bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community‐acquired Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia among hospitalized children in Hawaii
Authors: Len Kyra A. , Bergert Lora , Patel Shilpa , Melish Marian , Kimata Chieko , Erdem Guliz
Published: July 2010

Background

Invasive community acquired (CA) Staphylococcus aureus (SA) disease has been endemically observed in Hawaiian children. We wanted to evaluate the clinical, laboratory findings, and outcomes of methicillin‐resistant SA (MRSA) and methicillin‐susceptible SA (MSSA) associated pneumonia admissions.

Methods

We performed retrospective chart reviews of 38 culture proven SA pneumonia patients admitted to a pediatric tertiary medical center in Hawaii between January 1996 to December 2007.

Results

Twenty‐six patients (68%) had MRSA and 12 patients (32%) had MSSA infection. The mean age of MRSA patients was 2.8 and 6.7 years for MSSA patients (P < 0.05). Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian patients were affected disproportionately compared to non‐Pacific Islander and Hawaiian groups (P < 0.0001). Demographic data, days of fever, tachypnea, hypoxia, and length of stay (LOS) were not significantly different between MRSA and MSSA infected patients. The mean LOS was 26.2 days (range 6–138 days); mean length of fever was 12.4 days. Seventy five percent (15 of 20) of patients who required intubation had MRSA. Twenty‐one of the 29 (72%) total patients with pleural effusions had MRSA infection and all required chest tube placements. Two (5%) patients died; both had MRSA infection.

Conclusions

Younger Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian children were affected disproportionately and had MRSA infection more frequently. MRSA infected patients appeared to have severe disease with frequent chest tube placement, intubation, and fatality. Overall, both MRSA and MSSA pneumonia resulted in prolonged hospitalization, multiple complications, and significant healthcare costs. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2010; 45:898–905. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modeling substrate binding in Thermus thermophilus isopropylmalate dehydrogenase
Authors: Zhang Tao , Koshland Daniel E.
Published: July 2010

The Thermus thermophilus 3‐isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (IPMDH) and Escherichia coli isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) are two functionally and evolutionarily related enzymes with distinct substrate specificities. To understand the determinants of substrate specificities of the two proteins, the substrate and coenzyme in IPMDH were docked into their respective binding sites based on the published structure for apo IPMDH and its sequence and structural homology to ICDH. This modeling study suggests that (1) the substrate and coenzyme (NAD) binding modes of IPMDH are significantly different from those of ICDH, (2) the interactions between the substrates and coenzymes help explain the differences in substrate specificities of IPMDH and ICDH, and (3) binding of the substrate and coenzyme should induce a conformational change in the structure of IPMDH.
Ethanol extracts of saw palmetto contain the indirectly acting sympathomimetic: Tyramine
Authors: Chua Thiam , Simpson Jamie S. , Ventura Sabatino
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND

To identify the bioactive components of saw palmetto ethanol extracts that affect contractility in the rat prostate gland.

METHODS

A commercially available saw palmetto ethanol extract was lyophilized then subjected to fractionation using silica gel column chromatography. Composition of fractions was assessed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS). Contractile activity of these fractions was evaluated pharmacologically using isolated preparations of rat prostate gland and compared to the activity of crude ethanol extract.

RESULTS

Saw palmetto ethanol extract caused contractions of the rat prostate gland which were consistent with indirectly acting sympathomimetic activity. Fractions resulting from chromatography produced contractions of isolated rat prostates that were similar in magnitude to the contractions produced by the crude extracts. Analysis of NMR and mass spectra revealed that this bioactivity was due to tyramine in the active fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Tyramine is present in saw palmetto ethanol extracts and causes indirect α1‐adrenoceptor mediated contractions via the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic neurons. This has clinical implications, as tyramine interacts with MAO inhibitors to cause hypertensive crisis. Prostate 71: 71–80, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Quantitative analysis of lymph vessel characteristics in organ confined prostate cancer
Authors: van Niekerk Cornelis G. , Hulsbergen‐van de Kaa Christina A. , Barentsz Jelle O. , Witjes J. Alfred , van der Laak Jeroen A.W.M.
Published: July 2010

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to analyze the characteristics of lymphatic vasculature in normal and (peri)tumoral prostate tissue, applying accurate and objective quantification techniques based on digital image analysis.

METHODS

Radical prostatectomy specimens of 27 patients were selected containing organ confined peripheral zone tumors, which were restricted to one side of the prostate (pT2a). Lymph vessels were visualized by immunohistochemistry against D2‐40. Lymphatic vessel density, perimeter, and area were assessed over the entire tumor and corresponding contralateral normal tissue. Also, morphology (area, perimeter, and diameter) of individual lymph vessels were measured in (peri)tumoral and normal tissue.

RESULTS

No differences were found in the overall lymph vasculature between tumor and normal peripheral zone. However, the area, perimeter, and diameter of individual lymph vessel profiles were significantly decreased in (peri)tumoral as compared to normal tissue. No differences were seen for these parameters between peritumoral and tumoral area. Comparing the coefficient of variation between compartments (normal, (peri)tumoral), no differences were observed for any parameter.

CONCLUSIONS

Although differences exist between the morphology of individual lymph vessels in tumor versus normal tissue, the overall vascular bed (number and summed area and perimeter of lymphatics per area unit tissue) is unaffected in tumor. Peritumoral lymphatics resemble lymphatics in tumor tissue rather than normal lymphatics. Prostate 71: 91–97, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dual effects of [Tyr6]‐γ2‐MSH(6–12) on pain perception and in vivo hyperalgesic activity of its analogues
Authors: Wei Chunnan , Huang Wenmin , Xing Xiaoting , Dong Shouliang
Published: July 2010

[Tyr6]‐γ2‐MSH(6–12) with a short effecting time of about 20 min is one of the most potent rMrgC receptor agonists. To possibly increase its potency and metabolic stability, a series of analogues were prepared by replacing the Tyr6 residue with the non‐canonical amino acids 3‐(1‐naphtyl)‐L‐alanine, 4‐fluoro‐L‐phenylalanine, 4‐methoxy‐L‐phenylalanine and 3‐nitro‐L‐tyrosine. Dose‐dependent nociceptive assays performed in conscious rats by intrathecal injection of the MSH peptides showed [Tyr6]‐γ2‐MSH(6–12) hyperalgesic effects at low doses (5–20 nmol) and analgesia at high doses (100–200 nmol). This analgesic activity is fully reversed by the kyotorphin receptor‐specific antagonist Leu–Arg. For the two analogues containing in position 6, 4‐fluoro‐L‐phenylalanine and 3‐nitro‐L‐tyrosine, a hyperalgesic activity was not observed, while the 3‐(1‐naphtyl)‐L‐alanine analogue at 10 nmol dose was found to induce hyperalgesia at a potency very similar to γ2‐MSH(6–12), but with longer duration of the effect. Finally, the 4‐methoxy‐L‐phenylalanine analogue (0.5 nmol) showed greatly improved hyperalgesic activity and prolonged effects compared to the parent [Tyr6]‐γ2‐MSH(6–12) compound. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peptide–peptoid hybrids based on (1–11)‐parathyroid hormone analogs
Authors: Caporale A. , Schievano E. , Peggion E.
Published: July 2010

A series of peptide–peptoid hybrids, containing N‐substituted glycines, were synthesized based on the H‐Aib‐Val‐Aib‐Glu‐Ile‐Gln‐Leu‐Nle‐His‐Gln‐Har‐NH2 (Har = Homoarginine) as the parent parathyroid hormone (1–11) analog. The compounds were pharmacologically characterized in their agonistic activity at the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of a conducting hard ductile cubic IrC
Authors: Zhao Zhisheng , Xu Lifang , Wang Meng , Cui Lin , Wang Li‐Min , He Julong , Liu Zhongyuan , Tian Yongjun
Published: July 2010

Nine IrC structures were investigated using ab initio calculations based on the structures of known transition metal compounds. The calculations indicated that zinc blende structured IrC (ZB–IrC) is not only the most energetically stable, but also mechanically and dynamically stable at the ground state. Further studies showed that ZB–IrC is a conducting hard ductile material that is expected to be experimentally synthesized like cubic PtC and RuC. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Antihyperglycemic effects of baicalin on streptozotocin – nicotinamide induced diabetic rats
Authors: Li Huan‐Ting , Wu Xiao‐Dong , Davey Andrew K. , Wang Jiping
Published: July 2010

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of baicalin on blood glucose, insulin and cytokine levels. Rat diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of nicotinamide and streptozotocin. Diabetic rats were dosed with i.p. baicalin or oral metformin daily for 8 days. Blood glucose, insulin and hepatic glycogen were determined using conventional methods. The activity of hepatic hexokinase was determined using a coupled assay with glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase. Serum levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) and adiponectin were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Administration of baicalin at 50 or 100 mg/kg significantly decreased plasma glucose levels in a dose dependent manner. The serum insulin level was not increased by baicalin treatment. Administration of baicalin at a high dose (100 mg/kg) resulted in a significant increase of liver glycogen content and a reduction of serum TNF‐α. The activity of hepatic hexokinase was significantly increased after dosing baicalin at 25, 50 or 10 mg/kg. Administration of baicalin (50 or 10 mg/kg) or metformin (10 mg/kg) significantly alleviated the morphological injury to the pancreas caused by STZ. The possible mechanisms contributing to the hypoglycemic effect include increasing the hepatic glycogen content and glycolysis, and reducing the serum levels of TNF‐α. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Isolation of immunomodulatory triterpene acids from a standardized rose hip powder (Rosa canina L.)
Authors: Saaby Lasse , Jäger Anna Katharina , Moesby Lise , Hansen Erik Wind , Christensen Søren Brøgger
Published: July 2010

A previously published systematic review and a metaanalysis have concluded that the consumption of standardized rose hip powder (Rosa canina L.) can reduce pain in osteoarthritis patients. Synovial inflammation has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and mainly to involve infiltration of the synovial membrane by macrophages. Therefore, the immunomodulatory effect of standardized rose hip powder of Rosa canina L. was investigated and active principles isolated using the Mono Mac 6 cell line as a model for human macrophages. Treatment of Mono Mac 6 cells with the residue of a crude dichloromethane extract of rose hip powder significantly and concentration dependently inhibited the lipopolysaccharide induced interleukin‐6 release. Through bioassay‐guided fractionation the immunomodulatory effect of the dichloromethane extract was correlated to a mixture of three triterpene acids; oleanolic acid, betulinic acid and ursolic acid (IC50 21 ± 6 µm). Further studies revealed that only oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, but not betulinic acid, could inhibit the lipopolysaccharide induced interleukin‐6 release from Mono Mac 6 cells when tested separately. Combination of either oleanolic acid or ursolic acid with betulinic acid enhanced the immunomodulatory effect of the two triterpene acids. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of the wound healing potentials of two subspecies of Hypericum perforatum on cultured NIH3T3 fibroblasts
Authors: Dikmen Miriş , Öztürk Yusuf , Sagratini Gianni , Ricciutelli Massimo , Vittori Sauro , Maggi Filippo
Published: July 2010

For centuries, Hypericum perforatum has been used in folk medicine to treat wounds. In the present study, the wound healing activities of extracts of H. perforatum ssp. perforatum (HPP) and H. perforatum ssp. veronense (HPV) were evaluated by comparing with a titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) on NIH3T3 fibroblasts. The cells were incubated with the extracts. Using microscopical methods by staining cells, mitotic ability, morphological changes and collagen production in the fibroblasts were evaluated as parameters to approach possible wound repair mechanism(s). The wound healing activity caused an increase in the percentage of polygonal fibroblasts and in collagen granule numbers in fibroblasts of HPP and HPV. At 1 µg/mL, HPP caused a greater increase in mitotic cell numbers than HPV. The most increases in polygonal cell numbers were observed with HPV at 1 and 10 µg/mL. The number of collagen granules was increased with 1 µg/mL HPV being higher than HPP. As an indication of cytotoxic effects, round cells in response to HPV and HPP extracts, were found to be increased in concentrations higher than 10–50 µg/mL. The results indicated that the two subspecies of H. perforatum have different wound healing profiles as a result of the fibroblast migration and stimulation of collagen synthesis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultraviolet photodissociation of protonated pharmaceuticals in a pressurized linear quadrupole ion trap
Authors: Hao Changtong , Le Blanc J. C. Yves , Verkerk Udo H. , Siu K. W. Michael , Loboda Alexandre V.
Published: July 2010

Ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) was evaluated as a technique for generating ion fragmentation information that is alternative and/or complementary to the information obtained by collision‐induced dissociation (CID). Ions trapped in a pressurized linear ion trap were dissociated using a 355 nm or a 266 nm pulsed laser. Comparisons of UVPD and CID spectra using a set of aromatic chromophore‐containing compounds (desmethyl bosentan, haloperidol, nelfinavir) demonstrated distinct characteristic fragmentation patterns resulting from photodissociation. The wavelength of light and the pressure of the buffer gas in the UVPD cell are important parameters that control fragmentation pathways. The wavelength effect is related to the absorption cross section, location of the chromophore and the energy carried by one photon. Thus, UV irradiation wavelength affects fragmentation pathways as well as the fragmentation rate. The pressure effect can be explained by collisional quenching of ‘slow’ fragmentation pathways. We observed that higher pressure of the buffer gas during UVPD experiments highlights unique fragment ions by suppressing slow fragmentation pathways responsible for CID‐like fragmentation patterns. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hybrid modeling and simulation for trustworthy software process management: a stakeholder‐oriented approach
Authors: Bai Xu , Huang LiGuo , Zhang He , Koolmanojwong Supannika
Published: July 2010

Process Management Model (PMM) and Process Simulation Model (PSM) are the critical infrastructural components of the Trustworthy Process Management Framework (TPMF), which involves a large and heterogeneous group of stakeholders in process modeling and simulation to improve process trustworthiness. Process Modeling Stakeholders (PMS) have different levels of dependency on various process modeling and simulation techniques. They may also possess different perspectives or concerns in modeling. To support trustworthy process management, this paper integrates the stakeholder‐oriented approach and hybrid simulation technique into software process modeling at three levels of abstraction (i.e., activity, sub‐process and system). The hybrid process simulation combinesmicro‐leveldiscrete process models with themacro‐levelcontinuous process models to capture process dynamics. In particular, the stakeholder‐oriented approach addresses the various perspectives of PMS during process modeling and simulation. Finally, a case study with a realistic process model demonstrates that this approach incrementally integrates stakeholders' modeling concerns through hybrid simulation, which is difficult to achieve using discrete or continuous modeling/simulation techniques independently. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamic capability for trustworthy software development
Authors: Cao Lan
Published: July 2010

Software development organizations are increasingly recognizing the need for flexibility in almost every project they execute. At the same time, development teams are under ever‐increasing pressure to deliver software products in shorter cycles and with higher levels of quality. The current software development projects face conflicting demands: improving process predictability to deliver trustworthy software products, and improving process flexibility to adapt to the dynamic context. Although the importance of process tailoring is well recognized, the current literature and industry standards fail to provide theoretically and empirically grounded guidelines on how to tailor the development process to suit the needs of developing trustworthy software in the current dynamic environment. This paper examines how software development teams achieve dynamic capabilities to pursue conflicting demands on trustworthiness and flexibility through a case study of a large military software development project. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mangiferin, a dietary xanthone protects against mercury‐induced toxicity in HepG2 cells
Authors: Agarwala Sobhika , B. Nageshwar Rao , Mudholkar Kaivalya , Bhuwania Ridhirama , Satish Rao B. S.
Published: July 2010

Mercury is one of the noxious heavy metal environmental toxicants and is a cause of concern for human exposure. Mangiferin (MGN), a glucosylxanthone found inMangifera indica, reported to have a wide range of pharmacological properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytoprotective potential of MGN, against mercury chloride (HgCl2) induced toxicity in HepG2 cell line. The cytoprotective effect of MGN on HgCl2induced toxicity was assessed by colony formation assay, while antiapoptotic effect by fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometric DNA analysis, and DNA fragmentation pattern assays. Further, the cytoprotective effect of MGN against HgCl2toxicity was assessed by using biochemical parameters like reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) by spectrophotometrically, mitochondrial membrane potential by flowcytometry and the changes in reactive oxygen species levels by DCFH‐DA spectrofluoremetric analysis. A significant increase in the surviving fraction was observed with 50 μM of MGN administered two hours prior to various concentrations of HgCl2. Further, pretreatment of MGN significantly decreased the percentage of HgCl2induced apoptotic cells. Similarly, the levels of ROS generated by the HgCl2treatment were inhibited significantly (P< 0.01) by MGN. MGN also significantly (P< 0.01) inhibited the HgCl2induced decrease in GSH, GST, SOD, and CAT levels at all the post incubation intervals. Our study demonstrated the cytoprotective potential of MGN, which may be attributed to quenching of the ROS generated in the cells due to oxidative stress induced by HgCl2, restoration of mitochondrial membrane potential and normalization of cellular antioxidant levels. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2012.
Intrathoracic herniation of the liver (‘liver‐up’) is associated with predominant left heart hypoplasia in human fetuses with left diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Stressig R. , Fimmers R. , Eising K. , Gembruch U. , Kohl T.
Published: July 2010

Objectives

Left heart hypoplasia is commonly observed in fetuses with left diaphragmatic hernia. Because in this condition intrathoracic herniation of the liver serves as an important predictor for postnatal disease severity, we studied its potential association with left heart hypoplasia.

Methods

We prospectively assessed 32 fetuses with left diaphragmatic hernia between 19 + 6 and 38 + 6 weeks of gestation using echocardiography. The fetuses were divided into two groups: Group I exhibited an intrathoracic liver position (‘liver‐up’) and Group II an intra‐abdominal liver position (‘liver‐down’). Cardiac inflow and outflow diameter ratios and cardiac Z‐scores were compared between the two groups.

Results

Eleven of the 15 Group I (liver‐up) fetuses, but only three of the 17 Group II (liver‐down) fetuses with left diaphragmatic hernia exhibited predominant left heart hypoplasia with disproportionately smaller left than right heart dimensions (P = 0.0036). In addition, 14 of the 15 Group I fetuses, but only five of the 17 Group II fetuses exhibited preferential streaming of the ductus venosus towards the right heart (P = 0.0003).

Conclusions

In fetuses with left diaphragmatic hernia, intrathoracic liver herniation is commonly associated with predominant left heart hypoplasia, whereas an intra‐abdominal liver position is not. This observation may be explained by preferential ductus venosus streaming towards the right heart from elevation and leftward distortion of the normal course of the ductus venosus and inferior vena cava. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The method of fundamental solution for the creeping flow around a sphere close to a membrane
Authors: Debbech A. , Elasmi L. , Feuillebois F.
Published: July 2010

The method of fundamental solution is used to calculate the creeping flow around a spherical solid particle close to a porous membrane. The equations for the flow in the porous medium and conditions at the interface are satisfied automatically with the use of a Green function calculated by Elasmi and Feuillebois [11]. Singularities, i.e. the Green function and some of its derivatives, are distributed inside the particle and their positions and intensities are optimized by minimizing the difference between the approximate velocity and the exact one on the particle surface in the sense of least squares. It is proved that this procedure also minimizes the dissipated energy of the error velocity, that is of the difference between the approximation and the exact value. For the example cases treated here of a sphere moving normal to a wall, the singularities are stokeslets and stokeslet quadrupoles (or source doublets). In the particular case of an impermeable wall, the method is the same as that of Zhou and Pozrikidis [19]. Their results are recovered and extended to a higher number of singularities. The method is then applied to the case of a solid sphere moving normal to a thin porous slab. By comparison with results obtained by Elasmi and Feuillebois [11] with the boundary integral method, it is found that a good approximation is obtained here with only a few singularities. A comparison is also made with Goren [13] who treated analytically a related problem in the case of a low porosity.
Giant Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura: An Analysis of Five Patients
Authors: Guo Juntang , Chu Xiangyang , Sun Yu‐e , Zhang Lianbin , Zhou Naikang
Published: July 2010

Background

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) represents a clinical entity rarely encountered, especially in giant forms. Complete surgical resection for giant tumor of pleura is a challenge. The aim of this article is to present five new cases of giant SFTP, and to discuss their clinical characteristics and the treatment strategy of such neoplasms.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of the clinical records of five patients who underwent surgery for a huge SFTP (>18 cm in diameter) between 2007 and 2009.

Results

Four patients were symptomatic. All five patients underwent angiography and embolization of the tumor‐supplying vessels within 24 h of surgery. All giant tumors were removed completely by extended postlateral thoracotomy with moderate intraoperative bleeding. Two wedge resections and one lobectomy were performed in three cases where the parenchyma had been encroached. Tumors in three patients were pathologically benign; those in the other two were malignant. The symptoms disappeared in all cases after surgery.

Conclusions

Complete resection remains the mainstay of cure for giant SFTP. We recommend preoperative angiography and embolization for giant SFTP which can reduce the risk of hemorrhage and can contribute to piecemeal removal for radical excision.
Cobalamin C defect: natural history, pathophysiology, and treatment
Authors: Martinelli Diego , Deodato Federica , Dionisi‐Vici Carlo
Published: July 2010

Cobalamin C (Cbl‐C) defect is the most common inborn cobalamin metabolism error; it causes impaired conversion of dietary vitamin B12 into its two metabolically active forms, methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. Cbl‐C defect causes the accumulation of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine and decreased methionine synthesis. The gene responsible for the Cbl‐C defect has been recently identified, and more than 40 mutations have been reported. MMACHC gene is located on chromosome 1p and catalyzes the reductive decyanation of CNCbl. Cbl‐C patients present with a heterogeneous clinical picture and, based on their age at onset, can be categorized into two distinct clinical forms. Early‐onset patients, presenting symptoms within the first year, show a multisystem disease with severe neurological, ocular, haematological, renal, gastrointestinal, cardiac, and pulmonary manifestations. Late‐onset patients present a milder clinical phenotype with acute or slowly progressive neurological symptoms and behavioral disturbances. To improve clinical course and metabolic abnormalities, treatment of Cbl‐C defect usually consists of a combined approach that utilizes vitamin B12 to increase intracellular cobalamin and to maximize deficient enzyme activities, betaine to provide a substrate for the conversion of homocysteine into methionine through betaine‐homocysteine methyltransferase, and folic acid to enhance remethylation pathway. No proven efficacy has been demonstrated for carnitine and dietary protein restriction. Despite these measures, the long‐term follow‐up is unsatisfactory especially in patients with early onset, with frequent progression of neurological and ocular impairment. The unfavorable outcome suggests that better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease is needed to improve treatment protocols and to develop new therapeutic approaches.
A metacommmunity approach to co‐occurrence patterns and the core‐satellite hypothesis in a community of tropical arboreal ants
Authors: Livingston George F. , Philpott Stacy M.
Published: July 2010

Inferring mechanisms of community assembly from co‐occurrence patterns is difficult in systems where assembly processes occur at multiple spatial scales and among species with heterogeneous dispersal abilities. Here, we demonstrate that local scale analysis of co‐occurrence patterns is inadequate to fully describe assembly mechanisms and instead utilize a metacommunity and core‐satellite approach. We generated a co‐occurrence and life‐history data set for a community of twig‐nesting ants on coffee plants across 36 sites within a tropical agroecosystem to test the following three hypotheses: (1) twig‐nesting ant species compete for nest‐sites, (2) they are structured as a metacommunity, and (3) core species show segregated patterns, while satellite species show random patterns of co‐occurrence. Species were divided into four groups: core species that are well distributed regionally and dominant locally, regional dominants that are well distributed regionally but do not dominate locally, local dominants that are dominant locally but are not widely distributed, and satellites that are neither widely distributed nor dominant locally. Only the most abundant species in the community, Pseudomyrmex simplex, was classified as a core species. Regional dominants, local dominants, and satellite species show random patterns of co‐occurrence. However, when P. simplex is included in the co‐occurrence matrix, patterns become aggregated for all three species groupings. This suggests that P. simplex “assembles” the community by providing a core metapopulation that other species track. Analyzing co‐occurrence patterns among candidate subsets of species, at multiple spatial scales, and linking them to species traits substantially improves the explanatory power of co‐occurrence analyses in complex metacommunities.
Individual, familial, friends‐related and contextual predictors of early sexual intercourse
Authors: Boislard P. Marie‐Aude , Poulin François
Published: July 2010

This study examined the unique and simultaneous contribution of adolescents’ characteristics, parent–child relationship and friends’ characteristics on early sexual intercourse, while accounting for family status. A longitudinal multi‐sample design was used. The first sample was recruited in a suburban context (n = 265; 62% girls) and the second sample in an urban setting (n = 136; 61% girls). All predictors were measured in Grade 8 and age at first intercourse was assessed yearly for three years. Being in a non‐intact family, low parental control, high antisocial behaviors, low self‐disclosure, high proportion of other‐sex friends and high substance use were associated with earlier sexual intercourse. When all predictors were considered simultaneously, more antisocial behaviors, high proportion of other‐sex friends and non‐intact family structure significantly discriminated youth reporting first intercourse at age 13 or less from those who reported first intercourse at age 14, at age 15, or were virgins at age 16 among both samples.
Neural network applications in consumer behavior
Authors: Briesch Richard , Rajagopal Priyali
Published: July 2010

This article introduces the concepts and terminology of artificial neural networks. The approach is demonstrated on data that represent a domain of interest to the consumer psychologist. ANNs are mathematical models that are commonly used in business applications to model relationships between variables. A key strength of ANNs is their flexibility, i.e. their ability to easily accommodate linear and non‐linear relationships without anya priorifunctional form specification. They can easily be used to study topics of interest to consumer psychologists such as persuasion, influence, segmentation etc and can offer distinct advantages over traditional statistical techniques such as ANOVA and regression. We demonstrate the application of ANNs in three different areas: regression, non‐linear principal component analysis and classification.
Regulation of expression and activity of selenoenzymes by different forms and concentrations of selenium in primary cultured chicken hepatocytes
Authors: Wu Xianshi , Wei Chengwu , Pan Cuiling , Duan Ying , Huang Kehe
Published: July 2010

The expression and activity of selenoenzymes are regulated by Se. In the present study, the effects of different forms and concentrations of Se on the regulation of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx (GPx4) and type I deiodinase (D1) mRNA levels in chicken hepatocytes were evaluated. Primary cultured chicken hepatocyte monolayers derived from male White Leghorn chickens (aged 30–40 d) were incubated for 24 h with 0 (control), 0·5, 1, 1·5, 2, 3, 4 or 5 μmol/l of Se supplied asdl-selenomethionine (Se-Met), κ-selenocarrageenan (Se-Car) or sodium selenite (Na2SeO3). Compared with the control, Se significantly increased GPx activity in all the hepatocytes, but the activity was not increased in the hepatocytes treated with 5 μmol/l of Na2SeO3, with maximal effects being observed at 2 μmol/l of Se-Met or Se-Car and at 1·5 μmol/l of Na2SeO3, respectively. Significant decreases in GPx4 mRNA levels were observed in all the hepatocytes treated with Se (v.control). The D1 mRNA levels were significantly increased in all the groups treated with Se (v.control), with maximal effects being observed at 1·5 μmol/l of Se-Met and at 0·5 μmol/l of Se-Car or Na2SeO3, respectively. Se-Met at doses of 1·5–5 μmol/l had a greater effect on D1 mRNA than Se-Car and Na2SeO3at equivalent doses. After resulting in a maximal effect, higher Se supplementation led to a dose-dependent reduction in GPx activity and D1 mRNA levels in all the hepatocytes treated with Se. These results suggest that in chicken hepatocytes, the regulations of GPx and D1 by different forms and concentrations of Se vary.
Age, growth and reproduction of the axillary seabream, Pagellus acarne, in the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters off southern Spain
Authors: Velasco E.M. , Jiménez-Tenorio N. , Del Arbol J. , Bruzón M.A. , Baro J. , Sobrino I.
Published: July 2010

The biology, growth and reproduction of the axillary seabream, Pagellus acarne, was studied based on data obtained from the catches of the Andalusia commercial fleet operating off the coasts of southern Spain from October 2003 to September 2004. The axillary seabream had a very wide depth distribution, appearing from the surface down to 500 m depth. The length–weight relationship was given by TW = 0.0048 TL3.3207 (R2 = 0.98) (TW = total weight; TL = total length) for all fish from the Gulf of Cadiz and TW = 0.0093 TL3.1132 (R2 = 0.94) for all fish from the Alboran Sea. The proportion of females to males increases as length increases in both populations and the species is characterized by protandric hermaphroditism. Spawning males were present almost throughout the year although higher percentages were observed in spring and early summer. In females, the spawning period occurred mainly in spring. In both areas, the mean size at first maturity for males was smaller than for females. The mean lengths at first maturity were 18.04 cm for males and 21.7 cm for females from the Gulf of Cadiz, and 17.7 cm and 20.1 cm for males and females from the Alboran Sea, respectively. The average total fecundity was estimated at 290,070 and 173,509 oocytes for Atlantic and Mediterranean individuals, respectively. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy growth model were estimated by age readings of the 247 sagitta collected. Two rings, one opaque and one hyaline, were laid down each year on the otoliths. The opaque zone was formed during spring and summer and the hyaline one during the remaining months of the year. The relationship between otolith radius and total length of the fish was described by the equation: TL = 27.7 OR – 1.8 (r = 0.96) (where OR = otolith radius). The parameters of the fitted Von Bertalanffy growth equation were L∞ = 31.65 cm, k = 0.21 yr−1 in the Gulf of Cadiz and L∞ = 32.14 cm, k = 0.17 yr−1 in the Alboran Sea.
Exposure of rotifers, crustaceans and sea urchins to produced formation waters and seawaters in the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Manfra L. , De Nicola E. , Maggi C. , Zambianchi E. , Caramiello D. , Toscano A. , Cianelli D. , Cicero A.M.
Published: July 2010

The toxicity of produced formation water (PFW) originating from four natural gas production platforms located in the Adriatic Sea (Italy), and of seawater samples collected near these installations is assessed by means of bioassays with Brachionus plicatilis, with the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana and with Paracentrotus lividus. The toxicological response of these specimens was evaluated in order to identify the most sensitive one, in the consumer compartment, and to design a bioassay battery specific for samples collected in the surroundings of a gas platform. Larval mortality of rotifers, larval immobilization of crustaceans, fertilization success/failure (sperm cell test) and larval (pluteus) development success/failure (embryo toxicity test) of sea urchins were taken as ecotoxicological endpoints. The PFW sampled on two platforms resulted toxic, while no toxicity was recorded in seawater samples collected in the vicinity of the platforms, even in coincidence with the PFW discharge operations. The species and bioassays employed have shown different responses to PFW: P. lividus turned out to be more sensitive than A. franciscana and B. plicatilis. In particular, the embryo toxicity test showed a higher toxicity than the sperm cell test.
Neighbour density, body size and anti-predator hiding time in the New Zealand mud-crabAustrohelice crassa
Authors: Guerra-Bobo M. , Brough T.E.
Published: July 2010

Many preys retreat into a refuge as a response to the presence of a predator, a behavioural strategy which guarantees safety but is also costly due to a trade-off between hiding time and time spent in other essential activities. The balance between costs and benefits of hiding, which are influenced by different factors, determine the hiding duration. In a field experiment, the anti-predator behaviour of the mud crabAustrohelice crassawas studied to assess the effects of two factors, body size and neighbour density, on the time spent hiding in burrows following a predator threat. Hiding times, body size (estimated from burrow diameter) and neighbour density (number of other burrows within a 30 cm radius) were measured for 158 individual crabs during a snorkelling survey. Regression analyses showed that hiding time of individual crabs significantly increased with increasing body size, and decreased with increasing neighbour density. These trends are the result of three main selective pressures: size-biased predation risk, dilution of predation in dense clusters of burrows, and more intense competition in dense clusters. Variation among individual crabs probably reflects differences in the balance between costs and benefits for crabs differing in body size and neighbour density.
The benthos and fish of offshore sandbank habitats in the southern North Sea
Authors: Ellis J.R. , Maxwell T. , Schratzberger M. , Rogers S.I.
Published: July 2010

Meiofauna, macro-infauna and epifauna were sampled at two offshore sandbanks in the southern North Sea in 2006. The epifaunal and infaunal communities in the dynamic environment of the sandbank crests were species poor, with lesser weever, solenette,Crangon crangon, amphipods and deposit-feeding polychaetes the predominant benthic taxa. Abundant early life-history stages (24–39 mm) of the lesser weeverEchiichthys viperaon the sandbank crests indicated that these habitats may be important nursery grounds for this species. Species diversity of infauna and epifauna was greater in the deeper waters parallel to the sandbanks. Contrasting patterns were evident for meiofaunal nematodes, where communities collected on the sandbank crests were more diverse than those recorded in the deeper off-bank sites. The fauna of sandbank crests is composed of a restricted range of the fauna typically associated with sandy habitats, particularly taxa adapted to live in this dynamic environment.
Validating age in southern calamary (Sepioteuthis australis) over seasonal and life history extremes
Authors: Hunt K.V. , Steer M.A. , Gillanders B.M.
Published: July 2010

Through rearing known age individuals and maintaining chemically marked adults in captivity, this study explored the rate of increment formation in southern calamary (Sepioteuthis australis) statoliths over seasonal (summer and winter) and ontogenetic (hatchlings and adults) extremes. A ‘one increment–one day’ relationship was verified for captive-reared hatchlings up to 40 days post-hatching which remained stable across the seasonal extremes. This relationship, however, was not evident in the chemically marked adults as inconsistencies of up to 44 days were detected between the number of days elapsed post-stain and the increment count. No seasonal effect was detected in the ratio between increment count and days elapsed, however, the degree of underestimation was consistently greater for winter-caught adults by approximately 2.5 increments relative to summer-caught adults. This less-than-daily increment formation in adults may be due to: (1) the periodicity of increment formation changing throughout the squid's lifespan; (2) deleterious effects associated with rearing squid in captivity; and/or (3) compromised interpretation of the statolith microstructure as a result of the preparation method.
A defence of the no-minimum response to the problem of evil
Authors: CULLISON ANDREW
Published: July 2010

I defend Peter van Inwagen's no-minimum response to the problem of evil from a recent objection raised by Jeff Jordan.
HOWARD FERGUSON'S ‘AMORE LANGUEO’, ‘THE DREAM OF THE ROOD’ AND NEW MUSIC IN THE 1950S
Authors: Wilson Christopher R
Published: July 2010

A re-evaluation of the work and status of a composer not infrequently occurs a decade after death and/or during an anniversary year. Howard Ferguson was born on 21 October 1908. The centennial year of his birth saw a number of high-profile concerts and talks devoted to his music and public life. My aim is not to survey the career and work of a musician who contributed significantly to many mainstream activities and events in 20th-century British musical life, including the war-time National Gallery concerts, the Vaughan Williams-Finzi composer circle, chamber music performance, the Royal Academy of Music, OUP and Associated Board interpretative editions.
The security dilemma and ethnic conflict: toward a dynamic and integrative theory of ethnic conflict
Authors: TANG SHIPING
Published: July 2010

I critically examine the existing literature on the security dilemma in ethnic conflict, thus laying part of the foundation for constructing a dynamic and integrative theory of ethnic conflict. I show that many attempts to apply the security dilemma to the understanding of ethnic conflict have been based on an imprecise and often mistaken understanding of the concept. I then emphasise that the security dilemma theory and the broader spiral model constitute a dynamic, versatile and powerful theory of strategic interaction that captures some general dynamics leading to the outbreak of war. As such, the security dilemma theory and the broader spiral model, when properly understood, can serve as part of the foundation of a dynamic and integrative theory of ethnic conflict, and such a theory will be able to integrate many diverse understandings of ethnic conflict from different schools of International Relations (IR) theory. I show the feasibility and the utility of such a theory.
The role of private bankers in the US payments system, 1835-1865
Authors: Knodell Jane
Published: July 2010

This article examines the formation, function and economics of unincorporated, or private, bankers' networks in long-distance payments during the 20 years leading up to the Civil War. Using historical evidence from both the center and the periphery, I find that the private bankers' networks played an important role in the interregional circulation of currency and in the issuance and clearing of deposits and drafts. In the 1850s, as the private bankers' networks were adapted to the mobilization of long-term financial capital, their role in long-distance payments began to diminish. This pattern of specialization was reinforced by the financing of the northern government's effort in the war of the states.
Right hemisphere infarct patients and healthy controls: Evaluation of starting points in cancellation tasks
Authors: NURMI LAURA , KETTUNEN JANI , LAIHOSALO MARI , RUUSKANEN EIJA-INKERI , KOIVISTO ANNA-MAIJA , JEHKONEN MERVI
Published: July 2010

Patients with visual neglect (VN) tend to start cancellation tasks from the right. This exceptional initial rightward bias is also seen in some right hemisphere (RH) stroke patients who do not meet the criteria of VN in conventional tests. The present study compared RH infarct patients’ (examined on average 4 days post-stroke) and healthy controls’ starting points (SPs) in three cancellation tasks of the Behavioural Inattention Test (BIT). Furthermore, task-specific guideline values were defined for a normal SP to differentiate the performance of healthy subjects from that of patients with subclinical inattention. Conventional tests indicated that 15 of the 70 RH infarct patients had VN. The control group comprised 44 healthy volunteers. In each task, the VN group started the cancellations mainly from the right. The non-neglect and healthy groups initiated most cancellations from the left, more so in the healthy group. Starting more than one BIT task outside the guideline value indicated pathological inattention, as this was typical among the VN patients, but exceptional among the healthy subjects. One-third of the non-neglect patients showed pathological inattention by starting more than one task outside the guideline value. Clinical assessment of VN should, therefore, include an evaluation of the SPs to detect this subtle form of neglect. (JINS, 2010,16, 902–909.)
Meat consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: the Multiethnic Cohort
Authors: Steinbrecher A , Erber E , Grandinetti A , Kolonel LN , Maskarinec G
Published: July 2010

Objective

To examine the association of meat consumption with diabetes risk in the Hawaii component of the Multiethnic Cohort and to assess effect modification by ethnicity.

Design

A prospective cohort study. Baseline information on diet and lifestyle was assessed by questionnaire. The cohort was followed up for incident cases of diabetes, which were identified through self-reports, medication questionnaires, or health plan linkages. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals for diabetes associated with quintile of meat consumption.

Setting

Hawaii, USA.

Subjects

A total of 29 759 Caucasian, 35 244 Japanese-American and 10 509 Native Hawaiian men and women, aged 45–75 years at baseline.

Results

During a mean follow-up time of 14 years, 8587 incident diabetes cases were identified. Intake of red meat was positively associated with diabetes risk in men (fifth v. first quintile: HR = 1·43; 95 % CI 1·29, 1·59) and women (fifth v. first quintile: HR = 1·30; 95 % CI 1·17, 1·45) in adjusted models. The respective HR for processed red meat intake were 1·57 (95 % CI 1·42, 1·75) and 1·45 (95 % CI 1·30, 1·62). The association for processed poultry was weaker than for processed red meat, and fresh poultry intake was not associated with diabetes risk. For men only, we observed significant interactions of ethnicity with the red and processed red meat associations, with Caucasians experiencing slightly higher risks than Japanese-Americans.

Conclusions

Our findings support the growing evidence that red and processed meat intake increase risk for diabetes irrespective of ethnicity and level of BMI.
Temporal variations and spatial extent of the electron density enhancements in the polar magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms
Authors: Kitamura N. , Nishimura Y. , Ono T. , Kumamoto A. , Shinbori A. , Iizima M. , Matsuoka A. , Hairston M. R.
Published: July 2010

In order to understand temporal variations and spatial distributions of plasma density enhancements in the polar magnetosphere during geomagnetic storms, nearly simultaneous observations of storm time electron densities in the polar magnetosphere by the Akebono satellite and ion upflows in the polar ionosphere by the DMSP satellites were investigated. Akebono observations show that the electron densities were highest (>100 cm−3 at ∼9000 km altitude) from the main to early recovery phases of geomagnetic storms. The regions of enhanced electron density were not localized but widely spread in the polar magnetosphere. Coordinated observations by the DMSP satellites detected ion upflows with large fluxes (∼1010/cm2/s) in and near the cusp, when the electron density enhancements were observed by the Akebono satellite. This result indicates that the storm time electron density enhancements are caused by cleft ion fountain mechanisms from the polar ionosphere. Very low‐energy component (<13 eV) of the cleft ion fountain drifted deep into the polar cap, and increased the plasma densities in a wide region of the polar cap and auroral zone. A large amount of the very low‐energy plasma may flow out through the polar magnetosphere during the main phase of geomagnetic storms.