bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SAINTLY SACRIFICE: THE TRADITIONAL TRANSMISSION OF MORAL ELEVATION
Authors: Palmer Craig T. , Begley Ryan O. , Coe Kathryn
Published: February 2013

AbstractThis paper combines the social psychology concept of moral elevation with the evolutionary concept of traditions as descendant‐leaving strategies to produce a new explanation of the role of saints in Christianity. Moral elevation refers to the ability of prosocial acts to inspire people to engage in their own acts of charity and kindness. When morally elevating stories and visual depictions become traditional by being passed from one generation to the next, they can produce prosocial behavior advantageous to survival and reproduction among many generations of descendants. Traditions that increase the number of descendants in future generations can be seen as descendant‐leaving strategies. Stories and visual depictions of the sacrifices of saints appear to be designed to produce states of moral elevation, and they have been transmitted from one generation to the next for many centuries. We propose that this ability of sacrificing saints to inspire future generations to engage in prosocial acts has contributed to the continuation and spread of Christianity.
THE INSPIRATION OF GOD AND WOLFHART PANNENBERG'S “FIELD THEORY OF INFORMATION”
Authors: Medley, III George
Published: February 2013

Abstract This paper will examine the implications of an extended “field theory of information,” suggested by Wolfhart Pannenberg, specifically in the Christian understanding of creation. The paper argues that the Holy Spirit created the world as field, a concept from physics, and the creation is directed by the logos utilizing information. Taking into account more recent developments of information theory, the essay further suggests that present creation has a causal impact upon the information utilized in creation. In order to adequately address Pannenberg's hypothesis that the logos utilizes information at creation the essay will also include an introductory examination of Pannenberg's Christology which shifts from a strict “from below” Christology, to a more open “third way” of doing Christology beyond “above” and “below.” The essay concludes with a brief section relating the implications of an extended “field theory of information” to creative inspiration, as well as parallels with human inspiration.
THE INFERENCE THAT MAKES SCIENCE
Authors: McMullin Ernan
Published: February 2013

Abstract In his Aquinas Lecture 1992 at Marquette University, Ernan McMullin discusses whether there is a pattern of inference that particularly characterizes the sciences of nature. He pursues this theme both on a historical and a systematic level. There is a continuity of concern across the ages that separate the Greek inquiry into nature from our own vastly more complex scientific enterprise. But there is also discontinuity, the abandonment of earlier ideals as unworkable. The natural sciences involve many types of inference; three of these interlock in a special way to produce “retroductive inference,” the kind of complex inference that supports causal theory.
Forest community survey and the structural characteristics of forests in China
Authors: Fang Jingyun , Shen Zehao , Tang Zhiyao , Wang Xiangping , Wang Zhiheng , Feng Jianmeng , Liu Yining , Qiao Xiujuan , Wu Xiaopu , Zheng Chengyang
Published: February 2013

Most of the world’s terrestrial biome types can be found in China. To systematically investigate species composition and structure of China’s forest communities, we launched a long‐term project consisting forest vegetation surveys across China’s mountains in the mid 1990s. Over the study period, we have conducted vegetation surveys for 65 mountains and collected vegetation data from about 1500 forest plots, using consistent sampling protocols. In this paper we first introduce the aims, protocols, and major research themes of the project, and then describe the major characteristics of forest communities and their geographic patterns and climatic controls. As latitude increased, diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of trees increased, while individual density of trees and woody species richness decreased. Total basal area (TBA) of trees and species richness of herbs did not vary with latitude. Contemporary climate seems to drive these patterns: temperature was the leading factor for DBH, precipitation was most important for tree height and individual density, actual evapotranspiration (a surrogate of productivity) determined woody (trees and shrubs) species richness, and rainfall was the major controller of the herb species richness. The species–abundance relationship showed that species dominance (measured by the number of individuals per species) declined significantly from boreal forests to evergreen broadleaf forests from north to south. Our results are in line with the idea that productivity drives woody species richness. Similarly, we find that biomass (measured as TBA) is invariant along the environmental gradients. However, individual density varies dramatically, in contrast to the assumptions underlying the metabolic theory of ecology.
Improving Valuation Under Consumer Search: Implications for Pricing and Profits
Authors: Perdikaki Olga , Swaminathan Jayashankar
Published: February 2013

There is a growing trend in the retail industry to improve customer experience. In this article, we study retailer‐initiated strategies to increase consumer valuation for a product under duopoly. In such a setting, it is possible that a consumer's valuation may be increased by one retailer; however, the consumer may decide to buy the product from the competitor. We consider a two‐stage game where retailers first decide whether to invest in improvements in customer valuation and then engage in price competition. We computationally explore the Nash equilibria in terms of both investment and pricing. We find that in the majority of cases retailers price in a manner to discourage their local customers to buy from the competitor. Next, we focus on the pricing game and theoretically characterize the pricing Nash equilibrium. We find that a retailer could overcome competitive effects by improving consumer valuation beyond a certain threshold. We also find that a retailer who does not invest could benefit from competition in situations where his competitor increases consumer valuation beyond a threshold. Finally, we explore through a computational study the Nash equilibria of the two‐stage game using an alternate model to establish the robustness of our findings.
Assessing Linkages in Stream Habitat, Geomorphic Condition, and Biological Integrity Using a Generalized Regression Neural Network
Authors: Mathon Bree R. , Rizzo Donna M. , Kline Michael , Alexander Gretchen , Fiske Steve , Langdon Richard , Stevens Lori
Published: February 2013

Watershed managers often use physical geomorphic and habitat assessments in making decisions about the biological integrity of a stream, and to reduce the cost and time for identifying stream stressors and developing mitigation strategies. Such analysis is difficult since the complex linkages between reach‐scale geomorphic and habitat conditions, and biological integrity are not fully understood. We evaluate the effectiveness of a generalized regression neural network (GRNN) to predict biological integrity using physical (i.e., geomorphic and habitat) stream‐reach assessment data. The method is first tested using geomorphic assessments to predict habitat condition for 1,292 stream reaches from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The GRNN methodology outperforms linear regression (69% vs. 40% classified correctly) and improves slightly (70% correct) with additional data on channel evolution. Analysis of a subset of the reaches where physical assessments are used to predict biological integrity shows no significant linear correlation, however the GRNN predicted 48% of the fish health data and 23% of macroinvertebrate health. Although the GRNN is superior to linear regression, these results show linking physical and biological health remains challenging. Reasons for lack of agreement, including spatial and temporal scale differences, are discussed. We show the GRNN to be a data‐driven tool that can assist watershed managers with large quantities of complex, nonlinear data.
An Assessment of U.S. Stream Compensatory Mitigation Policy: Necessary Changes to Protect Ecosystem Functions and Services
Authors: Bronner Colleen E. , Bartlett Amy M. , Whiteway Sarah L. , Lambert Douglas C. , Bennett Sean J. , Rabideau Alan J.
Published: February 2013

Compensatory mitigation of impacted streams and wetlands has increased over the past two decades, with the associated industry spending over US$2.9 billion in aquatic restoration annually. Despite these expenditures, evaluations by the National Research Council and U.S. Government Accountability Office have provided evidence that compensatory mitigation practices are failing to protect aquatic resource functions and services, and vague federal policy and inadequate evaluation of compensatory mitigation projects are to blame. To address these weaknesses, an update to federal regulations on compensatory mitigation was released in 2008. Additionally, the 2012 Reissuance of Nationwide Permits, some of which affects compensatory stream mitigation, was recently published. Current policy, as reflected in these documents, still uses nonspecific language to direct compensatory stream mitigation leaving most implementation decisions to the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers district. The majority of federal mitigation policy has focused on wetland compensation, with other aquatic resources receiving less attention (e.g., streams). In this article, weaknesses of current policy are discussed, as are suggested policy changes to minimize the loss of stream ecosystem functions and services. Compensatory mitigation policy should clearly define key terms, incorporate adaptive management procedures, and provide guidelines for determining mitigation costs and compensation ratio requirements.
Disruptive viability selection on adult exploratory behaviour in eastern chipmunks
Authors: Bergeron P. , Montiglio P.‐O. , Réale D. , Humphries M. M. , Gimenez O. , Garant D.
Published: February 2013

Heterogeneous forces of selection associated with fluctuating environments are recognized as important factors involved in the maintenance of inter‐individual phenotypic variance within populations. Consistent behavioural differences over time and across situations (e.g. personality) are increasingly cited as examples of individual variation observed within populations. However, the suggestion that heterogeneous selective pressures target different animal personalities remains largely untested in the wild. In this 5‐year study, we investigated the dynamics of viability selection on a personality trait, exploration, in a population of eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus) experiencing substantial seasonal variations in weather conditions and food availability associated with masting trees. Contrary to our expectations, we found no evidence of fluctuating selection on exploration. Instead, we found strong disruptive viability selection on adult exploration behaviour, independent of seasonal variations. Individuals with either low or high exploration scores were almost twice as likely to survive over a 6‐month period compared with individuals with intermediate scores. We found no evidence of viability selection on juvenile exploration. Our results highlight that disruptive selection might play an important role in the maintenance of phenotypic variance of wild populations through its effect on different personality types across temporally varying environmental conditions.
Recent northward range expansion promotes song evolution in a passerine bird, the Light‐vented Bulbul
Authors: Xing X. Y. , Alström P. , Yang X. J. , Lei F. M.
Published: February 2013

In common with human speech, song is culturally inherited in oscine passerine birds (‘songbirds’). Intraspecific divergence in birdsong, such as development of local dialects, might be an important early step in the speciation process. It is therefore vital to understand how songs diverge, especially in founding populations. The northward expansion of the Light‐vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis (J. F. Gmelin, 1789) into north China in the last 30 years provides an excellent opportunity to study birdsong evolution. We compared ~4400 songs from newly established northern populations with ~2900 songs from southern populations to evaluate song divergence after recent expansion. The total pool of syllables and especially song types was considerably smaller in the north than in the south, indicating ‘founder effects’ in the new population. The ancestral pattern of mosaic song dialects changed into a pattern of wide geographical sharing of a few song types and syllables, likely the result of fewer geographical barriers to ‘meme flow’, and the recent spread across a large area in the north. Our results suggest that song evolution and vocal trait shifts can arise rapidly after range expansion, and that in the Light‐vented Bulbul ‘founder effects’, geographical isolation, and recent rapid expansions played important roles in the evolution of song dialects.
Exposure to the cytokine EGF leads to abnormal hyperactivity of pallidal GABA neurons: implications for schizophrenia and its modeling
Authors: Sotoyama Hidekazu , Namba Hisaaki , Chiken Satomi , Nambu Atsushi , Nawa Hiroyuki
Published: February 2013

Previous studies on a cytokine model for schizophrenia reveal that the hyperdopaminergic innervation and neurotransmission in the globus pallidus (GP) is involved in its behavioral impairments. Here, we further explored the physiological consequences of the GP abnormality in the indirect pathway, using the same schizophrenia model established by perinatal exposure to epidermal growth factor (EGF). Single‐unit recordings revealed that the neural activity from the lateral GP was elevated in EGF‐treated rats in vivo and in vitro (i.e., slice preparations), whereas the central area of the GP exhibited no significant differences. The increase in the pallidal activity was normalized by subchronic treatment with risperidone, which is known to ameliorate their behavioral deficits. We also monitored extracellular GABA concentrations in the substantia nigra, one of the targets of pallidal efferents. There was a significant increase in basal GABA levels in EGF‐treated rats, whereas high potassium‐evoked GABA effluxes and glutamate levels were not affected. A neurotoxic lesion in the GP of EGF‐treated rats normalized GABA concentrations to control levels. Corroborating our in vivo results, GABA release from GP slices was elevated in EGF‐treated animals. These findings suggest that the hyperactivity and enhanced GABA release of GP neurons represent the key pathophysiological features of this cytokine‐exposure model for schizophrenia.
Good tolerance to goat's milk in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers with increased immunoreactivity to cow's milk proteins
Authors: Besu Irina , Jankovic Ljiljana , Konic‐Ristic Aleksandra , Damjanovic Ana , Besu Valeri , Juranic Zorica
Published: February 2013

Background

Recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU) represent a very common, but poorly understood mucosal disorder. The connection between immunity to cow's milk proteins (CMP) and oral diseases was noted earlier. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of the increased levels of serum antibodies to goat's milk proteins (GMP), by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, in subjects who have RAU and proven increased immunity to CMP.

Methods

Fifty subjects with RAU (36 with proven increased immunity to CMP and 14 without this increased immunity) were included in this research. Levels of serum IgA, IgG, and IgE antibodies to the same quantity of the examined antigens were determined by ELISA. The statistical analysis of data was performed by Wilcoxon rank‐sum test and Mann–Whitney test.

Results

The levels of serum antifresh cow's milk IgA, IgG, and IgE antibodies were significantly higher than the levels of serum antifresh goat's milk, in subjects with RAU with proven increased immunoreactivity to CMP (P = 0.0003; P < 0.0001; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

These results indicate that patients with RAU with increased immunity to CMP could consider the use of goat's milk as the alternative protein source.
Meaning in Life in Emerging Adulthood: A Person‐Oriented Approach
Authors: Dezutter Jessie , Waterman Alan S. , Schwartz Seth J. , Luyckx Koen , Beyers Wim , Meca Alan , Kim Su Yeong , Whitbourne Susan Krauss , Zamboanga Byron L. , Lee Richard M. , Hardy Sam A. , Forthun Larry F. , Ritchie Rachel A. , Weisskirch Robert S. , Brown Elissa J. , Caraway S. Jean
Published: February 2013

The present study investigated naturally occurring profiles based on two dimensions of meaning in life: Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning. Cluster analysis was used to examine meaning‐in‐life profiles, and subsequent analyses identified different patterns in psychosocial functioning for each profile. A sample of 8,492 American emerging adults (72.5% women) from 30 colleges and universities completed measures on meaning in life, and positive and negative psychosocial functioning. Results provided support for five meaningful yet distinguishable profiles. A strong generalizability of the cluster solution was found across age, and partial generalizability was found across gender and ethnicity. Furthermore, the five profiles showed specific patterns in relation to positive and negative psychosocial functioning. Specifically, respondents with profiles high on Presence of Meaning showed the most adaptive psychosocial functioning, whereas respondents with profiles where meaning was largely absent showed maladaptive psychosocial functioning. The present study provided additional evidence for prior research concerning the complex relationship between Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning, and their relation with psychosocial functioning. Our results offer a partial clarification of the nature of the Search for Meaning process by distinguishing between adaptive and maladaptive searching for meaning in life.
Full House of Fears: Evidence That People High in Attachment Anxiety Are More Accurate in Detecting Deceit
Authors: Ein‐Dor Tsachi , Perry Adi
Published: February 2013

Lying is deep‐rooted in our nature, as over 90% of all people lie. Laypeople, however, do only slightly better than chance when detecting lies and deceptions. Recently, attachment anxiety was linked with people's hypervigilance toward threat‐related cues. Accordingly, we tested whether attachment anxiety predicts people's ability to detect deceit and to play poker—a game that is based on players' ability to detect cheating. In Study 1, 202 participants watched a series of interpersonal interactions that comprised subtle clues to the honesty or dishonesty of the speakers. In Study 2, 58 participants watched clips in which such cues were absent. Participants were asked to decide whether the main characters were honest or dishonest. In Study 3, we asked 35 semiprofessional poker players to participate in a poker tournament, and then we predicted the amount of money won during the game. Results indicated that attachment anxiety, but not other types of anxiety, predicted more accurate detection of deceitful statements (Studies 1–2) and a greater amount of money won during a game of poker (Study 3). Results are discussed in relation to the possible adaptive functions of certain personality characteristics, such as attachment anxiety, often viewed as undesirable.
Influences on Boys' Marijuana Use in High School: A Two‐Part Random Intercept Growth Model
Authors: Washburn Isaac J. , Capaldi Deborah M.
Published: February 2013

This study examined differences in predictors of marijuana use versus quantity of marijuana use across the high school years, using annual assessments from theOregon Youth Study (OYS) and a two‐part model for semicontinuous data. TheOYSis a community sample of at‐risk boys followed from age 10 years. To capture dynamic prediction effects, change scores of predictors, as well as baseline scores, were included. Baseline predictors predominantly showed associations with the intercepts but not with the slopes of growth models. Change scores for parental monitoring, peer substance use, and antisocial behavior and deviant associations were associated with both parts of the model. Findings highlight the importance of looking at marijuana use compared with the quantity of marijuana use.
English in contemporary Sweden: Perceptions, policies, and narrated practices
Authors: Bolton Kingsley , Meierkord Christiane
Published: February 2013

This paper compares trends in Sweden's language planning and language policies, and particularly the rationale underlying recent government legislation, to actual language use at the ‘grass roots’ of society, in order to investigate the extent to which academic and official rationales are confirmed by observed language practices. The passing of the Swedish Language Act of 2009 followed debates in academia and the media which not infrequently characterised English as a major threat to the survival of Swedish. However, despite the strong belief in the utility of English widely held in Sweden, the Swedish language is the preferred language of Swedes as well as immigrants in most domains. These results reveal a contradiction between the arguments put forward by a number of academics, educators and journalists concerning the ‘threat’ of English, and the language practices of ordinary folk in their daily lives.
Detection of Aster Yellows Phytoplasma (16SrI) Associated with Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum schinifolium S. et Z.) witches' Broom Disease in Korea
Authors: Han Sang‐Sub , Lee Kui‐Jae , Kamala‐Kannan Seralathan
Published: February 2013

Prickly ash trees with shortened internodes, proliferation of shoots, phyllody and witches' brooms were observed for the first time in Korea. A phytoplasma was detected in infected trees by polymerase chain reaction amplification of 16S rDNA, 16S–23S intergenic spacer region and the fragment of rp operon sequences. The 16S rDNA sequences exhibited maximum (99.6%) similarity with Iranian lettuce phytoplasma, and the sequences of rp operon exhibited maximum (100%) similarity with golden rain phytoplasma. Based on the sequence analysis and phylogenetic studies, it was confirmed that phytoplasma infecting prickly ash trees in Korea belongs to the aster yellows group (subgroup 16SrI‐B).
Differential outcomes of skill training, group counseling, and individual cognitive therapy for persons with acquired visual impairment
Authors: Ueda Yukihiko , Tsuda Akira
Published: February 2013

As part of the Living Skills Training Program, group counseling and individual cognitive therapy were implemented to decrease psychological distress for adults with acquired visual impairment. This quasi‐experimental design study compared the outcomes of a 6‐month skill training program combined with a group counseling program (n = 37), with (n = 9) or without (n = 10) individual cognitive therapy, and with a control group (n = 42). The outcome measures were the Profile of Mood States and the Nottingham Adjustment Scale Japanese Version. The results showed that participants with low psychological distress decreased anxiety and increased acceptance of disability, even when they did not participate in group counseling. However, among the participants with high distress, they did not show any improvement without group counseling or individual therapy. The participants with high distress who engaged in group counseling showed an improving trend in attitudes toward others. Moreover, the participants who chose to engage in individual therapy in addition to group counseling showed decreased tension‐anxiety, depression, and fatigue, and significantly improved acceptance of disability. These results suggest that group counseling, combined with individual cognitive therapy, can be an effective part of rehabilitation treatment for clients who have high psychological distress.
Effect of Estrogen on Molecular and Functional Characteristics of the Rodent Vaginal Muscularis
Authors: Basha Maureen E. , Chang Shaohua , Burrows Lara J. , Lassmann Jenny , Wein Alan J. , Moreland Robert S. , Chacko Samuel
Published: February 2013

Introduction

Vaginal atrophy is a consequence of menopause; however, little is known concerning the effect of a decrease in systemic estrogen on vaginal smooth muscle structure and function. As the incidence of pelvic floor disorders increases with age, it is important to determine if estrogen regulates the molecular composition and contractility of the vaginal muscularis.

Aim

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of estrogen on molecular and functional characteristics of the vaginal muscularis utilizing a rodent model of surgical menopause.

Methods

Three- to 4-month old Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sham laparotomy (Sham, N = 18) or ovariectomy (Ovx, N = 39). Two weeks following surgery, animals received a subcutaneous osmotic pump containing vehicle (Sham, Ovx) or 17β-estradiol (Ovx). Animals were euthanized 1 week later, and the proximal vagina was collected for analysis of contractile protein expression and in vitro studies of contractility. Measurements were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc analysis (α = 0.05).

Main Outcome Measures

Protein and mRNA transcript expression levels of contractile proteins, in vitro measurements of vaginal contractility.

Results

Ovariectomy decreased the expression of carboxyl-terminal myosin heavy chain isoform (SM1) and h-caldesmon and reduced the amplitude of contraction of the vaginal muscularis in response to KCl. Estradiol replacement reversed these changes. No differences were detected in the % vaginal muscularis, mRNA transcript expression of amino-terminal MHC isoforms, l-caldesmon expression, and maximal velocity of shortening.

Conclusion

Systemic estrogen replacement restores functional and molecular characteristics of the vaginal muscularis of ovariectomized rats. Our results indicate that menopause is associated with changes in the vaginal muscularis, which may contribute to the increased incidence of pelvic floor disorders with age.
Synchronization as a Classroom Dynamic: A Practitioner's Perspective
Authors: Kent Alexis
Published: February 2013

While carefully plotted lesson plans are invaluable in a classroom, tuning into the flow of the moment is just as essential. My experience has shown me that the most effective teaching happens when everyone in the room is in synch with one another. Teaching requires intuiting what each student is experiencing individually and adjusting in order to bring the room to a united rhythm. Too often we define teaching in terms of curriculum, assessment, and practical measures that do not encompass this instinctive evolutionary skill. Teaching is a natural cognitive ability that requires human interaction and is optimal when a form of synchrony or flow exists in interactions. As an experienced classroom teacher, I describe how these principles infuse my practice, which I hope serves as a useful lens for the Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE) research community in its quest to uncover the underlying processes of teaching.
Consumers Favor “Right Brain” Training: The Dangerous Lure of Neuromarketing
Authors: Lindell Annukka K. , Kidd Evan
Published: February 2013

Over the past decade the neuromarketing of educational products has become increasingly common. Researchers have however expressed concern about the misapplication of neuroscience to education marketing, fearing that consumers may be deceived into investing in apparently “brain‐based” products under the misapprehension that they will be more effective. This study provides the first demonstration that these fears are justified. We presented 180 participants with one of four advertisements for an identical educational program, named either “Right Brain” or “Right Start” Training; the advertisements either did, or did not, include an MRI brain image in one corner. Results demonstrated that “Right Brain” training was deemed more interesting, educationally valuable, and scientifically strong than an identical product named “Right Start” training. Advertisements including an unrelated brain image enhanced ratings of scientific rationale. These results confirm that by implying a strong scientific basis, “brain‐based” product names are remarkably effective in implicitly manipulating consumer opinion.
Cognitive Control Predicts Academic Achievement in Kindergarten Children
Authors: Coldren Jeffrey T.
Published: February 2013

Children's ability to shift behavior in response to changing environmental demands is critical for successful intellectual functioning. While the processes underlying the development of cognitive control have been thoroughly investigated, its functioning in an ecologically relevant setting such as school is less well understood. Given the alarming number of children who face failure in the U.S. school system, the purpose of this project is to determine whether subtly different measures of cognitive control differentially predict academic achievement. Sixty‐five kindergarten children were given two versions of a Dimensional Change Card Sort task—a geometric version followed by a linguistic version. Educational outcomes consisted of a standardized measure of academic achievement as well as assessments used by the school district. Results revealed that cognitive control, particularly as assessed by the linguistic variant, predicted children's academic performance on math and school‐based assessments, thereby suggesting that deficient cognitive control negatively impacts educational success.
A New Twist on Studying the Development of Dynamic Spatial Transformations: Mental Paper Folding in Young Children
Authors: Harris Justin , Newcombe Nora S. , Hirsh‐Pasek Kathy
Published: February 2013

The relation of spatial skills to academic success in areas such as math and science has sparked discussion in early education around how spatial thinking skills might be included in early schooling. Planning and evaluating new curricula or interventions requires understanding these skills and having the means to assess them. Prior developmental research focused primarily on one aspect of dynamic spatial transformations (DST), namely mental rotation. This study broadens our knowledge by addressing another important DST, namely mental folding. We devised a new test suitable for young children. Performance of 180 children between 4 and 7 years suggests that mental folding appears at around 5.5 years of age, although there were also marked individual differences. These data on the emergence of DST suggest that educational programs targeting this skill could start in preschool or kindergarten and provide a means to assess the effectiveness of such efforts.
A cryptic rock‐paper‐scissors game between Drosophila males
Authors: Chippindale Adam K.
Published: February 2013

Explaining the maintenance of genetic variation in characters associated with Darwinian fitness is a preoccupation of evolutionary biologists. Spatial or temporal variation in the environment can certainly promote polymorphism, yet even populations of ‘model organisms’, like fruit flies, kept on invariant protocols for hundreds of generations in the laboratory often show fitness variation that exceeds what would be expected from the input of new mutations alone. Such observations suggest either complexities of selection or of genetic architecture, and offer a powerful tool for the study of mechanisms that promote stable polymorphism. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Zhang et al. () report examples of nontransitivity in the outcome of postcopulatory sexual selection in the fruit fly, Drosophila, that follow the rules of the popular stalemate‐breaking game roshambo – or rock, paper, scissors (RPS). The important feature of RPS is that while each strategy beats one other, it in turn is beaten by the third. Using chromosome extraction lines, the authors confirm earlier findings that the outcome of postcopulatory sexual selection via sperm competition for a male depends, in part, upon the competitor male's genotype. But taking it one step further, they demonstrate the nontransitivities between males required for circular RPS cycles in sperm competition between males, and are able to identify at least four associated loci. Because the postmating phenotype involves hundreds of potentially interacting peptides and receptors, this is an important step to understanding the persistence of variation in a critical component of male fitness.
Oligodendroglioma (WHO grade I) in a young epilepsy patient: A specific entity lying within the spectrum of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor?
Authors: Takahashi Hitoshi , Kakita Akiyoshi , Tomikawa Masaru , Okamoto Kouichirou , Kameyama Shigeki
Published: February 2013

We studied a frontal lobe subcortical cystic tumor that had been resected from a 13‐year‐old girl with a 3‐year history of intractable partial seizure. Currently, more than 13 years after surgery, the patient remains recurrence‐free and has no neurological deficits. Histological examination showed that the tumor was non‐infiltrating and paucicellular with a mucinous matrix, and consisted of fairly uniform small cells with round to oval nuclei. Within the mucinous matrix, the tumor cells were often arranged in pseudorosettes around small blood vessels. Mitotic activity and necrosis were absent, with a Ki‐67 labeling index of <1%. Based on the immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings, the constituent tumor cells were considered to be those of oligodendroglioma, including mini‐gemistocytes and gliofibrillary oligodendrocytes. No neuronal elements were identified. Features of cortical dysplasia (FCD Type 1) were evident in the cortex covering the lesion. The surrounding white matter also contained a significant number of ectopic neurons. The entire pathological picture appeared to differ somewhat from that of ordinary oligodendroglioma (WHO grade II). Considering the clinical and pathological features, the present unusual oligodendroglioma appeared to represent a previously undescribed form of oligodendroglioma (WHO grade I) lying within the spectrum of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT; WHO grade I). Simultaneously, the present oligodendroglioma also raises the question of whether or not oligodendrocyte‐like cells of DNTs truly show neurocytic differentiation.
Breeding with rare defective alleles (BRDA): a natural Populus nigra HCT mutant with modified lignin as a case study
Authors: Vanholme Bartel , Cesarino Igor , Goeminne Geert , Kim Hoon , Marroni Fabio , Van Acker Rebecca , Vanholme Ruben , Morreel Kris , Ivens Bart , Pinosio Sara , Morgante Michele , Ralph John , Bastien Catherine , Boerjan Wout
Published: February 2013

Next‐generation (NG) sequencing in a natural population of Populus nigra revealed a mutant with a premature stop codon in the gene encoding hydroxycinnamoyl‐CoA : shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase1 (HCT1), an essential enzyme in lignin biosynthesis.

The lignin composition of P. nigra trees homozygous for the defective allele was compared with that of heterozygous trees and trees without the defective allele. The lignin was characterized by phenolic profiling, lignin oligomer sequencing, thioacidolysis and NMR. In addition, HCT1 was heterologously expressed for activity assays and crosses were made to introduce the mutation in different genetic backgrounds.

HCT1 converts p‐coumaroyl‐CoA into p‐coumaroyl shikimate. The mutant allele, PnHCT1‐Δ73, encodes a truncated protein, and trees homozygous for this recessive allele have a modified lignin composition characterized by a 17‐fold increase in p‐hydroxyphenyl units.

Using the lignin pathway as proof of concept, we illustrated that the capture of rare defective alleles is a straightforward approach to initiate reverse genetics and accelerate tree breeding. The proposed breeding strategy, called ‘breeding with rare defective alleles’ (BRDA), should be widely applicable, independent of the target gene or the species.
Mechanisms of Inappropriate Defibrillator Therapy in a Modern Cohort of Remotely Monitored Patients
Authors: SHAH HEMAL , MEZU URE , PATEL DIVYANG , FLANIGAN SUSAN , HREYBE HAITHAM , ADELSTEIN EVAN , JAIN SANDEEP , LANG VOLKER , SABA SAMIR
Published: February 2013

Introduction

Defibrillator (ICD) technology and monitoring are evolving rapidly. We investigated the mechanisms of inappropriate ICD therapies in a modern cohort of patients followed at our institution via remote monitoring.

Methods

From September 2009 to March 2011, a total of 2,050 ICD patients (19,600 patient‐months) were remotely followed. All events (shocks and antitachycardia pacing) were adjudicated by arrhythmia specialists.

Results

A total of 249 patients received ICD therapy (34% inappropriate therapy). Inappropriate ICD shocks affected 33 (1.6%) patients. There were a total of 249 inappropriate episodes in 85 patients. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with 1:1 atrioventricular association was the predominant mechanism accounting for 133 episodes in 50 patients, followed by atrial fibrillation (97 episodes in 27 patients). T‐wave oversensing (16 episodes in five patients), electromagnetic interference (two episodes in two patients), and ectopic beats (one episode in one patient) accounted for a small proportion of events. There were 35 arrhythmic episodes in five patients that could not be classified, all in patients with single‐chamber devices. There were no differences in these results by device manufacturer.

Conclusions

Despite many technological advances, inappropriate ICD shocks still occur but at very low rates and SVT with 1:1 atrioventricular association represents their most common mechanism.
The Efficacy of Amiodarone‐Propranolol Combination for the Management of Childhood Arrhythmias
Authors: AKIN ALPER , KARAGÖZ TEVFIK , AYKAN HAYRETTIN HAKAN , ÖZER SEMA , ALEHAN DURSUN , ÖZKUTLU SÜHEYLA
Published: February 2013

Background

The aim of this study was to present our data regarding the efficacy and safety of combining amiodarone and propranolol for the management of arrhythmias in infants.

Methods

Children aged between 0 and 18 years who received combination therapy with amiodarone and propranolol for persistent monotherapy resistance tachyarrhythmia between 2007 and 2011 were included in the study. Treatment efficacy and adverse effects were evaluated by review of clinical signs and symptoms, 12‐lead electrocardiogram, 24‐hour Holter monitorization, liver enzymes, thyroid function tests, chest x‐ray, and ophthalmologic examination.

Results

A total of 25 patients (15 male and 10 female) were enrolled in this study with a mean age of 17.9 months (0–132) and a mean weight of 8.65 kg (2.2–25). In 18 patients, treatment was started before their first age. Tachyarrhythmia persisted in two patients despite combination therapy, and treatment regimen was changed. Complete control of the arrhythmia was achieved within the first 2 months of combination treatment in 20 patients, whereas in the remaining three patients short attacks of tachycardia who responded to dose increases were controlled beyond 2 months of treatment and no recurrence were observed. Overall, success of amiodarone‐propranolol combination treatment was 92%. Mild elevation in thyroid‐stimulating hormone level was observed in one patient that required discontinuation of treatment.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a combination of amiodarone and propranolol is an effective and safe option for the treatment of persistent arrhythmias in neonates and infants, and may serve as a bridge to ablation therapy in older children.
Spontaneous Return of Biodiversity in Restored Subtropical Thicket: Portulacaria afra as an Ecosystem Engineer
Authors: van der Vyver Marius L. , Cowling Richard M. , Mills Anthony J. , Difford Mark
Published: February 2013

An accepted criterion for measuring the success of ecosystem restoration is the return of biodiversity relative to intact reference ecosystems. The emerging global carbon economy has made landscape‐scale restoration of severely degraded Portulacaria afra (spekboom)‐dominated subtropical thicket, by planting multiple rows of spekboom truncheons, a viable land‐use option. Although large amounts of carbon are sequestered when planting a monoculture of spekboom, it is unknown whether this is associated with the return of other thicket biodiversity components. We used available carbon stock data from degraded, restored, and intact stands at one site, and sampled carbon stocks at restored stands at another site in the same plant community. We also sampled plant community composition at both sites. The total carbon stock of the oldest (50 years) post‐restoration stand (250.8 ± 14 t C ha−1) approximated that of intact stands (245 t C ha−1) and we observed a general increase in carbon content with restoration age (71.4 ± 24 t C ha−1 after 35 and 167.9 ± 20 t C ha−1 after 50 years). A multiple correspondence analysis separated degraded stands from stands under restoration based on ground cover, floristic composition, and total carbon stock. Older post‐restoration and intact stands were clustered according to woody canopy recruit abundance. Our results suggest that spekboom is an ecosystem engineer that promotes spontaneous return of canopy species and other components of thicket biodiversity. The spekboom canopy creates a cooler micro‐climate and a dense litter layer, both likely to favor the recruitment of other canopy species.
Microhabitat Preference of Egernia napoleonis in Undisturbed Jarrah Forest, and Availability and Introduction of Microhabitats to Encourage Colonization of Restored Forest
Authors: Christie Kimberley , Stokes Vicki L. , Craig Michael D. , Hobbs Richard J.
Published: February 2013

An animal's microhabitat requirements can impact its ability to colonize restored areas, particularly species requiring slow developing microhabitats, such as logs and woody debris piles. Introduction of these microhabitats may be required to facilitate colonization by some species. Restored bauxite mine‐pits in the Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of south‐western Australia contain introduced log piles at densities of 1 ha−1. However, these have not facilitated colonization by Napoleon's skink (Egernia napoleonis), which rely on logs for habitat and are largely absent from restored sites. We radio‐tracked 12 skinks in unmined forest to determine their microhabitat preferences and examined differences in vegetation structure, and microhabitat and food availability, between restored and unmined forests to identify reasons for their absence. Restored and unmined forests differed in canopy, mid‐ and understory cover and ground substrates, which were all potential barriers to colonization. Food availability was similar between restored and unmined forest, thus not a barrier to colonization. Skinks primarily utilized long logs, large woody debris piles, and large trees; microhabitats that were scarce or absent in restored sites and, therefore, potential barriers to colonization. Using this information, we introduced small woody debris piles into restored sites in close proximity to unmined areas containing skinks to facilitate skink colonization. This showed early signs of success and suggested that the lack of logs and woody debris were barriers to colonization. However, further monitoring is required to accurately determine the long‐term value of woody debris piles in facilitating skink colonization.
Quartzite development in early Palaeozoic nearshore marine environments
Authors: Went David J.
Published: February 2013

Quartzites are especially characteristic of Proterozoic and Cambro‐Ordovician shallow marine strata, whereas equivalent age fluvial deposits are commonly arkosic. The absence of land vegetation in the pre‐Silurian influenced weathering processes and styles of fluvial deposition. It may also have had an impact on shallow marine sedimentation. Two field studies from the English Channel region are presented to investigate the processes leading to quartzite formation. On Alderney, nearshore marine and fluvial facies occur interbedded on a metre scale and are interpreted to represent deposition on the lower reaches of an alluvial plain, and in beach and upper shoreface environments. The marine and fluvial sandstones display marked differences in textural and mineralogical maturity, pointing to a process of sediment maturation by the destruction of feldspar and labile grains at the shoreline. At Erquy, fully mature, marine quartzites occur bounded above and below by alluvial deposits via sharp or erosional surfaces, and are interpreted to represent high energy, storm and tidally influenced lower shoreface and inner shelf deposits. A model for quartzite development is proposed where, under a cool climate, frequent storms in un‐vegetated, tectonically rejuvenated uplands provided an abundance of arkosic sand to fluvial basins and clastic shorelines. The model proposes that the marine basins were subject to high wave energies, frequent storm events and tidal currents. These were conditions conducive to transforming arkosic sand to quartz‐rich sand by the attrition of feldspar at the shoreline and in the shallow marine environment. On sediment burial, further feldspar destruction occurred during diagenesis. The proposed model highlights the potential for a step change in sediment maturity to occur at the shoreline in early Palaeozoic depositional systems tracts.
The influence of different types of urban land use on soil microbial biomass and functional diversity in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhao D. , Li F. , Yang Q. , Wang R. , Song Y. , Tao Y.
Published: February 2013

Soil microbes in urban ecosystems are affected by a variety of abiotic and biotic factors resulting from changes in land use. However, the influence of different types of land use on soil microbial properties and soil quality in urban areas remains largely unknown. Here, by comparing five types of land use: natural forest, park, agriculture, street green and roadside trees, we examined the effects of different land uses on soil microbial biomass and microbial functional diversity in Beijing, China. We found that soil properties varied with land uses in urban environments. Compared to natural forest, soil nutrients under the other four types of urban land use were markedly depleted, and accumulation of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd was apparent. Importantly, under these four types of land use, there was less microbial biomass, but it had greater functional diversity, particularly in the roadside‐tree soils. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between the microbial characteristics and physicochemical properties, such as organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus (P < 0.05), suggesting that lack of nutrients was the major reason for the decrease in microbial biomass. In addition, the larger C/N ratio, Ni concentration and pool of organic matter together with a higher pH contributed to the increase in microbial functional diversity in urban soils. We concluded that different land uses have indirect effects on soil microbial biomass and microbial community functional diversity through their influence on soil physicochemical properties, especially nutrient availability and heavy metal content.