bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracellular fate of Francisella tularensis within arthropod‐derived cells
Authors: Santic Marina , Akimana Christine , Asare Rexford , Kouokam Joseph C. , Atay Safinur , Kwaik Yousef Abu
Published: February 2009

Since transmission of Francisella tularensis into the mammalian host occurs via arthropod vectors such as ticks, mosquitoes, horseflies and deerflies, recent studies have established Drosophila melanogaster as an arthropod vector model system. Nothing is known about the intracellular fate of F. tularensis within arthropod‐derived cells, and the role of this host‐parasite adaptation in the evolution of this pathogen to infect mammals. In this report, we explored intracellular trafficking of F. tularensis ssp. novicida in D. melanogaster‐derived S2 cells. First, we show that similar to the F. tularensis ssp. holarctica‐derived LVS strain, F. tularensis ssp. novicida is highly infectious, replicates exponentially within S2 cells and within adult flies, and is fatal to adult fruit flies in a dose‐dependent manner, while the iglC, iglD and mglA mutants are defective. Using electron and fluorescence microscopy‐based phagosome integrity assays, we show that the wild‐type strain escapes into the cytosol of S2 cells within 30–60 min post infection and by 6 h, 90% were cytosolic. In contrast, approximately 40–50% of the iglC and iglD mutants escape into the cytosol by 6 h while the other subpopulation becomes enclosed within multilamellar vesicles (MLVs). Pre‐treatment of S2 cells with the autophagy inhibitor methyl adenine blocks formation of the MLVs and all the vacuolar subpopulation of the iglC and iglD mutant bacteria become enclosed within single membrane‐surrounded vacuoles. Endocytic trafficking studies of F. tularensis within S2 cells show transient colocalization of the bacterial phagosome with D. melanogaster LAMP2–GFP fusion but not with lysosomes pre‐loaded with fluorescent dextran. Our data show that MLVs harbouring the iglC mutant acquire Lamp2 and dextran while MLVs harbouring the iglD mutant exclude these late endosomal and lysosomal markers. Our data indicate crucial differences in the role of the pathogenicity island‐encoded proteins in modulating intracellular trafficking within human macrophages and arthropod vector‐derived cells.
Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in roots and soils of two salt marshes
Authors: Wilde Petra , Manal Astrid , Stodden Marc , Sieverding Ewald , Hildebrandt Ulrich , Bothe Hermann
Published: February 2009

The occurrence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was assessed by both morphological and molecular criteria in two salt marshes: (i) a NaCl site of the island Terschelling, Atlantic Coast, the Netherlands and (ii) a K2CO3 marsh at Schreyahn, Northern Germany. The overall biodiversity of AMF, based on sequence analysis, was comparably low in roots at both sites. However, the morphological spore analyses from soil samples of both sites exhibited a higher AMF biodiversity. Glomus geosporum was the only fungus of the Glomerales that was detected both as spores in soil samples and in roots of the AMF‐colonized salt plants Aster tripolium and Puccinellia sp. at both saline sites and on all sampling dates (one exception). In roots, sequences of Glomus intraradices prevailed, but this fungus could not be identified unambiguously from DNA of soil spores. Likewise, Glomus sp. uncultured, only deposited as sequence in the database, was widely detected by DNA sequencing in root samples. All attempts to obtain the corresponding sequences from spores isolated from soil samples failed consistently. A small sized Archaeospora sp. was detected, either/or by morphological and molecular analyses, in roots or soil spores, in dead AMF spores or orobatid mites. The study noted inconsistencies between morphological characterization and identification by DNA sequencing of the 5.8S rDNA‐ITS2 region or part of the 18S rDNA gene. The distribution of AMF unlikely followed the salt gradient at both sites, in contrast to the zone formation of plant species. Zygotes of the alga Vaucheria erythrospora (Xanthophyceae) were retrieved and should not be misidentified with AMF spores.
Dual epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibition with vandetanib sensitizes bladder cancer cells to cisplatin in a dose‐ and sequence‐dependent manner
Authors: Flaig Thomas W. , Su Lih‐Jen , McCoach Caroline , Li Yuan , Raben David , Varella‐Garcia Marileila , Bemis Lynne T.
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the activity of the combination of vandetanib and cytotoxic agents using in vitro models of bladder cancer, as modern chemotherapy regimens are built around cisplatin, with gemcitabine or a taxane such as docetaxel also commonly added in combination for the treatment of advanced bladder cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human bladder cancer cells HTB3, HT1376, J82, RT4, CRL1749, T24, SUP and HTB9 were cultured. The activity of gefitinib (ZD1839) and vandetanib (ZD6474) was assessed in these eight bladder cancer cell lines with a tetrazolium‐based assay of cell viability. RT4 bladder cancer cells, determined to have moderate cisplatin resistance and also moderate sensitivity to vandetanib, were treated with vandetanib and cisplatin. RT4 and T24 cells were treated with six different regimens. The apoptosis and cell‐cycle analysis were studied by flow cytometry. Expression of p21 and p27 was detected by Western blotting. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 was performed for all cell lines.

RESULTS

At equal concentrations, vandetanib was a more potent inhibitor of cell viability, compared to gefitinib. At vandetanib concentrations of ≤2 µM, the combination with cisplatin was synergistic, especially in the treatment sequence of cisplatin followed by vandetanib, and additive with vandetanib followed by cisplatin. An analysis of the cell‐cycle distribution showed that vandetanib treatment induced G1 arrest at high concentrations, but not at lower concentrations. High‐concentration treatment was associated with increased levels of the cyclin‐dependent kinase p27. FISH analysis showed that there was a low level of genomic gain, and no gene amplification. Mutational analysis of exons 18, 19, and 21 of EGFR in each cell line revealed no mutation.

CONCLUSION

Vandetanib has synergistic activity when given at low concentration with cytotoxic chemotherapy. The addition of vandetanib to cisplatin‐based chemotherapy regimens merits further study.
Patients’ perspective of botulinum toxin‐A as a long‐term treatment option for neurogenic detrusor overactivity secondary to spinal cord injury
Authors: Hori Satoshi , Patki Prasad , Attar Kaka H. , Ismail Soran , Vasconcelos Joana C. , Shah P. Julian R.
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate patients’ perspective on whether they would consider botulinum toxin‐A (BTX‐A) injections as a long‐term treatment option for managing their neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) secondary to spinal cord injury (SCI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 72 patients with SCI and urodynamically confirmed NDO refractory to anticholinergics, who have had at least one or more injections with BTX‐A were invited to participate in a 5‐min telephone questionnaire covering various aspects of their treatment. Questions about patient satisfaction were rated on a scale from 1 to 10 (1, not satisfied; to 10, very satisfied).

RESULTS

Of the 72 patients surveyed, 48 (67%) were still actively undergoing repeat BTX‐A injections. The mean patient satisfaction score was 6.2. Of the 48 patients, 43 (90%) replied that they would consider continuing with BTX‐A injections as a long‐term treatment option. Only seven (15%) of patients still having BTX‐A injections would consider an alternative permanent surgical option in the next 5 years. Of those patients considering a one‐off permanent surgical solution, younger patients were likely to consider this at a later interval than those in an older group (Spearman’s correlation coefficient, −0.52, 95% confidence interval −0.78 to −0.10, P = 0.02). The annual new patient recruitment rate was high (mean 14.4) and the annual withdrawal rate was low (mean 4.8).

CONCLUSION

With high satisfaction and low annual withdrawal rates, there are increasingly many patients on BTX‐A. Most consider continuing BTX‐A injections in the long term, increasing the future demand for this service. There is an urgent need for further research into optimizing the current delivery of an intradetrusor BTX‐A injection service for patients with NDO.
Superoxide from NADPH oxidase as second messenger for the expression of osteopontin and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 in renal epithelial cells exposed to calcium oxalate crystals
Authors: Umekawa Tohru , Tsuji Hidenori , Uemura Hirotsugu , Khan Saeed R.
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that exposure of a renal epithelial cell line, NRK52E, to calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals (COM) would up‐regulate NADPH oxidase subunit p47phox, enhance superoxide production and increase monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) and osteopontin mRNA levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Confluent cultures of NRK52E cells were exposed to COM (66.7 µg/cm2) with or with no pretreatment with diphenileneiodium chloride (DPI, 10 × 10−6m) an inhibitor for NADPH oxidase, under serum‐free conditions. The conditioned medium was collected and total cellular RNA isolated from the cells, and subjected to enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was estimated by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining using a fluorescence microscope. Immunohistochemistry and real‐time PCR were used to analyse p47phox in NRK52E cells.

RESULTS

In COM treated NRK52E cells there was enhanced expression of p47phox and production of superoxide. COM‐induced production of MCP‐1 and osteopontin was significantly reduced after treatment with DPI.

CONCLUSIONS

While the generation of a lot of ROS might play a major role in tissue injury or death, the regulated generation of low concentration of ROS, possibly by NADPH oxidase, may represent a second messenger system for generation of COM‐induced MCP‐1 and osteopontin production in the renal tubules.
Sleep duration is an independent factor in nocturia: analysis of bladder diaries
Authors: Udo Yukihiro , Nakao Masahiro , Honjo Hisashi , Ukimura Osamu , Kitakoji Hiroshi , Miki Tsuneharu
Published: February 2009

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the relationship between the number of nocturia episodes and other variables obtained from a bladder diary, with special attention to the duration of sleep, as nocturia is closely related to sleep disorders.

PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Between April 2005 and December 2006, 532 participants, including both community‐dwelling subjects who underwent a mass screening programme and outpatients who consulted the department of urology, completed a 3‐day bladder diary. Clinical variables, i.e. the number of daytime and night‐time voids, diurnal and nocturnal urine volume, daytime and night‐time maximum voided volume, sleep duration and nocturnal polyuria index (NPi) were obtained from the diary. The variables were assessed by univariate analysis in all participants, and by multiple regression analysis of all participants, males, females, subjects in mass screening and those with no 24‐h polyuria, to determine which variables were independently associated with the number of nocturia episodes.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed a considerable correlation between the nocturia episodes and age, nocturnal urine volume, NPi and sleep duration. On multiple regression analysis, age, nocturnal urine volume, night‐time maximum voided volume and sleep duration were independently related to number of nocturia episodes in all subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep duration was confirmed as an independent factor in nocturia. Sleep conditions, including sleep duration, should be considered when evaluating and treating patients with nocturia.
Climate and history explain the species richness peak at mid‐elevation for Schizothorax fishes (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) distributed in the Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent regions
Authors: Li Jun , He Qixin , Hua Xia , Zhou Jie , Xu Huidan , Chen Jiakuan , Fu Cuizhang
Published: February 2009

Aim  We studied elevational species richness patterns of Schizothorax fishes and identified the roles of ecological and evolutionary factors in shaping the patterns of elevational diversity.

Location  The Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent regions.

Methods  We assembled distribution and altitude data for all Schizothorax species using the literature. We merged ecological and evolutionary approaches to test the relationships between species richness and ecological factors (climate, area, the mid‐domain effect) or evolutionary factors (diversification rates and time of colonization).

Results  We found that species richness of Schizothorax fishes peaked at mid‐elevations. Rainfall, area, the mid‐domain effect and diversification rate were weak predictors of the richness pattern. Temperature showed a nonlinear relationship with species richness. Temperature and time of colonization were the most important variables in explaining the elevational diversity pattern.

Main conclusion  Our findings indicate that the time‐for‐speciation effect and niche conservatism play important roles in variation of species richness.
Healthy ageing: the role of nutrition and lifestyle – a new British Nutrition Foundation Task Force Report
Authors: Stanner S. , Denny A.
Published: February 2009

Life expectancy is increasing around the world, and this is likely to have profound effects on many aspects of society, particularly if these extra years are to be associated with ill health. In the UK, for example, lifespan is increasing at the rate of 2 years for each decade, and over 16% of the population are now aged 65 years or over. Ageing is an integral, natural part of life but the way in which we grow old, our health and functional ability all depend not only on our genetic make‐up, but also on the lifestyle choices we have made over our lifetime. Evidence linking dietary and lifestyle factors throughout the life course with healthy ageing is emerging and has been reviewed in‐depth by a British Nutrition Foundation Task Force comprising of experts in the field and chaired by Professor John Mathers. This article summarises some of the findings of Task Force's Report by discussing the effect of diet and lifestyle on common chronic diseases in later life, namely cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and arthritis, and on promoting healthy mental ageing and good oral health.
Eggs and dietary cholesterol – dispelling the myth
Authors: Gray J. , Griffin B.
Published: February 2009

Dietary cholesterol in foods such as eggs has only a small and clinically insignificant effect on blood cholesterol, especially when compared with the much greater effects of dietary saturated fatty acids on blood cholesterol. These facts are now well established and, as a consequence, recommendations from major food and health bodies concerning dietary cholesterol have been relaxed in the UK and elsewhere in recent years. However, in the minds of the public, cholesterol in the diet, specifically from eggs, continues to be viewed with suspicion and that view is still reflected in the advice of some professionals.
Current choices in omega 3 supplementation
Authors: Bailey N.
Published: February 2009

Our understanding of the significant role that long‐chain fatty acids play in maintaining health and deterring the progression of disease is rapidly expanding. Much attention has been drawn to the benefits of increasing n‐3 (omega‐3) fatty acids in the diet, either through direct fortification of foodstuffs, or through supplementation. However, it is clear that there is some confusion among the general public as to the benefits of foods fortified with short‐chain n‐3 fatty acids compared with long‐chain fatty acids and, indeed, over the role omega 3 fatty acids play in homeostasis. With the supplement market growing quickly and the general public seemingly increasingly ‘health‐conscious’, emphasis should be focused upon educating the public more thoroughly about the biological roles that these fats play. Modern changes in our diet and the current general consensus that the UK is not an ‘oily fish‐loving’ nation mean that many individuals run the risk of consuming insufficient amounts of the long‐chain n‐3 fatty acids for optimal function of the cardiovascular, immune and inflammatory systems. While supplementation is an easy way of modifying fatty acid intake, the quality of many cheaper products favoured by the public as the ‘value for money’ option are unlikely to offer the same health benefits as those that are molecularly distilled to exclude impurities and maximise concentrations of the active ingredients eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. This paper discusses the need for the public to be aware of the variation in the quality and dosage of n‐3 supplements, delineates some of the vegetarian alternatives to fish‐derived products and also discusses the potential role that General Practitioners may play in educating their patients about the possible long‐term benefits of such products.
The Development of the Temporal Macrostructure of Life Narratives Across Adolescence: Beginnings, Linear Narrative Form, and Endings
Authors: Habermas Tilmann , Ehlert‐Lerche Silvia , De Silveira Cybèle
Published: February 2009

ABSTRACTThe ontogeny of the ability to describe people culminates in adolescence in the development of the life story. An overarching temporal macrostructure and framing by a prehistory and a future‐oriented global evaluation of life helps integrate disparate autobiographical memories into a coherent story. Two life narratives each of 8‐, 12‐, 16‐, and 20‐year‐olds (N=102) were analyzed in terms of how well‐formed their beginnings and endings are and how much they follow a linear temporal order. By age 12, the majority of life narratives began with birth, ended in the present, and followed a chronological order. In late adolescence and early adulthood, more elaborate birth narratives and retrospective evaluations of life and outlooks into the future were added. These formal characteristics were related to biographical practices, biographical knowledge, and fluid intelligence. Text‐analytical methods are proposed as a method for the analysis of biographical and autobiographical reasoning and understanding.
Never the Twain Shall Meet: A Memetic Analysis of Poverty Perceptions
Authors: Misturelli Federica , Heffernan Claire
Published: February 2009

Poverty, as defined within development discourse, does not fully capture the reality in which the poor live, which is formed also by values and beliefs specific to a given culture and setting. This article uses a memetic approach to investigating the reality of poverty among pastoralists and urban dwellers in Kenya. By distinguishing the semantic space and the cultural context in which the definitions are framed, it enables the researcher to make sufficient generalisations while also recognising the differences between cultures. The results demonstrate how pastoralists and urban dwellers conceptualise poverty differently particularly in regard to causes. Further, the article suggests that development actors often utilise a Western construct which does not entirely reflect the values and beliefs of the poor.
French‐learning toddlers use gender information on determiners during word recognition
Authors: Van Heugten Marieke , Shi Rushen
Published: February 2009

In gender‐marking languages, the gender of the noun determines the form of the preceding article. In this study, we examined whether French‐learning toddlers use gender‐marking information on determiners to recognize words. In a split‐screen preferential looking experiment, 25‐month‐olds were presented with picture pairs that referred to nouns with either the same or different genders. The target word in the auditory instruction was preceded either by the correct or incorrect gender‐marked definite article. Toddlers’ looking times to target shortly after article onset demonstrated that target words were processed most efficiently in different‐gender grammatical trials. While target processing in same‐gender grammatical trials recovered in the subsequent time window, ungrammatical articles continued to affect processing efficiency until much later in the trial. These results indicate that by 25 months of age, French‐learning toddlers use gender information on determiners when comprehending subsequent nouns.
Fourteen‐month‐old infants learn similar‐sounding words
Authors: Yoshida Katherine A. , Fennell Christopher T. , Swingley Daniel , Werker Janet F.
Published: February 2009

Can infants, in the very first stages of word learning, use their perceptual sensitivity to the phonetics of speech while learning words? Research to date suggests that infants of 14 months cannot learn two similar‐sounding words unless there is substantial contextual support. The current experiment advances our understanding of this failure by testing whether the source of infants’ difficulty lies in the learning or testing phase. Infants were taught to associate two similar‐sounding words with two different objects, and tested using a visual choice method rather than the standard Switch task. The results reveal that 14‐month‐olds are capable of learning and mapping two similar‐sounding labels; they can apply phonetic detail in new words. The findings are discussed in relation to infants’ concurrent failure, and the developmental transition to success, in the Switch task.
Sucrose and dental caries: a review of the evidence
Authors: Anderson C. A. , Curzon M. E. J. , Van Loveren C. , Tatsi C. , Duggal M. S.
Published: February 2009

The aim of this study was to conduct a review of the literature to assess the relationship between quantity and pattern of sucrose use and dental caries. Using hand and electronic methods (MEDLINE, EMBASE) the literature was searched for epidemiological papers concerning any relationship of sugars and dental caries published since 1856. Superficial hand searching was carried out between 1856 and 1940, detailed hand searching 1940–1966 and electronic 1966–2007. Selection criteria were set based on, but not confined to, Cochran style standards. Investigations were categorized as A, fulfilling all criteria; B1, relevant fulfilling 19 of 23 criteria; B2, relevant but fulfilling only between 12 and 18 of the selection criteria; and C, all other papers. There were 95 papers meeting most (more than 12) or all of the selected criteria. Only 1 paper was graded A; 31 as B1. There were in addition some 65 as B2 and all the rest as C, which were discarded. There were a wide variety of study designs and those graded A or B1 comprised 23 ecological cross‐sectional, 7 cohort and 2 case control studies. Summary results showed that 6 papers found a positive, significant relationship of sugar quantity to dental caries, 19 of 31 studies reported a significant relationship of sugar frequency of use to dental caries. The balance of studies does not demonstrate a relationship between sugar quantity, but a moderately significant relationship of sugar frequency to dental caries.
Transforming a Trade Union? An Assessment of the Introduction of an Organizing Initiative
Authors: Waddington Jeremy , Kerr Allan
Published: February 2009

In 1995 Unison implemented a National Recruitment Plan, and, in 1997, a National Organizing and Recruitment Strategy, with the objective of reversing the decline in union density in the public sector. This article traces the development of these initiatives and assesses their results. The article shows that there is limited involvement of lay representatives in the National Organizing and Recruitment Plan, but that there is a positive relationship between participation in union programmes intended to promote organizing and the performance of individual branches.
Varieties of Undeclared Work in European Societies
Authors: Pfau‐Effinger Birgit
Published: February 2009

Until recently, undeclared work was understood as largely the result of tax evasion by employers and workers. However, this viewpoint fails to do justice to the complexity of the phenomenon. The category of undeclared work covers several distinct types of employment relation which arise from different motives and strategies of firms, workers and contractors, and their interplay. There is no uniform logic of development. This article introduces a new typology of undeclared work and shows how the development of the different types of undeclared work can be explained by the ways in which they are embedded in a variety of institutional, cultural and socio‐structural contexts.
POWER, RATIONALITY AND LEGITIMACY IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS
Authors: GORDON RAY , KORNBERGER MARTIN , CLEGG STEWART R.
Published: February 2009

In this paper we propose answers to the research question: how does power shape the construction of legitimacy in the context of public organizations? We suggest that while organizational structures of dominancy will be embedded, not all structures of dominancy align with those that are normatively presented as legitimate and authoritative. Such situations make the creation and sustenance of legitimacy problematic for organizational action. This paper advances our understanding of the relation between power, rationality and legitimacy by showing how structures of domination recursively constitute, and are constituted by, legitimacy that may not be authoritative. We show, empirically, how these relations prevented a police organization from reforming by breaking the recursive patterns of domination and legitimization. Theoretically, we argue that understanding organizational change must be connected to issues of power and legitimacy.
POLICING WITH A SMILE: NARRATIVES OF CONSUMERISM IN NEW LABOUR’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY
Authors: NEEDHAM CATHERINE
Published: February 2009

A recurrent theme in New Labour’s public service reforms has been a tendency to orient services to the user as a consumer or customer of those services. However a consumerist approach – and particularly the ‘customer is always right’ imperative – appears problematic in relation to criminal justice. This article uses content analysis to explore the use of consumerist narratives by selected members of the UK criminal justice policy network (Prime Minister, Home Office and local government). It finds that the terms customer and consumer are used less in relation to criminal justice than they are in relation to other public services. When used, it is ‘law‐abiding citizens’, particularly victims and witnesses, that are the priority customers of the service. Customer‐orientated policing is primarily about standardizing services and encouraging more coproductive behaviours. The language of choice and personalization, which has come to characterize New Labour’s approach to public service reform, has as yet had little penetration into criminal justice. However, the policy network is fragmented, with different narratives of consumerism emerging from Tony Blair (the then Prime Minister), the Home Office and local government, demonstrating the contingent ways in which policy‐makers draw on historical traditions.
Beyond the ‘classic’ nurture group model: an evaluation of part‐time and cross‐age nurture groups in a Scottish local authority
Authors: SCOTT KAREN , LEE ANNE
Published: February 2009

This study begins to explore ways in which the principles underpinning the traditional ‘nurture group’ model could be altered and age ranges extended while continuing to deliver the proven success of nurture groups in promoting children's social and emotional development. Part‐time nurture groups were established in four different primary schools within the same council area. A total of 25 pupils ranging from age four to ten years attended the nurture groups for the 2006/7 school session and a control group was established within each school. All fifty children were tested using the Boxall Profile, literacy, numeracy and motor skills baseline assessments at pre‐, mid‐ and post‐nurture group intervention. Analysis of the results showed that for the children who had received a part‐time nurture group experience, statistically significant gains were made in the areas of development assessed by the Boxall Profile. Gains were also made in the areas of literacy, numeracy and motor skills; however, these gains were not at a statistically significant level. Results also show that the younger the pupil accessed the nurture group, the more significant gains were made in the measures used.
Efficient Estimation of Three-Dimensional Curves and their Derivatives by Free-Knot Regression Splines, Applied to the Analysis of Inner Carotid Artery Centrelines
Authors: Sangalli Laura M. , Secchi Piercesare , Vantini Simone , Veneziani Alessandro
Published: February 2009

We deal with the problem of efficiently estimating a three-dimensional curve and its derivatives, starting from a discrete and noisy observation of the curve. This problem is now arising in many applicative contexts, thanks to the advent of devices that provide three-dimensional images and measures, such as three-dimensional scanners in medical diagnostics. Our research, in particular, stems from the need for accurate estimation of the curvature of an artery, from image reconstructions of three-dimensional angiographies. This need has emerged within the AneuRisk project, a scientific endeavour which aims to investigate the role of vessel morphology, blood fluid dynamics and biomechanical properties of the vascular wall, on the pathogenesis of cerebral aneurysms. We develop a regression technique that exploits free-knot splines in a novel setting, to estimate three-dimensional curves and their derivatives. We thoroughly compare this technique with a classical regression method, local polynomial smoothing, showing that three-dimensional free-knot regression splines yield more accurate and efficient estimates.
Space–Time Modelling of Precipitation by Using a Hidden Markov Model and Censored Gaussian Distributions
Authors: Ailliot Pierre , Thompson Craig , Thomson Peter
Published: February 2009

A new hidden Markov model for the space–time evolution of daily rainfall is developed which models precipitation within hidden regional weather types by censored power-transformed Gaussian distributions. The latter provide flexible and interpretable multivariate models for the mixed discrete–continuous variables that describe both precipitation, when it occurs, and no precipitation. Parameter estimation is performed by using a Monte Carlo EM algorithm whose use and performance are evaluated by simulation studies. The model is fitted to rainfall data from a small network of stations in New Zealand encompassing a diverse range of orographic effects. The results that are obtained show that the marginal distributions and spatial structure of the data are well described by the fitted model which provides a better description of the spatial structure of precipitation than a standard hidden Markov model that is commonly used in the literature. However, the fitted model, like the standard hidden Markov model, cannot fully reproduce the local dynamics and underestimates the lag 1 auto-correlations.
THE MINOAN FALLACY: CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND MORTUARY BEHAVIOUR ON CRETE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BRONZE AGE
Authors: LEGARRA HERRERO BORJA
Published: February 2009

We are becoming increasingly aware of regional data patterning in the archaeological record of Prepalatial Crete, yet a theoretically informed and methodologically systematic study assessing the significance of such differences is still lacking. This article investigates variation through the rich mortuary record of the period and explores the significance of such diversity for our understanding of Prepalatial Crete. A detailed analysis using mortuary data reveals a complex spatial and temporal variation in the record which raises questions about social, political and ideological differences between communities on the island during the early periods of the Early Bronze Age. Prepalatial Crete emerges from this analysis as a complex context resulting from an intricate combination of local and regional histories and trajectories and far from the unified culture that the term ‘Minoan’ implies.
FROM BELIEF TO UNDERSTANDING by Richard Campbell
Authors: Swinburne G.
Published: February 2009

FROM BELIEF TO UNDERSTANDING by Richard Campbell. Australian National U.P., 1976. vii+229 pp. $A6.95.
PROBLEMS FROM LOCKE by J. L. Mackie
Authors: Ayers M. R.
Published: February 2009

PROBLEMS FROM LOCKE by J. L. Mackie. Clarendon Press: O.U.P., 1976. ix+237 pp. £6 cloth, £2.50 paper.
KANT'S CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON: A Commentary for Students, by T. E. Wilkerson
Authors: Hammond Michael
Published: February 2009

KANT'S CRITIQUE OF PURE REASON: A Commentary for Students, by T. E. Wilkerson. Clarendon Press: O.U.P., 1976. ix+221 pp. £6 cloth, £2.50 paper.
A READING OF HEGEL'S PHENOMENOLOGY OF SPIRIT by Quentin Lauer: HEGEL'S PHENOMENOLOGY ‐ A PHILOSOPHICAL INTRODUCTION by Richard Norman
Authors: Knox T. M.
Published: February 2009

A READING OF HEGEL'S PHENOMENOLOGY OF SPIRIT by Quentin Lauer. Fordham U.P., 1976. vii+303 pp. $20 cloth, $7.50 paper.

HEGEL'S PHENOMENOLOGY – A PHILOSOPHICAL INTRODUCTION by Richard Norman. Sussex U.P., 1976. 139 pp. £4 cloth, £2.25 paper.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF KARL POPPER by Robert John Ackermann
Authors: Bhaskar Roy
Published: February 2009

THE PHILOSOPHY OF KARL POPPER by Robert John Ackermann. Univ. of Massachusetts Press, 1976. xi+212 pp. $15.
ACTION, KNOWLEDGE, AND REALITY: Studies in Honor of Wilfrid Sellars, edited by Hector‐Neri Castañeda
Authors: Tiles J. E.
Published: February 2009

ACTION, KNOWLEDGE, AND REALITY: Studies in Honor of Wilfrid Sellars, edited by Hector‐Neri Castañeda. Bobbs‐Merrill, 1975. viii + 364 pp. $17.
PERSON AND OBJECT by Roderick M. Chisholm
Authors: Cox J. W. Roxbee
Published: February 2009

PERSON AND OBJECT by Roderick M. Chisholm. U.K.: Allen & Unwin; U.S.A.: Humanities Press, 1976. 230 pp. £7.25.
ISSUES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE edited by Alfred M. MacKay and Daniel D. Merrill: TRUTH AND MEANING: Essays in Semantics, edited by Gareth Evans and John McDowell
Authors: Guttenplan Samuel
Published: February 2009

ISSUES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF LANGUAGE edited by Alfred M. MacKay and Daniel D. Merrill. (Oberlin Colloquium, 1972.) Yale U.P., 1976. xiv+161 pp. £7.50.

TRUTH AND MEANING: Essays in Semantics, edited by Gareth Evans and John McDowell. Clarendon Press: O.U.P., 1976. xxiii+420 pp. £11.50.
Two Common Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms are Highly Associated with Migraine Headache and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
Authors: Zaki EA , Freilinger T , Klopstock T , Baldwin EE , Heisner KRU , Adams K , Dichgans M , Wagler S , Boles RG
Published: February 2009

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hypothesized component in the multifactorial pathogenesis of migraine without aura (MoA, ‘common migraine') and the related condition of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS). In this study, the entire mitochondrial genome was sequenced in 20 haplogroup-H CVS patients, a subject group studied because of greater genotypic and phenotypic homogeneity. Sequences were compared against haplogroup-H controls. Polymorphisms of interest were tested in 10 additional CVS subjects and in 112 haplogroup-H adults with MoA. The 16519C→T polymorphism was found to be highly disease associated: 21/30 CVS subjects [70%, odds ratio (OR) 6.2] and 58/112 migraineurs (52%, OR 3.6) vs. 63/231 controls (27%). A second polymorphism, 3010G→A, was found to be highly disease associated in those subjects with 16519T: 6/21 CVS subjects (29%, OR 17) and 15/58 migraineurs (26%, OR 15) vs. 1/63 controls (1.6%). Our data suggest that these polymorphisms constitute a substantial proportion of the genetic factor in migraine pathogenesis, and strengthen the hypothesis that there is a component of mitochondrial dysfunction in migraine.
Trophoblast‐mediated spiral artery remodelling: a role for apoptosis
Authors: Whitley Guy St J. , Cartwright Judith E.
Published: February 2009

In the first 20 weeks of pregnancy a number of important changes take place in the maternal uterine vasculature. Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells are lost from the spiral arteries and are replaced by fetal trophoblast cells. The resulting increase in blood flow to the intervillous space ensures that the fetus receives the nutrients and respiratory gases required for growth. Failure of the vessels to remodel sufficiently is a common feature of pregnancy pathologies such as early pregnancy loss, intrauterine growth restriction and pre‐eclampsia. Although there is evidence to suggest that some vascular changes occur prior to trophoblast invasion, it is clear that in the absence of trophoblast invasion the remodelling of the spiral arteries is reduced. The cellular and molecular mechanisms by which trophoblasts influence vessel structure have been little studied. Trophoblasts synthesize and release a plethora of cytokines and growth factors including members of the tumour necrosis factor family such as tumour necrosis factor α, Fas‐ligand and tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand. Recent studies suggest that these factors may be important in regulating the remodelling process by inducing both endothelial cell and vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis.
Microgeographic variation in the effects of larval temperature environment on juvenile morphology and locomotion in the pool frog
Authors: Orizaola G. , Laurila A.
Published: February 2009

In animals with complex life cycles, the environment experienced early during the development may have strong effects on later performance and fitness. We investigated the intraspecific variation in the effects of larval temperature environment on the morphology and locomotory performance of juvenile pool frogs Rana lessonae originating from three closely located populations of the northern fringe metapopulation in central Sweden. Tadpoles were raised individually at two temperatures (20 and 25 °C) until metamorphosis. We measured the morphology of the metamorphs and tested the jumping performance of the froglets after complete tail absorption. We found that early temperature environment affected juvenile morphology, metamorphs from high‐temperature environments having relatively longer hindlimbs (tibiofibulas) and longer tails when weight at metamorphosis was accounted for. In absolute terms, froglets from low temperature jumped significantly longer; however, after correcting for size differences the relationship was reversed, individuals raised at high temperature performing better. In both temperatures, relative jumping performance was positively associated with tibiofibula and body length. Populations differed both in metamorphic traits and in jumping capacity, especially at low temperature, suggesting microgeographical variation in temperature sensitivity within the metapopulation. Our results indicate that the temperature environment experienced during the early aquatic stages can influence the morphology and performance of juvenile frogs, and that these effects can be population specific.
Increased mass of reticulo‐rumen tissue and contents with advancing age in Svalbard reindeer
Authors: Veiberg V. , Mysterud A. , Irvine R. J. , Sørmo W. , Langvatn R.
Published: February 2009

Little is known about the effect of age on digestive processes in wild cervids. One potentially important mechanism is that tooth wear alters the occlusal surface topography, causing gradual loss of functionality. Mastication efficiency is crucial to digestion processes among ruminants, as a larger particle size is associated with longer retention times and potentially reduced digestion efficiency. Using data from 49 adult Svalbard reindeer Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus females, we investigated whether the mass of reticulo‐rumen (RR) contents and tissue and the amount of back fat showed age‐related changes. Older animals had higher RR content mass than younger individuals. This is consistent with the prediction that altered particle size due to decreased mastication efficiency led to increased rumen retention time either through increased RR capacity or filling. Additional data on RR particle size distribution were available for a subset (n=30). The correlation between the proportion of small particles (<1.0 mm) and RR contents was much weaker than the correlation between age and RR contents. This suggests that additional factors apart from particle size contribute to the age‐related pattern in RR content mass. The mass of RR tissue in older animals was higher than that in younger animals. This possibly reflects an adaptation to the higher organ fill. The amount of back fat decreased with age, suggesting that alterations in digestion‐related processes are not sufficient to compensate for reduced mastication efficiency in Svalbard reindeer. Our results present one possible link between foraging, digestive processes and life‐history patterns.
Comprehensive investigation of ectoparasite community and abundance across life history stages of avian host
Authors: Hamstra T. L. , Badyaev A. V.
Published: February 2009

Fitness consequences of ectoparasitism are expressed over the lifetime of their hosts in relation to variation in composition and abundance of the entire ectoparasite community and across all host life history stages. However, most empirical studies have focused on parasite species‐specific effects and only during some life history stages. We conducted a systematic, year‐long survey of an ectoparasite community in a wild population of house finchesCarpodacus mexicanusMüller in south‐western Arizona, with a specific focus on ecological and behavioral correlates of ectoparasite prevalence and abundance. We investigated five ectoparasite species: two feather mite genera – both novel for house finches –Strelkoviacarus(Analgidae) andDermoglyphus(Dermoglyphidae), the nest mitePellonyssus reedi(Macronyssidae), and the liceMenacanthus alaudae(Menoponidae) andRicinus microcephalus(Ricinidae). MiteP. reediand louseMenacanthus alaudaeabundance peaked during host breeding season, especially in older birds, whereas feather mite abundance peaked during molt. Overall, breeding birds had moreP. reedithan non‐breeders, molting males had greater abundance of feather mites than molting females and non‐molting males, and young males had more feather mites than older males. We discuss these results in relation to natural history of ectoparasites under study and suggest that ectoparasites might synchronize their life cycles to those of their hosts. Pronounced differences in relative abundance of ectoparasite species among host's life history stages have important implications for evolution of parasite‐specific host defenses.
Geographical covariation and local convergence of flower depth in a guild of fly‐pollinated plants
Authors: Anderson Bruce , Johnson Steven D.
Published: February 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02814.xCommentary p 293
Compulsive consumption behaviours: investigating relationships among binge eating, compulsive clothing buying and fashion orientation
Authors: Trautmann‐Attmann Julianne , Johnson Tricia Widner
Published: February 2009

Compulsive buying and binge eating are examples of compulsive consumption behaviours, and for individuals with these behavioural tendencies, appearance and appearance‐related products seem to be of paramount importance. The purpose of this research was to determine if bulimic behaviours, fashion interest and the importance of being well dressed had a causal relationship with compulsive clothing buying. Subjects completed a compulsive clothing buying scale, the binging/control subscale of the Bulimia Test‐Revised and a fashion orientation scale. A path analysis indicated that binging behaviours and fashion interest significantly predicted compulsive clothing buying, while binging behaviours were not significantly related to fashion interest or the importance of being well dressed. Such findings may suggest that female consumers compulsively buy clothing for different reasons and/or motivations.
Species–area relationship of Neotropical waterbird assemblages in remnant wetlands: looking at the mechanisms
Authors: Guadagnin Demétrio Luis , Maltchik Leonardo , Fonseca Carlos Roberto
Published: February 2009

Aim  We investigated the relative role of area, isolation, microhabitat diversity and number of individuals as explanatory factors defining the richness of waterbirds in wetland remnants.

Location  Freshwater marshes along the Atlantic coastal zone of South Brazil. (30°56′–30°22′S; 50°58–50°22′W; Fig. 1).

The study area (dashed line), in the Atlantic coastal zone of Brazil, is characterized by a high concentration of remnant wetlands used by resident and migratory waterbirds. Waterbirds were surveyed monthly along 2003 in 42 randomly selected wetland remnants.

image

Methods  We surveyed waterbirds monthly for 1 year in 42 wetland remnants. We measured area, diversity of microhabitats, and isolation using aerial photographs and Landsat images. We compared the fit of the relationship between waterbird richness and wetland area across three models. We evaluated the ‘passive sampling effect’ comparing the observed species–area relationship with area‐based and individual‐based null models, performed with randomization without replacement. We used Path Analysis to measure the relative importance of direct and indirect effects of wetland area, isolation, microhabitat diversity and the total number of individuals on species richness.

Results  Power functions showed that larger wetlands had proportionally fewer species, individuals and microhabitats as compared to smaller wetlands. Species richness was consistently lower than predicted by area‐based and individual‐based random placement null models. Path analysis showed significant direct effects of remnant area and microhabitat diversity on species richness, but no effect of isolation on species richness. When number of individuals was included in the model, it became the most important factor explaining species richness, followed by wetland area. The number of individuals was significantly influenced by area, isolation and microhabitat diversity.

Main conclusions  We demonstrated that waterbird richness in fragmented landscapes is not a random placement phenomenon, but a biological one, significantly affected by the complex interplay of remnant area and isolation and diversity of microhabitats. We showed that the number of individuals plays a central role mediating the effect of these physical factors on species richness.