bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny of the Pantomorus–Naupactus complex based on morphological and molecular data (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: Scataglini María A. , Lanteri Analía A. , Confalonieri Viviana A. 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThe Pantomorus–Naupactus complex is a Neotropical group of broad‐nosed weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) including several parthenogenetic species usually assigned to the genera Naupactus Dejean, Pantomorus Schoenherr, Asynonychus Crotch, Aramigus Horn, Eurymetopus Schoenherr and Graphognathus Buchanan. Sixteen species were studied to test hypotheses on the monophyly of these genera, and on the origin of the parthenogenetic lineages. A matrix of 30 morphological characters and 999 positions of the Cytochrome Oxidase I gene, was analyzed with separate partitions and simultaneously, under equal and implied weights, and with different transversion/transitions costs. The ILD test indicates that the incongruence between the molecular and morphological data is not significant. Under equal weights, the molecular data resulted in a single tree and morphology in 34 trees; under implied weights morphology gave a different tree, and under TV:TS ≥ 4:1 molecular and combined analyses resulted in the same optimal tree. According to the latter, Naupactus includes Graphognathus, and is thus paraphyletic and basal regarding remaining genera, Pantomorus is polyphyletic and includes Aramigus and Asynonychus, and Eurymetopus is monophyletic. The species in which apomictic parthenogenesis has been verified (Aramigus tessellatus, Asynonychus cervinus and Graphognathus lecuoloma), belong to different clades of the Pantomorus‐Naupactus complex, with basal sexual relatives.© The Willi Hennig Society 2005.
A review of long‐branch attraction
Authors: Bergsten Johannes 
Published: June 2005

AbstractThe history of long‐branch attraction, and in particular methods suggested to detect and avoid the artifact to date, is reviewed. Methods suggested to avoid LBA‐artifacts include excluding long‐branch taxa, excluding faster evolving third codon positions, using inference methods less sensitive to LBA such as likelihood, the Aguinaldo et al. approach, sampling more taxa to break up long branches and sampling more characters especially of another kind, and the pros and cons of these are discussed. Methods suggested to detect LBA are numerous and include methodological disconcordance, RASA, separate partition analyses, parametric simulation, random outgroup sequences, long‐branch extraction, split decomposition and spectral analysis. Less than 10 years ago it was doubted if LBA occurred in real datasets. Today, examples are numerous in the literature and it is argued that the development of methods to deal with the problem is warranted. A 16 kbp dataset of placental mammals and a morphological and molecular combined dataset of gall waSPS are used to illustrate the particularly common problem of LBA of problematic ingroup taxa to outgroups. The preferred methods of separate partition analysis, methodological disconcordance, and long branch extraction are used to demonstrate detection methods. It is argued that since outgroup taxa almost always represent long branches and are as such a hazard towards misplacing long branched ingroup taxa, phylogenetic analyses should always be run with and without the outgroups included. This will detect whether only the outgroup roots the ingroup or if it simultaneously alters the ingroup topology, in which case previous studies have shown that the latter is most often the worse. Apart from that LBA to outgroups is the major and most common problem; scanning the literature also detected the ill advised comfort of high support values from thousands of characters, but very few taxa, in the age of genomics. Taxon sampling is crucial for an accurate phylogenetic estimate and trust cannot be put on whole mitochondrial or chloroplast genome studies with only a few taxa, despite their high support values. The placental mammal example demonstrates that parsimony analysis will be prone to LBA by the attraction of the tenrec to the distant marsupial outgroups. In addition, the murid rodents, creating the classic “the guinea‐pig is not a rodent” hypothesis in 1996, are also shown to be attracted to the outgroup by nuclear genes, although including the morphological evidence for rodents and Glires overcomes the artifact. The gall wasp example illustrates that Bayesian analyses with a partition‐specific GTR + Γ + I model give a conflicting resolution of clades, with a posterior probability of 1.0 when comparing ingroup alone versus outgroup rooted topologies, and this is due to long‐branch attraction to the outgroup.© The Willi Hennig Society 2005.
Interleukin‐4 production by human alveolar macrophages
Authors: Pouliot P. , Turmel V. , Gélinas É. , Laviolette M. , Bissonnette É. Y. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryBackground
IL‐4 is a key factor for T helper type 2 (Th2) differentiation and Ig class switching to IgE and IgG4 during the development of immune responses. IL‐4 is produced by T cells, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils. However, there is also evidence suggesting that rat alveolar macrophages (AMs) produce IL‐4.Objective
Given the importance of AMs and Th2‐related diseases in the lung, we investigated the production of IL‐4 by human AMs.Methods
Human AMs were isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage, purified, and IL‐4 production was investigated at mRNA and protein levels using real‐time PCR, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and ELISA. The presence of IL‐4 was investigated in subjects with asthma or asymptomatic airway hyper‐responsiveness, and in normal non‐smokers.Results
IL‐4 and IL‐4δ2 (a splice variant found in other IL‐4 producing cells) mRNAs were found in all these subjects, but IL‐4 expression could not be correlated with a particular disease. Protein production was verified by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis demonstrating, respectively, up to 69% and 59% positive AMs, regardless of the subject condition. Furthermore, phorbol‐12‐myristate‐13‐acetate and calcium ionophore stimulated the release of IL‐4 after 48 h treatment in the presence of anti‐IL‐4 receptor antibody.Conclusion
Our results show for the first time that IL‐4 and IL‐4δ2 mRNA are expressed and IL‐4 protein produced and released by human AMs, suggesting a contribution of these cells in the modulation of Th2 immune response.
Persistent airway hyper‐responsiveness and inflammation inToxocara canis‐infected BALB/c mice
Authors: Pinelli E. , Withagen C. , Fonville M. , Verlaan A. , Dormans J. , Van Loveren H. , Nicoll G. , Maizels R. M. , Van Der Giessen J. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryBackgroundInfection withToxocara canis, the roundworm of dogs, has been associated with asthmatic manifestations. Clinical symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and episodic airflow obstruction have been described for patients infected with this helminth.ObjectiveIn order to characterize the effect ofT. canisinfection on the lungs, we monitored immune responses, pulmonary pathology and lung function over a period of 60 days in BALB/c mice.MethodsInfection was performed by a single oral administration of 1000T. canisembryonated eggs. Airway responsiveness was measured in conscious, unrestrained mice at 7, 14, 30 and 60 days post‐infection (p.i.).ResultsInfection of mice resulted in airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR) that persisted up to 30 days p.i. Pulmonary inflammation as well as increased levels of IgE and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) persisted up to 60 days p.i. Cytokine analysis in BAL indicated increased levels of IL‐5 at day 7 and 14 p.i., whereas the levels of IL‐2, IFN‐γ, IL‐4 and IL‐10 did not differ from those of uninfected controls.Toxocara‐specific stimulation of spleen cells using recombinant TES‐70 protein resulted in the induction of IL‐5 at day 7 and 14 p.i. and IL‐10 at day 14 p.i. Production of all other cytokines did not differ from that of uninfected controls. Evaluation of larval burden revealed thatT. caniswas still present in the lungs of infected mice at 60 days p.i.ConclusionThe presence ofToxocaralarva in the lungs at 60 days p.i. following a single infection could explain the persistent pulmonary inflammation, airway hyper‐reactivity, eosinophilia and increased IgE production observed inT. canis‐infected BALB/c mice.
Fecal microbiota in sensitized wheezy and non‐sensitized non‐wheezy children: a nested case–control study
Authors: Murray C. S. , Tannock G. W. , Simon M. A. , Harmsen H. J. M. , Welling G. W. , Custovic A. , Woodcock A. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryBackground
It has been suggested that intestinal microbiota of allergic and non‐allergic children differs in composition, and that microbiota–immune system interactions may predispose children to develop sensitization. Previous studies have examined fecal microbiota of allergic children with atopic dermatitis, but little is known about that of atopic wheezy children.Objective
To investigate the composition of the fecal microbiota of young sensitized wheezy and non‐sensitized non‐wheezy children, using molecular methods.Methods
Within the context of a prospective birth cohort, we carried out a nested case–control study of sensitized wheezy children (cases) and non‐sensitized non‐wheezy controls. Cases and controls were matched for age, sex, parental atopy, allergen exposure, and pet ownership. We evaluated the composition of fecal microbiota by nucleic acid‐based methods (PCR combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantification of bifidobacteria by fluorescent in situ hybridization).Results
Thirty‐three case–control pairs (mean age 4.4 years) provided stool samples. Comparison of total bacterial community profiles showed that each child had a unique fecal microbiota (mean Dice's similarity coefficient 22%, range 3.3–60.8%). There was no difference between the groups in prevalence of Lactic Acid bacteria (12/33 vs. 11/33, P=0.8) or bifidobacteria (30/33 vs. 31/33, P=1.00, cases vs. controls). The bifidobacterial species detected were similar in both groups. The percentage of bifidobacteria in total fecal microflora was no different between cases (median 1.7%, range 0–20.8%) and controls (1.9%, 0–18.2%, P=0.7). However, cases with eczema had significantly fewer bifidobacteria (median 1.6%, range 0–4.8%) than their controls (4.0%, 1.9–18.2%, P=0.05).Conclusion
We found no differences in fecal microbiota composition between sensitized wheezy and non‐sensitized, non‐wheezy children aged 3–5 years using nucleic acid‐based methods. Differences appear to be isolated to those allergic children with eczema.
Epicutaneous exposure to peanut protein prevents oral tolerance and enhances allergic sensitization
Authors: Strid J. , Hourihane J. , Kimber I. , Callard R. , Strobel S. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryBackground
Food allergies are an important cause of life‐threatening hypersensitivity reactions. Oral tolerance can be considered the default immune response to dietary antigens, with immune deviation resulting in allergic sensitization. However, primary sensitization to food allergens may not solely be through the gastrointestinal mucosa, as strong T‐helper type 2 (Th2)‐biased immunity can result from exposure to protein allergens on barrier‐disrupted skin.Objective
The purpose of this study was to examine whether exposure to allergens through the skin may interfere with the normal development of oral tolerance and promote allergic sensitization to food proteins.Methods
Female BALB/c mice were exposed epicutaneously to peanut protein and induction of systemic oral tolerance through high dose feeds of peanut protein was subsequently assessed. Other mice were rendered tolerant prior to epicutaneous peanut exposure. Sensitivity to peanut was determined by assessing delayed‐type hypersensitivity, proliferative, cytokine and antibody responses.Results
Epicutaneous exposure to peanut protein induced potent Th2‐type immunity with high levels of IL‐4 and serum IgE. Primary skin exposure prevented the subsequent induction of oral tolerance to peanut in an antigen‐specific manner. Upon oral challenge, mice became further sensitized and developed strong peanut‐specific IL‐4 and IgE responses. Furthermore, animals with existing tolerance to peanut were partly sensitized following epicutaneous exposure.Conclusion
Epicutaneous exposure to peanut protein can prevent induction of oral tolerance, and may even modify existing tolerance to peanut. Epidermal exposure to protein allergens selectively drives Th2‐type responses, and as such may promote sensitization to food proteins upon gastrointestinal exposure.
Oral aspirin challenges in patients with a history of intolerance to single non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs
Authors: Asero R. 
Published: June 2005

SummaryBackground
In the clinical practice patients with a history of acute urticaria induced by a single non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID) and seeking for safe alternative drugs generally undergo tolerance tests with alternative NSAIDs that have little or no cyclooxygenase‐1 (COX‐1) enzyme inhibitory activity. This practice does not allow for the detection of single NSAID reactors and may lead to unnecessary avoidance of many potentially useful NSAIDs.Objective
Evaluate aspirin challenge as a means to distinguish single from multiple NSAID intolerance in patients with a clinical history of acute urticaria induced by a single NSAID.Methods
One hundred and seventeen otherwise normal subjects with a history of acute urticaria following the ingestion of a single NSAID (pyrazolones (n=58), nimesulide (n=17), propionic acid derivatives (n=13), aryl acetic acid derivatives (n=14), acetaminophen (n=9), piroxicam (n=5), and indometacin (n=1)) underwent single‐blind placebo‐controlled oral challenges with aspirin. Aspirin‐intolerant subjects underwent further tolerance tests drugs exerting little or no inhibitory activity on COX‐1 enzyme (including paracetamol, nimesulide, rofecoxib, tramadol, and floctafenine).Results
Aspirin induced urticaria in 28/117 (24%) patients. Five out of 28 (18%) aspirin reactors did not tolerate alternative NSAID on subsequent oral challenges.Conclusion
In subjects with a history of urticaria induced by a single NSAID (other than aspirin) the diagnostic workup should start with an aspirin challenge in order to detect single/multiple NSAID reactors.
Nutrient concentrations in a Littorella uniflora community at higher CO2 concentrations and reduced light intensities
Authors: ANDERSEN TROELS , PEDERSEN OLE , ANDERSEN FREDE Ø. 
Published: June 2005

Summary1. Oligotrophic softwater lakes represent a special type of aquatic ecosystem with unique plant communities where generalisations from other aquatic plant communities to rising CO2 in the water column may not apply.2. In the present study, we set up large in situ mesocosms and supporting laboratory experiments with isoetid vegetation (Littorella uniflora) where water column CO2 and light could be manipulated in order to test whether (i) light and CO2 availability affect nutrient concentrations in isoetid vegetation, and (ii) if changes in light and CO2 climate affect fluxes of inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from sediment to water column, which potentially could result in increased growth of epiphytic algae.3. The results showed that the standing stocks of phosphorus and nitrogen in the L. uniflora vegetation were significantly influenced by CO2 concentration and light intensity. Both standing stocks of P and N were significantly higher in the mesocosm treatments with high CO2 concentration than in those at low CO2 concentration. Similarly, standing stocks of P and N enhanced with increasing light intensity.4. Measurements of nutrient fluxes both in the field and the laboratory did not show any significant release of nutrients to the water column from plants or sediments at any of the light or CO2 treatments. However, mats of epiphytic algae developed from the beginning of June to late September and caused a light reduction for the isoetid vegetation.5. Increasing CO2 concentrations in the water column may over time potentially result in a change in soft water plant communities.
Immediate and longer‐term effects of managed flooding on floodplain invertebrate assemblages in south‐eastern Australia: generation and maintenance of a mosaic landscape
Authors: BALLINGER ANDREA , NALLY RALPH MAC , LAKE P. S. 
Published: June 2005

Summary1. We compared assemblages of ground‐active, terrestrial beetles and spiders from different areas of river red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis floodplain forest in subhumid, south‐eastern Australia before and for 2 years following a managed flood to determine whether the Flood Pulse Concept is an appropriate ecological model for this regulated, lowland river‐floodplain system.2. Immediately following flooding, the abundance, species richness and biomass of beetles were greatest at sites that had been inundated for the longest period (approximately 4 months). The abundance, species richness and biomass of spiders were not reduced at sites that were flooded for 4 months compared with unflooded or briefly flooded areas. Sites recently flooded for several months had high densities of predatory, hygrophilic beetles (Carabidae) and spiders (Lycosidae).3. Over the 2 years following the flood, beetles generally were more abundant at sites that had been inundated for longer. At all sampling times, the species richness of beetles at sites increased with the length of time sites were inundated, even before the flood. Neither the abundance nor species richness of spiders was related to duration of flooding.4. The structure of beetle and spider assemblages at sites that were flooded for different lengths of time did not appear to converge monotonically over the 2 years after the flood.5. Managed flooding promotes diversity of beetles and spiders both by providing conditions that create a ‘pulse’ in populations of hygrophilic specialists in the short term, and by creating subtle, persistent changes in forest‐floor conditions. Despite its monotypic canopy, river red gum floodplain forest is a habitat mosaic generated by differing inundation histories.
Soluble nitrogen and phosphorus excretion of exotic freshwater mussels (Dreissena spp.): potential impacts for nutrient remineralisation in western Lake Erie
Authors: CONROY JOSEPH D. , EDWARDS WILLIAM J. , PONTIUS RUTH A. , KANE DOUGLAS D. , ZHANG HONGYAN , SHEA JOHN F. , RICHEY JULIE N. , CULVER DAVID A. 
Published: June 2005

Summary1. Recent increases in phytoplankton biomass and the recurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in western Lake Erie, concomitant with a shift from a community dominated by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) to one dominated by quagga mussels (D. bugensis), led us to test for differences in ammonia‐nitrogen and phosphate‐phosphorus excretion rates of these two species of invasive molluscs.2. We found significant differences in excretion rate both between size classes within a taxon and between taxa, with zebra mussels generally having greater nutrient excretion rates than quagga mussels. Combining measured excretion rates with measurements of mussel soft‐tissue dry weight and shell length, we developed nutrient excretion equations allowing estimation of nutrient excretion by dreissenids.3. Comparing dreissenid ammonia and phosphate excretion with that of the crustacean zooplankton, we demonstrated that the mussels add to nitrogen and phosphorus remineralisation, shortening nitrogen and phosphorus turnover times, and, importantly, modify the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in Lake Erie. The increased nutrient flux from dreissenids may facilitate phytoplankton growth and cyanobacterial blooms in well‐mixed and/or shallow areas of western Lake Erie.
Top‐down and bottom‐up influences on populations of a stream detritivore
Authors: MCINTOSH ANGUS R. , GREIG HAMISH S. , MCMURTRIE SHELLEY A. , NYSTRÖM PER , WINTERBOURN MICHAEL J. 
Published: June 2005

Summary1. Knowledge of the influence of predatory fish in detritus‐based stream food webs is poor. We tested whether larval abundance of the New Zealand leaf‐shredding caddisfly,Zelandopsyche ingens(family Oeconesidae), was affected by the presence of predatory brown trout,Salmo truttaand the abundance of their primary detrital resource (Nothofagusleaves).2. The density ofZ. ingensand the biomass of leaves were determined in seven fishless streams and four trout streams in the Cass region, central South Island, on four occasions spanning 5 years.3. Physicochemical conditions were similar in trout and fishless streams, butancovaindicated thatZ. ingensnumbers were positively related to leaf biomass and that caddisfly numbers were significantly greater in fishless streams than trout streams for any given biomass of leaf. The cases of trout stream larvae were also heavier per unit length than those in fishless streams.4. Our results provide evidence for both top‐down and bottom‐up influences on a detritus‐based stream food web. Although stream detritivores may benefit from a habitat that provides both food and a degree of protection from predators, top‐down effects of predators on detritivore population abundance were still important. Thus, detrital resource availability may determine maximum attainable population size, whereas predation is likely to reduce the population to a level below that.
Abundance and biomass of heterotrophic microorganisms in Lake Tanganyika
Authors: PIRLOT SAMUEL , VANDERHEYDEN JULIE , DESCY JEAN‐PIERRE , SERVAIS PIERRE 
Published: June 2005

Summary1. This study focused on heterotrophic microorganisms in the two main basins (north and south) of Lake Tanganyika during dry and wet seasons in 2002. Bacteria (81% cocci) were abundant (2.28–5.30 × 106cells mL−1). During the dry season, in the south basin, bacterial biomass reached a maximum of 2.27 g C m−2and phytoplankton biomass was 3.75 g C m−2(integrated over a water column of 100 m).2. Protozoan abundance was constituted of 99% of heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNF). Communities of flagellates and bacteria consisted of very small but numerous cells. Flagellates were often the main planktonic compartment, with a biomass of 3.42–4.43 g C m−2. Flagellate biomass was in the same range and often higher than the total autotrophic biomass (1.60–4.72 g C m−2).3. Total autotrophic carbon was partly sustained by the endosymbiotic zoochlorellaeStrombidium. These ciliates were present only in the euphotic zone and usually contributed most of the biomass of ciliates.4. Total heterotrophic ciliate biomass ranged between 0.35 and 0.44 g C m−2. In 2002, heterotrophic microorganisms consisting of bacteria, flagellates and ciliates represented a large fraction of plankton. These results support the hypothesis that the microbial food web contributes to the high productivity of Lake Tanganyika.5. As the sole source of carbon in the pelagic zone of this large lake is phytoplankton production, planktonic heterotrophs ultimately depend on autochthonous organic carbon, most probably dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from algal excretion.