bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of land use on the structure of river macroinvertebrate communities across Tasmania, Australia: spatial scales and thresholds
Authors: Magierowski Regina H. , Davies Peter E. , Read Steve M. , Horrigan Nelli
Published: October 2012

The formulation of scientifically justified guidelines for management of anthropogenic impacts on river health requires better understanding of the quantitative linkages among river-system parameters. The present study examines relationships between land use and biological metrics of river health in Tasmania, in the context of a variety of environmental drivers. An extensive dataset (103 sites) of macroinvertebrate assemblages was collected between 1999 and 2006. We hypothesised that grazing by domestic livestock would have the greatest impact on community structure of the land-use types investigated because grazing is a dominant land-use type in Tasmania (and can cover a large proportion of catchment area), because land clearance for grazing is rarely followed by regeneration and because historically riparian vegetation has not been protected. Multivariate and correlation analysis showed that community structure responded strongly to land use and confirmed that the strongest relationships were observed for grazing land use and environmental variables associated with grazing, such as e.g. water abstraction and/or regulation and riparian vegetation. Analyses accounting for hydrological region and location confirmed the generality of this relationship. We conclude that catchment-wide management actions would be required to mitigate these impacts of grazing because land use and riparian vegetation condition were generally stronger determinants of community structure at catchment rather than local scales.
Strong interactions of Paratya australiensis (Decapoda:Atyidae) on periphyton in an Australian subtropical stream
Authors: Moulton Timothy P. , Souza Marcelo L. , Brito Ernesto F. , Braga M. Rosário Almeida , Bunn Stuart E.
Published: October 2012

Atyid shrimps are often an abundant component in undisturbed tropical streams. Studies in coastal streams in Puerto Rico and Brazil have demonstrated the importance of this group in removing periphyton and sediment from hard substrates and their effects on the composition and quantity of periphytic algae. We used experimental exclosures to investigate the influence of the small atyid Paratya australiensis on periphyton accrual on hard substrates in a coastal stream in the subtropics of Australia. We measured organic and inorganic matter, chlorophyll and algal biovolume in the presence and absence of shrimps on natural and artificial substrates. We found a 5-fold increase in the amount of organic matter on natural substrate in the absence of P. australiensis and a two to 10-fold increase in total periphyton mass on artificial substrate. The natural substrates did not show differences in biovolume of algae, however, algal biovolume on the artificial substrates was significantly higher in the exclusion treatment and diatoms were most affected. We conclude that P. australiensis can be considered a strongly-interacting element of the stream biota and an important species for monitoring and conservation.
Aestivation provides flexible mechanisms for survival of stream drying in a larval trichopteran (Leptoceridae)
Authors: Wickson S. , Chester E. T. , Robson B. J.
Published: October 2012

Some freshwater species aestivate to resist drying; however, little is known about factors affecting post-aestivation survival. Climate change prolongs drying and may make short bursts of flow more frequent in southern Australian streams, thereby affecting aestivation success. The tolerance of larval Lectrides varians (Mosley) to drying was tested by inducing aestivation in dry or moist sediment and then re-immersing larvae and measuring survival and activity. Survival did not differ between individuals that were continually immersed (78%) or aestivating on moist sediment (70.5%) after 16 weeks. Survival was significantly lower on dry sediment (29.3%). Furthermore, some larvae showed delayed responses to re-immersion; 65% of individuals showed activity within 4.5 h, whereas over 30% of larvae did not become active until 72 h after re-immersion. L. varians can survive extended periods (112 days) without surface water, showing a bimodal response to re-immersion that increases the likelihood of population persistence by enabling some larvae to remain aestivating during short-lived bursts of stream flow. L. varians populations will therefore be more robust to prolonged stream drying and short-lived flow events than are some other insect taxa, although as the duration of aestivation increases larval survivorship decreases, suggesting that there are limits to the flexibility of aestivation traits.
An invertebrate multimetric index to classify the ecological status of small coastal lagoons in the Mediterranean ecoregion (MIBIIN)
Authors: Lucena-Moya Paloma , Pardo Isabel
Published: October 2012

Despite the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) to protect water bodies, suitable indices of quality designed specifically to assess coastal lagoons (transitional waters) remain absent. In the present study, we developed a multimetric index of the Balearic Island based on invertebrate communities (MIBIIN) to assess the ecological status of small coastal lagoons (i.e. up to 4-m depth and <2.5 km2), a common ecosystem within the Mediterranean ecoregion. Thirty-four coastal lagoons were sampled on six occasions between 2005 and 2008. A multimetric index for each salinity type of coastal lagoon (oligohaline-MIBIIN, mesohaline-MIBIIN and euhaline-MIBIIN) was developed. The individual metrics, and hence the MIBIINs, fulfilled the normative definitions established by the WFD (abundance, diversity and sensitive : tolerance ratio), responded to gradients of disturbance and discriminated reference from non-reference sites. Common boundary limits for the three MIBIINs were established (high/good = 0.930, good/moderate = 0.730, moderate/poor = 0.500, poor/bad = 0.250). Unlike other metrics used in coastal lagoon evaluation, the MIBIINs were developed exclusively for coastal lagoons, including oligohaline freshwater environments. Although the MIBIIN is yet to be validated with an external dataset, these findings suggest the potential for this new multimetric index to be used in similar systems in the Mediterranean ecoregion.
Utility of Alligator Gar Age Estimates from Otoliths, Pectoral Fin Rays, and Scales
Authors: Buckmeier David L. , Smith Nathan G. , Reeves Kerry S.
Published: October 2012

We evaluated annulus formation and readers’ ability to recognize known annuli from otoliths, pectoral fin rays, and scales of alligator gar Atractosteus spatula using known‐age (0 and 1 years) and chemically marked fish. Chemical marks were generally associated with annuli, and confirmed annulus formation occurred around May. In all bony structures, annuli appeared as narrow translucent lines that immediately preceded wider opaque bands; however, annuli in pectoral fin rays and scales were more variable in appearance than otoliths. In otoliths, the number of observed annuli corresponded with the number of years fish were at large for 96% of the fish. In contrast, periodicity of annuli in pectoral fin rays and scales only corresponded with the number of years fish were at large in 19% and 12% of the fish, respectively. Precision of age estimates was initially poor for all structures; percent agreement between two independent readers was only 49% for otoliths, 43% for pectoral fin rays, and 37% for scales. Agreement increased to 83% for otoliths, 65% for pectoral fin rays, and 60% for scales following a second independent age assessment. Final average coefficients of variation between readers were 2, 5, and 11% for otoliths, pectoral fin rays, and scales, respectively. Increased precision was the result of experience and an improved ability to identify annuli because of chemical reference marks. Although correct identification of annuli required substantial training, our study validates annulus formation in otoliths of alligator gar. In contrast, annulus formation was not validated for pectoral fin rays or scales from alligator gar older than age 6, but age estimates from pectoral fin rays of young alligator gar may have some utility.
Uprooting: mega-real estate and the exacerbation of the ‘demographic disorder’ in the GCC
Authors: AlShehabi Omar Hesham
Published: October 2012

This study focuses on what has become commonly known as the ‘demographic disorder’ in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). At the general level, the ‘demographic disorder’ refers to the over-reliance on expatriates – in various areas and prominently within labour forces (both highly specialized as well as unskilled) – in GCC societies, where expatriates constitute a majority of the population in four of the GCC countries and a majority of the labour force in all six member states. This study focuses particularly on demographic developments and trends over the first decade of the new millennium, especially the phenomenon of ‘international mega-real estate’ projects aimed at expatriates. This phenomenon has taken central stage in four countries of the GCC (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE), where the policies and actions of decision-makers have been squarely directed towards making these projects primary engines of growth in their respective economies. The central thesis of this study holds that these mega-real estate projects signal a qualitative shift in the manner in which decision-makers view the issue of the ‘demographic disorder’. While the overreliance on expatriates was previously seen as a necessary and unavoidable by-product of economic growth that had to be tolerated and regulated in order to meet the dictates of economic production, migrant inflow of a very specific and peculiar kind has now been adopted as a central goal required in order to fill these newly constructed cities and to boost economic demand and consumption in the region.
Sputtering yields of magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2] by noble-gas ion bombardment
Authors: Ikuse Kazumasa , Yoshimura Satoru , Kiuchi Masato , Terauchi Masaharu , Nishitani Mikihiko , Hamaguchi Satoshi
Published: October 2012

Magnesium oxide (MgO) is widely used for barrier coating of plasma display panel (PDP) cells and its resistance against ion sputtering is a critical issue for the prolongation of lifetime of PDPs. The top surface of an MgO barrier coat may be hydrated to form a thin layer of magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2] due to moisture inadvertently contained in the gas of the PDP cell. In this study, sputtering yields of Mg(OH)2 by low-energy noble-gas ion bombardment have been evaluated experimentally with the use of a mass-selected ion beam system and compared with those of MgO. It has been found that the etched depths of Mg(OH)2 and MgO are nearly equal when they are subject to the same noble-gas ion bombardment conditions.
Al–Si alloy point contact formation and rear surface passivation for silicon solar cells using double layer porous silicon
Authors: Moumni Besma , Jaballah Abdelkader Ben , Bessais Brahim
Published: October 2012

Lowering the rear surface recombination velocities by a dielectric layer has fascinating advantages compared with the standard fully covered Al back-contact silicon solar cells. In this work the passivation effect by double layer porous silicon (PS) (wide band gap) and the formation of Al–Si alloy in narrow p-type Si point contact areas for rear passivated solar cells are analysed. As revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we found that a thin passivating aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer is formed. Scanning electron microscopy analysis performed in cross sections shows that with bilayer PS, liquid Al penetrates into the openings, alloying with the Si substrate at depth and decreasing the contact resistivity. At the solar cell level, the reduction in the contact area and resistivity leads to a minimization of the fill factor losses.
Local slope evolution during thermal annealing of polycrystalline Au films
Authors: Alonzo-Medina G M , González-González A , Sacedón J L , Oliva A I , Vasco E
Published: October 2012

The morphological evolution of thermally annealed polycrystalline gold films was studied in terms of several statistical parameters of the growing surface, determined by x-ray diffraction and scanning probe microscopy, including roughness, in-plane and out-of-plane grain size and local slope distributions. The morphology transformations occur as a result of the balance of attractive and repulsive interactions between surface structures emerging at different length scales, which comprise a competition between stress relaxation via surface currents and strain generation. This balance is responsible for the formation of large multigrain structures via the bundling with in-plane reorientation of neighbouring grains, related to attractive interaction on the short length scale, and the generation of grooves and surface discontinuities between structures repelling each other, on longer length scales. These results shed light on the surface phenomena occurring during post-growth annealing of T-zone structured, polycrystalline gold films.
Climate change effects on above- and below-ground interactions in a dryland ecosystem
Authors: González-Megías Adela , Menéndez Rosa
Published: October 2012

Individual species respond to climate change by altering their abundance, distribution and phenology. Less is known, however, about how climate change affects multitrophic interactions, and its consequences for food-web dynamics. Here, we investigate the effect of future changes in rainfall patterns on detritivore–plant–herbivore interactions in a semiarid region in southern Spain by experimentally manipulating rainfall intensity and frequency during late spring–early summer. Our results show that rain intensity changes the effect of below-ground detritivores on both plant traits and above-ground herbivore abundance. Enhanced rain altered the interaction between detritivores and plants affecting flower and fruit production, and also had a direct effect on fruit and seed set. Despite this finding, there was no net effect on plant reproductive output. This finding supports the idea that plants will be less affected by climatic changes than by other trophic levels. Enhanced rain also affected the interaction between detritivores and free-living herbivores. The effect, however, was apparent only for generalist and not for specialist herbivores, demonstrating a differential response to climate change within the same trophic level. The complex responses found in this study suggest that future climate change will affect trophic levels and their interactions differentially, making extrapolation from individual species' responses and from one ecosystem to another very difficult.
Legacies of precipitation fluctuations on primary production: theory and data synthesis
Authors: Sala Osvaldo E. , Gherardi Laureano A. , Reichmann Lara , Jobbágy Esteban , Peters Debra
Published: October 2012

Variability of above-ground net primary production (ANPP) of arid to sub-humid ecosystems displays a closer association with precipitation when considered across space (based on multiyear averages for different locations) than through time (based on year-to-year change at single locations). Here, we propose a theory of controls of ANPP based on four hypotheses about legacies of wet and dry years that explains space versus time differences in ANPP–precipitation relationships. We tested the hypotheses using 16 long-term series of ANPP. We found that legacies revealed by the association of current- versus previous-year conditions through the temporal series occur across all ecosystem types from deserts to mesic grasslands. Therefore, previous-year precipitation and ANPP control a significant fraction of current-year production. We developed unified models for the controls of ANPP through space and time. The relative importance of current-versus previous-year precipitation changes along a gradient of mean annual precipitation with the importance of current-year PPT decreasing, whereas the importance of previous-year PPT remains constant as mean annual precipitation increases. Finally, our results suggest that ANPP will respond to climate-change-driven alterations in water availability and, more importantly, that the magnitude of the response will increase with time.
Navigating challenges and opportunities of land degradation and sustainable livelihood development in dryland social–ecological systems: a case study from Mexico
Authors: Huber-Sannwald Elisabeth , Ribeiro Palacios Mónica , Arredondo Moreno José Tulio , Braasch Marco , Martínez Peña Ruth Magnolia , de Alba Verduzco Javier García , Monzalvo Santos Karina
Published: October 2012

Drylands are one of the most diverse yet highly vulnerable social–ecological systems on Earth. Water scarcity has contributed to high levels of heterogeneity, variability and unpredictability, which together have shaped the long coadaptative process of coupling humans and nature. Land degradation and desertification in drylands are some of the largest and most far-reaching global environmental and social change problems, and thus are a daunting challenge for science and society. In this study, we merged the Drylands Development Paradigm, Holling's adaptive cycle metaphor and resilience theory to assess the challenges and opportunities for livelihood development in the Amapola dryland social–ecological system (DSES), a small isolated village in the semi-arid region of Mexico. After 450 years of local social–ecological evolution, external drivers (neoliberal policies, change in land reform legislation) have become the most dominant force in livelihood development, at the cost of loss of natural and cultural capital and an increasingly dysfunctional landscape. Local DSESs have become increasingly coupled to dynamic larger-scale drivers. Hence, cross-scale connectedness feeds back on and transforms local self-sustaining subsistence farming conditions, causing loss of livelihood resilience and diversification in a globally changing world. Effective efforts to combat desertification and improve livelihood security in DSESs need to consider their cyclical rhythms. Hence, we advocate novel dryland stewardship strategies, which foster adaptive capacity, and continuous evaluation and social learning at all levels. Finally, we call for an effective, flexible and viable policy framework that enhances local biotic and cultural diversity of drylands to transform global drylands into a resilient biome in the context of global environmental and social change.
Testing mechanisms of N-enrichment-induced species loss in a semiarid Inner Mongolia grassland: critical thresholds and implications for long-term ecosystem responses
Authors: Lan Zhichun , Bai Yongfei
Published: October 2012

The increase in nutrient availability as a consequence of elevated nitrogen (N) deposition is an important component of global environmental change. This is likely to substantially affect the functioning and provisioning of ecosystem services by drylands, where water and N are often limited. We tested mechanisms of chronic N-enrichment-induced plant species loss in a 10-year field experiment with six levels of N addition rate. Our findings on a semi-arid grassland in Inner Mongolia demonstrated that: (i) species richness (SR) declined by 16 per cent even at low levels of additional N (1.75 g N m
–2
yr
−1
), and 50–70% species were excluded from plots which received high N input (10.5–28 g N m
−2
yr
−1
); (ii) the responses of SR and above-ground biomass (AGB) to N were greater in wet years than dry years; (iii) N addition increased the inter-annual variations in AGB, reduced the drought resistance of production and hence diminished ecosystem stability; (iv) the critical threshold for chronic N-enrichment-induced reduction in SR differed between common and rare species, and increased over the time of the experiment owing to the loss of the more sensitive species. These results clearly indicate that both abundance and functional trait-based mechanisms operate simultaneously on N-induced species loss. The low initial abundance and low above-ground competitive ability may be attributable to the loss of rare species. However, shift from below-ground competition to above-ground competition and recruitment limitation are likely to be the key mechanisms for the loss of abundant species, with soil acidification being less important. Our results have important implications for understanding the impacts of N deposition and global climatic change (e.g. change in precipitation regimes) on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Inner Mongolian grassland and beyond.
A demographic approach to study effects of climate change in desert plants
Authors: Salguero-Gómez Roberto , Siewert Wolfgang , Casper Brenda B. , Tielbörger Katja
Published: October 2012

Desert species respond strongly to infrequent, intense pulses of precipitation. Consequently, indigenous flora has developed a rich repertoire of life-history strategies to deal with fluctuations in resource availability. Examinations of how future climate change will affect the biota often forecast negative impacts, but these—usually correlative—approaches overlook precipitation variation because they are based on
averages
. Here, we provide an overview of how variable precipitation affects perennial and annual desert plants, and then implement an innovative, mechanistic approach to examine the effects of precipitation on populations of two desert plant species. This approach couples robust climatic projections, including variable precipitation, with stochastic, stage-structured models constructed from long-term demographic datasets of the short-lived
Cryptantha flava
in the Colorado Plateau Desert (USA) and the annual
Carrichtera annua
in the Negev Desert (Israel). Our results highlight these populations' potential to buffer future stochastic precipitation. Population growth rates in both species increased under future conditions: wetter, longer growing seasons for
Cryptantha
and drier years for
Carrichtera
. We determined that such changes are primarily due to survival and size changes for
Cryptantha
and the role of seed bank for
Carrichtera
. Our work suggests that desert plants, and thus the resources they provide, might be more resilient to climate change than previously thought.
Similar changes in muscle lipid metabolism are induced by chronic high‐fructose feeding and high‐fat feeding in C57BL/J6 mice
Authors: Song Guang‐Yao , Ren Lu‐Ping , Chen Shu‐Chun , Wang Chao , Liu Na , Wei Li‐Min , Li Fan , Sun Wen , Peng Lan‐Bo , Tang Yong
Published: October 2012

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of high fructose and high fat feeding on muscle lipid metabolism and to illustrate the mechanisms by which the two different dietary factors induce muscle lipid accumulation.

C57BL/J6 mice were fed either a standard, high‐fructose (HFru) or high‐fat diet. After 16 weeks feeding, mice were killed and plasma triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) levels were detected. In addition, muscle TG and long chain acyl CoA (LCACoA) content was determined, glucose tolerance was evaluated and the protein content of fatty acid translocase CD36 (FATCD36) in muscle was measured. Mitochondrial oxidative function in the muscle was evaluated by estimating the activity of oxidative enzymes, namely cytochrome oxidase (COx), citrate synthase (CS) and β‐hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase (β‐HAD), and the muscle protein content of carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1 (CPT‐1), cyclo‐oxygenase (COX)‐1 and proliferator‐activated receptor coactivator (PGC)‐1α was determined. Finally, sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) gene expression and fatty acid synthase (FAS) protein content were determined in muscle tissues.

After 16 weeks, plasma TG and FFA levels were significantly increased in both the HFru and HF groups. In addition, mice in both groups exhibited significant increases in muscle TG and LCACoA content. Compared with mice fed the standard diet (control group), those in the HFru and HF groups developed glucose intolerance and exhibited increased FATCD36 protein levels, enzyme activity related to fatty acid utilization in the mitochondria and protein expressions of CPT‐1, COX‐1 and PGC‐1α in muscle tissue. Finally, mice in both the HFru and HF groups exhibited increase SREBP‐1c expression and FAS protein content.

In conclusion, high fructose and high fat feeding lead to similar changes in muscle lipid metabolism in C57BL/J6 mice. Lipid accumulation in the muscle may be associated with increased expression of proteins related to lipid transportation and synthesis.
Antihypertensive action of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition in Ren‐2 transgenic rats is mediated by suppression of the intrarenal renin–angiotensin system
Authors: Varcabova Sarka , Huskova Zuzana , Kramer Herbert J , Hwang Sung Hee , Hammock Bruce D , Imig John D , Kitada Kento , Cervenka Ludek
Published: October 2012

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the hypothesis that the antihypertensive effects of inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) are mediated by increased intrarenal availability of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), with consequent improvement in renal haemodynamic autoregulatory efficiency and the pressure–natriuresis relationship.

Ren‐2 transgenic rats (TGR), a model of angiotensin (Ang) II‐dependent hypertension, and normotensive transgene‐negative Hannover Sprague–Dawley (HanSD) rats were treated with the sEH inhibitor cis‐4‐(4‐(3‐adamantan‐1‐yl‐ureido)cyclohexyloxy)benzoic acid (c‐AUCB; 26 mg/L) for 48 h. Then, the effects on blood pressure (BP), autoregulation of renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and on the pressure–natriuresis relationship in response to stepwise reductions in renal arterial pressure (RAP) were determined.

Treatment with c‐AUCB did not significantly change BP, renal autoregulation or pressure‐natriuresis in normotensive HanSD rats. In contrast, c‐AUCB treatment significantly reduced BP, increased intrarenal bioavailability of EETs and significantly suppressed AngII levels in TGR. However, treatment with c‐AUCB did not significantly improve the autoregulatory efficiency of RBF and GFR in response to reductions of RAP and to restore the blunted pressure–natriuresis relationship in TGR.

Together, the data indicate that the antihypertensive actions of sEH inhibition in TGR are predominantly mediated via significant suppression of intrarenal renin–angiotensin system activity.
Factors associated with increased bleeding post‐endoscopic mucosal resection
Authors: Qumseya Bashar J. , Wolfsen Christianne , Wang Yize , Othman Mohammad , Raimondo Massimo , Bouras Ernest , Wolfsen Herbert , Wallace Michael B. , Woodward Timothy
Published: October 2012

Objective

Our aim was to identify patient and procedure characteristics that correlate with increased likelihood of bleeding during and after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and thus anticipate the need for preventative therapy.

Methods

This was a retrospective, observational, descriptive study using a prospective EMR database, performed in a tertiary‐care center. A total of 935 EMR of various locations within the gastrointestinal tract were collected. The main outcome measurement was early bleeding (occurring during the procedure) and delayed bleeding (occurring after the completion of the procedure and up to 30 days after).

Results

Early bleeding occurred in 5.3% (50/935) of the procedures. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, esophageal EMR (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2–5, P = 0.0009) and increase in lesion size (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.1–1.5, P = 0.003) were both associated with higher odds of early bleeding in EMR when controlling for age, gender and non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)/clopidogrel use. Delayed bleeding occurred after 3.1% (n = 29) of the procedures. Of these, 86.2% (25/29) required hospital admission and endoscopic intervention to confirm and/or treat bleeding site. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, increased lesion size (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.5, P = 0.004) was associated with higher incidence of delayed bleeding post‐EMR.

Conclusions

In experienced hands bleeding during and after EMR appears to be uncommon. Larger lesions are at increased risk of early and delayed bleeding.
Efficient distinction of invasive aquatic plant species from non‐invasive related species using DNA barcoding
Authors: Ghahramanzadeh R. , Esselink G. , Kodde L. P. , Duistermaat H. , van Valkenburg J. L. C. H. , Marashi S. H. , Smulders M. J. M. , van de Wiel C. C. M.
Published: October 2012

Biological invasions are regarded as threats to global biodiversity. Among invasive aliens, a number of plant species belonging to the genera Myriophyllum, Ludwigia and Cabomba, and to the Hydrocharitaceae family pose a particular ecological threat to water bodies. Therefore, one would try to prevent them from entering a country. However, many related species are commercially traded, and distinguishing invasive from non‐invasive species based on morphology alone is often difficult for plants in a vegetative stage. In this regard, DNA barcoding could become a good alternative. In this study, 242 samples belonging to 26 species from 10 genera of aquatic plants were assessed using the chloroplast loci trnH‐psbA, matK and rbcL. Despite testing a large number of primer sets and several PCR protocols, the matK locus could not be amplified or sequenced reliably and therefore was left out of the analysis. Using the other two loci, eight invasive species could be distinguished from their respective related species, a ninth one failed to produce sequences of sufficient quality. Based on the criteria of universal application, high sequence divergence and level of species discrimination, the trnH‐psbA noncoding spacer was the best performing barcode in the aquatic plant species studied. Thus, DNA barcoding may be helpful with enforcing a ban on trade of such invasive species, such as is already in place in the Netherlands. This will become even more so once DNA barcoding would be turned into machinery routinely operable by a nonspecialist in botany and molecular genetics.
The Histological Appearance of the Proximal Aspect of the Dorsal Condylar Sagittal Ridge of the Third Metacarpal and Metatarsal Bone in Young Warmblood Horses: Normal Appearance and Correlation with Detected Radiographic Variations
Authors: Hauspie S. , Forsyth R. , Vanderperren K. , Declercq J. , Martens A. , Saunders J. H.
Published: October 2012

The objective of this study is to describe the normal histological appearance of the dorsoproximal aspect of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone in young Warmblood horses, and to compare it to the different radiographic variations (irregular, indentation, lucency, notch) described at this level. A total of 25 metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints of 12 Warmblood horses were used. Five samples of each radiographically described group were selected for histological processing. Each category was compared with the normal control group. Each group showed a bone cortex, covered by hyaline cartilage and longitudinally aligned collagen fibres covered by loosely organized connective tissue proximally. The normal and irregular group showed a smooth bone cortex. In the indentation and lucency group, a depression in the cortex was detected. The notch group presented an expansion of the cortex. The collagen fibres and connective tissue were located in the depression in the indentation group whereas the location varied in the lucency and notch group. The radiologic detected differences are translated into detectable histological differences. Further research is warranted to determine whether these variations are developmental or congenital and to evaluate their potential influence on the joint function during hyperextension.
Possible influence of increased riparian activity (stream modification and agricultural intensification) on abundance of South African otters
Authors: Kubheka Skumbuzo P. , Rowe‐Rowe David T. , Alletson Jake D. , Perrin Michael R.
Published: October 2012

Otters are threatened by habitat loss and the pollution of their riverine habitat. Environmental impacts on top predators are often the first indication of habitat deterioration. It is rare for predator‐prey‐habitats to be monitored over long time intervals (decades), however necessary that may be. Here, we report on the decline in otter relative abundance in a previously pristine habitat and speculate on its causes. We surveyed sign of coexisting otters (Aonyx capensisandLutra maculicollis) along a river in Kamberg Nature Reserve inuKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu‐Natal, South Africa. The area, Stillerust, lies downstream of a commercial dairy farm and a rural village–subsistence farming area. Data collected recently were compared with two previous surveys, carried out in 1972–1974 and 1993–1994, and were also compared with a pristine section of river in the nature reserve, upstream of the farming areas. At Stillerust, the number of spraint (scat) sites found, for each otter species, approximated only 25% of those recorded in the earlier studies. In the pristine section of the river, the amount of sign and abundance of otters were similar to those recorded in 1993. Assessments of stream biota and water quality analyses revealed negative changes in the river below the pristine area, down to, and including, Stillerust. Visible signs of pollution were evident. Since the 1970s, the rural village population has increasedcaeightfold, and the commercial farm has changed from an extensive livestock enterprize to an intensive dairy farm.
Availability of hollow bearing trees and their utilization by small animals in Cawston Ranch, Zimbabwe
Authors: Beaven Utete , Tongayi Mwedzi
Published: October 2012

The objective of this study was to characterize hollows found in selected tree species (in Cawston Ranch in Zimbabwe) as a potential habitat for small mammals because cavities are important as resources for wildlife: for foraging, shelter, roosting and nesting purposes. Four vegetation types were chosen for analysis: Baikiaea plurijuga, Colophospermum mopane, Combretum molle and Commiphora mollis according to abundance and dominance in the plots they occurred. Transect sampling was performed to collect vegetation data. The total number of living trees and stags was recorded in each plot. Trees in a plot were thoroughly inspected for hollows. The following dimensions were measured on cavity trees: hollow size (diameter), hollow location and diameter at breast height. The results indicate that the rate of hollow formation and utilization is significantly dependent on tree species. There was a significant difference in the provision of hollows in stem and crown of a tree in each of the vegetation classes analysed. B. plurijuga hollows had the highest utilization, whilst C. molle had the least utilization. Hollows are utilized irrespective of their location as long as the animal finds a niche, and stags at advanced stages of decay are not important in providing habitats for animals.
Meconium‐stained amniotic fluid and the need for paediatrician attendance
Authors: Maayan‐Metzger Ayala , Leibovitch Leah , Schushan‐Eisen Irit , Strauss Tzipora , Kuint Jacob
Published: October 2012

Aim

To determine perinatal parameters among term newborn infants born by vaginal delivery with meconium‐stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) that needed paediatrician assistance.

Methods

Paediatricians who were in attendance in the delivery room due to MSAF among term infants completed 775 reports regarding the infants' delivery conditions, and the assistance provided. We defined ‘paediatrician attendance needed’ for a subgroup of infants for whom we retrospectively determined that paediatrician attendance in the delivery room was required.

Results

‘Paediatrician attendance needed’ was determined in 31 (4%) cases. Among cases with documented normal foetal monitor, only 10 (1.8%) were defined as ‘paediatrician attendance needed’, a percentage significantly lower than among infants born following non‐reassuring foetal monitor: 21 (9.7%) (p < 0.001). ‘Paediatrician attendance needed’ was predicted by non‐reassuring foetal monitor [OR 6.02 (CI 2.72–13.31), p < 0.001], maternal fever [OR 6.34 (1.92–20.92), p = 0.002] and younger maternal age (for every year) [OR 0.889 (CI 0.82–0.96), p = 0.003].

Conclusions

Term newborn infants born by vaginal delivery with MSAF with documented normal tracing foetal monitor are at low risk of the need for paediatrician assistance. Paediatrician attendance in the delivery room in labour involving MSAF should be recommended when non‐reassuring foetal monitor tracing is observed and should also be considered when maternal fever is recorded, and/or thick meconium is observed.
Mothers' judgements about their child's weight: distinguishing facts from values
Authors: Parkinson K. N. , Drewett R. F. , Jones A. R. , Adamson A. J. ,   the Gateshead Millennium Study core team
Published: October 2012

Background

Mothers' responses to questionnaire items assessing their child's weight status typically do not correspond to conventional clinical classifications based on body mass index (BMI). From this observation health professionals infer that mothers do not recognize overweight in their child. But the questions used have generally confounded factual judgements with values, so it is not clear whether the mothers are making factual errors, or differ from professionals in their values.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study of population‐based birth cohort at 6–8 years and their mothers (n = 540). An objective BMI matching task was used to determine the accuracy of mothers' recognition of their child's weight. Mothers matched their child to sex‐ and age‐specific images of children of known BMI ranging from very thin to obese, and chose a descriptor of their child's weight of the kind used in previous research.

Results

Mothers tended to underestimate their child's BMI on the matching task. Matching errors significantly predicted mothers' description of their child's weight; those who overestimated their child's BMI on the matching task were more likely to say their child was overweight, while those who underestimated it were less likely to, independently of their child's actual BMI.

Conclusions

Educational programmes aimed at parents of young primary school children need to address separately the factual and the evaluative components of their assessment of child weight.
An exploratory study of positive and incongruent communication in young children with type 1 diabetes and their mothers
Authors: Chisholm V. , Atkinson L. , Bayrami L. , Noyes K. , Payne A. , Kelnar C.
Published: October 2012

Background

The incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing in young children. However, they are overlooked in treatment adherence and intervention research despite evidence that parents often experience difficulty securing their treatment cooperation, especially with the diet. We investigated positive and incongruent (i.e. the co‐occurrence of contradictory verbal and non‐verbal messages) communication in the mother–child dyad and their association with child adjustment and dietary adherence outcomes.

Methods

Participants were 23 6‐ to 8‐year‐old children with type 1 diabetes and their mothers. We conducted dietary adherence interviews with mothers and performed nutritional analyses to assess children's consumption of extrinsic sugars (e.g. confectionary). Mothers completed a standardized assessment of child psychological adjustment. Mothers and children engaged in a videotaped problem‐solving task related to the dietary regimen, with maternal and child utterances and non‐verbal behaviours analysed for positive dyadic and incongruent communication.

Results

Positive dyadic communication correlated with lower levels of child incongruent communication, fewer behavioural problems and better overall adjustment. Higher levels of maternal and child incongruent communication correlated with more behavioural and emotional problems and poorer overall adjustment. Higher levels of maternal incongruent communication correlated with poorer dietary adherence.

Conclusions

Results converged to form a conceptually and empirically coherent pattern in that behavioural indices of poorer communication in both mother and child consistently correlated with poorer child adjustment outcomes. This study shows that specific features of dyadic, child and maternal communication could be targeted in developmentally sensitive interventions to promote positive communication in the home management of type 1 diabetes care for young children.
Relation between lipoprotein subfractions and TSH levels in the cardiovascular risk among women with subclinical hypothyroidism
Authors: Hernández‐Mijares A. , Jover A. , Bellod L. , Bañuls C. , Solá E. , Veses S. , Víctor V. M. , Rocha M.
Published: October 2012

Objective

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common condition associated with increased cardiovascular risk. A standard treatment is yet to be established, as there is no consensus on the TSH cut‐off values which should be used as indicators. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular risk in patients with SCH and to differentiate it according to TSH levels.

Design

This was an observational study conducted in an academic medical centre.

Patients

The study population consisted of 95 middle‐aged women recently diagnosed with SCH and 65 euthyroid controls.

Measurements

We measured anthropometric parameters, lipid cardiovascular risk markers and lipoprotein subclasses of HDL and LDL.

Results

Patients with SCH exhibited a significant increase in triglycerides and atherogenic index of plasma and a significant reduction in HDL‐cholesterol with respect to the control group after adjusted by age and BMI. A similar lipid profile was observed in both SCH groups. However, patients with TSH levels higher than 10 mIU/l showed a significant reduction in LDL particle size, which was associated with a higher prevalence of atherogenic pattern B.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that cardiovascular risk is affected in patients with TSH levels over 10 mIU/l, who have a lipid profile characteristic of atherogenic dyslipidemia.
What is the best approach to the teenage patient presenting with nonclassical Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: should we always treat with glucocorticoids?
Authors: Matthews Deborah , Cheetham Tim
Published: October 2012

Patients with Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to partial deficiency in the enzyme 21‐hydroxlyase can present in childhood or adolescence with signs of adrenal androgen excess. Strategies to reduce the impact of androgen excess in females include cosmetic measures as well as antiandrogens and agents such as the combined oral contraceptive pill. Glucocorticoid may not be appropriate straightaway but can be introduced if other measures are ineffective or when pregnancy is planned.
HINT1 mutations define a novel disease entity – autosomal recessive axonal neuropathy with neuromyotonia
Authors: Aminkeng F
Published: October 2012

Loss‐of‐function mutations in HINT1 cause axonal neuropathy with neuromyotonia

Zimoń et al. (2012)

Nature Genetics 44 (10):1080–1083.
Mutations in ATP1A3 cause alternating hemiplegia of childhood
Authors: Aminkeng F
Published: October 2012

Heterozygous de novo mutations in ATP1A3 in patients with alternating hemiplegia of childhood: a whole‐exome sequencing gene‐identification study.

Rosewich et al. (2012)

Lancet Neurology 11(9):764–773
The developmental genetics of Hirschsprung's disease
Authors: Bergeron K‐F , Silversides DW , Pilon N
Published: October 2012

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR), also known as aganglionic megacolon, derives from a congenital malformation of the enteric nervous system (ENS). It displays an incidence of 1 in 5000 live births with a 4:1 male to female sex ratio. Clinical signs include severe constipation and distended bowel due to a non‐motile colon. If left untreated, aganglionic megacolon is lethal. This severe congenital condition is caused by the absence of colonic neural ganglia and thus lack of intrinsic innervation of the colon due in turn to improper colonization of the developing intestines by ENS progenitor cells. These progenitor cells are derived from a transient stem cell population called neural crest cells (NCC). The genetics of HSCR is complex and can involve mutations in multiple genes. However, it is estimated that mutations in known genes account for less than half of the cases of HSCR observed clinically. The male sex bias is currently unexplained. The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the pathophysiology and genetics of HSCR, within the context of our current knowledge of NCC development, sex chromosome genetics and laboratory models.
Development and preliminary validation of a patient‐reported outcome measure for swallowing after total laryngectomy (SOAL questionnaire)
Authors: Govender R. , Lee M.T. , Davies T.C. , Twinn C.E. , Katsoulis K.L. , Payten C.L. , Stephens R. , Drinnan M.
Published: October 2012

Objectives

To develop and validate a laryngectomee‐specific questionnaire to investigate swallowing function. This paper describes the generation of questionnaire items, pretesting with laryngectomees and a preliminary validation.

Design

This study employed 2 phases: questionnaire development and questionnaire validation. Items were developed from patient (n = 10) and clinician (n = 6) focus groups. Content checking, acceptability and face validity were determined through pretesting with 10 laryngectomees and via consensus feedback from 35 speech and language therapists. During preliminary validation, the 17‐item final questionnaire was administered to 3 different groups. Discrimination amongst groups was established by comparing questionnaire responses of a laryngectomee group (n = 19) with known dysphagic (n = 19) and non‐dysphagic groups (n = 20). Questionnaire responses from the reference dysphagic group were compared with an instrumental assessment of swallowing, the modified barium swallow (MBS).

Setting

Large urban teaching hospital.

Participants

Speech and language therapists, laryngectomees, non‐dysphagic volunteers, post‐radiotherapy dysphagic patients.

Main outcome measure

Preliminary validation of SOAL questionnaire.

Results

Normal, laryngectomee and dysphagic groups had significantly different SOAL scores, as did laryngectomees with different degrees of swallowing impairment (Kruskall Wallis, P << 0.001). The subjective SOAL score had a strong positive correlation with the reference measure of ratings on the MBS (r = 0.5; P = 0.03).

Conclusions

The swallowing outcome after laryngectomy (SOAL) questionnaire is a simple, self‐administered tool to assess swallowing function post‐total laryngectomy. Further specific testing with a laryngectomy cohort is necessary for full validation. Its potential value lies in screening for dysphagia in clinics or during long‐term follow‐up of laryngectomees.