bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Sea Lamprey Egg Survival
Authors: Smith Stephen J. , Marsden J. Ellen
Published: October 2009

Factors that affect recruitment of sea lampreys Petromyzon marinus are not well understood; for example, the majority (85%) of sea lamprey eggs are washed out of the nest, and the survival rate of these eggs is unknown. We examined the role of predation and substrate on egg survival in the laboratory and egg predation and dispersion of eggs outside the nest in the field. Substrate type did not influence the numbers of eggs consumed by predators, but the proportion of available eggs consumed was higher for crayfish Orconectes spp. (74%) and creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus (47%) than for white suckers Catostomus commersonii (9%) and logperch Percina caprodes (3%; F = 11.12, df = 3, P < 0.0001). Survival of eggs incubated on silt (69.2%) and sand (50.8%) in the laboratory was significantly higher than survival on gravel (19.1%). Stream sampling indicated that sea lamprey egg density outside of nests on gravel was low (1.9 eggs/m2) compared with egg density in depositional areas (105.7 eggs/m2); eggs sampled outside the nest had near zero viability. In exclosure boxes seeded with sea lamprey eggs and deployed on gravel and silt for 7–10 d, egg retention was significantly greater on spawning gravel (31 ± 3%; mean ± SE) than on silt (6 ± 3%; P ≤ 0.0001); egg retention was affected by the presence of a 0.5-cm-mesh cover. Stream discharge appeared to increase egg loss from nests. We conclude that predation rates on sea lamprey eggs outside the nest are high and that substrate type alone has little impact on egg hatching success. Given the low retention of eggs in nests, egg mortality is probably a primary determinant of year-class strength. Production of sea lampreys outside the nest likely occurs under low stream discharge conditions from eggs deposited on spawning gravel.
Larval Fish Use of Dike Structures on a Navigable River
Authors: Niles Jonathan M. , Hartman Kyle J.
Published: October 2009

In rivers, velocity shelters are thought to serve as limiting factors in the retention and recruitment of young fish. Such shelters are formed in backwaters and tributaries; however, these areas are limited in many North American rivers. In response to this concern, several dike sites that serve as low-velocity zones were placed within the Kanawha River (West Virginia), a sixth-order tributary of the Ohio River. This study was conducted to evaluate whether the dike sites (finger and zipper dikes) provided velocity shelters that are used by larval fish. Larval fish were sampled during 2002 and 2003 using larval light traps. Larval fishes collected were typical of large river systems; Cyprinidae, Percidae, and Centrarchidae were the most abundant families. Results show that larval abundances peaked during late June in 2002 and early July in 2003. Overall taxonomic composition did not differ between dike sites and reference sites. Throughout the study, larval fish were captured at significantly higher rates (P < 0.001) at dike sites than at high- and low-quality reference areas. Water velocities were significantly lower (P < 0.001) at dike sites than at reference areas, suggesting that the greater larval fish use of dike sites may be attributed to reduced velocity provided by the structures. This study suggests that dike sites can serve as velocity shelters and retention areas for larval fish in navigationally impacted rivers.
The Effects of Smolt Stocking Strategies on Migratory Path Selection of Adult Atlantic Salmon in the Penobscot River, Maine
Authors: Gorsky Dimitry , Trial Joan , Zydlewski Joseph , McCleave James
Published: October 2009

Understanding the homing behavior of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar is vital to the restoration program employed on the Penobscot River, Maine. To produce significant adult returns, managers currently stock hatchery-raised smolts in specific river sections, providing smolts the opportunity to imprint on chemical signals and enabling their return to productive spawning and rearing habitat as adults. In this study, we used observational evidence from passive integrated transponder telemetry to determine whether adults returning from smolt stockings behaved in a way that suggested strong homing to smolt stocking locations. Adults returning from smolt stocking locations located in or at the mouth of the Piscataquis River were more likely to be detected as entering the Piscataquis River than were adults returning from the upper Penobscot River smolt stocking locations. In general, returning adult Atlantic salmon that had been stocked near or in tributaries as smolts chose a path more quickly than those that had been stocked in more downstream or main-stem locations. These results suggest that Atlantic salmon smolts should be stocked at specific sites with superior habitat for spawning and juvenile survival to capitalize on the strong homing tendency in adults. This technique can also be utilized to allow for natural selection and the development of localized stocks.
Survival and Growth of Walleye Fingerlings Stocked at Two Sizes in 24 Wisconsin Lakes
Authors: Kampa Jeffrey M. , Hatzenbeler Gene R.
Published: October 2009

We compared the performance of walleye Sander vitreus fingerlings of two different sizes that were stocked into Wisconsin lakes during 2004–2007. Small fingerlings were stocked in June at a total length of 1.0–2.0 in. Large fingerlings were stocked in September at a length of 7.0–8.0 in. The study lakes ranged from 120 to 515 acres in surface area and were dispersed north and south across the state. We electrofished the entire shoreline of each study lake with a boomshocker and two dippers during the spring after stocking. The mean age-1 catch per effort (CPE) was significantly higher for large fingerlings (11.2/mi) than for small fingerlings (2.8/mi). Location in the state was not significantly related to age-1 CPE. Stocked year-classes were detected for 11 of 12 large-fingerling stocking events but only 7 of 12 small-fingerling stocking events. The total length of age-1 walleyes was not significantly related to size at stocking but varied significantly among locations. Stocking large walleye fingerlings in September at a density of 10/acre resulted in an age-1 CPE that was 4 times greater than small fingerlings stocked in June at a density of 50/acre. Large fingerling stocking also produced more consistent year-classes.
Evaluating the Effects of Forestry Herbicides on Fish Development Using Rapid Phenotypic Screens
Authors: Stehr Carla M. , Linbo Tiffany L. , Baldwin David H. , Scholz Nathaniel L. , Incardona John P.
Published: October 2009

Herbicides are used to control invasive or noxious plants on public lands throughout the western United States. These chemicals are often applied in the upper reaches of watersheds that provide spawning and rearing habitat for anadromous species of Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp., steelhead O. mykiss, and bull trout Salvelinus confluentus. As a consequence, natural resource managers must often weigh the ecological benefits of using herbicides to control nonnative plants against the potential for unintended toxicological impacts on salmonids, particularly during early life stages. However, the effects of chemical control agents on fish development have not been widely investigated. Their use in the vicinity of aquatic habitats, including areas that support threatened and endangered species, is therefore a concern. To address this uncertainty, we used the zebrafish Danio rerio as a model experimental system for investigating developmental toxicity, which involved conducting rapid and sensitive phenotypic screens for potential developmental defects resulting from exposure to six herbicides (picloram, clopyralid, imazapic, glyphosate, imazapyr, and triclopyr) and several technical formulations (Tordon K, Transline, Habitat, Plateau, Garlon 3A, and Renovate). Zebrafish embryos were exposed continuously through 5 d of development at nominal concentrations ranging from 3 μg/L to 10 mg/L. Detailed screens were used to examine aspects of ontogeny from early development (gastrulation and segmentation) through organogenesis, hatching, and morphology as free-swimming larvae. Growth was measured at the end of each exposure interval. To detect defects in neural development (sensorimotor integration), the escape reflex of larvae was monitored at 3, 4, and 5 d after fertilization. No developmental toxicity was observed in response to the six individual herbicides or the different technical formulations. The absence of toxicity at relatively high exposure concentrations suggests that noxious weed control activities are not likely to pose a direct threat to the health of salmonids at early life stages.
Ruffe Length–Weight Relationships with a Proposed Standard Weight Equation
Authors: Ogle Derek H. , Winfield Ian J.
Published: October 2009

Ruffe Gymnocephalus cernuus length–weight data from 141 data sets were obtained from a variety of waters across Europe and the Laurentian Great Lakes for summarization and development of standard weight (Ws) equations. The mean slopes of the length–weight relationships from all populations and for all percentiles except the 95th percentile were not different from 3.0, suggesting that ruffe growth is generally isometric. The Ws equations developed using the regression line percentile, linear empirical percentile (EmP), and Froese's methods exhibited length-related biases. The quadratic EmP Ws equations for the 75th and 50th percentiles did not exhibit length-related biases and thus can be used to compute the relative weight of ruffe. The EmP 75th percentile Ws equation was log10(Ws75) = −2.5800 + 0.6210·log10(total length, TL) + 0.6073·[log10(TL)]2, and the 50th percentile Ws equation was log10(Ws50) = −3.3524 + 1.3969·log10(TL) + 0.4054·[log10(TL)]2 when constrained to ruffe between 55 and 205 mm TL. We propose that the minimum TL for a five-cell length categorization system used to compute stock indices for ruffe be 55, 90, 120, 140, and 175 mm TL. These results provide a method for computing relative weight indices for typical (50th percentile) and above-average (75th percentile) ruffe; this method will allow comparisons of body condition across time, among habitats, among bodies of water, and among length categories.
Discrimination of the Endangered Atlantic Whitefish from Lake Whitefish and Round Whitefish by Use of External Characters
Authors: Hasselman D. J. , Edge T. A. , Bradford R. G.
Published: October 2009

The scope of phenetic variation exhibited by populations of lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis in the Canadian Maritime Provinces is not known, which complicates the task of accurately identifying specimens of the endangered Atlantic whitefish C. huntsmani. We developed criteria for accurate (≥95% correct classification) species discrimination using morphological data acquired from archival and recent coregonid collections from the Maritime Provinces. We used discriminant function analyses to assess (1) the usefulness of Atlantic whitefish external typological characters in accurately identifying species, (2) the temporal stability of reportedly diagnostic characters, and (3) which morphological characters could be used to accurately identify these coregonids to species. Not all external typological characters were robust in the discrimination of recent Atlantic whitefish and lake whitefish collections. Several previously identified diagnostic characters exhibited significant temporal variation but remained robust in species discrimination. Species-specific differences for the number of lateral line scales, mouth position, and proportional pectoral fin length could be used concomitantly for accurate (≥95% correct classification) identification of coregonid species in the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Atlantic whitefish possessed a significantly (P < 0.001) greater number of lateral line scales (range = 90–102; mean ± SD = 93.79 ± 2.70) than lake whitefish (range = 66–91; mean = 77.18 ± 4.21), a significantly (P < 0.01) shorter pectoral fin than lake whitefish (11% and 16% of fork length, respectively), and a significantly (P < 0.001) more terminal mouth than lake whitefish (ratio of upper jaw to lower jaw: mean ± SD = 0.98 ± 0.07 and 0.82 ± 0.06, respectively). These characters can also be used to distinguish between Atlantic whitefish and round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum collected in the Maritime Provinces.
Development and Efficacy of an Electrified Benthic Trawl for Sampling Large-River Fish Assemblages
Authors: Freedman Jonathan A. , Stecko Timothy D. , Lorson Benjamin D. , Stauffer Jay R.
Published: October 2009

Sampling small benthic and lithophilic fish species in large rivers and lakes presents challenges not adequately addressed by conventional survey methods such as boat electrofishing and gill netting. The development of the Missouri trawl has helped to address these issues; however, our observations by scuba diving when using the Missouri trawl have revealed avoidance of the trawl by benthic fishes, especially in rocky substrates. Therefore, we equipped a Missouri trawl with a cathode–anode electrical array to facilitate capture by attracting and immobilizing fish. In 40 paired comparisons with a standard Missouri trawl in the upper Ohio River drainage of Pennsylvania, this electrified PSU trawl captured significantly more fish and species as well as more large fish. The PSU trawl also captured more species and more fish across habitats and rivers within the drainage. The PSU trawl is therefore a useful new device for sampling large-river benthic fish communities.
Spatial and Temporal Patterns in the Diet of Striped Bass in Chesapeake Bay
Authors: Overton Anthony S. , Margraf F. Joseph , May Eric B.
Published: October 2009

We collected striped bass Morone saxatilis from 1998 to 2001 (n = 2,703) and compared the seasonal feeding patterns of four size‐groups (small [150‐300 mm total length], medium [301‐500 mm], large [501‐700 mm], and extra large [>700 mm]) among three general regions (upper, middle, and lower) in Chesapeake Bay. Invertebrates dominated the diet of small striped bass during spring in all regions, and by fall bay anchovy Anchoa mitchilli became the dominant prey in the middle and lower regions. Pelagic schooling fishes were the primary prey for the larger size‐groups. For medium striped bass, bay anchovy accounted for most of the prey eaten during spring and represented more than 50% of the diet by weight in summer in the upper and lower regions. Collectively, Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus and bay anchovy accounted for more than 60% of the diet by weight in the lower region. Gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum and Atlantic menhaden were the dominant prey for medium and large fish from summer through winter in the upper region. Blue crab Callinectes sapidus accounted for 45% of the diet by weight for large striped bass during the summer in the middle and lower regions of the bay. For extra‐large striped bass, menhaden, along with bay anchovy and spot Leiostomus xanthurus, were the primary prey eaten throughout the year in all regions. Bay anchovy have become more important for extra‐large fish, representing between 16.0% and 29.0% of the diet by weight during the spring and summer. This increase represents a greater reliance by larger striped bass on small pelagic prey. It also suggests a greater ecological connection between bay anchovy and striped bass production.
Site Fidelity, Home Range, and Tidal Movements of White Perch during the Summer in Two Small Tributaries of the York River, Virginia
Authors: McGrath Patrick , Austin Herbert A.
Published: October 2009

The white perch Morone americana is one of the most common species residing in the brackish tributaries of Chesapeake Bay. White perch make long‐distance movements during spring spawning events and find thermal refuge in the winter; however, little is known about their movements in the summer. This study tracked 16 white perch that were implanted with acoustic tags during the summer in two small tributaries of the York River, Virginia. Site fidelity, tidal interactions, and habitat effects were investigated with the program ArcView. If site fidelity existed, a home range and utilization distribution (frequently used locations) were calculated. Most of the tagged fish exhibited site fidelity; for those that did, home ranges averaged 0.11 km2. White perch only frequented a small portion of their home range, as depicted by utilization distributions equal to 10% or less of the home range. White perch exhibiting site fidelity displayed one of two different behavioral patterns based upon the surrounding habitat. White perch associated with a marsh habitat used two core areas of activity. The fish were located during high tide upon the flooded marsh and shallow creeks, possibly to forage, and in the relatively deep main channels during low tide, thus avoiding stranding and avian predators. In contrast, white perch associated with submerged structures had only one core area of activity, typically remaining around the one location for the duration of the tag's battery life. The relatively small home range of white perch makes this species vulnerable to local stressors and habitat degradation.
Improved insulin sensitivity by calorie restriction is associated with reduction of ERK and p70S6K activities in the liver of obese Zucker rats
Authors: Zheng Yanbin , Zhang Wenshuo , Pendleton Elisha , Leng Sanhua , Wu Jiong , Chen Ridong , Sun Xiao Jian
Published: October 2009

Calorie restriction (CR) improves obesity-related insulin resistance through undefined molecular mechanisms. Insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 serine/threonine kinases have been proposed to modulate insulin sensitivity through phosphorylation of IRS proteins. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that changes in the activity of IRS1 serine/threonine kinases may underlie the molecular mechanism of CR in improving insulin sensitivity. Obese and lean Zucker rats were subjected to 40% CR or allowed to feed ad libitum (AL) for 20 weeks; body weight and insulin sensitivity were monitored throughout this period. The activity of IRS1 serine/threonine kinases – including JNK, ERK, MTOR/p70S6K (RPS6KB1 as listed in the MGI Database), glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3B), AMPK (PRKAA1 as listed in the MGI Database), and protein kinase Cθ (PRKCQ) in liver tissue extracts was measured by an in vitro kinase assay using various glutathione-S-transferase (GST)–IRS1 fragments as substrates, while phosphorylation of IRS1 and serine kinases was determined by western blotting using phosphospecific antibodies. CR in obese rats significantly reduced body weight and increased insulin sensitivity compared to AL controls. Serine kinase activity toward IRS1S612 (corresponding to S616 in human IRS1) and IRS1S632/635 (corresponding to S636/639 in human IRS1) was increased in obese rats compared to lean littermates, and was markedly decreased following CR. Concomitantly, obesity increased and CR decreased the activity of hepatic ERK and p70S6K against IRS1. The close association between the activity of hepatic ERK and p70S6K with insulin resistance suggests an important role for ERK and p70S6K in the development of insulin resistance, presumably via phosphorylation of IRS proteins.
Performance assessment of AS-SBR and UF-MBR for hotel wastewater treatment
Authors: Libralato G. , Volpi Ghirardini A. , Avezzù F.
Published: October 2009

A large number of tourist structures in Venice (Italy) have small sized on-site treatment systems for their wastewater. Due to its historical characteristics, the city has no public sewerage system and untreated hotel wastewater represents a serious hazard for its lagoon environment. This study focused on the wastewater facilities installed in two hotels adopting an Activated Sludge Sequencing Batch Reactor (AS-SBR) and an Ultra-Filtration Membrane Biological Reactor (UF-MBR). Their performance was checked in terms of both traditional physico-chemical and ecotoxicological parameters, the importance of which has recently been recognised by EU regulatory dispositions and OSPAR indications. Acute and sub-chronic endpoints were both considered on a whole effluent toxicity basis by means of Vibrio fischeri and Crassostrea gigas, respectively. The two months monitoring survey evidenced that the UF-MBR was more efficient than the AS-SBR in providing high-quality discharges under both chemical and ecotoxicological viewpoints.
Decision support systems in water and wastewater treatment process selection and design: a review
Authors: Hamouda M. A. , Anderson W. B. , Huck P. M.
Published: October 2009

The continuously changing drivers of the water treatment industry, embodied by rigorous environmental and health regulations and the challenge of emerging contaminants, necessitates the development of decision support systems for the selection of appropriate treatment trains. This paper explores a systematic approach to developing decision support systems, which includes the analysis of the treatment problem(s), knowledge acquisition and representation, and the identification and evaluation of criteria controlling the selection of optimal treatment systems. The objective of this article is to review approaches and methods used in decision support systems developed to aid in the selection, sequencing of unit processes and design of drinking water, domestic wastewater, and industrial wastewater treatment systems. Not surprisingly, technical considerations were found to dominate the logic of the developed systems. Most of the existing decision-support tools employ heuristic knowledge. It has been determined that there is a need to develop integrated decision support systems that are generic, usable and consider a system analysis approach.
Identification of physical parameters controlling the dominance of algal species in a subtropical reservoir
Authors: Chien Y. C. , Wu S. C. , Wu J. T.
Published: October 2009

Eutrophication is a serious problem of water resource management in Taiwan. The occurrence of annoying algal species as well as abnormally abundant algal mass threatens the quality of water supply. The growth and decline of a specific phytoplankton species are affected by environmental factors, including light, nutrients, temperature, etc. There have been many investigations on the effects of individual factors on the abundance and composition of algal populations. However, many analyses on the effects of environmental factors, especially the concentration of nutrients, on phytoplankton failed to identify the controlling factors on the dynamic change of the phytoplankton species. This study used statistical methods to isolate the effect of seasons on the phytoplankton growth and searched for the relationships between the nutrient concentrations and the abundance of different algal species in Feitsui Reservoir based on the data obtained from 1995 to 2003. We found that the dynamic change of dominance of some species of phytoplankton was strongly related to the seasonal factors. The controlling factors of the survival of an algal species were the settling and mobility of the phytoplankton, the mixing depth and the vertical mixing strength of the water bodies. According to our preliminary findings, the influence of physical factors, varying seasonally, outweighs the influence of nutrients on the algal species composition in Feitsui Reservoir in Taiwan.
The influence of supply and sewerage area characteristics on water and sewerage companies responses to the Water Framework Directive
Authors: Spiller M. , McIntosh B. S. , Seaton R. A. F.
Published: October 2009

Using the example of raw water quality this paper examines the relationship between different spatial characteristics (geographical and physical properties) of Water and Sewerage Companies (WaSCs) supply and sewage areas and response to the Water Framework Directive. Results were obtained from thematic analysis and content analysis of 14 interviews with WaSCs representatives. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of 51 WaSCs business function characteristics was employed to derive groups of similar WaSCs. Results indicate that there is difference in how WaSCs approach raw water quality issues. It appears that small WaSCs with relatively large agricultural areas in their supply catchments are more likely to seek managerial solutions to raw water quality problems.
Tertiary treatment of slaughterhouse effluent: degradation kinetics applying UV radiation or H2O2/UV
Authors: Luiz D. B. , Genena A. K. , José H. J. , Moreira R. F. P. M. , Schröder H. Fr.
Published: October 2009

In some Brazilian regions, surface water has become scarce, e.g. semi arid climate areas and densely populated and industrial areas, where water over-exploitation and/or fluvial pollution has been more common. Advanced oxidative processes (AOP) provide treated water as a source of reuse water even with the characteristics of drinking water enabling water reuse practices also in food industries. The secondary wastewater of a slaughterhouse was the water source for a tertiary treatment study evaluating the kinetics of the photo-induced degradation of color and UV254 under UV radiation with and without the addition of H2O2. The proximity of the k′ values of color and UV254 degradation by UV indicates that the compounds responsible for color may be the same content measured by UV254. The H2O2/UV treatment was 5.2 times faster than simple UV in removing aromatic compounds. The degradation kinetics of aromatic compounds in both treatments followed a pseudo-first order law. The pseudo-first order constant for H2O2/UV and UV treatments were kUV254′=0.0306 min−1 and kUV254′=0.0056 min−1, respectively.
Estimation of lateral water flow and bromide transport in a subsurface seepage irrigation system
Authors: Ouyang Y.
Published: October 2009

Subsurface seepage irrigation is a common method used by growers in the Tri-County Agricultural Area (TCAA), Florida, USA, owing to its cost-effectiveness and low maintenance requirements. This study investigated the lateral flow of the perched water and the lateral transport of bromide (Br−) in this irrigation system in the TCAA and estimated the potential discharge of Br− into the drainage canals at the edges of the field, using the Visual MODFLOW/ MT3DMS models in conjunction with field experiments. Simulations showed that the perched water flowed from the northeast to the southwest of the field. Migration of the Br− plume from the source areas toward the canals was very slow and varied depending on the selection of the outer Br− concentration contour levels. However, the lateral transport of Br− from the perched water into the canals occurred after about 61 days. The simulations further revealed that the rate of perched water Br− discharge into the canals averaged 8.6 g day−1 during a 30-day discharge period (from 61 to 91 days). This rate is very important for estimating Br− discharge into the canals and could also provide useful information for evaluating dissolved nutrient discharge into canals from the subsurface seepage irrigation system.
A Tridimensional Model of Proangiogenic Calcium Signals in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Munaron Luca
Published: October 2009

Angiogenic factors, including bFGF and VEGF, induce cytosolic calcium (Cac) increases in endothelial cells,
critically involved in angiogenesis progression. At low agonist concentrations, Cac elevation is mainly due to calcium
entry controlled by a complex interplay between two intracellular messengers, arachidonic acid (AA) and nitric oxide
(NO), released upon stimulation with proangiogenic factors: they trigger spatially localized calcium signals restricted to
the cell periphery, and such a spatiotemporal pattern could contribute to the specificity of cellular responses.
Based on experimental measurements, here we provide the first quantitative spatiotemporal 3D modeling of
proangiogenic calcium events in endothelial cells using Virtual Cell framework. The main aims were to validate
previously proposed signaling pathways and to suggest new experimental protocols.
The most relevant conclusions are: 1. The interplay between AA and NO, previously proposed to be responsible for
VEGF/bFGF-dependent calcium entry in endothelial cells, triggers peripheral calcium signals that reproduce the
experimental measurements; 2. Spatial restriction is not an artefact due to the calcium-sensitive dye; 3. Channels
clusterization in thin lamellipodia plays a key role in the generation of the peripheral-restricted proangiogenic calcium
signals; 4. A model containing two distinct channels, named AAAC and NOAC, respectively activated by AA or NO,
explains the basic properties of proangiogenic calcium signals.
This could be considered an ‘open model’ containing the simplest conditions leading to a satisfactory reproduction of the
experimental results: it should be implemented in order to make it more complete and to maximize physical and
biochemical constraints.
Novel Methods for Assessment of Platelet and Leukocyte Function Under Flow – Application of Epifluorescence and Two-Photon Microscopy in a Small Volume Flow Chamber Model
Authors: Schulz Christian , Heiss Elisabeth , Gaertner Florian , Orban Martin , von Bruehl Marie-Luise , Schramm Peter , Massberg Steffen
Published: October 2009

Various models exist for the study of platelet and leukocyte function under flow conditions. Flow chambers
offer the unique possibility to analyze cell-cell and cell-surface interactions at a great variety of conditions. However,
working with small animals (i.e. mice) strongly limits the amount of isolated cells available for perfusion. Here, we
present a flow chamber technique based on a small volume multichannel perfusion chamber. First, we studied the
interaction of isolated murine platelets with diverse matrix proteins under flow in parallel perfusion experiments using
epifluorescence microscopy. In addition, we evaluated real-time processes of platelet-leukocyte interaction and thrombus
formation on an inflamed endothelial surface using two-photon microscopy (2PM). We show for the first time that highspeed
2PM allows the visualization of cell-surface-interactions at shear conditions typically found in precapillary
vasculature. In summary, the flow chamber model introduced here represents a promising tool for the characterization of
cell interactions in vascular research, especially when only small amounts of blood cells are available.
The Mediation of Coherent Discourse by Kinesthetic Reenactment: A Case Study of an Autistic Adolescent, Part II
Authors: Levy Elena T.
Published: October 2009

An earlier analysis of an autistic adolescent's repeated retellings of a story (Levy & Fowler, 2004–2005) showed how a transition from disorganized linguistic behavior to organized narratives was scaffolded by adult speech. The present article is concerned with the role of kinesthetic enactment in this same transition. The goal of the analysis is to trace the emergence of narrative coherence relative to changes in speech-movement combinations. The analysis yields the following pattern of change: from utterances (1) elicited in the third-person and produced with diffuse body motion, then (2) reproduced while enacted, sometimes in the first-person, (3) elicited without enactment in the third-person, and (4) reproduced in the third-person without specific adult prompts and in the absence of full-body enactment. This pattern is interpreted as a process of increasing explicitation (Karmiloff-Smith, 1986a); relying at first on the grounding of speech-movement combinations in physical space, and later in linguistically created origos (Buhler, 1982). The findings support McNeill's (2005) view of language as a multimodal process that relies on two semiotic modes, the conventional lexicogrammatical categories of speech, and the imagistic and idiosyncratic properties of body motion.
Augmentation of Mind-body Therapy and Role of Deep Slow Breathing
Authors: Jerath Ravinder , Barnes Vernon A
Published: October 2009

Mind-body therapies have been shown to be effective in clinical treatment of disorders such as high blood pressure and stress. Significant differences in the effectiveness of mindbody therapies have been shown and a common link among the therapies has yet to be defined. This article overviews the role of slow rhythmic breathing in physiological as well as therapeutic effects of mind-body therapies. Slow deep breathing practice has important implications as it may underlie the basic mechanism that synchronizes the brain with the autonomic response. This article reviews studies that include the effect of deep slow breathing with or without mind-body therapy exercises. In utero studies that monitor patterns of fetal breathing reveal sympathetic activation with irregular, shallow fast breathing movements compared to slow deep breathing. Recognition of respiratory mechanisms in mind-body therapies can lead to development of more effective relaxation exercises that may incorporate deep slow breathing in clinical applications.
International Comparisons of Inclusive Policy and Practice: Are We Talking about the Same Thing?
Authors: D'Alessio Simona , Watkins Amanda
Published: October 2009

This article has been especially written by the journal Guest Editors as an introduction to key issues in making international comparisons regarding inclusive policy and practice. The authors argue that there is a very real amplification of the methodological problems faced by researchers working in comparative education when they consider the field of special and inclusive education. Two ‘problem’ areas are discussed: (i) the incomparability of terminology – words such as inclusion may or may not have the same meaning when translated into other languages and also other contexts; and (ii) the inherent methodological difficulties within the ‘target’ population of research in inclusive education – pupils with special educational needs are not identified, assessed or offered provision in the same ways within countries. This means that comparisons of approaches within countries are problematic – and comparison of these countries at an international level becomes extremely difficult. Therefore, the key question is exactly what can be usefully compared?
Questioning Inclusion: The Education of Roma/Traveller Students and Young People in Europe and England — A Critical Examination
Authors: Themelis Spyros
Published: October 2009

This article deals with issues pertinent to the ‘inclusion’ of Roma/Traveller children and young people in Europe and, in particular, England. It discusses some key issues that pertain to the inclusion of Roma/Traveller groups in society and it critically presents some key policies that have been advanced to tackle educational and social exclusion of these groups. The aim in this article is to explore the impact these approaches have had thus far and to unravel some of the contradictions, inconsistencies and tensions that permeate them. The critical examination of such approaches is principally located within the context of the United Kingdom, but relevant policies and initiatives that have been introduced by supra-national European organisations are also discussed in order to inform the reader about the wider context in relation to the issues many Roma/Traveller groups face. Inclusion does not operate in a vacuum. It is argued that a set of structural and ideological factors that impact on inclusion need to be identified and linked to a renewed and enriched inclusion approach. In fighting exclusion, holistic and sustained approaches are necessary, which cut across social, political, economic and cultural domains and extend well beyond the formal education of one group (the Roma/Travellers).
The Role of the Index for Inclusion in Supporting School Development in Norway: A Comparative Perspective
Authors: Nes Kari
Published: October 2009

Norwegian schools have had a reputation for being inclusive for a relatively long time. Education is supposed to meet everyone's needs in a school for all, irrespective of (dis)ability, gender, ethnicity, social class, etc. However, inclusive ideals are one thing, but realisation of inclusive practices in many ways has proven to be something else, in Norway as well as in other countries. There is also a discrepancy between the regular self-reviews schools are expected to undertake, and what actually happens in this field. The question was, how can schools' self-review and successive inclusive school development be supported? Might the Index for Inclusion be an answer? This material, first published in the UK in 2000, attempts to meet the challenges of developing more inclusive practices and the need to support schools' self-evaluation. In the article Norwegian experiences with the Index are compared with those of other countries.
Inclusive Education in Spain: Developing Characteristics in Madrid, Extremadura and Andalusia
Authors: Bermejo Víctor Santiuste , Castro Florencio Vicente , Martínez Francisco Miras , Góngora David Padilla
Published: October 2009

The aim of this work is to analyse and communicate the ‘state of the art’ in inclusive education for the Spanish communities of Madrid, Extremadura and Andalusia, as it is now more than 20 years since inclusive education was first adopted in Spain. The analysis is displayed in a twofold perspective: the basic standards inclusive education is governed by and how it is perceived by the educators who have been applying it. Firstly, the national standards for inclusive education, the specific legislative norms for each community and how these are applied are examined, the key question being: what are the normal standards at present and where do we go from here? Secondly, the results of a questionnaire addressed to the educators, support teachers and other professionals who work in the different centres of the three Spanish communities are analysed. The conclusions derived from this questionnaire aim to address the following: How is the process of inclusive education carried out in Spain?
The Effects of the Capital Gains Tax Rate and Expectations of Subsequent Firm Performance on CEO Stock Ownership
Authors: Gary Robert F.
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT: This study examines the relationship between the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (TRA97) capital gains tax rate reduction and the level of chief executive officer (CEO) equity ownership. In addition, the relationship between the level of CEO equity ownership and CEO expectations of future stock prices is investigated. Corporate scandals in recent years have increased institutional investors’ advocacy of CEO stock ownership, which investors believe will align CEO interests with those of stockholders. Prior research on the role of taxes in equity-based compensation has focused on stock option exercises, but has not studied how a tax rate change affects CEO ownership. The findings from time-series cross-sectional fixed-effects regression models of ownership levels indicate that the level of CEO ownership is inversely related to the capital gains tax rate, and that this effect varies with the abnormal returns of the firm during the following year.
Bilateral Implicit Taxes and Anti-Competitive Banking Regulation
Authors: Harris David G. , Kilic Emre
Published: October 2009

ABSTRACT: This paper examines how banks impound implicit taxes into loan interest rates. Economic theory predicts that the most flexible party bears the least tax cost. We hypothesize that mortgagors, being geographically fixed, are less flexible than banks and bear greater implicit tax costs, and that this effect diminishes when banks begin to compete across state lines after the 1994 Riegle-Neal Interstate and Branching Efficiency Act. Using data from 1977 to 2004 on banks’ and mortgagors’ state and federal taxes and detailed loan-specific data on mortgage originations, we investigate how interest rates vary separately with banks’ and mortgagors’ taxes. We find that mortgage rates vary positively with both banks’ tax costs and the value of mortgagors’ interest tax deductions. These findings are consistent with banks both passing on their tax costs to borrowers and capturing portions of borrowers’ tax benefits. The estimated annual magnitude of this tax shift is $23 billion, which we find declined after 1993 by approximately 40 percent.
An Influence of Lowered Temperature on the Migration Activity of the Population of Rhizopertha Dominica F. (Coleoptera, Bostrichidae)
Authors: Kłyś Małgorzata
Published: October 2009

An Influence of Lowered Temperature on the Migration Activity of the Population ofRhizopertha DominicaF. (Coleoptera, Bostrichidae)

The subject of the study was the lesser grain borerRhizopertha dominicaF. — a dangerous pest of stored grain. The study was carried out in the laboratory at a temperature of 31°C, the optimal temperature for this species, and also in the temperature lowered to 22°C and 60±5% relative humidity. The main aim of the research was to investigate the migration activity ofR. dominicain lowered temperature. In addition the population dynamics, mortality and sexual ratio in a population ofR. dominicawere also analyzed. It was shown that lowering the temperature to 22°C caused an increase in the migration activity ofR. dominicain the initial phase of infesting a new habitat. A larger migration and mortality of females were observed. In addition, the population growth was slow and prolonged in time at the temperature of 22°C as compared to the optimal temperature. Lowering the temperature did not influence the mortality of theR. dominicapopulation.
Components of Quantitative Resistance to Downy Mildew (Plasmopara Halstedii) in Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus)
Authors: Sakr Nachaat
Published: October 2009

Components of Quantitative Resistance to Downy Mildew (Plasmopara Halstedii) in Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus)

Components of quantitative resistance in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) toPlasmopara halstedii, the pathogen causing downy mildew, were investigated. Percentage infection, latent period, sporulation density and reduction of hypocotyl length were compared on two sunflower lines showing different levels of quantitative resistance in the field infected with differentP. halstediistrains of races 100, 300, 710 and 714 in controlled conditions. The inbred line BT, rather susceptible in the field, showed a higher percentage infection, a higher sporulation density, a shorter latent period and less reduced hypocotyl length than inbred line FU, which showed a greater resistance in the field. The very good resistance of inbred line FU observed in the field was confirmed by the measurements of quantitative resistance criteria described in this study. Percentage infection of FU was 1.4% less than BT, latent period of BT was 12.4% less than FU, sporulation density of FU was 22.3% less than BT and reduced hypocotyl length of BT was 15.3% less than FU. It seems that the criteria such as latent period, sporulation density and reduction of hypocotyl length may be used to measure quantitative resistance in sunflower toP. halstedii.
What can We Learn from City Marketing Practice?
Authors: Kavaratzis Mihalis
Published: October 2009

It is evident in contemporary urban studies that the interest in city marketing both as a practice within urban centre management and as an academic sub-discipline has accelerated. There remain, however, several issues that need clarification before an agreement can be reached as to the exact effects and potential of city marketing as a tool of economic and socio-cultural development. A particular gap can be noticed between theoretical suggestions on the ways in which marketing should be understood and used within cities and the practical implementation as this can be observed in contemporary cities. A common view on this issue highlights the need for practitioners to follow theoretical ideas but the practice can also be a source of useful lessons that might enrich the theory. This paper investigates marketing and branding practices of two European cities in order to extract from the practice lessons that will support the theoretical development of city marketing and city branding and might contribute towards bridging this gap. The cities investigated are Amsterdam and Budapest, both of which provide valuable insights into the challenges of an effective city marketing implementation.
Place Marketing in Hungary: The Case of Debrecen
Authors: Kozma Gábor
Published: October 2009

After the political transformations in East-Central Europe local authorities were forced to realise that they have to employ more active policy, and consequently, the use of place marketing became more popular. The study examines one particular city in Hungary, Debrecen, and concentrates on two areas. First, it presents what methods were employed in an attempt to attract economic players and tourists, and to increase the satisfaction of existing target groups. Secondly, it evaluates the steps taken: how characteristic were the tools used in Debrecen in other Hungarian cities, and what positive and negative features of marketing activity can be identified.
Types and Systems of Actors in Regional Development: Their Function and Regulatory Potential
Authors: Blažek Jiří , Hampl Martin
Published: October 2009

The evaluation of the actors in regional development is only one component/level within the regional research. However, it is a level which increases its significance and has or could have the key role in the sphere of regional development and at the same time reflects the problems on other levels. It is in fact the proportionality and balance of the whole system that determines the resulting effects of activities and regulatory competence of actors. If there is an imbalance - even an asymmetry - in this system, advocacy of only certain interests becomes understandably imminent, as well as a reduction of interactions (not only) in the organisation of regional society. Differentiation of actors derives primarily from the distribution of power and wealth in a society, and thus it has always played an exceptionally significant role. However, as a consequence of the hierarchical organisation of the society this differentiation was noticeably asymmetrical. The non-equivalence of partial subjects/actors of regional development has led to the understandable domination of ‘deterministic’ relations and the plurality of interests and then to the dominance of ‘competitive’ relations. Only gradually do interactions of a cooperative kind successively break through the growth of mutual interconnections, linkages and necessity of social elements and partial systems, and thus the increasing of organic nature of (geo)societal systems. This will be finally illustrated through the difference between ‘symmetric’ systems of actors in developed countries and the ‘asymmetric’ global system.
Response of oil and protein content to seed size in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. Sahel)
Authors: Pahlavani M. , Miri A. , Kazemi G.
Published: October 2009

Response of oil and protein content to seed size in cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L., cv. Sahel)

This study was designed to identify the response of oil and protein content to non-heritable variation of seed size in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The experiment was conducted at Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences, Gorgan, Iran in 2005. The results showed that germination and emergence increased linearity with seed size and R2 of these relationships were 92 and 89%, respectively. This means that larger seed had higher potential of germination and emergence. Also, there was a strong linear relationship between seed weight and oil content. Seed weight provided a better indication of oil content (R2=0.78) than protein content (R2=0.43). There are no considerable relationship between seed size and protein content of seed. The results of this study also showed a positive and significant correlation between seed weight and oil content (r=0.88**), germination percent (r=0.95**), germination index (r=0.84*), emergence percent (r=0.94**), and emergence index (r=0.88**). This results suggest that oil content, germination and emergence of cotton seed was largely affected by size of seeds. The effects of seed size where studied here are pure effects of size and is not confounded by other effects such as genotypic factors. This finding helps cotton breeders for the genetic improvement of germination and emergence along with oil and protein content of seeds.