bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Severity of infection and seasonal variation of non-typhoid Salmonella occurrence in humans
Authors: GRADEL K. O. , DETHLEFSEN C. , C. SCHØNHEYDER H. , EJLERTSEN T. , T. SØRENSEN H. , THOMSEN R. W. , NIELSEN H.
Published: June 2006

Non-typhoid Salmonella infections may present as severe gastroenteritis necessitating hospitalization and some patients become septic with bacteraemia. We hypothesized that the seasonal variation of non-typhoid Salmonella occurrence in humans diminishes with increased severity of infection. We examined the seasonal variation of non-typhoid Salmonella infections in three patient groups with differing severity of infection: outpatients treated for gastroenteritis (n=1490); in-patients treated for gastroenteritis (n=492); and in-patients treated for bacteraemia (n=113). The study was population-based and included all non-typhoid Salmonella patients in a Danish county from 1994 to 2003. A periodic regression model was used to compute the peak-to-trough ratio for the three patient groups. The peak-to-trough ratios were 4·3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3·6–5·0] for outpatients with gastroenteritis, 3·2 (95% CI 2·4–4·2) for in-patients with gastroenteritis, and 1·6 (95% CI 1·0–2·8) for in-patients with bacteraemia. We conclude that the role of seasonal variation diminishes with increased severity of non-typhoid Salmonella infection.
Cold event in the South Atlantic Bight during summer of 2003: Anomalous hydrographic and atmospheric conditions
Authors: Aretxabaleta Alfredo , Nelson James R. , Blanton Jack O. , Seim Harvey E. , Werner Francisco E. , Bane John M. , Weisberg Robert
Published: June 2006

Unusually cold seawater temperatures were observed along much of the U.S. eastern seaboard during the summer of 2003. In this study, hydrographic and atmospheric observations from spring through summer were analyzed to track the evolution of the cold water event in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB) and investigate links to various forcing mechanisms. The hydrographic observations included 13 cross‐shelf transects over the central region of the SAB, surface temperature time series from several NDBC stations, and bottom temperatures from a mid shelf mooring. Atmospheric data were obtained from NDBC stations. Additional data included water level from NOS stations and river discharge from USGS stations. The conditions observed during spring and summer of 2003 were compared with climatological values. Record precipitation and increased river discharge during spring produced strong salinity stratification over the inner and mid shelf. Anomalously intense and persistent upwelling‐favorable winds were present from May until August. On the mid and outer shelf the resulting upwelling and subsurface shoreward penetration of cold water acted as a feedback mechanism to preserve the stratified conditions through the summer. The characteristics of the upwelled water corresponded to water from the lower part of the Gulf Stream water column. On the shelf the resulting temperature values under the thermocline were significantly lower than climatological temperatures by 5°–7°C.
Intercomparison of ILAS‐II version 1.4 aerosol extinction coefficient at 780 nm with SAGE II, SAGE III, and POAM III
Authors: Saitoh N. , Hayashida S. , Sugita T. , Nakajima H. , Yokota T. , Hayashi M. , Shiraishi K. , Kanzawa H. , Ejiri M. K. , Irie H. , Tanaka T. , Terao Y. , Bevilacqua R. M. , Randall C. E. , Thomason L. W. , Taha G. , Kobayashi H. , Sasano Y.
Published: June 2006

The Improved Limb Atmospheric Spectrometer (ILAS)‐II on board the Advanced Earth Observing Satellite (ADEOS)‐II observed stratospheric aerosol in visible/near‐infrared/infrared spectra over high latitudes in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, intermittently from January to March and continuously from April through October 2003. This study assesses the data quality of ILAS‐II version 1.4 (V1.4) aerosol extinction coefficient at 780 nm. In the Northern Hemisphere (NH), aerosol extinction coefficient (AEC) from ILAS‐II agreed with extinctions from SAGE II and SAGE III within ±10% and with extinction from POAM III within ±15% at heights below 20 km. From 20 to 26 km, ILAS‐II AEC was smaller than extinctions from the other three sensors; differences between ILAS‐II and SAGE II ranged from 10% at 20 km to 34% at 26 km in the NH. Over the Southern Hemisphere (SH), ILAS‐II AEC from 20 to 25 km in February was 12–66% below SAGE II extinction. The difference increased with increasing altitude. Comparisons between ILAS‐II and POAM III from January to May in the SH (“non‐PSC season”) yielded qualitatively similar results. From June to October (“PSC season”), ILAS‐II extinction was also smaller than POAM III extinction above 17 km; however, ILAS‐II extinction agreed with POAM III extinction to within ±15% from 12 to 17 km during the PSC season. The comparisons indicate that in both hemispheres the ILAS‐II V1.4 AEC is comparable to extinctions from other measurements below approximately 20 km and systematically low above approximately 20 km although the mean difference is as small as ∼2 × 10−5 km−1 during the non‐PSC season.
Characteristics of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs) in industrial, industrial‐urban, and industrial‐suburban atmospheres of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of south China
Authors: Chan Lo‐Yin , Chu Kam‐Wah , Zou Shi‐Chun , Chan Chuen‐Yu , Wang Xin‐Ming , Barletta Barbara , Blake Donald R. , Guo Hui , Tsai Wai‐Yan
Published: June 2006

In a study conducted in late summer 2000, a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured throughout five target cities in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of south China. Twenty‐eight nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs; 13 saturated, 9 unsaturated, and 6 aromatic) are discussed. The effect of rapid industrialization was studied for three categories of landuse in the PRD: industrial, industrial‐urban, and industrial‐suburban. The highest VOC mixing ratios were observed in industrial areas. Despite its relatively short atmospheric lifetime (2–3 days), toluene, which is largely emitted from industrial solvent use and vehicular emissions, was the most abundant NMHC quantified. Ethane, ethene, ethyne, propane, n‐butane, i‐pentane, benzene, and m‐xylene were the next most abundant VOCs. Direct emissions from industrial activities were found to greatly impact the air quality in nearby neighborhoods. These emissions lead to large concentration variations for many VOCs in the five PRD study cities. Good correlations between isoprene and several short‐lived combustion products were found in industrial areas, suggesting that in addition to biogenic sources, anthropogenic emissions may contribute to urban isoprene levels. This study provides a snapshot of industrial, industrial‐urban, and industrial‐suburban NMHCs in the five most industrially developed cities of the PRD. Increased impact of industrial activities on PRD air quality due to the rapid spread of industry from urban to suburban and rural areas, and the decrease of farmland, is expected to continue until effective emission standards are implemented.
Calmness of the aerosol layer in the atmosphere during biomass burning episodes
Authors: Silva A. A.
Published: June 2006

The aerosol optical depth (AOD) in the atmosphere has been retrieved from direct Sun (DS) measurements by the application of the Beer law (BL). On the other hand, the Langley method (LM), an offspring of the BL, is inappropriate to the retrieval of the AOD since it requires a stable atmosphere during DS measurements, a condition hardly achieved in typical turbulent scenes of biomass burning sites owing to the aerosol layer variability. In this work, some events of calmness of the aerosol layer during biomass burning episodes in the central area of Brazil are identified. Such a condition can be identified by low variability in the AOD values, and it makes the BL and the LM application yield similar results. Intervals of almost 2 hours have been identified, characterizing a state of calmness in the aerosol layer according to the chosen parameters. Measurement restrictions and statistical criteria for the retrieval of the AOD are used in the identification of the calmness states, and as a spin‐off the retrieval of the irradiance at the top of the atmosphere (the extrapolated value Ioλ) from the LM has been improved, reducing its uncertainty from 0.5988 × 107 to 0.1878 × 107 photons/s (p/s) at 306.3 nm and from 0.4002 × 107 to 0.1375 × 107 p/s at 320.1 nm. Consequently, the AOD uncertainty has also been reduced by 47 and 56%, respectively, on average.
Mechanical and electrophysiological effects of endothelin‐1 on guinea‐pig isolated lower oesophageal sphincter circular smooth muscle
Authors: Imaeda Kenro , Trout Stephen J , Cunnane Thomas C
Published: June 2006

The effects of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) on guinea‐pig lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) circular smooth muscle were investigated by using intracellular microelectrodes and isometric tension recording techniques.

ET‐1 produced biphasic mechanical responses; an initial transient relaxation followed by a sustained contraction. The initial relaxation was not inhibited by either tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 μM) orL‐NG‐nitroarginine (L‐NOARG, 100 μM). The sustained contraction was greatly attenuated by nifedipine (1 μM).

ET‐1 (1 – 30 nM) induced a concentration‐dependent hyperpolarisation that was unaffected by TTX orL‐NOARG. The ETAreceptor antagonist, BQ123 (0.3 μM) abolished the ET‐1‐induced hyperpolarisation, whereas the ETBreceptor antagonist, BQ788 (0.3 μM) had no detectable effect. Sarafotoxin S6c (10 nM) did not change the membrane potential.

The ET‐1‐induced hyperpolarisation was abolished by apamin (0.1 μM). Interestingly, apamin abolished the ET‐1‐induced transient relaxation but potentiated the sustained contraction.

In Ca2+‐free Krebs solution, the ET‐1‐induced hyperpolarisation was greatly attenuated and returned to the control value when the tissue was reperfused with Krebs solution containing Ca2+. The ET‐1‐induced hyperpolarisation was insensitive to nifedipine but was attenuated by SK&F 96365 (1 ‐ {β‐[3‐(4 ‐ methoxy ‐ phenyl)propoxy] ‐ 4 ‐ methoxyphenethyl} ‐ 1H‐imidazole hydrochloride, 50 μM), an inhibitor of receptor‐mediated Ca2+entry. The residual component of the ET‐1‐induced hyperpolarisation was sensitive to thapsigargin (1 μM).

These results demonstrate that, in guinea‐pig LOS circular smooth muscle, ET‐1 hyperpolarizes the membrane by activating apamin‐sensitive K+channels, mainly as a result of receptor‐mediated Ca2+entry and partly by Ca2+release from intracellular stores. The hyperpolarisation triggers the initial transient relaxation, which acts to oppose the sustained contraction.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2002)135, 197–205; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704426
Bi‐directional transport of GABA in human embryonic kidney (HEK‐293) cells stably expressing the rat GABA transporter GAT‐1
Authors: Sitte Harald H , Singer Ernst A , Scholze Petra
Published: June 2006

Bi‐directional GABA‐transport was studied by performing uptake and superfusion experiments in human embryonic kidney 293 cells stably expressing the rat GABA transporter rGAT‐1.

KMandVmaxvalues for [3H]‐GABA uptake were 11.7±1.8 μMand 403±55 pmol min−110−6cells (n=9), respectively.

Kinetic analysis of outward transport was performed by pre‐labelling the cells with increasing concentrations of [3H]‐GABA and triggering outward transport with 333 μMGABA. Approximate apparentKMandVmaxvalues were 12 mMand 50 pmol min−110−6cells, respectively.

GABA re‐uptake inhibitors (RI; e.g. tiagabine), as well as, substrates of the rGAT‐1 (e.g. GABA, nipecotic acid) concentration dependently decreased [3H]‐GABA uptake and increased efflux of [3H]‐GABA from pre‐labelled cells. The IC50values for inhibiting uptake and the EC50values for increasing efflux were significantly correlated (r2=0.99).

On superfusion, RI antagonized the efflux‐enhancing effect of the substrates. The effect of the latter was markedly augmented in the presence of ouabain (100 μM), whereas the effect of RI remained unchanged. The most likely explanation for the release enhancing effect of RI is interruption of ongoing re‐uptake.

The structural GABA‐analogue 2,4‐diamino‐n‐butyric acid (DABA) exhibited a bell‐shaped concentration response curve on [3H]‐GABA efflux with the maximum at 1 mM, and displayed a deviation from the sigmoidal inhibition curve in uptake experiments in the same concentration range. At concentrations below 1 mM, DABA inhibited [3H]‐GABA uptake non‐competitively, while at 1 mMand above the inhibition of uptake followed a competitive manner.

The results provide information of GABA inward and outward transport, and document a complex interaction of the rGAT‐1 with its substrate DABA.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2002)135, 93–102; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704446
Vasoconstriction is determined by interstitial rather than circulating angiotensin II
Authors: Schuijt Martin P , De Vries René , Saxena Pramod R , Schalekamp Maarten A D H , Danser A H Jan
Published: June 2006

We investigated why angiotensin (Ang) I and II induce vasoconstriction with similar potencies, although Ang I‐II conversion is limited.

Construction of concentration‐response curves to Ang I and II in porcine femoral arteries, in the absence or presence of the AT1or AT2receptor antagonists irbesartan and PD123319, revealed that the ∼2 fold difference in potency between Ang I and II was not due to stimulation of different AT receptor populations by exogenous and locally generated Ang II.

Measurement of Ang I and II and their metabolites at the time of vasoconstriction confirmed that, at equimolar application of Ang I and II, bath fluid Ang II during Ang I was ∼18 times lower than during Ang II and that Ang II was by far the most important metabolite of Ang I. Tissue Ang II was 2.9±1.5% and 12.2±2.4% of the corresponding Ang I and II bath fluid levels, and was not affected by irbesartan or PD123319, suggesting that it was located extracellularly.

Since ∼15% of tissue weight consists of interstitial fluid, it can be calculated that interstitial Ang II levels during Ang II resemble bath fluid Ang II levels, whereas during Ang I they are 8.8 – 27 fold higher. Consequently at equimolar application of Ang I and II, the interstitial Ang II levels differ only 2 – 4 fold.

Interstitial, rather than circulating Ang II determines vasoconstriction. Arterial Ang I, resulting in high interstitial Ang II levelsviaits local conversion by ACE, may be of greater physiological importance than arterial Ang II.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2002)135275–283; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704452
Role of the histidine residue at position 105 in the human α5 containing GABAAreceptor on the affinity and efficacy of benzodiazepine site ligands
Authors: Kelly M D , Smith A , Banks G , Wingrove P , Whiting P W , Atack J , Seabrook G R , Maubach K A
Published: June 2006

A histidine residue in the N‐terminal extracellular region of α1,2,3,5 subunits of the human GABAAreceptor, which is replaced by an arginine in α4 and α6 subunits, is a major determinant for high affinity binding of classical benzodiazepine (BZ)‐site ligands. The effect of mutating this histidine at position 105 in the α5 subunit to an arginine (α5H105R) on BZ‐site pharmacology has been investigated using radioligand binding on HEK293 and L(tk‐) cells and two electrode voltage clamp recording onXenopusoocytes in which GABAAreceptors of subtypes α5, α5H105R, α4 and α6 were co‐expressed with β3γ2s.

The classical BZs, diazepam and flunitrazepam (full agonists on the α5 receptor) showed negligible affinity and therefore negligible efficacy on α5H105R receptors. The β‐carbolines DMCM and βCCE (inverse agonists on the α5 receptor) retained some affinity but did not exhibit inverse agonist efficacy at α5H105R receptors. Therefore, the α5H105R mutation confers an α4/α6‐like pharmacology to the classical BZs and β‐carbolines.

Ro15‐4513, flumazenil, bretazenil and FG8094, which share a common imidazobenzodiazepine core structure, retained high affinity and were higher efficacy agonists on α5H105R receptors than would be predicted from an α4/α6 pharmacological profile. This effect was antagonized by DMCM, which competes for the BZ‐site and therefore is likely to be mediatedviathe BZ‐site.

These data indicate that the conserved histidine residue in the α subunit is not only a key determinant in the affinity of BZ‐site ligands on α5 containing GABAAreceptors, but also influences ligand efficacy.

British Journal of Pharmacology(2002)135, 248–256; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704459
Using grazing systems modelling to assess economic, production and environmental risks to aid in selecting appropriate stocking rates
Authors: Alcock D. J.
Published: June 2006

Results of contemporary farm benchmarking are often used as the grounds for recommending wholesale change in farm management while often paying little heed to the associated risks involved. The current push to increase pasture utilisation rates through increased stocking rates is an example of generalised recommendations for which there is limited supporting data. Grazing systems models provide objective tools to help put the potential outcomes of various management options into context. They provide a framework to evaluate the impact of management options before they are implemented and can provide a fuller representation of the risks involved. This may help to avoid costly mistakes in terms of time, money and farm sustainability.
Effects of stimulation on tenderness of lamb with a focus on protein degradation
Authors: Martin K. M. , Hopkins D. L. , Gardner G. E. , Thompson J. M.
Published: June 2006

Past studies have identified that electrical stimulation systems not only affect the pH–temperature decline of lamb carcasses, but also affect the tenderness of the product. It is unknown whether these differences are due to the effects of an optimal pH–temperature decline path by which the occurrence of shortening is decreased and proteolytic enzyme activity is increased, or by another mechanism, such as disruption of the muscle myofibres. This study attempted to elucidate this by placing control and mid-voltage electrically stimulated samples of the M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum in a water bath to prevent shortening by imposing an even pH–temperature decline on all samples. In order to obtain a complete understanding of the effects of stimulation on the muscle, samples were taken for indicators of tenderness, myofibre degradation and protein breakdown. No effect of stimulation was seen on tenderness and structural degradation measures aside from the expected rapid lowering of muscle pH. Interesting relationships were observed, however, between the different methods of meat tenderness assessment, with muscle structural protein degradation, shear force and muscle fibre and myofibre breakdown comparisons. These results suggest that the effects of electrical stimulation seen in mid-voltage systems as applied in this study are due only to the prevention of shortening conditions.
Trif-related adapter molecule is phosphorylated by PKCε during Toll-like receptor 4 signaling
Authors: McGettrick Anne F. , Brint Elizabeth K. , Palsson-McDermott Eva M. , Rowe Daniel C. , Golenbock Douglas T. , Gay Nicholas J. , Fitzgerald Katherine A. , O'Neill Luke A. J.
Published: June 2006

PKCε has been shown to play a key role in the effect of the Gram-negative bacterial product LPS; however, the target for PKCε in LPS signaling is unknown. LPS signaling is mediated by Toll-like receptor 4, which uses four adapter proteins, MyD88, MyD88 adapter-like (Mal), Toll/IL-1R domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-β (Trif), and Trif-related adapter molecule (TRAM). Here we show that TRAM is transiently phosphorylated by PKCε on serine-16 in an LPS-dependent manner. Activation of IFN regulatory factor 3 and induction of the chemokine RANTES, which are both TRAM-dependent, were attenuated in PKCε-deficient cells. TRAMS16A is inactive when overexpressed and is attenuated in its ability to reconstitute signaling in TRAM-deficient cells. We have therefore uncovered a key process in Toll-like receptor 4 signaling, identifying TRAM as the target for PKCε.
Exposure to Tuberculosis among Newborns in a Nursery: Decision Analysis for Initiation of Prophylaxis
Authors: Berkowitz Frank E. , Severens Johan L. , Blumberg Henry M.
Published: June 2006

Objective.

Newborns in a hospital nursery were exposed to a mother whose sputum was direct-smear negative for acid-fast bacilli but culture positive forMycobacterium tuberculosis. Given the low risk for exposure, the high susceptibility of infants toM. tuberculosisinfection, and the possibility of hepatotoxicity due to isoniazid therapy, a decision analysis model was used to determine whether administration of isoniazid prophylaxis against tuberculosis is preferable to no administration of prophylaxis.

Design.

A decision analysis tree was constructed with software, using probabilities from the literature and costs from local health facilities. The expected values for each strategy were obtained, and sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results.

For the strategy in which prophylaxis was administered under direct observation (DO), the probability for survival was 0.999980. For the strategy in which no prophylaxis was administered, the probability of survival was 0.999950, which corresponds to 3 more deaths per 100,000 patients than with the DO prophylaxis strategy. The incremental cost-effectiveness of the DO prophylaxis strategy was $21,710,000 per death prevented. Sensitivity analysis for survival showed that the DO prophylaxis strategy was preferable to the strategy in which no prophylaxis is given if the probability of infection was >0.0002, the probability of tuberculous disease in an infected infant who did not receive prophylaxis was greater than 0.12, the probability of dying from tuberculosis was greater than 0.025, the probability of hepatotoxicity was less than 0.004, and the probability of dying from hepatotoxicity was less than 0.04. For the strategy in which prophylaxis was administered under non-DO conditions (ie, by parents), the incremental cost-effectiveness was $929,500 per death prevented, which is approximately 5% of the incremental cost-effectiveness of the DO prophylaxis strategy.

Conclusion.

This model provides a structure for determining the preferable prophylaxis strategies for different risks of exposure to tuberculosis in a nursery. Administration of prophylaxis is preferable to no administration of prophylaxis, unless the probability of infection is extremely low.
Health Care–Associated Rotavirus Illness in Pediatric Inpatients in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Authors: Foppa Ivo M. , Karmaus Wilfried , Ehlkenm Birgit , Frühwirth Martin , Heininger Ulrich , Plenge-Bönig Anita , Forster Johannes
Published: June 2006

A longitudinal study of health care-associated transmission of rotaviruses (RVs) in pediatric inpatients 0-48 months old in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland showed that almost one third of all cases occurred in patients 2 months old or younger. The effectiveness of vaccination against RV from 2 months of age onward remains to be evaluated.
Measures to Control an Outbreak of Pertussis in a Neonatal Intermediate Care Nursery After Exposure to a Healthcare Worker
Authors: Bryant Kristina A. , Humbaugh Kraig , Brothers Kyle , Wright Judy , Pascual F. Brian , Moran John , Murphy Trudy V.
Published: June 2006

Background.

Hospitalized premature infants are particularly vulnerable to morbidity and mortality from pertussis. Effective prevention and investigative and control measures are not well described.

Objective.

To identify the source of nosocomial pertussis in a 2-month-old premature infant in a neonatal intermediate care nursery (ICN) and to critically review the investigation and outbreak control measures.

Setting.

An ICN and a neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods.

We queried healthcare workers (HCWs) and family members about cough illness and contacted potentially exposed patients to determine whether they had symptoms of pertussis. Culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing forBordetella pertussiswere performed by the hospital laboratory with specimens collected from symptomatic patients and HCWs. Levels of pertussis toxin immunoglobulin G antibodies were measured in HCWs with cough of at least 14 days' duration at a public health laboratory. Extensive control measures were instituted.

Results.

Four ICN HCWs met the clinical case definition for presence of pertussis. Serologic test results were positive for 3 of the HCWs. The primary case patient was a 36-year-old HCW with a cough illness of 3-weeks' duration that was accompanied by paroxysms, whoop, posttussive emesis, and pneumothorax. Among the 4 affected HCWs, the duration of cough illness prior to identification of the infant index patient ranged from 11 to 25 days. Outbreak control measures included isolation of the infant case patient, furlough and treatment of symptomatic HCWs, administration of chemoprophylaxis to contacts, and surveillance for additional cases. Seventy-two infant patients and 72 HCWs were exposed and were given antibiotic prophylaxis. One additional case of pertussis, confirmed by PCR and culture, occurred in a resident physician who declined prophylaxis; she had cared for the index patient but had no contact with symptomatic HCWs.

Conclusion.

HCWs or patients may serve as the source of pertussis in nosocomial outbreaks, which can result in substantial morbidity and outlay of resources for control measures. Our review suggested that a diagnosis of pertussis should be an early consideration for HCWs with cough illness. Targeted pertussis immunization of HCWs, employee health policies that provide for testing and furlough of HCWs with prolonged cough, and monitoring of HCWs for compliance with infection control measures could reduce the morbidity and costs associated with pertussis outbreaks. These measures will require evaluation of their effectiveness.
Oppression: The Fundamental Injustice of Social Institutions
Authors: Cudd Ann E.
Published: June 2006

This chapter examines the use of the concept of oppression in political and philosophical discussions, and theories that attempt to explain it. From the genealogy of the concept, a general description of the harm of oppression and a set of paradigm cases are formulated. From a survey of theories that attempt to explain oppression, a set of questions that should be answered by a theory of oppression, and a survey of possible methodologies to employ in answering those questions are developed. An overview of the subsequent chapters is presented.
Violence as a Force of Oppression
Authors: Cudd Ann E.
Published: June 2006

This chapter argues that violence is and has always been a crucial component in the origin and maintenance of oppression. It explores how violence and the threat of violence constrain the actions of groups, harming the victims and benefiting the correlative privileged social groups. It argues that women as a group are oppressed materially through violence, and that there is a credible, psychologically effective threat of greater harm that is transmitted by the obvious material harm that they do suffer.
Non-structural protein 4A of Hepatitis C virus accumulates on mitochondria and renders the cells prone to undergoing mitochondria-mediated apoptosis
Authors: Nomura-Takigawa Yuki , Nagano-Fujii Motoko , Deng Lin , Kitazawa Sohei , Ishido Satoshi , Sada Kiyonao , Hotta Hak
Published: June 2006

Non-structural protein 4A (NS4A) ofHepatitis C virus(HCV) functions as a cofactor for NS3 by forming a complex with it to augment its enzymic activities. NS4A also forms a complex with other HCV proteins, such as NS4B/NS5A, to facilitate the formation of the viral RNA replication complex on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane. In addition to its essential role in HCV replication, NS4A is thought to be involved in viral pathogenesis by affecting cellular functions. In this study, it was demonstrated that NS4A was localized not only on the ER, but also on mitochondria when expressed either alone or together with NS3 in the form of the NS3/4A polyprotein and in the context of HCV RNA replication in Huh7 cells harbouring an HCV RNA replicon. Moreover, NS4A expression altered the intracellular distribution of mitochondria significantly and caused mitochondrial damage, as evidenced by the collapsed mitochondrial transmembrane potential and release of cytochromecinto the cytoplasm, which led ultimately to induction of apoptosis through activation of caspase-3, but not caspase-8. Consistently, Huh7 cells expressing NS3/4A and those harbouring an HCV RNA replicon were shown to be more prone to undergoing actinomycin D-induced, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, compared with the control Huh7 cells. Taken together, these results suggest the possibility that HCV exerts cytopathic effect (CPE) on the infected cells under certain conditions and that NS4A is responsible, at least in part, for the conditional CPE in HCV-infected cells.
Canadian Human Landscape Examples
Authors: Hallman Bonnie C. , Benbow Mary
Published: June 2006

In this paper, we initiate a discussion of zoos as cultural landscapes, using the example of the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba. We start from the notion that zoos are cultural institutions that do not reflect nature itself but are created landscapes inscribed with social and cultural messages conveyed through the presentation of wild animals. We examine the development of this zoo in the context of the stages through which it has passed in its over a hundred years of existence on the basis of historical accounts as well as Assiniboine Park Zoo master plan and annual report documents. We argue for examining zoos as cultural landscapes that reflect the changing relations between humans and animals and with ‘nature’ more generally.
Acrossocheilus spinifer, a new species of barred cyprinid fish from south China (Pisces: Teleostei)
Authors: Yuan L. Y. , Wu Z. Q. , Zhang E.
Published: June 2006

Acrossocheilus spinifer sp. nov. is described from the river basins in Fujian Province and the Han Jiang basin in Guangdong Province, south China. It is one of the barred Acrossocheilus species sharing five or six vertical bars on the flanks, with each bar being two scales in width. Acrossocheilus spinifer sp. nov. is morphologically most similar to Acrossocheilus wenchowensis, but distinguished from it by: a colour pattern of all vertical bars extending ventrally to the second scale row below the lateral line, and having the second bar placed posterior to the base of the last simple dorsal‐fin ray, a blunt snout; and a stout, last simple dorsal‐fin ray. Acrossocheilus spinifer sp. nov. resembles Acrossocheilus kreyenbergii and Acrossocheilus stenotaeniatus with which it shares a stout, last simple dorsal‐fin ray with a serrated posterior edge, but is separated from both species by having a narrow median interruption in the lower lip, a lower jaw fully covered by the lower lip when viewed ventrally and the second vertical bar placed posterior to the base of the last simple dorsal‐fin ray. The absence of a longitudinal stripe extending along the lateral line on the flanks in males readily distinguishes A. spinifer sp. nov. from four other species, namely Acrossocheilus fasciatus, Acrossocheilus paradoxus, Acrossocheilus parallens, and Acrossocheilus jishouensis.
Microsatellite genetic variation reveals extensive introgression between wild and introduced stocks, and a new evolutionary unit in French pike Esox lucius L.
Authors: Launey S. , Morin J. , Minery S. , Laroche J.
Published: June 2006

The genetic variability of 11 French pike Esox lucius populations from rivers or extensive aquaculture ponds was analysed using seven microsatellite markers. The fish stocking of eastern European pike in French rivers is widespread, so five supplementary populations from this region were also analysed. Genetic variability within the French population was small, and similar to that previously found in Europe for this species. French populations from stocked rivers and extensive farms formed a genetically homogeneous group, and did not diverge from most eastern European samples, which may reflect either ancestral polymorphism or a complete introgression of French populations by introduced stocks. Bayesian analysis of the admixture between populations enabled identification of the French populations that were likely to be affected by introduced stocks (of local or foreign origin). Three genetically distinct evolutionary branches were identified: continental Europe, Danube basin, and south‐western France. The last is a new finding in the species which needs to be further explored by comparisons with wild populations at other sites.
Ecological and genetic differentiation of Barbus callensis populations in Tunisia
Authors: Berrebi P. , Kraiem M. M. , Doadrio I. , El Gharbi S. , Cattaneo‐Berrebi G.
Published: June 2006

Enzyme electrophoresis on horizontal starch gel was carried out on 356 barbel individuals. The sampling comprised 278 individuals of the species Barbus callensis from 10 rivers in Tunisia. The other individuals belonged to reference species (outgroups) from France and Morocco. An ecological study was also carried out on Tunisian rivers. The results show a clear differentiation of the two samples from northwestern Tunisia, which was only partly correlated with ecological characteristics of the rivers they inhabit. There is no genetic cline, but rather a discontinuity between populations in the northwestern‐most watershed and all the other Tunisian populations. This differentiation probably has a paleohistoric origin not only related to adaptation to ecological conditions but also to difficulties in colonizing the watersheds. The results do not indicate clearly a colonization direction for the genus Barbus in North Africa. Analysis of the Algerian populations would appear to be indispensable. Lastly, in contrast with the usual taxonomy, Morocco and Tunisia are populated by two closely related species, but B. callensis should remain the name of the Tunisian species, which was the first to be described in the small El Kebir basin, a river that flows from Tunisia to Algeria.
Fecundity and egg density in the redd for sea trout
Authors: Elliott J. M.
Published: June 2006

The relationship between fecundity and length for sea trout Salmo trutta from three streams in NW England was curvilinear and, after logarithmic transformation of both variables, was well described by a linear regression model. Regression equations for the fish from the three streams were not significantly different (p>0.05). The relationship between estimated eggs per redd and female size in a tributary of one of the streams was also well described by a linear regression model after logarithmic transformation. Fecundity was usually higher than estimated eggs per redd, and this difference increased with female size so that the mean number of eggs per redd expressed as a percentage of mean fecundity decreased from 100% for a female with a length of 240 mm to 79% for one of 650 mm. The power function in its logarithmic form has now been fitted to fecundity‐length data for sea trout from 12 streams and rivers in England, Scotland, Ireland and Norway. Comparisons between fecundity estimates for the same sizes of females revealed a large variation between populations and possible reasons for this are discussed.
Motility of spermatozoa from shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish
Authors: Linhart O. , Mims S. D. , Shelton W. L.
Published: June 2006

The spermatozoa in the seminal plasma from shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus and paddlefish Polyodon spathula were immotile with only a few spontaneously motile spermatozoa for 5‐10 and 10‐20 s, respectively. Spermatozoa of shovelnose sturgeon were observed to be 100% motile immediately after sperm dilution in 10 mm NaCl and 20 mm Tris‐HCl, pH 8.5. The duration of mass progressive movement was 2‐3 min; and 1 to 5% of spermatozoa remain active after 360 s (P<0.01). Spermatozoa of paddlefish demonstrated the best motility 10 s after dilution in 10 mm NaCl with 20 mm Tris‐HCl, pH 8.5. The duration of mass progressive movement was 2‐3 min and 1 to 5% of spermatozoa remained active after 370 s (p<0.01). The spermatozoa of shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish were motile in a range of osmotic pressure from 0 to 100 mosmol kg−1 and 0 to 120 mosmol kg−1, respectively. The best results with short‐term storage of sperm from shovelnose sturgeon and paddlefish were observed in 100 mm glucose + 20 mm Tris‐HCl, pH 8.5 and 150 mm glucose + 20 mm Tris‐HCl, pH 8.5.
The regulation of endogeneous energy stores during starvation and refeeding in the somatic tissues of the golden perch
Authors: Collins A. L. , Anderson T. A.
Published: June 2006

Adult golden perch Macquaria ambigua were fed to satiety, starved for up to 210 days, or starved for 150 days then fed to satiety for 60 days to investigate the utilization of energy stores in response to food deprivation and re‐feeding. Golden perch sequentially mobilize energy from hepatic tissue, extra‐hepatic lipid, and finally muscle components in response to food deprivation. The relative size of the liver was significantly reduced by 30 days after the onset of food deprivation due to the simultaneous mobilization of lipid, protein and glycogen reserves. These stores were renewed rapidly within 30 days by satiety feeding. Mobilization of lipid stores in perivisceral fat bodies occurred between 30 and 60 days of food deprivation. These deposits were also renewed upon re‐feeding, although not as rapidly as liver reserves. The glycogen content of the epaxial muscle was reduced by the 60th day of food deprivation but subsequently increased indicating the mobilization of other energy reserves. The concentration of muscle lipid decreased after 90 days of food deprivation. The only significant response in body composition observed in the fish fed to satiety throughout the study was an increase in the relative size of the perivisceral fat bodies. The results of this study suggest that golden perch are well adapted to cope with extended periods of food deprivation, storing energy as perivisceral fat when food is readily available and having a clearly sequential process for mobilizing energy when food is scarce which largely protects the integrity of the musculature.
How fish‐helminth associations arise: an example from Arctic charr in Loch Rannoch
Authors: Dorucu M. , Adams C. E. , Huntingford F. A. , Crompton D. W. T.
Published: June 2006

Three sympatric morphs of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus occur in Loch Rannoch, Scotland, and are identified by their differing head morphology and diet. These are small‐headed benthic, large‐headed benthic and pelagic morphs. Six species of endoparasitic helminth were found in the fish, but the morphs had different patterns of infection. Overall infections in pelagic charr were heavier than in large‐headed benthics, which were in turn heavier than in small‐headed benthics, even though benthic charr live longer than pelagics. Pelagic fish had high prevalences and intensities of pseudophyllidean tapeworms, the intermediate hosts of which are copepods. The prevalence and intensity of metacercariae of Diplostomum sp. (the intermediate hosts of which are snails) were high in the benthic morphs. The results are discussed in terms of the effects of ecological factors on transmission of helminth parasites to their hosts and the evolution of host‐parasite associations.
Molecular biological tools to detect fish pathogens*
Authors: Leong J. C.
Published: June 2006

Multiple approaches to control viral infections in fish are being employed on an experimental basis in many fish disease laboratories. They include techniques to monitor fish populations for viruses by tissue culture infectivity, tagged antibody reagents to detect viral proteins, and nucleic acid probes for in situ hybridization or polymerase chain reaction amplification. The specificity and resolution of these detection methods are being constantly improved to increase their ease‐of‐use and sensitivity. In addition, scientists are developing prophylactic treatments in the form of traditional vaccines and subunit, peptide and genetic vaccines using molecular biological techniques. The success of all these approaches is obviously dependent on an understanding not only of the molecular structure of the virus and its genome but on the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to disease in the host animal as well. It is at this level, where there is so little known, that the formulation of appropriate control strategies has been difficult. For example, molecular techniques have provided evidence that the survivors of infection with infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus are long‐term carriers of the virus. This finding raises questions regarding the policy of releasing anadromous fish that have survived the disease. Viral vaccines have been shown to work in preventing virus‐induced mortalities in rainbow trout fry in laboratory trials, but no determination has been made on whether vaccination also prevents the formation of a virus‐carrier state in the survivors. More importantly, is there a vaccine formulation that will prevent carrier formation?
Cross‐linkage of a receptor on nonspecific cytotoxic cells or treatment with calcium ionophore triggers increased phosphorylation of serine residues
Authors: Evans D. L. , Leary J. H. , Jaso‐Friedmann L.
Published: June 2006

Cross‐linkage of a putative receptor protein on nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) with monoclonal antibody (mab) 5C6 produces: activation of cytotoxicity; increased release of free cytosolic calcium; increased levels of IP3 and IP4; and increased DNA synthesis. Mab‐binding also caused increased expression of various proto‐oncogene kinases and increased expression of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins. In the present study NCC triggering by mab 5C6 was linked to serine specific kinase/phosphatase action. Concomitant with mab 5C6 activation, two proteins of 55‐60 and 25‐30 kDa were hyperphosphorylated on serine residues (15‐30 min post‐activation) determined by immunoprecipitation with an anti‐phosphoserine specific mab. These proteins appeared to be components of a large macromolecular protein complex (> 170 kDa) determined by resolution in reducing and non‐reducing SDS‐PAGE. Sequential immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that these proteins were not PKC or p56lck. Activation of NCC with the calcium ionophore A23187 caused the expression of this same complex of serine phosphorylated proteins. These data indicate that hyperphosphorylation of serine residues is associated with increased NCC cytotoxicity. Activation may be associated with receptor cross‐linkage or calcium ionophore treatment, both events producing the phosphorylation of the same substrates.
Peptide mapping of the epitope on target cells recognized by nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) from channel catfish
Authors: Jaso‐Friedmann L. , Leary J. H. , Warren J. , Evans D. L.
Published: June 2006

Nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) may comprise an important effector population specific for recognition of aberrant (tumour) cells, regulation of cell interactions including antibacterial action and lysis of protozoan parasites. In the present study, peptides were synthesized based on the amino acid sequence of a novel protein (Natural Killer cell Target Antigen, NK Tag) found on the protozoan parasite Tetrahymena pyriformis and on NCC‐sensitive tumour target cells. Partially purified NK Tag was obtained from Tetrahymena. It inhibited NCC lysis of a large variety of mammalian tumour target cells. Synthetic peptides composed of short 20 mer sequences obtained from the N‐terminal and midregion portions of NK Tag were tested for their ability to inhibit NCC cytotoxicity. Synthetic peptide comprised of aa # 55‐74 significantly inhibited NCC lysis of IM‐9 target cells. A monoclonal antibody generated against an N‐terminal dodecapeptide of NK Tag bound to Tetrahymena and to several mammalian NK‐sensitive target cells including K562, YAC‐1, U937, NC‐37, EL‐4, IM‐9, HL‐60 and MOLT‐4. NK Tag sequence comparisons using Swisspro database revealed no significant homologies except in a restricted domain region of several glycolytic pathway enzymes. A supergene family relationship was indicated because of these similarities.
Mitochondrial DNA analysis distinguishes between British populations of the whitefish
Authors: Hartley S. E.
Published: June 2006

The whitefish Coregonus lavaretus is confined to two Scottish lochs and four English and one Welsh lake in the British Isles. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) in the mitochondrial (mt) DNA have been used to analyse variability within and between populations. The 14 restriction enzymes employed in this study examined approximately 3% of the mt genome and revealed 15 haplotypes among 156 fish. Haplotype diversity within populations was generally low except for the Welsh population where nine haplotypes were found among 30 fish examined. The haplotypes clustered into three distinct groups corresponding to Scottish, English and Welsh populations. No haplotypes were shared among the three groups. Possible alternative explanations for these findings are introgression from another species, stochastic lineage sorting from a polymorphic ancestral gene pool and/or separate colonizations following the last glaciation.
Specific microsatellite loci for brook charr reveal strong population subdivision on a microgeographic scale
Authors: Angers B. , Bernatchez L. , Angers A. , Desgroseillers L.
Published: June 2006

We have isolated specific microsatellite loci from a partial genomic library of brook charr Salvelinus fontinalis. Their usefulness was investigated by measuring intra‐ and inter‐population genetic diversity at four loci among 20 individuals from each of five lakes located 3 to 22 km apart in La Mauricie national park (Canada). These markers were moderately to highly polymorphic. A total of five, six, 16 and 18 alleles per locus were detected, and their overall expected heterozygosity was 0.53, 0.58, 0.86 and 0.87. Strong inter‐population diversity was detected. Highly significant differences in allelic frequencies were found in all but two pairwise χ2 permutation tests between populations at all loci. Numerous population unique alleles were observed in all five lakes. Consequently, a highly significant component of total genetic diversity was due to interpopulation variance, as exemplified by GST values of 0.33, 0.42, 0.47 and 0.84 for each individual locus. Altogether, the results indicated that these loci should be valuable in addressing fine scale population genetics questions in brook charr. To our knowledge, they also represent the first available microsatellites developed in the genus Salvelinus.