bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of juvenile growth rates in female guppies (
Poecilia reticulata
): predator regime or resource level?
Authors: Arendt Jeffrey D. , Reznick David N.
Published: February 2005

Recent theoretical and empirical work argues that growth rate can evolve and be optimized, rather than always being maximized. Chronically low resource availability is predicted to favour the evolution of slow growth, whereas attaining a size–refuge from mortality risk is predicted to favour the evolution of rapid growth. Guppies (
Poecilia reticulata
) evolve differences in behaviour, morphology and life–history traits in response to predation, thus demonstrating that predators are potent agents of selection. Predators in low–predation environments prey preferentially on small guppies, but those in high–predation environments appear to be non–selective. Because guppies can outgrow their main predator in low– but not high–predation localities, we predict that predation will select for higher growth rates in the low–predation environments. However, low–predation localities also tend to have lower productivity than high–predation localities, yielding the prediction that guppies from these sites should have slower growth rates. Here we compare the growth rates of the second laboratory–born generation of guppies from paired high– and low–predation localities from four different drainages. In two out of four comparisons, guppies from high–predation sites grew significantly faster than their low–predation counterparts. We also compare laboratory born descendants from a field introduction experiment and show that guppies introduced to a low–predation environment evolved slower growth rates after 13 years, although this was evident only at the high food level. The weight of the evidence suggests that resource availability plays a more important role than predation in shaping the evolution of growth rates.
Amyloplasts and Vacuolar Membrane Dynamics in the Living Graviperceptive Cell of the Arabidopsis Inflorescence Stem
Authors: Saito Chieko , Morita Miyo T. , Kato Takehide , Tasaka Masao
Published: February 2005

We developed an adequate method for the in vivo analysis of organelle dynamics in the gravity-perceptive cell (endodermis) of the Arabidopsis thaliana inflorescence stem, revealing behavior of amyloplasts and vacuolar membranes in those cells. Amyloplasts in the endodermis showed saltatory movements even before gravistimulation by reorientation, and these movements were confirmed as microfilament dependent. From our quantitative analysis in the wild type, the gravity-oriented movement of amyloplasts mainly occurred during 0 to 3 min after gravistimulation by reorientation, supporting findings from our previous physiological study. Even after microfilament disruption, the gravity-oriented movement of amyloplasts remained. By contrast, in zig/sgr4 mutants, where a SNARE molecule functioning in vacuole biogenesis has been disrupted, the movement of amyloplasts in the endodermis is severely restricted both before and after gravistimulation by reorientation. Here, we describe vacuolar membrane behavior in these cells in the wild-type, actin filament–disrupted, and zig/sgr4 mutants and discuss its putatively important features for the perception of gravity. We also discuss the data on the two kinds of movements of amyloplasts that may play an important role in gravitropism: (1) the leading edge amyloplasts and (2) the en mass movement of amyloplasts.
Do Americans Trust Other Nations? A Panel Study*
Authors: Brewer Paul R. , Aday Sean , Gross Kimberly
Published: February 2005

Objectives. This study examines Americans' generalized beliefs about how much the United States can trust other nations, as well as changes over time in such beliefs.

Methods. We analyze original panel survey data collected in 2001 and 2002.

Results. Although only a minority of panel respondents expressed generalized trust in other nations immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, even fewer expressed such trust when reinterviewed almost a year later. Social trust, political trust, and party loyalties predicted individual‐level change in this form of trust from 2001 to 2002.

Conclusions. Declining trust in other nations may have important implications for public opinion and, ultimately, public policy regarding world affairs.
O Other, Where Art Thou? Support for Multiparty Politics in the United States*
Authors: Donovan Todd , Parry Janine A. , Bowler Shaun
Published: February 2005

Objective.We test hypotheses about support for multiparty politics in the United States. We expect that individual‐level attitudes and state‐level partisan context determine who supports having more parties.

Methods.Survey data are used to model attitudes about having additional parties to challenge Democrats and Republicans.

Results.Self‐identified partisans are opposed to additional parties, but independents who “lean” toward a major party are most supportive. Independents who say they are closer to Democrats, as well as independents who say they are closer to Republicans, tend to support having new parties. The latter effect is contingent on a state's partisan context. Independents closer to Republicans are most receptive to additional parties in states where fewer conservative representatives are elected.

Conclusions.Support for multiparty‐ism among “leaning” independents challenges our understanding of how they may be similar to partisan identifiers, and illustrates that a base for new parties may exist in the “mainstream” public if electoral rules were changed.
Religion and Abortion Attitudes Among U.S. Hispanics: Findings from the 1990 Latino National Political Survey*
Authors: Ellison Christopher G. , Echevarría Samuel , Smith Brad
Published: February 2005

Objective. The goal of this article is to examine the relationship between religious involvement, gauged mainly in terms of affiliation and frequency of attendance at services, and abortion attitudes among three major Hispanic subgroups: Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Cuban Americans.

Method. The study analyzes data from the Latino National Political Survey, a sample of over 2,700 U.S. Hispanics completed in 1990.

Results. Committed (i.e., regularly attending) Hispanic Protestants, most of whom belong to conservative groups, are more strongly pro‐life than any other segment of the Latino population, and are much more likely than others to support a total abortion ban. Committed Catholics also tend to hold pro‐life views, but they are relatively more likely to endorse an abortion ban that includes exceptions for rape, incest, and threats to the mother's life. Less devoted Catholics and Protestants generally do not differ from religiously unaffiliated Hispanics in their abortion views. There are also modest variations in the links between religious involvement and abortion attitudes across the three Latino subgroups.

Conclusion. Religious factors are highly important predictors of Hispanics' preferences regarding abortion policies. Contrary to some previous discussions, it is committed Protestants, more so than Catholics, who are the staunchest opponents of abortion in the Latino population.
The Roles of Race, Class, and Residential Preferences in the Neighborhood Racial Composition of Middle‐Class Blacks and Whites*
Authors: Adelman Robert M.
Published: February 2005

Objective. This analysis extends the residential attainment literature by examining the neighborhood racial composition of middle‐class blacks and whites while controlling for residential preferences.

Methods. Using the Multi‐City Study of Urban Inequality and 1990 Census data, the spatial assimilation and place stratification theories of locational attainment are tested.

Results. As in previous research, support is shown for both theories; for blacks, stronger human capital characteristics translate into neighborhoods that are less racially segregated. However, even when middle‐class blacks prefer to live in integrated neighborhoods, on average, they live in neighborhoods that are about 60 percent black and 30 percent white, while middle‐class whites who prefer to live in integrated neighborhoods reside in neighborhoods that, on average, are 10 percent black and 85 percent white.

Conclusions. Although incorporating residential preferences into models that predict neighborhood racial composition proves important, the relative inability of middle‐class blacks to implement their preferences indicates powerful social forces that maintain “American apartheid.”
Participation of RANTES and T‐Cell Apoptosis in Human Renal Allograft
Authors: Racca A. , Bailat A. , García M. I. , Soutullo A. , Gaite L. , Malan Borel I.
Published: January 2005

The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum RANTES (Regulated upon Activation of Normal T cell Expressed and Secreted) levels and the expression of CCR5, as well as the percentage of apoptotic cells, in peripheral T lymphocytes from renal transplanted patients with acute rejection (AR), chronic rejection (CR) or stable evolution (SE). RANTES serum levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunoadsorbent assay and CCR5 expression, as well as the percentage of apoptotic lymphocytes, on a FACScan flow cytometer. After staining with different antibodies, the cells were subjected to three‐colour flow cytometric analysis. Data analysis was performed using winmdi 2.5 software. The serum RANTES level and percentages of CCR5/CD4 and CCR5/CD8 T lymphocytes in CR, AR and SE were lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The level of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes in early apoptosis was higher in AR patients than in CR, SE or C groups (P < 0.05). In the case of late apoptosis, the percentage of apoptotic/necrotic cells was higher in the CR than AR, SE or C groups (P < 0.05). The RANTES serum levels and the percentage of peripheral CCR5 T lymphocytes would not indicate the renal allograft state. The increase of early apoptotic T lymphocytes could be a marker of AR process and could also indicate the initial step in reducing the cytotoxic T lymphocytes, thus favouring the graft evolution.
Traditional and commercial apple and pear cultivars as sources of resistance to fireblight1
Authors: Hevesi M. , Göndör M. , Kása K. , Honty K. , Tóth M. G.
Published: January 2005

In Hungary, fireblight research programmes were initiated on pear in 1999 and on apple in 2000, with the aim of evaluating the susceptibility or resistance of commercial cultivars. Sources of resistance for future breeding were also sought among traditional apple cultivars collected from Ukraine and pear cultivars in the Hungarian gene bank (Szigetcsép). Experiments were done under secure conditions. Inocula were mixtures of characteristic Erwinia amylovora isolates from pear and apple in Hungary. Host responses (symptom development, disease severity and multiplication rate of bacterial cells in host tissues) were assessed on shoots, flowers and fruits. About 30 pear and 30 apple cultivars, and 35 apple hybrids, were tested and grouped into four categories for pear and three for apple. Of the pear cultivars tested, 50% were susceptible, 30% moderately susceptible and only 10% of low susceptibility. Different plant organs occasionally displayed different responses. Members of the last two groups might serve as useful candidates for growing under IPM conditions. Among the traditional Hungarian varieties tested, we found high resistance in ‘Sikulai’ and ‘Szemes alma’, which could be used as sources of fireblight resistance in breeding programmes and also grown in organic orchards. Furthermore, among the offspring of the apple ‘Prima’ (scab‐resistant), we have found highly resistant lines.
Effectiveness of the resistance inducer prohexadione‐Ca against fireblight in shoots of apple trees inoculated with Erwinia amylovora1
Authors: Bubán T. , Földes L. , Fekete Z. , Rademacher W.
Published: January 2005

Due to the lack of effective, non‐phytotoxic and publicly acceptable materials for controlling fireblight in pome fruit trees, novel strategies against Erwinia amylovora are being sought. Resistance‐inducing compounds, such as prohexadione‐Ca, represent promising alternatives. Prohexadione‐Ca is the active substance of the bioregulator Regalis, currently being introduced in several European countries and overseas. Prohexadione‐Ca reduces shoot elongation due to inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis. Furthermore, it leads to significant changes in the spectrum of flavonoids and their phenolic precursors in pome fruits, which causes reduced susceptibility to fireblight and other pathogens. In 2002 and 2003, container‐grown apple trees of the cultivars ‘Idared’ and ‘Freedom’ were treated with different dosages of prohexadione‐Ca two weeks before inoculation with E. amylovora. The effect of prohexadione‐Ca against shoot blight was determined by measuring the lengths of necrotic lesions and symptoms on vascular bundles caused by the pathogen. Treatments with prohexadione‐Ca turned out to be much superior to the ones with streptomycin, kasugamycin and a bacterial antagonist, which were used for comparison. Acibenzolar‐S‐methyl (Bion), another resistance‐inducing compound, was included in some of the experiments and gave intermediate results. The simultaneous control of excessive shoot growth and shoot infections by fireblight is seen as a major advantage of using prohexadione‐Ca in pome fruit trees.
Phase determination and microstructure of oxide scales formed on steel at high temperature
Authors: WEST G. D. , BIROSCA S. , HIGGINSON R. L.
Published: January 2005

Even in simple low‐alloy steels the oxide scales that form during hot working processes are often a complex mixture of three iron oxide phases: haematite, magnetite and wüstite. The mechanical properties, and hence descalability, are intimately linked with phase distribution and microstructure, which in turn are sensitive to both steel composition and oxidation conditions. In this study electron backscatter diffraction in the SEM has been used to characterize the microstructures of oxide scales formed on two compositions of low‐alloy steel. The technique can unambiguously differentiate between the candidate phases to provide the phase distribution within the scale. This is used to investigate grain orientation relationships both within and between phase layers. It has been found that the strength of the orientational relationship between the magnetite and wüstite layers is dependent on steel composition, and in particular Si content. In a low‐Si (0.01 wt%) alloy only a very weak relationship was found to exist for a range of oxidation temperatures (800–1000 °C), whereas for the higher Si (0.37 wt%) alloy a strong relationship was observed under the same oxidation conditions. These orientational relationships are particularly important because, in this temperature range, the majority of oxide scale growth occurs at the magnetite/wüstite interphase boundary.
Time evolution of sigma 3 annealing twins in secondary recrystallized nickel
Authors: BOOTH M. , RANDLE V. , OWEN G.
Published: January 2005

Samples of commercially pure nickel have been annealed in air at 0.68Tm (900 °C) for 1, 2 and 3 h in order to study the relationship between the grain growth characteristics and grain boundary misorientation, particularly annealing twins (Σ 3). Orientation mapping by electron backscatter diffraction was used to obtain the experimental data. Anomalous grain growth was observed in commercially pure nickel after each of the anneals. The main findings are as follows. The texture was mainly {100}<001> and {112}<111> and it was more pronounced in coarse‐grained areas than in fine‐grained areas. The length fraction of Σ 3s (annealing twins) increased with annealing time and therefore with the level of anomalous grain growth. Two to three twins per grain were sited in coarse‐grained regions whereas less than one twin per grain was sited in fine‐grained regions. It is suggested that the nucleation and growth of twinning is mechanistically linked to anomalous grain growth.
The use of combined cathodoluminescence and EBSD analysis: a case study investigating grain boundary migration mechanisms in quartz
Authors: PIAZOLO S. , PRIOR D. J. , HOLNESS M. D.
Published: January 2005

Grain boundary migration is an important mechanism of microstructural modification both in rocks and in metals. Combining detailed cathodoluminescence (CL) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis offers the opportunity to relate directly changes in crystallographic orientation to migrating boundaries. We observe the following features in naturally heated quartz grains from the thermal aureole of the Ballachulish Igneous Complex (Scotland, U.K.): (a) propagation of substructures and twin boundaries in swept areas both parallel and at an angle to the growth direction, (b) development of slightly different crystallographic orientations and new twin boundaries at both the growth interfaces and within the swept area and (c) a gradual change in crystallographic orientation in the direction of growth. All these features are compatible with a growth mechanism in which single atoms are attached and detached both at random and at preferential sites, i.e. crystallographically controlled sites or kinks in boundary ledges. Additionally, strain fields caused by defects and/or trace element incorporation may facilitate nucleation sites for new crystallographic orientations at distinct growth interfaces but also at continuously migrating boundaries. This study illustrates the usefulness of combined CL and EBSD in microprocess analysis. Further work in this direction may provide detailed insight into both the mechanism of static grain growth and the energies and mobilities of boundaries in terms of misorientation and grain boundary plane orientation.
EBSD study of the orientation dependence of substructure characteristics in a model Fe−30wt%Ni alloy subjected to hot deformation
Authors: CIZEK P. , BAI F. , PALMIERE E. J. , RAINFORTH W. M.
Published: January 2005

The aim of the present investigation was to determine the orientation dependence of substructure characteristics in an austenitic Fe−30wt%Ni model alloy subjected to hot plane strain compression. Deformation was carried out at a temperature of 950 °C using a strain rate of 10 s−1 to equivalent strain levels of approximately 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8. The specimens obtained were analysed using a fully automatic electron backscatter diffraction technique. The crystallographic texture was characterized for all the strain levels studied and the subgrain structure was quantified in detail at a strain of 0.4. The substructure characteristics displayed pronounced orientation dependence. The major texture components, namely the copper, S, brass, Goss and rotated Goss, generally contained one or two prominent families of parallel larger‐angle extended subboundaries, the traces of which on the longitudinal viewing plane appeared systematically aligned along the {111} slip plane traces, bounding long microbands subdivided into slightly elongated subgrains by short lower‐angle transverse subboundaries. Relatively rare cube‐orientated grains displayed pronounced subdivision into coarse deformation bands containing large, low‐misorientated subgrains. The misorientation vectors across subboundaries largely showed a tendency to cluster around the sample transverse direction. Apart from the rotated Goss texture component, the stored energy levels for the remaining components were principally consistent with the corresponding Taylor factor values.
Identification of Armillaria isolates from Bhutan based on DNA sequence comparisons
Authors: Coetzee M. P. A. , Wingfield B. D. , Kirisits T. , Chhetri D. B. , Bloomer P. , Wingfield M. J.
Published: January 2005

Armillaria root rot is a serious disease in fir and mixed conifer forests of Bhutan, Eastern Himalayas. The species causing this disease have, however, never been identified. The aim of this study was to identify field isolates collected at four localities in Bhutan. Identification was based on RFLP analysis of the IGS‐1 region, comparisons of ITS and IGS‐1 sequence data with those available on GenBank, cladistic analyses and sexual compatibility studies. Isolates were found to reside in two distinct RFLP groups. RFLP group 1 isolates from Pinus wallichiana at Yusipang had RFLP profiles and IGS‐1 sequences similar to those of Armillaria mellea ssp. nipponica. Although ITS sequence data are not available for A. mellea ssp. nipponica, sequences from this DNA region were most similar to the closely related A. mellea from Asia. The RFLP profile and IGS‐1 sequences for RFLP group 2 isolates from Abies densa at Changaphug, Tsuga dumosa at Chimithanka as well as Picea spinulosa and T. dumosa in the Phobjikha valley were similar to those published for Armillaria borealis, Armillaria cepistipes, Armillaria gemina and Armillaria ostoyae. Distance analysis based on IGS‐1 and ITS sequence data indicated that these isolates are closely related to A. cepistipes, Armillaria gallica and Armillaria sinapina. The isolates were, however, sexually incompatible with tester strains of A. cepistipes, A. gallica and A. sinapina. Although closely related to these species, they appear to represent a distinct taxon that will be referred to as Bhutanese phylogenetic species I (BPS I) until basidiocarps are found and the species can be described.
Diversity and population dynamics ofPenicilliumspp. on apples in pre‐ and postharvest environments: consequences for decay development
Authors: Amiri A. , Bompeix G.
Published: January 2005

Isolates ofPenicilliumspp. were collected regularly from 2001 to 2003 from the surfaces of apple fruit pre‐ and postharvest, and from the atmosphere of orchards and storage rooms in France.Penicilliumspp. were not detected from the atmosphere of conventional orchards, while their density did not exceed 50 spores m−3in the atmosphere of organically managed orchards.Penicilliumspp. were seldom detected on apple surfaces in the orchard. The density ofPenicilliumon apples increased from 10 to 50 spores cm−2after 1 month in storage to 300–400 spores cm−2after 6 months. The level of airbornePenicilliumincreased by up to 2 × 104and 2·5 × 103spores m−3within nondisinfected and previously disinfected warehouses, respectively.Penicillium expansum(30–62%) andP. solitum(6–45%) were the most prevalent species on apple or in storage rooms. Other species ofPenicilliumisolated includedP. commune,P. verrucosum,P. chrysogenum,P. rugulosumandP. digitatum. Apple fruit were also surveyed for wounds and the number of open lenticels using the sulphur dioxide test. The incidence of wounding at harvest varied from 12 to 36%, depending on cultivar and locality. When apples were inoculated at harvest by either aqueous or aerial inoculum ofP. expansum, the decay incidence was constantly higher than the incidence of wounding. The number of open lenticels per cm2of apple surface varied from 0·5 on cv. Boskoop to 4·4 on cv. Golden Delicious. An average of 13 and 2·1% of lenticels, respectively, were infected when they were inoculated byP. expansumandP. verrucosum. Cultivars of apple fruit that showed a greater number of open lenticels, combined with a large diameter varying from 100 to 200 µm, were more susceptible toP. expansum.
AFLP‐based PCR markers that differentiate spot and net forms of Pyrenophora teres
Authors: Leisova L. , Kucera L. , Minarikova V. , J. Ovesna
Published: January 2005

Specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were developed from amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fragments of Pyrenophora teres, the causal agent of net blotch on barley leaves. The primers were designed specifically to amplify DNA from P. teres f. teres (net form) and allow its differentiation from P. teres f. maculata (spot form), which is morphologically very similar to P. teres f. teres in culture. The PCR amplification was carried out successfully from DNA extracted from fungal mycelium. The PCR assay was validated with 60 samples of Pyrenophora species. The amplification with four designed PCR primer pairs provided P. teres form‐specific products. No cross‐reaction was observed with DNA of several other species, such as P. tritici‐repentis, P. graminea and Helminthosporium sativum.
Psychosocial implications of Thalassemia Major
Authors: Aydinok Yesim , Erermis Serpil , Bukusoglu Nagihan , Yilmaz Deniz , Solak Ufuk
Published: February 2005

Abstract 
Background
: Many causes including the chronicity of disease, burden of treatment modalities, morbidities, and the expectation of early death resulting from the disease complications, may lead to psychosocial burden in Thalassemia Major (TM) patients.

Methods
: A total of 38 patients with TM and their mothers were recruited to evaluate the psychosocial burden as well as to disclose whether the psychological status of the patients contribute to the compliance with the therapy or to the contrary. Demographic and disease variables were obtained. Child Behavior Check‐list (CBCL) was completed by the mothers of the patients. A detailed psychiatric interview based on the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual diagnostic criteria was performed for each patient. Symptom Distress Checklist 90 (SCL‐90) scale was given to all mothers for evaluating their psychopathology.

Results
: Although CBCL scores remained between the normal ranges, desferrioxamine mesylate (DFO)‐compliant patients and the patients with lower ferritin values had significantly higher scores. A total of 24% of the patients had a psychiatric diagnosis including major depression, anxiety disorder, tic disorder, and enuresis nocturnal. The psychiatric diagnosis was significantly higher in the patients who were compliant with desferrioxamine compared with the non‐compliant group (P = 0.007). The SCL‐90 scores indicated that the mothers who had a child with good adherence to DFO had higher scale scores than the mothers with a poor adherent child.

Conclusions
: The increase risk of psychosocial and behavioral problems in thalassemics and their parents indicated the importance of a lifelong psychosocial support for the prevention of mental health issues. The patients and their parents, who were more conscious of the illness, were more worried but more compliant with the therapy and need stronger psychiatric support.
Recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in low‐birthweight preterm infants: A prospective controlled study
Authors: Arif Bahar , Ferhan Karademir
Published: February 2005

Abstract 
Background
: This study aimed to detect the effectiveness of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy in preventing premature anemia in low‐birthweight preterm infants.

Methods
: A total of 292 premature infants who were born earlier than 33 gestational weeks and smaller than 1500 g birthweight were enrolled into the study. In addition to their conventional supportive therapy (medications), recombinant human erythropoietin 200 U/kg twice a week, subcutaneously, was given to randomly selected 142 premature infants for 6 weeks. The blood count variables and need for transfusions were compared with the remaining 150 premature infants during 6 months follow up.

Results
: Serum erythropoietin levels were 11.3 ± 6.1 mU/mL and 38.3 ± 19.1 mU/mL in the erythropoietin group before and at the fourth week of the study, respectively (P < 0.001). Reticulocyte counts of the group treated with erythropoietin were 146 × 106 ± 28 × 106/mL and 122 × 106 ± 27 × 106/mL at the fourth and seventh week of the study, respectively, and these values were significantly higher when compared with the control group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001). At the same period, hematocrit values were also found to be higher in the treatment group than the control group (P < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group at the fourth week of the study. No side‐effects related to erythropoietin usage were encountered. The need for packed cell transfusions were 47% in the group treated with erythropoietin and 62.6% in the control group. A statistically significant difference was found for transfusion needs between the control and treatment groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusion
: Recombinant erythropoietin is effective therapy for maintaining stable hematocrit levels in low‐birthweight preterm infants and prevents the need for blood transfusions.
Women's health after plastic surgery
Authors: Englert H. , Joyner E. , Mcgill N. , Chambers P. , Horner D. , Hunt C. , Makaroff J. , O'Connor H. , Russell N. , March L.
Published: February 2005

Background: Allegations that exposure to endogenous silicone, especially related to breast implants, might be causally related to connective tissue disease originated from case studies. More recent comparative studies have implied no such increased risk. The aims of the present study were to compare the prevalence and/or incidence of autoimmune and connective tissue disorders in a population‐based cohort of female Sydney residents stratified by augmentation mammoplasty status.

Methods: In this population‐based retrospective cohort study, the health status of female Sydney residents who had augmentation mammoplasty for cosmetic reasons between 1979 and 1983 was compared with that of female Sydney residents who had non‐silicone‐ associated plastic surgery over the same period. Both groups were matched for age (± 5 years), year of plastic surgery (± 2 years), plastic surgeon, anaesthetist and mode of anaesthesia. Outcome measures comprised rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, sicca symptoms polymyositis/ dermatomyositis, connective tissue disease overlap, digital vasospasm, abnormal nailfold capillaroscopy, elevated antinuclear antibody titre, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, livedo reticularis, thyroid disease, multiple sclerosis, axillary lymphadenopathy, fibromyalgia and breast carcinoma.

Results: There was no difference in the occurrence of connective tissue diseases or connective tissue disease‐related parameters, thyroid disorders, fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis between cohorts. However, axillary adenopathy and low titre positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) occurred with a significantly greater frequency in the exposed cohort (odds ratio (OR) = 3.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.10–5.84 and OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.03–1.62, respectively). Axillary adenopathy correlated with capsular contracture (relative risk (RR) = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.22–3.51) and also the self‐reported development of digital vasospasm (RR = 3.20, 95% CI = 1.46–7.03) after breast augmentation.

Conclusions: No association was found between augmentation mammoplasty exposure and various connective tissue diseases and/or their related features. However, axillary adenopathy and low titre ANA were detected more frequently in the exposed cohort. Women with axillary adenopathy were more likely to have breast capsular contracture and report digital vasospasm post‐dating surgery. Given comparable frequencies of higher titre ANA of both cohorts, the finding of elevations of low titre ANA is of dubious clinical significance. (Intern Med J 2001; 31: 77–89)
Lung volume reduction surgery: The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Snell G. I. , Peacock M. , Garrett J.
Published: February 2005

Lung volume reduction surgery involves the removal of emphysematous lung tissue with the aim of palliating symptoms in selected patients with severe emphysema. This form of surgery is being practised in Australia with favourable short‐term outcomes, similar to those reported in the literature. Large multicentre trials are currently underway in North America and the United Kingdom to clarify issues of safety and long‐term efficacy. As a result, it is too early to apply an evidence‐based approach to this procedure. In the meantime, local audits of practice need to be undertaken to define patient subgroups at higher risk of morbidity and mortality. (Intern Med J 2001; 31: 112–115)
Modelling the interplay between pest movement and the physical design of trap crop systems
Authors: Hannunen Salla
Published: January 2005

Abstract  1 The interplay between pest movement and trap crop physical design is modelled in a situation where the pest moves by a random walk with spatially variable mobility. Questions addressed are: (i) how does the proportion of trap crop area of the total field area influence the equilibrium distribution of pests among the crop and the trap crop and (ii) how do crop patch size and shape influence the speed of pest redistribution from the crop to the trap crop.

2 When pest mobility in the trap crop is clearly lower than that in the crop, the pest population in the crop decreases very sharply for small trap crop proportions. When mobility in the trap crop is slightly closer to that in the crop, the pest population in the crop decreases much more gradually with increasing trap crop proportion. Thus finding a trap crop that the pest distinctly prefers over the crop appears to be crucial for developing efficient trap crop systems.

3 The rate of decay in the pest population in the crop increases with increasing perimeter to area ratio of the crop patch. Hence, designing field layouts to increase the perimeter to area ratio of crop patches may be beneficial.
Biogeography of bacteria associated with the marine sponge Cymbastela concentrica
Authors: Taylor Michael W. , Schupp Peter J. , De Nys Rocky , Kjelleberg Staffan , Steinberg Peter D.
Published: January 2005

Recent debate regarding microbial biogeography has focused largely on free‐living microbes, yet those microbes associated with host organisms are also of interest from a biogeographical perspective. Marine eukaryotes and associated bacteria should provide ideal systems in which to consider microbial biogeography, as (i) bacteria in seawater should be able to disperse among individuals of the same host species, yet (ii) potential for adaptation to particular hosts (and thus speciation) also exists. We used 16S rDNA‐DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) to examine geographic variability in bacterial community composition in the marine sponge Cymbastela concentrica. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis banding patterns (and phylogenetic analysis of excised DGGE bands) indicated different communities in Cymbastela concentrica from tropical versus temperate Australia. In contrast, communities were very similar over a 500‐km portion of the sponge's temperate range. Variation in bacterial community composition was also considered with respect to ocean current patterns. We speculate that the divergent communities in different parts of the sponge's range provide evidence of endemism attributed to host association, although variation in environmental factors such as light and temperature could also explain the observed results. Interestingly, bacterial communities in seawater varied much less between tropical and temperate locations than did those in C. concentrica, supporting the concept of widespread dispersal among these free‐living microbes.
Bacterial diversity promotes community stability and functional resilience after perturbation
Authors: Girvan M. S. , Campbell C. D. , Killham K. , Prosser J. I. , Glover L. A.
Published: January 2005

The relationships between bacterial community diversity and stability were investigated by perturbing soils, with naturally differing levels of diversity, to equivalent toxicity using copper sulfate and benzene. Benzene amendment led to large decreases in total bacterial numbers and biomass in both soils. Benzene amendment of an organo‐mineral/improved pasture soil altered total soil bacterial community structure but, unlike amendment of the mineral/arable soil, maintained genetic diversity, based on polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE ) analysis targeting DNA and RNA, until week 9 of the perturbation experiment. Assuming equivalent toxicity, the genetic diversity of the naturally more diverse soil was more resistant to benzene perturbation than the less diverse soil. The broad scale function (mineralization of 14C‐labelled wheat shoot) of both benzene‐ and copper‐treated soil communities was unaffected. However, narrow niche function (mineralization of 14C‐labelled 2,4‐dichlorophenol) was impaired for both benzene‐polluted soils. The organo‐mineral soil recovered this function by the end of the experiment but the mineral soil did not, suggesting greater resilience in the more diverse soil. Despite a large reduction in bacterial numbers and biomass in the copper‐treated soils, only small differences in bacterial community diversity were observed by week 9 in the copper‐polluted soils. The overall community structure was little altered and functionality, measured by mineralization rates, remained unchanged. This suggested a non‐selective pressure and a degree of genetic and functional resistance to copper perturbation, despite a significant reduction in bacterial numbers and biomass. However, initial shifts in physiological profiles of both copper‐polluted soils were observed but rapidly returned to those of the controls. This apparent functional recovery, accompanied by an increase in culturability, possibly reflects adaptation by the surviving communities to perturbation. The findings indicate that, although soil communities may be robust, relationships between diversity and stability need to be considered in developing a predictive understanding of response to environmental perturbations.
Sensitive skin: mechanisms and diagnosis
Authors: Primavera G. , Berardesca E.
Published: February 2005

Synopsis

Sensitive skin is a condition of subjective cutaneous hyperreactivity to environmental factors. Subjects experiencing this condition report exaggerated reactions when their skin is in contact with cosmetics, soaps and sunscreens, and they often report worsening after exposure to dry and cold climate. Although no sign of irritation is commonly detected, itching, burning, stinging and a tight sensation are constantly present. Generally substances that are not commonly considered irritants are involved in this abnormal response. They include many ingredients of cosmetics such as: dimethyl sulfoxide, benzoyl peroxide preparations, salicylic acid, propylene glycol, amyldimethylaminobenzoic acid and 2‐ethoxyethyl methoxycinnamate. Sensitive skin and subjective irritation are widespread but still far from being completely defined and understood. The aim of this paper is to summarize the relevant literature in order to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of sensitive skin and the best testing methodologies for investigation of sensitive skin.
NATIONAL IDENTITY IN NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES
Authors: STIEVE THOMAS
Published: January 2005

Some theories contend that national identity is dependent and contingent on having others. However, other theories suggest that national identity is based on traits that all members of the group share. These two competing ideas, called relational and unifying characters respectively, are explored using the two border cites of Niagara Falls, Canada and Niagara Falls, the United States. I argue that each national identity present, the Canadian and American, represent the two characters and that national identity can be viewed as a spectrum. Using content analysis, each city's newspaper is studied for its expression of both characters.
GLOBALISATION AND RESTRUCTURING IN RURAL MEXICO: THE CASE OF FRUIT GROWERS
Authors: ECHÁNOVE FLAVIA
Published: January 2005

Mexico is the leading mango‐exporting country in the world. In this global commodity chain there is an important participation by small‐scale farmers whose products end up in US supermarkets. This paper analyses the linkages between the agriculture sector in a developing country and the global agro‐food system. Drawing on the development geography approach and the global commodity‐chain perspective, the effects and responses of global processes on local development are analysed by examining the relations between fruit export companies, local growers and consumer markets. Our case study is of small farmers (ejidatarios) who grow mangos in one of Mexico's main export‐oriented agricultural areas, the Bahía de Banderas Valley, and whose situation is similar to other small‐scale producers of non‐traditional products. The study examines the impact on the farmers of structural adjustment policies that have been implemented in Mexico since the mid‐1980s. It also examines the main livelihood strategies that ejidatarios and their households have been adopting during the same period.
Recognition and Management of Migraine in Primary Care: Influence of Functional Impact Measured by the Headache Impact Test (HIT)
Authors: De Diego E Vuillaume , Lanteri-Minet M
Published: February 2005

The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of headache-related disability on the recognition and management of migraine by French general practitioners (GPs). Forty-nine teaching GPs at the Faculty of Medicine in the Nice-Sophia-Antipolis University were involved in this study. On one day, each patient who presented during the surgery hours of these GPs was invited to complete a questionnaire aimed at identifying if he/she was a headache sufferer and, if so, whether the headache corresponded to migraine and had an impact on his/her functional ability. Functional disability was measured by the short-form of the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). Being blind to the patients' responses, the GPs completed a questionnaire for each patient aimed at identifying if he/she considered the patient to suffer from migraine and, if so, whether he/she managed the patient for migraine. A total of 696 patients were included in this study and 289 (41.52%) of them had episodic headache. According to the new International Headache Society (IHS) criteria, 113 (16.24%) patients suffered from headache without migrainous features and 176 (25.29%) patients were migraine sufferers (migraine according to IHS categories 1.1 and 1.2.1: 11.21%, and probable migraine according to IHS categories 1.6.1 and 1.6.2: 14.08%). The mean HIT score of these migraine sufferers was 59.1 + 8.8 and 50% of them presented with a very severe impact score (HIT score > 60). Among the 176 migraine sufferers, 105 (59.7%) were not recognized as having migraine, 21 (11.9%) were recognized as having migraine but without migraine management and 50 (28.4%) were recognized as having migraine with migraine management. Recognition of migraine by GPs was statistically associated with the HIT score (OR = 1.105, 95% CI: 1.056-1.157, P < 0.001) and with the 1.1 and 1.2.1 IHS diagnostic categories (OR = 2.942, 95% CI: 1.286-5.025, P = 0.0107) whereas management of patients recognized as having migraine was only associated with the patient's age (OR = 1.051, 95% CI: 1.000-1.104, P = 0.0486). These results indicate that the continuing medical education of GPs should focus on the diagnosis of migraine and its impact on the lifestyle of the patient.
Psychiatric Comorbidity in Migraine: A Review
Authors: Radat F , Swendsen J
Published: February 2005

Investigations of migraine comorbidity have confirmed its association with diverse psychiatric conditions. This association appears to be strongest for major depression and anxiety disorders (particularly panic and phobia), but increased comorbidity has also been reported with substance abuse and certain mood disorders. This literature also indicates that greater psychiatric comorbidity exists for migraine sufferers with aura than without. Some support is found for the notion that psychiatric comorbidity is higher in transformed migraine than in simple migraine (particularly in the case of chronic substance abuse). However, research into the possible mechanisms underlying these associations remains limited. Studies examining the order of onset and the cross-transmission of migraine and psychiatric disorders in families have been unable to distinguish fully between causal and common aetiological models of association. The conclusions are discussed in light of both methodological and conceptual issues relevant to understanding migraine comorbidity.
A Randomized Prospective Placebo-Controlled Study of Intravenous Magnesium Sulphate vs. Metoclopramide in the Management of Acute Migraine Attacks in the Emergency Department
Authors: Cete Y , Dora B , Ertan C , Ozdemir C , Oktay C
Published: February 2005

The objective of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was to determine the effectiveness of intravenous magnesium sulphate and intravenous metoclopramide in the treatment of acute migraine attacks in the Emergency Department when compared with placebo. Adult patients who presented to the Emergency Department with a headache that met International Headache Society (IHS) criteria for acute migraine were infused with either 10 mg of intravenous metoclopramide, 2 g of intravenous magnesium sulphate or normal saline over 10 min. At 0, 15, and 30 min, patients were asked to rate their pain on a standard visual analogue scale. At 30 min, patients were asked in a standard manner about the need for rescue medication. Adverse affects were also recorded. Patients were followed up by telephone within 24 h for any recurrence after discharge. The primary endpoint of the study was the difference in pain relief between the groups at 30 min. Of the 120 patients who met IHS criteria, seven were excluded from the study due to insufficient data. The number of patients, gender, age and initial visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were comparable between groups. Each group experienced more than a 25-mm improvement in VAS score at 30 min. However, there was no significant difference detected in the mean changes in VAS scores for pain. The rescue medication requirement was higher in the placebo group. The recurrence rate in 24 h was similar between the groups. Although patients receiving placebo required rescue medication more than the others, metoclopramide and magnesium have an analgesic effect similar to placebo in migraine attacks.
Patterns of Specific Antimigraine Drug use – A Study Based on the Records of 18 Community Pharmacies
Authors: Lohman JJHM , van der Kuy-de Ree MM ,   on behalf of the Group of Co-operating Pharmacists Sittard-Geleen and its environs∗
Published: February 2005

The objective of this study was, first, to characterize the usage patterns of specific antimigraine drugs, and second, to compare these in patients with one type of drug with patients with two or more types of drug. Dispensing data on triptans and ergotamine were collected from community pharmacy records over a 1-year period. In a population of approximately 168 000 specific antimigraine medication has been dispensed to 2343 patients (1.4%). Oral dosage forms were prescribed in most prescriptions (77.1%), subcutaneous injections in 9.7%, rectal suppositories in 7.1% and nasal sprays in 6.1%. We identified 292 patients (12.5%) to whom more than one type of drug was dispensed. Multiple drugs patients showed significantly higher drug consumption and deviating patterns of specific antimigraine drug usage, receiving significantly more non-oral dosage forms (32.8% vs. 20.4%, P < 0.001). Our data indicate substantially suboptimal treatment of migraine patients.