bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sequence of changes in myocardial performance index in relation to aortic isthmus and ductus venosus Doppler in fetuses with early‐onset intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Cruz‐Martinez R. , Figueras F. , Benavides‐Serralde A. , Crispi F. , Hernandez‐Andrade E. , Gratacos E.
Published: December 2010

Objective

To explore the sequence of changes in myocardial performance index (MPI) and aortic isthmus (AoI) and ductus venosus (DV) flow in fetuses with early‐onset intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Methods

MPI and AoI and DV pulsatility indices (PI) were evaluated every 1–7 days in a cohort of IUGR fetuses with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler PI (> 95th percentile) delivered before 34 weeks' gestation. The longitudinal changes were analyzed in the last 30 days before delivery by multilevel and survival analysis.

Results

A total of 430 scans were performed on 115 IUGR fetuses. MPI, AoI‐PI and DV‐PI showed increases with the progression of fetal deterioration throughout the follow‐up study period, but the rates of progression were different. On average, MPI, AoI‐PI and DV‐PI crossed the 95th percentile at 26 days, 12 days and 5 days before delivery, respectively. At the last examination before delivery, the proportion of increased MPI (70.4%) was significantly higher than that of abnormal AoI‐PI (55.7%; P < 0.01) and DV‐PI (47.8%; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

In early‐onset IUGR, MPI and AoI and DV Doppler indices all increase but at different rates, which could provide the basis for further research on their use for improving in‐utero monitoring and prediction of long‐term outcome. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Informed decision‐making about the fetal anomaly scan: what knowledge is relevant?
Authors: Schoonen H. M. H. J. D. , Essink‐Bot M. L. , Van AGT H. M. E. , Wildschut H. I. , Steegers E. A. P. , De Koning H. J.
Published: December 2010

Objectives

This study had two objectives. The first was to determine the contents of relevant knowledge needed for informed decision‐making (IDM) in second‐trimester ultrasound screening for fetal anomalies, with the goal of developing a knowledge measure for use in large‐scale program evaluations. The second was to compare the contents of decision‐relevant knowledge for second‐trimester ultrasound screening with those for first‐trimester screening for Down syndrome using the combined test.

Methods

A generic list of content domains for knowledge about screening was extracted from the literature. Items reflecting specific knowledge domains for second‐trimester ultrasound screening were constructed. An expert group of professionals and pregnant women expressed whether domains and items represented decision‐relevant knowledge.

Results

Regarding second‐trimester ultrasound screening, the experts scored all knowledge domains as (very) important. The meaning of an abnormal test result, the disorders being screened for, and the purpose of the screening were rated as very important for IDM, along with the voluntary nature of the test. All knowledge domains were included in the final measure. Importance ratings of knowledge domains for first‐trimester Down syndrome screening and for second‐trimester ultrasound screening were highly correlated (Pearson's r = 0.71). The domain ‘consequences of a positive test result’ was considered more important in first‐trimester Down syndrome screening than in second‐trimester ultrasound screening.

Conclusions

We have developed a knowledge measure for second‐trimester ultrasound screening for fetal anomalies for use in routine, large‐scale program evaluations. Copyright © 2011 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hochvakuumpumpe gegen Atmosphäre
Authors: Shirinov Aleksandr
Published: December 2010

Die OnToolTMBooster‐Vakuumpumpe besteht aus Seitenkanal‐ und HolweckPumpstufen, erzielt einen Druck von 10−5mbar (10−3Pa) und arbeitet gegen Atmosphäre. An Seitenkanal‐Pumpstufen durchgeführte Forschungsarbeiten zeigen auf, wie Kompression und Saugvermögen erhöht und die Leistungsaufnahme gesenkt werden können. Die Versuche belegen, dass Rotoren mit beidseitig bearbeiteten Radialschaufeln am Umfang des Rotors bessere Leistungsdaten aufweisen als Rotoren mit nur einseitig bearbeiteten Radial‐, halbrunden oder geraden Schaufeln. Außerdem zeigte sich, dass die Kompression der SeitenkanalPumpstufen von der Anzahl der Radialschaufeln am Rotorumfang abhängt. Die Kompression der SeitenkanalPumpstufen erreicht ihr Maximum bei einer bestimmten Anzahl von Radialschaufeln im RotorNm=D · km, weil die Bewegungs‐ und Energieübertragung vom Rotor in das Gas im Seitenkanal bei dieser Radialschaufelanzahl ihren höchsten Wert erreicht. Durch eine Reduzierung der Axialspalte zwischen Rotor und Stator steigt die Kompression der Seitenkanal‐Pumpstufen wie erwartet aufgrund der geringeren Undichtigkeit entlang der Spalte.
Race-Conscious Policy Analysis and the Healthcare Reform Debate
Authors: Myers Samuel L.
Published: December 2010

There is an inherent tension between cost containment and expansion of coverage for the uninsured. African Americans disproportionately benefit from expanded health care options but they also bear a disproportionate burden in attempts to control costs. This recognition justifies a race-conscious analysis of health policy changes that appear race-neutral on their face.
Reasoning about modesty among adolescents and adults in China and the U.S.
Authors: Genyue Fu , Heyman Gail D. , Lee Kang
Published: December 2010

Reasoning about modesty was examined among adolescents and young adults in China and the U.S. Participants made moral judgments of story characters who did a good deed and either truthfully accepted credit for it, or falsely denied having done it. The social context in which statements occurred was manipulated, with some made in private and others in front of a class. Chinese participants judged accepting credit for good deeds less favorably and lying in the service of modesty more favorably than did participants from the U.S. In each country, older participants judged modesty‐based lies more favorably when they were told in public. Additionally, a high collectivist orientation and low individualistic orientation was associated with higher ratings of modesty‐based lying in public, which provides the first direct link between endorsement of these values and moral judgments about lie‐telling.
The workings and limits of subliminal advertising: The role of habits
Authors: Verwijmeren Thijs , Karremans Johan C. , Stroebe Wolfgang , Wigboldus Daniël H.J.
Published: December 2010

Despite years of controversy, recent research demonstrated that, if goal‐relevant, subliminal advertising can be feasible. To further elucidate the workings and limits of subliminal advertising, the present study examined the role of habits. Participants chose between two brands, one of which was subliminally primed. If neither brand was habitually consumed more frequently than the other, results from previous research were replicated. However, subliminally priming the more habitual brand did not increase brand choice. Remarkably, when the advertised brand was competing with a more habitual brand, priming increased choice for the primed brand at even the expense of the habitual choice.
Urethral obstruction in cats: Predisposing factors, clinical, clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis
Authors: Segev Gilad , Livne Hofit , Ranen Eyal , Lavy Eran
Published: December 2010

Feline lower urinary tract diseases in general, and urethral obstruction (UO) in particular, are common clinical conditions in cats. The aims of this study were to identify risk factors for UO, to characterise clinical and clinicopathological signs, outcome and recurrence, as well as risk factors for mortality and recurrence. Eighty-two cats with UO were compared to 82 sex and time matched controls. The mean age of cats with UO was significantly lower compared to controls, while the mean body weight was higher. The proportion of indoors–outdoors cats was significantly lower in the study group compared to the control group, and the proportion of cats consuming only dry food was higher. Overall mortality was 8.5%. Ionised calcium was significantly higher in survivors compared to non-survivors, and the prevalence of hypocalcaemia was lower. Recurrence in 6 months and 2 years were 22% and 24%, respectively. Cats with recurrence had significantly lower urine pH at presentation.
Ameliorative effects of konjac glucomannan on human faecal β-glucuronidase activity, secondary bile acid levels and faecal water toxicity towards Caco-2 cells
Authors: Wu Wen-Tzu , Cheng Han-Chung , Chen Hsiao-Ling
Published: December 2010

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) has been shown to increase human colon microbial ecology and reduce faecal toxicity in mice. The main goal of the present study was to assess the effects of a KGM supplement into a low-fibre diet on precancerous markers of colon cancer in a double-blind, placebo- and diet-controlled study. Adult volunteers consumed defined diets supplemented with konjac (4·5 g/d) or placebo (maize starch) for 4 weeks. Stools collected before and at the end of the supplementation were analysed for β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase and β-glucuronidase activities, microflora and bile acids. Faecal water was co-incubated with Caco-2 cells, a model of human colonocytes, to determine the cytotoxicity and DNA-damaging effect as assessed by the comet assay. The results indicated that the KGM supplement significantly decreased faecal β-glucuronidase activity by 25·6 (se7·8) % and faecal secondary bile acid level by 42·4 (se11·8) %. In contrast, consuming the defined diet supplemented with placebo for 4 weeks did not improve these determinants. The KGM-supplemented diet, but not the placebo diet, significantly increased the survival rate (%) of Caco-2 cells co-incubated with faecal water for 1 and 3 h, respectively. In addition, KGM significantly reduced the DNA damage induced by the faecal water alone or in combination with H2O2. The faecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli levels increased only with the KGM-supplemented diet. Therefore, we conclude that supplementation of KGM into a low-fibre diet improved the faecal microbial ecology and metabolites, which may contribute to the reduced toxicity of faecal water and precancerous risk factors of human colon cancer.
A possible role of plasma aldosterone in hypotension secondary to iron-deficiency anaemia combined with zinc deficiency in rats
Authors: Konomi Aki , Yokoi Katsuhiko
Published: December 2010

Patients with Fe-deficiency anaemia are often afflicted by hypotension. However, the mechanism of secondary hypotension in Fe-deficiency anaemia is unknown. To investigate the pathogenesis of secondary hypotension in Fe-deficiency anaemia, we examined the effects of Fe deprivation on plasma aldosterone concentration and blood pressure in rats. A total of forty 4-week-old male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned into four treatment groups of ten each for the 4-week study: Fe-deficient group (FD), Zn-deficient group (ZD), Fe/Zn-deficient group (FZD) and control group (CON). At days 26 and 27, blood pressure was measured by the tail-cuff method. Plasma aldosterone concentration was determined by ELISA. The data were analysed by Tukey's multiple comparison test. Rats in the FZD had significantly lower mean blood pressure (P < 0·01) and diastolic blood pressures (P < 0·05) and plasma aldosterone concentration (P < 0·01) compared to the CON. These results suggest that blood pressure is decreased in Fe-deficiency anaemia combined with Zn deficiency partly due to decreased circulating aldosterone concentrations in addition to decreased haematocrit.
Informal Social Networks and Rational Voting
Authors: Abrams Samuel , Iversen Torben , Soskice David
Published: December 2010

Classical rational choice explanations of voting participation are widely thought to have failed. This article argues that the currently dominant Group Mobilization and Ethical Agency approaches have serious shortcomings in explaining individually rational turnout. It develops an informal social network (ISN) model in which people rationally vote if their informal networks of family and friends attach enough importance to voting, because voting leads to social approval and vice versa. Using results from the social psychology literature, research on social groups in sociology and their own survey data, the authors argue that the ISN model can explain individually rational non-altruistic turnout. If group variables that affect whether voting is used as a marker of individual standing in groups are included, the likelihood of turnout rises dramatically.
A Gentleman and a Scholar—and an Editor Par Excellence
Authors: Madigan Kevin J. , Levenson Jon D.
Published: December 2010

That the editorship of the Harvard Theological Review should take two individuals to succeed Prof. Bovon will come as no surprise to those who know him. A scholar's scholar, he has published a large number of learned and acclaimed studies. These studies include his four-volume commentary on the Gospel according to Luke, which has now appeared in four languages with a fifth to follow, and his groundbreaking studies on the apocryphal literature of early Christianity. He has written an important reconstruction of the last days of Jesus and how the early church interpreted them, as well as probing explorations of exegetical method. His works include three volumes, published for a more popular audience, and nearly two hundred articles and chapters that have appeared in scholarly books. Prof. Bovon does not limit his oeuvre to commenting with masterful erudition on published works. His work has taken him to the libraries of the monasteries on Mount Sinai and Mount Athos and to the Bodleian Library in Oxford in search of key documents from the early history of Christianity.
Earth Accuses Earth: Tracing What Jesus Wrote on the Ground
Authors: Knust Jennifer , Wasserman Tommy
Published: December 2010

The story of the woman taken in adultery (John 7:53–8:11) has a long, complex history. Well-known in the Latin West, the story was neglected but not forgotten in the East. Incorporated within Late Antique and Early Medieval Gospel manuscripts, depicted in Christian art, East and West, and included within the developing liturgies of Rome and Constantinople, the passage has fascinated interpreters for centuries despite irregularities in its transmission.1Throughout this long history, one narrative detail has been of particular interest: the content and significance of Jesus— writing. Discussed in sermons, elaborated in manuscripts, and depicted in magnificent illuminations, Jesus— writing has inspired interpreters at least since the fourth century, when Ambrose of Milan first mentioned it. Offering his opinion on the propriety of capital punishment, the bishop turned to the pericope in order to argue that Christians do well to advocate on behalf of the condemned since, by doing so, they imitate the mercy of Christ. Nevertheless, he averred, the imposition of capital punishment remains an option for Christian rulers and judges. After all, God also judges and condemns, as Christ showed when, responding to the men questioning him and accusing the adulteress, he wrote twice on the ground. Demonstrating that “the Jews were condemned by both testaments,” Christ bent over and wrote “with the finger with which he had written the law,” or so the bishop claimed.2Ambrose offered a further conjecture in a subsequent letter: Jesus wrote “earth, earth, write that these men have been disowned,” a saying he attributes to Jeremiah (compare Jer 22:29),3. As Jeremiah also explains, “Those who have been disowned by their Father are written on the ground,” but the names of Christians are written in heaven.4
Digging Holes and Building Pillars: Simeon Stylites and the “Geometry” of Ascetic Practice
Authors: Stang Charles M.
Published: December 2010

In Constantine P. Cavafy's 1917 poem, “Simeon,” a young cultured aesthete (probably from Antioch), writes his friend Mebis about a recent chance encounter with the famous stylite that left him “shattered, unnerved, and aghast,” and entirely unfit to resume his sophistic career inbelles lettres:

Ah, don—t smile; for thirty-five years, think of it—

winter, summer, daytime, night, for thirty-five

years he's been living, martyring himself, atop a pillar.

Before we were born—I—m twenty-nine years old,

you are, I think, younger than I am—

before we were born, imagine it,

Simeon climbed up that pillar.

And since that time he has stayed there facing God.1
Socio-cultural aspects of cow–calf operation persistence in a peri-urban county in Iowa
Authors: Wiltshire Karie , Delate Kathleen , Flora Jan , Wiedenhoeft Mary
Published: December 2010

Cow–calf operations in grass-based agricultural systems in Marion County, Iowa, are multifunctional in their provision of agronomic, ecological, economic and social uses. Since 1992, however, pastureland and cow–calf operations have decreased because of urban encroachment, leading to a speculative loss of some beneficial functions. The goal of this interdisciplinary project, conducted from 2003 to 2005, was to employ a farming systems research and evaluation platform to investigate grassland multifunctionality at farm, field and community levels. A socio-cultural analysis was conducted with the objective of identifying motivations of cow–calf operators to remain on the land despite increasing urban pressure. Environmental, as well as socio-economic, parameters were evaluated in understanding grassland multifunctionality in semi-structured interviews and a focus group. Typology classes derived from the study placed the majority of participants as maintaining integrated cattle and grain operations as full-time income sources. At the farm and community levels, themes from participants’ responses suggested that the relevance of profit from a cow–calf operation is mediated by a wide range of livelihood and lifestyle choices, and that operators have diverse criteria regarding the suitability of land for pasture. Themes encompassing farm preservation and building intergenerational social capital were particularly evident among the full-time, integrated cattle/grain crop family farm members. At the community level, governmental policies rewarding practices that increase field and farm biodiversity, as demonstrated by a prairie pasture system implemented in a follow-up on-farm experiment, will facilitate greater support of grass-based systems from local institutions. In order to address the educational needs expressed by study participants, extension and federal environmental agencies are encouraged to provide relevant design and implementation recommendations in recognition of local knowledge related to farmland multifunctionality and sustainable land usage for integrated crop and livestock operations.
International law protecting the environment during armed conflict: gaps and opportunities
Authors: Bothe Michael , Bruch Carl , Diamond Jordan , Jensen David
Published: December 2010

There are three key deficiencies in the existing body of international humanitarian law (IHL) relating to protection of the environment during armed conflict. First, the definition of impermissible environmental damage is both too restrictive and unclear; second, there are legal uncertainties regarding the protection of elements of the environment as civilian objects; and third, the application of the principle of proportionality where harm to the environment constitutes ‘collateral damage’ is also problematic. These gaps present specific opportunities for clarifying and developing the existing framework. One approach to addressing some of the inadequacies of IHL could be application of international environmental law during armed conflict. The detailed norms, standards, approaches, and mechanisms found in international environmental law might also help to clarify and extend basic principles of IHL to prevent, address, or assess liability for environmental damage incurred during armed conflict.
Ocean wave spectrum properties as derived from quasi‐exact computations of nonlinear wave‐wave interactions
Authors: Gagnaire‐Renou E. , Benoit M. , Forget P.
Published: December 2010

The estimation of nonlinear wave‐wave interactions is one of the central problems in the development of operational and research models for ocean wave prediction. In this paper, we present results obtained with a numerical model based on a quasi‐exact computation of the nonlinear wave‐wave interactions called the Gaussian quadrature method (GQM) that gives both precise and computationally efficient calculations of the four‐wave interactions. Two situations are presented: a purely nonlinear evolution of the spectrum and a duration‐limited case. Properties of the directional wave spectrum obtained using GQM and the Discrete Interaction Approximation Method (DIM) are compared. Different expressions for the wind input and dissipation terms are considered. Our results are consistent with theoretical predictions. In particular, they reproduce the self‐similar evolution of the spectrum. The bimodality of the directional distribution of the spectrum at frequencies lower and greater than the peak frequency is shown to be a strong feature of the sea states, which is consistent with high‐resolution field measurements. Results show that nonlinear interactions constitute the key mechanism responsible for bimodality, but forcing terms also have a quantitative effect on the directional distribution of the spectrum. The influence of wind and dissipation parameterizations on the high‐frequency shape of the spectrum is also highlighted. The imposition of a parametric high‐frequency tail has a significant effect not only on the high‐frequency shape of the spectrum but also on the energy level and peak period and on the global directional distribution.
Steady downslope movement on the western flank of Arenal volcano, Costa Rica
Authors: Ebmeier S. K. , Biggs J. , Mather T. A. , Wadge G. , Amelung F.
Published: December 2010

The edifice of a volcano is a unique deformational environment, dependent not just on active volcanic processes but also on its composition, structure, and morphology. We measured the deformation of Volcán Arenal, Costa Rica, using interferograms constructed from both ALOS and RadarSat data between 2005 and 2009. The volcano's western flanks are moving downslope at an angle of ∼55° below the horizontal plane and a consistent rate of at least ∼7 cm/yr. We use the pattern, rate, and direction of motion to test several hypotheses for its origin. Our favored explanation is creep along a shallow sliding plane, most likely the interface between deposits postdating the 1968 lateral blast eruption and the older lavas and paleosoils beneath. Our measurement of slope movement adds to a small set of rate measurements for gravity‐driven deformation at volcanoes and is distinctive in both its relatively high rate and shallow origin. Observation of deformation at Arenal contributes both to the assessment of particular hazards around Arenal itself and, more generally, to the study of the stability of young stratovolcanoes.
CH4‐CO2 replacement in hydrate‐bearing sediments: A pore‐scale study
Authors: Jung J. W. , Santamarina J. Carlos
Published: December 2010

The injection of CO2 into CH4 hydrate‐bearing sediments causes the release of CH4 and the formation of CO2 hydrate within the CH4 hydrate stability field. CH4‐CO2 replacement allows for the recovery of an energy source, CH4, while trapping CO2. In this study, we monitor pore‐scale changes in electrical resistance and relative stiffness during CH4 hydrate formation, CH4‐CO2 replacement, and hydrate dissociation; experiments are also observed using high‐resolution time‐lapsed photography. Results show that CH4‐CO2 replacement occurs locally and gradually so that the overall hydrate mass remains solid and no stiffness loss should be expected at the sediment scale. Other experimental results confirm the slow diffusion of CH4 through the hydrate shell that forms between water and gas; this may allow for the coexistence of gas‐hydrate‐water phases for long periods of time.
Cyclic‐AMP‐dependent protein kinase A regulates apoptosis by stabilizing the BH3‐only protein Bim
Authors: Moujalled Diane , Weston Ross , Anderton Holly , Ninnis Robert , Goel Pranay , Coley Andrew , Huang David CS , Wu Li , Strasser Andreas , Puthalakath Hamsa
Published: December 2010

The proapoptotic Bcl2 homology domain 3(BH3)‐only protein Bim is controlled by stringent post‐translational regulation, predominantly through alterations in phosphorylation status. To identify new kinases involved in its regulation, we carried out a yeast two‐hybrid screen using a non‐spliceable variant of the predominant isoform—BimEL—as the bait and identified the regulatory subunit of cyclic‐AMP‐dependent protein kinase A—PRKAR1A—as an interacting partner. We also show that protein kinase A (PKA) is a BimEL isoform‐specific kinase that promotes its stabilization. Inhibition of PKA or mutation of the PKA phosphorylation site within BimEL resulted in its accelerated proteasome‐dependent degradation. These results might have implications for human diseases that are characterized by abnormally increased PKA activity, such as the Carney complex and dilated cardiomyopathy.
Agricultural policies, food and public health
Authors: Popkin Barry M
Published: December 2010

A historical view on how our agricultural systems evolved and how they are contributing to obesity and disease.
Promises and Limitations in the Application of Cell Therapy for Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Gorodetsky Raphael
Published: December 2010

Stem cells research soared in recent years with the attempt to combine those cells from different sources with different matrices and apply them for regenerative medicine. There are a variety of potential types of cells that could be defined as stem cells. These include progenitor cells from adult tissues, cells from embryonic sources (ES), adult multipotent cells and those that were induced to acquire stem cells properties (IPS). New sophisticated matrices assembled from synthetic or bio-polymers were proposed as scaffolds for such cellular implants. Nevertheless, there is a major difficulty in translating knowledge in this field of cellular biology for tissue engineering. The cells induced to differentiate tend to age and lose their proliferative potential and it is difficult to introduce them into tissues so that they could replace cells in damaged tissues. Multipotent cells may not differentiate into the phenotype of interest. Moreover, some types may be teratogenic and induce malignant tumors. In direct implantation of matrix-dependent cells into tissues and organs, as well as through the circulation the vast fraction of the trypsinized matrix-dependent cells maybe lost in the procedure, not survive the implantation or may not integrate into the damaged tissues. Another difficulty is the limited ability of the cells to home towards the damaged tissues and integrate in it while they may just be trapped in highly capilarized organs such as the lungs and the kidneys. When the cells are implanted in-vitro within different scaffolds to produce 3D cellular structures, they may not survive implantation due to suffocation within the artificial matrix, which is not connected to the supply by vascularization network from the damaged tissues. Inflammatory processes that normally occur and is an integral component of the process of tissue repair may also result in the mass killing of cells, including the implanted stem cells. Therefore, in early controlled clinical studies the attempt of targeting isolated cells alone to repair tissues has yielded controversial results with poor cell survival and difficulty to show incorporation and integration of implanted cells into the target tissues. In view of the above difficulties new approaches are needed. Thus, currently, in spite of the great advances in the growing stem cells field and a wide selection of stem cells, solutions based on using the combination of progenitor cells and matrices for tissue regeneration have not yielded yet simple and straightforward methods to repair failing soft or hard tissues with cell based therapies.
Screening Approaches for Stem Cells
Authors: Buschke David G. , Hei Derek J. , Eliceiri Kevin W. , Ogle Brenda M.
Published: December 2010

Cell screening, the process of distinguishing one cell type from another, is particularly essential for stem cells as cell genotype, phenotype and function can change rapidly and unpredictably over time.  Initial stem cell characterization efforts were derived primarily from cell biology techniques that were limited in throughput and content and did not typically maintain cellular integrity.  More recently, high-throughput techniques including gene or protein arrays, flow cytometry and robotic-based assaying and high-content type techniques including imaging flow cytometry have been developed to more efficiently and comprehensively screen stem cells.  However these approaches still rely on sample manipulation to gain information beyond morphology and are incapable of analyzing intact cell aggregates or tissues – structures known to be crucial for the maintenance of stem cell state.  To address these limitations, multiphoton laser scanning microscopy, an imaging modality capable of deep sample penetration at high resolution and sensitivity, has been coupled to imaging flow cytometry systems to assay intrinsic fluorescent properties of intact multicell aggregates.  Future advances in stem cell screening will likely follow this trend – the coupling of advanced imaging techniques to high throughput/high content modalities – to generate a panel of screening approaches capable of providing not only spatial and temporal information but also physical and chemical properties of cells and their microenvironment in a rapid and noninvasive manner.  In this way, stem cell screening might be advanced beyond the identification of cell state to the determination of likely cell function.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Their Role in Modeling Disease and Regenerative Medicine
Authors: Stelzer Yonatan , Pick Marjorie
Published: December 2010

Although the field of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is a very new, hundreds of research papers regarding them have been published over the past three years. This chapter concentrates on the medical relevance of iPS cells and where the research regarding iPS cells has reached in such a short period time. The reprogramming of cells using the “stemness” genes and the resultant populations similarity to human embryonic stem (ES) cells has allowed for another source of pluripotent stem cells to be generated which have fewer ethical ramifications then ES cells. We have compared other forms of reprogramming somatic cells to pluripotent cells and explain that even though generating iPS cell lines using the “stemness” factors is slow and inefficient it is far superior in generating pluripotent stem cells then the other methods. This relatively new technology has enabled pluripotent cell lines to be generated from various animal species such as pig, which as yet has a no counterpart in ES cell lines. One of the biggest advantages to using iPS cells is the ability to generate patient specific cells that can be used to treat patients without the complications of rejection and immunosuppression associated with using allogeneic ES cells. However, the ability to generate the correct cell type appropriate for treating the disease and, in the case of patients with genetic disorders, generating iPS cells that do not contain the mutation, are problems that must be overcome for the technology to be useful. On the other hand, using iPS cells generated from various disease types could help unfold the stages of development of the disease and enable drug testing on the diseased cells, which ultimately could be applied to treat the disease in patients. There are still some hurdles that need to be overcome; the most crucial is the safety issues associated with the generation of iPS cell lines. At the moment somatic cells are reprogrammed with vectors that integrate the DNA into the host genome in a manner not fully controlled, which could result in unfavorable insertion sites. In addition, there is the fear that the transgene might reactivate oncogenes; MYC, for instance, one of the reprogramming factors, is also known to be an oncogenes. Overall, the ability to reprogram somatic cells using stemness genes to generated iPS cells is a breakthrough whose full potential is still hard to estimate.
Regenerative Strategies for the Endocrine Pancreas: From Islets to Stem Cells and Tissue Reprogramming
Authors: Domínguez-Bendala Juan , Ricordi Camillo
Published: December 2010

The seemingly sudden advent of regenerative medicine as a recognized research and clinical field has allowed us to envisage a number of potential treatments for diseases thus far considered incurable. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to discuss prospective stem cell therapies for the recovery of motor function following spinal cord injury, the replacement of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease or even the generation of patient-matched gametes in some cases of infertility, just to mention a few examples. While the promise of this emerging field is substantive enough to justify the pursuit of regeneration strategies for these and other conditions, the truth is that, to date, there is none for most of them. Whether or not we will come up with any such therapies in the future is not known. Diabetes is one clear exception. For more than two decades, islet transplantation has shown its clinical efficacy, with many patients either completely off-insulin or with a much improved metabolic control years after the procedure. Based on this palpable proof of principle, we can safely assume that, if stem cells could be induced to differentiate into insulin-secreting beta cells, the benefits of islet transplantation could be made available to millions of patients. Here we review the clinical perspectives of the regeneration of the endocrine function of the pancreas, an ongoing effort that is building upon, and going beyond, the success of islet transplantation.
Regeneration of the Lower Urinary Tract: Clinical Applications and Future Outlook
Authors: Renninger Markus , Amend Bastian , Seibold Jörg , Feil Gerhard , Stenzl Arnulf , Sievert Karl-Dietrich
Published: December 2010

Due to the absence of transplantable organ resources and the reconstructive urological demand, researchers have been called to action in order advance tissue engineering and stem cell research.

As the archetype of pluripotent cells, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and inducible stem cells (iPS) are still far from any clinical application, whereas new and interestingly adult sources of stem cells are coming into focus. Such urological reconstructive approaches such as adult myoblasts for an autologous therapy option of stress urinary incontinence and the recently advances in pluripotent adult human germline stem cells (haGSCs) have a potentially suitable application in male reconstructive medicine. Further and comparable progress must be made in the female approach. Despite its histological complexity, there has been a huge progression in the development of renal tissue formation. Even the feasibility of engineering the entire pendular penile corporal bodies in a rabbit model could be shown. The further development of suitable surgical harvesting and implantation techniques allow sufficient and functional graft survival.

Urological TE should be positioned as “a young field” that promises to influence urological treatment in the “near future”.
Macro‐invertebrate associations in sewage filter‐beds and their relationship to operational practice
Authors: Learner M. A. , Chawner H. A.
Published: December 2010

1. The macro‐invertebrate faunas of 67 filter‐beds in 48 sewage works throughout Great Britain were surveyed in relation to the physico‐chemical characteristics of the bed environment. Faunal samples were collected from the surface medium and from the bed effluent. Fifty‐nine of the beds were sampled twice (autumn and spring); the others were sampled in the spring only.

2. Eighty‐seven species were found, of which 39 occurred in the surface samples. Of these latter species, 24 (nine oligochaetes, eight insects, four copepods and three mites) were particularly successful, being widespread and often abundant. The worm Lumbricillus rivalis, the moth fly Psychoda alternata and the mite Histiostoma feroniarum were almost ubiquitous.

3. The filter‐bed fauna was essentially hygropetric and microbivorous. All but one (the predatory mite Platyseius italicus) of the 24 particularly successful species grazed the biofilm.

4. The successful species characteristically had prolonged or frequent periods of reproduction. Therefore, they could respond rapidly to changes in the bed environment and they were able to persist despite continuous wash‐out from the bed.

5.
decorana ordination indicated that abiotic variables likely to affect faunal composition were principally: the organic loading the bed received, the amount of biofilm present, air temperature, the size of the bed medium, and bed age. All except air temperature are under operational control, so there is potential for the faunal community structure to be modified, if required, by manipulation of the bed environment.

6. Classification by twinspan identified the moth fly Psychoda albipennis and the copepod Bryocamptus pygmaeus as indicators of beds that received a low organic loading, whereas abundant Psychoda alternata (>1000 larvae litre−1 medium) indicated more heavily loaded beds.

7. The results of the present study emphasize the prime importance of the physico‐chemical environment in shaping faunal community structure in sewage filter‐beds.

8. The study illustrates how knowledge of the faunal community of sewage filter‐beds and its relationship to the bed environment and to bed performance can potentially aid the management of such beds to improve purification efficiency or reduce fly nuisance.
Large‐scale habitat use of some declining British birds
Authors: Gregory R. D. , Baillie S. R.
Published: December 2010

1. Large‐scale habitat use of eight species of breeding birds was considered using data collected across Britain. The species were skylark Alauda arvensis (L.), dunnock Prunella modularis (L.), blackbird Turdus merula (L.), song thrush Turdus philomelos (L.), starling Sturnus vulgaris (L.), linnet Carduelis cannabina (L.), bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula (L.) and reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus (L.). All are linked by roughly synchronous population declines over the last 25 years in southern Britain (and mostly in farmland landscapes). Discussion is limited to the conservation status of these species.

2. Breeding densities were estimated for broad habitat types and these were used to estimate population sizes within habitat types. Confidence limits on the estimates were derived using a bootstrap procedure.

3. For most species considered, farmland holds a high proportion of their population (in excess of 50% for four species), reflecting the predominance of this land use across Britain. This suggests that sympathetic changes in farming practices are likely to provide the best mechanism for improving the status of these species.

4. Substantial proportions of particular species occur outside farmland, but different species occur in different habitats. A considerable proportion of skylarks occur on upland moor, bullfinches in wooded habitats, and reed buntings in riparian habitats. Conservation of this group of species thus requires appropriate management of the wider countryside, including their main habitats.

5. Habitats associated with human habitation hold > 20% of the British populations of blackbird, song thrush and starling, and considerable numbers of other species. The management of parks, gardens and other ‘green space’ may have an important impact on their populations and should not be neglected by conservationists.
Protection of exploited fish in temperate regions: high density and biomass of snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) in northern New Zealand marine reserves
Authors: Willis Trevor J. , Millar Russell B. , Babcock Russ C.
Published: December 2010

1. The use of marine reserves as tools either for conservation or fisheries management requires rigorous empirical evidence for the recovery of exploited species within them.

2. The relative density and size structure of snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae), an intensively exploited reef fish species, were measured, using baited underwater video, inside and outside three northern New Zealand marine reserves (Leigh Marine Reserve, Hahei Marine Reserve and Tawharanui Marine Park) every 6 months from October 1997 to April 1999.

3. Log‐linear modelling showed that relative total density and egg production of snapper were higher in all three reserves than in fished areas. Snapper that were larger than the minimum legal size were estimated to be 14 times denser in protected areas than in fished areas, and the relative egg production was estimated to be 18 times higher. In the Leigh reserve, legal‐size snapper were larger than legal‐size snapper in fished areas.

4. At the Leigh reserve, snapper density consistently peaked at the reserve centre and declined towards either boundary, which suggests that snapper became increasingly vulnerable to fishing towards the reserve boundaries.

5. Inshore snapper density was significantly higher in autumn than in spring, supporting previous suggestions that snapper make regular onshore–offshore seasonal migrations that might be related to spawning. We suggest that the observed recovery of snapper populations within reserves is attributable to immigration of individuals from fished areas that take up residency within reserves, rather than juvenile recruitment.

6. Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of marine reserves for protecting an exploited species previously thought to be too mobile to respond to area‐based protection. Although it is difficult to envisage significant enhancement of fished areas via adult emigration, it is likely that the reserves contribute significantly to local gamete production. In addition, the protection of fish populations within reserves might slow reductions in genetic diversity caused by size‐selective mortality brought about by exploitation.
Local population dynamics are important to the conservation of metapopulations in highly fragmented landscapes
Authors: Baguette Michel , Schtickzelle Nicolas
Published: December 2010

1. Population viability analyses (PVA) are extremely useful tools for the management of endangered species at the landscape scale. Two main families of spatially explicit models are available to perform PVA: (i) presence–absence models, in which local populations are either existing or extinct at each generation, and (ii) structured population models, in which the dynamics of each local population are modelled. In this study we compared the usefulness of both approaches for the prediction of the persistence of a species living in a highly fragmented landscape.

2. The cranberry fritillaryBoloria aquilonarisis an arctic–alpine relict species in western Europe. It lives in landscapes where altitude or the proximity of oceans provide the high humidity conditions required for the formation of peat bogs, the only habitat of the butterfly. In such landscapes, the distribution of the butterfly is fragmented, following the natural distribution of peat bogs; this fragmentation is increased by human‐induced peat bog destruction.

3. The study of the dynamics of a highly fragmented metapopulation of the cranberry fritillary in a network of 14 habitat patches totalling 26·23 ha revealed that: (i) the density at the equilibrium wasc.700 butterflies ha−1; (ii) local population dynamics in small populations were negative; and (iii) six estimates of the growth rateRtshowed large variations even in a large population. Both local extinctions and recolonization events are likely to occur, and two sites (one of 7 ha) unoccupied during two generations were recolonized in the third year.

4. We conclude that the future of this metapopulation is not guaranteed, given its large spatial scale and unbalanced, erratic local population dynamics. We hypothesize that global warming could explain the instability of local population dynamics detected here in addition to the decline of this arctic–alpine relict species, which is currently reported in all its refuge localities in the Netherlands.

5. Presence–absence models based on metapopulation structure and habitat characteristics should provide relatively safe predictions, as the population network (14 patches) is just below the minimum amount of suitable habitat (MASH) for the long‐term persistence of a viable metapopulation. However, careful investigation of local population dynamics showed a high instability in the network, which is confirmed by population extinction at a large site.

6. Synthesis and applications.We urge conservation biologists to consider the local population dynamics of endangered species for the management of metapopulations in fragmented landscapes. In the case of the cranberry fritillary, continuing site protection is essential.
Termite assemblage collapse along a land‐use intensification gradient in lowland central Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Jones D. T. , Susilo F. X. , Bignell D. E. , Hardiwinoto S. , Gillison A. N. , Eggleton P.
Published: December 2010

1. Termites are major decomposers in tropical regions and play an important role in soil processes. This study measured the impact of land‐use intensification on the termite assemblage of lowland rain forest in Jambi Province, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Termite composition was assessed in seven land‐use types along a disturbance gradient, from primary forest, through different silvicultural systems, to grassland and cultivated land without trees. A range of environmental variables was also measured.

2. Termite species richness and relative abundance declined as follows: primary forest > selectively logged forest > mature ‘jungle rubber’ (a diverse agro‐forest dominated by rubber trees) > mature rubber plantation > youngParaserianthes falcatariaplantation (a softwood tree) >Imperata cylindricagrassland > cassava garden. Termite richness fell from 34 species in the primary forest to one species in the cassava garden. The relative abundance of soil‐feeding termites showed a significantly greater decline along the gradient than did wood‐feeding termites.

3. Of the environmental variables, woody plant basal area was most strongly correlated with termite species richness (r = 0·973) and relative abundance (r = 0·980). This reflects the response of forest‐adapted termites to progressive simplification of the physical structure of the habitat, resulting in the reduction of canopy cover and alteration in microclimate, and the loss of feeding and nesting sites.

4. Synthesis and applications. Comparisons with other studies show that the decline in termite species richness and relative abundance seen at Jambi is a general trend that occurs elsewhere when forests are converted to other land uses. To help mitigate the loss of termites when forests are disturbed, we recommend the following management practices: the use of reduced‐impact logging techniques, maximizing forest patch size and connectivity, minimizing length of forest edges, and leaving dead wood to decayin situ.