bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Caffeine ingestion and lower urinary tract symptoms in healthy volunteers
Authors: Bird Erin T. , Parker Brian D. , Kim Hyun Sun , Coffield K. Scott 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAimsTo assess lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) after caffeine ingestion in healthy volunteers.Materials and MethodsWe conducted a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial utilizing healthy adult volunteers without urinary tract disease. Caffeine dosage was based on patient weight (equivalent to a 70 kg person taking 200 mg of caffeine twice a day). After a 24‐hr washout period, subjects ingested tablets (placebo and drug were identical in appearance) twice a day for 3 days. All participants completed volume‐frequency diaries and a post‐study symptom questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS (version 8.2). Differences voiding frequency and volume were assessed by Wilcoxon rank sum test. The designated level of statistical significance was P < 0.05.ResultsDuring the first day on study medications, patients taking caffeine versus placebo voided a mean of 7.8 versus 6.4 times in a 24‐hr period, respectively, P = 0.05. The mean total urine production was 2,004 ml (caffeine) versus 1,643 ml (placebo), P = 0.06, while total fluid ingested was similar (2,246 ml—caffeine, 2,102 ml—placebo, P = 0.46). For the remaining 2 days there was no significant difference between the two arms. The post‐study questionnaire revealed no differences in symptom perception between the two groups.ConclusionsIn healthy volunteers caffeine appears to produce an initial diuresis, but does not appear to have other significant or sustaining effects on lower urinary symptoms in this 4‐day model. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spatially inhomogeneous crystallinity in heterogeneous ethylene‐α‐olefin copolymers
Authors: Joubert D. J. , Goderis B. , Reynaers H. , Mathot V. B. F. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThe crystallinity development in heterogeneous ethylene‐1‐butene copolymers is compared with that in ethylene copolymers, with more bulky 1‐heptene as a comonomer. The thermal transitions of the 1‐heptene based copolymers persistently occur at higher temperatures than of the corresponding 1‐butene copolymers. The earlier crystallization onset is reflected in thicker primary crystals, which in turn are associated with the presence of longer ethylene sequences because of the inaccessibility of 1‐heptene to sterically shielded catalytic sites. In addition, the 1‐heptene based copolymers are characterized by a higher degree of primary crystallinity, whereas the 1‐butene copolymers exhibit more prominent secondary crystallization. The 1‐butene based copolymers thus have a less heterogeneous chemical composition distribution. At high comonomer contents, the highly heterogeneous nature of the 1‐heptene copolymers is emphasized by a more pronounced presence of low crystalline spherulite inclusions accomplished by the liquid–liquid phase separation of dissimilar polymeric chains before crystallization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 3000–3018, 2005
Specific photodissociation of peptides with multi‐stage mass spectrometry
Authors: Tabarin Thibault , Antoine Rodolphe , Broyer Michel , Dugourd Philippe 
Published: September 2005

AbstractWe report collision‐induced dissociation (CID) and laser‐induced dissociation (LID) performed at different wavelengths between 220 and 280 nm of the peptides leucine‐enkephalin (protonated) and gramicidin A (sodiated). Hydrogen‐atom losses and side‐chain cleavages were observed in LID experiments. These losses depend on the laser wavelength and lead to the formation of radical ions. The fragmentations of these radicals, which are not observed in CID experiments, were investigated in multi‐stage mass spectrometry experiments. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relations between parenting and externalizing and internalizing problem behaviour in early adolescence: Child behaviour as moderator and predictor
Authors: Reitz E. , Deković M. , Meijer A.M. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractIn this longitudinal study we investigated relations between parenting and externalizing and internalizing problem behaviour during early adolescence. First, we examined parenting effects on problem behaviour, including child behaviour as a moderator. Second, we examined child behaviour as predictor of parenting, also including moderator effects. A total of 650 13‐ to 14‐year‐olds filled out the Youth Self‐Report and questionnaires about parenting at two times within a one‐year interval. Relations between parenting and problem behaviour appeared to be stronger for externalizing than for internalizing problem behaviour. Both parenting effects and child effects were found. Parenting significantly predicted an increase in externalizing problem behaviour one year later. Adolescent's previous level of problem behaviour predicted changes in parenting (involvement and decisional autonomy granting). In addition, parental and child characteristics interacted in predicting outcome.
Identification of individual tigers (Panthera tigris) from their pugmarks
Authors: Sharma Sandeep , Jhala Yadvendradev , Sawarkar Vishwas B. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAn objective multivariate technique is described for identification of individual tigers Panthera tigris from their pugmarks. Tracings and photographs of hind pugmarks were obtained from 23 pugmark‐sets of 19 individually known tigers (17 wild and two captive tigers). These 23 pugmark‐sets were then divided into two groups, one of 15 pugmark‐sets for model building and another of eight pugmark‐sets for model testing and validation. A total of 93 measurements were taken from each pugmark along with three gait measurements. We used CV ratio, F‐ratio and removed highly correlated variables to finally select 11 variables from these 93 variables. These 11 variables did not differ between left and right pugmarks. Stepwise discriminant function analysis (DFA) based on these 11 variables correctly classified pugmark‐sets to individual tigers. A realistic population estimation exercise was simulated using the validation dataset. The algorithms developed here correctly allocated each pugmark‐set to the correct individual tiger. The effect of extraneous factors, i.e. soil depth and multiple tracers, was also tested and pugmark tracings compared with pugmark photographs. We recommend collecting pugmarks from soil depths ranging between 0.5 and 1.0 cm, and advocate the use of pugmark photographs rather than pugmark tracings to eliminate the chance of obtaining substandard data from untrained tracers. Our study suggests that tigers can be individually identified from their pugmarks with a high level of accuracy and pugmark‐sets could be used for population estimation of tigers within a statistically designed mark–recapture framework.
Ontogeny and sexual dimorphism in booted macaques (Macaca ochreata)
Authors: Schillaci Michael A. , Stallmann Robert R. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractOntogeny and sexual dimorphism have been important topics of investigation among researchers interested in the life history and ecology of non‐human primates. It has been suggested that sex differences in the duration of growth are primarily, but not entirely, responsible for the sexual dimorphism observed in primate species with multimale–multifemale social structure, such as that seen in macaque monkeys (subfamily Cercopithecinae). Sexual dimorphism and growth was investigated in a wild population of booted macaques Macaca ochreata from Sulawesi, Indonesia. The results of our investigation suggest that the observed dimorphism in this population is primarily a product of greatly increased growth rates in dentally mature young adult males, in addition to prolonged male growth. This pattern of male growth may be an adaptive response to reduce the risk of adult male aggression before obligatory male emigration, and to facilitate competition for females soon after immigration into a new social group.
The acanthocephalan parasite Polymorphus minutus alters the geotactic and clinging behaviours of two sympatric amphipod hosts: the native Gammarus pulex and the invasive Gammarus roeseli
Authors: Bauer Alexandre , Haine Eleanor R. , Perrot‐Minnot Marie‐Jeanne , Rigaud Thierry 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAcanthocephala are parasites with complex life cycles involving arthropod intermediate hosts and vertebrate final hosts. They use predation as a means of transmission, and some species have developed the ability to modify behaviour of their intermediate hosts to enhance the probability of ingestion by the definitive host. Knowledge of how a single parasite species is adapted to modify the behaviour of different intermediate host species is important for the understanding of parasitic transmission in host communities. In Burgundy, the freshwater amphipod crustaceans Gammarus pulex (native species) and Gammarus roeseli (eastern European invader) are both intermediate hosts for the acanthocephalan Polymorphus minutus. The influence of this bird parasite on the geotaxis of G. roeseli was evaluated and it was found that when infected, individuals of this host species have a negative geotaxis compared to uninfected individuals. There were two components to the behavioural changes: swimming to the top of the water column, and clinging to surface material. These changes were comparable to those observed in the local host species G. pulex, but lower in magnitude. This result contrasts with a previous study on the influence of the fish parasite Pomphorhynchus laevis, which is able to alter the native species' behaviour, but not that of the invasive host. Parasite adaptations to local vs invasive intermediate host species are discussed in terms of their dispersal range (i.e. dispersal of their definitive hosts): the wider the dispersal, the greater should be the spectrum of intermediate hosts.
Seasonal variation in spermatogenic and androgenic activities in a caecilian testis (Ichthyophis tricolor)
Authors: Smita Mathew , Beyo R. S. , George Jancy M. , Akbarsha M. A. , Oommen Oommen V. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractCaecilians are an order of amphibians with distribution confined to several of the tropical countries. They are subterranean animals and practice a form of internal fertilization. Several species are viviparous. Published reports on seasonal variation in male reproduction in caecilians are limited to a very few species. A study was undertaken to examine the seasonal variation of testicular activity with respect to spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in a caecilian, Ichthyophis tricolor, fairly abundant in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India, using light and transmission electron microscopy, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin‐dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) staining and biochemical determination of 3‐hydroxy‐Δ5‐steroid dehydrogenase (Δ5‐3β‐HSDH) activity. Three phases in spermatogenic activity, active spermatogenesis (July–November), early regression (December–March) and spermatogenic quiescence (April–June) are identified. Apoptosis seems to be the mechanism of germ cell death during the regression phase. Leydig cells are interstitial and not peritubular. Activity of testicular Δ5‐3β‐HSDH follows the same pattern as spermatogenic activity, although histometric data on the interstitial tissue reveal higher areas during the regression and quiescent phases. Our findings will be useful in evolving strategies for conservation of caecilians with special reference to Kerala, India.
The calcium and phosphorus content of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) and buffalo (Syncerus caffer) skeletons
Authors: Mitchell G. , van Schalkwyk O. L. , Skinner J. D. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractOsteophagia, variable serum calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) concentration, high serum alkaline phosphatase activity, a high growth rate, and a large skeletal mass, all suggest that Ca and P requirements and availability are finely balanced in giraffes. The mineral content of some marker bones in skeletons obtained from adult male giraffes (browsers) and adult male African buffaloes (grazers of similar body mass) were compared to assess the idea of critical Ca and P balance. Our results show that the P concentration of plasma varies more than Ca concentration, and that the Ca content of giraffe bones (0.196±0.01 g/g) and buffalo (0.202±0.006 g/g) varies more than P content (0.095±0.002 in both). The average Ca and P content of the bones analysed was similar in both species (Ca=∼20.0%, P=∼9.5%). Giraffe skeletons, however, contain three times more Ca and P than do buffalo skeletons. This translates into a 1.5–2.0 fold higher Ca requirement for giraffes, with which they seem to cope effectively by selection for Ca‐rich, dicotyledonous, browse. Sources of P to meet requirements are not obvious and a seasonal deficiency of P is a more likely cause of observed osteophagia than Ca deficiency. Giraffe rib P density, the best measure of P balance, of 0.142±0.01 g/cm3 is, however, above the deficiency threshold. Bone mineral content (Ca and P) correlates well with bone density and shows only slight differences between adult males of the two species.
Egg size in relation to sex of embryo, brood sex ratios and laying sequence in northern lapwings (Vanellus vanellus)
Authors: Lislevand Terje , Byrkjedal Ingvar , Borge Thomas , Sætre Glenn‐Peter 
Published: September 2005

AbstractThis study focuses on possible sources of egg size variation in the northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus, a polygynous shorebird with more variable male than female reproductive success. From the hypothesis that female birds allocate more resources into male than female eggs to improve their sons' abilities to compete for mates, male eggs were predicted to be larger than female eggs, and the proportion of sons was predicted to increase with mean egg volume of clutches. However, no size differences between male and female eggs were found. Corresponding with earlier reports in the species, egg size was positively correlated with female body condition, but no relationship between offspring sex ratios and intra‐clutch mean egg volumes was detected. These results suggest that a higher variation in reproductive success among males than among females is not sufficient for sexually dimorphic eggs to evolve in birds. Moreover, previous studies have suggested that shorebird eggs are subject to stabilizing selection for equal size within clutches. In contrast, this study demonstrates a consistent variation in egg size, with a significant increase in egg breadth between first and second eggs, and decreases in both breadth and volume between the third and the final fourth egg. The volume of last‐laid eggs was on average 2.3% smaller than the mean size of the preceding three eggs. Among the shorebirds studied so far, this consistent pattern of intra‐clutch egg size variation is unique to lapwings.
Daily torpor during the active phase in free‐ranging rock elephant shrews (Elephantulus myurus)
Authors: Mzilikazi Nomakwezi , Lovegrove Barry G. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractIn highly seasonal environments animals that use daily torpor usually do so during the rest phase. In subtropical and tropical environments, however, daily torpor may not necessarily be confined to the animals' rest phase. Animals may display torpor during the active phase. We investigated the daily rhythms and seasonal rhythms of body temperature (Tb) in normothermic and torpid free‐ranging rock elephant shrews Elephantulus myurus at Weenen Game Reserve, KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. Tbs were recorded using miniature dataloggers from May 2001 to May 2002. Daily patterns of Tb in normothermic E. myurus suggested polyphasic Tb patterns that nevertheless suggested a rest phase that was coincident with the daytime. When the elephant shrews used torpor, the lowest Tbs were observed during the night‐time, such that torpor was used during the coldest part of the night and arousal was associated with the 3‐h period around sunrise. We suggest that the principal benefit of a flexible daily rhythm of Tb was that it facilitated arousal by passive exogenous heating using ambient temperature cycles.
The influence of food and temperature on population density of wild boar Sus scrofa in the Thurgau (Switzerland)
Authors: Geisser Hannes , Reyer Heinz‐Ulrich 
Published: September 2005

AbstractDuring the last two decades, populations of the wild boar Sus scrofa in Europe have increased considerably and the species has spread into new areas over the entire continent. Because of the animals' impact on agriculture, livestock and biodiversity, and the resulting necessity of realistic management practices, we were interested in the key environmental factors responsible for this remarkable development. The study was based on data from the canton Thurgau, a region in north‐eastern Switzerland. We used data on damage and hunting success to calculate a population density index and related it to eight variables describing ecological conditions, demography and hunting pressure (measured by the number of hunters) over a 25‐year period. The analysis shows that the population increase correlates with higher than average winter and spring temperatures and improved food supply through more mast years and an increase in the area of maize cultivation. While favourable temperature conditions mainly reduce juvenile mortality, enhanced food availability is likely to boost reproductive success through younger age at first reproduction, larger litter size and earlier onset of oestrus within a season. Given this link between food and reproduction, supplemental feeding, a management practice recommended and very common all over Europe, should be reconsidered.
RSIR: regularized sliced inverse regression for motif discovery
Authors: Zhong Wenxuan , Zeng Peng , Ma Ping , Liu Jun S. , Zhu Yu 
Published: September 2005

Abstract
Motivation: Identification of transcription factor binding motifs (TFBMs) is a crucial first step towards the understanding of regulatory circuitries controlling the expression of genes. In this paper, we propose a novel procedure called regularized sliced inverse regression (RSIR) for identifying TFBMs. RSIR follows a recent trend to combine information contained in both gene expression measurements and genes' promoter sequences. Compared with existing methods, RSIR is efficient in computation, very stable for data with high dimensionality and high collinearity, and improves motif detection sensitivities and specificities by avoiding inappropriate model specification.
Results: We compare RSIR with SIR and stepwise regression based on simulated data and find that RSIR has a lower false positive rate. We also demonstrate an excellent performance of RSIR by applying it to the yeast amino acid starvation data and cell cycle data.
Availability: Matlab programs are available upon request from the authors.
Contact: jliu@stat.harvard.edu; yuzhu@stat.purdue.edu
A compact furnace for synchrotron powder diffraction measurements up to 1807 K
Authors: Yashima Masatomo , Tanaka Masahiko , Oh-uchi Kenjiro , Ida Takashi 
Published: September 2005

A compact furnace has been designed and fabricated for measurements of high-resolution synchrotron radiation powder diffraction profiles from materials at high temperatures up to 1807 K in air, suitable for the multiple-detector system installed at the BL-4B2experimental station of the Photon Factory in Tsukuba, Japan. The whole powder pattern of the material at a high temperature can be scanned at a step interval of 0.004° in 2θ, with a counting time of 1.5 s step−1, in just 7 h.
Muscle hypertrophy induced by the Ski protein: cyto‐architecture and ultrastructure
Authors: Bruusgaard J. C. , Brack A. S. , Hughes S. M. , Gundersen K. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim:  Transgenic mice overexpressing the c‐ski proto‐oncogene driven by the MSV promoter undergo muscle hypertrophy, most notably fast fibres of the lower limb. This hypertrophy is not accompanied by a correspondingly large increase in force, and individual skinned muscle fibres exhibit a 30% reduction in force per cross‐sectional area. In this respect, the MSV ski model is different from most other hypertrophy models and we here aim at describing the mechanisms for the reduced specific force.Methods:  Cyoarchitecture and ultrastructure of muscle fibres from the fast extensor digitorum longus muscle of 2–3 months old MSV ski mice was studied. In addition to electron microscopy, we used in vivo intracellular injections of myonuclear dye to investigate nuclear number.Results:  The number of nuclei did not increase in proportion to size, and consequently nuclear domains were increased compared with wild type. The fraction of the cytoplasm occupied by contractile material was reduced by 18%. In addition we observed poor intracellular alignment of Z‐discs. Such staggering has been reported to reduce force in desmin deficient mice, but the amount and distribution of desmin in the MSV ski mice seemed normal. The mitochondria of MSV ski mice showed irregularly spaced cristae that were frequently disrupted.Conclusion:  The reduction in specific force observed in MSV ski mice could be explained by a reduced fraction of contractile material and reduced transversal mechanical coupling. The ultrastructural abnormalities could be related to an increase in nuclear domains.
Low sodium intake induces an increase in renal monoamine oxidase activity in the rat. Involvement of an angiotensin II dependent mechanism
Authors: De Luca Sarobe V. , Nowicki S. , Carranza A. , Levin G. , Barontini M. , Arrizurieta E. , Ibarra F. R. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAims:  The interplay between natriuretic dopamine and antinatriuretic angiotensin II represents an important mechanism for the regulation of renal sodium and water excretion. Monoamine oxidase is the main metabolizing pathway for dopamine in the renal cortex. In this study, we have analysed the effect of low sodium feeding and AT1 receptor blockade on renal dopamine metabolism by monoamine oxidase.Methods:  Four groups of rats were studied: 1, normal salt diet (NS); 2, low salt diet (LS); 3, NS receiving Losartan (Los, specific AT1 receptor antagonist, 20 mg kg−1 bwt day−1, NS + Los); 4, LS receiving Los (LS + Los).Results:  Urinary dopamine excretion was lower in LS than in NS rats (543 ± 32 vs. 680 ± 34 ng day−1 100 g−1 bwt, P < 0.05). When treated with Los, DOPAC excretion and urinary DOPAC/dopamine ratio fell significantly in the LS + Los group as compared with the LS group (1199 ± 328 vs. 3081 ± 681 ng day−1 100 g−1 bwt and 1.90 ± 0.5 vs. 5.7 ± 1.2, respectively, both P < 0.02). Losartan increased hydroelectrolyte excretion in the LS group. No changes were found in the NS + Los group. Aromatic l‐amino acid decarboxylase activity in cortex was similar in NS and LS rats. Instead, monoamine oxidase activity was higher in cortical homogenates from LS rats (in nmol mg tissue−1 h−1: NS 7.66 ± 0.52; LS 9.82 ± 0.59, P < 0.05) and this difference was abolished in LS + Los rats (7.34 ± 0.49 nmol mg tissue−1 h−1, P < 0.01, vs. LS).Conclusions:  We have concluded that low levels of dopamine in the urine of LS rats are because of an increase in the activity of renal monoamine oxidase and that angiotensin II mediates this increase through stimulation of AT1 receptors.