bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deep‐water clastic evaporites deposition in the Messinian Adriatic foredeep (northern Apennines, Italy): did the Mediterranean ever dry out?
Authors: MANZI VINICIO , LUGLI STEFANO , LUCCHI FRANCO RICCI , ROVERI MARCO 
Published: July 2005

AbstractA new genetic facies model for deep‐water clastic evaporites is presented, based on work carried out on the Messinian Gessoso‐solfifera Formation of the northern Apennines during the last 15 years. This model is derived from the most recent siliciclastic turbidite models and describes the downcurrent transformations of a parent flow mainly composed of gypsum clasts. The model allows clearer comprehension of processes controlling the production and deposition of clastic evaporites, representing the most common evaporite facies of the northern Apennines, and the definition of the genetic and stratigraphic relationship with primary shallow‐water evaporites formed and preserved in marginal settings. Due to the severe recrystallization processes usually affecting these deposits, petrographic and geochemical analyses are needed for a more accurate interpretation of the large spectrum of recognized gravity‐driven deposits ranging from debrisflow to low‐density turbidites. Almost all the laminar ‘balatino’ gypsum, previously considered a deep‐water primary deposit, is here reinterpreted as the fine‐grained product of high to low‐density gravity flows. Facies associations permit the framing of the distribution of clastic evaporites into the complex tectonically controlled depositional settings of the Apennine foredeep basin. The Messinian Salinity Crisis occurred during an intense phase of geodynamic reorganization of the Mediterranean area that also produced the fragmentation of the former Miocene Apennine foredeep basin. In this area, primary shallow‐water evaporites equivalent to the Mediterranean Lower Evaporites, apparently only formed in semi‐closed thrust‐top basins like the Vena del Gesso Basin. The subsequent uplift and subaerial exposure of such basins ended the evaporite precipitation and promoted a widespread phase of collapse leading to the resedimentation of the evaporites into deeper basins. Vertical facies sequences of clastic evaporites can be interpreted in terms of the complex interplay between the Messinian tectonic evolution of the Apennine thrust belt and related exhumation–erosional processes. The facies model here proposed could be helpful also for better comprehension of other different depositional and geodynamic contexts; the importance of clastic evaporites deposits has been overlooked in the study of other Mediterranean areas. Based on the Apennine basins experience, it is suggested here that evaporites diffused into the deeper portions of the Mediterranean basin may consist mainly of deep‐water resedimented deposits rather than shallow‐water to supratidal primary evaporites indicative of a complete basin desiccation.
Recycling and chemical weathering in tectonically controlled Mesozoic–Cenozoic basins of New Zealand
Authors: CORCORAN P.L. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractSedimentation in molasse basins is controlled by tectonics, however, recycling and chemical weathering play a critical role in the compositional evolution of a sedimentary succession. The Cretaceous to Pliocene molasse deposits of Central Otago, New Zealand are excellent examples of tectonically related deposits that were governed by the effects of chemical weathering and recycling. Preserved in fault‐controlled basins floored by flysch deposits of the Otago Schist, the clastic successions contain ubiquitous unconformities and lithofacies consistent with alluvial, fluvial and lacustrine depositional settings. Textural analysis of Central Otago sandstones establishes a general quartz enrichment and increased mixing of angular and well‐rounded quartz varieties up‐section, consistent with a history of sediment recycling. Rare earth element (REE) patterns, which reflect upper crustal compositions, are similar for the flysch‐type Otago Schist (Permian–Early Cretaceous), a palaeo‐weathering profile, and the overlying molasse deposits. The development of quartz arenites is also consistent with high degrees of chemical weathering, and erosion of the schist basement, which contains numerous quartz veins. Although recycling has occurred, SiO2 and TiO2 do not consistently show a negative correlation over time. This reflects erosion of previously deposited quartz‐rich sediment and the Otago weathering profile, which produced an inverse stratigraphy. CIA values range from 52 for lithic‐rich, coarse‐grained sandstones and polymictic conglomerate matrices, to 93 for coarse‐grained to pebble‐rich quartz arenites. Individual samples were split into finer‐ and coarser‐grained pairs (<2·5φ and 2·5 to −1φ) and were analysed separately. The results show that finer‐grained samples contain higher REE abundances and less SiO2, but the coarser‐grained Miocene–Pliocene samples have higher CIA values than their finer‐grained counterparts. These coarse‐grained deposits are quartz‐rich and plot erratically on tectonic discrimination diagrams, implying that using SiO2‐poor samples is more reliable for geochemical analysis. Overall, the petrographic and geochemical results indicate that the main factors controlling the composition of the Central Otago molasse deposits were source composition, chemical weathering and recycling. Studies of this nature can be conducted in Archaean tectonically controlled molasse basins that are affected by similar allocyclic factors.
Cloning: Eight Years After Dolly
Authors: Campbell KHS , Alberio R , Choi I , Fisher P , Kelly RDW , Lee J‐H , Maalouf W 
Published: July 2005

ContentsIt is now 8 years since the birth of Dolly, the first animal produced by nuclear transfer using a donor cell population established from an adult animal. During this time, the technique of nuclear transfer has been successfully applied to a range of mammalian species for the production of offspring using a plethora of donor cell types derived from both foetal and adult tissues. In addition, when coupled with genetic manipulation of the donor cells, transgenic offspring have been produced with a range of genetic modifications including gene knockouts and gene knockings. Despite the apparent successes of the technology, the efficiency of development to live offspring has remained low and developmental abnormalities still occur. The objectives of this paper are to review some of the successes and failures of the nuclear transfer procedure since the production of Dolly. In particular, we will review the major steps in the procedure and discuss studies from our laboratory and others which have modified the procedure in ways which may impact on development.
Effects of Endocrine Disrupters on the Oocytes and Embryos of Farm Animals
Authors: Brevini TAL , Cillo F , Antonini S , Gandolfi F 
Published: July 2005

ContentsCurrently, approximately 60 chemicals have been identified as endocrine disruptors (EDs): exogenous agents that interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, metabolism, binding, action, or elimination of natural blood‐borne hormones. Farm animals ingest these substances with food and drinking water. Their stability and lipid solubility has led to increased concern that these substances may compromise the reproductive health of both humans and animals. Oocytes are a permanent cell population established before birth which is exposed to environmental stimuli for a period that, in farm animals, can be as long as several years. Oocyte competence is acquired within the ovary during the developmental stages that precede ovulation and its role is critical during the interval between fertilization and the so‐called maternal to embryonic transition, when the transcriptional activity of the embryonic genome becomes fully functional. Any perturbation of these delicate process is likely to reduce oocyte developmental competence and, therefore, to cause an arrest of embryonic development at any given stage. A critical analysis of the doses and time of exposure is presented together with a description of the effects of different EDs on farm animal oocytes and early embryonic development. Finally some of the mechanisms mediating EDs effects on the oocytes will be described. In particular the role of arylhydrocarbon receptor, maternal mRNA stability and cytoplasmic remodelling during oocyte maturation will be discussed in some details.
An update on Reproductive Technologies with Potential Short‐Term Application in Pig Production
Authors: Martinez EA , Vazquez JM , Roca J , Cuello C , Gil MA , Parrilla I , Vazquez JL 
Published: July 2005

ContentsOver the past decade, there has been an increase in the development and/or in the improvement of emerging reproductive technologies in pigs. Among emerging reproductive technologies with potential short‐term application in pig production are: artificial insemination with low number of spermatozoa, cryopreservation of spermatozoa and embryos, sperm sexing, and non‐surgical embryo transfer. The following review will give emphasis to recent advancements in these reproductive technologies that are starting to show possibilities of serious applications under field conditions.
Are Endocrine Disrupting Compounds a Threat to Farm Animal Health, Welfare and Productivity?
Authors: Rhind SM 
Published: July 2005

ContentsThe sources and characteristics of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are reviewed and discussed with respect to their potential effects on farm animal health, welfare and productivity. The importance of certain properties of these compounds in relation to the expression of their biological effects is addressed together with potential routes of exposure. It is concluded that little is known of factors affecting the tissue concentrations of EDCs in farm animals, the concentrations that are required to perturb physiological function in these species, the effects of prolonged exposure to low doses, the effect of cocktails of EDCs and other pollutants or the responses of specific organs and physiological systems that are affected by EDCs. Much of the available information pertaining to EDCs is derived from epidemiological studies of wildlife species and from laboratory animal studies and while these studies have significant limitations, they are considered to be valuable indicators of potential effects in farm animal species. The results of such studies, together with the small amounts of data from studies of ruminants, indicate that there may be significant effects of exposure to environmental levels of EDCs on farm animal health, even although effects are not generally apparent in practice, at this time.
Use of Transgenic Animals to Improve Human Health and Animal Production
Authors: Houdebine L‐M 
Published: July 2005

ContentsTransgenic animals are more widely used for various purposes. Applications of animal transgenesis may be divided into three major categories: (i) to obtain information on gene function and regulation as well as on human diseases, (ii) to obtain high value products (recombinant pharmaceutical proteins and xeno‐organs for humans) to be used for human therapy, and (iii) to improve animal products for human consumption. All these applications are directly or not related to human health. Animal transgenesis started in 1980. Important improvement of the methods has been made and are still being achieved to reduce cost as well as killing of animals and to improve the relevance of the models. This includes gene transfer and design of reliable vectors for transgene expression. This review describes the state of the art of animal transgenesis from a technical point of view. It also reports some of the applications in the medical field based on the use of transgenic animal models. The advance in the generation of pigs to be used as the source of organs for patients and in the preparation of pharmaceutical proteins from milk and other possible biological fluids from transgenic animals is described. The projects in course aiming at improving animal production by transgenesis are also depicted. Some the specific biosafety and bioethical problems raised by the different applications of transgenesis, including consumption of transgenic animal products are discussed.
The Development and Application of the Modern Reproductive Technologies to Horse Breeding
Authors: Allen WR 
Published: July 2005

ContentsAlthough the horse was probably the first animal to experience and benefit from artificial insemination, it trailed the field somewhat with regard to the application of embryo transfer and other oocyte and embryo‐related modern breeding technologies. But with a late run it is now back in mid‐field and gaining fast on the other large domestic species in the application of the many technological advances of the past 20 years to sound breeding practice. Improvements in extenders and cryoprotectants have resulted in a veritable upsurge in the transport and insemination of cooled and frozen stallion semen, and parallel improvements in ovulation induction and synchrony, exogenous gonadotrophic stimulation of multiple fertile ovulations and simplified, more efficient methods for non‐surgical transfer of embryos to recipient mares, coupled with relaxation of breed society registration restrictions, have together contributed to a similar upsurge in the application of embryo transfer to all breeds and athletic types of horses worldwide, with the continuing and notable exception of the Thoroughbred. Although conventionalin vitrofertilization remains something of an unjumped fence in equids, other modern breeding technologies like hysteroscopic low‐dose insemination, fluorescence‐activated sex sorting of stallion spermatozoa, between‐species embryo transfer, embryo freezing and bisection, transvaginal ultrasound‐guided oocyte collection, intracytoplasmic sperm injection for fertilization (ICSI), gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and now nuclear transfer (cloning), have all been applied to equids with encouraging success. Cloning, especially, holds enormous promise for the Sporthorse industry to re‐create champion geldings in stallion form for breeding purposes.
Analysis of hair lipids and tensile properties as a function of distance from scalp
Authors: Duvel L. , Chun H. , Deppa D. , Wertz P. W. 
Published: July 2005

SynopsisCuticle cells form the outer covering surrounding and protecting the cortex. The cuticle cells are thin, flat and overlap, and intercellular lipid lamellae are found in the gaps between the cell boundaries. The lipid lamellae are also found within the cortex in the cell boundaries between the long fribrous corticle cells. In addition, the outer surfaces of the cuticle cells are covered by a monolayer of covalently bound fatty acids, a major component of which is 18‐methyleicosanoic acid. The fatty acids are thought to be attached through thio‐ester linkages. Together these lipids are thought to be major determinants of the physical properties of the hair. The present study tested the hypothesis that both free and covalently bound lipids are progressively lost during normal environmental exposures. This progressive loss within the cuticle layers may, in part, lead to an increased susceptibility of the protein and lipid lamellae in the cortex to degradation. This degradation, in turn, would contribute to a progressive decrease in the tensile properties of the hair. Research grade hair was cut into five segments from the root to the distal end. Lipids from each segment were extracted and analyzed by thin‐layer chromatography in conjunction with photodensitometry. The major free polar lipid classes in the hair included ceramides, glucosylceramides and cholesterol sulfate. The concentrations of all of the free polar lipids as well as the covalently bound fatty acids decreased in going from the root to the distal end of the hair. In addition, there was a significant reduction in tensile properties of the hair from the root to distal end. In conclusion, the progressive loss of endogenous free and covalently bound lipids from hair, which are probably related to normal weathering of the hair and grooming practices, may help contribute to a marked decrease in tensile properties to the hair.
Determination of phthalate esters in cosmetics by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and mass spectrometric detection
Authors: Chen Huiming , Wang Chao , Wang Xing , Hao Nan , Liu Juan 
Published: July 2005

SynopsisA gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC‐FID) and mass spectrometric detection (MSD) method was developed to determine the six kinds of phthalate esters [dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di‐n‐butyl phthalate (DBP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di‐n‐octyl phthalate (DOP)] in cosmetics (solid, cream and liquid cosmetics). The cosmetics were extracted with methanol by ultrasonic and then separated with high‐speed centrifugation. The upper clear layer was dried and filtered through a 0.45 μm pore diameter filter. The filtrate was injected into GC‐FID/GC‐MS for detection. GC‐FID chromatogram was applied for qualitative analysis, external standard method was used for quantitative analysis. Confirmation of phthalate presence was undertaken by GC‐EI‐MS. The recovery range of all phthalates were between 92.0 and 110.0% with relative standard deviations between 1.95 and 5.92%. The low detection limits of the method were: 0.1 ng for DMP, DEP, DBP and BBP, 0.5 ng for DEHP and DOP. The method had advantages of high precision and sensitivity, simplicity of pretreatment. The method can be used to test the six kinds of phthalate esters in cosmetics.
Method for evaluation of the efficacy of antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetic wet wipes
Authors: Crémieux A. , Cupferman S. , Lens C. 
Published: July 2005

SynopsisMany cosmetic formulations are now available in the form of wet wipes packaged in sealed sachets or packets. Like the majority of cosmetic products having an aqueous phase, wipes are susceptible to microbial contamination and require the addition of preservatives. The efficacy of such preservatives can be evaluated using a standard challenge test performed on the wetting liquid but this test cannot be regarded as representative for this new type of formulation. The method presented here evaluates the efficacy of preservatives used in wet wipes kept in their original packaging. Dried inoculums were prepared by membrane filtration followed by drying in an incubator. The method is applicable to bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis), Bacillus cereus spores and fungi (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger). These inoculated carriers were inserted between two wipes in the original package, which was then re‐sealed immediately. The test requires one dry inoculum per packet and one packet for each control or test. After incubation at 22.5°C for 1, 2, 7, 14 or 28 days and, for the control, immediately after insertion of the membrane (time 0), microorganism counts were performed on the germ‐carrier membranes as well as on adjacent wipes, after transfer into a suitable neutralizing agent. The membranes were shaken in the presence of glass beads and microorganisms were dissociated from the wipes by means of a Stomacher. The supernatants recovered after being left to stand for 20 min are counted by pour plate method or membrane filtration. The feasibility of the method was demonstrated for each of the seven above‐mentioned strains. The repeatability and reproducibility of the results obtained is similar to that obtained for preservative efficacy tests in the Pharmacopoeias. The lethal rate of microorganisms during the preparation of dry inoculums ranges from 50 to 90% depending on the strain and the test (generally, a spontaneous reduction of about 1 log up to a maximum of 2 log). The recovery rate for microorganisms from dry inoculums (on membranes) at time 0 (control = T0) is around 90%, regardless of the strain or the test. The number of microorganisms recovered from the wipes (W0) is between 2 and 10% of the number recovered from membranes (T0) and may be considered negligible. Application of this method to different types of wipes demonstrates that the efficacy of preservatives, expressed as the logarithmic reduction in the number of microorganisms at each time point, depends on the type of wipe and on the strain tested. The results obtained are considerably different from those found with the standard challenge tests applied to wetting liquids for wipes. The differences found confirm the need for a specific method applicable to wipes.
Comparative assessment of the performance of two generations of Tewameter®: TM210 and TM300
Authors: Rosado C. , Pinto P. , Rodrigues L. M. 
Published: July 2005

SynopsisThe measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) has been established as one of the main parameters in the assessment of skin barrier function. One of the most widely employed devices to measure TEWL is the Tewameter®. Courage and Khazaka launched the TM300 in 2003 and successfully eliminated some of the limitations of the previous model. In the more recent device, the sensors inside the probe head can be pre‐heated to a temperature close to that of the skin, which considerably decreases sampling time. Additionally, the new technology of the probe does not require frequent and time‐consuming recalibration with different solutions. The main objective of this work was to perform a comparative assessment of the performance of the two different Tewameter® models. Fifteen volunteers were used in this study, which was conducted in the mid‐portion of the volar forearm. The standard measurements assessed differences in the basal values, time necessary for a stable value and coefficient of variability under normal and extreme conditions. The dynamic measurements performed were based on a plastic occlusion stress test (POST), involving the application of an occlusive patch for 24 h, after which the TEWL desorption curves were recorded. A mathematical model was adjusted to the data points using a specially modified simplex routine. Calculated parameters considered relevant to the study were t1/2evap (evaporation half‐life) and dynamic water mass (DWM). Results show slight differences in the performance the two models, which are nevertheless statistically significant. The TM300 seems to be more sensitive to differences in TEWL and presents a much quicker measurement capacity. These results confirm a marked improvement in the more recent Tewameter® model, when compared with its predecessor. The main conclusion of this work is that caution is advised when comparing results obtained with the two different models and that studies should be carried out entirely with the same device.
Systemic evening primrose oil improves the biophysical skin parameters of healthy adults
Authors: Muggli R. 
Published: July 2005

SynopsisBiophysical skin parameters are indicators of age‐related structural and functional changes in skin tissues. This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study in healthy adults tested the effect of Efamol evening primrose oil [EPO, a gamma‐linolenic acid (GLA) containing vegetable oil] on skin moisture, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), redness, firmness, elasticity, fatigue resistance and roughness. Efamol EPO was administered orally in soft gel capsules, 3 × 500 mg b.i.d. for 12 weeks. Measurements were taken at baseline and at weeks 4 and 12. The two treatment groups did not differ at baseline and at week 4. At week 12, however, all measured variables, with the exception of skin redness, were significantly different in the EPO group compared with placebo. Skin moisture, TEWL, elasticity, firmness, fatigue resistance and roughness had significantly improved by 12.9, 7.7, 4.7, 16.7, 14.2 and 21.7%, respectively. The two‐sided levels of significance in favor of the EPO treatment ranged between 0.034 and 0.001. These findings lend further support to the notion that GLA is a conditionally essential fatty acid for the skin, i.e. it is unable to synthesize GLA, and therefore depends on preformed GLA for optimal structure and function.