bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patterns of asymmetry in the twining vineDalechampia scandens(Euphorbiaceae): ontogenetic and hierarchical perspectives
Authors: Pélabon Christophe , Hansen Thomas F. , Carlson Matthew L. , Armbruster W. Scott 
Published: January 2006

SummaryWe studied patterns of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in leaves of four populations of the neotropical vineDalechampia scandensto obtain insight into the origin of leaf FA and the level at which it is controlled. We analysed correlations in signed and unsigned asymmetry at different organizational levels. We also analysed the ontogeny of FA during leaf expansion to test whether asymmetry is regulated during cell expansion, and whether fast‐expanding leaves are more or less asymmetrical.Signed asymmetry was negatively correlated between successive leaves, that is, when the right side of a leaf was larger than the left side, the next leaf on the shoot tended to show the opposite pattern. The magnitude of FA, however, was very weakly correlated among successive leaves or among leaves measured on different shoots.The direction of asymmetry did not change during leaf expansion, but the relative asymmetry, that is, asymmetry corrected for difference in trait size, decreased during expansion. We found a weak negative relationship between leaf expansion rate and relative asymmetry on the fully expanded leaves.These results suggest that leaf asymmetry inDalechampiaoriginates from perturbations in cell proliferation in the stem, creating asymmetries in opposite directions in successive leaves. These asymmetries persist during leaf expansion, but tend to be reduced by unknown mechanisms.
Internalization and desensitization of a green fluorescent protein‐tagged P2Y1nucleotide receptor are differently controlled by inhibition of calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II
Authors: Tulapurkar Mohan E. , Zündorf Gregor , Reiser Georg 
Published: January 2006

AbstractDe‐ and re‐sensitization and trafficking of P2Y nucleotide receptors modulate physiological responses of these receptors. Here, we used the rat brain P2Y1receptor tagged with green fluorescent protein (P2Y1‐GFP receptor) expressed in HEK293 human embryonic kidney cells. Ca2+release was used as a functional test to investigate ATP‐induced receptor de‐ and re‐sensitization. By confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), endocytosis of P2Y1‐GFP receptor was visualized in live cells. Stimulation of the cells with ATP induced complete receptor endocytosis within 30 min and appearance of the P2Y1receptor in small vesicles. Removal of the agonist resulted in reappearance of the receptor after 60 min on the plasma membrane. Exposure of the cells to KN‐62 and KN‐93, inhibitors of the calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), prevented receptor internalization upon stimulation with ATP. However, the receptor which was still present on the plasma membrane was desensitized, seen by decreased Ca2+response. The decreased Ca2+response after 30‐min exposure to ATP can be attributed to desensitization and is not as a result of depletion of internal stores, as the cells exposed to ATP for 30 min exhibited a normal Ca2+response upon stimulation with thrombin. However, okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), did not affect ATP‐induced P2Y1receptor endocytosis, but delayed the reappearance of the P2Y1receptor on the plasma membrane after ATP withdrawal. Consistently, in okadaic acid‐treated cells the ATP‐induced Ca2+response observed after the 30‐min exposure to ATP recovered only partially. Thus, CaMKII seems to be involved in P2Y1receptor internalization, but not desensitization, whereas protein phosphatase 2A might play a role in recycling of the receptor back to the plasma membrane.
Increased oxidative damage in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Wang Jianquan , Markesbery William R. , Lovell Mark A. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractIncreasing evidence suggests that oxidative damage is associated with normal aging and several neurodegenerative diseases. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the phase between normal aging and early dementia, is a common problem in the elderly with many subjects going on to develop Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although increased DNA oxidation is observed in the AD brain, it is unclear when the oxidative damage begins. To determine if DNA oxidation occurs in the brain of subjects with MCI, we quantified multiple oxidized bases in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA isolated from frontal, parietal and temporal lobes and cerebellum of short post‐mortem interval autopsies of eight amnestic patients with MCI and six age‐matched control subjects using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selective ion monitoring. We found statistically significant elevations (p < 0.05) of 8‐hydroxyguanine, a widely studied biomarker of DNA damage, in MCI nuclear DNA from frontal and temporal lobe and in mitochondrial DNA from the temporal lobe compared with age‐matched control subjects. Levels of 8‐hydroxyadenine and 4,6‐diamino‐5‐formamidopyrimidine were significantly elevated in nuclear DNA from all three neocortical regions in MCI. Statistically significant elevations of 4,6‐diamino‐5‐formamidopyrimidine were also observed in mitochondrial DNA of MCI temporal, frontal and parietal lobes. These results suggest that oxidative damage to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA occurs in the earliest detectable phase of AD and may play a meaningful role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Interaction of huntingtin fragments with brain membranes – clues to early dysfunction in Huntington's disease
Authors: Suopanki Jaana , Götz Claudia , Lutsch Gudrun , Schiller Jürgen , Harjes Phoebe , Herrmann Andreas , Wanker Erich E. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractHuntingtin is a large, multi‐domain protein of unknown function in the brain. An abnormally elongated polyglutamine stretch in its N‐terminus causes Huntington's disease (HD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Huntingtin has been proposed to play a functional role in membrane trafficking via proteins involved in endo‐ and exocytosis. Here, we supply evidence for a direct association between huntingtin and membranes. In the brains of R6/2 mice with HD pathology, a 64 kDa N‐terminal huntingtin fragment accumulated in postsynaptic membranes during the pre‐symptomatic period of 4–8 weeks of age. In addition, an oligomeric fragment of approximately 200 kDa was detected at 8 weeks of age. Simultaneous progressive changes in distribution of amphiphysin, synaptojanin, and subunits of NMDA‐ and AMPA‐receptors provide a strong indication of dysfunctional synaptic trafficking. Composition of the major phospholipids in the synaptic membranes was unaffected. In vitro, large unilamellar vesicles of brain lipids readily associated with soluble N‐terminal huntingtin exon 1 fragments and stimulated fibrillogenesis of mutant huntingtin aggregates. Moreover, interaction of both mutant and wild‐type huntingtin exon 1 fragments with brain lipids caused bilayer perturbation, mediated through a proline‐rich region adjacent to the polyglutamines. This suggests that lipid interactions in vivo could influence misfolding of huntingtin and may play an early role in HD pathogenesis.
The inflammatory transcriptome of reactive murine astrocytes and implications for their innate immune function
Authors: Falsig Jeppe , Pörzgen Peter , Lund Søren , Schrattenholz André , Leist Marcel 
Published: January 2006

AbstractUpon injury, astrocytes assume an activated state associated with the release of inflammatory mediators. To model this, we stimulated murine primary astrocytes with a complete inflammatory cytokine mix consisting of TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IFN‐γ. We analysed the transcriptional response of 480 genes at 4 and 16 h after stimulation on a chip designed to give a representative overview over the inflammation‐relevant part of the transcriptome of macrophage‐like cells. The list of the 182 genes found to be significantly regulated in astrocytes revealed an intriguing co‐ordinate regulation of genes linked to the biological processes of antiviral/antimicrobial defence, antigen presentation and facilitation of leucocyte invasion. The latter group was characterized by very high up‐regulations of chemokine genes. We also identified regulations of a thymidylate kinase and an interferon‐regulated protein with a tetratricopeptide motive, both up to now only known from macrophages. The transcriptional regulations were confirmed on the protein level by a proteomic analysis. These findings taken together suggest that activated astrocytes in brain behave similarly in many respects to inflamed macrophages in the periphery.
Biomechanical Analysis of Unilateral External Skeletal Fixators Combined with IM‐Pin and Without IM‐Pin Using Finite‐Element Method
Authors: RADKE HEIDI , ARON DENNIS N. , APPLEWHITE ARIC , ZHANG GUIGEN 
Published: January 2006

Objectives—To determine if a unilateral external skeletal fixator (ESF) with a carbon fiber connecting rod (IMEX™SK) without an intramedullary (IM)‐pin is mechanically comparable with a unilateral ESF with a stainless‐steel connecting rod (IMEX™KE) with an IM‐pin.Study Design—Finite‐element method (FEM)—computer simulation.Methods—FEM models were validated by comparison against data from mechanical testing. Three‐dimensional FEM models of a femur with a mid‐diaphyseal fracture with a 20 mm gap were developed with 4 unilateral external skeletal fixator devices (6‐pin KE, 6‐pin KE IM‐pin, 6‐pin SK, and 6‐pin SK IM‐pin). A 300 N load was applied to the femur at the proximal end in a direction of θ=10° distally and φ=10° laterally cranially. Relative displacements in x‐, y‐ and z‐directions at the gap were obtained and the overall stiffness was calculated as 300 N/total displacement. Load transfer at the pin–bone interface (PBI) was assessed by determining the von Mises stress maxima at the PBI‐related nodes.Results—The 6‐pin SK had superior mechanical performance compared with the 6‐pin KE by exhibiting smaller displacements in all directions and higher stiffness. Compared with the 6‐pin KE IM‐pin, the 6‐pin SK (without IM‐pin) was superior in craniocaudal and lateromedial displacements, but inferior in axial displacements, overall stiffness and von Mises stress maxima. The 6‐pin SK IM‐pin was superior to the 6‐pin KE IM‐pin based on smaller displacements and higher stiffness.Conclusions—Although the SK device had superior mechanical performance compared with a KE device in a unilateral configuration, the addition of an IM‐pin continues to be a powerful method of enhancing mechanical performance of either IMEX™SK or IMEX™KE unilateral constructs in clinical cases.Clinical Relevance—Based on the results of this FEM study we recommend the use of the “tied‐in” IM‐pin with the ESF clinically when striving for high rigidity. In less challenging situations, a unilateral SK ESF without IM‐pin might provide sufficient rigidity for a successful fracture repair.
Synovial Cysts Associated with Cauda Equina Syndrome in Two Dogs
Authors: FORTERRE FRANCK , KAISER STEPHAN , GARNER MICHAEL , STADIE BINE , MATIASEK KASPAR , SCHMAHL WOLFGANG , BRUNNBERG LEO 
Published: January 2006

Objective— To report synovial cysts associated with cauda equina syndrome in 2 dogs.Study Design— Clinical cases.Animals— Two German Shepherd dogs.Methods— After magnetic resonance imaging detection, cysts were surgically removed via dorsal laminectomy.Results— Six and 8 months after surgery, both dogs were free of clinical signs and no pain was elicited on lumbosacral joint manipulation.Conclusion— Although described in dogs, cysts at the lumbosacral joint might cause compression of the cauda equina nerve roots. Radical excision of the cyst capsule can result in resolution of clinical signs.Clinical Relevance— Synovial cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dogs with cauda equina compression syndrome when lumbosacral degenerative joint disease is present.
Intravenous Continuous Infusion of Lidocaine for Treatment of Equine Ileus
Authors: MALONE ERIN , ENSINK JOS , TURNER TRACY , WILSON JULIE , ANDREWS FRANK , KEEGAN KEVIN , LUMSDEN JONATHAN 
Published: January 2006

Objective—To determine if intravenous lidocaine is useful and safe as a treatment for equine ileus.Study Design—Prospective double‐blinded placebo‐controlled trial.Study Population—Horses (n=32) with a diagnosis of postoperative ileus (POI) or enteritis and that had refluxed >20 L or had been refluxing for >24 hours.Methods—Refluxing horses were administered lidocaine (1.3 mg/kg intravenously [IV] as a bolus followed by a 0.05 mg/kg/min infusion) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution placebo for 24 hours. Variables evaluated included volume and duration of reflux, time to 1st fecal passage, signs of pain, analgesic use, heart rate and arrhythmias, respiratory rate, temperature, days of hospitalization, outcome (survival to discharge), and complications.Results—Of the lidocaine‐treated horses, 65% (11/17) stopped refluxing within 30 hours (mean±SD, 15.2±2.4 hours) whereas 27% (4/15) of the saline‐treated horses stopped within 30 hours. Fecal passage was significantly correlated with response to treatment; horses that responded to lidocaine passed feces within 16 hours of starting the infusion. Compared with placebo treatment, lidocaine treatment resulted in shorter hospitalization time for survivors, equivalent survival to discharge, no clinically significant changes in physical or laboratory variables, and no difference in the rate of incisional infections, jugular thrombosis, laminitis, or diarrhea. Muscle fasciculations occurred in 3 lidocaine‐treated horses (18%).Conclusion—IV lidocaine significantly improved the clinical course in refluxing horses with minimal side effects.Clinical Relevance—At the infusion rate studied, IV lidocaine is safe and should be considered for the treatment of equine ileus.
Principles of Uniapical and Biapical Radial Deformity Correction Using Dome Osteotomies and the Center of Rotation of Angulation Methodology in Dogs
Authors: FOX DEREK B. , TOMLINSON JAMES L. , COOK JAMES L. , BRESHEARS LEE M. 
Published: January 2006

Objective— To describe the normal anatomic axis of the canine radius in 2 planes (frontal, sagittal), and report the use and efficacy of dome osteotomies for acute correction of canine antebrachial deformities.Study Design— Retrospective study.Sample Population— Normal antebrachii (n=20) radiographs were used as a reference, and 7 dogs with 9 radial angular limb deformities that were corrected by use of dome osteotomies.Methods— Orthogonal radiographs of 20 normal antebrachii were used to determine normal ranges of frontal (FPA) and sagittal plane anatomic axes (SPA). Pre and postoperative radiographs of 7 dogs (9 radii) that had surgical correction of radial angular limb deformities by dome osteotomies were reviewed. Success at deformity correction into established normal ranges and to the normal contralateral side, if present, was determined.Results— Normal ranges were FPA, 0–8° and SPA, 8–35°. There were 4 biapical and 5 uniapical deformities. FPA and SPA were corrected into normal range in 66% and 78% of affected limbs, respectively; however, only 44% of radii were corrected into normal ranges in both planes.Conclusions— Ranges for normal canine radial axes can be used as goals for angular limb correction when there is bilateral angular deformity. The dome osteotomy technique is advantageous in certain conditions for biplanar deformity correction.Clinical Relevance— Dome osteotomies can be used to correct radial deformities in the frontal and sagittal planes, with certain advantages, but are heavily reliant on appropriate preoperative planning.
Intermittent loading improves results in mandibular alveolar distraction osteogenesis
Authors: Consolo Ugo , Bertoldi Carlo , Zaffe Davide 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAim: To evaluate clinical and morphological effects on distractive callus after application of an original protocol of bone stimulation.Material and methods: Traditional or mechanically stimulated alveolar‐distraction osteogenesis was studied on 16 highly selected subjects subdivided into two groups. Clinical, radiological, densitometric and histological (on biopsies) analyses were performed 6, 8 and 12 weeks after distraction was completed.Results: In subjects undergoing stimulated alveolar‐distraction osteogenesis, bone density was higher and at histology, bone with ordered structure was observed after 6 weeks. Moreover, bone trabeculae with oriented architecture and greater amounts of lamellar bone were observed after 8 and 12 weeks in the same subjects.Discussion and conclusions: In conclusion, although osteogenic processes were similar in both groups, they were induced earlier and were better structured in subjects undergoing stimulated alveolar‐distraction osteogenesis. These encouraging results can only be achieved and preserved by strict monitoring of distractive vectors.
Metabolic fingerprinting to discriminate diseases of stored carrots
Authors: Vikram A. , Lui L.H. , Hossain A. , Kushalappa A.C. 
Published: January 2006

AbstractVolatile metabolites from headspace gas of carrot cv. Vita‐treat inoculated with water or four different pathogens Botrytis cinerea, Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium avenaceum were profiled using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to develop a technology to discriminate diseases. The inoculation of carrot roots with water or different pathogens released a total of 137 different volatile metabolites. Among them, 39 compounds were relatively consistent and 11 were specific to one or more diseases/inoculations. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora produced seven disease‐specific metabolites: 1‐butanol, 3‐methyl; 1‐pentanol; 1‐propanol, 2‐methyl; 2,3‐butanedione; boronic acid, ethyl; butane, 1‐methoxy‐3‐methyl; and ethane, ethoxy. Some metabolites were disease/inoculation discriminatory and were not detected in all treatments: 1,2‐dimethoxy‐ethene was common in carrots inoculated with E. carotovora subsp. carotovora and B. cinerea, while 2‐butanone, 3‐chloro‐4‐hydroxy‐1,4‐diphenyl was common in carrots inoculated with E. carotovora subsp. carotovora, F. avenaceum and water‐inoculated control. The significant mass ions, based on univariate analysis, from a total of 150 (46–195 m/z) and compounds from a total of 32 were further subjected to stepwise discriminant analysis and discriminant analysis. The models for 3 days after inoculation (DAI) were better than those for 6 DAI and 3 + 6 DAI, where up to 90% of the observations were correctly classified into respective inoculations. The disease‐discriminatory compounds from different diseases/inoculations and discriminant analysis models developed here have the potential for the early detection and discrimination of postharvest diseases of carrot cv. Vita‐treat, after validation under commercial conditions.
Diet of Adult and Nestling Scarlet Macaws in Southwest Belize, Central America1
Authors: Renton Katherine 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACTScarlet Macaw diet was determined during the breeding season of February–June 1998. Macaws were primarily granivorous, exhibiting a narrow diet during the dry season, with low variety of food items in adult and nestling diets. Seeds of Cnidoscolus spp. and Schizolobium parahybum, tree species characteristic of floodplain forest, were predominant in nestling diets, and may provide protein‐rich food resources. River floodplains provided important nest sites and food resources for Scarlet Macaws during the breeding season.
Honey‐Making Bee Colony Abundance and Predation by Apes and Humans in a Uganda Forest Reserve1
Authors: Kajobe Robert , Roubik David W. 
Published: January 2006

ABSTRACTHoney‐making bee colonies in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park were investigated with Batwa Pygmies locating 228 nests of Apis and five stingless bees (Meliponini). The relative importance of predation, food supply, nesting site, and elevation affecting abundance were studied for meliponines in particular. Nest predation and overall nest abundance had no correlation with elevation along a 1400 m gradient, nor did flowering phenology or pollen collection. Many suitable, large trees were unoccupied by bee nests. In 174 ha of forest plots, 2 Meliponula lendliana, 13 M. nebulata, 16 M. ferruginea, 16 M. bocandei, and 20 Apis mellifera adansonii nests occurred, suggesting a habitat‐wide density of 39 nests/km2. Compared to other studies, Ugandan Meliponini were uncommon (0.27 colonies/ha, tropical mean = 1.9/ha), while Apis mellifera was numerous (0.12 nests/ha, tropical mean = 0.06/ha), despite park policy allowing humans to exploit Apis. Meliponine colony mortality from predators averaged 12 percent/yr and those near ground were most affected. Tool‐using humans and chimpanzees caused 82 percent of stingless bee nest predation. Selective factors affecting nest heights and habit may include auditory hunting by predators for buzzing bees, and indirect mutualists such as termites that leave potential nesting cavities. Mobility and free‐nesting by honey bee colonies should enable rapid community recovery after mortality, especially in parks where human honey hunting is frequent, compared to sedentary and nest‐site‐bound Meliponini.
Analytic Element Modeling of Embedded Multiaquifer Domains
Authors: Bakker Mark 
Published: January 2006

AbstractAn analytic element approach is presented for the modeling of multiaquifer domains embedded in a single‐aquifer model. The inside of each domain may consist of an arbitrary number of aquifers separated by leaky layers. The analytic element solution is obtained through a combination of existing single‐aquifer and multiaquifer analytic elements and allows for the analytic computation of head and leakage at any point in the aquifer. Along the boundary of an embedded multiaquifer domain, the normal flux is continuous everywhere; continuity of head across the boundary is met exactly at collocations points and approximately, but very accurately, in between. The analytic element solution compares well with an existing exact solution. A hypothetical example with a river intersecting two embedded domains illustrates the practical application of the proposed approach.
Neuropsychological Function and Symptoms in Subjects with Subclinical Hypothyroidism and the Effect of Thyroxine Treatment
Authors: Jorde Rolf , Waterloo Knut , Storhaug Hilde , Nyrnes Audhild , Sundsfjord Johan , Jenssen Trond Geir 
Published: January 2006

Abstract
Objective: Our objective was to examine the relation between neuropsychological function and subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT), defined as serum TSH of 3.5–10.0 mIU/liter and normal serum free T4 and free T3 levels, and to study the effect of T4 supplementation.
Subjects: A total of 89 subjects (45 males) with SHT and 154 control subjects (72 males) were recruited from a general health survey (the fifth Tromsø study). Sixty-nine of those with SHT were included in a placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention study with T4 medication for 1 yr.
Main Outcome Measures: We used fourteen tests of cognitive function, Beck Depression Inventory, General Health Questionnaire, and a questionnaire on hypothyroid symptoms.
Results: The mean ± sd serum TSH in the SHT and control group were 5.57 ± 1.68 and 1.79 ± 0.69 mIU/liter, respectively. There were no significant differences in cognitive function and hypothyroid symptoms between the two groups, but those with SHT scored significantly better than the controls on the GHQ-30. At the end of the intervention study, serum TSH in the T4 group (n = 36) and the placebo group (n = 33) were 1.52 ± 1.51 and 5.42 ± 1.96 mIU/liter, respectively. T4 substitution had no effect on any of the parameters measured.
Conclusion: In subjects with SHT where the serum TSH level is in the 3.5–10.0 mIU/liter range, there is no neuropsychological dysfunction, and compared with healthy controls, there is no difference in symptoms related to hypothyroidism.