bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards Integrated Practices in Early Detection of and Intervention for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
Authors: Storbeck Claudine , Calvert-Evans Jennifer
Published: August 2008

It is well documented that undetected hearing loss can have a profound effect on a child’s holistic development, including communicative, language and cognitive development. It is crucial therefore that deaf and hard of hearing infants are detected as early as possible so that appropriate intervention services and support can be initiated. To assist parents in enabling their child’s optimal growth and development, HI HOPES—the first South African home-based early intervention project—was launched in August 2006, offering families weekly home-based support that is both child-centred and family-directed. A critical overview of the pilot implementation of HI HOPES is presented, from inception to implementation, focusing on its innovative services and practices, and issues that influence the intervention process including a reflection on the challenges and areas for development.
National Study of Master Teachers in Deaf Education: Implications for Teacher Education
Authors: Scheetz Nanci A. , Martin David S.
Published: August 2008

After an extensive review of relevant literature, the investigators developed a questionnaire on teacher characteristics and behaviors in relation to master teachers and distributed it electronically to deaf education professionals. The questionnaire recipients represented administrators, experienced teachers (e.g., those with 3 or more years’ experience), and college and university faculty responsible for preparing teachers of the deaf. Follow-up interactive interviews were conducted with representatives of each constituency. Considerable similarities were noted in the priorities assigned across the three different constituencies, including a value placed on strong communication skills, having a passion about teaching, being collaborative, remaining current in the field, helping students become independent learners, and employing cognitive strategies. Analyses of responses by constituency are provided, along with recommendations for action, particularly for teacher education programs that are intent on graduating more teachers with master teacher potential.
Deformations of certain reducible Galois representations, II
Authors: Hamblen Spencer , Ramakrishna Ravi
Published: August 2008

We examine the deformation theory of two dimensional
mod $p$ reducible indecomposable Galois
representations, removing or relaxing many of the hypotheses
of part I. We are able to prescribe local conditions on our
deformations by allowing ramification at a set of primes congruent
to 1 mod $p$, not 1 mod $p^2$, and satisfying some
other splitting conditions.
The new hypotheses admit irreducible ordinary characteristic zero lifts of many
mod $p$ representations, which by Skinner-Wiles
allows us to conclude the modularity of such representations.
On the reductive Borel-Serre compactification, II: Excentric quotients and least common modifications
Authors: Zucker Steven
Published: August 2008

Let $X$ be a locally symmetric variety, i.e., the quotient of a bounded
symmetric domain by a (say) neat arithmetically-defined group of isometries.
Let ${\overline X}^{\rm exc}$ and $X^{{\rm tor,exc}}$ denote its excentric
Borel-Serre and toroidal compactifications respectively. We determine their
least common modification and use it to prove a conjecture of Goresky and
Tai concerning canonical extensions of homogeneous vector bundles. In the
process, we see that ${\overline X}^{\rm exc}$ and $X^{{\rm tor,exc}}$ are
homotopy equivalent.
Untangling Barbed Wire Attitudes: Internment Literature For Young Adults
Authors: Teorey Matthew
Published: August 2008

Fear and ignorance during World War II resulted in the physical confinement of many Japanese-
Americans in internment camps. Most were released from the camps after the war, but few were
released from Anglo-American suspicion and hatred or their own alienation and cultural selfloathing.
In an attempt to build a multicultural sense of community for all Americans, several
Japanese-American authors of young adult and children’s books exposed the harsh reality of
wartime internment and the sad truth of peacetime racism. They described their camp and
postcamp experiences to teach young readers historical truth, interracial understanding and
fellowship, and cultural self-awareness.
Are You There, Reader? It’s Me, Margaret : A Reconsideration of Judy Blume’s Prose as Sororal Dialogism
Authors: Sommers Joseph Michael
Published: August 2008

Judy Blume’s 1970 problem novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret explores the
dynamism found not just within the sociocultural shift in the plot of young female protagonist
but also a shift between authored subject and reader. This article re-examines Blume as a writer
not simply working within the staid boundaries of the problem novel but as an author testing the
boundaries of narrative space and time to construct a “sororal dialogism” between reader and
narrative protagonist. Blume genders the text by creating a conversation of an empathic nature,
constructing bonds between girls on subject matter once considered taboo.
“This strangely neglected author”: Translated Texts for Historians and Late Antiquity
Authors: Clark Gillian
Published: August 2008

We therefore ask you, and all the scholarly community of the African churches asks with us, not to begrudge giving care and effort to translating the books of those who have provided, in Greek, the best possible commentaries on our Scriptures. For you can make it happen that we too should have people like these, especially the one you particularly like to praise in your writings.
“Barucaba” as an Emblem for Jewishness in Early Italian Art Music
Authors: Harrán Don
Published: August 2008

The expression “barukh ha-ba,” with its various continuations, has a fixed place
in Jewish prayer and everyday Hebrew. It will be argued that the frequency of its usage tends to
mark it, for non-Jewish hearers, as a typological label for Judaism. The operability of this
proposition can be tested upon Italian art music from the sixteenth to seventeenth centuries, with
an extension into the nineteenth, more specifically in works that not only integrate “barukh haba”
alias the Italianate barucaba into their text and music but feature Jews in their subject matter,
the so-called ebraiche (of which some ten or so survive). Three ebraiche in particular
demonstrate how barucaba, along with, and reinforced by, a number of other Hebraisms (some of
them genuine, others concocted as Hebrew mumbo-jumbo), was purposely employed as an
indication of ethnic and cultural alterity in their poetico-musical composition and would
vicariously have been heard as such in their performance. Barucaba joins the ranks of other
labels drawn from Jewish social or behavioral customs and functioning similarly to designate the
Jews as an alien subgroup within a Christian majority. The conceptual apparatus needed for its
apperception as a signifier for Jewishness will be discussed, as will the gradual breakdown of the
same apparatus in the nineteenth century under changing socio-economic conditions.
Grammaticality and Ungrammaticality in Phonology
Authors: Coetzee Andries W.
Published: August 2008

In this article, I make two theoretical claims. (i) For some form to be grammatical in language L , it is not necessary that the form satisfy all constraints that are active in L ; that is, even grammatical forms can violate constraints. (ii) There are degrees of ungrammaticality; that is, not all ungrammatical forms are equally ungrammatical. I first show that these claims follow straightforwardly from the basic architecture of an optimality-theoretic grammar. I then show that the surface sound patterns used most widely in formal phonology cannot be used to test the truth of these two claims, but argue that results from speech processing experiments can. Finally, I discuss three experiments on the processing of nonwords of the form [stVt], [skVk], and [spVp] in English that were designed to test these claims, and show that both claims are confirmed by the results of the experiments.
Microfluidics Digital PCR Reveals a Higher than Expected Fraction of Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma
Authors: Lun Fiona M F , Chiu Rossa W K , Allen Chan K C , Yeung Leung Tak , Kin Lau Tze , Dennis Lo Y M
Published: August 2008

Background: The precise measurement of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma facilitates noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal chromosomal aneuploidies and other applications. We tested the hypothesis that microfluidics digital PCR, in which individual fetal-DNA molecules are counted, could enhance the precision of measuring circulating fetal DNA.

Methods: We first determined whether microfluidics digital PCR, real-time PCR, and mass spectrometry produced different estimates of male-DNA concentrations in artificial mixtures of male and female DNA. We then focused on comparing the imprecision of microfluidics digital PCR with that of a well-established nondigital PCR assay for measuring male fetal DNA in maternal plasma.

Results: Of the tested platforms, microfluidics digital PCR demonstrated the least quantitative bias for measuring the fractional concentration of male DNA. This assay had a lower imprecision and higher clinical sensitivity compared with nondigital real-time PCR. With the ZFY/ZFX assay on the microfluidics digital PCR platform, the median fractional concentration of fetal DNA in maternal plasma was ≥2 times higher for all 3 trimesters of pregnancy than previously reported.

Conclusions: Microfluidics digital PCR represents an improvement over previous methods for quantifying fetal DNA in maternal plasma, enabling diagnostic and research applications requiring precise quantification. This approach may also impact other diagnostic applications of plasma nucleic acids, e.g., in oncology and transplantation.
Removing Barriers to Medical Devices for Users with Impairments
Authors: Lemke Melissa R. , Winters Jack M.
Published: August 2008

Accessing routine medical equipment is often difficult or impossible for many patients and providers with disabilities. We present a novel approach for conducting physical accessibility evaluations of some commonly used medical equipment, including an examination table, two dental chairs, two hospital beds, and two weight scales. Participants with various disabilities used each device while being recorded by three cameras; psychometric survey data were also collected to help us understand each participant's experiences. “Accessibility barrier” occurrences were documented using a novel task analysis method, and the results enabled us to illustrate key distinctions between accessibility and usability methodology. Using insights from the analysis, we provide suggestions to aid designers in improving the accessibility of commonly used medical equipment for users with disabilities.
The Relationship Between Homozygosity and the Frequency of the Most Frequent Allele
Authors: Rosenberg Noah A , Jakobsson Mattias
Published: August 2008

Homozygosity is a commonly used summary of allele-frequency distributions at polymorphic loci. Because high-frequency alleles contribute disproportionately to the homozygosity of a locus, it often occurs that most homozygotes are homozygous for the most frequent allele. To assess the relationship between homozygosity and the highest allele frequency at a locus, for a given homozygosity value, we determine the lower and upper bounds on the frequency of the most frequent allele. These bounds suggest tight constraints on the frequency of the most frequent allele as a function of homozygosity, differing by at most $\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\frac{1}{4}\) \end{document}$ and having an average difference of $\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\frac{2}{3}\) \end{document}$ − π2/18 ≈ 0.1184. The close connection between homozygosity and the frequency of the most frequent allele—which we illustrate using allele frequencies from human populations—has the consequence that when one of these two quantities is known, considerable information is available about the other quantity. This relationship also explains the similar performance of statistical tests of population-genetic models that rely on homozygosity and those that rely on the frequency of the most frequent allele, and it provides a basis for understanding the utility of extended homozygosity statistics in identifying haplotypes that have been elevated to high frequency as a result of positive selection.
Comparative Analysis of Testis Protein Evolution in Rodents
Authors: Turner Leslie M , Chuong Edward B , Hoekstra Hopi E
Published: August 2008

Genes expressed in testes are critical to male reproductive success, affecting spermatogenesis, sperm competition, and sperm–egg interaction. Comparing the evolution of testis proteins at different taxonomic levels can reveal which genes and functional classes are targets of natural and sexual selection and whether the same genes are targets among taxa. Here we examine the evolution of testis-expressed proteins at different levels of divergence among three rodents, mouse (Mus musculus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), to identify rapidly evolving genes. Comparison of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from testes suggests that proteins with testis-specific expression evolve more rapidly on average than proteins with maximal expression in other tissues. Genes with the highest rates of evolution have a variety of functional roles including signal transduction, DNA binding, and egg–sperm interaction. Most of these rapidly evolving genes have not been identified previously as targets of selection in comparisons among more divergent mammals. To determine if these genes are evolving rapidly among closely related species, we sequenced 11 of these genes in six Peromyscus species and found evidence for positive selection in five of them. Together, these results demonstrate rapid evolution of functionally diverse testis-expressed proteins in rodents, including the identification of amino acids under lineage-specific selection in Peromyscus. Evidence for positive selection among closely related species suggests that changes in these proteins may have consequences for reproductive isolation.
Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Analysis For Rice Grain Width and Fine Mapping of an Identified QTL Allele gw-5 in a Recombination Hotspot Region on Chromosome 5
Authors: Wan Xiangyuan , Weng Jianfeng , Zhai Huqu , Wang Jiankang , Lei Cailin , Liu Xiaolu , Guo Tao , Jiang Ling , Su Ning , Wan Jianmin
Published: August 2008

Rice grain width and shape play a crucial role in determining grain quality and yield. The genetic basis of rice grain width was dissected into six additive quantitative trait loci (QTL) and 11 pairs of epistatic QTL using an F7 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a single cross between Asominori (japonica) and IR24 (indica). QTL by environment interactions were evaluated in four environments. Chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) harboring the six additive effect QTL were used to evaluate gene action across eight environments. A major, stable QTL, qGW-5, consistently decreased rice grain width in both the Asominori/IR24 RIL and CSSL populations with the genetic background Asominori. By investigating the distorted segregation of phenotypic values of rice grain width and genotypes of molecular markers in BC4F2 and BC4F3 populations, qGW-5 was dissected into a single recessive gene, gw-5, which controlled both grain width and length–width ratio. gw-5 was narrowed down to a 49.7-kb genomic region with high recombination frequencies on chromosome 5 using 6781 BC4F2 individuals and 10 newly developed simple sequence repeat markers. Our results provide a basis for map-based cloning of the gw-5 gene and for marker-aided gene/QTL pyramiding in rice quality breeding.
Natural Variation in Gene Expression Between Wild and Weedy Populations of Helianthus annuus
Authors: Lai Zhao , Kane Nolan C , Zou Yi , Rieseberg Loren H
Published: August 2008

The molecular genetic changes underlying the transformation of wild plants into agricultural weeds are poorly understood. Here we use a sunflower cDNA microarray to detect variation in gene expression between two wild (non-weedy) Helianthus annuus populations from Utah and Kansas and four weedy H. annuus populations collected from agricultural fields in Utah, Kansas, Indiana, and California. When grown in a common growth chamber environment, populations differed substantially in their gene expression patterns, indicating extensive genetic differentiation. Overall, 165 uni-genes, representing ∼5% of total genes on the array, showed significant differential expression in one or more weedy populations when compared to both wild populations. This subset of genes is enriched for abiotic/biotic stimulus and stress response proteins, which may underlie niche transitions from the natural sites to agricultural fields for H. annuus. However, only a small proportion of the differentially expressed genes overlapped in multiple wild vs. weedy comparisons, indicating that most of the observed expression changes are due to local adaptation or neutral processes, as opposed to parallel genotypic adaptation to agricultural fields. These results are consistent with an earlier phylogeographic study suggesting that weedy sunflowers have evolved multiple times in different regions of the United States and further indicate that the evolution of weedy sunflowers has been accompanied by substantial gene expression divergence in different weedy populations.
Multiple Levels of Redundant Processes InhibitCaenorhabditis elegansVulval Cell Fates
Authors: Andersen Erik C , Saffer Adam M , Horvitz H Robert
Published: August 2008

Many mutations cause obvious abnormalities only when combined with other mutations. Such synthetic interactions can be the result of redundant gene functions. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the synthetic multivulva (synMuv) genes have been grouped into multiple classes that redundantly inhibit vulval cell fates. Animals with one or more mutations of the same class undergo wild-type vulval development, whereas animals with mutations of any two classes have a multivulva phenotype. By varying temperature and genetic background, we determined that mutations in most synMuv genes within a single synMuv class enhance each other. However, in a few cases no enhancement was observed. For example, mutations that affect an Mi2 homolog and a histone methyltransferase are of the same class and do not show enhancement. We suggest that such sets of genes function together in vivo and in at least some cases encode proteins that interact physically. The approach of genetic enhancement can be applied more broadly to identify potential protein complexes as well as redundant processes or pathways. Many synMuv genes are evolutionarily conserved, and the genetic relationships we have identified might define the functions not only of synMuv genes in C. elegans but also of their homologs in other organisms.
Estimation of biomass and carbon stocks: the case of the Atlantic Forest
Authors: Vieira Simone Aparecida , Alves Luciana Ferreira , Aidar Marcos , Araújo Luciana Spinelli , Baker Tim , Batista João Luís Ferreira , Campos Mariana Cruz , Camargo Plinio Barbosa , Chave Jerome , Delitti Welington Braz Carvalho , Higuchi Niro , Honorio Euridice , Joly Carlos Alfredo , Keller Michael , Martinelli Luiz Antonio , Mattos Eduardo Arcoverde de , Metzker Thiago , Phillips Oliver , Santos Flavio Antonio Maes dos , Shimabukuro Mônica Takako , Silveira Marcos , Trumbore Susan Elizabeth
Published: August 2008

The main objective of this paper is to present and discuss the best methods to estimate live above ground biomass in the Atlantic Forest. The methods presented and conclusions are the products of a workshop entitled "Estimation of Biomass and Carbon Stocks: the Case of Atlantic Rain Forest". Aboveground biomass (AGB) in tropical forests is mainly contained in trees. Tree biomass is a function of wood volume, obtained from the diameter and height, architecture and wood density (dry weight per unit volume of fresh wood). It can be quantified by the direct (destructive) or indirect method where the biomass quantification is estimated using mathematical models. The allometric model can be site specific when elaborated to a particular ecosystem or general that can be used in different sites. For the Atlantic Forest, despite the importance of it, there are only two direct measurements of tree biomass, resulting in allometric models specific for this ecosystem. To select one or other of the available models in the literature to estimate AGB it is necessary take into account what is the main question to be answered and the ease with which it is possible to measure the independent variables in the model. Models that present more accurate estimates should be preferred. However, more simple models (those with one independent variable, usually DBH) can be used when the focus is monitoring the variation in carbon storage through the time. Our observations in the Atlantic Forest suggest that pan-tropical relations proposed by Chave et al. (2005) can be confidently used to estimated tree biomass across biomes as long as tree diameter (DBH), height, and wood density are accounted for in the model. In Atlantic Forest, we recommend the quantification of biomass of lianas, bamboo, palms, tree ferns and epiphytes, which are an important component in this ecosystem. This paper is an outcome of the workshop entitled "Estimation of Biomass and Carbon Stocks: the Case of Atlantic Rain Forest", that was conducted at Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, between 4 and 8 December 2006 as part of the Brazilian project "Ombrophylus Dense Forest floristic composition, structure and function at the Núcleos Picinguaba and Santa Virginia of the Serra do Mar State Park", BIOTA Gradiente.
Anurofauna de remanescentes de floresta Atlântica do município de São José do Barreiro, estado de São Paulo, Brasil
Authors: Serafim Herbert , Ienne Susan , Cicchi Paulo José Pyles , Jim Jorge
Published: August 2008

O município de São José do Barreiro (SP), localizado no domínio da Floresta Atlântica, em altitudes que oscilam entre 480 e 2088 m, apresenta grande complexidade topográfica e climática, que resulta na presença de inúmeras fitofisionomias, como os Campos de altitude, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual e Florestas Ombrófilas Densa e Mista. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a riqueza de espécies de anuros em duas áreas deste município: uma de Floresta Estacional Semidecidual e outra de Floresta Ombrófila Densa. Foram realizadas buscas ativas diurnas e noturnas, entre abril de 2004 e dezembro de 2006. O inventário resultou no registro de 35 espécies de anuros de nove famílias. A riqueza de espécies observada na área de estudo é similar a de outras localidades consideradas preservadas como a Estação Ecológica Juréia-Itatins (Peruíbe, SP) e a Serra do Japi (Jundiaí-SP). A similaridade na composição de espécies de sete localidades no Estado de São Paulo foi associada à fisionomia da vegetação das áreas amostradas. A grande variação de altitude, a presença de diferentes formações vegetais e o pouco conhecimento da fauna local, torna o inventário da sua anurofauna de suma importância para estudos futuros de conservação destas espécies.
Discovery of Euglossa (Euglossa) cognata Moure (Apidae: Euglossini) in the Platina Basin, Mato Grosso state, Brazil
Authors: Anjos-Silva Evandson José dos
Published: August 2008

By attracting male orchid bees with eight chemical baits in the gallery forest of the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães, southern Mato Grosso state, Brazil, I found several males belongs to all Euglossini bee genera. Male euglosine bees were collected monthly using an entomological net as they arrived at the baits. From September 2003 to July 2005, the baits were applied to absorbent paper pads from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. From 24 collections, a total of 264 males were captured, spread throughout the five genera of the tribe and belonging to 30 valid species. Of all the males collected, only one was Euglossa cognata Moure, reported to occur from Costa Rica to southern Brazil, and herein recorded to the Platina Basin for the first time. The results clarify the distributional gap and amplified the geographic distributional range of E. cognata in South America.
Morphology and ecology of the planktonic diatom Palmerina hardmaniana (Greville) Hasle in southern Brazil
Authors: Garcia Marinês , Odebrecht Clarisse
Published: August 2008

The diatom Palmerina hardmaniana (Greville) Hasle presents a wide geographical distribution in neritic tropical and subtropical regions. In the present work we analyzed plankton samples collected monthly between 1995 and 2007 at the surf zone of Cassino Beach, RS (32° 12' S and 52° 10' W), and in winter 2005 and summer 2007 at the continental shelf and slope in southern Brazil, Santa Marta Grande Cape, SC and Albardão-Chuí, RS regions (28° 23'-33° 07' S and 48° 41'-52° 26' W). We present the detailed morphological description of P. hardmaniana, and the first study including electron scanning microscope observations for material from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The morphometric data confirm the identity of the species in all its ultra-structural details. Palmerina hardmaniana was only observed in summer-autumn months with low cell density (< 500 cells.L-1) at both Cassino Beach surf zone and coastal shelf stations. The warm water temperature (18-29 °C) indicates the most probable origin of its inoculum are tropical/subtropical regions. Salinities of 23-36 and the relatively high silicate content indicate the importance of the terrestrial discharge during occasions when P. hardmaniana was observed, probably with influence on the nutrient availability. We emphasize that the species was not cited previously for Argentinean and Uruguayan waters and suggest that the southern Brazilian region is close to the southern geographical distribution limit of Palmerina hardmaniana in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean.
Composition and natural history of a Cerrado snake assemblage at Itirapina, São Paulo state, southeastern Brazil
Authors: Sawaya Ricardo Jannini , Marques Otavio Augusto Vuolo , Martins Marcio
Published: August 2008

Neotropical snake assemblages present high species richness and complex structures. The Cerrado is the second largest biome in Brazil, and was included among the 25 World's biodiversity hotspots. In southeastern Brazil, the remnant Cerrado areas have suffered intense destruction, and presently less than 2% of Cerrado natural vegetation remain in São Paulo state. Virtually no detailed study on Cerrado snakes was carried out in this region. The Itirapina region has one of the last well preserved remnants of open cerrado in São Paulo state. Our purpose in this work was the study of natural history and composition of the Cerrado snakes of Itirapina region. We performed an extensive field sampling combining six sampling methods in Estação Ecológica de Itirapina and disturbed Cerrado areas in its surroundings (municipalities of Itirapina and Brotas), during 101 trips throughout 43 months, between September 1998 and March 2002, corresponding to 446 days of field sampling. We also collected additional data from museum specimens housed in scientific collections. We present data on size, general abundance, habitat and macrohabitat use, daily and seasonal activity, feeding, reproduction, and defense. We also compared the Itirapina snake assemblage with nine snake assemblages of Brazil, from Amazonia, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and other open habitats. We recorded a total of 36 snake species among 755 individuals found in the field and six records from scientific collections and literature, belonging to 25 genera and five families. The snake assemblage comparisons indicate that the Cerrado has its own identity regarding the snake composition. Although small (about 2,300 ha), the Estação Ecológica de Itirapina encompasses well preserved and representative Cerrado physiognomic forms, which harbors a rich and typical Cerrado snake fauna. The occurrence of some species only inside the reserve also indicates that the Estação Ecológica de Itirapina is of fundamental importance to the maintenance of Cerrado biodiversity.
New records of Monstrilloida Sars, 1901 (Crustacea: Copepoda) from Rio Grande do Norte (northeastern coast of Brazil)
Authors: Dias Cristina de Oliveira , Medeiros Guilherme Fulgêncio de , Bonecker Sérgio Luiz Costa
Published: August 2008

During a series of zooplankton surveys carried out during 1984, off the south coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, several species of monstrilloids were present in the samples. A total of 50 individuals of monstrilloid copepods were collected. These belong to four species (Monstrilla brasiliensis Suárez-Morales & Dias, Cymbasoma cf. longispinosum, Cymbasoma cf. rigidum, and Cymbasoma gracilis Gurney). The taxonomic complexes formed by the species C. cf. longispinosum and C. cf. rigidum in Brazilian waters are discussed. The lengths of the specimens are provided in order to contribute to studies and revisions of the specimens belonging to these species-complexes. The species Monstrilla brasiliensis is recorded for the first time in the Rio Grande do Norte coastal region, thus expanding its geographical range in the Brazilian northeastern coast. The results presented herein increase to four the number of species of Monstrilloida known from off Rio Grande do Norte state.
Playful birds: cormorants and herons play with objects and practice their skills
Authors: Sazima Ivan
Published: August 2008

Play is a behaviour known mostly for mammals, although birds are recorded to play as well. Here I describe the play behaviour for two bird species, the Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) and the Green Heron (Butorides striata) in southeastern Brazil. Juvenile and adult cormorants were recorded to manipulate sticks, leaves, rootlets, and plant debris while on the ground. They also played with sticks, leaves, pods, and plant debris, as well as live or dead fish while in the water, repeatedly grabbing the object and submerging it. When the object was a fish, they tossed it in the air as well. Juvenile herons played with small pieces of wood, fruits, and other floating objects, which they picked up and tossed repeatedly in the water. The behaviours recorded for the cormorants and herons qualify as object play, i.e., frolicsome interactions with an inanimate object including exploratory manipulation. This behaviour is regarded as having an important role in general motor development and for practice of particular skills, mostly foraging and breeding.
Mutagenesis in Petunia x hybrida Vilm. and isolation of a novel morphological mutant
Authors: Berenschot Amanda S. , Zucchi Maria I. , Tulmann-Neto Augusto , Quecini Vera
Published: August 2008

Traditionally, mutagenesis has been used to introduce novel genetic variability in ornamental crops. More recently, it has become a powerful tool in gene discovery and functional analyses in reverse genetics approaches. The present work aimed to compare the efficiency of physical and chemical agents in generating mutant populations of petunia. We have indirectly evaluated the genomic damage by analyzing developmental characteristics of the plantlets derived from treated seeds employing gamma radiation at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 Gy and the alkylating agent ethyl-methanesulfonate (EMS) at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25% (v/v). Gamma rays and EMS caused developmental defects and decreased seedling viability in plants obtained from the mutagenized seeds. High mutagen doses reduced in approximately 44% the number of plants with primary leaves at 15 days after sowing (DAS) and decreased seedling survival rates to 55% (gamma) and 28% (EMS), in comparison to untreated controls. Seedling height decrease was proportional to increasing EMS dosage, whereas 40 and 60 Gy of gamma irradiation caused the most significant reduction in height. Moderate DNA damage allowing a high saturation of mutant alleles in the genome and the generation of viable plants for reverse genetics studies was correlated to the biological parameter LD50, the dose required to kill half of the tested population. It corresponded to 100 Gy for gamma radiation and 0.1% for EMS treatment. The optimized mutagen treatments were used to develop petunia mutant populations (M1 and M2) and novel morphological mutants were identified.
Salinity effects on leaf ion composition and salt secretion rate in Avicennia germinans (L.) L.
Authors: Suárez Nathalie , Medina Ernesto
Published: August 2008

The effect of salinity on leaf water relations, and rate and ionic composition of leaf secretion was investigated in plants of Avicennia germinans growing under controlled salinity conditions. Increases in salinity from 0 to 940 mol NaCl m-3 reduced the predawn water potential from -0.56 to -4.16 MPa and the solute potential from -2.27 to -4.48 MPa, whereas the pressure potential remained positive in all treatments. Compared to the control, at 940 mol NaCl m-3 Na+ and Cl- concentrations of leaf sap increased 19 and 7 times, respectively. With the addition of salt the main ions accumulated in leaves were Na+ and Cl- whereas plants grown without salt accumulated K+ in leaves at levels similar to those of Na+ with salt treatments. Secretion rates of Na+ and Cl- ions increased up to the highest salinity treatment, amounting to 59 and 46 times respectively, compared to control plants. The increase in secretion rate contributed to counteract the increase of salt concentration in the leaf. In the treatments receiving salts, the Na+/K+ ratio of leaf sap ranged from 4 to 10, whereas that of the secretion ranged from 24 to 56. The ratio of Cl- vs the rest of anions remained around 3 in the leaf sap of salt-treated plants whereas it varied between 96 and 243 in the secretion. With increasing salinity higher secretion rates maintained the internal ion leaf concentration relatively low. The selective character of the secretion contributes to maintain favourable Na+/K+ and Cl-/anion ratios in the leaf cells.
Autonomy and network modulation of photosynthesis and water relations of Coffea arabica in the field
Authors: Camargo-Bortolin Lívia H.G. de , Prado Carlos H.B. A. , Souza Gustavo M. , Novaes Paula
Published: August 2008

The degree of connection between leaf gas exchange and leaf water potential, and the autonomy of these variables in relation to meteorological conditions were determined in three cultivars of Coffea arabica during clear and cloudy days. High values of vapor pressure deficit, air temperature and photosynthetic photon flux density resulted in low leaf autonomy during a clear day, irrespective the degree of connection among leaf physiological variables. Tight synchronization between physiological and meteorological variables was considered one important cause of net photosynthesis (P N) decreasing during a clear day. In contrast, diurnal P N was around three times higher on a cloudy day, when all cultivars presented high autonomy. Principal component analyses corroborated autonomy results revealing unambiguous opposition between leaf physiological and meteorological vectors, besides less leaf physiological variability throughout the clear day. Despite these general responses during clear and cloudy days, there were significant differences among studied cultivars. Leaf autonomy was an important reference to evaluate C. arabica under environmental stress and should be taken into account when selecting cultivars under field conditions.
The engineering behaviour of fill materials: the use, misuse and disuse of case histories
Authors: Charles J. A.
Published: August 2008

A number of developments in our modern world, including increasing urbanisation, major land reclamation schemes and the disposal of vast quantities of solid waste generated by mining and industrial activities, should ensure that, for the foreseeable future, fills will be of increasing significance in geotechnical engineering. An engineered fill, which has been heavily compacted in thin layers under closely controlled conditions, should be a relatively uniform material and have behaviour that is easily predicted on the basis of average properties. In contrast, poorly compacted fill dumped with little control in deep lifts is likely to be in a loose state and exhibit great diversity in its geotechnical properties: the behaviour of such heterogeneous fill will bear little relation to average properties, and will be controlled largely by zones of fill in a metastable state with unpredictable behaviour. Case histories that include field measurements—that is, quantitative data—are of particular value in gaining an understanding of the performance of fill materials. Case histories of fill behaviour are examined in four areas of practical interest to the geotechnical engineer: (a) the geotechnical behaviour of opencast mining backfills; (b) the performance of rockfill dams; (c) the effectiveness of ground treatment; and (d) the condition assessment of embankment dams. In each of these areas the lecture focuses on the results of long-term field monitoring at a number of sites, from which some general conclusions are drawn. Discernment is required in the study of case histories, but despite shortcomings, they provide a much needed counterweight to excessive theorisation.
Persistent organic pollutants in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): Implications for resident killer whales of british columbia and adjacent waters
Authors: Cullon Donna L. , Yunker Mark B. , Alleyne Carl , Dangerfield Neil J. , O'Neill Sandra , Whiticar Michael J. , Ross Peter S.
Published: August 2008

We measured persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in order to characterize dietary exposure in the highly contaminated, salmon-eating northeastern Pacific resident killer whales. We estimate that 97 to 99% of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in returning adult chinook were acquired during their time at sea. Highest POP concentrations (including PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, and DDT) and lowest lipids were observed in the more southerly chinook sampled. While feeding by salmon as they enter some more POP-contaminated near-shore environments inevitably contribute to their contamination, relationships observed between POP patterns and both lipid content and δ13C also suggest a migration-related metabolism and loss of the less-chlorinated PCB congeners. This has implications for killer whales, with the more PCB-contaminated salmon stocks in the south partly explaining the 4.0 to 6.6 times higher estimated daily intake for ΣPCBs in southern resident killer whales compared to northern residents. We hypothesize that the lower lipid content of southerly chinook stocks may cause southern resident killer whales to increase their salmon consumption by as much as 50%, which would further increase their exposure to POPs.
Estrogenic compounds in seawater and sediment from Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Robinson Brian J. , Hui Joseph P. M. , Soo Evelyn C. , Hellou Jocelyne
Published: August 2008

Samples of seawater and surface sediment were collected from seven locations around Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, and analyzed for the presence of the organic estrogenic contaminants, bisphenol A (BPA), 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). Samples were extracted using solid phase extraction (seawater) or sonication (sediments), followed by fractionation on a two-layer alumina/silica gel column prior to analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with negative-ion electrospray ionization. Levels of the three compounds consistently ranked as BPA > E2 > EE2. The least potent compound and plasticizer BPA reached levels of up to 2.6 ng/L in seawater and 9.5 ng/g in sediments; the natural product E2 was detected at concentrations up to 0.57 ng/L and 0.86 ng/g; while the synthetic estrogen EE2 was in most cases below the method detection limit (0.14 ng/L and 0.28 ng/g). The highest levels were observed in the influent of a secondary treatment plant that discharges into the harbor, with concentrations of 32.4 ng/L for BPA and 5.3 ng/L for E2. Overall, the results indicate that these compounds readily associate with suspended particles rather than remaining in the soluble phase. Measurement of the octanol–water partition coefficient (log KOW) confirmed these results, with values of 3.41, 3.89, and 4.16 for BPA, E2, and EE2, respectively. Partitioning experiments using spiked field samples further confirmed these findings, with sorption directly related to sediment total organic content and following the order EE2 > E2 > BPA.
Fowler Syndrome Presenting as a Dandy-Walker Malformation: A Second Case Report
Authors: Al-Adnani Mudher , Kiho Liina , Scheimberg Irene
Published: August 2008

Fowler syndrome, also known as proliferative vasculopathy and hydrocephaly-hydranencephaly, is a lethal condition characterized by hydrocephalus associated with progressive destruction of central nervous system tissue as a result of an unusual and characteristic proliferative vasculopathy. The occurrence of Fowler syndrome in consanguineous families and recurrence in both sexes are suggestive of an autosomal recessive transmission. We present the second case of Fowler syndrome presenting as a Dandy-Walker malformation, in a consanguineous family.
Physical Therapists’ Use of Therapeutic Exercise for Patients With Clinical Knee Osteoarthritis in the United Kingdom: In Line With Current Recommendations?
Authors: Holden Melanie A , Nicholls Elaine E , Hay Elaine M , Foster Nadine E
Published: August 2008

Background and Purpose

Physical therapists have an important role in the management of clinical knee osteoarthritis (OA) through designing and supervising exercise programs. This study explored whether their current use of therapeutic exercise for patients with this condition is in line with recent recommendations.

Subjects and Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a random sample of chartered (licensed) physical therapists (N=2,000) practicing in the United Kingdom. This survey included a vignette describing a patient with clinical knee OA as well as clinical management questions relating to the respondents’ use of therapeutic exercise.

Results

The questionnaire response rate was 58% (n=1,152), with 538 respondents stating they had treated a patient with clinical knee OA in the preceding 6 months. In line with recent recommendations, 99% of the physical therapists stated they would use therapeutic exercise for this patient population, although strengthening exercises were favored over aerobic exercises. Although nearly all physical therapists would monitor exercise adherence, only 12% would use an exercise diary. Seventy-six percent of physical therapists would provide up to 5 treatment sessions, and only 34% would offer physical therapy follow-up after discharge.

Discussion and Conclusions

The measure of physical therapists’ current clinical practice was self-reported clinical behavior on the basis of a vignette. Although this is a valid measure of clinical behavior, in practice, physical therapists may use therapeutic exercise differently. There are disparities between physical therapists’ current use of therapeutic exercise for clinical knee OA and recent recommendations. Identifying potential ways to overcome these disparities is an important step toward optimizing the outcome from therapeutic exercise for patients with clinical knee OA.
Simulation-Based Framework for Transportation Network Management in Emergencies
Authors: Balakrishna Ramachandran , Wen Yang , Ben-Akiva Moshe , Antoniou Constantinos
Published: August 2008

A simulation-based framework for the modeling of transportation network performance under emergency conditions is presented. The system extends the well-established dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) framework and provides the necessary support for the meaningful study of a wide array of evacuation measures, the development of strategies under different prevailing conditions, and the generation of comprehensive emergency response plans. The system can be used to develop libraries to deal with emergencies and unplanned events, train response personnel and traffic management center operators, provide decision support and assistance for the evacuation of residents from affected areas, and ensure unhindered access to first responders. A variety of practical issues relevant to evacuation modeling are discussed, and the modeling framework is demonstrated by using the Boston, Massachusetts, network as an example. DynaMIT, a state-of-the-art DTA model, is used in the case study to illustrate how the benefits of network management strategies might be ascertained. The paper concludes with future directions, including the integration of simulation modeling as a real-time tool for the management of evolving evacuations.
Investigating Consistency in Transit Passenger Arrivals
Authors: Csikos Daniel , Currie Graham
Published: August 2008

Waiting for public transit is recognized as being more onerous than travel time itself. Previous research established that transit passengers in one group “target” their arrival at a time shortly before the service is scheduled. Another group of passengers, seemingly unaffected by timetable schedules, arrives randomly. The time of day plus transit service characteristics, such as headway and reliability, affects the split of passengers between these groups. Little is known about the longitudinal aspects of the nonrandom arrival behavior. This paper assesses the day-to-day consistency of transit users’ arrival behavior by analyzing the longitudinal automated fare collection system data for heavy rail services in Melbourne, Australia. It makes further distinctions between transit users that have until now been categorized into random or nonrandom arrival behavior. Four archetypal arrival behaviors are derived. Consistency of arrival behavior is quantified and investigated. Heterogeneity is an overriding feature of transit commuters’ longitudinal behavior. Transit users exhibiting a greater amount of consistency are found to arrive closer to the transit's timetabled time, use fewer scheduled services, and travel earlier in the peak. A systematic difference in arrival behavior is found for users of a terminus station.