bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Loss of the vacuolar cation channel, AtTPC1, does not impair Ca2+ signals induced by abiotic and biotic stresses
Authors: Ranf Stefanie , Wünnenberg Petra , Lee Justin , Becker Dirk , Dunkel Marcel , Hedrich Rainer , Scheel Dierk , Dietrich Petra 
Published: November 2007

SummaryThe putative two‐pore Ca2+ channel TPC1 has been suggested to be involved in responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. We show that AtTPC1 co‐localizes with the K+‐selective channel AtTPK1 in the vacuolar membrane. Loss of AtTPC1 abolished Ca2+‐activated slow vacuolar (SV) currents, which were increased in AtTPC1‐over‐expressing Arabidopsis compared to the wild‐type. A Ca2+‐insensitive vacuolar cation channel, as yet uncharacterized, could be resolved in tpc1‐2 knockout plants. The kinetics of ABA‐ and CO2‐induced stomatal closure were similar in wild‐type and tpc1‐2 knockout plants, excluding a role of SV channels in guard‐cell signalling in response to these physiological stimuli. ABA‐, K+‐, and Ca2+‐dependent root growth phenotypes were not changed in tpc1‐2 compared to wild‐type plants. Given the permeability of SV channels to mono‐ and divalent cations, the question arises as to whether TPC1 in vivo represents a pathway for Ca2+ entry into the cytosol. Ca2+ responses as measured in aequorin‐expressing wild‐type, tpc1‐2 knockout and TPC1‐over‐expressing plants disprove a contribution of TPC1 to any of the stimulus‐induced Ca2+ signals tested, including abiotic stresses (cold, hyperosmotic, salt and oxidative), elevation in extracellular Ca2+ concentration and biotic factors (elf18, flg22). In good agreement, stimulus‐ and Ca2+‐dependent gene activation was not affected by alterations in TPC1 expression. Together with our finding that the loss of TPC1 did not change the activity of hyperpolarization‐activated Ca2+‐permeable channels in the plasma membrane, we conclude that TPC1, under physiological conditions, functions as a vacuolar cation channel without a major impact on cytosolic Ca2+ homeostasis.
Short communication: Lupin allergy in peanut‐allergic children and teenagers
Authors: Shaw J. , Roberts G. , Grimshaw K. , White S. , Hourihane J. 
Published: November 2007

Background:  Lupin has now been introduced into food production in the UK. There is a concern that, on account of cross‐reactivity, peanut‐allergic children are at high risk for lupin allergy.Aims:  To investigate the prevalence of lupin sensitization and allergy in children with peanut allergy compared with atopic controls.Methods:  Children (<18 years) were recruited. Peanut‐allergic subjects either had a convincing history of peanut allergy with diagnostic peanut skin prick test (SPT) or specific‐immunoglobulin E (IgE) results or a positive food challenge. Control subjects were atopic but not peanut‐allergic. All subjects had SPT to peanut and lupin. Sensitized subjects were offered a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled lupin challenge. Lupin allergy was defined as objective immediate hypersensitivity reaction at food challenge.Results:  Forty‐seven peanut‐allergic children and 46 atopic controls were recruited. Sixteen peanut‐allergic children were sensitized to lupin [34%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 21–49%]. Nine were challenged to lupin. Two reacted (itchy mouth and urticaria; itchy mouth and 20% drop in peak expiratory flow rate) giving a minimum prevalence of lupin allergy in peanut‐allergic children of 4.0% (95% CI: 1–15%). Atopic controls were significantly (P = 0.001) less likely to be sensitized to lupin (4%, 95% CI: 1–15%) and had smaller wheals and serum‐specific IgE results. None of the atopic controls reacted on lupin challenge, giving a rate of allergy in the atopic controls of 0% (95% CI: 0–8%).Conclusions:  A small but significant number of children with peanut allergy are allergic to lupin. Sensitization to lupin is much rarer in nonpeanut‐allergic atopic subjects.
Re‐establishment of clinal variation in flowering time among introduced populations of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria, Lythraceae)
Authors: MONTAGUE J. L. , BARRETT S. C. H. , ECKERT C. G. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractRange expansion during biological invasion requires that invaders adapt to geographical variation in climate, which should yield latitudinal clines in reproductive phenology. We investigated geographic variation in life history among 25 introduced populations ofLythrum salicaria, a widespread European invader of North American wetlands. We detected a strong latitudinal cline in initiation of flowering and size at flowering, which paralleled that reported among native populations. Plants from higher latitudes flowered earlier and at a smaller size than those from lower latitudes, even when raised in a uniform glasshouse. Early flowering was associated with greatly reduced reproductive output, but this was not associated with latitudinal variation in abundance, and probably did not result from a genetic correlation between time to and size at flowering. As introduction to North Americac.200 years ago,L. salicariahas re‐established latitudinal clines in life history, probably as an evolutionary response to climatic selection.
The Influence of Relatedness, Neighbourhood and Overall Distance on Colony Mate Recognition in a Polydomous Ant
Authors: Wilgenburg Ellen van 
Published: November 2007

AbstractThe ‘dear enemy phenomenon’ predicts that territorial animals respond less aggressively towards more familiar neighbours than towards unfamiliar conspecifics if potential losses to strangers are more costly than potential losses to neighbours. Conversely, territorial animals should respond more aggressively to neighbours, if potential losses to them are more costly than potential losses to strangers. In social insects the question of how colony members distinguish neighbours from strangers, however, is intertwined with the more general question of how colony members discriminate themselves from non‐colony members; both genetic and spatial distance can correlate with levels of inter‐colonial aggression. In this paper I disentangle the role of experience, genetic and spatial distance on inter‐colonial aggression in a polydomous population ofIridomyrmex purpureus. InI. purpureus,aggression is related to the spatial distance between colonies irrespective of genetic similarity. Spatial distance affected aggression in two different ways. First, workers were more likely to exhibit aggression towards alien conspecifics of adjoining rather than non‐adjoining territories, suggesting the opposite of the dear enemy phenomenon. Second, workers were more often aggressive towards conspecifics of more distant colonies, implying that environmental cues play a role in the recognition system ofI. purpureus.
Disparity between Adult and Juvenile American Robins Turdus migratorius Foraging for Ground Invertebrates and Cherry Fruits
Authors: Vanderhoff E. Natasha , Eason Perri K. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractAlthough it has long been known that juveniles often have foraging skills inferior to those of adults, it has generally been assumed that animal prey are more difficult to capture than fruit, and thus that juveniles foraging on fruit should be similar to adults in their efficiency. To examine these ideas, we investigated the abilities of juvenile and adult American robins Turdus migratorius to forage for ground invertebrates and fruits of the black cherry tree Prunus serotina. We hypothesized that juveniles, lacking the experience of adults, would not have the skills of adults and therefore would be less proficient invertebrate and fruit foragers. Juveniles captured 69% of invertebrates at which they struck compared with 80% of adults’ strikes that ended in capture. However, juveniles made more strikes than adults, so mean prey capture per minute was the same. Juveniles were also less skilled fruit foragers. Juveniles were twice as likely as adults to fail to pick a cherry (55% of adults’ vs. 28% of juveniles’ attempts ended in success). However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of juveniles and adults that dropped a cherry once it was picked. As a result of their low levels of success, juveniles consumed about half the number of cherries per minute as did adults. Contrary to prior assumptions, skills involved in fruit foraging may not be so easily acquired and many omnivorous species, like the American robin, must learn both invertebrate and fruit foraging skills.
Heterobasidion on Abies nordmanniana in north‐eastern Turkey
Authors: Doğmuş‐Lehtijärvi H. T. , Lehtijärvi A. , Korhonen K. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryOccurrence of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. was investigated in 15 coniferous stands in the Giresun and Pontic Mountains in north‐eastern Turkey. Basidiocarps of the fungus were found in 11 stands. Fifty‐two basidiocarp specimens of Heterobasidion were collected from stumps of Abies nordmanniana ssp. nordmanniana and two from stumps of Picea orientalis. Pure cultures were isolated from the basidiocarps and identified with the aid of mating tests. Forty‐five (90%) of the specimens collected from A. nordmanniana were identified as H. abietinum and five (10%) as H. annosum s.s. The former species was also found twice on P. orientalis. This is the first report of H. annosum s.s. for Turkey and the first report of H. abietinum on P. orientalis. Heterobasidion abietinum seems to be mostly a saprotroph on A. nordmanniana.
Phytophthora cambivora in Oregon and its pathogenicity to Chrysolepis chrysophylla
Authors: Saavedra A. , Hansen E. M. , Goheen D. J. 
Published: November 2007

SummaryA new canker disease causing mortality of golden chinquapin trees [Chrysolepis chrysophylla (Dougl.) Hjelmqvist], in Oregon was recently observed. Most of the symptomatic or dead trees were located near roads. The cankers on the lower boles of trees are similar to those caused by species of Phytophthora on other trees in western North America. The cankers in the inner bark were reddish‐orange in colour and extended upward from necrotic roots. Phytophthora cambivora (Petri) Buisman was isolated from the cankers; identity was confirmed by morphological comparison with known isolates and internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis. Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculation of chinquapin seedlings and mature trees. Seven of nine isolates from chinquapin were A2 mating type; 27 of 28 isolates from other hosts in Oregon and Washington were A1 mating type.
Plummer–Vinson syndrome successfully treated by endoscopic dilatation
Authors: Enomoto Masaru , Kohmoto Madoka , Arafa Usama Ahmed , Shiba Masatsugu , Watanabe Toshio , Tominaga Kazunari , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Saeki Yoshihiko , Higuchi Kazuhide , Nishiguchi Shuhei , Shiomi Susumu , Osugi Haruji , Kinoshita Hiroaki , Arakawa Tetsuo 
Published: November 2007

AbstractPlummer–Vinson (Paterson–Brown–Kelly) syndrome is uncommon nowadays. Although iron repletion improves its symptoms, endoscopic dilatation of associated esophageal webs is sometimes required. The case is described of a 69‐year‐old woman with Plummer–Vinson syndrome who was successfully treated by endoscopic bougienage. The patient had a longstanding history of anemia and slowly progressive dysphagia of solid food. Laboratory data on admission showed iron deficiency anemia (red blood cell count 402 × 104/µL, hemoglobin 6.8 g/dL, serum iron 8 µg/dL, and serum ferritin 2.4 ng/mL). Radiographic esophagography revealed two circumferential webs at the level of the cervical esophagus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a severe upper esophageal stricture caused by a smooth mucosal diaphragm. The patient was prescribed 40 mg of intravenous iron supplements daily for 30 days; her anemia improved but the dysphagia did not. Endoscopic bougienage was performed with the use of Celestin dilators of serially increasing diameters. The webs were easily disrupted without complications. The patient’s dysphagia resolved shortly after the treatment and did not recur. This experience indicates that endoscopic bougienage is safe, effective, and relatively easy to perform in patients with severe esophageal stenosis.
Lymphoepithelioma‐like carcinoma of the esophagus: Report of a case with non‐progressive behavior
Authors: Nakasono Masahiko , Hirokawa Mitsuyoshi , Suzuki Masaharu , Takizawa Hiromitsu , Okitsu Hiroshi , Okamura Seisuke , Muguruma Naoki , Ito Susumu , Sano Toshiaki 
Published: November 2007

AbstractLymphoepithelioma‐like carcinoma (LELC) of the esophagus is extremely rare and the prognosis has been described to be favorable. Herein, the case is reported of esophageal LELC showing non‐progressive course for 1 year. The patient was a 70‐year‐old Japanese man with a submucosal tumor in the lower esophagus. The tumor was endoscopically regarded as a benign leiomyoma. One year after the first endoscopic examination, the size of the lesion remained unchanged despite no treatment. Histologically, the tumor showed undifferentiated carcinoma associated with dense lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltration. Lymphoid follicles surrounded the tumor cell nests. Immunohistochemically, Ki‐67 labeling index of the tumor cells were 76.0%, and there were few single‐strand DNA‐positive apoptotic cells. In situ hybridization using a digoxigen‐labeled Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐encoded small RNA (EBER)‐1 riboprobe failed to detect the presence of EBV infection. Physicians should be aware that esophageal LELC endoscopically mimics benign submucosal tumor. This case may demonstrate that esophageal LELC is a slow‐growing tumor and it is related to immune reaction.
Discrepant effects of inducible nitric oxide synthase modulation on systemic and splanchnic endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity and expression in cirrhotic rats
Authors: Malyshev Eugene , Tazi Khalid A , Moreau Richard , Lebrec Didier 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground: Arterial vasodilatation, which is a major factor in the pathogenesis of the hyperkinetic circulatory state and portal hypertension in cirrhosis, is due to arterial nitric oxide (NO) overproduction secondary to endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) upregulation. However, in cirrhosis, the respective roles of eNOS and iNOS isoforms in NO overproduction are still unknown and the effect of iNOS modulation on eNOS activity and expression has not been evaluated in the systemic or splanchnic vessels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of modulating aortic and superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) iNOS on arterial eNOS activity and expression in rats with cirrhosis.Methods: eNOS and iNOS protein expression and eNOS activity (assessed by its phosphorylation at serine 1177) were measured in the aortas and SMA in untreated and treated cirrhotic rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), N‐iminoethyl‐L‐lysine (L‐NIL), a selective iNOS inhibitor, and LPS plus L‐NIL.Results: LPS administration significantly increased eNOS and iNOS protein expression and eNOS activity in the aortas of both sham‐operated and cirrhotic rats. However, in SMA, LPS administration induced a decrease in eNOS protein expression and activity and an increase in iNOS protein expression.Conclusion: The results of this study may explain the worsening of the hyperdynamic state in cirrhosis during septic shock by direct LPS‐induced eNOS activation in large systemic vessels, and its inhibition in concomitant small splanchnic vasculature by iNOS synthesized NO.
Frequency scale for symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease predicts the need for addition of prokinetics to proton pump inhibitor therapy
Authors: Miyamoto Masaki , Haruma Ken , Takeuchi Keisuke , Kuwabara Masao 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) monotherapy cannot cure all cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and combination therapy with prokinetics and PPI achieves symptomatic improvement for some GERD patients. Few studies have been performed to predict the need for prokinetics.Methods:  Subjects were 163 patients (64 male, mean age 53.1 ± 16.6 years) with GERD symptoms. They were evaluated using the frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG), a GERD‐specific questionnaire developed in Japan1 and endoscopy. They were administered with rabeprazole 10 mg daily. At 12 and 24 weeks of treatment, subjects were offered a choice of four treatment regimens according to their degree of satisfaction (1, no need for further treatment; 2, opt for continued PPI treatment; 3, step‐down to H2RA; 4, dissatisfied with present treatment, so opt for combination treatment with prokinetics, mosapride 5 mg tid).Results:  The choice of treatment after 12 weeks of treatment placed 79.1% of subjects in the satisfied group (1, 21; 2, 98; 3, 10). After 24 weeks, 98.2% of subjects were in the satisfied group. Pretreatment FSSG scores were significantly higher in the dissatisfied group (4, 17.4 ± 1.4) than in the satisfied group (1, 12.3 ± 1.3; 2, 12.8 ± 0.8; 3, 10.2 ± 1.8) (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  The satisfaction rate with these treatment regimens was 98.2% at 24 weeks, suggesting that combination therapy with prokinetics was effective for patients dissatisfied with PPI monotherapy. The FSSG is a useful predictor of the necessity for combination therapy.
Confocal endomicroscopy for in vivo detection of microvascular architecture in normal and malignant lesions of upper gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Liu Hong , Li Yan‐Qing , Yu Tao , Zhao You‐An , Zhang Jian‐Ping , Zhang Jian‐Na , Guo Yu‐Ting , Xie Xiang‐Jun , Zhang Ting‐Guo , Desmond Paul V 
Published: November 2007

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Confocal laser endomicroscopy allows subsurface analysis of gastrointestinal mucosa during ongoing endoscopy. The present study assessed the feasibility of in vivo detecting superficial vascular architecture by confocal endomicroscopy in normal upper gastrointestinal mucosa and malignant lesions.Methods:  Early gastric cancer in eight patients, superficial esophageal carcinoma in six patients, and asymptomatic normal control in 10 patients were studied by confocal endomicroscopy. The characteristic of endomicroscopic microvascular architecture from normal and malignant mucosa was described and images were evaluated.Results:  Confocal endomicroscopy enabled clear visualization of the vascular networks of gastroesophageal mucosa. Honeycomb‐like and coil‐shaped regular microvascular architecture surrounding gastric pits were visible in the normal gastric body and antrum, respectively. Differentiated gastric cancerous mucosa showed hypervascularity and various caliber microvessels with irregular shapes. Undifferentiated gastric cancers disclosed a hypovascularity and irregular short branch vessels. Normal squamous epithelium had regular intraepithelial papillary capillary loops (IPCLs) directed toward the luminal surface. In superficial esophageal squamous carcinoma, dilated IPCLs were visible at the upper layer of the squamous mucosa. In esophageal adenocarcinoma, abnormal microvascular architecture showed tortuous and various calibers blood vessels. Of all the images, 41% were graded as good quality. The mean kappa value for interobserver agreement for the prediction of cancerous mucosa was 0.792.Conclusions:  Confocal laser endomicroscopy system could yield very clear images of superficial microvascular network in the gastroesophageal mucosal layer both in malignant and normal mucosa. Endomicroscopic observation of vascular architecture may be of assistance in the identification of early gastroesophageal cancers.
Safety of i.v. administration of redback spider antivenom
Authors: Isbister G. K. 
Published: November 2007

AbstractIt is unclear what the risk of allergic reactions is with appropriately given dilute i.v. redback spider antivenom (RBSAV). Ninety‐five i.v. administrations of RBSAV referred from January 2001 to November 2006 were reviewed. All patients had local pain, 72% radiating pain, 57% diaphoresis and 39% systemic effects. Four patients (4%) had immediate systemic hypersensitivity reactions: none were severe, one was moderate and three mild. In 32 patients followed up for 2 weeks, three (10%) developed serum sickness. RBSAV given i.v. had a low reaction rate.
Application of the distributed dislocation technique for calculating cyclic crack tip plasticity effects
Authors: CODRINGTON J. , KOTOUSOV A. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper describes a method for modelling cyclic crack tip plasticity effects based on the distributed dislocation technique (DDT). A strip‐yield model is utilised to allow for the determination of the crack opening displacement, size of the plastic zones and in the case of a fatigue crack, the wake of plasticity. The DDT can be easily implemented for a wide range of cracked geometries with reliable control over the accuracy and convergence. Thickness effects can also be incorporated through a recently obtained solution for an edge dislocation in an infinite plate of finite thickness. Results for finite length cracks that have had limited growth, such that there is no plastic wake, are presented for a range of applied loads andR‐ratios. Further results are provided for a steady‐state fatigue crack in a plate of finite thickness. The present results are compared with analytical solutions and they show an excellent agreement.
Hydrogen‐enhanced cracking of 2205 duplex stainless steel
Authors: TSAY L. W. , YOUNG M. C. , SHIN C.‐S. , CHAN S. L. I. 
Published: November 2007

ABSTRACTTensile and fatigue crack growth tests of 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) were performed in laboratory air, gaseous hydrogen at 0.2 MPa and saturated H2S solution. The longitudinal specimen showed a lesser degradation of tensile properties than the transverse ones in saturated H2S solution. The orientation of specimens with respect to rolling direction had little influence on the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) of the alloy in air. Furthermore, 2205 duplex stainless steel was susceptible to hydrogen‐enhanced fatigue crack growth.Transmission electron micrographs, in addition to X‐ray diffraction, revealed that the strain‐induced austenite to martensite transformation occurred near the crack surface within a rather narrow depth. Fatigue fractography of the specimens tested in air showed mainly transgranular fatigue fracture with a small amount of flat facet fracture. Furthermore, extensive quasi‐cleavage fracture of 2205 duplex stainless steel was associated with the hydrogen‐enhanced crack growth.