bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase and human leucocyte antigen‐G inhibit the T‐cell alloproliferative response through two independent pathways
Authors: Le Rond Solène , Gonzalez Alvaro , Gonzalez Ana S. L. , Carosella Edgardo D. , Rouas‐Freiss Nathalie 
Published: September 2005

SummaryBoth human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐G and indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) are key molecules involved in immune tolerance. HLA‐G is a non‐classical HLA class I molecule that can be expressed in both membrane‐bound (HLA‐G1) and soluble (HLA‐G5) forms, both of which exhibit tolerogenic properties via interaction with inhibitory receptors present on natural killer (NK) cells, T cells and antigen‐presenting cells (APC). IDO is an enzyme that acts by depleting the surrounding microenvironment of the essential amino acid, tryptophan, thereby inhibiting T‐cell proliferation. Our present study was aimed at analysing the potential link that may exist between IDO and HLA‐G. Our results showed that during allogeneic reactions, soluble HLA‐G expression was not regulated by the addition of IDO substrate (i.e. tryptophan), metabolite (i.e. kynurenine) or inhibitor (i.e. 1‐methyl‐tryptophan), that IDO activity was not altered by HLA‐G5 treatment, and that HLA‐G5‐mediated inhibition of the T‐cell alloproliferative response was neither affected by the presence of tryptophan and kynurenine nor reversed after IDO activity blockage, demonstrating that HLA‐G5 can exert its function in the absence of functional IDO. Similarly, inhibition of the T‐cell alloresponse, induced by HLA‐G1‐expressing antigen‐presenting cells, was not altered by IDO metabolites or inhibitor. Taken together, these findings show that the function and expression of IDO and HLA‐G5 are not mutually influenced, but rather inhibit the T‐cell alloproliferative response through two independent pathways. IDO and HLA‐G are thus complementary for inducing and maintaining immune tolerance in physiological (pregnancy) and pathological (tumour and allograft) situations.
Gambol and Tc1 are two distinct families of DD34E transposons: analysis of the Anopheles gambiae genome expands the diversity of the IS630‐Tc1‐mariner superfamily
Authors: Coy M. R. , Tu Z. 
Published: September 2005

Abstract Tc1 is a family of DNA transposons found in diverse organisms including vertebrates, invertebrates and fungi. Tc1 belongs to the IS630‐Tc1‐mariner superfamily, which is characterized by common ‘TA’ target site and conserved D(Asp)DE(Glu) or DDD catalytic triad. All functional Tc1‐like transposons contain a transposase with a DD34E catalytic triad. We conducted a systematic analysis of DD34E transposons in the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, using a reiterative and exhaustive search program. In addition to previously described Tc1‐like elements, we uncovered 26 new DD34E transposons including a novel family that we named gambol. Designation of family status to gambol is based on phylogenetic analyses of transposase sequences that showed gambol and Tc1 transposons as distinct clades that were separated by mariner and other families of the IS630‐Tc1‐mariner superfamily. The distinction between Tc1 and gambol is also consistent with the unique TIRs in gambol elements and the presence of a ‘W[I/L/V]DEDC’ signature near their N‐termini. This signature is predicted as part of the ‘RED’ domain, a component of the ‘PAI’ and ‘RED’ DNA binding domains in Tc1 and possibly mariner. Although gambol appears to be related to a few DD34E transposons from cyanobacteria and fungi, no gambol has been reported in any other insects or animals thus far. Several gambol and Tc1 elements have intact ORFs and different genomic copies with high sequence identity, which suggests that they may have been recently active.
Nurses’ assessment of pain in surgical patients
Authors: Sloman Rod , Rosen Gila , Rom Miriam , Shir Yoram 
Published: September 2005

Aim.  This paper reports a study to compare nurses’ ratings of pain intensity and suffering (affect) in adult surgical patients with patients’ own ratings of these variables, and to investigate whether pain ratings were influenced by cultural and ethnic differences.Background.  Studies show that postoperative pain continues to be under‐treated in a large proportion of cases. The problem may be partly due to inaccurate pain assessment by nurses.Method.  A convenience sample of 95 patients and 95 nurses in adult surgical units was selected from four hospitals in Jerusalem, Israel in 2003–2004. A questionnaire was administered to each patient by the researcher. The questionnaire included: (a) a Hebrew translation of the Short‐Form McGill Pain Questionnaire for pain sensation, pain affect, and present pain intensity at rest and on movement; (b) visual analogue scales for overall pain intensity, suffering, and satisfaction with treatment; and (c) demographic and cultural data. Within a few minutes of the patient completing the questionnaire, a nurse who had been allocated to care for that patient made an independent assessment of the patient's pain. The nurse then left the patient's room and filled in the same questionnaire.Findings.  Nurses significantly underestimated all dimensions of pain on the above scales, but accurately assessed patient treatment satisfaction. There were no statistically significant effects for cultural and ethnic differences in pain assessment. Both types of clinical area where nurses worked and nurses’ level of nursing education were found not to influence their assessment.Conclusion.  The findings have implications for the management of postoperative pain by highlighting the need for more accurate pain assessment. Further research is required to elucidate the way in which nurses and patients conceptualize pain and to understand better the process of pain assessment in clinical nursing practice.
Midwives’ visual interpretation of intrapartum cardiotocographs: intra‐ and inter‐observer agreement
Authors: Devane Declan , Lalor Joan 
Published: September 2005

Aim.  This paper reports an examination of intra‐ and inter‐observer agreement in midwives’ visual interpretation of intrapartum cardiotocographs (CTGs).Background.  The issue of intra‐ and inter‐observer agreement in the interpretation of CTG interpretation has serious implications for the validity of electronic fetal heart rate monitoring and subsequent decisions on intrapartum management. However, no studies were found that assessed intra‐ and inter‐observer agreement in midwives’ interpretations of CTG tracings.Methods.  Twenty‐eight midwives independently interpreted three intrapartum CTG tracings on two separate occasions using a self‐administered Cardiotocograph Interpretation Skills Test. Inter‐rater agreement in interpretation was assessed by cross‐tabulating the two sets of raw data obtained at time 1 and time 2 and computing Cohen's Kappa (κ). Intra‐rater agreement was assessed by computing κ for each rater with the two sets of raw data (time 1 and time 2) obtained from each individual. The data were collected in 2000.Results.  Overall intra‐rater agreement ranged from ‘fair to good’ (κ = 0·48) to ‘excellent’ (κ = 0·92). Raters’ classifications altered in 18% (n = 5) of cases for the normal tracing, in 29% (n = 8) for the suspicious tracing and in 11% (n = 3) for the pathological tracing. Inter‐rater agreement was fair to good, with κ statistics ranging from 0·65 to 0·74, respectively. Agreement was highest in the classification of decelerations (κ = 0·79) and lowest in the assessment of baseline variability (κ = 0·50). Overall inter‐rater agreement was highest in the suspicious tracing (κ = 0·77, excellent) and lowest in the normal tracing (κ = 0·54, fair to good).Conclusion.  Inter‐ and intra‐observer variability are intrinsic characteristics of the interpretation of intrapartum CTGs. Levels of agreement revealed degrees of variation that expose room for improvement. Efforts are needed to reduce inter‐ and intra‐observer variation in interpretation of intrapartum CTG tracings. In addition, research should focus on the development and evaluation of non‐invasive, low observer variability methods of intrapartum assessment of fetal well‐being. The subjectivity of CTG interpretation and inconsistencies in interpretation should also be considered in intrapartum management, clinical audit and in medico‐legal settings.
Simulating biological impairment to evaluate the accuracy of ecological indicators
Authors: CAO YONG , HAWKINS CHARLES P. 
Published: September 2005

Summary

Biological indicators are used to measure the biological health of ecosystems. Resource managers may uncritically assume that such indicators give unbiased estimates of true biological condition, but this assumption is largely untested. Use of biased indicators could lead to ineffective and potentially damaging management.
We used a simulation model to compare estimated indicator values objectively with true impairment. We used the model to progressively alter the densities of 155 stream invertebrate taxa as functions of stress and taxon‐specific sensitivities to stress. We applied the model to large samples collected from five reference‐quality sites. After each stress event, we randomly collected 100, 300 and 600 fixed‐count subsamples from the remaining assemblages and recorded the densities of all taxa in both the large sample and the fixed‐count subsamples. We then examined how well two indicators, non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and sample taxa richness, detected the simulated impairment when derived from fixed‐count subsamples.
NMDS ordinations of artificially impaired samples, and samples from reference and impaired sites, showed that the simulated impairments were realistic. NMDS further showed that impairment trajectories were evident for subsamples of 100, 300 and 600 individuals. However, the discrimination of stress levels within ordination space greatly improved with increasing sampling effort. The ordination also showed that increasing stress could cause assemblages at some sites to resemble unstressed assemblages at other sites.
Taxa‐richness indicators were much more problematic. Estimates of taxa richness from 100‐ and 300‐count samples often substantially underestimated true taxa loss and frequently indicated taxa gain. Apparent gains in taxa richness occurred because stress caused changes in evenness that compensated for, or even overrode, the effect of true taxa loss. Estimates of taxa loss derived from 600‐count subsamples also underestimated true taxa loss, but these estimates were strongly correlated with true taxa loss.
Synthesis and applications. Bioassessements that rely on richness‐based indicators derived from small fixed‐count subsamples may substantially underestimate true biological impairment. Simulation models provide an objective means to evaluate how well different types of biotic indicators measure true biological impairment in aquatic and other types of ecosystems.
Elevational gradients of species diversity, breeding system and floral traits of orchid species on Réunion Island
Authors: Jacquemyn Hans , Micheneau Claire , Roberts David L. , Pailler Thierry 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim  This research investigates changes in orchid species composition and diversity, plant breeding system and floral traits along an elevational gradient spanning 2300 m (200–2500 m).Location  The study was conducted on Réunion Island (Mascarene Islands, Indian Ocean).Methods  Data on the distribution of 135 orchid species from 35 genera were gathered from 121 localities situated between 200 and 2500 m a.s.l. For each locality, 500‐m transects were walked and each orchid species was recorded. Measures of species diversity (species richness, a modified Shannon diversity index and the modified Shannon equitability index) were related to altitude using ordinary least‐squares regression. Species turnover and elevational gradients in species composition were determined by: (1) relating scores of detrended correspondence analysis to altitude using ordinary least‐squares regression, and (2) relating Sørensen similarity indices to differences in altitude using Mantel tests. Finally, the average proportion of species displaying similar floral traits or showing the same breeding system were compared among altitudinal zones.Results  Species richness per transect ranged from 1 to 36 species (mean 14.3) and decreased significantly with increasing altitude. Similarly, species evenness decreased significantly with increasing altitude. Around 50% of all orchid species were rare (occurred in fewer than 5% of all localities), and only a few occurred in more than 50% of all localities. Orchid species composition changed continuously with altitude, indicating turnover of species with increasing altitude. Analogously, orchid breeding systems and floral traits also changed with altitude. Relatively more auto‐pollinating species were found at high altitudes compared with mid‐ and low‐altitude sites where animal‐pollinated species were most abundant. Species characterized by a cleistogamous pollination system were found almost exclusively in high‐altitude sites, whereas the proportion of species displaying floral traits related to pollination by long‐tongued moths (sphinx) and flies sharply decreased with increasing altitude.Main conclusions  Environmental conditions associated with altitude exert a large influence on orchid species composition and the distribution of orchid breeding systems. Our results revealed a high proportion of auto‐pollinating species, and confirm earlier findings that auto‐pollinating species are more frequent in high‐altitude sites.
Body size evolution in insular vertebrates: generality of the island rule
Authors: Lomolino Mark V. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim  My goals here are to (1) assess the generality of the island rule – the graded trend from gigantism in small species to dwarfism in larger species – for mammals and other terrestrial vertebrates on islands and island‐like ecosystems; (2) explore some related patterns of body size variation in insular vertebrates, in particular variation in body size as a function of island area and isolation; (3) offer causal explanations for these patterns; and (4) identify promising areas for future studies on body size evolution in insular vertebrates.Location  Oceanic and near‐shore archipelagos, and island‐like ecosystems world‐wide.Methods  Body size measurements of insular vertebrates (non‐volant mammals, bats, birds, snakes and turtles) were obtained from the literature, and then regression analyses were conducted to test whether body size of insular populations varies as a function of body size of the species on the mainland (the island rule) and with characteristics of the islands (i.e. island isolation and area).Results  The island rule appears to be a general phenomenon both with mammalian orders (and to some degree within families and particular subfamilies) as well as across the species groups studied, including non‐volant mammals, bats, passerine birds, snakes and turtles. In addition, body size of numerous species in these classes of vertebrates varies significantly with island isolation and island area.Main conclusions  The patterns observed here – the island rule and the tendency for body size among populations of particular species to vary with characteristics of the islands – are actually distinct and scale‐dependent phenomena. Patterns within archipelagos reflect the influence of island isolation and area on selective pressures (immigration filters, resource limitation, and intra‐ and interspecific interactions) within particular species. These patterns contribute to variation about the general trend referred to as the island rule, not the signal for that more general, large‐scale pattern. The island rule itself is an emergent pattern resulting from a combination of selective forces whose importance and influence on insular populations vary in a predictable manner along a gradient from relatively small to large species. As a result, body size of insular species tends to converge on a size that is optimal, or fundamental, for a particular bau plan and ecological strategy.
Species richness, environmental heterogeneity and area: a case study based on land snails in Skyros archipelago (Aegean Sea, Greece)
Authors: Triantis K. A. , Mylonas M. , Weiser M. D. , Lika K. , Vardinoyannis K. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim  To test the performance of the choros model in an archipelago using two measures of environmental heterogeneity. The choros model is a simple, easy‐to‐use mathematical relationship which approaches species richness as a combined function of area and environmental heterogeneity.Location  The archipelago of Skyros in the central Aegean Sea (Greece).Methods  We surveyed land snails on 12 islands of the archipelago. We informed the choros model with habitat data based on natural history information from the land snail species assemblage. We contrast this with habitat information taken from traditional vegetation classification to study the behaviour of choros with different measures of environmental heterogeneity. R2 values and Akaike's information criterion (AIC) were used to compare the choros model and the Arrhenius species–area model. Path analysis was used to evaluate the variance in species richness explained by area and habitat diversity.Results  Forty‐two land snail species were recorded, living in 33 different habitat types. The choros model with habitat types had more explanatory power than the classic species–area model and the choros model using vegetation types. This was true for all islands of the archipelago, as well as for the small islands alone. Combined effects of area and habitat diversity primarily explain species richness in the archipelago, but there is a decline when only small islands are considered. The effects of area are very low both for all the islands of the archipelago, and for the small islands alone. The variance explained by habitat diversity is low for the island group as a whole, but significantly increases for the small islands.Main conclusions  The choros model is effective in describing species‐richness patterns of land snails in the Skyros Archipelago, incorporating ecologically relevant information on habitat occupancy and area. The choros model is more effective in explaining richness patterns on small islands. When using traditional vegetation types, the choros model performs worse than the classic species–area relationship, indicating that use of proxies for habitat diversity may be problematic. The slopes for choros and Arrhenius models both assert that, for land snails, the Skyros Archipelago is a portion of a larger biogeographical province. The choros model, informed by ecologically relevant habitat measures, in conjunction with path analysis points to the importance of habitat diversity in island species richness.
Diagnosis: contemporary medical hubris; Rx: a tincture of humility
Authors: Genuis Stephen J. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractDespite increasing attention to evidence‐based medicine, unprecedented advances in medical technology, and rapid diffusion of innovative information, there continues to be disturbing disclosures of widespread iatrogenic illness resulting from harmful medical interventions. The medical community at times displays a lethargic and lackluster response to important scientific and epidemiological data that challenges prevailing conventional wisdom or that elucidates existing medical miscalculations. To ensure that long‐term health and well‐being for patients and the community remains the primary goal of medicine, it is necessary to revisit the important issues of scientific integrity, health care objectives, and medical professionalism. Furthermore, to be trustworthy advisors for individual patients and credible advocates for the health of populations, the medical community needs to critically evaluate the profound influence of commercial interests on medical research, medical education and clinical practice.
Oxygen therapy in hospitalized patients: the impact of local guidelines
Authors: Kbar Fazal A , Campbell Ian Allen 
Published: September 2005

AbstractObjective  To study the influence of local guidelines on the behaviour of nursing  and  medical  staff  to  optimize  the  oxygen  use  in  patients  admitted to hospital.Methods  Study was performed in a district teaching hospital. Guidelines produced suggested indications, monitoring, use of arterial blood gases (ABGs) and advice on when to stop oxygen therapy. The guidelines were implemented both verbally and in writing to all the nursing and medical staff before and after an audit studying the oxygen use by patients on medical and surgical wards. Results  Ninety patients were included in pre‐intervention audit and 59 in post‐intervention study. Oxygen prescription did not change with guidelines 30% (27/90) vs. 32% (19/59). Nurses administered oxygen better 95% (18/19) vs. 70% (19/27) (P = 0.043) and monitored more frequently using oximetry 91% (54/59) vs. 69% (62/90) (P = 0.001) after the guidelines. Patients with airway disease had their ABGs checked more frequently 87% (14/16) vs. 65% (15/23) on admission and after they started oxygen inhalation 68% (11/16) vs. 34% (8/23).Conclusion  The guidelines disseminated verbally and in writing had no influence on oxygen prescription but improved the practice of close monitoring of patients with airway disease. Nurses improved their performance of both administration of oxygen according to the prescribed dose and monitoring with oximetry.
N2O‐free low‐flow anesthesia technique for children
Authors: Bozkurt P. , Saygi Emir N. , Tomatir E. , Yeker Y. 
Published: September 2005

Background:  The use of N2O during low‐flow anesthesia (LFA) causes difficulty in predicting inspired gas mixtures and oxygen concentration due to accumulation. An alternative technique, which uses a mixture of oxygen and air and a morphine infusion to replace N2O, has been evaluated in children during LFA, and the clinical effects and composition of gases in the system are presented here.Methods:  Thirty‐five children aged 2–13 years undergoing major urogenital surgery were recruited into the study. Following a standardized induction, anesthesia was maintained with 2% sevoflurane in combination with a morphine infusion. After induction with 4 l min−1, flow rates were reduced to 2 l min−1 and finally to 1 l min−1 at 10 min (0.5 l oxygen + 0.5 l air). The delivered oxygen concentration, oxygen saturation and the inspired and expired O2, sevoflurane and CO2 concentrations were recorded from the start of induction to the end of anesthesia.Results:  The duration of LFA was 132±89 min. The concentrat‐ion of oxygen delivered by the flow meters during this period was 55–60%. Although the changes in inspired and expired oxygen and sevoflurane and inspired CO2 related to the duration of LFA were statistically significant (P < 0.0001), they were not clinically relevant. All vital parameters were stable. Four patients required supplemental morphine and nine presented emergence agitation.Conclusion:  We concluded that an N2O‐free LFA technique with 0.5 l min−1 of air and 0.5 l min−1 of O2 supplemented by sevoflurane and a morphine infusion is safe and effective in children. The resulting high‐inspired oxygen concentration prevents occurrence of hypoxic gas mixtures, and the use of supplemental morphine compensates for the absence of N2O and overcomes the possibility of light anesthesia arising from a decrease in the inspired sevoflurane concentration.