bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Photosynthetic activity of a temperate coral Acropora pruinosa (Scleractinia, Anthozoa) with symbiotic algae in Japan
Authors: Nakamura Eriko , Yokohama Yasutsugu , Tanaka Jiro 
Published: February 2006

SUMMARYPhysiological properties of the temperate hermatypic coral Acropora pruinosa Brook with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) on the southern coast of the Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, were compared between summer and winter. Photosynthesis and respiration rates of the coral with symbiotic zooxanthellae were measured in summer and winter under controlled temperatures and irradiances with a differential gasvolumeter (Productmeter). Net photosynthetic rate under all irradiances was higher in winter than in summer at the lower range of temperature (12–20°C), while lower than in summer at the higher range of temperature (20–30°C). The optimum temperature for net photosynthesis was apt to fall with the decrease of irradiance both in summer and winter, whereas it was higher in summer than in winter under each irradiance. At 25/ 50/100 μmol photons nr2 s−1, it was nearly the sea‐water temperature in each season. Dark respiration rate was higher in winter than in summer, especially in the range from 20–30°C. In both seasons the optimum temperature for gross photosynthesis was 28°C under 400 μmol photons nr2 s−1 and lowered with decreasing irradiance up to 22°C under 25 μmol photons nr2 s−1 in summer, while 20°C under the same irradiance in winter. The optimum temperature for production/respiration (P/R) ratio was higher in summer than in winter under each irradiance. Results indicated that metabolism of coral and zooxanthellae is adapted to ambient temperature condition under nearly natural irradiance in each season.
Effect of salmonid introduction and other environmental characteristics on amphibian distribution and abundance in mountain lakes of northern Spain
Authors: Orizaola G. , Braña F. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractAmphibians are currently experiencing a severe worldwide decline. Several factors, such as habitat alteration, climate change, emerging diseases or the introduction of exotic species, have been signalled as being responsible for the reduction of amphibian populations. Among these, the introduction of fish predators has been repeatedly indicated as a factor affecting the distribution of many species. The present study was developed to examine the effect of fish presence and other environmental factors on the distribution and abundance of amphibian species in mountain lakes of the Cantabrian Range in northern Spain. We found no effect of salmonid presence on the distribution and abundance of two widespread anuran species Bufo bufo and Alytes obstetricans, whereas Rana temporaria showed a non‐significant tendency to be absent from salmonid‐occupied lakes. However, the presence of introduced salmonids was the main negative factor explaining the distribution of the newt species Triturus helveticus, Triturus alpestris and Triturus marmoratus. The effect on these species is likely to be due to increased larval mortality, as adult and egg predation by fish, or oviposition avoidance by female newts has rarely been recorded. Fish removal and the creation of alternative breeding habitats for amphibians are proposed as conservation measures to recover amphibian populations in the vicinity of fish‐stocked lakes.
Genetics and animal domestication: new windows on an elusive process
Authors: Dobney K. , Larson G. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractDomesticated animals are universally familiar. How, when, where and why they became domesticated is less well understood. The genetic revolution of the past few decades has facilitated novel insights into a field that previously was principally the domain of archaeozoologists. Although some of the conclusions drawn from genetic data have proved to be contentious, many studies have significantly altered or refined our understanding of past human animal relationships. This review seeks not only to discuss the wider concerns and ramifications of genetic approaches to the study of animal domestication but also to provide a broader theoretical framework for understanding the process itself. More specifically, we discuss issues related to the terminology associated with domestication, the possibility of domestication genes, and the promise and problems of genetics to answer the fundamental questions associated with domestication.
Cryptic species identification: a simple diagnostic tool for discriminating between two problematic bumblebee species
Authors: ELLIS J. S. , KNIGHT M. E. , CARVELL C. , GOULSON D. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractDistinguishing between cryptic species is a perennial problem for biologists. Bombus ruderatus and Bombus hortorum are two species of bumblebee, which can be indistinguishable from their morphology. The former species is in decline, whereas the latter is ubiquitous. In the UK, isolated records of B. ruderatus occur amongst many for B. hortorum. For ecological studies of B. ruderatus to be feasible, the two species need to be reliably distinguishable. We present a diagnostic tool for quick and reliable identification of problematic individuals based on a restriction enzyme digest of the cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA.
optibin: a computer program to bin alleles similarly distributed across populations
Authors: BROMAGHIN JEFFREY F. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractGenetic studies of fish and wildlife populations are increasingly based on highly polymorphic DNA loci. The large number of alleles, and particularly the large number of alleles that are observed in low frequency, have led many researchers to bin alleles. However, most strategies for binning alleles are subjective and may lead to loss of discriminatory power. A computer program that implements the allele‐binning algorithm of Bromaghin and Crape (2005) is described.
Development of microsatellite markers for the tropical moss, Acanthorrhynchium papillatum
Authors: LEONARDÍA ALFREDO AMIEL P. , KUMAR PRAKASH P. , TAN BENITO C. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWe isolated and characterized microsatellite loci for the palaeotropic moss, Acanthorrhynchium papillatum. Eight loci tested on 98 gametophytic samples generated four to 26 alleles per locus with genetic diversities ranging from 0.578 to 0.936. These microsatellite loci are now being used as genetic markers for studies on the effects of deforestation on moss populations in South‐East Asia.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the southern emu‐wren (Stipiturus malachurus: Aves)
Authors: MAGUIRE G. S. , GUAY P.‐J. , MULDER R. A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractWe isolated and characterized eight novel microsatellite loci in the southern emu‐wren (Stipiturus malachurus). We used nonradioactive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based techniques to screen an enriched genomic DNA library. Based on genotypes from a single population, six loci showed no evidence of null alleles and were polymorphic (allele range = 2–9, mean heterozygosity = 0.57), and one locus was sex‐linked (NA = 4). These loci were variable and had different allele size ranges in three other populations of southern emu‐wrens, and are therefore useful for determining levels of genetic diversity within and between populations of the species.
The aging neurogenic subventricular zone
Authors: Luo Jie , Daniels Stephen B. , Lennington Jessica B. , Notti Ryan Q. , Conover Joanne C. 
Published: February 2006

SummaryIn the adult mouse brain, the subventricular zone (SVZ) is a neurogenic stem cell niche only 4–5 cell diameters thick. Within this narrow zone, a unique microenvironment supports stem cell self‐renewal, gliogenesis or neurogenesis lineage decisions and tangential migration of newly generated neurons out of the SVZ and into the olfactory bulb. However, with aging, SVZ neurogenesis declines. Here, we examine the dynamic interplay between SVZ cytoarchitecture and neurogenesis through aging. Assembly of high‐resolution electron microscopy images of corresponding coronal sections from 2‐, 10‐ and 22‐month‐old mice into photomontages reveal a thinning of the SVZ with age. Following a 2‐h BrdU pulse, we detect a significant decrease in cell proliferation from 2 to 22 months. Neuroblast numbers decrease with age, as do transitory amplifying progenitor cells, while both SVZ astrocytes and adjacent ependymal cells remain relatively constant. At 22 months, only residual pockets of neurogenesis remain and neuroblasts become restricted to the anterior dorsolateral horn of the SVZ. Within this dorsolateral zone many key components of the younger neurogenic niche are maintained; however, in the aged SVZ, increased numbers of SVZ astrocytes are found interposed within the ependyma. These astrocytes co‐label with markers to ependymal cells and astrocytes, form intercellular adherens junctions with neighboring ependymal cells, and some possess multiple basal bodies of cilia within their cytoplasm. Together, these data reveal an age‐related, progressive restriction of SVZ neurogenesis to the dorsolateral aspect of the lateral ventricle with increased numbers of SVZ astrocytes interpolated within the ependyma.
Quantification of the effects of contrasting crops in the development of soil structure: an organic conversion
Authors: Papadopoulos A. , Mooney S. J. , Bird N. R. A. 
Published: February 2006

AbstractSoil structure can be greatly affected, and hence manipulated, by agricultural management practices, such as crop rotation. This study aims to illustrate how soil structure under a stockless organic system differed between contrasting crop types using quantified data derived from image analysis. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from five organic conversion strategies in the second year of conversion, during two contrasting seasons in 2001 and following one uniform crop (oats) grown on all the plots in 2004. The samples were impregnated and images of soil structure collected at selected depth intervals. The images were analysed for macroporosity, pore size distribution and pore‐perimeter fractal dimension. Significant differences were found between treatments in terms of overall macroporosity (%) and average pore size (mm2) in 2001. The red clover (Trifolium pratense) treatments had the highest soil macroporosity in 2001, but showed a dramatic drop in 2004 accompanied by a reduction in average pore size (mm2). Pore–perimeter fractal dimensions for four of the five crop treatments in 2001 did not show significant differences. However, there was a significant decrease in the fractal dimensions in 2004, indicating the presence of pores with less rough and irregular pore boundaries following a uniform cereal crop. Benefits to soil structure and porosity from clover were large and significant but were not lasting.
The Effect of Private Insurance on the Health of Older, Working Age Adults: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Dor Avi , Sudano Joseph , Baker David W. 
Published: February 2006

Objective. Primarily, to determine if the presence of private insurance leads to improved health status, as measured by a survey‐based health score. Secondarily, to explore sensitivity of estimates to adjustments for endogeneity. The study focuses on adults in late middle age who are nearing entry into Medicare.Data Sources. The analysis file is drawn from the Health and Retirement Study, a national survey of relatively older adults in the labor force. The dependent variable, an index of 5 health outcome items, was obtained from the 1996 survey. Independent variables were obtained from the 1992 survey. State‐level instrumental variables were obtained from the Area Resources File and the TAXSIM file. The final sample consists of 9,034 individuals of which 1,540 were uninsured.Study Design. Estimation addresses endogeneity of the insurance participation decision in health score regressions. In addition to ordinary least squares (OLS), two models are tested: an instrumental variables (IV) model, and a model with endogenous treatment effects due to Heckman (1978). Insurance participation and health behaviors enter with a lag to allow their effects to dissipate over time. Separate regressions were run for groupings of chronic conditions.Principal Findings. The OLS model results in statistically significant albeit small effects of insurance on the computed health score, but the results may be downward biased. Adjusting for endogeneity using state‐level instrumental variables yields up to a six‐fold increase in the insurance effect. Results are consistent across IV and treatment effects models, and for major groupings of medical conditions. The insurance effect appears to be in the range of about 2–11 percent. There appear to be no significant differences in the insurance effect for subgroups with and without major chronic conditions.Conclusions. Extending insurance coverage to working age adults may result in improved health. By conjecture, policies aimed at expanding coverage to this population may lead to improved health at retirement and entry to Medicare, potentially leading to savings. However, further research is needed to determine whether similar results are found when alternative measures of overall health or health scores are used. Future research should also explore the use of alternative instrumental variables. Preliminary results provide no justification for targeting certain subgroups with susceptibility to certain chronic conditions rather than broad policy interventions.
The Role of Accruals in Asymmetrically Timely Gain and Loss Recognition
Authors: BALL RAY , SHIVAKUMAR LAKSHMANAN 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTWe investigate the role of accrual accounting in the asymmetrically timely recognition (incorporation in reported earnings) of gains and losses. Timely recognition requires accruals when it precedes complete realization of the gains and losses in cash. We show that nonlinear accruals models incorporating the asymmetry in gain and loss recognition (timelier loss recognition, or conditional conservatism) offer a substantial specification improvement, explaining substantially more variation in accruals than equivalent linear specifications. Conversely, conventional linear accruals models, by omitting the loss recognition asymmetry, exhibit substantial attenuation bias and offer a comparatively poor specification of the accounting accrual process. Linear specifications also understate the ability of current earnings to predict future cash flows. These findings have implications for our understanding of accrual accounting and conservatism, as well as for researchers estimating discretionary accruals, earnings management, and earnings quality.
Accounting Discretion in Fair Value Estimates: An Examination of SFAS 142 Goodwill Impairments
Authors: BEATTY ANNE , WEBER JOSEPH 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTThis study examines Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 142 adoption decisions, focusing on the trade‐off between recording certain current goodwill impairment charges below the line and uncertain future impairment charges included in income from continuing operations. We examine several potentially important economic incentives that firms face when making this accounting choice. We find evidence suggesting that firms' equity market concerns affect their preference for above‐the‐line vs. below‐the‐line accounting treatment, and firms' debt contracting, bonus, turnover, and exchange delisting incentives affect their decisions to accelerate or delay expense recognition. Our study contributes to the accounting choice literature by examining managers' use of discretion when adopting a mandatory accounting change and by developing and testing explicit cross‐sectional hypotheses of the determinants of firms' preferences for immediate below‐the‐line versus delayed above‐the‐line expense recognition.
Discussion of Accounting Discretion in Fair Value Estimates: An Examination of SFAS 142 Goodwill Impairments
Authors: BENS DANIEL A. 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTBeatty and Weber examine an accounting choice that managers made upon adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 142: whether to record a goodwill asset impairment as a cumulative effect of an accounting change at the time of adoption or delay the recognition of such an impairment to the future (perhaps indefinitely) when they would be recorded as expenses in earnings from continuing operations. The authors consider several factors that might influence management's reporting of transition effects, including contracting, equity market incentives, and regulatory forces. Participants at the 2005 Journal of Accounting Research Conference questioned whether such a complex accounting decision can be captured with simple linear models and noisy proxy variables, while also speculating upon whether the results would generalize to other settings. In this discussion, I summarize Beatty and Weber's research, highlight its contribution to the accounting literature, and provide a record of the main issues raised by the conference participants.
An Analysis of the Theories and Explanations Offered for the Mispricing of Accruals and Accrual Components
Authors: KRAFT ARTHUR , LEONE ANDREW J. , WASLEY CHARLES 
Published: February 2006

ABSTRACTNumerous accounting studies claim that investors fail to rationally price accrual‐related information and that investors are functionally fixated. This study documents the importance of performing robustness tests when testing economic or behavioral explanations for apparent accounting‐related security mispricing. We find that performing robustness tests that exclude a small number of firm‐year observations (approximately 200 firm‐year observations or about 1% of the entire sample) reveals an inverted U‐shaped relation between buy‐and‐hold abnormal returns and total accruals. An inverted U‐shaped relation is inconsistent with the functional fixation (earnings fixation) hypothesis. We conduct similar robustness tests for the abnormal accrual anomaly and the net operating assets anomaly proposed by other investigators, and also find an inverted U‐shaped relation between buy‐and‐hold abnormal returns and abnormal accruals and net operating assets. These findings are inconsistent with the explanations put forth by those investigators. Such evidence leads us to conclude that the accrual‐related anomalies are unlikely to be due to investors' inability to process accounting information, as suggested by the functional fixation hypotheses tested.
Clinical‐scale expansion of human cytomegalovirus–specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells requiring single‐peptide stimulation and feeder cells but not additional antigen‐presenting cells
Authors: Sakagawa Hisako , Azuma Hiroshi , Fujihara Mitsuhiro , Ikeda Hisami 
Published: February 2006

BACKGROUND:  The aim of this study was to find a simple and feasible method for ex vivo expansion of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)‐specific cytotoxic T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) without the aid of exogenous antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) such as cultured dendritic cells.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  PBMNCs from three HLA‐A*2402‐seropositive donors were stimulated with HCMV pp65341‐350 peptide on Day 1 and then cultured with interleukin‐2 and allogeneic feeder cells for 3 to 4 weeks. HCMV peptide–specific T cells were purified with HLA‐A*2402/pp65341‐350 tetramer on Days 12 to 13 and harvested on Days 23 to 27.RESULTS:  The initial numbers of PBMNCs were 2 × 107, 1.5 × 107, and 2.5 × 107 and the increases in HCMV peptide–specific T cells were 3.5 × 104‐, 2.0 × 103‐, and 1.1 × 103‐fold, respectively. The estimated final numbers of tetramer‐positive cells were 9.1 × 107, 9.0 × 106, and 5.3 × 106, respectively. The purities of the tetramer‐positive cell population in culture were 72.6, 75.0, and 80.9 percent, respectively. The cells killed peptide‐pulsed B‐lympoblastoid cell lines and secreted interferon‐γ in a HLA‐restricted manner. They did not have natural killer cell activity or lymphokine activated killer cell activity. Most of them had an effector‐memory phenotype. They did not express killer inhibitory receptors.CONCLUSION:  This method makes it possible to obtain more than 1 × 107 HCMV‐specific T cells from approximately 2 × 107 to 5 × 107 PBMNCs without exogenous APCs such as cultured dendritic cells.
Functional inactivation of white blood cells by Mirasol treatment
Authors: Fast Loren D. , DiLeone Gilbert , Li Junzhi , Goodrich Raymond 
Published: February 2006

BACKGROUND:  The presence of white blood cells (WBCs) in blood products has been shown to contribute to the development of a variety of immune responses including both donor antirecipient and recipient antidonor responses. Mirasol PRT treatment is a pathogen reduction protocol that is based on the inactivation of nucleic acid replication after exposure to riboflavin and light and was tested for its ability to inactivate nucleated WBC function.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Sets of paired WBCs from different donors who either had received Mirasol treatment or were untreated were tested for their ability to be activated in response to phorbol myristic acetate (PMA); to proliferate in response to stimuli including phytohemagglutinin PHA, anti‐CD3+ anti‐CD28, or allogeneic stimulator cells; to stimulate proliferation by allogeneic responder cells; and to produce cytokines in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and anti‐CD3+ anti‐CD28.RESULTS:  Although Mirasol PRT treatment did not significantly change the distribution of human lymphocyte subpopulations, there were significant functional changes. Mirasol PRT treatment inhibited activation in response to PMA and completely inhibited proliferation in response to PHA, anti‐CD3+ anti‐CD28, or allogeneic stimulator cells. Mirasol PRT treatment also prevented the cells’ ability to act as antigen‐presenting cells and the ability to produce cytokines in response to stimuli such as LPS or anti‐CD3+ anti‐CD28.CONCLUSIONS:  Mirasol PRT treatment is able to functionally inactivate WBCs in blood products along with inactivating pathogens and should prevent immunological consequences resulting from the presence of WBCs in blood products.
The effect of whole‐blood storage time on the number of white cells and platelets in whole blood and in white cell–reduced red cells
Authors: Van Der Meer Pieter F. , De Wildt‐Eggen Janny 
Published: February 2006

BACKGROUND:  Whole blood (WB) can be stored for some time before it is processed into components. After introduction of universal white cell (WBC) reduction, it was observed that longer WB storage was associated with more residual WBCs in the WBC‐reduced red cells (RBCs). Also, weak propidium iodide (PI)‐positive events were observed in the flow cytometric WBC counting method, presumably WBC fragments. The effect of storage time on the composition of WB and subsequently prepared WBC‐reduced RBCs was studied.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  WB was collected in bottom‐and‐top collection systems with inline filters, obtained from Baxter, Fresenius, or MacoPharma. Units were stored at room temperature and separated into components in 4‐hour intervals between 4 and 24 hours after collection. RBCs were WBC‐reduced by inline filtration (approx. 50/group).RESULTS:  Platelet (PLT) counts were lower in WB stored for 4 to 8 hours compared to 20 to 24 hours (mean ± SD): 79 ± 31 versus 102 ± 30 for Baxter (p  < 0.01); 91 ± 31 versus 101 ± 35 for Fresenius (not significant); and 73 ± 47 versus 97 ± 31 (all × 109 per unit) for MacoPharma (p < 0.01), respectively. The median residual WBC counts in WBC‐reduced RBCs for WB stored for 4 to 8 and 20 to 24 hours were 0.03 versus 0.17 for Baxter (p < 0.001), 0.00 versus 0.06 for Fresenius (p < 0.001), and 0.13 versus 0.26 (all × 106 per unit) for MacoPharma (not significant), respectively. All WBC‐reduced RBCs contained fewer than 5 × 106 WBCs per unit. A longer storage time of WB was associated with more weak PI‐positive events, irrespective of the filter.CONCLUSION:  Longer storage of WB before processing results in counting higher numbers of PLTs in WB, higher numbers of WBCs in WBC‐reduced RBCs, and more weak PI‐positive events.