bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal metabolic depression, substrate utilisation and changes in scaling patterns during the first year cycle of tegu lizards (Tupinambis merianae)
Authors: de Souza Silvia Cristina R. , de Carvalho José Eduardo , Abe Augusto S. , Bicudo José Eduardo P. W. , Bianconcini Marilene S. C.
Published: December 2003

The tegus increase in body mass after hatching until early autumn, when the energy intake becomes gradually reduced. Resting rates of oxygen consumption in winter drop to 20% of the values in the active season(V̇O2=0.0636 ml g-1 h-1) and are nearly temperature insensitive over the range of 17-25°C (Q10=1.55). During dormancy, plasma glucose levels are 60% lower than those in active animals, while total protein, total lipids and β-hydroxybutyrate are elevated by 24%, 43% and 113%,respectively. In addition, a significant depletion of liver carbohydrate (50%)and of fat deposited in the visceral fat bodies (24%) and in the tail (25%)and a slight loss of skeletal muscle protein (14%) were measured halfway through the inactive period. Otherwise, glycogen content is increased 4-fold in the brain and 2.3-fold in the heart of dormant lizards, declining by the onset of arousal. During early arousal, the young tegus are still anorexic,although V̇O2 is significantly greater than winter rates. The fat deposits analysed are further reduced (62% and 45%, respectively) and there is a large decrease in tail muscle protein (50%) together with a significant increase in glycogen(2-3-fold) and an increase in plasma glucose (40%), which suggests a role for gluconeogenesis as a supplementary energy source in arousing animals. No change is detectable in citrate synthase activity, but β-hydroxyacyl CoA dehydrogenase activities are strongly affected by season, reaching a 3-fold and 5-fold increase in the liver tissue of winter and arousing animals,respectively, and becoming reduced by half in skeletal muscle and heart of winter animals compared with late fall or spring active individuals. From hatching to late autumn, the increase of the fat body mass relatively to body mass is disproportionate (b=1.44), and the mass exponent changes significantly to close to 1.0 during the fasting period. The concomitant shift in the V̇O2 mass exponent in early autumn (b=0.75) to values significantly greater than 1.0 in late autumn and during winter dormancy indicates an allometric effect on the degree of metabolic depression related to the size of the fat stores and suggests greater energy conservation in the smaller young.
A facilitative urea transporter is localized in the renal collecting tubule of the dogfishTriakis scyllia
Authors: Hyodo Susumu , Katoh Fumi , Kaneko Toyoji , Takei Yoshio
Published: December 2003

Reabsorption of filtered urea by the kidney tubule is essential for retaining high levels of urea in body fluids of marine elasmobranchs. To elucidate the mechanisms of urea reabsorption, we examined the distribution of a facilitative urea transporter (UT) in the kidney of the dogfish Triakis scyllia. We isolated a cDNA encoding a UT that is homologous to the facilitative UT cloned from another dogfish species, Squalus acanthias. The Triakis UT mRNA is abundantly expressed in the kidney, while low levels of expression were detected in the brain and liver. In the dogfish kidney, each nephron makes four turns and traverses repeatedly between bundle zone and sinus zone. In the bundle zone, the resulting five tubular segments are arranged in a countercurrent loop fashion. Immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies raised against the cloned UT revealed that, among the nephron segments, the UT is expressed exclusively in the final segment of the bundle zone, i.e. in the collecting tubule of the Triakis kidney. In contrast to the limited localization of UT, the transport enzyme Na+/K+-ATPase is distributed in the basolateral membrane of numerous tubular segments both in the sinus zone and the bundle zone. However, in the collecting tubule,Na+/K+-ATPase immunoreactivity was not detected. The present study suggests that the collecting tubule is responsible for the reabsorption of urea in the marine elasmobranch kidney. Other countercurrent segments may contribute to production of a driving force for facilitative diffusion of urea through the UT.
Cobalamin Status and Its Biochemical Markers Methylmalonic Acid and Homocysteine in Different Age Groups from 4 Days to 19 Years
Authors: Monsen Anne-Lise Bjørke , Refsum Helga , Markestad Trond , Ueland Per Magne
Published: December 2003

Background: Recent data indicate that cobalamin and folate status, including the metabolic markers methylmalonic acid (MMA) and total homocysteine (tHcy), undergo marked changes during childhood, particularly during the first year.

Methods: Serum cobalamin, serum and whole-blood folate, and plasma MMA and tHcy were determined in a cross-sectional study of 700 children, ages 4 days to 19 years.

Results: During the first 6 months, serum cobalamin was lower than and plasma MMA, tHcy, and serum folate were higher than the concentrations detected in the other age groups. In infants 6 weeks to 6 months of age, median MMA and tHcy concentrations were >0.78 and >75 μmol/L, respectively. In older children (>6 months), serum cobalamin peaked at 3–7 years and then decreased, median plasma MMA remained low (<0.26 μmol/L), median plasma tHcy was low (<6 μmol/L) and increased from the age of 7 years on, and serum folate gradually decreased. Plasma MMA was inversely associated with cobalamin (r = −0.4) in both age groups, but across the whole range of cobalamin concentrations, MMA was markedly higher in infants (≤6 months) than in older children. Plasma tHcy showed a strong negative correlation to cobalamin (r = −0.52) but not to serum folate in infants ≤6 months. In older children, tHcy showed the expected association with both cobalamin (r = −0.48) and folate (r = −0.51).

Conclusions: In infants 6 weeks to 6 months, concentrations of the metabolic markers MMA and tHcy were higher than in the other age groups and strongly correlated to cobalamin, whereas in older children, both makers showed correlations to cobalamin and folate concentrations documented in adults. Whether this metabolic profile in infants is explained by impaired cobalamin status, which in turn may have long-term effects on psychomotor development, remains to be addressed in intervention studies.
Physiologic Determinants of Endothelin Concentrations in Human Saliva
Authors: Xiang Sue , Denver Rachel , Bailey Michael , Krum Henry
Published: December 2003

Background: Salivary endothelin (ET) concentrations have been shown to correlate with disease severity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). We undertook the present study to evaluate the stability of salivary ET under different handling conditions to assess its suitability as a biochemical marker in screening, diagnosis, and management of CHF.

Methods: Saliva samples were collected from healthy individuals and/or CHF patients, subjected to different handling conditions, and then stored at −80 °C until assayed by an ELISA for ET.

Results: Salivary ET concentrations showed a time-dependent increase during storage at room temperature. After 72 h of incubation at room temperature, ET increased ∼2.8-fold (P = 0.03). Simultaneously, salivary big ET showed a time-dependent 11.2-fold decrease (P <0.0001). This activity was blocked by an ET-converting enzyme (ECE) inhibitor, suggesting that these changes were attributable to ECE-dependent cleavage of endogenous big ET in saliva. Ex vivo conversion was also observed when samples were stored at 4 °C, but the magnitude of these changes was markedly smaller (P <0.0001). Posture also affected salivary ET concentrations in CHF patients. With a change from supine to seated rest, salivary ET concentrations increased 1.5- and 1.8-fold after 20 and 40 min, respectively (P = 0.01). With a return to supine rest, salivary ET concentrations returned to baseline concentrations (P = 0.008).

Conclusions: These data suggest that saliva sampling and handling conditions could markedly affect measurement of salivary ET. In particular, care should be taken to minimize ECE-dependent enzymatic conversion of endogenous big ET in saliva.
Use of Lyophilized Calibrant Plasmas for Simplified International Normalized Ratio Determination with a Human Tissue Factor Thromboplastin Reagent Derived from Cultured Human Cells
Authors: van den Besselaar Anton M H P , Houdijk Wim P M
Published: December 2003

Background: For monitoring of treatment with oral anticoagulants, the clotting time obtained in the prothrombin time (PT) test is transformed to the International Normalized Ratio (INR) with use of a system-specific International Sensitivity Index (ISI). The calibrant plasma procedure (CPP) is an alternative approach to INR calculation based on the use of a set of lyophilized plasmas with assigned INRs.

Methods: With the CPP, a linear relationship is established between log(PT) and log(INR), using orthogonal regression. CPP was validated for Simplastin HTF, a new human tissue factor reagent derived from cultured human cells. CPP precision was assessed as the CV of the slope of the regression line. The accuracy of the CPP was determined by comparing the INR obtained with the CPP with that obtained with the established ISI-based reference method. INRs of the calibrants were assigned by different routes: by manufacturer (consensus labeling) or by use of Simplastin HTF or International Reference Preparations (IRPs; rTF/95 or RBT/90).

Results: The mean CV of the CPP regression slope ranged from 1.0% (Simplastin HTF reagent-specific INR) to 2.4% (INR assigned with rTF/95). INRs calculated with the CPP were similar to those obtained with the reference method, but when the routes for assigning INRs to the calibrant plasmas were compared, the mean difference in INR between CPP and the reference method was smaller with Simplastin HTF reagent-specific values. In several (but not all) cases, this difference was significant (P <0.05, t-test).

Conclusion: CPP can be used for local INR determination, but better precision and accuracy are obtained with reagent-specific INRs compared with INR assignment by consensus labeling or IRP.
Quantitative Analysis and Prognostic Implication of SARS Coronavirus RNA in the Plasma and Serum of Patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Authors: Ng Enders K O , Hui David S , Chan K C Allen , Hung Emily C W , Chiu Rossa W K , Lee Nelson , Wu Alan , Chim Stephen S C , Tong Yu K , Sung Joseph J Y , Tam John S , Lo Y M Dennis
Published: December 2003

Background: The availability of an early diagnostic tool for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) would have major public health implications. We investigated whether the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) can be detected in serum and plasma samples during the early stages of SARS and studied the potential prognostic implications of such an approach.

Methods: We developed two real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays, one for the polymerase and the other for the nucleocapsid region of the virus genome, for measuring the concentration of SARS-CoV RNA in serum/plasma samples from SARS patients. Plasma samples were obtained from 12 confirmed SARS patients on the day of hospital admission, as well as on days 7 and 14 after fever onset. Serum samples were also obtained from 23 confirmed SARS patients on the day of hospital admission, 11 of whom subsequently required intensive care. Viral RNA was extracted from the plasma/serum samples. The extracted RNA was subjected to analysis by the RT-PCR assays.

Results: The RT-PCR system for the polymerase region detected SARS-CoV RNA in 50% of plasma and 78% of serum samples from SARS patients during the first week of illness. The detection rates for plasma dropped to 25% at day 14 after fever onset. The median serum SARS-CoV concentrations in patients who required and did not require intensive care unit admission during the course of hospitalization were 5800 and 140 copies/mL, respectively (Mann–Whitney test, P <0.005). These data were confirmed by the RT-PCR system for the nucleocapsid region, which showed an even higher detection rate of 87%. The correlation between the results obtained by the two RT-PCR systems was high (Pearson correlation analysis, r = 0.998; P <0.001).

Conclusion: Plasma/serum SARS-CoV quantification represents a potentially useful early diagnostic and prognostic tool for SARS.
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometric Analysis of Calcium Isotopes in Human Serum: A Low-Sample-Volume Acid-Equilibration Method
Authors: Chen Zhensheng , Griffin Ian J , Kriseman Yana L , Liang Lily K , Abrams Steven A
Published: December 2003

Background: Analytical methods for measuring the calcium isotope distribution in enriched human serum samples that use low blood volumes, simple preparation methods, and rapid analysis are important in clinical studies of calcium kinetics. Previously, sample preparation by oxalate precipitation typically required 500 μL of serum. This method was time-consuming, and the blood volume required was limiting in circumstances when only a small amount of serum could be obtained.

Methods: Serum was collected from humans who were administered 42Ca, and 20 μL of serum was mixed with 2 mL of 0.22–0.67 mol/L HNO3 at room temperature for between 1 min and 16 h. The 42Ca/43Ca ratio in the supernatant was measured by a magnetic sector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Calcium isotope ratios from these equilibration solutions were compared with data from oxalate-precipitated serum samples to determine the optimum equilibrium time and the effect of acid concentration on equilibrium.

Results: Various amounts of aggregated particles developed in different acid-serum mixtures. These affected the time required for isotope equilibration in the mixture. The shortest equilibrium time needed for the calcium isotopes varied from 1 to 6 h for samples acidified with 0.22–0.45 mol/L HNO3. Data obtained from these solutions were consistent with data from oxalate-precipitated calcium. The precision of 42Ca/43Ca ratio measurements was better than 0.5%.

Conclusions: We have developed a simple, rapid sample preparation technique for ICP-MS analysis in which 20 μL of serum can be used for accurate measurement of the calcium isotope distribution in a sample with good precision and a rapid analysis time.
What Would You Say to the Person on the Roof? A Suicide Prevention Text
Authors: Omer Haim , Elitzur Avshalom C.
Published: December 2003

This anti‐suicide text provides potential helpers (professional and lay) with clear guidelines for communicating with a declared suicidal person, particularly in real‐time situations, when time is crucial and the act cannot be physically prevented. The text also may have a preventative effect when diffused to the public as an anonymous address to potential suicides.
The Course of Post‐Crisis Suicidal Symptoms: How and for Whom Is Suicide “Cathartic”?
Authors: Walker Rheeda L. , Joiner Thomas E. , Rudd M. David
Published: December 2003

We investigated suicide “catharsis” as evidenced by decreased suicidality following a suicide attempt. Past research has examined this issue with mixed results (Bronisch, 1992; Davis, 1990; van Praag & Plutchik, 1985). In the present study, we examined Modified Scale for Suicide Ideation (MSSI) scores for 198 suicidal men during suicidal crisis, prior to entry into a treatment study, and again at 1‐month and 12‐month follow‐ups. Patients were divided into ideators, single attempters, and multiple attempters. We found evidence for decreased suicidality, but interpreted it as the gradual action of interpersonal support, rather than as emotional catharsis. Also, multiple attempt status affected the long‐term course of post‐crisis suicidality.
Psychosocial and Pharmacological Treatment of Patients Following Deliberate Self‐Harm: The Methodological Issues Involved in Evaluating Effectiveness
Authors: Arensman Ella , Townsend Ellen , Hawton Keith , Bremner Sandy , Feldman Eleanor , Goldney Robert , Gunnell David , Hazell Philip , Van Heeringen Kees , House Allan , Owens David , Sakinofsky Isaac , Träskman‐Bendz Lil
Published: December 2003

Development of effective treatments for patients following deliberate self‐harm (self‐poisoning or self‐injury) is a very important element in suicide prevention. The randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the mainstay of evaluation of treatments. In a systematic review of the literature, the effectiveness of treatments based on RCTs was examined and the quality of the RCTs was assessed. Twenty trials were identified, and where possible, these were grouped on the basis of similarities among the types of treatment. In this paper, we examine the methodological aspects of the trials and consider what may be learned that will assist in the design of future studies in this field. The methodological quality of the trials was reasonable, but most trials included too few participants to detect clinically important differences in rates of repeated self‐harm. In planning future trials, the following major issues should be addressed: investigators should perform power calculations to determine the number of subjects necessary to detect clinically important effects, provide information on method of randomization and interventions, use standard measures of outcome, and focus on homogeneous subgroups of patients. Improving the methodology of future studies in this field will be essential if sound evidence is to be obtained which can inform effective service provision for deliberate self‐harm patients.
Suicidal Ideation, Psychiatric Disorder, and Medical Illness in a Community Epidemiological Study
Authors: Gili‐Planas M. , Roca‐Bennasar M. , Ferrer‐Perez V. , Bernardo‐Arroyo M.
Published: December 2003

Many epidemiological studies have analyzed suicidal ideation in clinical samples, but only a few have been performed in the general population. We present the results of a two‐stage epidemiological study in the general population on the island of Formentera (Balearic Islands, Spain), which used the 28‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐28) in the first stage (n = 697) and the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) in the second (n = 242). We also recorded medical illnesses diagnosed in the subjects at the second stage. Four items on the GHQ‐28 ask directly about suicidal thoughts or ideation. From the sample, 6.5% have reported suicidal ideation. Mental disorders are the most important factor associated with suicidal ideation; medical illnesses seem to play a secondary role.
Leaders of progressions in wild mixed‐species troops of saddleback (Saguinus fuscicollis) and mustached tamarins (S. mystax), with emphasis on color vision and sex
Authors: Smith Andrew C. , Buchanan‐Smith Hannah M. , Surridge Alison K. , Mundy Nicholas I.
Published: December 2003

Leadership of travel progression is an important aspect of group living. It is widely believed that trichromacy evolved to facilitate the detection and selection of fruit in the dappled light of a forest. Further, it has been proposed that in New World primate species, which typically contain a range of color vision phenotypes, at least one female in a group will be trichromatic (i.e., having three types of visual pigment, in contrast to the two types of pigment found in dichromatic individuals) and will lead the group to fruiting trees. We examine progression leadership within two wild mixed‐species troops of saddleback (Saguinus fuscicollis) and mustached (Saguinus mystax) tamarins over a complete year. As whole units, the mixed‐species troops were most frequently led by a mustached tamarin. This is the first time that mixed‐species group leadership and individual leadership have been quantified in these tamarin species. In terms of single‐species intragroup leadership, neither the visual status (dichromatic or trichromatic) nor the sex of individuals had a consistent effect across species. Saddleback tamarin groups were led by males more frequently than females, while evidence suggests that mustached tamarins may be female‐led. The notion that all groups contain at least one trichromatic female that leads the troop to feeding trees was not supported. Am. J. Primatol. 61:145–157, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patterns of female dominance in Propithecus diadema edwardsi of Ranomafana national park, Madagascar
Authors: Pochron Sharon T. , Fitzgerald John , Gilbert Christopher C. , Lawrence Diana , Grgas Marie , Rakotonirina Georges , Ratsimbazafy Raymond , Rakotosoa Rémi , Wright Patricia C.
Published: December 2003

Many lemur species are characterized by some form of female dominance, ranging from female feeding priority to complete female dominance, although this is a rare trait in primates and other mammals. The status of the Milne‐Edwards' sifaka (Propithecus diadema edwardsi), a diurnal lemur, is ambiguous. Some short‐term studies have found little or no aggression. The aim of the current, long‐term study was to quantify the intersexual‐dominance patterns of this sifaka. The distribution, outcome, and context of aggressive interactions were studied in four groups of wild sifakas. The majority of intersexual aggressive interactions were decided, with the loser expressing submissive behavior. Intersexual aggressive interactions occurred in all social contexts, and within all social contexts the females won the vast majority (92.7–96.0%) of aggressive interactions. While aggression rates were low (0.22/hr), this evidence suggests female dominance. We propose that female dominance exists because it provides a fitness advantage to both males and females. Am. J. Primatol. 61:173–185, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Throwing behavior and mass distribution of stone selection in tufted capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella)
Authors: Cleveland A. , Rocca A.R. , Wendt E.L. , Westergaard G.C.
Published: December 2003

Cannell [Journal of Archaeological Science 29:335–339, 2002] argued that sex‐based differences among humans in terms of the mass of chosen throwing stones could be used to infer body mass and patterns of sexual dimorphism in early hominids from Olduvai and Koobi Fora by examining the mass distributions of unaltered stone tools at those sites. We examined this hypothesis in tufted capuchin monkeys using a comparative approach, by investigating the relationships among body mass, sex, stone weight preference, and accuracy in a throwing task. The subject sample consisted of nine monkeys trained to perform an aimed‐throwing task in which a food reward could be obtained by throwing a stone into a bucket. We found that 1) the subjects showed a strong mean stone mass preference; 2) the females chose heavier stones than the males, in terms of absolute mean selected stone mass and selected stone mass relative to body mass; 3) subjects threw more accurately when they used stones of preferred mass vs. stones of nonpreferred mass; and 4) overall, the males were more accurate in the throwing task than the females. We conclude that capuchins are highly selective when choosing throwing stones, and that this confers an advantage for throwing accuracy. Our results indicate that the sexually dimorphic pattern in stone mass preference observed among humans does not generalize to Cebus apella. We suggest that researchers examining this pattern in humans in an attempt to explain early hominid patterns of dimorphism and behavior should take into account not only stone weight preference, but also its adaptive advantage. Am. J. Primatol. 61:159–172, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sex difference in chimpanzee handedness
Authors: Corp Nadia , Byrne Richard W.
Published: December 2003

Chimpanzees at Mahale, Tanzania, show strong individual hand preferences when they use bimanual actions in processing the fruit of Saba florida and Citrus lemon. The direction of hand preference differs between the sexes: most males are left‐handed, whereas most females are right‐handed. Monkeys and apes are considered to lack “handedness,” in the sense of a population mode of left‐ or right‐hand preference; they are normally ambidextrous. Indeed, strong individual preferences were previously seldom found in natural tasks. We propose that lateralization of manual actions becomes advantageous in bimanual tasks, which involve role differentiation between the hands and a need to combine power and precision. If the pattern of lateralization found here reflects the ancestral state, common to chimpanzees and humans, this may explain why, in modern humans, women tend more strongly to be right‐handed than men, who include a larger minority of left‐handers. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ossification and midline shape changes of the human fetal cranial base
Authors: Jeffery Nathan , Spoor Fred
Published: December 2003

An appreciation of ontogenetic changes to the cranial base is important for understanding the evolution of modern human skull form. Using geometric morphometric techniques, this study explores midline shape variations of the basicranium and midface during human prenatal ontogeny. In particular, the analysis sets out to explore shape variations associated with endochondral ossification and to reassess shape variations previously observed on the basis of angular measures.

Fifty‐four formalin‐preserved human fetuses were imaged using high‐resolution MRI. Coordinates for 10 landmarks defining the midline basicranium and midface were acquired and areas of ossification in the midline basioccipital, basisphenoid, and presphenoid cartilages were measured as percentages of overall cranial base area. The results show shape variations with increasing fetal size that are consistent with cranial base retroflexion, anterior facial projection and dorsal facial rotation. These growth variations are centered on the midsphenoid area and are associated with disproportionate variations of sphenoid height and length. Small but significant correlations were observed between ossification of the presphenoid cartilage and components of shape that described, among other variations, sphenoid shortening. While ossification cannot be directly linked with the shape variations observed, it seems likely that bone formation plays a role in modulating the influence of other factors on the fetal cranial base. Am J Phys Anthropol 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sex differences in play among western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) infants: Implications for adult behavior and social structure
Authors: Maestripieri Dario , Ross Stephen R.
Published: December 2003

Mammalian play is believed to improve motor skills as well as facilitate the development of social relationships. Given the marked sexual dimorphism in gorilla body size and the role assumed by the male in protecting the group from conspecifics and predators, the motor‐training hypothesis of play predicts that male infants should exhibit higher frequencies of social play than female infants, and that males should prefer to play with other males. Given that adult female gorillas are strongly attracted to adult breeding males and form only weak social bonds with unrelated adult females, the social‐relationship hypothesis of play predicts that female infants should prefer to play with males. These hypotheses were tested in a 22‐month study of 12 gorilla infants, aged between 0–5 years, living in three zoological parks in Chicago and Atlanta. Consistent with the hypotheses, male infants played more than female infants did, and both male and female infants preferred to play with males rather than with females. These findings suggest that sex differences in play in the great apes and other primates can be predicted by the characteristics of adult behavior and social structure above and beyond the patterns of sex‐biased dispersal or coalition formation with same‐sex kin. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Social organization of the golden brown mouse lemur (Microcebus ravelobensis)
Authors: Weidt Andrea , Hagenah Nicole , Randrianambinina Blanchard , Radespiel Ute , Zimmermann Elke
Published: December 2003

Our study provides the first data on the social organization of the golden brown mouse lemur, a nocturnal primate discovered in northwestern Madagascar in 1994. The study was carried out in two 6‐month field periods during the dry season, covering time before and during the mating season. The spatial and temporal distributions of the sexes in the population were investigated by mark/recapture and radiotelemetry. Focal observations and the determination of sleeping associations provided further insights into the sociality of this solitary forager. High intra‐ and intersexual home‐range overlaps occurred throughout the study. In general, individuals of both sexes had spatial access to more than one conspecific of the same and the opposite sex. We found no indication for spatial monopolization of females by certain males. These results suggest a dispersed multimale/multifemale system with a promiscuous mating pattern. Individuals showed temporal stability in their home range locations and interacted regularly with conspecifics. Five sleeping groups were identified during the study period: one female group and four mixed‐sex groups. Even though sleeping sites were changed frequently, sleeping‐group compositions remained stable over time. Thermoregulatory constraints are the most likely explanation for sleeping‐group composition with members of both sexes in this species. Mixed‐sex sleeping groups can be described as the basic social unit within this dispersed multimale/multifemale society. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An ill child among mid‐Holocene foragers of Southern Africa
Authors: Pfeiffer Susan , Crowder Christian
Published: December 2003

The skeletal remains of an infant from a southwest South African rock shelter at Byneskranskop show pervasive abnormalities that are consistent with the effects of hypertrophic (hyperplastic) rickets. Diagnostic features include beading of the costochondral junctions of the ribs, flaring and tilting of the metaphyses, and cupping of the distal ulna, as well as general skeletal hypertrophy. With an uncalibrated accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon date of 4820 ± 90 BP (TO‐9531), this is a very early instance of the condition, among foragers whose environment and diet make dietary shortages of active vitamin D or dietary calcium improbable. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios indicate a mixed diet, including marine as well as terrestrial protein. Solicitous care maintained the sick infant to an estimated age of 3.5–5 months; it was buried in a manner like that of other deceased group members. This case suggests that if infanticide was practiced, it was an option only during the immediate perinatal period, when this infant would have appeared normal. This is consistent with documentation of infanticide practices among historic foragers from southern Africa. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Secular change in body height and cephalic index of Croatian medical students (University of Rijeka)
Authors: Buretić‐Tomljanović Alena , Ristić Smiljana , Brajenović‐Milić Bojana , Ostojić Saša , Gombač Elena , Kapović Miljenko
Published: December 2003

An investigation of body height and cephalic measurements was performed among five groups of first‐year medical students of the University of Rijeka School of Medicine (Rijeka, Croatia). Body height and different cephalic measurements showed normal distribution, both in male and female students. Differences between measured variables were statistically analyzed by ANOVA. No significant difference with regard to year of birth was found in either males or females. The cephalic index showed no statistically significant difference between sexes or with regard to body height, while head breadth and length correlated significantly with birth year and body height, both in males and females. Head breadth decreased within the study period, while head length increased. Results were compared with those of similar studies from the mid‐20th century. Student's t‐test showed a significant change of cephalic indices and other head measurements, but not of body height, in males. The frequency difference between various head shapes was tested using the chi‐square test. A significant increase of dolichocephalic and mesocephalic and a significant decrease of brachycephalic head shape were found in both sexes. These results suggest a continuity of the debrachycephalization process observed in our population at the past midcentury. Am J Phys Anthropol 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bone protects proteins over thousands of years: Extraction, analysis, and interpretation of extracellular matrix proteins in archeological skeletal remains
Authors: Schmidt‐Schultz Tyede H. , Schultz Michael
Published: December 2003

In a good state of preservation, bone conserves the entire protein pattern of extracellular bone matrix proteins over thousands of years. The quality of the profiles of matrix proteins isolated from ancient bones (ranging from the pre‐Pottery Neolithic Phase to Early Modern Times from different archaeological sites in different geographical areas), separated by electrophoresis, is as good as those from recent bones. Molecules arising from collagenous proteins (e.g., collagen type I), from the noncollagenous group (e.g., osteonectin), and from the immune system (e.g., immunoglobulin G) were identified in Western blots by specific antibodies. A comparative study of the immunoglobulin G content of the bones of five prehistoric children showed the lowest immunoglobulin G content in a child who suffered from chronic scurvy. Ancient bone proteins were also separated by two‐dimensional electrophoresis. This technique makes fractionation of the complex protein mixtures of extracellular bone matrix more reproducible. Bone retains a chemical memory of earlier metabolic stimuli in its configuration of collagenous and noncollagenous proteins. In combination with the results of the microscopic examination of ancient bone, it should be possible to obtain more reliable information on the history and the evolution of diseases, based on analysis of intact proteins. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Adolescents with learning disabilities who show sexually inappropriate or abusive behaviours: development of a research study
Authors: Fyson Rachel , Eadie Tina , Cooke Pam
Published: December 2003

This paper sets out some key issues regarding sexual abuse perpetrated by adolescents with a learning disability. The limited evidence currently available is largely anecdotal or from small‐scale/case studies, but emphasizes that much behaviour of this kind never comes to the attention of either statutory social services or the criminal justice system. It is argued here that statutory services should be involved in such cases in order both to protect potential victims and to improve the ongoing life chances of alleged perpetrators. Speciﬁcally, it is posited that only by naming this problem can professionals hope to make effective interventions. The various organizational structures and systems adopted by four social services departments are outlined and their possible impacts on case outcomes are discussed. Little empirical research has so far been undertaken in this highly sensitive area, but an initiative from The Ann Craft Trust (formerly NAPSAC) aims to provide new evidence to help shape future best practice in this ﬁeld. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Identifying abused children using assessments and observations in the classroom: a preliminary study
Authors: Veltman Marijcke W. M. , Browne Kevin D.
Published: December 2003

The paper presents two pilot studies that attempt to identify maltreated children in the classroom. The aim of pilot study 1 was to determine whether six British physically abused children performed signiﬁcantly worse than matched non‐abused children on a battery of tests and rating scales over an 18‐month period. The aim of pilot study 2 was to concurrently identify maltreated children from a classroom of children using standardized tests and observed negative behaviours. The method used in study 1 was a cross‐comparison design with six physically abused and 12 comparison children, all between 4 and 8 years old. They were assessed over 18 months at four time‐points on a battery of standardized tests and rating scales. Study 2 was based on a concurrent prediction of child abuse in a class of 30 children (18 male and 12 female) 10 years old. They were assessed on a battery of standardized assessments and by the direct observation of negative behaviour in order to predict those who were on the child protection register (CPR) for actual or suspected abuse and those who were not. The results of study 1 showed signiﬁcant differences on the teacher rating scales and on a measure of sibling dependency. Study 2 used standardized assessments and identiﬁed three of ﬁve abused children. Direct observations identiﬁed one of ﬁve abused children. These two preliminary studies suggest standardized assessments are more useful than behavioural observations in identifying abused children in the classroom setting. Further conﬁrmation is required using larger‐scale investigations. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
What's in a name? named doctor in child protection—interpretation and implementation of the role
Authors: Polnay Janet C. , Curnock David A.
Published: December 2003

Child protection issues are reported in the media with uncomfortable regularity, highlighting that all paediatricians need to be competent in dealing with cases of child abuse. The named doctor in child protection was introduced to improve this, but implementation of the role has varied widely. This paper describes how the role of the named doctor in child protection has been put into practice in Nottingham City Hospital and discusses some of the challenges that can arise. The importance of training and audit in maintaining the quality of service for the trust is emphasized and developments for the future and important avenues for research are suggested. We have shown that with three designated sessions in a large district general hospital (without an accident and emergency department), the named doctor can combine with the named nurse to increase the awareness and effectiveness of child protection in all parts of the hospital. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bonding and attachment of Australian Aboriginal children
Authors: Yeo Soo See
Published: December 2003

In New South Wales, Australia, there is an increasing emphasis in the children's court on bonding and attachment assessments to determine whether or not a child remains with their carers. Aboriginal children and young people are over nine times more likely than other children and young people to be in out‐of‐home care. There is a paucity of information on culturally appropriate assessments of Aboriginal children in relation to bonding and attachment. Most assessments on the Australian indigenous families are based on the dominant Australian community's perception of what constitutes competent parenting. The question arises as to whether we are making psychologically and ethically sound decisions about whether or not a child remains with their Aboriginal carers based on evidence that is culturally appropriate for Western families but culturally inappropriate for the indigenous families. It is argued that the core hypotheses of attachment theory such as caregiver sensitivity, competence and secure base have to be based on the Australian Aboriginal people's cultural values. The aims of this paper are to explore the current practice on the bonding and attachment assessment of Aboriginal children using a dynamic eco‐systemic approach in the assessment of bonding and attachment of the indigenous people, with an emphasis on the historical, cultural and spiritual contexts. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biobanks for genomics and genomics for biobanks
Authors: Cambon‐Thomsen Anne , Ducournau Pascal , Gourraud Pierre‐Antoine , Pontille David
Published: December 2003

Biobanks include biological samples and attached databases. Human biobanks occur in research, technological development and medical activities. Population genomics is highly dependent on the availability of large biobanks. Ethical issues must be considered: protecting the rights of those people whose samples or data are in biobanks (information, autonomy, confidentiality, protection of private life), assuring the non‐commercial use of human body elements and the optimal use of samples and data. They balance other issues, such as protecting the rights of researchers and companies, allowing long‐term use of biobanks while detailed information on future uses is not available. At the level of populations, the traditional form of informed consent is challenged. Other dimensions relate to the rights of a group as such, in addition to individual rights. Conditions of return of results and/or benefit to a population need to be defined. With ‘large‐scale biobanking’ a marked trend in genomics, new societal dimensions appear, regarding communication, debate, regulation, societal control and valorization of such large biobanks. Exploring how genomics can help health sector biobanks to become more rationally constituted and exploited is an interesting perspective. For example, evaluating how genomic approaches can help in optimizing haematopoietic stem cell donor registries using new markers and high‐throughput techniques to increase immunogenetic variability in such registries is a challenge currently being addressed. Ethical issues in such contexts are important, as not only individual decisions or projects are concerned, but also national policies in the international arena and organization of democratic debate about science, medicine and society. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Segmental trisomy of mouse chromosome 17: introducing an alternative model of Down's syndrome
Authors: Forejt Jiri , Vacík Tomáš , Gregorová Soňa
Published: December 2003

All of the mouse models of human trisomy 21 syndrome that have been studied so far are based on segmental trisomies, encompassing, to a varying extent, distal chromosome 16. Their comparison with one or more unrelated and non‐overlapping segmental trisomies may help to distinguish the effects of specific triplicated genes from the phenotypes caused by less specific developmental instability mechanisms. In this paper, the Ts43H segmental trisomy of mouse chromosome 17 is presented as such an alternative model. The trisomy stretches over 32.5 Mb of proximal chromosome 17 and includes 486 genes. The triplicated interval carries seven blocks of synteny with five human chromosomes. The block syntenic to human chromosome 21 contains 20 genes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
11th Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology 2003 (ISMB 2003)
Authors: Abbott Catherine A.
Published: December 2003

This report profiles the keynote talks given at ISMB03 in Brisbane, Australia by Ron Shamir, David Haussler, John Mattick, Yoshihide Hayashizaki, Sydney Brenner, the Overton Prize winner, Jim Kent, and the ISCB Senior Accomplishment Awardee, David Sankov. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISMB 2003 bio‐ontologies SIG and sixth annual bio‐ontologies meeting report
Authors: Lord Phillip , Stevens Robert
Published: December 2003

The Annual Bio‐Ontologies meeting (http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/˜stevens/meeting03/) has now been running for 6 consecutive years, as a special interest group (SIG) of the much larger ISMB conference. It met in Brisbane, Australia, this summer, the first time it was held outside North America or Europe. The bio‐ontologies meeting is 1 day long and normally has around 100 attendees. This year there were many fewer, no doubt a result of the distance, global politics and SARS.

The meeting consisted of a series of 30 min talks with no formal peer review or publication. Talks ranged in style from fairly formal and complete pieces of work, through works in progress, to the very informal and discursive. Each year's meeting has a theme and this year it was ‘ontologies, and text processing’. There is a tendency for those submitting talks to ignore the theme completely, but this year's theme obviously struck a chord, as half the programme was about ontologies and text analysis (http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/˜stevensr/meeting03/programme.html). Despite the smaller size of the meeting, the programme was particularly strong this year, meaning that the tension between allowing time for the many excellent talks, discussion and questions from the floor was particular keenly felt. A happy problem to have! Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A molecular phylogenomic analysis of the ILR1‐like family of IAA amidohydrolase genes
Authors: Campanella James J. , Larko Daniel , Smalley John
Published: December 2003

The ILR1‐like family of hydrolase genes was initially isolated in Arabidopsis thaliana and is thought to help regulate levels of free indole‐3‐acetic‐acid. We have investigated how this family has evolved in dicotyledon, monocotyledon and gymnosperm species by employing the GenBank and TIGR databases to retrieve orthologous genes. The relationships among these sequences were assessed employing phylogenomic analyses to examine molecular evolution and phylogeny. The members of the ILR1‐like family analysed were ILL1, ILL2, ILL3, ILL6, ILR1 and IAR3. Present evidence suggests that IAR3 has undergone the least evolution and is most conserved. This conclusion is based on IAR3 having the largest number of total interspecific orthologues, orthologous species and unique orthologues. Although less conserved than IAR3, DNA and protein sequence analyses of ILL1 and ILR1 suggest high conservation. Based on this conservation, IAR3, ILL1 and ILR1 may have had major roles in the physiological evolution of ‘higher’ plants. ILL3 is least conserved, with the fewest orthologous species and orthologues. The monocotyledonous orthologues for most family‐members examined have evolved into two separate molecular clades from dicotyledons, indicating active evolutionary change. The monocotyledon clades are: (a) those possessing a putative endoplasmic reticulum localizing signal; and (b) those that are putative cytoplasmic hydrolases. IAR3, ILL1 and ILL6 are all highly orthologous to a gene in the gymnosperm Pinus taeda, indicating an ancient enzymatic activity. No orthologues could be detected in Chlamydomonas, moss and fern databases. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Steady‐state analysis of genetic regulatory networks modelled by probabilistic Boolean networks
Authors: Shmulevich Ilya , Gluhovsky Ilya , Hashimoto Ronaldo F. , Dougherty Edward R. , Zhang Wei
Published: December 2003

Probabilistic Boolean networks (PBNs) have recently been introduced as a promising class of models of genetic regulatory networks. The dynamic behaviour of PBNs can be analysed in the context of Markov chains. A key goal is the determination of the steady‐state (long‐run) behaviour of a PBN by analysing the corresponding Markov chain. This allows one to compute the long‐term influence of a gene on another gene or determine the long‐term joint probabilistic behaviour of a few selected genes. Because matrix‐based methods quickly become prohibitive for large sizes of networks, we propose the use of Monte Carlo methods. However, the rate of convergence to the stationary distribution becomes a central issue. We discuss several approaches for determining the number of iterations necessary to achieve convergence of the Markov chain corresponding to a PBN. Using a recently introduced method based on the theory of two‐state Markov chains, we illustrate the approach on a sub‐network designed from human glioma gene expression data and determine the joint steady‐state probabilities for several groups of genes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.