bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Latitudinal Influence on Age Estimates Derived from Scales and Otoliths for Bluegills
Authors: Kowalewski Lucas K. , Maple Alexis P. , Pegg Mark A. , Pope Kevin L.
Published: November 2012

Scales are perceived to give reliable estimates of age of fish in northern latitudes and unreliable estimates of age in southern latitudes, whereas otoliths are perceived to give reliable estimates of age regardless of latitude. The objective of our study was to assess the influence of latitude on the estimates of ages derived from scales and otoliths for bluegill Lepomis macrochirus. Our hypothesis was that a south-to-north gradient exists for precision between scales and otoliths with partial agreement between age estimates derived from scales and otoliths for fish in southern latitudes and nearly complete agreement between age estimates derived from scales and otoliths for fish in northern latitudes. Fish were sampled from Louisiana (latitude = 30°43′48′′N) to North Dakota (latitude = 47°05′49′′N). Contrary to a priori expectations, we did not find greater agreement in age estimates between structures in northern bluegill stocks than in those in the southern USA. The low agreement between structures increases uncertainty in the source of aging error, given that both scales and otoliths are valid structures (i.e., age estimates validated as accurate) for estimating ages of bluegills. Biologists should not compare age-dependent parameters for bluegill populations derived from different aging structures.

Received June 29, 2012; accepted July 24, 2012
Impact of Thiamine Deficiency on T-cell Dependent and T-cell Independent Antibody Production in Lake Trout
Authors: Ottinger Christopher A. , Honeyfield Dale C. , Densmore Christine L. , Iwanowicz Luke R.
Published: November 2012

Lake trout Salvelinus namaycush on thiamine-replete and thiamine-depleted diets were evaluated for the effects of thiamine status on in vivo responses to the T-dependent antigen trinitophenol (TNP)-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (TNP-KLH), the T-independent antigen trinitrophenol-lipolysaccaharide (TNP-LPS), or Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS; negative control fish). Plasma antibody concentrations were evaluated for possible differences in total anti-TNP activity as well as differences in response kinetics. Associations between anti-TNP activity and muscle and liver thiamine concentrations as well as ratios of muscle-to-liver thiamine to anti-TNP activity were also examined. Thiamine-depleted lake trout that were injected with TNP-LPS exhibited significantly more anti-TNP activity than thiamine-replete fish. The depleted fish injected with TNP-LPS also exhibited significantly different response kinetics relative to thiamine-replete lake trout. No differences in activity or kinetics were observed between the thiamine-replete and -depleted fish injected with TNP-KLH or in the DPBS negative controls. Anti-TNP activity in thiamine-depleted lake trout injected with TNP-KLH was positively associated with muscle thiamine pyrophosphate (thiamine diphosphate; TPP) concentration. A negative association was observed between the ratio of muscle-to-liver TPP and T-independent responses. No significant associations between anti-TNP activity and tissue thiamine concentration were observed in the thiamine-replete fish. We demonstrated that thiamine deficiency leads to alterations in both T-dependent and T-independent immune responses in lake trout.

Received July 25, 2011; accepted July 12, 2012
𝐿^{𝑝} regularity of weighted Bergman projections
Authors: Zeytuncu Yunus
Published: November 2012

We investigate

L
p

L^p

regularity of weighted Bergman projections on the unit disc and

L
p

L^p

regularity of ordinary Bergman projections in higher dimensions.
Improvement in structural and functional echocardiographic parameters during chronic heart failure therapy guided by natriuretic peptides: mechanistic insights from the ProBNP Outpatient Tailored Chronic Heart Failure (PROTECT) study
Authors: Weiner Rory B. , Baggish Aaron L. , Chen‐Tournoux Annabel , Marshall Jane E. , Gaggin Hanna K. , Bhardwaj Anju , Mohammed Asim A. , Rehman Shafiq U. , Barajas Linda , Barajas Justine , Gregory Shawn A. , Moore Stephanie A. , Semigran Marc J. , Januzzi James L.
Published: November 2012

Aims

We sought to determine if heart failure (HF) care with a goal to lower N‐terminal pro B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) concentrations, compared with standard of care (SOC) management, is associated with improvement in echocardiographic parameters of cardiac structure and function.

Methods and results

Of 151 subjects with HF due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) prospectively randomized to NT‐proBNP‐guided vs. SOC HF care, 116 had serial echocardiographic data. Endpoints in this echocardiographic study included the relationship between change in NT‐proBNP and LV reverse remodelling, as well as associations between biomarker‐guided therapy and measures of diastolic function, right ventricular (RV) size and function, estimates of LV filling pressure and RV systolic pressure (RVSP), and the degree of mitral regurgitation (MR). After a mean of 10 months of study procedures, in adjusted analyses, final NT‐proBNP concentrations predicted risk of remodelling [hazard ratio (HR) ↑LV end‐diastolic volume index = 1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.86, P = 0.007; HR ↑LV end‐systolic volume index = 1.54, 95% CI 1.10–1.91, P = 0.01; HR ↓LV ejection fraction (LVEF) = 1.53, 905% CI 1.12–1.89, P = 0.02]. In addition to greater improvement in LVEF and reductions in LV volume, compared with SOC, NT‐proBNP‐guided patients showed significant decreases in the ratio of early transmitral peak velocity to early diastolic peak annular velocity (E/E'), pulmonary vein peak S velocity, RV fractional area change, RVSP, and MR severity.

Conclusion

NT‐proBNP concentrations may serve as a non‐invasive indicator of the state of cardiac structure and function in HF due to LVSD. Multiple, prognostically meaningful echocardiographic variables improved more significantly in patients treated with NT‐proBNP‐guided care vs. SOC.

Trial registration: NCT00351390.
An Art Novel for the Age of Mechanical Reproduction: Blaise Cendrars's
Dan Yack
Authors: Shingler Katherine
Published: November 2012

This article considers Blaise Cendrars's novel
Dan Yack
(1929) as a variation on the art novel genre, arguing that it rewrites and adapts well-worn art narratives — most notably various iterations of the Pygmalion myth — in order to question the nature and function of art in the age of mechanical reproduction. The first part of the novel investigates traditional art forms, especially sculpture, and describes the failure of the sculptor Sabakoff to attain the Pygmalionesque dream of divine creative power. The second part apparently advances the mechanical art forms of sound recording and cinema as alternative modes of representation more responsive to modern experience; but these too are seen to fail to breathe life into the work of art, producing no more than a sterile imitation of reality and, in the case of cinema, endlessly rehashing past narratives. This pessimism about art is also brought out through the novel's intertexts, which insist on the dangers and limits of artistic creation. Drawing on Walter Benjamin, the article suggests that this pessimism may be tempered somewhat (though certainly not eliminated), since Cendrars's text itself provides a model of an art that works to make the impoverished experience of modern life meaningful by relating it to tradition.
Horizontal Gene Transfer from GenusAgrobacteriumto the PlantLinariain Nature
Authors: Matveeva Tatiana V. , Bogomaz Denis I. , Pavlova Olga A. , Nester Eugene W. , Lutova Ludmila A.
Published: November 2012

Genes can be transferred horizontally between prokaryotes and eukaryotes in nature. The best-studied examples occur between Agrobacterium rhizogenes and certain Nicotiana spp. To investigate possible additional cases of horizontal gene transfer in nature between Agrobacterium and plants, a real-time polymerase chain reaction-based approach was employed to screen 127 plant species, belonging to 38 families of Dicotyledones, for the presence of oncogenes homologous to the transfer DNA fragments (T-DNA) from both A. tumefaciens and A. rhizogenes. Among all of the analyzed plant species, we found that only Linaria vulgaris contained sequences homologous to the T-DNA of A. rhizogenes. All screened L. vulgaris plants from various parts of Russia contained the same homologous sequences, including rolB, rolC, ORF13, ORF14, and mis genes. The same opine gene is found in the species of Nicotiana which contain genes of A. rhizogenes. In L. vulgaris, there are two copies of T-DNA organized as a single tandem imperfect direct repeat. The plant DNA sequence of the site of integration shows similarity to a retrotransposon. This site is most likely silent, suggesting that the T-DNA is not expressed. Attempts to demonstrate expression of the T-DNA genes were negative. Our study indicates that the frequency of gene transfer and fixation in the germline from Agrobacterium to plant hosts is rare in the natural environment.
Hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus Coat Protein Upregulates Sulfur Metabolism Genes for Enhanced Pathogen Defense
Authors: Gao Ruimin , Ng Florence Kai Lin , Liu Peng , Wong Sek-Man
Published: November 2012

In both Hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus (HCRSV)-infected and HCRSV coat protein (CP) agroinfiltrated plant leaves, we showed that sulfur metabolism pathway related genes—namely, sulfite oxidase (SO), sulfite reductase, and adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate kinase—were upregulated. It led us to examine a plausible relationship between sulfur-enhanced resistance (SED) and HCRSV infection. We broadened an established method to include different concentrations of sulfur (0S, 1S, 2S, and 3S) to correlate them to symptom development of HCRSV-infected plants. We treated plants with glutathione and its inhibitor to verify the SED effect. Disease resistance was induced through elevated glutathione contents during HCRSV infection. The upregulation of SO was related to suppression of symptom development induced by sulfur treatment. In this study, we established that HCRSV-CP interacts with SO which, in turn, triggers SED and leads to enhanced plant resistance. Thus, we have discovered a new function of SO in the SED pathway. This is the first report to demonstrate that the interaction of a viral protein and host protein trigger SED in plants. It will be interesting if such interaction applies generally to other host–pathogen interactions that will lead to enhanced pathogen defense.
Evolution of a contagious cancer: epigenetic variation in Devil Facial Tumour Disease
Authors: Ujvari Beata , Pearse Anne-Maree , Peck Sarah , Harmsen Collette , Taylor Robyn , Pyecroft Stephen , Madsen Thomas , Papenfuss Anthony T. , Belov Katherine
Published: November 2012

The emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), a highly contagious cancer, is driving Tasmanian devils (
Sarcophilus harrisii
) to extinction. The cancer is a genetically and chromosomally stable clonal cell line which is transmitted by biting during social interactions. In the present study, we explore the Devil Facial Tumour (DFT) epigenome and the genes involved in DNA methylation homeostasis. We show that tumour cells have similar levels of methylation to peripheral nerves, the tissue from which DFTD originated. We did not observe any strain or region-specific epimutations. However, we revealed a significant increase in hypomethylation in DFT samples over time (
p
< 0.0001). We propose that loss of methylation is not because of a maintenance deficiency, as an upregulation of DNA methyltransferase 1 gene was observed in tumours compared with nerves (
p
< 0.005). Instead, we believe that loss of methylation is owing to active demethylation, supported by the temporal increase in MBD2 and MBD4 (
p
< 0.001). The implications of these changes on disease phenotypes need to be explored. Our work shows that DFTD should not be treated as a static entity, but rather as an evolving parasite with epigenetic plasticity. Understanding the role of epimutations in the evolution of this parasitic cancer will provide unique insights into the role of epigenetic plasticity in cancer evolution and progression in traditional cancers that arise and die with their hosts.
Not just passengers: pigeons,Columba livia, can learn homing routes while flying with a more experienced conspecific
Authors: Pettit Benjamin , Flack Andrea , Freeman Robin , Guilford Tim , Biro Dora
Published: November 2012

For animals that travel in groups, the directional choices of conspecifics are potentially a rich source of information for spatial learning. In this study, we investigate how the opportunity to follow a locally experienced demonstrator affects route learning by pigeons over repeated homing flights. This test of social influences on navigation takes advantage of the individually distinctive routes that pigeons establish when trained alone. We found that pigeons learn routes just as effectively while flying with a partner as control pigeons do while flying alone. However, rather than learning the exact route of the demonstrator, the paired routes shifted over repeated flights, which suggests that the birds with less local experience also took an active role in the navigational task. The efficiency of the original routes was a key factor in how far they shifted, with less efficient routes undergoing the greatest changes. In this context, inefficient routes are unlikely to be maintained through repeated rounds of social transmission, and instead more efficient routes are achieved because of the interaction between social learning and information pooling.
Impact of parasites on salmon recruitment in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Krkošek Martin , Revie Crawford W. , Gargan Patrick G. , Skilbrei Ove T. , Finstad Bengt , Todd Christopher D.
Published: November 2012

Parasites may have large effects on host population dynamics, marine fisheries and conservation, but a clear elucidation of their impact is limited by a lack of ecosystem-scale experimental data. We conducted a meta-analysis of replicated manipulative field experiments concerning the influence of parasitism by crustaceans on the marine survival of Atlantic salmon (
Salmo salar
L.). The data include 24 trials in which tagged smolts (totalling 283 347 fish; 1996–2008) were released as paired control and parasiticide-treated groups into 10 areas of Ireland and Norway. All experimental fish were infection-free when released into freshwater, and a proportion of each group was recovered as adult recruits returning to coastal waters 1 or more years later. Treatment had a significant positive effect on survival to recruitment, with an overall effect size (odds ratio) of 1.29 that corresponds to an estimated loss of 39 per cent (95% CI: 18–55%) of adult salmon recruitment. The parasitic crustaceans were probably acquired during early marine migration in areas that host large aquaculture populations of domesticated salmon, which elevate local abundances of ectoparasitic copepods—particularly
Lepeophtheirus salmonis
. These results provide experimental evidence from a large marine ecosystem that parasites can have large impacts on fish recruitment, fisheries and conservation.
Genome-scale coestimation of species and gene trees
Authors: Boussau Bastien , Szöllősi Gergely J. , Duret Laurent , Gouy Manolo , Tannier Eric , Daubin Vincent
Published: November 2012

Comparisons of gene trees and species trees are key to understanding major processes of genome evolution such as gene duplication and loss. Because current methods to reconstruct phylogenies fail to model the two-way dependency between gene trees and the species tree, they often misrepresent gene and species histories. We present a new probabilistic model to jointly infer rooted species and gene trees for dozens of genomes and thousands of gene families. We use simulations to show that this method accurately infers the species tree and gene trees, is robust to misspecification of the models of sequence and gene family evolution, and provides a precise historic record of gene duplications and losses throughout genome evolution. We simultaneously reconstruct the history of mammalian species and their genes based on 36 completely sequenced genomes, and use the reconstructed gene trees to infer the gene content and organization of ancestral mammalian genomes. We show that our method yields a more accurate picture of ancestral genomes than the trees available in the authoritative database Ensembl.
Common volume functions and diffraction line profiles of polyhedral domains
Authors: Leonardi Alberto , Leoni Matteo , Siboni Stefano , Scardi Paolo
Published: November 2012

A general numerical algorithm is proposed for the fast computation of the common volume function (CVF) of any polyhedral object, from which the diffraction pattern of a corresponding powder can be obtained. The theoretical description of the algorithm is supported by examples ranging from simple equilibrium shapes in cubic materials (Wulff polyhedra) to more exotic non-convex shapes, such as tripods or hollow cubes. Excellent agreement is shown between patterns simulated using the CVF and the corresponding ones calculated from the atomic positionsviathe Debye scattering equation.
A new method for evaluating the size of plate-like precipitates by small-angle scattering
Authors: De Geuser Frédéric , Bley Françoise , Deschamps Alexis
Published: November 2012

A methodology is presented for extracting the thickness and length of plate-like precipitates from streaking that appears in the small-angle scattering pattern of moderately textured polycrystalline samples. This methodology builds upon existing work on single crystals but is extended to polycrystals through a modeling of the streaking misalignment distribution. It is also shown that it is essential to take into account the Ewald sphere curvature. The protocol is applied to anin situsmall-angle X-ray scattering study of the transition between θ′ andT1in an Al–Li–Cu system, where the contributions of both phases are well separated, and the size, volume fraction and number density are monitored.
Time-of-flight Bragg scattering from aligned stacks of lipid bilayers using the Liquids Reflectometer at the Spallation Neutron Source
Authors: Pan Jianjun , Heberle Frederick A. , Carmichael Justin R. , Ankner John F. , Katsaras John
Published: November 2012

Time-of-flight (TOF) neutron diffraction experiments on aligned stacks of lipid bilayers using the horizontal Liquids Reflectometer at the Spallation Neutron Source are reported. Specific details are given regarding the instrumental setup, data collection and reduction, phase determination of the structure factors, and reconstruction of the one-dimensional neutron scattering length density (NSLD) profile. The validity of using TOF measurements to determine the one-dimensional NSLD profile is demonstrated by reproducing the results of two well known lipid bilayer structures. The method is then applied to show how an antimicrobial peptide affects membranes with and without cholesterol.
A method for intragranular orientation and lattice strain distribution determination
Authors: Barton Nathan R. , Bernier Joel V.
Published: November 2012

A novel approach to quantifying intragranular distributions is developed and applied to the α → ∊ phase transition in iron. The approach captures both the distribution of lattice orientation within a grain and the orientation dependence of the lattice strain. Use of a finite element discretization over a ball in Rodrigues space allows for the efficient use of degrees of freedom in the numerical approach and provides a convenient framework for gradient-based regularization of the inverse problem. Application to the α → ∊ phase transition in iron demonstrates the utility of the method in that intragranular orientation and lattice strain distributions in the α phase are related to the observed ∊ orientations. Measurement of the lattice strain distribution enables quantitative analysis of the driving forces for ∊ variant selection. The measurement and analysis together indicate quantitatively that the Burgers mechanism is operative under the experimental conditions examined here.
Production of propionic acid in a fermented dairy beverage
Authors: Farhadi Shahla , Khosravi‐Darani Kianoush , Mashayekh Mortaza , Mortazavian Amir M , Mohammadi Abdorreza , Shahraz Farzaneh
Published: November 2012

A dairy beverage containing propionic acid was produced using the adjunct starter cultures with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii. The impacts of temperature (30, 35 and 40 °C) and inoculation ratio (1:2, 1:4 and 1:8) on propionic acid production and viability of micro‐organisms were studied. The incubation temperature had a significant adverse (P < 0.05) effect on the viability of P. freudenreichii and propionic acid production. Maximum amount of produced propionic acid (in 1:4–30 °C treatment) was 0.77%w/w. P. freudenreichii and L. acidophilus counts remained high (9 × 106 and 1.5 × 106 cfu/mL, respectively) after cold storage.
High basal defense gene expression determines sorghum resistance to the whorl‐feeding insect southwestern corn borer
Authors: Cheng Wei‐Ning , Lei Jia‐Xin , Rooney William L. , Liu Tong‐Xian , Zhu‐Salzman Keyan
Published: November 2012

Southwestern corn borer (SWCB, Diatraea grandiosella) and fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) are major pests of sorghum in the southern United States. Host plant resistance is a desirable means for reducing plant damage and yield losses from both insects. In this study, we evaluated 12 sorghum lines for whorl‐stage resistance to leaf‐feeding SWCB and FAW in greenhouse and laboratory bioassays. Differential plant responses were detected against the two insects. Among 12 lines tested, CM1821, Della and PI196583 were resistant to both insects, while BTx2752 was largely susceptible. Line R.09110 was resistant to SWCB, but susceptible to FAW, whereas Redbine‐60 was susceptible to SWCB, but not to FAW. In addition, we quantified various chemical components in the plants and determined their association with insect resistance. Tannin and chlorophyll in leaves did not show any significant correlation with resistance to either insects, but contents of soluble protein in general were negatively correlated with resistance to both insects. Endogenous soluble sugar and dhurrin were only positively correlated with resistance to SWCB, but not with FAW resistance. To gain some molecular insight into resistance mechanism of sorghum to SWCB, we performed qPCR reactions for key genes encoding enzymes involved in dhurrin and jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis on selected resistant or susceptible lines. Although these genes were rapidly and strongly induced by insect feeding in all lines, the observed resistance is likely explained by higher constitutive dhurrin contents in some resistant lines and higher basal JA biosynthesis in others. Our results suggest that sorghum utilizes multiple strategies to defend itself against SWCB.
Local government alcohol policy development: case studies in three New Zealand communities
Authors: Maclennan Brett , Kypri Kypros , Room Robin , Langley John
Published: November 2012

Aims

Local alcohol policies can be effective in reducing alcohol‐related harm. The aim of this study was to examine local government responses to alcohol‐related problems and identify factors influencing their development and adoption of alcohol policy.

Designsettings and participants

Case studies were used to examine local government responses to alcohol problems in three New Zealand communities: a rural town, a provincial city and a metropolitan city. Newspaper reports, local government documents and key informant interviews were used to collect data which were analysed using two conceptual frameworks: Kingdon's Streams model and the Stakeholder model of policy development.

Measurements

Key informant narratives were categorized according to the concepts of the Streams and Stakeholder models.

Findings

Kingdon's theoretical concepts associated with increased likelihood of policy change seemed to apply in the rural and metropolitan communities. The political environment in the provincial city, however, was not favourable to the adoption of alcohol restrictions. The Stakeholder model highlighted differences between the communities in terms of power over agenda‐setting and conflict between politicians and bureaucrats over policy solutions to alcohol‐related harm. These differences were reflected in the ratio of policies considered versus adopted in each location. Decisions on local alcohol policies lie ultimately with local politicians, although the policies that can be adopted by local government are restricted by central government legislation.

Conclusions

The adoption of policies and strategies to reduce alcohol‐related harm may be better facilitated by an agenda‐setting process where no ‘gate‐keepers’ determine what is included into the agenda, and community mobilization efforts to create competitive local government elections around alcohol issues. Policy adoption would also be facilitated by more enabling central government legislation.
Impulsivity trajectories and gambling in adolescence among urban male youth
Authors: Liu Weiwei , Lee Grace P. , Goldweber Asha , Petras Hanno , Storr Carla L. , Ialongo Nicholas S. , Martins Silvia S.
Published: November 2012

Aim

Building on the recent emerging literature on the impulsivity trajectory–gambling association, this study investigated the association between developmental trajectories of teacher‐rated impulsivity in early adolescence (ages 11–15 years) and subsequent gambling and gambling problems (i.e. at‐risk and problem gambling) by age 19.

Design

Prospective cohort design.

Setting

Urban communities in Baltimore, Maryland.

Participants

The sample consists of 310 predominately minority (87%) and low socio‐economic status (SES) (70%) males followed from first grade to late adolescence.

Measurements

Impulsivity was measured using teacher ratings of classroom behavior. Self‐reported gambling behavior was assessed using the South Oaks Gambling Screen‐Revised for Adolescents (SOGS‐RA).

Findings

Results from a conventional growth model suggest that the intercept of the impulsivity development (as measured by the repeated assessments of impulsivity across the entire developmental period) was associated significantly with gambling. Results from a general growth mixture model evidenced two distinct trajectories: a high impulsivity trajectory (41% of the sample) and a low impulsivity trajectory (59% of the sample). Despite its non‐significant association with any gambling, heterogeneity in impulsivity development was associated significantly with gambling problems. Specifically, being in the high impulsivity trajectory doubled the odds of meeting criteria for at‐risk or problem gambling [odds ratio (OR) = 2.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02, 4.27)] and tripled the odds of meeting criteria for problem gambling (OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.02, 7.91).

Conclusions

Development in impulsivity is associated strongly with problem/at‐risk gambling in adolescence among urban male youth. Findings highlight the importance of distinguishing gambling problems from any gambling when evaluating programs aimed at reducing youth gambling problems through reducing impulsivity.
Drove roads as local biodiversity reservoirs: effects on landscape pattern and plant communities in a Mediterranean region
Authors: Azcárate Francisco M. , Robleño Irene , Seoane Javier , Manzano Pablo , Peco Begoña
Published: November 2012

Question

What are the effects of traditional drove roads on landscape pattern and plant communities?

Location

Madrid Autonomous Region, Central Spain.

Methods

We selected four study localities in different landscape units. Within each locality, we selected eight sites and within each site, we established three 1‐ha plots, each corresponding to one of three situations: drove road, adjacent matrix or distant matrix. The landscape pattern of each plot was characterized by the cover of the different patch types, the patch type richness ha−1 and the patch type evenness ha−1. At one site per locality, we also recorded vegetation by randomly distributing twenty 20 cm × 20 cm quadrats per plot. We characterized each quadrat by its species richness, plant species composition and plant functional composition. We also analysed species richness by constructing rarefaction curves for each plot.

Results

In the localities situated in croplands, sub‐mediterranean forests and coniferous forests, drove roads were found to be an important source of spatial heterogeneity and a reservoir for a large number of plant species. In contrast, drove roads did not differ from the matrix habitats in rangelands, suggesting that the processes shaping drove road vegetation are similar to the general processes that shape grazed systems. Drove roads did not imply a significant increase in functional diversity. Our results were heavily scale‐dependent: while drove roads provided heterogeneity at the local scale, they showed a remarkable similarity at the large scale.

Conclusions

Drove roads act as authentic local biodiversity reservoirs, especially in environments with low grazing levels. At the same time, drove roads imply structural and functional continuity on a large scale, increasing potential connectivity at the regional level. We recommend the preservation of drove roads in a functional state, because of their benefits to plant biodiversity conservation, and claim that these benefits should be considered when designing livestock policies with different intensification scenarios.
The quality of life construct in bipolar disorder research and practice: past, present, and possible futures
Authors: Murray Greg , Michalak Erin E
Published: November 2012

Murray G, Michalak EE. The quality of life construct in bipolar disorder research and practice: past, present, and possible futures.  Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 793–796. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

The quality of life (QoL) construct is becoming more prominent in bipolar disorder (BD) research and practice. Uptake of the construct parallels an earlier trend in schizophrenia research, and coincides with growing interest in psychosocial components of BD’s aetiology, phenomenology, and treatment. We argue that, although QoL and symptom measures derive from competing paradigms in mental health (the biopsychosocial and medical model, respectively), they are best seen as complementary. This pluralistic stance is clinically appropriate, and generates important questions for future research.
Sweet's syndrome with subcutaneous involvement associated with pegfilgrastim treatment: first reported case
Authors: Llamas‐Velasco Mar , García‐Martín Patricia , Sánchez‐Pérez Javier , Fraga Javier , García‐Diez Amaro
Published: November 2012

Neutrophilic panniculitis is an infrequent entity, considered by most authors as part of the ‘neutrophilic dermatosis’ spectrum. Few cases have been reported to be related with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF); we report a case of neutrophilic panniculitis and Sweet's syndrome lesions related with pegfilgrastim, a long‐acting G‐CSF. A 77‐year‐old woman with M2 acute myeloid leukemia was treated with chemotherapy as well as broad‐spectrum antibiotics and antifungal drugs because of febrile neutropenia. Ten days after a single dose of pegfilgrastim, she developed a limited number of purple plaques on the neck, left leg, both arms and several indurated and slightly mobile nodules on her forearms. Skin biopsy of a plaque showed a diffused dermal neutrophilic infiltrate with dermal edema. Biopsy of a nodule showed a lobular neutrophilic panniculitis without vasculitis. No foreign material was found in those biopsies. No organisms were detected in blood, urine or tissue cultures. She was started with prednisolone 40 mg once a day, with dramatic improvement within the next 2 days. This case is noteworthy for the simultaneous appearance of Sweet's syndrome and neutrophilic panniculitis and it is the first case of neutrophilic panniculitis associated with this drug, pegfilgrastim.
A prospective cohort study of non‐fatal accidental overdose among street youth: The link with suicidal ideation
Authors: Richer Isabelle , Bertrand Karine , Vandermeerschen Jill , Roy Élise
Published: November 2012

Introduction and Aims

Drug overdose and suicide are the two leading causes of death among street youth. The literature discusses the two faces of drug overdose: accidental act and suicide attempt. Some authors have stated that accidental overdoses may be a hidden expression of suicidal ideation. This study longitudinally examined the relationship between recent suicidal ideations and non‐fatal accidental drug overdoses among street youth.

Design and Methods

Between July 2001 and December 2005, 858 street youth (14–23 years old) were recruited for a prospective cohort study. Youth were eligible if, in the previous year, they had been without a place to sleep more than once or had used the services of street youth agencies on a regular basis (≥3). Participants completed baseline questionnaires and follow‐up interviews were carried out every 6 months. Mixed‐effect logistic regression models were conducted. Apart from suicidal ideation and accidental drug overdose, variables considered in the model were age, sex, problematic alcohol use, homelessness, injection drug use and polydrug use (≥3 drugs).

Results

Accidental drug overdose was significantly associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio 1.88; 95% confidence interval 1.23–2.54). Homelessness, injection drug use and polydrug use were also significant in the final model.

Discussion and Conclusions

Results show that, during follow up, suicidal ideation independently increased risks of accidental overdose. They also underscore the need for interventions beyond educational prevention. Primary care practitioners should investigate suicidal ideations and behaviours of street youth in treatment for accidental overdose. [Richer I, Bertrand K, Vandermeerschen J, Roy É. A prospective cohort study of non‐fatal accidental overdose among street youth: The link with suicidal ideation. Drug Alcohol Rev 2013;32:398‐404]
A glimpse at the cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulins in neurological conditions. Does it help the clinician?
Authors: LIM MING
Published: November 2012

This commentary is on the original article by Sinclair et al. on pages 71–75 of this issue
Association between dental trauma and alcohol use among adolescents
Authors: Oliveira Filho Paulo M. , Jorge Kelly O. , Ferreira Efigênia F. , Ramos‐Jorge Maria L. , Tataounoff Juliana , Zarzar Patrícia M.
Published: November 2012

Aim

To investigate the association between dental trauma and alcohol use among adolescents between 14 and 19 years of age.

Materials and Methods

A cross‐sectional study was carried out involving a clinical exam performed by a calibrated researcher (intra‐examiner Kappa = 0.93) and a self‐administered questionnaire. The sample was representative of schoolchildren from the city of Diamantina (Brazil) and was made up of 738 adolescents. The type of school (public or private) was used as a socioeconomic indicator. Information on alcohol use (high risk and hazardous use) was acquired through the administration of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, which has been validated for use in Brazil.

Results

The prevalence of dental trauma was 26.6%, and the prevalence of dangerous alcohol use was 44.3%. Dental trauma was significantly associated with a high risk of problems related to alcohol intake (P = 0.031), hazardous alcohol use (P = 0.009) and binge drinking (P = 0.036). The results of the Poisson logistic regression revealed that hazardous alcohol use [PR = 1.30 (95% CI: 1.01–1.66) P = 0.042] remained associated with dental trauma independently from age, gender, overjet, and type of school.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of dental trauma found among adolescents in the city of Diamantina (Brazil) was greater among those at high risk for problems related to alcohol intake and was significantly associated with hazardous alcohol use.
Dynamic computed tomography appearance of tumor response after stereotactic body radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: How should we evaluate treatment effects?
Authors: Kimura Tomoki , Takahashi Shigeo , Kenjo Masahiro , Nishibuchi Ikuno , Takahashi Ippei , Takeuchi Yuki , Doi Yoshiko , Kaneyasu Yuko , Murakami Yuji , Honda Yoji , Aikata Hiroshi , Chayama Kazuaki , Nagata Yasushi
Published: November 2012

Aim

To evaluate the dynamic computed tomography (CT) appearance of tumor response after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and reconsider response evaluation criteria for SBRT that determine treatment outcomes.

Methods

Fifty‐nine patients with 67 tumors were included in the study. Of these, 56 patients with 63 tumors underwent transarterial chemoembolization using lipiodol prior to SBRT that was performed using a 3‐D conformal method (median, 48 Gy/four fractions). Dynamic CT scans were performed in four phases, and tumor response was evaluated by comparing tumor appearance on CT prior SBRT and at least 6 months after SBRT. The median follow‐up time was 12 months.

Results

The dynamic CT appearance of tumor response was classified into the following: type 1, continuous lipiodol accumulation without early arterial enhancement (26 lesions, 38.8%); type 2, residual early arterial enhancement within 3 months after SBRT (17 lesions, 25.3%); type 3, residual early arterial enhancement more than 3 months after SBRT (19 lesions, 28.4%); and type 4, shrinking low‐density area without early arterial enhancement (five lesions, 7.5%). Only two tumors with residual early arterial enhancement did not demonstrate remission more than 6 months after SBRT.

Conclusion

The dynamic CT appearance after SBRT for HCC was classified into four types. Residual early arterial enhancement disappeared within 6 months in most type 3 cases; therefore, early assessment within 3 months may result in a misleading response evaluation.
The location of paravertebral catheters placed using the landmark technique
Authors: Luyet C. , Siegenthaler A. , Szucs‐Farkas Z. , Hummel G. , Eichenberger U. , Vogt A.
Published: November 2012

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the location of paravertebral catheters that were placed using the classical landmark puncture technique and to correlate the distribution of contrast dye injected through the catheters with the extent of somatic block. Paravertebral catheter placement was attempted in 31 patients after video‐assisted thoracic surgery. In one patient, an ultrasound‐guided approach was chosen after failed catheter placement using the landmark method. A fluoroscopic examination in two planes using contrast dye was followed by injection of local anaesthetic and subsequent clinical testing of the extent of the anaesthetised area. In nine patients (29%), spread of contrast dye was not seen within the paravertebral space as intended. Misplaced catheters were in the epidural space (three patients), in the erector spinae musculature (five patients), and in the pleural space (one patient). There was also a discrepancy between the radiological findings and the observed distribution of loss of sensation. We have demonstrated an unacceptably high misplacement rate of paravertebral catheters using the landmark method. Additional research is required to compare the efficacy and safety of continuous paravertebral block using ultrasound‐guided techniques or surgical inserted catheters.
Downhole interferometric illumination diagnosis and balancing
Authors: van der Neut Joost
Published: November 2012

With seismic interferometry or the virtual source method, controlled sources can be redatumed from the Earth’s surface to generate so‐called virtual sources at downhole receiver locations. Generally this is done by cross‐correlation of the recorded downhole data and stacking over source locations. By studying the retrieved data at zero time lag, downhole illumination conditions that determine the virtual source radiation pattern can be analysed without a velocity model. This can be beneficial for survey planning in time‐lapse experiments. Moreover, the virtual source radiation pattern can be corrected by multi‐dimensional deconvolution or directional balancing. Such an approach can help to improve virtual source repeatability, posing major advantages for reservoir monitoring. An algorithm is proposed for so‐called illumination balancing (being closely related to directional balancing). It can be applied to single‐component receiver arrays with limited aperture below a strongly heterogeneous overburden. The algorithm is demonstrated on synthetic 3D elastic data to retrieve time‐lapse amplitude attributes.
Preserved‐traveltime smoothing
Authors: Vinje V. , Stovas A. , Reynaud D.
Published: November 2012

Most ray‐based migration and tomography methods require a certain degree of smoothness of the depth velocity model. Since smoothing changes the velocity model, it is generally impossible to preserve the traveltime between all pairs of points in the model. Using conventional smoothing, the traveltime errors are particularly large at discontinuities in the velocity model. These errors are offset‐dependent and they cause errors in both the depth and residual moveout (RMO) of depth migrated images. Here we propose a new method, Preserved‐Traveltime Smoothing (PTS) with an objective of preserving traveltimes (and hence depths) at these discontinuities. This is accomplished by smoothing of velocity moments for anisotropic models using a specific cross‐correlation filter with the desired smoothness properties. The method is valid for isotropic, transversely isotropic with vertical symmetry axis (VTI) and structural transverse isotropic (STI) models. The variations of the model parameters perpendicular to the symmetry axis of the anisotropy are assumed to be small.
Proteolysis characteristics of Actinomucor elegans and Rhizopus oligosporus extracellular proteases under acidic conditions
Authors: Li Jingjing , Li Li
Published: November 2012

Enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean protein isolate by the extracellular proteases from Actinomucor elegans and Rhizopus oligosporus at pH 3.0, 3.5, 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0 was investigated. The activity of the A. elegans protease is lower than that of R. oligosporus, but both proteases exhibit considerable degradation of soybean protein at pH 5.5 and 6.0. The water‐soluble protein content and the degree of hydrolysis of the hydrolysates are increased significantly, and bitterness values are very low. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) reveals that these proteases have different cutting sites on peptide polymers. At pH 5.5, there is a lower content of total free amino acids (39.20 mg per 100 mL; 62.68% hydrophobic amino acids) in the R. oligosporus protease hydrolysate. In conclusion, treatment with R. oligosporus protease at pH 5.5 achieves efficient degradation of soybean protein, suggesting a promising industrial process for making bitterless protein hydrolysates.
Deterioration due to delayed icing and its impacts on the nutritional quality of Malabar travally (Carangoides malabaricus)
Authors: Jeyasanta K. I. , Prakash, Sinduja , Carol G. R. , Patterson Jamila
Published: November 2012

Effect of delayed icing of the fish Carangoides malabaricus was assessed using chemical and microbial methods to determine the impacts on the nutritional quality and sensory changes. The shelf life of the fishes iced immediately after harvest had a shelf life of 18 days, whereas the delay of icing for 4, 6, 8 and 10 h shortened the shelf life to 14, 10, 6 and 3 days respectively. The spoilage indicators, such as trimethylamine nitrogen, Total volatile basic nitrogen, free fatty acids, peroxide value, thiobarbituric acid and pH values, significantly increased (P < 0.05) during the storage period of fishes with delayed icing. The total bacterial count also increased during the storage period and due to quality deterioration, the protein and lipid contents were found significantly low (P < 0.05). This study showed that chemical and microbial changes of the sample are well correlated with nutritional and sensory qualities so that immediate icing is important for maintaining the quality and shelf life of C. malabaricus.
Chemical composition, in vitro starch digestibility and amino acid analysis of a underexplored kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris. L.) grown in Chongqing, China
Authors: Liu, Beiyu , Peng, Jiaying , Zhang, Shurong , Zou Boyu , Zhong Geng
Published: November 2012

Chemical composition, mineral analysis, in vitro starch digestibility, and amino acid analysis of a kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris. L.), grown in Chongqing, China, were carried out in 2011. The results showed that the bean flour contained low reducing sugar (0.79%) and fat (2.72%), but high protein (24.8%) and starch (44.84%). Mineral analysis indicated high Mg and Ca contents with low Na/K ratio (0.04). The proportions of rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) were 39.64%, 41.46% and 18.90% respectively. And the variation in their proportions, along with prolonged heating time, showed increase in RDS, and decrease in SDS and RS, but the SDS + RS amount can still account for major parts (51.63%) of the total starch after a 90‐min pre‐cooking. Comparing the amino acid contents of the bean sample with recommended profile FAO/WHO/UNU (1985), the results fulfil the standard except threonine and lysine, whose contents are slightly lower than the requirements (0.93 and 0.85).
Survival of three Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis isolates in fish products after hot smoking and frying
Authors: Klanicova Barbora , Lorencova Alena , Makovcova Jitka , Vlkova Hana , Kralik Petr , Pavlik Ivo , Slany Michal
Published: November 2012

Fish mycobacteriosis should be considered as one possible means of transmission of mycobacterial infections to humans. In our study, we examined the survival of three field Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis (MAH) isolates in fish meat during thermal processing technologies using culture and quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) methods. Minced carp meat mixture was artificially contaminated with known amount of MAH cells and survival and absolute numbers of MAH was monitored after hot smoking and frying. The viability of MAH was significantly lower after the frying process, whereas in response to hot smoking viable MAH cells could still be cultured even after 10 min at 70 °C. Significant differences in thermal stability were also observed among the three different MAH isolates. The human isolate was the most resistant, whereas the environmental isolate was the least resistant, which is probably due to host adaptability. In this work we confirmed that MAH can survive temperatures of 70 °C and thus can pose a risk to consumers.
Composition and properties of starches from Virginia‐grown kabuli chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars
Authors: Xu Yixiang , Sismour Edward N. , Narina Satya S. , Dean Donnica , Bhardwaj Harbans L. , Li Zhenxing
Published: November 2012

Composition and properties of seeds and starches from five Virginia‐grown kabuli chickpea cultivars were investigated. The seeds had the average weight of 4.48 g per 10 g and volume of 641.2 mm3, and were rich in carbohydrate with starch as a principal constituent (59.2–70.9%). Resistant starch accounted for 7.7–10.4% of the total starch content. The composition and properties of the starches among the five cultivars were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). All starches had a C‐type crystalline structure. The degree of crystallinity ranged from 21.1% to 27.4%, gelatinisation temperature from 7.97 to 11.2 °C and gelatinisation enthalpies from 2.18 to 3.76 J g−1, and water absorption capacities from 90.7% to 117.5%. Different shapes and granule sizes were observed. Molecular weight of amylopectin was in the range of 6.35 × 108–11.6 × 108 Da. Cultivar ‘HB‐14’ was superior to the other cultivars, when combining larger seed size, higher resistant starch level and better properties.