bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biomanipulation: a useful tool for freshwater wetland mitigation?
Authors: Angeler David G. , Chow‐Fraser Patricia , Hanson Mark A. , Sánchez‐Carrillo Salvador , Zimmer Kyle D. 
Published: November 2003

Summary1. Natural wetlands have traditionally been considered as efficient ‘ecological engineers’ for waste water treatment. However, the structure and function of many natural wetlands have been severely altered by the chronic exposure to pollutants, especially nutrients.2. Despite the similarity of symptoms of eutrophied shallow lakes and wetlands, restoration strategies differ distinctly between these rather similar aquatic systems. Many of the tools applied in shallow lake restoration programs, for example biomanipulation, have received little attention in wetland management and restoration.3. Although a strong conceptual basis for food web management exists, biotic interactions as influences on wetland communities have been largely neglected by wetland scientists and managers.4. In this paper we show that biomanipulation may have a strong potential for wetland eutrophication abatement. This potential will be demonstrated by reviewing studies carried out in different wetland types in contrasting climatic regions.5. We propose four different scenarios for when, where and why biomanipulation may be used to rehabilitate freshwater wetlands. These scenarios reflect different settings of hydrological variability, eutrophication sources and gradients of wind exposure and water colour.
Effects of the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist GR138950 on haemodynamic function in dogs
Authors: Hunt A. A. E. , Hilditch A. , Drew G. M. 
Published: November 2003

1 The antagonist activity of the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, GR138950, and its haemodynamic effects have been investigated in beagle dogs. 2 In four anaesthetized dogs, GR138950 (0.1, 1 and 10 mg kg–1 i.v.), displaced dose–response curves to angiotensin II (AngII) rightwards, in a parallel manner; GR138950, at 1 mg kg–1 i.v., produced a 15‐fold displacement of the AngII dose–response curve. In four conscious dogs, GR138950 (1 mg kg–1 i.v. or p.o.) antagonized AngII, and produced rightward and parallel displacements of the AngII dose–pressor response curves. Maximum displacements of approximately 33‐ and 16‐fold occurred at 1 h after intravenous and 5 h after oral administration, respectively. The inhibitory effect of GR138950 was long lasting; AngII dose–pressor response curves were still displaced by 10‐fold from control values, 24 h after intravenous or oral administration of GR138950. 3 In comparison with its vehicle, GR138950 (0.1–10 mg kg–1) caused a significant decrease in resting blood pressure as a consequence of a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance in anaesthetized dogs. Effects on cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate were not significantly different between GR138950‐ or vehicle‐treated dogs. 4 Compared with vehicle, GR138950 administration did not significantly affect blood flow to the mesenteric and femoral vascular beds but did significantly increase blood flow to the renal vascular bed. Vascular resistance of the femoral bed was unaffected but that of the mesenteric and renal vascular beds was significantly reduced by GR138950, compared with the changes produced by vehicle treatment. 5 Compared with vehicle, left ventricular end diastolic pressure was significantly reduced by GR138950, but GR138950 had no significant effect on indices of cardiac contractility (+dP/dtmax and +dP/dt@40) or cardiac relaxation during early diastole (‐dP/dt). 6 In conclusion, GR138950 acts as a competitive, surmountable antagonist at vascular angiotensin II receptors in beagle dogs. GR138950 reduced arterial blood pressure by reducing total peripheral resistance, attributable partly to reduction in resistance in the mesenteric and renal vascular beds. GR138950 reduced left ventricular end diastolic pressure whilst having no direct effect on cardiac contractility or relaxation.
Inhibition of vasodilator neurotransmission in the sheep middle cerebral artery by VIP antiserum
Authors: Matthew J. D. , Wadsworth R. M. , McPhaden A. R. 
Published: November 2003

1 Middle cerebral artery rings from the sheep were relaxed by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (20–200 nM) or by stimulation of the vasodilator nerves, electrical field stimulation (EFS). 2 VIP antiserum 1:256 inhibited the relaxation produced by both exogenous VIP (from 70 ± 5 to 32 ± 9% of 5‐HT‐induced tone at 200 nM VIP) and by EFS (from 43 ± 5 to 26 ± 6% of 5‐HT‐induced tone after 20 min), while pre‐immune serum was inactive. 3 Capsaicin (1 μm) produced a transient relaxation but did not alter the response to EFS which was subsequently inhibited by addition of L‐NOArg (100 μM). VIP‐induced relaxation was antagonized by L‐NOArg (50 μM) (from 68 ± 5 to 46 ± 2% relaxation of 5‐HT‐induced tone) but not by D‐NOArg. 4 Exogenous VIP produced an approximately 2.4‐fold increase in cyclic GMP content which was prevented by preincubation with L‐NOArg (100 μM) but not D‐NOArg. 5 VIP and neuronal NOS immunoreactivity was co‐localized to the same adventitial nerve fibres in the sheep middle cerebral artery. 6 These results provide evidence that neurogenic relaxation in the sheep middle cerebral artery is, at least in part, mediated by VIP, involving activation of NO synthase.
Suppression of the rat micturition reflex by imipramine
Authors: Sohn U. D. , Kim C. Y. 
Published: November 2003

1 This study investigates possible mechanisms through which imipramine (IMI) exerts its antienuretic effect. The micturition reflex in response to bladder distension produced by saline infusion was examined in anaesthetized rats. 2 The amplitude and frequency of micturition reflex contractions were reduced by peripheral administration of IMI, but the micturition reflex was abolished after its intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration. A muscarinic antagonist, atropine, displayed an inhibitory effect similar to that of IMI. A muscarinic agonist, carbachol, produced a dose‐related rightward shift of the dose–response curve to IMI. Both IMI i.c.v. and the muscarinic antagonist l‐methylscopolamine i.c.v. elevated the threshold of volume and pressure for micturition initiation, indicating that IMI and muscarinic antagonists mainly exert a central inhibitory effect on the micturition reflex. 3 In addition, to evaluate the role of central monoaminergic neurotransmission on micturition, the acetylcholine depletor hemicholinium‐3 (HC‐3), the catecholamines depletor α‐methyl‐p‐tyrosine (AMPT), and the serotonin depletor p‐chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) were examined alone or in combination with IMI. The micturition threshold was increased by treatment with HC‐3, but not by AMPT or PCPA. In HC‐3 treated rats, the inhibitory effect of IMI on the micturition reflex was more prolonged than in normal rats. After administration of IMI, the recovery from the cessation of micturition reflex contractions was facilitated by carbachol in normal rats, but not in HC‐3 treated rats. This indicates that acetylcholine plays a facilitatory role in initiating micturition reflex contractions. 4 Acute treatment with IMI decreased the frequency and increased the volume threshold of micturition reflex contraction. Acute and chronic treatment with IMI prolonged the cessation period of micturition by IMI. 5 These results suggest that IMI exerts an inhibitory action on the micturition reflex by a central cholinergic mechanism. Muscarinic receptors located at the supraspinal level are tonically stimulated during distension‐induced micturition reflex.
Effect of 4‐aminopyridine and 3,4‐diaminopyridine on guinea‐pig isolated ileum
Authors: Velasco A. , Maroto M. , Dueñas A. , Carvajal A. , Fernández de la Gándara F. , Nieto A. 
Published: November 2003

1 4‐Aminopyridine and 3,4‐diaminopyridine produced concentration‐dependent contraction on guinea‐pig isolated ileum incubated in Tyrode solution. The EC50 values were 1.14 × 10−4 and 1.39 × 10−4M, respectively. 2 Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, flunarizine, and lanthanum chloride antagonized the contracting effect induced by 4‐aminopyridine and 3,4‐diaminopyridine in guinea‐pig isolated ileum. 3 Diazoxide and atropine sulphate behaved similarly as antagonists of the contracting effect induced by 4‐aminopyridine and 3,4‐diaminopyridine in guinea‐pig isolated ileum. 4 It is concluded that the aminopyridines exert their effects through the release of acetylcholine from parasympathetic nerve terminals.
Qualitative effects of patchy stomatal conductance distribution features on gas‐exchange calculations
Authors: BUCKLEY T. N. , FARQUHAR G. D. , MOTT K. A. 
Published: November 2003

ABSTRACTThe qualitative influence of patchy stomatal conductance distributions on the values of photosynthesis (A) and intercellular CO2 concentration (ci) as determined by gas‐exchange measurements were investigated using computer modelling. Gas‐exchange measurements were simulated for different conductance distributions by modelling photosynthesis explicitly for each patch, summing these rates, and inferring ci from a diffusion equation. Qualitative relationships are presented between conductance distribution features and the difference between assimilation rates measured for patchy and homogeneous leaves at the same ci (Ap and Ah, respectively). These data show that, although most conductance distributions have little effect on the value of A measured for a given ci, some distribution features (which we have termed ‘bimodality’, ‘position’, ‘skewness’ and ‘range’) play a key role in controlling the magnitude of these effects. Distributions that are more nearly bimodal, span regions of lower conductance, are right‐skewed, or have broader conductance ranges are associated with larger effects on the A(ci) relationship. To clarify our mathematical analysis and illustrate some of the trends it predicts, we present conductance distributions and gas‐exchange data from leaves of Malus dolgo var. Spring Snow Dial were treated with ABA. The results are discussed in the light of recent controversy over the effect of patchy stomatal conductance on gas‐exchange data.
Antidepressant‐induced mania: an overview of current controversies
Authors: Goldberg Joseph F , Truman Christine J 
Published: November 2003

Objective:  The prevalence, characteristics, and possible risk factors associated with antidepressant‐induced mania remain poorly described. The present review sought to identify published rates of antidepressant‐induced mania and describe risk factors for its emergence.Methods:  A MedLine search was conducted of journals that focused on mania or hypomania associated with recent antidepressant use. Data from published reports were augmented with relevant findings from recent clinical trials presented at scientific conferences.Results:  Antidepressant‐induced manias have been reported with all major antidepressant classes in a subgroup of about 20–40% of bipolar patients. Lithium may confer better protection against this outcome when compared with other standard mood stabilizers, although switch rates have been reported with comparable frequencies on or off mood stabilizers. Evidence across studies most consistently supports an elevated risk in patients with (i) previous antidepressant‐induced manias, (ii) a bipolar family history, and (iii) exposure to multiple antidepressant trials.Conclusion:  About one‐quarter to one‐third of bipolar patients may be inherently susceptible to antidepressant‐induced manias. Bipolar patients with a strong genetic loading for bipolar illness whose initial illness begins in adolescence or young adulthood may be especially at risk. Further efforts are needed to better identify high‐vulnerability subgroups and differentiate illness‐specific from medication‐specific factors in mood destabilization.
Protective, Curative and Eradicant Activity of the Strobilurin Fungicide Azoxystrobin against Cercospora beticola and Erysiphe betae
Authors: Anesiadis T. , Karaoglanidis G. S. , Tzavella‐Klonari K. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe protective, curative and eradicant activity of the strobilurin fungicide azoxystrobin against Cercospora beticola and Erysiphe betae on sugar beet was determined under growth chamber conditions. Difenoconazole and chlorothalonil were used as standard fungicides against C. beticola, while chlorothalonil was replaced by sulphur against E. betae. Fungicides were applied before (protective treatments) and after (curative treatments) inoculation at 24, 48 and 96 h intervals, respectively. An additional spray treatment was applied after the appearance of the symptoms to evaluate the eradicant activity of the fungicides tested. Applications of azoxystrobin at 16 μ/ml provided 89–94% and 95–97% disease control against C. beticola and E. betae, respectively. Curative treatments of azoxystrobin either at 8 or 16 μg/ml provided control of Cercospora leaf‐spot higher than 90% only when it was applied 24 h after inoculation of the plants. Comparatively, chlorothalonil (100 μg/ml) provided satisfactory control of C. beticola when applied in protective treatments (83–87% disease control) but showed little activity when applied after the inoculation of the seedlings (45–76% disease control). High control efficacy against E. betae was also obtained by protective applications of sulphur (600 μg/ml) but the fungicide failed to provide satisfactory disease control, particularly when applied for 48 or 96 h after inoculation of seedlings. Difenoconazole (8 μg/ml) gave excellent protective and curative activity against both pathogens. Eradicative treatments with azoxystrobin provided high antisporulant activity of 94–96% and 85–93% against C. beticola and E. betae, respectively. Similarly, high antisporulant activity was also provided by difenoconazole, while postsymptom applications of chlorothalonil and sulphur provided significantly lower antisporulant activity against C. beticola and E. betae, respectively. Such results encourage the evaluation of azoxystrobin under field conditions to determine optimal treatment schedules and to select possibly partner fungicides for use in mixtures.
The Phytopathogenic Fungus Ramularia collo‐cygni Produces Biologically Active Rubellins on Infected Barley Leaves
Authors: Miethbauer S. , Heiser I. , Liebermann B. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractThe anamorph fungus Ramularia collo‐cygni Sutton and Waller, the cause of a leaf spot disease on barley, produces biologically active rubellins on infected leaves, the main component of which is the anthraquinone derivate rubellin B. In severely infected barley leaves originating from Germany and Austria we found approximately 2–6 μg rubellin B per cm2 leaf area. Rubellin B isolated for the first time from mycelium and culture filtrate of R. collo‐cygni acts as reference substance. As already shown for rubellin D, the isomeric compound rubellin B induces symptoms in barley leaves only in the light. The light‐dependency of symptom expression can be explained by the photodynamic formation of reactive oxygen species by rubellin B and D which was demonstrated in a model system.
An Integrated Approach to the Evaluation of the Efficacy of Fungicides Against Fusarium culmorum, the Cause of Head Blight of Wheat
Authors: Chala A. , Weinert J. , Wolf G. A. 
Published: November 2003

AbstractAll the registered Strobilurin‐containing chemicals and one Azole known for its higher efficacy to control the pathogen were compared in a fungicide trial in 2001 on wheat inoculated with Fusarium culmorum. Two application times (BBCH 39 and BBCH 51) were used for the Strobilurin fungicides, whereas the Azole was applied at BBCH 65. Visual disease assessment, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a mycotoxin test, 1000‐grain weight and yield assessment were used for evaluation, and all the techniques in different ways revealed differences in the efficacy of the chemicals. Whereas visual disease assessment showed the effect of the chemicals on symptom development, ELISA and the mycotoxin test indicated differences in the treatments on grain contamination by the pathogen and its mycotoxin, respectively. Assessment on 1000‐grain weight and yield also showed the impact of the treatments in reducing the effect of the pathogen on grain production. Correlation coefficients calculated for the different parameters were significantly higher, indicating that a strong relationship existed among the various parameters used for evaluation. It was thus assumed that any of the techniques can be used to make general recommendations about the effect of chemicals on plant pathogenic fungi such as F. culmorum.
Prescribing trends in infectious keratitis: a survey of New Zealand ophthalmologists
Authors: McAllum Penny J , McGhee Charles NJ 
Published: November 2003

Abstract Purpose: To obtain an overview of the treatment of infectious diseases of the cornea by New Zealand ophthalmologists and to analyse the data in the context of evidence‐based treatment recommendations. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all New Zealand ophthalmologists. It comprised 23 multiple‐choice questions pertaining to the characteristics of the respondents, the nature of their practice and their prescribing preferences in infectious conjunctivitis and keratitis. Results: Of the 93 ophthalmologists surveyed, 80.6% returned the questionnaire. Of those in clinical practice, 91.4% regularly treated patients with corneal disease. A subspecialty interest in cornea was stated by 12.5% of these. This paper reports observations for adenoviral conjunctivitis and adenoviral, Herpes simplex, varicella zoster, bacterial, acanthamoebal and fungal keratitis. In some conditions prescribing practice varied dramatically, such as in adenoviral conjunctivitis where 50% of respondents prescribed a corticosteroid and 51.6% an antibiotic, whereas 37.5% prescribed only lubrication or no topical treatment. In other conditions there was a high degree of agreement between ophthalmologists; indeed, all ophthalmologists treated Herpes simplex dendritic keratitis with topical acyclovir. No statistically significant differences in prescribing habits were identified between subspecialist and non‐subspecialist groups, although some important clinical differences emerged. There were occasional marked differences in response when the age group of respondents was considered, particularly in relation to the management of adenoviral infections and bacterial keratitis. Conclusions: The findings of this survey suggest that the majority of New Zealand ophthalmologists generally follow international guidelines for the management of infectious keratitis. The identified variations in management provide a foundation for informed clinical debate and the development of treatment guidelines, in line with evidence‐based recommendations.
Macular hole surgery with or without indocyanine green stained internal limiting membrane peeling
Authors: Kwok Alvin KH , Lai Timothy YY , Yuen Kenneth SC , Tam Barbara SM , Wong Victoria WY 
Published: November 2003

Abstract Background: To compare the anatomical and visual outcome in primary idiopathic macular hole surgery with or without indocyanine green (ICG) stained internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Methods: The medical records of the last 40 consecutive eyes receiving primary idiopathic macular hole surgery with gas as internal tamponade performed by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed and analysed. All eyes had a follow‐up period of at least 6 months. In the initial 22 consecutive eyes, no ILM peeling was performed (non‐ILM peeling group). The subsequent 18 eyes underwent surgery with ICG‐stained ILM peeling (ILM peeling group). Results: The primary anatomical closure rates were 88.9% and 59.1% in the ILM peeling group and non‐ILM peeling group, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.038). Improvement in visual acuity was more marked in the ILM peeling group than in the non‐ILM peeling group, with a mean improvement of 3.6 and 1.3 lines, respectively (two‐tailed t‐test, P = 0.036). There were significantly more cases with improvement of two or more lines of visual acuity after surgery, with 66.7% in the ILM peeling group and 31.8% non‐ILM peeling group (Chi‐square test P = 0.028). However, there was no significant difference in the final postoperative logMAR best‐corrected visual acuity between the two groups (two‐tailed t‐test, P = 0.073). Conclusions: Based on this study, ICG‐stained ILM peeling seems to improve the anatomical and visual outcome in primary idiopathic macular hole surgery. Further studies in this aspect are warranted.
Admixture Mapping Using Interval Transmission/Disequilibrium Tests
Authors: Lee Wen‐Chung , Yen Yu‐Chun 
Published: November 2003

SummaryFamily‐based studies of genetic association and linkage play a key role in mapping susceptibility genes of complex human diseases. Recent admixture between genetically differentiated populations can result in high levels of linkage disequilibrium even at far apart loci. This has been capitalized upon to reduce the burden of genotyping in a genomewide association scan. Here the authors describe an alternative approach for admixture mapping. The genome is divided into several non‐overlapping intervals and the information of the markers in the same interval is integrated—the ‘interval transmission/disequilibrium test’ (ITDT). This method requires information in the form of the marker allele frequencies in the founding populations. However, computer simulations show that the performances of ITDT are hardly affected by imprecise allele‐frequency information. Simulations also show that an interval‐by‐interval scan using ITDT perform much better than a conventional marker‐by‐marker scan using TDT, even under conditions where the admixture process occurred over many generations and the individuals in the admixed populations show considerable variation in admixture proportion. Hence the ITDT is a promising new genomewide scan method.
SELPLG Gene Polymorphisms in Relation to Plasma SELPLG Levels and Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Tregouet D. A. , Barbaux S. , Poirier O. , Blankenberg S. , Bickel C. , Escolano S. , Rupprecht H. J. , Meyer J. , Cambien F. , Tiret L. ,   AtheroGene group
Published: November 2003

SummaryP‐selectin and P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand (SELPLG, selectin P ligand) constitute a receptor/ligand complex that is likely to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis and its complications. While the genetic variability of P‐selectin has already been investigated in depth, that of the SELPLG gene has not yet been extensively explored. The coding and regulatory sequences of the SELPLG were screened and nine polymorphisms were identified. The identified polymorphisms were genotyped in the AtheroGene study, a case‐control study of coronary artery disease (CAD). Haplotype analysis revealed that two polymorphisms of SELPLG, the M62I and the VNTR, independently influenced plasma SELPLG levels. Conversely, haplotypes of SELPLG were not associated with CAD risk.