bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional state of patients with heterotaxy syndrome following the Fontan operation
Authors: Atz Andrew M. , Cohen Meryl S. , Sleeper Lynn A. , McCrindle Brian W. , Lu Minmin , Prakash Ashwin , Breitbart Roger E. , Williams Richard V. , Sang Charlie J. , Wernovsky Gil ,   for the Investigators of the Pediatric Heart Network
Published: November 2007

Background

Children born with heterotaxy syndromes have poorer outcomes compared with children born with comparable cardiac lesions requiring similar surgical palliation. Heterotaxy has been reported as a separate risk factor for mortality and increased morbidity in a series of Fontan operations reported from single centres. Little is known, however, about the functional state of surviving patients with heterotaxy following a Fontan operation.

Methods

In the multicentric cross-sectional study carried out by the Pediatric Heart Network of 546 survivors of the Fontan procedure, the patients, aged from 6 to 18 years, underwent evaluation by echocardiography, exercise testing, electrocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and functional health status questionnaires compiled by the patients and their parents. Heterotaxy was identified in 42 patients (8%). Medical and patient characteristics were compared between those with heterotaxy and the remaining 504 patients who did not have heterotaxy.

Results

Patients with heterotaxy had their Fontan procedure performed at a later age, with a median of 3.9 years versus 2.8 years (p = 0.001) and had volume-unloading surgery performed later, at a median age of 1.4 versus 0.9 years (p = 0.008). These patients had significantly different ventricular and atrioventricular valvar morphology, as well as a higher incidence of systemic and pulmonary venous abnormalities. They had a higher incidence of prior surgery to the pulmonary veins, at 21 versus 0.4%. The type of Fontan procedure was different, but no difference was detected in length of stay in hospital, or the number of postoperative complications. Sinus rhythm was less common, at 44 versus 71%, (p = 0.002), and history of atrial arrhythmias more common, at 19 versus 8%, (p = 0.018) in those with heterotaxy. Echocardiography revealed a greater degree atrioventricular valvar regurgitation, lower indexed stroke volume, and greater Tei index. Exercise performance, levels of brain natriuretic peptide in the serum, and summary and domain scores from health status questionnaires, were not different from those not having heterotaxy.

Conclusions

The study illustrates a profile of characteristics, medical history, functional health state, and markers of ventricular performance in patients with heterotaxy after the Fontan procedure. Despite obvious anatomic differences, and some differences in echocardiography and heart rhythm, there were no important differences in exercise performance or functional health state between these patients and other survivors of the Fontan procedure.
Coping accountably in a dangerous world
Authors: CHINITZ DAVID
Published: November 2007

The world is a dangerous place, and so is the health system; hospitals in particular.

This was not self evident to this author before observing 20 years of health policy evolution in Western countries, together with some personal experience. This perspective is furthered by the two volumes reviewed here. In the view of this author, health policy is moving beyond, or at least supplementing, the structure and process emphasis, provided mainly by economists, but with under-girding from other disciplines, that has dominated during the last two decades. The new focus in health policy is not only on quality, but on what to do when quality breaks down and we cannot rely, however much we desire, on a clear systematic framework of standards, incentives, regulations, and controls (Chinitz, 2002). How do we go forward in a realm where the stakes are so high? While not providing all the answers, the two volumes examined by this essay certainly lay out the dilemmas and provide some realistic propositions, for moving forward in health policy and management. And, not surprisingly, economics loses its pre-eminence to other disciplines, especially law, organizational theory, and management.
Hospital cost differences and payment by results
Authors: MALCOMSON JAMES M.
Published: November 2007

Street and Maynard (2007) argue the case for refining the system of payment by results currently being introduced for English hospitals. On the basis of international experience, they recommend, among other things, moving away from setting prices equal to average cost towards setting them equal to best practice costs, adjusting them for quality and using them to signal what activities are desirable. They also discuss how to control total expenditure for primary care trusts (PCTs) under payment by results and question the merits of extending payment by results to mental health services, ambulances, community services, and long-term conditions, ‘where it is difficult to describe patient care requirements and cost variations may be high’ (p. 9).
Sozialtraining in der Gerontopsychiatrischen Tagesklinik der Westfälischen Klinik Münster/Westfalen
Authors: Laackman Sabine
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung: Sozialtraining in der gerontopsychiatrischen Tagesklinik der Westfälischen Klinik Münster verfolgt das Ziel, über eine Stärkung der sozialen Kompetenzen das soziale Netz der Patienten zu sichern und zu bereichern, ihren Aktions- und Lebensradius zu erweitern und auf diese Weise psychophysisch stabilisierend und erkrankungspräventiv zu wirken. Die Vielgestaltigkeit der Symptomatik der Patienten bei einem Überwiegen affektiver Störungen erfordert eine individuelle Vorgehensweise. Einbußen in der Alltagskompetenz sind oft ausgeprägter, als initial bei diesem Patientenspektrum zu erwarten. Im klinischen Alltag muss daher der grundsätzliche Anspruch, dass Patienten am sozialen Trainingsprogramm außerhalb der Klinik selbstständig und ohne unterstützende professionelle Begleitung teilnehmen, häufig revidiert werden. Die Untersuchung von 100 Patienten der Gerontopsychiatrischen Tagesklinik der Westfälischen Klinik Münster/Westfalen des Jahres 2006 zeigt, dass oft erst eine professionell-flankierende Begleitung einer größeren Zahl von Patienten ein erfolgreiches Sozialtraining ermöglicht. Allerdings ist auch bei intensiver Unterstützung nicht in jedem Fall ein Erfolg beim Sozialtraining zu erzielen.
Verlauf neuropsychologischer Defizite vom Prodrom zur Psychose
Authors: Blessing Andreas , Schneider Roland
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung: In diesem Beitrag wird der Verlauf neuropsychologischer Defizite bei einem 18-jährigen Mann beschrieben, der in unserer Früherkennungssprechstunde für schizophrene Psychosen abgeklärt wurde. Es ergab sich in der Abklärung der Verdacht auf ein Prodromalstadium einer schizophrenen Psychose. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt bestanden bereits erhebliche kognitive Defizite. Aufgrund eines Leistungsabfalls wurde der Patient später hospitalisiert. Bei einer weiteren Hospitalisation auf unserer Station für ersterkrankte Psychosepatienten wurde die Diagnose einer undifferenzierten Schizophrenie (DSM-IV: 295.90, ICD-10: F20.3) gestellt. Der Verlauf kognitiver Leistungseinbußen wird dargestellt und hinsichtlich ihrer Zuordnung und Stabilität zu neuropsychologischer Subtypen bei schizophrenen Psychosen diskutiert.
Der Berliner-Apraxie-Test für ideomotorische und ideatorische Apraxie
Authors: Liepelt I. , Trenner M.U. , Freund S. , Engel U. , Lueschow A. , Platz T.
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung: Eine Apraxie ist häufig Folge einer linkshemisphärischen Hirnschädigung oder einer Demenz. Die zuverlässige Diagnose einer Apraxie ist u. a. als Voraussetzung für eine effektive Therapie der Störung erforderlich. Der Berliner-Apraxie-Test (BAXT) wurde für die Diagnose einer buccofacialen, einer ideomotorischen Gliedmaßenapraxie und einer ideatorischen Apraxie konstruiert. Ziel der vorgestellten Arbeit war die Identifikation valider und reliabler Items für den BAXT. In einer Gruppe von 60 Schlaganfallpatienten für die ideomotorischen Aufgaben (Studie 1) und 12 Patienten mit Alzheimer-Erkrankung für die ideatorischen Aufgaben (Studie 2) wurde die Kennwerte (Inter-Rater-Reliabilität, Schwierigkeit, Trennschärfe und Kriteriumsvalidität) der Aufgaben bestimmt. Die Anordnung der selektierten Testaufgaben erfolgte in aufsteigender Schwierigkeit unter Berücksichtigung einer möglichst geringer Interkorrelation der Items. Die Ergebnisse deuten auf eine ausreichende Itemgüte (N = 44) der Testendform des BAXT zur Erfassung ideomotorisch-apraktischer Phänomene bei Schlaganfallpatienten hin. Ersten Analysen in einer Population von 12 Patienten mit Alzheimer-Erkrankung ergaben Hinweise dass die Diagnose einer ideatorischen Apraxie basierend auf den 10 ausgewählten Testaufgaben möglich ist.
Weight Control With Orlistat in a Telephone-Counseling Program
Authors: Munsch Simone , H. Meyer Andrea , Margraf Jürgen
Published: November 2007

In this study, we aimed to describe the effectiveness of a short-term telephone-counseling program in combination with orlistat in overweight and obese outpatients and to test the influence of pre-treatment characteristics on weight-loss goals and achieved weight change. A total of 655 patients were contacted every 6 weeks, receiving an average of 5.2 telephone calls. Patients lost on average 7.7% of their initial weight during treatment. Reported weight-loss goals amounted to 17.8% of initial weight. Desired weight loss was positively related to weight at program start and age. Achieved weight loss was positively related to weight at program start, but not to sex and age. Low-intensity telephone treatment in combination with orlistat induced weight loss in an outpatient sample. At the end of treatment, patients judged lower-than-desired weight loss as satisfactory. Setting high weight-loss goals was a positive predictor of weight loss. However, long-term maintenance remains unclear.
Kognitive Entwicklung und sozial-emotionale Kompetenzen bei Frühgeborenen mit unterschiedlichen Bindungsrepräsentationen
Authors: Hampel Petra , Kropf Verena , Dikici Saniye , König Lilith , Gloger-Tippelt Gabriele , Petermann Franz
Published: November 2007

Zusammenfassung. Es wurde geprüft, ob sich frühgeborene und termingeborene Kinder im Vorschulalter in ihrer kognitiven Entwicklung und ihren sozial-emotionalen Kompetenzen unterscheiden. Insgesamt wurden 29 Kinder im Alter zwischen fünf und sechs Jahren im Hinblick auf die Faktoren “Geburtszeitpunkt” (Frühgeborene < 2000 g vs. Termingeborene > 2600 g) und “Bindungsqualität” (sicher vs. unsicher gebunden) untersucht. Die Bindungsqualität wurde auf der Repräsentationsebene durch das Geschichtenergänzungsverfahren zur Bindung (GEV-B) erfasst. Die kognitive Leistung und sozial-emotionale Entwicklung wurde mit dem Entwicklungstest ET 6-6 sowie die emotionale Kompetenz durch den Untertest “Fotoalbum” des WET und die sozial-emotionalen Kompetenzen durch einen Erzieherbeobachtungsbogen erhoben. Frühgeborene erzielten signifikant niedrigere Werte in den Dimensionen der kognitiven Entwicklung des ET 6-6 als termingeborene Kinder. Außerdem bewerteten Erzieher das Sozialverhalten der Frühgeborenen tendenziell als weniger kompetent verglichen mit dem Verhalten der Termingeborenen. Im Untertest “Fotoalbum” des WET konnten unsicher gebundene Kinder im Vergleich zu sicher gebundenen Kindern emotionale Gesichtsausdrücke tendenziell schlechter erkennen. Diese Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass sich der Faktor “Frühgeburt” insbesondere auf die kognitive Leistung auswirkt.
THE BEHAVIOUR OF TWO STRAINS OF MURINE SARCOMA VIRUS IN VITRO
Authors: Simons PJ
Published: November 2007

Two variants of murine sarcoma virus were able to cause different alterations in an established line of mouse embryo cells. Infection with the Moloney strain of murine sarcoma virus produced densely staining round cells and spindle cells which were overgrown by normal cells on passage. The Harvey strain of murine sarcoma virus induced the formation of densely staining round cells and spindle cells which multiplied on subculture. Passage of murine sarcoma virus (Harvey) infected cultures led to the appearance of multinucleate giant cells. Murine sarcoma virus (Harvey) transformed cells were able to divide and form colonies in soft agar. Lines of murine sarcoma virus (Harvey) transformed cells have been established from soft agar colonies.
THE ROLE OF THE KIDNEY IN NITROGEN CONSERVATION IN SHEEP
Authors: McIntyre KH , Williams VJ
Published: November 2007

The experiment was designed to test the theory that there is a special renal mechanism involved in urea conservation in sheep given diets low in protein content. The effects of different plasma urea levels and urine flow rates on renal function with respect to urea reabsorption were studied, using three rations which varied in protein content. The same rations were also studied in conjunction with an intravenous infusion of urea of 12 g. per 8 hours.

The urea clearances and clearance ratios varied with the dietary treatments imposed and were lowest on the diet which produced a minimum plasma urea level. The ratio of urea in urine to urea in plasma was inversely and linearly related to urine flow rate.

The rates of excretion of urea in urine were linearly related to plasma urea nitrogen concentrations (P < 0·01) and urine flow rates (P < 0·01), while plasma urea nitrogen concentrations were linearly related to urine flow rates (P < 0·05).

Urine flow rates were linearly related to urea clearances (P < 0·01) and clearance ratios (P < 0·01).

The evidence presented suggests that urea reabsorption by the kidney is related to the amount of urea filtered by the kidney, which depends on the plasma urea nitrogen concentration. The ability of the sheep on the low protein diets fed in these experiments to conserve urea was apparently linked with the presentation of relatively small amounts of urea to the glomerulus. There was no evidence of a special renal mechanism.
Role of α1‐adrenoceptor subtypes in the effects of methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) on body temperature in the mouse
Authors: Bexis S , Docherty J R
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:

We have investigated the ability of α1‐adrenoceptor antagonists to affect the hyperthermia produced by methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) in conscious mice.

Experimental approach:

Mice were implanted with temperature probes under ether anaesthesia and allowed 2 weeks recovery. MDMA (20 mg kg−1) was administered subcutaneously 30 min after vehicle or test antagonist or combination of antagonists and effects on body temperature monitored.

Key results:

Following vehicle, MDMA produced a hyperthermia, reaching a maximum increase of 1.8 °C at 140 min. Prazosin (0.1 mg kg−1) revealed an early significant hypothermia to MDMA of −1.94 °C. The α1A‐adrenoceptor antagonist RS 100329 (0.1 mg kg−1), or the α1D‐adrenoceptor antagonist BMY 7378 (0.5 mg kg−1) given alone, did not reveal a hypothermia to MDMA, but the combination of the two antagonists revealed a significant hypothermia to MDMA. The putative α1B‐adrenoceptor anatagonist cyclazosin (1 mg kg−1) also revealed a significant hypothermia to MDMA, but actions of cyclazosin at the other α1‐adrenoceptor subtypes cannot be excluded.

Conclusions and implications:

More than one subtype of α1‐adrenoceptor is involved in a component of the hyperthermic response to MDMA in mouse, probably both α1A‐ and α1D‐adrenoceptors, and removal of this α1‐adrenoceptor‐mediated component reveals an initial hypothermia.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, 591–597; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707590; published online 26 November 2007
Mechanisms of potentiation of the mammalian GABAAreceptor by the marine cembranoid eupalmerin acetate
Authors: Li P , Reichert D E , Rodríguez A D , Manion B D , Evers A S , Eterović V A , Steinbach J H , Akk G
Published: November 2007

Background and purpose:

Eupalmerin acetate (EPA) is a marine diterpene compound isolated from the gorgonian octocoralsEunicea succineaandEunicea mammosa. The compound has been previously shown to modulate muscle‐type and neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are inhibited in the presence of low micromolar concentrations of EPA. In this study, we examined the effect of EPA on another transmitter‐gated ion channel, the GABAAreceptor.

Experimental approach:

Whole‐cell and single‐channel recordings were made from HEK 293 cells transiently expressing rat wild‐type and mutant α1β2γ2L GABAAreceptors.

Key results:

Our findings demonstrate that, at micromolar concentrations, EPA potentiates the rat α1β2γ2L GABAAreceptor. The analysis of single‐channel currents recorded in the presence of EPA showed that the kinetic mode of action of EPA is similar to that of neuroactive steroids. Mutations to residues α1Q241 and α1N407/Y410, previously shown to affect receptor modulation by neurosteroids, also diminished potentiation by EPA. Exposure to a steroid antagonist, (3α,5α)‐17‐phenylandrost‐16‐en‐3‐ol, reduced potentiation by EPA. Additionally, exposure to EPA led to potentiation of GABAAreceptors activated by very high concentrations (1–10 μM) of allopregnanolone. In tadpole behavioural assays, EPA caused loss of righting reflex and loss of swimming reflex.

Conclusions and implications:

We conclude that EPA either interacts with the putative neurosteroid binding site on the GABAAreceptor or shares with neurosteroids the key transduction elements involved in channel potentiation by steroids. The results indicate that cembranoids represent a novel class of GABAAreceptor modulators.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2008)153, 598–608; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0707597; published online 26 November 2007
Accurate ab initio potential energy curve of F2. II. Core-valence correlations, relativistic contributions, and long-range interactions
Authors: Bytautas L. , Matsunaga N. , Nagata T. , Gordon M. S. , Ruedenberg K.
Published: November 2007

The nonrelativistic, valence-shell-only-correlated ab initio potential energy curve of the F2 molecule, which was reported in the preceding paper, is complemented by determining the energy contributions that arise from the electron correlations that involve the core electrons as well as the contributions that are due to spin-orbit coupling and scalar relativistic effects. The dissociation curve rises rather steeply toward the energy of the dissociated atoms because, at larger distances, the atomic quadrupole-quadrupole repulsion and spin-orbit coupling counteract the attractive contributions from incipient covalent binding and correlation forces including dispersion.
Electrical transport properties of semiconducting lithium molybdate glass nanocomposites
Authors: Bhattacharya S. , Ghosh A.
Published: November 2007

We have reported the formation of lithium molybdate glass nanocomposites embedded with lithium molybdate nanophases from the x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic studies. We have investigated the dc electrical conductivity in a wide temperature range for these glass nanocomposites, which exhibit semiconducting behavior. We have analyzed the dc electrical data in the light of polaronic conduction models of Mott and Schnakenberg. We have also studied ac electrical conductivity of these glass nanocomposites in wide temperature and frequency ranges. The experimental ac results have been analyzed with reference to various theoretical models based on quantum-mechanical tunneling and hopping over the barrier. We have observed that the temperature dependence of the dc conductivity is consistent with the polaronic hopping models, while the temperature and frequency dependence of the ac conductivity is consistent with the polaronic tunneling models.
Gap length effect on electron energy distribution in capacitive radio frequency discharges
Authors: You S. J. , Kim S. S. , Kim Jung-Hyung , Seong Dae-Jin , Shin Yong-Hyeon , Chang H. Y.
Published: November 2007

A study on the dependence of electron energy distribution function (EEDF) on discharge gap size in capacitive rf discharges was conducted. The evolution of the EEDF over a gap size range from 2.5to7cm in 65mTorr Ar discharges was investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The measured EEDFs exhibited typical bi-Maxwellian forms with low energy electron groups. A significant depletion in the low energy portion of the bi-Maxwellian was found with decreasing gap size. The results show that electron heating by bulk electric fields, which is the main heating process of the low-energy electrons, is greatly enhanced as the gap size decreases, resulting in the abrupt change of the EEDF. The calculated EEDFs based on nonlocal kinetic theory are in good agreement with the experiments.
Anisotropic polarizability of isolated semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes in alternating electric fields
Authors: Fagan J. A. , Bajpai V. , Bauer B. J. , Hobbie E. K.
Published: November 2007

We measure the linear dichroism for aqueous suspensions of isolated semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in alternating electric fields. The field-induced alignment of length-purified SWCNTs is determined from the anisotropy of the first and second interband optical transitions for the (6,5) semiconducting species. At 3kHz, the effective anisotropic polarizability of the DNA-wrapped SWCNTs is of order 10−28Fm2, comparable to that of a high-aspect-ratio conducting rod, but a factor of 5 larger than that of gold colloidal rods and an order of magnitude larger than that of tobacco mosaic virus.
A new satellite-borne neutral wind instrument for thermospheric diagnostics
Authors: Earle G. D. , Klenzing J. H. , Roddy P. A , Macaulay W. A. , Perdue M. D. , Patrick E. L.
Published: November 2007

The bulk motion of the neutral gas at altitudes between about 200 and 600km is an important factor in predicting the onset of plasma instabilities that are known to distort and/or disrupt high frequency radio communications. These neutral winds have historically been quite difficult to measure, especially from a moving spacecraft. A new space science instrument called the ram wind sensor has been developed to measure the component of the neutral gas velocity that lies along the orbit track of a satellite in low Earth orbit. Laboratory tests of an engineering model of the instrument have been carried out using a supersonic neutral argon beam, in order to validate the measurement concept. The results show that the technique is viable for measurements of neutral flow velocities in future satellite missions.
Flexible lock-in detection system based on synchronized computer plug-in boards applied in sensitive gas spectroscopy
Authors: Andersson Mats , Persson Linda , Svensson Tomas , Svanberg Sune
Published: November 2007

We present a flexible and compact, digital, lock-in detection system and its use in high-resolution tunable diode laser spectroscopy. The system involves coherent sampling, and is based on the synchronization of two data acquisition cards running on a single standard computer. A software-controlled arbitrary waveform generator is used for laser modulation, and a four-channel analog/digital board records detector signals. Gas spectroscopy is performed in the wavelength modulation regime. The coherently detected signal is averaged a selected number of times before it is stored or analyzed by software-based, lock-in techniques. Multiple harmonics of the modulation signal (1f, 2f, 3f, 4f, etc.) are available in each single data set. The sensitivity is of the order of 10−5, being limited by interference fringes in the measurement setup. The capabilities of the system are demonstrated by measurements of molecular oxygen in ambient air, as well as dispersed gas in scattering materials, such as plants and human tissue.
Determination of the third- and fifth-order nonlinear refractive indices in InN thin films
Authors: Zhang Z. Q. , He W. Q. , Gu C. M. , Shen W. Z. , Ogawa H. , Guo Q. X.
Published: November 2007

We have combined the reflection and transmission Z-scan (RZ- and TZ-scans) techniques under femtosecond laser at 800nm to extract both the third- and fifth-order nonlinear refractive indices (n2 and n4) in InN thin films. The observation of the nonlinear refractive index saturation in the intensity-dependent RZ-scan measurement indicates the existence of the fifth-order effect. By the aid of the TZ-scan, the fifth-order nonlinear effect has been enhanced by enlarging the cascaded contribution from the increased laser interaction length, where large n2 of −2.5×10−11cm2∕W and n4 of 2.1×10−19cm4∕W2 have been determined.
Electrical detection of kidney injury molecule-1 with AlGaN∕GaN high electron mobility transistors
Authors: Wang H. T. , Kang B. S. , Ren F. , Pearton S. J. , Johnson J. W. , Rajagopal P. , Roberts J. C. , Piner E. L. , Linthicum K. J.
Published: November 2007

Al Ga N ∕ Ga N high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were used to detect kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), an important biomarker for early kidney injury detection. The gate region consisted of 5nm gold deposited onto the AlGaN surface. The gold was conjugated to highly specific KIM-1 antibodies through a self-assembled monolayer of thioglycolic acid. The HEMT source-drain current showed a clear dependence on the KIM-1 concentration in phosphate-buffered saline solution. The limit of detection was 1ng∕ml using a 20×50μm2 gate sensing area. This approach shows potential for both preclinical and clinical kidney injury diagnosis with accurate, rapid, noninvasive, and high throughput capabilities.
Seeing Double and Depth with Wheatstone's Stereograms
Authors: Ono Hiroshi , Lillakas Linda , Wade Nicholas J
Published: November 2007

Charles Wheatstone, in his classic paper on the invention of the stereoscope, concluded “… objects whose pictures do not fall on corresponding points of the two retinæ may still appear single” (1838 Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London128 384). Soon after, Ernst Brücke, Alexandre Prévost, David Brewster, Joseph Towne, and Joseph LeConte all published disagreements with this conclusion. LeConte's objections were most frequent and most prolonged. To understand the basis of the disagreements, we conducted three experiments using Wheatstone's original stereograms and found that most stereograms produced depth perception with diplopia, which partially explains the consistency among his critics' conclusions. Most of the criticism at variance with Wheatstone's conclusion was based on research conducted outside Germany. We argue that LeConte's lack of knowledge of the German literature on vision research prevented him from considering investigating Wheatstone's experiment with a stereogram having a smaller disparity.
Characterisation of wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr34 in Australian wheats using components of resistance and the linked molecular marker csLV34
Authors: Singh D. , Park R. F. , McIntosh R. A.
Published: November 2007

A significant proportion of Australian wheat cultivars do not support leaf rust infections over winter and early spring periods despite available inoculum. To investigate why this occurs, tests of the leaf rust responses of 84 cultivars were conducted over 2 years in early (autumn) sown rust nurseries. More than 50% of the cultivars showed evidence of slow rusting and produced low to moderate area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) values. Many of the slow rusting cultivars showed features including leaf tip necrosis (LTN), long incubation period (IP) and longer latent period (LP), all characteristically associated with gene Lr34. The molecular marker csLV34, which is closely linked to Lr34, was applied to these wheats and confirmed the presence of Lr34 in all. Application of this marker identified Lr34 in a further 10 cultivars that could not be assessed for slow rusting because of the presence of seedling resistance genes effective against pathotypes used in field nurseries. It was concluded that a major role of Lr34 resides in reducing initial rust increase, thereby minimising inoculum development through winter and early spring, and subsequently delaying the onset of epidemics and lowering yield losses.
Seasonal photosynthesis and anthocyanin production in 10 broadleaf evergreen species
Authors: Hughes Nicole M. , Smith William K.
Published: November 2007

Leaves of many evergreen species turn red when exposed to high sunlight during winter due to production of photoprotective anthocyanin pigments, while leaves of other species, lacking anthocyanin, remain green. Why some evergreen species synthesise anthocyanin pigments while others do not is currently unknown. Furthermore, the relative photosynthetic performance of anthocyanic (red) and acyanic (green) evergreens has yet to be described. Here we present seasonal ecophysiological data for five red and green broadleaf evergreen species. We hypothesise that species which synthesise anthocyanins in winter leaves correspond to those with the most drastic seasonal photosynthetic declines, as reduced energy sinks increase vulnerability to photoinhibition and need for photoprotection. Our results did not support this hypothesis, as gas exchange measurements showed no difference in mean seasonal photosynthetic capacity between red- and green-leafed species. Consistent with anthocyanin’s shading effect, red-leafed species had significantly higher chlorophyll content, lower chlorophyll a/b ratios, and higher maximum light capture efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) than green-leafed species during the winter, but not during the summer (when all leaves were green). We conclude that anthocyanin production during winter is likely not associated with diminished photosynthetic capacity, and may simply represent an alternative photoprotective strategy utilised by some species during winter.
The recovery alliance theory of mental health nursing
Authors: SHANLEY E. , JUBB‐SHANLEY M.
Published: November 2007

The recovery alliance theory (RAT) is a mid‐range theory of mental health nursing based on humanistic philosophy. The conception of the RAT was the outcome of collaboration among service users, practising mental health nurses, educationalists and managers and was developed in the context of a number of political and social changes as well as changes in the mental health field. The theory is composed of six constructs: humanistic philosophy, recovery, partnership relation, strengths focus, empowerment and common humanity. The derivation of three concepts from these constructs, namely coping, self‐responsibility/control and working alliance, forms the basis for the translation of the constructs into a system of mental health nursing practice [Partnership in Coping system (PinC)]. The constructs underpinning the RAT were clearly demonstrated in a preliminary trial of the PinC system.
Bergmann's rule and the geography of mammal body size in the Western Hemisphere
Authors: Rodríguez Miguel Á. , Olalla‐Tárraga Miguel Á. , Hawkins Bradford A.
Published: November 2007

Aim  To describe the geographical pattern of mean body size of the non‐volant mammals of the Nearctic and Neotropics and evaluate the influence of five environmental variables that are likely to affect body size gradients.

Location  The Western Hemisphere.

Methods  We calculated mean body size (average log mass) values in 110 × 110 km cells covering the continental Nearctic and Neotropics. We also generated cell averages for mean annual temperature, range in elevation, their interaction, actual evapotranspiration, and the global vegetation index and its coefficient of variation. Associations between mean body size and environmental variables were tested with simple correlations and ordinary least squares multiple regression, complemented with spatial autocorrelation analyses and split‐line regression. We evaluated the relative support for each multiple‐regression model using AIC.

Results  Mean body size increases to the north in the Nearctic and is negatively correlated with temperature. In contrast, across the Neotropics mammals are largest in the tropical and subtropical lowlands and smaller in the Andes, generating a positive correlation with temperature. Finally, body size and temperature are nonlinearly related in both regions, and split‐line linear regression found temperature thresholds marking clear shifts in these relationships (Nearctic 10.9 °C; Neotropics 12.6 °C). The increase in body sizes with decreasing temperature is strongest in the northern Nearctic, whereas a decrease in body size in mountains dominates the body size gradients in the warmer parts of both regions.

Main conclusions  We confirm previous work finding strong broad‐scale Bergmann trends in cold macroclimates but not in warmer areas. For the latter regions (i.e. the southern Nearctic and the Neotropics), our analyses also suggest that both local and broad‐scale patterns of mammal body size variation are influenced in part by the strong mesoscale climatic gradients existing in mountainous areas. A likely explanation is that reduced habitat sizes in mountains limit the presence of larger‐sized mammals.
Some Observations on Pm,n Relations within Set Classes
Authors: RUSS MICHAEL
Published: November 2007

It is well known (from Riemann, Lewin, Cohn and others) that two voices of a triad (set class 3–11) may be held and one moved ‘parsimoniously’ by a tone or semitone to produce another triad; or two voices of a dominant and half‐diminished seventh (set class 4–27) may be held while two voices are displaced by a semitone to produce another dominant or half‐diminished seventh (Lewin's ‘DOUTH2’ relation). This article takes 4–27 as its starting point and first explores examples of such parsimonious voice‐leading between sets of the same class in nineteenth‐century music (notably Brahms, Chopin and Musorgsky). The discussion introduces the idea of a diminution existing between forms of 4–27 when the two voices do not proceed simultaneously. The capability of tetrachords of other classes as well as set classes of larger cardinality to engage in parsimonious voice‐leading either by semitone or whole tone is then explored (with examples drawn from the music of Bartók, Mahler, Scriabin and Stravinsky). The type and degree of parsimony are indicated by the Pm,n designations developed by Douthett and Steinbach, and the article examines the ways in which the capacity of sets to behave in this manner may be predicted from interval strings and invariant subsets.
Coniferous litter decomposition on Camels Hump, Vermont: a review
Authors: Friedland Andrew J. , Johnson Arthur H. , Siccama Thomas G.
Published: November 2007

The high-elevation forests of the northeastern United States receive relatively large quantities of atmospheric pollutants, including trace metals, in rain, fog, snow, and dry deposition. Measurements of forest floor thickness and trace metal and organic matter concentrations on Camels Hump, Vermont, taken between 1965 and 1983 show that while trace metal and organic matter concentrations have increased substantially during that time period, forest floor thicknesses have not shown a consistent pattern of change. Based on previously published decomposition experiments, it does not appear that the current metal concentrations present in the forest floor on Camels Hump are capable of significantly reducing decomposition of organic matter. It is possible that trace metal accumulations over the next century (or more) may be consequential to biological processes in the forest floor.
Vascularisation de la fleur de Spathiphyllum wallisii
Authors: Barabé Denis , Chrétien Louis
Published: November 2007

The hermaphrodite flowers of Spathiphyllum wallisii have six tepals and six extrorse stamens. Gynoecia are either tri- or quadri-locular. In trilocular gynoecia, three dorsal bundles and three complex ventral bundles, each corresponding to the union of two simple ventral bundles belonging to adjacent carpels, are found in the ovarian wall. In the central axis of the ovary, three placental bundles rise to the level of ovular attachment. Each of these splits into two ovular traces. There are two ovules in each locule. When the gynoecium is quadrilocular, four placental bundles, four dorsal bundles, and four complex ventral bundles are usually present. In the flowers of Spathiphyllum wallisii, each carpel is vascularized by a dorsal bundle and by two simple ventral bundles. The path of the placental bundles is typical of that of Araceae with axile placentation.
Mosaics of vegetation and soil salinity: a consequence of goose foraging in an arctic salt marsh
Authors: Srivastava Diane S. , Jefferies R. L.
Published: November 2007

Grubbing of roots and rhizomes of salt-marsh graminoids by lesser snow geese at La Pérouse Bay, Manitoba, on the Hudson Bay coast, has resulted in a vegetational mosaic. Bare sites, devoid of vegetation, occur adjacent to intact swards (high biomass sites). At some sites destruction of swards is incomplete (low biomass sites). In 1991 and 1992, highest soil salinities occurred in midsummer; surface sediments were flushed of salts by meltwater in spring and by tides in autumn. By late July, in both years, the soil was hypersaline in low biomass and bare sites, unlike that in the high biomass sites. The highest soil salinities were recorded in bare sites, especially in large bare patches. Aboveground plant biomass (g∙m−2) was a much better predictor of the salinity of soil water than the water content or redox potential of soil. Evaporative loss of water from tubes buried in sediments was higher in bare sites compared with that in vegetated sites. Differences in evaporation between sites led to large differences in the salinity of soil water but only small differences in soil water content. The upward movement of salts from buried Tyrell Sea sediments appears responsible for the development of hypersaline conditions. Key words: grubbing, goose grazing, plant biomass, sodium, soil water, hypersalinity.
Dormance et croissance des bourgeons du platane hybride (Platanus acerifolia) en milieu urbain
Authors: Ricaud S. , Alaoui-Sossé B. , Barnola P. , Crabbé J.
Published: November 2007

The purpose of this study is to analyse the physiology of Platanus acerifolia buds, especially latent buds that are exploited by urban prunings. Biological and biochemical tests have allowed us to observe the following: (i) The dormancy of the 1-year-old twig buds is weak and characterized, in November, by a mediobasitonic gradient of bud bursting ability. During the dormancy period, the latent buds have the same capacity to bud break as buds from the proximal part of 1-year-old twigs. The dormancy of the latent buds is weak but accentuated with bud ageing. (ii) The inhibition of the 1-year-old twig proximal buds is particularly detected during the dormancy period. Whatever the month, the latent buds are not able to develop unless the axis and the more distal buds above them are eliminated. (iii) The buds keep their intracellular properties (5,5′-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione accumulation) if the axis above them is intact. (iv) The growth of the hybrid plane tree is characterized by a weak acrotony as well as a weak apparent endogenous rhythmicity. This growth is influenced by external factors, especially rainfall. Key words: buds, latent buds, dormancy, growth, 5,5′-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione, Platanus acerifolia.
Variabilité et hérédité de l'angle du fil du bois mesuré à l'aide d'un traceur radioactif chez le pin maritime et le pin laricio de Calabre
Authors: Arbez M. , Baradat Ph. , Birot Y. , Azoeuf P. , Hoslin R.
Published: November 2007

Spiral grain variation and inheritance were studied in maritime pine (Pinuspinaster Ait.) and Calabrian pine (Pinusnigra Arn. ssp. laricio var. calabrica) through radioisotopes (12K, 188Re) injected into the sap and autoradiography, on different types of material: mother trees in the forest, their open-pollinated progenies (10–14 years old), and the vegetative propagates (grafts) of the mother trees. For both species, spiral grain was always to the left in the grafts and seedling progenies but higher for the former. Broad sense and narrow sense heritabilities, and genetic prediction coefficient estimates were, respectively, 0.43, 0.16, 0.34 for maritime pine and 0.61, 0.58, 0.38, for Calabrian pine.Despite encouraging results, more research is needed to elucidate spiral grain variation along the stem and with time, before including this trait among the selection criteria.
Quick estimates of root length, using a video image analyzer
Authors: Cunningham Maureen , Adams M. B. , Luxmoore R. J. , Post W. M. , DeAngelis D. L.
Published: November 2007

A black and white video camera and an image analyzer were used to measure the length of oak roots from which soil had been washed. The image analyzer is an automated intersect counter which uses the same basis for length estimation as the modified line intersect method. The roots were arranged within a 13.5 × 19 cm rectangle on clear plastic sheets and photocopied (dry process), then the lengths of the photocopied root images were measured with the video system. Two measurements were made on each photocopy, with a 90° rotation of the photocopy made between the two measurements. The two measurements were summed to obtain an index of root length. The automated system tested had insufficient resolution to detect very fine roots (<0.3 mm); however, the video method was found to be linearly correlated (R2 = 0.92) with the modified line intersect method. Other root samples may require enhanced system resolution to achieve adequate correlation between methods. Once the video method has been calibrated, length of root samples may be determined up to 8 times faster than by the line intersect method.
Foliar uptake of 15N from simulated cloud water by red spruce (Picearubens) seedlings
Authors: Bowden Richard D. , Geballe Gordon T. , Bowden William B.
Published: November 2007

One hypothesis to explain dieback of red spruce (Picearubens Sarg.) trees in high-elevation red spruce stands is that atmospheric deposition may introduce nitrogen in excess of plant needs (N saturation), which may disrupt normal metabolism and foliage development in this harsh environment. Some authors suggest that direct foliar uptake of N might contribute to N saturation. To examine the importance of foliar uptake by red spruce, we exposed seedlings in a greenhouse to a mist that simulated cloud water and contained either ammonium or nitrate as 15N (99 at.% excess at 2 mg/L). After 50 h exposure to mist, seedlings were washed and then separated into four tissue types: new foliage, old needles, stems, and roots. Total and isotopic nitrogen contents were determined for each tissue type. The accumulation rate of 15N in each tissue type was very low. Extrapolating our data on the basis of a year suggests that N from cloud water supplies only a small fraction of the N required for new growth (less than 1.5% for the seedlings we used). We observed that both ammonium-15N and nitrate-15N accumulated in stem tissues and could not be removed after repeated washings, which suggests an alternative mechanism for long-term N retention by red spruce stands.
Leaf area of lodgepole pine and whitebark pine in a subalpine Sierra Nevada forest
Authors: Peterson David L. , Arbaugh Michael J. , Lardner Melody A.
Published: November 2007

Leaf area index (LAI) of lodgepole pine (Pinuscontorta var. murrayana (Grev. & Balf.) Engelm.) and whitebark pine (Pinusalbicaulis Engelm.) was calculated as part of an integrated study of the biogeochemistry of the Eastern Brook Lakes watershed in the eastern Sierra Nevada. LAI was calculated using leaf area and biomass data from this study and diameter–crown foliage relationships obtained from the literature. Mean LAI for all forest types sampled was 4.2 for lodgepole pine and 5.2 for whitebark pine. LAI ranged from 3.6 to 11.7 for different forest types, with a mean of 7.9 for all forested areas of the watershed. LAI values will assist in calculating potential evapotranspiration and hydrologic budgets for the watershed.
THE QUANTUM FLUCTUATIONS OF MESOSCOPIC DAMPED MUTUAL INDUCTANCE COUPLED DOUBLE RESONANCE RLC CIRCUIT AT FINITE TEMPERATURE
Authors: XU XING-LEI , LI HONG-QI , XU SHI-MIN , WANG JI-SUO
Published: November 2007

Mesoscopic damped mutual inductance coupled double resonance RLC circuit is quantized by the method of damped harmonic oscillator quantization and linear transformation. The energy levels of this circuit are given. By thermo-field dynamics (TFD), the quantum fluctuations of the current and voltage of each loop are researched in the thermal vacuum state, thermal coherent state and thermal squeezed state. It is shown that the quantum fluctuations of the current and voltage are related not only to the circuit inherent parameter and coupled magnitude of mutual inductance, but also squeezed coefficients, squeezed angle, environmental temperature and damped resistance. Furthermore, because of environmental temperature and damped resistance, the quantum fluctuations increase with the increase of temperature and decay along with time.
ELECTRIC FIELD-ASSISTED RELAXATION OF THE CHARGE DENSITY WAVES IN K0.3MoO3
Authors: YUE SONG
Published: November 2007

The evolution of the current-voltage characteristic in K 0.3 MoO 3 was observed intuitively with the presence of current cycling. No variation of the ohmic conductivity was distinguished, while the threshold field for the charge density waves depinning exhibited distinct enhancement with the current cycling. These results were attributed to the electric field-assisted metastable states' relaxation of the charge density waves.
QUANTUM PHASE SPACE THEORY BASED ON INTERMEDIATE COORDINATE-MOMENTUM REPRESENTATION
Authors: FAN HONG-YI , GUO QIN
Published: November 2007

Through the Radon transformation of the normally ordered Wigner operator we introduce two mutually conjugate intermediate coordinate-momentum representations. Based on them we construct the appropriate quantum phase space theory which includes the new Wigner operator adapting to this space. We find that the new Wigner function's marginal distribution for a state |Ψ〉 is just the quantum tomogram of the state |Ψ〉.
A Case Report of Superior Mesenteric Artery Occlusion
Authors: Prockter G.J.
Published: November 2007

A case is reported of survival following acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion in which endarterectomy led to recovery of gut of doubtful viability and enabled a useful and significant portion of the gut to be retained.

Acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion with gangrene of the gut has shown a high mortality and few cases have been reported of a successful outcome following surgery. The interest in this case is that following surgery the patient survived and the portion of gut retained was of sufficient propor tions to maintain the patient in a satisfactory state of nutrition.
Mechanical Conversion of Supraventricular Tachycardia (Atrial Tickle)
Authors: Kleid Jack J. , Chester Howard , Benda Richard , Cagin Norman A. , Levitt Barrie
Published: November 2007

A 19-year-old female who presented with a history of trauma to the abdomen and palpitations, was found to have a supraventricular tachycardia. All pharmacologic interventions, and DC cardioversion were ineffective in terminating the arrhythmia. Manipulation of a pacing wire within the right atrium induced extrasystoles which abruptly abolished the arrhythmia.