bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chondroitin 4-sulphotransferase-1 and chondroitin 6-sulphotransferase-1 are affected differently by uronic acid residues neighbouring the acceptor GalNAc residues
Authors: YAMADA Takayoshi , OHTAKE Shiori , SATO Makoto , HABUCHI Osami
Published: December 2004

C4ST-1 (chondroitin 4-sulphotransferase-1) and C6ST-1 (chondroitin 6-sulphotransferase-1) transfer sulphate from PAPS (adenosine 3′-phosphate 5′-phosphosulphate) to positions 4 and 6 respectively of the GalNAc residues of chondroitin. We showed previously that C4ST-1 purified from rat chondrosarcoma and recombinant C4ST-1 both transfer sulphate efficiently to position 4 of the GalNAc residues of DSDS (desulphated dermatan sulphate). We report here the specificity of C4ST-1 and C6ST-1 in terms of uronic acid residue recognition around the GalNAc residue to which sulphate is transferred. When [35S]glycosaminoglycans formed from DSDS after incubation with [35S]PAPS and C4ST-1 were digested with chondroitinase ACII, a major part of the radioactivity was recovered in disaccharide fractions and the remainder distributed to tetrasaccharides and larger fractions, indicating that C4ST-1 mainly transferred sulphate to position 4 of the GalNAc residue located at the GlcA-GalNAc-GlcA sequence. Structural analysis of tetrasaccharide and larger oligosaccharide fractions indicated that C4ST-1 mainly transferred sulphate to the GalNAc residue adjacent to the reducing side of the GlcA residue. On the other hand, when [35S]glycosaminoglycans formed from DSDS after incubation with [35S]PAPS and C6ST-1 were digested with chondroitinase ACII, a major part of the radioactivity was recovered in fractions larger than hexasaccharides, indicating that C6ST-1 transferred sulphate to the GalNAc residues located in the L-iduronic acid-rich region. Structural analysis of the tetrasaccharide and larger oligosaccharide fractions indicated that C6ST-1 showed very little preference for the GalNAc residue neighbouring the GlcA residue. These results indicate that C4ST-1 and C6ST-1 differ from each other in the recognition of uronic acid residues adjacent to the targeted GalNAc residue.
Identification of mRNA that binds to eukaryotic initiation factor 5A by affinity co-purification and differential display
Authors: XU Aiguo , JAO David Li-En , CHEN Kuang Yu
Published: December 2004

Eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) is the only protein in nature that contains hypusine, an unusual amino acid formed post-translationally by deoxyhypusine synthase and deoxyhypusine hydroxylase. Genetic and pharmacological evidence suggests that eIF-5A is essential for cell survival and proliferation. However, the precise function and interacting partners of eIF-5A remain unclear. We have shown previously that eIF-5A can bind to RRE (Rev-response element) and U6 RNA in vitro. Using SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment), we have also shown that eIF-5A is capable of binding to RNA in a sequence-specific manner [Xu and Chen (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 2555–2561]. In the present paper, we show that the identification of mRNA species that bind to eIF-5A can be achieved by affinity co-purification and PCR differential display. Using this approach with three sets of anchoring and arbitrary primers, we have found 20 RNA sequences that co-purified specifically with eIF-5A. Five of them contained AAAUGU, the putative eIF-5A-interacting element that we identified previously using the SELEX method. Direct binding of the cloned RNA to eIF-5A could be demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility-shift assay. BLAST analysis revealed that the eIF-5A-interacting RNAs encode proteins such as ribosomal L35a, plasminogen activation inhibitor mRNA-binding protein, NADH dehydrogenase subunit and ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase. Some, however, encode hypothetical proteins. All the cloned RNAs have the potential to form extensive stem-loop structures.
Common scale-invariant patterns of sleep–wake transitions across mammalian species
Authors: Lo Chung-Chuan , Chou Thomas , Penzel Thomas , Scammell Thomas E. , Strecker Robert E. , Stanley H. Eugene , Ivanov Plamen Ch.
Published: December 2004

Although mammals of different species have different sleep patterns, brief sleep–wake transitions commonly are observed across species and appear to occur randomly throughout the sleeping period. The dynamical patterns and functions of these brief awakenings from sleep are not well understood, and they often are viewed as disruptions (random or pathologic) of the sleep process. In this article, we hypothesize that brief awakenings from sleep may reflect aspects of the endogenous sleep control mechanism and thus may exhibit certain robust dynamical patterns across species. We analyze sleep recordings from mice, rats, cats, and humans, and we compare the distributions of sleep and wake episode durations. For all four species, we find that durations of brief wake episodes during the sleep period exhibit a scale-free power-law behavior with an exponent α that remains the same for all species (α ≈ 2.2). In contrast, sleep episode durations for all four species follow exponential distributions with characteristic time scales, which change across species in relation to body mass and metabolic rate. Our findings suggest common dynamical features of brief awakenings and sleep durations across species and may provide insights into the dynamics of the neural circuits controlling sleep.
Reversed voltage-dependent gating of a bacterial sodium channel with proline substitutions in the S6 transmembrane segment
Authors: Zhao Yong , Scheuer Todd , Catterall William A.
Published: December 2004

Members of the voltage-gated-like ion channel superfamily have a conserved pore structure. Transmembrane helices that line the pore (M2 or S6) are thought to gate it at the cytoplasmic end by bending at a hinge glycine residue. Proline residues favor bending of α-helices, and substitution of proline for this glycine (G219) dramatically stabilizes the open state of a bacterial Na
+
channel NaChBac. Here we have probed S6 pore-lining residues of NaChBac by proline mutagenesis. Five of 15 proline-substitution mutants yielded depolarization-activated Na
+
channels, but only G219P channels have strongly negatively shifted voltage dependence of activation, demonstrating specificity for bending at G219 for depolarization-activated gating. Remarkably, three proline-substitution mutations on the same face of S6 as G219 yielded channels that activated upon hyperpolarization and inactivated very slowly. Studies of L226P showed that hyperpolarization to -147 mV gives half-maximal activation, 123 mV more negative than WT. Analysis of combination mutations and studies of block by the local anesthetic etidocaine favored the conclusion that hyperpolarization-activated gating results from opening of the cytoplasmic gate formed by S6 helices. Substitution of multiple amino acids for L226 indicated that hyperpolarization-activated gating was correlated with a high propensity for bending, whereas depolarization-activated gating was favored by a low propensity for bending. Our results further define the dominant role of bending of S6 in determining not only the voltage dependence but also the polarity of voltage-dependent gating. Native hyperpolarization-activated gating of hyperpolarization- and cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in animals and KAT channels in plants may involve bending at analogous S6 amino acid residues.
Consumer trust in health information on the web
Authors: Huntington Paul , Nicholas David , Gunter Barrie , Russell Chris , Withey Richard , Polydoratou Panayiota
Published: December 2004

In the case of health information the quality and authenticity of the digital information have always been a matter of major concern for health and information professionals. This paper seeks to explore these concerns from the consumers' perspective. It addresses issues around the consumers' trust of health information. An online questionnaire was used to gather the data. Over a period of three weeks more than 1,300 people responded to the online questionnaire produced by The British Life and Internet Project: 81 per cent or 997 of the respondents were from the UK. A major finding was that half the respondents believed only some or even none of the health information found on the web and 45 per cent said that they had found misleading health information. This was found to be truer for respondents who surfed around. Thus respondents who used five or more sites to inform them were more likely to have found misleading information. Finally, data are presented to show that data collected from another independent study, conducted on behalf of the Department of Health, come to many of the same conclusions.
March'ing towards “a behavioral theory of the firm”
Authors: Augier Mie
Published: December 2004

While the history of modern ideas in business education in general, and organization theory and organizational economics in particular, has several different intellectual roots, two books in particular were influential in initiating the field that is now broadly recognized as behavioral theories of organizations:A Behavioral Theory of the Firm, written by Richard Cyert and James G. March; andOrganizations, written by Herbert Simon and James March. These two books set the stage for several subsequent developments in organization and management theory including research in learning, strategic management, and organizational routines. The behavioral view of the firm was also important to modern developments such as evolutionary theory and transaction cost economics. This paper examines part of this history and development, focusing in particular on the contributions of March.
Stereoscopy: modernism and the ‘haptic’
Authors: Trotter David
Published: December 2004

The basic principle of stereoscopy is simple. Paired images made with a twin‐lens camera produce, when seen through a binocular stereoscope, a startling illusion of three‐dimensionality. The mind converts the flatness of the images set side by side on a piece of cardboard into depth. Stereoscopy flourished as a medium of mass‐entertainment from the 1850s through to the 1930s. The basic effect it produces, of hyper‐reality, cannot fail to enthral; the flimsier the apparatus, the duller the image viewed, the more profound the enthralment. On the whole, however, we have forgotten what it means to view or to think stereoscopically. This essay sets the experience of stereoscopy, and descriptions of it, from Baudelaire and Oliver Wendell Holmes to Proust, Joyce, and Kafka, into relation with the 'haptic' theories of cinema developed by critics such as Laura Marks and Juliana Bruno ‐ theories which themselves derive from the work of turn‐of‐the‐century art historians (Hildebrand, Riegl). It suggests that we might find a parallel for the double effect the stereoscope creates, of tableau and of tangibility, in the use of close‐ups in early films (and in particular in films whose subject matter was erotic).
Nutritional ecology of insect–plant interactions: persistent handicaps and the need for innovative approaches
Authors: Loon Joop J. A. van
Published: December 2004

Quantifying the flow of matter and energy in food webs is indispensable when assessing the effects of increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, ozone level and temperature as a result of global climate change. In insect nutritional ecology, quantification of digestive and metabolic efficiency is performed using gravimetric methods in all published cases. A few cases combined these methods with calorimetric and respirometric techniques. Since 1986, methodological pitfalls and sources of error inherent to applying gravimetry as the only method to construct nutrient budgets have been addressed in a number of papers without noticeable impact on subsequent research. Especially for insects feeding on living plant tissues, the gravimetric method has inherent handicaps as it can only be used with excised plant tissues and does not allow for the dynamics of plant metabolism. We discuss the major constraints of the gravimetric method as it pertains to the physiological processes of both the insect and plant. We apply a relationship between relative metabolic rate and relative growth rate of the insect for an analysis of the gravimetric literature. The analysis reveals that gravimetry has given rise to physiologically unlikely results for poikilothermic insects. This points to serious constraints on progress in this field. We identify plant respiration as the major source of error in gravimetric studies. We establish that no single study has, thus far, determined the metabolic efficiency of a herbivore feeding on a photosynthetically active plant with its phyllosphere microclimate. We argue that a quantitative understanding of the ecophysiology and nutritional ecology of insect–plant interactions must rely on the adoption of a combination of existing and complementary methods such as the double labelled water method and infrared gas analysis.
Herbivore damage along a latitudinal gradient: relative impacts of different feeding guilds
Authors: Andrew Nigel R. , Hughes Lesley
Published: December 2004

We present the first broad‐scale test for a latitudinal gradient in herbivory made with consistent methods, in similar habitat type, over the entire lifespan of leaves (phyllodes). We assessed the degree of chewing, sap‐sucking and mining herbivory on Acacia falcata along its entire coastal latitudinal range (1150 km) in Australia. We found no significant differences in the rate of herbivory among latitudes. Mature phyllodes had a higher rate of herbivory compared to young phyllodes, and mining was higher on mature phyllodes from the most tropical latitude. We found significant differences in phyllode toughness and specific leaf (phyllode) area among latitudes, but no significant differences among latitudes in carbon: nitrogen. This study provides a useful model for further testing of the generalisation that herbivory is more intense in tropical versus temperate regions.
Body size distributions of large Costa Rican dry forest moths and the underlying relationship between plant and pollinator morphology
Authors: Agosta Salvatore J. , Janzen Daniel H.
Published: December 2004

There has been much recent interest in explaining patterns of body size variation within species assemblages. One observation is that frequency distributions of species’ body size commonly exhibit a right‐skew, even on a logarithmic scale. Here we examine the species’ body size distributions in two assemblages of large Costa Rican moths. We find that neither adult Sphingidae or Saturniidae exhibit the classic log right‐skewed pattern. Furthermore, the species’ body size distributions in these two groups are markedly different, which we suggest is a result of differential selective pressures related to resource and mate acquisition. For Sphingidae, we show (1) that body size is positively correlated with tongue length, and (2) that the distribution of sphingid body sizes/tongue lengths closely matches the distribution of flower corolla tube depths in sphingid‐pollinated plants. Thus, morphological fitting between plants and pollinators seems to underlie the species’ body size distribution of this sphingid assemblage. We discuss the significance of these results in the context of current theory on mechanisms driving species’ body size distributions. Finally, we present an evolutionary hypothesis for the diversity of body sizes seen in this sphingid assemblage related to reciprocal interactions between plants and pollinators. This hypothesis can be tested within a rigorous phylogenetic framework, although a systematic phylogenetic analysis of Neotropical Sphingidae does not currently exist.
A review of gene therapy for haematological disorders
Authors: Nathwani Amit C. , Davidoff Andrew M. , Linch David C.
Published: December 2004

Gene therapy aims to correct the disease process by restoring, modifying or enhancing cellular functions through the introduction of a functional gene into a target cell. Whilst the concept of gene therapy is simple, the practical reality of translating this new technology to the clinic has proven to be more difficult than first imagined. Recent progress in gene transfer technology has shown impressive clinical success in infants with immunodeficiency. However, two of these children have subsequently developed leukaemia as a result of insertional mutagenesis, thus, raising important questions about the safety of genetic therapeutics. This article reviews the current status of gene therapy and outlines the challenges faced by this emerging technology that holds so much promise for many suffering from catastrophic disorders.
Relationship between ABO and Secretor genotype with plasma levels of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor in thrombosis patients and control individuals
Authors: Schleef Michael , Strobel Erwin , Dick Andrea , Frank Josef , Schramm Wolfgang , Spannagl Michael
Published: December 2004

In contrast to earlier reports, this study examined the relationship between plasma levels of factor VIII (FVIII) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) and ABO blood group and secretor status at the genetic level in 355 patients with venous thrombosis as well as in 236 controls. ABO glycosyl transferase allelesA1andBwere more frequent in the thrombosis collective and allelesO1,O2andA2were more frequent in the controls. A low‐risk group for venous thrombosis of individuals with genotypesO1O1,O1O2andO1A2(H‐antigen rich) could be distinguished from a high‐risk group with genotypesA1A1,A1B,O1A1andO1B(H‐antigen poor). In both the thrombosis and control groups, the H‐antigen rich group showed significantly lower levels of FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) and VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) than the H‐antigen poor group. The frequency of the different secretor genotypes in the thrombosis group was not different from that in the control group. No significant differences of FVIII:C and VWF:Ag levels were seen betweenSeSe,Seseandseseindividuals in the thrombosis and in the control group. Thus the risk of venous thrombosis is associated with the ABO blood group genotype but not with secretor status.
Determinants of augmentation index in young men: The ARYA study
Authors: Van Trijp M. J. C. A. , Bos W. J. W. , Uiterwaal C. S. P. M. , Oren A. , Vos L. E. , Grobbee D. E. , Bots M. L.
Published: December 2004

Background  There is an increasing interest in the augmentation index (AIx), the proportion of the central pulse pressure resulting from peripheral arterial wave reflection, which has been related to cardiovascular disease risk and mortality. Most of the data on the AIx have been collected in patients with established cardiovascular disease. In contrast, data in the young are scarce. However, as AIx might be used to evaluate cardiovascular disease risk already at an early age, we aimed to study determinants of AIx in a population of healthy young men.

Materials and methods  Three hundred and thirty males (mean age of 28 years) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Young Adults study (ARYA‐study) were studied in this cross sectional, population‐based study. Anthropometrics and risk factors for cardiovascular disease were determined and AIx was estimated by radial applanation tonometry. The data were analysed using linear regression models.

Results  Augmentation index was associated with age, height (inverse), heart rate (inverse) and mean arterial pressure (positive). After adjustment for these determinants, smoking (β = 0·31%/pack years, 95% CI [0·06; 0·55]) and LDL‐cholesterol (β = 1·28%/(mmol L−1), 95% CI [0·04; 2·51]) were statistically significant related to AIx.

Conclusions  This study among young adult males shows that smoking and LDL‐cholesterol are positively related to AIx. These findings support the view that AIx may be used as a marker for early vascular damage and cardiovascular disease risk.
Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia – Introduction
Authors: MARX S. J. , STRATAKIS C. A.
Published: December 2004

Each multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome expresses striking features of hormone oversecretion from its own characteristic group of tissues. Additional expressions include non‐hormonal tumours in each MEN syndrome and selected cancers in some syndromes. The complexity of its stereotyped features results in difficult management issues that often justify cooperation across multiple specialties. MEN syndromes, though rare, have long received intense study as models for more common diseases. The syndromal nature often with a large pedigree has promoted recent discovery of the main gene that differs for each of the six MEN syndromes. Each mutant gene has been introduced into clinical decision‐making and into further clarification of tumorigenesis. This mini‐symposium is related to the 9th International Workshop on Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia in June 2004; it consists of six manuscripts. They report new developments in clinical practices and in basic understandings about this rapidly advancing field.
Perils of proximity: a spatiotemporal analysis of moral distress and moral ambiguity
Authors: Peter Elizabeth , Liaschenko Joan
Published: December 2004

The physical nearness, or proximity, inherent in the nurse–patient relationship has been central in the discipline as definitive of the nature of nursing and its moral ideals. Clearly, this nearness is in service to those in need of care. This proximity, however, is not unproblematic because it contributes to two of the most prolonged difficulties, both for individual nurses and the discipline of nursing — moral distress and moral ambiguity. In this paper we explore proximity using both a moral and geographical lens and offer some insights regarding this practice reality. We examine the effect of proximity to patients on nurses’ moral responsiveness, particularly as it affects nurses’ moral distress. Proximity is paradoxical in this regard because, while it propels nurses to act, it can also propel nurses to ignore or abandon. Likewise, we argue that nursing's tendency to define itself in relation to the closeness of the nurse–patient relationship leads to problems of moral ambiguity. Our recommendations include moving others closer to the bedside and thus to the work of nursing in the literal and theoretical sense.
Seed germination responses of Monochoria korsakowii Regel et Maack, a threatened paddy weed, to temperature and soil moisture
Authors: WAN XIAO‐CHUN , WANG GUANG‐XI , WASHITANI IZUMI
Published: December 2004

To better understand how to conserve Monochoria korsakowii Regel et Maack, a threatened plant species that was once a common annual paddy weed, the germination responses of M. korsakowii seeds to two ecological factors, temperature and soil moisture, were analyzed under laboratory conditions. Fully imbibed seeds that had been cold stratified were able to germinate over a wide temperature range with a required thermal temperature of 13–39°C. Germination was highly dependent on water table depth. Regeneration failure at the germination stage under the dry soil conditions of the fallow fields during the germination season of this species may be one of the reasons for the decline in M. korsakowii. Monochoria korsakowii had adapted to the traditional farming system, but does not persist under today’s farming systems, which include laying rice fields fallow and the use of herbicides. These are the main factors that have led to its decline over the years and to its status as a threatened plant.
RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY OF CHRONOLOGICAL CHANGE OF SHORT‐SEGMENT BARRETT's ESOPHAGUS
Authors: Asayama Masako , Shibata Minoru , Kondo Yasuyuki , Tauchi Masaru , Yanagawa Tatsuro , Sato Shinji , Itoh Tomohiro , Isozaki Tetsuo , Hisatomi Kantaro , Matsuhashi Nobuyuki , Sakurai Yukihiro
Published: December 2004

Background:  The natural history of short‐segment Barrett's esophagus (SSBE) is not fully understood. We, thereby, conducted a retrospective cohort study to provide further information about chronological change of SSBE.

Materials and methods:  A total of 174 cases undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy from April 1980 to October 2002 were diagnosed to have SSBE based on the definition of Barrett's esophagus proposed by the Japanese Society for Esophageal Diseases. A cohort of 100 patients with SSBE less than 3 cm was enrolled in the present study. The mean follow‐up period was 76.2 ± 59.9 months and 4.27 ± 2.66 endoscopic examinations were performed on each patient. The cumulative probability of elongation of SSBE to 3 cm or longer was estimated by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Then, independent contributing factors to its elongation were determined using Cox's proportional hazard model.

Results:  Elongation of SSBE to 3 cm or longer occurred in 30 patients (30%) during the follow‐up period. The cumulative 5‐year probability of elongation of SSBE to 3 cm or longer was 18.4%. Hiatal hernia, severe reflux esophagitis and SSBE 1 cm or longer at initial diagnosis were proven to be independent contributing factors to its elongation.

Conclusions:  The present study demonstrated that SSBE has a tendency to increase its length over time especially when it is accompanied by hiatal hernia or by severe reflux esophagitis.
R&D Productivity and the Spillover Effects of High‐tech Industry on the Traditional Manufacturing Sector: The Case of Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Kuen‐Hung , Wang Jiann‐Chyuan
Published: December 2004

This study sets out to estimate the impact of R&D on productivity within the private sector, with further analysis of the different impacts of R&D within high‐tech and traditional manufacturing firms. We also attempt to examine the spillover effects from R&D investment in the high‐tech sector on productivity growth within the traditional industries. Using a sample of 136 large manufacturing firms during the period 1994–2000, we develop an extended version of the Cobb‐Douglas production function model, and our findings suggest that Taiwan's R&D investment had a significant impact on firm productivity growth, with output elasticity standing at around 0.18. When the sample is divided into high‐tech and traditional firms, the R&D output elasticity in high‐tech firms is significantly greater than that found in traditional firms. In addition, the average rate of return in high‐tech firms is much greater than that estimated for other industries. Besides, our empirical results show that, although significant, the impact of R&D investment from the high‐tech sector, on the productivity growth of traditional firms, is rather limited.
Regional Diversity and Sources of Economic Growth in China
Authors: Arayama Yuko , Miyoshi Katsuya
Published: December 2004

Regional diversity in the process of economic growth is the major concern in this paper. We will try to identify its sources for growth and to specify production functions in each province by estimating translog production function. This paper clarifies the following four facts: First, capital accumulation was a major source for growth in the earlier stage of the Chinese economy, especially in the eastern coastal region. Unexpectedly, capital accumulation is losing its ground over the years. Second, the employment structure of the economy in the eastern region has changed significantly and the shares of workers in the secondary and tertiary industries increased until 1992. Since 1992, these figures have not changed significantly despite China's continuous economic high growth. Third, four distinguishable regional growth patterns have contributed to China's economic growth. Finally, production technologies in each province vary both in the direction of factor intensity and in the elasticity of substitution between inputs.
Does Post‐ante Investment Experience Matter? Lessons from FDI in China
Authors: Ng Linda Fung‐Yee , Tuan Chyau
Published: December 2004

Ample efforts of FDI literature have researched on the motives and determinants of FDI flows based on ex‐ante conditions. Little has been studied with regard to the effects of post‐ante behaviour in determining future investment decisions. Post‐ante experience of FDI decisions with regard to foreign investors’ satisfaction or dissatisfaction and future profit expectations on recurrent decisions are critical. This paper, thus, attempts to investigate FDI in the context of an emerging market environment with emphasis on how environmental and institutional factors and the micro‐firm effects of how investors’ post‐ante views on profits expectations and investment experience would affect MNCs’ decisions on recurrent investment and firm relocation. Empirical results show that decisions in the short and long run were affected differently by the factors under study. Specifically, the short‐run decisions were more affected by profit expectations while the long run by post‐ante experience on investment satisfaction/dissatisfaction and environmental and institutional determinants.
Headache attributed to spontaneous low CSF pressure: report of three cases responsive to corticosteroids
Authors: Gentile S. , Giudice R. Lo , Martino P. De , Rainero I. , Pinessi L.
Published: December 2004

The therapy of headache attributed to spontaneous low CSF pressure (previously defined as spontaneous intracranial hypotension) is still a matter of debate. Epidural blood patch is considered the most effective treatment. However, pharmacological strategies may be considered before blood patch. We report three patients with headache attributed to spontaneous low CSF pressure that were successfully treated with oral prednisone. Additional studies may be useful to prove the effectiveness of corticosteroids in this syndrome.
Determinants and characteristics of help provision for elderly people living at home and in relation to quality of life
Authors: Hellström Ylva , Hallberg Ingalill R.
Published: December 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of help from informal or formal caregivers or a combination of both among people aged 75 or more and living at home, and the characteristics of the recipients, the help they received and their quality of life (QoL). The sample for this study was 448 elderly people, 75–99 years of age, living at home and receiving help with activities for daily living, instrumental or both instrumental and personal. Regression analysis showed high QoL not to be significantly related to who was providing the help, whilst it was related to higher age, living with someone, lower number of complaints and managing to be alone at home. Multinomial regression analysis showed age, number of children, number of complaints, the ability to stay alone at home and living alone to predict receiving help from different kinds of caregivers. Recipients receiving help from informal caregivers were younger, more often married and living together with someone, whilst those receiving help from both informal and formal caregivers had more help with instrumental and personal activities for daily living and were not able to stay alone at home as much as those receiving help from other kinds of caregivers. Those receiving help from formal caregivers had fewer children, were single and were living alone more often than the other recipients. Thus the responsibility for help for elderly people rests heavily on informal caregivers, whom it seems essential to support. As public service at home is preferably given to those living alone or able to stay alone at home, those without relatives may not be able to remain at home when their need of help increases.
The factor structure of the Burden Assessment Scale and the perceived burden of caregivers for individuals with severe mental disorders
Authors: Ivarsson Ann‐Britt , Sidenvall Birgitta , Carlsson Marianne
Published: December 2004

The aims of this study were to test the construct validity and the homogeneity of the Swedish version of the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) and study perceived burden in daily life among family caregivers of individuals with severe mental disorders. A total of 256 caregivers took part in the study. The participants completed two questionnaires. One was the BAS, a brief scale that focuses on specific subjective and objective consequences of families caring for individuals with severe mental disorders. The other one was a questionnaire constructed for the study including demographic data. A principal component analysis yielded three factors: ‘activity limitation’, ‘feelings of worry and guilt’ and ‘social strain’. The internal consistency calculated by Cronbach's α coefficients varied between 0.73 and 0.88 for the three factors. The findings indicated that the caregivers experienced more ‘activity limitation’ and ‘social strain’ in relation to the youngest and to those who had an elementary educational level than they did for comparison groups. There were no differences found between the caregivers in relation to clients’ daily occupation outside home. The results confirm that family caregiver burden is complex and includes several areas such as activities in daily life, worry and social strain. Given this knowledge about caregivers’ situation, it is critical that families be given opportunities to identify what support might help. Further research is needed to identify such support.
Using public procurement to achieve social outcomes
Authors: McCrudden Christopher
Published: December 2004

The use of public procurement to achieve social outcomes is widespread, but detailed information about how it operates is often sketchy and difficult to find. This article is essentially a mapping exercise, describing the history and current use of government contracting as a tool of social regulation, what the author calls the issue of ‘linkage’. The article considers the popularity of linkage in the 19th century in Europe and North America, particularly in dealing with issues of labour standards and unemployment. The use of linkage expanded during the 20th century, initially to include the provision of employment opportunities to disabled workers. During and after World War II, the use of linkage became particularly important in the United States in addressing racial equality, in the requirements for non‐discrimination in contracts, and in affirmative action and set‐asides for minority businesses. Subsequently, the role of procurement spread both in its geographical coverage and in the subject areas of social policy that it was used to promote. The article considers examples of the use of procurement to promote equality on the basis of ethnicity and gender drawn from Malaysia, South Africa, Canada, and the European Community. More recently, procurement has been used as an instrument to promote human rights transnationally, also by international organizations such as the International Labour Organisation. The article includes some reflections on the relationship between ‘green’ procurement, ‘social’ procurement, and sustainable development, and recent attempts to develop the concept of ‘sustainable procurement.’
Damage to Cauliflower Coral by Monofilament Fishing Lines in Hawaii
Authors: ASOH KAZUE , YOSHIKAWA TOMOKO , KOSAKI RANDALL , MARSCHALL ELIZABETH A.
Published: December 2004

Abstract: 
Many fishing methods and gear types used in coral reefs cause physical damage to the reef substratum. Only recently have monofilament fishing lines been recognized as a cause of coral damage and death. We assessed the extent of damage caused by monofilament fishing lines to the cauliflower coral ( Pocillopora meandrina) colonies in fished and adjacent unfished zones at seven sites in the main Hawaiian islands. We examined coral colonies for the presence or absence of fishing line and for the degree of damage (dead, no live coral surface; damaged, some dead coral surface; or intact, no dead coral surface) in nine 25‐m2 grids. The mean proportion of colonies entangled with fishing lines in fished zones ranged from 0.18 to 0.44. The mean proportion of dead or damaged colonies was higher in fished than adjacent unfished zones, and there was a positive linear relationship between the proportion of colonies entangled with fishing lines and the proportion of dead or damaged colonies. These results indicate that monofilament fishing lines have a negative impact on the health and survival of P. meandrina colonies. Because tourism and related recreational fishing activities are expanding rapidly in many tropical states and nations, we recommend that the degrading effects of fishing lines on corals be considered in the design and management of tourism development.
Potential Ecological Distribution of Alien Invasive Species and Risk Assessment: a Case Study of Buffel Grass in Arid Regions of Mexico
Authors: ARRIAGA LAURA , CASTELLANOS ALEJANDRO E. , MORENO ELIZABETH , ALARCÓN JESÚS
Published: December 2004

Abstract: Alien invasive species represent a severe risk to biodiversity. Such is the case of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliarisL.), a native species of Southern Asia and East Africa, which was introduced to the United States and Mexico for use in improved pasture. Here we present a coarse‐grain approach to determine areas where buffel grass can potentially invade in Mexico. Potential species distributions, suitable for an invasion by buffel grass, were obtained through genetic algorithms. We generated the algorithms with databases of herbaria specimens; environmental digital covers of climate, soil texture, and vegetation; and the program called Genetic Algorithm for Rule‐Set Prediction. This spatial modeling approach was validated with a case study for the state of Sonora, Mexico, where the occurrence of buffel grass has been proven. The most threatened vegetation types for the specific case of Sonora were desert scrub, mesquite woodlands, and tropical deciduous forest. The model prediction agreed with the field observations recorded in Sonora and allowed us to apply the same procedure to produce a map of the potential sites of buffel grass invasion for Mexico. The areas at risk of invasion mostly occurred in desert scrub, located in the arid and semiarid regions of northern Mexico. This methodology provides an initial baseline for assessment, prevention, and management of alien species that may become invasive under certain environmental conditions. Additionally this modeling approach provides a tool for policy makers to use in making decisions on land‐use management practices when alien species are involved.
Ecosystem Management across Ownerships: the Potential for Collision with Antitrust Laws
Authors: THOMPSON JONATHAN R. , ANDERSON MARK D. , JOHNSON K. NORMAN
Published: December 2004

Abstract: Cross‐boundary ecosystem management is increasingly being advocated to address large‐scale ecological issues on forested landscapes. Such management requires information about the age, composition, and distribution of trees and other vegetation in addition to the ability to coordinate management over large areas. In the United States, the forest industry owns and manages a large quantity of biologically productive forest land, and these forests are crucial to the success of regional ecosystem planning. Antitrust laws, such as the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, limit the industry's ability to participate in regional ecosystem planning because they restrict the ability of competing firms to coordinate activities and share information. Because antitrust courts do not consider the intentions of violators, achieving conservation or other public policy goals, even when working with government agencies, is not a sufficient defense. Therefore, the real and perceived threat of antitrust litigation is a disincentive to the forest industry's participation in large‐scale ecosystem management. Potential solutions to this problem include state immunity statutes and third‐party data aggregation.
Implications of Clonal Structure for Effective Population Size and Genetic Drift in a Rare Terrestrial Orchid,Cremastra appendiculata
Authors: CHUNG MI YOON , NASON JOHN D. , CHUNG MYONG GI
Published: December 2004

Abstract: Effective population size (Ne) influences the degree to which random genetic drift changes allele frequencies, increases inbreeding, and decreases genetic diversity, and thus is a parameter of direct relevance to the conservation of rare species. Few empirical data are available, however, concerning the effects of clonal structure on Nein plant species reproducing both sexually and asexually. Using genetic markers and spatial autocorrelation analysis, we quantified the statistical significance and spatial scale of clonal spread of six populations of the rare terrestrial orchidCremastra appendiculata(D. Don) Makino in a large (180 ha), undisturbed landscape on Oenaro Island, located off of the southeastern coast of South Korea. We used this information to calculate three demographic estimators of Ne: the number of ramets within a population, the number of genets, and an estimator that incorporates information on both the number of genets and variation in the number of ramets per genet. Taking clonal structure into account results in up to a fivefold decrease in estimates of Nerelative to the ecologically apparent number of individuals within populations. Levels of standing genetic variation are in fact greater than expected given our estimates of Ne, leading us to consider historical factors resulting in Nebeing greater in the past than in present‐day populations. LikeC. appendiculata, many terrestrial orchids occur in relatively small, spatially isolated populations and are of special concern for conservation. Our results indicate that efforts aimed at the long‐term preservation of these species should be based on a sound understanding of the potential for clonal structure and its implications for the sensitivity of populations to losses of genetic diversity and fitness via random genetic drift.
Effects of Road Fencing on Population Persistence
Authors: JAEGER JOCHEN A. G. , FAHRIG LENORE
Published: December 2004

Abstract: Roads affect animal populations in three adverse ways. They act as barriers to movement, enhance mortality due to collisions with vehicles, and reduce the amount and quality of habitat. Putting fences along roads removes the problem of road mortality but increases the barrier effect. We studied this trade‐off through a stochastic, spatially explicit, individual‐based model of population dynamics. We investigated the conditions under which fences reduce the impact of roads on population persistence. Our results showed that a fence may or may not reduce the effect of the road on population persistence, depending on the degree of road avoidance by the animal and the probability that an animal that enters the road is killed by a vehicle. Our model predicted a lower value of traffic mortality below which a fence was always harmful and an upper value of traffic mortality above which a fence was always beneficial. Between these two values the suitability of fences depended on the degree of road avoidance. Fences were more likely to be beneficial the lower the degree of road avoidance and the higher the probability of an animal being killed on the road. We recommend the use of fences when traffic is so high that animals almost never succeed in their attempts to cross the road or the population of the species of concern is declining and high traffic mortality is known to contribute to the decline. We discourage the use of fences when population size is stable or increasing or if the animals need access to resources on both sides of the road, unless fences are used in combination with wildlife crossing structures. In many cases, the use of fences may be beneficial as an interim measure until more permanent measures are implemented.
The Role of Hybrid Vigor in the Replacement of Pecos Pupfish by Its Hybrids with Sheepshead Minnow
Authors: ROSENFIELD JONATHAN A. , NOLASCO STACY , LINDAUER STEVEN , SANDOVAL CLAUDETTE , KODRIC‐BROWN ASTRID
Published: December 2004

Abstract: Many species are jeopardized by hybridization and genetic introgression with closely related species. Unfortunately, the mechanisms that promote or retard gene flow between divergent populations are little studied and poorly understood. Like many imperiled fish species, the Pecos pupfish (Cyprinodon pecosensis) is threatened with replacement by its hybrids with a close congener. We examined swimming performance and growth rate of hybrid pupfish to determine the role of hybrid vigor in the genetic homogenization ofC. pecosensisby its hybrids with sheepshead minnow (C. variegatus). The F1 hybrids, backcross hybrids, and purebredC. variegatusdisplayed greater swimming endurance than purebredC. pecosensis. In addition, F1 hybrids andC. variegatusgrew more rapidly thanC. pecosensis. The ecological superiority of hybrids probably promoted their rapid spread through and beyond the historic range ofC. pecosensis. These results indicate that eradication of hybrids and restoration ofC. pecosensisto its native range is unlikely. Extinction of unique speciesviagenetic homogenization can result from human activities that increase gene flow between historically fragmented populations; conservation managers must weigh the potential for such a catastrophe against the presumed benefits of increased interpopulation gene flow. This example illustrates how, after hybridization has occurred, conflict may arise between formerly complementary conservation goals.
Modeling Prescribed Surface‐Fire Regimes forPinus strobusConservation
Authors: BEVERLY JENNIFER L. , MARTELL DAVID L.
Published: December 2004

Abstract: We developed a simple model of  Pinus strobusL. stand dynamics to compare the impacts of different temporal arrangements of surface fires designed to reflect the application of fire as both an essential ecosystem process (natural fire) and as an efficient means of producing specific habitat features or other values (optimal fire). We used a stochastic simulation model of fire processes to estimate the mean fire‐return interval that would maximize stand structural diversity. We investigated trade‐offs between structural diversity and temporal population stability associated with changes in the fire interval and used a deterministic version of the model to explore the effects of scheduling fires at fixed intervals. In stochastic simulations, maximum structural diversity occurred at intermediate levels of disturbance (40‐year mean fire interval). When fires were scheduled at fixed intervals, a longer, 100‐year return interval maximized diversity. Mean fire‐return interval was a mitigating factor in the diversity‐stability relationship, which changed from positive to negative as the fire interval was reduced progressively from 250 to 5 years. As an alternative to scheduling fires at specified mean intervals, we developed a goal‐programming model (a form of linear programming model) and used it to identify an optimal fire schedule for achieving habitat and visual‐quality objectives. In comparison with the 40‐year stochastic mean fire interval, which maximized structural diversity, the optimal schedule produced comparable levels of both diversity and fire frequency. Our results show how simulation and goal‐programming models can be used to evaluate prescribed fire‐scheduling alternatives and to explore the comparative advantages of natural and optimal fire‐management approaches.