bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IL‐10 and TGF‐β1 are associated with variations in fluke burdens following experimental fasciolosis in sheep
Authors: HAÇARIZ O. , SAYERS G. , FLYNN R. J. , LEJEUNE A. , MULCAHY G.
Published: May 2009

Infection with Fasciola hepatica causes an economically important disease in ruminants. Variability in parasite load may indicate innate differences in the host immune system. This study aimed to investigate the immunological mechanisms that are associated with variability in parasite burden following experimental F. hepatica infection in cross‐bred sheep. Of a total of 16 animals, four were randomly chosen as uninfected controls, and the remainder infected with 100 viable metacercariae. Uninfected animals were used as the control group for evaluation of cytokine gene expression levels. For comparative analysis, specific animals were selected on the basis of extremes of fluke burdens, and were categorised into light (n = 4) and heavy burdened (n = 3) cohorts. Serum antibody levels, haematological parameters, and expression of IL‐4 and IFN‐γ genes in hepatic lymph nodes were equivalent in both groups. However, significant differences in mitogen‐specific lymphocyte proliferation in vitro and in expression of TGF‐β1 and IL‐10 genes in hepatic lymph nodes were observed at acute and chronic phases of infection, respectively. These results provide useful information in developing further understanding of natural resistance to fasciolosis in sheep.
Gaps and nodes between fossil and extant insects
Authors: BÉTHOUX O.
Published: May 2009

Traditional contributions of the insect fossil record are listed. Fossil material indicates the earliest occurrence of a group, which in turn is useful for inferring clade divergence dates and net diversification rates. Fossil material provides complementary information on the dynamics of taxonomic diversity. Geographical occurrences outside the extant range of a taxon can be used to infer climatic macro‐fluctuations. In short, the fossil record of insects is essential for pointing out the major factors responsible for the mega‐diversity of the group, and of some of its internal lineages. Reliable taxonomic assignments and phylogenetic hypotheses underpin broader generalizations. In that respect, a problem is the inadequate integration of data from fossil and extant insect taxa in phylogenetic investigations. Stumbling blocks lie at various systematic levels. Unreliability of specimen‐based data, of species delimitation, and of homology assumptions, might have been responsible for a disdain by some entomologists for palaeoentomological literature. Idiosyncratic (and in cases flawed) methods aimed at investigating phylogenetic relationships used by a fraction of the palaeoentomological community might also have contributed to this situation. Concurrently, the traditional nomenclatural procedure might prevent effective communication between neo‐ and palaeoentomologists. Augmenting the available information on the wing venation of extant taxa would significantly advance palaeoentomology, and provide a relevant broad‐scale character system. Furthermore, the entomological community should contribute to experimentations of various nomenclatural procedures, with the aim of developing an optimal approach in terms of communication and information retrieval.
Regulation of respiration when the oxygen availability changes
Authors: Gupta Kapuganti J. , Zabalza Ana , Van Dongen Joost T.
Published: May 2009

Oxygen is a vital substrate for plant energy metabolism. Since plants do not have a sophisticated mechanism to deliver oxygen to those sites where it is actually needed, a plant cell has to continuously cope with changes of the oxygen tension within the tissue. The actual internal oxygen concentration will depend on the resistance for oxygen diffusion through the tissue, as well as on the actual respiratory activity. This paper discusses the current state of knowledge on the regulation of respiration by the oxygen availability. Contradicting opinions from the literature on plant respiration are reviewed and commented upon. Also, knowledge about the regulation of respiration in animal mitochondria is included. Apart from changes in glycolytic flux, the role of both the cytochrome‐c oxidase (COX) and the alternative oxidase (AOX) in the adaptive response of respiration to changes in the oxygen availability are discussed. One hypothesis is formulated which describes an alternative or additional role for AOX. It is suggested that AOX could play a role in maintaining oxygen homeostasis within the mitochondrion. Because of the relative low affinity for oxygen of AOX as compared to COX, the alternative oxidase will not interfere with COX activity, but AOX activity will reduce the free oxygen concentration, thereby decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside the mitochondrion.
The frontline and the ivory tower: A case study of service and professional‐driven curriculum
Authors: Lenthall Sue , Wakerman John , Knight Sabina
Published: May 2009

Objective:  To describe the development of a postgraduate, multidisciplinary program designed to meet the needs of remote health professionals, present formative evaluation findings and to offer an analysis of the difficulties and lessons learnt.

Design:  Case study.

Setting:  University Department of Rural Health in a remote region.

Participants:  University staff, students and stakeholders involved in the development of the remote health practice program.

Results:  Formative evaluation suggests that a curriculum driven by service and professional groups, such as the Flinders University Remote Health Practice program, is able to better prepare remote health practitioners and improve their effectiveness. Difficulties in development included a lack of recognition by some university academics of the value of practitioner knowledge and a reluctance to accept a clinical component in a masters program. Lessons learnt included the importance of: (i) respect for practitioner knowledge; (ii) explicit and appropriate values; (iii) high‐quality academics with strong service links; (iv) appropriate length of lead time; (v) institutional links between university and both relevant professional organisations and health services; (vi) a receptive university; (vii) location; and (viii) ongoing engagement with services and professional responsive development.

Conclusion:  The success of the program was due in large part to the relationship with professional bodies and close links with remote health services. We have described a number of lessons learnt from this experience that can be useful to other educational groups developing or revising their educational programs.
Scale‐dependent trait correlations in a temperate tree community
Authors: BURNS K. C. , BEAUMONT SAM
Published: May 2009

Recent investigations of relationships among plant traits have generated important insights into plant form and function. However, relationships involving leaf area, leaf shape and plant height remain poorly resolved. Previous work has also focused on correlations between average trait values for individual species. It is unclear whether similar relationships occur within species. We searched for novel plant trait correlations by comparing leaf area, leaf circularity, specific leaf area (SLA) and plant height among 16 common woody plant species from a temperate forest in New Zealand. Analyses were conducted both within species (intra‐specifically) and among species (inter‐specifically) to determine whether trait correlations were scale dependent. Leaf area was unrelated to other leaf traits inter‐specifically. However, leaf area declined with plant height and increased with SLA intra‐specifically. Leaf circularity decreased with plant height inter‐specifically, but increased with plant height intra‐specifically. SLA increased with plant height both inter‐ and intra‐specifically. Leaf circularity increased with SLA inter‐specifically, but decreased with SLA intra‐specifically. Overall results showed that leaf shape, SLA and plant height are interrelated. However, intra‐specific relationships often differed substantially from inter‐specific relationships, suggesting that the processes shaping relationships between this suite of plant traits are scale‐dependent.
Impacts of grazing, selective logging and hyper‐aggressors on diurnal bird fauna in intact forest landscapes of the Brigalow Belt, Queensland
Authors: EYRE TERESA J. , MARON MARTINE , MATHIESON MICHAEL T. , HASELER MURRAY
Published: May 2009

The impact of forest management on diurnal bird assemblages and abundance was investigated in contiguous tracts of eucalypt forest in the Brigalow Belt Bioregion, south central Queensland. Sites were located across three levels of livestock grazing intensity and three levels of selective logging intensity within the most extensive habitat type, Corymbia citriodora‐dominant forest. We recorded a high rate of incidence and large numbers of the hyper‐aggressive noisy miner Manorina melanocephala (Passeriformes: Meliphagidae) at the majority of our survey sites, a phenomenon rarely reported in non‐cleared landscapes. As shown by numerous studies in fragmented landscapes, the distribution of this species in our study had a substantial negative effect upon the distribution of small passerine species. Noisy miners exerted the strongest influence upon small passerine abundance, and masked any forest management effects. However, key habitat features important for small passerines were identified, including a relatively high density of large trees and stems in the midstorey. Selective logging appeared to exert a minimal effect upon noisy miner abundance, whereas grazing intensity had a profound, positive influence. Noisy miners were most abundant in intensively grazed forest with minimal midstorey and a low volume of coarse woody debris. Higher road density in the forest landscape also corresponded with increased numbers of noisy miners. Reduction in grazing pressure in Brigalow Belt forests has the potential to benefit small passerine assemblages across large areas through moderating noisy miner abundance. The strong relationship between noisy miners and small passerines suggests that noisy miner abundance could act as an easily measured indicator of forest condition, potentially contributing to monitoring of forest management outcomes.
Morphological variation and floral abnormalities in a trigger plant across a narrow altitudinal gradient
Authors: HOFFMANN ARY A. , GRIFFIN PHILIPPA C. , MACRAILD ROGER D.
Published: May 2009

Local adaptation in alpine plants has been demonstrated across wide altitudinal gradients, but has rarely been examined across the alpine‐to‐montane transition that often encompasses only a few hundred metres. Here we characterize morphological variation in leaf and floral characteristics of the trigger plant Stylidium armeria along a narrow altitudinal gradient in the Bogong High Plains in Victoria. Across this gradient, which encompasses the high‐elevation limit of this species, linear changes were found for floral scape height, leaf length and flower number. All these traits decreased with increasing altitude, whereas the frequency of abnormal flowers increased. When plants were grown in a common garden environment, an altitudinal pattern for flower abnormalities was no longer detected. However, altitudinal patterns for leaf length and scape height were maintained, albeit weaker than in the field. This indicates heritable variation for these morphological traits; the altitudinal patterns are likely to reflect the effects of selection by environmental factors that vary with altitude. Selection pressures remain to be identified but have generated both cogradient and countergradient patterns of variation.
The four horsemen: clinicopathological correlation in 407 hospital autopsies
Authors: Heriot G. S. , Pitman A. G. , Gonzales M. , McKelvie P.
Published: May 2009

Background:  Few previous papers comparing clinical diagnoses with autopsy findings present sensitivities and positive predictive values for individual conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the sensitivity and positive predictive value of current clinical diagnosis both overall and for individual conditions.

Methods:  Retrospective review of hospital records of a consecutive series of patients undergoing hospital autopsy at two metropolitan teaching hospitals over a 7‐year period (407 patients). Comparison was made with autopsy reports to allocate one of three outcome measures (true‐positive, false‐positive, false‐negative) to each condition.

Results:  The overall sensitivity and positive predictive value of clinical diagnosis were 0.74 and 0.93 respectively. Pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction, bowel ischaemia and pulmonary embolism were each present in greater than 10% of patients and had sensitivities below 0.70 and positive predictive values below 0.90.

Conclusion:  There exists a large burden of clinically undiagnosed and incorrectly diagnosed disease in hospital. Pneumonia, acute myocardial infarction, bowel ischaemia and pulmonary embolism represent important and difficult diagnostic challenges.
Predictors of clinic non‐attendance: opportunities to improve patient outcomes in colorectal cancer
Authors: Kosmider S. , Shedda S. , Jones I. T. , McLaughlin S. , Gibbs P.
Published: May 2009

Aim: Colorectal cancer is one of the few tumour types, where routine patient follow up has been demonstrated to impact significantly on survival. Patients who fail to attend regular clinic reviews may compromise their outcome, but the frequency at which this occurs is unknown. Identifying the extent of this problem, and the factors that predict non‐attendance, may provide opportunities to improve patient outcomes.

Methods: Utilizing the Australian Comprehensive Cancer Outcomes and Research Database (ACCORD) colorectal database at Royal Melbourne and Western Hospitals and the Hospital Patient Management System (HOMER) we collected attendance data for colorectal surgical and oncology outpatient clinic appointments.

Results: A total of 619 patients (368 men and 251 women) with curatively treated Australian ClinicoPathological Staging System (ACPS) Stage A, B and C colorectal cancer was identified from the two sites over 1988–2008. Twenty‐one per cent (n= 130) of patients failed to attend one or more appointments. Patients who failed to attend were more likely to require the services of an interpreter (25% vs 18%; P= 0.007), to have a smoking history and to have not received adjuvant therapy. Tumour site, patient age, sex and comorbidities were not associated with non‐attendance.

Conclusion: A significant percentage of patients fail to attend routine clinic visits to colorectal speciality clinics. Patients at risk of non‐attendance can be identified. More research is needed to identify barriers as to why patients do not attend appointments and to develop measures that may improve patient attendance.
Scleroderma lung disease, variation in screening, diagnosis and treatment practices between rheumatologists and respiratory physicians
Authors: Mangat P. , Conron M. , Gabbay E. , Proudman S. M. ,   on behalf of the Pulmonary Interstitial Vascular Organisational Taskforce (PIVOT)
Published: May 2009

Background:  Interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represent the leading causes of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Screening for these complications has assumed greater importance, but is not universal. The aim of this study is to determine the self‐reported screening, diagnosis and treatment practices of rheumatologists and respiratory physicians for SSc‐related lung disease.

Methods:  Email survey of 270 rheumatologists and 600 respiratory physicians.

Results:  Responses were received from 42 (16%) rheumatologists and 68 (11%) respiratory physicians. Of SSc patients seen by rheumatologists, 17% had ILD and 7.5% had a diagnosis of PAH compared with 31% and 21% for respiratory physicians. Forty per cent of all physicians screened asymptomatic SSc patients without a known diagnosis of ILD or PAH less than annually or not at all. The most commonly used screening investigations were pulmonary function tests (PFT) (95%) and transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) (78%). In suspected ILD, both groups used high‐resolution computed tomography scans and PFT in >90% of patients. In suspected PAH, both used TTE and PFT (>90%); right heart catheterisation was used by only 50% of physicians. In treatment of ILD, rheumatologists used intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide more often (CYC) (59% vs 28%, P= 0.003) and more respiratory physicians used oral CYC (44% vs 28%, P= 0.012). In PAH, more respiratory physicians used warfarin (68% vs 40%, P= 0.006). Only approximately 65% of physicians had used specific PAH therapy, which may reflect lack of access to a designated PAH treatment centre.

Conclusion:  The heterogeneity of responses revealed in this study raises the importance of screening, diagnosis and treatment algorithms in the management of this potentially life‐threatening disease.
WIN55,212‐2, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, protects against nigrostriatal cell loss in the 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Price David A. , Martinez Alex A. , Seillier Alexandre , Koek Wouter , Acosta Yolanda , Fernandez Elizabeth , Strong Randy , Lutz Beat , Marsicano Giovanni , Roberts James L. , Giuffrida Andrea
Published: May 2009

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons leading to motor disturbances and cognitive impairment. Current pharmacotherapies relieve PD symptoms temporarily but fail to prevent or slow down the disease progression. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which the non‐selective cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN55,212‐2 (WIN) protects mouse nigrostriatal neurons from 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)‐induced neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation. Stereological analyses showed that chronic treatment with WIN (4 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), initiated 24 h after MPTP administration, protected against MPTP‐induced loss of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta independently of CB1cannabinoid receptor activation. The neuroprotective effect of WIN was accompanied by increased dopamine and 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid levels in the substantia nigra pars compacta and dorsal striatum of MPTP‐treated mice. At 3 days post‐MPTP, we found significant microglial activation and up‐regulation of CB2cannabinoid receptors in the ventral midbrain. Treatment with WIN or the CB2receptor agonist JWH015 (4 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) reduced MPTP‐induced microglial activation, whereas genetic ablation of CB2receptors exacerbated MPTP systemic toxicity. Furthermore, chronic WIN reversed MPTP‐associated motor deficits, as revealed by the analysis of forepaw step width and percentage of faults using the inverted grid test. In conclusion, our data indicate that agonism at CB2cannabinoid receptors protects against MPTP‐induced nigrostriatal degeneration by inhibiting microglial activation/infiltration and suggest that CB2receptors represent a new therapeutic target to slow the degenerative process occurring in PD.
Expression of Sox11 in adult neurogenic niches suggests a stage‐specific role in adult neurogenesis
Authors: Haslinger Anja , Schwarz Tobias J. , Covic Marcela , Chichung Lie D.
Published: May 2009

In the mammalian brain, neural stem and progenitor cells in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus generate new neurons throughout adulthood. The generation of new functional neurons is a complex process that is tightly controlled by extrinsic signals and that is characterized by stage‐specific gene expression programs and cell biological processes. The transcription factors regulating such stage‐specific developmental steps in adult neurogenesis are largely unknown. Here we report that Sox11, a member of the group C Sox transcription factor family, is prominently expressed in the neurogenic areas of the adult brain. Further analysis revealed that Sox11 expression is strictly confined to doublecortin‐expressing neuronally committed precursors and immature neurons but that Sox11 is not expressed in non‐committed Sox2‐expressing precursor cells and mature neurons of the adult neurogenic lineage. Finally, overexpression of Sox11 promotes the generation of doublecortin‐positive immature neurons from adult neural stem cells in vitro. These data indicate that Sox11 is involved in the transcriptional regulation of specific gene expression programs in adult neurogenesis at the stage of the immature neuron.
A specific role for posterior dorsolateral striatum in human habit learning
Authors: Tricomi Elizabeth , Balleine Bernard W. , O’Doherty John P.
Published: May 2009

Habits are characterized by an insensitivity to their consequences and, as such, can be distinguished from goal‐directed actions. The neural basis of the development of demonstrably outcome‐insensitive habitual actions in humans has not been previously characterized. In this experiment, we show that extensive training on a free‐operant task reduces the sensitivity of participants’ behavior to a reduction in outcome value. Analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired during training revealed a significant increase in task‐related cue sensitivity in a right posterior putamen–globus pallidus region as training progressed. These results provide evidence for a shift from goal‐directed to habit‐based control of instrumental actions in humans, and suggest that cue‐driven activation in a specific region of dorsolateral posterior putamen may contribute to the habitual control of behavior in humans.
Compartments in a marine food web associated with phylogeny, body mass, and habitat structure
Authors: Rezende Enrico L. , Albert Eva M. , Fortuna Miguel A. , Bascompte Jordi
Published: May 2009

A long‐standing question in community ecology is whether food webs are organized in compartments, where species within the same compartment interact frequently among themselves, but show fewer interactions with species from other compartments. Finding evidence for this community organization is important since compartmentalization may strongly affect food web robustness to perturbation. However, few studies have found unequivocal evidence of compartments, and none has quantified the suite of mechanisms generating such a structure. Here, we combine computational tools from the physics of complex networks with phylogenetic statistical methods to show that a large marine food web is organized in compartments, and that body size, phylogeny, and spatial structure are jointly associated with such a compartmentalized structure. Sharks account for the majority of predatory interactions within their compartments. Phylogenetically closely related shark species tend to occupy different compartments and have divergent trophic levels, suggesting that competition may play an important role structuring some of these compartments. Current overfishing of sharks has the potential to change the structural properties, which might eventually affect the stability of the food web.
Reduced endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE) in young people with Type 1 diabetes developing microalbuminuria
Authors: Marcovecchio M. L. , Giannini C. , Dalton R. N. , Widmer B. , Chiarelli F. , Dunger D. B.
Published: May 2009

Aims  The endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE) appears to work as a scavenger for AGEs and it has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The aim of the present study was to perform a longitudinal evaluation of esRAGE in young people with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) in relation to the development of microalbuminuria (MA).

Methods  Serum esRAGE levels were measured in longitudinally collected blood samples from 49 T1D patients with MA (MA+) and 49 matched normoalbuminuric patients (MA−), followed in the Oxford Regional Prospective Study. esRAGE levels were compared between MA+ and MA− subjects in relation to the time of MA onset.

Results  Overall, esRAGE levels were significantly lower in MA+ than in MA− subjects (0.727 ± 0.396 vs. 0.936 ± 0.433 ng/ml; P = 0.015). These differences between the two groups were present both before (0.725 ± 0.410 vs. 0.956 ± 0.505 ng/ml, P = 0.038) and after the onset of MA (0.750 ± 0.433 vs. 0.948 ± 0.418 ng/ml, P = 0.04). In a longitudinal analysis there was no effect of age, duration, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) or body mass index standard deviation scores on esRAGE levels (all P > 0.05). In a Cox model, esRAGE levels significantly contributed to the probability of developing MA [Exp(B)(95% confidence interval): 0.34(0.12–0.98); P = 0.04), independently of HbA1c.

Conclusions  In this longitudinal study of young people with T1D, esRAGE levels were reduced in MA+ subjects, even before the onset of MA, and appeared to be related to its development, thus suggesting a potential role of esRAGE in the pathogenesis of this complication.
Glycinebetaine‐induced water‐stress tolerance in codA‐expressing transgenic indica rice is associated with up‐regulation of several stress responsive genes
Authors: Kathuria Hitesh , Giri Jitender , Nataraja Karaba N. , Murata Norio , Udayakumar Makarla , Tyagi Akhilesh K.
Published: May 2009

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a non‐accumulator of glycinebetaine (GB), is highly susceptible to abiotic stress. Transgenic rice with chloroplast‐targeted choline oxidase encoded by the codA gene from Arthrobacter globiformis has been evaluated for inheritance of transgene up to R5 generation and water‐stress tolerance. During seedling, vegetative and reproductive stages, transgenic plants could maintain higher activity of photosystem II and they show better physiological performance, for example, enhanced detoxification of reactive oxygen species compared to wild‐type plants under water‐stress. Survival rate and agronomic performance of transgenic plants is also better than wild‐type following prolonged water‐stress. Choline oxidase converts choline into GB and H2O2 in a single step. It is possible that H2O2/GB might activate stress response pathways and prepare transgenic plants to mitigate stress. To check this possibility, microarray‐based transcriptome analysis of transgenic rice has been done. It unravelled altered expression of many genes involved in stress responses, signal transduction, gene regulation, hormone signalling and cellular metabolism. Overall, 165 genes show more than two‐fold up‐regulation at P‐value < 0.01 in transgenic rice. Out of these, at least 50 genes are known to be involved in plant stress response. Exogenous application of H2O2 or GB to wild‐type plants also induces such genes. Our data show that metabolic engineering for GB is a promising strategy for introducing stress tolerance in crop plants and which could be imparted, in part, by H2O2‐ and/or GB‐induced stress response genes.
Assessment of Product Engineering Creativity
Authors: Kobe Carmen , Goller Ina
Published: May 2009

One important element of a company's capability to innovate is the creativity of each individual employee – especially in the context of product engineering. Employee recruitment or promotion to improve the creativity of one's workforce needs assessment of individual creativity. This paper proposes a human resource assessment methodology suitable to assess creative ability of product engineers on an individual level. This methodology is composed of pre‐existing instruments to measure prerequisites (including cognitive abilities, expertise, personality and motivation), and outputs of general creativity. The specifics of product engineering creativity and recruitment or promotion decisions are taken into account.
Capabilities and Radical Changes of the Business Models of New Bioscience Firms
Authors: Brink Johan , Holmén Magnus
Published: May 2009

The paper analyses the development of newly started bioscience firms in terms of their capabilities and changes in their business models. The study consists of eight retrospective case studies stemming from their foundation over a period of 5–15 years. Empirically the paper finds that all the firms quickly develop a technological capability at the time of their foundation, and over time all firms added distinctly new business capabilities. Seven firms radically changed their business models by identifying and exploiting new opportunities by drawing on their existing business capability combined with a new, different technological capability. The initial technological capability – the firms' ‘ticket to entry’– does not seem to be relevant to explain the process of firm development. These initial technological capabilities are surprisingly seldom leveraged within the cumulative process of opening up additional opportunities and business models. The paper concludes by creating a model and discusses some reasons for the findings.
Salient Intergroup Ideology and Intergroup Interaction
Authors: Vorauer Jacquie D. , Gagnon Annette , Sasaki Stacey J.
Published: May 2009

Two experiments examined how rendering different intergroup ideologies salient affects dominant- and minority-group members' behavior during, and experience of, intergroup interactions. We hypothesized that ideologies that encourage an outward focus on appreciating out-group members' distinctive qualities (multiculturalism) would have more positive implications than ideologies that encourage a self-control focus on ignoring social categories and avoiding inappropriate behavior (color blindness and antiracism). As predicted, in both ostensible ( Study 1 ) and actual face-to-face ( Study 2 ) intergroup interactions, the multicultural ideological prompt led dominant- and minority-group members to adopt a more outward focus and hence to direct more positive other-directed comments to an interaction partner who was a member of an out-group. In contrast, the color-blind prompt fostered a prevention orientation in dominant-group members that led them to express negative affect toward their out-group interaction partner. The antiracist prompt had no consistent effects. Implications for efforts to improve intergroup relations are discussed.
Technology Transfer and the South's Participation in an International Environmental Agreement*
Authors: Qiu Larry D. , Yu Zhihao
Published: May 2009

We develop a North–South model of international trade and transboundary pollution to analyze the relationship between environmental technology transfer and the South's incentive to join an international environmental agreement (IEA). We find necessary and sufficient conditions under which technology transfer will increase the South's incentive to join the IEA. We also find necessary and sufficient conditions under which the South's participation in the IEA will increase the market incentive for technology transfer. Results have clear policy implications for (i) the sequence of technology transfer and the South's IEA membership, and (ii) the legitimacy of the South's subsidies for technology transfer.
The Political Economy of Strategic Trade Policies*
Authors: Fung K. C. , Lin Chelsea C. , Chang Ray‐Yun
Published: May 2009

This paper applies Grossman and Helpman's (1994) common agency model to investigate the formation of strategic export subsidy and strategic import tariff under both Cournot competition and Bertrand competition. The results of this paper indicate that even with political pressure, the Grossman–Helpman politically‐determined export policy is identical to the rent‐shifting export policy, which is export subsidy (export tax) in Cournot (Bertrand) competition. The politically‐determined import tariff will be higher than the optimal level. This paper highlights the possibility that lobbying can restore the level of trade intervention to a more efficient one in the absence of the benevolent dictator.
Response adaptive procedures with dual optimality
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Uttam , Bhattacharya Rahul
Published: May 2009

The paper proposes an optimal response‐adaptive procedure for a general class of responses using a combination of two clinically relevant optimality criteria. We provide a thorough development for trials involving two treatments and sketch the possible extension for multiple treatments. Some related asymptotic results are worked out. We provide simulation studies to compare the performance of the proposed procedure with some of the existing competitors. We illustrate our methodology on data from a real clinical trial.
Effects of Changes in the Unemployment Insurance Eligibility Requirements on Job Duration — Swedish Evidence
Authors: Hägglund Pathric
Published: May 2009

This paper investigates the impact of the unemployment insurance (UI) entrance requirement on employment duration among earlier unemployed in Sweden. I exploit changes in the rules taking place in 1994 and 1997 to study behavioural adjustments in the timing of job separation in 1992, 1996, and 1998, respectively. Performing across‐year analyses with years involving different working requirements, I find some evidence of clustering of job exits at the time of UI qualification. By using predicted hazard rates for each week, I calculate an approximate 2.3‐week extension in average employment duration between 1996 and 1998, due to the 5‐week prolonging of the entrance requirement.
Effect ofAtropa belladonnaL. on skin wound healing: Biomechanical and histological study in rats and in vitro study in keratinocytes, 3T3 fibroblasts, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells
Authors: Gál Peter , Toporcer Tomáš , Grendel Tomáš , Vidová Zuzana , Smetana Karel , Dvořánková Barbora , Gál Tomáš , Mozeš Štefan , Lenhardt L'udovít , Longauer František , Sabol Marián , Sabo Ján , Bačkor Martin
Published: May 2009

The effect ofAtropa belladonnaL. (AB) aqueous extract on skin wound healing was studied in male Sprague–Dawley rats subjected to two parallel full‐thickness skin incisions on the back. Specimens for histological evaluation were collected on days 2 and 5 whereas for biomechanical testing, they were collected on day 5. In the in vitro study, a different concentration of AB extract was used to test the differentiation of keratinocytes using a panel of selected antibodies, proliferation, and cell survival of 3T3 fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells using the MTT‐assay. Results of the in vivo experiments showed in AB‐treated wounds a shortened process of inflammation and accelerated collagen formation, as well as significantly increased wound stiffness as compared with control tissues. The in vitro examination showed that control keratinocytes were cytokeratin 19 free, while samples exposed to the highest AB extract concentration expressed CK19. Moreover, all concentrations were stimulatory to human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation. In addition, only the AB extract at the lowest tested concentration increased fibroblast growth, but higher concentrations decreased cell survival. In conclusion, our results indicate that the AB water extract positively affects early phases of skin wound healing in rats. However, the in vitro results on the inverse relation between the concentration of the AB extract and its effects on cell proliferation may be important for future research.
Validity of the orthopedic POSSUM scoring system for the assessment of postoperative mortality in patients with pressure ulcers
Authors: Kurita Masakazu , Ichioka Shigeru , Tanaka Yukari , Umekawa Kouhei , Oshima Yoshio , Ohura Norihiko , Kinoshita Mikio , Harii Kiyonori
Published: May 2009

In the treatment of pressure ulcers, assessment of systemic problems is an important yet difficult step in selecting either conservative or surgical therapeutic intervention. The surgical auditing system called the Physiological and Operative Severity Score for enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity (POSSUM) and its orthopedic version (O‐POSSUM), which gives a predictive mortality rate for the first 30 postoperative days, may be useful for assessing systemic status, but have yet to be sufficiently validated for patients with pressure ulcers. To assess the validity of POSSUM and O‐POSSUM, 71 procedures on 50 cases were retrospectively statistically analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves and goodness‐of‐fitness testing with the Hosmer–Lemeshow χ2 test for logistic regression modeling. POSSUM and O‐POSSUM showed satisfactory discriminatory power in receiver operating curve analysis. The validity of the values obtained by POSSUM and O‐POSSUM was also confirmed. O‐POSSUM was superior to POSSUM in both analyses. O‐POSSUM is useful in assessing the systemic status of patients with pressure ulcers. Some patients with pressure ulcers show extreme systemic conditions. Assessment of systemic status with O‐POSSUM contributes to daily clinical practice and future studies of treatments for pressure ulcers.
Evaluation of the use of prognostic information for the care of individuals with venous leg ulcers or diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers
Authors: Kurd Shanu K. , Hoffstad Ole J. , Bilker Warren B. , Margolis David J.
Published: May 2009

This is a randomized factorial design clinical trial that investigates the efficacy and feasibility of providing prognostic information on wound healing. Prognostic information was provided based on baseline or 4‐week wound characteristics. Healing rates were then determined at 24 weeks for venous leg ulcers and 20 weeks for diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers. Centers that had access to baseline information for venous leg ulcer prognosis had an odds ratio (OR) of healing of 1.42 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 1.95) while centers that had access to information at 4 weeks had an OR of healing of 1.43 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.95) compared with controls. Diabetic neuropathic foot ulcer patients treated in centers that had been randomized to receive only 4‐week prognostic information were more likely to heal than individuals seen in centers randomized to receive no intervention (OR 1.50, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.14). Our study found that it is feasible and efficacious to provide prognostic information on venous leg ulcers and diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers in a wound care setting using an existing administrative database. This intervention was easy to administer and likely had low associated costs. This method of dispersing prognostic information to healthcare providers should be expanded to include recently published treatment algorithms.
The effect of topical analgesics on ex vivo skin growth and human keratinocyte and fibroblast behavior
Authors: Harris Kathryn L. , Bainbridge Natalie J. , Jordan Nigel R. , Sharpe Justin R.
Published: May 2009

The application of topical analgesics to the donor site of split thickness skin grafts has been proven to be an effective method of pain management but little is known about their effects on wound reepithelialization. This study compares the effect of four analgesics on human keratinocytes and fibroblasts and whole skin explants in vitro to determine whether epithelial cell behavior is affected by topical analgesics. The effect of diclofenac, bupivacaine, lidocaine, and ketorolac was studied at concentrations between 10 mM and 1 nM. The effect on epithelial growth was measured using an ex vivo skin explant model. In addition, cell proliferation, and cytotoxicity were measured in cultured primary human keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Epithelial growth from the explant model was most inhibited by diclofenac with a significant reduction at 100 μM (p=>0.001). Diclofenac also exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on cell proliferation especially in keratinocytes. Ketorolac was the most cytotoxic. Bupivacaine showed cytotoxicity in a dose‐dependent manner with only the very highest concentrations having a significant inhibitory effect. Lidocaine showed no evidence of cytotoxicity at the concentrations tested in either the in vitro cell studies or the ex vivo explant model. Topical analgesics alter keratinocyte and fibroblast behavior and such inhibition may affect wound healing.
De novo follicular regeneration of the skin by wingless int 3 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 genes introduced into dermal fibroblasts and fibroblast growth factor‐2 protein
Authors: Ono Ichiro , Akasaka Yoshikiyo , Kamiya Takafumi , Sato Makito , Kobune Masayoshi , Hamada Hirofumi , Yamashita Toshiharu
Published: May 2009

In this study, we regenerated skin and its appendages by transplanting cultured normal dermal fibroblasts, into which morphogen genes had been introduced. We cultured normal dermal fibroblasts obtained from Fisher 344 rats on the surface of hydroxyapatite beads, and then adsorbed them onto the surface of a collagen sponge, which was transplanted into a full‐thickness skin defect prepared on the backs of rats. Before transplantation, genes were introduced into the dermal fibroblasts via adenovirus vector (ad)‐bone morphogenetic protein 2 and ad‐wingless int 3 genes in addition to fibroblast growth factor‐2 protein. By Week 4, the appearance of follicle germs or primitive hair germs was observed only in the ad‐bone morphogenetic protein 2+ad‐wingless int 3 combined with the fibroblast growth factor‐2 protein group. By Week 16, in that same group, hair follicles having mature pilosebaceous systems with equally spaced localization had formed in the ulcer wound.
UREASE GENE SEQUENCES FROM ALGAE AND HETEROTROPHIC BACTERIA IN AXENIC AND NONAXENIC PHYTOPLANKTON CULTURES1
Authors: Baker Kristopher M. , Gobler Christopher J. , Collier Jackie L.
Published: May 2009

While urea has long been recognized as an important form of nitrogen in planktonic ecosystems, very little is known about how many or which phytoplankton and bacteria can use urea as a nitrogen source. We developed a method, targeting the gene encoding urease, for the direct detection and identification of ureolytic organisms and tested it on seven axenic phytoplankton cultures (three diatoms, two prymnesiophytes, a eustigmatophyte, and a pelagophyte) and on three nonaxenic Aureococcus anophagefferens Hargraves et Sieburth cultures (CCMP1784 and two CCMP1708 cultures from different laboratories). The urease amplicon sequences from axenic phytoplankton cultures were consistent with genomic data in the three species for which both were available. Seven of 12 phytoplankton species have one or more introns in the amplified region of their urease gene(s). The 63 urease amplicons that were cloned and sequenced from nonaxenic A. anophagefferens cultures grouped into 17 distinct sequence types. Eleven types were related to α‐Proteobacteria, including three types likely belonging to the genus Roseovarius. Four types were related to γ‐Proteobacteria, including two likely belonging to the genus Marinobacter, and two types were related to β‐Proteobacteria. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) analyses suggested that the sequenced amplicons represented approximately half of the diversity of bacterial urease genes present in the nonaxenic cultures. While many of the bacterial urease sequence types were apparently lab‐ or culture‐specific, others were found in all three nonaxenic cultures, suggesting the possibility of specific relationships between these bacteria and A. anophagefferens.
LIGHT‐INDUCED MOTILE RESPONSES OF THE ESTUARINE BENTHIC DIATOMS NAVICULA PERMINUTA AND CYLINDROTHECA CLOSTERIUM (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: McLachlan Deirdre H. , Brownlee Colin , Taylor Alison R. , Geider Richard J. , Underwood Graham J. C.
Published: May 2009

Motility of estuarine epipelic (mud‐inhabiting) diatoms is an important adaptation to living in biofilms present within fine sediments. Motility allows cells to migrate within the photic zone in response to a wide range of environmental stimuli. The motile responses of two species of benthic diatoms to photon fluence rates and spectral quality were investigated. Cultures of Navicula perminuta (Grunow) in van Heurck and Cylindrotheca closterium (Ehrenb.) J. C. Lewin et Reimann both exhibited photoaccumulation at ∼200 μmol · m−2 · s−1 and photodispersal from photon flux densities (PFDs) of ∼15 μmol · m−2 · s−1. Photokinesis (changing cell speed) contributed toward photodispersal for both species, and red light (λ = 681–691 nm) was most effective at inducing this process. N. perminuta showed a phototactic (directional) response, with active movement in response to a light gradient. Although this response was exhibited in white light, these directional responses were only elicited by wavelengths from 430 to 510 nm. In contrast, C. closterium did not exhibit phototaxis under any light conditions used in this study. Motile benthic diatoms thus exhibit complex and sophisticated responses to light quantity and quality, involving combinations of photokinesis and phototaxis, which can contribute toward explaining the patterns of large‐scale cell movements observed in natural estuarine biofilms.
An Outpatient Multifactorial Falls Prevention Intervention Does Not Reduce Falls in High‐Risk Elderly Danes
Authors: Vind Ane B. , Andersen Hanne E. , Pedersen Kirsten D. , Jørgensen Torben , Schwarz Peter
Published: May 2009

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of multifactorial fall prevention in community‐dwelling people aged 65 and older in Denmark.

DESIGN: Randomized, controlled clinical trial.

SETTING: Geriatric outpatient clinic at Glostrup University Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred ninety‐two elderly people, mean age 74, 73.7% women, who had visited the emergency department or had been hospitalized due to a fall.

INTERVENTION: Identification of general medical, cardiovascular, and physical risk factors for falls and individual intervention in the intervention group. Participants in the control group received usual care.

MEASUREMENTS: Falls were registered prospectively in falls diaries, with monthly telephone calls for collection of data. Outcomes were fall rates and proportion of participants with falls, frequent falls, and injurious falls in 12 months.

RESULTS: Groups were comparable at baseline. Follow‐up exceeded 90.0%. A total of 422 falls were registered in the intervention group, 398 in the control group. Intention‐to‐treat analysis revealed no effect of the intervention on fall rates (relative risk=1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.75–1.51), proportion with falls (odds ratio (OR)=1.20, 95% CI 0.81–1.79), frequent falls (OR=0.97, 95% CI=0.60–1.56), or injurious falls (OR=0.97, 95% CI=0.57–1.62).

CONCLUSION: A program of multifactorial fall prevention aimed at elderly Danish people experiencing at least one injurious fall was not effective in preventing further falls.