bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current approach to fibrous dysplasia of bone and McCune–Albright syndrome
Authors: Leet Arabella I. , Collins Michael T.
Published: February 2007

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) of bone is an uncommon disease caused by sporadic, congenital mutations in the cAMP regulating protein, Gsα. It is an example of somatic mosaicism in which a wide spectrum of disease is possible. Widespread skeletal involvement is often associated with varying combinations of café-au-lait skin spots, and/or endocrine dysfunction (precocious puberty, renal phosphate wasting, hyperthyroidism, and/or growth hormone excess). Unrecognized and untreated endocrine dysfunction can exacerbate the skeletal disease. The diagnosis is usually established on clinical grounds on the basis of physical examination and typical radiographic appearance. Occasionally, gene testing of affected tissue may be helpful. The skeletal sites involved with disease are established at an early age, and the complications of fracture deformity are most pronounced in childhood. Bone pain in the absence of a fracture is more common in adults, but can also be present in children. Treatment with bisphosphonates is usually effective at relieving pain, but probably has no effect on the natural history of the disease. Scoliosis, which was previously thought to be an uncommon occurrence, has been shown to be common and progressive, and as such, warrants investigation and, when necessary, surgical treatment. The surgical management of FD remains challenging. Timing and technique remain controversial, but some consensus exists in that grafting materials (of any type) usually fail and should not be a central aspect of the surgical approach. Intramedullary devices are in general superior to side plates and screws. In extremely widespread disease with very early fracture and deformity, no surgical approach will affect final functional outcome. Efforts should be made for the initiation of international collaborative studies to better define optimal surgical approaches to the treatment of this challenging disease.
Well-posedness theory for geometry-compatible hyperbolic conservation laws on manifolds
Authors: Ben-Artzi Matania , LeFloch Philippe G.
Published: February 2007

Motivated by many applications (geophysical flows, general relativity), we attempt to set the foundations for a study of entropy solutions to non-linear hyperbolic conservation laws posed on a (Riemannian or Lorentzian) manifold. The flux of the conservation laws is viewed as a vector-field on the manifold and depends on the unknown function as a parameter. We introduce notions of entropy solutions in the class of bounded measurable functions and in the class of measure-valued mappings. We establish the well-posedness theory for conservation laws on a manifold, by generalizing both Kruzkov's and DiPerna's theories originally developed in the Euclidian setting. The class of
geometry-compatible
(as we call it) conservation laws is singled out as an important case of interest, which leads to robust

L^{p}

estimates independent of the geometry of the manifold. On the other hand, general conservation laws solely enjoy the

L^{1}

contraction property and leads to a unique contractive semi-group of entropy solutions. Our framework allows us to construct entropy solutions on a manifold via the vanishing diffusion method or the finite volume method.
Controllability of systems of Stokes equations with one control force: existence of insensitizing controls
Authors: Guerrero Sergio
Published: February 2007

In this paper we establish some exact controllability results for systems of two parabolic equations of the Stokes kind. In a first part, we prove the existence of insensitizing controls for the

L^{2}

norm of the solutions and the
curl
of solutions of linear Stokes equations. Then, in the limit case where one can expect null controllability to hold for a system of two Stokes equations (namely, when the coupling terms concern first and second order derivatives, respectively), we prove this result for some general couplings.
The apoptotic effect of sarsasapogenin from Anemarrhena asphodeloides on HepG2 human hepatoma cells
Authors: Bao Wenna , Pan Haifeng , Lu Min , Ni Yuan , Zhang Rui , Gong Xingguo
Published: February 2007

Sarsasapogenin, a kind of mainly effective components of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (Liliaceae) has the effects of being anti‐diabetes and improving memory. However, there are few reports focusing on its anti‐tumor effects. In this study, the sarsasapogenin was extracted from rhizomes of A. asphodeloides Bunge and applied to inhibit HepG2 human hepatoma cells. MTT assay showed that sarsasapogenin induced a distinct dose‐ and time‐dependent diminution of cell viability with IC50 of 42.4 ± 1.0 μg/ml for 48 h. Furthermore, sarsasapogenin‐induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells was verified by Hoechst 33258 staining, electron microscopy, DNA fragmentation and PI staining. Flow cytometry analysis showed that sarsasapogenin‐induced cell apoptosis was through arrest of cell cycle in G2/M phase. Hence we proposed that sarsasapogenin could be used as an anti‐liver cancer drug for future studies.
NT‐proBNP levels and diastolic dysfunction in β‐Thalassaemia major patients
Authors: Kremastinos Dimitrios Th. , Tsiapras Dimitrios P. , Kostopoulou Anna G. , Hamodraka Eftihia S. , Chaidaroglou Antigoni S. , Kapsali Evangelia D.
Published: February 2007

Background

The early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in β‐thalassaemic patients is related to survival. Iron alone or in combination with other factors causes diastolic dysfunction, which usually precedes systolic dysfunction. NT‐proBNP is a sensitive biomarker of ventricular dysfunction.

Aim

To evaluate NT‐proBNP in non heart failure β‐thalassaemic patients.

Methods

Fifty‐two β‐thalassaemia major patients (mean age: 27.2±12.5 years) with normal LV systolic function, underwent NT‐proBNP measurement and a thorough Doppler‐echocardiographic and pulsed tissue‐Doppler study, 4 days following blood transfusion. Fifty‐two age matched healthy controls were also studied.

Results

NT‐proBNP and E/E′ ratio were increased in thalassaemic patients compared with controls [(469±171 vs 262±51 pmol/l, p<0.001) and (10.8±4.0 vs 6.6±1.1, p<0.001)] and were well correlated (r: 0.54, p<0.01). Although NT‐proBNP levels were increased in patients with higher E/E′ ratios (E/E′ <8: 354±119, 8–15: 516±177, >15: 565±114 pmol/l, ANOVA p: 0.002) this increase only became statistically significant in the 3rd decade of life, while E/E′ ratio increased in the 4th decade.

Conclusion

NT‐proBNP increases in β‐thalassaemia major patients and is related to age and LV diastolic dysfunction. NT‐proBNP appears to be an early biomarker of LV diastolic dysfunction, compared with the conventional Echo‐Doppler indexes.
Association of HLA‐DQA1∗03011‐DQB1∗0301 haplotype with the development of respiratory scleroma
Authors: Sánchez‐Marín Luis Alberto , Bross‐Soriano Daniel , Arrieta José , Kawa‐Karasik Simón , Martínez‐Vilchis Víctor , Jiménez‐Lucio Rocío , Olivo‐Díaz Angélica
Published: February 2007

Objective

Respiratory scleroma (RS) is a progressive, chronic, granulomatous disease caused by Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis. There is only one report of RS association with HLA‐DQ3. In this study, molecular association of HLA class II and RS was determined.

Study Design and Setting

Nine RS patients and 163 healthy controls were compared. DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 loci were typed.

Results

Statistical analysis demonstrated association between DQB1*0301 and susceptibility to RS (Pc = 0.004). Haplo‐type analysis showed an association of DQA1*03011‐DQB1*0301 (P = 1.21E‐19) and DRB1*0407‐DQA1*03011‐DQB1*0301 (P = 0.0002).

Conclusions

Results established that DQA1*03011‐DQB1*0301 haplotype is a strong risk factor for development of RS.

© 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.
Benefits and risks of mitomycin use in the traumatized tracheal mucosa
Authors: Roh Jong‐Lyel , Kim Dong Hyun , Rha Ki Sang , Sung Myung‐Whun , Kim Kwang Hyun , Park Chan II
Published: February 2007

Objective

To investigate the efficacy and early complications of mitomycin C (MMC) in tracheal wound models.

Study Design and Setting

Rabbits (N = 60) were randomized to undergo mucosal injuries to the upper and lower trachea including anterior 120° full thickness (group A, n = 20), anterior 120° partial thickness (group B, 20), and circumferential partial thickness (group C, 20). In each rabbit, the wounds were separately treated with MMC 1.0 mg/mL or saline, and the animals were sacrificed after three weeks.

Results

Twenty‐seven of the 60 animals experienced early death because of tracheal rupture or airway obstruction caused by unresolved scabs on the preinjured tracheal mucosa; the incidence of early death was higher in groups A and C than in group B. In each group, the degree of tracheal stenosis was comparable in wounds treated with MMC and saline.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that topical MMC has no benefit when used to prevent tracheal stenosis. Acute airway obstruction may occur in MMC‐treated rabbits with tracheal wounds.
The role of pre‐operative CT‐guided FNAB for parapharyngeal space tumors
Authors: Farrag Tarik Y. , Lin Frank R. , Koch Wayne M. , Califano Joseph A. , Cummings Charles W. , Farinola Maryam A. , Tufano Ralph P.
Published: February 2007

Objective

To determine the role of computed tomography (CT)‐guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in surgical planning for parapharyngeal space (PPS) tumors.

Design and Setting

Chart review of 49 consecutive patients with surgically treated PPS tumors from 1995 to 2005.

Results

Twenty‐nine patients had CT‐guided FNAB. A cytopathologic diagnosis that was the same as final pathology was rendered in 14 (48%) patients; suggestive but not conclusive in 6 (21%) patients; discordant in 3 (10%) patients; and 6 (21%) patients had a nondiagnostic result. Fourteen of 15 patients who had a final histopathologic finding of pleomorphic adenoma had a correct or highly suggestive preoperative FNAB diagnosis. The positive predictive value for CT‐guided FNAB to identify benign tumors is 90%, (18 of 20) but to identify malignant PPS tumors is 75% (3 of 4).

Conclusion

CT‐guided FNAB of PPS tumors is helpful to predict the nature of the PPS tumors (especially benign), which allows the surgeon and patient to plan for treatment, accordingly.
Functional expression and microdomain localization of prestin in cultured cells
Authors: Sturm Angela K. , Rajagopalan Lavanya , Yoo Donald , Brownell William E. , Pereira Fred A.
Published: February 2007

Introduction

Prestin is an essential component of the molecular motor of cochlear outer hair cells that contribute to frequency selectivity and sensitivity of mammalian hearing. A model system to study prestin employs its transfection into cultured HEK 293 cells. Our goal was to characterize prestin's trafficking pathway and localization in the plasma membrane.

Methods

We used immuno‐colocalization of prestin with intracellular and plasma membrane markers and sucrose density fractionation to analyze prestin in membrane compartments. Voltage clamping was used to measure nonlinear capacitance (NLC), prestin's electrical signature.

Results & Discussion

Prestin targets to the membrane by 24 hours post‐transfection when NLC is measurable. Prestin then concentrates into membrane foci that colocalize and fractionate with membrane microdomains. Depleting membrane cholesterol content altered prestin localization and NLC.

Conclusion

Prestin activity in HEK 293 cells results from expression in the plasma membrane and altering membrane lipid content affects prestin localization and activity.
Bisphosphonates and jaw osteonecrosis: The UAMS experience
Authors: Clarke Brett M. , Boyette Jennings , Vural Emre , Suen James Y. , Anaissie Elias J. , Stack Brendan C.
Published: February 2007

Background

Over the past year at least 10 case series and several case reports on osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) have been published with most found in the oral surgery literature. This clinical entity is largely unknown to head and neck surgeons.

Methods

Retrospective chart review.

Results

A total of 479 charts were reviewed, identifying 25 individuals meeting inclusion criteria. Mean age was 63.4 (standard deviation, 9.9) years; 40% were female. Multiple myeloma was the most common comorbidity. Twenty‐five patients were treated with bisphosphonates for 4.4 years (range, 1 to 8 years); most commonly pamidronate before ONJ diagnosis. Forty‐two percent (10) took steroids within the month before diagnosis. Fifty‐two percent (11) underwent dental work before developing ONJ.

Conclusion

These data reflect the importance of awareness of the possibility of ONJ with bisphosphonate therapy.
Innate immunity of the sinonasal cavity and its role in chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Ramanathan Murugappan , Lane Andrew P.
Published: February 2007

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common health problems in the United States. Medical therapy and surgery are successful in treating the majority of patients with sinusitis; however, CRS patients recalcitrant to traditional therapy are increasingly prevalent. Although traditionally this illness could be explained by sinus ostial obstruction and persistent bacterial infection, the rhinologic literature over the years has suggested a significant underlying inflammatory component. Adaptive immune components, including lymphocytes and their associated cytokines, have been the subject of most research in chronic nasal inflammation. A recent appreciation of the importance of the innate immune system is leading to new areas of investigation regarding the pathogenesis of CRS. This review will outline our current knowledge of sinonasal innate immunity, the role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of CRS, and potential therapeutic targets in the innate immune system.
Effects of soil compaction in potato (Solanum tuberosum) crops
Authors: STALHAM M. A. , ALLEN E. J. , ROSENFELD A. B. , HERRY F. X.
Published: February 2007

Since many soils used for growing potatoes in the UK are likely to be close to their plastic limit for cultivation during early spring, there exists the potential for soil compaction to occur during planting which will restrict root penetration. A series of experiments showed that soil compaction delayed emergence, reduced rate of leaf appearance and ground cover expansion, shortened canopy cover duration and restricted light interception, which combined to reduce tuber yield. Rooting density and maximum depth of rooting were reduced, particularly where compaction was shallow. In some soils, irrigation helped alleviate some of the effects of compaction but in others it exacerbated their severity. Using a cone penetrometer, relationships between rate of root penetration and soil resistance (Ω) were established from a number of experiments and replicated blocks in commercial fields and an overall relationship of the formy=16·3–4·08Ω mm/day was produced. Root penetration rates ofc. 20 mm/day were measured in the intensively-cultivated ridge zone but growth rates were halved at a Ω of 1·5 MPa. A survey of 602 commercial fields showed that two thirds of fields had Ωs ⩾3 MPa (where root growth rates would be <2 mm/day) within the top 0·55 m of the soil profile. Thus, rooting depth is likely to be considerably shallower than desirable and lead to inefficiency of water and nutrient utilization. The use of powered cultivators to separate stones and clods from beds or ridges and produce a fine seedbed is now almost universally adopted in the UK. However, the system is both time and energy inefficient and increases the risk of creating soil compaction, particularly at shallow depths. All cultivation equipment has been shown to cause compaction and it is suggested that the consequences of the shortening of the growing season from delaying planting by a few days to allow the soil to dry are far less than the yield and quality losses caused by compaction.
RECENT TRENDS IN RATES OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Authors: WESTOFF CHARLES F.
Published: February 2007

Over the past five to ten years, the proportion of women who report recent sexual activity has declined in twelve countries in southern and eastern Africa, but not in most of eleven countries in West Africa. Although concentrated among unmarried women, slight declines are evident among married women and across most ages. Although it is difficult to prove, the most likely explanation is the higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS in southern and eastern Africa.
UNMET NEED FOR ADDITIONAL MEDICAL CARE FOR SICK CHILDREN IN MOTHER’S VIEW IN RURAL BANGLADESH: IMPLICATIONS FOR IMPROVING CHILD HEALTH SERVICES
Authors: ALAM NURUL
Published: February 2007

While a country’s health policy aims to provide health services to all who need them, very little in known about unmet need for additional medical care from users’ perspectives in Bangladesh. This study examined unmet medical need (defined as whether a mother felt that, to manage sickness, her child had required medical care that was not available, regardless of reasons and medical care sought) of 2123 under-15 sick children by illness and child’s socioeconomic characteristics in rural Bangladesh. The 1996 Health and Socioeconomic Survey conducted in Matlab recorded children’s chronic (a disease or a condition lasting 3 months or more) and acute (a disease or a condition with a rapid onset and a short, severe course) morbidity, medical care sought to combat illness and unmet needs for additional medical services in mothers’ views to manage the illness. The survey also recorded household socioeconomic data. Logistic regression was used to examine the data. The results reveal that unmet needs for additional medical care were 5·4% for children with acute illnesses, and 30·2% for children with chronic illnesses. For chronic illnesses, seeking medical care to manage illness from any health provider outside the home reduced unmet medical needs. Economic inequalities existed for both acute and chronic illnesses: the odds ratio of unmet medical needs for sick children of the least poor households was 0·42 (95% CI: 0·28–0·64) times that for sick children of the very poor households. The critically high unmet needs for children’s chronic morbidity reveal that the chronic disease control programme in Bangladesh needs urgent revisiting and strengthening.
Perichondritis of the auricle and its management
Authors: Prasad H Kishore C , Sreedharan S , Prasad H Sampath C , Meyyappan M Hari , Harsha K Shri
Published: February 2007

Objective: To conduct a study of patients presenting with perichondritis of the auricle and to analyse the possible aetiological factors responsible, the bacteriological agents involved, the treatment modalities and the complications of such infections.

Setting: Academic department of otolaryngology.

Design: A retrospective clinical study of patients treated over a five-year period.

Participants: Sixty-one patients with clinically proven perichondritis of the auricle, with or without diabetes mellitus (i.e. malignant otitis externa).

Results: Based on the severity of the disease, otherwise uncomplicated patients were assigned to group A and divided into three cohorts. Patients with perichondritis secondary to malignant otitis externa were analysed separately as group B. Men formed the majority of the patients and most were young (16–35 years). Trauma was the main cause (46 per cent) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa the most common micro-organism isolated. The condition was managed conservatively with antibiotics alone in 19 patients (31 per cent) and these cases had no residual deformity at follow up (group A, stage one). Incision and drainage was performed in a further 19 patients (31 per cent), resulting in minor residual deformity in one half (group A, stage two). Debridement was performed in 17 patients, and these patients had either gross (29 per cent) or minor residual deformity (71 per cent; group A, stage three). Six patients with perichondritis secondary to malignant otitis externa were managed by wound debridement via a post-auricular approach; all had minor residual deformities.

Conclusions: Perichondritis can be divided into two groups, depending on cartilage loss and on the presence or absence of malignant otitis externa. The treatment used and the residual deformity that will ensue are entirely dependent on the stage of disease.
Modified translabyrinthine approach and hearing preservation: imaging evaluation
Authors: Magliulo G , Stasolla A , Parrotto D , Marini M
Published: February 2007

Aim:

To establish if the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearances of the vestibule, after the removal of vestibular schwannoma by a modified translabyrinthine approach, correlate with a successful outcome, defined as hearing preservation.

Materials and methods:

Our study group consisted of 16 patients with vestibular schwannoma. All patients' pre-operative hearing was graded as class one or two according to the Gardner–Robertson scale. On MRI scans, the schwannoma, including the intracanalicular segment, were less than 2 cm in size in all the patients. The intracanalicular portion involved the fundus of the internal auditory canal in seven patients. In the remaining nine patients, the schwannoma had spread to involve two-thirds of the meatus, sparing its lateral third. The state of the labyrinth, in particular the integrity of the vestibule, was evaluated by CT scans and MRI prior to and following surgery.

Results:

The schwannoma was completely removed in all patients. None showed any signs of persistence or tumoral relapse on the post-operative MRI. The final follow up showed that seven patients had maintained their hearing function (i.e. four patients with class one hearing and three with class two). The MRI vestibular signal on the T2-weighted images was well depicted only in patients with hearing preservation. Bony vestibular integrity was observed in the CT scans of all cases with hearing preservation, and also in three cases with failure of hearing preservation.

Conclusion:

Our results confirm that total isolation and maintenance of an anatomically intact vestibule, as depicted by MRI examination, is one of the fundamental factors for successful preservation of hearing function following modified translabyrinthine approach schwannoma removal.
Human papilloma virus prevalence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Gungor A , Cincik H , Baloglu H , Cekin E , Dogru S , Dursun E
Published: February 2007

Purpose:

To determine the prevalence and type of human papilloma virus deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods:

We analysed the prevalence of human papilloma virus infection in archived paraffin block specimens taken from 99 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma between 1990 and 2005, using polymerase chain reaction techniques. Biopsy specimens from five proven verrucous skin lesions were used as positive controls, and peripheral blood samples from five healthy volunteers were used as negative controls.

Results:

Four test samples were found to have inadequate deoxyribonucleic acid purity and were therefore excluded from the study. Human papilloma virus deoxyribonucleic acid was detected in seven of 95 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (7.36 per cent). Human papilloma virus genotyping revealed double human papilloma virus infection in three cases and single human papilloma virus infection in the remaining four cases. The human papilloma virus genotypes detected were 6, 11 and 16 (the latter detected in only one case).

Conclusion:

In our series, a very low human papilloma virus prevalence was found among laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cases. The human papilloma virus genotypes detected were mostly 6 and/or 11, and 16 in only one case. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of human papilloma virus prevalence in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, based on polymerase chain reaction genotyping in a Turkish population.
Revitalising African agriculture through innovative business models and organisational arrangements: promising developments in the traditional crops sector
Authors: Ochieng Cosmas Milton Obote
Published: February 2007

Within the last four years, a number of high profile reports outlining new strategies for pulling African agriculture out of its current impasse have emerged. These include the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme of NEPAD, and the InterAcademy Council Report commissioned by UN Secretary General Koffi Annan. Whilst these strategies are a welcome improvement on those that have characterised African agriculture in the past, it is argued here that like their predecessors, they fail to focus on business-competitive approaches as an integral part of the reform package needed to stimulate African agricultural productivity and development. This paper draws on innovation, business and organisation literature to highlight some of these approaches. It focuses on three concepts: value innovation, lead user focus and organisational value logic.
Growth, proportions and variation of the skull of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the Sea of Azov
Authors: Gol'din P.E.
Published: February 2007

Skulls of 153 porpoises from the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea were studied. Thirty-seven skull measurements were examined. Skull growth in porpoises can be divided into five periods. The greatest changes in growth patterns occur after the first weeks of life. A ‘relay effect’ in growth of some structures (e.g. rostrum) was observed. Individual variation usually increases when a given structure grows intensively; however, some structures are highly variable over the entire lifespan. Sexual dimorphism is demonstrated in most of the measurements in adult animals. Temporal variation is minor. Skull structures are characterized by six types of allometry; three of them demonstrate drastic changes of allometry during lifespan, thus requiring two allometric equations to describe them. Skull proportions change critically during the first weeks of life. Six groups of correlated measurements differing in the pattern of correlation links during ontogeny were identified. Three factors play the most important roles in forming the definitive skull proportions: correlation between adjacent structures, impact of total skull size and inclusion in a certain functional complex.
Grey seal diet at the southern limit of its European distribution: combining dietary analyses and fatty acid profiles
Authors: Ridoux V. , Spitz J. , Vincent C. , Walton M.J.
Published: February 2007

The north-east Atlantic grey seal, Halichoerus grypus, is widely distributed along the European coastline from northern Russia to France, with the core population centred around Scotland. To date, very little is known of the diet of the species at the southern margin of the species range. However, because grey seal numbers have been increasing over the last few decades in France, the issue of their potential interactions with coastal fisheries is frequently raised. The diet of grey seal in the Molène Archipelago was investigated by combining scat, stomach content and fatty acid analyses, since all three approaches have complementary potentials to reveal feeding habits of a predator. A total of 145 scats mostly of moulting adult males, 14 stomach contents of yearlings and 14 blubber samples from animals of all ages were analysed following standard methodologies. Scats revealed a diet mainly constituted of 50.6% by mass (M) of wrasse, Labridae (mostly Labrus bergylta), 20.7%M conger eel, Conger conger, and 11.9%M sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax. Stomach contents were made up of 52.3%M cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, 9.5%M sole, Solea solea, and 9.4 %M conger eel. All these prey are different from the diet observed in core areas. Fatty acid analysis from the blubber confirmed that the diet differed between the Molène Archipelago and one of the Scottish breeding sites. It also showed that most of the inter-individual variability was explained by variation in seal body masses, which could be linked to behavioural ontogeny of foraging strategies. Most of the prey species identified in the food of the grey seal in Brittany are also targeted by professional and/or recreational fisheries in the area; additionally, several prey size-ranges also partly overlap with marketed size-ranges for several species.
Seasonal variation of striped dolphins, fin- and sperm whales' abundance in the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Laran Sophie , Drouot-Dulau Violaine
Published: February 2007

In order to investigate seasonal changes in cetacean relative abundance, a series of surveys were conducted between the French mainland and Corsica. From February 2001 to February 2004, thirty similar transects were conducted monthly, using the same dedicated boat and a consistent sampling protocol, including visual observation and passive acoustic sampling. A total effort of 5759 km was sampled, conducted at the same speed and in good sighting conditions. Relative abundances of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) were determined using standard line-transect methodology. The relative abundance of striped dolphins peaked in May and September (>1.3×10-2 ind.km-1), while a consistent minimum value (<0.6×10-2 ind.km-1) was obtained from December to April. A maximum relative abundance of fin whales occurred in August with 5.6×10-2 ind.km-1 and decreased to almost zero from November to January. For sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), a long diver species, frequency and abundance indices were determined using acoustic sampling. The highest acoustic relative abundance was observed from August to October, with more than 2×10-2 ind.km-1. Environmental parameters (sea surface temperature and chlorophyll) were computed for the sampling area from remote sensing imagery and pooled on a monthly basis, to correlate with relative abundance indices of the three species.
Sperm whale, Physeter macrocephalus, stranding on the Pakistani coast
Authors: Gore M.A. , Ahmad E. , Ali Q.M. , Culloch R.M. , Hameed S. , Hasnain S.A. , Hussain B. , Kiani S. , Shaik N. , Siddiqui P.J. , Ormond R.F.
Published: February 2007

Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) occur frequently in stranding records worldwide. However, none have been reported along the Pakistani coastline to date. This paper documents the first reported stranding of a sperm whale on the Pakistani coast. Ultimately, this finding is important in the planning of Pakistan's Biodiversity Action Plan and its National Conservation Strategy for marine mammals.
Comparative morphometry of odontocete ears through computerized tomography
Authors: Morell M. , Degollada E. , van der Schaar M. , Alonso J.M. , Delory E. , López A. , Dewez A. , André M.
Published: February 2007

Describing the auditory periphery of odontocetes is a key conservation issue to further assess the effect of acoustic pollution. Because all odontocetes produce species-specific frequency ranges, differences in echolocation signals should reflect anatomical differences in the auditory pathways. Here, we studied the ears of 15 odontocete species through 3D reconstructions from computerized tomography scans to extract standard measurements (bullae lengths/volumes and cochlear volume) and investigate the discriminatory weight of each of these variables as well as their relation to the species' hearing specificity. Any of the measurements appeared to be a good indicator of the species and could therefore be used to classify them. All the ear lengths and most volumes were strongly linearly correlated (r >0.9) in all species and the proportion between the tympanic and periotic bones appeared to remain constant. This constant ratio could be an indication of a functional relationship between both structures, and might suggest an active role of the odontocete middle ear during target acoustic detection, providing new information on the odontocete sound reception mechanism. Our results are generally consistent with previous studies, although here the coefficients of correlation between animal lengths and the total volume and lengths of the bullae were lower (0.77< r <0.86), indicating that the length of the animals may not be a primary parameter to take into account when defining ear measurements. These results suggest that the measurements described characterize standard ears which could be used as a morphological basis for further species-specific acoustic comparison.
Genetic variation and population structure of western Mediterranean and northern Atlantic Stenella coeruleoalba populations inferred from microsatellite data
Authors: Bourret Vincent J.R. , Macé Matthias R.J.M. , Crouau-Roy Brigitte
Published: February 2007

The patterns of genetic differentiation and levels of genetic diversity among striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) populations from the North Atlantic Ocean (N=45 individuals) and the central and western Mediterranean Sea (N=78) were investigated using five polymorphic microsatellite loci. A North Pacific sample (N=14) was added as an out-group. Two of the markers were tetranucleotide repeats tested for the first time in this species. The Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific samples displayed a mean number of alleles per locus of 11.2, 13.4, and 9.6 respectively, suggesting a high but variable polymorphism across loci. The Mediterranean sample displayed particular characteristics: (i) the lowest allelic richness and expected heterozygosity (HeMediterranean=0.76, while HeAtlantic=0.83 and HePacific=0.85); (ii) a significant departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.001; FIS=0.050); and (iii) a significant linkage disequilibrium between two pairs of loci. These last two features, present neither in the Atlantic sample nor in the Pacific one, suggest that the western Mediterranean population might possibly be further subdivided. Significant genetic differentiation was detected between the Mediterranean and Pacific populations, and between the Mediterranean and Atlantic populations. However, pairwise Wright's FST was not significantly different from zero between the two geographically isolated Atlantic and Pacific populations.
Variation in the whistle characteristics of short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, at two locations around the British Isles
Authors: Ansmann Ina C. , Goold John C. , Evans Peter G.H. , Simmonds Mark , Keith Simon G.
Published: February 2007

The vocal repertoire of many delphinid odontocetes includes narrowband tonal whistles used mainly for communication. The aim of this study was to describe the whistle repertoire of short-beaked common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, recorded in the Celtic Sea between May and August 2005. The 1835 whistles recorded were classified into six broad categories and 30 sub-types, of which simple upsweeps and downsweeps were the most common. Furthermore, the parameters duration, inflections, steps and various frequency variables were measured. The whistles covered a frequency span from 3.56 kHz to 23.51 kHz and had durations between 0.05 and 2.02 seconds. Whistle parameters varied with behavioural context, group size and between encounters. The whistle repertoire of Celtic Sea common dolphins was compared to that of D. delphis from the Western Approaches of the English Channel, recorded during a survey between January and March 2004. The relative abundances of the broad whistle types did not differ between the two locations, but most whistle parameters were significantly different: almost all frequency variables measured were significantly higher in English Channel whistles. This may indicate some degree of population structuring of short-beaked common dolphins around Britain. Alternatively, the common dolphins in the English Channel may have shifted the frequencies of their vocalizations up to avoid masking by low-frequency ambient noise produced by high levels of vessel traffic in this area.
Aspects of the distribution of Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) in relation to topographic features in the Pelagos Sanctuary (north-western Mediterranean Sea)
Authors: Moulins Aurélie , Rosso Massimiliano , Nani Barbara , Würtz Maurizio
Published: February 2007

Cuvier's beaked whale is a poorly-known species. It has been considered common since 1980 in the Pelagos Sanctuary (north-western Mediterranean Sea), but it has hardly been studied, chiefly due to difficulties in sighting. Stranding data indicates that the beaked whale is present all along the Ligurian coast. As with any deep-diving odontocete, Cuvier's beaked whale feeds mostly on deep-sea squid, but also on some fish and a small number of crustaceans. As a consequence, it is thought to be found mainly in waters deeper than 1000 m, where the sea bed has a particular slope. The aim of this work is to analyse a large quantity of sightings in order to define the favoured habitat of the beaked whale. Topographic features such as depth, depth gradient and bathymetric anomaly were analysed due to their direct influence on the prey of Cuvier's beaked whales.
Data were registered between Genova and Imperia, from 2000 to 2006. Two hundred and forty-seven sightings were recorded, a total of 532 whales. The mean herd size observed was 2.3±1.5 (range=1–11). For 40 sightings, the group composition was divided into maturity categories, using results obtained by photo-identification. Seventeen groups consisted of purely immature animals, and 4 groups consisted of only mature animals. The 19 mixed herds were composed mainly of 4.0±2.2 individuals (range=2–8) and consisted of 58% mature individuals. The 17 immature groups consisted of 2.1±0.9 individuals. Mature animals were usually found alone. Forty-eight per cent of beaked whales were seen where the depth was between 756 and 1389 m but the encounter rate was higher between depths of 1389 and 2021 m. The sightings were more frequent (34%) where the sea floor slope was between 31 and 51 m/km but the encounter rate was higher where the sea floor slope was between 11 and 31 m/km. The encounter rate for Cuvier's beaked whales was higher where the depth anomaly was positive with values between 342 and 586 m.
Southern right whale on the coast of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: conflict between conservation and human activity
Authors: Lodi Liliane , Rodrigues Marcelo Tardelli
Published: February 2007

Between 1993 and 2005, 68 sightings of southern right whales were recorded along 400 km of coastline between Paraty Bay (23°13'S 44°42'W) and Macaé (22°22'S 41°47'W), Rio de Janeiro State, south-eastern Brazilian coast. Mother/calf pairs represented 66.1% of sightings. Only solitary individuals showed a distinct pattern of occurrence. Females with calf did not show a distinct pattern of occurrence suggesting their widespread distribution in the area. Analysis of the records and detailed accounts of the sightings of southern right whales reveal that there exist conflicts between the animals and human activities such as harassment and collision with boats during attempted rescues, accidental entanglement in fishing nets and intentional mortality, which may have a bearing in the conservation of the species in Brazilian waters.
Occurrence of Cuvier's beaked whales in the southern Adriatic Sea: evidence of an important Mediterranean habitat
Authors: Holcer Draško , Notarbartolo di Sciara Giuseppe , Fortuna Caterina Maria , Lazar Bojan , Onofri Vlado
Published: February 2007

The intent of this work is to summarize the available knowledge on the appearance, identification and distribution of Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) in the Adriatic Sea through a review of historical data, inspection of natural history collections and collection of original data. In total, eleven occurrences are documented of Cuvier's beaked whale along the Adriatic coast with all records originating from the deep southern Adriatic basin. The number of recorded stranded Cuvier's beaked whales in the southern Adriatic represents about 3% of the recorded specimens in the entire Mediterranean. This percentage increases up to about 5% when considering only data collected after the first recorded stranding of the recent era in 1975. Comparing these percentages to the extent of the area relative to the Mediterranean, the proportion of occurrence of the total stranded Cuvier's beaked whales in the southern Adriatic ranged between the same to double of that of the entire Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, the southern Adriatic Sea should be considered as a potentially relevant habitat of the Cuvier's beaked whale. This hypothesis has clear conservation implications particularly in view of the adverse impact of sonar experiments, carried out by navies from several countries, on this species and should be further investigated. Finally, there is no evidence of the northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) ever having occurred in this part of the Mediterranean region.
Atypical associations between dugongs (Dugong dugon) and dolphins in a tropical lagoon
Authors: Kiszka Jeremy J.
Published: February 2007

Several types of relationships link organisms to each other, including competition, predation and various types of associations. This paper presents the first case of association/interaction between dugongs, Dugong dugon, the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal, and three species of tropical dolphins in and around the lagoon of Mayotte (45°10'E 12°50'S), in the western tropical Indian ocean. Data were collected opportunistically from 1999 to 2005 in the surrounding waters of Mayotte from boat (N=2 observations) and ULM (ultra-light motorized vessel, N=2). The dolphin species involved in associations with dugongs were Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Tursips aduncus, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, Sousa chinensis, and spinner dolphin, Stenella longirostris. In one case, dugongs were associated with both bottlenose and humpback dolphins. Associations were observed in the protected waters of the lagoon and outside, along the external slope of the barrier reef. Group size, activity and group structure of each species were recorded. Behavioural observations suggest that dugongs and dolphins were engaged in similar activities, such as travelling, on several occasions and were clearly associated when group formation was tight. If dolphins and dugongs may not associate for feeding purposes, then these interactions may occur: (1) for predation avoidance toward sharks; or (2) without any ecological reasons due to dolphin and dugong habitat overlap around the island.
Assessing sources of variation underlying estimates of cetacean diet composition: a simulation study on analysis of harbour porpoise diet in Scottish (UK) waters
Authors: Pierce G.J. , Santos M.B. , Cerviño S.
Published: February 2007

We use a bootstrap simulation framework to evaluate the relative importance of different sources of random and systematic error when estimating diet or food consumption of cetaceans, using a data set on harbour porpoise diet in Scottish (UK) waters from 1992–2003 (N=180) as a model. We also evaluate the consequences of applying explicit weightings to individual samples and/or sub-sets (‘strata’) of samples. In terms of the precision of estimates of diet composition, sampling error was the most important source of error, to the extent that overall 95% confidence limits changed only very slightly when sub-sampling error and regression errors were taken into account. On the other hand, for estimates of total food consumption by the porpoise population in Scottish waters, uncertainties about population size and energetic requirements were more important than uncertainty about diet composition. In relation to the accuracy of estimates of diet composition, the study also highlighted the importance of selecting regressions appropriate to prey in the study area (as opposed to ones constructed for the same prey species in another area) and demonstrated that applying equal weighting to individual samples or sample strata can substantially alter the resulting picture of diet. Therefore, the rationale for applying such weightings needs to be carefully considered.
Lactation and mother–pup behaviour in the Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus: an unusual pattern for a phocid
Authors: Aguilar A. , Cappozzo L.H. , Gazo M. , Pastor T. , Forcada J. , Grau E.
Published: February 2007

This paper presents baseline information on maternal behaviour and lactation in the Mediterranean monk seal, with particular focus on the age at which pups are weaned. The study was conducted in the western Saharan population, the only surviving colony of the species. The first moult finished at a mean pup age of 72.3±17 d (N=17) and, in contrast to other taxonomically-related phocids, this process was not associated with weaning. Lactation lasted a mean of 119.4 d (N=9; range: 103–149 d) in the pups that could be monitored until full weaning had taken place. This period almost doubles the maximum lactation length reported in other phocid species. During the first week after birth the mother–pup bond was well developed and mothers always remained with their pups. The time invested in nursing (17%, SD: ±36) and in mother–pup interactions (14%, SD: ±32) was higher during this period than afterwards (8%, SD: ±23 and 4%, SD: ±19, respectively). After the first week, nursing continued but mothers started to leave their pups in order to feed at sea. Weaning occurred gradually. Already since birth, pups were active and mobile, and swam frequently before moulting or weaning occurred. Fostering and milk stealing were common patterns of behaviour for both lactating females and pups. In 26.6% of the suckling episodes observed in mother–pup pairs of known identity, pups suckled from females other than their mothers. Some females nursed more than one pup, at least occasionally, and in some cases a pup was fostered long-term by an alien female. The Mediterranean monk seal exhibits maternal-care characteristics that are more like otarids than phocids. This observation contradicts previous proposals that a short lactation period is a phylogenetic characteristic of phocids. Several of the unusual maternal traits observed may be favoured by year-round access to abundant food supply, availability of breeding sites, and mild climatic conditions. This information should be taken into account when designing conservation strategies for the species and, very particularly, in the implementation of pup rehabilitation programmes.
Navigation within host tissues: cues for orientation of Diplostomum spathaceum (Trematoda) in fish towards veins, head and eye
Authors: HAAS W. , WULFF C. , GRABE K. , MEYER V. , HAEBERLEIN S.
Published: February 2007

Cercariae of Diplostomum spathaceum penetrate the skin of fish, and then migrate along blood vessels and tissues towards the head and the eye-lens. We studied their orientation behaviour in tail fins of guppies and in chemical concentration gradients within agar-filled choice chambers. In fins, they entered veins and orientated cranially, independent of the blood flow and living cells. In choice chambers, they were attracted by a small molecular fraction of fish serum, D-glucose (at 1, 10, and 1000 μm), D-mannose, D-maltotriose and Cl-ions, whereas D-glucosamine repelled them (even at 1·0 nm). Amino acids were not attractive, but arginine in tetrapeptides attracted at concentrations as low as 1 μm and melatonin at 0·4–4·3 pm. We suggest a preliminary model for the behaviour of diplostomula in fish fins and attracting (+) or repelling (−) host cues: (1) migration towards deeper skin layers and avoidance of skin surface, cues: Cl-ions (+ and −), glucose (+), glucosamine (−), light radiation (−); (2) orientation in cranial direction, cue: Cl-ions (+); (3) localization of blood vessels, cues: glucose (+), arginine-residues (+); (4) localization of the retina, cue: melatonin (+). A comparison with the navigation mechanisms of tissue-migrating schistosomules and hookworm larvae reveals an enormous diversity of strategies.