bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Auxin‐induced, SCFTIR1‐mediated poly‐ubiquitination marks AUX/IAA proteins for degradation
Authors: Dos Santos Maraschin Felipe , Memelink Johan , Offringa Remko
Published: February 2009

The plant hormone auxin (indole‐3‐acetic acid or IAA) regulates plant development by inducing rapid cellular responses and changes in gene expression. Auxin promotes the degradation of Aux/IAA transcriptional repressors, thereby allowing auxin response factors (ARFs) to activate the transcription of auxin‐responsive genes. Auxin enhances the binding of Aux/IAA proteins to the receptor TIR1, which is an F‐box protein that is part of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex SCFTIR1. Binding of Aux/IAA proteins leads to degradation via the 26S proteasome, but evidence for SCFTIR1‐mediated poly‐ubiquitination of Aux/IAA proteins is lacking. Here we used an Arabidopsis cell suspension‐based protoplast system to find evidence for SCFTIR1‐mediated ubiquitination of the Aux/IAA proteins SHY2/IAA3 and BDL/IAA12. Each of these proteins showed a distinct abundance and repressor activity when expressed in this cell system. Moreover, the amount of endogenous TIR1 protein appeared to be rate‐limiting for a proper auxin response measured by the co‐transfected DR5::GUS reporter construct. Co‐transfection with 35S::TIR1 led to auxin‐dependent degradation, and excess of 35S::TIR1 even led to degradation of Aux/IAAs in the absence of auxin treatment. Expression of the mutant tir1‐1 protein or the related F‐box protein COI1, which is involved in jasmonate signaling, had no effect on Aux/IAA degradation. Our results show that SHY2/IAA3 and BDL/IAA12 are poly‐ubiquitinated and degraded in response to increased auxin or TIR1 levels. In conclusion, our data provide experimental support for the model that SCFTIR1‐dependent poly‐ubiquitination of Aux/IAA proteins marks these proteins for degradation by the 26S proteasome, leading to activation of auxin‐responsive gene expression.
Measuring patients’ perceptions of communication with healthcare providers: Do differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics matter?
Authors: DeVoe Jennifer E. , Wallace Lorraine S. , Fryer Jr George E.
Published: February 2009

Background  National governments across the globe have set goals to improve healthcare delivery. Understanding patient–provider communication is essential for the development of policies that measure how well a healthcare system delivers care.

Objectives  This study was designed to determine which, if any, demographic factors were independently associated with how US patients perceive various aspects of communication with their healthcare providers.

Design and methods  The study was a secondary, cross‐sectional analysis of nationally representative data from the 2002 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Among US adults with a healthcare visit in the past year (n = approximately 16 700), we assessed the association between several covariate demographic and socioeconomic factors and four dependent measures of patient perceptions of communication with their healthcare providers.

Results  Across all four measures of communication, older patients were more likely to report positively. Having health insurance and a usual source of care were consistent predictors of positive perceptions of communication. Hispanic patients also reported better perceptions of communication across all four measures. The most economically disadvantaged patients were less likely to report that providers always explained things so that they understood. Male patients were more likely to report that providers always spent enough time with them.

Conclusions  This study suggests that patient perceptions of communication in healthcare settings vary widely by demographics and other individual patient characteristics. In this paper, we discuss the relevance of these communication disparities to design policies to improve healthcare systems, both at the individual practice level and the national level.
Conceptual problems in laypersons’ understanding of individualized cancer risk: a qualitative study
Authors: Han Paul K. J. , Lehman Thomas C. , Massett Holly , Lee Simon J. C. , Klein William M. P. , Freedman Andrew N.
Published: February 2009

Objective  To explore laypersons’ understanding of individualized cancer risk estimates, and to identify conceptual problems that may limit this understanding.

Background  Risk prediction models are increasingly used to provide people with information about their individual risk of cancer and other diseases. However, laypersons may have difficulty understanding individualized risk information, because of conceptual as well as computational problems.

Design  A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups. Semi‐structured interviews explored participants’ understandings of the concept of risk, and their interpretations of a hypothetical individualized colorectal cancer risk estimate.

Setting and participants  Eight focus groups were conducted with 48 adults aged 50–74 years residing in two major US metropolitan areas. Participants had high school or greater education, some familiarity with information technology, and no personal or family history of cancer.

Results  Several important conceptual problems were identified. Most participants thought of risk not as a neutral statistical concept, but as signifying danger and emotional threat, and viewed cancer risk in terms of concrete risk factors rather than mathematical probabilities. Participants had difficulty acknowledging uncertainty implicit to the concept of risk, and judging the numerical significance of individualized risk estimates. The most challenging conceptual problems related to conflict between subjective and objective understandings of risk, and difficulties translating aggregate‐level objective risk estimates to the individual level.

Conclusions  Several conceptual problems limit laypersons’ understanding of individualized cancer risk information. These problems have implications for future research on health numeracy, and for the application of risk prediction models in clinical and public health settings.
Primary‐care patients’ expectations and experiences of online cognitive behavioural therapy for depression: a qualitative study
Authors: Beattie Angela , Shaw Alison , Kaur Surinder , Kessler David
Published: February 2009

Objective  To explore expectations and experiences of online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) among primary‐care patients with depression, focusing on how this mode of delivery impacts upon the therapeutic experience.

Design  Qualitative study, using repeat semi‐structured interviews with patients before and after therapy. The study was conducted in parallel with a randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of online CBT for patients with depression.

Participants  Twenty‐four patients with depression recruited from five general practices in southwest England, who were offered up to 10 sessions of CBT, delivered via the internet by a psychologist.

Results  Most participants accessed the therapy from their home computer and found this to be a major advantage, in terms of convenience and fitting therapy into their daily routine, with any technical problems quickly resolved. Two key themes regarding expectations and experiences of online CBT were: developing a virtual relationship with a therapist, and the process of communicating thoughts and emotions via an online medium. Online CBT seems to be acceptable to, and experienced as helpful by, certain subgroups of patients with depression, particularly those who are familiar with computers, feel comfortable with writing their feelings down, enjoy the opportunities to review and reflect that written (or typed) communication offers are attracted to the ‘anonymity’ of an online therapeutic relationship and are open to the proactive requirements of CBT itself. However, on‐line CBT may feed into the vulnerability of depressed people to negative thoughts, given the absence of visual cues and the immediate response of face‐to‐face interaction.

Conclusions  Online CBT has the potential to enhance care for patients with depression who are open to engaging in ‘talking’ (or typing) therapies as part of their treatment. If online CBT is to be provided via the NHS, it is important to establish patient preferences regarding this mode of delivery and ensure that referral practices are appropriately targeted. The results of our main trial will provide evidence regarding the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of receiving therapy via this modality.
Polymorphisms in interleukin‐1 receptor‐associated kinase 4 are associated with total serum IgE
Authors: Tewfik M. A. , Bossé Y. , Lemire M. , Hudson T. J. , Vallée‐Smejda S. , Al‐Shemari H. , Laprise C. , Desrosiers M.
Published: February 2009

Background:  Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level is recognized to be under strong genetic control, but the causal and susceptibility genes remain to be identified. We sought to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Toll‐like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway and total serum IgE level.

Methods:  A population of 206 patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) was used. Precise phenotyping of patients was accomplished by means of a questionnaire and clinical examination. Blood was drawn for measurement of total serum IgE, as well as DNA extraction. A maximally informative set of SNPs in the TLR1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, CD14, MD2, MyD88, IRAK4, and TRAF6 genes were selected and genotyped. Significant findings were replicated in a second independent population of 956 subjects from 227 families with asthma.

Results:  A total of 97 out of 104 SNPs were successfully genotyped. Three SNPs in IRAK4– rs1461567, rs4251513, and rs4251559 – were associated with total serum IgE levels (P < 0.004). In the replication sample, the same SNPs as well as the same orientation of the risk allele were associated with IgE levels (P < 0.031).

Conclusions:  These results demonstrate a clear association between polymorphisms in the IRAK4 gene and serum IgE levels in patients with CRS and asthma. IRAK4 may be important in the regulation of IgE levels in patients with inflammatory diseases of the airways.
Differential requirements for interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐13 in protein contact dermatitis induced by Anisakis
Authors: Nieuwenhuizen N. , Herbert D. R. , Brombacher F. , Lopata A. L.
Published: February 2009

Background:  Exposure to antigens of the fish parasite Anisakis is associated with the development of protein contact dermatitis in seafood‐processing workers. Understanding the basic mechanisms controlling allergic sensitization through the skin is critical for designing therapies that will prevent the progression of allergic disease.

Objective:  To investigate the roles of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐13 and the IL‐4Rα in both local skin pathology and systemic sensitization following epicutaneous exposure to Anisakis proteins.

Methods:  BALB/c wild‐type (WT) mice and mice deficient in IL‐4, IL‐13 or IL‐4 and IL‐13, as well as mice with cell‐specific impairment of IL‐4Rα expression, were sensitized to Anisakis antigen by repeated epicutaneous application of Anisakis extract. Following this sensitization, skin pathology was recorded and systemic responses were investigated. Intravenous challenge with Anisakis extract was performed to test for the development of biologically relevant systemic sensitization.

Results:  In WT mice, epicutaneous sensitization with Anisakis larval antigens induced localized inflammation, epidermal hyperplasia, production of TH2 cytokines, antigen‐specific IgE and IgG1. Intravenous challenge of sensitized mice resulted in anaphylactic shock. Interestingly, IL‐13 deficient mice failed to develop epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation, whilst anaphylaxis was reduced only in strains deficient either in IL‐4 only, or deficient in IL‐4 and IL‐13 concurrently, as well as in mice deficient in IL‐4Rα or with impaired IL‐4Rα expression on CD4+ T cells.

Conclusions:  Interleukin‐13 plays a central role in protein contact dermatitis associated with repeated epicutaneous exposure to Anisakis extract, whereas IL‐4 drives systemic sensitization and resultant anaphylactic shock.
Mate choice based on a key ecological performance trait
Authors: SNOWBERG L. K. , BENKMAN C. W.
Published: February 2009

Mate preference for well‐adapted individuals may strengthen divergent selection and thereby facilitate adaptive divergence. We performed mate choice experiments in which we manipulated male red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra complex) feeding rates. Using association time as a proxy for preference, we found that females preferred faster foragers, which reinforces natural selection because poorly adapted males would be less likely to obtain a mate as well as less likely to survive. Although theoretical models predict direct preference for adaptation and performance, to the best of our knowledge this experiment provides the first evidence of individuals directly assessing feeding performance in mate choice. In species where assessing the ecological adaptation of potential mates is possible, females may gain fitness benefits from choosing a well‐adapted mate directly or indirectly, promoting the use of information about ecological adaptation in mate choice.
Moult speed affects structural feather ornaments in the blue tit
Authors: GRIGGIO M. , SERRA L. , LICHERI D. , CAMPOMORI C. , PILASTRO A.
Published: February 2009

Growing evidence suggests that structural feather colours honestly reflect individual quality or body condition but, contrary to pigment‐based colours, it is not clear what mechanism links condition to reflectance in structural feather colours. We experimentally accelerated the moult speed of a group of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) by exposing them to a rapidly decreasing photoperiod and compared the spectral characteristics of their structural feather colours with those of control birds. Blue tits were sexually dimorphic on the UV/blue crown and on the white cheek feathers. Moult speed, however, dramatically reduced brightness and the saturation only on the UV/blue crown feathers, whereas structural white on the cheek feathers was basically unaffected by moult speed. Given that the time available for moulting is usually confined to the period between the end of the breeding season and migration or wintering, UV/blue colours, but not structural white, may convey long‐term information about an individual’s performance during the previous breeding season. The trade‐off between fast moulting and structural colour expression may represent a previously unrecognized selective advantage for early‐breeding birds.
Investment in the public good through conditional phenotypes   of large effect
Authors: WILD G. , FERNANDES A. D.
Published: February 2009

We investigate the evolution of an individual's willingness to invest in a public good (what we call, helping) in a patch‐structured population with limited natal dispersal. We assume that an individual's decision to invest is informed by its dispersal status: an individual makes one decision given it is native to the patch on which it breeds, and is free to make a different decision given that it is not native to the patch on which it breeds. Unlike previous work, we assume that investment in the public good, and the public good, itself, both have a large effect on individual fecundity. Kin selection analysis reveals that only extreme investment decisions (i.e. ‘always invest’ or ‘never invest’) can be evolutionarily stable. Numerical results suggest that the evolutionary instability of the ‘never invest’ phenotype (what we call, complete nonhelping) implies the evolutionary stability of ‘always invest’ (what we call, complete helping). In addition, numerical results show that bistability of extreme phenotypes is possible, indicating that the adaptive significance of altruism, in this context, is greater than has been previously recognized. Numerical results are supported by computer simulation, and results, themselves, are briefly discussed in a concluding section.
A novel secondary metabolite from the Eucalyptus pathogen Mycosphaerella cryptica
Authors: Assante G. , Nasini G. , Zhang S. , Bradshaw R. E.
Published: February 2009

The most abundant metabolite of the eucalyptus leaf spot pathogen Mycosphaerella cryptica was extracted from agar cultures. The structure of the compound was elucidated by detailed studies of NMR and MS data and by comparison with derivatives. The compound is a previously undescribed diphenylether structurally related to pannaric acid found in lichens. Culture extracts from another species of Mycosphaerella isolated from the same environment yielded 5‐hydroxymethylfuran‐3‐carboxylic acid, a furan acidic compound previously isolated from a basidiomycete fungus. Assays for bioactivity of these metabolites revealed no evidence for antimicrobial activity. Some phytotoxicity was seen on newly emerged leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, but not on juvenile or adult leaves, when treated with either metabolite.
The Chalan beel in Bangladesh: Habitat and biodiversity degradation, and implications for future management
Authors: Hossain Mostafa A. R. , Nahiduzzaman M. , Sayeed M. Abu , Azim M. Ekram , Wahab M. Abdul , Olin Paul G.
Published: February 2009

This study provides an overview of the current resources and fisheries status of the Chalan beel, and identifies the scope of opportunities to evolve existing fisheries management strategies, focusing on fish biodiversity conservation. Chalan beel is the largest, most important watershed in the North Central Bangladesh, and covers an area of about 375 km2 during the monsoon season. The watershed serves about 5 million people, predominantly through fisheries and agricultural activities. Although considerably degraded over time, Chalan beel still supports a diverse ichthyofauna of major importance to the local economy and people's livelihoods. The Chalan beel area incorporates 21 rivers and 93 smaller seasonal beels of varying size. Most of the rivers and beels are at risk of partial or total degradation, as a result of agricultural encroachment, siltation and other anthropogenic activities. During the study, ≈ 83% of the rivers, and 68% of the beels in the lean season, shrunk to 0–5% of their maximum (monsoon) water‐spread area during the dry season (i.e. critical levels for survival of many fish species). A fish catch survey was carried out in the main fishing season (July to December) over two successive years in the three most important catchment areas; namely, the Gumani, Baral and Katagang Rivers. A total of 72 sampling episodes yielded 9818 individuals, representing 114 fish species. The most abundant fish species during the 2‐year study period were punti (Puntius sophore and Puntius ticto), followed by chanda (Chanda nama and Parambassis ranga), chapila (Gudusia chapra) and tengra (Mystus vittatus). The study results indicate at least 19 fish species once considered abundant can now be classified as threatened, with a possibility of local extinction. The mean fish catch was 2.08 ± 0.49 kg, and 1.29 ± 0.32 kg per hour per person, by suti jal (set bag net – the most common gear used in the beel) in 2005 and 2006, respectively, with a significant (P < 0.05) variation among catches in months and years at all three sample sites. In 2005–2006, the annual fish production in Chalan beel was 12 217 tonnes, being less than half of the production observed in 1982. The stakeholders identified several major causes they thought were directly responsible for the continued decrease in fish production and biodiversity of the beel area. Several management strategies were suggested by the same stakeholders, and the findings are discussed in the context of overall developments in the Chalan beel fisheries related to habitat and biodiversity management.
Initial appraisal of water quality of Lake Santa Ana, Mexico
Authors: Gaytán Roberto , De Anda José , González‐Farías Fernando
Published: February 2009

Lake Santa Ana is located in the Mexican central plateau, a semiarid region characterized by low rainfall and high evaporation rates. Because of the area's climatic conditions, most of its few existing lakes and reservoirs are ephemeral, with significantly reduced surface areas during the dry season. Mexican authorities currently pay little or no attention to these special aquatic ecosystems. As a consequence, several of these waterbodies are severely degraded in regard to both water quantity and quality. As a result, this report describes Lake Santa Ana as a case study. Several water quality parameters, including physicochemical, microbiological and heavy metal concentrations, were measured at eight sampling sites in the lake, and four sites in the lake basin, in 2005. Some dissolved ions were also analysed in 2007 in the lake, and in a well located close to the lake, in order to evaluate possible interactions between groundwater and surface waters. These study results indicate that the lake does not have significant interactions with groundwater in the local aquifer. Most of the measured water quality parameters do not meet the international suggested standards for inland surface waters to sustain aquatic life, and preserve the habitat for both endemic and migratory waterfowl. Loss of aquatic habitats puts at risk the value of the central portion of Mexico as a migratory route for North American waterfowl species.
Conjunctival and episcleral Splendore–Hoeppli phenomenon
Authors: Pinto Nigel , Hirst Lawrence , Whitby Michael
Published: February 2009

Abstract

The Splendore–Hoeppli phenomenon originally described in 1908 is a rare pathological state with an as yet unknown cause. Reported is the Splendore–Hoeppli phenomenon present in both eyes of a 36‐year‐old woman. The pathology then proceeded to resolve itself completely within 10 weeks. Of note was the fact that the patient actually developed these granulomata despite being on high doses of oral steroids with the lesions disappearing despite her steroids being withdrawn during the resolution phase. An indication is that the phenomenon is unlikely to be because of an autoimmune response.
Carotid intima‐media thickness and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A‐I ratio in middle‐aged patients with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Dahlén E. M. , Länne T. , Engvall J. , Lindström T. , Grodzinsky E. , Nystrom F. H. , Östgren C. J.
Published: February 2009

Aims  To explore the association between carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) and the apolipoprotein B (apoB)/apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I) ratio compared with conventional lipids in middle‐aged patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods  We analysed data from 247 patients with Type 2 diabetes, aged 55–66 years, in the Cardiovascular Risk factors in Patients with Diabetes—a Prospective study in Primary care (CARDIPP‐1) study. Primary care nurses measured blood pressure and anthropometric characteristics. Blood samples were taken for laboratory analyses. The carotid IMT was determined by ultrasonography at the University Hospital in Linköping and at the County Hospital Ryhov, Jönköping, Sweden.

Results  The ApoB/apoA‐I ratio (r = 0.207, P = 0.001), apoB (r = 0.166, P = 0.009) and non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (non‐HDL‐c) (r = 0.129, P = 0.046) correlated with IMT. Conventional lipids, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and systolic blood pressure were not significantly correlated to IMT. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted with IMT as the dependent variable and the apoB/apoA‐I ratio, HbA1c, hsCRP, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐c), total cholesterol, non‐HDL‐c and treatment with statins as independent variables. Following adjustment for age and gender, only the apoB/apoA‐I ratio remained significantly associated with IMT (odds ratio 4.3, 95% confidence intervals 1.7–10.8, P = 0.002).

Conclusions  We conclude that there was a significant association between the apoB/apoA‐I ratio and IMT in middle‐aged patients with Type 2 diabetes. The association was independent of conventional lipids, hsCRP, glycaemic control and use of statins.
Selectable marker genes and unintended changes to the plant transcriptome
Authors: Miki Brian , Abdeen Ashraf , Manabe Yuzuki , MacDonald Phil
Published: February 2009

The intended effect of a selectable marker gene is to confer a novel trait that allows for the selection and recovery of transgenic plants. Unintended effects may also occur as a result of interactions between the selectable marker gene or its regulatory elements and genetic elements at the site of insertion. These are called position effects. Other unintended effects may occur if the selectable marker gene has a range of pleiotropic effects related to the functional and regulatory domains within the coding region or the regulatory elements used to drive expression. Both pleiotropic and position effects may generate unpredictable events depending on the process used for transgenesis and the state of knowledge associated with the selectable marker gene. Although some selectable marker genes, such as the neomycin phosphotransferase type II gene (nptII), have no pleiotropic effects on the transcriptomes of transgenic plants, others, such as the bialaphos resistance gene (bar), have pleiotropic effects. These must be clearly understood and accounted for when evaluating the expression patterns conferred by other co‐transforming transgenes under study. The number and kinds of selectable marker genes are large. A detailed understanding of their unintended effects is needed to develop transgenic strategies that will minimize or eliminate unintended and unpredictable changes to plants with newly inserted genes.
URBAN HISTORY AND THE FUTURE OF AUSTRALIAN CITIES
Authors: Frost Lionel , O'Hanlon Seamus
Published: February 2009

Urban growth is a major theme in economic development and a policy imperative for developed countries that seek to create sustainable cities. We argue that the past weighs heavily on the ability of societies to sustainably manage urban environments. The policy implications of urban history are revealed in comparisons of cities across times and between places. The special issue presents some of the best recent work on the economic and social history of Australian cities. We aim to encourage historians to incorporate urban variables into studies of historical processes and to persuade policymakers to consider historical trends in their analysis.
Organizational strengths and challenges of Kenyan NGOs serving orphans and vulnerable children: a template analysis
Authors: Ferguson Kristin M. , Heidemann Gretchen
Published: February 2009

This qualitative study of Kenyan non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) identified strengths and challenges associated with service provision to orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). From September to December 2006, data were collected by Kenyan research assistants in 34 NGOs in Nairobi and Eldoret. In‐depth interviews were used to explore the perceptions of directors and staff in relation to organizational strengths and challenges in serving OVC. Structuration theory and template analysis were used to identify higher‐order codes related to strengths and challenges of human agents, organizations and societal forces. Emergent themes and supporting interview quotations are presented to highlight common patterns across organizations, including strengths such as staff commitment, client outcomes, and resourceful communities, as well as challenges such as lack of staff, funding, and parental involvement. Through the analysis we uncover insights about the recursive relationship between micro and macro realities in Kenyan NGOs and the accompanying human and social transformations that result from providing services to OVC.
Different neurocognitive functions regulating physical aggression and hyperactivity in early childhood
Authors: Séguin Jean R. , Parent Sophie , Tremblay Richard E. , Zelazo Philip David
Published: February 2009

Background:  There are strong parallels between early childhood and adolescent behavior problems. However, we do not know if behavioral symptoms associate with neurocognitive processes in very young children as they do in older children.

Methods:  We studied a population‐based birth cohort of children (N = 1,950) whose developmental trajectories of physical aggression and hyperactivity were assessed between the ages of 17 and 41 months. We measured the following neurocognitive abilities at 41 months of age: Receptive vocabulary, visuospatial organization, and short‐term memory.

Results:  After controlling for other neurocognitive abilities, frequent physical aggression was related specifically to receptive vocabulary deficits (p < .0001) while frequent hyperactivity was related specifically to deficits of visuospatial organization (p < .0001). The pattern of associations was robust despite controls for socioeconomic and perinatal status.

Conclusions:  The different neurocognitive correlates of physical aggression and hyperactivity problems observed during adolescence are apparent in early childhood. Whereas physical aggression problems are associated with language deficits, hyperactivity problems are related to non‐verbal deficits.
An observational study of the interactions of socially withdrawn/anxious early adolescents and their friends
Authors: Schneider Barry H.
Published: February 2009

Background:  The friendships of socially withdrawn/anxious children and early adolescents have been found to lack critical rewarding qualities. Observational research may help elucidate the obstacles they face in forming and maintaining high‐quality friendships with sociable peers.

Method:  We observed the interactions of 38 socially withdrawn early adolescents with their friends and compared them to a community control group.

Results:  In negotiating the sharing of an object, the socially withdrawn, anxious group was more passive than controls. The socially withdrawn, anxious participants engaged less actively in a fast‐paced game involving miniature cars. While completing a quiet drawing task, the socially anxious, withdrawn participants tended to refrain from comparing their work to that of their friends. In all three of our closed‐field situations, the socially withdrawn, anxious participants displayed relatively neutral affect in comparison with the control group.

Conclusions:  These results suggest that the social withdrawal and social anxiety of children with social phobia are very evident even within the confines of their close friendships. Therefore, therapeutic interventions at the level of the dyad may be indicated.
Emanuel Miller Lecture: Attachment insecurity, disinhibited attachment, and attachment disorders: where do research findings leave the concepts?
Authors: Rutter Michael , Kreppner Jana , Sonuga‐Barke Edmund
Published: February 2009

Background:  Despite the evidence on anomalous attachment patterns, there has been a tendency to interpret most of these as reflecting differences in security/insecurity.

Methods:  Empirical research findings are reviewed in relation to attachment/insecurity as evident in both infancy and later childhood, disorganised attachment, inhibited attachment disorder, and disinhibited attachment disorder.

Findings:  Substantial differences are found in the correlates and meaning of these different features, as well as in the patterns associated with conditions such as autism, psychopathy, and Williams syndrome.

Conclusions:  It is seriously misleading to view all of these patterns through the lens of security/insecurity. This heterogeneity in social relationship features necessarily has implications for the assessment measures for social relationships that need to be used.
Do individuals with autism spectrum disorders infer traits from behavior?
Authors: Ramachandran Rajani , Mitchell Peter , Ropar Danielle
Published: February 2009

Background: Traits and mental states are considered to be inter‐related parts of theory of mind. Attribution research demonstrates the influential role played by traits in social cognition. However, there has been little investigation into how individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) understand traits.

Method: The ability of individuals with ASD to infer traits from descriptions of behavior was investigated by asking participants to read trait‐implying sentences and then to choose one of two words that best related to the sentence.

Results: In Experiment 1, individuals with ASD performed similarly to matched controls in being faster at choosing the trait in comparison to the semantic associate of one of the words in the sentence. The results from Experiments 1 and 2 provided converging evidence in suggesting that inferring traits from textual descriptions of behavior occurs with relatively little effort. The results of Experiment 3 suggested that making trait inferences took priority over inferring actions or making semantic connections between words.

Conclusions: Individuals with ASD infer traits from descriptions of behavior effortlessly and spontaneously. The possibility of trait inference being a spared socio‐cognitive function in autism is discussed.
Extraction and Refinement Strategy for detection of autism in 18‐month‐olds: a guarantee of higher sensitivity and specificity in the process of mass screening
Authors: Honda Hideo , Shimizu Yasuo , Nitto Yukari , Imai Miho , Ozawa Takeshi , Iwasa Mitsuaki , Shiga Keiko , Hira Tomoko
Published: February 2009

Background:  For early detection of autism, it is difficult to maintain an efficient level of sensitivity and specificity based on observational data from a single screening. The Extraction and Refinement (E&R) Strategy utilizes a public children’s health surveillance program to produce maximum efficacy in early detection of autism. In the extraction stage, all cases at risk of childhood problems, including developmental abnormality, are identified; in the refinement stage, cases without problems are excluded, leaving only cases with conclusive diagnoses.

Methods:  The city of Yokohama, Japan, conducts a routine child health surveillance program for children at 18 months in which specialized public health nurses administer YACHT‐18 (Young Autism and other developmental disorders CHeckup Tool), a screening instrument to identify children at risk for developmental disorders. Children who screen positive undergo further observation, and those without disorders are subsequently excluded. To study the efficacy of early detection procedures for developmental disorders, including autism, 2,814 children born in 1988, examined at 18 months of age, and not already receiving treatment for diseases or disorders were selected.

Results:  In the extraction stage, 402 (14.3%) children were identified for follow‐up. In the refinement stage, 19 (.7%) of these were referred to the Yokohama Rehabilitation Center and diagnosed with developmental disorders. The extraction stage produced four false negatives, bringing total diagnoses of developmental disorders to 23 (.8%) – including 5 with autistic disorder and 9 with pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). Sensitivity was 60% for autistic disorder and 82.6% for developmental disorders. Specificity for developmental disorders rose to 100% with the E&R Strategy. Picture cards used in YACHT‐18 provided a finer screen that excluded some false positive cases.

Conclusions:  An extraction and refinement methodology utilizing child health surveillance programs achieve high efficacy for early detection of autism.
Directional effects between rapid auditory processing and phonological awareness in children
Authors: Johnson Erin Phinney , Pennington Bruce F. , Lee Nancy Raitano , Boada Richard
Published: February 2009

Background:  Deficient rapid auditory processing (RAP) has been associated with early language impairment and dyslexia. Using an auditory masking paradigm, children with language disabilities perform selectively worse than controls at detecting a tone in a backward masking (BM) condition (tone followed by white noise) compared to a forward masking (FM) condition (tone preceded by white noise). Tallal’s (1980) auditory processing hypothesis posits that abnormal RAP leads to reduced (or impaired) phonological awareness (PA), resulting in reading and language difficulties. Alternative theories suggest that impaired PA may have more of a top‐down effect on auditory processing.

Methods:  The current study examines RAP in children tested at two time points, average age 5.6 and average age 8.3, in order to test causal relations between RAP and PA in a path analysis. Additional hierarchical regressions examine how well RAP predicts reading ability when accounting for PA and vocabulary.

Results:  The path analysis indicates a top‐down effect, such that PA has a larger impact on BM over time than the reverse. Regressions indicate no direct impact of RAP on reading ability.

Discussion:  The path analysis provides evidence against the auditory processing hypothesis and instead suggests that between the ages of 5 and 8 it is variability in early phonological representations that predicts subsequent lower‐level rapid auditory processing.
Transnationalists and national networkers in the global corporate elite
Authors: CARROLL WILLIAM K.
Published: February 2009

Through a longitudinal network analysis of the interlocking directors of the world's 500 largest corporations (1996–2006), in this article I map continuities and changes in the social organization of the global corporate elite. I pursue two questions: (1) Can we trace the formation, within the elite, of a set of directors whose transnational interlocks form an inner circle of cosmopolitans? And (2) How does the regionalized character of global capitalism structure the global corporate elite in its national and transnational segments? Findings show that transnationalists have gained prominence within the global corporate elite and are firmly embedded in the network, through extensive ties to each other and to various national components. National networkers, despite thinning ranks and sparser interlocks, continue to form the backbone of the global corporate elite, and remain on balance nationally cohesive. Overall, despite modest accretions in participation from the semi‐periphery, and with the decline of the Japanese corporate network, the elite becomes centred even more strongly on the North Atlantic. With its growing regional cohesiveness, corporate Europe gains prominence within that heartland. This analysis helps specify the process of transnational capitalist class formation at its higher reaches.
Extending a SVAR Model of the Australian Economy*
Authors: DUNGEY MARDI , PAGAN ADRIAN
Published: February 2009

Dungey and Pagan (2000) present a SVAR model of the Australian economy which models macroeconomic outcomes as transitory deviations from a deterministic trend. In this paper we extend that model in two directions. First, we relate it to an emerging literature on Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium modelling of small open economies. Second, we allow for both transitory and permanent components in the series and show how this modification has an impact on the design of macroeconomic models.
An Exploration of Australian Petrol Demand: Unobservable Habits, Irreversibility and Some Updated Estimates*
Authors: BREUNIG ROBERT V. , GISZ CAROL
Published: February 2009

We explore a methodological improvement to the standard dynamic demand model for petrol – a general model which allows for slowly evolving, unobservable habits. If this habit formation model is correct, then standard estimation techniques produce inconsistent estimates. We find price elasticities of –0.13 (short‐run) and –0.20 (long‐run). Importantly, standard techniques are misleading about the precision of elasticity estimates and the confidence interval around the long‐run price elasticity is quite wide. We test for price irreversibility and find, in contrast to the USA, almost no evidence that petrol responds differently to price increases and decreases.
Fixed‐term Contracts and Employment Adjustment: An Empirical Test of the Core–Periphery Hypothesis Using German Establishment Data*
Authors: PFEIFER CHRISTIAN
Published: February 2009

Fixed‐term contracts (FTCs), an important feature of the employment relationship of the peripheral workforce, are analysed to test the following two hypotheses, which are based on dual labour market theory: (i) Firms use FTCs for the peripheral workforce to adjust the level of employment to the profit maximising level in case of demand fluctuations. (ii) Thanks to the utilisation of FTCs, the core workforce is less exposed to employment adjustment. Both hypotheses are supported by the results of the econometric analysis, which uses a German establishment panel.
Coagulation effects of low molecular weight heparin compared with heparin in dogs considered to be at risk for clinically significant venous thrombosis
Authors: Scott Kielyn C. , Hansen Bernie D. , DeFrancesco Teresa C.
Published: February 2009

Objective –Compare the effects of 3 anticoagulation protocols on anti‐factor Xa activity (AXa).

Design –Prospective, randomized, double‐blind study.

Setting –University veterinary teaching hospital.

Animals –Eighteen dogs considered to be at risk for venous thrombosis.

Interventions –Each dog was randomly assigned to 1 of the following 3 groups (n=6/group) and was treated for 24 hours: low‐dose heparin (LDH), high‐dose heparin (HDH), and dalteparin (DP). Dogs in the LDH group received a constant rate infusion (CRI) of unfractionated heparin (UFH) at 300 U/kg/d, the HDH group received a bolus of 100 U/kg of UFH IV, then a CRI of 900 U/kg/day, and the DP group received 100 U/kg DP SC at 0, 12, and 24 hours.

Measurements and Main Results –A total of 54 samples for activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and AXa assays were collected at 0, 4, and 28 hours. Six samples had an AXa >0.1 U/mL, 5 of those were from the HDH group at hour 4. Two samples from the HDH group at hour 4 had a prolonged aPTT (93 and 200 seconds) and the highest AXa (0.6 and 1.0 U/mL, respectively). Four additional dogs in the HDH group did not complete the study due to hemorrhage; none of the dogs completing the study showed signs of hemorrhage.

Conclusions:Neither DP nor LDH increased AXa to values considered therapeutic in humans (0.5–1 and 0.35–0.75 U/mL, respectively), and both protocols appear to be inadequate to increase AXa in dogs with clinical illness. HDH increased AXa to this range in 2 of 6 dogs, but had unpredictable effects on aPTT and resulted in hemorrhage in some dogs.
Evaluation of low‐molecular‐weight heparin for the prevention of equine laminitis after colic surgery
Authors: De La Rebière de Pouyade Geoffroy , Grulke Sigrid , Detilleux Johann , Salciccia Alexandra , Verwilghen Denis R. , Caudron Isabelle , Gangl Monika , Serteyn Didier D.A.
Published: February 2009

Objectives –The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of postoperative laminitis in colic cases and to determine if low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) is effective in preventing this complication.

Design –Retrospective clinical study.

Animals –Client‐owned horses.

Interventions –SC administration of enoxaparin during the postoperative period.

Measurements and Main Results –Medical records of 360 horses undergoing surgery for colic and surviving at least 3 days were evaluated. Fifty‐six horses admitted before 1995 did not receive LMWH (control group) and 304 admitted after 1995 received LMWH as a prophylaxis for laminitis (treatment group). Three grades of severity were defined for laminitis. Prevalence and severity of laminitis were compared between the 2 groups. Several parameters recorded on admission (sex, age, breed, site and nature of the disease, heart rate, PCV, gravity score, and shock score) and the administration of LMWH were tested as risk factors in the development of laminitis in a logistic regression procedure. Prevalence and grade of laminitis were significantly lower in the treatment group. Only the absence of LMWH was recognized as a significant risk factor in the logistic regression model.

Conclusions –The administration of LMWH appears to be effective in the prophylaxis of laminitis following colic surgery and may be useful in the postoperative management of these horses.
Increasing patient safety in veterinary transfusion medicine: an overview of pretransfusion testing
Authors: Tocci Lynel J. , Ewing Patty J.
Published: February 2009

Objectives –To review the principles and available technology for pretransfusion testing in veterinary medicine and discuss the indications and importance of test performance before RBC transfusion.

Data Sources –Current human and veterinary medical literature: original research articles and scientific reviews.

Summary –Indications for RBC transfusion in veterinary medicine include severe anemia or tissue hypoxia resulting from blood loss, decreased erythrocyte production, and hemolyzing conditions such as immune‐mediated anemia and neonatal isoerythrolysis. Proper blood sample collection, handling, and identification are imperative for high‐quality pretransfusion testing. Point‐of‐care blood typing methods including both typing cards and rapid gel agglutination are readily available for some species. Following blood typing, crossmatching is performed on one or more donor units of appropriate blood type. As an alternative to technically demanding tube crossmatching methods, a point‐of‐care gel agglutination method has recently become available for use in dogs and cats. Crossmatching reduces the risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions but does not completely eliminate the risk of other types of transfusion reactions in veterinary patients, and for this reason, all transfusion reactions should be appropriately documented and investigated.

Conclusion –The administration of blood products is a resource‐intensive function of veterinary medicine and optimizing patient safety in transfusion medicine is multifaceted. Adverse reactions can be life threatening. Appropriate donor screening and collection combined with pretransfusion testing decreases the occurrence of incompatible transfusion reactions.
The cell‐based model of coagulation
Authors: Smith Stephanie A.
Published: February 2009

Objective
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To review the current model describing coagulation processes, including the critical contributions of cells.

Data Sources
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Original research articles, scientific reviews, and textbooks.

Data Synthesis
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Normal hemostasis is vital for prevention of blood loss, but controls are necessary to limit coagulation to the site of injury. The previous cascade model of blood coagulation, although refined and updated over the last few decades, is flawed as a description of how hemostasis occurs in vivo. The recently proposed model incorporates the vital role of cells in coagulation processes, and corrects deficiencies of the older cascade models.

Conclusions
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The cell‐based model of coagulation provides a description of coagulation that more likely reflects hemostatic processes as they occur in vivo.