bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fetal head biometry following in‐utero repair of myelomeningocele
Authors: Danzer E. , Johnson M. P. , Wilson R. D. , Flake A. W. , Hedrick H. L. , Sutton L. N. , Adzick N. S. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of prenatal myelomeningocele repair on fetal head biometry.MethodsFifty fetuses underwent open fetal myelomeningocele repair at our institution between January 1998 and July 2002. All had serial head circumference (HC) and lateral ventricular diameter (VD) measurements taken preoperatively and weekly for 8 weeks after repair. Cortical index (CI) was defined as HC/VD. Measurements were compared with gestational age‐matched values from nomograms. One‐sample t‐test, ANOVA and repeated measures analysis were used to assess HC, VD and CI after fetal repair.ResultsPreoperatively, the HC in fetuses with myelomeningocele was smaller than control values (186.4 vs. 198.8 mm, P = 0.0004). Eight weeks' postoperatively this difference had resolved (293 vs. 301.6 mm, P = 0.76). The mean increase in CI after repair was 20% (P = 0.02) compared with the predicted 51% in normal cases. The average increase in VD was 3.9 mm (38.8%, P < 0.001).ConclusionsMid‐gestational repair of myelomeningocele alters fetal head growth. Increased CI suggests HC changes are not due to ventriculomegaly alone. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Upper level of the spina bifida defect: how good are we?
Authors: Bruner J. P. , Tulipan N. , Dabrowiak M. E. , Luker K. S. , Walters K. , Burns P. , Reed G. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the accuracy of obstetric sonography in determining the upper level of myelomeningocele lesions.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of 171 consecutive cases of spina bifida repaired in utero. The upper level of the lesion as determined by obstetric sonography was assigned by community physicians prior to referral in the second trimester and by the authors at Vanderbilt University Medical Center during preoperative evaluation. One hundred and eleven cases had levels established by plane‐film X‐ray or magnetic resonance imaging after delivery and this was regarded as the gold standard.ResultsOf the 171 community examinations, only 29% identified a specific upper level of the lesion; our corresponding examinations specified the lesion level in all cases. Of the 111 cases that had upper levels of the lesion established by post‐delivery imaging, corresponding levels were available for comparison from 35 of the community examinations and from 111 of the examinations performed at Vanderbilt. All three assigned levels were available for comparison in 35 cases. In 26% of cases, community‐assigned levels agreed exactly with post‐delivery levels, while 66% agreed within one level and 80% agreed within two levels. In 38% of cases, levels assigned at Vanderbilt agreed exactly with post‐delivery levels, while 78% agreed within one level and 96% agreed within two levels. Upper levels of the lesion assigned at Vanderbilt were significantly more accurate overall compared with those assigned by community physicians (signed rank test [paired comparison], P = 0.048). However, comparison of lesion levels assigned at Vanderbilt in the first 50 vs. the last 61 cases revealed a significant learning effect (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.03). When comparison of lesion levels assigned by community physicians was restricted to the first 50 cases at Vanderbilt, accuracy was similar (n = 13; t‐test, P = 0.16; rank sum test, 0.31).ConclusionsCommunity physicians were successful in assigning the upper level of the spina bifida lesion only 29% of the time. When successful, the accuracy of these determinations was similar to that of the authors at Vanderbilt. A significant learning effect was demonstrated by improved accuracy over time at Vanderbilt. A concerted continuing medical education effort is indicated to improve the imaging skills of physicians in the accurate diagnosis of the severity of spina bifida in fetuses. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Developing methods and strains for genetic studies in the Saccharomyces bayanus var. uvarum species
Authors: Talarek Nicolas , Louis Edward J. , Cullin Christophe , Aigle Michel 
Published: November 2004

AbstractFor years, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used as a model organism to gain insight into complex biological processes. The study of closely related yeast species may be critical for understanding the molecular mechanism of evolution. Among those species, S. bayanus var. uvarum could be particularly pertinent because of the availability of its genome sequence. However, to date, in that species genetic studies are problematical due to the lack of standard strains collection and genetic methods. Here, we have developed heterothallic S. bayanus var. uvarum strains and obtained stable haploid strains. We further used UV‐induced mutation and gene disruption to create a collection of auxotrophic derivatives. Finally, we have elaborated or improved methods to cultivate cells, obtain zygotes and spores and to transform this species. All these tools can now be used by the scientific community to study the biology of this species. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The yeast rRNA biosynthesis factor Ebp2p is also required for efficient nuclear division
Authors: Ionescu Costin N. , Origanti Sofia , McAlear Michael A. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractMolecular genetic analysis of the yeast Ebp2 protein has revealed that it is an essential, nucleolar protein that functions in the rRNA biosynthesis pathway. Temperature‐sensitive ebp2‐1 mutants are defective in the processing of the 27 SA precursor rRNA, and the point substitutions that disrupt this activity cluster towards the central, more highly conserved region of the Ebp2 protein. We report here that other ebp2 mutants exhibit deficiencies associated with defects in chromosome segregation. Yeast cells bearing a 50 amino acid C‐terminal truncation allele (ebp2ΔC50) display a slow‐growth phenotype and exhibit an increased percentage of cells with the nucleus positioned at the bud neck. The ebp2‐1 and ebp2ΔC50 alleles genetically complement each other, and ebp2ΔC50 mutants exhibit nuclear division defects that are distinct from the rRNA biosynthesis‐related phenotypes of ebp2‐1 mutants. Cytological and FACS analysis of the ebp2ΔC50 deletion mutants indicate that the chromosome segregation related activities of the Ebp2 protein are monitored by Mad2p, a mitotic checkpoint protein. The finding that yeast Ebp2p functions in nuclear division is consistent with the growing body of evidence that supports the role that human EBP2 plays in chromosome segregation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Specificity of accumulation and transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in two genera, Frankliniella and Thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: Inoue T. , Sakurai T. , Murai T. , Maeda T. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe accumulation and transmission of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) was examined in second instar larvae and adults of two thrips genera, Frankliniella and Thrips. The species tested were F. occidentalis (Pergande), F. intonsa (Trybom), T. tabaciLindeman, T. setosus Moulton, T. palmi Karny and T. hawaiiensis (Morgan). In a standard petunia leaf disc assay, the efficiencies of TSWV transmission by two species of Frankliniella were higher than those of any Thrips species in the adult stage. A triple antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) showed that large amounts of the TSWV-nucleocapsid (N) protein were present in the ELISA-positive larvae of each species, with the exception of T. palmi. The ELISA titre of and the proportion of virus-infected individuals of the two Frankliniella species increased or did not significantly change from the larval to the adult stages, whereas those of the four Thrips species decreased significantly. These results show that the specificity of virus transmission by adult thrips is probably affected by the amount of viral N protein accumulation in the adults and that the accumulation pattern from the larval to the adult stages is in between the two genera tested in the present study.
Ontogenetic shifts in intraguild predation on thrips by phytoseiid mites: the relevance of body size and diet specialization
Authors: Walzer A. , Paulus H.F. , Schausberger P. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractIn greenhouse agroecosystems, a guild of spider mite predators may consist of the oligophagous predatory mitePhytoseiulus persimilisAthias-Henriot, the polyphagous predatory miteNeoseiulus californicusMcGregor (both Acari: Phytoseiidae) and the primarily herbivorous but facultatively predatory western flower thripsFrankliniella occidentalisPergande (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Diet-specialization and the predator body size relative to prey are crucial factors in predation onF. occidentalisbyP. persimilisandN. californicus. Here, it was tested whether the relevance of these factors changes during predator ontogeny. First, the predator (protonymphs and adult females ofP. persimilisandN. californicus): prey (F. occidentalisfirst instars) body size ratios were measured. Second, the aggressiveness ofP. persimilisandN. californicustowardsF. occidentaliswas assessed. Third, survival, development and oviposition ofP. persimilisandN. californicuswithF. occidentalisprey was determined. The body size ranking wasP. persimilisfemales >N. californicusfemales >P. persimilisprotonymphs >N. californicusprotonymphs.Neoseiulus californicusfemales were the most aggressive predators, followed by highly aggressiveN. californicusprotonymphs and moderately aggressiveP. persimilisprotonymphs.Phytoseiulus persimilisfemales did not attack thrips.Frankliniella occidentalislarvae are an alternative prey for juvenileN. californicusandP. persimilis, enabling them to reach adulthood. Females ofN. californicusbut notP. persimilissustained egg production with thrips prey. Within the guild studied here,N. californicusfemales are the most harmful predators forF. occidentalislarvae, followed byN. californicusandP. persimilisjuveniles.Phytoseiulus persimilisfemales are harmless toF. occidentalis.
Laboratory adaptation ofBactrocera tryoni(Diptera: Tephritidae) decreases mating age and increases protein consumption and number of eggs produced per milligram of protein
Authors: Meats A. , Holmes H.M. , Kelly G.L. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractA significant reduction in age of mating occurred during the first four generations (G1–G4) of laboratory adaptation of wildBactrocera tryoni(Froggatt) and this was associated with the earlier attainment of peak egg load although no significant differences were detected in the peak egg load itself. A long term laboratory (LTL) strain had a significantly earlier mating age and higher peak egg load than flies of wild origin or those from the first four laboratory generations. The amount of protein consumed by females in the first week of adult life was significantly higher in the LTL strain than in flies of wild origin or G1–G4 but there were no significant changes (or only slight changes) with laboratory adaptation in the amounts of protein consumed up to the ages of mating and peak egg load. Laboratory adaptation resulted in no significant changes in egg size, egg dry weight, puparial fresh weight and the dry weight of newly emerged females. The large increase in fecundity with laboratory adaptation is associated with a 4- to 5-fold increase in the rate of conversion of dietary protein to eggs (i.e. eggs produced per mg of protein consumed).
PKCδ plays opposite roles in growth mediated by wild-type Kit and an oncogenic Kit mutant
Authors: Jelacic Tanya , Linnekin Diana 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe Kit receptor tyrosine kinase is critical for normal hematopoiesis. Mutation of the aspartic acid residue encoded by codon 816 of human c-kit or codon 814 of the murine gene results in an oncogenic form of Kit. Here we investigate the role of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) in responses mediated by wild-type murine Kit and the D814Y mutant in a murine mast cell-like line. PKCδ is activated after wild-type (WT) Kit binds stem cell factor (SCF), is constitutively active in cells expressing the Kit catalytic domain mutant, and coprecipitates with both forms of Kit. Inhibition of PKCδ had opposite effects on growth mediated by wild-type and mutant Kit. Both rottlerin and a dominant-negative PKCδ construct inhibited the growth of cells expressing mutant Kit, while SCF-induced growth of cells expressing wild-type Kit was not inhibited. Further, overexpression of PKCδ inhibited growth of cells expressing wild-type Kit and enhanced growth of cells expressing the Kit mutant. These data demonstrate that PKCδ contributes to factor-independent growth of cells expressing the D814Y mutant, but negatively regulates SCF-induced growth of cells expressing wild-type Kit. This is the first demonstration that PKCδ has different functions in cells expressing normal versus oncogenic forms of a receptor.
The CXC chemokine MIP-2 stimulates neutrophil mobilization from the rat bone marrow in a CD49d-dependent manner
Authors: Burdon Peter C. E. , Martin Coralie , Rankin Sara M. 
Published: November 2004

AbstractThe acute release of neutrophils from the bone marrow is a critical step in their trafficking to sites of inflammation. This process is stimulated by systemically acting inflammatory mediators, such as the CXC chemokines. In this study we have used a novel in situ perfusion system of the rat femoral bone marrow to directly investigate the role of specific adhesion molecules in chemokine-stimulated neutrophil mobilization. We show here that neutrophils mobilized in response to rat macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) shed l-selectin and expressed significantly higher levels of CD11b and CD49d. However, inhibition of l-selectin sheddase activity with KD-IX-73-4 had no effect on the number of neutrophils mobilized in response to rat MIP-2. Blockade of CD18, using a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), did not inhibit neutrophil mobilization but unexpectedly increased the rate and number of neutrophils released from the bone marrow in response to chemokine, suggesting that CD18 could play a role in neutrophil retention within the bone marrow. Blockade of CD49d using either a selective mAb or a specific antagonist resulted in a dramatic inhibition (&gt; 75%) of the chemokine-stimulated neutrophil mobilization from the bone marrow. These data reveal contrasting roles for CD18 and CD49d in the retention and release of neutrophils from the bone marrow.
A genomic timescale of prokaryote evolution: insights into the origin of methanogenesis, phototrophy, and the colonization of land
Authors: Battistuzzi Fabia U , Feijao Andreia , Hedges S Blair 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
Background
The timescale of prokaryote evolution has been difficult to reconstruct because of a limited fossil record and complexities associated with molecular clocks and deep divergences. However, the relatively large number of genome sequences currently available has provided a better opportunity to control for potential biases such as horizontal gene transfer and rate differences among lineages. We assembled a data set of sequences from 32 proteins (~7600 amino acids) common to 72 species and estimated phylogenetic relationships and divergence times with a local clock method.

Results
Our phylogenetic results support most of the currently recognized higher-level groupings of prokaryotes. Of particular interest is a well-supported group of three major lineages of eubacteria (Actinobacteria, Deinococcus, and Cyanobacteria) that we call Terrabacteria and associate with an early colonization of land. Divergence time estimates for the major groups of eubacteria are between 2.5–3.2 billion years ago (Ga) while those for archaebacteria are mostly between 3.1–4.1 Ga. The time estimates suggest a Hadean origin of life (prior to 4.1 Ga), an early origin of methanogenesis (3.8–4.1 Ga), an origin of anaerobic methanotrophy after 3.1 Ga, an origin of phototrophy prior to 3.2 Ga, an early colonization of land 2.8–3.1 Ga, and an origin of aerobic methanotrophy 2.5–2.8 Ga.

Conclusions
Our early time estimates for methanogenesis support the consideration of methane, in addition to carbon dioxide, as a greenhouse gas responsible for the early warming of the Earths' surface. Our divergence times for the origin of anaerobic methanotrophy are compatible with highly depleted carbon isotopic values found in rocks dated 2.8–2.6 Ga. An early origin of phototrophy is consistent with the earliest bacterial mats and structures identified as stromatolites, but a 2.6 Ga origin of cyanobacteria suggests that those Archean structures, if biologically produced, were made by anoxygenic photosynthesizers. The resistance to desiccation of Terrabacteria and their elaboration of photoprotective compounds suggests that the common ancestor of this group inhabited land. If true, then oxygenic photosynthesis may owe its origin to terrestrial adaptations.
Comparison of frozen and RNALater solid tissue storage methods for use in RNA expression microarrays
Authors: Mutter George L , Zahrieh David , Liu Chunmei , Neuberg Donna , Finkelstein David , Baker Heather E , Warrington Janet A 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
Background
Primary human tissues are an invaluable widely used tool for discovery of gene expression patterns which characterize disease states. Tissue processing methods remain unstandardized, leading to unanswered concerns of how to best store collected tissues and maintain reproducibility between laboratories. We subdivided uterine myometrial tissue specimens and stored split aliquots using the most common tissue processing methods (fresh, frozen, RNALater) before comparing quantitative RNA expression profiles on the Affymetrix U133 human expression array. Split samples and inclusion of duplicates within each processing group allowed us to undertake a formal genome-wide analysis comparing the magnitude of result variation contributed by sample source (different patients), processing protocol (fresh vs. frozen vs. 24 or 72 hours RNALater), and random background (duplicates). The dataset was randomly permuted to define a baseline pattern of ANOVA test statistic values against which the observed results could be interpreted.

Results
14,639 of 22,283 genes were expressed in at least one sample. Patient subjects provided the greatest sources of variation in the mixed model ANOVA, with replicates and processing method the least. The magnitude of variation conferred by processing method (24 hours RNALater vs 72 hours RNALater vs. fresh vs frozen) was similar to the variability seen within replicates. Subset analysis of the test statistic according to gene functional class showed that the frequency of "outlier" ANOVA results within each functional class is overall no greater than expected by chance.

Conclusions
Ambient storage of tissues for 24 or 72 hours in RNALater did not contribute any systematic shift in quantitative RNA expression results relative to the alternatives of fresh or frozen tissue. This nontoxic preservative enables decentralized tissue collection for expression array analysis without a requirement for specialized equipment.
Rationale and design of a multicenter randomized controlled trial on a 'minimal intervention' in Dutch army personnel with nonspecific low back pain [ISRCTN19334317]
Authors: Helmhout Pieter H , Harts Chris C , Staal J Bart , de Bie Rob A 
Published: November 2004

Abstract
Background
Researchers from the Royal Netherlands Army are studying the potential of isolated lumbar extensor training in low back pain in their working population. Currently, a randomized controlled trial is carried out in five military health centers in The Netherlands and Germany, in which a 10-week program of not more than 2 training sessions (10–15 minutes) per week is studied in soldiers with nonspecific low back pain for more than 4 weeks. The purpose of the study is to investigate the efficacy of this 'minimal intervention program', compared to usual care. Moreover, attempts are made to identify subgroups of different responders to the intervention.

Methods
Besides a baseline measurement, follow-up data are gathered at two short-term intervals (5 and 10 weeks after randomization) and two long-term intervals (6 months and one year after the end of the intervention), respectively. At every test moment, participants fill out a compound questionnaire on a stand-alone PC, and they undergo an isometric back strength measurement on a lower back machine.
Primary outcome measures in this study are: self-assessed degree of complaints and degree of handicap in daily activities due to back pain. In addition, our secondary measurements focus on: fear of movement/(re-) injury, mental and social health perception, individual back extension strength, and satisfaction of the patient with the treatment perceived. Finally, we assess a number of potential prognostic factors: demographic and job characteristics, overall health, the degree of physical activity, and the attitudes and beliefs of the physiotherapist towards chronic low back pain.

Discussion
Although a substantial number of trials have been conducted that included lumbar extension training in low back pain patients, hardly any study has emphasized a minimal intervention approach comparable to ours. For reasons of time efficiency and patient preferences, this minimal sports medicine approach of low back pain management is interesting for the population under study, and possibly for comparable working populations with physical demanding job activities.