bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Change in sugar, sterol and fatty acid composition in banana meristems caused by sucrose‐induced acclimation and its effects on cryopreservation
Authors: Zhu Guo‐Yu , Geuns Jan M. C. , Dussert Stéphane , Swennen Rony , Panis Bart
Published: July 2006

To understand the mechanisms of sucrose‐induced acclimation in relation to plant cryopreservation, sugars, sterols, fatty acids of different lipid fractions (neutral lipids, glycolipids and sphingolipids and phospholipids), as well as free fatty acids were analyzed in proliferating meristem cultures of different banana varieties. The four banana varieties that were selected show different post‐thaw shoot regeneration rates (0–53.4%). All mentioned parameters were analyzed using (1) control meristems that were cultured on a normal sucrose concentration (0.09 M), which resulted in low survival after cryopreservation; and (2) 2‐week sucrose precultured meristems (0.4 M). This sucrose preculture, essential for regeneration after cryopreservation, resulted in a significant increase of each of seven sugars detected. The ratio of stigmasterol/sitosterol (St/Si) in sucrose‐pretreated meristems significantly increased. The sucrose pretreatment also resulted in a significant increase of total fatty acid content of the neutral lipid fraction and of the glycolipid and sphingolipid fraction, as well as the total free fatty acid content. The individual fatty acid content of the phospholipids was differently changed by the sucrose pretreatment for the given varieties studied. In most cases, sucrose pretreatment resulted in an increase of the double bond index (DBI) in the neutral lipids and a decrease of DBI in the glycolipids and sphingolipids, in phospholipids as well as in free fatty acids. Principal component analysis of all collected data revealed that (1) for the control material, sucrose and total sugar contents were closely linked to the post‐thaw shoot regeneration, suggesting that sucrose and total sugar may be main limiting factors to survive cryopreservation; (2) accumulation of large quantities of sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose and total sugar) in sucrose‐pretreated material cannot explain the differences in survival after cryopreservation of the four banana varieties. We assume that a minimal amount of sugars is needed in meristem cultures to survive cryopreservation. Still, other limiting factors do influence the survival following the sucrose pretreatment. We observed that the parameters which are closely linked to the post‐thaw shoot regeneration are a minimal change in the ratios of St/Si, the minimal change of the DBI of phospholipids and free fatty acids, as well as linoleic acid content (C18:2); and (3) inositol, raffinose, myristic acid (C14:0) and oleic acid (C18:1) were present in small quantities; however, they could be correlated to survival after cryopreservation, suggesting that they may be also involved in cryopreservation process.
Flavonoids in plant nuclei: detection by laser microdissection and pressure catapulting (LMPC), in vivo staining, and uv–visible spectroscopic titration
Authors: Polster Jürgen , Dithmar Heike , Burgemeister Renate , Friedemann Gabriele , Feucht Walter
Published: July 2006

Previous studies in our laboratory have indicated that the nuclei of a number of trees are associated with flavonoids, especially flavan‐3‐ols. In the present study, three techniques were applied to verify that flavonoids are naturally incorporated into nuclei. These were histochemistry, UV–visible (UV‐VIS) titration and laser microdissection. Nuclei from intact seed wings of Tsuga canadensis were isolated from their cells using laser microdissection and pressure catapulting (LMPC). Thereafter, the excised nuclei were stained with p‐dimethylamino‐cinnamaldehyde (DMACA), which resulted in a blue coloration due to the presence of flavanols. Thus, there is no doubt that the nuclei were, prior to staining, associated with flavanols. The nuclei of the coniferous species Abies lasiocarpa, Cedrus deodara, Cedrus libani, Juniperus communis, Picea abies, Picea orientalis and Pseudotsuga menziessii(Douglas fir) showed a yellow fluorescence typical for flavonols from the beginning of bud break over the entire growing season. However, after the bud‐breaking period, the nuclei of all species, except for Cedrus deodara, showed additionally a blue reaction for flavanols. Rather late, in midsummer, blue‐stained flavanols in nuclei were found in Picea orientalis. Generally, zeatin intensified the flavanol association with the nuclei. The main components of nucleosomes are DNA and the histone proteins. The nature of their association with the flavonols quercetin and rutin was investigated by UV‐VIS spectroscopic titration. The data were evaluated by means of the Mauser (A and AD) diagrams. The results indicate that DNA shows largely no spectroscopically detectable association equilibria under the experimental conditions chosen. However, association (aggregation) equilibria can be observed with rutin or quercetin and histone sulphate in Tris buffer (pH 8.0, 7.4 and 7.0). In phosphate buffer, rutin shows spectroscopically no or only weak association with histone sulphate, in contrast to its behaviour towards quercetin.
Prone position in mechanically ventilated patients with reduced intracranial compliance
Authors: Thelandersson A. , Cider Å , Nellgård B.
Published: July 2006

Background:  Prone position has been used for several years to treat acute lung insufficiency, but in previous studies patients with unstable intracranial pressure (ICP) are mostly excluded. The aim of this study was to investigate if prone position is a safe and useful treatment in patients with reduced intracranial compliance.

Methods:  A consecutive, prospective pilot study of 11 patients admitted to the neuro intensive care unit (NICU) due to traumatic brain injury or intracerebral haemorrhage. ICP, cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and respiratory system compliance were measured before, three times during and two times after the patients were placed in the prone position.

Results:  No significant changes were demonstrated in ICP, CPP or MABP. PaO2 and SaO2 were significantly increased in the prone position. HR was significantly increased in the prone position and after 10 min in the supine post‐prone position and the respiratory system compliance was increased after 1 h in the supine post‐prone position.

Conclusion:  Turning NICU patients from the supine to the prone position did not influence ICP, CPP or MABP, but significantly improved patient PaO2, SaO2 and respiratory system compliance.
The effect of the lateral decubitus position on the intraocular pressure in anesthetized patients undergoing lung surgery
Authors: Hwang J.‐W. , Jeon Y.‐T. , Kim J.‐H. , Oh Y.‐S. , Park H.‐P.
Published: July 2006

Background:  Changing the body position alters the intraocular pressure (IOP). The aim of this study was to investigate the alteration in IOP of the eyes after a positional change from a supine position to a lateral decubitus position in anesthetized patients, in order to detect differences in IOP between the two eyes, possibly due to a gravity effect, in the lateral decubitus position.

Methods:  IOP was measured in 20 patients undergoing lung surgery. IOP in both eyes was recorded prior to anesthesia in the supine position (baseline), after anesthetic induction but before tracheal intubation in the supine position, at the end of central venous catheterization in the Trendelenburg position, 5 min after a positional change to the lateral decubitus position, once every 30 min until the end of surgery in the lateral decubitus position, and 5 min after changing back to the supine position.

Results:  The median IOP (16.3 mmHg; 25–75% percentile, 13–20 mmHg) in the dependent eye 5 min after changing to the lateral decubitus position increased significantly from the baseline median IOP (14.3 mmHg; 13–17.3 mmHg; P < 0.05). The increase in median IOP in the dependent eye persisted until the end of surgery in the lateral decubitus position (19 mmHg; 16.5–22.3 mmHg; P < 0.01 vs. baseline). The median IOP in the dependent eye was significantly higher than that in the non‐dependent eye when anesthetized patients were placed in the lateral decubitus position (P < 0.01), and the mean differences in IOP between the eyes in the lateral decubitus position ranged from 2.9 to 4.1 mmHg.

Conclusion:  The IOP was higher in the dependent eye than in the non‐dependent eye in anesthetized patients in the lateral decubitus position, and the IOP in the dependent eye increased in anesthetized patients compared with that in awakened and supine‐positioned patients.
Regional differences in nitric oxide‐mediated vasorelaxation in porcine pulmonary arteries
Authors: Rimeika D , Wiklund N. P. , Lindahl S. G. E. , Wiklund C. U.
Published: July 2006

Background:  Several previous investigations have shown improved oxygenation when ventilator‐treated patients with acute lung injury are turned prone. In a previous human study, we demonstrated higher Ca2+‐dependent nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in dorsal than in ventral parts of the lung. The current investigation was designed to determine whether Ca2+‐dependent NOS activity was different in dorsal and ventral porcine lung regions. In addition, possible differences in vascular responses to nitroprusside or secondary to acetylcholine‐ or bradykinin‐stimulated NO production were studied in dorsal and ventral pulmonary arteries.

Methods:  In the study, 20 pigs were used. Lung biopsies and pulmonary arterial rings were harvested from ventral and dorsal lung regions. NOS activity was determined by citrulline assay in the presence and absence of the calcium chelator ethyleneglycol‐bis(β‐aminoethylether)‐N,N′‐tetraacetic acid (EDTA) to discriminate between Ca2+‐dependent and Ca2+‐independent NOS activity. In organ baths, in submaximally contracted arterial rings, vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine, bradykinin and nitroprusside was measured.

Results:  Ca2+‐dependent NOS activity was higher in dorsal parts (87.2 ± 9.1 citrulline units) than in ventral parts (62.2 ± 10.1 citrulline units, P < 0.05) of porcine lung. There was a greater relaxation in dorsal than in ventral pulmonary arterial rings induced by both acetylcholine and bradykinin. Nitroprusside relaxed both sites equally.

Conclusions:  Our results show that endothelial‐derived NO is an important factor influencing the differences between dorsal and ventral lung regions in vasorelaxing activity in porcine pulmonary arteries. This finding provides an explanation for the improved oxygenation when patients with severe acute lung insufficiency are turned prone.
Variation in Individual Investment Strategies among Social Animals
Authors: Komdeur Jan
Published: July 2006

Invited Review

Cooperation and conflict are ubiquitous features of life in the vast majority of animals and can occur over a wide range of functional contents and at various levels. In this review I describe known and less well‐known proximate aspects of cooperation and conflict over reproductive behaviour in social animals, where individuals other than the genetic parents contribute to the provisioning of care (‘alloparental care’). Traditionally the evolution of alloparental care is viewed as a two‐step process: the decision to delay dispersal and independent breeding, usually as a consequence of the existence of constraints on independent breeding, and the decision to behave as alloparents by which individuals that have delayed dispersal gain a net fitness benefit. Behavioural ecological theory generally assumes that all individuals are similar in ‘make‐up’ and that life history and behavioural decisions are facultative. However, there is probably more individual variation in the amount and type of social behaviour than originally anticipated. Here, I demonstrate that some of these differences in behaviours are because of environmental factors, which may be associated with ‘reaction norms’ or the genotype's quantitative phenotypic variation, or which may yield polyethisms. Most evolutionary models of animal cooperation are based on optimality approaches that do not consider individual genetic variation and maternal effects on the variation in the expression of social behaviour. Further research on the genetic basis of cooperations and subordinate–breeder interactions may be crucial for understanding the evolution of social behaviour. If we take individual differences into account our conclusions and explanations of social behaviour may change. Given the conceptual similarities between the various research disciplines addressing different types of cooperation and conflict over investment, the issues described here should lead to more mutual attraction between the different disciplines and stimulate further development in our understanding of cooperation strategies in general.
New records of Heterobasidion parviporum in China
Authors: Dai Y. C. , Yuan H. S. , Wei Y. L. , Korhonen K.
Published: July 2006

Twenty‐one basidiocarp specimens of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. were collected in six forest areas in western and central China, from host trees Picea schrenkiana, Abies fabri, Abies fargesii and Larix griffithii. Single‐spore cultures were isolated from the basidiocarps and identified by mating tests. All the specimens proved to belong to the species Heterobasidion parviporum. The results show that this fungus has a wide distribution in China. It seems to be a less aggressive pathogen in China than in Europe, although reliable data on the occurrence of Heterobasidion root rot in coniferous forests of China are so far lacking.
Risk from Sirococcus conigenus to understory red pine seedlings in northern Wisconsin
Authors: Bronson J. J. , Stanosz G. R.
Published: July 2006

Interest in development of multicohort stands of red pine (Pinus resinosa) in the Great Lakes region of North America prompted an investigation of the potential impact of the shoot blight pathogen Sirococcus conigenus (syn. S. strobilinus) on understory red pine seedlings. In May 2002 and 2003 healthy, 1‐year‐old red pine seedlings were planted in the understory of a maturing red pine plantation in northern Wisconsin in an area with a history of presence of this pathogen. Occurrence of shoot blight symptoms was recorded periodically during the summer, and in each year seedlings were harvested in fall and examined for signs of shoot blight pathogens. By fall 2002 and 2003, respectively, shoot blight incidence was 89% and 98% and most seedlings were dying. Pycnidia with conidia of S. conigenus were present on almost all of the symptomatic seedlings. The conifer shoot blight and canker pathogen Diplodia pinea (syn. Sphaeropsis sapinea) was also detected, though less frequently. Pycnidia of S. conigenus tended to be found more frequently on symptomatic current year's shoots than symptomatic previous year's shoots; the opposite was true for pycnidia of D. pinea. Risk from S. conigenus to understory red pine seedlings should be considered in any plans for development of multicohort red pine stands in areas where the pathogen is present.
The use of a random regression model to account for change in racing speed of German trotters with increasing age
Authors: Bugislaus A.‐E. , Roehe R. , Willms F. , Kalm E.
Published: July 2006

In a genetic analysis of German trotters, the performance trait racing time per km was analysed by using a random regression model on six different age classes (2‐, 3‐, 4‐, 5‐ and 6‐year‐old and older trotters; the age class of 3‐year‐old trotters was additionally divided by birth months of horses into two seasons). The best‐fitting random regression model for the trait racing time per km on six age classes included as fixed effects sex, race track, condition of race track (fitted as second‐order polynomial on age), distance of race and each driver (fitted as first‐order polynomial on age) as well as the year‐season (fitted independent of age). The random additive genetic and permanent environmental effects were fitted as second‐order polynomials on age. Data consisted of 138 620 performance observations from 2373 trotters and the pedigree data contained 9952 horses from a four‐generation pedigree. Heritabilities for racing time per km increased from 0.01 to 0.18 at age classes from 2‐ to 4‐year‐old trotters, then slightly decreased for 5 year and substantially decreased for 6‐year‐old horses. Genetic correlations of racing time per km among the six age classes were very high (rg = 0.82–0.99). Heritability was h2 = 0.13 when using a repeatability animal model for racing time per km considering the six age classes as fixed effect. Breeding values using repeatability analysis over all and within age classes resulted in slightly different ranking of trotters than those using random regression analysis. When using random regression analysis almost no reranking of trotters over time took place. Generally, the analyses showed that using a random regression model improved the accuracy of selection of trotters over age classes.
Effects of dietary neutral detergent fibre on production performance, nutrient utilization, caecum fermentation and fibrolytic activity in 2‐ to 3‐month‐old New Zealand rabbits
Authors: Tao Z. Y. , Li F. C.
Published: July 2006

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) levels on growth performance, nutrient utilization, caecum development, caecal fermentation, slaughter performance, immune organ and fibrolytic activity in 2‐ to 3‐month‐old New Zealand meat rabbits. Eighty 2‐month‐old rabbits were allocated in individual cages for five treatments in which they were fed each diet with NDF at 240, 270, 300, 330 and 360 g/kg respectively. The results are as follows: the average daily gain of 300 g/kg NDF group was the highest (30.09 g/day) and higher than that of 240 g/kg NDF group (p < 0.05). The feed/gain ratio of 300 g/kg NDF group was the lowest (4.27) and lower than those of 240 and 360 g/kg NDF groups (p < 0.05). The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of energy, crude protein, crude fibre and ether extract decreased when dietary NDF increased (p < 0.05); CTTAD of NDF increased when dietary NDF increased (p < 0.01). Digestible nitrogen and retained nitrogen of 240, 270, 300 and 330 g/kg NDF groups were higher than that of 360 g/kg NDF group (p < 0.05). The caecum weight, the proportion of caecum weight to body weight and the acetic acid ratio of volatile fatty acid rose when dietary NDF concentration increased (p < 0.05). The NH3‐N concentration of caecum dropped when dietary NDF increased (p < 0.05). The fibrolytic activity increased when the dietary NDF increased (p < 0.01).
Effects of essential oils from fennel (Foeniculi aetheroleum) and caraway (Carvi aetheroleum) in pigs
Authors: Schöne F. , Vetter A. , Hartung H. , Bergmann H. , Biertümpfel A. , Richter G. , Müller S. , Breitschuh G.
Published: July 2006

The ban of antibiotics as a feed additive requires alternatives to stabilize the health and performance particularly of the young animals. Essential oils obtained from fennel seed (Foeniculi aetheroleum) and caraway seed (Carvi aetheroleum) were tested in diets for weaned piglets in comparison with either a diet without feed additive or with a combination of formic acid and copper (positive control). Four groups of sixteen piglets (live weight 7 kg, age 26 days) received diets without (1) or with supplements of 7.5 g formic acid + 160 mg Cu/kg (2), 100 mg fennel oil/kg (3) or 100 mg caraway oil/kg (4) during 3 weeks after weaning. In the subsequent 4 weeks, all piglets were fed a diet without these additions. Fennel oil contained almost 2/3 anethol, approximately 1/5 fenchon and the remaining part consisting of α + β‐pinen, limonen (p‐mentha‐1,8‐dien) and estragol. In the caraway oil, half of the contents was represented by limonen and the other half by carvon. There were no piglet losses and only few cases of diarrhoea. The combination of formic acid and copper increased feed consumption by 27% and daily weight gain by 25%. There were no differences in the performance between the group fed fennel oil and the control without additives. Piglets fed caraway oil tended to consume less feed and to gain approximately 10% less. In feed choice experiments, pigs consumed the same two diets from two troughs with 50% of total feed amount, as expected. The diets containing fennel or caraway oils were consumed at less than 50%. If the diet contained 100 mg fennel oil/kg, the decrease of percentual feed intake was significant. The results of the feeding experiment and of the feed choice experiment question the classification of fennel and caraway oils as flavour additives or as ‘appetite promoters’ in diets for weaned piglets.
Combined hepatic resection and radiofrequency ablation for multiple hepatic adenomas
Authors: Fujita Shiro , Kushihata Fumiki , Herrmann Glenn E , Mergo Patricia J , Liu Chen , Nelson David , Fujikawa Takahisa , Hemming Alan W
Published: July 2006

We describe the novel use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in combination with surgical resection for treatment of multifocal hepatic adenoma. We show three cases without recurrent lesions detected in follow‐up examination. Two of the patients have subsequently gone on to carry pregnancies successfully to term.
Incidence, endoscopic morphology and distribution of metastatic lesions in the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Wei Shu‐Chen , Su Wei‐Chih , Chang Ming‐Chu , Chang Yu‐Ting , Wang Cheng‐Yi , Wong Jau‐Min
Published: July 2006

Background and Aim:  Metastasis rarely occurs in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). However, as progress regarding the treatment of cancers has occurred over recent years, the survival time of patients affected by advanced‐stage cancers has increased. It could be expected that progressively more cancer patients with gastrointestinal symptoms would be presenting to gastroenterologists for diagnosis and further management. The aim of this study was to reveal the incidence, typical location and morphology of secondary tumors within the GIT.

Methods:  A retrospective study was conducted at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2003 inclusive in order to review the available data pertaining to diagnosed GIT metastases. Only those patients who had been checked by endoscopy and confirmed by histopathology were included. Details regarding patient clinical information, demographic data, treatment, histopathology, and eventual outcome were reviewed, recorded and analyzed.

Results:  The incidence of GIT metastases was found to be one upper GIT metastasis per 3847 upper GIT endoscopies and one lower GIT metastasis per 1871 colonoscopies. The common locations for metastases to occur were duodenum and stomach. The general morphology of the observed metastatic lesions of the digestive tract identified them, mostly, as single and primary (mucosa‐origin) carcinoma‐like lesions. The survival interval from the diagnosis of GIT metastasis to patient death was statistically significantly longer in the aggressive‐treatment group compared to the conservative‐treatment group (Kaplan–Meier, P = 0.0004).

Conclusions:  Although metastatic lesions in the GIT are rare, they do occur. They usually present as single and primary carcinoma‐like lesions, with the stomach and duodenum most commonly involved.
Involvement of RhoA in progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Desheng , Dou Kefeng , Xiang Hongjun , Song Zhenshun , Zhao Qingchuan , Chen Yong , Li Yu
Published: July 2006

Background and Aim:  The activation of Rho proteins has been shown to lead to loss of polarity in cancer cells, as well as reorganization of the cytoskeleton and facilitation of cell motility, possibly resulting in their malignant potential. The clinicopathological significance of RhoA, however, is not yet well known in the case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study evaluated the clinicopathological correlation of RhoA levels with HCC.

Methods:  The intratumor expression level of Rho was determined and compared with that in adjacent non‐cancerous hepatic tissue using quantitative real time RT‐PCR and Western blotting in 64 patients with HCC. Relationships between the level of RhoA and clinicopathological factors were examined. RhoA protein expression was confirmed by immunohistochemistry.

Results:  RhoA immunostaining was strong in malignant tissue whereas it was minimal in benign tissue. Tumor tissue of HCC patients demonstrated a copy number of RhoA mRNA that was well correlated with its protein level in each case and was significantly higher than that found in the corresponding non‐cancerous liver tissue (P < 0.01). With regard to venous invasion, satellite lesions and advanced pTNM stage, the RhoA level tended to be higher in HCC than that seen in negative tissue (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  This is the first demonstration that the expression level of RhoA is correlated with tumor progression and metastasis in HCC. RhoA in tumor tissue might be expected to be not only a good candidate marker for invasive and proliferative tumor cells, but also a molecular target of these cells.
Regulated expression of HCN channels and cAMP levels shape the properties of the h current in developing rat hippocampus
Authors: Surges Rainer , Brewster Amy L. , Bender Roland A. , Beck Heinz , Feuerstein Thomas J. , Baram Tallie Z.
Published: July 2006

The hyperpolarization‐activated current (Ih) contributes to intrinsic properties and network responses of neurons. Its biophysical properties depend on the expression profiles of the underlying hyperpolarization‐activated, cyclic nucleotide‐gated (HCN) channels and the presence of cyclic AMP (cAMP) that potently and differentially modulates Ih conducted by HCN1, HCN2 and/or HCN4. Here, we studied the properties of Ih in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, the developmental evolution of the HCN‐subunit isoforms that contribute to this current, and their interplay with age‐dependent free cAMP concentrations, using electrophysiological, molecular and biochemical methods. Ih amplitude increased progressively during the first four postnatal weeks, consistent with the observed overall increased expression of HCN channels. Activation kinetics of the current accelerated during this period, consonant with the quantitative reduction of mRNA and protein expression of the slow‐kinetics HCN4 isoform and increased levels of HCN1. The sensitivity of Ih to cAMP, and the contribution of the slow component to the overall Ih, decreased with age. These are likely a result of the developmentally regulated transition of the complement of HCN channel isoforms from cAMP sensitive to relatively cAMP insensitive. Thus, although hippocampal cAMP concentrations increased over twofold during the developmental period studied, the coordinated changes in expression of three HCN channel isoforms resulted in reduced effects of this signalling molecule on neuronal h currents.
Context‐dependent behavioural and neuronal sensitization in striatum to MDMA (ecstasy) administration in rats
Authors: Ball Kevin T. , Budreau Daniel , Rebec George V.
Published: July 2006

To investigate the neuronal mechanisms underlying the behavioural alterations that accompany repeated exposure to MDMA (ecstasy), we recorded the activity of > 200 striatal units in response to multiple, intermittent, locomotor‐activating doses (5.0 mg/kg) of MDMA. Rats were treated with once‐daily injections of either saline or MDMA for 5 days when housed in their home cage, followed by a challenge injection 3–5 days later when housed in a recording chamber. Because contextual drug associations might be particularly important to the expression of behavioural sensitization to chronic MDMA, a separate group of rats received repeated injections of MDMA alternately in the recording chamber or home cage, according to the above timeline. A sensitized locomotor response was observed only in rats that had previously experienced MDMA in the context of the recording chamber, and only on the challenge day. These sensitized animals also showed a decreased basal firing rate in neurons that were subsequently excited by MDMA when compared with the same category of neurons earlier in the treatment regimen. This resulted in a greater percentage increase from the baseline firing rate on the challenge day compared with the first and fifth days of treatment, even though this trend was not evident with an analysis of absolute firing rate. These results strongly support a role for context in the expression of MDMA‐induced locomotor sensitization, and implicate striatal involvement in the neurobehavioural changes associated with the repeated use of MDMA.
Brain cytokine synthesis induced by an intraparenchymal injection of LPS is reduced in MCP‐1‐deficient mice prior to leucocyte recruitment
Authors: Rankine E. L. , Hughes P. M. , Botham M. S. , Perry V. H. , Felton L. M.
Published: July 2006

We have previously shown that ischaemic lesions are smaller in monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1‐deficient (MCP‐1–/–) mice than in wild‐type (wt) controls. In addition to its role as a monocyte chemoattractant, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) has been proposed to contribute to lesion progression after focal ischaemia by driving local cytokine synthesis by resident glia. To investigate this hypothesis we injected lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the brain parenchyma of MCP‐1–/– mice and compared the resulting inflammatory response and production of proinflammatory cytokines to those in wt mice. Microglial and astrocyte morphological activation was the same in the two strains, but MCP‐1–/– mice showed significantly lower levels of proinflammatory cytokine synthesis; interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) levels were up to 50% lower than in wt controls after 6 h. This reduced synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines occurred well before leucocyte recruitment to the central nervous system (CNS) is observed in this model of acute inflammation and thus cannot be attributed to lower numbers of recruited monocytes at the site of injury. We propose that MCP‐1 contributes to acute CNS inflammation by pleiotropic mechanisms. In addition to being a potent chemoattractant for monocytes, we provide evidence here that MCP‐1 can modify the responsiveness of CNS glia to acute inflammatory stimuli prior to leucocyte recruitment, thereby acting as a priming stimulus for cytokine synthesis in cells such as microglia.
Extinction of auditory fear conditioning requires MAPK/ERK activation in the basolateral amygdala
Authors: Herry Cyril , Trifilieff Pierre , Micheau Jacques , Lüthi Andreas , Mons Nicole
Published: July 2006

Whereas the neuronal substrates underlying the acquisition of auditory fear conditioning have been widely studied, the substrates and mechanisms mediating the acquisition of fear extinction remain largely elusive. Previous reports indicate that consolidation of fear extinction depends on the mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular‐signal regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signalling pathway and on protein synthesis in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Based on experiments using the fear‐potentiated startle paradigm suggesting a role for neuronal plasticity in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) during fear extinction, we directly addressed whether MAPK/ERK signalling in the basolateral amygdala is necessary for the acquisition of fear extinction using conditioned freezing as a read‐out. First, we investigated the regional and temporal pattern of MAPK/ERK activation in the BLA following extinction learning in C57Bl/6J mice. Our results indicate that acquisition of extinction is associated with an increase of phosphorylated MAPK/ERK in the BLA. Moreover, we found that inhibition of the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway by intrabasolateral amygdala infusion of the MEK inhibitor, U0126, completely blocks acquisition of extinction. Thus, our results indicate that the MAPK/ERK signalling pathway is required for extinction of auditory fear conditioning in the BLA, and support a role for neuronal plasticity in the BLA during the acquisition of fear extinction.
Modulation of the trafficking of the human serotonin transporter by human alpha‐synuclein
Authors: Wersinger Christophe , Rusnak Milan , Sidhu Anita
Published: July 2006

α‐Synuclein (α‐Syn), a protein primarily localized in the presynaptic compartment of neurons, is known to regulate dopaminergic neurotransmission by negatively modulating dopamine transporter activity and regulating its trafficking to or away from the cell surface. Given the considerable homology between dopamine transporters and the serotonin (5‐HT) transporter (SERT), we examined whether α‐Syn could similarly regulate SERT function. Increasing expression levels of human α‐Syn gradually decreased [3H]5‐HT uptake by human SERT in cotransfected Ltk– cells, by diminishing its Vmax without changing its Km, as compared to cells expressing only SERT. Biotinylation studies to label cell‐surface proteins showed that α‐Syn decreased the levels of SERT present at the plasma membrane. α‐Syn and SERT were able to coimmunoprecipitate (co‐IP), suggesting heteromeric complexes between these two proteins through direct protein–protein interactions. The negative modulation of SERT activity by α‐Syn occurred through the non‐Aβ‐amyloid component (NAC) domain of α‐Syn (aa58–107); DNA constructs encoding this region mimicked the full‐length α‐Syn protein by decreasing [3H]5‐HT uptake by the transporter. Furthermore, only the constructs encoding the NAC domain of α‐Syn prevented the co‐IPs between full‐length α‐Syn and SERT, in both transfected cells and in rat solubilized lysates isolated from the prefrontal cortex. These studies suggest a novel physiological role for α‐Syn in regulating SERT activity and may be of relevance in certain mental illnesses and in depression, in which SERT function is believed to be dysregulated.
Uncoupling protein‐2 promotes nigrostriatal dopamine neuronal function
Authors: Andrews Zane B. , Rivera Alicia , Elsworth John D. , Roth Robert H. , Agnati Luigi , Gago Belen , Abizaid Alfonso , Schwartz Michael , Fuxe Kjell , Horvath Tamas L.
Published: July 2006

Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is known to promote neuroprotection in many forms of neurological pathologies including Parkinson's disease. Here, we examined the hypothesis that UCP2 also mediates aspects of normal nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) function. Mice lacking UCP2 exhibited reduced dopamine turnover in the striatum as measured by the 3,4‐dihydoxyphenylacetic acid/dopamine (DOPAC/DA) ratio, reduced tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH IR) in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and reticulata, striatum and nucleus accumbens. UCP2‐knockout (KO) mice also had reduced dopamine transporter immunoreactivity (DAT IR) in the SNc but not other brain regions examined. In order to determine if these biochemical deficits are transcribed into behavioural deficits, we examined locomotor function in UCP2‐KO mice compared to wild‐type (WT) controls. UCP2‐KO mice exhibited significantly reduced total movement distance, movement velocity and increased rest time compared to wild‐type controls. These results suggest that UCP2 is an important mitochondrial protein that helps to maintain normal nigrostriatal dopamine neuronal function and a reduction in UCP2 levels may predispose individuals to environmental causes of Parkinson's disease.
Extinction is not a sufficient condition to prevent fear memories from undergoing reconsolidation in the basolateral amygdala
Authors: Duvarci Sevil , Mamou Cyrinne ben , Nader Karim
Published: July 2006

Consolidated memories when reactivated may return to a state that requires protein synthesis in order to be restabilized (reconsolidation). It has been shown in a variety of systems that if reactivation induces significant extinction then extinction is the protein synthesis dependent memory state, rather than reconsolidation. Thus, extinction consolidation may prevent the memory from undergoing reconsolidation. We investigated whether such an interaction also exists between extinction and reconsolidation of fear memories within the amygdala, by using a within subjects experimental design. We found that inhibition of protein synthesis in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) impaired reconsolidation for both the briefly reactivated and extinguished fear memories suggesting that extinction is not a sufficient condition to prevent induction of reconsolidation in the amygdala. These findings demonstrate that extinction consolidation does not always interact with reconsolidation. Therefore, under these conditions, extinction is not a boundary condition on reconsolidation of fear memories in the basolateral amygdala.
Coselection for microbial resistance to metals and antibiotics in freshwater microcosms
Authors: Stepanauskas Ramunas , Glenn Travis C. , Jagoe Charles H. , Tuckfield R. Cary , Lindell Angela H. , King Catherine J. , McArthur J. V.
Published: July 2006

Bacterial resistances to diverse metals and antibiotics are often genetically linked, suggesting that exposure to toxic metals may select for strains resistant to antibiotics and vice versa. To test the hypothesis that resistances to metals and antibiotics are coselected for in environmental microbial assemblages, we investigated the frequency of diverse resistances in freshwater microcosms amended with Cd, Ni, ampicillin or tetracycline. We found that all four toxicants significantly increased the frequency of bacterioplankton resistance to multiple, chemically unrelated metals and antibiotics. An ampicillin‐resistant strain of the opportunistic human pathogen Ralstonia mannitolilytica was enriched in microcosms amended with Cd. Frequencies of antibiotic resistance were elevated in microcosms with metal concentrations representative of industry and mining‐impacted environments (0.01–1 mM). Metal but not antibiotic amendments decreased microbial diversity, and a weeklong exposure to high concentrations of ampicillin (0.01–10 mg l−1) and tetracycline (0.03–30 mg l−1) decreased microbial abundance only slightly, implying a large reservoir of antibiotic resistance in the studied environment. Our results provide first experimental evidence that the exposure of freshwater environments to individual metals and antibiotics selects for multiresistant microorganisms, including opportunistic human pathogens.
Family therapy by default: developing useful fall‐back positions for therapists
Authors: Reimers Sigurd
Published: July 2006

This article looks at some of the effects on practitioners of the increasing complexity and variety of ideas within the family therapy field. In adopting the currently popular notion of ‘default position’ from information technology, I argue that therapists can easily feel that their work has a random quality to it. I examine how our own default positions can be based on force of habit, a quest for novelty or the effects of stress. Some suggestions are offered for how we can more accurately go about choosing ideas that will be of help to the families with which we work and to ourselves.
Multi‐agency collaboration, multiple levels of meaning: social constructionism and the CMM model as tools to further our understanding
Authors: Salmon Gill , Faris Jeff
Published: July 2006

This study explores the discourse emerging when professionals from a child and adolescent mental health service meet with professionals from other agencies to discuss cases. The study is timely, given the current political contextual forces pushing agencies to work together which run alongside an expanding literature acknowledging the obstacles to achieving this.

A thematic analysis identified nine themes, defined according to their discourse type, including single agency discourse, case complexity discourse and multi‐agency discourse. In this paper, the usefulness of the coordinated management of meaning model (CMM) is examined as an additional tool which may be used in data analysis to help understand the discourse within multi‐agency meetings. The two approaches to data analysis are complementary to each other, with both allowing for different layers of context and complexity to emerge from the data.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Person × Situation Profiles
Authors: Borkenau Peter , Riemann Rainer , Spinath Frank M. , Angleitner Alois
Published: July 2006

ABSTRACT
Genetic and environmental influences on Person × Situation interactions were studied using data of the German Observational Study of Adult Twins. The performance of 168 monozygotic and 132 dizygotic twin pairs in 15 tasks was observed by 120 judges who never met the twins in person. Four judges observed one twin of each pair in one task. Twin similarities in Person × Situation profiles were analyzed via (a) correlations across tasks between co‐twins' Person × Situation profiles (their personality signatures) and (b) common‐pathway genetic models that partitioned genetic and environmental contributions to trait levels and to Person × Situation interactions. Genes accounted for about 25% of the reliable Person × Situation interactions, whereas shared environmental influences were negligible.
Penalized Projection Estimator for Volatility Density
Authors: COMTE F. , GENON‐CATALOT V.
Published: July 2006

Abstract.  In this paper, we consider a stochastic volatility model (Yt, Vt), where the volatility (Vt) is a positive stationary Markov process. We assume that (lnVt) admits a stationary density f that we want to estimate. Only the price process Yt is observed at n discrete times with regular sampling interval Δ. We propose a non‐parametric estimator for f obtained by a penalized projection method. Under mixing assumptions on (Vt), we derive bounds for the quadratic risk of the estimator. Assuming that Δ=Δn tends to 0 while the number of observations and the length of the observation time tend to infinity, we discuss the rate of convergence of the risk. Examples of models included in this framework are given.
Function words in the prosody of fluent reading
Authors: Weber Rose‐Marie
Published: July 2006

This paper exposes how function words and their prosodic features play a part in learning and teaching to read in the early years. It sketches the place that function words have in the grammar of English and describes their phonological features, especially their weak stress and its role in the prosodic quality of sentences. It considers the ways that function words and their prosodic features have a place in promoting fluent reading, taking into account accurate recognition of function words and well‐paced phrasing.
Metrical stress sensitivity in young children and its relationship to phonological awareness and reading
Authors: Wood Clare
Published: July 2006

This paper reports two studies of young English‐speaking children's ability to cope with changes to the metrical stress pattern of spoken words and the relationship between this ability, phonological awareness and early reading development. Initially, 39 children aged 4 and 5 years were assessed on their ability to identify mispronounced words, including words that had their metrical stress pattern reversed. The children were significantly worse at identifying words that had their metrical stress pattern reversed than words that were mispronounced in other ways. The second study was a cross‐sectional comparison of 31 5, 6 and 7‐year‐old children's performance on the metrical stress reversal condition of the mispronunciation task. Measures of the children's written language skills and phonological awareness were also taken. The 7‐year‐old children outperformed the 5‐year‐olds on the metrical stress task. Performance on this measure was associated with most of the measures of phonological awareness and literacy, and was associated with rhyme awareness and spelling ability after age had been taken into account. Moreover, metrical stress sensitivity could account for variance in spelling ability after phonological awareness had been taken into account, and after vocabulary had been taken into account. This suggests that stress sensitivity may influence spelling development in a way that is independent of its contribution to phonological representations.
The role of stress processing abilities in the development of bilingual reading
Authors: Goetry Vincent , Wade‐Woolley Lesly , Kolinsky Régine , Mousty Philippe
Published: July 2006

French and Dutch differ regarding the manifestations and lexical functions of the stress pattern of words. The present study examined group differences in stress processing abilities between French‐native and Dutch‐native listeners, thus extending previous cross‐linguistic comparisons involving Spanish‐native and French‐native adults. The results show that Dutch‐native first‐graders significantly outperformed French monolinguals, and that French‐native listeners schooled in Dutch produced intermediary performances, suggesting that stress‐processing abilities are a learnable set of skills. The present study also examined the contribution of stress processing abilities to reading development in Dutch, a stress‐based language, compared to that in French, a syllable‐based language. Although the expected correlation between stress processing abilities and reading was not observed in the Dutch monolinguals, such correlation was observed in the French‐native bilinguals schooled in Dutch and not in the Dutch‐native bilinguals schooled in French. This suggests that stress processing abilities influence reading development in a second, stress‐based, language. Moreover, the monolinguals and bilinguals schooled in Dutch showed significant associations between lexical development and stress processing abilities. Ways in which prosody might be involved in lexical and reading development are explored and discussed.
GROWTH POLICY IN THE SPIRIT OF STEINDL AND KALECKI
Authors: Guger Alois , Marterbauer Markus , Walterskirchen Ewald
Published: July 2006

There are large differences between Steindl’s ideas on growth policies and the Brussels/Paris consensus. Steindl called for innovation and education policies, whereas the mainstream today rather favours deregulation and privatization. Steindl stressed the positive demand‐side effects of the public sector and the contribution of lower household savings and anticyclical policies to growth. The economic mainstream praises the efficiency effects of a declining public sector, the importance of high savings for investment and warns of active anticyclical policies being an impediment to budget consolidation. Steindl and the Keynesians regarded the labour market situation as a consequence of economic growth. Today many economists see low growth as a result of labour market rigidities.
DISTRIBUTIVE AND DEMAND CYCLES IN THE US ECONOMY—A STRUCTURALIST GOODWIN MODEL
Authors: Barbosa‐Filho Nelson H. , Taylor Lance
Published: July 2006

There are regular counterclockwise cycles involving capacity utilization u (horizontal axis) and the labor share ψ (vertical axis) in the US economy since 1929. As in Goodwin’s cyclical growth model, ψ can be interpreted as a Lotka–Volterra predator variable and u as prey. In a phase diagram, dynamics around the u̇=0 schedule respond to effective demand that econometric estimation (1948–2002) shows to be profit‐led. Distributive dynamics around the =0 curve demonstrate a long‐term profit squeeze. Across cycles, the real wage and labor productivity grow at 0.57 per cent per quarter, holding the labor share broadly stable. Modeling the cycle in the (u, ψ) plane provides a parsimonious description of demand and distributive dynamics, consistent with the macroeconomics embedded in the work of Kalecki, Steindl, Goodwin and many subsequent authors.