bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abundance–range size relationships of macrolepidoptera in Britain: the effects of taxonomy and life history variables
Authors: QUINN RACHEL , GASTON KEVIN , BLACKBURN TIM , EVERSHAM BRIAN 
Published: December 2004

1. A positive relationship between the local abundances and regional distributions of species in an assemblage has been observed for a wide variety of taxa, but its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.2. Taxonomically controlled analyses of a group of the British macrolepidoptera (moths) find a strong, abundance–range size relationship.3. Degree of polyphagy and habitat generalism explain significant within‐taxon variation in both range size and abundance, with polyphages and habitat generalists having larger ranges and greater local abundances than specialists.4. Taxa that feed in niches considered to be associated with a high diversity of parasitoids have significantly smaller range sizes than other taxa.5. With the possible exception of body size, none of the life history variables examined explain significant variation around the range size–abundance relationship.
Asymmetric competition between larvae of the blowflies Calliphora vicina and Lucilia sericata in carrion
Authors: SMITH K. E. , WALL R. 
Published: December 2004

1. The relative abundance of the blowflies Calliphora vicina (R.‐D.) and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) in carrion was considered in relation to inter‐ and intraspecific larval competition and the distribution of adults between habitat types.2. In mixed and pure laboratory cultures of L. sericata and C. vicina the mortality of both species increased and adult size declined as the initial larval number was increased. However, for L. sericata at initial numbers greater than ten larvae/g of liver, the effects of competition on adult size and mortality were greater in the mixed cultures than in the pure cultures. In contrast, for C. vicina at numbers greater than ten larvae/g of liver, the effects of competition on adult size and mortality were greater in the pure cultures than in the mixed cultures.3. The laboratory data suggest therefore that for L. sericata the effects of interspecific competition with C. vicina on size and mortality were greater than the effects of intraspecific competition in a pure culture at the same initial number. Notably, however, the intensity of interspecific competition was not sufficiently asymmetric to allow C. vicina to exclude L. sericata even at the highest numbers examined.4. In the field, higher numbers of adult L. sericata emerged from the carcasses of laboratory mice placed in open pasture than in woodland or hedgerow sites. In contrast, higher numbers of C. vicina emerged from carcasses placed in woodland and hedgerow sites.5. Trapping showed that in the field adult L. sericata were relatively more abundant in open pasture than in woodland and hedgerow sites, while C. vicina were more abundant in woodland and hedgerow sites than in open pasture.6. It is concluded that the low numbers of L. sericata that emerge from carrion relative to the numbers of C. vicina may, in part, be the result of asymmetric interspecific competition, but that the uneven distribution of adults of the two species among habitat types also plays a major role in shaping the blowfly community in carrion.
Phenotypic plasticity in hoverflies: the relationship between colour pattern and season in Episyrphus balteatus and other Syrphidae
Authors: HOLLOWAY GRAHAM , MARRIOTT CLIFF , CROCKER  
Published: December 2004

1. The abdominal colour patterns of some multivoltine species of hoverfly are phenotypically plastic and change through the flying season.2. It was predicted how the abdominal colour pattern of one species, Episyrphus balteatus, should change in the field with season based on a hypothesis that the pattern influences the thermoregulatory capabilities of the animal. The colour patterns were quantified using image analysis. The observed changes in the colour pattern through the year supported the thermoregulation hypothesis.3. A further three Metasyrphus species were analysed similarly to allow a comparative study of the forms of the plasticities of the above four species and four Eristalis species from a previous study.4. Whilst it was clear that the abdominal colour patterns of many of the species were plastic, it was also apparent that not all species used the same developmental pathway to control the seasonal colour pattern changes. This suggests convergent evolution towards a general type of plasticity and that abdominal colour pattern plasticity in hoverflies is functional.
Parasitism and ant protection alter the survival of the lycaenid Hemiargus isola
Authors: Weeks Jennifer A. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract. 1. Although the majority of lycaenid–ant associations is facultative, few studies have documented the protection benefits provided by ants to lycaenids that are tended facultatively (Pierce & Easteal, 1986; Peterson, 1993).2. Larvae of Hemiargus isola (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) feeding on Dalea albiflora are tended facultatively by several species of ant. In 1999 and 2000, the levels of parasitism and the identities of attendant ants were determined for larvae of H. isola. In addition, the presence of ants was manipulated experimentally to determine the efficacy of protection provided by attendant ants to H. isola.3. Lycaenids were parasitised by a braconid wasp, Cotesia cyaniridis (Riley), and a tachinid fly, Aplomya theclarum (Scudder). In 1999 and 2000, 62 and 65% of larvae were parasitised; the percentage of the population parasitised did not differ significantly between years. In both 1999 and 2000, parasitism by the braconid wasp C. cyaniridis accounted for > 99% of all parasitism events.4. Four species of ant, Crematogaster sp., Dorymyrmex sp., Forelius sp., and Formica sp., were associated with 88–99% of the tended lycaenids collected in both 1999 and 2000. For both years, there was a single, numerically dominant species associated with >80% of the tended larvae collected, but the identity of this numerically dominant ant differed between years.5. Experimental exclusion of ants from D. albiflora plants resulted in 78% larval mortality as a result of parasitism, nearly twice that of larvae that were tended by ants on unmanipulated plants.
Movement of two grassland butterflies in the same habitat network: the role of adult resources and size of the study area
Authors: Schneider Christine , Dover John , Fry Gary L. A. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.1.  Movement patterns of two butterfly species (meadow brownManiola jurtinaL. and scarce copperLycaenae virgaureaeL.) were studied in a 172 ha area within a landscape with a high percentage of suitable habitats for mark–release–recapture experiments.2.  Adult resource density, but not patch size or larval food plant abundance, influenced the numbers and the fractions of residents, emigrants, and immigrants.3.  Differences between species were observed in movement frequency and maximum distances moved but not in mean distances moved.4.  The scarce copper showed much greater movement ability than expected from the results of published studies. This is believed to be a result of the comparatively large size of the study area and the high cover of suitable habitat (>50%).5.  The mean and maximum distances travelled by butterflies reflected differences in the size of the study area.
Geographical variation in egg cold hardiness: a study on the adaptation strategies of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria L.
Authors: Jing Xiao‐Hong , Kang Le 
Published: December 2004

Abstract. 1. For many species of insect, cold hardiness is an important trait that enables a population to develop in the next season and to extend its range. To elucidate the role of cold hardiness of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria L. in its outbreak and distribution areas, egg cold hardiness was examined in locusts derived from four locations from latitude 18°23′N to latitude 41°10′N in eastern China.2. The supercooling points of eggs from different geographic populations did not differ significantly for the first development stage, with an average ± SE of −24.5 ± 0.51 °C, or for the second stage, −22.06 ± 0.68 °C, however there was a significant difference for the embryonic development phase among the four geographical populations. The egg supercooling point increased gradually from neonatal egg to old egg; eggs prior to hatching always had a much higher supercooling point.3. Comparisons of the cold hardiness of four populations were carried out by validating the close correlation between latitude and the effects of cold on hatching, low lethal temperature (Ltemp50), and low lethal time (Ltime50). There were significant differences among the four populations; the northern population was more cold hardy than the southern population, and the two mid‐latitude populations were intermediately cold hardy.4. The cold hardiness of all populations was enhanced to various degrees by short‐term cold acclimation at 0 °C and 5 °C. For most populations, a 2‐day acclimation period seemed to be optimal.
Ecological interactions among ants in the genus Linepithema, their phorid parasitoids, and ant competitors
Authors: Orr Matthew R. , Dahlsten Donald L. , Benson Woodruff W. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract. 1. Many ant species abandon foraging and retreat underground when parasitoids in the dipteran family Phoridae are present. Although the influence of phorids on ant foraging is well documented, their influence on interspecific competition is less studied. This study examined whether phorids influenced the competitive ability of host ants in the genus Linepithema at two sites in Brazil.2. The phorid Pseudacteon lontrae attacked Linepithema piliferum at one site, while the phorid Pseudacteon pusillus attacked an unknown Linepithema (Linepithema sp.) at the other site. Phorid parasitoids of Linepithema were far more common than phorids of other ant species.3. Despite a high abundance of phorids, it was difficult to conclude that they influenced competition. Captures in pitfall traps indicated that host Linepithema were most active during times of day when phorids were inactive.4. Camponotus rufipes and Brachymyrmex sp., the most common competitors of Linepithema sp. (60% of all interactions), dominated Linepithema sp. during the day regardless of phorids. Remaining ant species could not be evaluated individually because they interacted with Linepithema sp. infrequently.5. Ectatomma brunneum was the most common competitor of L. piliferum (58% of all interactions). The high abundance of phorids at this site made it impossible to evaluate interactions between E. brunneum and L. piliferum in the absence of phorids.6. Phorids seldom influenced exploitative competition by causing host Linepithema to abandon the bait when no ant competitors were present.
Electropyhsiological assessment of the afferent sensory pathway in cardiac arrest survivors
Authors: Bauer E. , Funk G.‐C. , Gendo A. , Kramer L. , Zauner C. , Sterz F. , Schneider B. , Madl C. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage in cardiac arrest survivors is global, but postmortem histology could identify parts of the brain that are selectively vulnerable to ischaemia, comprising the thalamus and cortex. We hypothesized that hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage increases along the afferent sensory pathway with a stepwise decrease of detectable somatosensory evoked potential peaks.Methods Somatosensory evoked potentials were recorded within 72 h after cardiac arrest in 305 comatose patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We measured the short latency SEP peaks N9, P15, N20, P25 (reflecting the peripheral‐thalamo‐cortical pathway) and the long latency SEP peaks N35 and N70 (reflecting complex cortico–cortical interactions). Patients with a Cerebral Performance Category score > 2 at 1 year were defined as patients with hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage.Results Patients with hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage (n = 232) showed a statistically significant decrease of detectable peaks (P < 0·05) along the thalamo‐cortical afferent pathway: N13, P15, N20, P25 and N70 peaks were detectable in 99%, 63%, 59%, 55% and 44% patients, respectively. In patients without hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage (n = 73) the N13, P15, N20, P25 peaks were detectable in all, and the N35 and N70 peaks in 98%. Furthermore, in patients with hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage and detectable SEP peaks, P15, N20, P25, N35 and N70, peak latencies were prolonged (P < 0·05) and N20 and N70 amplitudes were decreased (P < 0·05) compared with patients without hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage.Conclusion Extent of hypoxic‐ischaemic brain damage in cardiac arrest survivors increases along the afferent sensory pathway, with pronounced vulnerability of thalamic and cortical brain regions.
Homocysteine‐lowering treatment with folic acid plus vitamin B6 lowers urinary albumin excretion but not plasma markers of endothelial function or C‐reactive protein: further analysis of secondary end‐points of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Vermeulen E. G. J. , Rauwerda J. A. , Van Den Berg M. , De Jong S. C. , Schalkwijk C. , Twisk J. W. R. , Stehouwer C. D. A. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and is thought to induce its effects through causing endothelial dysfunction. We studied the effect of homocysteine‐lowering treatment with folic acid plus vitamin B6 on urinary and plasma markers of endothelial function, and on plasma C‐reactive protein, a marker of chronic inflammation.Design We performed a placebo‐controlled 2‐year trial among 158 healthy siblings of patients with premature atherosclerotic disease to determine the effect of daily folic acid (5 mg) plus vitamin B6 (250 mg) treatment as compared with placebo medication (n = 80) on markers of endothelial function (urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio and plasma concentrations of soluble E‐selectin, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1, von Willebrand factor, tissue‐type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1) and inflammation (C‐reactive protein). Outcome variables were assessed at baseline and after 1 and 2 years of treatment.Results Fasting homocysteine concentrations (µmol L−1) at baseline and after treatment were 14·7 ± 8·2 and 7·4 ± 1·9 in the vitamin and 14·7 ± 8·8 and 12·0 ± 5·4 for the placebo group, respectively. Vitamin treatment was associated with a decreased urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio at follow up [regression coefficient (β) –0·20 mg mmol−1 (CI: −0·43–0·03); P = 0·09]. After adjustment for age, sex, baseline concentrations of postmethionine total homocysteine plus the baseline albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio, the β was –0·23 mg mmol−1 (CI: –0·43 to –0·02; P = 0·03), which amounts to a decrease of approximately 20%. There was no apparent effect of vitamin treatment on the other markers.Conclusions Homocysteine‐lowering vitamin treatment in healthy siblings of patients with premature atherosclerotic disease is associated with a decreased urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio, but not with other markers of endothelial dysfunction, or in plasma C‐reactive protein. The clinical significance of these findings remains to be determined.
Body mass index is the main risk factor for arterial hypertension in young subjects without major comorbidity
Authors: Lukas Arno , Kumbein Friedrich , Temml Christian , Mayer Bernd , Oberbauer Rainer 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Analytical statistics revealed a variety of risk factors for hypertension, but the complex interplay between different factors remains to be determined by more powerful statistical techniques.Methods Analytical as well as new, explorative statistical methods such as natural segmentation (k‐means) and predictive modelling algorithms (C4·5) were used to classify the interactions of the individual risk factors for arterial hypertension in a large cohort of subjects. Fifty‐five attributes (subject base, sociodemographic, medical history, laboratory data) were obtained from each of the 3547 participants of a community‐based health survey. The study subjects, mean age of 41 years, were free of major comorbidity.Results Twenty‐five percent of the subjects had at least stage 1 hypertension. No clear linear dependency of risk factors with the diagnosis hypertension could be derived by the analytical statistics. In particular, the mutual amplification of different risk factors towards hypertension could not be revealed by these techniques. Explorative analytics however, uncovered body mass index (BMI) as the main single risk factor associated with hypertension. High predictive accuracy was achieved when combinations of certain risk factors including male gender and age were used.Conclusions In summary, the survey of risk factors for hypertension using explorative analytics yielded high increases for the correct prediction of arterial hypertension. In this cohort, BMI was the single strongest parameter associated with arterial hypertension.
Endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitors and renal perfusion in patients with heart failure
Authors: Kielstein J. T. , Bode‐Böger S. M. , Klein G. , Graf S. , Haller H. , Fliser D. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground Patients with heart failure are characterized by impaired nitric oxide‐dependent endothelial vasodilation and, in addition, by reduced renal perfusion.Design We assessed blood concentrations of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as well as renal haemodynamics to compare normotensive patients with mild heart failure (n = 12, seven males, 70 ± 1 years, 72·0 ± 2·7 kg, 92 ± 2 mmHg, NYHA I/II) and healthy subjects matched with respect to gender, age and body weight (n = 12, seven males, 69 ± 2 years, 72·7 ± 2·5 kg, 88 ± 2 mmHg).Results Plasma ADMA concentration and renovascular resistance (RVR) were significantly higher (P < 0·01) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) significantly lower (P < 0·01) in the patients with heart failure (ADMA 4·18 ± 0·42 µmol L−1, RVR 159 ± 12 mmHg mL−1 min−1, ERPF 381 ± 26 mL min−1 1·73 m−2) as compared with the healthy controls (ADMA 2·38 ± 0·11 µmol L−1, RVR 117 ± 8 mmHg mL−1 min−1, ERPF 496 ± 19 mL min−1 1·73 m−2). In contrast, plasma concentrations of l‐arginine, homocysteine, symmetric dimethylarginine (i.e. the biologically inactive stereoisomer of ADMA) and plasma renin activity were not significantly different in both groups studied. In the multiple regression analysis, only plasma ADMA concentrations independently predicted reduced ERPF (r = −0·57; P < 0·003).Conclusions In normotensive patients with heart failure plasma ADMA concentrations are markedly increased and related to reduced renal perfusion. Thus accumulation of this endogenous nitric oxide inhibitor may play a role in renal pathology in these patients.
Tumor vascularity and tryptase‐positive mast cells correlate with a poor prognosis in melanoma
Authors: Ribatti D. , Ennas M. G. , Vacca A. , Ferreli F. , Nico B. , Orru S. , Sirigu P. 
Published: December 2004

See commentary on page 361.AbstractBackground The importance of angiogenesis in melanoma has been controversial and is not homogeneous. Mast cell density (MCD) is highly correlated with the extent of both normal and pathological angiogenesis, such as that in chronic inflammatory diseases and tumours.Methods We evaluated the prognostic significance of tumour microvascular density (MVD) and MCD in 25 advanced melanoma patients after resection and a 4–5‐year follow up: 48% of the patients were alive and free of metastases (good prognostic subgroup); 16% had developed regional nodal metastases (intermediate prognostic subgroup); and 36% had died (poor prognostic subgroup). Tissues samples were investigated immunohistochemically to count microvessels and mast cells with an antifactor VIII and an antitryptase antibody, respectively.Results Immunohistological staining showed a higher number of microvessels and mast cells in melanoma lesions of poor prognosis as compared with intermediate prognosis and with good prognosis, respectively.Conclusions These data agree with those showing a close relationship between MCD and angiogenesis during tumour progression and demonstrate, for the first time, a prognostic significance of MCD in human melanoma.
Postprandial triglycerides in response to high fat: role of dietary carbohydrate
Authors: Kriketos A. D. , Sam W. , Schubert T. , Maclean E. , Campbell L. V. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractBackground The postprandial triglyceride response following a meal high in fat (HFM) has been related to atherogenesis and insulin resistance. We examined the influence of dietary carbohydrate and the accompanying insulin secretory response on the postprandial triglyceride response following a HFM.Materials and design High‐fat meals of equal fat content (fat 80 g) containing either 20 g (low) or 100 g (high) of carbohydrate (HFM‐LC and HFM‐HC, respectively), and therefore not isocaloric (4250 kJ of HFM‐LC and 5450 kJ of HFM‐HC), were consumed by seven (four male, three female) normolipidaemic subjects (aged 32·9 ± 3·7 years, BMI 24·7 ± 1·8 kg m−2). Blood and indirect calorimetry data were collected at 0–4 h.Results HFM‐HC produced a significant rise in plasma glucose (Δ0·54 ± 0·23 mmol L−1, P = 0·05) at 2 h, while a HFM‐LC elicited no mean change from baseline. Following a HFM‐LC, the plasma insulin incremental area under the curve (AUC) was significantly lower (31·3 ± 6·7 vs. 83·2 ± 11·9 mU l−1 h−1, P < 0·0003) and the postprandial triglyceride response AUC was significantly greater (1·66 ± 0·36 vs. 1·24 ± 0·31 mmol L−1 h−1, P < 0·006) compared with a HFM‐HC. Plasma free fatty acids were suppressed by 44% (P = 0·04) and 66% (P < 0·0001) at 1 h following HFM‐LC and HFM‐HC, respectively, compared with baseline. There were no significant differences between the meals in energy expenditure, substrate oxidation rates, or respiratory quotient responses.Conclusions By design, the HFMs were not isocaloric but the presence of carbohydrate in a HFM invoked an insulin response that significantly reduced the 4 h postprandial triglyceride response even in healthy, normolipidaemic subjects. This phenomenon may have clinical implications, particularly in relation to insulin sensitivity.
Serial monitoring of immunological parameters following human hand transplant
Authors: Zheng Xiao‐Fei , Pei Guo‐Xian , Qiu Yu‐Rong , Zhu Li‐Jun , Gu Li‐Qiang 
Published: December 2004

Abstract:  Background:  Although early successes have been achieved in human hand transplant, the changes of immunological parameters in the recipients and their relations to clinical events were not yet known.Methods:  In two patients undergoing hand transplantation, we prospectively determined lymphocyte subsets using flow cytometry as well as the serum levels of interleukin (IL)‐2, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, and interferon (IFN)‐γ using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays during the first 6 months after transplantation.Results:  The decreases in CD, CD, CD T cell, the activated T cell (CD/CD, CD/HLA‐DR+) as well as IL‐2, IFN‐γ and corresponding significant peak in IL‐10 in human hand transplant during the first post‐transplant week were observed. Then these parameters recovered to the pre‐transplant level except for an even higher level of CD T cell. The low CD/CD ratio was been maintained constantly. After 7 wk, IL‐2, IFN‐γ, and IL‐10 decreased to be maintained at a low or undetectable level except for slight increase in IL‐10 at post‐transplant month 5. There are no significant variation in TNF‐α early after transplant. After 3 months, IL‐10 was not detected again.Conclusion:  The immunosuppressive agents had significantly effects on the immunological status in human hand transplant recipients. These profiles of immunological parameters would be useful data for the future immunomonitoring in human hand transplant recipients.