bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plant interactions govern population dynamics in a semi‐arid plant community
Authors: ARMAS CRISTINA , PUGNAIRE FRANCISCO I. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThe structure and composition of plant communities are influenced by positive and negative interactions between plants, the balance of which may change in intensity and sign through time and space, depending on availability of resources and on plant life history.Over a 2‐year period we analysed the balance of interactions between different life stages of a perennial grass,Stipa tenacissima, and a shrub,Cistus clusii, the dominant species in a semi‐arid community in south‐east Spain.Cistusshrubs acted as nurses for juvenileStipaplants, improving their water status, nutrient content, carbon assimilation rates and growth. The mechanisms underlying this facilitation effect were mainly the improvement of microclimatic conditions and soil physical and chemical properties under shrub canopies. By contrast, juvenileStipaplants had an overall neutral effect onCistusshrubs, althoughCistussuffered some competitive effects during periods of water shortage. At this life stage, the short‐term outcome of the interaction for both species was dependent on resource availability.Close spatial association between adult plants had no negative effects for the interacting species, although positive effects most likely counterbalanced negative effects.The long‐term outcome of the interaction is reflected in the spatial distribution of both species, and determines population dynamics in this semi‐arid plant community.Our data show that the short‐term balance of plant interactions may easily shift in response to environmental variability, which in turn may have important consequences for plant community structure.
The tension between dispersal and persistence regulates the current distribution of rare palaeo‐endemic rain forest flora: a case study
Authors: ROSSETTO MAURIZIO , KOOYMAN ROBERT M. 
Published: September 2005

Summary

Eidothea hardeniana (Proteaceae) is a narrow endemic representative of an ancient lineage restricted to a single site in northern New South Wales (Australia). This study aims to identify the life‐history traits most likely to have influenced the current distribution pattern of this rain forest tree.
Using ecological and molecular analyses we found that its range is limited by the absence of efficient dispersal mechanisms rather than by habitat availability, or as a result of a recent bottleneck or of reproductive failure.
Resprouts can take over the position of senesced plants, even in the absence of disturbance, allowing local persistence and the maintenance of genetic diversity. Long‐term persistence and preferential outcrossing further favour relatively high levels of diversity (HE = 0.542) despite a small effective population size (Ne = 21.6).
We used eight life‐history traits to assess if the E. hardeniana findings were valid across 258 local taxa. Current distribution patterns of rain forest species within a species‐rich community were accounted for by linking two important components of community assembly theory: dispersal and niche assembly.
The interaction of the seed‐based dispersal dimension and resprouting potential best explains the current distribution of rare local taxa. Major dimensions of life‐history trait variation were identified among local plant species, suggesting that a range of interacting traits contribute to a species’ response to environmental variables and mitigate the influence of potentially adverse circumstances.
The benefits of merging ecological and genetic approaches to interpret species distribution and population structure are applicable across a broader range of studies. Our findings highlight how currently constrained palaeo‐endemic species with small populations in refugial habitats may retain the capacity to both persist and expand in response to changing circumstances and opportunities. This has important implications for species conservation, habitat management and reserve design.
Fat intakes of children with PKU on low phenylalanine diets
Authors: Rose H. J. , White F. , MacDonald A. , Rutherford P. J. , Favre E. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractBackground  As part of a study on the effects of a fat‐supplemented phenylalanine (phe)‐free protein substitute on the fatty acid status of children with phenylketonuria (PKU), the adequacy of the diets of children aged 1–10 years for fat and essential fatty acids (EFA) was assessed.Methods  Subjects randomized in a 1 : 1 ratio to a phe‐free protein substitute supplemented with EFA (test‐treatment group) or a phe‐free, fat‐free protein substitute (control group) for 20 weeks. 3‐day semi‐weighed records of food intakes collected at the end of the study period.Results  Total fat and α‐linolenic acid (α‐LA) intakes were found to be poor in the control group (n = 19). Those in the test‐treatment group (n = 24) had higher fat and EFA intakes (P < 0.05), bringing intakes closer to population norms. The youngest children (<5 years of age) in the control group appeared to be especially vulnerable to poor fat intakes because of the restricted diversity of their diets and, regardless of age, α‐LA intakes by this group were poor compared with the non‐PKU population.Conclusions  The quantity and quality of fat in the diets of children with PKU, in particular young children, should be given careful consideration in trying to optimize the ratio of linoleic acid: α‐LA in their diets and in satisfying the requirements of this group for fat and α‐LA.
Deciphering the late steps in the biosynthesis of the anti‐tumour indolocarbazole staurosporine: sugar donor substrate flexibility of the StaG glycosyltransferase
Authors: Salas Aaroa P. , Zhu Lili , Sánchez César , Braña Alfredo F. , Rohr Jürgen , Méndez Carmen , Salas José A. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThe indolocarbazole staurosporine is a potent inhibitor of a variety of protein kinases. It contains a sugar moiety attached through C‐N linkages to both indole nitrogen atoms of the indolocarbazole core. Staurosporine biosynthesis was reconstituted in vivo in a heterologous host Streptomyces albus by using two different plasmids: the ‘aglycone vector’ expressing a set of genes involved in indolocarbazole biosynthesis together with staG (encoding a glycosyltransferase) and/or staN (coding for a P450 oxygenase), and the ‘sugar vector’ expressing a set of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of the sugar moiety. Attachment of the sugar to the two indole nitrogens of the indolocarbazole core was dependent on the combined action of StaG and StaN. When StaN was absent, the sugar was attached only to one of the nitrogen atoms, through an N‐glycosidic linkage, as in the indolocarbazole rebeccamycin. The StaG glycosyltransferase showed flexibility with respect to the sugar donor. When the ‘sugar vector’ was substituted by constructs directing the biosynthesis of l‐rhamnose, l‐digitoxose, l‐olivose and d‐olivose, respectively, StaG and StaN were able to transfer and attach all of these sugars to the indolocarbazole aglycone.
Giardia lamblia infection induces different secretory and systemic antibody responses in mice
Authors: VELAZQUEZ C. , BELTRAN M. , ONTIVEROS N. , RASCON L. , FIGUEROA D. C. , GRANADOS A. J. , HERNANDEZ‐MARTINEZ J. , HERNANDEZ J. , ASTIAZARAN‐GARCIA H. 
Published: September 2005

SUMMARY The adult mouse model of Giardia lamblia infection serves as an excellent animal model to understand the immunological mechanisms involved in the control and clearance of Giardia infection. Little is known about the G. lamblia‐specific antigens that stimulate the humoral immune response in this model of giardiasis. We analysed the secretory and systemic antibody responses to G. lamblia during primary and secondary infection in C3H/HeJ adult mice. Faecal IgA and Serum IgG anti‐G. lamblia antibodies were observed at week 2 post‐infection. Serum IgG responses remained constant over the next several weeks, whereas faecal IgA titres continued to rise from weeks 2–6 post‐infection. Western blot analysis revealed that intestinal IgA and serum IgG antibody responses were directed toward several distinct proteins of G. lamblia. Certain proteins appeared to be recognized by both faecal IgA and serum IgG, whereas other antigens were specific for either the secretory or systemic antibody responses. G. lamblia primary and secondary infections were associated with differences in the antibody recognition pattern. The biochemical and immunological characterization of these antigens will help us to better understand the immunobiology of the G. lamblia–host interaction.
Microwave power and duration without extrauterine thermal damage in microwave endomyometrial ablation at 2.45 GHz
Authors: Kanaoka Yasushi , Hirai Kouzo , Ishiko Osamu 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim: We investigated microwave power and duration of use, which does not affect extrauterine organs, in order to treat organic menorrhagia caused by myomas or adenomyosis.Methods: Electric fields around a microwave applicator at a frequency of 2.45 GHz were calculated using the finite element method with commercially available software for analysis of electromagnetic fields. Transient temperature distributions around the applicator were obtained by numerically solving the bioheat transfer equation during microwave irradiation for 120 s in the human uterus and swine liver. We compared areas enclosed by the 60°C isotherm obtained using numerical simulations and necrosis areas after microwave irradiation. Postoperative avascular areas in a Gd‐enhanced MRI of a uterus enlarged by adenomyosis after clinical microwave endomyometrial ablation were compared with numerical simulations.Results: There was good agreement between the calculated results and the experiments. At 40 W of output power for 50 s of duration and 64.5 W for 100 s, the depth of the necrotized uterine wall did not increase beyond 7 mm and 11 mm, respectively, either in the calculations or the experiments. Generally, the 50°C isotherm was located approximately 2 mm external to the 60°C isotherm in temperature distributions. The Gd‐enhanced MRI after the operation depicted avascular areas, which agreed with the results of numerical simulations.Conclusions: The myometrial portion of a uterine wall ≥13 mm throughout the uterus irradiated for ≤64.5 W for 100 s is sufficient to avoid thermal damage of the extrauterine organs during microwave endomyometrial ablation.
Ultrasonic estimation of fetal weight at term: An evaluation of eight formulae
Authors: Mirghani Hisham M. , Weerasinghe Sarath , Ezimokhai Mutaira , Smith John R. 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim: To compare the accuracy of eight sonographic formulae for predicting fetal birth weight at term in a multiethnic population.Methods: Pregnant women at term who were booked for induction of labor or elective cesarean section were included in the study. Eight ultrasonic fetal biometric formulae were used to predict fetal birth weight.Results: A total of 173 patients were included in the study; 53 (30.6%) patients were from the Indian subcontinent, 44 (25.4%) patients were from Africa, 33 (19.1%) patients were from the Arabian Peninsula and 43 (24.9%) were from other ethnic groups. The mean absolute error ranged from a minimum of 0.3% (±11.3) for Hadlock (biparietal diameter [BPD], head circumference [HC], abdominal circumference [AC], femur length [FL]) to a maximum of 37.5% (±10.0) for Warsof (FL). The correlation of estimated fetal weight with actual birth weight ranged from a minimum of 0.09 with Warsof (FL) to a maximum of 0.77 with Shepard and Warsof (BPD, AC) and Hadlock (BPD, HC, AC, FL). The combination of AC with BPD measurements rather than FL achieves a high level of accuracy.Conclusions: Shepard (BPD, AC) provides a simple and accurate logarithm for the prediction of fetal weight at term in the studied multiethnic population.
Establishment of a prediction method for premature rupture of membranes in term pregnancy using active ceruloplasmin in cervicovaginal secretion as a clinical marker
Authors: Ogino Mitsuharu , Hiyamuta Shuichi , Takatsuji‐Okawa Masako , Tomooka Yasuhiro , Minoura Shigeki 
Published: September 2005

AbstractAim: Term pregnancy complicated by premature rupture of membranes (PROM) is thought to be associated in part with subclinical infection, and places mothers and neonates at an increased risk for several complications. Therefore, perinatal care would be greatly helped if a reliable clinical measure were available for predicting the incidence of PROM.Methods: One hundred and ninety‐six pregnant women who consented to enter this study were screened using a method developed to assess active ceruloplasmin in cervicovaginal secretion as a clinical marker for predicting the incidence of PROM. Cervicovaginal secretions were obtained from the cervical canal at about 36 weeks of pregnancy. The active ceruloplasmin level in the cervicovaginal secretion was measured using an original enzyme‐linked immunoabsorbent assay.Results: Of 196 women, 27 women (13.8%) developed PROM and 169 women (86.2%) did not develop PROM. Active ceruloplasmin in the cervicovaginal secretion was significantly higher in the PROM group than in the non‐PROM group (P < 0.001). Analysis using receiver‐operating characteristic curves showed that the active ceruloplasmin level (1420.0 ng/mL) proved to be the proper cut‐off value to best predict the incidence of PROM.Conclusion: Active ceruloplasmin in the cervicovaginal secretion might be a reliable clinical marker for term PROM.
Prenatal diagnosis and management for a large fetal cardiac tumor complicated with hydrops fetalis
Authors: Nakata Masahiko , Fujiwara Motoki , Ishikawa Yuichi , Sumie Masahiro , Hasegawa Keiko , Miwa Ichiro , Kusaka Emiko , Sase Masakatsu , Sugino Norihiro 
Published: September 2005

AbstractFetal cardiac tumor is a rare disease, and its prognosis varies in relation to the complications such as arrhythmia and out‐flow obstruction. Hydrops fetalis is one of severe complications that result in an unfavorable outcome. A case is presented herein of a large fetal cardiac tumor diagnosed at 28 weeks gestation. At 30 weeks gestation, the fetus complicated with hydrops fetalis because of impaired cardiac function. Increased peak systolic velocity in the ascending aorta and marked reversed flow in the ductus venosus were observed. Oral digoxin therapy was administered to the mother as a cardiotonic agent and the hydropic condition was immediately diminished. After normal delivery, the cardiac tumor gradually decreased in size and the infant developed normally, but required an antiarrhythmic drug. The case indicates that the in utero digoxin therapy could be a choice for hydrops fetalis caused by cardiac tumor.
Effects of an overload event on crack closure in 3‐D small‐scale yielding: finite element studies
Authors: ROYCHOWDHURY S. , DODDS R. H. 
Published: September 2005

ABSTRACTThis paper describes the effects of a single overload event, within otherwise constant amplitude cycles, on the plasticity‐induced closure process for mode I fatigue crack growth in the small‐scale yielding (SSY) regime. The 3‐D finite element (FE) analyses extend the initially straight, through‐thickness crack front by a fixed amount in each load cycle, using a node release procedure. Crack closure during reversed loading occurs when nodes behind the growing crack impinge on a frictionless, rigid plane. A bilinear, purely kinematic hardening model describes the constitutive response of the elastic–plastic material. Extensive crack growth in the analyses, both before and after the overload, allows the crack to grow out of the initial and the post‐overload transient phases, respectively. The work presented here shows that the large plastic deformation in the overload cycle reduces the crack driving force through enhanced closure. Further, the residual plastic deformations due to the overload cause a disconnected pattern of closure in the wake long after the crack front passes through the overload plastic zone. The computational studies demonstrate that the 3‐D scaling relationship for crack opening loads established in our earlier work for constant amplitude cycling (with and without a T‐stress) also holds before, during and after the overload event. For a specified ratio of overload‐to‐constant amplitude loading (ROL=KOLmax/Kmax), the normalized opening load (Kop/Kmax) at each location along the crack front remains unchanged when the constant amplitude peak load (Kmax), thickness (B) and material flow stress (σ0) all vary to maintain a fixed value of . The paper concludes with a comparison of the post‐overload response predicted by the 3‐D analyses and by the conventional Wheeler model.
Anesthetic implications of Jacobsen syndrome
Authors: BLAINE EASLEY R. , SANDERS DEVIN , McELRATH‐SCHWARTZ JAMIE , MARTIN JACKIE , MARK REDMOND J. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryJacobsen syndrome (JS), also known as 11q‐syndrome, is a congenital disorder associated with a deletion of the long arm of chromosome 11. Patients with JS characteristically exhibit multiple dysmorphic features, developmental delay, cardiac anomalies, and platelet abnormalities. Anesthetic issues related to the care of patients with JS concern airway management secondary to short neck, abnormal mouth shape and micrognathia/retrognathia, a high incidence of cardiac anomalies, and platelet dysfunction. Importantly, platelet abnormalities affect 95% of reported JS patients and involve platelet number, size and function. Two children with JS who required open heart surgery are presented and anesthetic management issues discussed. These patients represent the first reports regarding the perioperative issues in caring for patients with JS.
Inheritance and recombination of mitochondrial genomes in plants, fungi and animals
Authors: Barr Camille M. , Neiman Maurine , Taylor Douglas R. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryIt is generally assumed that mitochondrial genomes are uniparentally transmitted, homoplasmic and nonrecombining. However, these assumptions draw largely from early studies on animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In this review, we show that plants, animals and fungi are all characterized by episodes of biparental inheritance, recombination among genetically distinct partners, and selfish elements within the mitochondrial genome, but that the extent of these phenomena may vary substantially across taxa. We argue that occasional biparental mitochondrial transmission may allow organisms to achieve the best of both worlds by facilitating mutational clearance but continuing to restrict the spread of selfish genetic elements. We also show that methodological biases and disproportionately allocated study effort are likely to have influenced current estimates of the extent of biparental inheritance, heteroplasmy and recombination in mitochondrial genomes from different taxa. Despite these complications, there do seem to be discernible similarities and differences in transmission dynamics and likelihood of recombination of mtDNA in plant, animal and fungal taxa that should provide an excellent opportunity for comparative investigation of the evolution of mitochondrial genome dynamics.
Plant–water relations and the fibre saturation point
Authors: Berry Sandra L. , Roderick Michael L. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryThis review is about the behaviour of water in cell walls. The aim is to introduce to biologists the concept of the fibre saturation point (FSP), and the related research of material scientists and engineers on the thermodynamics and chemistry of water in timber and wood. In the review, we first summarise what the FSP is, why it is important and how the FSP is routinely used by engineers and material scientists to estimate the volume fractions of solid, liquid and gas phases in bulk timber. We then show that the FSP can be intuitively understood using equilibrium thermodynamics. That analysis shows that the FSP is based on the concept that a certain (and repeatable) amount of water is chemically bound to cellulose and other substances in wood. That water, sometimes called bound water, exists in a water–cell wall mixture. The noted physical chemist and wood scientist, A. J. Stamm, called this mixture a ‘solid solution’. In timber, the ‘solid solution’ is considered a separate phase from adjacent water in either a pure liquid phase or a vapour phase. Following that, we examine the FSP and wood–water dynamics at the molecular and cellular level. Despite differences between timber and living trees, we conclude that the FSP‐based framework long used by material scientists and engineers is likely to be useful to biologists.

Contents

Summary
1

I.
Introduction
2

II.
The FSP: an overview
2

III.
Equilibrium thermodynamics and the FSP
5

IV.
Inside the FSP
7

V.
Living trees and the FSP
10

VI.
Conclusions
11

Acknowledgements
12

References
12
Gene order in plants: a slow but sure shuffle
Authors: Vision Todd J. 
Published: September 2005

SummaryComparative mapping studies have revealed a great deal about the patterns of gene order and gene content evolution in plants. These findings have practical importance for leveraging genomic information from model to nonmodel plant species. However, there is much to be learned about the processes by which gene order and content evolve. The role of gene duplication and loss in the evolution of plant gene order, in particular, appears to be more important than commonly appreciated. An exciting area of current research is the study of gene order and content polymorphism within species. Some recent findings suggest that there may be a functional, and adaptive, relationship between gene order and phenotype that is mediated by the effects of gene order on transcriptional regulation.
A Longitudinal Study of Idiopathic Exudative Lymphocytic Pleural Effusion in Older People
Authors: El Solh Ali A. , Abdo Toufic , Pineda Lilibeth , Ramadan Fadi , Berbary Eileen 
Published: September 2005

Objectives: To assess the long‐term prognosis of older patients with idiopathic exudative lymphocytic pleural effusion.Design: Prospective observational study.Setting: A university‐affiliated tertiary care center.Participants: Forty‐seven consecutive patients (aged 74.9±5.4) with idiopathic exudative lymphocytic pleural effusion were enrolled over a 42‐month period.Measurements: Baseline sociodemographic information, clinical data, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score were obtained. After an exhaustive examination, clinical evaluation and periodic chest radiographs were taken until one of the endpoints was met: complete resolution of the pleural effusion, death from all causes, or the end of the study period.Results: The mean follow‐up period was 16.3±17.0 months. During the course of the study, complete resolution of the pleural effusion occurred in 17% of the patients, whereas it remained stable in 45%, and progressed in 38%. In seven cases, the cause of the effusion was established after an average of 84 days, and in another two, the diagnosis was made postmortem. Malignancy was documented in eight of the nine cases. Although the burden of comorbidities and cardiac function at baseline were similar in the three categories, the 3‐year survival rate was 63%, 5%, and 0%, respectively. None of the patients developed active tuberculosis, although 15% had positive tuberculin test.Conclusion: By categorizing the presence of idiopathic effusion into resolving, persistent, or progressive, this study may provide a more practical approach to the long‐term prognosis of older patients with idiopathic exudative lymphocytic effusion who refuse or are considered too frail to undergo an invasive procedure.