bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of control results for the alien invasive woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, in the southern hemisphere
Authors: Hurley Brett P. , Slippers Bernard , Wingfield Michael J.
Published: June 2007

1 Sirex noctilio has resulted in one of the most damaging biological invasions of pine forestry in the southern hemisphere.

2 An intensive, integrated control programme has been developed for this pest and is generally considered very successful. However, a critical comparison of S. noctilio infestations and control efforts throughout the southern hemisphere reveals that control has not been uniformly effective. Of particular concern is the apparently unexplained variability in establishment and success of biological control agents, including various parasitic wasps and the parasitic nematode Deladenus siricidicola.

3 An overlooked aspect in the establishment of the biological control interventions for S. noctilio is the potential influence of genetic bottlenecks on the ability of the agents to adapt to different environments and different populations of S. noctilio.

4 Despite established biological control agents, stress in forests caused by silvicultural practices or the environment will predispose trees to heavy infestation. Unfortunately, improved silvicultural practices are not always economically feasible and environmental changes are often unavoidable.

5 Sirex noctilio continues to pose a serious threat to pine forestry in many areas. Despite extensive earlier research into a single integrated control for S. noctilio, it is important to recognize that such a strategy will probably require significant local adaptation in new areas of infestation and over time.
Raman‐FISH: combining stable‐isotope Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence in situ hybridization for the single cell analysis of identity and function
Authors: Huang Wei E. , Stoecker Kilian , Griffiths Robert , Newbold Lyndsay , Daims Holger , Whiteley Andrew S. , Wagner Michael
Published: June 2007

We have coupled fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with Raman microscopy for simultaneous cultivation‐independent identification and determination of 13C incorporation into microbial cells. Highly resolved Raman confocal spectra were generated for individual cells which were grown in minimal medium where the ratio of 13C to 12C content of the sole carbon source was incrementally varied. Cells which were 13C‐labelled through anabolic incorporation of the isotope exhibited key red‐shifted spectral peaks, the calculated ‘red shift ratio’ (RSR) being highly correlated with the 13C‐content of the cells. Subsequently, Raman instrumentation and FISH protocols were optimized to allow combined epifluorescence and Raman imaging of Fluos, Cy3 and Cy5‐labelled microbial populations at the single cell level. Cellular 13C‐content determinations exhibited good congruence between fresh cells and FISH hybridized cells indicating that spectral peaks, including phenylalanine resonance, which were used to determine 13C‐labelling, were preserved during fixation and hybridization. In order to demonstrate the suitability of this technology for structure–function analyses in complex microbial communities, Raman‐FISH was deployed to show the importance of Pseudomonas populations during naphthalene degradation in groundwater microcosms. Raman‐FISH extends and complements current technologies such as FISH‐microautoradiography and stable isotope probing in that it can be applied at the resolution of single cells in complex communities, is quantitative if suitable calibrations are performed, can be used with stable isotopes and has analysis times of typically 1 min per cell.
Intra‐operative pathological diagnosis of chronic ulcerative colitis in the two stage ileal pouch anal anastomosis
Authors: Ravishankar H. R. , Armstrong G. R. , Scott N. A.
Published: June 2007

Objective  The definitive diagnostic biopsy for chronic ulcerative colitis (CUC) is the colon itself. Simultaneous colectomy and ileal pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) means that the colon only becomes available for pathological assessment intra‐operatively. We examined the role of intra‐operative pathological assessment including frozen section in distinguishing between CUC and Crohn's colitis, inpatients undergoing simultaneous colectomy and IPAA.

Method  Prospective study of 13 patients undergoing simultaneous colectomy and IPAA between Jan 1992 and April 1999. Resected colon was sent for pathological assessment intra‐operatively in all 13 patients. Comparison was made between final histology and frozen section. Patient outcome and pouch function was recorded prospectively.

Results  Thirteen patients, M:F 5:8, mean age 41 years (range 20–56). Intra‐operative pathological assessment including frozen section diagnosed CUC in nine patients, Crohn's disease in two patients and indeterminate colitis in two patients. The two Crohn's patients had subtotal colectomy and ileostomy. The nine CUC patients and two indeterminate colitis patients underwent IPAA. There was complete agreement between intra‐operative assessment including frozen section and the final histopathology. At a median follow up of 31 months (8–58 months) all pouches were intact with good function. There has been no evidence of Crohn's disease on subsequent pouchoscopy and pouch biopsy.

Conclusions  Pathological assessment, including frozen section of the colon, intra‐operatively is a useful adjunct to surgical decision making in those patients undergoing simultaneous colectomy and IPAA.
Microsatellite instability and MLH1 hypermethylation – incidence and significance in colorectal polyps in young patients
Authors: Koh D. C. , Luchtefeld M. A. , Kim D. G. , Attal H. , Monroe T. , Ingersoll K.
Published: June 2007

Objective  Microsatellite instability (MSI) is observed in most hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer‐related colorectal cancers (CRC). The original Bethesda criteria recommends MSI testing in patients ≤40 years diagnosed with adenomas. We aimed to determine the incidence of MSI and the presence of hypermethylation of the promoter site of the MLH1 gene in these polyps.

Method  Patients aged ≤40 years diagnosed with colonic polyps removed endoscopically from 1998 to 2003 were identified and their charts reviewed. DNA extractions were performed and tested for MSI at the Bethesda Consensus recommended loci. Samples were characterized by immunohistochemical staining of the four mismatch repair (MMR) proteins. MLH1 hypermethylation was assessed using a real‐time methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The appropriate statistical analyses were applied.

Results  23 patients with 38 polyps were analysed. Eight patients had a positive family history colorectal polyp, 11 a family history of CRC. No significant correlation between a family history of colorectal polyps or cancer and polyp location was found. About 53% of the polyps were tubulo‐adenomas and 27% tubulovillous adenomas. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed appropriate expression of the MMR proteins in all samples. None of the polyps exhibited MSI. MLH1 ‘A’ hypermethylation was present in 16% of the polyps. No hypermethylation was observed at region ‘C’. A positive family history of colorectal polyps and cancer were associated with a higher incidence of MLH1 ‘A’ hypermethylation. There was no determinable correlation between the clinico‐pathological features of the polyp with MLH1 hypermethylation.

Conclusion  MLH1 HM was found in approximately 16% of polyps found in young patients and represents one of the epigenetic changes that may result in the subsequent progression to carcinoma along an accelerated sequence. The yield of MSI testing in these patients is low and is not recommended.
A small rise in CEA is sensitive for recurrence after surgery for colorectal cancer
Authors: Irvine T. , Scott M. , Clark C. I.
Published: June 2007

Objective  Rise in carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) above normal limits can indicate recurrent colorectal cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a small rise in CEA, even within normal limits was a sensitive indicator of recurrence.

Method  150 patients aged 22–87 years were followed up for a mean of 27 months after colorectal surgery with CEA 3 and 6 monthly computerized tomography. We analysed whether a rise in CEA > 1 ng/ml correlated with recurrence of metastases.

Results  Forty‐six of 139 patients in final analysis had recurrent disease. A rise in CEA > 1 had a predictive value of 74% for recurrence or metastases (sensitivity 80%, specificity 86%). These findings were similar whether or not the CEA was normal preoperatively.

Conclusion  If CEA is measured after surgery for colorectal cancer, a rise of >1 in the patient's postoperative value is predictive for recurrence or metastases with an overall sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 86%. Previous studies have recognized the role of large rises in CEA in predicting recurrence but this study shows that small changes in CEA may be significant even if these levels would be traditionally within ‘normal’ limits.
Can a failed ileal pouch anal anastomosis be left in situ?
Authors: Bengtsson J. , Börjesson L. , Willén R. , Öresland T. , Hultén L.
Published: June 2007

Objective  Failure after ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis (IPAA) is reported with a frequency of 10–20%. The failed IPAA can be excised or defunctioned. Indications for excision and further management of an indefinitely diverted pouch are poorly described. The aim of the present investigation was to investigate pouch‐related problems and the histopathological pattern of the pouch mucosa in this group of patients.

Method  In a cohort of 620 patients having IPAA with a median follow‐up of 14 years, 56 patients with failure were identified. The patients with defunctioned pouches were assessed with regard to pouch‐related problems and endoscopy with biopsies was performed. Biopsies were stained with haematoxylin‐eosin, PAS for neutral mucins and Alcian blue/high iron diamine for sialomucins/sulphomucins. Morphological changes were grouped into three types modified according to Veress and assessed for dysplasia.

Results  Twenty‐two patients with an indefinitely diverted pouch were found. The follow‐up time after surgery for failure was 10 years. Thirteen patients completed the follow‐up. Except for two patients with pelvic/perineal pain, there were no clinical problems. The majority of patients displayed mild to moderate macroscopic signs of inflammation. Morphologically, findings ranged from a preserved mucosal pattern to intense inflammatory reaction. No case of dysplasia or carcinoma was found.

Conclusion  Most patients with an indefinitely diverted pouch had no complaints regarding the pouch. There was no case of dysplasia. Indefinite diversion may be preferable to pouch excision, especially given the associated morbidity.
Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of scolecophidian snakes (Lepidosauria, Squamata)
Authors: Tavares‐Bastos L. , Cunha L. D. , Colli G. R. , Báo S. N.
Published: June 2007

We provide a detailed description of the sperm ultrastructure of three species of scolecophidian snakes, Leptotyphlops koppesi (Leptotyphlopidae), Typhlops reticulatus (Typhlopidae) and Liotyphlops beui (Anomalepididae), and make comparisons with the spermatozoa of Ramphotyphlops waitii (Typhlopidae) (Harding et al. 1995). All the species studied bear synapomorphies of Squamata and Serpentes. Among scolecophidian snakes, we identified eight polymorphic characters. Previous analyses of molecular and somatic morphological data provide equivocal solutions to the relationships among Anomalepididae, Leptotyphlopidae and Typhlopidae. A close relationship between Anomalepididae and Typhlopidae is corroborated by two characters of sperm ultrastructure, presence of an electron‐dense structure inside the proximal centriole and rounded mitochondria in transverse sections of T. reticulatus, Li. beui and R. waitii, whereas the absence of the ridge on the acrosome surface of Le. koppesi and T. reticulatus support a closer relationship between Typhlopidae and Leptotyphlopidae. The differences observed in sperm ultrastructure within Typhlopidae suggest the existence of snake intrafamilial polymorphism. The sperm characters of blindsnakes contain significant phylogenetic information and may provide important data for snake phylogenetic reconstructions.
Autopodial skeleton evolution in side‐necked turtles (Pleurodira)
Authors: Sánchez‐Villagra Marcelo R. , Winkler Jasmin D. , Wurst Linda
Published: June 2007

Carpal and tarsal anatomy was documented based on the observation of dry skeletons of adult specimens representing 25 species in 15 genera and on data taken from the literature. In addition, histological sections and cleared and double‐stained autopodia of recently hatched and juvenile specimens representing seven chelid and pelomedusoid species were studied. There is much more morphological diversity in the manus than in the pes. Variation in autopodial skeletons includes: the astragalus and calcaneum are either separated or fused; fusion of distal carpals 3–4−5 or just 4–5; number of centralia in the carpus; and presence/absence of a pisiform and of an accessory radial element. The widespread and probably basal phalangeal formula for Pleurodira is 2.3.3.3.3. Deviations arePelomedusa subrufa, exhibiting a reduction to 2.2.2.2.2,Pelusiosspp. with one phalanx less in digit I and for one species in digit V as well, andAcanthochelys pallidipectoriswith an additional phalanx in the fourth finger. Six discrete characters itemizing some of the morphological variation observed were plotted on a composite pleurodire phylogeny, revealing not only homoplastic patterns but also the utility of some characters in supporting the monophyly of several clades. The pisiform is the last carpal element to ossify inChelus fimbriatus.We hypothesize that the so‐called fifth hooked metatarsal represents the fusion of distal tarsal 5 with metatarsal V. The accessory radial element that was occasionally present in the turtles examined may represent an atavism of the otherwise lost radiale of turtles.
Efferent ductules of the fan‐throated lizardSitana ponticerianaCuvier: light and transmission electron microscopy study
Authors: Akbarsha Mohammad A. , Kadalmani Balamuthu , Tamilarasan Veeramuthu
Published: June 2007

Light microscopy histology of efferent ductules and the ultrastructural organization of their epithelium were studied in the fan‐throated lizardSitana ponticerianaCuvier. The ductules of this lizard are extra‐testicular and arise from an extra‐testicular rete testis. A major portion of the ductules is intra‐epididymal and occupies the cephalic end of the epididymis. The ductules differentiate histologically into proximal and distal portions. The epithelium is formed of two major tall columnar cell types, the non‐ciliated and ciliated, and one minor cell type, the basal cells. Dark cells were also identified. The non‐ciliated cells possess microvilli towards the luminal end, tubular coated pits at the bases of the microvilli, coated vesicles in the apical cytoplasm and multivesicular bodies, lysosomes and mitochondria in the supranuclear and perinuclear cytoplasm, which reflects their role in the uptake of the material they are processing. These cells also participate in spermiophagy. The ciliated cells reflect their role in mixing the luminal content and/or its transport to the distal parts of the male tract. The lizard efferent ductules share many features in common with those of mammals and a crocodile and several other features with birds and a turtle. Spermiophagy by the efferent ductules is reported here for the first time in a reptile.
An algorithm for managing the failure of external beam radiotherapy in prostate cancer
Authors: Dudderidge Tim , Payne Heather , Emberton Mark
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVE

To present a management algorithm for men with prostate cancer recurring after external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), based on a review of published reports, to assist clinicians in identifying men who are suitable for salvage therapy and to help them to decide which type of salvage treatment is most likely to confer the desired outcome with the minimum of harm.

METHODS

Men with radiorecurrent prostate cancer require special consideration; they tend to be older, have more comorbidity and have worse disease than their contemporaries having primary treatment. Salvage treatment is compromised by the irradiated pelvis, resulting in increased treatment toxicity. Using the Pubmed database and reference lists of key articles, we identified studies relating to the management of radiorecurrent prostate cancer; the findings were incorporated into a management algorithm and summary table of treatments.

RESULTS

The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology criteria, which define biochemical failure has now been superseded by the Phoenix definition (nadir prostate‐specific antigen [PSA] plus 2 ng/mL). Biochemical follow‐up after EBRT should be 3‐monthly until the PSA level has reached a stable nadir after withdrawing androgen suppression. Contrast‐enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an accurate tool and can be used for both the diagnosis and staging of patients with prostate cancer, in conjunction with prostate biopsies. Prostate biopsies should only be considered >2 years after EBRT to avoid false‐positive results. In addition to MRI, high‐risk cases being considered for salvage therapy should be considered for laparoscopic lymph‐node dissection to exclude micrometastases. Deferred androgen suppression, laparoscopic or open radical prostatectomy, cryotherapy and high‐intensity focused ultrasound all seem reasonable salvage treatment approaches.

CONCLUSION

Through improved methods of detection, including frequent PSA measurements, modern imaging and carefully obtained biopsies, those with radiorecurrent disease can be identified before their disease has spread. Rigorous staging will exclude those with micrometastases. The minimally invasive salvage therapies seem to offer an advantage over salvage surgery to patients in whom the benefits and harms are so finely balanced.
Differences in the rate of lymph node invasion in men with clinically localized prostate cancer might be related to the continent of origin
Authors: Briganti Alberto , Shariat Shahrokh F. , Chun Felix K.‐H. , Hutterer Georg C. , Roehrborn Claus G. , Gallina Andrea , Rigatti Patrizio , Valiquette Luc , Montorsi Francesco , Karakiewicz Pierre I.
Published: June 2007

OBJECTIVE

To test whether the rate of lymph node invasion (LNI) differs between patients treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) at a European or a North American centre.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 1385 men had RP with bilateral lymphadenectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer (587 from Dallas, Texas and 798 from Milan, Italy). Univariate and multivariate analyses focused on the association between the continent of origin and the rate of LNI, after controlling for prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level, clinical stage, biopsy Gleason sum and the number of examined and removed lymph nodes.

RESULTS

European men had higher PSA levels (9.1 vs 7.8 ng/mL), a higher proportion of palpable cancers (44.5 vs 32.8%), more nodes removed (mean 14.9 vs 7.8) and a higher rate of LNI (9.0% vs 1.2%; all differences P < 0.001). In multivariate analyses that controlled for PSA level and clinical variables, European men had an 8.9‐fold higher risk of LNI (P < 0.001) than their counterparts from the USA. Among preoperative variables, the continent of origin was the third most informative predictor of LNI (67.5%), after biopsy Gleason sum (74.3%) and the number of examined lymph nodes (71.0%), and improved the ability to predict LNI by 4.7%.

CONCLUSION

Men treated at a European centre had a 7.3–8.9‐fold higher rate of LNI, despite adjusting for all clinical and pathological variables. It remains to be shown what predisposes European men to a higher rate of LNI.
Size evolution in island lizards
Authors: Meiri Shai
Published: June 2007

Aim The island rule, small animal gigantism and large animal dwarfism on islands, is a topic of much recent debate. While size evolution of insular lizards has been widely studied, whether or not they follow the island rule has never been investigated. I examined whether lizards show patterns consistent with the island rule.

Location Islands worldwide.

Methods I used literature data on the sizes of island–mainland population pairs in 59 species of lizards, spanning the entire size range of the group, and tested whether small insular lizards are larger than their mainland conspecifics and large insular lizards are smaller. I examined the influence of island area, island isolation, and dietary preferences on lizard size evolution.

Results Using mean snout–vent length as an index of body size, I found that small lizards on islands become smaller than their mainland conspecifics, while large ones become larger still, opposite to predictions of the island rule. This was especially strong in carnivorous lizards; omnivorous and herbivorous species showed a pattern consistent with the island rule but this result was not statistically significant. No trends consistent with the island rule were found when maximum snout–vent length was used. Island area had, at best, a weak effect on body size. Using maximum snout–vent length as an index of body size resulted in most lizard populations appearing to be dwarfed on islands, but no such pattern was revealed when mean snout–vent length was used as a size index.

Main conclusions I suggest that lizard body size is mostly influenced by resource availability, with large size allowing some lizard populations to exploit resources that are unavailable on the mainland. Lizards do not follow the island rule. Maximum snout–vent length may be biased by sampling effort, which should be taken into account when one uses this size index.
What determines conformity to Bergmann's rule?
Authors: Meiri Shai , Yom‐Tov Yoram , Geffen Eli
Published: June 2007

Aim  Bergmann's rule, the tendency of body size within species in bird and mammal populations to be positively correlated with latitude, is among the best known biogeographical generalizations. The factors behind such clines, however, are not well understood. Here we use a large data base of 79 mammalian carnivore species to examine the factors affecting latitudinal size clines.

Location  Worldwide.

Methods  We measured the skulls and teeth of carnivores in natural history museums, and calculated the amount of variation in size explained by latitude, supplementing our measurements with published data. We examined the effects of a number of variables on the tendency to show latitudinal clines.

Results  We found that geographical range and latitudinal extent are strongly related to size clines. Minimum temperatures across the range, net primary productivity and habitat diversity also have some, albeit much less, influence.

Main conclusions  We suggest that species with large geographical ranges are likely to encounter significant heterogeneity in those factors that influence body size, and are thus likely to exhibit size clines. However, the key factors that determine body size may not always operate along a latitudinal (or other geographical) cline, but be spatially linked to patches in the species range. One such important factor is likely to be food availability, which we show is a strong predictor of size in the brown bear (Ursus arctos) but is not associated with a latitudinal cline. We argue that the spatial distribution of key resources within the species range constitutes a significant predictor of carnivore body size.
Quercitol links the physiology, taxonomy and evolution of 279 eucalypt species
Authors: Merchant Andrew , Ladiges Pauline Y. , Adams Mark A.
Published: June 2007

Aim  Increasing aridity over geological time‐scales has driven a high degree of speciation within the Eucalyptus group in Australia. Isolation of gene pools by climatic and edaphic conditions and high rates of out‐crossing have given rise to a large diversity of adaptive traits. Among these traits, adaptations of cellular biochemistry are likely to be significant in preserving cellular function during arid conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative and qualitative distribution of soluble carbohydrates and polyols in Eucalyptus.

Location  Australia.

Methods  We sampled 279 of the 700+ documented eucalypts (in the three genera comprising the eucalypts: Angophora Cav., Corymbia Hill & Johnson and Eucalyptus L’Hér.) and analysed leaf tissues for the occurrence of low‐molecular‐weight carbohydrates and polyols.

Results  We have uncovered a discrete pattern in concentration of quercitol (a cyclitol) that correlates strongly with the current taxonomic classification based on both morphology and DNA sequencing. We also uncovered a further and stronger correlation between the presence of quercitol in leaf tissues and a reduced growth (mallee) form.

Main conclusions  These findings, together with the chemical properties of quercitol, suggest that we have uncovered a chemical marker of structural adaptations to arid conditions, thus providing a putative, broad‐scale functional link to adaptation to aridity.
Political Interests and the Emergence of Commercial Banking in Transition Economies*
Authors: Tihanyi Laszlo , Hegarty W. Harvey
Published: June 2007

abstract  This paper examines how interactions between government agencies and banking organizations led to the emergence of commercial banking in the Czech Republic and Hungary during the 1990s. We rely on interviews with bank managers at six large banks, government officers, and experts at other organizations to learn how actions based on different political ideologies shaped the banking field. We integrate prior research on institutional change, political interest, and transition economies to describe the emergence of commercial banking. Three important problems characterized commercial banking in the two countries: the disposal of bad loans, the privatization of banks, and the establishment of banking services. We argue that the solutions to these problems based on the changing political interests of organizational actors and regulators represent the phases of institutional development in commercial banking during the 1990s. Implications of our research are discussed regarding the political perspective of organizational fields in transition economies.
Selection of plants for roles in phytoremediation: the importance of glucosylation
Authors: Brazier‐Hicks Melissa , Edwards Lesley A. , Edwards Robert
Published: June 2007

Over‐expression and transposon mutagenesis in root cultures of Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated the importance of the family 1 glycosyltransferase UGT72B1 in catalysing the N‐glucosylation of the persistent pollutant 3,4‐dichloroaniline (DCA). In phytotoxicity studies with DCA in seedlings, over‐expression of UGT72B1 enhanced sensitivity, whereas the knockouts were more resistant than the controls. In contrast, manipulating the expression of UGT72B1 had no effect on the O‐glucosylation, or toxicity, of chlorophenols. When N‐glucosylation was disrupted in plants, radioactivity derived from [14C]‐DCA became covalently bound into high molecular weight insoluble material, principally associated with the lignin fraction. This suggested that insolubilization into stable cell wall components represented a more effective mechanism of DCA detoxification than the formation of N‐glycosidic conjugates. A screen of plants used in remediation, identified low levels of N‐glucosyltransferase activity in switchgrass and high activities in reed canary grass. When incubated with [14C]‐DCA, reed canary grass plants accumulated soluble N‐glycosides of DCA, whereas switchgrass formed insoluble residues. Consistent with the results obtained in studies with Arabidopsis, phytotoxicity trials with DCA demonstrated that switchgrass was more tolerant than reed canary grass. Our studies provide a new biochemical basis for selecting plants for useful remediating traits towards specific classes of pollutants.
Evolutionary origins of obesity
Authors: Bellisari A.
Published: June 2007

Although it appeared relatively suddenly, the current obesity epidemic – largely manifest in industrialized societies but now spreading to the rest of the world – is the result of interaction between human biology and human culture over the long period of human evolution. As mammals and primates, humans have the capacity to store body fat when opportunities to consume excess energy arise. But during the millions of years of human evolution such opportunities were rare and transient. More commonly ancestral hominins and modern humans were confronted with food scarcity and had to engage in high levels of physical activity. In tandem with encephalization, humans evolved elaborate and complex genetic and physiological systems to protect against starvation and defend stored body fat. They also devised technological aids for increasing energy consumption and reducing physical effort. In the last century, industrialization provided access to great quantities of mass‐produced, high‐calorie foods and many labour‐saving and transportation devices, virtually abolishing starvation and heavy manual work. In the modern obesogenic environment, individuals possessing the appropriate combination of ancestral energy‐conserving genes are at greater risk for overweight and obesity and associated chronic diseases.
The Working Curve and Commodity Storage under Backwardation
Authors: Carter Colin A. , Giha Cesar L. Revoredo
Published: June 2007

There remains controversy over whether the empirical curve relating intertemporal commodity price spreads and stocks, originally drawn by Holbrook Working in 1933 (i.e., the Working curve), is a valid stylized fact in commodity markets. The core of the controversy is the portion of the curve representing commodity stocks under backwardation. In this article we analyze the original data used by Working, plus more disaggregated numbers. We find that the Working curve is indeed valid. The diversity of stockholders and different stockholding motives most likely explain the empirical Working curve relationship.
Credence Good Labeling: The Efficiency and Distributional Implications of Several Policy Approaches
Authors: Roe Brian , Sheldon Ian
Published: June 2007

A model of vertical product differentiation is used to analyze the labeling of credence goods, focusing on the manner by which quality is communicated. The results indicate that firms prefer private labeling options. In addition, firms may hire private certifiers as well as paying for mandated government labels when the government's quality benchmark substantially deviates from firms' private quality choices. The average consumer prefers a mandatory, discrete label with a high‐quality standard while poor consumers prefer a mandatory, discrete label with a low standard.
Deriving a Flexible Mixed Demand System: The Normalized Quadratic Model
Authors: Moschini GianCarlo , Rizzi Pier Luigi
Published: June 2007

This article deals with the specification of a locally flexible and theory‐consistent system of mixed demand functions, a framework that allows for a rich set of possibilities about what is assumed as exogenous in a demand model. A coherent mixed demand system is derived by using the restricted expenditure function typically studied in the related area of rationed demands. The method is implemented by a new normalized quadratic (NQ) parameterization of the restricted expenditure function. The resulting NQ mixed demand system is illustrated with an application to a nine‐good model of the Italian demand for vegetables.
New Developments in Understanding Emotional Facial Signals in Chimpanzees
Authors: Parr Lisa A. , Waller Bridget M. , Vick Sarah J.
Published: June 2007

There has been little research over the past few decades focusing on similarities and differences in the form and function of emotional signals in nonhuman primates, or whether these communication systems are homologous with those of humans. This is, in part, due to the fact that detailed and objective measurement tools to answer such questions have not been systematically developed for nonhuman primate research. Despite this, emotion research in humans has benefited for over 30 years from an objective, anatomically based facial-measurement tool: the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). In collaboration with other researchers, we have now developed a similar system for chimpanzees (ChimpFACS) and, in the process, have made exciting new discoveries regarding chimpanzees' perception and categorization of emotional facial expressions and similarities in the facial anatomy of chimpanzees and humans, and we have identified homologous facial movements in the two species. Investigating similarities and differences in primate emotional communication systems is essential if we are to understand unique evolutionary specializations among different species.
Situated Social Cognition
Authors: Smith Eliot R. , Semin Gün R.
Published: June 2007

Social cognition refers to the mental representations and processes that underlie social judgments and behavior—for example, the application of stereotypes to members of social groups. Theories of social cognition have generally assumed that mental representations are abstract and stable and that they are activated and applied by relatively automatic, context-independent processes. Recent evidence is inconsistent with these expectations, however. Social-cognitive processes have been shown to be adaptive to the perceiver's current social goals, communicative contexts, and bodily states. Although these findings can often be given ad hoc explanations within current conceptual frameworks, they invite a fuller integration with the broad intellectual movement emphasizing situated cognition. Such an approach has already been influential in many areas within psychology and beyond, and theories in the field of social cognition would benefit by taking advantage of its insights.
Emerging Insights Into the Nature and Function of Pride
Authors: Tracy Jessica L. , Robins Richard W.
Published: June 2007

Pride, a “self-conscious” emotion involving complex self-evaluative processes, is a fundamental human emotion. Recent research provides new insights into its nature and function. Like the “basic” emotions, pride is associated with a distinct, universally recognized, nonverbal expression, which is spontaneously displayed during pride experiences. Yet, pride differs from the basic emotions in its dependency on self-evaluations and in its complex structure, which is comprised of two theoretically and conceptually distinct facets that have divergent personality correlates and cognitive antecedents. In this article, we summarize findings from the growing body of research on pride and highlight the implications of this research for a broader understanding of emotions and social behavior.
Developmental Intergroup Theory
Authors: Bigler Rebecca S. , Liben Lynn S.
Published: June 2007

Social stereotyping and prejudice are intriguing phenomena from the standpoint of theory and, in addition, constitute pressing societal problems. Because stereotyping and prejudice emerge in early childhood, developmental research on causal mechanisms is critical for understanding and controlling stereotyping and prejudice. Such work forms the basis of a new theoretical model, developmental intergroup theory (DIT), which addresses the causal ingredients of stereotyping and prejudice. The work suggests that biases may be largely under environmental control and thus might be shaped via educational, social, and legal policies.
Environments That Make Us Smart
Authors: Todd Peter M. , Gigerenzer Gerd
Published: June 2007

Traditional views of rationality posit general-purpose decision mechanisms based on logic or optimization. The study of ecological rationality focuses on uncovering the “adaptive toolbox” of domain-specific simple heuristics that real, computationally bounded minds employ, and explaining how these heuristics produce accurate decisions by exploiting the structures of information in the environments in which they are applied. Knowing when and how people use particular heuristics can facilitate the shaping of environments to engender better decisions.
Turnout and Representation Bias in Post-communist Europe
Authors: White Stephen , McAllister Ian
Published: June 2007

Electoral participation has been declining in post-Soviet Europe as in almost all of the established democracies. Patterns of electoral abstention in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine reflect those in other countries, but show particularly strong effects for older age. Not only do older electors vote more often, they also have distinctive views on matters of public policy, particularly on the economy but also on the Soviet system, strong leadership and hypothetical membership of the European Union. These differences are diminished but nonetheless generally remain statistically significant even when socio-economic controls are introduced. These differences may be seen as a ‘representation bias’ that advantages particular sections of the electorate and the views with which they are associated. The particular forms that are taken by this bias in post-communist societies may be transitory, but here as elsewhere lower levels of turnout will continue to impart a significant bias to the extent to which some views rather than others are articulated within the political process.
High Perceptual Load Makes Everybody Equal
Authors: Forster Sophie , Lavie Nilli
Published: June 2007

Perceptual load has been found to be a powerful determinant of distractibility in laboratory tasks. The present study assessed how the effects of perceptual load on distractibility in the laboratory relate to individual differences in the likelihood of distractibility in daily life. Sixty-one subjects performed a response-competition task in which perceptual load was varied. As expected, individuals reporting high levels of distractibility (on the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, an established measure of distractibility in daily life) experienced greater distractor interference than did individuals reporting low levels. The critical finding, however, was that this relationship was confined to task conditions of low perceptual load: High perceptual load reduced distractor interference for all subjects, eliminating any individual differences. These findings suggest that the level of perceptual load in a task can predict whether individual differences in distractibility will be found and that high-load modifications of daily tasks may prove useful in preventing unwanted consequences of high distractibility.
Putting Feelings Into Words
Authors: Lieberman Matthew D. , Eisenberger Naomi I. , Crockett Molly J. , Tom Sabrina M. , Pfeifer Jennifer H. , Way Baldwin M.
Published: June 2007

Putting feelings into words (affect labeling) has long been thought to help manage negative emotional experiences; however, the mechanisms by which affect labeling produces this benefit remain largely unknown. Recent neuroimaging studies suggest a possible neurocognitive pathway for this process, but methodological limitations of previous studies have prevented strong inferences from being drawn. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of affect labeling was conducted to remedy these limitations. The results indicated that affect labeling, relative to other forms of encoding, diminished the response of the amygdala and other limbic regions to negative emotional images. Additionally, affect labeling produced increased activity in a single brain region, right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (RVLPFC). Finally, RVLPFC and amygdala activity during affect labeling were inversely correlated, a relationship that was mediated by activity in medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). These results suggest that affect labeling may diminish emotional reactivity along a pathway from RVLPFC to MPFC to the amygdala.
The Constructive, Destructive, and Reconstructive Power of Social Norms
Authors: Schultz P. Wesley , Nolan Jessica M. , Cialdini Robert B. , Goldstein Noah J. , Griskevicius Vladas
Published: June 2007

Despite a long tradition of effectiveness in laboratory tests, normative messages have had mixed success in changing behavior in field contexts, with some studies showing boomerang effects. To test a theoretical account of this inconsistency, we conducted a field experiment in which normative messages were used to promote household energy conservation. As predicted, a descriptive normative message detailing average neighborhood usage produced either desirable energy savings or the undesirable boomerang effect, depending on whether households were already consuming at a low or high rate. Also as predicted, adding an injunctive message (conveying social approval or disapproval) eliminated the boomerang effect. The results offer an explanation for the mixed success of persuasive appeals based on social norms and suggest how such appeals should be properly crafted.
Understanding Animate Agents
Authors: Wheatley Thalia , Milleville Shawn C. , Martin Alex
Published: June 2007

How people understand the actions of animate agents has been vigorously debated. This debate has centered on two hypotheses focused on anatomically distinct neural substrates: The mirror-system hypothesis proposes that the understanding of others is achieved via action simulation, and the social-network hypothesis proposes that such understanding is achieved via the integration of critical biological properties (e.g., faces, affect). In this study, we assessed the areas of the brain that were engaged when people interpreted and imagined moving shapes as animate or inanimate. Although observing and imagining the moving shapes engaged the mirror system, only activation of the social network was modulated by animacy.
Buzzwords
Authors: Kissler Johanna , Herbert Cornelia , Peyk Peter , Junghofer Markus
Published: June 2007

Electroencephalographic event-related brain potentials were recorded as subjects read, without further instruction, consecutively presented sequences of words. We varied the speed at which the sequences were presented (3 Hz and 1 Hz) and the words' emotional significance. Early event-related cortical responses during reading differentiated pleasant and unpleasant words from neutral words. Emotional words were associated with enhanced brain responses arising in predominantly left occipito-temporal areas 200 to 300 ms after presentation. Emotional words were also spontaneously better remembered than neutral words. The early cortical amplification was stable across 10 repetitions, providing evidence for robust enhancement of early visual processing of stimuli with learned emotional significance and underscoring the salience of emotional connotations during reading. During early processing stages, emotion-related enhancement of cortical activity along the dominant processing pathway is due to arousal, rather than valence of the stimuli. This enhancement may be driven by cortico-amygdaloid connections.
Color Opponency in Synaesthetic Experiences
Authors: Nikolić Danko , Lichti Philipp , Singer Wolf
Published: June 2007

Grapheme-color synaesthesia is a rare condition in which perception of a letter or a digit is associated with concurrent perception of a color. Synaesthetes report that these color experiences are vivid and realistic. We used a Stroop task to show that synaesthetically induced color, like real color, is processed in color-opponent channels (red-green or blue-yellow). Synaesthetic color produced maximal interference with the perception and naming of the real color of a grapheme if the real color was opponent to the synaesthetic color. Interference was reduced considerably if the synaesthetic and real colors engaged different color channels (e.g., synaesthetic blue and real red). No dependence on color opponency was found for semantic conflicts between shape and color (e.g., a blue lemon). Thus, the neural representation of synaesthetic colors closely resembles that of real colors. This suggests involvement of early stages of visual processing in color synaesthesia and explains the vivid and realistic nature of synaesthetic experiences.
How Writing System and Age Influence Spatial Representations of Actions
Authors: Dobel Christian , Diesendruck Gil , Bölte Jens
Published: June 2007

Recently, researchers reported a bias for placing agents predominantly on the left side of pictures. Both hemispheric specialization and cultural preferences have been hypothesized to be the origin of this bias. To evaluate these hypotheses, we conducted a study with participants exposed to different reading and writing systems: Germans, who use a left-to-right system, and Israelis, who use a right-to-left system. In addition, we manipulated the degree of exposure to the writing systems by testing preschoolers and adults. Participants heard agent-first or recipient-first sentences and were asked to draw the content of the sentences or to arrange transparencies of protagonists and objects such that their arrangement depicted the sentences. Although preschool-age children in both countries showed no directional bias, adults manifested a bias that was consistent with the writing system of their language. These results support the cultural hypothesis regarding the origin of spatial-representational biases.
Personality Change at the Intersection of Autonomic Arousal and Stress
Authors: Hart Daniel , Eisenberg Nancy , Valiente Carlos
Published: June 2007

We hypothesized that personality change in children can be predicted by the interaction of family risk with susceptibility to autonomic arousal and that children characterized by both high-risk families and highly reactive autonomic nervous systems tend to show maladaptive change. This hypothesis was tested in a 6-year longitudinal study in which personality-type prototypicality, problem behavior, and negative emotional intensity were measured at 2-year intervals. The results indicated that children who both had exaggerated skin conductance responses (a measure of autonomic reactivity) and were living in families with multiple risk factors were most likely to develop an undercontrolled personality type and to exhibit increases in problem behavior and negative emotional intensity. The implications of the results for understanding personality change are discussed.
Representational Constraints on Children's Suggestibility
Authors: Ceci Stephen J. , Papierno Paul B. , Kulkofsky Sarah
Published: June 2007

In a multistage experiment, twelve 4- and 9-year-old children participated in a triad rating task. Their ratings were mapped with multidimensional scaling, from which euclidean distances were computed to operation-alize semantic distance between items in target pairs. These children and age-mates then participated in an experiment that employed these target pairs in a story, which was followed by a misinformation manipulation. Analyses linked individual and developmental differences in suggestibility to children's representations of the target items. Semantic proximity was a strong predictor of differences in suggestibility: The closer a suggested distractor was to the original item's representation, the greater was the distractor's suggestive influence. The triad participants' semantic proximity subsequently served as the basis for correctly predicting memory performance in the larger group. Semantic proximity enabled a priori counterintuitive predictions of reverse age-related trends to be confirmed whenever the distance between representations of items in a target pair was greater for younger than for older children.