bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implicit and explicit categorization of speech sounds – dissociating behavioural and neurophysiological data
Authors: Bien Heidrun , Lagemann Lothar , Dobel Christian , Zwitserlood Pienie
Published: July 2009

During speech perception, sound is mapped onto abstract phonological categories. Assimilation of place or manner of articulation in connected speech challenges this categorization. Does assimilation result in categorizations that need to be corrected later on, or does the system get it right immediately? Participants were presented with isolated nasals (/m/ labial, /n/ alveolar, and /n’/ assimilated towards labial place of articulation), extracted from naturally produced German utterances. Behavioural two‐alternative forced‐choice tasks showed that participants could correctly categorize the /n/s and /m/s. The assimilated nasals were predominantly categorized as /m/, indicative of a perceived change in place. A pitch variation additively influenced the categorizations. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we analysed the N100m elicited by the same stimuli without a categorization task. In sharp contrast to the behavioural data, this early, automatic brain response ignored the assimilation in the surface form and reflected the underlying category. As shown by distributed source modelling, phonemic differences were processed exclusively left‐laterally (temporally and parietally), whereas the pitch variation was processed in temporal regions bilaterally. In conclusion, explicit categorization draws attention to the surface form – to the changed place and acoustic information. The N100m reflects automatic categorization, which exploits any hint of an underlying feature.
Mu opioid receptor modulation of somatodendritic dopamine overflow: GABAergic and glutamatergic mechanisms
Authors: Chefer V. I. , Denoroy L. , Zapata A. , Shippenberg T. S.
Published: July 2009

Mu opioid receptor (MOR) regulation of somatodendritic dopamine neurotransmission in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) was investigated using conventional microdialysis in freely moving rats and mice. Reverse dialysis of the MOR agonist DAMGO (50 and 100 μm) into the VTA of rats produced a concentration‐dependent increase in dialysate dopamine concentrations. Basal dopamine overflow in the VTA was unaltered in mice lacking the MOR gene. However, basal γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) overflow in these animals was significantly increased, whereas glutamate overflow was decreased. Intra‐VTA perfusion of DAMGO into wild‐type (WT) mice increased dopamine overflow. GABA concentrations were decreased, whereas glutamate concentrations in the VTA were unaltered. Consistent with the loss of MOR, no effect of DAMGO was observed in MOR knockout (KO) mice. These data provide the first direct demonstration of tonically active MOR systems in the VTA that regulate basal glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission in this region. We hypothesize that increased GABAergic neurotransmission following constitutive deletion of MOR is due to the elimination of a tonic inhibitory influence of MOR on GABAergic neurons in the VTA, whereas decreased glutamatergic neurotransmission in MOR KO mice is a consequence of intensified GABA tone on glutamatergic neurons and/or terminals. As a consequence, somatodendritic dopamine release is unaltered. Furthermore, MOR KO mice do not exhibit the positive correlation between basal dopamine levels and the glutamate/GABA ratio observed in WT mice. Together, our findings indicate a critical role of VTA MOR in maintaining an intricate balance between excitatory and inhibitory inputs to dopaminergic neurons.
Attention – oscillations and neuropharmacology
Authors: Deco Gustavo , Thiele Alexander
Published: July 2009

Attention is a rich psychological and neurobiological construct that influences almost all aspects of cognitive behaviour. It enables enhanced processing of behaviourally relevant stimuli at the expense of irrelevant stimuli. At the cellular level, rhythmic synchronization at local and long‐range spatial scales complements the attention‐induced firing rate changes of neurons. The former is hypothesized to enable efficient communication between neuronal ensembles tuned to spatial and featural aspects of the attended stimulus. Recent modelling studies suggest that the rhythmic synchronization in the gamma range may be mediated by a fine balance between N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate and α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionate postsynaptic currents, whereas other studies have highlighted the possible contribution of the neuromodulator acetylcholine. This review summarizes some recent modelling and experimental studies investigating mechanisms of attention in sensory areas and discusses possibilities of how glutamatergic and cholinergic systems could contribute to increased processing abilities at the cellular and network level during states of top‐down attention.
Transient role of the rat prelimbic cortex in goal‐directed behaviour
Authors: Tran‐Tu‐Yen Delphine A. S. , Marchand Alain R. , Pape Jean‐Rémi , Di Scala Georges , Coutureau Etienne
Published: July 2009

Lesion studies show that goal‐directed actions mediated by action‐outcome (A‐O) associations and habits mediated by stimulus‐response (S‐R) associations can be dissociated during instrumental training, with the prelimbic region of the medial prefrontal cortex being involved in the former and the infralimbic region in the latter. The present work further investigates the role of the prelimbic region in acquisition vs. expression of goal‐directed instrumental behaviour, using reversible neuronal inactivation and outcome devaluation procedures. In a first experiment, inactivating the prelimbic cortex at the time of testing did not alter the sensitivity to devaluation, indicating that this region was not essential for the expression of A‐O associations. In a second experiment, the prelimbic cortex was inactivated throughout the training phase. At the time of testing the performance was insensitive to devaluation, indicating that the acquired response was not goal‐directed but mediated by an S‐R association. These data challenge the view that the habit system replaces the goal‐directed system as training progresses. They show that the prelimbic cortex plays a transient but crucial role in the acquisition of goal‐directed responding and that the A‐O and S‐R systems can operate in a competitive fashion early in training.
Predator interactions, mesopredator release and biodiversity conservation
Authors: Ritchie Euan G. , Johnson Christopher N.
Published: July 2009

There is growing recognition of the important roles played by predators in regulating ecosystems and sustaining biodiversity. Much attention has focused on the consequences of predator‐regulation of herbivore populations, and associated trophic cascades. However apex predators may also control smaller ‘mesopredators’ through intraguild interactions. Removal of apex predators can result in changes to intraguild interactions and outbreaks of mesopredators (‘mesopredator release’), leading in turn to increased predation on smaller prey. Here we provide a review and synthesis of studies of predator interactions, mesopredator release and their impacts on biodiversity. Mesopredator suppression by apex predators is widespread geographically and taxonomically. Apex predators suppress mesopredators both by killing them, or instilling fear, which motivates changes in behaviour and habitat use that limit mesopredator distribution and abundance. Changes in the abundance of apex predators may have disproportionate (up to fourfold) effects on mesopredator abundance. Outcomes of interactions between predators may however vary with resource availability, habitat complexity and the complexity of predator communities. There is potential for the restoration of apex predators to have benefits for biodiversity conservation through moderation of the impacts of mesopredators on their prey, but this requires a whole‐ecosystem view to avoid unforeseen negative effects.

‘Nothing has changed since I began.

My eye has permitted no change.

I am going to keep things like this.’

From ‘Hawk Roosting’, by Ted Hughes.
Anography: a technique for determining the location of the internal opening in perianal fistula
Authors: Pinsk I. , Seppala R. , Friedlich M. S.
Published: July 2009

Aim  Anography is a radiological investigation for fistula‐in‐ano that identifies the primary fistula track through the internal opening. The efficacy of anography as a radiological method of identifying the location of the internal opening was investigated.

Method  A retrospective study of 50 patients with a clinical diagnosis of fistula‐in‐ano of criptoglandular aetiology was performed. During anography, the location of the internal opening was recorded with respect to the quadrant of anal canal and distance from the anal verge. These data were compared with the findings during examination under anaesthesia (EUA), which was used as the gold standard for the identification of the internal opening.

Results  The sensitivity of anography for identifying a patent internal opening was 91% and specificity 100%. There was complete agreement between anography reports and findings at EUA regarding the quadrant of anal canal in which the internal opening was located. In more than 90% of patients, the internal opening was found at EUA within 1 cm from the site described on anography.

Conclusion  Anography is an accurate test for predicting the exact quadrant of the anal canal in which the internal opening is located, as well as the distance of the internal opening from the anal verge. This inexpensive and simple radiological investigation should be the test of first choice in the evaluation of patients with fistula‐in‐ano when difficulty is anticipated in identifying the internal opening.
Pathological response after chemoradiation for T3 rectal cancer
Authors: Chennupati S. K. , Kamaya A. , Fisher G. A. , Ford J. M. , Kunz P. , Itakura H. , Welton M. L. , Shelton A. , Van Dam J. , Koong A. C. , Chang D. T.
Published: July 2009

Objective  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on nodal disease in locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma.

Method  Thirty‐two patients staged uT3N0 and 27 patients staged uT3N1 rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent pre‐CRT staging using endoscopic ultrasound or rectal protocol CT were included. The median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range: 45–50.4 Gy) at 1.8 Gy per fraction and all patients received concurrent 5‐FU or capecitabine‐based chemotherapy. Low anterior resection or abdomino‐perineal resection occurred at a median of 46 days (range: 27–112 days) after CRT.

Results  Eleven of 32 uT3N0 patients (34.4%) and 13 of 26 uT3N1 patients (50.0%) had ypN+ (P = 0.29). For patients with uT3N0, 10 of 20 (50.0%) with ypT2‐3 and 1 of 12 (8.3%) with ypT0‐1 were ypN+ (P = 0.02). For patients with uT3N1, 12 of 20 (60.0%) with ypT2‐3 and 1 of 6 (16.7%) with ypT0‐1 were ypN+ (P = 0.16). Overall, the ypN+ rate was 11.1% in the ypT0‐yT1 group compared with 55.0% in the ypT2‐yT3 group (P = 003). Among patients with uT3N0 disease, the ypN+ rate in patients who had surgery > 46 days vs≤ 46 days was 7.1%vs 55.6% (P = 0.01) respectively. Among patients with uT3N1 disease, the ypN+ rate in patients who had surgery > 46 days vs≤ 46 days was 54.5%vs 46.7%, (P = 0.99) respectively. Overall, the ypN+ rate in patients who had surgery > 46 days vs≤ 46 days was 28.0%vs 51.5% (P = 0.11).

Conclusions  The risk of residual nodal disease after CRT is significant. Primary tumour response is associated with nodal response.
Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience: Insights From Deafness
Authors: Corina David , Singleton Jenny
Published: July 2009

The condition of deafness presents a developmental context that provides insight into the biological, cultural, and linguistic factors underlying the development of neural systems that impact social cognition. Studies of visual attention, behavioral regulation, language development, and face and human action perception are discussed. Visually based culture and language provides deaf children with affordances that promote resiliency and optimization in their development of visual engagement, executive functions, and theory of mind. These experiences promote neural adaptations permitting nuanced perception of classes of linguistic and emotional‐social behaviors. Studies of deafness provide examples of how interactions and contributions of biological predispositions and genetic phenotypes with environmental and cultural factors including childhood experiences and actions of caregivers shape developmental trajectories (M. I. Posner & M. K. Rothbart, 2007).
Neural Correlates of Decision Making on a Gambling Task
Authors: Carlson Stephanie M. , Zayas Vivian , Guthormsen Amy
Published: July 2009

Individual differences in affective decision making were examined by recording event‐related potentials (ERPs) while 74 typically developing 8‐year‐olds (38 boys, 36 girls) completed a 4‐choice gambling task (Hungry Donkey Task; E. A. Crone & M. W. van der Molen, 2004). ERP results indicated: (a) a robust P300 component in response to feedback (punishment vs. reward outcomes), (b) anticipation effects (stimulus‐preceding negativity) prior to outcomes presented on frequent (vs. infrequent) punishment choices, (c) anticipation effects prior to selections associated with short and long‐term losses (vs. gains), and (d) individual differences in ERP components were significantly correlated with behavioral performance and verbal ability. These findings suggest that neurophysiological responses may be an index of children’s trait‐based and/or developmental level of decision‐making skills in affective–motivational situations.
Wittgenstein's Philosophical Grammar: A Neglected Discussion of Vagueness
Authors: Faulkner Nadine
Published: July 2009

In this paper I explore a neglected discussion of vagueness put forward by Wittgenstein in his Philosophical Grammar (1932–34). In this work, unlike Philosophical Investigations (1953), Wittgenstein not only discusses the venerable Sorites paradox but provides a novel conception of vagueness using an analogy with coin tossing and converging intervals. As he sees it, the problematic picture of vagueness arises because we conflate aspects of the functioning of vague concepts with those of non‐vague ones. Thus, while we accept that vague concepts have no sharp cut‐off points (are boundaryless), we nevertheless retain the idea that we can progress towards the penumbra the way we progress towards the cut‐off points of non‐vague concepts. As a potential remedy, Wittgenstein's analogy with coin tossing and converging intervals replaces this picture and provides an understanding of the functioning of vague concepts in which no notion of a progression arises.
Globalization, tourism and local living conditions on Jamaica's north coast
Authors: Dodman David
Published: July 2009

Jamaica's tourism industry has grown rapidly in recent decades, with significant implications for national development. However, the distribution of the benefits from this growth sector has been socially and spatially uneven. Drawing on substantial data sets collected through a variety of participatory research practices, this paper assesses the socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the residents of Montego Bay and Falmouth on Jamaica's north coast, the main site for tourism development in the country. The research involved training community residents as researchers, and used traditional quantitative methods alongside techniques borrowed from participatory rapid appraisal.

The local society and economy are clearly shown to be affected by processes of globalization and mobility. However, existing patterns of national economic development – including the expansion of the tourism industry – have failed to alleviate the social and environmental problems faced by relatively powerless members of the Jamaican society. In contrast, the most effective responses to this situation have involved stakeholder groups negotiating and breaking down entrenched scaled relationships through the mobilization of particular forms of social networks.
Urban structure and dengue incidence in Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Authors: Troyo Adriana , Fuller Douglas O. , Calderón‐Arguedas Olger , Solano Mayra E. , Beier John C.
Published: July 2009

Dengue is currently the most important arboviral disease globally and is usually associated with built environments in tropical areas. Remotely sensed information can facilitate the study of urban mosquito‐borne diseases by providing multiple temporal and spatial resolutions appropriate to investigate urban structure and ecological characteristics associated with infectious disease. In this study, coarse, medium and fine resolution satellite imagery (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer and QuickBird respectively) and ground‐based data were analyzed for the Greater Puntarenas area, Costa Rica for the years 2002–04. The results showed that the mean normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was generally higher in the localities with lower incidence of dengue fever during 2002, although the correlation was statistically significant only in the dry season (r =−0.40; p = 0.03). Dengue incidence was inversely correlated to built area and directly correlated with tree cover (r = 0.75, p = 0.01). Overall, the significant correlations between dengue incidence and urban structural variables (tree cover and building density) suggest that properties of urban structure may be associated with dengue incidence in tropical urban settings.
Harmonization of Corporate Tax Systems and Its Effect on Collusive Behavior
Authors: SCHINDLER DIRK , SCHJELDERUP GUTTORM
Published: July 2009

We study how harmonization of corporate tax systems affects the stability of international cartels. We show that tax base harmonization reinforces collusive agreements, while harmonization of corporate tax rates may destabilize or stabilize cartels. We also find that bilateral and full harmonization to a common standard is worse from society's point of view than unilateral harmonization to a minimum tax standard.
Commodity Tax Competition with Constrained Taxes
Authors: BELAN PASCAL , GAUTHIER STÉPHANE
Published: July 2009

This paper examines a symmetric Nash equilibria of a two‐country model of fiscal competition with a continuum of taxable commodities in each country. The innovation is to impose a uniformity restriction that there can be only two rates of tax on the different commodities, a positive rate and the zero rate. The main results characterize, under two alternative modes of taxation, the equilibrium fiscal rules chosen by countries, i.e., the level of the positive rate and the set of taxed commodities. Under the origin principle, it appears that the equilibrium fiscal base is narrower than the optimal one and the tax rate is too high. In contrast, under the destination principle, the optimal rule is implemented.
CARTEL STABILITY UNDER AN OPTIMAL SHARING RULE*
Authors: WEIKARD HANS‐PETER
Published: July 2009

In this paper I analyse the stability of cartels in games with heterogeneous players and externalities. I introduce a class of sharing rules for coalition pay‐offs, called ‘optimal sharing rules’, that stabilize all cartels that are possibly stable under some arbitrary sharing rule. To illustrate the impact of optimal sharing with heterogeneous players and positive externalities I analyse a public goods game. In contrast to games with identical players that are common in the study of international environmental agreements, my results show that large coalitions may well be stable when optimal sharing is applied.
ON THE PATH OF AN OIL PIGOVIAN TAX*
Authors: BELGODERE ANTOINE
Published: July 2009

This paper studies optimal climate policy in the presence of oil rents. Several authors have found that, according to Hotelling's rule, in the long run, the optimal ad valorem tax must decrease. However, if the pollution is a stock and if environmental concerns impose stopping the resource extraction before its exhaustion, we show that an ad valorem tax defined over the rent cannot decentralize the optimum. In this case, an increasing per‐unit tax can decentralize the optimum. Such a tax implies the disappearance of the Hotelling rent. Thus, the extraction problem reduces to a pollution‐control problem.
BANKS' DIVERSIFICATION, CROSS‐SELLING AND THE QUALITY OF BANKS' LOANS
Authors: COSCI STEFANIA , MELICIANI VALENTINA , SABATO VALENTINA
Published: July 2009

In this paper we model and empirically test the impact of banks' shift towards financial services on their screening activity and on the quality of their loans. We present a model where it is easier to sell services to positively evaluated loan applicants and we show that the larger the banks' income from services, the lower their optimal screening effort. This prediction is consistent with the empirical evidence based on a panel of European banks and showing that the quality of banks' loans decreases with the share of commission income (a proxy for income from services).
The History of the Phillips Curve: Consensus and Bifurcation
Authors: GORDON ROBERT J.
Published: July 2009

While the early history of the Phillips curve up to 1975 is well known, less well understood is the post‐1975 fork in the road. The left fork developed a theory of policy responses to supply shocks in the context of price stickiness in the non‐shocked sector. Its econometric implementation interacts shocks with backward‐looking inertia. The right fork approach emphasizes forward‐looking expectations that can jump in response to anticipated policy changes. The left fork approach is better suited to explaining the postwar US inflation process, while the right fork approach is essential for understanding behaviour in economies with unstable macroeconomic environments.
Eruptive pseudo‐angiomatosis lesions are associated with intravascular neutrophils and do not harbour Epstein–Barr virus
Authors: Jin SP , Chang MS , Shin HS , Kim BY , Park HJ , Won CH , Cho SY
Published: July 2009

Background  Eruptive pseudo‐angiomatosis (EPA) is a rare, relatively newly described cutaneous disorder characterized by the sudden onset of several bright red, angioma‐like papules surrounded by blanched halo. Its aetiology is unknown; however, viral infection or mosquito bites have been speculated as possible causes.

Objective  This study aims to determine the clinical and histopathological features of EPA, and whether it is associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection.

Methods  We conducted a retrospective chart review of 25 EPA cases from 2006 to 2008. In order to determine latent EBV infection, EBV‐encoded small RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization was performed in 18 subjects. To determine EPA's distinguishing histological characteristics, we compared the cases with 22 control cases of perivascular lymphocytic infiltration for haematoxylin and eosin, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD31 and c‐kit staining patterns.

Results  The patient sample's female‐to‐male ratio was 2.1 : 1, and the patients’ age ranged from 5 to 79 years (average 46 years). The lesions appeared during the months of July to September in all but 3 patients. Skin biopsies demonstrated capillary ectasia with perivascular mononuclear cellular infiltrates in the upper dermis. Most patients were otherwise healthy, and routine laboratory results were all normal except in one patient who had diabetes. The skin lesions faded without any treatment in 1–2 weeks. Results of EBER in situ hybridization were all negative. The only histological distinguishing feature of EPA was the presence of intravascular neutrophils, which was found to be present in 19 of the 20 EPA cases (95%), in contrast to only 3 of the 22 control subjects (14%) (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion  The sudden onset of lesions during the summer months among our patients supports the ‘paraviral eruption’ concept of this probably underdiagnosed condition. The significant presence of intravascular neutrophils may be a diagnostic clue of EPA in South Korea.
Scalp psoriasis: European consensus on grading and treatment algorithm
Authors: Ortonne JP , Chimenti S , Luger T , Puig L , Reid F , Trüeb RM
Published: July 2009

The scalp is a common site of involvement of psoriasis and, for many patients, is a challenging aspect of their disease. This can be attributed not only to the scaling, itching and cosmetic embarrassment that go with scalp psoriasis, but also to the fact that the scalp skin is relatively inaccessible, making topical therapies difficult to apply. The proximity of sensitive facial skin can also limit the use of potentially irritating topical treatments. Nevertheless, the specific challenges of scalp psoriasis are often neglected by treatment guidelines. This paper summarizes the discussions that took place at an international conference of experts convened in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 2008. The objective of the meeting was to review the available treatments for scalp psoriasis in terms of efficacy, safety, convenience, and the implications for patient compliance with treatment. In addition, definitions of mild, moderate and severe scalp psoriasis were agreed. This paper presents a treatment algorithm that includes recommendations for patients in all three categories. It considers the role of potent topical corticosteroids, vitamin D3 derivatives, salicylic acid preparations, and photo‐ and radiotherapy, as well as systemic therapies, including newer biological agents, for patients with widespread psoriasis with scalp involvement. Data from clinical trials indicate that a potent topical corticosteroid in a short‐contact formulation is the most appropriate treatment for most patients with scalp psoriasis.
Cytosolic expression of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SacB protein inhibits tissue development in transgenic tobacco and potato
Authors: CAIMI P. G. , McCOLE L. M. , KLEIN T. M. , HERSHEY H. P.
Published: July 2009

Fructans are linear or branched polymers containing a single sucrose and repeating fructose residues. An early model for fructan biosynthesis in higher plants suggested that partial synthesis of the polymer occurred in the cell cytosol. The current model suggests that synthesis requires the interaction of two separate fructosyltransferases located in the vacuole. Tobacco lines containing a chemically induced promoter, directing expression of the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens SacB gene in the present study, provided an opportunity to regulate and target fructan synthesis to the cytosol of transgenic plants. Induced expression of the gene led to rapid destruction of leaf tissue. Amino acid substitution at a highly conserved site (Arg331) in the SacB gene reduced the fructosyltransferase efficiency without reducing the invertase activity of the enzyme. Expression of the mutant gene in transgenic tobacco also resulted in leaf damage. However, the appearance of necrotic tissue was greatly delayed. The results suggest that the phenotype is due to accumulation of fructan in the cytosol. Fructan metabolism in the cytosol of potato tubers was also detrimental to development. Tuber size and starch synthesis was significantly reduced in lines containing the untargeted gene. Transgenic tobacco and potato containing the SacB gene offer an opportunity to study the metabolism of fructan and the effect of accumulation on plant cell development.
The vacuolar sorting domain of sporamin transports GUS, but not levansucrase, to the plant vacuole
Authors: TURK STEFAN C. H. J. , DE ROOS KOEN , SCOTTI PIER A. , VAN DUN KEES , WEISBEEK PETER , SMEEKENS SJEF C. M.
Published: July 2009

Fructans (polyfructosylsucrose) are synthesized by a number of plants and micro‐organisms. Plant fructans are localized in the vacuole and have a low degree of polymerization (DP), whereas the fructans synthesized by microorganisms are usually much bigger. There is an increasing interest in fructans for both food and non‐food applications. In order to accumulate fructans of high DP in the plant vacuole, the levansucrase protein of Bacillus subtilis was fused to the vacuolar targeting sequence of sporamin and expressed in plants. Transgenic tobacco plants in which this fusion gene is expressed accumulate fructans to levels up to 21% of the d. wt. They showed a reduced translocation of carbohydrates, bleaching of the leaves, stunted growth and increased levels of hexoses and starch. The levansucrase protein was not translocated to the plant vacuole, but retained in the endomembrane system, even though the same targeting signal was able to translocate the E. coli GUS protein to the plant vacuole.
Fructan and fructan‐metabolizing enzymes in the growth zone of barley leaves
Authors: ROTH ADRIAN , LÜSCHER MARCEL , SPRENGER NORBERT , BOLLER THOMAS , WIEMKEN ANDRES
Published: July 2009

To study the role of fructan in leaf development of barley seedlings, fructan contents and the activities of enzymes involved in fructan metabolism were measured in segments of the third leaf at the stage of maximal growth. Fructans amounted to more than 10% of the d. wt in the growth zone at the base of the developing leaf and decreased sharply in the zone above. The specific activities of sucrose: sucrose 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐SST) and sucrose: fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase (6‐SFT), two key enzymes in fructan synthesis, also peaked in the growth zone but decreased more slowly in the zone above. By contrast, the specific activities of invertase and fructan exohydrolase (FEH) were low in the growth zone at the leaf base and had their peak just above it. The specific activity of fructan: fructan 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐FFT) was approx. constant over the whole leaf. These results indicate that transitory accumulation of fructans in the growth zone plays a key role in the development of barley leaves.
Rise of fructan exohydrolase activity in stubble of Lolium perenne after defoliation is decreased by uniconazole, an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of gibberellins
Authors: MORVAN ANNETTE , CHALLE GAËLLE , PRUD'HOMME MARIE‐PASCALE , SAOS JOËLLE LE , BOUCAUD JEAN
Published: July 2009

The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the relative involvement of fructans from leaf sheaths and from elongating leaf bases to regrowth after defoliation of Lolium perenne L. by following fructan exohydrolase (FEH), sucrose‐sucrose fructosyl transferase (SST) and invertase (INV) activities and (ii) to examine whether gibberellins could be implicated in regulation of FEH activity. In stubble, 36 % of fructans are located in leaf bases and 64 % in leaf sheaths. During the first phase of regrowth, the depletion of carbohydrates was mainly due to the decline of fructans, which represented 76% and 50 % of the carbohydrates mobilized from leaf sheaths and elongating leaf bases respectively. Despite a decrease in protein content, FEH activity increased 2‐5‐fold in leaf sheaths and sixfold in elongating leaf bases, so that the fructan‐hydrolysing activity was four times higher in growing leaves than in leaf sheaths, 2 d after defoliation. INV activity also increased, whereas the pattern of SST activity was inversely related to the variations of both hydrolysing activities. SST activity, which is highest in growing leaves, declined approximately threefold in leaf sheaths and elongating leaf bases at the beginning of regrowth.

The increase in activity of FEH in stubble was strongly inhibited by an inhibitor of the biosynthesis of gibberellin, uniconazole. FEH activity was decreased to c. 67 %, 45 % and 33 % of the level in nontreated plants 24, 48 and 72 h following defoliation, respectively. The inhibition could be overcome by a subsequent treatment with gibberellic acids (GAs). For the first time, data are provided to support the view that GAs might play a role in the regulation of FEH activity, and the implication of this result is discussed.
Patterns of solute in individual mesophyll, bundle sheath and epidermal cells of barley leaves induced to accumulate carbohydrate
Authors: KOROLEVA O. A. , FARRAR J. F. , TOMOS A. D. , POLLOCK C. J.
Published: July 2009

After cooling the roots and shoot apex of barley, there is a reduction in sucrose export from, and an increased total accumulation of carbohydrate and induction of fructan synthesis in, source leaves. We investigated carbohydrate accumulation in individual leaf cells. Using the microsampling technique and microfluorometric enzymatic assay, the amounts of various carbohydrates were measured in mesophyll, bundle sheath and epidermal cells. Epidermal cells take no part in carbohydrate partitioning and have very low concentrations of sugars even when leaf export is reduced. Even without cooling, however, there are remarkable changes in sucrose concentration (up to 200 mM) in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells during the photoperiod. The activity of acid invertase in samples from individual cells was very low, c. 3 μmol sucrose (g f. wt)−1 h−1. Interrelationships between these cell types and the control of fructan metabolism are discussed.
Fructan metabolism in two species of Bromus subjected to chilling and water stress
Authors: PUEBLA ANDREA F. , SALERNO GRACIELA L. , PONTIS HORACIO G.
Published: July 2009

Two species of Bromus adapted to different climatic conditions were studied to determine their responses to chilling and water stress. Enzymes of sucrose and fructan metabolism as well as fructoside content were measured in roots and shoots. The results indicate that Bromus pictus (adapted to a cold desert area) has a constitutive fructan synthesis, whilst B. auleticus (adapted to a warmer northern climate) only accumulated fructan under cold stress. Microscopic observations of roots exposed to fluorescent probes ascertained cell viability and showed that the apex of roots in the northern species were more affected by the water‐deficit treatment than the southern species. The presence of fructans in B. pictus and their absence in B. auleticus support the hypothesis that fructans play a role in plant tolerance to environmental stress.
Effects of short‐term phosphorus deficiency on carbohydrate storage in sink and source leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare)
Authors: WANG C. , TILLBERG J.‐E.
Published: July 2009

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Agneta) was cultivated hydroponically under continuous light, constant temperature and relative humidity. The relative growth rate (rgr) was kept at 25 % by an exponential supply of complete medium for 2 wk. The cultures were then transferred to phosphorus‐free media and the amounts of total P, fructans, starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose in sink and source leaves were measured at 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 156 h. The capacity of net fructan synthesis (i.e. total activity of sucrose: sucrose 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐SST) and sucrose: fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase (6‐SFT)), the activity of fructan exohydrolase (FEH), as well as the activity of acid invertase were also measured in the two types of leaves. Omission of P from the growth medium caused a decrease in the P content in both sink and source leaves, whereas the RGR was not affected during the 156 h of the experiment. The fructan concentration increased in low‐P plants whilst there was little or no effect on the concentrations of starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose. There was a slight increase in the capacity of net fructan synthesis in both sink and source leaves at 156 h after the onset of P‐starvation. There was no change in the activity of FEH or acid invertase. The results indicate that in barley leaves the mechanism for carbon partitioning into fructans is more sensitive towards low P conditions than the mechanism for carbon partitioning into starch.
Accumulation of fructans following oxygen deficiency stress in related plant species with different flooding tolerances
Authors: ALBRECHT GERD , BIEMELT SOPHIA , BAUMGARTNER SABINE
Published: July 2009

In the present work we compare responses to hypoxia of the carbohydrate content of related plant species, which grow naturally on sites prone to flooding (Senecio aquaticus Hill., Myosotis palustris (L.) Lehm. Rchb.) with plants from habitats with only a low risk of oxygen shortage (Senecio jacobaea L., Myosotis arvensis (L.) Hill.). Whilst the amounts of glucose, fructose and sucrose changed only slightly following hypoxia and peaked at a maximum approximately double that of the aerated control specimens, the fructan content increased fivefold to tenfold. In nearly all the plants studied, fructan became the main polysaccharide reserve. For example, the flooding‐tolerant Senecio aquaticus accumulated the highest amount, in particular fructans with a degree of polymerization up to 35 compared with 10 under control conditions. Nearly 70% of the soluble carbohydrates were fructans, compared with 30% under aerated conditions.

In all species tested the starch fraction marginally increased or remained constant.

Fructans were found to accumulate as a response to oxygen deficiency in both flooding‐tolerant and intolerant species but with higher absolute values and ratios between fructan and starch in the flooding‐tolerant species. At 24 h after the onset of hypoxic treatment, the sugar content rose, in spite of the diminished photosynthetic rates. The ability to accumulate fructans seems to vary in plants coping with oxygen shortage but could be interpreted as advantageous in comparison to starch synthesis in terms of (i) the location of the fructan metabolism in the vacuoles, with no negative feedback in the photosynthetic apparatus and (ii) the possibility of storage of sucrose in the form of fructose polymers without the intermediate stages and energy‐using processes which are indispensable for starch synthesis. These results might indicate that fructan metabolism could play a role in the tolerance of oxygen deficiency.
Measuring the influence of mycorrhizas
Authors: Smith F. Andrew
Published: July 2009

‘The view that nutrient acquisition by most plants growing in natural ecosystems is mediated by mycorrhiza‐forming symbiotic fungi is now largely accepted’ (Read, 2000). Is this bold claim really true for the whole suite of mineral nutrients that plants require? The case is strongest for nutrients that are not very mobile in soil, especially when present in growth‐limiting amounts, and phosphate (P) is the classic example. Arbuscular mycorrhizas are by far the most widespread mycorrhizal symbioses, and the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to take up soil nutrients such as P and transfer them to the host plant is an area of intense research. However, there is great variation in the extent to which AM plants benefit in measurable terms from the symbiosis under a given set of environmental conditions, and a paper in this issue, by Koide et al., addresses this problem (Koide et al., pp. 163–168). The variability is especially apparent in the field, thus obscuring the possible roles of mycorrhizas in community structure and succession (Fitter, 1985; McGonigle, 1988).
Going Down on Good Neighbours: Imagining América in Hollywood Movies of the 1930s and 1940s (Flying Down to Rio and Down Argentine Way)
Authors: SWANSON PHILIP
Published: July 2009

During the Good Neighbor Era of the 1930s and 1940s, the USA sought to normalise relations with Latin America in order to promote hemispheric unity, particularly so after the outbreak of the Second World War, which provoked anxiety about transatlantic trade routes and South American attitudes towards the Axis. An Office of the Co‐ordinator of Inter‐American Affairs was established, which in turn set up a Motion Picture Division. The Division pressed for a Latin American specialist to monitor and control representations of Latin America via the Production Code Administration. The attempt to promote positive portrayals of Latin Americans assisted a boom in musical comedies dealing with North Americans visiting their southern neighbours. This article examines an early precursor, Flying Down to Rio (1933), and a full‐blown Good Neighbor movie, Down Argentine Way (1940). The article uncovers, behind the optimistic projection of neighbourliness, hidden tensions and deep‐rooted anxieties about American identities.
Low saliva progesterone concentrations are associated with spontaneous early preterm labour (before 34 weeks of gestation) in women at increased risk of preterm delivery
Authors: Lachelin GCL , McGarrigle HHG , Seed PT , Briley A , Shennan AH , Poston L
Published: July 2009

Saliva progesterone and oestriol concentrations were determined weekly from 24 weeks of gestation in women at increased risk of preterm delivery. Samples were analysed from 28 women with spontaneous onset of labour and delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, and 64 who delivered at term. Saliva progesterone was lower in the 12 women delivering before 34 weeks than in those delivering later, between 34 and 37 weeks (P = 0.007) or at term (P = 0.009). Measurement of saliva progesterone may be of value in the prediction of early preterm labour and in determining which women might benefit from progesterone supplementation.
Prostanoid receptor antagonists: development strategies and therapeutic applications
Authors: Jones RL , Giembycz MA , Woodward DF
Published: July 2009

Identification of the primary products of cyclo‐oxygenase (COX)/prostaglandin synthase(s), which occurred between 1958 and 1976, was followed by a classification system for prostanoid receptors (DP, EP1, EP2 …) based mainly on the pharmacological actions of natural and synthetic agonists and a few antagonists. The design of potent selective antagonists was rapid for certain prostanoid receptors (EP1, TP), slow for others (FP, IP) and has yet to be achieved in certain cases (EP2). While some antagonists are structurally related to the natural agonist, most recent compounds are ‘non‐prostanoid’ (often acyl‐sulphonamides) and have emerged from high‐throughput screening of compound libraries, made possible by the development of (functional) assays involving single recombinant prostanoid receptors. Selective antagonists have been crucial to defining the roles of PGD2(acting on DP1and DP2receptors) and PGE2(on EP1and EP4receptors) in various inflammatory conditions; there are clear opportunities for therapeutic intervention. The vast endeavour on TP (thromboxane) antagonists is considered in relation to their limited pharmaceutical success in the cardiovascular area. Correspondingly, the clinical utility of IP (prostacyclin) antagonists is assessed in relation to the cloud hanging over the long‐term safety of selective COX‐2 inhibitors. Aspirin apart, COX inhibitors broadly suppress all prostanoid pathways, while high selectivity has been a major goal in receptor antagonist development; more targeted therapy may require an intermediate position with defined antagonist selectivity profiles. This review is intended to provide overviews of each antagonist class (including prostamide antagonists), covering major development strategies and current and potential clinical usage.
Social Cognitive and Emotion Processing Abilities of Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: A Comparison With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Greenbaum Rachel L. , Stevens Sara A. , Nash Kelly , Koren Gideon , Rovet Joanne
Published: July 2009

Background:  Although children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) are at high risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), direct comparisons show distinct cognitive phenotypes in the 2 diagnoses. However, these groups have not been directly compared for social problems or social cognition, nor has social cognition been directly examined in FASDs.

Objectives:  To compare FASDs and ADHD groups on social cognition tasks and determine whether deficient social cognition and emotion processing predict behavioral problems and social skills.

Methods:  Studied were 33 children with FASDs, 30 with ADHD, and 34 normal controls (NC). All received tasks of social cognition and emotion processing. Parents and teachers rated children on measures of completed questionnaires assessing child’s behavioral problems and social skills using the Child Behavior Checklist, Teacher Report Form, and Social Skills Rating Scale. Children received 3 subtests from the Saltzman‐Benaiah and Lalonde (2007) Theory of Mind Task as a measure of social cognition and 4 subtests from the Minnesota Test of Affective Processing (Lai et al., 1991) to assess emotion processing.

Results:  Parents and teachers reported more behavior problems and poorer social skills in children in FASD and ADHD than NC groups. FASDs demonstrated significantly weaker social cognition and facial emotion processing ability than ADHD and NC groups. Regression analyses identified social cognition as a significant predictor of behavior problems and emotion processing as a significant predictor of social skills.

Conclusions:  Children with FASDs show a distinct behavioral profile from children with ADHD. Difficulties in social cognition and emotion processing in children with FASDs may contribute to their high incidence of social behavioral problems.
Effect of phosphate binders on oxidative stress and inflammation markers in hemodialysis patients
Authors: PERES Aline T. , DALBONI Maria A. , CANZIANI Maria E. , MANFREDI Silvia R. , CARVALHO Jose Tarcisio G. , BATISTA Marcelo C. , CUPPARI Lilian , CARVALHO Aluisio B. , MOYSES Rosa M. A. , GUIMARÃES Nadia , JORGETTI Vanda , ANDREOLI Maria C. , DRAIBE Sergio A. , CENDOROGLO Miguel
Published: July 2009

It has been suggested that phosphate binders may reduce the inflammatory state of hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, it is not clear whether it has any effect on oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of sevelamer hydrochloride (SH) and calcium acetate (CA) on oxidative stress and inflammation markers in HD patients. Hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to therapy with SH (n=17) or CA (n=14) for 1 year. Before the initiation of therapy (baseline) and at 12 months, we measured in vitro reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by stimulated and unstimulated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin‐10, C‐reactive protein, and albumin. There was a significant reduction of spontaneous ROS production in both groups after 12 months of therapy. There was a significant decrease of Staphylococcus aureus stimulated ROS production in the SH group. There was a significant increase in albumin serum levels only in the SH group. In the SH group, there was also a decrease in the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α and C‐reactive protein. Our results suggest that compared with CA treatment, SH may lead to a reduction in oxidative stress and inflammation. Therefore, it is possible that phosphate binders exert pleiotropic effects on oxidative stress and inflammation, which could contribute toward decreasing endothelial injury in patients in HD.