bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of natural populations of the celery leaf‐miner, Philophylla heraclei L. (Diptera, Tephritidae) II. Importance of changes of mines for larval populations
Authors: Leroi B.
Published: October 2006

The leaf‐mining larvae of the celery fly, P. heraclei, have the ability to leave their primary mine to bore a secondary mine in another leaflet or leaf. This phenomenon is always numerically significant under natural conditions (depending on the plots and the years, 38 to 97% of the larvae observed made such a change), although it is not an obligatory behavior.

The distribution of the secondary mines on the leaflets and on the leaves varies with the importance of the migrations, with the total unoccupied and healthy leaf area and with the relative position of different leaves on the plant. These migrations are due to the insufficiency of healthy food available for the larvae: either because the quantity of parenchyma offered by a leaflet is too small for a larva, or because there is intraspecific competition following multiple egg‐layings on the same leaflet, or because there is a deterioration of the quality of the parenchyma, particularly following the development of celery leaf‐spot.

The possibility for the larvae of P. heraclei to bore secondary mines appears to be an extremely important factor in the population dynamics of this species. This permits the reduction of the negative effects of intraspecific competition and celery leaf‐spot, and permits the colonization by the larvae of young leaves not used by the females at the time of egg‐laying.
Concepts of aggregation and their quantification: A critical review with some new results and applications
Authors: Patil G. P. , Stiteler W. M.
Published: October 2006

Various indices of spatial patterns based on plot counts are reviewed for theoretical population models appropriate to ecological studies. It is seen that many of the indices proposed in the literature are essentially equivalent to either the index ω= σ2/μ or to the index γ= (σ2‐μ)/μ2, thus providing a variety of motiviations and interpretations of these two indices as measures of spatial patterns.

A vector approach to measuring spatial patterns which suggests both a unifying relationship between these indices and an extension of them is proposed. This leads to an interpretation of the measures of spatial patterns in terms of the transition probabilities of a pure birth process.
A life table of Mogannia iwasakii (Homoptera: Cicadiidae) in sugarcane field of Okinawa
Authors: Nagamine Masaaki , Teruya Rinko , Itô Yosiaki
Published: October 2006

A preliminary life table of the sugarcane cicada, Mogannia iwasakii, which became a pest of sugarcane in Okinawa recently, was presented based on the results of field survey. Mortality rates during egg and later nymphal stages were low but a remarkable reduction of the number of individuals in a cohort took place at the 1st nymphal instar, mainly due to predation by ants. Ants also killed the cicada during and just after the final ecdysis and birds concentrated their feeding on adults. Prenatal mortality of adults was, however, low in the infested area, suggesting the ‘escape’ of cicadas from the pressure of predators. This espace is considered to be a factor responsible to the maintainance of outbreak for a long time. Increase in the acreage of ratton canes and wide‐use of organochlorine insecticides during the 1960's were assumed to be the factors responsible to the initial increase of this species.
A granulosis virus, possible biological agent for control of Adoxophyes orana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple orchards
Authors: Itô Yosiaki , Shiga Masakazu , Oho Nobuhiko , Nakazawa Hitoshi
Published: October 2006

Based on the results of ecological surveys of Adoxophyes orana and its natural enemies in apple orchards sprayed with the granulosis virus and control plots, we constructed working models to simulate the population dynamics in three different experimental plots; those treated with chemical insecticides, those with granulosis virus, and controls. The number of individuals killed by predators, parasitoids and by miscellaneous mortality factors could be calculated on the assumption of imperfect density relations; that is, relation of the number killed by each factor with the initial number of larvae was represented by a curve with an upper asymptote. We could estimate the proportion of virus infection using curves with upper asymptotes. Rate of increase from pupa to middle instar larvae of the next generation was subject to strong density‐effect.

Simulation we proposed in this paper suggests a possibility that a single spray of the virus at 1st generation can reduce not only the number of A. orana larvae in the 2nd and 3rd generations but also the degree of fruits injured by this insect. Spray of chemical insecticide is considered to be ineffective in reducing the pest density and the degree of injury to low levels in subsequent generations, as compared with untreated plot, where the density of the 1st generation larvae is low.
Creating classrooms that students experience as communities
Authors: Solomon Daniel , Watson Marilyn , Battistich Victor , Schaps Eric , Delucchi Kevin
Published: October 2006

Although prior research has shown sense of community in schools to be related to many positive student characteristics, effective interventions that can create or enhance this sense have not been demonstrated. In this paper we describe a comprehensive elementary school program, implemented by teachers, that was successful in creating a sense of community in the classrooms, as perceived by students. The program was implemented in three elementary schools in a suburban school district; three additional schools in the same district served as a comparison group. The program, which emphasized cooperative learning, the importance of democratic and prosocial values, student autonomy and self‐direction, and a child‐centered approach to teaching and classroom management, was experienced by a cohort of students from kindergarten through Grade 4, and by a subset of that cohort through Grade 6. Sense of community was assessed—by questionnaire—in Grades 4, 5, and 6; various student outcomes were assessed via questionnaire and interview. Results indicated that the program was successful in heightening students’ sense of community, and that the sense of community—by itself and in combination with program status—related positively to a number of student outcomes. There was also suggestive evidence that students who experienced their classroom as a community attempted to abide by its norms and values, and that the authority structure of the classroom was an important determinant of students’ experience of community and of some of its observed effects.
The estimation of the fitness function from two samples taken from a population
Authors: Manly B. F. J.
Published: October 2006

The fitness of animals subjected to natural selection can be defined as the probability of surviving selection for a given interval of time, or some convenient multiple of this probability. If the fitness of animals is related to some quantitative variable X (such as size) then this relationship is expressed mathematically in the fitness function w(x) and this function can be estimated by comparing the distribution of X in samples taken before and after selection.

In this note five methods for estimating the fitness function on the basis of samples from a large population are discussed. They are compared on three previously published sets of data and as a result estimation according to weighted multiple regression is recommended.
Breakup and re‐formation of colony in the first‐instar larvae of the winter cherry bug, Acanthocoris sordidusthunberg (Hemiptera: Coreidae), in relation to the defence against their enemies
Authors: Fujisaki Kenji
Published: October 2006

The winter cherry bug, Acanthocoris sordidusThunberg, lives in aggregation especially in their early larval instars. Using the 1st‐instar larvae of this species, the author tried to clarify both the processes and the mechanisms of the breakup and later re‐formation of colony in relation to the defence against their enemies. The results obtained were summarized as follows.

In the field population, there is a high possibility of dispersal of the 1st‐instar larvae from a colony possibly through the disturbance by some predators but they can re‐form a colony with each other or join, with colonies of different instar larvae.

The individuals in a colony immediately disperse through the attack of predatory coccinellid beetle, Harmonica axyridis but tend to re‐form a colony in a short time.

The breakup of colony is caused by the secretion from the attacked individual.

The formation of colony is attributed to the habit closely related with the senses of smell and/or contact.

From these results, it was concluded that the dispersal of 1st‐instar larvae from a colony, followed by the re‐formation of a colony, is an an adaptive behaviour to escape from the attack by their predators.
A new method of sequential sampling to classify populations relative to a critical density
Authors: Iwao Syun'iti
Published: October 2006

A method of sequential sampling for grading population level in relation to a critical density is proposed. The method is based on the relationship and can be used without restrictions on the distribution patterns. The formulae for simple random sampling as well as for two‐stage sampling are given.
Maximum likelihood factor analysis of natural arthropod infestations in stored grain bulks
Authors: Sinha R. N. , Lee P. J.
Published: October 2006

Interrelations between natural arthropod fauna and their environment were studied in 1964 from 165 samples collected from the same number of boxcars each containing about 54 tons of stored grain originating from various parts of Western Canada. Applications of several multivariate procedures, such as principal component and maximum likelihood factor analyses (unrotated, rotated and oblique solutions) were applied to 6 biotic and 3 environmental variates to obtain the clearest picture of interrelations among these variates.Jöreskog’s computational procedure and computer programs were used for unrotated, rotated and oblique maximum likelihood solutions. A 3‐factor hypothesis was developed; of the 3 factors the first 2 were significantly correlated (Correlation coefficient=0.78±0.15). The final confirmatory factor analysis revealed that: 1) the first factor indicates that acarine variates, Glycyphagus and Cheyletus, were correlated positively to each other but negatively with the insect Psocoptera, 2) the second factor indicates that the acarine variate Tarsonemus is correlated to moisture, dockage and the entomological variate Psocoptera, 3) the third factor indicates that the environmental factors are correlated to each other, and 4) the correlations between the third factor and the other factors are statistically different from zero.
Analysis of contagiousness in the action of mortality factors on the western tent caterpillar population by using the relationshiprelationship
Authors: Iwao Syun'iti
Published: October 2006

The contagiousness in the operation of mortality processes on the colonies of the western tent caterpillar, Malacosoma californicum pluviale, was analyzed from two different aspects: successive changes in the frequency distribution of the number of surviving individuals per colony in the course of development, and the distribution pattern of the individuals killed by some biotic mortality factors. Also, for a tachinid parasite, Tachinomyia similis, the analysis was made on the egg‐laying pattern on colonies as well as on individual larvae. The methods of these analyses were all based on the relation of mean crowding (m) on mean .

A braconid parasite, Rogas sp., tended to kill few individuals together once it attacked a colony, but its effect on host colonies was rather equivalent to the random removal of individuals from all the colonies. Diseases in the late‐stage larvae before cocooning was contagious in their action. Nuclear polyhedrosis virus seemed to have no basic contagiousness in its action, but it caused highly contagious distribution of deaths among the colonies when its average incidence was high. A spore‐forming Bacillus had a tendency to kill several individuals once it appeared in a colony, but the distribution of its incidence (no. of times it appeared per colony) was considered to be nearly at random.

The female of Tachinomyia tended to lay more than one egg successively on the same colony. It also attacked individual larvae with a definite tendency for aggregation, which seemed to be resulted from the parasite's preference to large hosts. When the number of eggs laid on prefered hosts exceeded a certain threshold, however, the fly seemed to change its attention to less attractive, smaller individuals.
Environmental factors and sense of community in a planned town
Authors: Plas Jeanne M. , Lewis Susan E.
Published: October 2006

Previous community psychology research has suggested that sense of community can be a powerful explanatory tool for understanding community development and individual well‐being, but has not focused on the relationship of environmental variables to the construct. In other disciplines—especially urban planning—this construct has received more attention but it has not been empirically and systematically studied. The three‐phase qualitative study reported here sampled people representative of those who live and work in Seaside, FL, a town designed to induced sense of community. The data strongly suggest a relationship between a variable set that may define sense of community—membership, need fulfillment, shared emotional connections, loyalty—and the environmental variables of town design, architecture, and urban planning philosophy.
Understanding environments: The key to improving social processes and program outcomes
Authors: Moos Rudolf H.
Published: October 2006

The contributions to this Special Issue illustrate research on several important types of environmental units, including psychiatric and substance abuse treatment programs, neighborhood block groups, and entire communities. They also exemplify alternative methodologies, such as assessing environments by relying on participants' appraisals, external observers' ratings, historical archives, and direct observation. I draw on these contributions and some of my own work to discuss four recurrent issues: (a) how to conceptualize environmental domains and dimensions; (b) how to understand environmental dynamics, that is, the interplay of environmental factors both within one setting and across settings; (c) how to comprehend the processes that link environmental factors to outcomes, especially with respect to the power and evanescence of environmental influence; and (d) how to use information about environments to monitor and improve them. Increased knowledge in these four areas is essential to help fulfill a major aim of community psychology: to understand social processes and improve intervention program outcomes.
A multidimensional measure of neighboring
Authors: Skjæveland Oddvar , Gärling Tommy , Mæland John Gunnar
Published: October 2006

The study reports the development of a short and easily administered questionnaire aiming at measuring dimensions of social life within neighborhoods. Principal‐components analysis consistently extracted four factors replicated in three independent samples (N=96 to 1,060). The factors emerged as theoretically meaningful dimensions tapping the concepts of supportive acts of neighboring, neighbor annoyance, neighborhood attachment, and weak social ties. Factor invariance and factor replicability were high. Internal consistency, test‐retest reliability, and construct validity yielded acceptable results. The principal virtue of the measure is that it may be applied to discern qualitative differences between neighborhoods by simultaneous assessments of several dimensions of neighboring.
The population dynamics of the large pine aphid, Cinara pinea (Mordv.)
Authors: Kidd N. A. C.
Published: October 2006

The paper describes the development of a computer model designed to simulate the field population dynamics of the large pine aphid, Cinara pinea. Emphasis was placed on the analysis of intrinsic factors influencing population changes and no attempt was made to include natural enemy functions at this stage. The model was able to account for 52% of the numerical variation within and between experimentally controlled populations on saplings in the field. Agreement between the model's predictions and population dynamics on mature field trees was also good, particularly during the early part of the season. Only after the midsummer peak do significant discrepancies emerge, the difference reflecting the likely impact of natural enemies, which became abundant at this time.

Intrinsic density‐dependent processes, while shown to occur in Cinara pinea, were found to be of little significance in determining population numbers in the field. In practice, it is seasonal and between‐tree variations in plant quality that appear to be of major importance in determining population densities in the field. Predators, too, by influencing numbers later in the season are likely to affect the number of overwintering eggs laid and hence the peak number the following year. However, even in the absence of predation, tree quality effects are capable of restricting aphid numbers to within field‐observed limits over a period of years.
Predation of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter on eggs of the green leafhopper and brown planthopper in rice
Authors: Heong K. L. , Bleih Saad , Lazaro Amor A.
Published: October 2006

The functional response of Cyrtorhinus lividipennis feeding on brown planthopper (BPH) and green leafhopper (GLH) eggs was found to be Holling's Type II. The Random Predator Equation fitted the data satisfactorily. Using Manly's preference index, α, both the male and female C. lividipennis were found to prefer BPH eggs. There was, however, no evidence of switching and the ratio of the respective searching efficiencies could account for the preference.
‘Harem’ and ‘non‐harem’ type mating systems in two species of subsocial spider mites (Acari, Tetranychidae)
Authors: Saitō Yutaka
Published: October 2006

The mating system of a subsocial spider mite, Schizotetranychus miscanthi Saitō, which is closely related to Schizotetranychus longus Saitō (the long seta form of Schizotetranychus celarius (Banks) is a synonym of the latter) was studied in comparison with that of S. longus.

Comparisons between nesting patterns of the two related species, S. miscanthi and S. longus revealed a difference in distribution of males among nests. Although more than one male sometimes occurred in the large nests of S. miscanthi, most nests were occupied only by a single male. On the other hand, many nests of S. longus included several males.

Behavioral experiments revealed that the male and females of S. miscanthi which cohabited in a nest defended their offspring from phytoseiid predators. Observations and a census of the nesting pattern in a wild population indicate that this is the second example of biparental defense and of a subsocial life‐pattern in spider mites.

Differences in mating systems were experimentally demonstrated in the two species. Only a single male of S. miscanthi survived in a nest, as a result of highly aggressive male‐male combat, while two males of S. longus cohabited in a nest. The mating system of the former species is thus considered as harem polygyny, while that of the latter as scramble type polygyny. Furthermore, observations by video recording and scanning electron microscopy showed that the winning male in the male‐male combat in S. miscanthi often preyed on the loser, suggesting cannibalism among them.
Genetic analysis of the wing‐form determination of the small brown planthopper, Laodelphax striatellus (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Mori Kiyoko , Nakasuji Fusao
Published: October 2006

The mechanism of the genetic control of wing form determination of the small brown planthopper Laodelphax striatellus was analyzed by selection and crossing experiments. The selection experiment for brachypterous and macropterous forms for 13 generations showed that the wing form is under some genetic control. The crossing experiment showed that the wing form polymorphism was not a simple Mendelian character but was under polygenic control. The data from the crossing experiment were applied to the liability method for the quantitative genetics by Falconer (1981). The analysis suggested that wing form determination was a threshold character under polygenic control, and the estimated minimum number of loci concerned was 2.07. The realized heritability estimated from the data of selection experiment was 0.36 for macroptery. On the other hand, the heritability in broad sense estimated on the basis of the variance of F1 and F2 in crossing experiment was 0.81.
Effect of population density on reproduction of two sympatric dung beetle species, Aphodius haroldianus and A. Elegans (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Authors: Yasuda Hironori
Published: October 2006

The effect of population density on reproduction as well as the oviposition modes of two sympatric dung beetle species, Aphodius haroldianus (a low fecundity/high parental effort species) and A. elegans (a high fecundity/low parental effort species) was studied at a pasture in central Japan from 1982 to 1986.

The adult population density of A. haroldianus was high (>40 per dung pat). The density of A. elegans was low (<5 per dung pat). Oviposition of A. haroldianus was suppressed above the density of about 10 adults of conspecifics but not affected by the density of other species. The intra‐ and interspecific density effects on oviposition were not detected in A. elegans.

The number of A. haroldianus adults per pat decreased with dung age, while that of A. elegans increased until sixth day after deposition and then decreased. The number of eggs laid per pat was not different between 1‐day‐and 3‐day‐old pats for A. haroldianus. However, more eggs of A. elegans were found in 3‐day‐old pats than in 1‐day‐old ones.

In the both species, the amplitude of population fluctuations was not remarkable; the maximum/minimum ratio for five years being 2.3 for A. haroldianus and 2.9 for A. elegans. Different density dependent processes were suggested to function for the small fluctuation of population density between the two species, i.e. intraspecific density effect on oviposition for A. haroldianus and contest type competition for food among larvae of A. elegans.
Population dynamics of Luehdorfia japonica Leech (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae)
Authors: Matsumoto Kazuma
Published: October 2006

Mortality processes from egg to final instar larval stage are examined in the papilionid butterfly Luehdorfia japonica for two generations in a natural populations. Special attention is given to the effects of initial egg cluster size on the survival rate by the 3rd instar. Mean egg cluster sizes for the two generations were 11.3 and 10.7. The hatching rate was not affected by the egg cluster size. Up to 3rd instar, larvae in a group were more likely to die en masse rather than to die individually, whereas most larvae in later instars died independently. The egg clusters of the average (and the most frequent) size class (11±1) had the second highest survival rate until the 3rd instar. A slightly higher survival rate occurred in clusters a little larger (14±1). The average size clusters were least likely to be exterminated and about 70% of them produced at least one individual surviving to the 3rd instar. Factors affecting the observed mortality patterns were discussed.
Univoltine and bivoltine life cycles in insects: A model with density‐dependent selection
Authors: Sota Teiji
Published: October 2006

Selection for univoltine and bivoltine life cycles in insects under resource‐limited but favourable temperature conditions is analyzed with a difference equation model including density‐dependent population dynamics based on the conceptual framework of an evolutionarily stable strategy. The model predicts that the bivoltine type can spread in a univoltine population when the fraction of density‐independent rate of annual increase by producing a second generation exceeds the survival rate during diapause of the univoltine type, but monopoly of the bivoltine type is not possible unless it attains an equilibrium population density exceeding that of the univoltine type. The applicability of the model prediction in explaining the occurrence of a partial bivoltine cycle in predominantly univoltine population in the temperate zones is discussed.
Seasonality parameters for insect populations
Authors: Wolda Henk
Published: October 2006

The usefulness of a number of parameters is investigated for describing the seasonal variability in insect populations, especially in relation to sample size.

It is found that Seasonal Niche Breadth (B) and its maximal value (BM) are useful only for large samples. For smaller samples one tends to find the same values for these parameters whatever the distribution they are supposed to describe. The “standardized” ratio of these two parameters (B/BM) is completely useless.

The Season Length (S. L.), defined as 52 minus the longest series of weeks in which the species was absent, or not observed, was found to be quite useful, especially at smaller sample sizes. For species which occur over a large part of the year and have been observed in large numbers, the ratio Min/Max is found to be quite useful. This is the number of individuals during the four weeks at the low point of the season divided by the number observed during the four weeks in the peak of the season.

It is suggested that the seasonal distribution be estimated using S. L. or, when appropriate, Min/Max in order to estimate the Seasonal Standard Deviation (SSD), which assumes a normal seasonal distribution. With this SSD the 99 per cent range (Seasonal Range) can be calculated to characterize the seasonal distribution.

With this Seasonal Range different species or different areas can profitably be compared in their seasonality characteristics even if there is a large difference in sample size.
Anopheles subpictusGrassi: Observations on survivorship and population size using mark‐release‐recapture and dissection methods
Authors: Reisen William K. , Mahmood Farida , Parveen Tauheeda
Published: October 2006

A mark‐release‐recapture experiment to estimate population survivorship and absolute size was performed with wild‐caughtAn. subpictusadults at the village of Khano‐Harni, Lahore District, Punjab Province, Pakistan during September 1978, the end of the monsoon rainy season, when temporal population abundance was maximized. Daily survival rate estimated from the recapture sequence of marked adults was low, males=0.192 and females=0.343. Survivorship for females estimated by several vertical age‐grading procedures ranged from 0.347 to 0.628. Both stage‐ and age‐specific life tables were calculated from vertical age‐grading data determined by the dilatation method. Female and male population size was estimated byBailey's modification of theLincolnIndex and was found to average 4478.4 and 6106.8, respectively. The bionomics, survivorship and population size ofAn. subpictusin the Lahore are indicated that this species was probably not important in the transmission of human malaria.
The estimation and simulation of variable developmental period, with application to the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.)
Authors: Birley Martin H.
Published: October 2006

The variability of stage developmental period may be a seminal feature of some insect populations and therefore of importance in management studies. A transfer function technique is described for estimating the frequency distribution of developmental period and simulating the subsequent population dynamics. The technique relates recruitment time series of consecutive stages by an age‐specific developmental success function. Approximate statistics, such as the mean, median or mode developmental period, may be determined and the effect of different temperature or density regimes compared.
Estimation of stage‐specific developmental times and survivorship from stage frequency data
Authors: Schneider S. M. , Ferris H.
Published: October 2006

An algorithm for estimating mean stage durations, the standard deviations associated with the means, and stage‐specific survivorships from stage frequency data is presented. The algorithm is based on an age‐structured, distributed delay simulation model which usesErlang distributions to determine the probability of maturity for individuals in each stage. If the data set extends beyond the first generation, the algorithm requires a fecundity rate, as well as stage frequencies, as input. Goodness‐of‐fit was measured using a weighted least squares calculation summed over all observed stages and all sampling dates.
A high prevalence of sleep disordered breathing in men with mild symptomatic chronic heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Authors: Vazir A. , Hastings P.C. , Dayer M. , McIntyre H.F. , Henein M.Y. , Poole‐Wilson P.A. , Cowie M.R. , Morrell M.J. , Simonds A.K.
Published: October 2006

Background:

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in severe chronic heart failure (CHF) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of SDB in mild symptomatic CHF is unknown.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of SDB in male patients with NYHA class II symptoms of CHF.

Methods and results:

55 male patients with mild symptomatic CHF underwent assessment of quality of life, echocardiography, cardiopulmonary exercise, chemoreflex testing and polysomnography. 53% of the patients had SDB. 38% had central sleep apnoea (CSA) and 15% had obstructive sleep apnoea. SDB patients had steeper VE/VCO2 slope [median (inter‐quartile range) 31.1 (28–37) vs. 28.1 (27–30) respectively; p=0.04], enhanced chemoreflexes to carbon dioxide during wakefulness [mean±sd: 2.4±1.6 vs. 1.5±0.7%VE Max/mmHg CO2 respectively; p=0.03], and significantly higher levels of brain natriuretic peptide and endothelin‐1 compared to patients without SDB. No differences in left ventricular ejection fraction, percent predicted peak oxygen uptake, or symptoms of SDB were observed.

Conclusions:

A high prevalence of SDB was found in men with mild symptomatic CHF. Patients with SDB could not be differentiated by symptoms or by routine cardiac assessment making clinical diagnosis of SDB in CHF difficult.
A polymorphism in New Zealand inbred mouse strains that inactivates phosphatidylcholine transfer protein
Authors: Pan Huei-Ju , Agate Diana S. , King Benjamin L. , Wu Michele K. , Roderick Steven L. , Leiter Edward H. , Cohen David E.
Published: October 2006

New Zealand obese (NZO/HlLt) male mice develop polygenic diabetes and altered phosphatidylcholine metabolism. The gene encoding phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC‐TP) is sited within the support interval for Nidd3, a recessive NZO‐derived locus on Chromosome 11 identified by prior segregation analysis between NZO/HlLt and NON/Lt. Sequence analysis revealed that the NZO‐derived PC‐TP contained a non‐synonymous point mutation that resulted in an Arg120His substitution, which was shared by the related NZB/BlNJ and NZW/LacJ mouse strains. Consistent with the structure‐based predictions, functional studies demonstrated that Arg120His PC‐TP was inactive, suggesting that this mutation contributes to the deficiencies in phosphatidylcholine metabolism observed in NZO mice.
Structure–function studies of the G‐domain from human gem, a novel small G‐protein
Authors: Opatowsky Yarden , Sasson Yehezkel , Shaked Isabella , Ward Yvona , Chomsky-Hecht Orna , Litvak Yael , Selinger Zvi , Kelly Kathleen , Hirsch Joel A.
Published: October 2006

Gem, a member of the Rad,Gem/Kir subfamily of small G‐proteins, has unique sequence features. We report here the crystallographic structure determination of the Gem G‐domain in complex with nucleotide to 2.4 Å resolution. Although the basic Ras protein fold is maintained, the Gem switch regions emphatically differ from the Ras paradigm. Our ensuing biochemical characterization indicates that Gem G‐domain markedly prefers GDP over GTP. Two known functions of Gem are distinctly affected by spatially separated clusters of mutations.
The roles of surface loop insertions and disulfide bond in the stabilization of thermophilic WF146 protease
Authors: Bian Yan , Liang Xiaoliang , Fang Nan , Tang Xiao-Feng , Tang Bing , Shen Ping , Peng Zhenrong
Published: October 2006

Thermophilic WF146 protease possesses four surface loop insertions and a disulfide bond, resembling its psychrophilic (subtilisins S41 and S39) and mesophilic (subtilisins SSII and sphericase) homologs. Deletion of the insertion 3 (positions 193–197) or insertion 4 (positions 210–221) of WF146 protease resulted in a significant decrease of the enzyme stability. In addition, substitution of the residues Pro211 and Ala212 or residue Glu221 which localized in the vicinity of a Ca2+ binding site of the enzyme by the corresponding residues in subtilisin S41 remarkably reduced the half‐life of the enzyme at 70 °C, suggesting that the three residues contributed to the thermostability of the enzyme, probably by enhancing the affinity of enzyme to Ca2+. In the presence of dithiothreitol, the WF146 protease suffered excessive autolysis, indicating that the Cys52‐Cys65 disulfide bond played a critical role in stabilizing the WF146 protease against autolysis. The autolytic cleavage sites of the WF146 protease were identified to locate between residues Asn63‐Gly64 and Cys65‐Ala66 by N‐terminal amino acid analysis of the autolytic product. It was noticed that the effect of the autolytic cleavage at Asn63‐Gly64 could be compensated by the disulfide bond Cys52‐Cys65 under non‐reducing condition, and the disulfide bond cross‐linked autolytic product remained active. The apparent stabilization effect of the disulfide bond Cys52‐Cys65 in the WF146 protease might provide a rational basis for improving the stability of subtilase against autolysis by protein engineering.
Technical efficiency analysis for the Iranian fishery in the Persian Gulf
Authors: Esmaeili Abdoulkarim
Published: October 2006

There are many fish landing areas in southern Iran, distributed all along the coastline, and despite gradually increasing effort, the total catch has fluctuated in recent years. This study examines the technical efficiency of the fishing industry, and identifies factors that could be causing inefficiency. A stochastic production function among fishery vessels is estimated. Technical efficiency measures the ability of firms to maximize output using a given set of inputs and technologies. The results indicate that technical efficiency in the fishery is relatively low, and that wooden vessels of medium size are more efficient than small fibreglass vessels. Both skippers' socio-economic drivers and vessel instrumentation have a significant impact on efficiency. Ownership of two-way radio and ownership of GPS are important considerations that influence fishing efficiency, and the skipper's level of education and experience are qualities that also affect it. Owner-operated vessels and younger skippers are more efficient than others. Understanding these constraints may contribute to increasing the efficiency of the Iranian fishery in the Persian Gulf.
Composition and diversity patterns in metazoan parasite communities and anthropogenic disturbance in stream ecosystems
Authors: HERNANDEZ A. D. , BUNNELL J. F. , SUKHDEO M. V. K.
Published: October 2006

The composition and diversity of metazoan parasite communities in naturally depauperate ecosystems are rarely studied. This study describes the composition of helminth endoparasite communities infecting fish that are part of naturally acidic stream ecosystems in the coastal-plains region of the State of New Jersey (USA) known as the Pinelands, and compares the diversity of parasites between six streams that differ in anthropogenic disturbance. A total of 514 fish were examined representing 6 species native but restricted to the Pinelands region, 5 species native and widespread throughout the region and State, and 6 species introduced to the Pinelands and State. Fish (prevalence: 78%) were infected with 18 helminth endoparasite species. In most streams, prevalence of infection, mean abundance, and total number of individuals for the 5 most common parasites were higher in pirate perch, a native fish species. The diversity of helminth endoparasite communities measured as species richness and Shannon index was higher in degraded streams, and especially in native or introduced fish at these sites. Parasite diversity was positively correlated with anthropogenic disturbance, which was measured by water pH, water conductance, and the proportion of agricultural and developed land surrounding streams. Helminth community composition included parasites intimately tied to trophic interactions in food webs, and disturbance to these ecosystems results in changes to these communities. Understanding structure and function of animal communities from these naturally depauperate ecosystems is important before continued anthropogenic changes result in the extirpation or extinction of their unique fauna.
Domestic dogs and cats as sources ofTrypanosoma cruziinfection in rural northwestern Argentina
Authors: GÜRTLER R. E. , CECERE M. C. , LAURICELLA M. A. , CARDINAL M. V. , KITRON U. , COHEN J. E.
Published: October 2006

The reservoir capacity of domestic cats and dogs forTrypanosoma cruziinfection and the host-feeding patterns of domesticTriatoma infestanswere assessed longitudinally in 2 infested rural villages in north-western Argentina. A total of 86 dogs and 38 cats was repeatedly examined forT. cruziinfection by serology and/or xenodiagnosis. The composite prevalence of infection in dogs (60%), but not in cats, increased significantly with age and with the domiciliary density of infectedT. infestans. Dogs and cats had similarly high forces of infection, prevalence of infectious hosts (41–42%), and infectiousness to bugs at a wide range of infected bug densities. The infectiousness to bugs of seropositive dogs declined significantly with increasing dog age and was highly aggregated. Individual dog infectiousness to bugs was significantly autocorrelated over time. DomesticT. infestansfed on dogs showed higher infection prevalence (49%) than those fed on cats (39%), humans (38%) or chickens (29%) among 1085 bugs examined. The basic reproduction number ofT. cruziin dogs was at least 8·2. Both cats and dogs are epidemiologically important sources of infection for bugs and householders, dogs nearly 3 times more than cats.
DifferentialN-glycan- and protein-directed immune responses inDictyocaulus viviparus-infected and vaccinated calves
Authors: KOOYMAN F. N. J. , PLOEGER H. W. , HÖGLUND J. , VAN PUTTEN J. P. M.
Published: October 2006

Calves with naturally acquiredDictyocaulus viviparusinfection mount an effective immune response. In the search for protection-inducing antigens, we found that severalD. viviparusthird-stage larval (L3) and adult ES products carry N-glycans. Deglycosylation of the worm antigens using PNGase F resulted in reduced IgA, IgE, IgG1 and IgG2 (but not IgM) reactivities in sera of primary infected animals, suggesting that the carbohydrate moieties contained immunodominant epitopes. Challenge infection resulted in increased specific serum antibody levels against ES and L3 in the re-infected and challenge control groups. Testing of sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) demonstrated a significant increase in IgG1 and IgE (but not IgA or IgG2) reactivity against the deglycosylated antigens in the re-infected group compared with the challenge control group. Sera from calves vaccinated with irradiated larvae showed a strong anti-N-glycan response, but no booster response against the protein backbone after challenge infection, consistent with the absence of a memory response. Together, our results suggest thatD. viviparusproteins carry immunodominant N-glycan moieties that elicit a strong but short-lived immune response during infection and after vaccination, whereas the protein backbones effectively induce a memory response which results in a long-lasting, potentially protective immune response in re-infected, but not in vaccinated calves.
Special issue: the dynamics of levelling and diversity in French/Dynamiques de ‘standardisations partielles’ en français
Authors: ARMSTRONG NIGEL , BLANCHET PHILIPPE
Published: October 2006

This thematic issue of JFLS takes as its subject the connected linguistic phenomena of levelling and diversity in the French of the Hexagon. Diversity in language is obvious enough, is indeed part and parcel of all living languages, since social difference finds expression in linguistic difference. Levelling is, however, harder to define in a way that applies across languages and even more difficult to adapt across languages: the French term nivellement is spontaneously understood as ‘elimination of all differences’ i.e. ‘standardisation in the strong sense’, whereas the English term levelling has the sense rather of ‘standardisations partielles’ (the plural is important) and could perhaps be better translated in this way.
La production discursive des normes: centralité sociolinguistique et multipolarisation des espaces de référence
Authors: BULOT THIERRY
Published: October 2006

L'article propose de questionner la production discursive des normes (les discours tenus sur les façons de parler d'autrui ou de soi-même) sous l'angle de la multipolarisation des espaces de référence. Il rend ainsi dans un premier temps compte d'enquêtes épilinguistiques effectuées dans trois configurations urbaines distinctes: 1. le discours sur l'accent de Rouen, forme linguistique identitaire et en même temps stigmatisée, 2. le discours sur le cauchois d'Yvetot (le cauchois est une des variétés du normand), et 3. le discours sur les langues à Rennes (entre autres, autour de la langue française et des langues bretonnes). Dans un second temps, après avoir rappelé les propositions théoriques concernant la spatialité en sociolinguistique urbaine, il présente une modélisation inédite de l'espace urbanisé pour tenter de mieux saisir les spécificités des dynamiques discursives impliquées par la culture urbaine. Il commente, en regard avec le concept de nivellement, les conceptualisations qui sont à la base d'une telle approche, et notamment la centralité linguistique comme processus producteur de normes et son corollaire quasi dichotomique, le confinement linguistique, comme processus vecteur de contre-norme.
Undisciplined theory
Authors: Smith Adam T.
Published: October 2006

Matthew Johnson's engaging paper raises a number of critical issues for contemporary archaeological reflection. The paper takes as a given the existence of archaeological theory as a disciplinary tradition of scholarly engagement, as a social fact of the vita archaeologica. But Johnson resists, rightly I think, the temptation to define ‘the archaeological’ intellectually, in reference to a discrete analytical terrain over which archaeology holds sovereignty. As a result, a considerable weight is put upon what we might think of as the sociology of theoretical work – concrete practices of theoretical production and reproduction located within institutions such as the university and the department. While Matthew's paper largely focuses on the gaps within the current constellatory field between the ethos of archaeological training and the pathos that drives our theoretical agenda, in these brief remarks I want to suggest a more undisciplined sense of archaeological theory, one rooted less in the field itself and more in a historically and socially shifting understanding of the pastness of the object world.
Beckenvenensyndrom
Authors: Chilla  , Knüsel  , Zollikofer  , Huber  , Kubik-Huch
Published: October 2006

Wir berichten über die Bilddiagnostik und Therapie einer 37-jährigen Patientin, die an chronisch pelvinen Beschwerden sowie einer störenden Varikosis der linken Vulva litt. Die MR-Angiographie zeigte eine Varikose im kleinen Becken links mit einer kräftig drainierenden linken Ovarialvene und eine linksseitige Vulvavarikose, die inspektorisch auch sehr deutlich zu erkennen war. Gleichzeitig war eine Stamminsuffizienz der V. saphena magna und Seitenastvarikose des linken Oberschenkels vorhanden. Zunächst erfolgte eine Crossektomie und ein Stripping der Vena saphena magna bis infragenual sowie eine Phlebektomie links und eine Ligatur der die Vulvavarikose versorgenden Venen aus der Crosse. Bei postoperativ weiterhin persistierender Vulvavarikose erfolgte eine Katheterembolisation mit Coils, kombiniert mit Sklerosierung mittels Aethoxysklerol sowohl der Beckenvarizen als auch der Ovarialvene links.
Blauverfärbung der Hände, Taubheitsgefühl an den Füssen, indolente Lymphknotenschwellung zervikal bei einem 73-jährigen Mann
Authors: Kurzen  , Kunz  , Nigg
Published: October 2006

Ein 73-jähriger Patient wurde uns zugewiesen wegen einer Blauverfärbung der Hände. Zusätzlich bestanden anamnestisch und klinisch eine B-Symptomatik, brennende Schmerzen mit Taubheitsgefühl an den Füssen bei Polyneuropathie sowie eine indolente Lymphknotenschwellung zervikal. 1996 und 2001 waren wegen einer lokalisierten angiofollikulären Lympknotenhyperplasie (Castleman-Erkrankung) bereits Halslymphknoten exzidiert worden. Laborchemisch bestanden erhöhte Entzündungszeichen, eine Hypothyreose und eine monoklonale Gammopathie. Die Bildgebung zeigte generalisierte Lymphknotenvergrösserungen zervikal, mediastinal und abdominal sowie eine Splenomegalie. Somit bestand das Vollbild eines POEMS-Syndroms (Sonderform des Multiplen Myeloms) mit Polyneuropathie, Organomegalie (Milz), Endokrinopathie (Schilddrüse), monoklonaler Gammopathie und Skin Changes (Blauverfärbung der Hände). Die generalisierte Lymphadenopathie entsprach histologisch einem Rezidiv der vorbestehenden Castleman-Erkrankung, deren Assoziation mit dem POEMS-Syndrom bekannt ist. Der Patient sprach gut auf die eingeleitete Steroidtherapie an und ist heute weitgehend beschwerdefrei.
Quantifying surface water–groundwater interactions using time series analysis of streambed thermal records: Method development
Authors: Hatch Christine E. , Fisher Andrew T. , Revenaugh Justin S. , Constantz Jim , Ruehl Chris
Published: October 2006

We present a method for determining streambed seepage rates using time series thermal data. The new method is based on quantifying changes in phase and amplitude of temperature variations between pairs of subsurface sensors. For a reasonable range of streambed thermal properties and sensor spacings the time series method should allow reliable estimation of seepage rates for a range of at least ±10 m d−1(±1.2 × 10−2m s−1), with amplitude variations being most sensitive at low flow rates and phase variations retaining sensitivity out to much higher rates. Compared to forward modeling, the new method requires less observational data and less setup and data handling and is faster, particularly when interpreting many long data sets. The time series method is insensitive to streambed scour and sedimentation, which allows for application under a wide range of flow conditions and allows time series estimation of variable streambed hydraulic conductivity. This new approach should facilitate wider use of thermal methods and improve understanding of the complex spatial and temporal dynamics of surface water–groundwater interactions.