bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of small rural health services in Victoria: how does the nursing‐medical division of labour affect access to emergency care?
Authors: Sullivan Elise , Francis Karen , Hegney Desley
Published: March 2008

Aims.  This paper is based on a review of the Australian and International literature relating to the nursing‐medical division of labour. It also explores how the division of labour affects patient access to emergency care in small rural health services in Victoria, Australia.

Background.  The paper describes the future Australian health workforce and the implications for rural Victoria. The concept of division of labour and how it relates to nursing and medicine is critically reviewed. Two forms of division of labour emerge – traditional and negotiated division of labour. Key themes are drawn from the literature that describes the impact of a traditional form of division of labour in a rural context.

Methods.  This paper is based on a review of the Australian and international literature, including grey literature, on the subject of rural emergency services, professional boundaries and roles, division of labour, professional relationships and power and the Australian health workforce.

Results.  In Australia, the contracting workforce means that traditional divisions of labour between health professionals cannot be sustained without reducing access to emergency care in rural Victoria. A traditional division of labour results in rural health services that are vulnerable to slight shifts in the medical workforce, unsafe services and recruitment and retention problems. A negotiated form of division of labour provides a practical alternative.

Conclusion.  A division of labour that is negotiated between doctors and nurses and supported by a legal and clinical governance framework, is needed to support rural emergency services. The published evidence suggests that this situation currently does not exist in Victoria. Strategies are offered for creating and supporting a negotiated division of labour.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This paper offers some strategies for establishing a negotiated division of labour between doctors and nurses in rural emergency care.
The impact of individual factors on healthcare staff's computer use in psychiatric hospitals
Authors: Koivunen Marita , Välimäki Maritta , Koskinen Anita , Staggers Nancy , Katajisto Jouko
Published: March 2008

Aim.  The study examines whether individual factors of healthcare staff are associated with computer use in psychiatric hospitals. In addition, factors inhibiting staff's optimal use of computers were explored.

Background.  Computer applications have developed the content of clinical practice and changed patterns of professional working. Healthcare staff need new capacities to work in clinical practice, including the basic computers skills. Computer use amongst healthcare staff has widely been studied in general, but cogent information is still lacking in psychiatric care.

Methods.  Staff's computer use was assessed using a structured questionnaire (The Staggers Nursing Computer Experience Questionnaire). The study population was healthcare staff working in two psychiatric hospitals in Finland (n = 470, response rate = 59%). The data were analysed with descriptive statistics and manova with main effects and two‐way interaction effects of six individual factors.

Results.  Nurses who had more experience of computer use or of the implementation processes of computer systems were more motivated to use computers than those who had less experience of these issues. Males and administrative personnel who were younger had also participated more often than women in implementation processes of computer systems. The most significant factor inhibiting the use of computers was lack of interest in them.

Conclusions.  In psychiatric hospitals, more direct attention should focus on staff's capacities to use computers and to increase their understanding of the benefits in clinical care, especially for women and ageing staff working in psychiatric hospitals.

Relevance to clinical practice.  To avoid exclusion amongst healthcare personnel in information society and to ensure that they have capacities to guide patients on how to use computers or to evaluate the quality of health information on the web, staff's capacities and motivation to use computers in mental health and psychiatric nursing should be ensured.
Therapeutic enhancement: nursing intervention category for patients diagnosed with Readiness for Therapeutic Regimen Management
Authors: Kelly Cynthia W
Published: March 2008

Aims.  To present a new nursing intervention category called therapeutic enhancement.

Background.  Fewer than half of North Americans follow their physician's recommendations for diet and exercise, even when such are crucial to their health or recovery. It is imperative that nurses consider new ways to promote healthy behaviours. Therapeutic enhancement is intended to provide such a fresh approach. Traditional intervention techniques focusing on education, contracts, social support and more frequent interaction with physicians appear not to be effective when used alone. Successful strategies have been multidisciplinary; and have included interventions by professional nurses who assist patients to understand their disease and the disease process and that helps them to develop disease‐management and self‐management skills. Therapeutic enhancement incorporates The Stages of Change Theory, Commitment to Health Theory, Motivational Interviewing techniques and instrumentation specifically designed for process evaluation of health‐promoting interventions.

Method.  This is a critical review of approaches that, heretofore, have not been synthesised in a single published article.

Conclusions.  Based on the commonly used Stages of Change model, therapeutic enhancement is useful for patients who are at the action stage of change. Using therapeutic enhancement as well as therapeutic strategies identified in Stages of Change Theory, such as contingency management, helping relationships, counterconditioning, stimulus control and Motivational Interviewing techniques, nursing professionals can significantly increase the chances of patients moving from action to the maintenance stage of change for a specific health behaviour.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Using the nursing intervention category, therapeutic enhancement can increase caregivers’ success in helping patients maintain healthy behaviours.
Nursing documentation for communicating and evaluating care
Authors: Törnvall Eva , Wilhelmsson Susan
Published: March 2008

Aims.  To investigate the utility of electronic nursing documentation by exploring to what extent and for what purpose general practitioners use nursing documentation and to what extent and in which cases care unit managers use nursing documentation for quality development of care.

Background.  As health care includes multidisciplinary activities, communication about the care given is essential. To assure delivery of good and safe care, quality development is necessary. The main tool available for communication and quality development is the patient record. In many studies, nursing documentation has been found to be inadequate for this purpose.

Design.  This study had a cross‐sectional descriptive design.

Methods.  Data were collected by postal questionnaires, one to the general practitioners (n = 544) and one to care unit managers (n = 82) in primary health care. Data were analysed by descriptive statistical and qualitative content analysis.

Results.  The general practitioners usually used the nursing record as the foremost source of information for treatment follow‐up. The results, however, point out weaknesses and shortcomings in the nursing records, such as difficulties in finding important information because of a huge amount of routine notes. The care unit managers generally (74%) used the record for statistical purposes, while only half of them used it to evaluate care.

Conclusion.  Nursing records need more clarity and need to be more prominent regarding specific nursing information to fulfil their purpose of transferring information and to constitute a base for quality development of care.

Relevance to clinical practice.  The results of this study can provide a part of a basis upon which a multi‐professional patient record could be developed and which could also function as an alarm to managers at different levels to prioritise the development of nursing documentation.
Knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management among nurses in Hong Kong medical units
Authors: Lui Liza YY , So Winnie KW , Fong Daniel YT
Published: March 2008

Aims.  To investigate knowledge levels and attitudes regarding pain management among nurses working in medical units in Hong Kong and factors that might influence their knowledge and attitudes.

Background.  Pain, a common symptom for patients in medical units, can be relieved by effective pain management. Nurses have a vital role in implementing pain management effectively and must, therefore, have a solid foundation of knowledge and a positive attitude towards pain management.

Design.  Cross‐sectional study.

Methods.  A self‐administered survey including demographics and the nurses’ knowledge and attitudes survey regarding pain‐Chinese version (NKASRP‐C) was completed by 143 nurses working at medical units in a public hospital. Descriptive statistics and stepwise regression were used in the data analysis.

Results.  A deficit in knowledge and attitudes related to pain management was prominent (percentage of total score = 47·72, range = 20–76%). Although nurses had developed appropriate attitudes towards pain management, discrepancies between practice and attitudes existed. Those with a higher percentage of correct scores in NKASRP‐C had longer clinical working experience and applied knowledge of pain to their daily work.

Conclusions.  The findings of this study, identifying problems of inadequate knowledge and inappropriate attitudes regarding pain management, are of concern. A better understanding of the factors that affect such knowledge and attitudes and of the discrepancy between attitudes and practice, can provide useful information to be included in education programmes for nurses and to inform policy on the provision of pain management.

Relevance to clinical practice.  To improve nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding pain management, the educational curriculum may include the pharmacological area, patient assessment and the integration of knowledge about pain into daily practice. It is hoped that the results of this study may increase an awareness of knowledge deficit among nurses and help them to find ways of making changes to their practice.
Chemotaxis towards, adhesion to, and growth in carp gut mucus of two Aeromonas hydrophila strains with different pathogenicity for common carp, Cyprinus carpio L.
Authors: Van Der Marel M , Schroers V , Neuhaus H , Steinhagen D
Published: March 2008

Characteristics that promote bacterial colonization of the intestinal mucosal surface were examined in two strains of the common fish pathogen Aeromonas hydrophila, with different pathogenicity. The characteristics examined were chemotactic activity towards mucus, bacterial adherence to mucus and growth in mucus. Intestinal gut mucus of healthy common carp was used. The results indicate that chemotaxis is not necessary for a bacterium to become pathogenic, but it may be a necessary parameter for a bacterium to be an obligate pathogen. Adhesion also seems to be a factor influencing pathogenicity. The results suggest that higher adhesion to mucus and subsequent growth is associated with differences in pathogenicity.
The macrophage chemotactic activity of Edwardsiella tarda extracellular products
Authors: Wiedenmayer A A , Klesius P H , Evans J J , Shoemaker C A
Published: March 2008

The chemoattractant capabilities of Edwardsiella tarda extracellular products (ECP) were investigated from two isolates, the virulent FL6‐60 parent and less virulent RET‐04 mutant. Chemotaxis and chemokinesis were assayed in vitro using blind well chambers with peritoneal macrophages obtained from Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, 5 days following squalene injection. Non‐purified ECP derived from both isolates stimulated predominantly chemokinetic migration of macrophages. Additionally, the ECP were semi‐purified by high pressure liquid chromatography. The FL6‐60 parent ECP yielded higher molecular weight components than did the ECP from the RET‐04 mutant. The chemotactic activity of the macrophages for both the FL6‐60 parent and RET‐04 mutant semi‐purified ECP was increased over the non‐purified ECP and overall migration was primarily chemotactic. Exposure to ECP derived from virulent and less virulent E. tarda isolates promoted chemokinetic movement of macrophages that may be involved in inflammatory responses of Nile tilapia to E. tarda infection.
Identification of bacteria from the normal flora of perch, Perca fluviatilis L., and evaluation of their inhibitory potential towards Aeromonas species
Authors: Goldschmidt‐Clermont E , Wahli T , Frey J , Burr S E
Published: March 2008

Pathogenic Aeromonas sobria has been identified as a causative agent of ulcerative disease in farmed European perch, Perca fluviatilis L. To study the effect of the normal intestinal bacterial flora of perch against A. sobria, we sampled 193 bacterial isolates from the perch digestive tract. The isolates were identified by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and their inhibitory potential against A. sobria was evaluated in vitro. Nineteen of the strains isolated showed inhibition and were also tested against other aeromonad and non‐aeromonad fish pathogens including Yersinia ruckeri and Vibrio anguillarum. Isolates showing inhibition were primarily Pseudomonas spp.; however, inhibitory Shewanella spp., and Delftia sp. were also identified. A Pseudomonas chlororaphis isolate showed inhibition against all fish pathogens tested.
Spatial and temporal distribution of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) larvae in a sea loch containing Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms on the north‐west coast of Scotland
Authors: Penston M J , Millar C P , Zuur A , Davies I M
Published: March 2008

A plankton survey investigated spatial and temporal distributions of larval sea lice in a sea loch on the north‐west coast of Scotland. Plankton tows were collected approximately weekly at two depths (0 and 5 m) at five sample stations over a 2‐year period. The survey began in March 2002 when Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms in the study area stocked with fish and finished in March 2004, after farms completed harvesting. Over 90% of lice recovered were Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer); therefore, the results of this paper refer largely to that species. The data were analysed using generalized additive models with explanatory variables for time, depth and station. Greatest densities of nauplii were recovered at stations adjacent to farms indicating that the local salmon farms were a likely source of larvae at times during the production cycle. There were significant temporal trends in larval densities and the stocking and harvesting of farms can possibly account for these increases and decreases, particularly at the start and at the end of the production cycle. The distribution of copepodids was more widespread than that of nauplii, indicating that the larvae can be transported several kilometres from the point of release.
Epidemiology of Gyrodactylus salaris (Monogenea) in the River Tornionjoki, a Baltic wild salmon river
Authors: Anttila P , Romakkaniemi A , Kuusela J , Koski P
Published: March 2008

The occurrence of Gyrodactylus salaris in the River Tornionjoki was investigated in 2000–2004. Infection of salmon parr, Salmo salar, was common in the uppermost reach of the river system but decreased downstream and was rare in the lowermost reach. This pattern was consistent across the study period regardless of varying water temperatures. The oldest age groups of parr were more often infected than younger ones throughout the river system, irrespective of their origin (wild or stocked). Parasite‐free hatchery‐reared 1‐year‐old parr became infected during their first summer in the wild. Downmigrating salmon smolts had a high prevalence of infection, but their role in the distribution of infection seemed unimportant. On grayling, Thymallus thymallus, we observed only the grayling‐specific clade of Gyrodactylus. We found no indication of grayling participating in the epidemiology of infection on salmon. The salmon parr and smolt population in the Tornionjoki has been at its height during the late 1990s and 2000s. Our results indicate that G. salaris infection in this Baltic river has no devastating effects on the salmon population as it has had in salmon rivers flowing into the North Atlantic and White Sea.
Oestrogen‐Dependent Stimulation of Luteinising Hormone Release by Galanin‐Like Peptide in Female Rats
Authors: Uenoyama Y. , Tsukamura H. , Kinoshita M. , Yamada S. , Iwata K. , Pheng V. , Sajapitak S. , Sakakibara M. , Ohtaki T. , Matsumoto H. , Maeda K.‐I.
Published: March 2008

Galanin‐like peptide (GALP), a ligand for three types of galanin receptor, is reported to have a role in regulating luteinising hormone (LH) release in male rodents and primates, but its role in LH release in female rodents remains controversial. The present study was conducted to test whether GALP has a stimulatory role in regulating LH secretion in female rats. The effect of i.c.v. infusion of GALP (5 nmol) on pulsatile LH release was investigated in Wistar‐Imamichi strain female rats, or lean and obese Zucker rats. In oestradiol‐17β (oestradiol)‐primed ovariectomised (OVX) Wistar‐Imamichi female rats, i.c.v. infusion of GALP caused a gradual increase in LH release for the first 1.5 h after the infusion followed by an increased LH pulse frequency during the next 1.5 h, resulting in a significant increase in the mean LH concentrations and baseline levels of LH pulses throughout the sampling period and in the frequency of LH pulses at the last half of the period compared to vehicle‐treated controls. The stimulatory effect of GALP was oestrogen‐dependent because the same GALP treatment did not affect LH release in OVX rats in the absence of oestradiol. In lean Zucker rats, LH pulses were found in oestradiol‐primed OVX individuals and central GALP infusion increased mean LH concentrations in the last half of the period. By contrast, few LH pulses were found in oestradiol‐primed OVX obese Zucker rats reportedly with lower hypothalamic GALP expression. Central GALP infusion caused an apparent but transient increase in LH release, resulting in the significant increase in all pulse parameters of LH pulses compared to vehicle‐treated controls in the first half of the sampling period. These results suggest that hypothalamic GALP is likely involved in stimulating GnRH/LH release, and that the stimulatory effect of GALP on LH release is oestrogen‐dependent in female rats.
Gender differences in dream recall: a meta‐analysis
Authors: SCHREDL MICHAEL , REINHARD IRIS
Published: March 2008

Many studies have reported gender differences in dream recall. Data from 175 independent studies have been included in the analyses. Overall, estimated effect sizes in five age groups of healthy persons differed significantly from zero. Variables like measurement method and publication year did not affect the gender difference but age groups showed different effect sizes. The smallest effect size was found for children (0.097), the largest for adolescents (0.364), whereas the three adult groups ranged from 0.242 to 0.270. The findings suggest that the age‐dependent gender differences in dream recall might be explained by gender‐specific ‘dream socialization’. Longitudinal studies in this area, however, are still lacking.
Design and field methods for sighting surveys of cetaceans in coastal and riverine habitats
Authors: DAWSON STEVE , WADE PAUL , SLOOTEN ELISABETH , BARLOW JAY
Published: March 2008

Dolphins and porpoises in coastal and/or riverine habitats face serious conservation threats, yet surveys of their abundance are often especially difficult due to the challenges imposed by the habitats. Because many of these species occur in developing countries, lack of resources imposes a further set of challenges.

We offer advice on designing and conducting line‐transect surveys with a focus on sound, practical, design rather than analytical sophistication, and we attempt, where possible, to offer simple, inexpensive solutions.

We guide the reader through the questions of what kind of survey should be done, whether by boat or aircraft, and we discuss ways to avoid bias and increase precision.

Our treatment of field methods focuses especially on robust, but low‐cost, approaches. We provide two case studies to illustrate the implementation of these ideas.
Ancient DNA evidence for the loss of a highly divergent brown bear clade during historical times
Authors: CALVIGNAC SEBASTIEN , HUGHES SANDRINE , TOUGARD CHRISTELLE , MICHAUX JACQUES , THEVENOT MICHEL , PHILIPPE MICHEL , HAMDINE WATIK , HÄNNI CATHERINE
Published: March 2008

The genetic diversity of present‐day brown bears (Ursus arctos) has been extensively studied over the years and appears to be geographically structured into five main clades. The question of the past diversity of the species has been recently addressed by ancient DNA studies that concluded to a relative genetic stability over the last 35 000 years. However, the post‐last glacial maximum genetic diversity of the species still remains poorly documented, notably in the Old World. Here, we analyse Atlas brown bears, which became extinct during the Holocene period. A divergent brown bear mitochondrial DNA lineage not present in any of the previously studied modern or ancient bear samples was uncovered, suggesting that the diversity of U. arctos was larger in the past than it is now. Specifically, a significant portion (with respect to sequence divergence) of the intraspecific diversity of the brown bear was lost with the extinction of the Atlas brown bear after the Pleistocene/Holocene transition.
Evolutionary inference from QST
Authors: WHITLOCK MICHAEL C.
Published: March 2008

Q
ST is a commonly used metric of the degree of genetic differentiation among populations displayed by quantitative traits. Typically, QST is compared to FST measured on putatively neutral loci; if QST=FST, this is taken as evidence of spatially heterogeneous and diversifying selection. This paper reviews the uses, assumptions and statistics of QST and FST comparisons. Unfortunately, QST/FST comparisons are statistically challenging. For a single trait, QST must be compared not to the mean FST but to the distribution of FST values. The sources of biases and sampling error for QST are reviewed, and a new method for comparing QST and FST is suggested. Simulation results suggest that the distribution of neutral FST and QST values are little affected by various deviations from the island model. Consequently, the distributions of QST and FST are well approximated by the Lewontin–Krakauer prediction, even with realistic deviations from the island‐model assumptions.
Genetic evidence reveals temporal change in hybridization patterns in a wild baboon population
Authors: TUNG J. , CHARPENTIER M. J. E. , GARFIELD D. A. , ALTMANN J. , ALBERTS S. C.
Published: March 2008

The process and consequences of hybridization are of interest to evolutionary biologists because of the importance of hybridization in understanding reproductive isolation, speciation, and the influence of introgression on population genetic structure. Recent studies of hybridization have been enhanced by the advent of sensitive, genetic marker‐based techniques for inferring the degree of admixture occurring within individuals. Here we present a genetic marker‐based analysis of hybridization in a large‐bodied, long‐lived mammal over multiple generations. We analysed patterns of hybridization between yellow baboons (Papio cynocephalus) and anubis baboons (Papio anubis) in a well‐studied natural population in Amboseli National Park, Kenya, using genetic samples from 450 individuals born over the last 36 years. We assigned genetic hybrid scores based on genotypes at 14 microsatellite loci using the clustering algorithm implemented in structure 2.0, and assessed the robustness of these scores by comparison to pedigree information and through simulation. The genetic hybrid scores showed generally good agreement with previous morphological assessments of hybridity, but suggest that genetic methods may be more sensitive for identification of low levels of hybridity. The results of our analysis indicate that the proportion of hybrids in the Amboseli population has grown over time, but that the average proportion of anubis ancestry within hybrids is gradually decreasing. We argue that these patterns are probably a result of both selective and nonselective processes, including differences in the timing of life‐history events for hybrid males relative to yellow baboon males, and stochasticity in long‐distance dispersal from the source anubis population into Amboseli.
New interpretations of fine‐scale spatial genetic structure
Authors: DICK CHRISTOPHER W.
Published: March 2008

Recent methodological advances permit refined inferences of evolutionary processes from the fine‐scale spatial genetic structure of plant populations. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Born et al. (2008) exploit the full power of these methods by examining effects of ancient and recent landscape histories in an African rainforest tree species. The authors first detected admixture of distinct gene pools that may have formed in Pleistocene forest refuges. Then, comparing across six study populations in Gabon, the authors found similar patterns of fine‐scale spatial genetic structure despite natural and anthropogenic variation in population density. The latter results suggest that enhanced gene dispersal may compensate for low population densities in fragmented landscapes.
The Bassian Isthmus and the major ocean currents of southeast Australia influence the phylogeography and population structure of a southern Australian intertidal barnacle Catomerus polymerus (Darwin)
Authors: YORK KATHERINE L. , BLACKET MARK J. , APPLETON BELINDA R.
Published: March 2008

Southern Australia is currently divided into three marine biogeographical provinces based on faunal distributions and physical parameters. These regions indicate eastern and western distributions, with an overlap occurring in the Bass Strait in Victoria. However, studies indicate that the boundaries of these provinces vary depending on the species being examined, and in particular on the mode of development employed by that species, be they direct developers or planktonic larvae dispersers. Mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis of the surf barnacle Catomerus polymerus in southern Australia revealed an east–west phylogeographical split involving two highly divergent clades (cytochrome oxidase I 3.5 ± 0.76%, control region 6.7 ± 0.65%), with almost no geographical overlap. Spatial genetic structure was not detected within either clade, indicative of a relatively long‐lived planktonic larval phase. Five microsatellite loci indicated that C. polymerus populations exhibit relatively high levels of genetic divergence, and fall into four subregions: eastern Australia, central Victoria, western Victoria and Tasmania, and South Australia. FST values between eastern Australia (from the eastern mitochondrial DNA clade) and the remaining three subregions ranged from 0.038 to 0.159, with other analyses indicating isolation by distance between the subregions of western mitochondrial origin. We suggest that the east–west division is indicative of allopatric divergence resulting from the emergence of the Bassian land‐bridge during glacial maxima, preventing gene flow between these two lineages. Subsequently, contemporary ecological conditions, namely the East Australian, Leeuwin, and Zeehan currents and the geographical disjunctions at the Coorong and Ninety Mile Beach are most likely responsible for the four subregions indicated by the microsatellite data.
Towards natural polyploid model organisms
Authors: BUGGS RICHARD J. A.
Published: March 2008

Populations of natural allopolyploids with available and well‐developed genomic resources are currently hard to come by. These are needed because whole genome duplication and hybridization — both combined in allopolyploids — are significant processes in evolution, especially the evolution of plants. The new characterization of a naturally occurring allopolyploid in the genus Mimulus by Sweigart et al. in this issue of Molecular Ecology is therefore to be welcomed. Mimulus is rapidly emerging as a model system for evolutionary functional genomics. Sequences of the whole genome and 200 000 expressed sequence tags of diploid M. guttatus, a putative parent of the polyploid described in this issue, will soon be available. These will facilitate investigation of the fates of genes duplicated by whole genome duplication, and their effects on morphology, mating system and ecology in natural populations.
Effect of human odours and positioning of CO2 release point on trap catches of the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto in an olfactometer
Authors: SPITZEN JEROEN , SMALLEGANGE RENATE C. , TAKKEN WILLEM
Published: March 2008

Abstract The anthropophilic malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto responds to CO2 and human skin emanations. How these odorants affect the behaviour of this mosquito species is studied in an olfactometer. Carbon dioxide is released either as an homogeneous plume or in a turbulent fashion at two different positions from the trap entrance. Anopheles gambiae is deterred from entering a trap with CO2 as the only kairomone, when presented as an homogeneous or turbulent plume. This effect is completely overcome by the addition of skin emanations to the CO2 plume, with a high proportion of mosquitoes found in the trap with skin emanations. Rearrangement of the position of the turbulent CO2 source so that it is 5 cm downwind of the trap entrance overcomes the deterrent effect of CO2. Carbon dioxide alone, however, does not elicit higher proportions caught compared with clean air. Further studies with the CO2 source positioned 5 cm downwind of the trap entrance show that skin emanations alone result in fewer mosquitoes entering the trap than CO2+ skin emanations. Skin emanations induce more mosquitoes to fly into a trap than a synthetic blend of NH3+ l‐lactic acid when both are combined with CO2. It is concluded that CO2 is a poor kairomone when offered alone and that its presence in the plume at the trap entrance deters mosquitoes from entering. By contrast, when positioned just downwind of the trap entrance, CO2 appears to guide mosquitoes to the vicinity of the trap, where skin emanations then become the principle attractant, causing the mosquito trap entry response. The results of the study have implications for the design of odour‐baited traps for this mosquito species.
Role of the plant–conspecific complex in host location and intra‐specific communication of Lygus rugulipennis
Authors: FRATI FRANCESCA , SALERNO GIANANDREA , CONTI ERIC , BIN FERDINANDO
Published: March 2008

Abstract Wind tunnel and vertical open Y‐shaped olfactometer studies are used to test whether volatile cues from the host plant (Vicia faba), from conspecific bugs, and from a plant–conspecifics combination, would elicit behavioural responses in mated males and females of Lygus rugulipennis. In the olfactometer, females move towards volatiles from healthy plants but they do not respond to volatiles released by oviposition‐ and/or feeding‐damaged plants without conspecifics, nor to conspecifics alone. Both in the wind tunnel and olfactometer, females respond to volatiles emitted by the plant–insect complex. By contrast, in the wind tunnel, both sexes move significantly towards damaged host plants, even if the presence of conspecifics on these plants enhances only the female response. However, the presence of eggs from conspecifics on host plants reduces the responses of both sexes in the wind tunnel. Finally, males, as well as females, are less responsive to conspecifics alone compared with damaged plants, especially when conspecifics are present on the host plants (host plant–Lygus complex). The results suggest that volatiles emitted by plants and conspecifics influence L. rugulipennis behaviour, giving information to both sexes on the presence of suitable host plants that have been colonized by other conspecifics acting as pioneers, or providing information on the presence of an already exploited host plant (presence of eggs), thus preventing competition. Males also can use this information to increase the probability of encountering mature females.
Effect of bacteria on nutritional status and reproductive success of the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata
Authors: BEN‐YOSEF MICHAEL , JURKEVITCH EDOUARD , YUVAL BOAZ
Published: March 2008

Abstract Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, Diptera: Tephritidae) harbor a community of diazotrophic bacteria in their digestive system. The present study aims to test the hypothesis that bacteria contribute to fly fitness by enhancing copulatory success and egg production in males and females, respectively. After eclosion, flies were fed a full diet containing peptides, sugar and minerals, or a sugar diet, lacking peptides. Subgroups from each diet were fed a mixture of the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and piperacillin. The presence of bacteria, food consumption, weight gain, lipid and protein levels, oviposition in females and copulatory success of males were quantified in the four groups. The antibiotic treatment effectively cleared the gut of bacteria. The relative amounts of food consumed (with or without antibiotics) are similar in all groups. The antibiotics do not inhibit feeding, and their ingestion does not affect dry weight or the amount of protein stored, yet females feeding on the full diet without antibiotics have increased lipid levels. Females fed the full diet produce significantly more eggs than females on the sugar diet, but the presence of bacteria does not affect numbers of eggs produced. However, in the absence of bacteria, the oviposition rate of nutritionally stressed females is significantly accelerated. The presence of bacteria in sugar fed males does not provide them with a mating advantage. Conversely, in males fed a full diet, the presence of bacteria is associated significantly with a shorter latency to mate. It is concluded that, because the bacterial community is present at all stages of the fly’s life cycle, at least some species are effectively transmitted from parents to offspring, and removal of bacteria affects measurable physiological and behavioural parameters related to fitness, the association between bacteria and the medfly is mutualistic.
Mycelial compatibility reactions of Australian Fusarium graminearum and F. pseudograminearum isolates compared with AFLP groupings
Authors: Akinsanmi O. A. , Backhouse D. , Simpfendorfer S. , Chakraborty S.
Published: March 2008

Using the mycelial reactions of 435 combinations of 14 Fusarium pseudograminearum and 15 F. graminearum isolates, it was demonstrated for the first time that mycelial reactions/barrage formation cannot be clearly used to distinguish F. graminearum and F. pseudograminearum. Mutually compatible isolates produced very different patterns of compatibility with other isolates. However, about 60% of pairings between F. graminearum and F. pseudograminearum isolates were compatible, indicating common ancestry. The Mantel tests used to determine any possible associations between mycelial compatibility reactions and AFLP genotypic diversity data revealed no association between the two systems in either species. In addition, no association was found between mycelial compatibility reactions and sexual reproduction in the two species. Implications of the higher frequency of mycelial compatibility reactions observed in F. pseudograminearum than in F. graminearum are discussed.
Pathozone dynamics of Meloidogyne incognita in the rhizosphere of tomato plants in the presence and absence of the nematophagous fungus, Pochonia chlamydosporia
Authors: Bailey D. J. , Biran G. L. , Kerry B. R. , Gilligan C. A.
Published: March 2008

Pathozone dynamics were derived for approx. 50 Meloidogyne incognita juveniles infecting a single root of tomato under controlled conditions from a point source of inoculum and described using simple, non‐linear models. The pathozone decayed sigmoidally with distance, but increased over time as progressively more nematodes were able to infect the root. Despite the reported ability of M. incognita juveniles to travel up to 50 cm in some conditions, the maximum width of the pathozone for a single tomato root was estimated as 18·1 mm. It is conjectured that this was because of (i) diffusion from a point source of inoculum, (ii) a small infection court (a single root tip) and (iii) the limited life span of the nematode. A second experiment was used to assess the effect of the nematophagous fungus Pochonia chlamydosporia on the pathozone dynamics of the nematode. This fungus is known to produce nematicidal products in vitro, which may affect invasion of roots by the free‐living nematode. To examine the possibility of a change in the position of the site of infection, changes in the probability of gall formation along the root length were also examined. In the absence of P. chlamydosporia, the pathozone dynamics of M. incognita were very similar to those of the first experiment. It was shown that P. chlamydosporia did not significantly affect the pathozone dynamics of M. incognita nor the site of gall formation, which appear to have little importance for the role of the fungus as a biological control agent.
The Potential Role of Lung Epithelial Cells and β‐defensins in Experimental Latent Tuberculosis
Authors: Rivas‐Santiago B. , Contreras J. C. L. , Sada E. , Hernández‐Pando R.
Published: March 2008

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogen capable of producing both progressive disease and latent infection. Latent infection is clinically asymptomatic and is manifested only by a positive tuberculin test or a chest radiograph that shows scars or calcified nodules indicative of resolved primary tuberculosis infection. In this study, we used a well‐characterized model of latent tuberculosis infection in B6D2F1 mice to compare the production of β‐defensin‐3 by infected bronchial epithelial cells and macrophages. We demonstrated by immunolectronmicroscopy that M. tuberculosis can actually infect epithelial cells and induce significant higher production of β‐defensin‐3 associated to mycobacteria than infected macrophages. These results demonstrate that lung epithelium harbour mycobacteria during experimental chronic infection; being a possible reservoir of latent mycobacteria in vivo, β‐defensins might participate in bacilli killing or dormancy induction.
Expansion and Activation of NK Cell Populations in a Gammaherpesvirus Infection
Authors: Thomson R. C. , Petrik J. , Nash A. A. , Dutia B. M.
Published: March 2008

NK cells are an important component of the innate immune response to many virus infections. In particular, they play a major role in control of alpha and beta herpesvirus infections in humans and mice and there is evidence for a protective role in Epstein–Barr virus infection. MHV‐68 has been widely used to study gammaherpesvirus pathogenesis and provides a tractable means of investigating the role of NK cells in gammaherpesvirus infections. We have shown that, following MHV‐68 infection of mice, the NK cell population is expanded and activated and capable of cytotoxic killing in vitro. However, depletion of NK cells prior to MHV‐68 infection did not affect viral loads in vivo. To investigate the possibility that MHV‐68 was downregulating NK cell activity in vivo and evading the NK cell response, we infected NK cell‐depleted mice with the related virus, MHV‐76, which lacks a 9.5 kb region of the genome known to be involved in modulating the host immune response. Infection of NK cell‐depleted mice with MHV‐76 did not result in increased viral loads indicating that genes within this region do not encode products which modulate NK cell activity.
Calcitization/dedolomitization of Jurassic dolostones (Lebanon): results from petrographic and sequential geochemical analyses
Authors: NADER FADI H. , SWENNEN RUDY , KEPPENS EDDY
Published: March 2008

Calcitized Jurassic dolostones from central Mount Lebanon (Kesrouane Formation) are discussed utilizing petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical data. In particular, two sequential extraction methods for both major/trace elements and stable isotope analyses provide results that support and refine conventional bulk analyses data. The new data demonstrate that the major dedolomitization phase of the investigated Jurassic carbonates occurred as a result of the migration of karst‐related meteoric waters (characterized by soil‐derived carbon, and estimated δ18OV‐SMOW composition between −7·2‰ and −3·4‰) into previously dolomitized horizons within the limestone rock, during the final uplift and emergence of Mount Lebanon, after Palaeogene time. The study demonstrates that, in this case, the mechanisms of dedolomitization and their resulting fabrics are controlled primarily by the texture of the original dolomite rock. Pervasively dolomitized rocks, where the micritic matrix is entirely dolomitized, show calcitization mainly through dissolution/precipitation. By contrast, the rock textures that still include a considerable amount of limey micritic matrix – spared from dolomitization – are more prone to mole per mole and mimic replacement of the dolomite crystals by calcite.
Rise in seawater sulphate concentration associated with the Paleoproterozoic positive carbon isotope excursion: evidence from sulphate evaporites in the ∼2.2–2.1 Gyr shallow‐marine Lucknow Formation, South Africa
Authors: Schröder S. , Bekker A. , Beukes N. J. , Strauss H. , Van Niekerk H. S.
Published: March 2008

Abstract Past oceanic sulphate concentration is important for understanding how the oceans’ redox state responded to atmospheric oxygen levels. The absence of extensive marine sulphate evaporites before ∼1.2 Gyr probably reflects low seawater sulphate and/or higher carbonate concentrations. Sulphate evaporites formed locally during the 2.22–2.06 Gyr Lomagundi positive δ13C excursion. However, the ∼2.2–2.1 Gyr Lucknow Formation, South Africa, provides the first direct evidence for seawater sulphate precipitation on a carbonate platform with open ocean access and limited terrestrial input. These marginal marine deposits contain evidence for evaporite molds, pseudomorphs after selenite gypsum, and solid inclusions of Ca‐sulphate in quartz. Carbon and sulphur isotope data match the global record and indicate a marine source of the evaporitic brines. The apparent precipitation of gypsum before halite requires ≥2.5 mm L−1 sulphate concentration, higher than current estimates for the Paleoproterozoic. During the Lomagundi event, which postdates the 2.32 Gyr initial rise in atmospheric oxygen, seawater sulphate concentration rose from Archean values of ≤200 μm L−1, but dropped subsequently because of higher pyrite burial rates and a lower oceanic redox state.
High‐pressure metamorphism in Taiwan: from oceanic subduction to arc‐continent collision?
Authors: Beyssac O. , Negro F. , Simoes M. , Chan Y. C. , Chen Y. G.
Published: March 2008

Abstract The Taiwan orogen has been the focus of a number of models of mountain building processes, but little attention has been paid to high‐pressure (HP) metamorphic rocks that are found as exotic blocks intermingled within the deepest units of the mountain belt. In this study, we re‐appraise from updated petrological and thermodynamic databases the physical conditions of HP metamorphism in Taiwan, and we combine our findings with available geochronological data to estimate the thermal history of these rocks. Our results indicate that peak metamorphic conditions of ∼550 °C and 10–12 kbar have been followed by a rapid isothermal decompression, with exhumation possibly as rapid as burial. These units have subsequently been stored at a pressure of ∼3 kbar for ∼4–5 Myr, before their final exhumation, probably facilitated by the accretion of passive margin sequences during the Late Cenozoic collision. Therefore, HP units in Taiwan maintain a record of processes at depth from the early stages of oceanic subduction to the present arc‐continent collision.
Flow conditions of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Thailand, inferred from capping bedforms and sedimentary structures
Authors: Choowong Montri , Murakoshi Naomi , Hisada Ken‐ichiro , Charoentitirat Thasinee , Charusiri Punya , Phantuwongraj Sumet , Wongkok Prawpan , Choowong Alongkorn , Subsayjun Rittirong , Chutakositkanon Vichai , Jankaew Kruawan , Kanjanapayont Pitsanupong
Published: March 2008

The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami deposited a sheet of sand with surficial bedforms at the Andaman coast of Thailand. Here we show the recognition of bedforms and the key internal sedimentary structures as criteria of the tsunami supercritical flow condition. The presence of well‐preserved capping bedforms implied a dominant tsunami inflow. Sets of internal sedimentary structures including parallel lamination, seaward and landward inclined‐laminations, and downstream dipping laminae indicated antidune structures that were generated by a supercritical flow current in a depositional stage during the inflow. A set of seaward dipping cross‐laminations containing sand with mud drape on the surface of one depositional layer are a unique indication of an outflow structure. A majority of deposits show normal grading, but in some areas, localized reverse grading was also observed. The recognition of these capping bedforms and determination of the internal sedimentary structures provides new key criteria to help derive a better understanding of tsunami flow conditions.
Add‐on omalizumab improves day‐to‐day symptoms in inadequately controlled severe persistent allergic asthma
Authors: Humbert M. , Berger W. , Rapatz G. , Turk F.
Published: March 2008

Background:  Omalizumab is efficacious in the treatment of moderate‐to‐severe and severe persistent allergic (immunoglobulin E‐mediated) asthma, reducing exacerbations, emergency visits and improving quality of life (QoL). However, as exacerbations are relatively infrequent, assessment of efficacy on day‐to‐day symptoms is warranted.

Aims:  To investigate the effect of add‐on omalizumab on day‐to‐day symptoms, and how they correlate with QoL in severe persistent asthma.

Methods:  The correlation between asthma symptom scores and QoL [Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ)] was assessed. Symptom‐free days (total symptom score = 0) and symptom‐controlled days (definition 1: total symptom score ≤1; and definition 2: morning peak expiratory flow ≥90% of baseline, daytime asthma score ≤1 and night‐time asthma score = 0) were compared between the omalizumab‐treated group, omalizumab responders and placebo.

Results:  Four hundred and nineteen patients (omalizumab, n = 209; placebo, n = 210) were included in the efficacy analyses, and 61% (118/195) of patients with response data were classified as responders. Total symptom score strongly correlated with AQLQ overall and symptom scores and individual domains. AQLQ overall score correlated well with symptom scores. Responders had significantly more symptom‐free days than the omalizumab‐treated and placebo groups (45.8%, 37.2% and 22.6% respectively), and more symptom‐controlled days (definition 1: 56.1%, 47.9% and 35.3%, respectively, and definition 2: 50.8%, 43.9% and 28.0%, respectively).

Conclusions:  In patients with inadequately controlled severe persistent asthma, day‐to‐day symptoms correlate well with QoL. Add‐on omalizumab significantly improves day‐to‐day symptoms compared with placebo. Further improvement in responders confirms the physician’s assessment as a response measure.