bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of elevated transcript levels of interferon-inducible chemokines with disease activity and organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Fu Qiong , Chen Xiaoqing , Cui Huijuan , Guo Yanzhi , Chen Jing , Shen Nan , Bao Chunde
Published: September 2008

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multi-system autoimmune disease with a heterogeneous course and varying degrees of severity and organ damage; thus, there is increasing interest in identifying biomarkers for SLE. In this study we correlated the combined expression level of multiple interferon-inducible chemokines with disease activity, degree of organ damage and clinical features in SLE, and we investigated their roles as biomarkers.

Methods

Peripheral blood cells obtained from 67 patients with SLE patients, 20 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 23 healthy donors were subjected to real-time PCR in order to measure the transcriptional levels of seven interferon-inducible chemokines (RANTES, MCP-1, CCL19, MIG, IP-10, CXCL11, and IL-8). The data were used to calculate a chemokine score for each participant, after which comparisons were performed between various groups of SLE patients and control individuals.

Results

Chemokine scores were significantly elevated in SLE patients versus RA patients and healthy donors (P = 0.012 and P = 0.002, respectively). Chemokine scores were correlated positively with SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 scores (P = 0.005) and negatively with C3 levels (P < 0.001). Compared with patients without lupus nephritis and those with inactive lupus nephritis, chemokine scores were elevated in patients with active lupus nephritis, especially when their daily prednisone dosage was under 30 mg (P = 0.002 and P = 0.014, respectively). Elevated chemokine scores were also associated with the presence of cumulative organ damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American Society of Rheumatology Damage Index ≥ 1; P = 0.010) and the occurrence of anti-Sm or anti-RNP autoantibodies (both P = 0.021).

Conclusions

The combined transcription level of interferon-inducible chemokines in peripheral blood leucocytes is closely associated with disease activity, degree of organ damage, and specific autoantibody patterns in SLE. The chemokine score may serve as a new biomarker for active and severe disease in SLE.
Five-Year Follow-Up of Patients With Advanced Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated With Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation After Nonmyeloablative Conditioning
Authors: Sorror Mohamed L. , Storer Barry E. , Sandmaier Brenda M. , Maris Michael , Shizuru Judith , Maziarz Richard , Agura Edward , Chauncey Thomas R. , Pulsipher Michael A. , McSweeney Peter A. , Wade James C. , Bruno Benedetto , Langston Amelia , Radich Jerald , Niederwieser Dietger , Blume Karl G. , Storb Rainer , Maloney David G.
Published: September 2008

Purpose

We reported encouraging early results of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) after nonmyeloablative conditioning in 64 patients who had advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Here, we have extended the follow-up to a median of 5 years and have included data on an additional 18 patients.

Patients and Methods

Eighty-two patients, age 42 to 72 years, who had fludarabine-refractory CLL were conditioned with 2 Gy total-body irradiation alone or combined with fludarabine followed by HCT from related (n = 52) or unrelated (n = 30) donors.

Results

Complete remission (CR) and partial remission were achieved in 55% and 15% of patients, respectively. Higher CR rates were noted after unrelated HCT (67% v 48%). The 5-year incidences of nonrelapse mortality (NRM), progression/relapse, overall survival, and progression-free survival were 23%, 38%, 50%, and 39%, respectively. Among 25 patients initially reported in CR, 8% relapsed and 8% died as a result of NRM, whereas 84% have remained alive and in CR. Among 14 responding patients who were tested and who had molecular eradication of their disease, two died as a result of NRM, two relapsed, and 10 have remained negative. At 5 years, 76% of living patients were entirely well, whereas 24% continued to receive immunosuppression for chronic graft-versus-host disease; the median performance status in each group was 100% and 90%, respectively. Lymphadenopathy ≥ 5 cm, but not cytogenetic abnormalities at HCT, predicted relapse. In a risk-stratification model, patients who had lymphadenopathy less than 5 cm and no comorbidities had a 5-year OS of 71%.

Conclusion

Nonmyeloablative HCT resulted in a median survival of 5 years for patients who had fludarabine-refractory CLL with sustained remissions and in the continued resolution of chronic graft-versus-host disease in surviving patients.
Formed and preformed metabolites: facts and comparisons
Authors: Pang K Sandy , Morris Marilyn E , Sun Huadong
Published: September 2008

The administration of metabolites arising from new drug entities is often employed in drug discovery to investigate their associated toxicity. It is expected that administration of metabolites can predict the exposure of metabolites originating from the administration of precursor drug. Whether exact and meaningful information can be obtained from this has been a topic of debate. This communication summarizes observations and theoretical relationships based on physiological modelling for the liver, kidney and intestine, three major eliminating organs/tissues. Theoretical solutions based on physiological modelling of organs were solved, and the results suggest that deviations are expected. Here, examples of metabolite kinetics observed mostly in perfused organs that did not match predictions are provided. For the liver, discrepancies in fate between formed and preformed metabolites may be explained by the heterogeneity of enzymes, the presence of membrane barriers and whether transporters are involved. For the kidney, differences have been attributed to glomerular filtration of the preformed but not the formed metabolite. For the intestine, the complexity of segregated flows to the enterocyte and serosal layers and differences in metabolism due to the route of administration are addressed. Administration of the metabolite may or may not directly reflect the toxicity associated with drug use. However, kinetic data on the preformed metabolite will be extremely useful to develop a sound model for modelling and simulations; in-vitro evidence on metabolite handling at the target organ is also paramount. Subsequent modelling and simulation of metabolite data arising from a combined model based on both drug and preformed metabolite data are needed to improve predictions on the behaviours of formed metabolites.
A pH-triggered Reversible Aggregation of Gold Nanorods Modified with Denatured Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Zhu Changqing , Wang Xin , Xia Yunsheng , Wang Peng , Li Yan
Published: September 2008

Water-soluble gold nanorods have been endowed with satisfying chemical stability and functionality through successfully surface modifying with chemically reduced bovine serum albumin. A pH-induced and highly reversible aggregation has been performed with obvious absorption wavelength shifts, allowing monitoring pH in the wide range of 4.2 to 9.4.
Synthesis of 3-Acetoxyacetanilide Derivatives by means of Semmler–Wolff-type Aromatization Reaction of Cyclohexane-1,3-dione Monooximes
Authors: Ishikawa Teruhiko , Arai Masaki , Nishiuchi Hironori , Ishiguro Hiroshi , Saito Seiki
Published: September 2008

A novel method for synthesizing 3-acetoxyaniline derivatives from substituted cyclohexane-1,3-diones is described. This synthetic process includes regioselective formation of cyclohexane-1,3-dione monooximes 2 and their Semmler–Wolff-type aromatization under very simple reaction conditions.
Extending Algebraic Modelling Languages for Stochastic Programming
Authors: Valente Christian , Mitra Gautam , Sadki Mustapha , Fourer Robert
Published: September 2008

Algebraic modelling languages have gained wide acceptance and use by researchers and practitioners in mathematical programming. At a basic level, these languages can define stochastic programming (SP) models by constructing their deterministic equivalents. Unfortunately, this leads to very large model data instances. We propose instead a direct approach in which the random values of the model coefficients and the stage structure of the decision variables and constraints are “overlaid” on the underlying deterministic (core) model of the SP problems. This leads to a natural definition of the SP model, while the resulting generated instance is also a compact representation of the otherwise large problem data. As an example of the workability of our approach, we describe the design of a stochastic extension for the AMPL language that enables the formulation of two-stage and multistage scenario-based recourse problems. This extended language, which we call SAMPL, is in turn embedded in a stochastic programming integrated environment that facilitates modelling and investigation of SP problems.
Immunohistochemical Localization of Six Galectin Subtypes in the Mouse Digestive Tract
Authors: Nio-Kobayashi Junko , Takahashi-Iwanaga Hiromi , Iwanaga Toshihiko
Published: September 2008

Galectin, an animal lectin that recognizes β-galactoside of glycoconjugates, is abundant in the gut. This IHC study showed the subtype-specific localization of galectin in the mouse digestive tract. Mucosal epithelium showed region/cell-specific localization of each galectin subtype. Gastric mucous cells exhibited intense immunoreactions for galectin-2 and galectin-4/6 with a limited localization of galectin-3 at the surface of the gastric mucosa. Electron microscopically, galectin-3 immunoreactivity coated indigenous bacteria on the gastric surface mucous cells. Epithelial cells in the small intestine showed characteristic localizations of galectin-2 and galectin-4/6 in the cytoplasm of goblet cells and the baso-lateral membrane of enterocytes in association with maturation, respectively. Galectin-3 expressed only at the villus tips was concentrated at the myosin-rich terminal web of fully matured enterocytes. Epithelial cells of the large intestine contained intense immunoreactions for galectin-3 and galectin-4/6 but not for galectin-2. The stratified squamous epithelium of the forestomach was immunoreactive for galectin-3 and galectin-7, but the basal layer lacked galectin-3 immunoreactivity. Outside the epithelium, only galectin-1 was localized in the connective tissue, smooth muscles, and neuronal cell bodies. The subtype-specific localization of galectin suggests its important roles in host-pathogen interaction and epithelial homeostasis such as membrane polarization and trafficking in the gut.
Local Color: Donizetti's Il furioso in Naples
Authors: Deasy Martin
Published: September 2008

This article examines the furore aroused by Il furioso's simultaneous triple Neapolitan premiere in 1834. Situating the opera's unusual reception in the context of the complex and vibrant theatrical life of Naples, I describe how the coexistence of multiple versions of Il furioso—prose as well as operatic—inflected the meanings of Donizetti's work. Close attention is paid to the opera's interaction with local performance traditions, notably those obtaining in the city's less prestigious venues, where factors such as the permeability of the “fourth wall” brought the work into dialogue with local urban preoccupations. After considering the close parallels between the buffo slave Kaidamà (played blackface) and Pulcinella, the stock Neapolitan mask, I demonstrate how aspects of Kaidamà's representation unnervingly recalled the class of urban beggars (lazzaroni) that personified Neapolitan backwardness. At the hands of local conventions, Donizetti's work took on a form that, by evoking pervasive discourses of Southern inferiority, raised uncomfortable questions about Neapolitan self-image. The contingent and unpredictable meanings thrown up by Il furioso's reception suggest the potential importance of vernacular performance traditions as a line of future research.
The fine-needle aspiration biopsy efficacy of small thyroid nodules in the area of recently normalized iodine supply
Authors: Słowińska-Klencka Dorota , Popowicz Bożena , Lewiński Andrzej , Sporny Stanisław , Klencki Mariusz
Published: September 2008

Objective

To evaluate the incidence of focal lesions in the thyroid in the area of recently normalized iodine supply as well as to compare the efficacy of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of small (infracentimetric) and large thyroid lesions in this area.

Methods

The outcomes of 13 646 ultrasound (US) examinations, 13 437 US-guided FNABs of the thyroid and 1694 results of post-operative histopathological examinations were analysed.

Results

Infracentimetric nodules (INs ≤10 mm) were revealed by US examinations in 43.5% of patients; in the majority of the cases (82.2%) INs were multiple. The percentage of revealed carcinomas by aspiration of INs is similar to that observed when large nodules (LNs >10 mm) are examined cytologically. However, the efficiency of preoperative diagnosis of INs is lower than LNs with respect to both US selection of lesions for FNAB and the percentage of false negative results of FNAB (29.8 vs 5.4%, P<0.001). In post-operative histopathological examination, extrathyroidal extension of thyroid cancers was observed in nearly 30% of microcarcinomas.

Conclusions

In endemic or post-endemic areas, the efficiency of FNAB is lower in the case of small lesions than larger ones. In spite of this, the percentage of cytologically revealed carcinomas among small lesions is not lower than larger ones. Thus, it is particularly indicated to follow up small thyroid lesions with repeated US examinations in such areas.
Commentary: Practicing on the Tip of an Information Iceberg? Evidence of Underpublication of Registered Clinical Trials in Oncology
Authors: Ramsey Scott , Scoggins John
Published: September 2008

Objective.

Members of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors require, as a condition of consideration for publication, that all clinical trials be registered in a public trials registry. We evaluated the proportion of registered trials that are published in the peer-reviewed literature.

Methods.

After downloading the contents of the National Institutes of Health's ClinicalTrials.gov registry, we used key words to identify trials in oncology. We then evaluated the proportion of trials that had been published in journals listed in PubMed.gov. Among trials with published results, we determined the proportion that reported positive versus negative results.

Results.

Among the 2,028 trials meeting the inclusion criteria, 17.6% were available in PubMed. Twenty-one percent of the trials registered before September 1, 2004 were published, compared with 11.9% of those registered after this date. Trials sponsored by clinical trial networks published the greatest proportion of registered studies (59.0%); studies sponsored by industry published the fewest (5.9%). Among published studies, 64.5% reported the results as positive findings.

Conclusions.

Less than one in five studies in cancer that are registered with clinicaltrials.gov have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Research sponsors, researchers, and journal editors should redouble their efforts to encourage publication of registered clinical trials in oncology.
THE DEMOGRAPHIC CONSEQUENCES OF THE COST OF REPRODUCTION IN UNGULATES
Authors: Proaktor Gil , Coulson Tim , Milner-Gulland E. J.
Published: September 2008

The cost of reproduction can generate covariation between demographic rates that can potentially influence demography and population dynamics in long‐lived iteroparous species. However, there has been relatively little work linking the survival cost of reproduction and population dynamics. The apparent scarcity of information on this important link is potentially due to covariation between vital rates, which can substantially influence fluctuations in population size. In this paper we examine the opportunity for survival costs of reproduction to leave a dynamic signature using a simulation model based broadly on an ungulate life history. We find that an increase in the cost delays the onset of reproduction and reduces reproductive rates of young, but not of prime‐age, females. Accordingly, the number of offspring produced declines and the interval between reproductive events increases among young females experiencing high cost. These effects are translated to an age structure skewed toward young ages and reduced population density. These results suggest that, by delaying reproduction when conditions deteriorate, females protect their survival during the critical first three years of life, after which the negative effect of reproduction on survival declines. Unless conditions for reproduction are severe, it is not profitable to delay reproduction beyond age 3 years due to the high risk of death before having a chance to reproduce. We also demonstrate that lack of adjustment of reproductive strategies to elevated levels of the cost of reproduction, for example due to rapid changes in environmental conditions, results in lower average density and longevity compared to females that have sufficient time to adjust to changes in the cost. This suggests that even moderate costs of reproduction may have a major negative effect on population dynamics of ungulates.
CONSUMPTIVE AND NONCONSUMPTIVE EFFECTS OF PREDATORS ON METACOMMUNITIES OF COMPETING PREY
Authors: Orrock John L. , Grabowski Jonathan H. , Pantel Jelena H. , Peacor Scott D. , Peckarsky Barbara L. , Sih Andrew , Werner Earl E.
Published: September 2008

Although predators affect prey both via consumption and by changing prey migration behavior, the interplay between these two effects is rarely incorporated into spatial models of predator–prey dynamics and competition among prey. We develop a model where generalist predators have consumptive effects (i.e., altering the likelihood of local prey extinction) as well as nonconsumptive effects (altering the likelihood of colonization) on spatially separated prey populations (metapopulations). We then extend this model to explore the effects of predators on competition among prey. We find that generalist predators can promote persistence of prey metapopulations by promoting prey colonization, but predators can also hasten system‐wide extinction by either increasing local extinction or reducing prey migration. By altering rates of prey migration, predators in one location can exert remote control over prey dynamics in another location via predator‐mediated changes in prey flux. Thus, the effect of predators may extend well beyond the proportion of patches they visit. In the context of prey metacommunities, predator‐mediated shifts in prey migration and mortality can shift the competition–colonization trade‐off among competing prey, leading to changes in the prey community as well as changes in the susceptibility of prey species to habitat loss. Consequently, native prey communities may be susceptible to invasion not only by exotic prey species that experience reduced amounts of mortality from resident predators, but also by exotic prey species that exhibit strong dispersal in response to generalist native predators. Ultimately, our work suggests that the consumptive and nonconsumptive effects of generalist predators may have strong, yet potentially cryptic, effects on competing prey capable of mediating coexistence, fostering invasion, and interacting with anthropogenic habitat alteration.
FROM INDIVIDUALS TO ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION: TOWARD AN INTEGRATION OF EVOLUTIONARY AND ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY
Authors: Schmitz Oswald J. , Grabowski Jonathan H. , Peckarsky Barbara L. , Preisser Evan L. , Trussell Geoffrey C. , Vonesh James R.
Published: September 2008

An important goal in ecology is developing general theory on how the species composition of ecosystems is related to ecosystem properties and functions. Progress on this front is limited partly because of the need to identify mechanisms controlling functions that are common to a wide range of ecosystem types. We propose that one general mechanism, rooted in the evolutionary ecology of all species, is adaptive foraging behavior in response to predation risk. To support our claim, we present two kinds of empirical evidence from plant‐based and detritus‐based food chains of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The first kind comes from experiments that explicitly trace how adaptive foraging influences ecosystem properties and functions. The second kind comes from a synthesis of studies that individually examine complementary components of particular ecosystems that together provide an integrated perspective on the link between adaptive foraging and ecosystem function. We show that the indirect effects of predators on plant diversity, plant productivity, nutrient cycling, trophic transfer efficiencies, and energy flux caused by consumer foraging shifts in response to risk are qualitatively different from effects caused by reductions in prey density due to direct predation. We argue that a perspective of ecosystem function that considers effects of consumer behavior in response to predation risk will broaden our capacity to explain the range of outcomes and contingencies in trophic control of ecosystems. This perspective also provides an operational way to integrate evolutionary and ecosystem ecology, which is an important challenge in ecology.
BENTHIC ALGAL PRODUCTION ACROSS LAKE SIZE GRADIENTS: INTERACTIONS AMONG MORPHOMETRY, NUTRIENTS, AND LIGHT
Authors: Vadeboncoeur Yvonne , Peterson Garry , Vander Zanden M. Jake , Kalff Jacob
Published: September 2008

Attached algae play a minor role in conceptual and empirical models of lake ecosystem function but paradoxically form the energetic base of food webs that support a wide variety of fishes. To explore the apparent mismatch between perceived limits on contributions of periphyton to whole‐lake primary production and its importance to consumers, we modeled the contribution of periphyton to whole‐ecosystem primary production across lake size, shape, and nutrient gradients. The distribution of available benthic habitat for periphyton is influenced by the ratio of mean depth to maximum depth (DR = 𝑧^/zmax). We modeled total phytoplankton production from water‐column nutrient availability, 𝑧^, and light. Periphyton production was a function of light‐saturated photosynthesis (BPmax) and light availability at depth. The model demonstrated that depth ratio (DR) and light attenuation strongly determined the maximum possible contribution of benthic algae to lake production, and the benthic proportion of whole‐lake primary production (BPf) declined with increasing nutrients. Shallow lakes (𝑧^ ≤ 5 m) were insensitive to DR and were dominated by either benthic or pelagic primary productivity depending on trophic status. Moderately deep oligotrophic lakes had substantial contributions by benthic primary productivity at low depth ratios and when maximum benthic photosynthesis was moderate or high. Extremely large, deep lakes always had low fractional contributions of benthic primary production. An analysis of the world's largest lakes showed that the shapes of natural lakes shift increasingly toward lower depth ratios with increasing depth, maximizing the potential importance of littoral primary production in large‐lake food webs. The repeatedly demonstrated importance of periphyton to lake food webs may reflect the combination of low depth ratios and high light penetration characteristic of large, oligotrophic lakes that in turn lead to substantial contributions of periphyton to autochthonous production.
SHIFTS IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN FOREST CANOPY AND UNDERSTORY RICHNESS, COMPOSITION, AND HETEROGENEITY
Authors: Rogers David A. , Rooney Thomas P. , Olson Daniel , Waller Donald M.
Published: September 2008

We resurveyed the under‐ and overstory species composition of 94 upland forest stands in southern Wisconsin in 2002–2004 to assess shifts in canopy and understory richness, composition, and heterogeneity relative to the original surveys in 1949–1950. The canopy has shifted from mostly oaks (Quercusspp.) toward more mesic and shade‐tolerant trees (primarilyAcerspp.). Oak‐dominated early‐successional stands and those on coarse, nutrient‐poor soils changed the most in canopy composition. Understories at most sites (80%) lost native species, with mean species density declining 25% at the 1‐m2scale and 23.1% at the 20‐m2scale. Woody species have increased 15% relative to herbaceous species in the understory despite declining in absolute abundance. Initial canopy composition, particularly the abundance of red oaks (Quercus rubraandQ. velutina), predicted understory changes better than the changes observed in the overstory. Overall rates of native species loss were greater in later‐successional stands, a pattern driven by differential immigration rather than differential extirpation. However, understory species initially found in early‐successional habitats declined the most, particularly remnant savanna taxa with narrow or thick leaves. These losses have yet to be offset by compensating increases in native shade‐adapted species. Exotic species have proliferated in prevalence (from 13 to 76 stands) and relative abundance (from 1.2% to 8.4%), but these increases appear unrelated to the declines in native species richness and heterogeneity observed. Although canopy succession has clearly influenced shifts in understory composition and diversity, the magnitude of native species declines and failure to recruit more shade‐adapted species suggest that other factors now act to limit the richness, heterogeneity, and composition of these communities.
REVISITING THE CLASSICS: CONSIDERING NONCONSUMPTIVE EFFECTS IN TEXTBOOK EXAMPLES OF PREDATOR–PREY INTERACTIONS
Authors: Peckarsky Barbara L. , Abrams Peter A. , Bolnick Daniel I. , Dill Lawrence M. , Grabowski Jonathan H. , Luttbeg Barney , Orrock John L. , Peacor Scott D. , Preisser Evan L. , Schmitz Oswald J. , Trussell Geoffrey C.
Published: September 2008

Predator effects on prey dynamics are conventionally studied by measuring changes in prey abundance attributed to consumption by predators. We revisit four classic examples of predator–prey systems often cited in textbooks and incorporate subsequent studies of nonconsumptive effects of predators (NCE), defined as changes in prey traits (e.g., behavior, growth, development) measured on an ecological time scale. Our review revealed that NCE were integral to explaining lynx–hare population dynamics in boreal forests, cascading effects of top predators in Wisconsin lakes, and cascading effects of killer whales and sea otters on kelp forests in nearshore marine habitats. The relative roles of consumption and NCE of wolves on moose and consequent indirect effects on plant communities of Isle Royale depended on climate oscillations. Nonconsumptive effects have not been explicitly tested to explain the link between planktonic alewives and the size structure of the zooplankton, nor have they been invoked to attribute keystone predator status in intertidal communities or elsewhere. We argue that both consumption and intimidation contribute to the total effects of keystone predators, and that characteristics of keystone consumers may differ from those of predators having predominantly NCE. Nonconsumptive effects are often considered as an afterthought to explain observations inconsistent with consumption‐based theory. Consequently, NCE with the same sign as consumptive effects may be overlooked, even though they can affect the magnitude, rate, or scale of a prey response to predation and can have important management or conservation implications. Nonconsumptive effects may underlie other classic paradigms in ecology, such as delayed density dependence and predator‐mediated prey coexistence. Revisiting classic studies enriches our understanding of predator–prey dynamics and provides compelling rationale for ramping up efforts to consider how NCE affect traditional predator–prey models based on consumption, and to compare the relative magnitude of consumptive and NCE of predators.
NESTEDNESS OF REMNANT SONORAN DESERT PLANT COMMUNITIES IN METROPOLITAN PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Authors: Stiles Arthur , Scheiner Samuel M.
Published: September 2008

Urbanization can have profound effects on the plant communities persisting in remnant habitats. That process can be explored by examining patterns of nestedness. Species composition for a set of communities exhibits a nested pattern if species present in progressively richer assemblages form a series of subsets. Nestedness can form as a result of the dynamic processes of extinction or colonization. It can also reflect a nested distribution of habitats among the sites or the differential abundance properties of species through passive sampling. This study investigated whether Sonoran Desert woody vegetation in remnant islands within metropolitan Phoenix is nested and explored which mechanisms are responsible for the pattern. It also examined whether vegetation is nested in similar habitat types across islands, and how species abundance relates to the nested pattern and hypothesized mechanisms. All data sets were significantly nested, indicating a nested pattern at the island and habitat levels. Community‐level analyses did not indicate a primary mechanism leading to the nested pattern. Among species with abundances correlated with the nested rank‐order of sites, abundance properties were significantly related to different variables. This suggests that individual taxa respond to divergent ecological mechanisms, leading to nestedness. Thus, nestedness in plant communities can result from a complex set of contributors and may not be attributable to a single factor.
LEAF HERBIVORY AND DECOMPOSABILITY IN A MALAYSIAN TROPICAL RAIN FOREST
Authors: Kurokawa Hiroko , Nakashizuka Tohru
Published: September 2008

There is accumulating evidence that similar suites of plant traits may affect leaf palatability and leaf litter decomposability. However, the possible association between leaf herbivory and litter decomposition rates across species in species‐diverse natural ecosystems such as tropical rain forests remains unexplored, despite its importance in estimating the herbivory effects on carbon and nutrient cycling of ecosystems. We found no strong association between leaf herbivory and litter decomposition rates across 40 tree species in a Malaysian tropical rain forest, even though the leaf and litter traits were tightly correlated. This is because the leaf and litter traits related to herbivory and decomposition rates in the field were inconsistent. Leaf toughness accounted for only a small part of the variation in the herbivory rate, whereas a number of litter traits (the leaf mass per area, lignin to nitrogen ratio, and condensed tannin concentration) accurately predicted the decomposition rate across species. These results suggest that herbivory rate across species may not be strongly related to single leaf traits, probably because plant–herbivore interactions in tropical rain forests are highly diverse; on the other hand, plant–decomposer interactions are less specific and can be governed by litter chemicals. We also investigated two factors, phylogeny and tree functional types, that could affect the relationship between herbivory and decomposition across species. Phylogenetic relatedness among the species did not affect the relationship between herbivory and decomposition. In contrast, when the plants were segregated according to their leaf emergence pattern, we found a significant positive relationship between herbivory and decomposition rates for continuous‐leafing species. In these species, the condensed tannin to N ratios in leaves and litter were related to herbivory and decomposition rates, respectively. However, we did not observe a similar trend for synchronous‐leafing species. These results suggest that the relationship between herbivory and decomposition may be more greatly affected by functional types than by phylogenetic relatedness among species. In conclusion, our results suggest that well‐defended leaves are not necessarily less decomposable litter in a tropical rain forest community, implying that herbivory may not generate positive feedback for carbon and nutrient cycling in this type of ecosystem.
A GENERAL MODEL FOR ANALYZING TAYLOR'S SPATIAL SCALING LAWS
Authors: Engen Steinar , Lande Russell , Sæther Bernt-Erik
Published: September 2008

Taylor's spatial scaling law concerns the relation between the variance and the mean population counts within areas of a given size. For a range of area sizes, the log of the variance often is an approximately linear function of the mean with a slope between 1 and 2, depending on the range of areas considered. In this paper, we investigate this relationship theoretically for random quadrat samples within a large area. The model makes a distinction between the local point process determining the position of each individual and the population density described by a spatial covariance function. The local point process and the spatial covariance of population density both contribute to the general relationship between the mean and the variance in which the slope may begin at 1, increase to 2, and decrease to 1 again. It is demonstrated by an example that the slope theoretically may exceed 2 by a small amount for very regular patterns that generate spatial covariance functions that increase in certain intervals. We also show how properties of population dynamics in space and time determine this relationship.
TRAIT‐MEDIATED EFFECTS ON FLOWERS: ARTIFICIAL SPIDERS DECEIVE POLLINATORS AND DECREASE PLANT FITNESS
Authors: Gonçalves-Souza Thiago , Omena Paula M. , Souza José César , Romero Gustavo Q.
Published: September 2008

Although predators can affect foraging behaviors of floral visitors, rarely is it known if these top‐down effects of predators may cascade to plant fitness through trait‐mediated interactions. In this study we manipulated artificial crab spiders on flowers of Rubus rosifolius to test the effects of predation risk on flower‐visiting insects and strength of trait‐mediated indirect effects to plant fitness. In addition, we tested which predator traits (e.g., forelimbs, abdomen) are recognized and avoided by pollinators. Total visitation rate was higher for control flowers than for flowers with an artificial crab spider. In addition, flowers with a sphere (simulating a spider abdomen) were more frequently visited than those with forelimbs or the entire spider model. Furthermore, the presence of artificial spiders decreased individual seed set by 42% and fruit biomass by 50%. Our findings indicate that pollinators, mostly bees, recognize and avoid flowers with predation risk; forelimbs seem to be the predator trait recognized and avoided by hymenopterans. Additionally, predator avoidance by pollinators resulted in pollen limitation, thereby affecting some components of plant fitness (fruit biomass and seed number). Because most pollinator species that recognized predation risk visited many other plant species, trait‐mediated indirect effects of spiders cascading down to plant fitness may be a common phenomenon in the Atlantic rainforest ecosystem.
EXPERIMENTAL WARMING SHOWS THAT DECOMPOSITION TEMPERATURE SENSITIVITY INCREASES WITH SOIL ORGANIC MATTER RECALCITRANCE
Authors: Conant Richard T. , Steinweg J. Megan , Haddix Michelle L. , Paul Eldor A. , Plante Alain F. , Six Johan
Published: September 2008

Soil C decomposition is sensitive to changes in temperature, and even small increases in temperature may prompt large releases of C from soils. But much of what we know about soil C responses to global change is based on short‐term incubation data and model output that implicitly assumes soil C pools are composed of organic matter fractions with uniform temperature sensitivities. In contrast, kinetic theory based on chemical reactions suggests that older, more‐resistant C fractions may be more temperature sensitive. Recent research on the subject is inconclusive, indicating that the temperature sensitivity of labile soil organic matter (OM) decomposition could either be greater than, less than, or equivalent to that of resistant soil OM. We incubated soils at constant temperature to deplete them of labile soil OM and then successively assessed the CO2‐C efflux in response to warming. We found that the decomposition response to experimental warming early during soil incubation (when more labile C remained) was less than that later when labile C was depleted. These results suggest that the temperature sensitivity of resistant soil OM pools is greater than that for labile soil OM and that global change‐driven soil C losses may be greater than previously estimated.
LONG‐TERM REACTIONS OF PLANTS AND MACROINVERTEBRATES TO EXTREME FLOODS IN FLOODPLAIN GRASSLANDS
Authors: Ilg Christiane , Dziock Frank , Foeckler Francis , Follner Klaus , Gerisch Michael , Glaeser Judith , Rink Anke , Schanowski Arno , Scholz Mathias , Deichner Oskar , Henle Klaus
Published: September 2008

Extreme summertime flood events are expected to become more frequent in European rivers due to climate change. In temperate areas, where winter floods are common, extreme floods occurring in summer, a period of high physiological activity, may seriously impact floodplain ecosystems. Here we report on the effects of the 2002 extreme summer flood on flora and fauna of the riverine grasslands of the Middle Elbe (Germany), comparing pre‐ and post‐flooding data collected by identical methods. Plants, mollusks, and carabid beetles differed considerably in their response in terms of abundance and diversity. Plants and mollusks, displaying morphological and behavioral adaptations to flooding, showed higher survival rates than the carabid beetles, the adaptation strategies of which were mainly linked to life history. Our results illustrate the complexity of responses of floodplain organisms to extreme flood events. They demonstrate that the efficiency of resistance and resilience strategies is widely dependent on the mode of adaptation.
Assessment of clinical reasoning skills in veterinary students prior to and after the clinical year of training
Authors: Farnsworth Charles C. , Herman James D. , Osterstock Jason B. , Porterpan Brandy L. , Willard Michael D. , Hooper R. Neil , Roussel Allen J. , Schmitz David G. , Fogelberg Katherine , Kochevar Deborah T.
Published: September 2008

Objective—To examine the effect of various clinical tracks within the veterinary medical clinical curriculum at Texas A&M University on clinical diagnostic proficiency as determined by pre- and post-training assessment. We expected that the clinical track chosen by the student would impact their measured outcome with bias toward higher scores in their chosen field.

Design—Prospective cohort study.

Study Population—32 students from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University.

Procedures—By use of standardized, written case scenarios, clinical reasoning was assessed twice: once prior to the clinical (fourth) year of the curriculum and again at completion of the clinical year. Students demonstrated their abilities to collect and organize appropriate clinical data (history, physical examination, and laboratory findings), determine clinical diagnoses, and formulate and implement acceptable treatment modalities. Data from clinical assessments were compared for a given cohort and correlated with other measures (eg, grades, standardized test scores, and species-specific curricular track).

Results—Differences were detected in clinical diagnostic proficiency among students in different clinical tracks and for different species groups in the case scenarios. Tracking by species group in the clinical veterinary curriculum appeared to affect development of clinical reasoning and resulted in differential proficiency among cases for differing species groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Differences in clinical experiences between small animal tracks and all other track opportunities (large animal, mixed animal, and alternative) influenced the development of clinical proficiency in fourth-year veterinary students during their clinical training period.
Trends in gender, employment, salary, and debt of graduates of US veterinary medical schools and colleges
Authors: Chieffo Carla , Kelly Alan M. , Ferguson James
Published: September 2008

Objective—To characterize trends in gender, employment, starting salaries, and educational debt of graduates of US veterinary medical schools and colleges from 1988 to 2007.

Design—Meta-analysis.

Sample Population—Veterinary medical graduates from 26 or 27 of 27 US veterinary schools and colleges from 1988 through 2007.

Procedures—Data were obtained from surveys published in the JAVMA. A χ2 test for trend was used to analyze trends in choices of employment and educational indebtedness for the veterinary graduate populations over time.

Results—The greatest changes in employment occurred in predominantly large animal practice, which attracted 10.7% of new graduates in 1989 but only 2.2% in 2007, and in advanced study, which attracted 15.2% of new graduates in 1989 and 36.8% in 2007. In 2007, 75% of graduates were women, but this gender shift was not associated with the decline in the percentage of graduates entering rural practice. From 1989 through 2007, starting salaries in private practice increased at a rate of 4.60%/y. During the same period, educational debt increased at an annual rate of 7.36%, or 60% higher than the rate of increases for starting salaries. As a result, debt at graduation increased from 1.1 times the starting salary in 1989 to 2.0 times the starting salary in 2007.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Veterinary students are now more in debt than they have ever been. This trend together with a substantial increase in the rate of interest charged for government-backed education loans create conditions for new graduates that appear unsustainable.
Development of a clinical severity index for dogs with acute pancreatitis
Authors: Mansfield Caroline S. , James Fleur E. , Robertson Ian D.
Published: September 2008

Objective—To establish a clinical severity index that correlates severity of body system abnormalities with outcome in dogs with acute pancreatitis (AP) and determine the usefulness of serum C-reactive protein (C-RP) concentration as an objective measure of AP severity.

Design—Retrospective cohort study.

Animals—61 client-owned dogs with ultrasonographically or histologically confirmed AP.

Procedures—Medical records of AP-affected dogs were reviewed, and signalment, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic data, and outcome (death or discharge from the hospital) were evaluated. The correlation of specific abnormalities in endocrine, hepatic, renal, hematopoietic, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems; local pancreatic complications; and intestinal integrity were evaluated, and a clinical severity index was developed for AP in dogs. The severity index score was compared with outcome and, for 12 dogs, with serum C-RP concentration.

Results—The clinical severity index had a good correlation with outcome and interval from hospital admission until end point (days until outcome), but there was no difference in days until outcome between survivors and nonsurvivors. All 12 dogs evaluated had high serum C-RP concentration, but this variable was not related to outcome; however, within a 2-day period after onset of clinical signs, serum C-RP concentration in survivors and nonsurvivors differed significantly.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Among AP-affected dogs, the clinical severity index may be useful for treatment comparisons and prediction of intensive management requirements. Serum C-RP concentration was best related to AP severity within a 2-day period after onset of clinical signs, but daily measurement may be more useful for monitoring progress.
Computed tomography–guided brain biopsy for in vivo diagnosis of a cholesterinic granuloma in a horse
Authors: Vanschandevijl Katleen , Gielen Ingrid , Nollet Heidi , Vlaminck Lieven , Deprez Piet , van Bree Henri
Published: September 2008

Case Description—An 8-year-old warmblood mare was evaluated following an acute onset of neurologic abnormalities.

Clinical Findings—Computed tomography of the head revealed large masses in both lateral ventricles, and a presumptive diagnosis of cholesterinic granuloma was made.

Treatment and Outcome—Freehand biopsy of the intracranial masses was performed under computed tomographic guidance, and histologic examination of biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis. No adverse effects associated with the brain biopsy procedure were encountered. Clinical signs resolved, and long-term follow-up did not reveal any recurrence of neurologic deficits. The horse was able to return to its previous level of training.

Clinical Relevance—Findings suggested that computed tomographic–guided brain biopsy is feasible in horses and can be used to establish a diagnosis in horses with intracranial masses.
Drivers' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yunesian Masud , Mesdaghinia Alireza , Moradi Ali , Vash Javad Homayoun
Published: September 2008

A cross-sectional survey was conducted by random cluster sampling in the city of Tehran. Knowledge of the drivers was assessed with 6 questions about national traffic laws. Attitude was assessed on a 7-item scale of drivers' perceptions. Behavior was observed by a police officer on 13 areas of assessment. Correlations were low among these three scores. Drivers with advanced education had higher scores on behavior. Knowledge, attitude, and behavior of these drivers did not seem associated.
Semantically Induced Memories of Love and Helping Behavior
Authors: Lamy Lubomir , Fischer-Lokou Jacques , Guéguen Nicolas
Published: September 2008

This study tested the effect of semantically induced thoughts of love on helping behavior. In a natural setting, 253 participants were interviewed and asked to retrieve the memory of a love episode or, in the control condition, a piece of music they loved. They then met another confederate who asked for money. Analysis showed that inducing the idea of love had a significant positive effect on compliance to a request by a male passerby who was asked for help by a female confederate, but not by a female passerby. Theoretical explanations are presented, based on a gender-role expectation hypothesis.
Social Comparison and prosocial behavior: An applied study of social identity theory in community food drives
Authors: Shipley Andrew
Published: September 2008

Social Identity Theory and the concept of social comparison have inspired research on individuals, addressing effects of personal and environmental factors in directing social attention. The theory's conceptual origins, however, suggest that social comparison may have behavioral implications as well. Such behaviors may include attempts by an individual to enhance the relative status of his ingroup on a salient dimension of comparison. Such behavior is referred to as “social competition.” In two studies, the effects of social comparison and social competition were measured in the real-world environment of community food drives. Participants were aggregated by household; 600 households in upper middle-class neighborhoods in Eugene and Salem, Oregon, were contacted. In Study 1 of 300 households, it was hypothesized that inclusion of a social competition cue in requests for donation would significantly increase the likelihood of donation. This hypothesis was supported. Study 2 was done to clarify the possible role in a social comparison of perceived ingroup inferiority in the prior observed increase in donations. The inclusion of a social comparison cue in the donation request significantly increased donations in households of the second study. The findings suggest that researchers should expand study of the theory's behavioral implications, including the role of social comparison in prosocial behavior.