bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrated responses of hydraulic architecture, water and carbon relations of western hemlock to dwarf mistletoe infection
Authors: MEINZER F. C. , WOODRUFF D. R. , SHAW D. C. 
Published: July 2004

ABSTRACTDwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium spp.) is a hemiparasite that is said to be the single‐most destructive pathogen of commercially valuable coniferous trees in many regions of the world. Although its destructive nature is well documented in many respects, its effects on the physiology of its host are poorly understood. In the present study, water and carbon relations were characterized over a range of scale from leaf to whole tree in large (40‐ to 50‐m‐tall) individuals of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) that were either heavily infected, or uninfected with hemlock dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugense). Specific hydraulic conductivity (ks) of infected branches was approximately half that of uninfected branches, yet leaf‐specific conductivity (kL) was similar because leaf area : sapwood area ratios (AL : AS) of infected branches were lower. Pre‐dawn and minimum leaf water potential and stomatal conductance (gs) were similar among infected and uninfected trees because adjustments in hydraulic architecture of infected trees maintained kL despite reduced ks. Maximum whole‐tree water use was substantially lower in infected trees (approximately 55 kg d−1) than in uninfected trees (approximately 90 kg d−1) because reduced numbers of live branches in infected trees reduced whole‐tree AL : AS in a manner consistent with that observed in infected branches. Maximum photosynthetic rates of heavily infected trees were approximately half those of uninfected trees. Correspondingly, leaf nitrogen content was 35% lower in infected trees. Foliar δ13C values were 2.8‰ more negative in infected than in uninfected individuals, consistent with the absence of stomatal adjustment to diminished photosynthetic capacity. Adjustments in hydraulic architecture of infected trees thus contributed to homeostasis of water transport efficiency and transpiration on a leaf area basis, whereas both carbon accumulation and photosynthetic water use efficiency were sharply reduced at both the leaf and whole‐tree scale.
Alterations by a defect in a rice G protein α subunit in probenazole and pathogen‐induced responses
Authors: KOMATSU S. , YANG G. , HAYASHI N. , KAKU H. , UMEMURA K. , IWASAKI Y. 
Published: July 2004

ABSTRACTThe rice dwarf1 (d1) mutant, which is deficient in an α subunit (Gα) of heterotrimeric G protein, was used to obtain specific evidence on the functions of Gα protein in defence signalling in rice. Using proteome analysis, a probenazole‐inducible protein (PBZ1) was detected in the cytosolic fraction of leaf blade of the wild type, but not the d1 mutant. After treatment with probenazol, PBZ1 reached maximal levels at 72 h in the wild type but 96 h in the d1 mutant. The induction of PBZ1 by probenazole treatment was inhibited by protein kinase inhibitors. A 48‐kDa putative mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and a 55‐kDa putative Ca2+‐dependent protein kinase (CDPK) showed lower activities in the cytosolic fraction of the d1 mutant than that of the wild type. The activities of these protein kinases were enhanced at 24 h in the wild type and 48 h in the d1 mutant after probenazole treatment. Although the d1 mutant responded to the rice blast fungus similarly to the wild type, the d1 mutant developed rice blight symptoms earlier than the wild type when infected with Xoo. In addition, the blight symptoms were more severe on the mutant than on the wild type, and wilting was frequently observed in the d1 mutant. Furthermore, induction by the bacterial infection of the 48‐kDa putative MAPK and PBZ1 was delayed by 2 and 4 d, respectively, in the d1 mutant compared with the wild type. These results indicate that the Gα protein plays a role in the induction of PBZ1 and protein kinases by probenazole and Xoo, and suggest that the 48‐kDa putative MAPK may be involved in a signalling pathway for resistance to bacterial infection.
Microbe–mineral interactions: early carbonate precipitation in a hypersaline lake (Eleuthera Island, Bahamas)
Authors: Dupraz C. , Visscher P. T. , Baumgartner L. K. , Reid R. P. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractMicrobialites (benthic microbial carbonate deposits) were discovered in a hypersaline alkaline lake on Eleuthera Island (Bahamas). From the edge towards the centre of the lake, four main zones of precipitation could be distinguished: (1) millimetre‐sized clumps of Mg‐calcite on a thin microbial mat; (2) thicker and continuous carbonate crusts with columnar morphologies; (3) isolated patches of carbonate crust separated by a dark non‐calcified gelatinous mat; and (4) a dark microbial mat without precipitation. In thin section, the precipitate displayed a micropeloidal structure characterized by micritic micropeloids (strong autofluorescence) surrounded by microspar and spar cement (no fluorescence). Observations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with a cryotransfer system indicate that micrite nucleation is initiated within a polymer biofilm that embeds microbial communities. These extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are progressively replaced with high‐Mg calcite. Discontinuous EPS calcification generates a micropeloidal structure of the micrite, possibly resulting from the presence of clusters of coccoid or remnants of filamentous bacteria. At high magnification, the microstructure of the initial precipitate consists of 200–500 nm spheres. No precipitation is observed in or on the sheaths of cyanobacteria, and only a negligible amount of precipitation is directly associated with the well‐organized and active filamentous cyanobacteria (in deeper layers of the mat), indicating that carbonate precipitation is not associated with CO2 uptake during photosynthesis. Instead, the precipitation occurs at the uppermost layer of the mat, which is composed of EPS, empty filamentous bacteria and coccoids (Gloeocapsa spp.). Two‐dimensional mapping of sulphate reduction shows high activity in close association with the carbonate precipitate at the top of the microbial mat. In combination, these findings suggest that net precipitation of calcium carbonate results from a temporal and spatial decoupling of the various microbial metabolic processes responsible for CaCO3 precipitation and dissolution. Theoretically, partial degradation of EPS by aerobic heterotrophs or UV fuels sulphate‐reducing activity, which increases alkalinity in microdomains, inducing CaCO3 precipitation. This degradation could also be responsible for EPS decarboxylation, which eliminates Ca2+‐binding capacity of the EPS and releases Ca2+ ions that were originally bound by carboxyl groups. At the end of these processes, the EPS biofilm is calcified and exhibits a micritic micropeloidal structure. The EPS‐free precipitate subsequently serves as a substrate for physico‐chemical precipitation of spar cement from the alkaline water of the lake. The micropeloidal structure has an intimate mixture of micrite and microspar comparable to microstructures of some fossil microbialites.
An experimental investigation of density‐stratified inertial gravity currents
Authors: Gladstone C. , Ritchie L. J. , Sparks R. S. J. , Woods A. W. 
Published: July 2004

AbstractTurbidity currents and pyroclastic density currents may originate as stratified flows or develop stratification during propagation. Analogue, density‐stratified laboratory currents are described, using layers of salt solutions with different concentrations and depths to create the initial vertical stratification. The evolving structure of the flow depends on the distribution of the driving buoyancy between the layers, B* (proportional to the layer volumes and densities), and their density ratio, ρ*. When the lower layer contains more salt than the upper layer, and so has a greater proportion of the driving buoyancy (B* < 0·5), this layer can run ahead leading to streamwise or longitudinal stratification (ρ*→0), or the layers can mix to produce a homogeneous current (ρ*→1). If the upper layer contains more salt and thus buoyancy (B* > 0·5), this layer travels to the nose of the current by mixing into the back of the head along the body/wake density interface to produce a homogeneous flow (ρ*→1) or overtaking, leading to streamwise stratification (ρ*→0). Timescales describing the mixing between the layers and the streamwise separation of the layers are used to understand these flow behaviours and are in accordance with the experimental observations. Distance–time measurements of the flow front show that strongly stratified flows initially travel faster than weakly stratified flows but, during their later stages, they travel more slowly. In natural flows that are stratified in concentration and grain size, internal features, such as stepwise grading, gradual upward fining and reverse grading, could be produced depending on B* and ρ*. Stratification may also be expected to affect interactions with topography and overall fan architecture.
Tinea imbricata or Tokelau
Authors: Bonifaz Alexandro , Archer‐Dubon Carla , Saúl Amado 
Published: July 2004

AbstractTinea imbricata (TI) or Tokelau is a superficial mycosis caused byTrichophyton concentricum, an anthropophilic dermatophyte. It is endemic in some islands of the South Pacific (Polynesia), South‐East Asia, Central and South America, and Mexico, and is most often seen in individuals living in primitive and isolated conditions. The skin lesions are characteristically concentric and lamellar (imbricata: in Latin, tiled) plaques of scale. Predisposing conditions include humidity, inheritance, and immunologic factors. The diagnosis is usually made on clinical grounds, supported by skin scrapings and culture. Tokelau is a chronic and highly relapsing disease and, although no first‐line treatment exists, best results are obtained with oral griseofulvin and terbinafine and a topical combination of keratolytic ointments, such as Whitfield's. TI is a disease model that allows the correlation of a series of environmental, genetic, immunologic, and therapeutic conditions.
Clinical and laboratory parameters in predicting chronic urticaria duration: a prospective study of 139 patients
Authors: Toubi E. , Kessel A. , Avshovich N. , Bamberger E. , Sabo E. , Nusem D. , Panasoff J. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  Despite the disabling nature of chronic urticaria (CU), little is known about the disease's duration or the efficacy of adopting aggressive therapeutic regimens such as cyclosporine A.Objectives:  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether parameters such as angioedema, autologous serum test, anti‐thyroid antibodies, and total IgE could predict both CU duration and severity.Patients and methods:  One hundred and thirty‐nine patients suffering from CU were prospectively followed over a 5‐year period for disease duration, severity and the presence of angioedema. Also investigated was the association between these clinical parameters and the subsequent detection of autologous serum test, anti‐thyroid antibodies, and total IgE.Results:  CU lasted over 1 year in more than 70% of cases and in 14% it still existed after 5 years. Angioedema co‐existed or appeared during the course of CU in 40% of patients and was associated with disease duration. Autologous serum test and anti‐thyroid antibodies were found positive in 28 and 12% of patients, respectively, compared to none of normal individuals, P = 0.001. CU duration was associated with the presence of both autologous serum test and anti‐thyroid antibodies; however, autologous serum test and not anti‐thyroid antibodies was found in association with CU severity.Conclusion:  We demonstrate for the first time that CU duration is associated with clinical parameters such as severity and angioedema, and with laboratory parameters such as autologous serum test and anti‐thyroid antibodies. The ability to predict CU duration may facilitate decisions regarding the possible early initiation of cyclosporine A as a means by which to reduce disease severity and duration.
How should nasal symptoms be investigated in asthma? A comparison of radiologic and endoscopic findings
Authors: Raherison C. , Montaudon M. , Stoll D. , Wallaert B. , Darras J. , Chanez P. , Crampette L. , Magnan A. , Demessi P. , Orlando J. P. , Didier A. , Serrano E. , Prud'homme A. , Meurice J. C. , Klossek J. M. , Tunon‐de‐Lara J. M. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  To improve asthma control, the management of rhinosinusitis often leads the physician to perform sinonasal imaging and/or nasal endoscopy, but their respective contributions are still insufficiently understood.Objective:  To evaluate the potential contribution of a symptoms questionnaire, sinus radiography (SR) and computed tomography (CT) scan to the diagnosis of nasal diseases in asthmatic patients when compared with ENT examination.Methods:  A total of 124 patients completed a questionnaire on nasal symptoms administered by the chest physician. Then, they underwent ENT examination. On the same day, SR and CT scans were performed independently.Results:  Patients (80.3%) had nasal symptoms during the month preceding the consultation. The ENT examination was normal in 8.1% (n = 10) and revealed rhinitis in 57.3% (n = 71), rhinosinusitis in 14.5% (n = 18) and nasal polyposis in 20.2% (n = 25). For rhinitis, the negative predictive value of bilateral nasal obstruction was 87.8%. Both SR and CT had low sensitivity and specificity. For rhinosinusitis, the negative predictive value of nasal symptoms varied from 85.4 to 95.2%. Sinus CT was at least as accurate as SR for the diagnosis of rhinosinusitis. In a multivariate analysis, only the CT scan (score ≥12) appeared to be significantly associated with the diagnosis of nasal polyposis.Conclusion:  In asthmatic patients, physicians need to enquire systematically about the existence of nasal symptoms by using this simple questionnaire which is sensitive for rhinitis, and has good negative predictive value for excluding rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis.
Induced sputum in children with newly diagnosed mild asthma: the effect of 6 months of treatment with budesonide or disodium cromoglycate
Authors: Rytilä P. , Pelkonen A. S. , Metso T. , Nikander K. , Haahtela T. , Turpeinen M. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  There are few controlled studies on the effects of anti‐inflammatory treatment on airway inflammation in newly diagnosed childhood asthma.Methods:  Sixty children with newly diagnosed mild persistent asthma, 5–10 years of age, and 17 healthy control subjects were studied. Asthmatic children were randomized into an open study with two treatment groups: (1) budesonide 400 μg twice daily for 1 month, 200 μg twice daily for 5 months and (2) disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) 10 mg three‐times daily for 6 months. All exacerbations were treated with budesonide 400 μg twice daily for 2 weeks. Symptoms and lung function were recorded throughout the study.Results:  Sputum induction was safe and the overall success rate was 71%. This improved with age and decreased after treatment. At baseline, the asthmatic children had more eosinophils in blood (0.26 vs 0.18 × 109/l, P = 0.03) and sputum (1.1 vs 0.0 %, P = 0.0001) than the control subjects. The numbers of sputum eosinophils correlated with bronchial responsiveness (R = −0.58, P = 0.0002). Eosinophils were higher in children with atopic asthma than with nonatopic asthma (P < 0.0001), and in children with a history wheezing than in children without wheezing (P = 0.02). Six months of budesonide treatment, but not of DSCG, improved lung function (P = 0.007), decreased symptoms (P = 0.007) and sputum eosinophils (P = 0.003). The effects of budesonide were pronounced in children with intense sputum eosinophilia (>3%).Conclusion:  Sputum eosinophilia is present in children with newly diagnosed mild persistent asthma. Treatment with inhaled budesonide, but not with DSCG, decreases sputum eosinophils along with clinical and functional improvement.
Sublingual immunotherapy abrogates seasonal bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children with Parietaria‐induced respiratory allergy: a randomized controlled trial†
Authors: Pajno G. B. , Passalacqua G. , Vita D. , Caminiti L. , Parmiani S. , Barberio G. 
Published: July 2004

Background:  The use of immunotherapy in asthmatic children is still controversial. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) may represent an advance, due to the good safety profile, but little is known about its effects on lung function and nonspecific bronchial responsiveness.Objective:  The aim of this study was to assess the effects of SLIT on these parameters, in children with Parietaria pollen‐induced asthma.Methods:  Thirty children with asthma solely due to Parietaria who participated in a previous randomized, placebo‐controlled trial with SLIT were studied: pulmonary function test and methacholine challenge were carried out at baseline in winter 1999 (out season), during the 1999 season (before randomization), and during the 2001 season.Results:  Before randomization, there was a significant fall in methacholine provocation concentration during the pollen season vs baseline in both groups (SLIT group 9.78 ± 5.95 mg/ml vs 3.37 ± 2.99 mg/ml; placebo 8.70 ± 6.25 mg/ml vs 2.44 ± 2.25 mg/ml; P = .005). In the second pollen season, the response to methacholine returned to baseline values in the active group (9.10 ± 7.7 mg/ml; P = NS vs baseline), whereas in the placebo group a significant increase in reactivity was still present (2.46 ± 2.26; P = 0.008 vs baseline). No significant difference in FEV1 and FEF25−75 between the two groups was observed at all times.Conclusions:  Our data show that SLIT abrogates the seasonal bronchial hyperreactivity in children with asthma due to Parietaria. This may be regarded as an indirect evidence of the effect on bronchial inflammation.
Cognitive generation of affect in hypomania: an fMRI study
Authors: Malhi Gin S , Lagopoulos Jim , Sachdev Perminder , Mitchell Philip B , Ivanovski Belinda , Parker Gordon B 
Published: July 2004

Objective:  To identify the brain regions associated with the cognitive generation of affect in hypomanic bipolar patients.Methods:  The study examined 10 hypomanic female subjects with bipolar affective disorder, and 10 age‐ and sex‐matched comparison subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while viewing alternating blocks of captioned‐pictures designed to evoke negative, positive or no affective change. The activation paradigm involved the presentation of the same visual materials over three experiments alternating (a) negative and reference, (b) positive and reference and (c) positive and negative captioned‐pictures.Results:  The stimuli produced activation in both patients and comparison subjects in brain regions previously implicated in the generation and modulation of affect, in particular the prefrontal cortex. Activation in patients involved additional subcortical regions namely the caudate and thalamus.Conclusions:  This preliminary study suggests that hypomanic patients recruit additional subcortical limbic systems for emotional evaluation when advanced prefrontal cortical processing is no longer sufficient. The differential patterns of activation inform us about bipolar disorder and may have potential diagnostic and therapeutic significance.
The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with schizoaffective disorder – bipolar subtype
Authors: Basu Ranita , Brar Jaspreet S , Roy Chengappa KN , John Vineeth , Parepally Haranath , Gershon Samuel , Schlicht Patricia , Kupfer David J 
Published: July 2004

Objectives:  To evaluate the point prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with schizoaffective disorder – bipolar type.Methods:  Consenting patients who were participants in an ongoing clinical trial of adjunctive topiramate treatment for schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type were evaluated at baseline for the point prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The criteria for the metabolic syndrome included: (a) waist circumference > 102 cm (40 inches) in males, or > 88 cm (35 inches) in females; (b) fasting serum triglyceride levels ≥ 150 mg/dL; (c) fasting high density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol <40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women; (d) blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg; and (e) fasting glucose ≥ 110 mg/dL. Subjects who had at least three of these five criteria were defined as meeting criteria for the metabolic syndrome.Results:  Thirty‐six subjects (males = 15, females = 21) were evaluated, and three were excluded for missing data. Among those 33 subjects with complete data, 14 subjects (42.4%, males = 7, females = 7, African Americans = 6, Caucasians = 8) met criteria for the metabolic syndrome. Not unexpectedly, those with the metabolic syndrome were significantly more likely to be obese, and have significantly higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean fasting triglyceride levels and larger mean waist circumferences, and significantly lower HDL cholesterol levels; and a trend toward higher fasting blood glucose levels. Furthermore, the fasting mean total cholesterol in those with the metabolic syndrome was 217 mg/dL (±46).Conclusions:  This preliminary report suggests that the point prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with schizoaffective disorder appears to be higher than that reported in the general population of the USA. Targeted weight reduction and life style change strategies (increased exercise, smoking cessation, stress reduction) may provide useful interventions to decrease the morbidity and mortality that accompanies the presence of the metabolic syndrome in patients with psychiatric illnesses.
Verification of Sensitivity and Specificity of Group A Rotavirus Detection in Piglets Faeces with Monoclonal Blocking ELISA Methods
Authors: Rodák L. , Šmíd B. , Nevoránková Z. , Smítalová R. , Valíček L. 
Published: July 2004

SummaryMonoclonal antibodies to group A rotavirus Vp6 protein were prepared and used for verification of three blocking enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) modifications to detect rotavirus A. Selected competitive blocking ELISA (CB‐ELISA) and electron microscopy (EM) were used for examination of 194 field faecal samples of piglets affected with diarrhoea. Rotavirus was detected in 43 samples (22.2%) by CB‐ELISA method, whereas in 26 (13.4%) samples by EM examination. However, of 26 samples positive by EM, rotavirus A was detected by CB‐ELISA in 19 (73.1%) samples; indicating the share of group A rotavirus in all cases of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus. The sensitivity and specificity of the CB‐ELISA was verified both by inclusion of control samples containing transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) and porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) in each analysis and by comparative examination of samples with the commercial ELISA kit. The CB‐ELISA sensitivity was positively affected by examination of samples in the presence of chelating agent.