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Female Individuals (female + individual)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Life Sciences	33%
Chemistry	33%
Earth and Environmental Science	16%

Selected Abstracts

Identification of Biological Samples in a Case of Contamination of a Cytological Slide Preparation,

JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 3 2008
Anke Junge Ph.D.
Abstract:, Here we report a case where a discrete section of the cytological slide preparation of a female individual was obviously contaminated with pleura liquid of a female tumor patient. Analysis of the cancerous pleura liquid and the healthy cells of the slide preparation showed different DNA profiles, indicating that the material originated from two different female individuals. The DNA profile of the cell mixture revealed a heterogenous pattern whereby the alleles could be assigned to the healthy and the tumor patient. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was observed in four of eight short tandem repeat systems for the pleura liquid and the cell mixture. Despite the low amount of DNA on the slide preparation and the occurrence of LOH, it was possible to clarify the case and to support the assumption that a drop of cancerous pleura liquid contaminated the cytological slide. [source]

Gender differences in self-estimated intelligence and their relation to gender-role orientation

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2002
Beatrice Rammstedt
Previous research has demonstrated that gender differences in self-estimated intelligence are domain specific: Males estimate their mathematical, logical and spatial abilities significantly higher than females. It has been frequently hypothesized that these differences are moderated by the individual's degree of gender-role orientation. However, studies investigating the effect of gender-role orientation on self-estimated intelligence revealed highly inconsistent results. In the present study, 267 participants estimated their own abilities in 11 intelligence domains and completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). Factor analysis of the 11 intelligence domains yielded four interpretable factors. Gender differences were identified for the mathematical,logical and the artistic intelligence factor. Additional analyses revealed a moderating effect of gender-role orientation on gender differences in factor scores. Thus, the present study provided direct evidence for the notion that in male, but not in female individuals, self-estimates of specific aspects of intelligence are markedly influenced by gender-role orientation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Sex-specific physiological and growth responses to elevated atmospheric CO2 in Silene latifolia Poiret

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
XIANZHONG WANG
Abstract Dioecy is found in nearly half of the angiosperm families, but little is known about how rising atmospheric CO2 concentration will affect male and female individuals of dioecious species. We examined gender-specific physiological and growth responses of Silene latifolia Poiret, a widespread dioecious species, to a doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration in environmentally controlled growth chambers. Elevated CO2 significantly increased photosynthesis in both male and female plants and by a similar magnitude. Males and females did not differ in net photosynthetic rate, but females had significantly greater biomass production than males, regardless of CO2 concentrations. Vegetative mass increased by 39% in males and in females, whereas reproductive mass increased by 82% in males and 97% in females at elevated CO2. As a result, proportionately more carbon was allocated to reproduction in male and female plants at elevated CO2. Higher CO2 increased individual seed mass significantly, but had no effect on the number or mass of seeds per female plant. Our results demonstrated that rising atmospheric CO2 will alter the allocation patterns in both male and female S. latifolia Poiret plants by shifting proportionally more photosynthate to reproduction. [source]

Isotopic tracking of prehistoric pinniped foraging and distribution along the central California coast: preliminary results

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 1 2002
R. K. Burton
Abstract Zooarchaeological data from Monterey Bay and the adjacent central California coast corroborate earlier observations from northern California and Oregon that Callorhinus ursinus (northern fur seal) was a much more common component in prehistoric marine mammal prey than its present pelagic distribution and foraging habits would predict. C. ursinus remains from mid-Holocene Monterey Bay occurrences are predominantly from female individuals, associated with an inshore piscifauna, and lack associated artifactual evidence for deep water exploitation. Taken together with evidence from Oregon, this suggests that mid-Holocene C. ursinus populations had different foraging, resting, and, arguably, reproductive behaviours than historically reported. Currently debated is whether the contrast between prehistoric and present patterns of pinniped species representation results from: 1) late Holocene prehistoric resource depression by aboriginal hunters, 2) depredations of the early historic fur trade, or 3) non-anthropogenic climatic or oceanographic change. The issue has thus far been addressed with presence or absence data on pinniped species and age/sex classes in dated contexts. While these are fundamental data, they cannot shed light on the nature of foraging behaviour of the species in question, a key dimension of the problem. This paper reports a pilot study utilizing stable isotope analysis aimed to elucidate prehistoric pinniped foraging patterns, specifically that of C. ursinus. Elements from six archaeological sites in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties were analysed for stable isotope compositions of carbon and nitrogen in bone collagen and compared to a latitudinally ordered modern dataset. Results for archaeological C. ursinus strongly suggest that prehistoric animals habitually foraged at lower latitudes than characterize the species today, supporting earlier claims of their year-round residency south of Alaska. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Bone mineralization defects and vitamin D deficiency: Histomorphometric analysis of iliac crest bone biopsies and circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D in 675,patients

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2010
Matthias Priemel
Abstract Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is only one measurable index of skeletal health, and we reasoned that a histomorphometric analysis of iliac crest biopsies would be another and even more direct approach to assess bone health and address the required minimum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level. A cohort from the northern European population with its known high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency therefore would be ideal to answer the latter question. We examined 675 iliac crest biopsies from male and female individuals, excluding all patients who showed any signs of secondary bone diseases at autopsy. Structural histomorphometric parameters, including osteoid indices, were quantified using the Osteomeasure System according to ASBMR standards, and serum 25(OH)D levels were measured for all patients. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test. The histologic results demonstrate an unexpected high prevalence of mineralization defects, that is, a pathologic increase in osteoid. Indeed, 36.15% of the analyzed patients presented with an osteoid surface per bone surface (OS/BS) of more than 20%. Based on the most conservative threshold that defines osteomalacia at the histomorphometric level with a pathologic increase in osteoid volume per bone volume (OV/BV) greater than 2% manifest mineralization defects were present in 25.63% of the patients. The latter were found independent of bone volume per trabecular volume (BV/TV) throughout all ages and affected both sexes equally. While we could not establish a minimum 25(OH)D level that was inevitably associated with mineralization defects, we did not find pathologic accumulation of osteoid in any patient with circulating 25(OH)D above 75,nmol/L. Our data demonstrate that pathologic mineralization defects of bone occur in patients with a serum 25(OH)D below 75,nmol/L and strongly argue that in conjunction with a sufficient calcium intake, the dose of vitamin D supplementation should ensure that circulating levels of 25(OH)D reach this minimum threshold (75,nmol/L or 30,ng/mL) to maintain skeletal health. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research [source]

Identification of Biological Samples in a Case of Contamination of a Cytological Slide Preparation,

Viscosity and emulsifying capacity in pota and octopus muscle during frozen storage

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 11 2003
C Ruiz-Capillas
Abstract The functional quality of pota and octopus muscle during frozen storage for up to 12 months was evaluated periodically by determining viscosity and emulsifying capacity levels. In both species the effect on different anatomical locations (mantle and arms) in mature and young male and female individuals was studied. Apparent viscosity and emulsifying capacity levels were greater in octopus than in pota. While in pota a sharp decrease was observed in viscosity levels, falling to virtually nil, viscosity levels in octopus increased in the first 2 months and only slight decreases were observed at the end of storage. The change in emulsifying capacity, however, was quite similar in the two species, with not very sharp decreases. According to these results, emulsifying capacity measurement could be a suitable technique for showing the changes that occur in the muscle proteins of these species when they are stored frozen. No differences were observed by sex, but there were differences depending on the stage of maturity and anatomical location. Thus pota and octopus mantles present greater stability in frozen storage than the arms, and there is a tendency, although not always significant, that the mantles of young pota and octopus specimens are more stable in frozen storage than the mantles of adult individuals. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Sex-related spatial patterns of Poa ligularis in relation to shrub patch occurrence in northern Patagonia

JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2000
Mónica B. Bertiller
Correa (1969,1988) Abstract. Poa ligularis is a dioecious species and a valuable forage plant which is widespread in the arid steppe of northern Patagonia (Argentina). The vegetation in these areas consists of a system of perennial plant patches alternating with bare soil areas defining contrasting micro-environments. We hypothesized that (1) male and female individuals of P. ligularis are spatially segregated in different micro-environments, (2) the intensity of spatial segregation of sexes depends on plant structure and (3) spatial segregation of sexes is enhanced by competitive interactions between the sexes within the vegetation patches. We analysed the spatial distribution of female and male individuals in relation to the spatial pattern of vegetation in two areas differing in their vegetation structure. The location of P. ligularis within patches where either male, female or both sexes occurred was also analysed. The results indicate that different patterns of spatial distribution of sexes of P. ligularis may be found at the community level depending on the dominant life forms and geometric structure of plant patches. Where patches are of a lower height, with a high internal patch cover, individuals of both sexes are concentrated within patch canopies. In sites characterized by large, tall patches and less internal patch cover suitable microsites for female and male P. ligularis occur both within and outside the patch with males located at further distances from the patch edge. Where the patch is large and tall enough to allow the establishment of males and females at relatively high numbers, males occupy the patch periphery or even colonize the interpatch bare soil. These spatial patterns are consistent with selective traits in which females better tolerate intraspecific competition than males, while males tolerate wider fluctuations in the physical environment (soil moisture, nitrogen availability, wind intensity, etc.). [source]

A morphometric approach to the geographic variation of the terrestrial isopod species Armadillo tuberculatus (Isopoda: Oniscidea)

JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 3 2009
M. Kamilari
Abstract The terrestrial isopod species Armadillo tuberculatus Vogl, 1876 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) is a widely polymorphic species distributed in the south-central Aegean region (Greece) with a different morph on each island. Variation consists in coloration, size of cuticular tubercules, shape of telson and the shape of the male first pleopod exopodite (secondary sexual character of taxonomic importance). We studied the allometric growth of a cuticular tubercule in 17 populations (for both male and female individuals) and the shape variation of the first male pleopod exopodite in 10 populations using Elliptic Fourier Analysis, in order to test for patterns of intraspecific variation and possible relationships between morphs. In addition, Thin Plate Spline analysis was used for the calculation of the minimum bending energy between different exopodite shapes, which was then used for estimating the minimum spanning network (MSN) connecting them. The different allometric growth rates of the tubercule among island groups were significantly related to island latitude and climatic factors. On the other hand, the clustering of islands and the MSN based on male exopodite shape differences were not related to the palaeogeography of the Aegean region or to the present geographic distances of islands. These results are interpreted as evidence for non-adaptive radiation of the morphs. Resumen El isópodo terrestre Armadillo tuberculatus Vogl, 1876 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea) es una especie extensamente polimórfica distribuida por la región sur-central del piélago Egéo (Grecia), con una forma distinta en cada isla. Se trata de variaciones en la coloración, el tamaño de los tubérculos cuticulares y en la forma del primer exopodio masculino del pleopodo (carácter sexual secundario de importancia taxonómica). Estudiamos el crecimiento alométrico del tubérculo cuticular en 17 poblaciones (en individuos de ambos sexos) y la variación de la forma del primer exopodio masculino del pleopodo en 10 poblaciones según el análisis de Fourier elíptico (Elliptic Fourier Analysis) para detectar patrones de variación intraespecifica y relaciones posibles entre las formas de la especie. Además, el análisis Thin Plate Spline fue utilizado para el cálculo de la Energía de Flexión Mínima (Minimum Bending Energy) entre diversas formas del exopodio, que entonces fue utilizada para estimar la Mínima Red de Distancias (Minimum Spanning Network, MSN) que las conectaba. Detectamos una correlación significativa entre las diversas tasas de crecimiento alométrico del tubérculo entre los grupos de islas y la latitud de la isla. Por otro lado, la agrupación de las islas y la MSN, basada en las diferencias de la forma del exopodio, no fueron relacionados con la paleogeografía de la región del piélago Egéo ni con las actuales distancias geográficas de las islas. Estos resultados se interpretan como evidencia para la radiación non-adaptativa de las diversas formas de la especie. [source]

An analysis of hatching success in the great reed warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus

OIKOS, Issue 3 2008
Jonas Knape
Hatching success is a potentially important fitness component for avian species. Previous studies of hatching success in natural populations have primarily focused on effects of inbreeding but a general understanding of variation in hatching success is lacking. We analyse data on hatching success in a population of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus in Lake Kvismaren in south central Sweden. The effects of a range of covariates, including three measures of inbreeding as well as effects of classifications in the data (such as identities of individuals), on hatching success are analysed simultaneously. This is done by means of fitting Bayesian binomial mixed models using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Using random effects for each individual parent we check for unexplained variation in hatching success among male and female individuals and compare it to effects of covariates such as degree of inbreeding. Model selection showed that there was a significant amount of unexplained variation in hatching probability between females. This was manifested by a few females laying eggs with a substantially lower hatching success than the majority of the females. The deviations were of the same order of magnitude as the significant effect of parent relatedness on hatching success. Whereas the negative effect of parent relatedness on hatchability is an expression of inbreeding, the female individual effect is not due to inbreeding and could reflect maternal effects, that females differ in fertilisation and/or incubation ability, or an over representation of genetic components from the female acting on the early developing embryo. [source]

The relationship between the chemical composition of three essential oils and their insecticidal activity against Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say)

PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 5 2004
Dimitrios P Papachristos
Abstract The chemical composition of the essential oils isolated from various parts of three Greek aromatic plants (Lavandula hybrida Rev, Rosmarinus officinalis L and Eucalyptus globulus Labill) collected at different seasons was determined by GC/MS analysis. The insecticidal action of these oils and of their main constituents on Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) adults was evaluated and their LC50 values were estimated. All essential oils tested exhibited strong activity against A obtectus adults, with varying LC50 values depending on insect sex and the composition of the essential oils. A correlation between total oxygenated monoterpenoid content and activity was observed, with oxygenated compounds exhibiting higher activity than hydrocarbons. Among the main constituents, only linalyl and terpinyl acetate were not active against A obtectus, while all the others exhibited insecticidal activity against both male and female adults, with LC50 values ranging from 0.8 to 47.1 mg litre,1 air. An attempt to correlate the insecticidal activity to the monoterpenoid's structure is presented, and the difference in sensitivity between male and female individuals is also explored. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Sex-specific responses of Populus cathayana to drought and elevated temperatures

PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 6 2008
XIAO XU
ABSTRACT Dioecious plant species represent an important component of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, little is known about sex-specific responses to drought and elevated temperatures. Populus cathayana Rehd, which is a dioecious, deciduous tree species, widely distributed in the northern, central and southwestern regions of China, was employed as a model species in our study. In closed-top chamber experiments, sex-specific morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of P. cathayana to drought and different elevated temperatures were investigated. Compared with the controls, drought significantly decreased the growth and the net photosynthesis rate (A), and increased the intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEi), carbon isotope composition (,13C), and the malondialdehyde (MDA) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents in droughted plants. In contrast, elevated temperatures significantly promoted the growth and the A, but decreased the WUEi, ,13C, MDA and ABA contents in well-watered individuals. When compared with males, elevated temperatures induced well-watered females to express a greater increase in the height growth (HG), basal diameter (BD), leaf area (LA), total number of leaves (TNL), dry matter accumulation (DMA) and specific leaf area (SLA), and a lower decrease in the A value, transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), MDA and ABA contents, while elevated temperatures induced drought-stressed females to exhibit lower values of HG, BD, LA, TNL, DMA, A, E, gs and the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and higher levels of SLA, WUEi, ,13C, MDA and ABA contents. Our results indicated that the female individuals of P. cathayana are more responsive and suffer from greater negative effects than do males when grown under environments with increased drought stress and elevated temperature. [source]