bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Winter soil frost conditions in boreal forests control growing season soil CO2 concentration and its atmospheric exchange
Authors: ÖQUIST M. G. , LAUDON H. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractThe impact of changes in winter soil frost regime on soil CO2 concentration and its atmospheric exchange in a boreal Norway spruce forest was investigated using a field‐scale soil frost manipulation experiment. The experiment comprised three treatments: deep soil frost, shallow soil frost and control plots (n= 3). Winter soil temperatures and soil frost distribution were significantly altered by the different treatments. The average soil CO2 concentrations during the growing season were significantly lower in plots with deep soil frost than in plots with shallow soil frost. The average CO2 soil–atmosphere exchange rate exhibited the same pattern, and differences in soil respiration rates among the treatments were statistically significant. Both the variation in soil CO2 concentration and the CO2 soil–atmosphere exchange rate could statistically be explained by the differences in the maximum soil frost depth during the previous winter. A response model for growing season soil respiration rates suggests that every 1 cm change in winter soil frost depth will change the emission rates by ca. 0.01 g CO2 m−2 day−1, corresponding to 0.2–0.5% of the estimated net ecosystem productivity (NEP). This suggests that the soil frost regime has a significant influence on the C balance of the system, because interannual variations in soil frost up to 60 cm have been recorded at the site. We conclude that winter climate conditions can be important in controlling C balances in northern terrestrial ecosystems, and also that indirect effects of the winter season must be taken into account, because these can affect the prevailing conditions during the growing season.
Sampling survey on intellectual disability in 0∼6‐year‐old children in China
Authors: Xie Z.‐H. , Bo S.‐Y. , Zhang X.‐T. , Liu M. , Zhang Z.‐X. , Yang X.‐L. , JI S.‐R. , Yan H. , Sui X.‐L. , Na X. , Guo S.‐H. , Wu Z.‐L. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractObjectives  To understand the current status of intellectually disabled children and the prevalence of intellectual disability (ID) in children aged 0∼6 years and its risk factors, and to provide scientific evidence to formulate relevant policies for helping intellectually disabled children.Methods  Multiphase, stratified, unequal proportional and cluster sampling was adopted to investigate 60 124 children aged 0∼6 years. All the children investigated were screened for ID using the Denver Developmental Screening Test, and those with positive screening test would be further diagnosed by varied specialists using the Gesell Developmental Inventory.Results  In total, 560 of 60 124 children were diagnosed as intellectually disabled with an overall prevalence of 0.93%. Prevalence of ID was highest in children living in medium‐developed areas with a prevalence of 1.20%, higher than in those living in developed areas (0.75%) and in underdeveloped areas (0.84%). It was higher in rural areas (1.03%) than in urban areas (0.83%), and higher in boys (1.01%) than in girls (0.84%). Prevalence of ID increased with the age of children and decreased with the educational level of their parents.Conclusions  The study suggested that ID is still prevalent in the children of China, and rehabilitation for them is lagging behind current needs. Early prevention of ID in children and pre‐school education for them should be strengthened.
Smelling right: the scent of male lemurs advertises genetic quality and relatedness
Authors: CHARPENTIER MARIE J. E. , BOULET MARYLÈNE , DREA CHRISTINE M. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractSexual selection theory predicts that competitors or potential mates signal their quality or relatedness to conspecifics. Researchers have focused on visual or auditory modes of signal transmission; however, the importance of olfactory indicators is gaining recognition. Using a primate model and a new integrative analytical approach, we provide the first evidence relating male olfactory cues to individual genome‐wide heterozygosity and to the genetic distance between individuals. The relationships between male semiochemical profiles and genetic characteristics are apparent only during the highly competitive and stressful breeding season. As heterozygosity accurately predicts health and survivorship in this population, we identify scrotal olfactory cues as honest indicators of male quality, with relevance possibly to both sexes. Beyond showing that semiochemicals could underlie kin recognition and nepotism, we provide a putative olfactory mechanism to guide male–male competition and female mate choice.
Spatial distribution of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA variation in Daubenton's bat within Scotland
Authors: NGAMPRASERTWONG THONGCHAI , MACKIE IAIN J. , RACEY PAUL A. , PIERTNEY STUART B. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractDaubenton's bat (Myotis daubentonii) is a known reservoir for European bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV‐2). An appreciation of the potential for epidemiological spread and disease risk requires an understanding of the dispersal of the primary host, and any large‐scale geographical barriers that may impede gene flow. The spatial pattern of microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA variation was examined to infer patterns of dispersal of bats among 35 populations across Scotland. DNA sequence variation at the mitochondrial control region and ND1 genes revealed two distinct phylogeographical clades, with generally nonoverlapping geographical distributions except for a small number of populations where both matrilines were found in sympatry. Such discontinuity suggests that Scotland was recolonised twice following the retreat of the Pleistocene ice sheet with little subsequent matrilineal introgression. However, eight microsatellite loci showed low levels of genetic divergence among populations, even between populations from the two distinct mitochondrial DNA clades. An overall, macrogeographical genetic isolation‐by‐distance pattern was observed, with high levels of gene flow among local populations. Apparently contrasting patterns of mitochondrial and microsatellite divergence at different scales could be explained by sex‐specific differences in gene flow at large scales.
GHASP: an Hα kinematic survey of spiral and irregular galaxies – VI. New Hα data cubes for 108 galaxies
Authors: Epinat B. , Amram P. , Marcelin M. , Balkowski C. , Daigle O. , Hernandez O. , Chemin L. , Carignan C. , Gach J.-L. , Balard P. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
We present the Fabry–Perot observations obtained for a new set of 108 galaxies in the frame of the Gassendi Hα survey of SPirals (GHASP). The GHASP survey consists of 3D Hα data cubes for 203 spiral and irregular galaxies, covering a large range in morphological types and absolute magnitudes, for kinematics analysis. The new set of data presented here completes the survey. The GHASP sample is by now the largest sample of Fabry–Perot data ever published. The analysis of the whole GHASP sample will be done in forthcoming papers. Using adaptive binning techniques based on Voronoi tessellations, we have derived Hα data cubes from which are computed Hα maps, radial velocity fields as well as residual velocity fields, position–velocity diagrams, rotation curves and the kinematical parameters for almost all galaxies. Original improvements in the determination of the kinematical parameters, rotation curves and their uncertainties have been implemented in the reduction procedure. This new method is based on the whole 2D velocity field and on the power spectrum of the residual velocity field rather than the classical method using successive crowns in the velocity field. Among the results, we point out that morphological position angles have systematically higher uncertainties than kinematical ones, especially for galaxies with low inclination. The morphological inclination of galaxies having no robust determination of their morphological position angle cannot be constrained correctly. Galaxies with high inclination show a better agreement between their kinematical inclination and their morphological inclination computed assuming a thin disc. The consistency of the velocity amplitude of our rotation curves has been checked using the Tully–Fisher relationship. Our data are in good agreement with previous determinations found in the literature. Nevertheless, galaxies with low inclination have statistically higher velocities than expected and fast rotators are less luminous than expected.
A multi-coloured survey of NGC 253 with XMM–Newton: testing the methods used for creating luminosity functions from low-count data
Authors: Barnard R. , Greening L. Shaw , Kolb U. 
Published: June 2008

Abstract
NGC 253 is a local, starbursting spiral galaxy with strong X-ray emission from hot gas, as well as many point sources. We have conducted a spectral survey of the X-ray population of NGC 253 using a deep XMM–Newton observation. NGC 253 only accounts for ∼20 per cent of the XMM–Newton EPIC field of view, allowing us to identify ∼100 X-ray sources that are unlikely to be associated with NGC 253. Hence, we were able to make a direct estimate of contamination from, for example, foreground stars and background galaxies.
X-ray luminosity functions (XLFs) of galaxy populations are often used to characterize their properties. There are several methods for estimating the luminosities of X-ray sources with few photons. We have obtained spectral fits for the brightest 140 sources in the 2003 XMM–Newton observation of NGC 253, and compare the best-fitting luminosities of those 69 non-nuclear sources associated with NGC 253 with luminosities derived using other methods. We find the luminosities obtained from these various methods to vary systematically by a factor of up to 3 for the same data; this is largely due to differences in absorption. We therefore conclude that assuming Galactic absorption is probably unwise; rather, one should measure the absorption for the population.
A remarkable correlation has been reported between the XLFs of galaxies and their star formation rates. However, the XLFs used in that study were obtained using several different methods. If the sample galaxies were revisited and a single method were applied, then this correlation may become stronger still.
In addition, we find that standard estimations of the background contribution to the X-ray sources in the field are insufficient. We find that the background active galactic nuclei (AGN) may be systematically more luminous than previously expected. However, the excess in our measured AGN XLF with respect to the expected XLF may be due to an as yet unrecognized population associated with NGC 253.
Schistosoma mansoni Triose Phosphate Isomerase Peptide MAP4 is Able to Trigger Naïve Donor Immune Response Towards a Type‐1 Cytokine Profile
Authors: Reis E. A. G. , Mauadi Carmo T. A. , Athanazio R. , Reis M. G. , Harn Jr D. A. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractWe evaluated the ability of naïve monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (DC) to sensitize autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to the schistosome vaccine candidate MAP4 using a priming in vitro (PIV) assay. MAP4 is a multiple antigen peptide containing B‐ and T‐cell epitopes derived from the glycolytic enzyme triose phosphate isomerase. PBMC primed and restimulated with MAP4 first and secondary recalls (MAP4 PIV cells) were examined for cell phenotype and cytokine production. We found that after the first recall stimulation with MAP4, the major cell population was predominantly CD4+ T‐cell subsets (68.5%), CD8+high (16%) and CD19+ (10%). Additionally, MAP4 PIV cells significantly expressed CD4+‐HLA‐DR+, ‐CD54+, ‐CD45RO+ (P < 0.0001) and ‐CD25+ (P < 0.0004) together with significant expression of CD80+ on CD19+ B cells (P < 0.007). Cytokine production from activated MAP4 PIV cells was predominantly Th1‐like, consisting mainly of IFN‐γ. Interestingly, IFN‐γ production was suppressed when Schistosoma mansoni‐soluble egg antigen (SEA) was added to a MAP4 PIV cell culture. Furthermore, addition of MAP4 to a SEA PIV cell culture significantly reduced secretion of IL‐10. The present findings add to the knowledge gained from studies in the mouse model, and our results show that naïve donor DC, sensitized with MAP4, were able to prime and clonally expand MAP4‐specific T cells towards a Th1‐type response.
Influence of clonal growth on selfing rate in Vaccinium myrtillus L.
Authors: Albert T. , Raspé O. , Jacquemart A.‐L. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractClonal growth, which allows the multiplication of flowering shoots of the same genet, can lead to a large floral display and may thus increase the rate of selfing through geitonogamy as a consequence of an increase in the number of successively visited flowers. The aim of the present research was to analyse the combined effect of the diversity and intermingling of clones on the rate of selfing in Vaccinium myrtillus. Four mother plants were selected within patches characterised by contrasting clonal structure (low versus high number and intermingling of clones). The selfing rate was significantly lower for plants situated within patches characterised by a high number of intermingled clones (3%) than for plants situated in patches with a low number of clones (50%). Therefore, for this species suffering from inbreeding depression, an increase in the number or the intermingling of the clones could reduce the rate and the cost of geitonogamy and allow a large floral display to attract pollinators. We also found that the main pollinators, bumblebee queens, presented a foraging behaviour favouring geitonogamy, as their successive visits to flowers were quite short (89% of flights were 40 cm or less).
Effect of the Rht‐D1 dwarfing locus on Fusarium head blight rating in three segregating populations of winter wheat
Authors: Voss H.‐H. , Holzapfel J. , Hartl L. , Korzun V. , Rabenstein F. , Ebmeyer E. , Coester H. , Kempf H. , Miedaner T. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractFusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the major fungal diseases in wheat throughout the world. To control FHB severity, breeding genetically resistant varieties is thought to be the most promising strategy. In wheat breeding programmes, short cultivars predominantly carrying the Norin 10 derived semi‐dwarfing allele Rht‐D1b (Rht2) are preferred worldwide because of higher achievable grain yields and lower risk of lodging. This study was conducted to determine the influence of different alleles at the Rht‐D1 locus on FHB reaction. Three winter wheat populations were produced by crossing rather susceptible varieties ‘Biscay’, ‘Pirat’ and ‘Rubens’ carrying mutant‐type allele Rht‐D1b with the more resistant varieties ‘Apache’, ‘Romanus’ and ‘History’ containing the Rht‐D1a wild‐type allele (rht2). The 190, 216 and 103 progeny of the F4‐derived populations were assayed for the presence of Rht‐D1a or Rht‐D1b, plant height, and mean FHB rating after spray inoculation at flowering time with a highly aggressive isolate of Fusarium culmorum. Comparably, high mean FHB severities ranging from 28% to 49% for all population × environment combinations were achieved, with significant genotypic variation for FHB rating and plant height within all populations. Both traits were negatively correlated with r ranging from −0.48 to −0.61 in the complete populations. However, within the subpopulations homozygous for one or other height allele these correlations decreased considerably. The Rht‐D1b semi‐dwarfing allele resulted in 7–18% shorter plants, depending on the population, but a considerably increased FHB reaction of 22–53%. Nevertheless, significant genotypic variance for FHB resistance remained in all tested Rht‐D1b subpopulations indicating that selection for moderately FHB resistant genotypes within agronomically beneficial Rht‐D1b genotypes is still feasible.
PHYSIOLOGICAL SLEEP‐DEPENDENT CHANGES IN ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURE: CENTRAL AUTONOMIC COMMANDS AND BAROREFLEX CONTROL
Authors: Silvani Alessandro 
Published: June 2008

SUMMARY

Sleep is a heterogeneous behaviour. As a first approximation, it is subdivided objectively into two states: non‐rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS).
The mean value and variability of arterial blood pressure (ABP) decrease physiologically from wakefulness to NREMS. In REMS, there may be a further decrease or increase in mean ABP as well as phasic hypertensive events, which enhance the variability of ABP.
The reduced mean ABP during NREMS results from a decrease in either heart rate or sympathetic vasoconstrictor tone. During REMS, sympathetic activity to the different cardiovascular effectors undergoes a substantial repatterning. Thus, the mean ABP in REMS reflects a balance between changes in cardiac output and constriction or dilatation of different vascular beds.
In both sleep states, the phasic changes in ABP are driven by bursts of vasoconstriction, which may be accompanied by surges of heart rate.
The available evidence supports the hypothesis that the sleep‐dependent changes in ABP, either tonic or phasic, result from the integration between cardiovascular reflexes and central autonomic commands that are specific to each sleep state.
The investigation of putative agents, using an in vitro model, to prevent cavernosal smooth muscle dysfunction during low‐flow priapism
Authors: Muneer Asif , Cellek Selim , Ralph David J. , Minhas Suks 
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of putative agents for preventing irreversible smooth muscle dysfunction, using an in vitro model of low‐flow priapism (a condition conventionally managed using a combination of corporal blood aspiration and instillation of α‐adrenergic agonists), as failure of detumescence results in a high incidence of erectile dysfunction.MATERIALS AND METHODSWe investigated the effects of several agents (N‐acetylcysteine, BayK 8644, glutathione, digoxin, calcium and Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester) on the recovery of smooth muscle tone after exposure to 4 h of a combination of hypoxia, glucopenia and acidosis in corpus cavernosum isolated from rabbit.RESULTSAfter 4 h of ischaemia, none of the agents were able to prevent irreversible smooth muscle dysfunction.CONCLUSIONProlonged low‐flow priapism leads to smooth muscle dysfunction and fibrosis within the corpus cavernosum. When α‐adrenergic agents fail to reverse the condition, surgical intervention is required. We showed that the administration of novel agents, including antioxidants, does not prevent smooth muscle dysfunction.
Exogenous nitric oxide negatively regulates c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase activation via inhibiting endogenous NO‐induced S‐nitrosylation during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rat hippocampus
Authors: Pei Dong‐Sheng , Song Yuan‐Jian , Yu Hong‐Min , Hu Wei‐Wei , Du Yang , Zhang Guang‐Yi 
Published: June 2008

AbstractNitric oxide (NO), synthesized from l‐arginine by NO synthases, is a small endogenous free radical with multiple functions. The c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway plays a critical role in mediating apoptosis in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. In this study, we found that the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) can decrease the damage of hippocampal neurons induced by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Our current study demonstrates that SNP can suppress the phosphorylation of JNK3 by suppressing the increased S‐nitrosylation of JNK3 induced by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. In contrast, dithiothreitol reversed the effect of SNP on S‐nitrosylation of JNK3. Furthermore, the inhibitor of nNOS (7‐NI) and the inhibitor of iNOS (AMT) can decrease JNK3 phosphorylation through decreasing S‐nitrosylation of JNK3. Our data suggest that endogenous NO synthesized by NO synthases can increase JNK3 phosphorylation by means of S‐nitrosylation during global ischemia/reperfusion in rat hippocampus. However, the exogenous NO (SNP) can reverse the effect of endogenous NO by inhibiting S‐nitrosylation of JNK3. Together, these results suggest that the exogenous NO may provide a new clue for stroke therapy.
Thrombin induces osteoprotegerin synthesis via phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in human periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Arayatrakoollikit U. , Pavasant P. , Yongchaitrakul T. 
Published: June 2008

Background and Objective:  Thrombin influences the biological behavior of periodontal ligament cells and plays multiple roles in the early stages of bone healing. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is one of the key molecules that regulate bone homeostasis and prevent osteoclastogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of thrombin on OPG synthesis in human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells in vitro.Material and Methods:  Cells were treated with various concentrations (0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 U/mL) of thrombin. The mRNA expression and protein synthesis of OPG, as well as of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), were determined by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and Western blot analysis, respectively. The influence of thrombin on OPG synthesis and its signaling pathway were investigated using inhibitors.Results:  Thrombin profoundly induces protein synthesis of OPG at 0.1 U/mL. The inductive effect was inhibited by cycloheximide, but not by indomethacin. The phosphatidylinositol 3′‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, rapamycin, exerted an inhibitory effect on the thrombin‐induced OPG synthesis. In addition, the effect was inhibited by protease‐activated receptor (PAR)‐1 antagonist. Activation of phospho‐Akt (p‐Akt) was observed and the effect was abolished by LY294002.Conclusion:  Thrombin induces OPG synthesis in HPDL cells post‐transcriptionally, possibly through PAR‐1. The regulation was through the PI3K/Akt and mTOR pathway. This finding suggests that thrombin may play a significant role in alveolar bone repair and homeostasis of periodontal tissue, partly through the OPG/RANKL system.
The barnacle and the building: a modern morality tale
Authors: BUCKERIDGE John S. 
Published: June 2008

AbstractA rare and almost complete barnacle fossil, previously described on the basis of two isolated shell fragments, was recently exposed in a limestone block on the outer wall of Melbourne's Old Magistrates' Courts in Victoria, Australia. These courts comprise one of the oldest and grandest buildings in Melbourne and because of this they have a heritage listing. As heritage‐listed buildings are protected from alteration by law, and as removal of the fossil would be deemed “alteration”, official permission had to be obtained to extract the specimen. This paper discusses the processes involved with extraction of a unique specimen from a protected building and provides an overview of the palaeontological significance of the fossil. Consideration is given to the likely fate of a fossil of this nature, situated a little below eye level on a busy city street, if it was left in situ; finally, the implications of designating a holotype from material removed from a building are assessed.