bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring melancholia: the utility of a prototypic symptom approach
Authors: Parker G. , Fletcher K. , Hyett M. , Hadzi-Pavlovic D. , Barrett M. , Synnott H.
Published: September 2008

Background

Melancholia has long resisted classification, with many of its suggested markers lacking specificity. The imprecision of depressive symptoms, in addition to self-report biases, has limited the capacity of existing measures to delineate melancholic depression as a distinct subtype. Our aim was to develop a self-report measure differentiating melancholic and non-melancholic depression, weighting differentiation by prototypic symptoms and determining its comparative classification success with a severity-based strategy.

Method

Consecutively recruited depressed out-patients (n=228) rated 32 symptoms by prototypic or ‘characteristic’ relevance (using the Q-sort strategy) and severity [using the Severity-based Depression Rating System (SDRS) strategy]. Clinician diagnosis of melancholic/non-melancholic depression was the criterion measure, but two other formal measures of melancholia (Newcastle and DSM-IV criteria) were also tested.

Results

The prevalence of ‘melancholia’ ranged from 20.9% to 54.2% across the subtyping measures. The Q-sort measure had the highest overall correct classification rate in differentiating melancholic and non-melancholic depression (81.6%), with such decisions supported by validation analyses.

Conclusions

In differentiating a melancholic subtype or syndrome, prototypic symptoms should be considered as a potential alternative to severity-based ratings.
A survey of laboratory-confirmed isolates of invasive listeriosis in Israel, 1997–2007
Authors: VASILEV V. , JAPHETH R. , ANDORN N. , YSHAI R. , AGMON V. , GAZIT E. , KASHI Y. , COHEN D.
Published: September 2008

During the 11-year period from 1997 to 2007, 321 isolates ofListeria monocytogenesfrom sporadic cases of invasive listeriosis were reported to the national reference laboratory in Israel. Of these isolates, 113 (35%) were identified from perinatal cases, and 208 (65%) from non-perinatal cases. The prevalent serovars were 4b, 1/2b, 1/2a and 4c. Serovar 4b was identified in 80·5% of the perinatal isolates (P=0·0162), while the number of 1/2b and 1/2a strains increased in the ⩾60 years old group (P=0·0285). Resistance to tetracycline was found in eight 4b isolates. The seasonal distribution showed that 206 isolates (64·2%) were submitted during the hot season (May–October). The estimated morbidity for the study period was 4·4 per million. The incidence of invasive listeriosis was higher in the perinatal group (5·6/100 000), than in individuals aged ⩾60 years (1·5/100 000).
Risk factors for and influence of bloodstream infections on mortality: a 1-year prospective study in a Greek intensive-care unit
Authors: PRATIKAKI M. , PLATSOUKA E. , SOTIROPOULOU C. , VASSILAKOPOULOS T. , PANIARA O. , ROUSSOS C. , ROUTSI C.
Published: September 2008

To determine the incidence, risk factors for, and the influence of bloodstream infections (BSIs) on mortality of patients in intensive-care units (ICUs), prospectively collected data from all patients with a stay in an ICU >48 h, during a 1-year period, were analysed. Of 572 patients, 148 developed a total of 232 BSI episodes (incidence 16·3 episodes/1000 patient-days). Gram-negative organisms with high level of resistance to antibiotics were the most frequently isolated pathogens (157 strains, 67·8%). The severity of illness on admission, as estimated by APACHE II score (OR 1·07, 95% CI 1·04–1·1, P<0·001), the presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (OR 3·57, 95% CI 1·92–6·64, P<0·001), and a history of diabetes mellitus (OR 2·37, 95% CI 1·36–4·11, P=0·002) were risk factors for the occurrence of BSI whereas the development of an ICU-acquired BSI was an independent risk factor for death (OR 1·76, 95% CI 1·11–2·78, P=0·015). Finally, the severity of organ dysfunction on the day of the first BSI episode, as estimated by SOFA score, and the level of serum albumin, independently affected the outcome (OR 1·44, 95% CI 1·22–1·7, P<0·001 and OR 0·47, 95% CI 0·23–0·97, P=0·04 respectively).
Seed size and shape are good predictors of seed persistence in soil in temperate mountain grasslands of Argentina
Authors: Funes Guillermo , Basconcelo Sandra , Díaz Sandra , Cabido Marcelo
Published: September 2008

We tested whether seed mass and shape are good predictors of seed persistence in the soil of subhumid temperate montane grasslands of central Argentina. We plotted seed mass against variance of seed dimensions of 71 herbaceous species and obtained information on their persistence in the soil from a previous experiment on germinable seed banks. We identified a certain seed mass/shape combination beyond which no seed was persistent in the soil, with the exception of the annualTagetes minuta. Our results confirmed the patterns previously reported for British species: small and compact seeds tend to persist in the soil for a longer time than big and elongated or flattened seeds. We suggest that the value of seed mass and shape as predictors of persistence in the soil can be extended beyond the British flora to herbaceous floras from other humid temperate regions.
GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS
Authors: BEN-ZIV RINAT GABBAY , HOD MOSHE
Published: September 2008

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is defined as “carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with onset or first recognition during pregnancy.” The definition is applicable regardless of whether insulin is used for treatment or the condition persists after pregnancy. It does not exclude the possibility that unrecognized glucose intolerance may have antedated the pregnancy”. GDM complicates 3–15% of all pregnancies and is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, as well as maternal long term morbidity. Of all types of diabetes, gestational diabetes (GDM) accounts for approximately 90–95% of all cases of diabetes in pregnancy.
Nanoscale Composition of Biphasic Polymer Nanocolloids in Aqueous Suspension
Authors: Kim Ginam , Sousa Alioscka , Meyers Deborah , Libera Matthew
Published: September 2008

The molecular distribution in nanocolloids of poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) and an organic copolymer (methyl acrylate co-methyl methacrylate co-vinyl acetate) preserved in a frozen aqueous solution was investigated using cryovalence electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) coupled with a scanning transmission electron microscope. Low energy-loss spectra depend upon valence electron structure, and we show that they are substantially different for the PDMS, the copolymer, and the vitrified water studied here. Combining a high efficiency detection system and the use of high-signal low-loss spectra in EELS, we achieved a spatial resolution of 8 nm without serious beam-induced specimen damage in this radiation-sensitive soft-materials system. To obtain quantitative phase maps of silicone and copolymer composition within individual nanoparticles, spectrum datasets were processed via multiple least squares fitting. Quantitative line profiles from the resulting compositional maps indicate that the PDMS lobe of biphasic nanoparticles contained a significant amount of the copolymer and a diffuse interface was formed. Since the nanoparticle synthesis involves polymerization of acrylate monomer dissolved in PDMS nanoparticle precursors, these results suggest that the evolution of the nanocolloid morphology during synthesis is kinetically frozen as the acrylate copolymer achieves some critical molecular weight.
Effect of Dental Finishing Instruments on the Surface Roughness of Composite Resins as Elucidated by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Botta Ana Carolina , Duarte Sillas , Filho Pedro Iris Paulin , Gheno Simoni Maria
Published: September 2008

Roughness increases significantly after finishing procedures. The aim of this study was to assess by the atomic force microscope (AFM) the effect of finishing instruments on the surface roughness of composite resins. A nanofiller composite resin (Filtek Supreme, 3M–F) and a microhybrid composite resin (Point 4, Kerr–P) were selected. The finishing procedures were done with a 30-blade carbide bur (C) and a 30-μm finishing diamond bur (D). Standardized specimens were produced and divided into six experimental groups (n= 4) according to (1) composite resin, (2) absence of finishing (Mylar matrix–M), and (3) finishing instrument (FM, PM, FC, FD, PC, PD). The mean surface roughness was evaluated by AFM in the contact mode. FM and PM groups were assessed statistically by the Student's T test, and FC, FD, PC, PD groups were submitted to variance analysis (ANOVA), both at 5% significance. The mean surface roughness values, in nanometers, were FM, 23.63 (b); FC, 283.88 (c); FD, 510.55 (d); PM, 12.52 (a); PC, 343.98 (c); PD, 531.64 (d). Microhybrid composite displayed less roughness than nanofiller composite in the absence of finishing procedures. The 30-blade carbide bur produced less roughness compared to the extra fine diamond bur.
Intervessel Pit Structure and Histochemistry of Two Mangrove Species as Revealed by Cellular UV Microspectrophotometry and Electron Microscopy: Intraspecific Variation and Functional Significance
Authors: Schmitz Nele , Koch Gerald , Schmitt Uwe , Beeckman Hans , Koedam Nico
Published: September 2008

Intervessel pits play a key role in trees' water transport, lying at the base of drought-induced embolism, and in the regulation of hydraulic conductivity via hydrogels bordering pit canals. Recently, their microstructure has been the focus of numerous studies, but the considerable variation, even within species and the histochemistry of pit membranes, remains largely unexplained. In the present study, intervessel pits of the outermost wood were examined for Avicennia marina, of dry and rainy season wood separately for Rhizophora mucronata. The thickness of the pit membranes was measured on transmission electron micrographs while their topochemical nature was also analyzed via cellular UV microspectrophotometry. Pit membranes of R. mucronata were slightly thicker in dry season wood than in rainy season wood, but their spectra showed for both seasons a lignin and a yet unidentified higher wavelength absorbing component. It was suggested to be a derivative of the deposits, regularly filling pit canals. The vestures of A. marina chemically resembled pit membranes rather than cell walls.
Analysis of Heterogeneous Mitochondria Distribution in Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Porcine Embryos
Authors: Zhong Zhisheng , Hao Yanhong , Li Rongfeng , Spate Lee , Wax David , Sun Qing-Yuan , Prather Randall S. , Schatten Heide
Published: September 2008

We previously reported that translocation of mitochondria from the oocyte cortex to the perinuclear area indicates positive developmental potential that was reduced in porcine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos compared toin vitro–fertilized (IVF) embryos (Katayama, M., Zhong, Z.-S., Lai, L., Sutovsky, P., Prather, R.S. & Schatten, H. (2006).Dev Biol299, 206–220.). The present study is focused on distribution of donor cell mitochondria in intraspecies (pig oocytes; pig fetal fibroblast cells) and interspecies (pig oocytes; mouse fibroblast cells) reconstructed embryos by using either pig fibroblasts with mitochondria-stained MitoTracker CMXRos or YFP-mitochondria 3T3 cells (pPhi-Yellow-mito) as donor cells. Transmission electron microscopy was employed for ultrastructural analysis of pig oocyte and donor cell mitochondria. Our results revealed donor cell mitochondrial clusters around the donor nucleus that gradually dispersed into the ooplasm at 3 h after SCNT. Donor-derived mitochondria distributed into daughter blastomeres equally (82.8%) or unequally (17.2%) at first cleavage. Mitochondrial morphology was clearly different between donor cells and oocytes in which various complex shapes and configurations were seen. These data indicate that (1) unequal donor cell mitochondria distribution is observed in 17.2% of embryos, which may negatively influence development; and (2) complex mitochondrial morphologies are observed in IVF and SCNT embryos, which may influence mitochondrial translocation and affect development.
Spatial variability of snow water equivalent in a mountainous area of the Japanese Central Alps
Authors: Tanaka Motoki , Suzuki Keisuke
Published: September 2008

The temporal and spatial variability of the snow water equivalent (SWE) content of the snowpack on an east‐west ridge in the vicinity of the timberline altitude in the Japanese Central Alps was examined using snow weights obtained from snow surveys, as well as the chemical stratigraphy in the snow layers, from 22 February 2006 until 18 April 2006. Snow erosion was observed at elevations above 2700 m on the west ridge and at elevations above 2650 m on the east ridge. The SWE below 2600 m on the east ridge was significantly greater than that on the west ridge for the same period and elevation. Further, on the east ridge, 49–55% of the SWE at the 2500‐m site and 30–52% of the SWE at the 2200‐m site could be explained by snow transport from the alpine area. The SWE at the 2500 and 2200‐m sites on the east ridge experienced variations that were 1.7–1.9 times and 1.2–1.3 times those at the 2500 and 2200‐m sites on the west ridge, respectively. We infer that the ratio of the SWE on the east ridge to that on the west ridge varies within a constant range throughout a single snow season. The SWE on the west ridge below 2680 m exhibited a good correlation with elevation. Altitudinal distribution of the SWE increased markedly at the upper part of the west ridge (below the timberline) within a time series set of data. The major reason for this fact is a change in the source of the precipitation from the Asian winter monsoon to low pressure passing along the southern coast of Japan. The main wind direction, the existence of the forest area, and the difference in the pressure patterns strongly influence the formation of SWE in the mountainous areas in the vicinity of timberline.
Fine‐scale modeling of the boundary layer wind field over steep topography
Authors: Raderschall N. , Lehning M. , Schär C.
Published: September 2008

This paper describes the adaptation of wind fields to steep and complex terrain using fine‐scale numerical modeling. The work is motivated by the need of high‐resolution flow fields to predict snow transport and snow cover development for avalanche warning purposes. Applying the nonhydrostatic and compressible atmospheric prediction model Advanced Regional Prediction System (ARPS) to steep alpine topography, the boundary layer flow was simulated and evaluated against measurements. The adaptation of the wind field to steep terrain for specific initial and boundary conditions was simulated. The topography used in our study has a length scale of 500 m, a typical height of 150 m, and maximum slopes of 45°. Numerical experiments with idealized triangular ridges were conducted to find an adequate model configuration. This analysis indicates that a high‐resolution grid with horizontal spacing of at least 25 m and vertical spacing of 3 m near the surface is necessary to reproduce small‐scale flow features such as speed‐up, separation, and recirculation. The onset of flow separation is highly sensitive to initial and boundary conditions, slope angle, and surface roughness. The results of the comparison between the model simulations and measurements on our experimental site show that typical wind field characteristics are well reproduced. The simulated wind fields have been used to drive a numerical three‐dimensional snow drift model, which is presented in a companion paper by Lehning et al. (2008).
Very high‐resolution seismo‐acoustic imaging of seagrass meadows (Mediterranean Sea): Implications for carbon sink estimates
Authors: Lo Iacono Claudio , Mateo Miguel Angel , Gràcia Eulàlia , Guasch Lluis , Carbonell Ramon , Serrano Laura , Serrano Oscar , Dañobeitia Juanjo
Published: September 2008

Posidonia oceanica is a widespread coastal Mediterranean seagrass which accumulates in its subsurface large quantities of organic material derived from its roots, rhizomes and leaf sheaths embedded in sandy sediments. These organic deposits may be up to several meters thick as they accumulate over thousands of years forming the matte, whose high content in organic carbon plays a major role in the global ocean carbon cycle. In this study, very high‐resolution seismo‐acoustic methods were applied to image the subsurface features of a P. oceanica seagrass meadow at Portlligat (Cadaqués, Girona, Spain), in the NW‐Mediterranean Sea. Our findings yield fresh insights into the settling of the P. oceanica meadow in the study area, and define with unprecedented detail the potential volume occupied by the matte. A strong reflector, located from 4.3 to 11.7 m depth, was recognized in several seismo‐acoustic profiles as the substratum on which P. oceanica first settled in the study area. A 3D bathymetric model of this substratum allowed us to reconstruct the Portlligat palaeo‐environment prior to the settling of P. oceanica, which corresponded to a shallow coastal setting protected from the open sea. A core drilled in the meadow at Portlligat revealed the presence of a 6 m thick dense matte composed of medium to coarse sandy sediments mixed with plant debris and bioclasts. Radiocarbon datings revealed a constant accretion rate of the matte of about 1.1 m/kyr. Gravelly bioclastic deposits observed at the base of the core correspond to the base of the matte and gave a date of 5616 ± 46 Cal yr BP. For the first time, very high‐resolution marine geophysical techniques allowed us to accurately define the volume occupied by P. oceanicamatte, which in the study area reaches up to almost 220,000 ± 17,400 m3. This result is an important step forward in our efforts to estimate the size of the carbon sink represented by P. oceanica meadows along the Mediterranean coasts significantly contributing to the biosphere carbon cycle.
Why do dust storms decrease in northern China concurrently with the recent global warming?
Authors: Zhu Congwen , Wang Bin , Qian Weihong
Published: September 2008

Recent studies have shown that the spring dust storm frequency (DSF) in northern China exhibits an obvious downward trend over the past 50 years concurrently with the recent global warming. We found that the decline of DSF is significantly correlated with the increase of the surface air temperature (SAT) in the region of 70°E–130°E, 45°N–65°N around Lake Baikal, where anthropogenic forcing induces prominent warming in the recent decades. Corresponding to the SAT rise in this region, an anomalous dipole circulation pattern is found in the troposphere that consists of a warm anti‐cyclone centered at 55°N and a cold cyclone centered around 30°N. The DSF is positively correlated to the activity of Mongolian cyclones. The warming trend around Lake Baikal possibly induces a weakening of the westerly jet stream and the atmospheric baroclinicity in northern China and Mongolian regions, which suppress the frequency of occurrence and the intensity of the Mongolian cyclones and result in the decreasing DSF in North China. This mechanism will likely further reduce the spring DSF in the future global warming scenario.
Near‐resonant energy transfer from vibrationally excited OH(v), v = 9, 8, 1 to CO2
Authors: Burtt Kelly D. , Sharma Ramesh D.
Published: September 2008

The transfer of vibrational energy from chemiluminescent OH, produced predominately by the H + O3 → OH (v) + O2 reaction, is of importance in modeling the airglow from the atmospheres of Earth, Mars, and Venus. We have calculated the energy transfer probability per collision as function of temperature for the near‐resonant processes OH (v) + CO2 (00001) → OH(v − 1) +CO2 (mnpqr) for v = 1, 8, and 9 in the 100 – 350 K temperature range. We show that the measured room temperature values of the removal rate coefficient of OH(v = 9, 8) and OH(v = 1) by CO2, are in agreement with the ones calculated for the vibration‐to‐vibration (VV) energy transfer (ET) processes OH (v) + CO2 (00001) → OH (v − 1) + CO2 (00011) and OH (1) + CO2 (00001) → OH (0) + CO2 (1001 n) n =1, 2, respectively. The emission from the latter levels of CO2 in the terrestrial mesosphere is not self‐absorbed leading to the possibility that these levels may be important contributors to the 4.3 μm emission. Our calculation favors the “Collisional Cascade” model of vibrational energy transfer from OH to CO2 that predicts about 50 times more radiation in the Martian Meinel bands over that predicted by the “Sudden Death” model. These two models of Martian atmosphere predict vastly different steady‐state populations of the vibrational levels of OH and should, because of the chemical reactions, of other trace species, e.g., H, O, and CO, as well.
New constraints on the timing of sea level fluctuations during early to middle marine isotope stage 3
Authors: Rohling E. J. , Grant K. , Hemleben C. , Kucera M. , Roberts A. P. , Schmeltzer I. , Schulz H. , Siccha M. , Siddall M. , Trommer G.
Published: September 2008

To settle debate on the timing of sea level fluctuations during marine isotope stage (MIS) 3, we present records of δ18Oruber (sea level proxy) and magnetic susceptibility from the same samples within the single sediment archive (i.e., “coregistered”) of central Red Sea core GeoTü‐KL11. Core‐scanning X‐ray fluorescence and environmental magnetic data establish the suitability of magnetic susceptibility as a proxy for eolian dust content in Red Sea sediments. The eolian dust data record similar variability as Greenland δ18Oice during early to middle MIS 3, in agreement with previous observations that regional Arabian Sea climate fluctuated with a timing similar to that of Greenland climate variations. In contrast, the sea level record fluctuates with a timing similar to that of Antarctic‐style climate variations. The coregistered nature of the two records in core KL11 unambiguously reveals a distinct offset in the phase relationship between sea level and eolian dust fluctuations. The results confirm that sea level rises, indicated by shifts in Red Sea δ18Oruber to lighter values, occurred during cold episodes in Greenland during early to middle MIS 3. This indicates that the amplitudes of the reconstructed MIS 3 sea level fluctuations would not be reduced by inclusion of regional climate fluctuations in the Red Sea sea level method. Our analysis comprehensively supports our earlier conclusions of large‐amplitude sea level variations during MIS 3 with a timing that is strongly similar to Antarctic‐style climate variations.
COPD: what is the unmet need?
Authors: Calverley P M A
Published: September 2008

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is now recognized as a major source of ill health around the world with an important impact on both developed and developing economies. The emphasis in research has shifted from a purely physiological focus that mainly considered how airway smooth muscle tone can be modulated to improve lung emptying. Although long‐acting inhaled β‐agonist and antimuscarinic antagonists have improved clinical management for many symptomatic patents, there is increasing attention being paid to the inflammatory component of COPD in the airways and lung parenchyma and to its close association with other diseases, which cannot simply be attributed to their having a common risk factor such as tobacco smoking. This clinical review is intended to identify not only those areas where pharmacological treatment has been successful or has offered particular insights into COPD but also to consider where existing treatment is falling short and new opportunities exist to conduct original investigations. A picture of considerable complexity emerges with a range of clinical patterns leading to several common end points such as exacerbations, exercise impairment and mortality. Defining subsets of patients responsive to more specific interventions is the major challenge for the next decade in this field.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 487–493; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.362; published online 15 September 2008
Visualizing fewer than 10 mouse T cells with an enhanced firefly luciferase in immunocompetent mouse models of cancer
Authors: Rabinovich Brian A. , Ye Yang , Etto Tamara , Chen Jie Qing , Levitsky Hyam I. , Overwijk Willem W. , Cooper Laurence J. N. , Gelovani Juri , Hwu Patrick
Published: September 2008

Antigen specific T cell migration to sites of infection or cancer is critical for an effective immune response. In mouse models of cancer, the number of lymphocytes reaching the tumor is typically only a few hundred, yet technology capable of imaging these cells using bioluminescence has yet to be achieved. A combination of codon optimization, removal of cryptic splice sites and retroviral modification was used to engineer an enhanced firefly luciferase (ffLuc) vector. Compared with ffLuc, T cells expressing our construct generated >100 times more light, permitting detection of as few as three cells implanted s.c. while maintaining long term coexpression of a reporter gene (Thy1.1). Expression of enhanced ffLuc in mouse T cells permitted the tracking of <3 × 10
4
adoptively transferred T cells infiltrating sites of vaccination and preestablished tumors. Penetration of light through deep tissues, including the liver and spleen, was also observed. Finally, we were able to enumerate infiltrating mouse lymphocytes constituting <0.3% of total tumor cellularity, representing a significant improvement over standard methods of quantitation including flow cytometry.
Prokaryote–eukaryote interactions identified by using
Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Peleg Anton Y. , Tampakakis Emmanouil , Fuchs Beth Burgwyn , Eliopoulos George M. , Moellering Robert C. , Mylonakis Eleftherios
Published: September 2008

Prokaryote–eukaryote interactions are ubiquitous and have important medical and environmental significance. Despite this, a paucity of data exists on the mechanisms and pathogenic consequences of bacterial–fungal encounters within a living host. We used the nematode
Caenorhabditis elegans
as a substitute host to study the interactions between two ecologically related and clinically troublesome pathogens, the prokaryote,
Acinetobacter baumannii
, and the eukaryote,
Candida albicans
. After co-infecting
C. elegans
with these organisms, we observed that
A. baumannii
inhibits filamentation, a key virulence determinant of
C. albicans
. This antagonistic, cross-kingdom interaction led to attenuated virulence of
C. albicans
, as determined by improved nematode survival when infected with both pathogens.
In vitro
coinfection assays in planktonic and biofilm environments supported the inhibitory effects of
A. baumannii
toward
C. albicans
, further showing a predilection of
A. baumannii
for
C. albicans
filaments. Interestingly, we demonstrate a likely evolutionary defense by
C. albicans
against
A. baumannii
, whereby
C. albicans
inhibits
A. baumannii
growth once a quorum develops. This counteroffensive is at least partly mediated by the
C. albicans
quorum-sensing molecule farnesol. We used the
C. elegans–A. baumannii–C. albicans
coinfection model to screen an
A. baumannii
mutant library, leading to the identification of several mutants attenuated in their inhibitory activity toward
C. albicans
. These findings present an extension to the current paradigm of studying monomicrobial pathogenesis in
C. elegans
and by use of genetic manipulation, provides a whole-animal model system to investigate the complex dynamics of a polymicrobial infection.
Activity-dependent coordination of presynaptic release probability and postsynaptic GluR2 abundance at single synapses
Authors: Tokuoka Hirofumi , Goda Yukiko
Published: September 2008

The strength of an excitatory synapse depends on both the presynaptic release probability (

p
r

) and the abundance of functional postsynaptic AMPA receptors. How these parameters are related or balanced at a single synapse remains unknown. By taking advantage of live fluorescence imaging in cultured hippocampal neurons where individual synapses are readily resolved, we estimate

p
r

by labeling presynaptic vesicles with a styryl dye, FM1-43, while concurrently measuring postsynaptic AMPA receptor abundance at the same synapse by immunolabeling surface GluR2. We find no appreciable correlation between

p
r

and the level of surface synaptic GluR2 under basal condition, and blocking basal neural activity has no effect on the observed lack of correlation. However, elevating network activity drives their correlation, which accompanies a decrease in mean GluR2 level. These findings provide the direct evidence that the coordination of pre- and postsynaptic parameters of synaptic strength is not intrinsically fixed but that the balance is tuned by synaptic use at individual synapses.
Newly discovered sister lineage sheds light on early ant evolution
Authors: Rabeling Christian , Brown Jeremy M. , Verhaagh Manfred
Published: September 2008

Ants are the world's most conspicuous and important eusocial insects and their diversity, abundance, and extreme behavioral specializations make them a model system for several disciplines within the biological sciences. Here, we report the discovery of a new ant that appears to represent the sister lineage to all extant ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The phylogenetic position of this cryptic predator from the soils of the Amazon rainforest was inferred from several nuclear genes, sequenced from a single leg.Martialis heureka(gen. et sp. nov.) also constitutes the sole representative of a new, morphologically distinct subfamily of ants, the Martialinae (subfam. nov.). Our analyses have reduced the likelihood of long-branch attraction artifacts that have troubled previous phylogenetic studies of early-diverging ants and therefore solidify the emerging view that the most basal extant ant lineages are cryptic, hypogaeic foragers. On the basis of morphological and phylogenetic evidence we suggest that these specialized subterranean predators are the sole surviving representatives of a highly divergent lineage that arose near the dawn of ant diversification and have persisted in ecologically stable environments like tropical soils over great spans of time.
NMR-spectroscopic screening of spider venom reveals sulfated nucleosides as major components for the brown recluse and related species
Authors: Schroeder Frank C. , Taggi Andrew E. , Gronquist Matthew , Malik Rabia U. , Grant Jacqualine B. , Eisner Thomas , Meinwald Jerrold
Published: September 2008

Extensive chemical analyses of spider venoms from many species have revealed complex mixtures of biologically active compounds, of which several have provided important leads for drug development. We have recently shown that NMR spectroscopy can be used advantageously for a direct structural characterization of the small-molecule content of such complex mixtures. Here, we report the application of this strategy to a larger-scale analysis of a collection of spider venoms representing >70 species, which, in combination with mass spectrometric analyses, allowed the identification of a wide range of known, and several previously undescribed, small molecules. These include polyamines, common neurotransmitters, and amino acid derivatives as well as two additional members of a recently discovered family of natural products, the sulfated nucleosides. In the case of the well studied brown recluse spider,
Loxosceles reclusa
, sulfated guanosine derivatives were found to comprise the major small-molecule components of the venom.
The diachrony of complex predicates
Authors: Bowern Claire
Published: September 2008

While complex predicate constructions, including light verb structures and verb serialisation, are found in many of the world’s languages, there has been little diachronic work on these structures to date. In this paper I survey the state of the field and describe current ideas on the origins and development of complex predicates. In particular, I show that the assumption of cline-like development from parataxis to affix (through serialisation, light verbs and auxiliation) is too simplistic. Finally, I review arguments in favor of and against views of light verbs as stable structures.
On the evolution of activity incorporates in Athabaskan languages
Authors: Rice Keren
Published: September 2008

Many Athabaskan languages have a construction that I call the activity incorporate construction. Activity incorporates are similar in some ways to circumstantial incorporates, entering into non-core thematic relationships with the verb stem. The languages that allow incorporates divide into two major groups based on the treatment of the activity incorporates: in some languages activity incorporates are dependent nouns, functioning as direct objects, while in others they have a suffix that indicates dependency, showing that the activity incorporate is not the head of the construction. In the former, the relationship between the verbal head and the activity incorporate is indicated through the voice/valence system and in the latter, through the suffix on the activity incorporate. Focusing on the incorporate, this looks like a development from parataxis — the activity incorporate and the verb stem are in a non-morphologically marked, loosely construed relationship with one another — to hypotaxis, with overt marking of the relationship between the actions involved. However, when the construction is viewed as a whole, the development of the overt marking of dependency is accompanied by a change in the overt marking of voice/valence. While formally there is a change in structure in terms of how the dependency is indicated, functionally in both cases the dependency relationship between the two elements concerned is indicated in some way, without any change in clausal complexity but rather the location of the complexity.
Home parenteral nutrition and the psyche: psychological challenges for patient and family
Authors: Stern Julian
Published: September 2008

The paper discusses the case histories of three patients who have faced the emotional implications of being initiated onto long-term parenteral nutrition (PN). In each case the patient's personal and family history, relationship to their illness and the presence or relative absence of resentments and grievances have influenced their ability to tolerate the training and the transition to home PN (HPN). In addition, the emotional importance of food and feeding from a developmental and social perspective is explored, together with the numerous psychological and social ‘losses’ experienced by all patients on PN and the adaptations required within the family setting. The ‘meaning’ of PN to the individual and the need for both internal and external support are identified and, based on clinical experience, a number of features are described that may be indicative of the relative abilities of different patients to cope with HPN. Finally, the role of a dedicated Psychological Medicine Unit closely allied to a nutrition service is discussed.
Early immunological development and mortality from infectious disease in later life
Authors: Moore Sophie E. , Collinson Andrew C. , Tamba N'Gom Pa , Aspinall Richard , Prentice Andrew M.
Published: September 2008

In rural Gambia the risk of mainly infection-related mortality is 10-fold higher for adults born in the nutritionally-debilitating ‘hungry’ season, suggesting that immune function may be compromised by events early in life. The current programme of research focuses on the biological mechanisms underlying this hypothesis, exploring early-life environmental influences on immune development and the long-term functional consequences these influences may have. Results obtained to date show that thymus development during infancy is critically sensitive to environmental exposures, with smaller thymuses observed in the hungry season. Measurement of the frequency of T-cell receptor excision circles indicate that thymus function is also sensitive to seasonal influences, with further studies implicating variations in breast-milk IL-7 as a possible mediator of these effects. Studies in adults have shown that size at birth is positively correlated with antibody responses to vaccination with polysaccharide antigens, thus providing evidence for long-term functional deficits. The present paper will review progress made to date within this field of research.
B‐Lynch suture for massive persistent postpartum hemorrhage following stepwise uterine devascularization
Authors: SENTILHES LOÏC , GROMEZ ALEXIS , RAZZOUK KAÏS , RESCH BENOÎT , VERSPYCK ERIC , MARPEAU LOÏC
Published: September 2008

Objective. To estimate the effectiveness and safety of the B‐Lynch suture for severe persistent postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) following vessel ligation before considering hysterectomy and its impact on menstruation and uterine cavity. Design. Cohort study. Setting. University‐affiliated tertiary referral center. Population. Fifteen consecutive women who underwent B‐Lynch suture for persistent PPH despite vessel ligation. Methods. Data were retrieved from medical files and telephone interviews. Main outcome measure(s). Hysterectomy, infection, hysteroscopy, future menstruations. Results. In 13 of the 15 cases (86.7%), PPH occurred after cesarean deliveries. B‐Lynch sutures controlled the hemorrhage and resulted in an avoidance of immediate hysterectomy in 12 of 15 cases (80%). The postpartum period was uneventful for 14 of 15 women (93.3%). In one case hysterectomy was required due to pyometra in an ischemic uterus. In the remaining 11 women where the uterus was preserved, ambulatory hysteroscopy was normal. No women reported any differences in menses or pain compared to that they experienced before pregnancy, or any clinical symptoms of early menopause. One woman reported a subsequent pregnancy with normal conception delay, whereas the ten remaining women had no desired pregnancy due to, in each case, the fear of PPH recurrence. Conclusions. B‐Lynch technique appears to be an effective procedure with a relatively low morbidity to control persistent severe PPH following a failure of vessel ligation before considering hysterectomy.
Shoulder dystocia: What is the risk of recurrence?
Authors: USTA IHAB M. , HAYEK SALIM , YAHYA FADI , ABU‐MUSA ANTOINE , NASSAR ANWAR H.
Published: September 2008

Objective. To study the recurrence risk of shoulder dystocia in women who have previously experienced at least once shoulder dystocia. Design. A retrospective study of vaginal deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia. Setting. American University of Beirut Medical Center – Lebanon. Sample. Vaginal deliveries complicated by shoulder dystocia over a 15‐year period who had subsequent vaginal delivery. Methods. Charts of index and subsequent deliveries beyond 24 weeks’ gestation were reviewed for demographics and intrapartum events. Women were divided into those with recurrent shoulder dystocia (group I) and those with uncomplicated subsequent delivery (group II) and compared. Main outcome measures. Recurrent shoulder dystocia and characteristics of women with recurrence. Results. The incidence of shoulder dystocia was 0.9% of all vaginal deliveries. Of 193 shoulder dystocia cases, 48 women had a subsequent delivery. After excluding cesarean deliveries (n = 4), 44 women were analyzed. Eleven had recurrent shoulder dystocia (25.0%). Mean birthweight was larger (4,019±430 vs. 3,599±398 g, p = 0.005) with a higher rate of macrosomia ≥4,000 g (63.6 vs. 15.2%, p = 0.004) and the birthweight in the subsequent pregnancy was larger than the index pregnancy in a significantly larger proportion of women in group I compared with group II (72.7% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.035). Otherwise, maternal age, gestational age at delivery, parity, duration of labor, gender, history of macrosomia, and interval between pregnancies were similar. Conclusions. The risk of recurrence of shoulder dystocia is around 25%. When counseling women about recurrence risk, the absence of macrosomia and a smaller birthweight than the previous pregnancy could be reassuring.
Obstetric brachial plexus palsy: A birth injury not explained by the known risk factors
Authors: BACKE BJØRN , MAGNUSSEN ELISABETH BALSTAD , JOHANSEN OLE JAKOB , SELLAEG GERD , RUSSWURM HARALD
Published: September 2008

Objective. To determine the incidence and prognosis of obstetric brachial plexus injuries and analyze associated risk factors. Design. Analysis of prospectively collected information comprising all births from 1991 to 2000, with complete follow‐up of affected children. Setting. St Olav's University Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in the middle part of Norway. Population. Thirty thousand five hundred and seventy‐four children; all were examined within 24 hours of birth and 91 were diagnosed with brachial plexus injury. Methods. We reviewed the hospital records and analyzed the data submitted from our hospital to the Medical Birth Register of Norway. Result. Risk factors are shoulder dystocia, macrosomy, diabetes, vacuum extraction and forceps delivery. The predictive power of these variables is poor. Almost half of the plexus injuries followed spontaneous vaginal deliveries with second stage of 30 minutes or less. Two newborns were delivered by cesarean section and two were vaginal breech deliveries. In 15 children (0.5/1,000) a permanent plexus injury has been diagnosed. Compared with transient plexus impairment, risk factors for a permanent injury were high maternal body mass index, shoulder dystocia, fractured humerus and fetal asphyxia. Fracture of the clavicle was significantly more frequent when the injury was transient, possibly reflecting a protective effect. Conclusion. The incidence of obstetric brachial plexus injury is 0.3% and the recovery rate is 84%, resulting in 0.5 permanent injuries per 1,000 births. Plexus injury is not well predicted by known risk factors. Other etiological factors should be sought.
Myosin II has distinct functions in PNS and CNS myelin sheath formation
Authors: Wang Haibo , Tewari Ambika , Einheber Steven , Salzer James L. , Melendez-Vasquez Carmen V.
Published: September 2008

The myelin sheath forms by the spiral wrapping of a glial membrane around the axon. The mechanisms responsible for this process are unknown but are likely to involve coordinated changes in the glial cell cytoskeleton. We have found that inhibition of myosin II, a key regulator of actin cytoskeleton dynamics, has remarkably opposite effects on myelin formation by Schwann cells (SC) and oligodendrocytes (OL). Myosin II is necessary for initial interactions between SC and axons, and its inhibition or down-regulation impairs their ability to segregate axons and elongate along them, preventing the formation of a 1:1 relationship, which is critical for peripheral nervous system myelination. In contrast, OL branching, differentiation, and myelin formation are potentiated by inhibition of myosin II. Thus, by controlling the spatial and localized activation of actin polymerization, myosin II regulates SC polarization and OL branching, and by extension their ability to form myelin. Our data indicate that the mechanisms regulating myelination in the peripheral and central nervous systems are distinct.
Orientation and structure of the Ndc80 complex on the microtubule lattice
Authors: Wilson-Kubalek Elizabeth M. , Cheeseman Iain M. , Yoshioka Craig , Desai Arshad , Milligan Ronald A.
Published: September 2008

The four-subunit Ndc80 complex, comprised of Ndc80/Nuf2 and Spc24/Spc25 dimers, directly connects kinetochores to spindle microtubules. The complex is anchored to the kinetochore at the Spc24/25 end, and the Ndc80/Nuf2 dimer projects outward to bind to microtubules. Here, we use cryoelectron microscopy and helical image analysis to visualize the interaction of the Ndc80/Nuf2 dimer with microtubules. Our results, when combined with crystallography data, suggest that the globular domain of the Ndc80 subunit binds strongly at the interface between tubulin dimers and weakly at the adjacent intradimer interface along the protofilament axis. Such a binding mode, in which the Ndc80 complex interacts with sequential α/β-tubulin heterodimers, may be important for stabilizing kinetochore-bound microtubules. Additionally, we define the binding of the Ndc80 complex relative to microtubule polarity, which reveals that the microtubule interaction surface is at a considerable distance from the opposite kinetochore-anchored end; this binding geometry may facilitate polymerization and depolymerization at kinetochore-attached microtubule ends.
Mast cell–expressed orphan receptor CCRL2 binds chemerin and is required for optimal induction of IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis
Authors: Zabel Brian A. , Nakae Susumu , Zúñiga Luis , Kim Ji-Yun , Ohyama Takao , Alt Carsten , Pan Junliang , Suto Hajime , Soler Dulce , Allen Samantha J. , Handel Tracy M. , Song Chang Ho , Galli Stephen J. , Butcher Eugene C.
Published: September 2008

Mast cells contribute importantly to both protective and pathological IgE-dependent immune responses. We show that the mast cell–expressed orphan serpentine receptor mCCRL2 is not required for expression of IgE-mediated mast cell–dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis but can enhance the tissue swelling and leukocyte infiltrates associated with such reactions in mice. We further identify chemerin as a natural nonsignaling protein ligand for both human and mouse CCRL2. In contrast to other “silent” or professional chemokine interreceptors, chemerin binding does not trigger ligand internalization. Rather, CCRL2 is able to bind the chemoattractant and increase local concentrations of bioactive chemerin, thus providing a link between CCRL2 expression and inflammation via the cell-signaling chemerin receptor CMKLR1.
Improving the quality of information on Scottish anglerfish fisheries: making use of fishers' data
Authors: Dobby H. , Allan L. , Harding M. , Laurenson C. H. , McLay H. A.
Published: September 2008

Dobby, H., Allan, L., Harding, M., Laurenson, C. H., and McLay, H. A. 2008. Improving the quality of information on Scottish anglerfish fisheries: making use of fishers’ data. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1334–1345. In recent years, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Working Group on the Assessment of Northern Shelf Demersal Stocks has been unable to provide an analytical assessment for anglerfish. One of the reasons for this has been the poor quality of the commercial catch-and-effort data, with ICES and the European Commission’s Scientific, Technical, and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) stressing the need for reliable information on which to base estimates of stock status. In response, and following consultation with the fishing industry, an anglerfish tallybook project was implemented in Scotland as part of a long-term approach to providing better data. Tallybooks are completed on a haul-by-haul basis. Skippers record catches of anglerfish (by size category) and other species where possible, together with information on haul location, duration, and depth. Individual vessel catch rates are calculated and used to provide insights into temporal trends in the stock and the spatial distribution of the fishery. The history of the fishery and management advice are summarized, and an overview of the tallybook project is provided. Catch rates are analysed using a generalized additive modelling approach which incorporates seasonal, annual, spatial, and vessel-dependent effects. The results show increased catch rates between 2006 and 2007.
Crammer's Corner
Authors: Riley Ben
Published: September 2008

August 2008 marked the first anniversary of the introduction of the RCGP curriculum. This issue of Crammer's Corner reflects on how the curriculum has been received by trainers and trainees and its impact on general practice training.
Ethical Issues in Genetic Medicine
Authors: Lucassen Anneke
Published: September 2008

‘It is in the genes’ is an expression commonly used by patients in the surgery. The use of genetic information in general practice has become more common place in recent years. Family history is recorded as part of new patient checks and it is usual to ask patients with symptoms suggestive of a disease with a genetic component about family history of that disease and other potentially related diseases.