bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing service deficits for the physically disabled in New Zealand: An action research study
Authors: Corbett Andrea M , Francis Karen , Chapman Ysanne
Published: August 2009

As a consequence of the global trend towards new managerialism the New Zealand government undertook reforms of the health‐care system during the 1980s and 1990s. These reforms, to a system that had functioned essentially unchanged since the 1930s, improved fiscal accountability at the expense of ensuring continuity of care. The restructuring particularly affected vulnerable populations with permanent disability and long‐term health needs. This study sought to address the service deficits of the current health service delivery system and to identify strategies to ensure continuity of care for this group. The development of a clinical pathway and the appointment of a clinical care coordinator to oversee the delivery of comprehensive seamless health‐care services were the major recommendations resulting from this study.
Thematic Section: Papers arising out of 22nd Himalaya–Karakoram–Tibet workshop (HKT 22)
Authors: Aitchison Jonathan , Wallis Simon
Published: August 2009

Preface
Effect of dietary fat to produce non‐alcoholic fatty liver in the rat
Authors: Ahmed Umbreen , Redgrave Trevor G , Oates Phillip S
Published: August 2009

Background and Aim: Non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) belongs to a spectrum of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Oxidative stress is hypothesized to play an important role in the progression of the disease. We used the Lieber/DeCarli model for NASH to investigate the mechanisms involved in its progression.

Methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed standard (35% of energy from fat) or high fat (71% of energy from fat) liquid diets, ad libitum or two‐thirds of the amount consumed ad libitum initially for 3 weeks and then extended to 5 weeks.

Results: Steatosis was absent in rats at 3 weeks feeding, but by 5 weeks, the high fat/ad lib group showed microvesicular steatosis and foci of macrovesicular steatosis without inflammation. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were not different. By 5 weeks feeding, hepatic triglycerides were highest in the high fat ad lib group and the ad lib groups were higher compared with their restricted groups. The oxidative stress marker, hydroxyalkenal (HAE) was decreased in the standard ad lib compared with the high fat ad lib group. Liver mRNA of interleukin‐6, haem oxygenase‐1, and markers of endoplasmic stress: C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), glucose responsive protein‐78 (GRP78) and spliced X‐box DNA binding protein (spliced XBP1) were similar in the ad lib groups.

Conclusions: Extending the feeding period of the high fat/ad lib diet for 5 weeks placed our rats with Type I to II NAFLD compared to the more progressed Type III state previously obtained after 3 weeks feeding. The milder condition obtained raised the prospect of genetic modifiers present in our rats that resist disease progression.
Meta‐analysis used to identify factors associated with the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors against non‐erosive reflux disease
Authors: Hiyama Toru , Matsuo Keitaro , Urabe Yuji , Fukuhara Tatsuma , Tanaka Shinji , Yoshihara Masaharu , Haruma Ken , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: August 2009

Background:  A lack of published data remains on factors associated with the treatment response to proton pump inhibitors (PPI) in patients with non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD).

Methods:  Studies on effectiveness of PPI in patients with NERD were identified using the MEDLINE database and manual searches of the available literature. Twenty publications that comprised a total of 22 study arms were eligible, and meta‐analyses of these 22 study arms were carried out.

Results:  Overall improvement rate in patients with PPI was 68%. Univariate meta‐regression analysis was used to explore the source of heterogeneity, P‐value for males was 0.192, and in the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection was 0.186, indicating that these factors are associated with treatment effectiveness. Thus, as the frequency of male and H. pylori‐infected patients increased, the effectiveness of PPI against NERD improved. By multivariate meta‐regression analysis, the P‐value for male and H. pylori infection decreased further (P = 0.002 and P = 0.003, respectively), indicating little interaction between male sex and H. pylori infection.

Conclusion:  These results suggest that H. pylori infection and patient sex may be associated with the effectiveness of PPI against patients with NERD. The reasons are still unclear, and further examinations are needed to clarify them.
GB virus C genotype 2 predominance in a hepatitis C virus/HIV infected population associated with reduced liver disease
Authors: Berzsenyi Mark D , Bowden D Scott , Roberts Stuart K , Revill Peter A
Published: August 2009

Background and Aim:  GB virus C (GBV‐C) infection in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV co‐infection is associated with a significant reduction in the severity of HCV‐related liver disease. The role of GBV‐C genotype in this association is unknown. It has been suggested that GBV‐C genotype may influence CD4 positive T‐cell counts in HCV/HIV co‐infected patients. The aim of the present study was to identify the GBV‐C genotype in a HCV/HIV co‐infected population and determine if the GBV‐C genotype contributes to a reduction in HCV‐related liver disease.

Methods:  GBV‐C RNA from 57 patients who were co‐infected with HCV/HIV was analyzed. GBV‐C RNA was detected by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction with primers to the NS5B gene and genotype determined by phylogenetic analysis after sequencing using E2 gene primers.

Results:  Genotype 2 was the predominant isolate in our population and was detected in 50/56 (89.3%) of patients, although sequences with similarity to genotypes 1, 3, 4 and 5 were also identified. There was no statistical difference between CD4 positive T‐cell counts in the GBV‐C genotype 2 and non‐genotype 2 groups.

Conclusions:  The GBV‐C genotype distribution in our HCV/HIV patient group was consistent with that reported in other developed countries. The predominance of genotype 2 in this study meant that we could not draw a conclusion for the role of GBV‐C genotype in the reduced severity of liver disease in co‐infected patients but CD4 positive T‐cell counts appeared to be unaffected by GBV‐C genotype.
Prevalence of celiac disease in the Asia–Pacific region
Authors: Cummins Adrian G , Roberts‐Thomson Ian C
Published: August 2009

The development of sensitive and specific serological assays for celiac disease has led to a revision of the prevalence of this disease in many countries. In the Asia–Pacific region, prevalence has been determined in only a minority of countries but those with prevalence rates of 1:50–1:500 adults include Australia, Iran, Israel, New Zealand, Syria and Turkey. In contrast, celiac disease appears to be extremely rare in Japan and may be rare in China. In India, prevalence rates are high in the northern states but much lower in the southern states. In individual countries, important determinants of prevalence include the per capita consumption of wheat and the frequency of a specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type genetically defined as HLA‐DQB1*02 (*0201 or *0202) and serologically defined as HLA‐DQ2. These determinants predict low prevalence rates for celiac disease in the Pacific Islands, South‐East Asia and eastern China but higher rates in countries west of India and China. There is also the potential for a rising incidence of celiac disease if traditional rice‐based diets are replaced by Western‐style diets with a higher content of wheat products.
Impact of pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics on the efficacy of pranlukast in Japanese asthmatics
Authors: ASANO Koichiro , NAKADE Susumu , SHIOMI Tetsuya , NAKAJIMA Takeshi , SUZUKI Yusuke , FUKUNAGA Koichi , OGUMA Tsuyoshi , SAYAMA Koichi , FUJITA Hirofumi , TANIGAWARA Yusuke , ISHIZAKA Akitoshi
Published: August 2009

Background and objective:  Wide inter‐individual variability in therapeutic effects limits the efficacy of leukotriene (LT) receptor antagonists in the treatment of asthma. We have reported that genetic variability in the expression of LTC4 synthase is associated with responsiveness to pranlukast in Japanese asthmatic patients. However, the effects of pharmacokinetic variability are less well known. This was an analysis of the pharmacokinetics of pranlukast in a population of adult asthmatics, and its effect on clinical responses. Other factors that may be related to the therapeutic effects of pranlukast, including LTC4 synthase gene polymorphisms, were also investigated.

Methods:  The population pharmacokinetics of pranlukast was analysed in a one‐compartment model, using data collected in 50 Japanese adults with moderate to severe asthma, who were treated with pranlukast, 225 mg bd for 4 days. In 32 of these patients, in whom the clinical response to pranlukast (increase in FEV1 after 4 weeks of treatment) was measured in a previous study, a combined pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic analysis was performed.

Results:  Using the population pharmacokinetic model, the estimated the mean oral clearance (CL/F) of pranlukast was 16.4 L/h, and the inter‐individual variability was 30.1%. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that LTC4 synthase polymorphisms, but not the CL/F of the drug, predicted an improvement in pulmonary function with pranlukast treatment (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:  There was marked inter‐individual variability in the pharmacokinetics of pranlukast among adult asthmatics, but this had little impact on the clinical effectiveness of the drug.
Effects of CAY10404 on the PKB/Akt and MAPK pathway and apoptosis in non‐small cell lung cancer cells
Authors: CHO Yongseon , PARK Mee‐Ja , PARK Mira , MIN Sun Seek , YEE Jaeyong , KIM Chan , HAN Min‐Soo , HAN Seung‐Ho
Published: August 2009

Background and objective: Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in men and women worldwide. The mechanism of cell death induced by CAY10404, a highly selective cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitor, was evaluated in three non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines (H460, H358, H1703).

Methods: To measure the effects of CAY10404 on proliferation of NSCLC cells, 3 × 103cells/well were plated in 96‐well plates and allowed to adhere overnight at 37°C. After treatment with CAY10404 for 3 days, cell proliferation was measured by the 3‐ (4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In the H460 NSCLC cells, evidence of apoptosis was sought using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay and western blot analysis.

Results: Treatment with CAY10404 in the range of 10–100 µM caused dose‐dependent growth inhibition, with an average 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 60–100 µmol/L, depending on the cell line. Western blot analysis of CAY10404‐treated cells showed cleavage of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) and procaspase‐3, signifying caspase activity and apoptotic cell death. CAY10404 treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt, glycogen synthase kinase‐3β and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1/2 in H460 and H358 cells.

Conclusions: These results suggest that CAY10404 is a potent inducer of apoptosis in NSCLC cells, and that it may act by suppressing multiple protein kinase B/Akt and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways.
Topical lidocaine through the bronchoscope reduces cough rate during bronchoscopy
Authors: ANTONIADES Nick , WORSNOP Christopher
Published: August 2009

Background and objective:  Topical lidocaine is often administered through the flexible bronchoscope in an attempt to reduce excessive coughing and patient discomfort. With the increasing use of sedation, including opiates that possess central cough suppressant effects, and the potential for serious clinical toxicity, the need for evidence regarding the efficacy of topical lidocaine is important. This study assessed whether topical lidocaine through the bronchoscope could reduce cough and stridor rate.

Methods:  A randomized controlled trial of 49 patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy was conducted. Following sedation and topical anaesthesia to the upper airway, patients were randomized to receive either lidocaine 2% or placebo (N‐saline) through the bronchoscope to the vocal cords and tracheobronchial tree. Cough and stridor rates were recorded by audiotape. Bronchoscopists and nurses assessed coughing with visual analogue scales.

Results:  There were no significant differences in baseline demographics and level of sedation between the two groups. The cough rate per minute (mean (SD)) was lower (P < 0.001) in the lidocaine group, 12.20 (7.99), n = 18, than in the placebo group, 27.50 (10.74), n = 31. The stridor rate was lower with lidocaine, 0.22 (0.60) per minute than with placebo 0.80 (1.35), but the difference was non‐significant at P = 0.095. Both doctors' and nurses' scores for cough were significantly lower in the lidocaine group (P < 0.001 for both). Less midazolam 2.1 mg (1.1) was used with lidocaine than with placebo 3.4 mg (1.9), P = 0.02 and less fentanyl 81.9 mg (34.1) versus 98.4 mg (20.4), P = 0.04.

Conclusions:  Topical lidocaine through the bronchoscope significantly decreased cough frequency and the total dose of sedation required during flexible bronchoscopy.
Pleural procedures and pleuroscopy
Authors: WRIGHTSON John M. , HELM Emma J. , RAHMAN Najib M. , GLEESON Fergus V. , DAVIES Robert J.O.
Published: August 2009

Pleural procedures are commonly performed by physicians from a range of specialities. These procedures vary in complexity, from relatively straightforward pleural aspiration to more challenging procedures such as pleuroscopy. After appropriate training, even complex pleural procedures have a low risk of complications. Nevertheless, an appreciation of procedural risks is essential for physician training and forms the crux of a valid patient consent process. This review presents a systematic evaluation of the potential complications of common pleural procedures.
Erixestus zygogrammae Cave and Grissell (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae): An exotic egg parasitoid of Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Australia
Authors: Withers TM , Christensen JA , Burwell CJ
Published: August 2009

The solitary endoparasitoid Erixestus zygogrammae has been identified from eggs of the parthenium weed biocontrol agent Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister laid on ragweed in Brisbane. It has been recorded recently as an egg parasitoid of Z. magica Stål in Honduras, Central America. Possible sources of introduction of this parasitoid into Australia are discussed.
Giant females and bird‐of‐paradise flies: Notes on the biology of CallipappusGuérin‐Méneville (Hemiptera: Margarodidae)
Authors: Gullan PJ , Brookes HM
Published: August 2009

Aspects of the life‐history, distribution and behaviour of the Australian genus Callipappus (Hemiptera: Margarodidae) are reported for the first time. Adult males and females of most species emerge in autumn and immediately mate, after which females attach to aerial vegetation and invaginate their posterior abdomen to form a marsupium in which their eggs develop. First‐instar nymphs exit the marsupium and enter the soil for nymphal development, which takes place within a waxy cyst. Nymphs feed attached by their stylets to the roots of heathland, woodland and mallee plants, including Banksia species and probably Xanthorrhoea species. The timing of their life cycle means that populations of Callipappus seem particularly vulnerable to autumn fuel‐reduction burns.
Efficacy of insecticides against the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis (L.) (Collembola: Sminthuridae), and other arthropods in lucerne
Authors: Bishop AL , McKenzie HJ , Barchia IM , Spohr LJ
Published: August 2009

Nine insecticides were evaluated in lucerne for control of the lucerne flea, Sminthurus viridis. Carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, omethoate and isofenphos were the most effective. Each gave immediate control and the highest levels of persistence. Efficacy data of the insecticides against aphids, leafhoppers, earth mites and total numbers of predators are also given. Omethoate and chlorpyrifos were the most effective chemicals overall, although further information on their effects on the predator complex is required to support their recommendation. Carbaryl and fenvalerate showed promise for differentiating between damage by three major pests.
The Australian species of Neozavrelia Goetghebuer (Diptera: Chironomidae: Tanytarsini)
Authors: Cranston PS
Published: August 2009

The genus Neozavrelia Goetghebuer (Chironomidae: Diptera) is represented in Australia by two species, described here for the first time. The species conform well in all life‐history stages to diagnoses based on Holarctic congeners. An associated female allows provision of a modern description of the female genitalia for the first time. In the larval and pupal stages, both Australian species form tough silk tubes within sandgrain cases in the hygropetric zone of seepages across rock surfaces. One species, N. optoputealis sp.n., was found on a limestone seepage in a road cutting in the Blue Mountains, north‐west of Sydney. The second species, N. bowmani sp.n., came from a seepage on a vertical rock face in a sandstone canyon in an unusual gorge area of central Arnhemland, Northern Territory, where some gondwanan refugial taxa co‐occur in a monsoonal/relictual rainforest habitat. The biology of Neozavrelia is reviewed, with a suggestion that the hygropetric and perhaps more eurythermic habit appears to be more common than lotic and cool stenothermic habitats.
A weight‐based phenology model for immature stages of the red‐headed cockchafer, Adoryphorus coulonii (Burmeister) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae), a pest of pastures in south‐eastern Australia
Authors: Candy Steven G , McQuillan Peter B
Published: August 2009

A new method of modelling insect phenology which can be used when stadia occupancy times are unobserved is described. The method was motivated by a study of larvae of the red‐headed cockchafer which were reared and weighed regularly for a range of constant temperatures using largely field‐collected first, second and third‐instar larvae. These larvae had undergone an unknown but significant proportion of their development in the field. The method first models development rate as a function of temperature using relative growth rates in mean larval weight. Predicted mean larval weight was then used as a physiological time scale in an ordinal regression model of the proportion of the population in each of first to third‐instar stage. An algorithm to predict proportions in the field of each stage up to and including the pupal stage given a known starting date for the population and daily maximum and minimum soil temperatures is described and tested using data from two field sites. Growth rates under laboratory conditions were slower than those in the field probably due to the handling required for weighing. As a result, an adjustment to the rate parameter and a 10°C lower development threshold were required for the growth and phenology models to predict trajectories for mean larval weight and proportion of second‐instar larvae which were consistent with observations from the field sites.
Development and implementation of the specialized nurse practitioner role: Use of the PEPPA framework to achieve success
Authors: McNamara Shannon , Giguère Valérie , St‐Louis Lyne , Boileau Johanne
Published: August 2009

In 2003, amendments to the Nurses' Act in Quebec, Canada, allowed for an expanded nursing role. Specialized nurse practitioners were introduced to the health‐care system in 2005. By merging medical knowledge with advanced practice nursing, the specialized nurse practitioner is gaining in popularity and acceptance with staff members and patients. To guide our team through the process, we used the PEPPA (participatory, evidence‐based, patient‐focused process for guiding the development, implementation, and evaluation of advanced practice nursing) framework. By using a framework specifically designed for the development, implementation, and evaluation of an advanced practice nursing role, we were better prepared for the path that lay ahead. Ultimately, the goal of the implementation of the specialized nurse practitioner role is to improve the quality of care to a specific population of patients, whether it is through individualized clinical follow‐up, evidence‐based practice, patient teaching, or promoting continuous education for the nurses.
Nursing values in China: The expectations of registered nurses
Authors: Pang Dong , Senaratana Wilawan , Kunaviktikul Wipada , Klunklin Areewan , McElmurry Beverly J.
Published: August 2009

The purpose of this study was to identify the essential professional values of Chinese nurses and their manifestations in the current health‐care environment. Data were collected from 29 nurse experts by semi‐structured individual interviews or focus groups in Beijing and Shanghai, China. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Seven themes were identified: altruism, caring, trustworthiness, dignity, responsibility for the development of the profession, autonomy, and justice. On the whole, these values were in accordance with the codes of the International Council of Nurses and the Chinese Nursing Association. Additionally, culture and socioeconomic trends were found to have an influence on nurses' understanding and explanation of professional values. The findings of this study provided insight into Chinese nurses' professional values and might contribute to the future development of a culturally sensitive scale to measure nursing values in China.
Illness perspectives of Thais diagnosed with schizophrenia
Authors: Sanseeha Ladda , Chontawan Ratanawadee , Sethabouppha Hunsa , Disayavanish Chamlong , Turale Sue
Published: August 2009

This study explored the perceptions of 18 people diagnosed with schizophrenia from 1–10 years to uncover how they perceived themselves and their illness. It also involved 12 family members who added their perceptions. The data were collected using in‐depth interviews, reflective journaling, and observations. The data were analyzed through the lens of Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenology. Four themes emerged: perceptions of mental illness, perceptions of the causes of illness, perceptions of discrimination, and attempting to live with schizophrenia. The findings included strong underlying cultural and spiritual beliefs, and attitudes unique to the Thai participants, including the causation of schizophrenia by supernatural powers, black magic, and bad karma stemming from past deeds. Understanding the perceptions of the participants might help health‐care providers to be more sensitive to those living with schizophrenia in Thailand and elsewhere. In particular, the findings could be useful in informing psychiatric careproviders about developing better caring systems for clients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This should help the sufferers of schizophrenia to live their lives to their own satisfaction and as normally as possible.
Hyptis suaveolens: An emerging invader of Vindhyan plateau, India
Authors: SHARMA GYAN P. , RAIZADA PURNIMA , RAGHUBANSHI AKHILESH S.
Published: August 2009

This article addresses the change in species composition in Hyptis suaveolens‐dominated and H. suaveolens‐uninvaded locations in the Vindhyan dry deciduous forest of India. We also assessed the environmental variables that affect the dominance of this species in sites where it has invaded. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that there was a significant change in species composition in those sites dominated by H. suaveolens. The CCA ordination also suggested that H. suaveolens prefers locations with a high pH and rocky areas with a sandy substrate. The results also showed that the number of native species in the community decreases with the increasing dominance of H. suaveolens. This suggests that, for the conservation of biodiversity and the management of areas that are especially dominated by H. suaveolens, the focus needs to be on areas with a high level of rockiness in the Vindhyan plateau, India.
Root growth profiles of Aveneae and Poeae plants in optically active α‐methylbenzyl‐3‐p‐tolylurea media
Authors: KOJIMA HISAHIRO , OHNUMA GOSHI , OMOKAWA HIROYOSHI
Published: August 2009

Using a root growth inhibition assay, we studied the diverse chiral responses of plants in the tribes, Aveneae and Poeae, to the optically active compounds, R‐ and S‐1‐α‐methylbenzyl‐3‐p‐tolylurea (MBTU). We specifically examined the responses of grasses belonging to the Poeae tribe (Lolium, Briza, Poa, Dactylis, and Festuca) and the Aveneae tribe (Avena, Holcus, Agrostis, Alopecurus, Beckmannia, and Phleum). These plants include companion weeds of wheat and barley, and turf grass. The companion weeds of cereal crops, such as Poa annua, Poa pratensis, Dactylis glomerata, Avena fatua, Avena sativa, Holcus lanatus, Agrostis stolonifera, Alopecurus myosuroides, Al. aequalis, and Beckmannia syzigachne, showed significantly inhibited root growth in response to 20 µmol L−1R‐MBTU, whereas the root growth of Triticum aestivum was not inhibited at this concentration. Like Oryza sativa, almost all the Poeae and Aveneae plants tested here preferentially responded to R‐MBTU, but the four grasses, Lolium multiflorum, D. glomerata, Alopecurus species, and Phleum pratense, preferentially responded to S‐MBTU. Among them, the Agrostis species were highly sensitive to R‐MBTU and the Alopecurus species were highly sensitive to S‐MBTU. All the plants among the genera, Poa, Avena, and Alopecurus, showed a homogeneous chiral preference.
Effect of different weed management systems on the weed populations, and seedbank composition and distribution in tropical coconut plantations
Authors: SENARATHNE SUMITH H.S. , SANGAKKARA RAVI U.
Published: August 2009

Weeds are a perennial problem in coconut plantations and cause significant losses in the nut yield. The occurrence of a wide range of weeds also causes difficulties in their eradication. The influence of five different weed management practises on the distribution and composition of the soil weed seed bank in coconut plantations in the low‐country dry zone of Sri Lanka was evaluated. The treatments imposed included the application of glyphosate (N‐[phosphonomethyl]‐glycine), cover cropping with Pueraria phaseoloides, tractor harrowing, tractor slashing, and tractor plowing. All the treatments were applied twice per year, except for the cover cropping treatment. In terms of a reduction in the weed biomass, the application of glyphosate and cover cropping (Pueraria) were more efficient in reducing the ground weed population. These methods were very effective in reducing the weed seed density in the top soil layers. Plowing and harrowing significantly reduced the seed bank in the top soil layers and shifted significant numbers of weed seeds to deeper soil profiles. However, the total germinated weed seed count increased by 123.5, 691.4, 1133.1, and 1216.5% in the 10–15, 15–20, 20–25, and 25–30 cm soil depths, respectively, compared with the initial germinated weed seed count in the plowing treatment. Considering all the soil layers, the decline in the germinating weed seed count was very high in the treatment plots with cover cropping and the application of glyphosate; thus, these are considered to be the best practises to reduce the germinating weed seed count in the soil of coconut plantations.
Morphological disparities in the epidermal and anatomical features of the leaf among wildBrassica junceapopulations
Authors: HUANGFU CHAOHE , SONG XIAOLING , QIANG SHENG
Published: August 2009

In the present article, we investigated the epidermal and anatomical features of 10 wildBrassica junceapopulations with different susceptibilities to glyphosate in detail. The characteristics of the leaf surface and anatomy could affect the efficacy of glyphosate uptake in weeds through the influence of its adherence and penetration. Our results showed that herbicide‐resistant wild populations generally had greater leaf thickness, adaxial cutin thickness, and trichome density in the upper epidermis, but lower spongy tissue thickness and vascular bundle numbers, as compared with the susceptible populations, suggesting that differences in morphological traits among populations might contribute to their variable response to glyphosate. The possible morphological involvement in the differential susceptibility of wildB. junceapopulations to glyphosate also was discussed.
Allelopathic effects of Hemistepta lyrata on the germination and growth of wheat, sorghum, cucumber, rape, and radish seeds
Authors: GAO XINGXIANG , LI MEI , GAO ZONGJUN , LI CHANGSONG , SUN ZUOWEN
Published: August 2009

The allelopathic effects of a water extract from Hemistepta lyrata were tested on the seeds of selected crops in Petri dishes. The results showed that the extract strongly inhibited the germination and seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum), rape (Brassica campestris), and radish (Raphanus sativus), but only slightly inhibited those of sorghum (Sorghum vulgare) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus). The extract stimulated the growth of roots and hypocotyls at lower concentrations, while it inhibited their growth at higher concentrations. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content of cucumber and radish increased after treatment with the extract. These results indicated that the MDA concentration in plants is one important aspect of the allelopathic effects of H. lyrata.
Toxic encephalopathy after taking dried seeds of Datura stramonium in two elderly subjects
Authors: Suk Seung‐Han , Kwak Yong‐Tae
Published: August 2009

An altered mentality, or delirium, is a common medical condition of the elderly in emergency medicine or neurology clinics. Among causes of this, toxic etiology due to an anticholinergic agent is not rare. The authors present two elderly women who were brought to an emergency room because of anticholinergic syndrome. The patients displayed agitative behavior, confusion, urinary retention, dry mouth and dilated pupils within 3 h of ingesting the dried seeds of Datura stramonium which has been used as a herbal medicine or as a traditional folk remedy for relieving coughing and asthma in Korea. They were discharged with a complete recovery after receiving conservative therapy for 5 days. Physicians of emergency medicine should be mindful of anticholinergic syndrome due to herbal medicine when the elderly with a history of delirium come to a hospital.
Reconciling topographic and climatic effects on widespread and range‐restricted species richness
Authors: Szabo Nora D. , Algar Adam C. , Kerr Jeremy T.
Published: August 2009

Aim  To identify the reasons behind differing geographical species richness patterns of range‐restricted and widespread species.

Location  The Western Hemisphere.

Methods  We used regression to determine the strongest environmental predictors of richness for widespread and range‐restricted mammal species in 10,000 km2 quadrats in the continental Americas. We then used range‐placement models to predict the expected correlation between range‐restricted and widespread species richness were they to be determined by identical, random, or contrasting environmental factors. Finally, to determine the reasons underlying deviations from these predictions, we divided the Americas into 5% quantiles based on temperature and topographic heterogeneity and correlated richness of these two assemblages across quantiles – an approach that avoids constraints on statistical testing imposed by low potential for range overlap among range‐restricted species.

Results  Minimum annual temperature was the strongest predictor of widespread species richness while topographic heterogeneity was the best, although weak, predictor of range‐restricted species richness in conventional regression analysis. Our models revealed that the observed correlation between range‐restricted and widespread species richness was similar to what would be observed if both range‐restricted and widespread species richness were determined by temperature. Patterns of range‐restricted and widespread species richness were highly correlated across temperature quantiles, but range‐restricted species uniquely showed an increasing pattern across heterogeneity quantiles.

Main conclusions  Species richness gradients among range‐restricted species differ from those of widespread species, but not as extensively or for the reasons reported previously. Instead, these assemblages appear to share some but not all underlying environmental determinants of species richness. Our new approach to examining species richness patterns reveals that range‐restricted and widespread species richnesses share a common response to temperature that conventional analyses have not previously revealed. However, topographic heterogeneity has assemblage‐specific effects on range‐restricted species.
Combining spatial and phylogenetic eigenvector filtering in trait analysis
Authors: Kühn Ingolf , Nobis Michael P. , Durka Walter
Published: August 2009

Aim To analyse the effects of simultaneously using spatial and phylogenetic information in removing spatial autocorrelation of residuals within a multiple regression framework of trait analysis.

Location Switzerland, Europe.

Methods We used an eigenvector filtering approach to analyse the relationship between spatial distribution of a trait (flowering phenology) and environmental covariates in a multiple regression framework. Eigenvector filters were calculated from ordinations of distance matrices. Distance matrices were either based on pure spatial information, pure phylogenetic information or spatially structured phylogenetic information. In the multiple regression, those filters were selected which best reduced Moran'sIcoefficient of residual autocorrelation. These were added as covariates to a regression model of environmental variables explaining trait distribution.

Results The simultaneous provision of spatial and phylogenetic information was effectively able to remove residual autocorrelation in the analysis. Adding phylogenetic information was superior to adding purely spatial information. Applying filters showed altered results, i.e. different environmental predictors were seen to be significant. Nevertheless, mean annual temperature and calcareous substrate remained the most important predictors to explain the onset of flowering in Switzerland; namely, the warmer the temperature and the more calcareous the substrate, the earlier the onset of flowering. A sequential approach, i.e. first removing the phylogenetic signal from traits and then applying a spatial analysis, did not provide more information or yield less autocorrelation than simple or purely spatial models.

Main conclusions The combination of spatial and spatio‐phylogenetic information is recommended in the analysis of trait distribution data in a multiple regression framework. This approach is an efficient means for reducing residual autocorrelation and for testing the robustness of results, including the indication of incomplete parameterizations, and can facilitate ecological interpretation.
Locally Adapted Projections to Reduce Panorama Distortions
Authors: Kopf Johannes , Lischinski Dani , Deussen Oliver , Cohen‐Or Daniel , Cohen Michael
Published: August 2009

Displaying panoramic and wide angle views on a flat 2D display surface is necessarily prone to distortions. Perspective projections are limited to fairly narrow view angles. Cylindrical and spherical projections can show full 360° panoramas, but at the cost of curving straight lines, interfering with the perception of salient shapes in the scene.

In this paper, we introducelocally‐adapted projections. Such projections are defined by a continuous projection surface consisting of both near‐planar and curved parts. A simple and intuitive user interface allows the specification of regions of interest to be mapped to the near‐planar parts, thereby reducing bending artifacts. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on a variety of panoramic and wide angle images, including both indoor and outdoor scenes.
A Robust Illumination Estimate for Chromatic Adaptation in Rendered Images
Authors: Wilkie Alexander , Weidlich Andrea
Published: August 2009

We propose a method that improves automatic colour correction operations for rendered images. In particular, we propose a robust technique for estimating the visible and pertinent illumination in a given scene. We do this at very low computational cost by mostly re‐using information that is already being computed during the image synthesis process. Conventional illuminant estimations either operate only on 2D image data, or, if they do go beyond pure image analysis, only use information on the luminaires found in the scene. The latter is usually done with little or no regard for how the light sources actually affect the part of the scene that is being viewed. Our technique goes beyond that, and also takes object reflectance into account, as well as the incident light that is actually responsible for the colour of the objects that one sees. It is therefore able to cope with difficult cases, such as scenes with mixed illuminants, complex scenes with many light sources of varying colour, or strongly coloured indirect illumination.
Soft Textured Shadow Volume
Authors: Forest Vincent , Barthe Loïc , Guennebaud Gaël , Paulin Mathias
Published: August 2009

Efficiently computing robust soft shadows is a challenging and time consuming task. On the one hand, the quality of image‐based shadows is inherently limited by the discrete property of their framework. On the other hand, object‐based algorithms do not exhibit such discretization issues but they can only efficiently deal with triangles having a constant transmittance factor. This paper addresses this limitation. We propose a general algorithm for the computation of robust and accurate soft shadows for triangles with a spatially varying transmittance. We then show how this technique can be efficiently included into object‐based soft shadow algorithms. This results in unified object‐based frameworks for computing robust direct shadows for both standard and perforated triangles in fully animated scenes.
Estimating Specular Roughness and Anisotropy from Second Order Spherical Gradient Illumination
Authors: Ghosh Abhijeet , Chen Tongbo , Peers Pieter , Wilson Cyrus A. , Debevec Paul
Published: August 2009

This paper presents a novel method for estimating specular roughness and tangent vectors, per surface point, from polarized second order spherical gradient illumination patterns. We demonstrate that for isotropic BRDFs, only three second order spherical gradients are sufficient to robustly estimate spatially varying specular roughness. For anisotropic BRDFs, an additional two measurements yield specular roughness and tangent vectors per surface point. We verify our approach with different illumination configurations which project both discrete and continuous fields of gradient illumination. Our technique provides a direct estimate of the per‐pixel specular roughness and thus does not require off‐line numerical optimization that is typical for the measure‐and‐fit approach to classical BRDF modeling.
Single Photo Estimation of Hair Appearance
Authors: Bonneel Nicolas , Paris Sylvain , Van De Panne Michiel , Durand Frédo , Drettakis George
Published: August 2009

Significant progress has been made in high‐quality hair rendering, but it remains difficult to choose parameter values that reproduce a given real hair appearance. In particular, for applications such as games where naive users want to create their own avatars, tuning complex parameters is not practical. Our approach analyses a single flash photograph and estimates model parameters that reproduce the visual likeness of the observed hair. The estimated parameters include color absorptions, three reflectance lobe parameters of a multiple‐scattering rendering model, and a geometric noise parameter. We use a novel melanin‐based model to capture the natural subspace of hair absorption parameters. At its core, the method assumes that images of hair with similar color distributions are also similar in appearance. This allows us to recast the issue as an image retrieval problem where the photo is matched with a dataset of rendered images; we thus also match the model parameters used to generate these images. An earth‐mover's distance is used between luminance‐weighted color distributions to gauge similarity. We conduct a perceptual experiment to evaluate this metric in the context of hair appearance and demonstrate the method on 64 photographs, showing that it can achieve a visual likeness for a large variety of input photos.
Dart Throwing on Surfaces
Authors: Cline D. , Jeschke S. , White K. , Razdan A. , Wonka P.
Published: August 2009

In this paper we present dart throwing algorithms to generate maximal Poisson disk point sets directly on 3D surfaces. We optimize dart throwing by efficiently excluding areas of the domain that are already covered by existing darts. In the case of triangle meshes, our algorithm shows dramatic speed improvement over comparable sampling methods. The simplicity of our basic algorithm naturally extends to the sampling of other surface types, including spheres, NURBS, subdivision surfaces, and implicits. We further extend the method to handle variable density points, and the placement of arbitrary ellipsoids without overlap. Finally, we demonstrate how to adapt our algorithm to work with geodesic instead of Euclidean distance. Applications for our method include fur modeling, the placement of mosaic tiles and polygon remeshing.
Characteristic Point Maps
Authors: Wu Hongzhi , Dorsey Julie , Rushmeier Holly
Published: August 2009

Extremely dense spatial sampling is often needed to prevent aliasing when rendering objects with high frequency variations in geometry and reflectance. To accelerate the rendering process, we introduce characteristic point maps (CPMs), a hierarchy of view‐independent points, which are chosen to preserve the appearance of the original model across different scales. In preprocessing, randomized matrix column sampling is used to reduce an initial dense sampling to a minimum number of characteristic points with associated weights. In rendering, the reflected radiance is computed using a weighted average of reflectances from characteristic points. Unlike existing techniques, our approach requires no restrictions on the original geometry or reflectance functions.
FastV: From‐point Visibility Culling on Complex Models
Authors: Chandak Anish , Antani Lakulish , Taylor Micah , Manocha Dinesh
Published: August 2009

We present an efficient technique to compute the potentially visible set (PVS) of triangles in a complex 3D scene from a viewpoint. The algorithm computes a conservative PVS at object space accuracy. Our approach traces a high number of small, volumetric frusta and computes blockers for each frustum using simple intersection tests. In practice, the algorithm can compute the PVS of CAD and scanned models composed of millions of triangles at interactive rates on a multi‐core PC. We also use the visibility algorithm to accurately compute the reflection paths from a point sound source. The resulting sound propagation algorithm is 10–20X faster than prior accurate geometric acoustic methods.
GPU‐Assisted High Quality Particle Rendering
Authors: Cha Deukhyun , Son Sungjin , Ihm Insung
Published: August 2009

Visualizing dynamic participating media in particle form by fully solving equations from the light transport theory is a computationally very expensive process. In this paper, we present a computational pipeline for particle volume rendering that is easily accelerated by the current GPU. To fully harness its massively parallel computing power, we transform input particles into a volumetric density field using a GPU‐assisted, adaptive density estimation technique that iteratively adapts the smoothing length for local grid cells. Then, the volume data is visualized efficiently based on the volume photon mapping method where our GPU techniques further improve the rendering quality offered by previous implementations while performing rendering computation in acceptable time. It is demonstrated that high quality volume renderings can be easily produced from large particle datasets in time frames of a few seconds to less than a minute.
Setting up and running a loss and bereavement support group for adults with learning disabilities
Authors: Boyden Paul , Freeman Adele , Offen Liz
Published: August 2009

Accessible summary

 We held a bereavement and loss group for people with learning disabilities.

 The group ran for 8 weeks and there were five adults who came to the group.

 The group helped people to share their feelings and experiences to help them cope with their bereavement.

Following evidence based literature, the Birmingham Clinical Psychology Service for People with Learning Disabilities ran a Loss and Bereavement Psychotherapy Group. The group consisted of five adults with mild learning disabilities, who met for 8 consecutive weeks. This paper reports the process of setting up a bereavement group for people with learning disabilities, detailing the development of session plans and structure of the group. The authors encourage allied health professionals to consider setting up similar groups within their learning disabilities services, bearing in mind reflections on practical issues highlighted within this paper.
Geographical Structure of the Y‐chromosomal Genetic Landscape of the Levant: A coastal‐inland contrast
Authors: El‐Sibai Mirvat , Platt Daniel E. , Haber Marc , Xue Yali , Youhanna Sonia C. , Wells R. Spencer , Izaabel Hassan , Sanyoura May F. , Harmanani Haidar , Bonab Maziar Ashrafian , Behbehani Jaafar , Hashwa Fuad , Tyler‐Smith Chris , Zalloua Pierre A. ,   The Genographic Consortium
Published: August 2009

We have examined the male‐specific phylogeography of the Levant and its surroundings by analyzing Y‐chromosomal haplogroup distributions using 5874 samples (885 new) from 23 countries. The diversity within some of these haplogroups was also examined. The Levantine populations showed clustering in SNP and STR analyses when considered against a broad Middle‐East and North African background. However, we also found a coastal‐inland, east‐west pattern of diversity and frequency distribution in several haplogroups within the small region of the Levant. Since estimates of effective population size are similar in the two regions, this strong pattern is likely to have arisen mainly from differential migrations, with different lineages introduced from the east and west.
Variation in life‐history characteristics among populations of North American wood turtles: a view from the north
Authors: Greaves W. F. , Litzgus J. D.
Published: August 2009

Life‐history traits such as age at maturity, body size and clutch size tend to vary across a species' distribution. The purpose of our study was to describe the demography of a newly discovered population of North American wood turtlesGlyptemys insculptaat the species' northern range limit, and to compare our findings to those of other studies to test hypotheses about adaptive life‐history variation. Turtles were hand‐captured from May to October 2005 and 2006 along a 4.5 km stretch of river located in the Sudbury District, ON, Canada (46°N). Fifty‐five captured individuals provided a population density estimate of 1.3 turtles/100 m of river. Juveniles comprised 35% of wood turtles captured, and growth ring counts (i.e. age estimates) indicated recruitment in each of the past 11 years. Among populations, we found a nonlinear pattern in body size variation with the largest turtles in the north, smallest turtles in the centre of the range, and intermediate‐sized turtles in the south. This nonlinear pattern in body size was reflected in clutch size variation. Selective pressures to overcome years of low recruitment may have resulted in larger body sizes and hence large clutch sizes at northern latitudes while conspecifics at southern latitudes can achieve larger body sizes because they live in a more productive environment. Population density decreased with latitude, likely as a result of a gradient in habitat productivity.