bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ten years of free‐air CO2 enrichment altered the mobilization of N from soil in Lolium perenne L. swards
Authors: Schneider Manuel K. , Lüscher Andreas , Richter Michael , Aeschlimann Urs , Hartwig Ueli A. , Blum Herbert , Frossard Emmanuel , Nösberger Josef 
Published: December 2004

AbstractEffects of free‐air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE, 60 Pa pCO2) on plant growth as compared with ambient pCO2 (36 Pa) were studied in swards of Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) at two levels of N fertilization (14 and 56 g m−2 a−1) from 1993 to 2002. The objectives were to determine how plant growth responded to the availability of C and N in the long term and how the supply of N to the plant from the two sources of N in the soil, soil organic matter (SOM) and mineral fertilizer, varied over time. In three field experiments, 15N‐labelled fertilizer was used to distinguish the sources of available N.In 1993, harvestable biomass under elevated pCO2 was 7% higher than under ambient pCO2. This relative pCO2 response increased to 32% in 2002 at high N, but remained low at low N. Between 1993 and 2002, the proportions and amounts of N in harvestable biomass derived from SOM (excluding remobilized fertilizer) were, at high N, increasingly higher at elevated pCO2 than at ambient pCO2. Two factorial experiments confirmed that at high N, but not at low N, a higher proportion of N in harvestable biomass was derived from soil (including remobilized fertilizer) following 7 and 9 years of elevated pCO2, when compared with ambient pCO2.It is suggested that N availability in the soil initially limited the pCO2 response of harvestable biomass. At high N, the limitation of plant growth decreased over time as a result of the stimulated mobilization of N from soil, especially from SOM. Consequently, harvestable biomass increasingly responded to elevated pCO2. The underlying mechanisms which contributed to the increased mobilization of N from SOM under elevated pCO2 are discussed. This study demonstrated that there are feedback mechanisms in the soil which are only revealed during long‐term field experiments. Such investigations are thus, a prerequisite for understanding the responses of ecosystems to elevated pCO2 and N supply.
Phylogeography of the Namib Desert dung beetles Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) MacLeay (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Authors: Sole Catherine L. , Scholtz Clarke H. , Bastos Armanda D. S. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractAim  Namib biogeography in many instances remains reliant on advanced and detailed systematic studies. This study attempts to combine molecular phylogenetic data, geology and palaeo‐climatic data to (i) resolve the relationships of the 13 morphological species of Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) and (ii) relate their evolution to past climatic and geological events.Location  South Africa and Namibia.Methods  Sequencing of a 1197 bp segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene of the 13 species within Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) was undertaken. Analyses performed included Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood as well as imposing a molecular clock.Results  The molecular phylogeny showed strong support for 11 of the 13 morphological species. The remaining two species, S. (P.) glentoni and S. (P.) hippocrates, formed a complex and could not be assigned specific status on the basis of the COI gene phylogeny. Strong support for the three species formerly classified within the genus Neopachysoma was consistently obtained. The subgenus appears to have arisen c. 2.9 Ma. Species within the subgenus arose at different times, with the common ancestor to Neopachysoma and the hippocrates complex having evolved 2.65 and 2.4 Ma, respectively. Scarabaeus (P.) denticollis, S. (P.) rotundigenus, S. (P.) rodriguesi and S. (P.) schinzi are some of the youngest species, having diverged between 2 million and 600,000 years ago.Main conclusions  Scarabaeus (Pachysoma) is a derived monophyletic clade within the Scarabaeini. The subgenus appears to be young in comparison with the age of the Namib Desert, which dates back to the Miocene (c. 15 Ma). The psammophilous taxa are shown to disperse with their substratum and habitat, barchan dunes. Clear south/north evolutionary gradients can be seen within the species of this subgenus, which are consistent with the unidirectional wind regime. Species with a suite of mostly plesiomorphic characters have a southerly distribution while their derived psammophilous relatives have central to northern Namib distributions. Major rivers such as the Orange, Buffels and Holgat appear to be gene barriers to certain species as well as areas of origin of speciation events.
Interconnection of competence, stress and CiaR regulons inStreptococcus pneumoniae: competence triggers stationary phase autolysis ofciaRmutant cells
Authors: Dagkessamanskaia Adilia , Moscoso Miriam , Hénard Vincent , Guiral Sébastien , Overweg Karin , Reuter Mark , Martin Bernard , Wells Jerry , Claverys Jean‐Pierre 
Published: December 2004

SummaryOf the 13 two‐component signal transduction systems (TCS) identified inStreptococcus pneumoniae, two, ComDE and CiaRH, are known to affect competence for natural genetic transformation.  ComD and ComE act together with thecomC‐encoded competence‐stimulating peptide (CSP) and with ComAB, the CSP‐dedicated exporter, to co‐ordinate activation of genes required for differentiation to competence. Several lines of evidence suggest that the CiaRH TCS and competence regulation are interconnected, including the observation that inactivation of the CiaR response regulator derepresses competence. However, the nature of the interconnection remains poorly understood. Interpretation of previous transcriptome analyses ofciaRmutants was complicated by competence derepression in the mutants. To circumvent this problem, we have used microarray analysis to investigate the transition from non‐competence to competence in acomC‐null wild‐type strain and itsciaRderivative after the addition of CSP. This study increased the number of known CSP‐induced genes from ≈ 47 to 105 and revealed ≈ 42 genes with reduced expression in competent cells. Induction of the CiaR regulon, as well as the entire HrcA and part of the CtsR stress response regulons, was observed in wild‐type competent cells. Enhanced induction of stress response genes was detected inciaRcompetent cells. In line with these observations, CSP was demonstrated to trigger growth arrest and stationary phase autolysis inciaRcells. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that differentiation to competence imposes a temporary stress on cells, and that the CiaRH TCS is required for the cells to exit normally from the competent state.
Repression of deoxynivalenol accumulation and expression ofTrigenes inFusarium culmorumby fungicidesin vitro
Authors: Covarelli L. , Turner A. S. , Nicholson P. 
Published: December 2004

A defined medium was developed in which to monitor deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation, fungal growth and expression of genes involved in trichothecene biosynthesis (designatedTrigenes). In liquid culture, DON accumulated shortly after maximum expression ofTri6and coincident with expression ofTri5.This was generally 96 h after inoculation. The effects of sublethal concentrations of the fungicides azoxystrobin, trifloxystrobin, kresoxim‐methyl and tebuconazole on biosynthesis of the trichothecene DON byFusarium culmorumwere studied using this medium. The strobilurin fungicides trifloxystrobin and azoxystrobin significantly reduced the accumulation of DON in culture medium at a range of concentrations. Kresoxim‐methyl, also a strobilurin, and tebuconazole, a triazole, did not significantly reduce the accumulation of DON, although levels were lower than those in nonamended cultures. Trifloxystrobin significantly reduced the accumulation of DON when added to cultures before initiation of trichothecene biosynthesis. RT‐PCR assays of the expression ofTri6andTri5genes indicated that trifloxystrobin acted by inhibiting the initiation of trichothecene biosynthesis.
Persistent Mongolian spots in Chinese adults
Authors: Leung Alexander K. C. , Kao C. Pion , Leung Alexander A. C. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractFour Chinese females aged 21–35 years with Mongolian spots are reported. Two patients had the spots on their arms while the other two had the spots on their shoulders. The persistence of Mongolian spots in Chinese adults has not been previously reported.
Imiquimod is a strong inhibitor of tumor cell‐induced angiogenesis
Authors: Majewski Slawomir , Marczak Maria , Mlynarczyk Beata , Benninghoff Bernd , Jablonska Stefania 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground  Imiquimod, a potent immunomodulator, not having a direct antiproliferative activity, was found to be effective in genital and cutaneous premalignancies and malignancies. As tumor development depends on blood vessel supply, the inhibition of angiogenesis could be responsible for the antitumor activity.Objective  To find in a murine model whether imiquimod has antiangiogenic activity and whether this activity is mediated by locally induced cytokines.Methods  The study was performed in two cell lines: Skv human keratinocytes containing multiple integrated copies of HPV16 derived from bowenoid papulosis, and murine L1 lung sarcoma cells of Balb/c mice. The murine model of cutaneous angiogenesis was used to assess and count the new blood vessel formation. The mice were immunosuppressed by a total body X‐ray irradiation and treated with 5% or 2.5% imiquimod cream before or after induction of angiogenesis with intradermally injected tumor cell suspension. In some experiments the mice were, in addition, treated intraperitoneally with monoclonal antibodies against murine IFNα, TNFγ or IL‐18.Results  Topical application of imiquimod on the murine skin resulted in reduction of angiogenesis (P < 0.001) induced by intradermal injection of both human and mouse tumor cells, more pronounced when 5% cream was applied on three consecutive days. Antibodies against murine IFNγ, TNFα and IL‐18 completely abolished the inhibitory effect of imiquimod on angiogenesis induced by murine L1 sacroma cells. When human Skv cells were used in angiogenesis assay, the effect of imiquimod was abolished by antibodies against IL‐18 but not against TNFα, which may be due to overproduction of TNFα by Skv cells.Conclusions  Antiangiogenic effect of imiquimod was found to be mediated by IL‐18, probably through promoting production of INFγ, the most important inhibitor of angiogenesis.
Narrow‐band UVB for the treatment of vitiligo: an emerging effective and well‐tolerated therapy
Authors: Kanwar Amrinder Jit , Dogra Sunil , Parsad Davinder , Kumar Bhushan 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground  Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disorder of great cosmetic importance, affecting 1% of the general population. Photochemotherapy is the most commonly used treatment modality in extensive vitiligo, but is associated with many short‐ and long‐term side‐effects. Recently, narrow‐band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) therapy has been reported to be an effective and safe therapeutic option in patients with vitiligo. We studied the efficacy and safety of NBUVB (311 nm) therapy in Indian patients with generalized vitiligo.Methods  Fourteen patients (six males and eight females), aged 12–56 years, with generalized vitiligo, were treated thrice weekly with NBUVB radiation therapy for a maximum period of 1 year.Results  At the end of 1 year, 10 patients (71.4%) had marked to complete repigmentation and two each (14.3%) had moderate or mild repigmentation. Repigmentation sites showed an excellent color match. The response to therapy was correlated with the sites of involvement, duration of disease, and compliance to therapy. Adverse events were limited and transient.Conclusion  NBUVB therapy is effective and safe in Indian patients with vitiligo. Long‐term follow up is required, however, to establish the stability of repigmentation.
Clinicopathological Features of an Equine Ovarian Teratoma
Authors: Catone G , Marino G , Mancuso R , Zanghì A 
Published: December 2004

ContentsThe present study describes the clinicopathological features of a mature cystic ovarian teratoma occurred in a 4 year old, cyclic, nulliparous Andalusian mare. The mass was discovered in the left ovary during a breeding soundness examination, and was hard in consistency and variously echogenic. Laparoscopy was performed to confirm the neoplastic change, followed by a unilateral laparotomic ovariectomy in the standing animal. On the cut surface the teratomatous ovary showed a large cyst filled with hair and sebaceous material and three small cysts containing mucous fluid, surrounded by solid areas where bone and cartilage could be recognized. Exceptionally, functional remnants of the ovary, including small follicles and a diestral corpus luteum were found near the tubal extremity. Histology revealed mature tissues foreign to the ovary including stratified squamous and respiratory epithelia, mucous, sebaceous and sweat glands, muscle fibres, fat and nervous tissue. The appearance of tracheal and lung architecture was occasionally observed.
Experimental and numerical rolling contact fatigue study on the 32CrMoV13 steel
Authors: COELHO L. , DIAS A. , LIEURADE H. P. , MAITOURNAM H. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThe aim of this work is to study pure rolling contact fatigue in 32CrMoV13 quenching and tempering steel. The study involves both experimental and numerical work. The influence of the roughness and the residual stresses on the mechanisms and zones of cracking were studied. The results show a rapid reduction in roughness during the first minute of test but even so there will be specimen deterioration. The residual stress profile after rolling contact tests have high compression values in the surface and at a depth of approximately 240 μm, which is related with the Hertzian maximal shear stress. The numerical simulation of the Hertzian loading was used both to determine the elastic shakedown of the material and to apply a high‐cycle multiaxial fatigue criterion. The three‐dimensional finite element analysis used in the numerical calculation includes elastic‐linear kinematic hardening plastic material and allows the introduction of an initial residual stress state. Taking into account the elastoplastic load induced by the Hertz pressure, low‐cycle fatigue tests were used to characterize the mechanical properties of the material. In order to validate the numerical simulation, the results of the calculation after elastic shakedown were compared with the values measured by X‐ray diffraction after rolling contact tests. The results showed a reasonable agreement between calculated and measured stresses. The Dang Van high‐cycle multiaxial fatigue criterion showed a good relationship with the experimental findings.
Influence of grain boundaries on short crack growth behaviour of IGSCC
Authors: KAMAYA M. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTUnderstanding short crack behaviour is essential for predicting the lifetime of light water reactor components. However, crack growth rates of short cracks are unsteady due to microstructural obstacles such as grain boundaries. On the other hand, the statistical behaviour of short cracks can be deduced from crack size distributions. Some papers have pointed out that the crack size distributions obtained by stress corrosion cracking tests showed a kink in the distribution line. This kink suggests that the short crack growth rate is slow compared with that of long cracks. And it can be thought that the slow growth rate is caused by the microstructural obstacles. This study investigated the influence of grain boundaries on the short crack growth behaviour of intergranular stress corrosion cracking. A crack growth simulation model, which considered the mechanical effects of the crack kink and bifurcation by grain boundaries, was developed. The crack depth distribution obtained by the simulation also exhibited a kink in the distribution line as seen in the experimental results. This suggests that grain boundaries play an important role in short crack growth behaviour.
On tools and toys: how children learn to act on and pretend with ‘virgin objects’
Authors: Rakoczy Hannes , Tomasello Michael , Striano Tricia 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe focus of the present study was the role of cultural learning in infants’ acquisition of pretense actions with objects. In three studies, 18‐ and 24‐month‐olds (n= 64) were presented with novel objects, and either pretense or instrumental actions were demonstrated with these. When children were then allowed to act upon the objects themselves, qualitatively similar patterns of cultural (imitative) learning both of pretend and of instrumental actions were observed, suggesting that both types of actions can be acquired in similar ways through processes of cultural learning involving one or another form of collective intentionality. However, both absolute imitation rates and creativity were lower in pretense compared to instrumental actions, suggesting that the collective intentionality that constitutes pretense is especially difficult for children to comprehend. An additional analysis of children's gazes to the experimenter during their actions revealed that 24‐month‐olds looked more often to the experimenter during pretense actions than during instrumental actions – suggesting that pretense is culturally learned in a similar fashion as practical actions, but that young children understand pretense as a more inherently social, intersubjective activity.
T-Optimum Designs for Discrimination Between Two Multiresponse Dynamic Models
Authors: Uciński Dariusz , Bogacka Barbara 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe paper is concerned with a problem of finding an optimum experimental design for discriminating between two rival multiresponse models. The criterion of optimality that we use is based on the sum of squares of deviations between the models and picks up the design points for which the divergence is maximum. An important part of our criterion is an additional vector of experimental conditions, which may affect the design. We give the necessary conditions for the design and the additional parameters of the experiment to be optimum, we present the algorithm for the numerical optimization procedure and we show the relevance of these methods to dynamic systems, especially to chemical kinetic models.
Effect of haloperidol on a patient with hypersexuality following frontal lobe injury
Authors: KOBAYASHI Toshiyuki 
Published: December 2004

AbstractHypersexuality is a difficult problem to manage in the elderly, especially in nursing home residents and people with dementia being cared for at home. The present study reports the case of a 70‐year‐old man who suffered from hypersexuality following a frontal lobe injury, and was successfully treated with haloperidol. There is no previously reported evidence of the efficacy of haloperidol for the treatment of hypersexuality, however, we consider that it might be worthwhile trailing this drug for this condition, as long as there are no serious adverse effects.
Intensive dialysis and blood pressure control: A review
Authors: Charra Bernard , Jean Guillaume , Chazot Charles , Hurot Jean‐Marc , Terrat Jean‐Claude , Vanel Thierry , Lorriaux Christie , Vovan Cyril 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe prevalence of hypertension in hemodialysis (HD) patients has increased over the years. In the early days of maintenance HD blood pressure (BP) control was achieved in most patients. As sessions were shortened, the prevalence of hypertension increased. Yet, in principle, dialysis is able to control hypertension. Today, in programs using long HD, most patients are normotensive without antihypertensive medication. The same is true for patients on daily dialysis, but not for those on short thrice‐weekly HD. In all studies reporting BP normalization, dry weight is regularly achieved. Why the poor control of hypertension now? At first sight the shortened session duration is the culprit. This is suggested by several epidemiologic observations and strongly supported by a prospective experience of changing the HD schedule (short to long HD or conversely) in the same group of patients. Recent studies, however, using strict volume control show that BP normalization can be obtained in conventional 3 x 4 hr/week dialysis with relatively low delivered Kt/Vurea. Therefore, prolonging the dialysis time and/or increasing the dialysis dose are not required to achieve BP control. Intensive dialysis most probably normalizes BP by getting the extracellular volume and the amount of sodium in the body back to normal. It acts in conjunction with a moderate dietary sodium restriction and the use of reasonably low dialysate sodium. With this approach improved BP control can be achieved in the vast majority of HD patients.
Routine Ultrasound Studies of the Vascular Access in a Dialysis Center: A Review
Authors: Cairoli O.M. 
Published: December 2004

The establishment and maintenance of vascular access in end‐stage renal disease provides a greater challenge. Adequate dialytic therapy requires reliable, long‐term access to the blood circulation. Vascular access remains the Achilles' heel of chronic hemodialysis; complications are costly for the patient and society. Vascular access failure is the most frequent cause of hospitalization for patients with chronic renal disease. The general goal was to prevent thrombectomies, thus preventing hospitalizations and reducing cost, and most importantly, saving the patient's access and increasing the survival rate of the graft or fistula. A protocol to evaluate the vascular accesses at the dialysis centers where our patients are dialyzing was implemented. The patients are evaluated before their dialysis treatments, every 2 months if they have a graft and every other visit (4 months) if they have a fistula. New patients will be evaluated every visit by the vascular technician. The protocol (US Vascular Access Protocol) also has attention parameters and depth considerations. The attention parameters refers to blood flows and reductions in size. For example, for a fistula, a normal flow will be 400 mL/min or above, an alert value will be 390 mL/min or below, and a reduction in size of 1.9 mm or below will also be an alert value for the fistula (Table I). Depth considerations relate to how deep the access is, for example 2–3 mm is ideal to cannulate, 8 mm and above make cannulation impossible (Table II). Patients with vascular problems are then referred to the vascular surgeon or, as mostly, are referred to interventional radiology. We have found that these Doppler reports are very accurate, and after almost a year, doing these tests at the dialysis center, many accesses have been saved, and dialysis quality has improved in those patients by resolving issues causing re‐circulation, stenosis, etc. In conclusion, we need to continue evaluating this program, but the preliminary reports show that by using the Doppler studies prophylactically, dialysis accesses can be saved or their use prolonged, thereby saving costs and reducing the need for future sites for the patient. And, in some cases, improving dialysis adequacy.

Attention parameters

Normal values
Alert values

Fistula

Access volume flow (mL/min)
≥400
0–390

Reductions (mm)
≥2.0
0–1.9

Graft

Access volume flow (mL/min)
≥600
0–590

Reductions (%)
0–49
50–100

Depth considerations

2–3 mm
Ideal and easy to cannulate

4–5 mm
Is acceptable

6–7 mm
Increases difficulty of cannulation and increases vessel wall damage

≥8 mm
Makes cannulation difficult‐to‐impossible, causes significant wall damage and infiltrations, requires longer cannula