bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
False-negative 123I-MIBG SPECT is most commonly found in SDHB-related pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma with high frequency to develop metastatic disease
Authors: Fonte Jay S , Robles Jeremyjones F , Chen Clara C , Reynolds James , Whatley Millie , Ling Alexander , Mercado-Asis Leilani B , Adams Karen T , Martucci Victoria , Fojo Tito , Pacak Karel
Published: December 2011

The purpose of this study was to present the characteristics and outcome of patients with proven pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma who had false-negative iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine single photon emission computed tomography (123I-MIBG SPECT). Twenty-one patients with false-negative 123I-MIBG SPECT (7 males, 14 females), aged 13–55 years (mean: 41.40 years), were included. We classified them as nonmetastatic or metastatic according to the stage of the disease at the time of false-negative 123I-MIBG SPECT study, the location and size of the tumor, plasma and urinary catecholamine and metanephrine levels, genetic mutations, and outcome in terms of occurrence and progression of metastases and death. Thirteen patients were evaluated for metastatic tumors, while the remaining eight were seen for nonmetastatic disease. All primary tumors and multiple metastatic foci did not show avid 123I-MIBG uptake regardless of the tumor diameter. The majority of patients had extraadrenal tumors with hypersecretion of normetanephrine or norepinephrine. SDHB mutations were present in 52% (n=11) of cases, RET mutation in 4% (n=1), and the rest were apparently sporadic. Twenty-four percent (n=5) had metastatic disease on initial presentation. Fourteen patients were followed for 3–7 years. Of them, 71% (n=10) had metastatic disease and the majority had SDHB mutations. Nine are still alive, while five (four with SDHB) died due to metastatic disease. We concluded that false-negative 123I-MIBG SPECT is frequently related to metastatic tumors and usually due to SDHB mutations with unfavorable prognosis. We therefore recommend that patients with false-negative 123I-MIBG SPECT be tested for SDHB mutations and undergo more regular and close follow-up.
Elevated Intraoperative Expression of Ventricular Myosin Light Chain Predicts Heart Failure after Valve Replacement Surgery
Authors: Feng Qiang , Zhang Guo-Fei , Ma Liang , Ni Yi-Ming
Published: December 2011

Background: It can be difficult to predict which patients will survive and recover cardiac function after valve replacement surgery. We hypothesized that the expression levels of ventricular myosin light chain (MLCv) might reflect the severity of disease or the extent of irreversible myocardial damage and might be useful for predicting the postoperative course. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between MLCv expression in specimens obtained during valve replacement surgery and the postoperative New York Heart Association (NYHA) class.

Methods: The levels of expression of the regulatory MLCv (MLC-2v) and MLC-1v in papillary muscle specimens from 80 patients who underwent valve replacement surgery for rheumatic valvular disease were evaluated by Western blot analysis.

Results: The patients were similar with regard to the intraoperative expression of MLC-1v, regardless of postoperative NYHA class. The preoperative NYHA class, the end-systolic left ventricular internal dimension, and the intraoperative expression of MLC-2v emerged as independent risks factors for a NYHA class status of III/IV at 6 months after surgery, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.862.

Conclusion: The intraoperative level of MLC-2v expression was predictive of the patients' NYHA class after valve replacement surgery. This result suggests that future studies evaluating the use of preoperative specimens (such as biopsy or peripheral blood samples) for measurement of MLC-2v levels could lead to a valuable preoperative tool for the assessment of candidates for valve replacement.
Mutation Rate Inferred From Synonymous Substitutions in a Long-Term Evolution Experiment With Escherichia coli
Authors: Wielgoss Sébastien , Barrick Jeffrey E , Tenaillon Olivier , Cruveiller Stéphane , Chane-Woon-Ming Béatrice , Médigue Claudine , Lenski Richard E , Schneider Dominique
Published: December 2011

The quantification of spontaneous mutation rates is crucial for a mechanistic understanding of the evolutionary process. In bacteria, traditional estimates using experimental or comparative genetic methods are prone to statistical uncertainty and consequently estimates vary by over one order of magnitude. With the advent of next-generation sequencing, more accurate estimates are now possible. We sequenced 19 Escherichia coli genomes from a 40,000-generation evolution experiment and directly inferred the point-mutation rate based on the accumulation of synonymous substitutions. The resulting estimate was 8.9 × 10−11 per base-pair per generation, and there was a significant bias toward increased AT-content. We also compared our results with published genome sequence datasets for other bacterial evolution experiments. Given the power of our approach, our estimate represents the most accurate measure of bacterial base-substitution rates available to date.
QTL Controlling Masculinization of Ear Tips in a Maize (Zea mays L.) Intraspecific Cross
Authors: Holland James B , Coles Nathan D
Published: December 2011

Maize is unique among cereal grasses because of its monoecious flowering habit. Male flowers are normally restricted to the tassel that terminates the primary shoot, whereas female flowers occur as ears at the terminal nodes of lateral branches. We observed Ki14, a tropical maize inbred that produces an ear tipped by a staminate (male) spike under certain environmental conditions, such as long daylengths. Recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between temperate line B97, which was never observed to produce a staminate ear tip, and Ki14 segregated for the trait under long daylengths. Some progeny lines that had even longer staminate tips than Ki14 were male fertile. We mapped three QTL controlling staminate ear tip using a two-part (binomial plus normal) model. A major QTL on chromosome 3 had a large effect on penetrance of the trait (whether a line would produce staminate ear tips or not) as well as its severity (the length of the staminate tip). This QTL seems to be linked to, but at a distinct position from, a previously mapped QTL controlling the proportion of staminate florets in ears in progeny from crosses between maize and teosinte. Two additional QTL affecting staminate ear tip severity overlapped with QTL controlling photoperiod response previously mapped in this population. Alleles conferring photoperiod sensitivity for delayed flowering at these QTL seem to enhance the production of staminate ear tips under long daylengths.
Transposon-Mediated Transgenesis in the Short-Lived African KillifishNothobranchius furzeri, a Vertebrate Model for Aging
Authors: Valenzano Dario Riccardo , Sharp Sabrina , Brunet Anne
Published: December 2011

The African killifish Nothobranchius furzeri is the shortest-lived vertebrate that can be bred in captivity. N. furzeri comprises several wild-derived strains with striking differences in longevity ranging from 3 to 9 months, which makes it a powerful vertebrate model for aging research. The short life cycle of N. furzeri should also facilitate studies on adult traits that are specific to vertebrates. Although progress has been made to generate a genetic linkage map and to start sequencing the genome of N. furzeri, tools to genetically manipulate this species of fish have not yet been developed. Here, we report the first establishment of transgenesis in N. furzeri. We use the Tol2 transposase system to generate transgenic N. furzeri that express green fluorescent protein driven by the Xenopus cytoskeletal actin promoter or the zebrafish heat-shock protein 70 promoter. We successfully generate stable transgenic lines of N. furzeri with germline transmission of integrated transgene. The development of transgenesis in N. furzeri provides a powerful tool to investigate the mechanisms underlying aging and longevity in a short-lived vertebrate model. Transgenesis in this fish will also facilitate the study of other phenotypes, including adult tissue regeneration and cognitive behavior.
Transcription Factor Binding Site Redundancy in Embryonic Enhancers of the Drosophila Bithorax Complex
Authors: Drewell Robert A
Published: December 2011

The molecular control of gene expression in development is mediated through the activity of embryonic enhancer cis-regulatory modules. This activity is determined by the combination of repressor and activator transcription factors that bind at specific DNA sequences in the enhancer. A proposed mechanism to ensure a high fidelity of transcriptional output is functional redundancy between closely spaced binding sites within an enhancer. Here I show that at the bithorax complex in Drosophila there is selective redundancy for both repressor and activator factor binding sites in vivo. The absence of compensatory binding sites is responsible for two rare gain-of-function mutations in the complex.
Estrutura e composição da comunidade de Trichoptera (Insecta) de rios e áreas alagadas da bacia do rio Suiá-Miçú, Mato Grosso, Brasil
Authors: Nogueira Denis Silva , Cabette Helena Soares Ramos , Juen Leandro
Published: December 2011

A composição, abundância e riqueza de Trichoptera imaturos foram estudadas em 12 tributários da bacia do rio Suiá-Miçú, afluente do rio Xingu, um mosaico de áreas alagadas, córregos e rios na área de transição Cerrado - Floresta Amazônica na região leste de Mato Grosso, Brasil. Larvas de insetos aquáticos foram amostradas em transectos nas margens de tributários lênticos e lóticos com tamanho e níveis de conservação variáveis, em três períodos entre 2007 e 2008. Foram coligidas 867 larvas (sete famílias, 17 gêneros, 45 morfoespécies), sendo Hydropsychidae e Leptoceridae as famílias mais abundantes e ricas, e Leptonema sparsum a espécie mais abundante (n=370). Houve perda de riqueza de espécies em ambientes impactados e naqueles de maior porte ou de fluxo lêntico. Foi possível detectar variações na composição relacionadas ao fluxo, tipo de vegetação e na interação entre o nível de conservação e fluxo. O nível de conservação, a largura e o índice quantitativo de integridade de hábitat (IIH) não influenciaram a composição de Trichoptera isoladamente. Estes resultados podem fomentar novas investigações dos efeitos dos impactos sobre a composição da entomofauna aquática na transição entre o Cerrado e a Floresta Amazônica.
Intoxicação experimental por Trema micrantha (Cannabaceae) em equinos
Authors: Bandarra Paulo M. , Bezerra Júnior Pedro S. , Oliveira Luiz Gustavo S. de , Correa Gabriel L.F. , Borba Mauro R. , Reck Júnior José , Cruz Cláudio Estevão Farias da , Driemeier David
Published: December 2011

O objetivo desse estudo foi confirmar a toxidez e caracterizar os aspectos clínicos e patológicos da intoxicação por Trema micrantha em equinos. Três equinos, pôneis, com idade entre 2 e 7 anos consumiram espontaneamente folhas de T. micrantha em doses únicas de 30g/kg, 25g/ kg e 20g/kg. Os três animais adoeceram e evoluíram para morte. Outro equino recebeu 15 e 25g/kg da planta com intervalo de 30 dias entre as doses e não apresentou alteração clínica. Coletas diárias de sangue foram realizadas para análises bioquímicas. Os principais sinais clínicos apresentados foram apatia, desequilíbrios, dificuldade de deglutição, decúbito esternal, decúbito lateral, movimentos de pedalagem, coma e morte. Os três equinos afetados apresentaram elevação da atividade sérica de gama-glutamil transferase, dos níveis séricos de amônia e diminuição da glicemia. Esses animais foram necropsiados e fragmentos de diversos órgãos foram coletados para análise histopatológica e imuno-histoquímica. Os principais achados patológicos foram encontrados no fígado e no encéfalo dos três animais. O fígado apresentava, macroscopicamente, acentuação do padrão lobular; enquanto que, no encéfalo havia áreas amareladas na superfície de corte, mais evidentes na substância branca do cerebelo. Microscopicamente, o fígado apresentava tumefação hepatocelular, necrose de coagulação predominantemente centrolobular e hemorragia associada. No encéfalo, havia edema perivascular generalizado e astrócitos Alzheimer tipo II na substância cinzenta. Esses astrócitos apresentaram marcação fraca ou negativa na imuno-histoquímica anti-GFAP e marcação positiva do antígeno S-100. A dose letal mínima de folhas de T. micrantha estabelecida nesse experimento foi de 20g/kg. A ampla distribuição e palatabilidade desta planta, associadas à alta sensibilidade da espécie equina, constatada nesse experimento, reforçam a importância da planta em casos acidentais de intoxicação em equinos.
Caracterização dos constituintes poliméricos da Maytenus ilicifolia por relaxação nuclear de ¹H por RMN no estado sólido
Authors: Preto Mônica S. de M. , Tavares Maria I. B. , Sebastião Pedro J. O.
Published: December 2011

A Maytenus ilicifolia, conhecida como espinheira-santa, é uma planta popular de uso diverso, como chá é empregada no combate a problemas de doenças gástricas e da diabetes, por exemplo. As plantas possuem em sua constituição polímeros naturais como polissacarídeos, politerpenoides, celulose e fibras. O estudo dos constituintes poliméricos nesse tipo de material tem importância fundamental tanto na identificação, ou seja, qualificação quanto na adulteração da planta. É sabido que podem ser encontrados diversos produtos rotulados como sendo originário da mesma planta, entretanto, muitas das vezes a origem da planta é similar, mas não a mesma, o que pode gerar algum desconforto ou não atividade biológica dos chás quando da ingestão destes. Na literatura não são encontrados muitos trabalhos que envolvam a caracterização comparativa dos constituintes poliméricos, como polissacarídeos e fibras presentes em amostras de origens distintas, para comprovação de adulteração destes produtos. Uma técnica que pode ser promissora para este tipo de estudo é a Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN) em estado sólido, já que permite analisar a amostra in natura não sendo um método destrutivo ou invasivo. Esta espectroscopia analisa amostras em campos magnéticos de diferentes potências ou forças. Neste trabalho é apresentado um estudo de caracterização dos constituintes poliméricos majoritários presentes na M. ilicifolia. Três amostras foram estudadas: uma amostra denominada controle e duas comerciais. O estudo envolveu a determinação dos tempos de relaxação spin-rede (T1) do ¹H utilizando a técnica de campo cíclico rápido (FFC), numa gama de frequências que variou de 100 kHz a 10 MHz. Assim, o principal objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a possibilidade de utilização da RMN de baixo campo magnético na elaboração de um método expedito de análise que permita realizar a caracterização estrutural, verificação de autenticidade e/ou avaliação de eventual adulteração nesse tipo de amostra. Pelos resultados obtidos foi possível diferenciar as duas amostras comerciais por comparação com a amostra controle.
Influência da composição química do substrato no cultivo de Pleurotus florida
Authors: Figueiró Gláucia Garcia , Graciolli Luiz Antônio
Published: December 2011

Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da composição química do substrato no cultivo do cogumelo comestível Pleurotus florida, seis resíduos agrícolas foram testados: palha de arroz, palha de feijão, palha de trigo, folha de bananeira, palha de sorgo e sabugo de milho. O substrato palha de feijão apresentou resultados semelhantes para a produção (189,8 g kg-1), eficiência biológica (89,2%) e número de cogumelos (12) à palha de arroz, substrato utilizado tradicionalmente no cultivo de Pleurotus em escala comercial. Não foi possível atribuir apenas a um fator químico as altas produções e eficiências biológicas observadas em palha de arroz e palha de feijão e muito menos para a baixa produção em palha de sorgo (77,8 g kg-1) e sabugo de milho (53,2 g g-1). No geral, substratos com relação C/N em torno de 45 (N = 1,0%), maior conteúdo de cinzas, acrescido de altos teores de P, K, Ca, Mg and Mn foram os melhores para o cultivo de P. florida.
Effects of the use of soybean oil and animal fat in the diet of laying hens on production performance and egg quality
Authors: Oliveira Daniela Duarte de , Baião Nelson Carneiro , Cançado Silvana de Vasconcelos , Oliveira Benedito Lemos de , Lana Ângela Maria Quintão , Figueiredo Tadeu Chaves de
Published: December 2011

The effects of different dietary lipids on the fatty acid profiles of eggs produced by 20 and 54 wk old Dekalb laying hens were investigated. Laying hens were subjected to three defined treatments according to the source of lipid added to their diets: soybean oil, beef tallow, and a control diet (without the addition of oil). The experimental design was in a 3x2 factorial arrangement (three treatments and two different ages). The fatty acid composition of the yolks in the eggs produced by the laying hens was analyzed. The eggs produced by laying hens on the soybean oil diet had a large amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3) in their yolks (23.55, 2.30% respectively), whereas egg yolks from hens who were given beef tallow had higher percentages of monounsaturated fatty acids (47.53%) compared to soybean oil (47.53%) and the control diet (38.72%). The percentages of trans fats present in the egg yolks in all treatments were considered very low (0.91; 0,11; 0.05%). Young layers are more efficient at depositing n-3 fatty acids (1.40%), specially C22:6 (0.76%) with the best ratio n6:n-3 (13.97) compared to old layers (1.35; 0.72; 14.81% respectively). Based on these results, it was concluded that the amount of fatty acids present in the egg yolks can be modified by the sources of lipids included in the diet and that independent of the sources of lipid in the diet and the age of the chicken, egg yolks have insignificant amounts of trans fatty acids.
Gordura corporal e eficiência reprodutiva em éguas doadoras de embrião Mangalarga Marchador
Authors: Rodrigues Paula Gomes , Raymundo Camila de Moraes , Souza José Camisão de , Miranda Maria Cláudia Martins Guerra , Rezende Adalgiza Souza Carneiro de
Published: December 2011

Foi comparado o julgamento do escore de condição corporal (ECC) com a espessura de gordura subcutânea (EGS) e sua relação com a eficiência reprodutiva de éguas Mangalarga Marchador doadoras de embrião. O experimento foi conduzido com 56 éguas doadoras entre os meses de agosto/08 e abril/09. O ECC foi maior em éguas mais velhas e aumentou com os dias de permanência no experimento. Houve correlação positiva entre peso e tempo de experimento. O peso não foi associado à idade, porém aumentou ao longo do experimento. A EGS na região da cauda e entre a 12ª e 13ª costelas aumentou com a idade e diminuiu com os dias de permanência no experimento. Houve correlação positiva entre EGS e ECC para a cauda e costela. O diâmetro do folículo dominante aumentou ao longo do ciclo estral, e foi menor em éguas com ECC abaixo de 6,5. O diâmetro folicular não foi influenciado pela idade. O diâmetro médio do folículo ovulatório foi 38,43 ± 3,09 mm. A recuperação embrionária não foi afetada pela idade ou ECC, mas foi menor (41%) eméguas que ovularam folículos menores que 40 mm quando comparados às que ovularam folículos maiores que 40 mm (59%). A idade da doadora não foi associada à taxa de gestação dos embriões nas receptoras. A gordura corporal afetou a eficiência reprodutiva das éguas, além disso, a ultrassonografia parece ser essencial para a avaliação precisa e correta do escore de condição corporal.
Estado nutricional e evolução de cirurgias ortopédicas de urgência em idosos
Authors: Aguiar Fernanda de Jesus , Nemer Danielle Saad , Leme Luiz Eugênio Garcez
Published: December 2011

OBJETIVO: Foram avaliados pacientes de ambos os sexos, de idade superior a 60 anos de idade admitidos no Instituto de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Godoy Moreira do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo para submeter-se a artroplastias de quadril em caráter emergencial (fratura de quadril). MÉTODOS: A avaliação nutricional incorporou dados sobre peso atual e referido de seis meses antes da condição atual, o índice de risco nutricional e exames complementares. Para as variáveis categóricas foram elaboradas tabelas contingência, analisadas através de teste de qui quadrado. Quando possível foi utilizado o teste t de Student para amostras não pareadas e para os casos em que a normalidade não foi observada foi utilizada análise não paramétrica (Mann Whiney). Foram analisadas, como co-variáveis as condições de: mortalidade, infecções, re-internações e complicações (soma das três anteriores). Foram analisados trinta e oito pacientes maiores de 60 anos, sendo 15 homens e 23 mulheres, com média de idade de 79,21 (DP 9,12), variando de 60 a 94 (mediana de 81 anos). RESULTADOS: Não foram encontradas associações entre idade, peso, NRI, hemoglobina, albumina, IDL e handgrip e as co-variáveis estudadas. Observou-se forte relação do número de doenças prévias com mortalidade (p=0,0012), infecção (p=0,002) e complicações (p=0,0305), mas não com re-internação (p=0,640), Também foi encontrada relação entre o tempo de internação e infecção durante a internação (p=0,0016). CONCLUSÕES: Pudemos observar que parâmetros referentes a número de doenças, tempo de internação e funcionalidade medida através das atividades básicas da vida diária tiveram poder de prever complicações como a mortalidade, re-internações e mesmo infecções, podem ser úteis na avaliação pré-operatória de idosos de alta fragilidade com quadro de fraturas de quadril. Nivel de Evidência II, estudo prognóstico.
Liberação percutânea do dedo em gatilho com micro bisturi oftalmológico vitreorretiniano de lâmina 19
Authors: Uruc Vedat , Cingu Abdullah Kursat , Sayit Emrah , Kucukdurmaz Fatih , Aytekin Mahmut Nedim
Published: December 2011

OBJETIVO: Desenvolver uma nova técnica de liberação percutânea do dedo em gatilho, usando microbisturi oftalmológico vitreorretiniano (MVR) de lâmina 19. MÉTODO: O tratamento conservador do dedo em gatilho inclui, com frequência, injeção local de esteroide. Esse método apresenta alta taxa de falha, sendo necessárias injeções repetitivas. Quando o tratamento conservador falha, recomenda-se a liberação a céu aberto da polia A1. Foram relatados vários métodos que empregam diversos instrumentos. Usamos um microbisturi oftalmológico vitreorretiniano (MVR, de microvitreoretinal blade) de lâmina 19 na liberação percutânea do dedo em gatilho. RESULTADOS: Liberamos 50 dedos em gatilho por via percutânea com essa lâmina. CONCLUSÃO: Foram obtidos resultados satisfatórios em 45 deles (90%). Nivel de Evidência VI, série de casos.
A regulamentação de acesso a recursos genéticos e repartição de benefícios: disputas dentro e fora do Brasil
Authors: Saccaro Jr Nilo L.
Published: December 2011

Este texto procura discutir a evolução das normas nacionais e internacionais que regulamentam o acesso aos recursos genéticos e a repartição de benefícios dele decorrente. É delineado um panorama com os principais pontos de conflito, as lacunas na legislação e as iniciativas já existentes para resolvê-los, ressaltando o papel de destaque do Brasil.
Desempenho de escolares de 7 a 12 anos no teste Gaps-in-Noise
Authors: Barreira Helena Aparecida Bertolo , Silva Marcela , Branco-Barreiro Fátima Cristina Alves , Samelli Alessandra Giannella
Published: December 2011

OBJETIVO: Investigar o desempenho de escolares de 7 a 12 anos de idade, sem queixas auditivas, no teste Gaps-in-Noise (GIN). MÉTODOS: Todas as crianças foram submetidas à otoscopia, audiometria tonal, logoaudiometria, medidas de imitância acústica e teste dicótico de dígitos. Somente realizaram o teste GIN os escolares com resultados dentro do esperado nos referidos testes (37 crianças, sendo 20 de escola particular e 17 de escola pública). Uma vez que não houve diferença entre o desempenho das crianças de escola pública e escola particular, o grupo foi tratado como único. RESULTADOS: Foram encontrados os seguintes valores médios no GIN por faixa etária: 7 anos (5,65 ms); 8 anos (5,12 ms); 9 anos (4,87 ms); 10 anos (5,1 ms) e acima de 11 anos (4,75 ms). CONCLUSÃO: O limiar médio de detecção de gap na orelha direita foi de 5 ms e na orelha esquerda foi de 5,19 ms. Não houve diferença entre as diversas faixas-etárias, orelhas e gêneros, no que se refere aos limiares de detecção de gap avaliados pelo GIN.
Corridors promote fire via connectivity and edge effects
Authors: Brudvig Lars A. , Wagner Stephanie A. , Damschen Ellen I.
Published: December 2011

Landscape corridors, strips of habitat that connect otherwise isolated habitat patches, are commonly employed during management of fragmented landscapes. To date, most reported effects of corridors have been positive; however, there are long‐standing concerns that corridors may have unintended consequences. Here, we address concerns over whether corridors promote propagation of disturbances such as fire. We collected data during prescribed fires in the world's largest and best replicated corridor experiment (Savannah River Site, South Carolina, USA), six ∼50‐ha landscapes of open (shrubby/herbaceous) habitat within a pine plantation matrix, to test several mechanisms for how corridors might influence fire. Corridors altered patterns of fire temperature through a direct connectivity effect and an indirect edge effect. The connectivity effect was independent of fuel levels and was consistent with a hypothesized wind‐driven “bellows effect.” Edges, a consequence of corridor implementation, elevated leaf litter (fuel) input from matrix pine trees, which in turn increased fire temperatures. We found no evidence for corridors or edges impacting patterns of fire spread: plots across all landscape positions burned with similar probability. Impacts of edges and connectivity on fire temperature led to changes in vegetation: hotter‐burning plots supported higher bunch grass cover during the field season after burning, suggesting implications for woody/herbaceous species coexistence. To our knowledge, this represents the first experimental evidence that corridors can modify landscape‐scale patterns of fire intensity. Corridor impacts on fire should be carefully considered during landscape management, both in the context of how corridors connect or break distributions of fuels and the desired role of fire as a disturbance, which may range from a management tool to an agent to be suppressed. In our focal ecosystem, longleaf pine woodland, corridors might provide a previously unrecognized benefit during prescribed burning activities, by promoting fire intensity, which may assist in promoting plant biodiversity.
Pharmacokinetic Considerations for Moderate and Deep Sedation
Authors: Becker Daniel E.
Published: December 2011

Moderate and deep sedation can be provided using several routes of drug administration including oral (PO), inhalation, and parental injection. The safety and efficacy of these various techniques is largely dependent on pharmacokinetic principles. This continuing education article will highlight essential principles of absorption, distribution, and elimination of commonly used sedative agents.
Monitoring Insulin Aggregation via Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Pryor Elizabeth , Kotarek Joseph A. , Moss Melissa A. , Hestekin Christa N.
Published: December 2011

Early stages of insulin aggregation, which involve the transient formation of oligomeric aggregates, are an important aspect in the progression of Type II diabetes and in the quality control of pharmaceutical insulin production. This study is the first to utilize capillary electrophoresis (CE) with ultraviolet (UV) detection to monitor insulin oligomer formation at pH 8.0 and physiological ionic strength. The lag time to formation of the first detected species in the aggregation process was evaluated by UV-CE and thioflavin T (ThT) binding for salt concentrations from 100 mM to 250 mM. UV-CE had a significantly shorter (5–8 h) lag time than ThT binding (15–19 h). In addition, the lag time to detection of the first aggregated species via UV-CE was unaffected by salt concentration, while a trend toward an increased lag time with increased salt concentration was observed with ThT binding. This result indicates that solution ionic strength impacts early stages of aggregation and β-sheet aggregate formation differently. To observe whether CE may be applied for the analysis of biological samples containing low insulin concentrations, the limit of detection using UV and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) detection modes was determined. The limit of detection using LIF-CE, 48.4 pM, was lower than the physiological insulin concentration, verifying the utility of this technique for monitoring biological samples. LIF-CE was subsequently used to analyze the time course for fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled insulin oligomer formation. This study is the first to report that the FITC label prevented incorporation of insulin into oligomers, cautioning against the use of this fluorescent label as a tag for following early stages of insulin aggregation.
Undergraduate Writing Promotes Student’s Understanding of International Sustainable Development in Horticulture
Authors: Anderson Neil O. , Kelly Julia A.
Published: December 2011

Promotion of undergraduate student thinking and learning in the realm of sustainable production is a new focus for horticulture curricula. In a writing intensive course, Greenhouse Management (Hort 3002W; University of Minnesota), students focus their learning of sustainability by writing peer-reviewed, 3-phase ‘Worldwide Sustainable Horticultural Crop Production Papers’ on past, present, and future prospects for sustainability. The USA is used as an in-class example throughout the semester while each student focuses their writing on a specific country of their choosing. Their papers focus on eight goals for each country across the three Phases: I—their choice of a country, definition of sustainability, identification of historical production practices, current production statistics; II—current production practices and integration of historical/current practices (ranked strategies); III—finalized sustainable development strategy, design of a future sustainable, controlled-environment production facility. The last two goals (Phase III) provide plant breeders with potential breeding objectives for country-specific cultivar development within a sustainable production framework. Completed papers are web-published for global availability to enable each country’s researchers and policy makers to access sustainable ideas for future development. In 2009–2010, ‘Worldwide Sustainable Horticultural Crop Production Papers’ were published for 41 countries which were downloaded 3900 times in 19 months through April 2011. This large readership indicates such an assignment can generate interest in either undergraduate writing about developing sustainable horticulture and/or the topic area itself, although the exact purpose of the downloads or the location of the users could not be determined.
Synthesis to Special Issue on New Studies in EROI (Energy Return on Investment)
Authors: Hall Charles A.S.
Published: December 2011

This paper is a synthesis of a series of twenty papers on the topic of EROI, or energy return on investment. EROI is simply the energy gained from an energy-obtaining effort divided by the energy used to get that energy. For example, one barrel of oil invested into getting oil out of the ground might return fifty, thirty, ten or one barrel, depending when and where the process is taking place. It is meant to be read in conjunction with the first paper in this special issue and also a number of the papers themselves. As such I try to summarize what general trends we might conclude from these varied and often highly technical papers. About half of the papers are reports on empirical analyses of various energy sources such as Norwegian or Gulf of Mexico oil, Pennsylvania gas and so on. About a quarter of the papers are methodological: how do we go about undertaking these analyses, what problems are there, what are the proper boundaries and so on. The final quarter are in a sense philosophical: since it appears that we will be living indefinitely in a world of decreasing EROIs, what are the economic, social and psychological implications? The rest of this paper summarizes the results of these studies.
Europe de l'Est : une conjoncture démographique exceptionnelle
Authors: Monnier Alain
Published: December 2011

Eastern Europe: a conjunction of exceptional demographic circumstances

This article raises one issue from the demographic evolution in Central Europe and the states of the former USSR since the political and socio-economic changes. It then endeavours to answer two questions: Do these shocks constitute the continuation of tendencies prior to the changes? Do they demonstrate the irresistible diffusion of the Western European model? In other words, is it a question of whether the combined movement is largely independent of the social conjunction? The observations presented suggest that the demographic shocks in Eastern Europe illustrate the demographic impact of the transition toward a market economy. Simultaneously, they reveal the old structural weaknesses, which are well known in the case of the death rate.
Transition et nouvelles dynamiques démographiques : l'exemple de la République de Carélie
Authors: Seys François-Olivier
Published: December 2011

La République de Carélie subit, depuis la chute du communisme, une crise démographique parallèle à celle de la Russie, caractérisée par une brusque modification des indicateurs transversaux de la dynamique démographique (fécondité, mortalité, nuptialité...). Elle se traduit par un accroissement des disparités internes à l'échelle des «rayons» mais aussi par une modification des facteurs de la fécondité comme de la mortalité. Alors qu'avant la transition les différences correspondaient globalement à une opposition ville-campagne, elles sont plus complexes actuellement et on peut entrevoir de nouvelles variables explicatives comme la dimension ethnique ou la dimension spatiale (proximité de la frontière finlandaise, éloignement de la capitale Petrozavodsk...).
The development of the Slovakia's Hungarian population and its habitat / Le développement de la population hongroise et son habitat en Slovaquie
Authors: Bakker Edwin
Published: December 2011

Since they became a minority in 1918/1920, the number of Hungarians in Slovakia and the shape and size of the region they inhabit have change significantly. These changes were mainly caused by this century's main dramatic historical events. The paper gives an overview of these events and focuses on their specific impact on the size and spatial distribution of the Hungarian minority. Ensuing, it investigates the Hungarian region and the Hungarian character of this region, which is referred to in the paper as the Hun garian habitat. A reflection on the impact of the radical political and economic changes of the post-communist era on the size and habitat of the Hungarian minority constitute the final part of this paper.
Peuplement, violence endémique et rémanence de l'espace sauvage en Afrique de l'Ouest
Authors: Benoit Michel
Published: December 2011

L'existence de no "man's lands" créés et entretenus par la violence endémique est une des caractéristiques du peuplement ouest-africain. Le cas étudié ici est celui de la région comprise entre les rivières Tapoa, Alibori et le fleuve Niger, mise en defens par l'autorité coloniale sous l'appellation de parc du «W» du Niger entre 1926 et 1954. La nécessité de connaître le statut de ces espaces pour une meilleure gestion de la périphérie du parc, nous a conduit à analyser certains aspects de la géopolitique de la boucle du Niger oriental et leurs effets sur l'occupation du sol (espaces songhaï, borgou, zerma et peul). La cartographie proposée illustre la relation entre violence, dépeuplement et rémanence de l'espace sauvage.
Densité de population et intensification agro-pastorale en Haute-Casamance
Authors: Fanchette Sylvie
Published: December 2011

Upper Casamance is a Sudanese region of West Africa, moderatly populated as a result of the immigration of Sahelian and Guinean people. As far as it never belonged to any strong kingdom able to allow population growth, it was still a sparesely populated area at the end of precolonial period. Now, with heterogeneous and scattered populations and a high diversity of soils and extensive agro-pastoral systems, the populating is mainly based on settlements in low density areas. The politics of intensive farming, mainly the one's of SODEFITEX, are facing important social, geographical and land property constraints.

The main settlements usually come from political or economic factors like, for example, marabout influence or border neighbouring.
Collecter des données de mobilité : des histoires migratoires aux biographies d'entourage
Authors: Lelièvre Éva
Published: December 2011

Obtaining Data on Mobility : from the historic Recordings of Migrations to Family Group Biographies.

The need to understand the decision making process at the origin of migrations and the choice of location of individuals has brought many researchers to consider adopting a framework of analysis destined to fully consider the strategy of individuals within their space.

This field of analysis of mobility appears to be very dynamic and rich both for the considerations of theoretical analysis and for practical experimentation. This paper presents recent developments in methodologies and their use. Having identified the major axes of these innovations on the basis of either their questioning of the time base on the phenomena, or a more precise appreciation of the spatial origins, the psychology or social aspirations of the individuals, or the unit measure considered to be the most appropriate (individual, network, or family circle), the author proposes the type of data collection involved and the conclusions that may be drawn from these different concepts. The author concludes with a demonstration of a data gathering process which integrates the study of migrations in a larger context that is based on longitudinal group dynamics, the family circle, all of which being shaped by the interactive trajectory of each of its members.
Mobilité et aspirations résidentielles dans le parc locatif social caennais
Authors: Minot Ronald
Published: December 2011

Fin 1996 le parc HLM Caen-Habitat loge près de 25 000 personnes, soit 20 % de la population caennaise. Les enquêtes menées en 1993 et 1996 font état d'un appauvrissement de la population HLM qui se généralise année après année, tout en montrant une situation sociale plus dégradée dans les quartiers sud de la ville. Plutôt qu'une étape sur le chemin de l'accession à la propriété, la résidence HLM correspond le plus souvent à une situation non désirée, qui se perpétue du fait de difficultés financières et sociales et sociales cumulées. Mais demeurer des années dans le parc locatif social n'exclut pas pour autant une certaine mobilité résidentielle, même réduite. Car les changements de résidence à l'intérieur du parc, plus précisément au sein même d'un même quartier auquel on demeure encore malgré tout attaché, ne sont pas exceptionnels : quand on ne peut changer de vie, on change volontiers de rue.
Mobilité quotidienne et dynamique métropolitaine : la région urbaine de Lyon, 1982-1990
Authors: Margail Fabienne
Published: December 2011

Explosion des déplacements de rocade en banlieue, mais aussi multiplication et allongement des migrations alternantes en relation avec le centre de l'aire urbaine, centre qui lui-même s'élargit... Telles sont les tendances caractérisant les transformations de la mobilité individuelle quotidienne en cette fin du vingtième siècle. Elles traduisent un télescopage des échelles fonctionnelles et de nouvelles façons de pratiquer des territoires métropolitains éclatés. Ces évolutions peuvent être illustrées à travers l'analyse, effectuée dans la région urbaine de Lyon, de l'évolution des relations domicile-travail entre les deux derniers recensements.
L'accueil des jeunes enfants. Concentration des équipements et inégalité d'accès aux services
Authors: David Olivier
Published: December 2011

L'éclatement des structures familiales et l'augmentation du travail féminin ont créé de nouvelles exigences dans l'organisation de la vie quotidienne, aux conséquences directes sur la petite enfance. Ces éléments ont encouragé les pouvoirs publics à promouvoir une politique d'accompagnement social des familles plus volontariste, qui passe en partie par le soutien au développement des structures d'accueil pour les jeunes enfants. La distribution des services offerts aux familles génère des disparités flagrantes. De manière générale, la demande est loin d'être couverte, tant dans les villes que dans les campagnes. Ces déséquilibres ne permettent pas de satisfaire les principes d'égalité des chances entre tous les citoyens d'un territoire donné. Des mesures ont été envisagées par les collectivités territoriales pour atténuer ces différences.
La gestion publique des espaces confessionnels des cimetières de la Ville de Paris : l'exemple du culte musulman (1857-1957)
Authors: Nunez Juliette
Published: December 2011

Résumé L’article observe comment l’islam a réussi à obtenir au sein du réseau des cimetières parisiens un espace funéraire propre, conforme à ses principales exigences rituelles et à son évolution démographique. Il met en perspective l’histoire parisienne des espaces confessionnels en retraçant l’histoire de l’enclos musulman du Père-Lachaise ouvert en 1857, du cimetière musulman de Bobigny inauguré en 1937 et des divisions funéraires musulmanes créées en 1957 dans le cimetière parisien extra-muros de Thiais, le plus récent et le plus grand de la capitale. Cette contribution met en exergue les principaux obstacles rencontrés par les musulmans pour enterrer leurs morts eu égard à la législation laïque et aux contraintes de gestion des nécropoles urbaines du XX e  siècle.
« Argentine soldier known unto God » : le cimetière Darwin et les conflits de récits de la guerre des Malouines
Authors: Rubenstein Jérémy
Published: December 2011

Résumé À la fin de la guerre des Malouines (avril-juin 1982), à nouveau maîtresses des îles de l’Atlantique Sud, les autorités britanniques ont recensé 237 corps de combattants argentins, qui furent rassemblés dans un petit cimetière. Ce dernier a été totalement rénové durant les années 2000 sous l’impulsion d’une association de familles de défunts. Le nouveau cimetière présente un récit héroïque de la guerre qui épouse une certaine conception de la nation argentine, homogène et catholique. Or ce récit est contesté, entre autres par d’anciens combattants qui suggèrent que les fractures internes à la société argentine, qui connaissait alors la plus sanglante de ses dictatures militaires, se sont transportées sur le théâtre de la guerre. À travers l’histoire du cimetière, l’article montre, d’une part, la place stratégique qu’occupe le récit de guerre dans la tentative de réhabilitation des militaires argentins. D’autre part, il enquête sur les modalités de la reconstruction du cimetière, montrant comment l’association qui l’a portée s’est adaptée au retrait de l’État des travaux monumentaux durant les années 1990. Enfin, le texte présente le récit contestataire de la guerre qui cherche à trouver sa place dans la mémoire nationale de l’événement.
Integrated systematics of the Simuliidae (Diptera): evolutionary relationships of the little-known Palearctic black fly Simulium acrotrichum
Authors: Adler Peter H. , Te Huang Yao
Published: December 2011

Simulium (Simulium) acrotrichum Rubtsov, a black fly from Central Asia, provides a platform for examining the evolutionary relationships of selected species groups in the subgenus Simulium Latreille. The female, male, pupa, and larva of S. acrotrichum are properly associated and morphologically redescribed and illustrated. The banding sequence of the larval polytene chromosomes is compared with that of the Simulium subgeneric standard, from which it differs by nearly 30 fixed rearrangements. Structural and chromosomal features indicate that S. acrotrichum is the sister species of S. flavidum Rubtsov. Simulium acrotrichum can be placed confidently in a group consisting of the S. malyschevi Dorogostaisky, Rubtsov, and Vlasenko and S. reptans (L.) groups, which are part of a larger clade that also includes the S. jenningsi Malloch group. This more inclusive clade is defined chromosomally by a minimum of four fixed inversions, compared with the standard map for the subgenus Simulium. All four inversions are uniquely derived relative to the two selected outgroups, Simulium (Psilozia) vittatum Zetterstedt and Simulium (Boophthora) erythrocephalum (De Geer). The independent monophyly of the S. malyschevi and S. reptans groups, however, cannot be tested without study of additional group members. The problems illustrated by the taxonomic identity and phylogenetic placement of S. acrotrichum argue for an integrated approach to simuliid systematics, drawing from the character stores of morphology, cytology, and molecular biology.
Revision of the Nearctic species ofHeleodromia(Diptera: Empidoidea: Brachystomatidae)
Authors: Sinclair Bradley J. , Brooks Scott E. , Cumming Jeffrey M. , Coovert Gary A.
Published: December 2011

The Nearctic species of the brachystomatid genusHeleodromiaHaliday are revised. The following six species are recognized:Heleodromia boreoalpinaSaigusa,H. chillcottiSinclairsp. nov.,H. cranehollowensisCumming and Coovertsp. nov.,H. irwiniWagner,H. pullata(Melander), andH. woodiBrookssp. nov.The following new Palearctic distribution records are also reported:H. boreoalpina(Russian Far East),H. irwini(Germany, Russian Far East), andH. immaculataHaliday (Russian Far East). A key to adults, illustrations of male terminalia, and known distributions are included.
No-fault compensation for medical accidents
Authors: Norrie KM , Hendry RA
Published: December 2011

Medical accidents, negligence, compensation, no-fault scheme
Evaluation of the use of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in hospitalised medical patients
Authors: Panju M , Raso D , Patel A , Panju A , Ginsberg J
Published: December 2011

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis is effective in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in medical patients.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on medical inpatients at two academic hospitals in Hamilton, Ontario to investigate if patients received VTE prophylaxis as per current guidelines.

Results: An analysis was performed on 762 patient charts and 170 met inclusion criteria for use of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. Of these, 91 (54%) received pharmacological VTE prophylaxis. In 63 patients with a contraindication to pharmacological VTE prophylaxis, 16 (25%) received non-pharmacological VTE prophylaxis.

Conclusion: The provision rate of pharmacological VTE prophylaxis in hospitalised medical patients who met pre-defined clinical criteria for prophylaxis was 54%. The rate of prophylaxis increased with additional VTE risk factors to a peak rate of 67%. There is room for the development of strategies to improve the use of VTE prophylaxis in hospitalised medical patients.