bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Moving in two worlds: aquatic and terrestrial locomotion in sea snakes (Laticauda colubrina, Laticaudidae)
Authors: Shine R. , Shetty S. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Yellow-lipped sea kraits (Laticauda colubrina) are amphibious in their habits. We measured their locomotor speeds in water and on land to investigate two topics: (1) to what degree have adaptations to increase swimming speed (paddle-like tail etc.) reduced terrestrial locomotor ability in sea kraits?; and (2) do a sea krait’s sex and body size influence its locomotor ability in these two habitats, as might be expected from the fact that different age and sex classes of sea kraits use the marine and terrestrial environments in different ways? To estimate ancestral states for locomotor performance, we measured speeds of three species of Australian terrestrial elapids that spend part of their time foraging in water. The evolutionary modifications of Laticauda for marine life have enhanced their swimming speeds by about 60%, but decreased their terrestrial locomotor speed by about 80%. Larger snakes moved faster than smaller individuals in absolute terms but were slower in terms of body lengths travelled per second, especially on land. Male sea kraits were faster than females (independent of the body-size effect), especially on land. Prey items in the gut reduced locomotor speeds both on land and in water. Proteroglyphous snakes may offer exceptional opportunities to study phylogenetic shifts in locomotor ability, because (1) they display multiple independent evolutionary shifts from terrestrial to aquatic habits, and (2) one proteroglyph lineage (the laticaudids) displays considerable intraspecific and interspecific diversity in terms of the degree to which they use terrestrial vs. aquatic habitats.
Analysis of asymmetries in the African fruit bats Eidolon helvum and Rousettus egyptiacus (Mammalia: Megachiroptera) from the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. I. Variance and size components of bilateral variation
Authors: Juste J. , López-González C. , Strauss R. E. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
A set of cranial characters was examined in the fruit bats Rousettus egyptiacus and Eidolon helvum to compare trends and relative importance of major components of bilateral morphometric variation, and their relationship with character size. Using two-way, sides-by-individuals ANOVA, four components of variation were estimated for each bilateral variable: individual variation (I), directional asymmetry (DA), non-directional asymmetry (NDA) and measurement error (E). Both species exhibit similar major trends of variation in asymmetry across characters, as shown by principal component analysis, using variance components as variables. Degree of interspecific congruence among characters was confirmed by a two-way ANOVA with species and variance components as fixed factors. Congruence of asymmetry patterns between species suggests that the concept of population asymmetry parameter (PAP) could be extended to higher hierarchies. PAPs above the species level may result from common mechanisms or similar developmental constraints acting on species’ buffering capacities and morphological integration processes.
Molecular data suggest a hybrid origin for the invasiveCaulerpa racemosa(Caulerpales, Chlorophyta) in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Durand C. , Manuel M. , Boudouresque C. F. , Meinesz A. , Verlaque M. , Le Parco Y. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractMorphological data has provided a basis for the hypothesis that three taxa belonging to the Caulerpa racemosa complex occur in the Mediterranean Sea: var. turbinata–uvifera, var. lamourouxi, and the `invasive variety'. In order to test this hypothesis and to determine the origin of the `invasive variety', the transcribed spacer ITS1–ITS2 and an 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) intron were analysed from 16 isolates of Caulerpa racemosa. The `invasive variety' shows intraindividual polymorphism for both types of sequences. The ITS1–ITS2 data confirm that the three morphological varieties of C. racemosa from the Mediterranean Sea are distinct taxonomic units. The 18S intron data suggest that the new `invasive variety' could be a recent hybrid between var. turbinata–uvifera and an unknown tropical strain. Incongruence between the phylogenetic tree computed from ITS1–ITS2 regions and the 18S intron indicates that homogenization processes of concerted evolution have run at different rates.
Optimal diving behaviour for foraging in relation to body size
Authors: Mori Y. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
Overall, large animals dive longer and deeper than small animals; however, after the difference in body size is taken into account, smaller divers often tend to make relatively longer dives. Neither physiological nor theoretical explanations have been provided for this paradox. This paper develops an optimal foraging diving model to demonstrate the effect of body size on diving behaviour, and discusses optimal diving behaviour in relation to body size. The general features of the results are: (1) smaller divers should rely more heavily on anaerobic respiration, (2) larger divers should not always make longer dives than smaller divers, and (3) an optimal body size exists for each diving depth. These results explain the relatively greater diving ability observed in smaller divers, and suggest that if the vertical distribution of prey in the water column is patchy, there is opportunity for a population of diving animals to occupy habitat niches related to body size.
Genetic variation for sexual dimorphism in flower size within and between populations of gynodioecious Thymus vulgaris
Authors: Thompson J. D. , Rolland A.-G. , Prugnolle F. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract
There has been very little empirical study of quantitative genetic variation in flower size in sexually dimorphic plant species, despite the frequent occurrence of flower size differences between sexual phenotypes. In this study we quantify the nature of quantitative flower size variation in females and hermaphrodites of gynodioecious Thymus vulgaris. In a field study, females had significantly smaller flowers than hermaphrodites, and the degree of flower size dimorphism varied significantly among populations. To quantify the genetic basis of flower size variation we sampled maternal progeny from 10 F0 females in three populations (across the range of variation in flower size in the field), performed controlled crosses on F1 offspring in the glasshouse and grew F2 progeny to flowering in uniform field conditions. A significant population * sex interaction was again observed, hence the degree of sexual dimorphism shows genetic variation among populations. A significant family * sex interaction was also observed, indicating that the degree of sexual dimorphism shows genetic variation among families. Females showed significantly greater variation among populations and among families than hermaphrodites. Female flower size varied significantly depending on the degree of stamen abortion, with morphologically intermediate females having flowers more similar to hermaphrodites than to other females. The frequency of female types that differ in the degree of stamen abortion varied among populations and families and mean family female flower size increased as the proportion of intermediate female types increased across families. Variation in the degree of flower size dimorphism thus appears to be a result of variation in the degree of stamen abortion in females, the potential causes of which are discussed.
Preoperative autologous blood donation by elderly patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Gandini G. , Franchini M. , De Gironcoli M. , Giuffrida A. , Bertuzzo D. , Zanolla L. , Ferro I. , Regis D. , Aprili G. 
Published: March 2003

Background and ObjectivesTo assess the feasibility of a programme of predeposit in elderly patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively studied 789 elderly patient candidates (> 65 years of age) for orthopaedic surgery (total hip and knee replacement and spinal surgery), who were undergoing a programme of preoperative autologous blood donation (PABD) in our city hospital between January 1990 and December 1998.ResultsSix hundred and eighty‐eight patients (87·2%) were transfused with autologous blood; 128 (16·2%) also received allogeneic blood. Hip arthroplasty revision was characterized by the greatest blood consumption. The predeposit programme was discontinued in 96 patients (12·2%) because of the following complications: the onset of anaemia (11·0%); vasovagal reactions (0·5%); lack of venous access (0·4%); or cardiac complications (0·2%). No episodes of reaction to autologous transfusion were recorded.ConclusionsOur study confirms the feasibility of PABD in elderly patients undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery.
Variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease in Australian blood donors: estimation of risk and the impact of deferral strategies
Authors: Correll P. K. , Law M. G. , Seed C. R. , Gust A. , Buring M. , Dax E. M. , Keller A. J. , Kaldor J. M. 
Published: March 2003

Background and ObjectivesIn Australia, a policy of deferring donors who have lived in the UK for longer than 6 months between 1980 and 1996 has been instituted to reduce the theoretical risk of transmitting variant Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (vCJD) through the blood supply. The objective of this report was to refine estimates of the possible risks and benefits of donor‐deferral strategies that are aimed at avoiding transmission of vCJD.Materials and MethodsEstimates of the effect of donor deferral on the blood supply in Australia were based on a 1998 survey of blood donors. The number of donations from donors potentially infected with vCJD and excluded by donor deferral was estimated based on published estimates of the size of the vCJD epidemic in the UK and assuming that the risk of vCJD in Australian blood donors was proportional to the time lived in the UK between 1980 and 1996. The possible increased number of blood donations that were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) and made during a window period (as a result of increased donations from first‐time donors) was estimated using published methods.ResultsA strategy of deferring donations in Australia from people who have lived in the UK for 6 months or longer, between 1980 and 1996, was estimated to result in exclusion of 5·3% of all blood donations, corresponding to 50 100 donations in 1998. It was estimated that the annual number of blood donations made by donors potentially infected with vCJD is 1·15 (range 0·02–31·1, based on the uncertainty in the UK prevalence estimate). Donor deferral was estimated to remove 0·92 (range 0·02–25·1) of these donations. Replacement of 33%, 50% and 100% of excluded donations by donations from first‐time donors, was estimated to result in an increase of 0·0010, 0·0019 and 0·0044, respectively, of HIV‐infected donations per year donated during the window period; in an increase of 0·021, 0·038 and 0·089, respectively, of HCV‐infected donations per year; and in an increase of 0·18, 0·33 and 0·76, respectively, of HBV‐infected donations per year.ConclusionsThe large uncertainties involved in these analyses mean that estimates must be interpreted cautiously, but the data does suggest that donor deferral may exclude more donations from donors potentially infected with vCJD than the corresponding increase, caused by donor replacement, of window‐period donations possibly infected with HIV, HCV or HBV.
Cellular immune response to autologous blood transfusion in hip arthroplasty: whole blood versus buffy coat‐poor packed red cells and fresh‐frozen plasma
Authors: Frietsch T. , Krombholz K. , Tolksdorf B. , Nebe T. , Segiet W. , Lorentz A. 
Published: March 2003

Background and ObjectivesTransfusion‐induced immunomodulation by autologous blood is probably related to the buffy coat. Hence, in the present study, phagocytotic and oxidation activities of peripheral blood cells were investigated in hip arthroplasty patients exposed to autologous blood.Materials and MethodsBlood from 60 autologous donors was allocated at random to storage as whole blood (WB) or as buffy coat‐poor packed red cells and fresh‐frozen plasma (RCP). Phagocytotic and oxidation activities of neutrophils and monocytes, incidence of infections and length of hospital stay were compared among the groups of transfused (WB and RCP) and non‐transfused (NT) patients.ResultsPhagocytotic activities of neutrophils and monocytes were not significantly different among the WB, RCP and NT groups.ConclusionIn the perioperative setting, a specific cellular immune response to autologous transfusion is not detectable.
Supernatants of stored polymorphonuclear neutrophils exhibit growth‐promoting activity in several cell lines: perforin expression in polymorphonuclear neutrophils and its role in down‐regulation of growth‐promoting activity
Authors: Nishimura M. , Mitsunaga S. , Juji T. 
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play important roles in the host immune defence. This study was performed to identify roles of PMNs other than those already known.Materials and Methods PMNs were separated from the peripheral blood of healthy individuals and stored in vitro for 24 h in the presence or absence of an anti‐human Fc receptor (FcR) γ III antibody, namely, anti‐CD16 monoclonal antibody (mAb). Stored supernatants were harvested and incubated with several leukaemia and transformed cell lines for 48 h. The increase in growth rate was assessed by the increase in the amount of 3H‐thymidine incorporated into these cells. Expression of perforin on PMNs, which is thought to decrease cell viability, was elucidated by flow cytometry (FCM) analysis. The presence of perforin in the stored supernatants was determined using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A serine protease inhibitor, which is known to block the effect of perforin, was added to the cultures of several leukaemia and transformed cell lines to confirm the effect of perforin in reducing cell viability.Results Growth promotion of some cell lines cultured with the stored supernatants of PMNs was observed both in the presence and absence of anti‐CD16 mAb, which was used as a trigger molecule of PMNs. This was particularly notable in the case of Raji and Daudi (both Burkitt lymphoma) cell lines and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)‐transformed B‐lymphoblastoid cell lines (B‐LCLs) derived from healthy individuals. Perforin expression was observed in both freshly prepared and stored PMNs, regardless of the presence or absence of anti‐CD16 mAb. ELISA also detected perforin in the stored supernatants in both the presence and absence of anti‐CD16 mAb. The increase in growth rate was induced in the presence of not only a serine protease inhibitor but also an anti‐perforin mAb.Conclusions Stored supernatants of PMNs exhibit up‐regulation of cell growth in several cell lines; this up‐regulation is particularly prominent in B‐lineage cell lines. Furthermore, perforin appeared to be expressed on PMNs constitutively and secreted into the extracellular fluid. Results of this study strongly suggest that the growth‐promoting activity in supernatants of stored PMNs is partially inhibited by perforin, which is thought to be produced by PMNs themselves.
Automated screening of blood donations for hepatitis C virus RNA using the Qiagen BioRobot 9604 and the Roche COBAS HCV Amplicor assay
Authors: Grant P. R. , Sims C. M. , Krieg‐Schneider F. , Love E. M. , Eglin R. , Tedder R. S. 
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives In order to reduce the potential for transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from an RNA‐positive, anti‐HCV‐negative blood donation, the National Blood Service (NBS) introduced nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) testing for HCV in England and Wales. The objective of this study was to develop an automated assay using commercial components for the detection of HCV RNA in blood donations for transfusion.Materials and Methods The Qiagen QIAamp 96 ‘Viral RNA’ and ‘Virus’ BioRobot kits for HCV RNA extraction, and the Roche COBAS HCV Amplicor v2·0 and AmpliScreen v2·0 assays for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and detection, were investigated.Results QIAamp technology and the BioRobot 9604 allow automation of the viral RNA extraction process. By combining the automated silica‐membrane based QIAamp 96 Virus extraction and automated reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) set‐up with COBAS HCV AmpliScreen v2·0 amplification and detection it is possible to achieve a 95% detection level for HCV of 12·8 IU/ml. Cross‐contamination studies have shown that use of the BioRobot 9604 does not pose a detectable contamination risk. Between 1999 and 2001, ≈ 6·8 × 106 donations were tested in England and Wales, of which only four were found to contain RNA without anti‐HCV.Conclusions This combination of methods results in an assay with a high sample throughput, little ‘hands‐on’ time and fast turnaround time that is also sufficiently sensitive to allow testing of pools of up to 96 samples at a time. These methods have been successfully introduced into routine use within the NBS for release of blood components with a shelf‐life of longer than 24 h.
Transfusion‐transmitted hepatitis B virus infection in the UK: a small and moving target
Authors: Soldan K. , Barbara J. A. J. , Dow B. C. 
Published: March 2003

Background and ObjectivesTransfusion‐transmitted hepatitis B virus (TT‐HBV) infections, when analysed in detail provide information about the nature and relative frequency of the sources of infectious donations. These cases are therefore used to inform blood safety strategies. This study updates previous reviews of the causes of TT‐HBV in order to determine whether a change may have occurred in recent years.Materials and MethodsCases of TT‐HBV reported during 1998–2001 were reviewed and the nature of the infectious donations described. These cases were compared to a previously published case series reported during 1991–97.ResultsSix cases of TT‐HBV have been reported in the UK between 1998 and 2001. All were the result of infectious donations collected from donors with acute HBV infection. This is in contrast to the series reported during 1991–97 when only three of 14 similar cases were caused by acute infections in donors, with the majority of incidents being the result of chronic infection in donors.ConclusionsThere appears to have been a change in the relative importance of acute and chronic HBV infection in blood donors in causing TT‐HBV infections. Improvements in the sensitivity of HBsAg assays and/or a decrease in the prevalence of chronic HBV infection in blood donors could explain this observation. This change may have implications for strategies to reduce the risk of TT‐HBV infection.
Nucleic acid technology screening of Australian blood donors for hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus‐1 RNA: comparison of two high‐throughput testing strategies
Authors: Mison L. , Seed C. R. , Margaritis A. R. , Hyland C. ,   the ARCBS NAT Study Group
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the performance of two high‐throughput strategies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus‐1 (HIV‐1) RNA nucleic acid technology (NAT) screening in a volunteer blood‐donor population.Materials and Methods The semiautomated Chiron Procleix HIV‐1/HCV transcription mediated amplification (TMA) assay was used to screen 1 439 765 donations in two different testing configurations. Three sites (termed PDT sites) performed a mixture of individual donation (ID) and minipool (MP) testing, where 1 113 288 donations were screened as pools of 24 and an additional 32 003 donations were screened in ID format. A further two sites (termed SDT sites) screened 294 474 donations exclusively in ID format.Results A significantly higher proportion of initial NAT reactives that failed to react on follow‐up testing [termed non‐repeatably reactive (NRR)] was observed for ID testing at SDT sites than at PDT sites (0·082 vs. 0·047%: P < 0·01). Within the PDT sites, however, there was no significant difference between the NRR rate for MP or ID samples (0·037 vs. 0·047%; not significant). There was a significant difference in failed run rates between PDT and SDT sites (P < 0·01), with PDT sites having a higher run failure rate owing to non‐amplification of the internal control. The PDT sites also had a significantly higher overall invalid sample rate. However, the invalid sample rate, specifically caused by known equipment failure, was significantly higher in the SDT sites, possibly attributable to greater usage (P < 0·0001). Four HCV NAT‐positive/antibody‐negative samples were identified in the course of the study.Conclusions The comparison of the performance of PDT with SDT sites identified only minor differences that did not adversely impact on the timely release of blood products. Although both ID and MP strategies showed excellent specificity, irrespective of site configuration, the significantly increased NRR rate, observed exclusively for ID testing performed at SDT sites, indicates a potential for contamination that may limit the number of samples that can optimally be processed using ID testing. The performance data for ID testing in particular should serve as a useful benchmark for evaluating candidate NAT systems that are fully automated.
The role of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and the sphingosine pathway in sepsis‐induced myocardial dysfunction
Authors: Costello Merilee F. , Otto Cynthia M. , Rubin Leona J. 
Published: March 2003

AbstractObjective: Myocardial dysfunction has been shown to play a major role in the mortality associated with sepsis. Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) has been implicated as a key factor in this dysfunction, and the sphingomyelin pathway is a membrane‐signaling pathway by which TNF‐α exerts many of its negative inotropic effects. The purpose of this manuscript is to review the physiology of TNF‐α and sphingosine, etiology of increased levels of myocardial TNF‐α and sphingosine, as well as the effects of these increased levels on the myocardium. In addition, both in vivo and in vitro studies looking at the effects of blocking TNF‐α will be presented.Data sources: Data sources included scientific reviews and original research publications.Human data synthesis: It is well documented that levels of TNF‐α are elevated in many human patients with sepsis. However, clinical trials evaluating the effects of blocking TNF‐α have not shown a statistically significant decrease in the mortality of sepsis.Veterinary data synthesis: No clinical research has been performed on TNF‐α and myocardial dysfunction in veterinary medicine, although many of the research models may be relevant to our patient population. In these models, myocardial TNF‐α and sphingosine are elevated in sepsis. Treatment of experimental animals with TNF‐α antibodies has shown variable results, while blockage of sphingosine has been shown to completely reverse the myocardial effects of increased TNF‐α.Conclusions: Tumor necrosis factor‐α and the sphingomyelin pathway are an important part of the myocardial compromise that accompanies sepsis. Further research into these pathways may provide new understandings and treatment options for veterinary patients.