bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No simple relationship between above-ground tree growth and fine-litter production in tropical forests
Authors: Shoo Luke P. , VanDerWal Jeremy
Published: May 2008

An important deficiency of the tropical forest data set on above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) is the paucity of studies where requisite components of forest productivity have been measured at the same location. Missing data on above-ground biomass increment (ABI, which refers to the incremental growth of trees) and fine-litter production (leaves, fruit, flowers, small twigs, but excluding coarse woody debris) is particularly problematic as these are the two major components of ANPP. The fragmentary nature of the data is reflected by the fact that only 13 of 39 (33%) plots reviewed by Clark et al. (2001) and 8 of 104 (8%) plots reviewed by Malhi et al. (2004) had data on both major components of productivity. In an attempt to retain the geographic coverage and replication of data in analyses, researchers have proposed ways to infer missing data. Typically ratios or (more recently) fitted relationships between ABI and litter production have been used for this purpose (Bray & Gorham 1964, Clark et al. 2001, Murphy 1975).
Effects of canopy gap size on recruitment and invasion of the non-indigenousRubus alceifoliusin lowland tropical rain forest on Réunion
Authors: Baret Stéphane , Cournac Laurent , Thébaud Christophe , Edwards Peter , Strasberg Dominique
Published: May 2008

An important challenge of invasion biology is to understand how interactions between species traits and ecosystem properties enable alien species to become invasive at particular locations. We investigated how gap dynamics in a tropical rain forest on the island of Réunion affected the invasiveness of alien plants. In the 12 000-m2study area, alien plants occupied 24.9% of the area of gaps, which represented 5.62% of the forest area, but only 0.8% of the understorey area. The most abundant invasive species wasRubus alceifolius, which formed dense, monospecific stands in the largest gaps (> 25 m2). Although plants could persist in the shade, a germination experiment revealed that canopy openings were essential for seedling establishment. A cyclone that struck the study area in 2002 caused a temporary thinning of the canopy, increasing light levels to above the threshold needed for germination ofR. alceifoliusand also stimulating the growth of established plants. We conclude that the ability of this and other alien species to colonize intact lowland tropical rain forest is strongly influenced by the prevailing gap dynamics. Because gaps are also essential for the regeneration of many native trees in our study area, there is a real danger of the forest being progressively degraded by alien plants. There are no simple solutions to controlling species such asRubus alceifolius, but efforts should be focused mainly upon the larger gaps where the species are most invasive.
Comparative range use by three Atlantic Forest understorey bird species in relation to forest fragmentation
Authors: Hansbauer Miriam M. , Storch Ilse , Pimentel Rafael G. , Metzger Jean Paul
Published: May 2008

In this paper, we report on range use patterns of birds in relation to tropical forest fragmentation. Between 2003 and 2005, three understorey passerine species were radio-tracked in five locations of a fragmented and in two locations of a contiguous forest landscape on the Atlantic Plateau of São Paulo in south-eastern Brazil. Standardized ten-day home ranges of 55 individuals were used to determine influences of landscape pattern, season, species, sex and age. In addition, total observed home ranges of 76 individuals were reported as minimum measures of spatial requirements of the species. Further, seasonal home ranges of recaptured individuals were compared to examine site fidelity.Chiroxiphia caudata, but notPyriglena leucopteraorSclerurus scansor, used home ranges more than twice as large in the fragmented versus contiguous forest. Home range sizes ofC. caudatadiffered in relation to sex, age, breeding status and season. Seasonal home ranges greatly overlapped in bothC. caudataand inS. scansor. Our results suggest that one response by some forest bird species to habitat fragmentation entails enlarging their home ranges to include several habitat fragments, whereas more habitat-sensitive species remain restricted to larger forest patches.
Pollinators and defence ofStachytarpheta glabra(Verbenaceae) nectar resources by the hummingbirdColibri serrirostris(Trochilidae) on ironstone outcrops in south-east Brazil
Authors: Jacobi Claudia Maria , Antonini Yasmine
Published: May 2008

The production and predictability of nectar resources in a population ofStachytarpheta glabra(Verbenaceae) and their use by insects and hummingbirds on ironstone outcrops in south-east Brazil were investigated. The phenology, density, nectar production, reproductive biology and floral visitors were studied, as well as territory size and daily nectar consumption by its main pollinator,Colibri serrirostris.The plant is abundant in the area, aggregated, and has a long flowering period, with very variable daily flower output. Although it can self-fertilize, it requires a pollen vector. Insect visitors totalled 21 species of bees and lepidopterans, including both pollinators and nectar robbers. Individuals ofC. serrirostrisdefend their territories against other hummingbirds and large insects. Nectar production per hummingbird territory (mean sizec. 462 m2) was estimated as 68.6–104 mL d−1in dense areas at the flowering peak, an amount well above the estimated daily consumption of 13 mL by territory holders. Still, defence of large areas seems necessary to reduce nectar theft and cope with spatial resource unpredictability. Phenological characteristics, high density, and the fact that plants are perennial makeS. glabraan attractive resource for nectar-feeders in general, and the main long-lasting nectar source for hummingbirds in the area.
Tree phenology in montane forests of southern Ecuador can be explained by precipitation, radiation and photoperiodic control
Authors: Günter Sven , Stimm Bernd , Cabrera Manuel , Diaz Maria Luisa , Lojan Manuel , Ordoñez Eduardo , Richter Michael , Weber Michael
Published: May 2008

We investigated the effect of seasonality on tree phenology in the tropical montane rain forest of southern Ecuador and analysed possible triggering factors. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) Interspecific synchronization of flowering and fruiting phenology is higher at study sites with pronounced rainfall seasonality compared with sites within perhumid forests. (2) Proximate causes for flowering in closely situated seasonal and perhumid sites are either photoperiodicity or climatic factors. Two nearby study sites with contrasting precipitation patterns were selected at the same altitude east and west of the western Cordillera. Eighty trees from 13 species were observed over a 2.5-y period. Three species were common to both study sites. Phenological and climate data were collected and cross-correlated by conducting a time-series analysis. At the perhumid site, very clear annual patterns of phenological behaviour could be observed for most of the selected rain-forest tree species, but with a poor interspecific synchronization. On the nearby seasonal site in contrast, most species showed high synchrony in their phenological behaviour coinciding with the dry season. There is strong evidence that flowering is induced not by one factor alone: we identified photoperiodic control, radiation and precipitation as possible proximate causes for both sites. Our results confirm studies which state that these factors are closely linked to each other in the tropics.
Die psychische Befindlichkeit übergewichtiger Kinder
Authors: Roth Binia , Munsch Simone , Meyer Andrea , Winkler Metzke Christa , Isler Emanuel , Steinhausen Hans-Christoph , Schneider Silvia
Published: May 2008

Zusammenfassung: Fragestellung: Zahlreiche Elternbefragungen belegen, dass übergewichtige Kinder neben somatischen Folgen vielfältigen psychosozialen Belastungen ausgesetzt sind. Standardisierte Interviews zur Erhebung klinischer Diagnosen nach DSM-IV an übergewichtigen Kindern und direkte Kinderbefragungen fehlen bisher jedoch weitgehend. Methodik: Psychische Auffälligkeiten einer Inanspruchnahmepopulation übergewichtiger 8-12-jähriger Kinder (N = 59) wurden mittels eines strukturierten Interviews (Kinder-DIPS) im Kind- und Elternbericht untersucht. Weiter wurde mit den verfügbaren Daten (N = 55) der Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) dieser klinischen Stichprobe ein Kontrollgruppenvergleich mit einer repräsentativen Stichprobe (n = 1080) vorgenommen. Schließlich wurde bei der Untergruppe der 10-12-jährigen Kinder ein Vergleich zwischen der klinisch vorgestellten übergewichtigen Sub-Stichprobe (N = 33) mit der Gruppe übergewichtiger Kinder (N = 34) sowie der Gruppe normalgewichtiger Kinder einer geschlechtsparallelisierten repräsentativen Stichprobe (N = 386) durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Bei 23 Kindern (39.0%) der klinischen Stichprobe wurde eine psychische Störung nach DSM-IV festgestellt. Ca. ein Drittel (N = 19, 34.5%) erfüllte die Forschungskriterien für eine Binge-Eating-Disorder (BED). Übergewichtige 8-12-jährige Kinder der klinischen Stichprobe wiesen im Vergleich zur geschlechts- und altersparallelisierten Kontrollstichprobe in der Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) signifikant höhere Werte in 6 der 8 Syndromskalen auf. Ferner waren die Werte für internalisierende und externalisierende Probleme sowie der Gesamtwert im Vergleich signifikant erhöht. Die übergewichtigen 10-12-jährigen Kinder der klinischen Stichprobe hatten im Vergleich zu den übergewichtigen Gleichaltrigen der repräsentativen Stichprobe bei der CBCL-Primärskala «soziale Probleme» und beim CBCL-Gesamtwert signifikant höhere Werte; nach Korrektur für BMI ergab sich keine Signifikanz mehr für den Gesamtwert. Innerhalb der repräsentativen Stichprobe hatten die übergewichtigen 10-12-jährigen Kinder bei den CBCL-Syndromskalen «soziale Probleme» und «dissoziales Verhalten» signifikant höhere Werte als ihre normalgewichtigen Gleichaltrigen. Schlussfolgerungen: Über ein Drittel der klinischen Stichprobe übergewichtiger Kindern weist psychische Störungen auf. Für übergewichtige Kinder aus der Normalbevölkerung ergeben sich Hinweise auf eine leicht erhöhte Prävalenz psychischer Auffälligkeiten in der CBCL. Übergewichtige Kinder, die sich für eine Behandlung melden, stellen somit eine hoch belastete Patientengruppe dar, die mehrdimensional behandelt werden sollte. Dabei ist ein Umdenken in der Behandlung übergewichtiger und adipöser Kinder von der prioritären Umstellung von Ess- und Bewegungsverhalten hin zu einer umfassenden Prävention von Chronifizierung und Entstehung komorbider psychischer Störungen und deren Behandlung erforderlich.
Personality Correlates of Physiological Response to Stress Among Incarcerated Juveniles
Authors: Karnik Niranjan S. , Popma Arne , Blair James , Khanzode Leena , P. Miller Samantha , Steiner Hans
Published: May 2008

Zusammenfassung: Persönlichkeitskorrelate der psychophysiologischen Stressreaktion bei inhaftierten Jugendlichen Fragestellung: Es war das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit, die Beziehung zwischen dem Persönlichkeitstypus nach Weinberger und psychophysiologischen Stressreaktionen bei adoleszenten Delinquenten zu untersuchen. Methodik: 42 delinquente männliche Jugendliche (mittleres Alter: 16.5, SD = 1) wurden in regionalen Jugendstrafanstalten mit einer Kontrollgruppe, die in Bezug auf Alter und Geschlecht übereinstimmte (n = 79, mittleres Alter 1.61, SD = 0,8) verglichen. Alle Teilnehmer wurden mit dem Weinberger Adjustment Inventar und einem stressinduzierenden Sprechtest untersucht. Während der Untersuchung wurde die Herzfrequenz gemessen. Ergebnisse: Die delinquenten Jugendlichen zeigten eine signifikant niedrigere Herzfrequenz sowohl unter Stressbedingungen (Sprachtest) als auch bei freier Assoziation in einer Unterhaltung (p < 0.05) und eine niedrigere Herzfrequenzsteigerung unter Belastung (p < 0.05). In der Gruppe der Delinquenten zeigten diejenigen mit einem nicht reaktiven Persönlichkeitstypus ein durchgängig niedrigeres physiologisches Arousal, gemessen anhand der Herzfrequenz. Schlussfolgerung: Die delinquenten Jugendlichen wiesen eine niedrigere Herzfrequenz als Hinweis auf ein geringeres Arousal auf. Innerhalb der Gruppe der delinquenten Jungen fand sich darüber hinaus eine Substichprobe mit einem persistent niedrigen Arousal, die dem nicht reaktiven Persönlichkeitstypus nach Weinberger entsprach. Die Assoziation von Persönlichkeitstypus und niedrigerer Herzfrequenz könnte die Vorstufe einer späteren so genannten psychopathischen Persönlichkeit darstellen oder aber ein Ergebnis der Faktoren in der Entwicklung sein, die zu psychopathischem Verhalten führen oder daraus resultieren.
Neurocognitive Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Patients with Cerebrovascular Disease Without Dementia
Authors: Sedlackova S. , Rektorova I. , Fanfrdlova Z. , Rektor I.
Published: May 2008

Aims: The results of our pilot study suggested that one session of high frequency rTMS applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) might induce measurable positive effects on executive functioning in patients with mild cognitive impairment of the vascular type without dementia (MCI-V). The aims of the current study were to replicate the results of our pilot study using a frameless stereotaxy as opposed to the standard and routinely used procedure. We also studied the effects of low frequency rTMS. Patients and method: Seven patients with MCI-V participated in a randomized, controlled, blind study with a crossover design. Each patient received 10 Hz and 1 Hz stimulation over the left DLPFC (an active stimulation site) or the motor cortex (MC; a control stimulation site). Frameless stereotaxy was used to target the DLPFC. The order of sites and frequencies was randomized. A short battery of neuropsychological tests was performed to evaluate executive function, working memory, and psychomotor speed. Results: One session of both high and low frequency rTMS was well tolerated and safe in terms of the cognitive after-effects in patients with MCI-V. We did not observe any significant frequency dependent or stimulation site-dependent cognitive effects of rTMS. Conclusion: We found neither positive nor negative significant effect of either low or high frequency rTMS applied over the DLPFC or the MC, while a mild positive site-specific effect of 10 Hz rTMS was observed in our pilot study on the Stroop interference results. These results suggested that MCI-V is a heterogeneous and poorly defined entity and, thus, rTMS might be useful in a subpopulation of this group of patients.
Aesthetics of Faces
Authors: Roye Anja , Höfel Lea , Jacobsen Thomas
Published: May 2008

Temporal and brain topographic characteristics of the aesthetic judgment of male and female faces were investigated, using event-related potentials and reaction times. The evaluative aesthetic judgment of facial beauty (beautiful vs. not beautiful) was contrasted with a nonevaluative descriptive judgment of head shape (round vs. oval). Analysis showed longer reaction times in the descriptive than in the evaluative task, suggesting that the descriptive judgment demanded more cognitive effort and may entail greater uncertainty. Electrophysiologically, the evaluative judgment elicited a negativity (400 to 480 ms) for the judgment not beautiful, maximal over midline leads. A comparable deflection has been previously reported for evaluative judgments of graphic patterns. It was interpreted as an impression formation independent of the type of stimulus material, occurring when an aesthetic entity is judged intentionally. Besides this effect, which was independent of the gender of the face, the temporal characteristics of aesthetic evaluation differed depending on the gender of the face. We report a negativity for male faces only (280–440 ms) and a late positivity (520–1200 ms), which was stronger for female faces, both concerning not beautiful judgments. Thus, the evaluation of male and female facial beauty was processed in different time-windows. The descriptive judgment round elicited a larger posterior positivity compared with oval (320–620 ms). These results complement investigations of the architecture and time course of evaluative aesthetic and descriptive judgment processes, using faces as stimulus material.
How to Overcome Health-Compromising Behaviors
Authors: Schwarzer Ralf , Luszczynska Aleksandra
Published: May 2008

Health-compromising behaviors such as cigarette smoking and poor dietary habits are difficult to change. Most social-cognitive theories assume that the intention to change is the best predictor of actual change, but people often do not behave in accordance with their intentions. Unforeseen barriers emerge, or people give in to temptations. Therefore, intentions should be supplemented by more proximal predictors that might facilitate the translation of intentions into action. Some self-regulatory mediators have been identified, such as perceived self-efficacy and strategic planning. They help to bridge the intention-behavior gap. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) suggests a distinction between (1) a preintentional motivation process that leads to a behavioral intention and (2) a postintentional volition process that facilitates the adoption and maintenance of health behaviors. In this article, two studies are reported that examine mediators between intentions and two behaviors. One behavior is smoking reduction in young adults, the other is dietary restraint in overweight patients with chronic disease. A structural equation model, specified in terms of the HAPA, was in line with both data sets but it explained more variance of dietary behaviors among middle-aged or older individuals with a health condition whereas variance of smoking reduction in healthy young adults was less well accounted for. The findings contribute to the elucidation of psychological mechanisms in health behavior change and point to the particular role of mediator variables.
Presentation Format Effects in a Levels-of-Processing Task
Authors: Foos Paul W. , Goolkasian Paula
Published: May 2008

Three experiments were conducted to examine better performance in long-term memory when stimulus items are pictures or spoken words compared to printed words. Hypotheses regarding the allocation of attention to printed words, the semantic link between pictures and processing, and a rich long-term representation for pictures were tested. Using levels-of-processing tasks eliminated format effects when no memory test was expected and processing was deep (E1), and when study and test formats did not match (E3). Pictures produced superior performance when a memory test was expected (E1 & 2) and when study and test formats were the same (E3). Results of all experiments support the attenuation of attention model and that picture superiority is due to a more direct access to semantic processing and a richer visual code. General principles to guide the processing of stimulus information are discussed.
Remembering and Knowing Personality Traits
Authors: Wehr Thomas
Published: May 2008

In two experiments, the effect of category salience on retrieval experience was investigated. In Experiment 1, participants rated typicality or concreteness of personality traits that differed in stereotype reference (i.e., consistent, inconsistent, and neutral in relation to the age stereotype). More remember judgments were given for consistent and inconsistent traits in contrast to neutral traits, thereby indicating a figure/ground asymmetry. In Experiment 2, neutral traits were excluded and a classical figure/ground phenomenon was demonstrated for the retrieval experience of traits (i.e., reversibility of an ambiguous figure after typicality and untypicality ratings). Altogether, the results suggest that metacognitive trait representations depend on principles of figure/ground asymmetries rather than on functional principles of social information processing.
The Dual Implication of Dual Affordance
Authors: Meiran Nachshon
Published: May 2008

In task switching experiments, comparing performance with bivalent stimuli (affording both tasks) to univalent stimuli (affording one task) confounds the need to change focus between dimensions and stimulus-task binding, because bivalent stimuli require focusing (and refocusing) but also appeared in the competing task before. To separate these influences, participants switched between vertical and horizontal judgments performed on bivalent (e.g., up-left) or univalent (e.g., left) actual locations or location words. In a critical condition involving bivalence without stimulus-task binding, actual locations and location words were each linked to a different task. Bivalence increased switch costs and preparation reduced switch costs only with bivalent stimuli. Stimulus-task binding affected performance in task repetitions, especially when little preparation time was afforded.
Dynamic Visual Noise Interferes with Storage in Visual Working Memory
Authors: Dean Graham M. , Dewhurst Stephen A. , Whittaker Annalise
Published: May 2008

Several studies have demonstrated that dynamic visual noise (DVN) does not interfere with memory for random matrices. This has led to suggestions that (a) visual working memory is distinct from imagery, and (b) visual working memory is not a gateway between sensory input and long-term storage. A comparison of the interference effects of DVN with memory for matrices and colored textures shows that DVN can interfere with visual working memory, probably at a level of visual detail not easily supported by long-term memory structures or the recoding of the visual pattern elements. The results support a gateway model of visuospatial working memory and raise questions about the most appropriate ways to measure and model the different levels of representation of information that can be held in visual working memory.
Three‐way comparison between OMI and PARASOL cloud pressure products
Authors: Sneep M. , de Haan J. F. , Stammes P. , Wang P. , Vanbauce C. , Joiner J. , Vasilkov A. P. , Levelt P. F.
Published: May 2008

The cloud pressures determined by three different algorithms, operating on reflectances measured by two spaceborne instruments in the “A” train, are compared with each other. The retrieval algorithms are based on absorption in the oxygen A‐band near 765 nm, absorption by a collision induced absorption in oxygen near 477 nm, and the filling in of Fraunhofer lines by rotational Raman scattering near 350 nm. A Lambertian reflector as cloud model is assumed in the retrievals. The first algorithm operates on data collected by the POLDER instrument on board PARASOL, while the latter two operate on data from the OMI instrument on board EOS‐Aura. The satellites sample the same air mass within about 15 min. We compare the retrieval algorithms using synthetic spectra to give the comparison realistic baseline expectations. It appears that these cloud pressures are not the pressure of the cloud top, but of a level inside the cloud. This is corroborated by comparisons with MODIS and CloudSat data: while the top of the cloud is seen by MODIS using emitted IR radiation, both OMI and PARASOL algorithms retrieve a pressure near the midlevel of the cloud. The three cloud pressure products are compared using 1 month of data. The cloud pressures are found to show a similar behavior, with correlation coefficients larger than 0.85 between the data sets for high effective cloud fractions. The average differences in the cloud pressure are small, between 2 and 45 hPa, for the whole data set, with an RMS difference of 65 to 93 hPa. This falls within the science requirement for the OMI cloud pressure to have an accuracy of 100 hPa. For small to medium effective cloud fractions, the cloud pressure distribution found by PARASOL is very similar to that found by OMI using the O2–O2 absorption. Somewhat larger differences are found for very high effective cloud fractions.
Sensitivity of quantitative precipitation forecast to height dependent changes in humidity
Authors: Keil Christian , Röpnack Andreas , Craig George C. , Schumann Ulrich
Published: May 2008

The impact of humidity variations on QPF is studied performing a series of sensitivity experiments with the COSMO model at a horizontal mesh size of 7 km. Generally, variations of humidity in the boundary layer have the largest impact on precipitation, and the sensitivity decreases with height. An increase of humidity by 10% in the boundary layer is equivalent to an increase of 20% in the mid‐troposphere. While the impact of humidity variation on stratiform precipitation persists throughout the 36‐h forecast period, the impact diminishes after 24 h in the convective rainfall area. Increasing the boundary layer humidity by 30% leads to a 6 h earlier initiation of convection and a five times larger precipitation amount in the convective area, whereas it is doubled in the stratiform region. These results indicate that accurate measurements of humidity in the boundary layer are most important for QPF.
210Pb, 230Th, and 10Be in Central Indian Basin seamount sediments: Signatures of degassing and hydrothermal alteration of recent origin
Authors: Nath B. N. , Borole D. V. , Aldahan A. , Patil S. K. , Mascarenhas‐Pereira M. B. L. , Possnert G. , Ericsson T. , Ramaswamy V. , Gupta S. M.
Published: May 2008

Isotopic (210Pb, 238U‐230Th, 10Be), major and trace elements, and micromorphological and microchemical data, were used to identify recent (∼100 yrs) hydrothermal alteration of a >200 kyr sedimentary record from the flank of a seamount in the Central Indian Basin located at the edge of the 75°30′E fracture zone. Alteration effects are also reflected in 1) the depleted sedimentary organic carbon, 2) dissolution features of radiolarian skeletons, 3) the presence of altered minerals such as smectite and zeolites, and 4) distinctly different magnetic properties in the altered sediments. We interpret a predominant influence of neutral chloride type hydrothermal fluids. This is the first report of recently occurring sediment alteration by shallow circulating sub‐surface fluids along the Indian Ocean intra‐plate seamount environment.
The HIV-1 p6/EIAV p9 docking site in Alix is autoinhibited as revealed by a conformation-sensitive anti-Alix monoclonal antibody
Authors: Zhou Xi , Pan Shujuan , Sun Le , Corvera Joe , Lin Sue-Hwa , Kuang Jian
Published: May 2008

Alix [ALG-2 (apoptosis-linked gene 2)-interacting protein X], a component of the endosomal sorting machinery, contains a three-dimensional docking site for HIV-1 p6Gag or EIAV (equine infectious anaemia virus) p9Gag, and binding of the viral protein to this docking site allows the virus to hijack the host endosomal sorting machinery for budding from the plasma membrane. In the present study, we identified a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the docking site for p6Gag/p9Gag and we used this antibody to probe the accessibility of the docking site in Alix. Our results show that the docking site is not available in cytosolic or recombinant Alix under native conditions and becomes available upon addition of the detergent Nonidet P40 or SDS. In HEK (human embryonic kidney)-293 cell lysates, an active p6Gag/p9Gag docking site is specifically available in Alix from the membrane fraction. The findings of the present study demonstrate that formation or exposure of the p6Gag/p9Gag docking site in Alix is a regulated event and that Alix association with the membrane may play a positive role in this process.
A Decentralized and Continuity-Based Algorithm for Delineating Capacitated Shelters' Service Areas
Authors: Li Xiang , Claramunt Christophe , Kung Hsiang-Te , Guo Zhongyang , Wu Jianping
Published: May 2008

This paper introduces a novel algorithm for delineating mutually exclusive service areas of shelters which have finite capabilities to accommodate residents who are unevenly distributed in space. Minimizing the travel cost and keeping spatial continuity with capability constraint are the convergent objectives of this algorithm. The algorithm partitions an entire residential area into a number of spatial units to handle the unevenness of demand, and employs a shift insertion mechanism to reduce travel cost and to improve the spatial continuity of service areas. A series of experiments and scenarios has been conducted for the city of Memphis, USA, to validate the proposed algorithm. Comparative experiments under different constraints show that the proposed algorithm is a feasible solution for delineating service areas. Various application circumstances (for example, travel-cost calculation methods and the granularity of available demographic data) are discussed to evaluate the algorithm's feasibility. The proposed algorithm can be applied not only to delineating service areas of existing shelters but also to optimizing location allocation of new shelters or other facilities with similar characteristics.
Quorum decision-making facilitates information transfer in fish shoals
Authors: Ward Ashley J. W. , Sumpter David J. T. , Couzin Iain D. , Hart Paul J. B. , Krause Jens
Published: May 2008

Despite the growing interest in collective phenomena such as “swarm intelligence” and “wisdom of the crowds,” little is known about the mechanisms underlying decision-making in vertebrate animal groups. How do animals use the behavior of others to make more accurate decisions, especially when it is not possible to identify which individuals possess pertinent information? One plausible answer is that individuals respond only when they see a threshold number of individuals perform a particular behavior. Here, we investigate the role of such “quorum responses” in the movement decisions of fish (three-spine stickleback,
Gasterosteus aculeatus
). We show that a quorum response to conspecifics can explain how sticklebacks make collective movement decisions, both in the absence and presence of a potential predation risk. Importantly our experimental work shows that a quorum response can reduce the likelihood of amplification of nonadaptive following behavior. Whereas the traveling direction of solitary fish was strongly influenced by a single replica conspecific, the replica was largely ignored by larger groups of four or eight sticklebacks under risk, and the addition of a second replica was required to exert influence on the movement decisions of such groups. Model simulations further predict that quorum responses by fish improve the accuracy and speed of their decision-making over that of independent decision-makers or those using a weak linear response. This study shows that effective and accurate information transfer in groups may be gained only through nonlinear responses of group members to each other, thus highlighting the importance of quorum decision-making.
Comprehensive screening for antigens overexpressed on carcinomas via isolation of human mAbs that may be therapeutic
Authors: Kurosawa Gene , Akahori Yasushi , Morita Miwa , Sumitomo Mariko , Sato Noriko , Muramatsu Chiho , Eguchi Keiko , Matsuda Kazuki , Takasaki Akihiko , Tanaka Miho , Iba Yoshitaka , Hamada-Tsutsumi Susumu , Ukai Yoshinori , Shiraishi Mamoru , Suzuki Kazuhiro , Kurosawa Maiko , Fujiyama Sally , Takahashi Nobuhiro , Kato Ryoichi , Mizoguchi Yoshikazu , Shamoto Mikihiro , Tsuda Hiroyuki , Sugiura Mototaka , Hattori Yoshinobu , Miyakawa Shuichi , Shiroki Ryoichi , Hoshinaga Kiyotaka , Hayashi Nobuhiro , Sugioka Atsushi , Kurosawa Yoshikazu
Published: May 2008

Although several murine mAbs that have been humanized became useful therapeutic agents against a few malignancies, therapeutic Abs are not yet available for the majority of the human cancers because of our lack of knowledge of which antigens (Ags) can become useful targets. In the present study we established a procedure for comprehensive identification of such Ags through the extensive isolation of human mAbs that may become therapeutic. Using the phage-display Ab library we isolated a large number of human mAbs that bind to the surface of tumor cells. They were individually screened by immunostaining, and clones that preferentially and strongly stained the malignant cells were chosen. The Ags recognized by those clones were isolated by immunoprecipitation and identified by MS. We isolated 2,114 mAbs with unique sequences and identified 21 distinct Ags highly expressed on several carcinomas. Of those 2,114 mAbs 356 bound specifically to one of the 21 Ags. After preparing complete IgG
1
Abs the
in vitro
assay for Ab-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and the
in vivo
assay in cancer-bearing athymic mice were performed to examine antitumor activity. The mAbs converted to IgG
1
revealed effective ADCC as well as antitumor activity
in vivo
. Because half of the 21 Ags showed distinct tumor-specific expression pattern and the mAbs isolated showed various characteristics with strong affinity to the Ag, it is likely that some of the Ags detected will become useful targets for the corresponding carcinoma therapy and that several mAbs will become therapeutic agents.
Reversal of opiate-induced apoptosis by human recombinant growth hormone in murine foetus primary hippocampal neuronal cell cultures
Authors: Svensson Anne-Lie , Bucht Nora , Hallberg Mathias , Nyberg Fred
Published: May 2008

Previous studies have shown that chronic opiates may inhibit cell growth and trigger apoptosis leading to impaired cognitive capabilities in both humans and other mammals. In contrast, growth hormone (GH) has been demonstrated to stimulate cell growth and counteract apoptosis. GH has also been shown to improve learning and memory in both human and rodents. In this work, we demonstrate that GH may reverse opiate-induced apoptosis in cells derived from prenatal mouse hippocampus. Primary hippocampal cell cultures derived from 16-day-old fetal mouse neurons were treated with morphine for 7 days during growth in the absence or presence of recombinant human GH (rhGH). The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the culture media and the level of cleaved caspase-3 were measured. Results indicate that morphine (15 μM) decreased the cell content in a concentration-dependent manner and increased LDH release and caspase-3 activity. Thus, fetal mouse neurons treated with morphine showed less viability compared with controls. Interestingly, the addition of rhGH (1 μM) counteracted the morphine-induced effect on the cell density. Furthermore, the hormone attenuated the effects on LHD release and caspase-3 activity elicited by morphine. These results suggest that the hormone is capable of preventing or even repairing morphine-induced damage to hippocampal cells.
Cuticular hydrocarbon analysis of an awake behaving fly using direct analysis in real-time time-of-flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Yew Joanne Y. , Cody Robert B. , Kravitz Edward A.
Published: May 2008

In mammals and insects, pheromones strongly influence social behaviors such as aggression and mate recognition. In
Drosophila melanogaster
, pheromones in the form of cuticular hydrocarbons play prominent roles in courtship. GC/MS is the primary analytical tool currently used to study
Drosophila
cuticular hydrocarbons. Although GC/MS is highly reproducible and sensitive, it requires that the fly be placed in a lethal solution of organic solvent, thereby impeding further behavioral studies. We present a technique for the analysis of hydrocarbons and other surface molecules from live animals by using direct analysis in real-time (DART) MS. Cuticular hydrocarbons were sampled from the surface of a restrained, awake behaving fly by using several brief, carefully controlled depressions of the abdomen with a small steel probe. DART mass spectral analysis of the probe detected ions with mass-to-charge ratio (
m
/
z
) of the protonated molecule corresponding to many of the previously identified unsaturated hydrocarbons. Six additional cuticular hydrocarbons also were identified. Consistent with previous GC/MS studies, male and female differences in chemical composition were evident. Spatial differences in the expression profile also were observed on males. Sampling from an individual female first as a virgin and then 45 and 90 min after successful copulation showed that mass signals likely to correspond to
cis
-vaccenyl acetate, tricosene, and pentacosene increased in relative intensity after courtship. This method provides near-instantaneous analysis of an individual animal's chemical profile in parallel with behavioral studies and could be extended to other models of pheromone-mediated behavior.
Treatment of climacteric symptoms in Finland prior to the controversial reports on hormone therapy
Authors: JALAVA‐BROMAN JAANA , MÄKINEN JUHA , OJANLATVA ANSA , JOKINEN KIRSI , SILLANMÄKI LAURI , RAUTAVA PÄIVI
Published: May 2008

Objective.To examine the use of hormone therapy (HT) or alternative treatments for climacteric symptoms among women aged 52–56 years in 2000.Design.Questionnaire study.Setting.Cross‐sectional Finnish female cohort in the year 2000.Sample.Random sample of women aged 52–56 years.Methods.Univariate and multivariate analysis.Main outcome measures.HT explained by 12 physical and 9 background and social variables.Results.The use of HT was significantly (p<0.001) associated with the severity of climacteric symptoms, a history of not having breast cancer, oophorectomy, low body mass index, high professional education and high alcohol intake. A total of 66% of the women used some form of treatment for their climacteric symptoms. Of them, 71% used systemic HT, 25% alternative treatments (hypnotics, antidepressants, tranquillizers, trace elements, vitamins, lifestyle modifications) and 4% local estrogens only. Altogether 33% of the women with severe climacteric symptoms did not use HT at all, whereas 27% without any symptoms used HT.Conclusions.In early 2000, almost half of the Finnish female population at menopause used HT to alleviate their climacteric symptoms. The impact of the controversial reports on HT use after the time of data collection needs further study.
Tektin 2 is required for central spindle microtubule organization and the completion of cytokinesis
Authors: Durcan Thomas M. , Halpin Elizabeth S. , Rao Trisha , Collins Nicholas S. , Tribble Emily K. , Hornick Jessica E. , Hinchcliffe Edward H.
Published: May 2008

During anaphase, the nonkinetochore microtubules in the spindle midzone become compacted into the central spindle, a structure which is required to both initiate and complete cytokinesis. We show that Tektin 2 (Tek2) associates with the spindle poles throughout mitosis, organizes the spindle midzone microtubules during anaphase, and assembles into the midbody matrix surrounding the compacted midzone microtubules during cytokinesis. Tek2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) disrupts central spindle organization and proper localization of MKLP1, PRC1, and Aurora B to the midzone and prevents the formation of a midbody matrix. Video microscopy revealed that loss of Tek2 results in binucleate cell formation by aberrant fusion of daughter cells after cytokinesis. Although a myosin II inhibitor, blebbistatin, prevents actin-myosin contractility, the microtubules of the central spindle are compacted. Strikingly, Tek2 siRNA abolishes this actin-myosin–independent midzone microtubule compaction. Thus, Tek2-dependent organization of the central spindle during anaphase is essential for proper midbody formation and the segregation of daughter cells after cytokinesis.
Dynamic localization of yeast Fus2p to an expanding ring at the cell fusion junction during mating
Authors: Paterson Joanna Mathis , Ydenberg Casey A. , Rose Mark D.
Published: May 2008

Fus2p is a pheromone-induced protein associated with the amphiphysin homologue Rvs161p, which is required for cell fusion during mating in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We constructed a functional Fus2p–green fluorescent protein (GFP), which exhibits highly dynamic localization patterns in pheromone-responding cells (shmoos): diffuse nuclear, mobile cytoplasmic dots and stable cortical patches concentrated at the shmoo tip. In mitotic cells, Fus2p-GFP is nuclear but becomes cytoplasmic as cells form shmoos, dependent on the Fus3p protein kinase and high levels of pheromone signaling. The rapid cytoplasmic movement of Fus2p-GFP dots requires Rvs161p and polymerized actin and is aberrant in mutants with compromised actin organization, which suggests that the Fus2p dots are transported along actin cables, possibly in association with vesicles. Maintenance of Fus2p-GFP patches at the shmoo tip cortex is jointly dependent on actin and a membrane protein, Fus1p, which suggests that Fus1p is an anchor for Fus2p. In zygotes, Fus2p-GFP forms a dilating ring at the cell junction, returning to the nucleus at the completion of cell fusion.
Molecular architecture of the kinetochore-microtubule attachment site is conserved between point and regional centromeres
Authors: Joglekar Ajit P. , Bouck David , Finley Ken , Liu Xingkun , Wan Yakun , Berman Judith , He Xiangwei , Salmon E.D. , Bloom Kerry S.
Published: May 2008

Point and regional centromeres specify a unique site on each chromosome for kinetochore assembly. The point centromere in budding yeast is a unique 150-bp DNA sequence, which supports a kinetochore with only one microtubule attachment. In contrast, regional centromeres are complex in architecture, can be up to 5 Mb in length, and typically support many kinetochore-microtubule attachments. We used quantitative fluorescence microscopy to count the number of core structural kinetochore protein complexes at the regional centromeres in fission yeast and Candida albicans. We find that the number of CENP-A nucleosomes at these centromeres reflects the number of kinetochore-microtubule attachments instead of their length. The numbers of kinetochore protein complexes per microtubule attachment are nearly identical to the numbers in a budding yeast kinetochore. These findings reveal that kinetochores with multiple microtubule attachments are mainly built by repeating a conserved structural subunit that is equivalent to a single microtubule attachment site.
Divergent roles of endothelial NF-κB in multiple organ injury and bacterial clearance in mouse models of sepsis
Authors: Ye Xiaobing , Ding Jianqiang , Zhou Xiaozhou , Chen Guoqian , Liu Shu Fang
Published: May 2008

To define the roles of endothelial-intrinsic nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity in host defense and multiple organ injury in response to sepsis, we generated double transgenic (TG) mice (EC-rtTA/I-κBαmt) that conditionally overexpress a degradation-resistant form of the NF-κB inhibitor I-κBα (I-κBαmt) selectively on vascular endothelium. The EC-rtTA/I-κBαmt mice had no basal, but a relatively high level of doxycycline-inducible, I-κBαmt expression. I-κBαmt expression was detected in endothelial cells, but not in fibroblasts, macrophages, and whole blood cells, confirming that transgene expression was restricted to the endothelium. When subjected to endotoxemia, EC-rtTA/I-κBαmt mice showed endothelial-selective blockade of NF-κB activation, repressed expression of multiple endothelial adhesion molecules, reduced neutrophil infiltration into multiple organs, decreased endothelial permeability, ameliorated multiple organ injury, reduced systemic hypotension, and abrogated intravascular coagulation. When subjected to cecal ligation and puncture–induced sepsis, the TG mice had less severe multiple organ injury and improved survival compared with wild-type (WT) mice. WT and EC-rtTA/I-κBαmt mice had comparable capacity to clear three different pathogenic bacteria. Our data demonstrate that endothelial NF-κB activity is an essential mediator of septic multiple organ inflammation and injury but plays little role in the host defense response to eradicate invading pathogenic bacteria.
Toll-like receptor 9 inhibition reduces mortality in polymicrobial sepsis
Authors: Plitas George , Burt Bryan M. , Nguyen Hoang M. , Bamboat Zubin M. , DeMatteo Ronald P.
Published: May 2008

The high rate of mortality in patients with sepsis results from an inappropriately amplified systemic inflammatory response to infection. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are important for the activation of innate immunity against microbial pathogens. We demonstrate a critical role of TLR9 in the dysregulated immune response and death associated with sepsis. Compared with wild-type (WT) mice, TLR9−/− mice exhibited lower serum inflammatory cytokine levels, higher bacterial clearance, and greater survival after experimental peritonitis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Protection of TLR9−/− mice after CLP was associated with a greater number of peritoneal dendritic cells (DCs) and granulocytes than in WT controls. Adoptive transfer of TLR9−/− DCs was sufficient to protect WT mice from CLP and increased the influx of peritoneal granulocytes. Subsequent experiments with a depleting antibody revealed that granulocytes were required for survival in TLR9−/− mice. Remarkably, a single injection of an inhibitory CpG sequence that blocks TLR9 protected WT mice, even when administered as late as 12 h after CLP. Our findings demonstrate that the detrimental immune response to bacterial sepsis occurs via TLR9 stimulation. TLR9 blockade is a potential strategy for the treatment of human sepsis.
Controlling the Clonal Spread ofPseudomonas aeruginosaInfection
Authors: Pereira Graziella H. , Levin Anna S. , Oliveira Helenice Bosco , Moretti Maria Luiza
Published: May 2008

To evaluate nosocomial infections due to imipenem-resistant and imipenem-susceptiblePseudomonas aeruginosa, a case-control study that included genotyping was performed. Hospitalization for more than 15 days was independently associated with infection with an imipenem-resistant organism. Sixty-seven percent of the imipenem-resistant isolates analyzed and 23% of the imipenem-susceptible isolates analyzed belonged to a single clone. Intervention led to a decrease in the number of infections due to imipenem-resistant and imipenem-susceptibleP. aeruginosa.
Malin: maximum likelihood analysis of intron evolution in eukaryotes
Authors: Csűrös Miklós
Published: May 2008

Summary: Malin is a software package for the analysis of eukaryotic gene structure evolution. It provides a graphical user interface for various tasks commonly used to infer the evolution of exon–intron structure in protein-coding orthologs. Implemented tasks include the identification of conserved homologous intron sites in protein alignments, as well as the estimation of ancestral intron content, lineage-specific intron losses and gains. Estimates are computed either with parsimony, or with a probabilistic model that incorporates rate variation across lineages and intron sites.

Availability: Malin is available as a stand-alone Java application, as well as an application bundle for MacOS X, at the website http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~csuros/introns/malin/. The software is distributed under a BSD-style license.

Contact:  csuros@iro.umontreal.ca
A label of health: a previous immune challenge is reflected in the expression of a female plumage trait
Authors: Hanssen Sveinn A , Hasselquist Dennis , Folstad Ivar , Erikstad Kjell E
Published: May 2008

Studies of ornaments as indicators of individual quality have hitherto focused on males, while studies of female ornaments have been almost absent. However, females within the same species may show large variation in both outer appearance and individual quality. We experimentally examined the effect of an immune challenge on the size of white fringes in the wing feathers produced one to two months after the challenge in female common eiders (
Somateria mollissima
), a long-lived sea duck. Immune-challenged females produced feathers with smaller white fringes, showing that a previous immune challenge may affect the expression of a plumage trait. We also report an unexpected difference in the expression of this white plumage trait within the immune-challenged group, related to the specific immune response against one of the injected antigens.