bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Umbrella species: critique and lessons from East Africa
Authors: Caro T. M. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractUmbrella species are ‘species with large area requirements, which if given sufficient protected habitat area, will bring many other species under protection’. Historically, umbrella species were employed to delineate specific reserve boundaries but are now used in two senses: (1) as aids to identifying areas of species richness at a large geographic scale; (2) as a means of encompassing populations of co‐occuring species at a local scale. In the second sense, there is a dilemma as to whether to maximize the number or viability of background populations; the umbrella population itself needs to be viable as well. Determining population viability is sufficiently onerous that it could damage the use of umbrella species as a conservation shortcut. The effectiveness of using the umbrella‐species concept at a local scale was investigated in the real world by examining reserves in East Africa that were gazetted some 50 years ago using large mammals as umbrella species. Populations of these species are still numerous in most protected areas although a few have declined. Populations of other, background species have in general been well protected inside reserves; for those populations that have declined, the causes are unlikely to have been averted if reserves had been set up using other conservation tools. Outside one reserve, Katavi National Park in Tanzania, background populations of edible ungulates and small carnivores are lower than inside the reserve but small rodent and insectivore abundance is higher. While we cannot compare East African reserves to others not gazetted using umbrella species, the historical record in this region suggests that umbrella species have been an effective conservation shortcut perhaps because most reserves were initially large and could encompass substantial populations of background species. It is therefore premature to discard the local‐scale umbrella‐species concept despite its conceptual difficulties.
Indonesia's threatened birds: over 500 million years of evolutionary heritage at risk
Authors: Mooers A. Ø , Atkins R. A. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractUsing published IUCN red‐lists for the threatened bird species of Indonesia (Stattersfield & Capper, 2000), we document that the species at risk in Indonesia are not a taxonomically random sample, consistent with patterns seen at the global scale (Purvis et al., 2000). This implies that a greater than random proportion of Indonesia's and the world's (through the loss of endemics) phylogenetic diversity (PD) is at risk (Von Euler, 2001). Using cytochrome b (Johns & Avise, 1998) and a distance‐based taxonomy, we attempt to quantify this projected loss of PD in millions of years and conclude with a brief discussion of the conservation implications for Indonesia, and of the use of ‘evolutionary heritage’ as a measure for conservation at the geopolitical level.
Root fracture detection on digital images: effect of the zoom function
Authors: Kositbowornchai Suwadee , Sikram Supaporn , Nuansakul Rattanon , Thinkhamrop Bandit 
Published: May 2003

Abstract ‐ Objectives: To assess the accuracy of root fracture detection at various levels of image magnification.Methods: Extracted single‐rooted human teeth (100 non‐fractured and 101 fractured) were mounted singly in wax blocks and a charge‐coupled device (CCD)‐based digital Sidexis imaging system was used to take images using the paralleling technique. Image sizes 1 : 1, 2 : 1, and 1 : 2 were prepared for each tooth. All 603 images were examined randomly and interpreted by an experienced radiologist unaware of which images were of fractured roots. The degree of agreement between image interpretation and the actual condition was estimated using a kappa statistic. A modified goodness‐of‐fit χ2‐test was used to assess the significance of the difference between the three image sizes. The sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, and likelihood ratio were used to evaluate the accuracy of root fracture detection at each level of magnification. The degree of agreement between pairs of viewing conditions was also calculated using a kappa statistic.Results: There was substantial agreement between image interpretation and the actual condition for both the 1 : 1 and 1 : 2 image sizes but only moderate agreement for the 2 : 1 size. The kappa values (and 95% CIs) were 0.65 (0.51–0.79), 0.63 (0.49–0.77), and 0.58 (0.44–0.72), respectively. The differences were not statistically significant (P‐value = 0.79). The sensitivity (95% CI) of the image magnification ranged between 79.0% (70.0–87.5%) and 81.0% (72.2–87.5%). The 1 : 1 image size gave the highest specificity of 86.1% (95% CI: 78.1–91.6%). The positive predictive values (95% CI) of the 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1 images sizes were 84.9% (76.3–90.8%), 81.8% (73.1–88.2%), and 77.9% (69.0–84.8%), respectively. The negative predictive values (95% CI) were 80.6% (72.1–86.9%), 81.4% (73.8–88.9%), and 80.4% (71.4–87.1%) for the 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1 image sizes, respectively. The likelihood ratios of the positive test (95% CI) were 5.70 (3.47–9.36), 4.55 (3.00–6.98), and 3.56 (2.45–5,16) for the 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1 image sizes, respectively. The likelihood ratios of the negative test (95% CI) were 0.24 (0.17–0.36), 0.23 (0.15–0.35), and 0.25 (0.16–0.37) for the 1 : 1, 1 : 2, and 2 : 1 image sizes, respectively. The reliability between pairs of viewing conditions was substantial. The kappa statistics (95% CI) was 0.80 (0.72–0.88), 0.73 (0.64–0.83), and 0.77 (0.68–0.86), respectively.Conclusion: In this in vitro study, the three digital magnifications used did not affect the detection of root fractures.
Transposable element (TE) display and rapid detection of TE insertion polymorphism in the Anopheles gambiae species complex
Authors: Biedler J. , Qi Y. , Holligan D. , Della Torre A. , Wessler S. , Tu Z. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractTransposable element (TE) display was shown to be a highly specific and reproducible method of detecting the insertion sites of TEs in individuals of the African malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and its sibling species, A. arabiensis. Relatively high levels of insertion polymorphism were observed during the TE display of several families of miniature inverted‐repeat TEs (MITEs) that have variable copy numbers. The genomic locations of selected insertion sites were identified by matching the sequences of their corresponding bands in a TE display gel to specific regions of the draft A. gambiae genome assembly. We discuss different scenarios in which TE display will provide powerful dominant and co‐dominant genetic markers to study the behaviour of TEs in A. gambiae populations and to illustrate the complex population genetics of this intriguing disease vector. We suggest that TE display can also provide tools for a phylogenetic analysis of the A. gambiae complex.
B96Bom encodes a Bombyx mori tyramine receptor negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase
Authors: Ohta H. , Utsumi T. , Ozoe Y. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractA cDNA encoding a biogenic amine receptor (B96Bom) was isolated from silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae, and the ligand response of the receptor stably expressed in HEK‐293 cells was examined. Tyramine (TA) at 0.1–100 µm reduced forskolin (10 µm)‐stimulated intracellular cAMP levels by approximately 40%. The inhibitory effect of TA at 1 µm was abolished by yohimbine and chlorpromazine (each 10 µm). Although octopamine (OA) also reduced the cAMP levels, the potency was at least two orders of magnitude lower than that of TA. Furthermore, unlabelled TA (IC50 = 5.2 nm) inhibited specific [3H]TA binding to the membranes of B96Bom‐transfected HEK‐293 cells more potently than did OA (IC50 = 1.4 µm) and dopamine (IC50 = 1.7 µm). Taken together with the result of phylogenetic analysis, these findings indicate that the B96Bom receptor is a B. mori TA receptor, which is negatively coupled to adenylate cyclase. The use of this expression system should facilitate physiological studies of TA receptors as well as structure–activity studies of TA receptor ligands.
Molecular analysis of the serine/threonine kinase Akt and its expression in the mosquito Aedes aegypti
Authors: Riehle M. A. , Brown M. R. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractA key component of the insulin‐signalling pathway, the protein kinase Akt, was identified and cloned as a cDNA from ovaries of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. An ortholog gene was found in the Anopheles gambiae genome database, and like other Akts, both mosquito Akts possess pleckstrin homology domains for membrane binding and a serine/threonine kinase domain. When Ae. aegypti ovaries were treated with bovine insulin in vitro, a putative Akt was threonine‐phosphorylated, as expected for Akts. AaegAKT was only expressed in embryos for the first 6 h after oviposition and in ovaries before and during a gonotrophic cycle.
An endothelin‐converting enzyme homologue in the locust, Locusta migratoria: functional activity, molecular cloning and tissue distribution
Authors: Macours N. , Poels J. , Hens K. , Luciani N. , De Loof A. , Huybrechts R. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractEndothelin‐converting enzyme is the key enzyme in the process of endothelin production. Endothelin is a peptide that plays an important role in vasoconstriction and the development of neural crest‐derived cells in vertebrates. Activity assays performed on membrane extracts from Locusta migratoria brain revealed the existence of a protease activity responsible for the formation of mature endothelin‐1 from its precursor, big endothelin. Cloning experiments led to a cDNA sequence (Lom ECE) with an open reading frame of 727 amino acid residues displaying all the characteristic ECE features. A comparison of ECE activity levels among different tissues of the locust showed a high enzyme activity in the gonads and midgut. RT‐PCR experiments showed a wide tissue distribution of Lom ECE mRNA, with transcription being most abundant in brain tissue.
The pyrethroid knock‐down resistance gene in the Anopheles gambiae complex in Mali and further indication of incipient speciation within An. gambiae s.s.
Authors: Fanello C. , Petrarca V. , Della Torre A. , Santolamazza F. , Dolo G. , Coulibaly M. , Alloueche A. , Curtis C. F. , Touré Y. T. , Coluzzi M. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractIn Mali the Anopheles gambiae complex consists of An. arabiensis and Mopti, Savanna and Bamako chromosomal forms of An. gambiae s.s. Previous chromosomal data suggests a complete reproductive isolation among these forms. Sequence analysis of rDNA regions led to the characterization of two molecular forms of An. gambiae, named M‐form and S‐form, which in Mali correspond to Mopti and to Savanna/Bamako, respectively, while it has failed so far to show any molecular difference between Savanna and Bamako. The population structure of An. gambiae s.l. was analysed in three villages in the Bamako and Sikasso areas of Mali and the frequency of pyrethroid resistance of the knock‐down resistance (kdr) type was calculated. The results show that the kdr allele is associated only with the Savanna form populations and absent in sympatric and synchronous populations of Bamako, Mopti and An. arabiensis. This is the first molecular indication of barriers to gene flow between the Bamako and Savanna chromosomal forms. Moreover, analyses of specimens collected in the Bamako area in 1987 show that the kdr allele was already present in the Savanna population at that time, and that the frequency of this allele has gradually increased since then.
Identification of regulatory regions in the DNA puff BhC4‐1 promoter
Authors: Monesi N. , Basso L. R. , Paçó‐Larson M. L. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractThe mechanisms that control DNA puff BhC4‐1 expression in the salivary gland of sciarid late larvae have been shown to be conserved in Drosophila. By analysing Drosophila transformed with constructs carrying progressive deletions of the BhC4‐1 promoter fragment (−3314/+40) fused to the lacZ reporter gene we show that the elements required for the correct BhC4‐1‐lacZ developmental regulation in prepupal salivary glands are contained in a 226 bp fragment (−186/+40). Also, interestingly, this study identified a 67 bp fragment (−253/−187) that activates BhC4‐1‐lacZ expression specifically in the ring gland.
Identification and localization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha3 mRNA in the brain of the honeybee, Apis mellifera
Authors: Thany S. H. , Lenaers G. , Crozatier M. , Armengaud C. , Gauthier M. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractThe nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are ligand‐gated ion channels responsible for rapid neurotransmission and are target sites for pesticides in insects. In the honeybee Apis mellifera, pharmacological and electrophysiological studies have shown that different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes may exist in the brain. Here, we have identified a honeybee cDNA that encodes a 537 amino acid protein with features typical of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α subunit, and sequence homology to human α3. In situ hybridization on cryosections shows that the Apisα3 mRNA is differently expressed in larvae and adult. In larvae, Apisα3 mRNA expression is restricted to the suboesophageal ganglia. In adult, it is further expressed in the optic lobes, the dorsal lobes, the antennal lobes and the calyces of mushroom bodies. Together our results suggest that Apisα3 shows a controlled expression pattern during development.
The scarlet eye colour gene of the tephritid fruit fly: Bactrocera tryoni and the nature of two eye colour mutations
Authors: Zhao J. T. , Bennett C. L. , Stewart G. J. , Frommer M. , Raphael K. A. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractA homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster eye‐colour gene, scarlet (st), has been isolated from the genome of the tephritid fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni. The comparison of the B. tryoni and D. melanogaster scarlet gene shows 71.2% and 79.3% sequence identity at the DNA and the derived amino acid level, respectively. Two allelic eye‐colour mutations of B. tryoni, orange‐eyes and lemon‐eyes, have been recovered and found to be colocalized with the st gene. The st gene sequence in the two mutant strains has been examined for DNA sequence changes and expression levels.
Quantitative expression analysis of a Glyptapanteles indiensis polydnavirus protein tyrosine phosphatase gene in its natural lepidopteran host, Lymantria dispar
Authors: Chen Y. P. , Taylor P. B. , Shapiro M. , Gundersen‐Rindal D. E. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractIn the present study, expression of a newly identified Glyptapanteles indiensis polydnavirus (GiPDV) gene encoding a putative protein tyrosine phosphatase (PDVPTP) was monitored in vivo in the parasitized host, L. dispar, using one step RT‐PCR. Expression levels of the PDVPTP transcript were also evaluated in various host tissues at different times post parasitization (pp) using RT quantitative competitive PCR (RT‐qcPCR). Expression levels varied, with the most abundant transcript detected in host haemolymph 2 h pp. The high expression level in host haemolymph at an early stage of parasitization suggested a potential role for viral PDVPTP in disruption of the host immune system and protection of the endoparasitoid egg from encapsulation. Additionally, the PDVPTP gene or its homolog(s) mapped to more than one GiPDV genomic DNA segment, which may account for its increased level of expression in the absence of virus replication.
Variations in mitochondrial DNA and gene transcription in freezing‐tolerant larvae of Eurosta solidaginis (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Gynaephora groenlandica (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)
Authors: Levin D. B. , Danks H. V. , Barber S. A. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractRespiration, mitochondrial (mt)DNA content, and mitochondrial‐specific RNA expression in fat body cells from active and cold‐adapted larvae of the goldenrod gall fly, Eurosta solidaginis, and the Arctic woolly bear caterpillar, Gynaephora groenlandica, were compared. Reduced amounts of mtDNA were observed in cold‐adapted larvae of both E. solidaginis and G. groenlandica collected in fall or winter, compared with summer‐collected larvae. mtDNA increased to levels similar to those of summer‐collected larvae after incubation at 10 °C or 15 °C for 5 h. Mitochondrial‐specific RNAs (COI and 16S) were observed in fat body cells of both active and cold‐adapted E. solidaginis larvae. Our results suggest that mitochondrial proteins required for respiration may be restored rapidly from stable RNAs present in overwintering larvae.
Identification of a tachykinin‐related neuropeptide from the honeybee brain using direct MALDI‐TOF MS and its gene expression in worker, queen and drone heads
Authors: Takeuchi H. , Yasuda A. , Yasuda‐Kamatani Y. , Kubo T. , Nakajima T. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractUsing a combination of MALDI‐TOF and on‐line capillary HPLC/Q‐Tof mass spectroscopy, we identified and determined the amino acid sequence of a novel neuropeptide in the brain of the honeybee Apis mellifera L., termed AmTRP peptide (Apis mellifera tachykinin‐related peptide), related to insect tachykinin. A cDNA for a prepro‐protein (prepro‐AmTRP) of AmTRP was isolated and determined to encode seven AmTRPs 1–7. Northern blot analysis indicated that the prepro‐AmTRP gene is expressed differentially in the nurse bee, forager, queen and drone heads. Strong expression was detected in the queen and forager heads, while weak and almost no significant expression was detected in the nurse and drone heads, respectively. These results suggest that AmTRP peptide functions as a neuromodulator and/or hormone, associated with sex‐specific or age/division of labour‐selective behaviour and/or physiology of the honeybees.
RNA interference in ticks: a study using histamine binding protein dsRNA in the female tick Amblyomma americanum
Authors: Aljamali M. N. , Bior A. D. , Sauer J. R. , Essenberg R. C. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractRNA interference (RNAi), a gene silencing process, has been recently exploited to determine gene function by degrading specific mRNAs in several eukaryotic organisms. We constructed a double stranded RNA (dsRNA) from a previously cloned putative Amblyomma americanum histamine binding protein (HBP) to test the significance of using this methodology in the assessment of the function and importance of gene products in ectoparasitic ticks. The female salivary glands incubated in vitro with HBP dsRNA had a significantly lower histamine binding ability. In addition, the injection of HBP dsRNA into the unfed females led both to a reduced histamine binding ability in the isolated salivary glands and to an aberrant tick feeding pattern or host response. Molecular data demonstrated less expression of the HBP mRNA in the RNAi group. Taken together, these results suggest that RNAi might be an important tool for assessing the significance of tick salivary gland secreted proteins modulating responses at the tick–host interface.
Examination of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of AH26 and AH Plus sealers
Authors: Miletić I. , Jukić S. , Anić I. , Željezić D. , Garaj‐Vrhovac Osmak V., M. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractAim  To study in vitro the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of AH26 and AH Plus.Methodology  Cytotoxic effects on Chinese hamster V79 cells were determined by counting viable cells following incubation with eluations of AH26 and AH Plus. In one set of experiments, the materials were mixed, set for 1 h and then eluted with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) for 1 h, 24 h and 7 days. In the other set, AH26 and AH Plus were mixed and set for 1 h, 24 h and 7 days in physiological saline then crushed and eluted in DMSO for 24 h. The cytotoxic effects of these eluates were evaluated. Three concentrations were chosen to examine the mutagenic effects of AH26 and AH Plus: 5.57, 16.7 and 55.7 μg mL−1. The structural chromosomal aberration analysis and micronucleus test were performed on human lymphocytes according to standard procedures.Results  Dose–response curves of cell survival were obtained. Both materials were shown to be cytotoxic in doses larger than 55.7 μg mL−1, except for AH26, after 7 days setting time. AH Plus was also shown to be toxic in concentrations of 16.7 μg mL−1, except after 7 days setting time. Neither AH26 nor AH Plus induced a significant increase of chromosomal aberrations or micronuclei induction at any setting time or concentration.Conclusion  There was no mutagenicity found for AH26 and AH Plus on human lymphocytes in highly controlled conditions in vitro.
Light and scanning electron microscopic evaluation of Glyde™ File Prep in smear layer removal
Authors: Lim T. S. , Wee T. Y. , Choi M. Y. , Koh W. C. , Sae‐Lim V. 
Published: May 2003

AbstractAim  To evaluate the effectiveness of Glyde™ File Prep used in conjunction with sodium hypochlorite irrigation in the removal of smear layer produced during root canal instrumentation.Methodology  Thirty‐nine extracted human teeth with single root canals were used. Access cavities were prepared and the teeth divided into three groups of 13 teeth each. Each group was treated by one of the three different regimes of irrigation and conditioning during root canal instrumentation. Group A: 0.5 mL of 1% NaOCl irrigation after each file size with an additional final irrigation of 10 mL 1% NaOCl; group B: 0.5 mL of 1% NaOCl irrigation after each file size with an additional final irrigation of 10 mL 17% EDTA; group C: Glyde™ File Prep coated on each instrumentation file used in conjunction with 0.5 mL 1% NaOCl irrigation after each file size and an additional final irrigation of 10 mL 1% NaOCl. The teeth were then longitudinally grooved and sectioned. Root canal cleanliness was evaluated with the aid of a Nikon light microscope (×40 and ×100) and scanning electron microscope (×1000 and ×3000). The debris scores obtained at three canal regions were compared statistically within the same group and among different groups using repeated measurements of analysis of variance (anova) with Bonferroni adjustments and anova with posthoc Tukey HSD, respectively.Results  The canals treated with EDTA and Glyde™ File Prep were significantly cleaner than those treated with NaOCl alone. The apical region of the root canals generally displayed more residual smear layer, but the difference was not significant.Conclusions  Used in conjunction with NaOCl irrigation, Glyde™ File Prep was effective in removing smear layer produced during root canal instrumentation.