bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon quality rather than stoichiometry controls litter decomposition in a tropical rain forest
Authors: Hättenschwiler Stephan , Jørgensen Helene Bracht
Published: May 2010

1. Ecological stoichiometry predicts important control of the relative abundance of the key elements carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on trophic interactions. In a nutrient‐poor Amazonian lowland rain forest of French Guiana, we tested the hypothesis that decomposers exploit stoichiometrically diverse plant litter more efficiently, resulting in faster litter decomposition compared to litter with a uniform stoichiometry.

2. In a field experiment in the presence or absence of soil macrofauna, we measured litter mass loss, and N and P dynamics from all possible combinations of leaf litter from four common tree species which were distinctly separated along a C:N and along a N:P gradient.

3. Mean litter mass remaining after 204 days of field exposure varied between 25.2% and 71.3% among litter treatments. Fauna increased litter mass loss by 18%, N loss by 21% and P loss by 14%. Litter species richness had no effect on litter mass loss or nutrient dynamics. In contrast, litter mass and nutrient losses increased with increasing stoichiometric dissimilarity of litter mixtures in presence of fauna, suggesting faster decomposition of a stoichiometrically more heterogeneous litter.

4. However, the effect of stoichiometric dissimilarity was smaller than the strong C quality related litter composition effect and disappeared in the absence of fauna. Increasing proportions of litter that is relatively rich in accessible C compounds (non‐structural carbohydrates, phenolics) and relatively poor in recalcitrant C (condensed tannins, lignin), correlated best with litter mass loss irrespective of fauna presence. No correlation was found for any of the nutrient related litter quality parameters and decomposition.

5. Synthesis. Our results suggest that Amazonian decomposer communities studied here are primarily limited by energy, and only secondarily by litter stoichiometry. Tropical tree species might thus influence decomposers and detritivores by the production of litter of specific C quality with potentially important feedback effects on ecosystem nutrient dynamics and availability.
Molecular sieving properties of the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli and consequences of osmotic stress
Authors: Mika Jacek T. , Van Den Bogaart Geert , Veenhoff Liesbeth , Krasnikov Victor , Poolman Bert
Published: May 2010

We determined the diffusion coefficients (D) of (macro)molecules of different sizes (from ∼0.5 to 600 kDa) in the cytoplasm of live Escherichia coli cells under normal osmotic conditions and osmotic upshift. D values decreased with increasing molecular weight of the molecules. Upon osmotic upshift, the decrease in D of NBD‐glucose was much smaller than that of macromolecules. Barriers for diffusion were found in osmotically challenged cells only for GFP and larger proteins. These barriers are likely formed by the nucleoid and crowding of the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm of E. coli appears as a meshwork allowing the free passage of small molecules while restricting the diffusion of bigger ones.
Phase variation controls expression of Salmonella lipopolysaccharide modification genes by a DNA methylation‐dependent mechanism
Authors: Broadbent S. E. , Davies M. R. , Van Der Woude M. W.
Published: May 2010

The O‐antigen of Salmonella lipopolysaccharide is a major antigenic determinant and its chemical composition forms the basis for Salmonella serotyping. Modifications of the O‐antigen that can affect the serotype include those carried out by the products of glycosyltransferase operons (gtr), which are present on specific Salmonella and phage genomes. Here we show that expression of the gtr genes encoded by phage P22 that confers the O1 serotype is under the control of phase variation. This phase variation occurs by a novel epigenetic mechanism requiring OxyR in conjunction with the DNA methyltransferase Dam. OxyR is an activator or a repressor of the system depending on which of its two binding sites in the gtr regulatory region is occupied. Binding is decreased by methylation at Dam target sequences in either site, and this confers heritability of the expression state to the system. Most Salmonella gtr operons share the key regulatory elements that are identified here as essential for this epigenetic phase variation.
The twin arginine protein transport pathway exports multiple virulence proteins in the plant pathogen Streptomyces scabies
Authors: Joshi Madhumita V. , Mann Stefan G. , Antelmann Haike , Widdick David A. , Fyans Joanna K. , Chandra Govind , Hutchings Matthew I. , Toth Ian , Hecker Michael , Loria Rosemary , Palmer Tracy
Published: May 2010

Streptomyces scabies is one of a group of organisms that causes the economically important disease potato scab. Analysis of the S. scabies genome sequence indicates that it is likely to secrete many proteins via the twin arginine protein transport (Tat) pathway, including several proteins whose coding sequences may have been acquired through horizontal gene transfer and share a common ancestor with proteins in other plant pathogens. Inactivation of the S. scabies Tat pathway resulted in pleiotropic phenotypes including slower growth rate and increased permeability of the cell envelope. Comparison of the extracellular proteome of the wild type and ΔtatC strains identified 73 predicted secretory proteins that were present in reduced amounts in the tatC mutant strain, and 47 Tat substrates were verified using a Tat reporter assay. The ΔtatC strain was almost completely avirulent on Arabidopsis seedlings and was delayed in attaching to the root tip relative to the wild‐type strain. Genes encoding 14 candidate Tat substrates were individually inactivated, and seven of these mutants were reduced in virulence compared with the wild‐type strain. We conclude that the Tat pathway secretes multiple proteins that are required for full virulence.
Salivary histatin 5 internalization by translocation, but not endocytosis, is required for fungicidal activity in Candida albicans
Authors: Jang Woong Sik , Bajwa Jashanjot Singh , Sun Jianing N. , Edgerton Mira
Published: May 2010

Salivary histatin 5 (Hst 5) is a cationic salivary protein with high fungicidal activity against Candida albicans. Binding to the cell wall followed by intracellular translocation is required for killing; however, specific binding components and critical toxic events are not understood. In this study, laminarin (β‐1,3‐glucan) but not sialic acid, mannan or pustulan mediated Hst 5 binding to C. albicans, and was disassociated by 100 mM NaCl. Time‐lapse confocal microscopy revealed a dose‐dependent rate of cytosolic uptake of Hst 5 that invariably preceded propidium iodide (PI) entry, demonstrating that translocation itself does not disrupt membrane integrity. Cell toxicity was manifest by vacuolar expansion followed by PI entrance; however, loss of endocytotic vacuolar trafficking of Hst 5 did not reduce killing. Extracellular NaCl (100 mM), but not sorbitol, prevented vacuolar expansion and PI entry in cells already containing cytosolic Hst 5, thus showing a critical role for ionic balance in Hst 5 toxicity. Hst 5 uptake, but not cell wall binding, was blocked by pretreatment with azide or carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenylhydrazone; however, 10% of de‐energized cells had membrane disruption. Thus, Hst 5 is capable of heterogeneous intracellular entry routes, but only direct cytosolic translocation causes cell death as a result of ionic efflux.
Achalasia: incidence, prevalence and survival. A population‐based study
Authors: Sadowski D. C. , Ackah F. , Jiang B. , Svenson L. W.
Published: May 2010

Background  Studies of achalasia epidemiology are important as they often yield new insights into disease etiology. In this study, our objective was to carry out the first North American population‐based study of achalasia epidemiology using a governmental administrative database.

Methods  All residents in the province of Alberta, Canada receive universal healthcare coverage as a benefit. The provincial health ministry, Alberta Health and Wellness, maintains a central stakeholder database of patient demographic information and physician billing claims. We defined an achalasia case as a billing claim submitted for the years 1996–2007 with an ICD‐9‐CM code of 530.0 or 530 and a Canadian Classification of Procedure treatment code of 54.92A (endoscopic balloon dilation) or 54.6 (esophagomyotomy). A preliminary validation study of the case definition demonstrated a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 99% for known cases and controls.

Key Results  A total of 463 achalasia cases were identified from 1995 to 2008 (59.6% males). Mean age at diagnosis was 53.1 years. In 2007, the achalasia incidence was 1.63/100 000 (95% CI 1.20, 2.06) and the prevalence was 10.82/100 000 (95% CI 9.70, 11.93). We observed a steady increase in the overall prevalence rate from 2.51/100 000 in 1996 to 10.82/100 000 in 2007. Survival of achalasia cases was significantly less than age–sex matched population controls (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions & Inferences  Using a population‐based approach, the incidence and prevalence of treated achalasia is 1.63/100 000 and 10.82/100 000, respectively. The disease appears to have a stable incidence but a rising prevalence. Survival of achalasia cases is significantly less than age‐matched healthy controls.
Wireless pH‐motility capsule for colonic transit: prospective comparison with radiopaque markers in chronic constipation
Authors: Camilleri M. , Thorne N. K. , Ringel Y. , Hasler W. L. , Kuo B. , Esfandyari T. , Gupta A. , Scott S. M. , Mccallum R. W. , Parkman H. P. , Soffer E. , Wilding G. E. , Semler J. R. , Rao S. S.c.
Published: May 2010

Background Colon transit (CT) measurements are used in the management of significant constipation. The radiopaque marker (ROM) method provides limited information.

Methods We proposed to validate wireless motility capsule (WMC), that measures pH, pressure and temperature, to ROM measurement of CT in patients with symptomatic constipation evaluated at multiple centers. Of 208 patients recruited, 158 eligible patients underwent simultaneous measurement of colonic transit time (CTT) using ROM (Metcalf method, cut off for delay >67 h), and WMC (cutoff for delay >59 h). The study was designed to demonstrate substantial equivalence, defined as diagnostic agreement >65% for patients who had normal or delayed ROM transit.

Key Results Fifty‐nine of 157 patients had delayed ROM CT. Transit results by the two methods differed: ROM median 55.0 h [IQR 31.0–85.0] and WMC (43.5 h [21.7–70.3],P < 0.001. The positive percent agreement between WMC and ROM for delayed transit was ∼80%; positive agreement in 47 by WMC/59 by ROM or 0.796 (95% CI = 0.67–0.98); agreementvsnull hypothesis (65%)P = 0.01. The negative percent agreement (normal transit) was ∼91%: 89 by WMC/98 by ROM or 0.908 (95% CI = 0.83–0.96); agreementvsnull hypothesis (65%),P = 0.00001. Overall device agreement was 87%. There were significant correlations (P < 0.001) between ROM and WMC transit (CTT [r = 0.707] and between ROM and combined small and large bowel transit [r = 0.704]). There were no significant adverse events.

Conclusions & Inferences The 87% overall agreement (positive and negative) validates WMC relative to ROM in differentiating slowvsnormal CT in a multicenter clinical study of constipation.
Impact of canine atopic dermatitis on the health‐related quality of life of affected dogs and quality of life of their owners
Authors: Linek Monika , Favrot Claude
Published: May 2010

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic or chronically relapsing human and canine skin disease that adversely affects the quality of life of affected individuals. The impact of the disease on affected children and their parents has been extensively studied, but very little is known of its impact on affected animals and their owners. The goal of the present study was to fill this gap. Owners were asked to complete three questionnaires concerning their own quality of life, their perception of the treatment provided and their pets’ quality of life. Clinical features, such as severity index, pruritus score and disease duration, were evaluated in parallel and correlated with the questionnaire answers. The study not only demonstrated that canine atopic dermatitis deeply influenced the way of life of the owners of affected dogs but also in which aspects of life the impact was most severe.
Molecular patterns of differentiation in canyon treefrogs (Hyla arenicolor): evidence for introgressive hybridization with the Arizona treefrog (H. wrightorum) and correlations with advertisement call differences
Authors: KLYMUS K. E. , HUMFELD S. C. , MARSHALL V. T. , CANNATELLA D. , GERHARDT H. C.
Published: May 2010

Detection of genetic and behavioural diversity within morphologically similar species has led to the discovery of cryptic species complexes. We tested the hypothesis that US populations of the canyon treefrog (Hyla arenicolor) may consist of cryptic species by examining mate‐attraction signals among three divergent clades defined by mtDNA. Using a multi‐locus approach, we re‐analysed phylogenetic relationships among the three clades and a closely related, but morphologically and behaviourally dissimilar species, the Arizona treefrog (H. wrightorum). We found evidence for introgression of H. wrightorum’s mitochondrial genome into H. arenicolor. Additionally, the two‐clade topology based on nuclear data is more congruent with patterns of call variation than the three‐clade topology from the mitochondrial dataset. The magnitude of the call divergence is probably insufficient to promote isolation of the nuclear DNA‐defined clades should they become sympatric, but further divergence in call properties significant in species identification could promote speciation in the future.
Inbred women in a small and isolated Swiss village have fewer children
Authors: POSTMA E. , MARTINI L. , MARTINI P.
Published: May 2010

Despite overwhelming evidence for a negative effect of inbreeding on fitness in plants and nonhuman animals, the exact nature of its effect in humans remains subject to debate. To obtain a better understanding of the effects of inbreeding on reproductive success in humans, we reconstructed the genealogies of the current inhabitants of a small and isolated Swiss village and used these to estimate the level of inbreeding of both members of all married couples, as well as their relatedness (i.e. the level of inbreeding of their offspring). Although there was no effect of parental relatedness on the number of children a couple had, we found that inbred mothers, but not inbred fathers, had significantly fewer children. Thus, although related couples did not have fewer children themselves, their inbred daughters did leave them with fewer grandchildren. Thereby, we provide evidence for the existence of inbreeding depression in human fertility, also in relatively outbred and egalitarian communities.
Blending of heritable recognition cues among ant nestmates creates distinct colony gestalt odours but prevents within‐colony nepotism
Authors: Van ZWEDEN J. S. , BRASK J. B. , CHRISTENSEN J. H. , BOOMSMA J. J. , LINKSVAYER T. A. , d’ETTORRE P.
Published: May 2010

The evolution of sociality is facilitated by the recognition of close kin, but if kin recognition is too accurate, nepotistic behaviour within societies can dissolve social cohesion. In social insects, cuticular hydrocarbons act as nestmate recognition cues and are usually mixed among colony members to create a Gestalt odour. Although earlier studies have established that hydrocarbon profiles are influenced by heritable factors, transfer among nestmates and additional environmental factors, no studies have quantified these relative contributions for separate compounds. Here, we use the ant Formica rufibarbis in a cross‐fostering design to test the degree to which hydrocarbons are heritably synthesized by young workers and transferred by their foster workers. Bioassays show that nestmate recognition has a significant heritable component. Multivariate quantitative analyses based on 38 hydrocarbons reveal that a subset of branched alkanes are heritably synthesized, but that these are also extensively transferred among nestmates. In contrast, especially linear alkanes are less heritable and little transferred; these are therefore unlikely to act as cues that allow within‐colony nepotistic discrimination or as nestmate recognition cues. These results indicate that heritable compounds are suitable for establishing a genetic Gestalt for efficient nestmate recognition, but that recognition cues within colonies are insufficiently distinct to allow nepotistic kin discrimination.
Song Learning in Song Sparrows: Relative Importance of Autumn vs. Spring Tutoring
Authors: Nulty Brigid , Burt John M. , Akçay Çağlar , Templeton Christopher N. , Elizabeth Campbell S. , Beecher Michael D.
Published: May 2010

We examined ‘late’ song learning in song sparrows (Melospiza melodia), i.e., song learning that occurs after the first few months, or classical sensitive period, of the natal summer. Fledgling juveniles were brought into the laboratory at 2–3 mo of age and exposed to computer‐simulated song tutors in three different time periods: late in the natal summer, the autumn, and the next spring. As expected, the birds’ final repertoires consisted mostly of songs heard in the field, but 30% of the birds’ songs were influenced by songs heard in the laboratory (selective retention) and another 8% were learned de novo in the laboratory. Parallel results were obtained for a second group of birds who received laboratory tutoring only in the spring. In fact, the results suggested that autumn tutoring may even be inhibitory. We conclude that the songs a young song sparrow hears in his first spring may be critical to his final repertoire development, indicating that the song learning process in song sparrows is longer and more flexible than previously supposed.
Overview of endocrinopathies associated with β‐thalassaemia major
Authors: Perera N. J. , Lau N. S. , Mathews S. , Waite C. , Ho P. J. , Caterson I. D.
Published: May 2010

Background:  Thalassaemia major is a common and serious medical problem worldwide that is associated with a range of complications, including effects on multiple endocrine pathways. Minimizing or preventing comorbidities is important for these individuals who need life‐long multidisciplinary care and treatment. However, there are limited overviews of the endocrine complications associated with this illness, nor any consensus regarding management guidelines.

Method:  A retrospective cohort analysis of β‐thalassaemia patients attending an ambulatory transfusion clinic at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital was conducted from June 2008.

Results:  All of our subjects (n = 29) had at least one endocrinopathy present with 16 patients (55%) having three or more (≥3) endocrinopathies. Hypogonadism was the most prevalent followed by osteoporosis and growth failure (less than 3rd centile) with a frequency of 16/29 (55%), 14/29 (48%) and 10/29 (35%) patients respectively. Those with more endocrinopathies (≥3) had a longer duration of transfusion therapy when compared with those with fewer endocrinopathies.

Conclusion:  A summary of our clinical guidelines, which have been used to monitor and manage these complications, is presented along with a discussion on the results and pathophysiology of the associated endocrinopathies.
Gender, age and ethnic aspects of analgesia in acute abdominal pain: is analgesia even across the groups?
Authors: Banz V. M. , Christen B. , Paul K. , Martinolli L. , Candinas D. , Zimmermann H. , Exadaktylos A. K.
Published: May 2010

Background: Numerous studies have shown differences in pain perception between men and women, which may affect pain management strategies.

Aim: Our primary aim was to investigate whether there are gender‐based differences in pain management in patients admitted to our emergency department with acute, non‐specific abdominal pain (NSAP). Our secondary aim was to evaluate if other factors influence administration of analgesia for patients admitted with NSAP.

Methods: From June 2007 to June 2008, we carried out a retrospective, gender‐based, frequency‐matched control study with 150 patients (75 consecutive men and 75 women) who presented with NSAP at our emergency department. Pain was documented using a numerical rating scale (‘0’ no pain, ‘10’ most severe pain). A multinomial regression model was used to assess factors that might influence pain management.

Results: No statistically significant difference was seen between men and women with respect to pain management (P= 0.085). Younger patients were, however, more likely to receive weaker (P= 0.011) and fewer analgesics (P < 0.001). Patients with previous abdominal surgery (P= 0.012), known chronic pain conditions (P= 0.029) or relevant comorbidities (P= 0.048) received stronger analgesia. Nationality (P= 0.244), employment status (P= 0.988), time of admission (P= 0.487) and known psychiatric illness (P= 0.579) did not influence pain management.

Conclusions: No statistically significant gender‐dependent differences in pain management were observed. However, younger patients received less potent analgesic treatment. There is no reason for certain groups to receive suboptimal treatment, and greater efforts should be made to offer consistent treatment to all patients.
Personality predicts the use of social information
Authors: Kurvers Ralf H. J. M. , Van Oers Kees , Nolet Bart A. , Jonker Rudy M. , Van Wieren Sipke E. , Prins Herbert H. T. , Ydenberg Ron C.
Published: May 2010

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 829–837

The use of social information is known to affect various important aspects of an individual’s ecology, such as foraging, dispersal and space use and is generally assumed to be entirely flexible and context dependent. However, the potential link between personality differences and social information use has received little attention. In this study, we studied whether use of social information was related to personality, using barnacle geese,Branta leucopsis, where boldness is a personality trait known to be consistent over time. We found that the use of social information decreased with increasing boldness score of the individuals. Individuals had lower feeding times when they did not follow the social information and this effect was unrelated to boldness score. When manipulating social information, thereby making it incorrect, individuals irrespective of their boldness score, learned that it was incorrect and ignored it. Our results show that social information use depends on the personality type of an individual, which calls for incorporation of these personality‐related differences in studies of spatial distribution of animals in which social information use plays a role.
Can mechanism inform species’ distribution models?
Authors: Buckley Lauren B. , Urban Mark C. , Angilletta Michael J. , Crozier Lisa G. , Rissler Leslie J. , Sears Michael W.
Published: May 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 1041–1054

Two major approaches address the need to predict species distributions in response to environmental changes. Correlative models estimate parameters phenomenologically by relating current distributions to environmental conditions. By contrast, mechanistic models incorporate explicit relationships between environmental conditions and organismal performance, estimated independently of current distributions. Mechanistic approaches include models that translate environmental conditions into biologically relevant metrics (e.g. potential duration of activity), models that capture environmental sensitivities of survivorship and fecundity, and models that use energetics to link environmental conditions and demography. We compared how two correlative and three mechanistic models predicted the ranges of two species: a skipper butterfly (Atalopedes campestris) and a fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus). Correlative and mechanistic models performed similarly in predicting current distributions, but mechanistic models predicted larger range shifts in response to climate change. Although mechanistic models theoretically should provide more accurate distribution predictions, there is much potential for improving their flexibility and performance.
Lianas suppress tree regeneration and diversity in treefall gaps
Authors: Schnitzer Stefan A. , Carson Walter P.
Published: May 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 849–857

Treefall gaps are hypothesized to maintain diversity by creating resource‐rich, heterogeneous habitats necessary for species coexistence. This hypothesis, however, is not supported empirically for shade‐tolerant trees, the dominant plant group in tropical forests. The failure of gaps to maintain shade‐tolerant trees remains puzzling, and the hypothesis implicated to date is dispersal limitation. In central Panama, we tested an alternative ‘biotic interference’ hypothesis: that competition between growth forms (lianas vs. trees) constrains shade‐tolerant tree recruitment, survival and diversity in gaps. We experimentally removed lianas from eight gaps and monitored them for 8 years, while also monitoring nine un‐manipulated control gaps. Removing lianas increased tree growth, recruitment and richness by 55, 46 and 65%, respectively. Lianas were particularly harmful to shade‐tolerant species, but not pioneers. Our findings demonstrate that competition between plant growth forms constrains diversity in a species‐rich tropical forest. Because lianas are abundant in many tropical systems, our findings may apply broadly.
Dual influences of ecosystem size and disturbance on food chain length in streams
Authors: McHugh Peter A. , McIntosh Angus R. , Jellyman Phillip G.
Published: May 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 881–890

The number of trophic transfers occurring between basal resources and top predators, food chain length (FCL), varies widely in the world’s ecosystems for reasons that are poorly understood, particularly for stream ecosystems. Available evidence indicates that FCL is set by energetic constraints, environmental stochasticity, or ecosystem size effects, although no single explanation has yet accounted for FCL patterns in a broad sense. Further, whether environmental disturbance can influence FCL has been debated on both theoretical and empirical grounds for quite some time. Using data from sixteen South Island, New Zealand streams, we determined whether the so‐called ecosystem size, disturbance, or resource availability hypotheses could account for FCL variation in high country fluvial environments. Stable isotope‐based estimates of maximum trophic position ranged from 2.6 to 4.2 and averaged 3.5, a value on par with the global FCL average for streams. Model‐selection results indicated that stream size and disturbance regime best explained across‐site patterns in FCL, although resource availability was negatively correlated with our measure of disturbance; FCL approached its maximum in large, stable springs and was <3.5 trophic levels in small, fishless and/or disturbed streams. Community data indicate that size influenced FCL, primarily through its influence on local fish species richness (i.e., via trophic level additions and/or insertions), whereas disturbance did so via an effect on the relative availability of intermediate predators (i.e., predatory invertebrates) as prey for fishes. Overall, our results demonstrate that disturbance can have an important food web‐structuring role in stream ecosystems, and further imply that pluralistic explanations are needed to fully understand the range of structural variation observed for real food webs.
Structural dynamics and robustness of food webs
Authors: Staniczenko Phillip P. A. , Lewis Owen T. , Jones Nick S. , Reed‐Tsochas Felix
Published: May 2010

Ecology Letters (2010) 13: 891–899

Food web structure plays an important role when determining robustness to cascading secondary extinctions. However, existing food web models do not take into account likely changes in trophic interactions (‘rewiring’) following species loss. We investigated structural dynamics in 12 empirically documented food webs by simulating primary species loss using three realistic removal criteria, and measured robustness in terms of subsequent secondary extinctions. In our model, novel trophic interactions can be established between predators and food items not previously consumed following the loss of competing predator species. By considering the increase in robustness conferred through rewiring, we identify a new category of species – overlap species – which promote robustness as shown by comparing simulations incorporating structural dynamics to those with static topologies. The fraction of overlap species in a food web is highly correlated with this increase in robustness; whereas species richness and connectance are uncorrelated with increased robustness. Our findings underline the importance of compensatory mechanisms that may buffer ecosystems against environmental change, and highlight the likely role of particular species that are expected to facilitate this buffering.
Genitourinary involvement in epidermolysis bullosa: clinical presentations and therapeutic challenges
Authors: Kajbafzadeh Abdol‐Mohammad , Elmi Azadeh , Mazaheri Parisa , Talab Saman Shafaat , Jan Delaram
Published: May 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVES

To present our experience of children with epidermolysis bullosa (EB; a rare bullous disorder of the skin) with genitourinary involvement.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The medical records of eight children diagnosed with EB (six junctional and two dystrophic type) with genitourinary involvement were reviewed retrospectively. The data collected included age, clinical presentation, ultrasonographic findings, voiding cystourethrography, urodynamic and uroflowmetry studies, and the treatment challenges. The outcomes of the interventions were evaluated every 6 months.

RESULTS

The mean age was 2.3 years (range 1 day to 7 years). The most common clinical presentations were urinary retention and voiding difficulty. Meatomy was performed in two of three boys followed by diminution of urological complaints. In children with vesico‐ureteric reflux, subureteric injections of bulking agent and ureteric stenting were satisfactory. Detrusor instability and bladder compliance improved after α‐blocker therapy. The mean (range) follow‐up was 62.6 (11–120) months except for two who died in early infancy.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the potential urological involvement in every child with EB it is essential to provide patients with early appropriate treatment. Management of urological problems should preferably be in a way to entail minimal interventions and if required be performed using small sized instruments. Medical therapy seems promising for voiding dysfunction in this subset of patients.
‘Wicked Problems’ and the Work of the School
Authors: MURGATROYD STEPHEN
Published: May 2010

As communities respond to challenges, threats and opportunities, organisations are changing in significant ways — new organisational designs, new communities of practice, new skills and new forms of human capital are sought. Yet K‐12 school systems appear to be permanently failing organisations, not changing despite being shrouded by the rhetoric of change and entrapped in the competing expectations of different stakeholders. Using the idea of creative design and innovation as the cornerstone for learning and a focus on wicked problems for authentic audiences for the work of students and teachers, this article explores the opportunity of such a change and the barriers to enactment. Case examples are given of problem‐based learning with design at the heart of the learning process and an analysis of schools as permanently failing organisations is provided. Since the human capital needs of the 21st century require different skills from those of the last century, this approach is seen as essential. It demands a transformation of our schools, not continuous improvement.
Experiences of a Research‐based Approach to Teacher Education: suggestions for future policies
Authors: TOOM AULI , KYNÄSLAHTI HEIKKI , KROKFORS LEENA , JYRHÄMÄ RIITTA , BYMAN REIJO , STENBERG KATARIINA , MAARANEN KATRIINA , KANSANEN PERTTI
Published: May 2010

There is an ongoing discussion about teacher education today: its organisation, its academic status and the competence that results from different programmes. There is no one best way to organise teacher education. Rather, the appropriateness of organisation is related to the desired aims. In this article, we discuss one way to organise and implement academic education for class teachers, namely, a research‐based approach, which has been used in Finland for the last 30 years. We elaborate on a theoretical framework for research‐based teacher education and present empirical evidence for ways of implementing teacher education programmes, experiences and evaluations. Based on this evidence, we consider the present state of teacher education and suggest guidelines for the future. Research‐based teacher education in Finland has been underway long enough to examine its results and its effectiveness in educating class teachers today. Together with our own research findings, the high‐level performance of Finnish pupils in international examinations suggests that teacher education in Finland has been on the right course. We recommend that departments of teacher education should be established within universities and that teachers should obtain Master's degrees. Such steps will ensure that a higher conceptual level is adopted and that research is part of teacher education. Although our context is teacher education in Finland, the viewpoints expressed may be valuable for teachers, teacher educators and researchers on teacher education in a broader European context.
The Management of Integrated Educational Environment Resources: the factors to be considered
Authors: STUKALINA YULIA
Published: May 2010

Today, as educational organisations have become large and complex systems, education managers play a greater role in developing the most efficient educational environment. This article analyses the strategic background for educational management in relation to creating a constructive educational environment aimed at supporting a sustainable learning process. It also attempts to describe the diversity of resources that the educational environment comprises. We propose a model for managing the educational environment resources (MMEER) to guide the resources allocation within this multi‐level system. The article stresses the need to create an encouraging and motivating environment to use the material and non‐material resources as well as the intellectual capital of an educational institution most efficiently, student motivation being an indispensable prerequisite for enhancing quality and increasing the performance of an educational organisation.
A Noncooperative Quantity‐Rationing Theory of Transboundary Pollution
Authors: SHAH SUDHIR A.
Published: May 2010

We study a remedy for the problem caused by international transfrontier pollution. Our results are derived from the analysis of a noncooperative game model of the determination of emissions in a quantity‐rationing setting. We model the emission capping negotiations using the best response dynamic process and provide natural conditions under which the process has a unique and globally asymptotically stable stationary point. We then analyze the link between type profiles and the stationary points of the negotiation process to derive various comparative statics results and the type‐contingent ordering of emission allocations. These results are used to study the investment strategies that nations can use prior to the negotiations in order to manipulate the equilibrium emission caps.
Effect of prothrombin 19911 A>G polymorphism on the risk of cerebral sinus‐venous thrombosis
Authors: Martinelli I. , Bucciarelli P. , De Stefano V. , Passamonti S. M. , Menegatti M. , Tormene D. , Tosetto A. , Mannucci P. M.
Published: May 2010

Background and Purpose:  The A>G polymorphism at position 19911 of the prothrombin gene is associated with a mildly increased risk of venous thromboembolism, alone or in association with such common thrombophilia mutations as factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210 GA. Its role in cerebral sinus‐venous thrombosis (CSVT) is not known.

Methods:  The presence of prothrombin 19911 A>G was investigated in a case–control study of 107 patients with cerebral thrombosis and factor V Leiden (n = 25), prothrombin 20210 GA (n = 47), without known thrombophilia (n = 35) and 842 healthy individuals with the corresponding coagulation profile.

Results:  Prothrombin 19911 A>G did not increase the risk of CSVT in carriers of factor V Leiden (adjusted odds ratio 1.6, 95%CI 0.6–4.7), prothrombin 20210 GA (odds ratio 1.1, 95%CI 0.6–2.2), nor in patients without known thrombophilia (odds ratio 1.3, 95%CI 0.5–3.1).

Conclusions:  Prothrombin 19911 A>G polymorphism does not appear to be a risk factor for CSVT, alone or in association with factor V Leiden or prothrombin 20210GA.
EFNS guideline on the treatment of tension‐type headache – Report of an EFNS task force
Authors: Bendtsen L. , Evers S. , Linde M. , Mitsikostas D. D. , Sandrini G. , Schoenen J.
Published: May 2010

Background:  Tension‐type headache (TTH) is the most prevalent headache type and is causing a high degree of disability. Treatment of frequent TTH is often difficult.

Objectives:  To give evidence‐based or expert recommendations for the different treatment procedures in TTH based on a literature search and the consensus of an expert panel.

Methods:  All available medical reference systems were screened for the range of clinical studies on TTH. The findings in these studies were evaluated according to the recommendations of the EFNS resulting in level A, B or C recommendations and good practice points.

Recommendations:  Non‐drug management should always be considered although the scientific basis is limited. Information, reassurance and identification of trigger factors may be rewarding. Electromyography (EMG) biofeedback has a documented effect in TTH, whilst cognitive‐behavioural therapy and relaxation training most likely are effective. Physical therapy and acupuncture may be valuable options for patients with frequent TTH, but there is no robust scientific evidence for efficacy. Simple analgesics and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs are recommended for the treatment of episodic TTH. Combination analgesics containing caffeine are drugs of second choice. Triptans, muscle relaxants and opioids should not be used. It is crucial to avoid frequent and excessive use of analgesics to prevent the development of medication‐overuse headache. The tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline is drug of first choice for the prophylactic treatment of chronic TTH. Mirtazapine and venlafaxine are drugs of second choice. The efficacy of the prophylactic drugs is often limited, and treatment may be hampered by side effects.
SIX QUESTIONS ON (OR ABOUT) HOLOCAUST DENIAL
Authors: LANG BEREL
Published: May 2010

Six questions are outlined and then responded to about Holocaust denial. These consider (1) Holocaust denial's view of the Holocaust counterfactually—if it had occurred; (2) the presumed adequacy of the binary choice between Holocaust denial and affirmation; (3) the status and credence of their own assertions among denial advocates; (4) the often implied historiographic uniqueness of Holocaust denial; (5) the contributions to Holocaust history of the denial position; (6) the measures—scholarly, legislative, practical—that have been or might be directed at the phenomenon of Holocaust denial.
WHO SUFFERED FROM THE CRISIS OF HISTORICISM? A DUTCH EXAMPLE
Authors: PAUL HERMAN
Published: May 2010

Was the crisis of historicism an exclusively German affair? Or was it a “narrowly academic crisis,” as is sometimes assumed? Answering both questions in the negative, this paper argues that crises of historicism affected not merely intellectual elites, but even working‐class people, not only in Germany, but also in the Netherlands. With an elaborated case study, the article shows that Dutch “neo‐Calvinist” Protestants from the 1930s onward experienced their own crisis of historicism. For a variety of reasons, this religious subgroup came to experience a collapse of its “historicist” worldview. Following recent German scholarship, the paper argues that this historicism was not a matter of Rankean historical methods, but of “historical identifications,” or modes of identity formation in which historical narratives played crucial roles. Based on this Dutch case study, then, the article develops two arguments. In a quantitative mode, it argues that more and different people suffered from the crisis of historicism than is usually assumed. In addition, it offers a qualitative argument: that the crisis was located especially among groups that derived their identity from “historical identifications.” Those who suffered most from the crisis of historicism were those who understood themselves as embedded in narratives that connected past, present, and future in such a way as to offer identity in historical terms.
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF MODERN TIMES: DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF TIME AND THE MODERNIST PERSPECTIVE
Authors: LEBOVIC NITZAN
Published: May 2010

Given World and Time is a collection of essays that summarizes much of the recent work on the theory of time, including cultural, political, and social conceptualizations of temporality. The grounding narrative of this collection, roughly stated, leads from the German and German‐Jewish ideas of a temporality of crisis developed in the 1920s, to the French poststructuralism of the 1960s and 1970s, and concludes with the American syntheses of the 1980s and 1990s. Methodologically, the book weaves together different historical narratives with a new emphasis on their temporal dimension, all seen from the perspective of critical theory and recent cultural critique. However, it is interesting to point out that the majority of the articles do not challenge the classic critical tools of modernism, in spite of the frequent reference to poststructuralist critique. The volume editor has also not acknowledged more recent work that treats similar topics and themes through the application of a radical political critique, most significantly the work associated with biopolitics and the so‐called theological turn.
DISCIPLINE, PHILOSOPHY, AND HISTORY
Authors: ZAMMITO JOHN
Published: May 2010

Gorman proposes to investigate historical practice under the rubric of a philosophy of disciplines. Such philosophy must first “recover historically” the self‐constitution of the discipline in order then to appraise its procedures for warranting claims. Gorman's concept of discipline would have profited from consulting the substantial body of empirical research and theory regarding disciplinarity, and his “historical recovery” of the discipline of history leaves a lot to be desired. These insufficiencies vitiate the interesting arguments he has to offer concerning the question of the truth‐claims of whole historical accounts. A better reconstruction of disciplinarity might also have provided him with stronger rejoinders to the postmodern challenge to historical practice that he sees himself called to rebut.
CONFUSING HISTORY
Authors: WILLIAMS ROBERT C.
Published: May 2010

This compendium of fifty essays by international philosophers examines history from the point of view of its cognate disciplines, historiography and the philosophy of history. The authors often use the terms history, the past, and historiography interchangeably. Essays are grouped in four broad categories: basic problems, major fields, philosophy and sub‐fields of historiography, and classical schools and philosophers of history. The book provides useful insights, some dated by the fashion of postmodernism. The essays are largely independent of one another, and may be read in any order. The volume will be of interest to philosophers, historians, and social scientists with a theoretical bent.
Inhibition of rennets by blood serum
Authors: BANSAL NIDHI , FOX PATRICK F , MCSWEENEY PAUL L H
Published: May 2010

Incubation of calf chymosin with the serum from blood of various mammalian species before addition to milk reduced its milk‐clotting activity at 30°C; the inhibitory potency of the sera was in the order horse > goat > cattle > donkey = human. For all species, inhibition of calf chymosin increased on increasing both the incubation time and the level of blood serum. Horse blood serum inhibited other milk coagulants in the order porcine pepsin > Cryphonectria parasitica proteinase = calf chymosin > Rhizomucor miehei proteinase = bovine pepsin. Methylamine‐treated blood serum did not inhibit calf chymosin, suggesting that α2‐macroglobulin may be the principal inhibitor of rennet in blood serum.
Isolation and identification of cultivable lactic acid bacteria in traditional fermented milk of Tibet in China
Authors: AIRIDENGCAICIKE  , CHEN XIA , DU XIAOHUA , WANG WEIHONG , ZHANG JIACHAO , SUN ZHIHONG , LIU WENJUN , LI LI , SUN TIANSONG , ZHANG HEPING
Published: May 2010

One hundred and seventy‐one strains of lactic acid bacteria were isolated from 44 traditional fermented milk samples from different region of Tibet. Among these samples, the concentrations of lactic acid bacteria varied from 10

5

to 10

9

colony forming unit/mL. The ratio of rod bacteria (71.3%) was higher than that of cocci (28.7%), and was considered to be the major population. Lactobacillus fermentum (31%) and Lactobacillus casei (28%) were the most predominant species among all these isolates. This study systematically analysed the microbial composition of traditional fermented milk in China, which may become a valuable source for further starter selection.
Development of a Consumer Environmental Index and Results for Washington State Consumers
Authors: Morris Jeffrey , Matthews H. Scott
Published: May 2010

Consumer choices affect sustainability of societal systems, and state governments increasingly are interested in environmental impacts of consumption. This article describes a Consumer Environmental Index (CEI) to track the impacts of product purchase, use, and disposal and applies this initial CEI to Washington State in the United States. CEI has modules for product and service use, upstream resource extraction and manufacturing, and downstream disposal. CEI uses hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) methods, combined with purchasing data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Survey.

For Washington State, when human health and ecosystem toxicity impact was assessed with the TRACI/CalTOX methods, weighted aggregate and per consumer impacts in all categories increased during the 6 years from 2000 to 2005. For impacts per real dollar spent, only the CEI's climate change component declined, falling nearly 7% between 2000 and 2005.

Purchasing details in the BLS expenditure surveys enable the CEI to track environmental impact details on 700 individual categories of products and services. For example, sugar, motor oil, and wood heat appear to have serious environmental impacts, whereas recycling of paper, cardboard, and food and beverage container discards can be as effective at reducing greenhouse gas emissions as cutting vehicle fuel usage nearly in half. Such results may serve to increase understanding of environmentally effective actions to reduce climate, human health, and ecosystem impacts of consumption.
The Effect of Aluminum on Electrical Properties of ZnO Varistors
Authors: Long Wangcheng , Hu Jun , Liu Jun , He Jinliang , Zong Rong
Published: May 2010

This paper focuses on the effect of aluminum additive on electrical properties of ZnO varistors. From the normalized current density versus electric field (J–E) curves, the influence of Al ionic additive on the leakage current and the residual voltage ratio of the sample is very intuitive. The barrier height of the grain boundary decreases with an increase in the Al dopant, but the donor density increases first and then decreases, which reaches the maximum while Al ionic 0.25% is added. The residual voltage ratio changes with the unevenness of ZnO grain sizes. Furthermore, the influence factors of the residual voltage ratio are analyzed.