bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conservation significance of island versus mainland populations: a case study of dibblers (Parantechinus apicalis) in Western Australia
Authors: Mills Harriet R. , Moro Dorian , Spencer Peter B. S. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIsland populations are an interesting dichotomy in conservation biology. On the one hand, they can be a refuge for species where mainland populations have been decimated by loss of habitat and predation by exotic predators. On the other hand, island populations usually have reduced genetic diversity and are more susceptible to extinction through genetic and demographic processes. Genetic variation and morphological characters were measured for island and mainland populations of Parantechinus apicalis, small dasyurid marsupials, restricted to southwest Australia. Genetic variation at seven microsatellite loci revealed low levels of heterozygosity (He= 0.20−0.44) and high levels of inbreeding (Fe= 0.40−0.72) in island populations compared with the mainland population (He= 0.73). A nested clade analysis revealed that allopatric fragmentation was probably responsible for the association between geographical location and control region haplotypes, which is consistent with the isolation of populations on islands and indicative of two main populations of P. apicalis representing separate conservation units for management. While these results are typical of many island populations, they have important implications in terms of the conservation of threatened species in Australia and around the world, where island populations are a common source of founders for captive breeding and translocation to mainland sites.
Determination of ape distribution and population size using ground and aerial surveys: a case study with orang‐utans in lower Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: Ancrenaz Marc , Goossens Benoit , Gimenez Olivier , Sawang Azri , Lackman‐Ancrenaz Isabelle 
Published: November 2004

AbstractBecause of the difficulties encountered in detecting many large tropical forest‐dwelling species in their natural habitat, precise figures concerning the distribution, number and trends of many populations remain deficient. In tropical forests, ground surveys are generally carried out by counting objects along straight lines. These counts require a strict compliance with the line‐transect methodology before (proper design of the census), during (careful data collection) and after (accurate and correct data processing and analysis) the census itself. In addition, the major source of bias when estimating population size and/or trends comes from the extrapolation of estimates obtained in small sampling areas to the larger, and often incompletely known, distribution of the population. In the Kinabatangan floodplain (Sabah, Malaysia), helicopter surveys were useful in directly assessing the distribution of orang‐utans and were a major advantage in the precise estimation of the size of the orang‐utan population surviving in this region. Our survey showed that about 1100 orang‐utans remain in the multiple‐use forests of the Kinabatangan floodplain. These results provide new evidence on orang‐utan adaptation to habitat disturbance and indicate the potential of the Kinabatangan multiple‐use forests for orang‐utan conservation. Helicopter surveys appear to be a promising alternative to ground survey for precise distribution assessment and for monitoring population trends of apes throughout their entire range in Asia and in some parts of Africa.
Unsustainable harvest of dugongs in Torres Strait and Cape York (Australia) waters: two case studies using population viability analysis
Authors: Heinsohn Robert , Lacy Robert C. , Lindenmayer David B. , Marsh Helene , Kwan Donna , Lawler Ivan R. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA significant proportion of the world's remaining dugongs (Dugong dugon) occur off northern Australia where they face various anthropogenic impacts. Here, we investigate the viability of two dugong meta‐populations under varying regimes of indigenous hunting. We construct population viability analyses (PVAs) using the computer package VORTEX and published estimates of population sizes and hunting rates. In Torres Strait between Cape York and New Guinea, our models predict severe and imminent reductions in dugong numbers. Our ‘optimistic’ and ‘pessimistic’ models suggest median times for quasi‐extinction of 123 and 42 years, respectively. Extinction probabilities are also high for eastern Cape York Peninsula. We demonstrate the inadequacy of reserves when harvest rates in neighbouring areas are high, identify the maximum harvest rates for meta‐population stability and emphasise the urgent need for indigenous community involvement in management to establish sustainable rates of dugong harvest in these regions.
Aerial surveys and the potential biological removal technique indicate that the Torres Strait dugong fishery is unsustainable
Authors: Marsh Helene , Lawler Ivan R. , Kwan Donna , Delean Steve , Pollock Kenneth , Alldredge Matthew 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe globally significant dugong population of Torres Strait supports an important indigenous fishery for meat and oil. The fishery is protected by the Torres Strait Treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea. A time series of aerial survey estimates from 1987–2001 confirms that there is considerable temporal variability in the size of the dugong population in the region and adds to a growing body of evidence from other aerial surveys and satellite tracking that dugongs undertake large‐scale movements associated with temporal and spatial changes in the distribution of their seagrass food. The magnitude of these effects on both the size of the population and the catch cannot be disaggregated from the effects of population depletion from over‐harvesting. The Potential Biological Removal method was used in conjunction with the aerial survey data to estimate sustainable anthropogenic mortality from all causes for a range of empirically‐derived estimates of dugong life‐history parameters. These estimates of a sustainable harvest are so far below the current harvest that it must be unsustainable. Governments should heed the Islanders' requests for assistance in implementing co‐management of the fishery as a matter of urgency.
Are introduced and re‐introduced species comparable? A case study of birds
Authors: Blackburn Tim M. , Cassey Phillip 
Published: November 2004

AbstractKnowledge of the causes of success or failure in introductions may provide information to help improve the chances that re‐introductions succeed. However, the utility of this information will be influenced by the comparability of sets of introduced and re‐introduced species. Here, we assess the extent of this similarity using recent historical data on introduced and re‐introduced birds. Introductions are less often threatened than expected and have larger ranges and earlier ages at maturity than re‐introductions. Introductions also generally have ‘weedy’ life‐history characteristics relative to family‐typical values, whereas those of re‐introductions more closely conform to these typical values. However, introductions and re‐introductions do not differ in migratory behaviour, mating system or dichromatism, nor do they show statistically consistent differences in body mass, incubation time or annual fecundity. The taxonomic composition of the lists of introductions and re‐introductions is similar, with more species than expected on both lists. Overall, these results suggest that the characteristics of introductions and re‐introductions are sufficiently similar that conclusions from studies of the former may reasonably be used to inform studies of the latter.
Review article: diagnosis and management of night‐time reflux
Authors: McGuigan J. E. , Belafsky P. C. , Fromer L. , McCarthy D. , Nostrant T. , Postma G. N. , Welage L. S. , Wolfe M. M. 
Published: November 2004

SummarySymptoms of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) range from mild to severe and, when they occur during night‐time hours, can interfere with sleep patterns and reduce overall quality of life. The clinical presentation of GERD is characterized by oesophageal as well as supra‐oesophageal symptoms, including otolaryngologic and pulmonary complications. However, GERD may be overlooked as the cause of a patient's supra‐oesophageal symptoms because these complaints can occur in the absence of oesophageal symptoms or endoscopic changes. The role of available tools used for GERD diagnosis, including endoscopy, oesophageal pH monitoring and an empirical course of proton pump inhibitor therapy, is discussed. Interventions available to achieve the therapeutic goals of symptom relief and prevention include specific lifestyle modifications and over‐the‐counter as well as prescription pharmacological agents. Patient‐initiated, as‐needed treatment may not be the best choice for managing persistent night‐time reflux because it requires patient arousal from sleep. Proton pump inhibitor therapy remains the treatment of choice for patients with more severe symptoms and those with erosive oesophagitis. Few studies have specifically evaluated the role of pharmacological agents in the management of night‐time reflux and comparisons are difficult due to the variability in study design and endpoints assessed.
Real-Time PCR for Detection and Quantification of the Protistan Parasite
Perkinsus marinus
in Environmental Waters
Authors: Audemard Corinne , Reece Kimberly S. , Burreson Eugene M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

The protistan parasite
Perkinsus marinus
is a severe pathogen of the oyster
Crassostrea virginica
along the east coast of the United States. Very few data have been collected, however, on the abundance of the parasite in environmental waters, limiting our understanding of
P. marinus
transmission dynamics. Real-time PCR assays with SybrGreen I as a label for detection were developed in this study for quantification of
P. marinus
in environmental waters with
P. marinus
species-specific primers and of
Perkinsus
spp. with
Perkinsus
genus-specific primers. Detection of DNA concentrations as low as the equivalent of 3.3 × 10
−2
cell per 10-μl reaction mixture was obtained by targeting the multicopy internal transcribed spacer region of the genome. To obtain reliable target quantification from environmental water samples, removal of PCR inhibitors and efficient DNA recovery were two major concerns. A DNA extraction kit designed for tissues and another designed for stool samples were tested on environmental and artificial seawater (ASW) samples spiked with
P. marinus
cultured cells. The stool kit was significantly more efficient than the tissue kit at removing inhibitors from environmental water samples. With the stool kit, no significant difference in the quantified target concentrations was observed between the environmental and ASW samples. However, with the spiked ASW samples, the tissue kit demonstrated more efficient DNA recovery. Finally, by performing three elutions of DNA from the spin columns, which were combined prior to target quantification, variability of DNA recovery from different samples was minimized and more reliable real-time PCR quantification was accomplished.
Complete Type III Secretion System of a Mesophilic
Aeromonas hydrophila
Strain
Authors: Vilches Silvia , Urgell Cecilia , Merino Susana , Chacón Matilde R. , Soler Lara , Castro-Escarpulli Graciela , Figueras Maria Jose , Tomás Juan M. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

We have investigated the existence and genetic organization of a functional type III secretion system (TTSS) in a mesophilic
Aeromonas
strain by initially using the
Aeromonas hydrophila
strain AH-3. We report for the first time the complete TTSS DNA sequence of an
Aeromonas
strain that comprises 35 genes organized in a similar disposition as that in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Using several gene probes, we also determined the presence of a TTSS in clinical or environmental strains of different
Aeromonas
species:
A. hydrophila
,
A. veronii
, and
A. caviae
. By using one of the TTSS genes (
ascV
), we were able to obtain a defined insertion mutant in strain AH-3 (AH-3AscV), which showed reduced toxicity and virulence in comparison with the wild-type strain. Complementation of the mutant strain with a plasmid vector carrying
ascV
was fully able to restore the wild-type toxicity and virulence.
Age-Related Decline in Carriage of Ampicillin-ResistantEscherichia coliin Young Calves
Authors: Hoyle Deborah V. , Shaw Darren J. , Knight Hazel I. , Davison Helen C. , Pearce Michael C. , Low J. Chris , Gunn George J. , Woolhouse Mark E. J. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACTThe presence of ampicillin-resistantEscherichia coli(AmprE. coli) in the fecal flora of calves was monitored on a monthly basis in seven cohorts of calves. Calves were rapidly colonized by AmprE. coli, with peak prevalence in cohort calves observed in the 4 months after the calves were born. The prevalence of calves yielding AmprE. coliin cohorts consistently declined to low levels with increasing age of the calves (P< 0.001).
Verocytotoxin-Producing
Escherichia coli
in Wild Birds and Rodents in Close Proximity to Farms
Authors: Nielsen Eva Møller , Skov Marianne N. , Madsen Jesper J. , Lodal Jens , Jespersen Jørgen Brøchner , Baggesen Dorte L. 
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT

Wild animals living close to cattle and pig farms (four each) were examined for verocytotoxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(VTEC; also known as Shiga toxin-producing
E. coli
). The prevalence of VTEC among the 260 samples from wild animals was generally low. However, VTEC isolates from a starling (
Sturnus vulgaris
) and a Norway rat (
Rattus norvegicus
) were identical to cattle isolates from the corresponding farms with respect to serotype, virulence profile, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type. This study shows that wild birds and rodents may become infected from farm animals or vice versa, suggesting a possible role in VTEC transmission.
CC-Chemokine RANTES Is Increased in Serum and Urine in the Early Post-Transplantation Period of Human Renal Allograft Recipients
Authors: Baer Patrick C. , Koziolek Michael , Fierlbeck Wolfgang , Geiger Helmut 
Published: November 2004

<i>Background:</i> The chemokine RANTES is a potent chemoattractant for T cells and monocytes that has been shown to enhance inflammation. The aim of our study was to investigate whether RANTES is upregulated within the early post-transplantation period that may influence short-time allograft function rate. <i>Methods: </i>Serum and urine samples from transplanted renal allograft recipients (n = 17) were obtained from specimens taken for diagnostic reasons. Four patients developed biopsy-proven rejection episodes within the first month. Time course of RANTES was studied within the first 12 days after renal transplantation using ELISA technique. Data were tested for significances between patients with rejection and without rejection, compared to healthy volunteers as controls, and correlated with clinical data. <i>Results:</i> In the control group RANTES concentration was 37.2 ± 2.7 ng/ml (serum) and 8.1 ± 1.3 pg/ml (urine), respectively. In transplanted recipients serum RANTES was significantly upregulated up to 132 ± 28 ng/ml on day 1 after transplantation and remained elevated within the first 12 days (n = 17). Time course of urine RANTES demonstrated elevated concentrations with 754 ± 115 pg/ml on day 1 followed by an continuous decrease to 22.3 ± 7 pg/ml on day 12 (n = 17). No significant differences could be detected between patients with rejection and without rejection episodes. <i>Conclusions:</i> In contrast to data of other urinary marker molecules (like IL-6), there are no significant differences between the rejection and non-rejection group. RANTES is therefore not suitable for early detection of rejection. Nevertheless, serum and urine RANTES concentrations were highly elevated in freshly transplanted renal allograft recipients reflecting an activated immune system.
Equilibrium in the Spatial ‘Valence’ Model of Politics
Authors: Schofield Norman 
Published: November 2004

It has been a standard result of the stochastic, or probabilistic, spatial model of voting that vote maximizing candidates, or parties, will converge to the electoral mean (the origin). This conclusion has appeared to be contradicted by empirical studies. Here, a more general stochastic model, incorporating ‘exogeneous’ valence, is constructed. Contrary to the standard result, it is shown in Theorem 1 of this paper that a potentially severe domain constraint (determined by the electoral and stochastic variance, valence as well as the dimension of the space) is necessary for the existence of equilibrium at the electoral mean. A more stringent condition, independent of the dimension of the space, is shown to be sufficient. An empirical study of Israel for 1992 shows that the necessary condition failed. This suggests that, in proportional electoral systems, a pure strategy equilibrium will almost always fail to exist at the electoral mean. Instead, in both the formal and empirical models, each party positions itself along a major electoral axis in a way which is determined by the valence terms. A second empirical analysis for Britain for the elections of 1992 and 1997 shows that, in fact, the necessary and sufficient condition for the validity of the ‘mean voter theorem’ was satisfied, under the assumption of unidimensionality of the policy space. Indeed the low valence party, the Liberal Democrat Party, did appear to locate at the electoral center. However, the high valence parties, Labour and the Conservatives, did not. This suggests that, in polities based on plurality rule, valence is a function of activist support rather than a purely exogenous factor. Theorem 2 shows, as in Britain, that exogeneous and activist valence produce opposite effects.
Keynote Address: Medical Informatics and Emergency Medicine
Authors: Feied Craig F. , Smith Mark S. , Handler Jonathan A. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA personal look at some of the developments in practical clinical informatics over the past two decades, with discussion of several successful projects, including the National Center for Emergency Medicine Informatics, the Azyxxi system, Federal Project ER One, the Institutes for Innovation in Medicine, the Medical MediaLab, Project Sentinel, and others. Lessons learned, and hints and suggestions for future developers and informaticists.
Extension of Protein Functions by the Incorporation of Nonnatural Amino Acids
Authors: Sisido Masahiko , Hohsaka Takahiro 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
Site-specific mutagenesis of proteins was extended to incorporate nonnatural amino acids through in vitro cell-free translation or through in vivo translation in the living cells. To this end, a variety of nonnatural amino acids were synthesized and linked to tRNA by chemical aminoacylation. Further, unique codon/anticodon pairs were derived, such as the 4-base codon/anticodon pairs that are orthogonal to the conventional 3-base codon/anticodon pairs. By the extension of amino acids and the genetic codes, site-directed incorporation of specialty amino acids into a variety of proteins has been achieved. Amino acids that carry large aromatic side groups with straight configurations, such as 2-anthrylalanine and 2-anthraquinonylalanine were successfully introduced into proteins and the CGGG or AGGU 4-base codons were used to assign their positions.
Amino acids carrying photocleavable side groups, a spin probe, fluorescent probes, and other functional groups have been introduced into proteins. The specialty proteins were shown to be powerful tools for biochemical research and are expected to be novel molecules with designed arrangements of functional groups on the protein framework.
Synthesis and Characteristics of Complex Multicomponent Oxides Prepared by Polymer Complex Method
Authors: Kakihana Masato , Yoshimura Masahiro 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
This account focuses on the synthesis and characteristics of ceramics prepared by the Pechini-type in-situ polymerizable complex (IPC) method. The current status of the IPC method is reviewed, and the principle and underlying chemistry of the IPC method is illustrated with a special emphasis on its intrinsic advantage over other solution-based technologies. The method has the ability to prepare complex multicomponent oxides with good homogeneity through mixing at the molecular level. The importance of “polymerization” itself in the IPC route is demonstrated by comparing with the non-polymerizable so-called amorphous citrate method, which affords less compositional homogeneity. The use of heterometallic complexes in the IPC processing is shown to be one of the most promising techniques to synthesize ceramics with exceptionally good homogeneity. It is one function of this account to describe how Raman and 13C NMR spectroscopies can be effectively used for characterizing precursors in the IPC processing. Finally, it is demonstrated that another type of polymer complex solution (PCS) method overcomes the serious drawback of the IPC method; i.e. the amount of organics required for the PCS method is less than that required for the IPC method by a factor of about 20.
Aromatic β-Silylethenylation Reactions via Organogallium Compounds
Authors: Kido Yoshiyuki , Yoshimura Satoru , Yamaguchi Masahiko , Uchimaru Tadafumi 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
In the presence of GaCl3, silylethyne reacted electrophilically with aromatic hydrocarbons to give β-silylethenylated arenes. The reaction proceeded via cationic species generated by the interaction of GaCl3 and silylethyne. High reactivity of the intermediate was demonstrated by the rapid reaction rate at −78 °C using close to the equimolar amount of the substrates. ipso-Substitution reaction took place with 1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene. Structures and properties of several organogallium compounds involved in the reactions are discussed.
A Theoretical Study of the Crystal HgCl2 Compound
Authors: Liao Meng-Sheng , Zhang Qian-Er 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
A theoretical study of the crystal HgCl2 compound has been done using a quasi-relativistic density-functional method. The crystalline environment was simulated by a cut-off type Madelung potential. Bond length, dissociation energy, force constants, and sublimation enthalpy are calculated. The calculated properties are in goon agreement with available experimental data. The calculated difference in bond length between the isolated and crystalline molecule is consistent with the data obtained by the more recent gas-phase electron diffraction and X-ray single crystal measurements. The predicted symmetrical and antisymmetrical force constants (ks, kas) and their trend (kas &gt; ks) are in accordance with the Raman and IR data. The trend is in contrast to the free molecule case, where kas &lt; ks. The sublimation enthalpies of hypothetical HgX2 (X = F, Cl, Br, I) compounds with the XeF2-type structure are evaluated. It is shown that the XeF2-type structures for HgX2are significantly less stable than the actual structures.
Numerical Study on the Response of a Minimal Chemical Oscillator to an External Perturbation
Authors: Sasaki Yoshihiro 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
The response of a sinusoidally perturbed minimal chemical oscillator was simulated over a wide range of perturbation parameters. Under a weakly perturbed condition, the system exhibited entrainment, quasiperiodicity and a Farey tree; under a more strongly perturbed condition, two types of chaos, small-amplitude oscillations and the coexistence of two oscillation modes were found. Phase-shifting of a kicked oscillator was considered in order to understand the entrainment.