bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First‐ and second‐order stimulus length selectivity in New World monkey striate cortex
Authors: Bourne J. A. , Lui L. , Tweedale R. , Rosa M. G. P. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMotion is a powerful cue for figure‐ground segregation, allowing the recognition of shapes even if the luminance and texture characteristics of the stimulus and background are matched. In order to investigate the neural processes underlying early stages of the cue‐invariant processing of form, we compared the responses of neurons in the striate cortex (V1) of anaesthetized marmosets to two types of moving stimuli: bars defined by differences in luminance, and bars defined solely by the coherent motion of random patterns that matched the texture and temporal modulation of the background. A population of form‐cue‐invariant (FCI) neurons was identified, which demonstrated similar tuning to the length of contours defined by first‐ and second‐order cues. FCI neurons were relatively common in the supragranular layers (where they corresponded to 28% of the recorded units), but were absent from layer 4. Most had complex receptive fields, which were significantly larger than those of other V1 neurons. The majority of FCI neurons demonstrated end‐inhibition in response to long first‐ and second‐order bars, and were strongly direction selective. Thus, even at the level of V1 there are cells whose variations in response level appear to be determined by the shape and motion of the entire second‐order object, rather than by its parts (i.e. the individual textural components). These results are compatible with the existence of an output channel from V1 to the ventral stream of extrastriate areas, which already encodes the basic building blocks of the image in an invariant manner.
Substance P and enkephalinergic synapses onto neurokinin‐1 receptor‐immunoreactive neurons in the pre‐Bötzinger complex of rats
Authors: Liu Ying‐Ying , Wong‐Riley Margaret T. T. , Liu Jin‐Ping , Wei Xiao‐Yan , Jia Yi , Liu Hui‐Ling , Fujiyama Fumino , Ju Gong 
Published: December 2004

AbstractOur previous studies have demonstrated that neurokinin‐1 receptor (NK1R)‐immunoreactive (ir) neurons in the pre‐Bötzinger Complex (pre‐BötC), the hypothesized kernel of respiratory rhythmogenesis, receive both glutamatergic excitatory and GABAergic or glycinergic inhibitory inputs. Neuromodulators, such as substance P (SP) and opioids, play important roles in normal respiratory activity and respiratory disorders. The identification of the relationship between neurotransmitters and NK1R‐ir neurons at the cellular level is essential for understanding the synaptic interaction within the pre‐BötC network. Using immunofluorescence and immunogold‐silver staining, we wished to exploit SP and enkephalin (ENK) immunoreactivity and their relationships with glutamate, GABA, glycine, or NK1R in the pre‐BötC in adult Sprague–Dawley rats. The pre‐BötC contained a substantial amount of SP‐ir and ENK‐ir boutons. They were largely colocalized with glutamate and much less so with GABA. Glycine immunoreactivity was rarely found in either SP‐ir or ENK‐ir boutons. A number of SP‐ir boutons were ENK‐ir as well. Synapses were commonly found between SP‐ir or ENK‐ir terminals and NK1R‐ir neurons in the pre‐BötC. Most of them were asymmetric. Symmetric synapses made up 10% of all synapses examined between SP‐ir boutons and NK1R‐ir neurons, and 19% of ENK/NK1R synapses. Colocalization of SP and/or ENK with glutamate in boutons in the pre‐BötC implies the combined synaptic release of excitatory amino acid and neuropeptides, which may exert combined post‐synaptic effects onto NK1R‐ir neurons and contribute to respiratory activity.
Expression of vesicular glutamate transporters, VGLUT1 and VGLUT2, in cholinergic spinal motoneurons
Authors: Herzog E. , Landry M. , Buhler E. , Bouali‐Benazzouz R. , Legay C. , Henderson C. E. , Nagy F. , Dreyfus P. , Giros B. , El Mestikawy S. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMammalian spinal motoneurons are cholinergic neurons that have long been suspected to use also glutamate as a neurotransmitter. We report that VGLUT1 and VGLUT2, two subtypes of vesicular glutamate transporters, are expressed in rat spinal motoneurons. Both proteins are present in somato‐dendritic compartments as well as in axon terminals in primary cultures of immunopurified motoneurons and sections of spinal cord from adult rat. However, VGLUT1 and VGLUT2 are not found at neuromuscular junctions of skeletal muscles. After intracellular injection of biocytin in motoneurons, VGLUT2 is observed in anterogradely labelled terminals contacting Renshaw inhibitory interneurons. These VGLUT2‐ and VGLUT1‐positive terminals do not express VAChT, the vesicular acetylcholine transporter. Overall, our study establishes for the first time that (i) mammalian spinal motoneurons express vesicular glutamate transporters, (ii) these motoneurons have the potential to release glutamate (in addition to acetylcholine) at terminals contacting Renshaw cells, and finally (iii) the VGLUTs are not present at neuromuscular synapses of skeletal muscles.
Central sprouting of uninjured small fiber afferents in the adult rat spinal cord following spinal nerve ligation
Authors: Hu Jian , Mata Marina , Hao Shuanglin , Zhang Gui , Fink David J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractPartial nerve injury results in chronic pain that is difficult to treat effectively. To investigate the anatomic basis of this phenomenon we used wheat germ agglutinin–horseradish peroxidase (WGA‐HRP) to label the central projections of uninjured small fibers (Aδ and C) in a well‐established model of neuropathic pain created by selective spinal nerve ligation in the adult. We found extensive sprouting of uninjured WGA‐HRP‐labeled afferents into the central termination field in lamina II of dorsal horn normally occupied by L5 afferents whose peripheral axons had been ligated distal to the dorsal root ganglion. The formation of new projections by uninjured fibers into a functionally but not anatomically deafferented field in the adult may play a role in the development of chronic pain.
Time course for the reappearance of vibrissal motor representation following botulinum toxin injection into the vibrissal pad of the adult rat
Authors: Franchi G. , Veronesi C. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe present study investigates the time course and pattern of movement representation recovery in the motor cortex during the recovery after a peripheral paralysis. To this end a transitory flaccid paralysis of the vibrissae muscle was induced in adult rats that underwent two unilateral injections of 8 U of botulinum toxin (BTX) into a vibrissal pad, at a duration of 12 days from one another. The compound muscle action potential (MAP) of the vibrissae muscle began to reappear 4 weeks after the first BTX injection. Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) was used to map rat motor cortices 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 weeks after the first BTX injection. Findings demonstrated that: (i) contralateral vibrissae movement reappears in the medial part of its normal cortical territory when the MAP is almost 10% of the control value; in the remaining part, ICMS elicits eye, ipsilateral vibrissae, neck and forelimb movements; (ii) the contralateral vibrissae movement reappears in sites where ipsilateral vibrissae and/or neck movement are co‐represented; (iii) as MAP recovers, the vibrissae representation expands until it recovers the 90.8% of its territory after 7 weeks, when the MAP was almost 43.4% of the control value; (iv) from 4 to 7 weeks, the ICMS‐evoked contralateral vibrissae movement shows a significantly higher electrical threshold vs. the control group; (v) recovery of the baseline excitability uniformly involves the vibrissae representation 1 week later, after its cortical territory has recovered 93.1% of the control value and the MAP has returned to 78.8% of the baseline value.
Sampling Hubbell's neutral theory of biodiversity
Authors: Alonso David , McKane Alan J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractIn the context of neutral theories of community ecology, a novel genealogy‐based framework has recently furnished an analytic extension of Ewens’ sampling multivariate abundance distribution, which also applies to a random sample from a local community. Here, instead of taking a multivariate approach, we further develop the sampling theory of Hubbell's neutral spatially implicit theory and derive simple abundance distributions for a random sample both from a local community and a metacommunity. Our result is given in terms of the average number of species with a given abundance in any randomly extracted sample. Contrary to what has been widely assumed, a random sample from a metacommunity is not fully described by the Fisher log‐series, but by a new distribution. This new sample distribution matches the log‐series expectation at high biodiversity values (θ > 1) but clearly departs from it for species‐poor metacommunities (θ < 1). Our theoretical framework should be helpful in the better assessment of diversity and testing of the neutral theory by using abundance data.
Invasion in space and time: non‐native species richness and relative abundance respond to interannual variation in productivity and diversity
Authors: Cleland Elsa E. , Smith Melinda D. , Andelman Sandy J. , Bowles Christy , Carney Karen M. , Claire Horner‐Devine M. , Drake John M. , Emery Sarah M. , Gramling Joel M. , Vandermast David B. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractEcologists have long sought to understand the relationships among species diversity, community productivity and invasion by non‐native species. Here, four long‐term observational datasets were analyzed using repeated measures statistics to determine how plant species richness and community resource capture (i.e. productivity) influenced invasion. Multiple factors influenced the results, including the metric used to quantify invasion, interannual variation and spatial scale. Native richness was positively correlated with non‐native richness, but was usually negatively correlated with non‐native abundance, and these patterns were stronger at the larger spatial scale. Logistic regressions indicated that the probability of invasion was reduced both within and following years with high productivity, except at the desert grassland site where high productivity was associated with increased invasion. Our analysis suggests that while non‐natives were most likely to establish in species rich communities, their success was diminished by high resource capture by the resident community.
Conservation of the response regulator gene gacA in Pseudomonas species
Authors: De Souza J. T. , Mazzola M. , Raaijmakers J. M. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe response regulator gene gacA influences the production of several secondary metabolites in both pathogenic and beneficial Pseudomonas spp. In this study, we developed primers and a probe for the gacA gene of Pseudomonas species and sequenced a 425 bp fragment of gacA from ten Pseudomonas strains isolated from different plant‐associated environments. Polymerase chain reaction analysis and Southern hybridization showed that gacA is highly conserved within the genus Pseudomonas: multiple strains of different Pseudomonas species all responded positively to the probe, whereas no response was obtained from 18 other strains representing 14 species that belong to eight different genera of Gram‐negative bacteria other than Pseudomonas. Furthermore, from a total of approximately 550 indigenous bacterial isolates obtained from the rhizosphere of wheat, all isolates that hybridized with the gacA probe were classified as Pseudomonas spp. by group‐specific primers. Isolates that did not respond with the gacA probe and primers were identified as bacterial genera other than Pseudomonas, including Stenotrophomonas, Cryseomonas and Comamonas spp. These results indicate that gacA can be used as a complementary genetic marker for detection of Pseudomonas spp. in environmental samples. Phylogenetic relationships inferred from the newly sequenced gacA fragments and the sequences of gacA homologues present in the databases, showed six distinct clusters that correspond to the following bacterial families: Pseudomonaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Alteromonadaceae, Vibrionaceae, Burkholderia and Xanthomonas. Within the Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, polymorphisms within gacA and its homologues allowed identification of six and five subclusters respectively. Comparison of the gacA gene and GacA protein‐based trees with the tree inferred from 16S rDNA sequences yielded a similar overall clustering. These results suggest that gacA and its homologues may provide complementary markers for phylogenetic studies of Pseudomonas spp. and Gram‐negative bacteria other than Pseudomonas.
Diverse microbial communities inhabit Antarctic sponges
Authors: Webster Nicole S. , Negri Andrew P. , Munro Murray M. H. G. , Battershill Christopher N. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryGenetic techniques were employed to investigate the archaeal, bacterial and eukaryotic communities associated with the Antarctic sponges Kirkpatrickia varialosa, Latrunculia apicalis, Homaxinella balfourensis, Mycale acerata and Sphaerotylus antarcticus. The phylogenetic affiliation of sponge‐derived bacteria was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing of cloned DNA fragments. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to determine the stability of bacterial associations within each sponge species and across spatial scales. Of the 150 archaeal clones from L. apicalis, K. varialosa and M. acerata screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, four unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were observed and all clustered closely together within the Crenarchaeota. Of the 250 sponge‐derived bacterial clones screened by RFLP analysis, 61 were unique OTUs that were not detected during examination of 160 seawater‐derived clones. Rarefaction analysis indicated that the clone libraries represented between 44 and 83% of the total estimated diversity. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data revealed that the bacterial communities present in Antarctic sponges primarily clustered within the Gamma and Alpha proteobacteria and the Cytophaga/Flavobacterium of Bacteroidetes group. Bacterial DGGE analysis for replicate sponge and seawater samples at each Antarctic site revealed that bacterial communities were consistently detected within a particular species regardless of the collection site, with six bacterial bands exclusively associated with a single sponge species. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data from eukaryotic DGGE analysis revealed that the communities present in Antarctic sponges fell into diatom and dinoflagellate clusters with many sequences having no known close relatives. In addition, seven eukaryotic sequences that were not detected in seawater samples or other sponge species were observed in K. varialosa.
Variations in the abundance and identity of class II aromatic ring‐hydroxylating dioxygenase genes in groundwater at an aromatic hydrocarbon‐contaminated site
Authors: Taylor Paul M. , Janssen Peter H. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe abundance of genes encoding aromatic ring‐hydroxylating dioxygenases (RHDs) in the groundwater at an aromatic hydrocarbon‐contaminated landfill near Sydney, Australia, was determined by quantitative DNA–DNA hybridization using class II RHD genes as probes. There were marked differences in hybridization signal intensity against DNA extracted from the groundwater at seven different locations across this heterogeneous site. This was interpreted as indicating variation in RHD gene abundance. Clone libraries of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplified RHD gene fragments were constructed from DNA from each of the groundwater samples. The libraries from the samples with greater RHD gene abundance were dominated by a group of bacterial class II RHD genes, designated the S‐cluster, that has yet to be found in cultured isolates. These groundwater samples contained no detectable petroleum hydrocarbons. A second group of class II RHD gene sequences, designated the T‐cluster, dominated RHD gene clone libraries prepared from groundwater samples that contained detectable levels of total petroleum and aromatic hydrocarbons but lower RHD gene abundance. The hosts and in situ expression of these novel genes, and the substrates of the enzymes they encode, remain unknown. The scarcity of genes from known aromatic hydrocarbon‐degrading bacteria and the numerical dominance of the novel genes suggest that the hosts of these novel genes may play an important role in aromatic hydrocarbon degradation at this site.
Developments in treatment of primary irresectable rectal cancer
Authors: Reerink O. , Mulder N. H. , Szabo B. G. , Sluiter W. J. , Wiggers T. , Bongaerts A. H. H. , Hospers G. A. P. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe treatment options for primary irresectable rectal cancers are discussed. Assessment of tumour stage is the first step for an appropriate choice of treatment. Following a diagnosis of rectal cancer, a vast array of diagnostic procedures is available to determine its stage, and thereby its best treatment options. From the many (new) diagnostic options the merits and drawbacks are discussed. If a diagnosis of irresectability is made, further treatment options should include radiotherapy in most cases, some aspects of timing and application, i.e. intra‐operative treatment are discussed. Chemotherapy options are manifold, the results are discussed and some new options are explored.
Local resection of rectal tumours using the Salvati operating proctoscope – a safe and effective technique
Authors: Zammit M. , O'Dwyer P. , Molloy R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground  Per‐anal excision can be an effective method for treating large rectal adenomas and selected rectal cancers. This procedure is suitable for adenomas that are too large for colonoscopic excision and for early rectal cancers in patients that are unfit for major resection.Patients and methods  We retrospectively reviewed 37 patients (16 male, 21 female) that had a local resection using a Salvati operating proctoscope. Fifteen had rectal cancer and 22 had rectal adenoma and all have been followed‐up for a median of 14 months (range 2–65). Most cancers were staged pre‐operatively with endorectal ultrasound and 6 cancer patients received adjuvant therapy.Results  There were no intra‐operative complications, 6 minor postoperative complications, none requiring re‐intervention (1 peri‐anal haematoma, 2 postoperative anaemia, 2 chest complications, 1 secondary haemorrhage) and no peri‐operative deaths. Lesions were histologically completely excised in 33 (89%). Thirty‐four (92%) did not have any recurrence, 2 (5%) adenomas recurred (both successfully treated with further local resection) and 1 (3%) failed to attend for follow‐up. Six have since died, all from comorbid conditions.Conclusion  Local resection of rectal tumours using the operating proctoscope is a low cost technique with a low complication rate. Outcome of this treatment is good, and similar to other surgical modalities. Local tumour recurrences are uncommon and can be successfully treated with further local treatment.
Laparoscopic proctocolectomy with restorative ileal‐anal pouch
Authors: Gill T. S. , Karantana A. , Rees J. , Pandey S. , Dixon A. R. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractObjective  The aim of the study was to analyse the outcome of restorative proctocolectomy carried out by laparoscopic surgery.Methods  A prospectively collected electronic database of all colorectal laparoscopic procedures performed between April 2001 and July 2003 has been used to identify surgical outcomes in 14 consecutive patients who have undergone laparoscopic RPC.Results  Fourteen patients (5 male), median BMI 24 kg/m2 have undergone restorative laparoscopic proctocolectomy over a two year period: 13 (ulcerative colitis, one with cancer) and 1 (FAP). The median operation time was 260 min; time has not decreased with experience. There were no intra‐operative surgical complications or deaths. Patient controlled analgesia continued for a median of 36 h. The median time to diet was 48 h and median hospital stay 7 days; three patients required nasogastric aspiration for delayed gastric emptying. Eighteen regional lymph nodes were retrieved local to the carcinoma. There was one anastomotic leak. All covering stomas were closed by 6 months (12 by eight weeks). All 14 patients are fully continent, able to suppress urgency and have a median pouch frequency of 4/24 h. None admit to having problems with potency, orgasm sensation, ejaculation, micturition. One lady reports dysparunia. All are highly satisfied with functional outcome and cosmesis.Conclusion  We are encouraged to continue to offer our patients the option of a laparoscopic resection.
A randomised controlled trial of a tailored multifaceted strategy to promote implementation of a clinical guideline on induced abortion care
Authors: Foy R. , Penney G.C. , Grimshaw J.M. , Ramsay C.R. , Walker A.E. , MacLennan G. , Stearns S.C. , McKenzie L. , Glasier A. 
Published: December 2004

Objective  To evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of a tailored multifaceted strategy, delivered by a national clinical effectiveness programme, to implement a guideline on induced abortion.Design  Cluster randomised controlled trial.Setting and participants  All 26 hospital gynaecology units in Scotland providing induced abortion care.Intervention  Following the identification of barriers to guideline implementation, intervention units received a package comprising audit and feedback, unit educational meetings, dissemination of structured case records and promotion of a patient information booklet. Control units received printed guideline summaries alone.Main outcome measures  Compliance with five key guideline recommendations (primary outcomes) and compliance with other recommendations, patient satisfaction and costs of the implementation strategy (secondary outcomes).Results  No effect was observed for any key recommendation: appointment with a gynaecologist within five days of referral (odds ratio 0.89; 95% confidence interval 0.50 to 1.58); ascertainment of cervical cytology history (0.93; 0.36 to 2.40); antibiotic prophylaxis or screening for lower genital tract infection (1.70; 0.71 to 5.99); use of misoprostol as an alternative to gemeprost (1.00; 0.27 to 1.77); and offer of contraceptive supplies at discharge (1.11; 0.48 to 2.53). Median pre‐intervention compliance was near optimal for antibiotic prophylaxis and misoprostol use. No intervention benefit was observed for any secondary outcome. The intervention costs an average of £2607 per gynaecology unit.Conclusions  The tailored multifaceted strategy was ineffective. This was possibly attributable to high pre‐intervention compliance and the limited impact of the strategy on factors outside the perceived control of clinical staff.