bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pubertal development and its influences on bone mineral density in Australian children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Buntain Helen M , Greer Ristan M , Wong Joseph CH , Schluter Philip J , Batch Jennifer , Lewindon Peter , Bell Scott C , Wainwright Claire E 
Published: July 2005

Background:  Pubertal delay is thought to contribute to suboptimal peak bone mass acquisition in young people with cystic fibrosis (CF), leading to an increased fracture incidence. This study aims to compare pubertal development in young people with CF with that of a local healthy population and assess the influence it has on areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Methods: Tanner stage, age of menarche, bone age (BA), sex hormone levels and aBMD were examined in 85 individuals with CF (aged 5.3–18.1 years, 39 females) and 100 local controls (5.6–17.9 years, 54 females). Results: Tanner stage and age of menarche were not significantly different between controls and CF. Tanner stage‐adjusted mean values for follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) were lower in males with CF (FSH: P = 0.004, LH: P = 0.01 and T: P = 0.002). Bone age was delayed in adolescents with CF compared to controls (chronological age–BA: controls = 0.13 years (SE = 0.16), CF = 0.95 years (SE = 0.22), P = 0.003). Areal bone mineral density (adjusted for age, sex, height and lean tissue mass) was not significantly different between CF and controls. Moderate negative correlations were found between delayed BA and weight (r = −0.41, P < 0.001) and height (r = −0.41, P < 0.001). Conclusions: There was no evidence of clinical pubertal delay or low aBMD (adjusted for short stature and lean tissue mass) in young people with CF when compared with a local population, despite lower nutritional markers, height and weight and delayed skeletal maturation.
Labor epidural analgesia in pre‐eclampsia: A prospective study
Authors: Patel Purvi , Desai Pankaj , Gajjar Fulva 
Published: July 2005

AbstractAim: To assess the safety of labor epidural analgesia in subjects with pre‐eclampsia.Methods: Nulliparous laboring women were included in the prospective study. One hundred pre‐eclamptic nullipara who were given epidural analgesia (group I) were compared with 100 nullipara with pre‐eclampsia who were not given epidural analgesia (group II). The outcome was further compared with 200 women who were not pre‐eclamptic, but who were given epidural analgesia (group III), and also with 200 women who were normotensive and who were not given epidural analgesia (group IV).Results: In group I, 58% of subjects delivered normally compared with 60% in group II. The operative vaginal delivery rate was 28% in group I compared with 24% in group II (P = 0.62), and the cesarean section rate was 14% and 16% in groups I and II, respectively, (P = 0.8). The difference was not statistically significant. The incidence of a prolonged second stage of labor was also not increased in pre‐eclamptic women who received epidural analgesia. Five of the neonates in group I had a 5‐min APGAR score <6 compared with seven neonates in group II. The necessity of neonatal resuscitation was also not significantly increased in group I (P = 1.0). The incidences of fetal distress (P = 0.71), non‐progressive second stage of labor (P = 0.66) and cephalopelvic disproportion  (P = 0.90)  were  not  statistically different in the pre‐eclampsia group compared with the non‐pre‐eclampsia group. Similar results were noted when these outcome measures were compared with the other two groups. With regard to hypotension and tachycardia in the pre‐eclamptic subjects who were given epidural analgesia, no statistical difference (P = 0.72) was seen when compared with the normotensive subjects.Conclusion: In the absence of coagulopathy, epidural analgesia is a safe and effective method for labor pain relief, even for subjects with pre‐eclampsia.
Umbilical artery resistance index in diabetic pregnancies: The associations with fetal outcome and neonatal septal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Tan Ay Eeng , Norizah Wan M. , Rahman Hayati A. , Aziz Bilkis A. , Cheah Fook Choe 
Published: July 2005

AbstractAim: To determine the incidence of an abnormal umbilical artery resistance index (UARI) in diabetic pregnancies and the relation to fetal outcome and the development of neonatal septal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.Methods: A case–control study with subjects comprising 50 randomly selected diabetic mothers and a matched control group of 50 non‐diabetic pregnancies. Doppler studies of the UARI were carried out at least once per week, beginning from 36 weeks’ gestation for both groups. Within 48 h post delivery, echocardiograms were carried out on the newborn infants to identify those with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, particularly asymmetrical septal hypertrophy.Results: The numbers of patients with abnormal UARI were similar in both the diabetic and control groups. A higher proportion of operative deliveries for intrapartum fetal distress was seen in patients with an abnormal UARI in the diabetic group. However, the groups did not differ in the numbers of infants who were small for gestational age, who had low Apgar scores or umbilical artery acidosis, and who required admission to the special care nursery. Six infants of diabetic mothers (12%) had septal hypertrophy, but none of these were associated with abnormal antenatal UARI.Conclusion: Diabetic  pregnancy  is  not  associated  with  a  significantly  higher  incidence  of  abnormal  UARI on Doppler study than non‐diabetic pregnancy. UARI is not a useful single indicator by which to predict subsequent fetal outcome or the development of neonatal septal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in diabetic pregnancies.
Perinatal management of cervicoisthmic pregnancy
Authors: Honda Tetsuro , Hasegawa Masaaki , Nakahori Takashi , Maeda Ayako , Sai Rika , Takata Haruna , Uchida Takafumi , Kanamoto Naokazu , Beppu Michiko , Takahashi Akira 
Published: July 2005

AbstractCervicoisthmic pregnancy has a high risk of abortion or preterm delivery, and only 11 cases of live birth have been reported since 1980. In addition, almost all cases require blood transfusion and hysterectomy because of profuse bleeding after delivery of the placenta. A 39‐year‐old nulliparous woman who became pregnant after a fourth intracytoplasmic sperm injection was diagnosed with cervicoisthmic pregnancy on ultrasonography at 6 weeks’ gestation. A healthy neonate was delivered by cesarean section at 32 weeks, but hysterectomy and blood transfusion were required. Perinatal management is discussed.
Unanticipated impacts of spatial variance of biodiversity on plant productivity
Authors: Benedetti‐Cecchi Lisandro 
Published: July 2005

AbstractExperiments on biodiversity have shown that productivity is often a decelerating monotonic function of biodiversity. A property of nonlinear functions, known as Jensen's inequality, predicts negative effects of the variance of predictor variables on the mean of response variables. One implication of this relationship is that an increase in spatial variability of biodiversity can cause dramatic decreases in the mean productivity of the system. Here I quantify these effects by conducting a meta‐analysis of experimental data on biodiversity–productivity relationships in grasslands and using the empirically derived estimates of parameters to simulate various scenarios of levels of spatial variance and mean values of biodiversity. Jensen's inequality was estimated independently using Monte Carlo simulations and quadratic approximations. The median values of Jensen's inequality estimated with the first method ranged from 3.2 to 26.7%, whilst values obtained with the second method ranged from 5.0 to 45.0%. Meta‐analyses conducted separately for each combination of simulated values of mean and spatial variance of biodiversity indicated that effect sizes were significantly larger than zero in all cases. Because patterns of biodiversity are becoming increasingly variable under intense anthropogenic pressure, the impact of loss of biodiversity on productivity may be larger than current estimates indicate.
A theory for optimal monitoring of marine reserves
Authors: Gerber Leah R. , Beger Maria , McCarthy Michael A. , Possingham Hugh P. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractMonitoring of marine reserves has traditionally focused on the task of rejecting the null hypothesis that marine reserves have no impact on the population and community structure of harvested populations. We consider the role of monitoring of marine reserves to gain information needed for management decisions. In particular we use a decision theoretic framework to answer the question: how long should we monitor the recovery of an over‐fished stock to determine the fraction of that stock to reserve? This exposes a natural tension between the cost (in terms of time and money) of additional monitoring, and the benefit of more accurately parameterizing a population model for the stock, that in turn leads to a better decision about the optimal size for the reserve with respect to harvesting. We found that the optimal monitoring time frame is rarely more than 5 years. A higher economic discount rate decreased the optimal monitoring time frame, making the expected benefit of more certainty about parameters in the system negligible compared with the expected gain from earlier exploitation.
Neutral community dynamics, the mid‐domain effect and spatial patterns in species richness
Authors: Rangel Thiago F. L. V. B. , Diniz‐Filho José A. F. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractThe mid‐domain effect (MDE) aims to explain spatial patterns in species richness invoking only stochasticity and geometrical constraints. In this paper, we used simulations to show that its main qualitative prediction, a hump‐shaped pattern in species richness, converges to the expectation of a spatially bounded neutral model when communities are linked by short‐distance migration. As these two models can be linked under specific situations, neutral theory may provide a mechanistic population level basis for MDE. This link also allows establishing in which situations MDE patterns are more likely to be found. Also, in this situation, MDE models could be used as a first approximation to understand the role of both stochastic (ecological drift and migration) and deterministic (adaptation to environmental conditions) processes driving the spatial structure of species richness.
Dispersal increases local transmission of avian malarial parasites
Authors: Pérez‐Tris Javier , Bensch Staffan 
Published: July 2005

AbstractThe relationships between dispersal and local transmission rate of parasites are essential to understanding host–parasite coevolution and the emergence and spread of novel disease threats. Here we show that year‐round transmission, as opposed to summer transmission, has repeatedly evolved in malarial parasites (generaPlasmodiumandHaemoproteus) of a migratory bird. Year‐round transmission allows parasites to spread in sympatric host's wintering areas, and hence to colonize distantly located host's breeding areas connected by host‐migration movements. Widespread parasites had higher local prevalence, revealing increased transmission, than geographically restricted parasites. Our results show a positive relationship between dispersal and local transmission of malarial parasites that is apparently mediated by frequent evolutionary changes in parasite transmission dynamics, which has important implications for the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases.
Interpreting the ‘selection effect’ of biodiversity on ecosystem function
Authors: Fox Jeremy W. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractExperimental ecosystems often function differently than expected under the null hypothesis that intra‐ and interspecific interactions are identical. Recent theory attributes this to the ‘selection effect’ (dominance by species with particular traits), and the ‘complementarity effect’ (niche differentiation and/or facilitative interactions). Using the Price Equation, I show that the ‘selection effect’ only partially reflects dominance by species with particular traits at the expense of other species, and therefore is only partially analogous to natural selection. I then derive a new, tripartite partition of the difference between observed and expected ecosystem function. The ‘dominance effect’ is analogous to natural selection. ‘Trait‐independent complementarity’ occurs when species function better than expected, independent of their traits and not at the expense of other species. ‘Trait‐dependent complementarity’ occurs when species with particular traits function better than expected, but not at the expense of other species. I illustrate the application of this new partition using experimental data.
Development and application of polymerase chain reaction primers based on fhcD for environmental detection of methanopterin‐linked C1‐metabolism in bacteria
Authors: Kalyuzhnaya Marina G. , Nercessian Olivier , Lidstrom Mary E. , Chistoserdova Ludmila 
Published: July 2005

SummaryIn this work we describe development and testing of a novel pair of environmental primers targeting fhcD, a conserved gene in the H4MTP‐linked C1‐transfer pathway, and demonstrate that these primers enable confident detection of a broad variety of fhcD genes originating from phylogenetically diverse bacteria. The new primer pair was employed to analyse fhcD diversity in Lake Washington sediment, uncovering the presence of 40 fhcD phylotypes. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the phylotypes identified were affiliated with α‐, β‐ and γ‐proteobacteria, and Planctomycetes, while a number of sequences formed deep branches suggesting the presence of unknown groups of microorganisms. To assess the physiological potential and the possible substrate repertoire of the fhcD‐containing species in Lake Washington, we conducted enrichments of natural populations on a variety of C1 substrates, and observed specific shifts in community structure in response to different C1 substrates. A specific shift in community structure was also observed in the presence of humic acids suggesting that C1 transfer metabolism linked to H4MPT may be part of the degradation pathway for this natural polymer, possibly involving formaldehyde production. Overall, our data suggest that C1 oxidation reactions linked to H4MPT are much more widespread in natural environments than previously thought.
A framework for multidimensional modelling of activity and structure of multispecies biofilms
Authors: Xavier Joao B. , Picioreanu Cristian , Van Loosdrecht Mark C. M. 
Published: July 2005

SummaryConcepts from previous biofilm models were integrated to create a framework for the implementation of multidimensional (2D and 3D) multispecies biofilm models. The framework is here described at three levels: (i) mathematical representation of the processes involved in biofilm formation, (ii) numerical implementation into a computer program (freely available from our website http://www.biofilms.bt.tudelft.nl/frameworkMaterial) and (iii) using the program for the creation of biofilm models with multiple bacterial and solute species. An improved version of the individual‐based modelling (IbM) that allows structured biomass was used. In this approach biomass composition may be discriminated into any number of particulate species, including extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) for which specific functionality was included. Detachment is also included, described as occurring at the biofilm surface with variable local rates derived from functions of state variables. The application of this modelling framework to a multispecies system with structured biomass is illustrated in a case study where the competition between an organism capable of accumulating polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB, an internal storage compound) and an EPS‐producing organism in a two‐species biofilm is analysed. Results illustrate that biofilms enriched in PHB‐producing organisms may be obtained by supplying substrate intermittently in feast/famine cycles.
Abundance and activity of uncultured methanotrophic bacteria involved in the consumption of atmospheric methane in two forest soils
Authors: Kolb Steffen , Knief Claudia , Dunfield Peter F. , Conrad Ralf 
Published: July 2005

SummaryThe activity and abundance of methanotrophic bacteria were measured in an acidic and a neutral forest soil. The soils exhibited high uptake rates (>30 µg CH4 m−2 h−1) of atmospheric CH4 at all measurement times throughout the vegetation period. The abundances of various phylogenetic groups of methanotrophs, including some uncultured putative ones, were measured using real‐time polymerase chain reaction assays. Each assay specifically targeted the pmoA gene or mmoX gene of a particular group of methanotrophs, or the amoA gene of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria. As yet uncultured methanotrophs of a group previously named ‘forest soil cluster’ or ‘USCα’ were numerically dominant in the acidic soil, while cultured but taxonomically uncharacterized methanotrophs of a group ‘Cluster I’ were dominant in the neutral soil. Each group was detected in numbers equivalent to about 106pmoA gene copies per gram dry weight of soil and comprised >90% of the detectable methanotrophic bacteria in the respective soil. As the numbers of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria were similar but not higher, they could not have accounted for the observed CH4 uptake rates due to their low cell‐specific CH4 oxidation activity. Based on CH4 flux and bacterial abundance data, estimated cell‐specific CH4 oxidation rates of the detected methanotrophic bacteria were 540–800 × 10−18 mol cell−1 h−1, which is high compared with literature values of cultured methanotrophic bacteria. These estimated cell‐specific CH4 oxidation rates are sufficiently high to allow not only maintenance but even growth on atmospheric CH4 alone. Transcripts of mRNA of the pmoA gene were detected in the acidic soil, demonstrating that USCα methanotrophs expressed pmoA under ambient methane mixing ratios. On the other hand, pmoA trancripts of Cluster I or of other methanotrophic groups were not detectable. Our study suggests that USCα and Cluster I methanotrophs are adapted to the low concentration of methane in forest soils by possessing high cell‐specific CH4 oxidation activities.
Novel predominant archaeal and bacterial groups revealed by molecular analysis of an anaerobic sludge digester
Authors: Chouari Rakia , Le Paslier Denis , Daegelen Patrick , Ginestet Philippe , Weissenbach Jean , Sghir Abdelghani 
Published: July 2005

SummaryA culture‐independent molecular phylogenetic approach was used to study prokaryotic diversity in an anaerobic sludge digester. Two 16S rRNA gene libraries were constructed using total genomic DNA, and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific for archaeal or bacterial domains. Phylogenetic analysis of 246 and 579 almost full‐length 16S rRNA genes for Archaea and Bacteria, respectively, was performed using the ARB software package. Phylogenetic groups affiliated with the Archaea belong to Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. Interestingly, we detected a novel monophyletic group of 164 clones representing 66.6% of the archaeal library. Culture enrichment and probe hybridization show that this group grows better under formate or H2–CO2. Within the bacterial library 95.6% of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) represent novel putative phylotypes never described before, and affiliated with eight divisions. The Bacteroidetes phylum is the most abundant and diversified phylogenetic group representing 38.8% of the OTUs, followed by the Gram‐positives (27.7%) and the Proteobacteria (21.3%). Sequences affiliated with phylogenetic divisions represented by few cultivated representatives such as the Chloroflexi, Synergistes, Thermotogales or candidate divisions such as OP9 and OP8 are represented by <5% of the total OTUs. A comprehensive set of 15 16S and 23S rRNA‐targeted oligonucleotide hybridization probes was used to quantify these major groups by dot blot hybridization within 12 digester samples. In contrast to the clone library, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria together accounted for 21.8 ± 14.9% representing the most abundant phyla. They were surprisingly followed by the Chloroflexi representing 20.2 ± 4.6% of the total 16S rRNA.  The Proteobacteria and the Bacteroidetes group accounted for 14.4 ± 4.9% and 14.5 ± 4.3%, respectively, WWE1, a novel lineage, accounted for 11.9 ± 3.1% while Planctomycetes and Synergistes represented <2% each. Using the novel set of probes we extended the coverage of bacterial populations from 52% to 85.3% of the total rRNA within the digester samples.
Molecular characterization of sulfate‐reducing bacteria in a New England salt marsh
Authors: Bahr Michele , Crump Byron C. , Klepac‐Ceraj Vanja , Teske Andreas , Sogin Mitchell L. , Hobbie John E. 
Published: July 2005

SummarySulfate reduction, mediated by sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB), is the dominant remineralization pathway in sediments of New England salt marshes. High sulfate reduction rates are associated with the rhizosphere of Spartina alterniflora when plants elongate aboveground. The growth process concurrently produces significant amounts of new rhizome material belowground and the plants leak dissolved organic compounds. This study investigated the diversity of SRB in a salt marsh over an annual growth cycle of S. alterniflora by exploring the diversity of a functional gene, dissimilatory sulfite reductase (dsrAB). Because the dsrAB gene is a key gene in the anaerobic sulfate‐respiration pathway, it allows the identification of microorganisms responsible for sulfate reduction. Conserved dsrAB primers in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) generated full‐length dsrAB amplicons for cloning and DNA sequence analysis. Nearly 80% of 380 clone sequences were similar to genes from Desulfosarcina and Desulfobacterium species within Desulfobacteraceae. This reinforces the hypothesis that complete oxidizers with high substrate versatility dominate the marsh. However, the phylotypes formed several clades that were distinct from cultured representatives, indicating a greater diversity of SRB than previously appreciated. Several dsrAB sequences were related to homologues from Gram‐positive, thermophilic and non‐thermophilic Desulfotomaculum species. One dsrAB lineage formed a sister group to cultured members of the delta‐proteobacterial group Syntrophobacteraceae. A deeply branching dsrAB lineage was not affiliated with genes from any cultured SRB. The sequence data from this study will allow for the design of probes or primers that can quantitatively assess the diverse range of sulfate reducers present in the environment.
Effects of long‐term benzene pollution on bacterial diversity and community structure in groundwater
Authors: Fahy Anne , Lethbridge Gordon , Earle Richard , Ball Andrew S. , Timmis Kenneth N. , McGenity Terry J. 
Published: July 2005

SummaryIn this study we analysed the relationship between bacterial community structures and geochemistry of groundwater in a sandstone aquifer (SIReN site) impacted mainly by BTEX hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes), of which benzene is most abundant. The long‐term presence of benzene reduced bacterial diversity: in groundwaters contaminated with more than 1.8 × 104 µg l−1 of benzene, bacterial diversity was half of that in clean groundwaters. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) analysis of 16S rDNA revealed that the community structures were very similar in uncontaminated groundwaters, whereas communities subjected to long‐term benzene contamination were different, not only from uncontaminated groundwater communities, but also from each other. Canonical correspondence analysis of the community profiles and the geochemical data showed that this divergence in community structure was not primarily caused by the direct toxic or stressful effects of benzene, but by the environmental changes brought about by benzene metabolism, in particular a decrease in redox potential.