bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6, secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 in the prediction of late outcome events after acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Hartford M. , Wiklund O. , Mattsson Hultén L. , Persson A. , Karlsson T. , Herlitz J. , Caidahl K. 
Published: October 2007

Abstract.Objective.  We investigated whether levels of C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), secretory phospholipase A2 group IIA (sPLA2‐IIA) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐I) predict late outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).Design.  Prospective longitudinal study. CRP (mg L−1), IL‐6 (pg mL−1), sPLA2‐IIA (ng mL−1) and ICAM‐1 (ng mL−1) were measured at days 1 (n = 757) and 4 (n = 533) after hospital admission for ACS. Their relations to mortality and rehospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI) and congestive heart failure (CHF) were determined.Setting.  Coronary Care Unit at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.Subjects.  Patients with ACS alive at day 30; median follow‐up 75 months.Results.  Survival was related to day 1 levels of all markers. After adjustment for confounders, CRP, IL‐6 and ICAM‐1, but not sPLA2‐IIA, independently predicted mortality and rehospitalization for CHF. For CRP, the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.3 for mortality (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1–1.5, P = 0.003) and 1.4 for CHF (95% CI: 1.1–1.9, P = 0.006). For IL‐6, HR was 1.3 for mortality (95% CI: 1.1–1.6, P < 0.001) and 1.4 for CHF (95% CI: 1.1–1.8, P = 0.02). For ICAM‐1, HR was 1.2 for mortality (95% CI: 1.0–1.4, P = 0.04) and 1.3 for CHF (95% CI: 1.0–1.7, P = 0.03). No marker predicted MI. Marker levels on day 4 provided no additional predictive value.Conclusions.  In patients with ACS, CRP, IL‐6, sPLA2‐IIA and ICAM‐1 are associated with long‐term mortality and CHF, but not reinfarction. CRP, IL‐6 and ICAM‐1 provide prognostic information beyond that obtained by clinical variables.
Differential leucocyte count and the risk of future coronary artery disease in healthy men and women: the EPIC‐Norfolk Prospective Population Study
Authors: Rana J. S. , Boekholdt S. M. , Ridker P. M. , Jukema J. W. , Luben R. , Bingham S. A. , Day N. E. , Wareham N. J. , Kastelein J. J. P. , Khaw K.‐T. 
Published: October 2007

Abstract.  Rana JS, Boekholdt SM, Ridker PM, Jukema JW, Luben R, Bingham SA, Day NE, Wareham NJ, Kastelein JJP, Khaw K‐T. (Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands; and Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK). Differential leucocyte count and the risk of future coronary artery disease in healthy men and women: the EPIC‐Norfolk Prospective Population Study. J Intern Med 2007; 262: 678–689.Background:  We examined the relationship between granulocyte, lymphocyte and monocyte counts and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and women. There is paucity of data on the differential leucocyte count and its relationship with the risk of CHD and CVD.Methods:  This prospective study comprised 7073 men and 9035 women who were 45–79 years of age and were residents of Norfolk. United Kingdom.Results:  During an average of 8 years of follow‐up we identified 857 incident CHD events and 2581 CVD incident events. Increased total leucocyte count was associated with increased risk for both CHD and CVD. The highest quartile of granulocyte count was associated with increased risk when compared to lowest quartile for CHD (men HR 1.70 95% CI: 1.30–2.21; women HR 1.24 95% CI: 0.91–1.69) and for CVD (men HR 1.46 95% CI: 1.24–1.71; women HR 1.20 95% CI: 1.02–1.42). The association remained unchanged when the analyses were restricted to nonsmokers and when risk was assessed for every 1000 cells L−1 increase in cell count. In multivariable models, despite adjusting for C‐reactive protein (CRP), the granulocyte count remained an independent predictor of CHD and CVD risk, especially amongst men. Lymphocyte or monocyte counts were not significantly associated with increased risk. In all analyses, additionally adjusting for CRP did not affect the results materially.Conclusions:  In conclusion, we found that the higher risk for CHD and CVD associated with increased total leucocyte count seems to be accounted for by the increased granulocyte count.
Application of the parametric bootstrap method to determine statistical errors in quantitative X‐ray microanalysis of thin films
Authors: ARMIGLIATO ALDO , BALBONI ROBERTO , ROSA RODOLFO 
Published: October 2007

SummaryWe applied the parametric bootstrap to the X‐ray microanalysis of Si‐Ge binary alloys, in order to assess the dependence of the Ge concentrations and the local film thickness, obtained by using previously described Monte Carlo methods, on the precision of the measured intensities. We show how it is possible by this method to determine the statistical errors associated with the quantitative analysis performed in sample regions of different composition and thickness, but by conducting only one measurement. We recommend the use of the bootstrap for a broad range of applications for quantitative microanalysis to estimate the precision of the final results and to compare the performances of different methods to each other. Finally, we exploited a test based on bootstrap confidence intervals to ascertain if, for given X‐ray intensities, different values of the estimated composition in two points of the sample are indicative of an actual lack of homogeneity.
Bundles of hexagonally arranged tubules in timothy grass pollen: Detection of a novel pollen component using anhydrous fixation and image analysis techniques in transmission electron microscopy
Authors: GROTE MONIKA , KRZYZANEK VLADISLAV , REICHELT RUDOLF 
Published: October 2007

SummaryPollen from timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.) was subjected to various aqueous and non‐aqueous fixation and preparation protocols for transmission electron microscopy. Only in the cytoplasm of anhydrously prepared pollen grains were conspicuous inclusions observed that range in size from less than 1 μm up to 8 or 10 μm. These bodies have so far not been described in the literature. Higher magnifications show that these inclusions consist of bundles of hexagonally arranged small tubules. In order to obtain details of the ultrastructure of this novel pollen component, TEM micrographs of ultrathin sections of hexagonally arranged tubules were analyzed using Fourier transform techniques of image analysis. It was found that the tubules form groups with quasi‐periodic hexagonal arrangement, with an average centre‐to‐centre spacing between the neighbouring tubules of approximately 42 nm. Individual tubules are formed by 12 or 13 particles. The outer diameter of the tubules ranges between 22 and 24 nm. From our experiments, we conclude that the quasi‐periodic hexagonally arranged tubules forming conspicuous cytoplasmic inclusions in dry timothy grass pollen grains are structurally similar to microtubules.
Fabrication of high‐quality SNOM probes by pre‐treating the fibres before chemical etching
Authors: YANG JING , ZHANG JIASEN , LI ZHI , GONG QIHUANG 
Published: October 2007

SummaryA new method to fabricate high‐quality fibre probes for scanning near‐field optical microscopes by pre‐treating the fibre before chemical etching was proposed and implemented. In the pre‐treating process, the diameter of the fibre is reduced to a range of 7 –20 μm by etching one end of the fibre in the HF solution and a taper angle is formed simultaneously. Then the tapered part of the fibre is coated with a thick layer of plastic film and etched in the HF solution again. High‐quality probes are obtained with an apex diameter as low as ∼20 nm and a large cone angle.
Feasibility of detecting trabecular bone around percutaneous titanium implants in rabbits by in vivo microfocus computed tomography
Authors: STOPPIE NELE , WEVERS MARTINE , NAERT IGNACE 
Published: October 2007

Summary Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the feasibility of in vivo imaging of trabecular bone around titanium implants by means of microfocus computed tomography (micro‐CT) and the use of rabbits for this purpose. Materials and Methods: Ten male rabbits type Hollander, received a titanium implant (1.7 mm diameter and 10 mm length) in the trabecular bone of the left tibia. Seven weeks later a micro‐CT scan was taken. Four rabbits were used to monitor potential harmful effects from X‐ray absorption until 4 weeks after scanning. A second group of six rabbits was used for testing the hypothesis that a good correlation exists between in vivo micro‐CT images and histological images of trabecular bone around titanium implants. The six rabbits were scanned and sacrificed immediately. The tibias were extracted and submitted to standard histological procedures. This resulted in a total of 12 histological sections and their corresponding 12 micro‐CT images. Bone area measurements were performed at the left and right side of the implant in three regions: 0–500, 500–1000 and 1000–1500 μm distance from the implant interface. Intra‐class correlations (ICC) were calculated between both techniques. Results: The four rabbits did not show any sign of radiodermatitis 4 weeks after scanning. In the micro‐CT images of the group of six rabbits, trabeculae are visible, but not well defined, due to the presence of noise in the image. The ICC for the right implant side were 0.44 for zone 0–500 μm, 0.48 for zone 500–1000 μm and 0.40 for zone 1000–1500 μm. The ICC for the left implant side could not be calculated. Conclusion: A low agreement was found between the bone measurements from histology and in vivo micro‐CT images. The use of the in vivo micro‐CT for trabecular bone imaging around metallic implants should be restricted to track tendencies in follow‐up studies.
Characterization of the calcification of cardiac valve bioprostheses by environmental scanning electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy
Authors: DELOGNE CHRISTOPHE , LAWFORD PATRICIA V , HABESCH STEVEN M , CAROLAN VIKKI A 
Published: October 2007

SummaryBioprosthetic heart valve tissue and associated calcification were studied in their natural state, using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Energy dispersive X‐ray micro‐analysis, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared and Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the various calcific deposits observed with ESEM. The major elements present in calcified valves were also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. To better understand the precursor formation of the calcific deposits, results from the elemental analyses were statistically correlated. ESEM revealed the presence of four broad types of calcium phosphate crystal morphology. In addition, two main patterns of organization of calcific deposits were observed associated with the collagen fibres. Energy dispersive X‐ray micro‐analysis identified the crystals observed by ESEM as salts containing mainly calcium and phosphate with ratios from 1.340 (possibly octacalcium phosphate, which has a Ca/P ratio of 1.336) to 2.045 (possibly hydroxyapatite with incorporation of carbonate and metal ion contaminants, such as silicon and magnesium, in the crystal lattice). Raman and fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy also identified the presence of carbonate and the analyses showed spectral features very similar to a crystalline hydroxyapatite spectrum, also refuting the presence of precursor phases such as β‐tricalcium phosphate, octacalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate. The results of this study raised the possibility of the presence of precursor phases associated with the early stages of calcification.
Orientational analysis of planar fibre systems observed as a Poisson shot‐noise process
Authors: KÄRKKÄINEN SALME , LANTUÉJOUL CHRISTIAN 
Published: October 2007

SummaryWe consider two‐dimensional fibrous materials observed as a digital greyscale image. The problem addressed is to estimate the orientation distribution of unobservable thin fibres from a greyscale image modelled by a planar Poisson shot‐noise process. The classical stereological approach is not straightforward, because the point intensities of thin fibres along sampling lines may not be observable. For such cases,Kärkkäinenet al.(2001)suggested the use of scaled variograms determined from grey values along sampling lines in several directions. Their method is based on the assumption that the proportion between the scaled variograms and point intensities in all directions of sampling lines is constant. This assumption is proved to be valid asymptotically for Boolean models and dead leaves models, under some regularity conditions. In this work, we derive the scaled variogram and its approximations for a planar Poisson shot‐noise process using the modified Bessel function. In the case of reasonable high resolution of the observed image, the scaled variogram has an approximate functional relation to the point intensity, and in the case of high resolution the relation is proportional. As the obtained relations are approximative, they are tested on simulations. The existing orientation analysis method based on the proportional relation is further experimented on images with different resolutions. The new result, the asymptotic proportionality between the scaled variograms and the point intensities for a Poisson shot‐noise process, completes the earlier results for the Boolean models and for the dead leaves models.
LplA1‐dependent utilization of host lipoyl peptides enables Listeria cytosolic growth and virulence
Authors: Keeney Kristie M. , Stuckey Jeanne A. , O'Riordan Mary X. D. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryThe bacterial pathogen Listeria monocytogenes replicates within the cytosol of mammalian cells. Mechanisms by which the bacterium exploits the host cytosolic environment for essential nutrients are poorly defined. L. monocytogenes is a lipoate auxotroph and must scavenge this critical cofactor, using lipoate ligases to facilitate attachment of the lipoyl moiety to metabolic enzyme complexes. Although the L. monocytogenes genome encodes two putative lipoate ligases, LplA1 and LplA2, intracellular replication and virulence require only LplA1. Here we show that LplA1 enables utilization of host‐derived lipoyl peptides by L. monocytogenes. LplA1 is dispensable for growth in the presence of free lipoate, but necessary for growth on low concentrations of mammalian lipoyl peptides. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the intracellular growth defect of the ΔlplA1 mutant is rescued by addition of exogenous lipoic acid to host cells, suggesting that L. monocytogenes dependence on LplA1 is dictated by limiting concentrations of available host lipoyl substrates. Thus, the ability of L. monocytogenes and other intracellular pathogens to efficiently use host lipoyl peptides as a source of lipoate may be a requisite adaptation for life within the mammalian cell.
LeuO antagonizes H‐NS and StpA‐dependent repression in Salmonella enterica ompS1
Authors: De la Cruz Miguel Ángel , Fernández‐Mora Marcos , Guadarrama Carmen , Flores‐Valdez Mario Alberto , Bustamante Víctor H. , Vázquez Alejandra , Calva Edmundo 
Published: October 2007

SummaryThe ompS1 gene encodes a quiescent porin in Salmonella enterica. We analysed the effects of H‐NS and StpA, a paralogue of H‐NS, on ompS1 expression. In an hns single mutant expression was derepressed but did not reach the maximum level. Expression in an stpA single mutant showed the same low repressed level as the wild type. In contrast, in an hns stpA background, OmpS1 became abundant in the outer membrane. The expression of ompS1 was positively regulated by LeuO, a LysR‐type quiescent regulator that has been involved in pathogenesis. Upon induction of the cloned leuO gene into the wild type, ompS1 was completely derepressed and the OmpS1 porin was detected in the outer membrane. LeuO activated the P1 promoter in an OmpR‐dependent manner and P2 in the absence of OmpR. LeuO bound upstream of the regulatory region of ompS1 overlapping with one nucleation site of H‐NS and StpA. Our results are thus consistent with a model where H‐NS binds at a nucleation site and LeuO displaces H‐NS and StpA.
Allelic diversity associated with aridity gradient in wild emmer wheat populations
Authors: PELEG ZVI , SARANGA YEHOSHUA , KRUGMAN TAMAR , ABBO SHAHAL , NEVO EVIATAR , FAHIMA TZION 
Published: October 2007

ABSTRACTThe association between allelic diversity and ecogeographical variables was studied in natural populations of wild emmer wheat [Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Körn.) Thell.], the tetraploid progenitor of cultivated wheat. Patterns of allelic diversity in 54 microsatellite loci were analyzed in a collection of 145 wild emmer wheat accessions representing 25 populations that were sampled across naturally occurring aridity gradient in Israel and surrounding regions. The obtained results revealed that 56% of the genetic variation resided among accessions within populations, while only 44% of the variation resided between populations. An unweighted pair‐group method analysis (UPGMA) tree constructed based on the microsatellite allelic diversity divided the 25 populations into six major groups. Several groups were comprised of populations that were collected in ecologically similar but geographically remote habitats. Furthermore, genetic differentiation between populations was independent of the geographical distances. An interesting evolutionary phenomenon is highlighted by the unimodal relationship between allelic diversity and annual rainfall (r = 0.74, P < 0.0002), indicating higher allelic diversity in populations originated from habitats with intermediate environmental stress (i.e. rainfall 350–550 mm year−1). These results show for the first time that the ‘intermediate‐disturbance hypothesis’, explaining biological diversity at the ecosystem level, also dominates the genetic diversity within a single species, the lowest hierarchical element of the biological diversity.
TAC1, a major quantitative trait locus controlling tiller angle in rice
Authors: Yu Baisheng , Lin Zhongwei , Li Haixia , Li Xiaojiao , Li Jiayang , Wang Yonghong , Zhang Xia , Zhu Zuofeng , Zhai Wenxue , Wang Xiangkun , Xie Daoxin , Sun Chuanqing 
Published: October 2007

SummaryA critical step during rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation is dense planting: a wider tiller angle will increase leaf shade and decrease photosynthesis efficiency, whereas a narrower tiller angle makes for more efficient plant architecture. The molecular basis of tiller angle remains unknown. This research demonstrates that tiller angle is controlled by a major quantitative trait locus, TAC1 (Tiller Angle Control 1). TAC1 was mapped to a 35‐kb region on chromosome 9 using a large F2 population from crosses between an indica rice, IR24, which displays a relatively spread‐out plant architecture, and an introgressed line, IL55, derived from japonica rice Asominori, which displays a compact plant architecture with extremely erect tillers. Genetic complementation further identified the TAC1 gene, which harbors three introns in its coding region and a fourth 1.5‐kb intron in the 3′‐untranslated region. A mutation in the 3′‐splicing site of this 1.5‐kb intron from ‘AGGA’ to ‘GGGA’ decreases the level of tac1, resulting in a compact plant architecture with a tiller angle close to zero. Further sequence verification of the mutation in the 3′‐splicing site of the 1.5‐kb intron revealed that the tac1 mutation ‘GGGA’ was present in 88 compact japonica rice accessions and TAC1 with ‘AGGA’ was present in 21 wild rice accessions and 43 indica rice accessions, all with the spread‐out form, indicating that tac1 had been extensively utilized in densely planted rice grown in high‐latitude temperate areas and at high altitudes where japonica rice varieties are widely cultivated.
NaRALF, a peptide signal essential for the regulation of root hair tip apoplastic pH in Nicotiana attenuata, is required for root hair development and plant growth in native soils
Authors: Wu Jinsong , Kurten Erin L. , Monshausen Gabriele , Hummel Grégoire M. , Gilroy Simon , Baldwin Ian T. 
Published: October 2007

SummaryRapid alkalinization factor (RALF) is a 49‐amino‐acid peptide that rapidly alkalinizes cultivated tobacco cell cultures. In the native tobacco Nicotiana attenuata, NaRALF occurs as a single‐copy gene and is highly expressed in roots and petioles. Silencing the NaRALF transcript by transforming N. attenuata with an inverted‐repeat construct generated plants (irRALF) with normal wild‐type (WT) above‐ground parts, but with roots that grew longer and produced trichoblasts that developed into abnormal root hairs. Most trichoblasts produced a localized ‘bulge’ without commencing root hair tip growth; fewer trichoblasts grew, but were only 10% as long as those of WT plants. The root hair phenotype was associated with slowed apoplastic pH oscillations, increased pH at the tips of trichoblasts and decreased accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the root hair initiation zone. The root hair growth phenotype was partially restored when irRALF lines were grown in a low‐pH‐buffered medium, and reproduced in WT plants grown in a high‐pH‐buffered medium. When irRALF plants were grown in pH 5.6, 6.7 and 8.1 soils together with WT plants in glasshouse experiments, they were out‐competed by WT plants in basic, but not acidic, soils. When WT and irRALF lines were planted into the basic soils of the native habitat of N. attenuata in the Great Basin Desert, irRALF plants had smaller leaves, shorter stalks, and produced fewer flowers and seed capsules than did WT plants. We conclude that NaRALF is required for regulating root hair extracellular pH, the transition from root hair initiation to tip growth and plant growth in basic soils.