bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postnatal experience modulates functional properties of mouse olfactory sensory neurons
Authors: He Jiwei , Tian Huikai , Lee Anderson C. , Ma Minghong
Published: June 2012

Early experience considerably modulates the organization and function of all sensory systems. In the mammalian olfactory system, deprivation of the sensory inputs via neonatal, unilateral naris closure has been shown to induce structural, molecular and functional changes from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb and cortex. However, it remains unknown how early experience shapes the functional properties of individual olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), the primary odor detectors in the nose. To address this question, we examined the odorant response properties of mouse OSNs in both the closed and open nostril after 4 weeks of unilateral naris closure, with age‐matched untreated animals as control. Using a patch‐clamp technique on genetically tagged OSNs with defined odorant receptors (ORs), we found that sensory deprivation increased the sensitivity of MOR23 neurons in the closed side, whereas overexposure caused the opposite effect in the open side. We next analyzed the response properties, including rise time, decay time, and adaptation, induced by repeated stimulation in MOR23 and M71 neurons. Even though these two types of neuron showed distinct properties with regard to dynamic range and response kinetics, sensory deprivation significantly slowed down the decay phase of odorant‐induced transduction events in both types. Using western blotting and antibody staining, we confirmed the upregulation of several signaling proteins in the closed side as compared with the open side. This study suggests that early experience modulates the functional properties of OSNs, probably by modifying the signal transduction cascade.
A hierarchical theory of macroecology
Authors: Passy Sophia I.
Published: June 2012

The relationships of local population density (N) with body size (M) and distribution (D) have been extensively studied because they reveal how ecological and historical factors structure species communities; however, a unifying model explaining their joint behaviour, has not been developed. Here, I propose a theory that explores these relationships hierarchically and predicts that: (1) at a metacommunity level, niche breadth, population density and regional distribution are all related and size‐dependent and (2) at a community level, the exponentsbanddof the relationshipsN ~ M bandN ~ D dare functions (f)of the environment and, consequently, species richness (S), allowing the following reformulation of the power laws:N ~ M f(S)andN ~ Df(S). Using this framework and continental data on stream environment, diatoms, invertebrates and fish, I address the following fundamental, but unresolved ecological questions: how do species partition their resources across environments, is energetic equivalence among them possible, are generalists more common than specialists, why are locally abundant species also regionally prevalent, and, do microbes have different biogeography than macroorganisms? The discovery that community scaling behaviour is environmentally constrained calls for better integration of macroecology and environmental science.
Thiosulfate dehydrogenase: a widespread unusual acidophilic c‐type cytochrome
Authors: Denkmann Kevin , Grein Fabian , Zigann Renate , Siemen Anna , Bergmann Johannes , van Helmont Sebastian , Nicolai Anne , Pereira Inês A. C. , Dahl Christiane
Published: June 2012

In this work we identified the gene for the tetrathionate‐forming thiosulfate dehydrogenase (TsdA) from the purple sulfur bacterium Allochromatium vinosum by sequence analysis and reverse genetics. The recombinant protein produced in Escherichia coli is a periplasmic, monomeric 25.8 kDa dihaem cytochrome c with an enzyme activity optimum at pH 4. UV‐visible and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy indicate methionine (strictly conserved M222 or M236) and cysteine (C123) as probable sixth distal axial ligands of the two haem irons in TsdA. These results place TsdA in the group of c‐type cytochromes with an unusual axial histidine‐cysteine coordination of the haem iron. These proteins appear to play a pivotal role in sulfur‐based energy metabolism. Exchange of C123 to glycine rendered thiosulfate dehydrogenase inactive, proving the importance of this residue for catalysis.

TsdA homologues are present in α‐, β‐, δ‐, γ‐ and ε‐Proteobacteria. Three of these were produced in E. coli and exhibited the expected enzymatic activity. The widespread occurrence of tsdA agrees with reports of tetrathionate formation not only by specialized sulfur oxidizers but also by many chemoorganoheterotrophs that use thiosulfate as a supplemental but not as the sole energy source.
Destination unknown? Transition to adulthood for people with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Rydzewska Ewelina
Published: June 2012

This article, written by Ewelina Rydzewska, a PhD student and associate lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, draws upon a range of research evidence in order to explore the process of transition to adulthood for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It provides a brief overview of extended and complex youth transitions in different cultural contexts, with particular reference to Scotland. It also highlights particular patterns of vulnerability for people with ASD. The focus here is on the nature of ASD and its impact on the transition to adulthood, the conceptualisation of this process, the characteristics of effective service provision, as well as the ever‐changing social, political and economic context of young people's transitions. The article concludes with a summary of principal conclusions drawn from the current literature and some suggestions for future research.
‘Vorkuta is the Capital of the World’: People, Place and the Everyday Production of the Local
Authors: Pilkington Hilary
Published: June 2012

This article considers the relationship between people and place in the everyday production of the local. Based on empirical research with young people in Russia's far north it offers an empirically substantiated argument that processes of deterritorialization do not necessarily imply the disembedding of people from either the national or the local. Drawing on discursive psychological approaches to the construction of nationhood, the article demonstrates how national and local patriotisms are produced through a post-Soviet project of nationalism and an active programme of flagging the city by the city administration. Through an exploration of the everyday manifestation and articulation of ties between people and place, however, it also suggests some of the limitations to theories of the everyday discursive production of nationhood. Connections to place, it is argued, are not only unconscious or linguistic expressions of discursively produced subjects, but emotional and sensual responses to the material (urban space, nature, climate) and symbolic (hymns, flags, historical narratives) environment. This suggests the need to conceptualize place as a site of the active production and enactment of subjectivity, which is itself not only the product of language and discourse but of experience, affect and ‘matter’.
Why Repressive Policies Towards Urban Youths Do Not Make Streets Safe: Four Hypotheses
Authors: Binken Saskia , Blokland Talja
Published: June 2012

There is an increasing concern in various European cities with ‘youth’ in public space. This concern is by no means new. Young men have been a cause for public concern for a long time. In some countries in the global North, such as Holland, the marginalization along lines of class and ethnicity rather than just class have brought a relatively new dimension to perceived ‘problems’ of youth. Holland is particularly interesting, as it moved from championing tolerance to rather harsh policies and an often overly racist discourse on urban youth. This shift to a more repressive policy model has responded to an increasing public fear. Two peculiar empirical patterns raise the question of effectiveness of such repressive policies. First, the neighbourhoods targeted by these policies continue to show strong feelings of fear. Second, the number of incidents between youth and police do not drop, but rise, affecting the crime and nuisance statistics. This paper explores four hypotheses to explain these trends, drawing on empirical data from studies in disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Rotterdam and The Hague, the Netherlands.
Visualizing ‘Community’: An Experiment in Participatory Photography among Kurdish Diasporic Workers in London
Authors: Holgate Jane , Keles Janroj , Kumarappan Leena
Published: June 2012

Most accounts of research methods in academic journals give an impression that research progresses in an orderly, logical and linear manner. Yet, in reality it is often more ‘messy’ than we admit. This paper reports on an experiment on the use of visual photographic methods in a study of Kurdish migrant workers in London who have had problems at work. The aim was to understand the type of problems workers faced and how they attempted to solve or deal with the issues they encountered. We were interested in the extent to which workers looked to local communities for support and if or how their identity impacted on the actions they took. The use of participant-generated photography developed while the research was in progress and was utilized in addition to individual and group interviews in order to explore if this was helpful (to us and to research participants) in explaining issues, such as identity and ‘community’, which can often be difficult to verbalize or articulate. As a first foray into incorporating visual methods we struggled at first with ways to explain to participants the type of data we wanted, before learning that it was important to ‘lose control’ and allow participants to ‘speak’ for themselves using the lens of their cameras. The paper explores theoretical justifications that influenced our approach in our first attempt at participatory photography. It will look at the use of images constructed by research participants and how these were used in focus group situations to explore how or whether individual meanings of work, identity, community and belonging have resonance in the wider Kurdish community.
Association of chronic plaque psoriasis and severe periodontitis: a hospital based case‐control study
Authors: Lazaridou E. , Tsikrikoni A. , Fotiadou C. , Kyrmanidou E. , Vakirlis E. , Giannopoulou C. , Apalla Z. , Ioannides D.
Published: June 2012

Background  Both chronic plaque psoriasis and periodontitis have an increasing prevalence worldwide and have been associated with the metabolic syndrome; however limited information is available on their association.

Objective  To evaluate the possible association of severe periodontitis and chronic plaque psoriasis.

Methods  This was a hospital based case‐control study. Chronic plaque psoriasis patients and age‐ and gender‐matched controls have been recruited. Baseline demographic data have been recorded. To explore correlations between different dichotomous variables the Sperman Rho correlation coefficient was used. Correlations were further explored non‐parametrically and univariate and multivariate logistic regression was utilized after adjustment for the effect of confounders.

Results  During the study enrolment period 100 patients with CPP and 100 age‐ and gender‐matched controls were included in this study. Mean age for both groups was 57.2 ± 5.3 years. 43% of patients and controls were males. Significant correlations where noted between psoriasis and 1) periodontitis (rho = 0.219, P = 0.02) and 2) metabolic syndrome (rho = 0.191, P = 0.07) using Spearman’s Rho correlation co‐efficient. Univariate logistic regression reported significant relations between psoriasis and periodontitis (OR = 3.329, 95%CI: 1.513–7.324, P = 0.003) and psoriasis and metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.293, 95%CI: 1.250–4.207, P = 0.007). On the contrary, a non‐significant relation between psoriasis and active smoking status was detected (OR = 1.041, 95%CI: 0.597–1.817, P = 0.887). In a multivariate analysis model we found a significant correlation of psoriasis and periodontitis when controlled for the presence of metabolic syndrome (OR: 2.486, 95%CI: 1.002–5.842, P = 0.049).

Conclusion  Periodontitis may be associated with psoriasis but further studies are required to elucidate their relationship in the context of the biologic plausibility.
Human‐mediated long‐distance dispersal: an empirical evaluation of seed dispersal by vehicles
Authors: Taylor Kimberley , Brummer Tyler , Taper Mark L. , Wing Alexandre , Rew Lisa J.
Published: June 2012

Aim

To determine seed retention rates on vehicles as a function of distance driven, road surface, weather condition and seed location on the vehicle undercarriage.

Location

Montana,UnitedStates.

Methods

Metal plates were covered with a seed‐soil slurry, dried and attached to different locations underneath a vehicle. The vehicle was then driven on paved and unpaved roads under both wet and dry conditions. Plates were removed from the vehicle at seven distances between 4 and 256 km. The number of seeds remaining was determined. Four general models were assessed to explain observed seed retention.

Results

Under dry conditions, seed retention rates were high on both unpaved and paved roads, with 86–99% of the seeds remaining at 256 km. Under wet conditions, lower rates of seed retention were observed for both road surfaces: 0.3–80% of seeds were retained at 256 km on paved wet roads and 50–96% of seeds were retained at 256 km on unpaved wet roads. Plate location had a significant effect on seed retention under certain road surfaces and conditions, with loss generally being highest from the wheel wells. Of the statistical models compared, a double exponential model explained the most variation in seed retention.

Main conclusions

Vehicles act as vectors of long‐distance dispersal. Seed adhered to vehicles can be retained for hundreds of kilometres under dry conditions. When wet conditions occur, a greater proportion of seeds will be dispersed shorter distances. Consequently, vehicle seed dispersal has implications for plant invasions and species migration rates, and those concerned with prevention and control of non‐native plant invasions should consider vehicle seed transport when developing management strategies and plans.
Reconstructing plant invasions using historical aerial imagery and pollen core analysis: Typha in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Authors: Lishawa Shane C. , Treering David. J. , Vail Lane M. , McKenna Owen , Grimm Eric C. , Tuchman Nancy C.
Published: June 2012

Aim

Determining the spatial‐temporal spread of an invasive plant is vital for understanding long‐term impacts. However, invasions have rarely been directly documented given the resources required and the need for substantial foresight. One method widely used is historical photography interpretation, but this can be hard to verify. We attempt to improve this method by linking historical aerial photos to a paleobotanical analysis of pollen cores.

Location

Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetlands, United States of America.

Methods

We chose invasive cattail (
Typha) as our model species because it is identifiable from aerial imagery and has persistent, identifiable pollen, and its ecological impacts appear to be time‐dependent. We used Geographic Information Systems, aerial photo‐interpretation and field verification to post‐dict the invasion history of
Typha in several wetland ecosystems. Using 210
Pb and 137
Cs sediment dating and pollen classification, we correlated the temporal dominance of
Typha to our estimates of per cent coverage at one site. The pollen record was then used to estimate the
Typha invasion dynamics for dates earlier than those for which aerial photos were available.

Results

Typha spread through time in all study wetlands. Typha pollen dominance increased through time corresponding with increased spatial dominance. Hybrid cattail,
T. × glauca increased in pollen abundance relative to
T. angustifolia pollen through time.

Main conclusions

This study illustrates the value of generating historical invasion maps with publically available aerial imagery and linking these maps with paleobotanical data to study recent (< 100 years) invasions. We determined rates of
Typha expansion in two coastal wetland types, validated our mapping methods and modelled the relationship between pollen abundance and wetland coverage, enhancing the temporal precision and breadth of analyses. Our methodology should be replicable with similar invasive plant species. The combination of pollen records and historical photography promises to be a valuable additional tool for determining invasion dynamics.
Soil nitrogen and denitrification potential as affected by land use and stand age following agricultural abandonment in a headwater catchment
Authors: ZHANG K. , CHENG X. , DANG H. , YE C. , ZHANG Q.
Published: June 2012

Changes in vegetation and soil properties because of agricultural abandonment may affect soil nitrogen (N) and associated processes. We investigated soil N (total N: TN, inorganic N: NH4–N and NO3–N) and denitrification potential in cropland, pine plantations and abandoned agricultural land along a secondary succession sequence (grassland→shrubland→secondary forest) in a headwater catchment in the Qinling Mountains, northwest China. The results show that the soil denitrification potential differed significantly among the five land‐use types with the highest potential in the secondary forest, followed by grassland, shrubland, cropland and plantations. The denitrification potential of the 20‐ to 40‐cm layer was significantly lower compared with the topsoil (0–20 cm) across all land‐use types. TN, soil organic matter (SOM) and NH4–N increased significantly with stand age, whereas there was an opposite trend in soil pH. However, the denitrification potential did not relate to stand age in a linear manner. We conclude that changes in soil TN, SOM and pH during vegetation succession following agricultural abandonment are critical controls on the denitrification potential.
Wootton Bassett and the political spaces of remembrance and mourning
Authors: Jenkings K Neil , Megoran Nick , Woodward Rachel , Bos Daniel
Published: June 2012

From 2007 the English village of Wootton Bassett emerged as a site to honour British military personnel killed in action. Repatriation ceremonies developed from a spontaneous act by the citizens of the town into an informal site of national respect for the armed forces. Initially cited by the media as an example to shame the country for its lack of respect for the military, it became both a space for public displays of grief and a site of political contention about British involvement in the Afghanistan war. Analysing newspaper coverage of the repatriations through Wootton Bassett, this first geographical analysis of the phenomenon describes that trajectory, its coverage by the media and the eventual return of formal control of the repatriation process to the military. Although it opened spaces for critical reflection on UK foreign policy, the Wootton Bassett phenomenon should be seen as part of a trend of the rehabilitation of the military in the aftermath of the Iraq war. The paper thus contributes to emergent debates about the militarisation of civilian space, and about the shifting nature of civil–military relations as a consequence of the two wars in which the UK has been engaged over the past decade. It concludes with a call for geographers to pay more attention to the formation and dissolution of spontaneous, immaterial and temporary sites of memory.
The Link between Household Income, University Applications and University Attendance*
Authors: Anders Jake
Published: June 2012

Given the high returns to holding a degree, it is important to understand the relationship between household income and university entry in terms of the likely consequences for social mobility. This paper provides new evidence using the Longitudinal Study of Young People in England. I provide estimates of the income gradients in university participation overall and at a group of high‐status institutions (the Russell Group). I also investigate the extent to which these gaps may be driven by discrimination against students from lower‐income backgrounds by universities, by considering income gradients in applications. I find substantial differences in university entry overall and at Russell Group institutions between students from high‐ and low‐income families. However, I show that most of the difference is driven by application decisions, particularly once I control for ‘ability’ at age 11. This suggests that universities do not discriminate against students from poorer backgrounds. Instead, those students are less likely to apply. These findings suggest that policies aimed at reducing the university participation gap at the point of entry are likely to face small rewards. More likely to be successful are policies aimed at closing the substantial applications gap, particularly by ensuring that students from poorer backgrounds have the necessary qualifications to apply.
The Distributional Impact of the 2012–13 Higher Education Funding Reforms in England*
Authors: Chowdry Haroon , Dearden Lorraine , Goodman Alissa , Jin Wenchao
Published: June 2012

This paper investigates the financial implications of the higher education funding regime to be introduced in English universities in September 2012. The analysis is based on simulated lifetime earnings profiles among graduates, linked to imputed information on parental incomes and institution and course choices. We find that, on average, total gross tuition fees will increase by over £15,000 as a result of the reforms; nevertheless, students will be significantly better off while they study due to the increased generosity of student support. The average graduate will be roughly £8,850 worse off over their lifetime, while universities will, on average, be better off as they are more than able to make up for the loss of substantial amounts of direct public funding through higher fees. The taxpayer is set to lose 33p of every £1 loaned to students (up from 25p under the current system) because of the generosity of the loan repayment terms, although the new regime is still expected to save the taxpayer around £2,500 per graduate overall. The reforms involve a substantial shift in the incidence of the cost of higher education away from the public sector and towards the private sector.

In terms of the likely implications for social mobility, our work confirms that the new funding regime is actually more progressive than its predecessor: the poorest 29 per cent of graduates will be better off under the new system, while other graduates will be worse off. Moreover, the richest 15 per cent of graduates will pay back more than they borrow, while others will be subsidised. If prospective students from poorer backgrounds are aware of these facts, then, in theory, the new funding system should not dissuade them from applying to university – and thus it would increase, rather than reduce, social mobility in the long run. However, this will require a lack of debt aversion amongst students from the poorest backgrounds, and the ability for the government and universities to provide students with clear information about the likely costs of going to university.
The Impact of Fathers' Job Loss during the Recession of the 1980s on their Children's Educational Attainment and Labour Market Outcomes*
Authors: Gregg Paul , Macmillan Lindsey , Nasim Bilal
Published: June 2012

The research on intergenerational correlations in outcomes is increasingly moving from measurement into assessment of causal transmission mechanisms. This paper analyses the causal impact of fathers' job loss on their children's educational attainment and later economic outcomes. To do so, we isolate the effect of job loss associated with major industry contractions, mainly in manufacturing, during the recession of the 1980s by mapping industry‐level employment change data from 1980 to 1983 into the British Cohort Study (BCS). Children with fathers who were identified as being displaced did significantly worse in terms of their GCSE attainment than those with non‐displaced fathers. A child with a displaced father obtained, on average, 18 grade points lower or half a GCSE at grades A*–C less than their otherwise‐identical counterparts, the equivalent of about 2 per cent lower wages as an adult. There is also a small effect of fathers' displacement on the early labour market attachment of children, but no direct impact on their earnings at age 30/34. This does not mean that the impact of job loss will not affect social mobility. Those with lower income, education and social class were most affected by job losses and there is a direct effect on education and youth unemployment, which we know to be drivers of later earnings. This suggests that the recent recession may have significant long‐term consequences for the children of those who have lost their jobs.
The Quest for More and More Education: Implications for Social Mobility*
Authors: Lindley Joanne , Machin Stephen
Published: June 2012

In this paper, we discuss the quest for more and more education and its implications for social mobility. We document very rapid educational upgrading in Britain over the last 30 years or so and show that this rise has featured faster increases in education acquisition by people from relatively rich family backgrounds. At the same time, wage differentials for the more educated have risen. Putting these two together (more education for people from richer backgrounds and an increase in the pay‐off to this education) implies increasing within‐generation inequality. By reinforcing already‐existing inequalities from the previous generation, this has hindered social mobility. We also highlight three important aspects that, to date, have not been well integrated into the social mobility literature: the acquisition of postgraduate qualifications; gender differences; and the poor education performance of men at the lower end of the education distribution.
Evaluation of L‐lactate and cardiac troponin I in horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery
Authors: Radcliffe Rolfe M. , Divers Thomas J. , Fletcher Daniel J. , Mohammed Hussni , Kraus Marc S.
Published: June 2012

Objective

To evaluate changes in plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and L‐lactate (LLt) as prognostic indicators in horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Veterinary teaching hospital.

Animals

Thirty‐four horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Interventions

Serial blood sampling during various times during hospitalization (hospital admission, and 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively) evaluating cTnI and LLt concentrations.

Measurements and Main Results

All horses required surgery for correction of a strangulating (n = 29) or nonstrangulating obstruction (n = 5) of the small or large intestine. Twenty‐seven horses survived to discharge; 7 were euthanized either during (n = 1) or after (n = 6) surgery due to disease severity or systemic complications associated with the primary gastrointestinal lesion. Preoperative cTnI concentrations were increased above the normal reference interval in 24% of horses (8/34, median = 0.01 ng/mL, range = 0–12.23 ng/mL), whereas LLt concentrations were increased above the normal reference interval in 88% of horses (30/34, median = 3.37 mmol/L, range = 0.77–13.26 mmol/L). The LLt concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in nonsurviving compared with surviving horses at admission, and at 24 and 72 hours postoperatively. No significant difference in the cTnI concentration was detected between groups at admission. However, the cTnI concentration was significantly higher (P<0.05) in nonsurviving compared with surviving horses at all time points postoperatively.

Conclusions

Measurement of both LLt and cTnI concentrations may provide information for prognostication in surgical colic horses. Marked increases in admission concentrations of LLt (median 7.56 mmol/L) and even moderate postoperative increases in cTnI concentration (median 0.97 ng/mL) may both indicate a poor prognosis in critically ill horses following abdominal surgery.
Adenoviral CCN3/NOV gene transfer fails to mitigate liver fibrosis in an experimental bile duct ligation model because of hepatocyte apoptosis
Authors: Borkham‐Kamphorst Erawan , Huss Sebastian , Van de Leur Eddy , Haas Ute , Weiskirchen Ralf
Published: June 2012

Background and Aims

CCN3/NOV, a matricellular protein of the CYR61‐CTGF‐NOV (CCN) family, comprises six secreted proteins that associate specifically with the extracellular matrix. CCN proteins lack specific high‐affinity receptors; instead, they regulate crucial biological processes, such as fibrosis, by signalling via integrins and proteoglycans. Recent studies have linked overexpression of CCN3/NOV to mitigate kidney fibrosis. This study aims to investigate CCN3/NOV overexpression in liver fibrogenesis in vivo.

Methods

The biological efficacy of adenoviral expressed CCN3/NOV directed under transcriptional control of the constitutively active Cytomegalovirus promoter (Ad‐NOV) was analysed in a bile duct ligation model and in cultured primary hepatocytes.

Results and Conclusions

Even though Ad‐NOV gene transfer in a 3‐week bile duct ligation mouse model showed the expected high levels of CCN3/NOV in both mRNA and protein, it failed to reduce liver fibrogenesis, but instead enhanced hepatocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, overexpressed CCN3/NOV in cultured primary hepatocytes resulted in decreased levels of CCN2/CTGF, the profibrotic marker protein in liver fibrosis. Both Ad‐NOV and Ad‐CTGF induced reactive oxygen species production, enhanced p38 and JNK activation. Therefore, we conclude that CCN3/NOV overexpression in vivo is insufficient to mitigate liver fibrogenesis because of the induction of hepatocyte injury and apoptosis.
City Growth under Conflict Conditions: The View from Nyala, Darfur
Authors: Bartlett Anne , Alix–Garcia Jennifer , Saah David S.
Published: June 2012

The developing world today is challenging conventional accounts of city growth and change. In Africa, for example, conflict and mass displacement are reconfiguring the urban landscape in ways that are hard to ignore. This paper analyzes how conflict and the arrival of a large humanitarian aid infrastructure influence the dynamics of city growth and bring about a distinct spatial structure, niche gentrification, and informal economy in Nyala, Darfur. Using data from a three–year field study, we show how the size and socio–spatial organization of the city changed, the directions in which the city grew, and the factors that drove these changes. We look at interaction patterns between residents of Nyala itself and those now residing in internally displaced person (IDP) camps on the edge of the city. We show that considerations of both insecurity and risk are vitally important to understanding the processes of conflict urbanization. Conflict generates a distinctive social structure as internal displaced people, international aid workers, and long–time urban residents all move within the city.
Between Friends and Strangers: Micro–Segregation in a Haredi Neighborhood in Jerusalem
Authors: Flint Shlomit , Benenson Itzhak , Alfasi Nurit
Published: June 2012

Sanhedria, an inner–city neighborhood in Jerusalem, is populated mostly by members of several sects belonging to the Haredi (Jewish ultra–Orthodox) community. The Sanhedria case offers an opportunity to examine noneconomic processes of segregation. The paper examines residential relations between sects as reflected in their residential choices and the observed residential distribution. Sanhedria residents are close in economic status and share similar preferences regarding their way of life, yet powerful mechanisms of residential preferences acting at the level of the apartment and building result in “micro–segregation” patterns. Taken together, these mechanisms provide insight into processes typical of dense inner–city neighborhoods with multi–family housing and shared by differing religious or ethnic groups.
Distribution and Diversity of a Protist PredatorCryothecomonas(Cercozoa) in Arctic Marine Waters
Authors: Thaler Mary , Lovejoy Connie
Published: June 2012

Heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNFs) are key components in microbial food webs, potentially influencing community composition via top‐down control of their favored prey or host. Marine cercozoanCryothecomonasspecies are parasitoid and predatory HNFs that have been reported from ice, sediments, and the water column. AlthoughCryothecomonasis frequently reported from Arctic and subarctic seas, factors determining its occurrence are not known. We investigated the temporal and geographic distribution ofCryothecomonasin Canadian Arctic seas during the summer and autumn periods from 2006 to 2010. We developed aCryothecomonas‐specific fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) probe targeting ribosomal 18SrRNAto estimate cell concentrations in natural and manipulated samples. Comparison of simple and partial correlation coefficients showed that salinity, depth, and overall community biomass are important factors determiningCryothecomonasabundance. We found no evidence of parasitism in our samples. Hybridized cells included individuals smaller than any formally describedCryothecomonas, suggesting the presence of novel taxa or unknown life stages in this genus. A positive relationship betweenCryothecomonasabundance and ice and meltwater suggests that it is a sensitive indicator of ice melt in Arctic water columns.
Microstructural Evolution of a Nickel Ferrite–Copper Alloy Cermet During Sintering and High‐Temperature Oxidation
Authors: Tao Yuqiang , Li Zhiyou , Zhang Dou , Xiong Huiwen , Zhou Kechao
Published: June 2012

The microstructural evolution during sintering and high‐temperature oxidation of a cermet comprised of (wt%) a 40/60 ratio of an alloy of composition 80% Cu/20% Ni and a ceramic of composition 90% NiFe2O4/10% NiO has been studied as a function of processing temperature. The porosity of the cermet reduced significantly without undue coarsening of the microstructure during sintering up to the melting temperature of the alloy phase (Tm ≈ 1160°C), whereas at sintering temperatures higher than Tm, the ferrite rapidly coarsened with little additional reduction in porosity, and the alloy phase formed a continuous interconnected network while partially extruding from the composite. Upon oxidation in air at temperatures between 850°C and 1000°C, the cermet developed a multilayered oxidized scale, comprising a thin copper‐rich outer oxide layer formed via external oxidation and a thicker zone of internal oxidation. The external oxide scale transformed from CuO to Cu2O with increasing oxidation temperature. Out‐diffusion of the copper to the externally oxidized layer led to significant porosity at the internal interface between oxide and unoxidized cermet.
Bone response to physical‐vapour‐deposited titanium dioxide coatings on titanium implants
Authors: Ballo Ahmed M. , Bjöörn Dorota , Åstrand Maria , Palmquist Anders , Lausmaa Jukka , Thomsen Peter
Published: June 2012

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between coating thickness and the crystal structure of physical‐vapour‐deposited (PVD) titanium dioxide coatings, and to evaluate theirin vivobiocompatibility.

Materials and methods

ThePVDTiO2coatings of different thickness were deposited on machined titanium grade 2 screw‐shaped implants. Non‐coated titanium implants were used as controls. Coating properties such as thickness, crystal structure, coating morphology and roughness were characterized.

Forty‐eight implants were placed randomly into both tibias of 16 rats. The animals were euthanized 7 and 28 days postsurgery and block biopsies were prepared for histology, histomorphometry andSEManalysis.

Results

The thicknesses of thePVDTiO2coatings were 120 and 1430 nm respectively. Histologically, new bone formed on all implant surfaces. The mean percentage of newly formed bone in contact with the implant (BIC) was significantly higher at early healing time (7 days) for the 120 nm thickPVDcoating (39 ± 14%) than for both the 1430 nm thickPVDcoating (22 ± 10%) (P = 0.043) and the machined surface (22 ± 9%) (P = 0.028). This difference was no longer evident after 28 days (P = 0.867).

Conclusion

Bone formation and bone‐to‐implant contact are achieved to the same degree forTiO2surface modifications prepared by aPVDprocess as clinically used, machined titanium. Furthermore, a relatively thinnerPVDcoating promotes a higher degree of bone apposition shortly after implantation, thereby providing rationales for exploring the potential clinical use of these modifications.
Behaviour and physiology of mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) relative to short‐term changes in river flow
Authors: Taylor Mark K. , Cook Katrina V. , Hasler Caleb T. , Schmidt Dana C. , Cooke Steven J.
Published: June 2012

Despite the growing recognition that river flow can have an effect on the growth, distribution and survival of fishes, little is known about the underlying mechanisms to explain this effect. Furthermore, there are few examples of integrated measures of behaviour and physiology to study the responses of fish to river hydrology. Here, axial swimming muscle electromyograms were logged as a sensitive indicator of activity from 19 mountain whitefish (
Prosopium williamsoni) across a large range of hourly discharge magnitudes (mean = 621 m3·s−1, range = 0–1770 m3·s−1) in a hydropeaking reach of the Columbia River, Canada. Hourly mean discharge had a significant positive effect on swimming muscle activity. However, a large amount of the variance was unexplained, possibly due to social interactions, feeding and/or flow‐refuging behaviours. Fluctuating flows were no more energetically costly than stable flows. Discharge magnitude had a significant positive effect on blood cortisol concentrations. Yet, cortisol concentrations were low overall (mean ± SD = 1.60 ± 0.09 ng·ml−1), suggesting that the small observed response could be the result of routine physiological processes rather than a stress response per se. Based on low blood lactate concentrations, mountain whitefish were not swimming exhaustively (i.e., anaerobic burst‐type swimming) at high flows.
Hyperspectroscopic screening of melanoma on acral volar skin
Authors: Nagaoka Takashi , Nakamura Atsushi , Okutani Haruka , Kiyohara Yoshio , Koga Hiroshi , Saida Toshiaki , Sota Takayuki
Published: June 2012

Background/purpose

Early detection and proper excision of the primary lesions of melanoma are crucial for reducing melanoma‐related deaths. To support the early detection of melanoma, automated melanoma‐screening systems have been extensively studied and developed. In this article, a previously reported hyperspectral imager and melanoma discrimination index are applied to the discrimination of acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) from acral nevus (AN), and their diagnostic performance is reported.

Methods

The index expresses the disordered nature of each lesion including variegation in color based on variation in spectral information obtained from each lesion. Performance of the index has been studied in thirteen cases of ALM and seven cases of AN, obtained from patients and volunteers, all of whom were Japanese.

Results

The index discriminated ALM from AN with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 86%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.97.

Conclusion

The performance of the proposed objective melanoma discrimination index at a molecular pigmentary level approached that of clinical experts, using the three‐step algorithm as the gold standard.
Prevalence of postpartum depression among Hispanic immigrant women
Authors: Lucero Nissa B. , Beckstrand Renea L. , Callister Lynn Clark , Sanchez Birkhead Ana C.
Published: June 2012

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) among Hispanic immigrant women seeking healthcare services at a community health clinic.

Data sources: Of the 116 Hispanic immigrant women recruited, 96 comprised the final sample. Using the Beck PDSS‐Spanish version, participants were screened for symptoms of PPD.

Conclusions: The prevalence of significant symptoms of PPD was 54.2% for the entire sample. Nearly 66% of women who screened positive for symptoms of PPD scored above the listed cutoff score for suicidal thoughts. Women were divided into four postpartum age groups from 2 to 48 weeks; rates of symptoms of PPD ranged from 50% to 60.9% among the groups. There were no statistically significant demographic predictors for PPD.

Implications for practice: Given that a large number of Hispanic women do not return for postpartum appointments, along with the high rates of PPD symptoms, it is strongly recommended that healthcare providers implement universal screening for all Hispanic women in pregnancy and across the first postpartum year to ensure prompt diagnosis and culturally appropriate treatment. Further research is needed to assess the cultural components of PPD and to determine if the prevalence is consistent in other community settings.
Clinicopathological Correlations in Pituitary Adenomas
Authors: Mete Ozgur , Asa Sylvia L.
Published: June 2012

Pituitary adenomas are common neuroendocrine neoplasms arising from adenohypophysial cells. Recent progress in our understanding of pituitary tumorigenesis as well as pathways involved in molecular cytodifferentiation of the adenohypophysis has impacted on the classification of pituitary adenomas. The detailed comprehensive classification of pituitary adenomas is now well recognized to reflect specific clinical features and genetic changes that predict targeted treatments, as well as prognostic information for patients with pituitary adenomas. Therefore, the clinical responsibility of pathologists is not only limited to the distinction of pituitary adenomas from other sellar lesions, but also to provide a comprehensive subtype classification using appropriate ancillary tools. In this article, we highlight an approach to clinical diagnosis and pitfalls in the classification of these common neoplasms.
Etiologies of Parkinsonism in a Century‐Long Autopsy‐Based Cohort
Authors: Horvath Judit , Burkhard Pierre R. , Bouras Constantin , Kövari Enikö
Published: June 2012

We investigated the distribution of different etiologies underlying Parkinsonism in a hospital‐based autopsy collection, studied the demographic data and evaluated diagnostic accuracy using histopathological examination as the gold standard. Out of a total of 9359 consecutive autopsy cases collected between 1914 and 2010, we identified 261 individuals who carried a clinical diagnosis of a Parkinsonian syndrome at death. A detailed neuropathological examination revealed idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) in 62.2%, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in 4.2%, multiple system atrophy (MSA) in 2.3%, corticobasal degeneration (CBD) in 1.2%, postencephalitic Parkinsonism (PEP) in 2.7%, vascular Parkinsonism (VaP) in 8.8% and Alzheimer‐type pathology (ATP) of the substantia nigra in 8%. The diagnostic accuracy of PD in our cohort was lower (71.2%) than those reported in previous studies, although it tended to increase during the last decades up to 85.7%. Of particular interest, we found that PD, while being the most frequent cause of Parkinsonism, was greatly overdiagnosed, with VaP and ATP being the most frequent confounding conditions.
Effect of diet on serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentration in the short‐beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
Authors: Scheelings TF , Haynes L
Published: June 2012

Background  Elevated concentrations of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)‐D) were diagnosed in captive short‐beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) from three different zoological facilities within Australia.

Results  The mean serum 25(OH)‐D concentration in the wild echidnas was 24.7 nmol/L and was significantly higher in captive echidnas from all three facilities: Facility 1, mean 335.5 nmol/L (P < 0.001); Facility 2, mean 187.2 nmol/L (P = 0.003); Facility 3, mean 194 nmol/L (P = 0.005). Animals did not appear to have clinical manifestations of vitamin D toxicosis. The increased serum 25(OH)‐D concentration was attributed to excessive dietary intake and a reduction in the amount of vitamin D3 in the diet of echidnas from Facility 1 resulted in a marked decrease in the serum 25(OH)‐D concentrations (mean 33 nmol/L). The reduction in serum 25(OH)‐D concentration was statistically significant (P = 0.002) and the resulting concentrations were similar to those of wild echidnas (P = 0.212).

Conclusion  It is not known what effect an elevated serum 25(OH)‐D concentration has on echidnas.
Serum Heat Shock Protein 60 in Acute Heart Failure: A New Biomarker?
Authors: Bonanad Clara , Núñez Julio , Sanchis Juan , Bodi Vicente , Chaustre Fabian , Chillet Marifina , Miñana Gema , Forteza Maria José , Palau Patricia , Núñez Eduardo , Navarro David , Llàcer Angel , Chorro Francisco J.
Published: June 2012

©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is a mitochondrial protein constitutively expressed in the majority of cells, and its expression is up‐regulated by a variety of stressors. In heart failure, HSP60 is released from cardiomyocytes. The authors speculate that increased serum HSP60 (sHSP60) may be related to the severity of heart failure. This investigation sought to assess the association between sHSP60 and the composite end point of death/readmission in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). A total of 132 consecutive patients were admitted for AHF. The independent association between sHSP60 and the end point was assessed with Cox regression. During a median follow‐up of 7 months (interquartile range, 3–14), 35 (26.5%) deaths, 40 (30.3%) readmissions, and 65 (49.2%) deaths/readmission were identified. Patients who exhibited the outcome showed higher median sHSP60 values (6.15 ng/mL [8.49] vs 4.71 ng/mL [7.55] P=.010). A monotonic increase in the incidence of the composite end point was observed when moving from lower to higher tertile (4.74, 4.76, and 6.98 per 10 patients‐years of follow‐up, P for trend <.001). After adjusting for established risk factors, only patients in the upper tertile showed an increased risk of death/readmission (hazard ratio, 2.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.29–5.37; P=.008). In patients with AHF, high sHSP60 was related to a higher risk for subsequent death/readmission for AHF.
Pirfenidone: significant treatment effects in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Hilberg Ole , Simonsen Ulf , du Bois Roland , Bendstrup Elisabeth
Published: June 2012

Pirfenidone has been shown in three recently published trials to slow down the progression of the devastating interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The precise mechanisms that initiate and perpetuate the histopathological process leading to lung fibrosis in IPF are still uncertain, but increased concentrations of reactive oxidative species and fibrogenetic factors have been observed in the pulmonary tissue of patients. Although the exact mechanisms of its action are unknown, pirfenidone is a small molecule with antifibrotic and some hydroxyl scavenger properties that has recently been approved in Europe and elsewhere for the treatment of IPF. Along with the new ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2011 statement for ‘Evidence Based Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management’, there is now a more profound basis for offering IPF patients an evidence‐based evaluation and treatment. This review summarizes the background to the recommended use of pirfenidone for the treatment of IPF.

Please cite this paper as: Hilberg O, Simonsen U, du Bois R and Bendstrup E. Pirfenidone: significant treatment effects in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Clin Respir J 2012; 6: 131–143.