor‐expressing clonal cell line. Chol depletion also results in ion channel gain‐of‐function of the remaining cell‐surface AChRs, whereas Chol enrichment has the opposite effect. Wide‐field and confocal microscopy show AChR clusters as diffraction‐limited puncta of ∼200 nm diameter. Stimulated emission depletion fluorescence microscopy resolves these puncta into nanoclusters with an average diameter of ∼55 nm. Exploiting the enhanced resolution, the effect of acute Chol depletion is shown to alter the short‐ and long‐range organization of AChR nanoclusters. In the short range, the 50% AChRs remaining at the cell surface form larger nanoclusters. On larger scales (0.5–3.5 μm) Ripley’sK‐test on stimulated emission depletion images reveal changes in nanocluster distribution, attributable to the Chol‐related abolition of cytoskeletal physical barriers normally preventing the lateral diffusion of AChR nanoclusters. We discuss these observations in the light of the so‐called ‘raft’ hypothesis and surmise that Chol content at the plasmalemma homeostatically modulates cell‐surface organization and stability of receptor nanodomains and fine tunes receptor channel function to temporarily compensate for acute AChR loss from the cell surface.
Patterns and Determinants of Historical Woodland Clearing in Central‐Western New South Wales, Australia
Authors: BEDWARD MICHAEL , SIMPSON CHRISTOPHER C. , ELLIS MURRAY V. , METCALFE LISA M. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractWe consider the history of woodland clearing in central western New South Wales, Australia, which has led to the present highly cleared and fragmented landscape. A combined approach is used examining available historical land‐use data and using regression analysis to relate the pattern of cleared and wooded areas in the recent landscape to environmental variables, taking into account the contagious nature of clearing. We also ask whether it would be possible to apply a simple simulation modelling approach to reconstruct a credible historical sequence of clearing in the study area. The historical data indicate that annual clearing rates have varied substantially in the study area and selective tree removal (ringbarking and thinning) has been common. These findings make it unlikely that a simple simulation approach would replicate the spatial and temporal sequence of woodland loss. Our regression results show that clearing patterns can be related to environmental variables, particularly annual rainfall and estimated pre‐European vegetation type, but that patterns are dominated by contagion.
Negotiating the Geographies of Cultural Difference in Local Communities: Two Examples from Suburban Melbourne
Authors: PERMEZEL MELISSA , DUFFY MICHELLE 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThis paper explores the ways in which cultural difference is negotiated in local communities through the practices and actions of local individuals, groups and the policies of local government. Cultural difference is commonly managed through policies such as multiculturalism, and critiques of such policies tend to be either in terms of celebratory discourses of inclusiveness, or in negative terms which argue that such policies reiterate models of exclusivity and paternalism. The authors draw on current research in planning and cultural geography in order to explore the ways in which actual difference is negotiated at the local level through the institutional and civic spaces of local government. Two case studies for this discussion, the City of Greater Dandenong and Moreland City Council, demonstrate the importance of the physical body and its interactions with, and activities in, place to processes of local change and policy making.
Data Integration Issues in Research Supporting Sustainable Natural Resource Management
Authors: HERR ALEXANDER 
Published: November 2007

AbstractCurrent decision‐making in natural resource use and management aims at delivering ecologically‐sustainable development to achieve conservation and economic benefits. The process of guiding natural resource use requires the integration of social, economic and biophysical information on which to base management decisions. This paper discusses the integration of socio‐economic information for natural resource management (NRM) planning and decision‐making in the Australian context. A comprehensive resource of socio‐economic data is the Census, which is undertaken every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for the whole of Australia. Unfortunately there are qualitative and quantitative issues stemming from the use of ABS census data maps for NRM decision‐making, as they are at a different scale to and the boundaries do not coincide with biophysical information. These issues include the variable shape of collection districts, the use of enumerated data for population‐based statistics, the large size of collection districts in low populated areas, and the averaging of socio‐economic information over the collection districts. Examples highlight these issues and show a way forwards in improving data integration, which includes simple spatial overlay methods and regression modelling.
Assessment of Riparian Rainforest Vegetation Change in Tropical North Queensland for Management and Restoration Purposes
Authors: LAWSON TINA , GILLIESON DAVID , GOOSEM MIRIAM 
Published: November 2007

AbstractChanges in riparian vegetation extent in northern Queensland, Australia were assessed using aerial photographs from 1944 and 2000. Change in riparian extent was recorded as vegetation gain or loss. Changes in density were recorded as vegetation thickening. Riparian forest coverage increased by 22 ha during this time period in the Mossman River catchment. A total of 124 ha of riparian forest were gained, while 101 ha of riparian forest were lost. A further 59 ha of forest increased in density over this time period. Clearing, changes in farm management practices and natural stream channel movement have been identified as three potential causes for these changes. Areas with little or no riparian vegetation were identified and categorised into priority levels for potential revegetation efforts.