bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensional numerical modeling of a four-pin probe for soil water content
Authors: Ma D. , Sun Y. , Wang M. , Gao Y.
Published: March 2006

Soil probes with 4-pin configuration have been widely used in frequency domain (FD) and time domain reflectometry methods for determining soil water content. The techniques of FD sensors largely rely on the port impedance of the probe. This study provided a 3-dimensional numerical model to represent the electric behaviours of the 4-pin probe, which is valuable for analysing the effect of the soil dielectric constant, geometry, and the operating frequency on the port impedance of the probe. The model was performed with high frequency structure simulator software based on Maxwell’s equations and finite element method. A typical 3-dimensional electromagnetic distribution of the 4-pin probe was presented. The model was validated with 3 experiments under the aid of a network analyser. First, the experiment was performed using a series of fluids of known relative dielectric constants, then numerical simulations were carried out and confirmed by soil sample test with varying frequencies and the probe lengths. The effects of these parameters on FD methods are discussed based on the 4-pin probes. The 3-dimensional numerical model appears to be a meaningful tool to investigate more deeply a 4-pin probe in FD method.
Phosphoproteome analysis of the human mitotic spindle
Authors: Nousiainen Marjaana , Silljé Herman H. W. , Sauer Guido , Nigg Erich A. , Körner Roman
Published: March 2006

During cell division, the mitotic spindle segregates the sister chromatids into two nascent cells, such that each daughter cell inherits one complete set of chromosomes. Errors in spindle formation can result in both chromosome missegregation and cytokinesis defects and hence lead to genomic instability. To ensure the correct function of the spindle, the activity and localization of spindle associated proteins has to be tightly regulated in time and space. Reversible phosphorylation has been shown to be one of the key regulatory mechanisms for the organization of the mitotic spindle. The relatively low number of identified
in vivo
phosphorylation sites of spindle components, however, has hampered functional analysis of regulatory spindle networks. A more complete inventory of the phosphorylation sites of spindle-associated proteins would therefore constitute an important advance. Here, we describe the mass spectrometry-based identification of
in vivo
phosphorylation sites from purified human mitotic spindles. In total, 736 phosphorylation sites were identified, of which 312 could be attributed to known spindle proteins. Among these are phosphorylation sites that were previously shown to be important for the regulation of spindle-associated proteins. Importantly, this data set also comprises 279 novel phosphorylation sites of known spindle proteins for future functional studies. This inventory of spindle phosphorylation sites should thus make an important contribution to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate the formation, function, and integrity of the mitotic spindle.
Controlling methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
: Quantifying the effects of interventions and rapid diagnostic testing
Authors: Bootsma M. C. J. , Diekmann O. , Bonten M. J. M.
Published: March 2006

Control of nosocomial transmission of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) has been unsuccessful in most countries. Yet, some countries have maintained low endemic levels by implementing nationwide MRSA-specific infection control measures, such as “search & destroy” (S&D). These strategies, however, are not based on well designed studies, and their use in countries with high levels of endemicity is controversial. We present a stochastic three-hospital model and an analytical one-hospital model to quantify the effectiveness of different infection control measures and to predict the effects of rapid diagnostic testing (RDT) on isolation needs. Isolation of MRSA carriers identified by clinical cultures is insufficient to control MRSA. However, combined with proactive search (of high-risk patients on admission and/or contacts of index patients), it will maintain prevalence levels <1%. Concerted implementation of S&D in countries with high nosocomial endemicity reduces nosocomial prevalence to <1% within 6 years. Stepwise implementation of control measures can reduce isolation capacities needed. RDT can reduce isolation needs by >90% in low-endemic settings and by 20% in high-endemic settings. Surveillance of colonization and improved hand hygiene can markedly increase control efficacy. These findings strongly suggest that: (
i
) causality exists between S&D and low MRSA prevalence; (
ii
) isolating MRSA carriers identified by clinical cultures as a single measure is insufficient for control; (
iii
) a combined approach of isolation and screening confers efficacy; and (
iv
) MRSA-prevalence levels can be reduced to <1% in high-endemic settings by S&D or a stepwise approach to interventions. RDT can markedly enhance feasibility.
Costs and benefits of priming for defense in
Arabidopsis
Authors: van Hulten Marieke , Pelser Maaike , van Loon L. C. , Pieterse Corné M. J. , Ton Jurriaan
Published: March 2006

Induced resistance protects plants against a wide spectrum of diseases; however, it can also entail costs due to the allocation of resources or toxicity of defensive products. The cellular defense responses involved in induced resistance are either activated directly or primed for augmented expression upon pathogen attack. Priming for defense may combine the advantages of enhanced disease protection and low costs. In this study, we have compared the costs and benefits of priming to those of induced direct defense in
Arabidopsis
. In the absence of pathogen infection, chemical priming by low doses of β-aminobutyric acid caused minor reductions in relative growth rate and had no effect on seed production, whereas induction of direct defense by high doses of β-aminobutyric acid or benzothiadiazole strongly affected both fitness parameters. These costs were defense-related, because the salicylic acid-insensitive defense mutant
npr1-1
remained unaffected by these treatments. Furthermore, the constitutive priming mutant
edr1-1
displayed only slightly lower levels of fitness than wild-type plants and performed considerably better than the constitutively activated defense mutant
cpr1-1
. Hence, priming involves less fitness costs than induced direct defense. Upon infection by
Pseudomonas syringae
or
Hyaloperonospora parasitica
, priming conferred levels of disease protection that almost equaled the protection in benzothiadiazole-treated wild-type plants and
cpr1
plants. Under these conditions, primed plants displayed significantly higher levels of fitness than noninduced plants and plants expressing chemically or
cpr1
-induced direct defense. Collectively, our results indicate that the benefits of priming-mediated resistance outweigh the costs in environments in which disease occurs.
Neuronal metabolism governs cortical network response state
Authors: Cunningham M. O. , Pervouchine D. D. , Racca C. , Kopell N. J. , Davies C. H. , Jones R. S. G. , Traub R. D. , Whittington M. A.
Published: March 2006

The level of arousal in mammals is correlated with metabolic state and specific patterns of cortical neuronal responsivity. In particular, rhythmic transitions between periods of high activity (up phases) and low activity (down phases) vary between wakefulness and deep sleep/anesthesia. Current opinion about changes in cortical response state between sleep and wakefulness is split between neuronal network-mediated mechanisms and neuronal metabolism-related mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that slow oscillations in network state are a consequence of interactions between both mechanisms. Specifically, recurrent networks of excitatory neurons, whose membrane potential is partly governed by ATP-modulated potassium (K
ATP
) channels, mediate response-state oscillations via the interaction between excitatory network activity involving slow, kainate receptor-mediated events and the resulting activation of ATP-dependent homeostatic mechanisms. These findings suggest that K
ATP
channels function as an interface between neuronal metabolic state and network responsivity in mammalian cortex.
Cytoplasmic γ-actin contributes to a compensatory remodeling response in dystrophin-deficient muscle
Authors: Hanft Laurin M. , Rybakova Inna N. , Patel Jitandrakumar R. , Rafael-Fortney Jill A. , Ervasti James M.
Published: March 2006

Dystrophin mechanically links the costameric cytoskeleton and sarcolemma, yet dystrophin-deficient muscle exhibits abnormalities in cell signaling, gene expression, and contractile function that are not clearly understood. We generated new antibodies specific for cytoplasmic γ-actin and confirmed that γ-actin most predominantly localized to the sarcolemma and in a faint reticular lattice within normal muscle cells. However, we observed that γ-actin levels were increased 10-fold at the sarcolemma and within the cytoplasm of striated muscle cells from dystrophin-deficient
mdx
mice. Transgenic overexpression of the dystrophin homologue utrophin, or functional dystrophin constructs in
mdx
muscle, restored γ-actin to normal levels, whereas γ-actin remained elevated in
mdx
muscle expressing nonfunctional dystrophin constructs. We conclude that increased cytoplasmic γ-actin in dystrophin-deficient muscle may be a compensatory response to fortify the weakened costameric lattice through recruitment of parallel mechanical linkages. However, the presence of excessive myoplasmic γ-actin may also contribute to altered cell signaling or gene expression in dystrophin-deficient muscle.
Mitochondria as signaling organelles in the vascular endothelium
Authors: Quintero Marisol , Colombo Sergio L. , Godfrey Andrew , Moncada Salvador
Published: March 2006

Vascular endothelial cells are highly glycolytic and consume relatively low amounts of oxygen (O
2
) compared with other cells. We have confirmed that oxidative phosphorylation is not the main source of ATP generation in these cells. We also show that at a low O
2
concentration (<1%) endogenous NO plays a key role in preventing the accumulation of the α-subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor 1. At higher O
2
concentrations (1–3%) NO facilitates the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. This production activates the AMP-activated protein kinase by a mechanism independent of nucleotide concentrations. Thus, the primary role of mitochondria in vascular endothelial cells may not be to generate ATP but, under the control of NO, to act as signaling organelles using either O
2
or O
2
-derived species as signaling molecules. Diversion of O
2
away from endothelial cell mitochondria by NO might also facilitate oxygenation of vascular smooth muscle cells.
Gene-to-metabolite networks for terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis in
Catharanthus roseus
cells
Authors: Rischer Heiko , Orešič Matej , Seppänen-Laakso Tuulikki , Katajamaa Mikko , Lammertyn Freya , Ardiles-Diaz Wilson , Van Montagu Marc C. E. , Inzé Dirk , Oksman-Caldentey Kirsi-Marja , Goossens Alain
Published: March 2006

Rational engineering of complicated metabolic networks involved in the production of biologically active plant compounds has been greatly impeded by our poor understanding of the regulatory and metabolic pathways underlying the biosynthesis of these compounds. Whereas comprehensive genome-wide functional genomics approaches can be successfully applied to analyze a select number of model plants, these holistic approaches are not yet available for the study of nonmodel plants that include most, if not all, medicinal plants. We report here a comprehensive profiling analysis of the Madagascar periwinkle (
Catharanthus roseus
), a source of the anticancer drugs vinblastine and vincristine. Genome-wide transcript profiling by cDNA-amplified fragment-length polymorphism combined with metabolic profiling of elicited
C. roseus
cell cultures yielded a collection of known and previously undescribed transcript tags and metabolites associated with terpenoid indole alkaloids. Previously undescribed gene-to-gene and gene-to-metabolite networks were drawn up by searching for correlations between the expression profiles of 417 gene tags and the accumulation profiles of 178 metabolite peaks. These networks revealed that the different branches of terpenoid indole alkaloid biosynthesis and various other metabolic pathways are subject to differing hormonal regulation. These networks also served to identify a select number of genes and metabolites likely to be involved in the biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloids. This study provides the basis for a better understanding of periwinkle secondary metabolism and increases the practical potential of metabolic engineering of this important medicinal plant.
α-Tocopherol Plays a Role in Photosynthesis and Macronutrient Homeostasis of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 That Is Independent of Its Antioxidant Function
Authors: Sakuragi Yumiko , Maeda Hiroshi , DellaPenna Dean , Bryant Donald A.
Published: March 2006

α-Tocopherol is synthesized exclusively in oxygenic phototrophs and is known to function as a lipid-soluble antioxidant. Here, we report that α-tocopherol also has a novel function independent of its antioxidant properties in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The photoautotrophic growth rates of wild type and mutants impaired in α-tocopherol biosynthesis are identical, but the mutants exhibit elevated photosynthetic activities and glycogen levels. When grown photomixotrophically with glucose (Glc), however, these mutants cease growth within 24 h and exhibit a global macronutrient starvation response associated with nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon, as shown by decreased phycobiliprotein content (35% of the wild-type level) and accumulation of the nblA1-nblA2, sbpA, sigB, sigE, and sigH transcripts. Photosystem II activity and carboxysome synthesis are lost in the tocopherol mutants within 24 h of photomixotrophic growth, and the abundance of carboxysome gene (rbcL, ccmK1, ccmL) and ndhF4 transcripts decreases to undetectable levels. These results suggest that α-tocopherol plays an important role in optimizing photosynthetic activity and macronutrient homeostasis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Several lines of evidence indicate that increased oxidative stress in the tocopherol mutants is unlikely to be the underlying cause of photosystem II inactivation and Glc-induced lethality. Interestingly, insertional inactivation of the pmgA gene, which encodes a putative serine-threonine kinase similar to RsbW and RsbT in Bacillus subtilis, results in a similar increase in glycogen and Glc-induced lethality. Based on these results, we propose that α-tocopherol plays a nonantioxidant regulatory role in photosynthesis and macronutrient homeostasis through a signal transduction pathway that also involves PmgA.
Gene Expression Profiling Using cDNA Microarray Analysis of the Sexual Reproduction Stage of the Unicellular Charophycean Alga Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale Complex
Authors: Sekimoto Hiroyuki , Tanabe Yoichi , Tsuchikane Yuki , Shirosaki Hiroshi , Fukuda Hiroo , Demura Taku , Ito Motomi
Published: March 2006

The desmid Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex, which is the closest unicellular sister to land plants, is the best characterized of the charophycean green algae with respect to the process of sexual reproduction. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of intercellular communication during sexual reproduction, we created a normalized cDNA library from mixed cells of the sexual and the vegetative phases and generated a cDNA microarray. In total, 3,236 expressed sequence tags, which were classified into 1,615 nonredundant groups, were generated for cDNA microarray construction. Candidate genes for key factors involved in fertilization, such as those that encode putative receptor-like protein kinase, leucine-rich-repeat receptor-like protein, and sex pheromone homologs, were up-regulated during sexual reproduction and/or by the addition of the purified sex pheromones, and the expression patterns of these genes were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. This first transcriptome profile of Closterium will provide critical clues as to the mechanism and evolution of intercellular communication between the egg and sperm cells of land plants.
Structural Investigation of Disordered Stress Proteins. Comparison of Full-Length Dehydrins with Isolated Peptides of Their Conserved Segments
Authors: Mouillon Jean-Marie , Gustafsson Petter , Harryson Pia
Published: March 2006

Dehydrins constitute a class of intrinsically disordered proteins that are expressed under conditions of water-related stress. Characteristic of the dehydrins are some highly conserved stretches of seven to 17 residues that are repetitively scattered in their sequences, the K-, S-, Y-, and Lys-rich segments. In this study, we investigate the putative role of these segments in promoting structure. The analysis is based on comparative analysis of four full-length dehydrins from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; Cor47, Lti29, Lti30, and Rab18) and isolated peptide mimics of the K-, Y-, and Lys-rich segments. In physiological buffer, the circular dichroism spectra of the full-length dehydrins reveal overall disordered structures with a variable content of poly-Pro helices, a type of elongated secondary structure relying on bridging water molecules. Similar disordered structures are observed for the isolated peptides of the conserved segments. Interestingly, neither the full-length dehydrins nor their conserved segments are able to adopt specific structure in response to altered temperature, one of the factors that regulate their expression in vivo. There is also no structural response to the addition of metal ions, increased protein concentration, or the protein-stabilizing salt Na2SO4. Taken together, these observations indicate that the dehydrins are not in equilibrium with high-energy folded structures. The result suggests that the dehydrins are highly evolved proteins, selected to maintain high configurational flexibility and to resist unspecific collapse and aggregation. The role of the conserved segments is thus not to promote tertiary structure, but to exert their biological function more locally upon interaction with specific biological targets, for example, by acting as beads on a string for specific recognition, interaction with membranes, or intermolecular scaffolding. In this perspective, it is notable that the Lys-rich segment in Cor47 and Lti29 shows sequence similarity with the animal chaperone HSP90.
Discrepancies between prescribed daily doses and WHO defined daily doses of antibacterials at a university hospital
Authors: Muller Arno , Monnet Dominique L. , Talon Daniel , Hénon Thierry , Bertrand Xavier
Published: March 2006

Aims The defined daily doses (DDD) defined by the WHO are widely used as an indicator to measure antibiotic use in the hospital setting. However, discrepancies exist between countries in terms of antibiotic dosage. The aim of the present study was to compare, for each antibacterial agent available at our university hospital, the prescribed daily doses (PDD) with the DDD.

Methods Data were extracted from the pharmacy computer system. Antibiotic use was expressed in DDD per 1000 patient days. We also calculated the ratio of number of DDD : number of treatment‐days and estimated the average PDD for each antibiotic and route of administration.

Results The average PDD did not correspond to the DDD for many classes of antibiotics. If fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins were prescribed at a dosage close to the DDD, other antimicrobial classes such as penicillins, aminoglycosides or macrolides were not. Overall, the number of DDD overestimated the number of treatment days by 40%. For the most consumed antibiotic at our hospital, i.e. oral amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid, the PDD was three times the DDD.

Conclusions Our study shows that, except for the fluoroquinolones and the cephalosporins, the number of DDD did not correctly reflect the number of antibiotic treatment days at our hospital. This does not invalidate the systematic approach of the WHO and hospitals should use the DDDs to make national and international comparisons of their antibiotic use. However, each hospital should define and validate its own indicators to describe the local exposures to antibiotics and to study the relationship with resistance.
Sublytic complement C5b-9 complexes induce thrombospondin-1 production in rat glomerular mesangial cells via PI3-k/Akt: association with activation of latent transforming growth factor-β1
Authors: Gao L , Qiu W , Wang Y , Xu W , Xu J , Tong J
Published: March 2006

Mesangial cell proliferation is a common cellular response to a variety of different types of glomerular injury. Complement C5b-9 is a prime candidate to mediate mesangial cell proliferation, especially sublytic C5b-9, which can induce the production of multiple inflammatory factors and cytokines. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 plays a major role in the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), while thrombospondin (TSP)-1 has been identified as an activator of latent TGF-β1 in an in vitro system. Using rat glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) as a model system, we assessed the effect of sublytic C5b-9 on the expression of TSP-1 and TGF-β1 and explored the relevant pathway of signal transduction. First, we ensured the concentrations of anti-Thy1 antibody and complement, which were regarded as a sublytic C5b-9 dose, and examined whether the sublytic C5b-9 induced expression of TSP-1 in rat GMCs which, in turn, activated latent TGF-β1 by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Then, we investigated the role of the PI3-k/Akt pathway in sublytic C5b-9-induced TSP-1 production in rat GMCs by Western blot analysis. The addition of sublytic C5b-9 (5% anti-Thy1 antibody and 4% normal serum) to rat GMCs induced activation of latent TGF-β1 via TSP-1. The addition of sublytic C5b-9 apparently increased the protein of Akt phosphorylation, whereas PI3-k inhibitor LY294002 could clearly reduce the increase of TSP-1 induced by sublytic C5b-9. These results indicate that TSP-1 is an activator of latent TGF-β1 in sublytic C5b-9-induced rat GMCs; furthermore, the PI3-k/Akt signal transduction pathway may play a key role in sublytic C5b-9-induced TSP-1 production.
The dependence of clustering on galaxy properties
Authors: Li Cheng , Kauffmann Guinevere , Jing Y. P. , White Simon D. M. , Börner Gerhard , Cheng F. Z.
Published: March 2006

We use a sample of ∼200 000 galaxies drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) with 0.01 < z < 0.3 and −23 < M  0.1r < −16 to study how clustering depends on properties such as stellar mass (M*), colour (g−r), 4000-Å break strength (D4000), concentration index (C), and stellar surface mass density (μ*). Our measurements of wp(rp) as a function of the r-band luminosity are in excellent agreement with the previous two-degree Field Galaxy Redshift Survey and SDSS analyses. We compute wp(rp) as a function of stellar mass and we find that more-massive galaxies cluster more strongly than less-massive galaxies, with the difference increasing above the characteristic stellar mass M* of the Schechter mass function. We then divide our sample according to colour, 4000-Å break strength, concentration and surface density. As expected, galaxies with redder colours, larger 4000-Å break strengths, higher concentrations and larger surface mass densities cluster more strongly. The clustering differences are largest on small scales and for low-mass galaxies. At fixed stellar mass, the dependences of clustering on colour and 4000-Å break strength are similar. Different results are obtained when galaxies are split by concentration or surface density. The dependence of wp(rp) on g−r and D4000 extends out to physical scales that are significantly larger than those of individual dark matter haloes (>5 h−1 Mpc). This large-scale clustering dependence is not seen for the parameters C or μ*. On small scales (<1 h−1 Mpc), the amplitude of the correlation function is constant for ‘young’ galaxies with 1.1 < D4000 < 1.5 and a steeply rising function of age for ‘older’ galaxies with D4000 > 1.5. In contrast, the dependence of the amplitude of wp(rp) on concentration on scales less than 1 h−1 Mpc is strongest for disc-dominated galaxies with C < 2.6. This demonstrates that different processes are required to explain environmental trends in the structure and in the star formation history of galaxies.
Effects of Genotypes and Plant Density on Yield, Yield Components and Photosynthesis in Bt Transgenic Cotton
Authors: Dong H. Z. , Li W. J. , Tang W. , Li Z. H. , Zhang D. M.
Published: March 2006

Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.), including the introduced, indigenous Chinese non‐hybrid and hybrid cotton, is spreading very rapidly in China. Agronomic and photosynthetic performance as well as the optimum plant density for planting Bt cotton may vary with genotypes. With three types of commercial Bt cotton varieties, two field experiments were conducted to study yield performance and leaf photosynthetic rate (Pn) during 2000 and 2001, and yield interaction between variety and plant density during 2001 and 2002 in Yellow River region in northern China. The first experiment showed that the indigenous Chinese Bt cotton significantly differed from the introduced Bt cotton (IBtC) in plant growth and yield components. As a result of manipulation of boll numbers, boll weight and lint percentage, there was no significant difference in lint yield between Chinese non‐hybrid Bt cotton (CBtC) and the IBtC, but two Chinese hybrid Bt cotton (HBtC) varieties exhibited significantly higher lint yield than all other varieties in either 2000 or 2001. Hybrid cotton SCRC15 showed a one‐peak curvilinear change in diurnal course of Pn throughout the growing season, while non‐hybrid cotton 33B and SCRC16 exhibited severe mid‐day depression in Pn in squaring, flowering or boll‐setting stage. The second experiment showed that the main effect of plant population on lint yield was not significant, and yield difference among all treatments was derived from varieties and the interaction between plant density and variety. The optimal plant densities in terms of lint yield for the introduced, indigenous CBtC and HBtC genotypes were 6.0, 4.5 and 3.0 plants m−2respectively.
Effect of irradiation on female painted apple moth Teia anartoides (Lep., Lymantriidae) sterility and attractiveness to males
Authors: Suckling D. M. , Hackett J. K. , Chhagan A. , Barrington A. , El‐Sayed A. M.
Published: March 2006

Abstract:  Live female painted apple moths are being used to monitor the distribution of this invasive species in Auckland as part of a major eradication effort, and the goal of this project was to develop a method to minimize the risk of unwanted live insect propagation from the trapping programme as a result of vandalism or ‘eco‐terrorism’. Female pupae were irradiated with a range of doses and their egg viability assessed, and also tested to determine the impact of irradiation on male moth catch in the field. Female painted apple moth pupae, irradiated at a range of doses from 100 to 500 Gy, were placed in cages in traps at 10 m spacings from non‐irradiated females, near a central release site of irradiated males. Untreated control females alternated along orthogonal transects with irradiated females. The results indicated no significant effect of female irradiation on catch of males. There was no correlation between dose and catch, within the range of exposures tested. There was a very low hatch rate of eggs from females irradiated at all doses tested (100–500 Gy). These results suggest that irradiated females could be used in traps to reduce potential risks of deliberate spread of the unwanted organism by activists, without affecting the effectiveness of monitoring males.
Effects of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae on mortality, fecundity and egg fertility of Tetranychus evansi
Authors: Wekesa V. W. , Knapp M. , Maniania N. K. , Boga H. I.
Published: March 2006

Abstract:  The susceptibility of various developmental stages of Tetranychus evansi Baker & Pritchard (eggs, larvae, protonymphs, deutonymphs and adults) to the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin and Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin was evaluated under laboratory conditions. Three concentrations (3.0 × 106, 1.0 × 107 and 1.0 × 108 conidia/ml) of both fungi were used for each stage. The effect of fungal infection on fecundity and egg fertility was also investigated using both fungal species. Deutonymphs that survived the infection and developed into adult females were allowed to oviposit. Adults and deutonymphs were more susceptible to fungal infection than larval and protonymphal stages at all the concentrations. Nevertheless, the concentration level influenced the mortality of the different mite stages. Eggs were also susceptible to fungal infection and mortality was dose‐dependent. Fungus‐treated female mites laid fewer eggs than the controls but there was no significant difference in egg hatchability between the treatments.
Constructing families and kinship through donor insemination
Authors: Hargreaves Katrina
Published: March 2006

This paper presents some central findings of an exploratory qualitative study of New Zealand families with children conceived by donor insemination (DI). Drawing on social anthropological and sociological theorising about kinship and contemporary Western families, the paper explores the ways in which parents and their kin actively construct parent‐child relationships and kin connections through the notions of biological and social ties, nature and nurture. The paper discusses three major themes emerging from the data: the social construction of the ‘natural facts’ of procreation, physical resemblance, and the construction of families through choice, not biology. Whilst the primacy of biological or genetic connection is a powerful cultural theme, particularly evident in the ambiguities and uncertainties for social fathers and their kin, these families also deconstruct this notion. Drawing simultaneously on the power of social and biological connection, using biology as a metaphor for social relations, or by privileging social ties and the formation of families through choice, over time these families strategically establish themselves as the sole parents and kin of their children conceived by DI.
The politics of end‐of‐life decision‐making: computerised decision‐support tools, physicians’ jurisdiction and morality
Authors: Jennings Beth
Published: March 2006

With the increasing corporate and governmental rationalisation of medical care, the mandate of efficiency has caused many to fear that concern for the individual patient will be replaced with impersonal, rule‐governed allocation of medical resources. Largely ignored is the role of moral principles in medical decision‐making. This analysis comes from an ethnographic study conducted from 1999–2001 in three US Intensive Care Units, two of which were using the computerised decision‐support tool, APACHE III (Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation III), which notably predicts the probability that a patient will die. It was found that the use of APACHE presents a paradox regarding concern for the individual patient. To maintain jurisdiction over the care of patients, physicians share the data with the payers and regulators of care to prove they are using resources effectively and efficiently, yet they use the system in conjunction with moral principles to justify treating each patient as unique. Thus, concern for the individual patient is not lessened with the use of this system. However, physicians do not share the data with patients or surrogate decision‐makers because they fear they will be viewed as more interested in profits than patients.
Eligibility of stroke units in Poland for administration of intravenous thrombolysis
Authors: Członkowska A. , Sarzyńska‐Długosz I. , Niewada M. , Kobayashi A.
Published: March 2006

Systemic thrombolysis treatment was approved in Poland in 2003 and should be performed in specialist stroke units (SU). We performed a survey to determine stroke service preparedness for thrombolysis treatment in Poland. We sent a questionnaire evaluating the neurological departments in Poland, where stroke patients are treated. We divided them into four categories: (i) class A SU (fulfilling criteria of the National Program for Stroke Prevention and Therapy and European Stroke Initiative guidelines), (ii) class B (conditionally fulfilling criteria), (iii) class C (not fulfilling criteria), and (iv) departments without SU. Only class A units are eligible for implementing thrombolysis. We obtained response from 194 of 222 (87.4%) departments; 90 (46.4%) declared having an SU. According to criteria, 20 class A, 56 class B, 14 class C. During one year, 71 208 patients were admitted to hospitals; 69 982 (98.2%) to neurological departments. A total of 10 959 (15.4%) were treated in class A SU, 23 650 (33.2%) in class B, 5153 (7.2%) in class C, whereas 30 220 (42.4%) in neurological departments without SU. Our survey showed that only 15.4% stroke patients in Poland are admitted to high‐quality SU, where thrombolysis may potentially be administered. Improvement of SU quality in Poland is necessary for wide implementation of new methods of stroke therapy.
Early admission to stroke unit influences clinical outcome
Authors: Silvestrelli G. , Parnetti L. , Paciaroni M. , Caso V. , Corea F. , Vitali R. , Capocchi G. , Agnelli G.
Published: March 2006

An improvement in patient arrival time to stroke unit (SU) is recommended, since earlier stroke management seems to improve ‘per se’ functional outcome. The objective of this study was to determine if early admission influences the outcome, reduces disability and mortality at discharge and three months later independent of tlirombolytic treatment.

Consecutive acute stroke patients admitted to SU between January 1st 2000 and December 31st 2003 were studied in order to analyze the actual role of acute management independent specific pharmacological treatment, we excluded subjects who underwent rt‐PA.

35.8% of 2,041 consecutive stroke patients arrived within 3 hours; 62.4% within 6 hours; 37.6% arrived later. Approximately 80% of the <6 hour patients presented a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) >4 and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score >2 in comparison with 60% of the >6 hour patients. In hospital (8.7%) and three‐month (7.3%) mortality in <3 hour patients were not significantly different from what observed in >3 hour patients (6.8% and 6.1% respectively) while functional outcome after three months was better in <3 hour patients (NIHSS: 34.6 vs 15.2; mRS: 32.9% vs 16.8%). Old age, history of TIA, cardioembolic etiology, severity of neurological deficit and hemorrhagic stroke type all led to earlier arrival time. Admission within 3 hours ‘per se’ improves outcome and reduced disability at three months.
Forage preferences in two species of prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens and Cynomus ludovicianus): implications for hibernation and facultative heterothermy
Authors: Lehmer E. M. , Biggins D. E. , Antolin M. F.
Published: March 2006

Several laboratory studies have shown that the ingestion of dietary linoleic (18:2 ω6) acid before winter can promote deep and continuous torpor, whereas excess consumption of α‐linolenic acid (18:3 ω3) can interfere with an animal's ability to reach and maintain low body temperatures during torpor. As mammalian heterotherms obtain linoleic and α‐linolenic acid strictly from the diet, diet selection has been proposed as a mechanism that allows hibernators to ingest levels of linoleic and α‐linolenic acid that promote favorable torpor patterns. Here diet, dietary nutrient content and patterns of forage preference of a representative hibernator, the Utah prairie dog Cynomys parvidens, and a facultative heterotherm, the black‐tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus, were examined under natural field conditions. Diets of black‐tailed (BTPD) and Utah prairie dogs (UTPD) differed across seasons (BTPD F26,108=9.59, P<0.01; UTPD F38,80=3.25, P<0.01) and elevations (BTPD F26,108=20.15, P<0.01; UTPD F38,80=20.51, P<0.01), and forage preference indices indicate that neither species randomly selected plant species relative to their abundance on colonies in any season. Black‐tailed prairie dogs did not consume or avoid consumption of plant species based on levels of total lipids, linoleic acid, α‐linolenic acid or nitrogen. Considering only the plants consumed, black‐tailed prairie dogs appeared to prefer plants with low levels of α‐linolenic acid (F1,19=5.81, P=0.03), but there were no detectable relationships between preference and other nutrients. Utah prairie dogs consumed plants higher in α‐linolenic acid (t=1.98, P=0.05) and avoided plants high in linoleic acid (t=−2.02, P=0.04), but consumption‐avoidance decisions did not appear to be related to nitrogen or total lipids. Of the plants consumed, Utah prairie dogs again preferred plants high in α‐linolenic acid (F1,17=4.62, P=0.05). Levels of linoleic and α‐linolenic acid were positively correlated in plants consumed by prairie dogs (BTPD Pearson r=0.66, P<0.01; UTPD Pearson r=0.79, P<0.01), reducing the opportunity for independent selection of either lipid.
Maternal medicine: Morphometric placental villous and vascular abnormalities in early‐ and late‐onset pre‐eclampsia with and without fetal growth restriction
Authors: Egbor M , Ansari T , Morris N , Green CJ , Sibbons PD
Published: March 2006

Objective  To evaluate placental morphology in pregnancies complicated by early‐ and late‐onset pre‐eclampsia (PET) with and without fetal growth restriction (FGR) using stereological techniques.

Design  A total of 69 pregnant women were studied. Twenty women had pregnancies complicated by PET, 17 by FGR and 16 by both PET and FUR; the remaining 16 were from gestational‐age‐matched controls. Each group was further classified into early onset (<34 weeks) and late onsets (>34 weeks) based on gestational ages.

Setting  NPIMR at Northwick Park and St Marks Hospital.

Population  placentae from pregnant women.

Methods  Formalin‐fixed, wax‐embedded sections stained with anti‐CD34 antibodies and counterstained with haematoxylin.

Main outcome measures  Volumes, surface areas, lengths, diameters and shape factors of the villous tissues and fetal vasculature in the intermediate and terminal villi of all the groups studied.

Results  Terminal villi volume and surface area were compromised in early‐onset PET cases, late‐onset PET had no impact on peripheral villi or vasculature features. The morphology of the vascular and villous subcomponents in the intermediate and terminal villi was significantly influenced by late‐onset FGR, whereas early‐onset FGR caused a reduction in placental weight. Length estimates were not influenced by PET, FGR or age of onset. Intermediate arteriole shape factor was significantly reduced in late‐onset FGR.

Conclusions  Isolated early‐onset PET was associated with abnormal placental morphology, but placentas from late‐onset PET were morphologically similar to placentas from gestational‐age‐matched controls, confirming the existence of two subsets of this condition and supporting the hypothesis that late‐onset PET is a maternal disorder and not a placental disease.
Short communication: Vaginal delivery can be considered in monochorionic diamniotic twins
Authors: Sau A , Chalmers S , Shennan AH , Fox G , Maxwell D
Published: March 2006

The outcomes of 60 sets of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins were compared with 218 sets of dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins. The caesarean section rates for MCDA were similar to those for DCDA twins (56.6 versus 53.6%, P > 0.1). Although the number of babies with 5‐minute Apgar score of <7 was significantly higher for vaginally delivered MCDA twins compared with that of DCDA twins (12 versus 3.5%, P < 0.001), the umbilical artery pH of <7.2 was similar (20 versus 13%, P > 0.05). Admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and neonatal mortality were also similar in both groups. Delivery by caesarean section was associated with increased admission to the NICU and neonatal mortality for MCDA twins when compared with vaginal delivery group. From this retrospective cohort study, we can conclude that vaginal delivery for MCDA twins appeared to be a reasonable management option when similar selection criteria for vaginal delivery of DCDA twins were applied.
ms2ms.pl: a PERL script for generating microsatellite data
Authors: PIDUGU SREENIVASA R. , SCHLÖTTERER CHRISTIAN
Published: March 2006

Microsatellites are frequently used to infer population structure and demographic history. Contrary to DNA sequence data, only very limited simulation software is currently available for microsatellites. The ‘ms‐program’ is an advanced computer simulation tool for sequence data under a broad range of demographic models. We report a PERL script that converts the output of the ms‐program into microsatellite data. The ms2ms PERL script generates an output file that could be read by the microsatellite analyser software to calculate the desired summary statistics.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in the woolly mouse opossum, Micoureus paraguayanus (Marsupialia: Didelphimorphia)
Authors: RODRIGUES FERNANDO P. , ROCHA FLÁVIA S. , GARCIA JOSÉ E. , GARCIA JOSÉ F. , DE VIVO MARIO , MATIOLI SERGIO R.
Published: March 2006

Five microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized within the woolly mouse opossum (Micoureus paraguayanus), a Neotropical marsupial, using an enrichment cloning procedure. Between four and seven alleles were detected per locus, with expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.358 to 0.560. These microsatellites should provide useful markers in a variety of genetic analyses to examine parentage, inbreeding, population structure and population dynamics in fragmented forest habitats.
Modulation of pentylenetetrazole‐induced seizures and oxidative stress parameters by sodium valproate in the absence and presence of N‐acetylcysteine
Authors: Uma Devi P. , Kolappa Pillai K. , Vohora Divya
Published: March 2006

In view of a role of oxidative stress in epilepsy and the evidence for the involvement of peroxidative injury in sodium valproate (SVP)‐induced adverse effects on liver and kidneys, we investigated whether the combination of SVP with N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, may help us to achieve maximal efficacy in terms of seizure control, with minimal toxicity on liver and kidneys. Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)‐induced seizures were used to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of drugs. Biochemical estimations included the determination of oxidative stress markers like thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances in brain tissue and glutathione (GSH) levels in liver and kidney tissues. Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase concentrations in the serum were also determined to assess liver function. In our study, NAC exhibited a nondose‐dependent anticonvulsant effect. The concurrent administration of NAC with SVP significantly prolonged the latency to jerks, myoclonus and clonic generalized seizures. No significant oxidative stress was evident in brain tissue following PTZ‐induced seizures, though an elevation of serum transaminase enzymes was seen. SVP at the dose studied did not produce any significant oxidative stress on the liver and kidneys, while treatment with NAC elevated liver and kidney GSH levels. The concurrent administration of NAC with SVP had beneficial effects on liver and kidney cells.
Upland raptors and the assessment of wind farm impacts
Authors: MADDERS MIKE , WHITFIELD D. PHILIP
Published: March 2006

Government targets on renewable energy coupled with anthropogenic constraints on development have resulted in a surge in proposals to locate wind farms in upland areas, where they may conflict with the wellbeing of scarce or rare bird species including raptors. European and UK legislation demand that the effects of wind farm developments, both individually and in combination, be assessed to determine the level of impact on these species. The principle adverse effects of wind farms on raptors, as for other terrestrial birds, potentially involve disturbance (displacement or barrier impacts) or collision fatality. Few long‐term studies on such effects of wind farms have been undertaken. We review available research results on displacement of raptors, which primarily involve foraging birds, and conclude that most studies indicate that displacement appears to be negligible, although some notable exceptions occur and more research is needed. There is also a need for better understanding of the numbers of birds likely to be killed through collision with turbine rotors at the site level in order to inform planning decisions, although models of bird distribution at several spatial scales can be used to circumvent potential difficulties when locating turbines. Modelling approaches have also been developed that attempt to quantify the theoretical risk of collision. One such approach, the Band model, is a valuable tool for impact assessment and its use is now widespread in the UK. However, there are practical problems associated with gathering the data required to run the model and numerous assumptions must be made concerning bird behaviour. This can lead to deficiencies in the input parameters which potentially have a large effect on the model outputs. Hence, we make recommendations for potential improvements, such as quantifying error in flight height estimation, training of observers in acuity skills, quantifying bird detection‐distance functions, and research on factors influencing activity budgets and flight behaviour. In addition, the model outputs are usually adjusted to take account of turbine avoidance by birds and this aspect of birds’ behaviour is poorly understood. As a result of these limitations, collision predictions are only indicative, and more reliable in some situations, and for some species, than others.
Distribution and behaviour of Common Scoter Melanitta nigra relative to prey resources and environmental parameters
Authors: KAISER M. J. , GALANIDI M. , SHOWLER D. A. , ELLIOTT A. J. , CALDOW R. W. G. , REES E. I. S. , STILLMAN R. A. , SUTHERLAND W. J.
Published: March 2006

Offshore wind farms are proposed around the coast of the UK and elsewhere in Europe. These sites tend to be located in shallow coastal waters that often coincide with areas used by over‐wintering Common Scoter Melanitta nigra. A large‐scale study was undertaken to ascertain the relationship of the spatial distribution of Common Scoter in Liverpool Bay with prey abundance and environmental and anthropogenic variables that may affect foraging efficiency. The highest numbers of Common Scoter coincided with sites that had a high abundance and biomass of bivalve prey species. There was strong evidence that the maximum observed biomass of bivalves occurred at a mean depth of c. 14 m off the Lancashire coast and at c. 8 m off the north Wales coast. This coincided well with the distribution of Common Scoter at Shell Flat, but less well with the distribution of birds off North Wales. Common Scoters were observed in lowest numbers or were absent from areas in which anthropogenic disturbance (shipping activity) was relatively intense, even when these areas held a high prey biomass. Commercial fishing activities did not appear to contribute to this disturbance.
Hydropower and environmental regulation – A Scottish perspective
Authors: COPESTAKE PAUL
Published: March 2006

This paper provides an overview of hydropower and the environmental legislative and regulatory frameworks, with particular reference to Scotland. Consideration is given to the environmental impacts of hydro schemes, with case examples of particular relevance to birds used for illustration. Impacts vary from run of river schemes which tend to have the lowest impact on biodiversity, to large impoundment schemes which have the greatest impact. Adverse impacts can be minimized by sensitive site selection and good scheme design.