bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depletion of deep marine food patches forces divers to give up early
Authors: Thums Michele , Bradshaw Corey J. A. , Sumner Michael D. , Horsburgh Judy M. , Hindell Mark A.
Published: August 2012

Many optimal foraging models for diving animals examine strategies that maximize time spent in the foraging zone, assuming that prey acquisition increases linearly with search time. Other models have considered the effect of patch quality and predict a net energetic benefit if dives where no prey is encountered early in the dive are abandoned. For deep divers, however, the energetic benefit of giving up is reduced owing to the elevated energy costs associated with descending to physiologically hostile depths, so patch residence time should be invariant. Others consider an asymptotic gain function where the decision to leave a patch is driven by patch‐depletion effects – the marginal value theorem. As predator behaviour is increasingly being used as an index of marine resource density and distribution, it is important to understand the nature of this gain function.

We investigated the dive behaviour of the world's deepest‐diving seal, the southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina, in response to patch quality. Testing these models has largely been limited to controlled experiments on captive animals. By integrating in situ measurements of the seal's relative lipid content obtained from drift rate data (a measure of foraging success) with area‐restricted search behaviour identified from first‐passage time analysis, we identified regions of high‐ and low‐quality patches.

Dive durations and bottom times were not invariant and did not increase in regions of high quality; rather, both were longer when patches were of relatively low quality. This is consistent with the predictions of the marginal value theorem and provides support for a nonlinear relationship between search time and prey acquisition.

We also found higher descent and ascent rates in high‐quality patches suggesting that seals minimized travel time to the foraging patch when quality was high; however, this was not achieved by increasing speed or dive angle. Relative body lipid content was an important predictor of dive behaviour.

Seals did not schedule their diving to maximize time spent in the foraging zone in higher‐quality patches, challenging the widely held view that maximizing time in the foraging zone translates to greater foraging success.
Preliminary success using hydrogen peroxide to treat Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., affected with experimentally induced amoebic gill disease (AGD)
Authors: Adams M B , Crosbie P B B , Nowak B F
Published: August 2012

Currently, the only effective and commercially used treatment for amoebic gill disease (AGD) in farmed Tasmanian Atlantic salmon is freshwater bathing. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), commonly used throughout the aquaculture industry for a range of topical skin and gill infections, was trialled in vitro and in vivo to ascertain its potential as an alternative treatment against AGD. Under in vitro conditions, trophozoites of Neoparamoeba perurans were exposed to three concentrations of H2O2 in sea water (500, 1000 and 1500 mg L−1) over four durations (10, 20, 30 and 60 min) each at two temperatures (12 and 18 °C). Trophozoite viability was assessed immediately post‐exposure and after 24 h. A concentration/duration combination of 1000 mg L−1 for >10 min demonstrated potent amoebicidal activity. Subsequently, Atlantic salmon mildly affected with experimentally induced AGD were treated with H2O2 at 12 and 18 °C for 15 min at 1250 mg L−1 and their re‐infection rate was compared to freshwater‐treated fish over 21 days. Significant differences in the percentage of filaments affected with hyperplastic lesions (in association with amoebae) and plasma osmolality were noted between treatment groups immediately post‐bath. However, the results were largely equivocal in terms of disease resolution over a 3‐week period following treatment. These data suggest that H2O2 treatment in sea water successfully ameliorated a clinically light case of AGD under laboratory conditions.
A possible biomechanical role of occlusal cusp–fossa contact relationships
Authors: WANG M. , MEHTA N.
Published: August 2012

Summary  Biomechanical features of occlusal contacts are important in understanding the role of the occlusion contributing to masticatory function. Cusp–fossa contact is the typical pattern of occlusion between upper and lower teeth. This includes static relations, such as that during clenching, and dynamic relations when mandibular teeth contact in function along the maxillary occlusal pathways, as during mastication. During clenching in the maximum intercuspal position (ICP), cuspal inclines may take the role of distributing the occlusal forces in multi‐directions thus preventing excessive point pressures on the individual tooth involved. During chewing movement on the functional side, the mandible moves slightly from buccal through the maximum ICP to the contralateral side. The part of the chewing cycle where occlusal contacts occur and the pathways taken by the mandible with teeth in occlusal contacts are determined by the morphology of the teeth. The degree of contact is associated with the activity of the jaw muscles. To obtain repeatable static and dynamic occlusal contact information provided by the morphology of the teeth, maximum voluntary clenching and chewing movements with maximum range are needed. In conclusion, in addition to the standard occlusal concepts of centric relation/centric occlusion and group function/cuspid protection relation, biomechanics in static and dynamic cusp–fossa relationships should be included to develop an understanding of occlusal harmony which includes no interfering or deflective contacts in functional occlusal contact.
Periodontal diseases and stress: a brief review
Authors: Akcali A. , Huck O. , Tenenbaum H. , Davideau J. L. , Buduneli N.
Published: August 2012

Periodontal diseases are common chronic inflammatory diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms colonising the subgingival area and inducing local and systemic elevations of pro‐inflammatory cytokines resulting in tissue destruction. Apparition and evolution of periodontal diseases are influenced by many local or systemic risk factors. Psychological stress has been suggested as one of them and may negatively influence the outcome of periodontal treatment. However, mechanisms explaining the possible relationship between stress and increased susceptibility to periodontal disease remain poorly understood. Several stress markers are found in blood and saliva of patients with periodontal diseases and influence the development of periodontal diseases by several mechanisms including modifications of the inflammatory response and changes in the composition of the dental biofilm. The aim of this review is to provide an insight into the relationship between psychological stress and periodontal diseases.
IL‐28B (IFN‐λ3) and IFN‐α synergistically inhibit HCV replication
Authors: Shindo H. , Maekawa S. , Komase K. , Miura M. , Kadokura M. , Sueki R. , Komatsu N. , Shindo K. , Amemiya F. , Nakayama Y. , Inoue T. , Sakamoto M. , Yamashita A. , Moriishi K. , Enomoto N.
Published: August 2012

Genetic variation in the IL‐28B (interleukin‐28B; interferon lambda 3) region has been associated with sustained virological response (SVR) rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with peginterferon‐α and ribavirin. However, the mechanisms by which polymorphisms in the IL‐28B gene region affect host antiviral responses are not well understood. Using the HCV 1b and 2a replicon system, we compared the effects of IFN‐λs and IFN‐α on HCV RNA replication. The anti‐HCV effect of IFN‐λ3 and IFN‐α in combination was also assessed. Changes in gene expression induced by IFN‐λ3 and IFN‐α were compared using cDNA microarray analysis. IFN‐λs at concentrations of 1 ng/mL or more exhibited concentration‐ and time‐dependent HCV inhibition. In combination, IFN‐λ3 and IFN‐α had a synergistic anti‐HCV effect; however, no synergistic enhancement was observed for interferon‐stimulated response element (ISRE) activity or upregulation of interferon‐stimulated genes (ISGs). With respect to the time course of ISG upregulation, the peak of IFN‐λ3‐induced gene expression occurred later and lasted longer than that induced by IFN‐α. In addition, although the genes upregulated by IFN‐α and IFN‐λ3 were similar to microarray analysis, interferon‐stimulated gene expression appeared early and was prolonged by combined administration of these two IFNs. In conclusion, IFN‐α and IFN‐λ3 in combination showed synergistic anti‐HCV activity in vitro. Differences in time‐dependent upregulation of these genes might contribute to the synergistic antiviral activity.
The walk is never random: subtle landscape effects shape gene flow in a continuous white‐tailed deer population in the Midwestern United States
Authors: ROBINSON STACIE J. , SAMUEL MICHAEL D. , LOPEZ DAVIN L. , SHELTON PAUL
Published: August 2012

One of the pervasive challenges in landscape genetics is detecting gene flow patterns within continuous populations of highly mobile wildlife. Understanding population genetic structure within a continuous population can give insights into social structure, movement across the landscape and contact between populations, which influence ecological interactions, reproductive dynamics or pathogen transmission. We investigated the genetic structure of a large population of deer spanning the area of Wisconsin and Illinois, USA, affected by chronic wasting disease. We combined multiscale investigation, landscape genetic techniques and spatial statistical modelling to address the complex questions of landscape factors influencing population structure. We sampled over 2000 deer and used spatial autocorrelation and a spatial principal components analysis to describe the population genetic structure. We evaluated landscape effects on this pattern using a spatial autoregressive model within a model selection framework to test alternative hypotheses about gene flow. We found high levels of genetic connectivity, with gradients of variation across the large continuous population of white‐tailed deer. At the fine scale, spatial clustering of related animals was correlated with the amount and arrangement of forested habitat. At the broader scale, impediments to dispersal were important to shaping genetic connectivity within the population. We found significant barrier effects of individual state and interstate highways and rivers. Our results offer an important understanding of deer biology and movement that will help inform the management of this species in an area where overabundance and disease spread are primary concerns.
Yersinia pestis Versus Yersinia pseudotuberculosis: Effects on Host Macrophages
Authors: Bi Y. , Wang X. , Han Y. , Guo Z. , Yang R.
Published: August 2012

Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, is proved to be a recently emerged clone from Y. pseudotuberculosis. However, the diseases they cause and their patterns of transmission are very different. People always focus on the genetic changes between Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis to reveal their pathogenic differences, and little is known about host defence differences to these two Yersinia. In this study, the effects of Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis on macrophages were analysed. Cell apoptosis showed significant difference after the macrophages were infected by these two strains, and caspase‐3 activity also demonstrated a similar tendency. Further, macrophage function activities were evaluated. We found during the early infection of Y. pestis, several basic functions of macrophages, including phagocytosis, secretion of cytokine tumour necrosis factor‐α and nitric oxide, macrophage polarity and antigen presenting, were significantly interrupted. In comparison, Y. pseudotuberculosis infection showed lower inhibition on macrophages. Especially, Y. pestis infection might cause macrophage to polarize to M2 macrophages in the early phase, compared with Y. pseudotuberculosis infection, which was different from the common acute infection. These results clearly indicated even in the early stage of infection, different host macrophage defence patterns could help us to understand the obvious virulence differences between Y. pestis and Y. pseudotuberculosis.
Piecing together an integrative taxonomic puzzle: microsatellite, wing shape and aedeagus length analyses of Bactrocera dorsalis s.l. (Diptera: Tephritidae) find no evidence of multiple lineages in a proposed contact zone along the Thai/Malay Peninsula
Authors: KROSCH MATTHEW N. , SCHUTZE MARK K. , ARMSTRONG KAREN F. , BOONTOP YUVARIN , BOYKIN LAURA M. , CHAPMAN TONI A. , ENGLEZOU ANNA , CAMERON STEPHEN L. , CLARKE ANTHONY R.
Published: August 2012

Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and B. papayae Drew & Hancock represent a closely related sibling species pair for which the biological species limits are unclear; i.e. it is uncertain if they are truely two biological species, or one biological species which has been incorrectly split taxonomically. The geographical ranges of the two taxa are thought to abut or overlap on or around the Isthmus of Kra, a recognised biogeographic barrier located on the narrowest portion of the Thai Peninsula. We collected fresh material of B. dorsalis s.l. (i.e. B. dorsalis s.s.+ B. papayae) in a north–south transect down the Thai Peninsula, from areas regarded as being exclusively B. dorsalis s.s., across the Kra Isthmus, and into regions regarded as exclusively B. papayae. We carried out microsatellite analyses and took measurements of male genitalia and wing shape, both used previously to separate the taxa. No significant population structuring was found in the microsatellite analysis, consistent with one, predominantly panmictic population. Both morphological datasets showed consistent, clinal variation along the transect, without disjunction. No evidence supported historical vicariance driven by the Isthmus of Kra, and no dataset supported the current taxonomy of two species. Rather, within and across the area of range overlap or abutment between the two species, only continuous morphological and genetic variation was recorded. Recognition that morphological traits previously used to separate these taxa are continuous, and that there is no genetic evidence for population segregation in the region of suspected species overlap, is consistent with a growing body of literature that reports no evidence of biological differentiation between these taxa.
Understanding why patients with immune thrombocytopenia are deeply divided on splenectomy
Authors: Wang Karen K. W. , Charles Cathy , Heddle Nancy M. , Arnold Emmy , Molnar Laura , Arnold Donald M.
Published: August 2012

Background

Splenectomy is an effective treatment for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP); however, patients' willingness to accept splenectomy is variable.

Objective

To explore why some ITP patients accepted splenectomy when recommended by their physician while others refused.

Design

Qualitative descriptive study using one‐to‐one, in‐depth patient interviews and a team‐based approach to thematic analysis.

Results

Of 25 patients interviewed, 15 refused splenectomy and 10 accepted and were awaiting surgery. Themes about the influences on splenectomy decision making that emerged from patient interviews were (i) the perceived impact of ITP on quality of life, (ii) patients' view of splenectomy as a last resort treatment, (iii) patients' interpretations of the rates of treatment success and failure and (iv) a perceived lack of familiarity about ITP. Patients who accepted splenectomy perceived their disease as having a negative impact on their quality of life, whereas patients who refused felt their situation was not severe enough to warrant surgery. Patients developed their own experiential interpretations of the success rates of splenectomy quoted to them. A general lack of awareness of the clinical impact of ITP and its cause was identified by patients as barriers to choosing splenectomy.

Conclusions

Patients' disease experience, perceptions of the lack of treatment alternatives, interpretations of treatment success and failure rates and a general lack of awareness about ITP influenced treatment choice. This study represents a first step towards contextualizing treatment decision making in ITP, focusing on patient preferences and values.
Poly(I:C) promotes the production of IL‐17A by murine CD1d‐driven invariant NKT cells in airway inflammation
Authors: Vultaggio A. , Nencini F. , Pratesi S. , Petroni G. , Romagnani S. , Maggi E.
Published: August 2012

Background

IL‐17A is associated with different asthma phenotypes as virus‐associated or steroid‐resistant asthma. Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma. The aim of the study was to evaluate the activity of polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)] on IL‐17A production by CD1d‐activated iNKT cells.

Methods

We analysed the in vitro effect of poly(I:C) on the release of IL‐17A by spleen and lung CD1d‐activated iNKT cells with α‐galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer). Its activity was also investigated in an α‐GalCer‐induced murine models, including lung inflammation. The inhibition of IL‐17A by Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 7 agonists in the same in vitro and in vivo models has been analysed.

Results

Poly(I:C) upregulated the in vitro IL‐17A production by CD1d‐activated NK1.1− CD4− iNKT subset, without modifying type 1 and type 2 cytokines. The two stimuli selectively upregulated IL‐17A serum levels in vivo. Their intratracheal administration resulted in increased airway hyper‐reactivity (AHR), neutrophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage and airway inflammation, which were inhibited by anti‐IL‐17A antibody. Poly(I:C) effects were attributable to IL1β and IL‐23 release from dendritic cells, as showed by inhibition with neutralizing antibodies. TLR7 agonists inhibited the IL‐17A production by poly(I:C) plus α‐GalCer in the same models. Such effect was associated with the increased production by DC of IL‐17A‐inhibiting cytokines and the dampening of IL‐1β and IL‐23.

Conclusions

Synthetic dsRNA selectively expand a CD1d‐driven IL‐17A‐producing iNKT cell subset, thus explaining the worsening of airway inflammation by some viral infections. TLR3‐ and TLR7‐triggering viral sequences can exert variable and opposite effects on adaptive immune response.
Heterogeneity of HLA‐DRB1*04 alleles and haplotypes in the Croatian population
Authors: Grubic Z. , Stingl K. , Zunec R.
Published: August 2012

Analysis of allele distribution at the HLA‐DRB1*04 gene, as one of the frequent ones among Croatians, and their HLA‐A‐B‐DRB1 haplotypes in the Croatian population was performed in this study. Using LABType®SSO and PCR‐SSP method, 11 DRB1*04 subtypes were observed, of which DRB1*04:01 was the most frequent (28.0%) followed by DRB1*04:02 (26.3%), DRB1*04:03 (22.3%), and DRB1*04:04 (14.2%). The significant haplotypes (with highest P value) for given DRB1*04 allele were the following combinations: HLA‐B*15:01‐DRB1*04:01, HLA‐B*38:01‐DRB1*04:02, HLA‐B*35:03‐DRB1*04:03, HLA‐B*35:03‐DRB1*04:08, HLA‐B*14:01‐DRB1*04:04, and HLA‐B*49‐DRB1*04:05. Marked differences in the distribution of our most frequent haplotypes of HLA‐B‐DRB1*04 (HLA‐B*38:01‐DRB1*04:02 and HLA‐B*15:01‐DRB1*04:01) were found in comparison to other European populations investigated so far. Additionally, comparison of HLA‐A‐B‐DRB1*04 haplotypes showed that although there are similarities in the haplotype structure between our and other populations, there are also noteworthy differences. In summary, the identification of conserved and unusual DRB1*04 haplotypes in the present study of Croats should have important clinical implications for donor–recipient matching in the hematopoietic stem cell transplantation program, help in the understanding of HLA polymorphisms in different European populations, and also prove to be very useful in the determination of possible susceptibility genes involved in HLA‐DRB1*04‐associated diseases.
Old and new HLA associations with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Díaz‐Peña R. , López‐Vázquez A. , López‐Larrea C.
Published: August 2012

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease that primarily involves the axial skeleton and the sacroiliac joint, but may also affect peripheral joints and entheses. AS susceptibility is clearly attributable to genetic factors and the link between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐B27 and AS is the strongest association between an HLA class I molecule and a disease. However, there is evidence for the involvement of other, non‐B27 factors within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in AS susceptibility. MHC class I is clearly the most significant genetic region for the disease, although most of the genetic association of this region is driven by HLA‐B27. Moreover, several studies have investigated the MHC class II region and its association with AS. This review summarizes the current findings concerning the MHC genetics of the disease, focusing in particular on the associations of HLA with AS found in different ethnic populations throughout the world, and the possible mechanisms underlying them.
In vitro antagonism of Trichoderma and naturally occurring fungi from elms against Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi
Authors: Díaz G. , Córcoles A. I. , Asencio A. D. , Torres M. P.
Published: August 2012

The antagonist ability of four fungal endophytes isolated from elms (Trichoderma atroviride GF13, Diaporthe eres GF2, Diplodia ulmi GF5 and Alternaria alternata GF6) and two fungi from a collection (Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma virens) was evaluated against six strains of Ophiostoma novo‐ulmi (1, 10, 19, 32, 43 and O‐Va), the causal agent of Dutch elm disease. Dual culture tests were established in PDA and MA culture media to test the interactions between pathogenic fungi and potential antagonist ones. The fungi showed varying levels of antagonist capacity against O. novo‐ulmi. Among them, T. atroviride and T. harzianum had the greatest inhibiting effect (around 50%). Culture filtrates and previously inoculated cellophane discs from T. harzianum and T. atroviride also caused growth inhibition of O. novo‐ulmi, with less intensity in strains 10 and 19. The control mechanisms involved in the process were competition, mycoparasitism and the production of soluble and diffusible antifungal metabolites. The new isolate T. atroviride GF13 was efficient as antagonist. It showed antagonist ability against non‐elm‐derived fungi such as Verticillium, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Penicillium. These results suggest interesting application possibilities in the biological control of Dutch elm disease.
First report of Mycosphaerella dearnessii on Pinus nigra var. nigra in Austria
Authors: Hintsteiner M. , Cech T. L. , Halmschlager E. , Stauffer C. , Kirisits T.
Published: August 2012

Mycosphaerella dearnessii, the causal agent of brown‐spot needle blight (BSNB), has been known to occur in Austria since 1996. In 2011, the disease was for the first time confirmed on Austrian pine (Pinus nigra var. nigra) in this country. As previous records are doubtful, this may also be the first definite report of M. dearnessii on P. nigra in entire Europe.
Genetic Structure of Cochliobolus sativus Populations Sampled from Roots and Leaves of Barley and Wheat in North Dakota
Authors: Gyawali Sanjaya , Neate Stephen M. , Adhikari Tika B. , Puri Krishna D. , Burlakoti Rishi R. , Zhong Shaobin
Published: August 2012

Common root rot (CRR) and spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus (Ito and Kurib.) Drechsl. ex Dast., are important diseases of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. However, the population biology of C. sativus is still poorly understood. In this study, the genetic structure of three C. sativus populations, consisting of isolates sampled respectively from barley leaves (BL), barley roots (BR) and wheat roots (WR) in North Dakota, was analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 127 AFLP loci were generated among 208 C. sativus isolates analysed with three primer combinations. Gene diversity (H = 0.277–0.335) were high in all three populations. Genetic variation among C. sativus individuals within population accounted for 74%, whereas 26% of the genetic variation was explained among populations. Genetic differentiation was high (ØPT = 0.261, corrected = 0.39), whereas gene flow (Nm) ranged from 1.27 to 1.56 among the three populations analysed. The multilocus linkage disequilibrium (LD) (= 0.076–0.117) was moderate in C  sativus populations. Cluster analyses indicate that C. sativus populations differentiated according to the hosts (barley and wheat) and tissues (root and leaf) although generalists also exist in North Dakota. Crop breeding may benefit from combining genes for resistance against both specialists and generalists of C. sativus.
Small‐scale patterns of genetic variation in a headwater specialist mayfly: No influence of selective forest harvesting on diversity
Authors: YOUNG B. A. , SCHMIDT D. J. , SHELDON F.
Published: August 2012

Terrestrial environments allow the adults of some aquatic insects to disperse between headwater streams, which may be important for maintaining population connectivity and persistence. Winged adult stages of aquatic insects are particularly sensitive to degradation of terrestrial habitat, relying on it for food, reproduction and dispersal. In this study we examined the genetic pattern of the Australian mayfly Ulmerophlebia sp. AV2, in north‐eastern New South Wales, and compared the genetic diversity in forested and partially deforested sub‐catchments. Our hypotheses were (i) patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in the Leptophlebiidae mayfly Ulmerophlebia sp. AV2 show a pattern of structuring that reflects low or widespread dispersal along the stream network and across catchments; and (ii) genetic diversity will be lower in partially deforested sub‐catchments compared to forested sub‐catchments. We found gene flow was not restricted among headwater streams within sub‐catchments but was restricted at distances >15 km. Genetic diversity was high (mean haplotype diversity >0.85) in both control and harvested sub‐catchments. Instead, a historical signature of population expansion was detected which is consistent with findings for other aquatic insect taxa of eastern Australia. Our results suggest that the selective harvesting management strategy, including the use of riparian buffer zones, within these sub‐catchments does not appear to restrict dispersal between streams or erode diversity within streams for Ulmerophlebia sp. AV2. Selective harvesting therefore appears to have minimal impacts on terrestrial/aquatic links in the life cycle of this insect.
Differences in ecological and allelopathic traits among Alternanthera philoxeroides populations
Authors: ZUO SHENGPENG , MA YONGQING , SHINOBU INANAGA
Published: August 2012

Based on a field investigation and laboratory trials, this study compared the invasive ecology of aquatic and terrestrial alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides G.) ecotypes. The aquatic ecotype showed a stronger eco‐adaptation than the terrestrial ecotype. Alligator weed performed well in wetland and riparian habitats, where it was so competitive that only one‐to‐three other plant types grew successfully in its company. In contrast, it exhibited poor growth in upland fields and parks, where the terrestrial ecotype was dominated by 6–11 other alien plant species. The aquatic ecotype exhibited significantly greater growth inhibition of Microcystis aeruginosa. The ecotypes differed in their pattern of allelopathic inhibition of water blooms. The allelopathic effect of the aquatic ecotype persisted for a period exceeding 20 days, whereas the terrestrial ecotype's allelopathic effect subsided in <5 days. The aquatic ecotype had higher levels of antioxidant compounds, including soluble protein and flavones, and the activity of protective enzymes was also higher, which included superoxidase dismutase, peroxidase and catalase. Alligator weed's unique characteristics derive mainly from its strong allelopathic potential and tolerance of eutrophication in aquatic habitats.
Postdispersal seed predation by Teleogryllus emma (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) reduces the seedling emergence of a non‐native grass weed, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)
Authors: ICHIHARA MINORU , INAGAKI HIDEHIRO , MATSUNO KAZUO , SAIKI CHIEKO , YAMASHITA MASAYUKI , SAWADA HITOSHI
Published: August 2012

The potential impact of postdispersal seed predation by the field cricket, Teleogryllus emma (Ohmachi et Matsuura), on the seedling emergence of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), a non‐native grass weed in Japan, was determined. The relationship between cricket density and the proportion of seedling emergence was investigated by conducting manipulative experiments in duplicate, using enclosures. One‐thousand seeds of Italian ryegrass were exposed to adult crickets at different densities (zero, one, two, four and eight individuals per 2.25 m2 enclosure) for 2 weeks. The proportion of seedling emergence decreased with increasing cricket density. The proportion of seedling emergence in the enclosures without the crickets was 90.9–97.2%, whereas the seedling emergence in the enclosures with eight crickets greatly decreased, to 0.5–2.5%. These results suggest that postdispersal seed predation by T. emma can substantially decrease the abundance of Italian ryegrass at an early life stage and reduce its population in environments with a high density of crickets.
Self‐management education interventions for persons with schizophrenia: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zou Haiou , Li Zheng , Nolan Marie T. , Arthur David , Wang Hongxing , Hu Lili
Published: August 2012

Although self‐management education programs for persons with schizophrenia are being developed and advocated, uncertainty about their overall effectiveness remains. The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to examine outcomes of self‐management education interventions in persons with schizophrenia. Six electronic databases were searched. Manual searches were conducted of the reference lists of the identified studies and major psychiatric journals. Randomized controlled trials of self‐management education interventions aimed at reducing relapse and hospital readmissions, as well as improving symptoms, psychosocial functioning, and adherence to medication treatment were identified. Data were extracted and the quality of included studies were rated by two authors independently. Finally, 13 studies with 1404 patients were included. Self‐management education interventions were associated with a significant reduction of relapse events and re‐hospitalizations. Patients who received self‐management education were more likely to improve adherence to medication and symptoms compared to patients receiving other care. However, a benefit on psychosocial functioning was not confirmed in the current meta‐analysis. The study concludes that self‐management education intervention is a feasible and effective method for persons with schizophrenia and should be routinely offered to all persons with schizophrenia.
Qualitative inquiry into motivators for maintaining medication adherence among Taiwanese with schizophrenia
Authors: Chang Ying‐Tzu , Tao Shu‐Gin , Lu Chao‐Lin
Published: August 2012

Medication non‐adherence is associated with higher rates of relapse in persons with schizophrenia. Psychiatric nurses play a significant role in facilitating their medication adherence. The motivators which strengthen patients with schizophrenia to maintain their adherence to medication have seldom been explored. This study aims to explore what motivates persons with schizophrenia to consistently maintain their medication adherence. A qualitative approach was used to collect data from a psychiatric day‐care centre at an armed forces hospital in Taiwan. Ten clients agreed to undergo an in‐depth interview. The data was analyzed by a content analysis method. Four themes were identified: (i) the benefits of antipsychotic medication treatment; (ii) firm and ongoing family support; and the Chinese values of (iii) filial piety and (iv) hope for the future. These findings may provide psychiatric nurses with a better understanding of the motivators for medication adherence in persons with schizophrenia from the Chinese perspective. Nurses will then be able to adjust their practice to facilitate patients’ medication adherence.
Mental health nurses’ views of recovery within an acute setting
Authors: Cleary Michelle , Horsfall Jan , O'Hara‐Aarons Maureen , Hunt Glenn E.
Published: August 2012

How the principles of a recovery‐oriented mental health service are incorporated in the day‐to‐day nursing practice of mental health nurses in inpatient settings is unclear. In this study, we interviewed 21 mental health nurses working in acute inpatient mental health units about a range of recovery‐focused topics. Three overlapping themes were identified: (i) the perception of recovery; (ii) congruent humanistic approaches; and (iii) practical realities. Only four interviewees had some formal training about recovery. Most respondents recognize that positive attitudes, person‐centred care, hope, education about mental illness, medication and side‐effects, and the acknowledgement of individual recovery pathways are necessary to prevent readmission, and are central to a better life for people who live with a mental illness. This research supports the view that ideas and practices associated with the recovery movement have been adopted to some degree by nurses working at the acute end of the services continuum. However, most saw the recovery orientation as rhetoric rather than as an appropriately resourced, coordinated, and integrated program. These nurses, however, speak of much more detailed aspects of working with patients and being required to prepare them for the exigencies of living in the community post‐discharge.
Anesthesia for surgery related to craniosynostosis: a review. Part 2
Authors: Hughes Corinna , Thomas Kate , Johnson David , Das Sumit
Published: August 2012

The management of children with craniosynostosis is multidisciplinary and has evolved significantly over the past five decades. The treatment is primarily surgical. The anesthetic challenges continue to be the management of massive blood transfusion and prolonged anesthesia in small children, often further complicated by syndrome‐specific issues. This two‐part review aims to provide an overview of the anesthetic considerations for these children. The first part described the syndromes associated with craniosynostosis, the provision of services in the UK, surgical techniques, preoperative issues and induction and maintenance of anesthesia. This second part will explore hemorrhage control, the use of blood products, metabolic disturbance and postoperative issues.
Changes in tissue oxygenation following caudal epidural blockade in infants and children
Authors: Bettesworth Jacob , Bhalla Tarun , Barry N’Diris , Tobias Joseph D.
Published: August 2012

Background:  Adequate tissue oxygenation is required for effective white blood cell function and bactericidal activity. Decreased tissue oxygenation has been shown to be a risk factor for perioperative wound infections. Regional anesthetic techniques result in a functional sympathetic block and may increase tissue oxygenation. The purpose of the current study is to prospectively evaluate changes in tissue oxygenation using a non‐invasive near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device following caudal epidural block in infants and children.

Methods:  Following standard anesthetic induction and general anesthesia with an endotracheal tube or laryngeal mask airway, the NIRS sensors were placed on two sites. One sensor was placed at a site affected by the caudal block (lower extremity), and the other sensor was placed on the arm, a site unaffected by the caudal block (upper extremity). The NIRS value was recorded at baseline and then again at 15, 30, and 45 min after the block. The caudal block was performed, after anesthetic induction and NIRS sensor placement, using bupivacaine 0.25% with epinephrine 1 : 200 000 or ropivacaine 0.2% with epinephrine 1 : 200 000 at a dose of 1 ml·kg−1. The inspired oxygen concentration after induction was held constant at 30%, and anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane at 1 MAC. No other pharmacologic agents were administered.

Results:  Following the caudal epidural block, there was a statistically significant increase in the tissue oxygenation from the affected site. The NIRS value increased from a baseline of 83 ± 4 to 87 ± 3 at 15 min (P = 0.0001 vs baseline), 88 ± 4 at 30 min (P < 0.0001 vs baseline), and 87 ± 4 at 45 min (P < 0.0001 vs baseline). No change was noted on the unaffected site (upper extremity).

Conclusion:  There was a statistically significant increase in tissue oxygenation as measured by NIRS following caudal anesthesia in infants and children. Although the magnitude of the change was less, this study confirms the results of previous studies in adults showing an increase in tissue oxygenation following regional blockade.
Abiotic drivers and plant traits explain landscape‐scale patterns in soil microbial communities
Authors: de Vries Franciska T. , Manning Pete , Tallowin Jerry R. B. , Mortimer Simon R. , Pilgrim Emma S. , Harrison Kathryn A. , Hobbs Phil J. , Quirk Helen , Shipley Bill , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Kattge Jens , Bardgett Richard D.
Published: August 2012

The controls on aboveground community composition and diversity have been extensively studied, but our understanding of the drivers of belowground microbial communities is relatively lacking, despite their importance for ecosystem functioning. In this study, we fitted statistical models to explain landscape‐scale variation in soil microbial community composition using data from 180 sites covering a broad range of grassland types, soil and climatic conditions in England. We found that variation in soil microbial communities was explained by abiotic factors like climate, pH and soil properties. Biotic factors, namely community‐weighted means (CWM) of plant functional traits, also explained variation in soil microbial communities. In particular, more bacterial‐dominated microbial communities were associated with exploitative plant traits versus fungal‐dominated communities with resource‐conservative traits, showing that plant functional traits and soil microbial communities are closely related at the landscape scale.
Domain expertise and the effectiveness of dynamic simulator interfaces in the acquisition of procedural motor skills
Authors: Akinlofa Olurotimi R. , Holt Patrik O'Brian , Elyan Eyad
Published: August 2012

Previous research into the effectiveness of dynamic versus static instructional design paradigms has reported divergent findings. Dynamic instructions have been shown to be more effective in teaching novel procedural skills. In contrast, the apparent benefit of dynamic over static instructions has been attributed in other studies to the cognitive capabilities and previous knowledge of the learner. Can the benefit of dynamic instruction persist in learners with domain expertise on learning novel tasks? In this paper, we report the result of an experiment that shows that irrespective of the learner's previous knowledge, dynamic instructions retain a significant effectiveness over statics for teaching intra‐domain novel task performance. Twenty‐four participants with domain expertise were divided into three independent groups to perform a procedural motor task following treatment with different training interfaces. After controlling for spatial abilities and excluding previous specific‐to‐task knowledge, we observe that participants that trained with interfaces containing dynamic content recorded better task performance measures than others using non‐dynamic interfaces. This suggest that within the context of motor skill acquisition, dynamic instructional interfaces can yield significant increases to post‐learning task performance measures, which is independent of the learner's cognitive capabilities or previous knowledge.
Family Meals and Child Academic and Behavioral Outcomes
Authors: Miller Daniel P. , Waldfogel Jane , Han Wen‐Jui
Published: August 2012

This study investigates the link between the frequency of family breakfasts and dinners and child academic and behavioral outcomes in a panel sample of 21,400 children aged 5–15. It complements previous work by examining younger and older children separately and by using information on a large number of controls and rigorous analytic methods to discern whether there is causal relation between family meal frequency (FMF) and child outcomes. In child fixed‐effects models, which controlled for unchanging aspects of children and their families, there were no significant (p < .05) relations between FMF and either academic or behavioral outcomes, a novel finding. These results were robust to various specifications of the FMF variables and did not differ by child age.
Smooth Shape‐Aware Functions with Controlled Extrema
Authors: Jacobson Alec , Weinkauf Tino , Sorkine Olga
Published: August 2012

Functions that optimize Laplacian‐based energies have become popular in geometry processing, e.g. for shape deformation, smoothing, multiscale kernel construction and interpolation. Minimizers of Dirichlet energies, or solutions of Laplace equations, are harmonic functions that enjoy the maximum principle, ensuring no spurious local extrema in the interior of the solved domain occur. However, these functions are only C0 at the constrained points, which often causes smoothness problems. For this reason, many applications optimize higher‐order Laplacian energies such as biharmonic or triharmonic. Their minimizers exhibit increasing orders of continuity but lose the maximum principle and show oscillations. In this work, we identify characteristic artifacts caused by spurious local extrema, and provide a framework for minimizing quadratic energies on manifolds while constraining the solution to obey the maximum principle in the solved region. Our framework allows the user to specify locations and values of desired local maxima and minima, while preventing any other local extrema. We demonstrate our method on the smoothness energies corresponding to popular polyharmonic functions and show its usefulness for fast handle‐based shape deformation, controllable color diffusion, and topologically‐constrained data smoothing.
Nonrigid Matching of Undersampled Shapes via Medial Diffusion
Authors: Berger Matthew , Silva Claudio T.
Published: August 2012

We introduce medial diffusion for the matching of undersampled shapes undergoing a nonrigid deformation. We construct a diffusion process with respect to the medial axis of a shape, and use the quantity of heat diffusion as a measure which is both tolerant of missing data and approximately invariant to nonrigid deformations. A notable aspect of our approach is that we do not define the diffusion on the shape's medial axis, or similar medial representation. Instead, we construct the diffusion process directly on the shape. This permits the diffusion process to better capture surface features, such as varying spherical and cylindrical parts, as well as combine with other surface‐based diffusion processes. We show how to use medial diffusion to detect intrinsic symmetries, and for computing correspondences between pairs of shapes, wherein shapes contain substantial missing data.
Finding Surface Correspondences Using Symmetry Axis Curves
Authors: Liu Tianqiang , Kim Vladimir G. , Funkhouser Thomas
Published: August 2012

In this paper, we propose an automatic algorithm for finding a correspondence map between two 3D surfaces. The key insight is that global reflective symmetry axes are stable, recognizable, semantic features of most real‐world surfaces. Thus, it is possible to find a useful map between two surfaces by first extracting symmetry axis curves, aligning the extracted curves, and then extrapolating correspondences found on the curves to both surfaces. The main advantages of this approach are efficiency and robustness: the difficult problem of finding a surface map is reduced to three significantly easier problems: symmetry detection, curve alignment, and correspondence extrapolation, each of which has a robust, polynomial‐time solution (e.g., optimal alignment of 1D curves is possible with dynamic programming). We investigate of this approach on a wide range of examples, including both intrinsically symmetric surfaces and polygon soups, and find that it is superior to previous methods in cases where two surfaces have different overall shapes but similar reflective symmetry axes, a common case in computer graphics.
Soft Maps Between Surfaces
Authors: Solomon Justin , Nguyen Andy , Butscher Adrian , Ben‐Chen Mirela , Guibas Leonidas
Published: August 2012

The problem of mapping between two non‐isometric surfaces admits ambiguities on both local and global scales. For instance, symmetries can make it possible for multiple maps to be equally acceptable, and stretching, slippage, and compression introduce difficulties deciding exactly where each point should go. Since most algorithms for point‐to‐point or even sparse mapping struggle to resolve these ambiguities, in this paper we introduce soft maps, a probabilistic relaxation of point‐to‐point correspondence that explicitly incorporates ambiguities in the mapping process. In addition to explaining a continuous theory of soft maps, we show how they can be represented using probability matrices and computed for given pairs of surfaces through a convex optimization explicitly trading off between continuity, conformity to geometric descriptors, and spread. Given that our correspondences are encoded in matrix form, we also illustrate how low‐rank approximation and other linear algebraic tools can be used to analyze, simplify, and represent both individual and collections of soft maps.
New Bounds on the Size of Optimal Meshes
Authors: Sheehy Donald R.
Published: August 2012

The theory of optimal size meshes gives a method for analyzing the output size (number of simplices) of a Delaunay refinement mesh in terms of the integral of a sizing function over the input domain. The input points define a maximal such sizing function called the feature size. This paper presents a way to bound the feature size integral in terms of an easy to compute property of a suitable ordering of the point set. The key idea is to consider the pacing of an ordered point set, a measure of the rate of change in the feature size as points are added one at a time. In previous work, Miller et al. showed that if an ordered point set has pacing ϕ, then the number of vertices in an optimal mesh will be O(ϕdn), where d is the input dimension. We give a new analysis of this integral showing that the output size is only θ(n+nlogϕ). The new analysis tightens bounds from several previous results and provides matching lower bounds. Moreover, it precisely characterizes inputs that yield outputs of size O(n).
From A Medial Surface To A Mesh
Authors: Delamé T. , Roudet C. , Faudot D.
Published: August 2012

Medial surfaces are well‐known and interesting surface skeletons. As such, they can describe the topology and the geometry of a 3D closed object. The link between an object and its medial surface is also intuitively understood by people. We want to exploit such skeletons to use them in applications like shape creation and shape deformation. For this purpose, we need to define medial surfaces as Shape Representation Models (SRMs). One of the very first task of a SRM is to offer a visualization of the shape it describes. However, achieving this with a medial surface remains a challenging problem.

In this paper, we propose a method to build a mesh that approximates an object only described by a medial surface. To do so, we use a volumetric approach based on the construction of an octree. Then, we mesh the boundary of that octree to get a coarse approximation of the object. Finally, we refine this mesh using an original migration algorithm. Quantitative and qualitative studies, on objects coming from digital modeling and laser scans, shows the efficiency of our method in providing high quality surfaces with a reasonable computational complexity.