bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of outliers
Authors: Hadi Ali S. , Imon A. H. M. Rahmatullah , Werner Mark
Published: July 2009

We present an overview of the major developments in the area of detection of outliers. These include projection pursuit approaches as well as Mahalanobis distance‐based procedures. We also discuss principal component‐based methods, since these are most applicable to the large datasets that have become more prevalent in recent years. The major algorithms within each category are briefly discussed, together with current challenges and possible directions of future research. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Robust Methods
Ischemic Preconditioning Confers Antiapoptotic Protection During Major Hepatectomies Performed Under Combined Inflow and Outflow Exclusion of the Liver. A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Arkadopoulos Nikolaos , Kostopanagiotou Georgia , Theodoraki Kassiani , Farantos Charalambos , Theodosopoulos Theodosios , Stafyla Vaia , Vassiliou John , Voros Dionyssios , Pafiti Agathi , Smyrniotis Vassilios
Published: July 2009

Background

Extensive experimental studies and a few clinical series have shown that ischemic preconditioning (IPC) attenuates oxidative ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries in liver resections performed under inflow vascular control. Selective hepatic vascular exclusion (SHVE) employed during hepatectomies completely deprives the liver of blood flow, as it entails simultaneous clamping of the portal triad and the main hepatic veins. The aim of the present study was to identify whether IPC can also protect hepatocytes during liver resections performed under SHVE.

Methods

Patients undergoing major liver resection were randomly assigned to have either only SHVE (control group, n = 43) or SHVE combined with IPC—10 min of ischemia followed by 15 min of reperfusion before SHVE was applied (IPC group, n = 41).

Results

The two groups were comparable with regard to age, liver resection volume, blood loss and transfusions, warm ischemic time, and total operative time. In liver remnant biopsies obtained 60 min post‐reperfusion, IPC patients had significantly fewer cells stained positive by TUNEL compared to controls (19% ± 8% versus 45% ± 12%; p < 0.05). Also IPC patients had attenuated hepatocyte necrosis, systemic inflammatory response, and oxidative stress as manifested by lower postoperative peak values of aspartate transaminase, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐8, and malondialdehyde compared to controls. Morbidity was similar for the two groups, as were duration of intensive care unit stay and extent of total hospital stay.

Conclusions

In major hepatectomies performed under SHVE, ischemic preconditioning appears to attenuate apoptotic response of the liver remnant, possibly through alteration of inflammatory and oxidative pathways.
Metastasis‐Associated Protein 1 (MTA1) Overexpression is Closely Associated with Shorter Disease‐Free Interval After Complete Resection of Histologically Node‐Negative Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Li Shu‐Hai , Wang Zhou , Liu Xiang‐Yan
Published: July 2009

Background

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the expression of metastasis‐associated protein 1 (MTA1) and its relationship to the disease‐free interval after resection of pathologic N0 (pN0) esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC).

Methods

The subjects were 90 patients who successfully underwent complete resection of pN0 ESCC between May 2001 and May 2003. Immunohistochemical staining for MTA1 protein was performed using the avidin–biotin peroxidase complex method. Log‐rank test was performed to compare the disease‐free interval, and Cox regression multivariate analysis was performed to judge independent prognostic factors.

Results

Metastasis‐associated protein 1 overexpression was detected in 40 esophageal cancer tissues. Disease‐free interval was significantly associated with MTA1 protein overexpression (p = 0.015). The overall 5‐year survival rate was 45.6%, the 5‐year survival rate of patients with MTA1 protein overexpression was significantly lower than that of those without overexpression (25.0 versus 62.0%; p < 0.001). The results of multivariate analysis confirmed that T status and MTA1 protein overexpression were independent prognostic factors.

Conclusions

Metastasis‐associated protein 1 overexpression was detected in pN0 ESCC and was significantly correlated with shorter disease‐free interval. T status and MTA1 protein overexpression were both independent prognostic factors. These findings suggested MTA1 might be a predictor of relapsing phenotype and a prognostic factor in esophageal cancer.
Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Autonomously Functioning Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Baek Jung Hwan , Moon Won‐Jin , Kim Yoon Suk , Lee Jeong Hyun , Lee Ducky
Published: July 2009

Background

Some patients with autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN) are not suitable for surgery or radioiodine therapy. Therefore, minimally invasive alternative treatments, such as ethanol ablation or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), are necessary.

Methods

This study included nine patients (4 toxic and 5 pretoxic patients; male to female ratio = 1:8; mean age, 47 ± 17 (range, 25–71) years) who were not eligible for surgery or radioiodine therapy. All of the patients showed hot nodule with suppression of normal thyroid gland in 99mTc pertechnetate scintigraphy. RFA was performed using a 17‐ and 18‐gauge internally cooled electrode. Nodule volume, thyroid function, scintigraphy, symptom score (visual analogue scale, 0–10 cm), cosmetic grading score (4‐point scale), and complications were evaluated before treatment and at 1, 3, and 6 months follow‐up.

Results

Mean volume of the index nodule was 14.98 ± 25.53 (range, 0.29–82.29) mL. After RFA it decreased at 1 month (12.01 ± 25.97 mL, p = 0.015), 3 months (7.27 ± 15.13 mL, p = 0.011), 6 months (8.27 ± 21.29 mL, p = 0.008), and the last month (7.57 ± 19.99 mL, p = 0.008). Initial mean T3, fT4, and TSH were 156.2 ± 42.1 ng/dL, 1.73 ± 0.40 ng/dL, and 0.052 ± 0.087 mU/mL, respectively. A significant improvement of mean T3, fT4, and TSH were observed at last follow‐up (T3: 116.8 ± 20.7 ng/dL, p = 0.015; fT4: 1.37 ± 0.26 ng/dL, p = 0.036; TSH: 1.454 ± 1.756 mU/mL, p = 0.012). After ablation, four patients became a cold or normal scan and five remained as a hot nodule. The mean symptom and cosmetic grading score was reduced from 2.4 ± 1.7 to 0.6 ± 0.7 (p = 0.011) and from 3.1 ± 1.2 to 1.4 ± 1.0 (p = 0.017), respectively. No major complications were encountered.

Conclusions

RFA seems to be effective and safe for the treatment of AFTN.
Development of a High‐Density Assay for Long‐Chain Fatty Acyl‐CoA Elongases
Authors: Kitazawa Hidefumi , Miyamoto Yasuhisa , Shimamura Ken , Nagumo Akira , Tokita Shigeru
Published: July 2009

We established a convenient assay method for measuring elongation of very long chain fatty acids (ELOVLs) using a Unifilter‐96 GF/C plate. The Unifilter GF/C plate preferentially interacts with hydrophobic end products of ELOVLs (i.e., long chain fatty acid), with minimal malonyl‐CoA (C2 unit donor for fatty acid elongation) interaction. This new method results in the quick separation and detection of [14C] incorporated end products (e.g., [14C] palmitoyl‐CoA) from reaction mixtures containing excessive amounts of [14C] malonyl‐CoA. In the Unifilter‐96 GF/C plate assay, recombinantly expressed human ELOVLs (i.e., ELOVL1,‐2,‐3,‐5 and ‐6) displayed appreciable assay windows (>2‐fold vs. mock‐transfected control), enabling us to conduct comprehensive substrate profiling of ELOVLs. The substrate concentration profile of ELOVL6 in the Unifilter‐96 GF/C plate assay is consistent with that obtained from the conventional liquid extraction method, thus, supporting the reliability of the Unifilter‐96 GF/C plate assay. We then examined the substrate specificities of ELOVLs in a comprehensive fashion. As previously reported, ELOVL1, ‐3 and ‐6 preferably elongated the saturated fatty acyl‐CoAs while ELOVL2 and ELOVL5 preferentially elongated the polyunsaturated fatty acyl‐CoAs. This further confirms the Unifilter‐96 GF/C plate assay reliability. Taken together, our newly developed assay provides a convenient and comprehensive assay platform for ELOVLs, allowing investigators to conduct high density screening and characterization of ELOVLs chemical tools.
Foam Separation of Oil from Enzymatically Treated Wet‐Milled Corn Germ Dispersions
Authors: Dickey Leland C. , Kurantz Michael J. , Parris Nicholas , McAloon Andrew , Moreau Robert A.
Published: July 2009

More than 9 billion gallons of ethanol were produced in 2008, mostly from dry grind corn fermentation plants. These plants are a potential source of substantial amounts of corn oil, if an economical method of separating it can be developed. In this work, oil was separated from corn germ by aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE). Batches of wet‐milled corn germ in water were preheated in a pressure cooker, ground in a colloid mill, and churned in a vertical column/mixing vessel system, after the addition of enzyme. Nitrogen gas was then bubbled through the column removing an overflowing foam fraction which was subsequently centrifuged to separate free oil. Using a newly commercialized enzyme complex it was found that 80% of the oil could be recovered using a w/w ratio of enzyme solution to germ of 1:80. The low dose and low price of the enzyme complex leads to a cost estimate of AEE of corn oil from germ, similar to the wet‐milled germ extracted, cost competitive with expelled oil (with the separation and drying of the foam protein), and feasible for commercialization in a dry grind plant retrofitted to separate germ.
Wild Brazilian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Seed Oil Methyl Esters as Biodiesel Fuel
Authors: Jham Gulab N. , Moser Bryan R. , Shah Shailesh N. , Holser Ronald A. , Dhingra Onkar D. , Vaughn Steven F. , Berhow Mark A. , Winkler‐Moser Jill K. , Isbell Terry A. , Holloway Ray K. , Walter Erin L. , Natalino Ricardo , Anderson Jason C. , Stelly David M.
Published: July 2009

Wild mustard (Brassica juncea L.) oil is evaluated as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Biodiesel was obtained in 94 wt.% yield by a standard transesterification procedure with methanol and sodium methoxide catalyst. Wild mustard oil had a high content of erucic (13(Z)‐docosenoic; 45.7 wt.%) acid, with linoleic (9(Z),12(Z)‐octadecadienoic; 14.2 wt.%) and linolenic (9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)‐octadecatrienoic; 13.0 wt.%) acids comprising most of the remaining fatty acid profile. The cetane number, kinematic viscosity, and oxidative stability (Rancimat method) of the methyl esters was 61.1, 5.33 mm2 s−1 (40 °C) and 4.8 h (110 °C), respectively. The cloud, pour and cold filter plugging points were 4, −21 and −3 °C, respectively. Other properties such as acid value, lubricity, free and total glycerol content, iodine value, Gardner color, specific gravity, as well as sulfur and phosphorous contents were also determined and are discussed in light of biodiesel standards ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. Also reported are the properties and composition of wild mustard oil, along with identification of wild mustard collected in Brazil as Brassica juncea L. (2n = 36) as opposed to the currently accepted Sinapis arvensis L. (2n = 18) classification. In summary, wild mustard oil appears to be an acceptable feedstock for biodiesel production.
Information management and behavior problems: Is concealing misbehavior necessarily a sign of trouble?
Authors: Laird Robert D. , Marrero Matthew D.
Published: July 2009

This study sought to determine whether adolescents' strategic management of information about their misbehavior was associated with behavior problems and whether the associations were moderated by parental trust or adolescent authority beliefs. Data were provided by 218 mother‐adolescent dyads. Adolescents (49% female; M age = 12 years) reported their use of two disclosing (i.e., telling all, telling if asked) and three concealing (i.e., omitting details, secret keeping, lying) strategies following misbehavior. More disclosing and less concealing were associated with less depressed mood and with less antisocial and rule‐breaking behavior. Associations between strategy use and antisocial and rule‐breaking behavior were attenuated when parents reported high trust or adolescents reported strong authority beliefs. Greater use of concealing strategies following misbehavior is more likely to be a sign of trouble than a sign of emerging autonomy, but the negative effects of concealment are attenuated in some relational contexts.
Brief report: Text bullying and traditional bullying among New Zealand secondary school students
Authors: Marsh Louise , McGee Rob , Nada‐Raja Shyamala , Williams Sheila
Published: July 2009

This descriptive study examined text and traditional bullying in New Zealand (NZ), and the relationship between text bullying and traditional bullying, and feeling unsafe at school. A self‐report online survey assessed the frequency of bullying among 1169 15 year old secondary students, for five categories of bullying: text messages, rumours, exclusion, teasing, and physical bullying. Results show that in the school year assessed 47% reported having been bullied sometimes or often and 37% reported bullying others; 11% reported being text bullied, while 7% reported text bullying others. Students involved in text bullying were significantly more likely to be involved in traditional forms of bullying and were less likely to feel safe at school.
Increased apoptosis and reduced neuronal and glial densities in the hippocampus due to nicotine and ethanol exposure in adolescent mice
Authors: Oliveira‐da‐Silva Andreia , Vieira Fernanda B. , Cristina‐Rodrigues Fabiana , Filgueiras Cláudio C. , Manhães Alex C. , Abreu‐Villaça Yael
Published: July 2009

It has been recently shown that nicotine and ethanol interact during adolescence affecting memory/learning and anxiety levels. Considering the role of the hippocampus in both anxiety and memory/learning, we investigated whether adolescent nicotine and/or ethanol administration elicit apoptotic cell death and whether this results in neuronal and/or glial density alterations in the following regions of the hippocampus: granular layer of the dentate gyrus (GrDG), molecular layer (Mol), CA1, CA2 and CA3. From the 30th to the 45th postnatal day, C57BL/6 male and female mice were exposed to nicotine free base (NIC) and/or ethanol (ETOH). Four groups were analyzed: (1) concomitant NIC (50 μg/ml in 2% saccharin to drink) and ETOH (25%, 2 g/kg i.p. injected every other day) exposure; (2) NIC exposure; (3) ETOH exposure; (4) vehicle. We evaluated cell degeneration (TUNEL assay), neuronal and glial densities (optical disector) and region thicknesses at the end of the period of exposure. Our results demonstrate that ETOH elicited an increase in TUNEL‐positive cells relative to the vehicle group in all hippocampal regions. NIC elicited less severe region‐dependent effects: the number of TUNEL‐positive cells was significantly increased in the Mol and CA1 when compared to the vehicle group. These results were paralleled by reductions in neuronal and glial cells densities, which indicate that both cell types are sensitive to the neurotoxic effects of these drugs. There were no effects on region thicknesses. On the other hand, concomitant NIC and ETOH reduced the adverse effects of the drugs when administered separately. This ability of nicotine and ethanol co‐exposure to lessen the adverse effects of nicotine and ethanol may contribute to adolescents co‐use and co‐abuse of tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
ON 𝒯-NONCOSINGULAR MODULES
Authors: TÜTÜNCÜ DERYA KESKIN , TRIBAK RACHID
Published: July 2009

In this paper we introduce 𝒯-noncosingular modules. Rings for which all right modules are𝒯-noncosingular are shown to be precisely those for which every simple right module is injective. Moreover, for any ring R we show that the right R-module R is 𝒯-noncosingular precisely when R has zero Jacobson radical. We also study the 𝒯-noncosingular condition in association with (strongly) FI-lifting modules.
QUASIMODULAR FORMS AND VECTOR BUNDLES
Authors: LEE MIN HO
Published: July 2009

Modular forms for a discrete subgroup Γ of SL(2,ℝ) can be identified with holomorphic sections of line bundles over the modular curve U corresponding to Γ, and quasimodular forms generalize modular forms. We construct vector bundles over U whose sections can be identified with quasimodular forms for Γ.
ON THE CONJECTURE OF JEŚMANOWICZ CONCERNING PYTHAGOREAN TRIPLES
Authors: MIYAZAKI TAKAFUMI
Published: July 2009

Leta,b,cbe relatively prime positive integers such thata2+b2=c2withbeven. In 1956 Jeśmanowicz conjectured that the equationax+by=czhas no solution other than (x,y,z)=(2,2,2) in positive integers. Most of the known results of this conjecture were proved under the assumption that 4 exactly dividesb. The main results of this paper include the case where 8 dividesb. One of our results treats the case whereahas no prime factor congruent to 1 modulo 4, which can be regarded as a relevant analogue of results due to Deng and Cohen concerning the prime factors ofb. Furthermore, we examine parities of the three variablesx,y,z, and give new triplesa,b,csuch that the conjecture holds for the case wherebis divisible by 8. In particular, to prove our results, we shall show an important result which asserts that ifx,y,zare all even, thenx/2,y/2,z/2 are all odd. Our methods are based on elementary congruence and several strong results on generalized Fermat equations given by Darmon and Merel.
A NOTE ON CONTINUOUSLY URYSOHN SPACES
Authors: CHEN JIAN-SHENG , SHI WEI-XUE
Published: July 2009

In this paper, we generalize a result of Bennett and Lutzer and give a condition under which a continuously Urysohn space must have a one-parameter continuous separating family.
Carbon isotope stratigraphy across the Silurian–Devonian transition in Podolia, Ukraine: evidence for a global biogeochemical perturbation
Authors: MAŁKOWSKI K. , RACKI G. , DRYGANT D. , SZANIAWSKI H.
Published: July 2009

The carbon and oxygen isotope composition of marine carbonates (δ13C and δ18O, respectively) are studied in the fossiliferous, stratigraphically well-constrained and remarkably expanded successions of Podolia, SW Ukraine, spanning the Silurian–Devonian transition. Significant isotopic shifts are directly comparable to previously published global secular trends in well-preserved brachiopod calcite isotopic ratios from this region, and therefore may be taken as a reliable primary record of seawater δ13C changes. The sections reveal a major positive δ13C excursion, with an amplitude above 6 ‰, beginning in the upper Pridoli and reaching peak values as heavy as +4.2 ‰ in the lowermost Lochkovian. This turnover in carbon cycling is followed by a general trend toward more negative δ13C values in the upper Lochkovian. The Podolian isotopic signals provide strong support for the previously inferred global biogeochemical perturbation across the Silurian–Devonian transition, reflecting a complex combination of palaeogeographical, biogeochemical and evolutionary processes in the late Caledonian geodynamic setting, with a likely undervalued role of the expanding vegetation in vast near-coastal shallows and deltas.
Delayed head and neck complications of sulphur mustard poisoning in Iranian veterans
Authors: Zojaji R , Balali-Mood M , Mirzadeh M , Saffari A , Maleki M
Published: July 2009

Objective:

Sulphur mustard is a chemical warfare agent which was used against Iranian combatants and civilians between 1983 and 1988. The purpose of this study was to document the delayed toxic effects of sulphur mustard in Iranian veterans, focussing on head and neck complications.

Patients and methods:

This was a two-year, prospective, descriptive study of 43 male Iranian veterans aged 34 to 48 years (mean 41.8 years) who were moderately disabled or worse due to sulphur mustard poisoning. Investigations were performed with consent, including haematological, biochemical and immunological tests, spirometry, chest X-ray, high resolution computed tomography of the lungs, and skin biopsies. Further investigations and interventions were performed as clinically indicated.

Results:

The most affected sites were the lungs (95 per cent), peripheral nerves (77 per cent), skin (73 per cent), eyes (68 per cent), and head and neck (16.2 per cent). Of seven patients with mostly head and neck complications, four had a skin disorder (hyperpigmentation in all four, an erythematous, papular rash in two, and dry skin in one). Two patients had thyroid cancer (undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma in one and papillary carcinoma of a thyroglossal cyst in the other, 12 and 14 years after sulphur mustard exposure, respectively). One patient had nasopharyngeal carcinoma, 12 years after sulphur mustard exposure.

Conclusion:

Carcinomas of the thyroid and nasopharynx in three patients with sulphur mustard exposure are reported for the first time.
Role of radiotherapy in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck
Authors: Iseli T A , Karnell L H , Graham S M , Funk G F , Buatti J M , Gupta A K , Robinson R A , Hoffman H T
Published: July 2009

This study retrospectively reviewed 183 cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma treated over 40 years. The local recurrence free survival rate was 68.2 per cent at five years and 40.8 per cent at 10 years. At 10 years, local recurrence free survival was significantly worse following radiotherapy alone (0 per cent), compared with surgery alone (41.8 per cent, p = 0.004) or combined with post-operative radiotherapy (43.5 per cent, p = 0.001). Neither tumour stage three or four, perineural invasion, solid subtype nor involved margins predicted local recurrence. Treatment with radiotherapy alone resulted in worse survival than surgery alone (p = 0.002) or combined with post-operative radiotherapy (p = 0.001). Survival rates following local recurrence (n = 34) were higher following surgery (p = 0.006) but not significantly improved following radiotherapy (p = 0.139). Chemotherapy for distant metastases did not prolong survival (p = 0.747) but did result in improved eating and aesthetics scores, while decreasing overall physical health. These results indicate that surgery is preferable for primary and recurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. The incidence of local recurrence following surgery and postoperative radiotherapy was similar to surgery alone cases although the latter had less adverse prognostic features. Contemporary chemotherapy may benefit quality of life but not survival in patients with distant metastases due to adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.
Nurse-led triage of otolaryngology out-patient referrals: an acceptable alternative?
Authors: Hathorn I F , Barnes M L , Mountain R E
Published: July 2009

Objectives:

To establish the safety and effectiveness of nurse-led triage of otolaryngology out-patient referrals.

Method:

One hundred consecutive general practitioner referrals were reviewed by two consultants, two specialist registrars, two foundation year two senior house officers and two otolaryngology nurses. One of the nurses had received triage training. All referrals were triaged as ‘urgent’, ‘soon’ or ‘routine’ by each rater.

Results:

The triage-trained nurse's results demonstrated good agreement with those of the senior consultant (80 per cent). This agreement was similar to that with the other consultant (77 per cent) and the specialist registrars (79 and 82 per cent). Weighted κ statistics (correcting for chance agreement) showed that the triage-trained nurse had the second closest agreement to the senior consultant (0.66). After the actual out-patient appointments, retrospective review of the patients' case notes revealed that none had been triaged inappropriately by the trained nurse, and no urgent cases had been missed.

Conclusions:

Triage of out-patient referrals by trained ENT nurses is safe and effective, and is an acceptable alternative to traditional consultant vetting of referrals.
The taxonomy of the genus Graphis sensu Staiger (Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae)
Authors: LÜCKING Robert
Published: July 2009

The species-level taxonomy of the genus Graphis sensu Staiger was revised using numerical taxonomy and cladistic techniques. In its current circumscription, Graphis includes more than 300 species and is characterized by lirellae with well-developed, carbonized labia usually concealing the disc and usually hyaline, I+ blue-violet, transversely septate to muriform ascospores. The study analyzed the importance of morphological, anatomical, and chemical characters for taxonomic purposes in the genus, both at species level and at the level of species groups and lineages. A phenotype-based cladistic analysis, combined with a novel method to estimate the degree of character state homoplasies prior to a cladogram, as well as a species ordination using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS), was performed to assess the delimitation of potentially natural groups within the genus. Contrary to previous views, the most important character complex characterizing potentially natural groups in the genus Graphis is lirellae morphology, whereas labia striation, excipulum carbonization, ascospore features, and secondary chemistry, vary greatly even in closely related species. Based on these findings, Wirth and Hale's concept of ‘sporomorphs’ is emended to generally characterize morphologically similar species that differ in a single character, such as labia striation (‘labiomorph’), excipulum carbonization (‘excipulomorph’), hymenium inspersion (‘inspersomorph’), ascospore size and septation (‘sporomorph’) and secondary chemistry (‘chemomorph’).
A review of humpback whales' migration patterns worldwide and their consequences to gene flow
Authors: Rizzo L.Y. , Schulte D.
Published: July 2009

Humpback whales(Megaptera novaeangliae)have a worldwide distribution in the oceans and are known for their very long migratory potential. Their migration routes consist of productive feeding areas located in high-latitudes and to low-latitude areas used as breeding and calving grounds. Genetic studies in humpback whale populations consist mainly of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. In general, these studies provide similar results to estimates of gene flow, but some discrepancies may be caused by gender-biased migration to breeding grounds and further dispersion by males. There is little evidence of trans-equatorial and inter-oceanic migrations, but those movements have been confirmed by both analysis of photo-ID of naturally marked individuals and also genetic analysis. The combination of migratory and genetic analyses suggest an overlapping of breeding grounds in low-latitude areas, where the gene flow among those oceanic populations is more likely to happen, despite the opposite seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. These results have important implications in the conservation perspective, especially for the determination of protected areas and for development of international agreements.
Biometric relationships of the spotted lobster,Panulirus echinatus, from Tamandaré coastal reefs, Pernambuco State, Brazil
Authors: do Vale Barreto Aline , de Lourdes Zani-Teixeira Maria , Ivo Carlos Tassito Correa , Katsuragawa Mario
Published: July 2009

Biometric relationships were recorded for 2431 male and femalePanulirus echinatussampled at Tamandaré coastal reefs, Pernambuco, Brazil. The following body measurements were taken: carapace length and width, abdomen length and width, total length, third and fifth pereiopod length, cephalothorax–abdomen and total weight. Twelve relationships were studied to compare the biometric characteristics of males and females. Eleven of them showed difference between the sexes. Comparing sexes with the same carapace length, males have a heavier cephalothorax and longer third and fifth pereiopods than females, whereas females are longer, wider, and have a heavier abdomen than males. For genders with the same total length, males are heavier and have a longer carapace than females, while females have a larger abdomen. For genders with the same abdomen length, males have a heavier abdomen than females. The relationships TWg/TL and AWg/AL showed positive allometric growth for the males. All other relationships involving weight, presented negative allometric growth for both sexes.
Trypanosoma irwini n. sp (Sarcomastigophora: Trypanosomatidae) from the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)
Authors: McINNES L. M. , GILLETT A. , RYAN U. M. , AUSTEN J. , CAMPBELL R. S. F. , HANGER J. , REID S. A.
Published: July 2009

The morphology and genetic characterization of a new species of trypanosome infecting koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are described. Morphological analysis of bloodstream forms and phylogenetic analysis at the 18S rDNA and gGAPDH loci demonstrated this trypanosome species to be genetically distinct and most similar to Trypanosoma bennetti, an avian trypanosome with a genetic distance of 0·9% at the 18S rDNA and 10·7% at the gGAPDH locus. The trypanosome was detected by 18S rDNA PCR in the blood samples of 26 out of 68 (38·2%) koalas studied. The aetiological role of trypanosomes in koala disease is currently poorly defined, although infection with these parasites has been associated with severe clinical signs in a number of koalas. Based on biological and genetic characterization data, this trypanosome species infecting koalas is proposed to be a new species Trypanosome irwini n. sp.
Effects of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory T cells on earlyPlasmodium yoelii17XL infection in BALB/c mice
Authors: CHEN GUANG , LIU JUN , WANG QING-HUI , WU YI , FENG HUI , ZHENG WEI , GUO SHENG-YU , LI DONG-MEI , WANG JI-CHUN , CAO YA-MING
Published: July 2009

The outcome ofPlasmodium yoelii17XL-infected BALB/c and DBA/2 mice, ranging from death to spontaneous cure, respectively, depends largely on the establishment of effective pro-inflammatory type 1 responses during the early stages of infection and associates with CD4+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory T cells (Tregs). Here, effects of Tregs were analysed on earlyP. yoelii17XL infection in BALB/c and DBA/2 mice.In vivodepletion of Tregs significantly reversed the inhibited establishment of effective pro-inflammatory type 1 responses in BALB/c mice, indicating that this cell population contributed to the suppression of T-cell function in malaria. Moreover, the proportion and absolute numbers of IL-10-secreting Tregs in BALB/c mice were significantly higher than that found in DBA/2 mice by intracytoplasmic staining, and IL-10 production was correlated with the Tregs population. In addition,in vivoTregs depletion decreased the production of IL-10 and the apoptosis of CD4+T cells. Consistently, IL-10R blockade also had the same effect as that of Tregs depletion inP. yoelii17XL-infected BALB/c mice. Our data demonstrate that Tregs perhaps have an important role in regulating pro-inflammatory type 1 responses in an IL-10-dependent manner and induce CD4+T cell apoptosis during the early stage ofP. yoelii17XL infection.
Early intervention in psychotic disorders: faith before facts?
Authors: Bosanac P. , Patton G. C. , Castle D. J.
Published: July 2009

This paper reviews the literature on early intervention in psychotic disorders, weighs the cons of this approach, and makes suggestions for clinicians and researchers regarding how to interpret and respond to what is still an embryonic evidence-base, notably in terms of any long-term benefits.
Universal production patterns and ambient language influences in babbling: A cross-linguistic study of Korean- and English-learning infants*
Authors: LEE SUE ANN S. , DAVIS BARBARA , MACNEILAGE PETER
Published: July 2009

The phonetic characteristics of canonical babbling produced by Korean- and English-learning infants were compared with consonant and vowel frequencies observed in infant-directed speech produced by Korean- and English-speaking mothers. For infant output, babbling samples from six Korean-learning infants were compared with an existing English babbling database (Davis & MacNeilage, 1995). For ambient language comparisons, consonants and vowels in ten Korean and ten English infant-directed speech (IDS) samples were analyzed. The two infant groups demonstrated similar consonant patterns, but showed different vowel patterns from one another. For both languages, infant vowel patterns were related to those of ambient language IDS. Ambient language patterns were manifested in infant vowel output, perhaps because vowels are more perceptually and motorically available in the input and output capacities of babbling infants.
CLEX: A cross-linguistic lexical norms database*
Authors: JØRGENSEN RUNE NØRGAARD , DALE PHILIP S. , BLESES DORTHE , FENSON LARRY
Published: July 2009

Parent report has proven a valid and cost-effective means of evaluating early child language. Norming datasets for these instruments, which provide the basis for standardized comparisons of individual children to a population, can also be used to derive norms for the acquisition of individual words in production and comprehension and also early gestures and symbolic actions. These lexical norms have a wide range of uses in basic research, assessment and intervention. In addition, cross-linguistic comparisons of lexical development are greatly facilitated by the availability of norms from diverse languages. This report describes the development of CLEX, a new web-based cross-linguistic database for lexical data from adaptations of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories. CLEX provides tools for a range of analyses within and across languages. It is designed to incorporate additional language datasets easily, and to permit users to define mappings between lexical items in pairs of languages for more specific cross-linguistic comparisons.
Mapping the grounding zone of the Amery Ice Shelf, East Antarctica using InSAR, MODIS and ICESat
Authors: Fricker Helen Amanda , Coleman Richard , Padman Laurie , Scambos Ted A. , Bohlander Jennifer , Brunt Kelly M.
Published: July 2009

We use a combination of satellite techniques (interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), visible-band imagery, and repeat-track laser altimetry) to develop a benchmark map for the Amery Ice Shelf (AIS) grounding zone (GZ), including its islands and ice rises. The break-in-slope, as an indirect estimate of grounding line location, was mapped for the entire AIS. We have also mapped ∼55% of the landward edge and ∼30% of the seaward edge of the ice shelf flexure boundary for the AIS perimeter. Vertical ice motion from Global Positioning System receivers confirms the location of the satellite-derived GZ in two regions. Our map redefines the extent of floating ice in the south-western AIS and identifies several previously unmapped grounded regions, improving our understanding of the stresses supporting the current dynamical state of the ice shelf. Finally, we identify three along-flow channels in the ice shelf basal topography, approximately 10 km apart, 1.5 km wide and 300–500 m deep, near the southern GZ. These channels, which form at the suture zones between ice streams, may represent zones of potential weakness in the ice shelf and may influence sub-ice-shelf ocean circulation.
A type system for Discretionary Access Control
Authors: BUGLIESI MICHELE , COLAZZO DARIO , CRAFA SILVIA , MACEDONIO DAMIANO
Published: July 2009

Discretionary Access Control (DAC) systems provide powerful resource management mechanisms based on the selective distribution of capabilities to selected classes of principals. We study a type-based theory of DAC models for a process calculus that extends Cardelli, Ghelli and Gordon's pi-calculus with groups (Cardelliet al. 2005). In our theory, groups play the role of principals and form the unit of abstraction for our access control policies, and types allow the specification of fine-grained access control policies to govern the transmission of names, bound the (iterated) re-transmission of capabilities and predicate their use on the inability to pass them to third parties. The type system relies on subtyping to achieve a selective distribution of capabilities to the groups that control the communication channels. We show that the typing and subtyping relationships of the calculus are decidable. We also prove a type safety result, showing that in well-typed processes all names:

(i)

flow according to the access control policies specified by their types; and

(ii)

are received at the intended sites with the intended capabilities.

We illustrate the expressive power and the flexibility of the typing system using several examples.
Profile of hippocampal volumes and stroke risk varies by neuropsychological definition of mild cognitive impairment
Authors: JAK AMY J. , URBAN STEPHANIE , McCAULEY ASHLEY , BANGEN KATHERINE J. , DELANO-WOOD LISA , COREY-BLOOM JODY , BONDI MARK W.
Published: July 2009

Wide-ranging conceptual and diagnostic approaches to defining mild cognitive impairment (MCI) have led to highly variable prevalence and progression rates. We sought to examine whether bilateral hippocampal volumes and cerebrovascular risk factors in individuals characterized by two different neuropsychological definitions of MCI subtypes would also differ. Participants were 65 nondemented, community-dwelling, older adults, ages 62–91 years, drawn from a larger group of individuals enrolled in a longitudinal study of normal aging. A comprehensive neuropsychological definition of MCI that required the presence of more than one impaired score in a cognitive domain resulted in expected anatomical results; hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in the aMCI group as compared to cognitively normal or nonamnestic MCI participants. However, a typical definitional scheme for classifying MCI based only on the presence of one impaired score within a cognitive domain did not result in hippocampal differences between groups. Global stroke risk factors did not differ between the two definitional schemes, although the relationship between stroke risk variables and neuropsychological performance did vary by diagnostic approach. The comprehensive approach demonstrated associations between stroke risk and cognition, whereas the typical approach did not. Use of more sophisticated clinical decision-making and diagnostic approaches that incorporate comprehensive neuropsychological assessment techniques is supported by this convergence of neuropsychological, neuropathological, and stroke risk findings. (JINS, 2009, 15, 890–897.)
Cognitive performance before and after kidney transplantation: A prospective controlled study of adequately dialyzed patients with end-stage renal disease
Authors: HARCIAREK MICHAŁ , BIEDUNKIEWICZ BOGDAN , LICHODZIEJEWSKA-NIEMIERKO MONIKA , DĘBSKA-ŚLIZIEŃ ALICJA , RUTKOWSKI BOLESŁAW
Published: July 2009

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who receive dialysis have been shown to have impaired neuropsychological performance. It remains unclear, however, whether cognitive deficits associated with ESRD and/or dialysis are reversible after successful kidney transplantation. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to longitudinally compare the cognitive performance of adequately dialyzed patients with ESRD before and shortly after kidney transplantation. Twenty-two dialyzed patients with ESRD who subsequently received a kidney transplant, 20 dialyzed patients who were medically qualified and awaiting kidney transplant but did not receive it, and 30 matched controls were the participants for this study. Overall, our results demonstrate that a successful kidney transplant is associated with improved neuropsychological performance in patients with ESRD. Specifically, a significant improvement was seen on measures of psychomotor speed, visual planning, retrieval of learnt material, and abstract thinking. Additionally, the degree of cognitive improvement following kidney transplant was significantly associated with some pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors (e.g., age, duration of chronic kidney disease, postoperative graft function). The results of this study also show that the cognitive performance of adequately dialyzed patients without a kidney transplant, although often below that of matched controls, remains relatively stable over time . (JINS, 2009, 15, 684–694.)
A large-scale retrospective study of closing-in behavior in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: AMBRON ELISABETTA , MCINTOSH ROBERT D. , ALLARIA FRANCESCA , DELLA SALA SERGIO
Published: July 2009

The frequency and characteristics of closing-in behavior (CIB) were examined in 797 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), 132 of whom were followed up longitudinally. The frequency of CIB increased with the complexity of the graphic copying task and with the severity of Alzheimer’s disease. Regression analyses suggested that attentional deficits are critical factors for the appearance of CIB, but that visuospatial impairments also play an important role in the emergence of severe forms of CIB. (JINS, 2009, 15, 787–792.)
A comparison of the hazard perception ability of matched groups of healthy drivers aged 35 to 55, 65 to 74, and 75 to 84 years
Authors: HORSWILL MARK S. , PACHANA NANCY A. , WOOD JOANNE , MARRINGTON SHELBY A. , McWILLIAM JENNA , McCULLOUGH CYNTHIA M.
Published: July 2009

We examined differences in response latencies obtained during a validated video-based hazard perception driving test between three healthy, community-dwelling groups: 22 mid-aged (35–55 years), 34 young–old (65–74 years), and 23 old-old (75–84 years) current drivers, matched for gender, education level, and vocabulary. We found no significant difference in performance between mid-aged and young-old groups, but the old-old group was significantly slower than the other two groups. The differences between the old-old group and the other groups combined were independently mediated by useful field of view (UFOV), contrast sensitivity, and simple reaction time measures. Given that hazard perception latency has been linked with increased crash risk, these results are consistent with the idea that increased crash risk in older adults could be a function of poorer hazard perception, though this decline does not appear to manifest until age 75+ in healthy drivers. (JINS, 2009, 15, 799–802.)
Ecological assessment of executive functions in mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: ESPINOSA ANA , ALEGRET MONTSERRAT , BOADA MERCÈ , VINYES GEORGINA , VALERO SERGI , MARTÍNEZ-LAGE PABLO , PEÑA-CASANOVA JORDI , BECKER JAMES T , WILSON BARBARA A. , TÁRRAGA LLUÍS
Published: July 2009

Although memory deficits are typically the earliest and most profound symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), there is increasing recognition of subtle executive dysfunctions in these patients. The purpose of the present study was to determine the sensitivity of the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS), and to detect early specific signs of the dysexecutive syndrome in the transition from normal cognition to dementia. The BADS was administered to 50 MCI subjects, 50 mild AD patients, and 50 normal controls. Statistically significant differences were found among the three groups with the AD patients performing most poorly, and the MCI subjects performing between controls and AD patients. The Rule Shift Cards and the Action Program subtests were the most highly discriminative between MCI and controls; the Zoo Map and Modified Six Elements between MCI and AD; and the Action Program, Zoo Map, and Modified Six Elements between AD and controls. These results demonstrate that the BADS is clinically useful in discriminating between normal cognition and progressive neurodegenerative conditions. Furthermore, these data confirm the presence of a dysexecutive syndrome even in mildly impaired elderly subjects. (JINS, 2009, 15, 751–757.)
Decomposing age correlations on neuropsychological and cognitive variables
Authors: SALTHOUSE TIMOTHY A.
Published: July 2009

Individual differences associated with age and various neurological conditions are often found in many different neuropsychological and cognitive variables. These variables are frequently treated as though they were independent of one another, with the results interpreted in terms of effects on task-specific processes. However, an alternative perspective evaluates the breadth of the individual difference influences, and takes relations with other variables into account when considering effects on specific neurocognitive variables. This analytical procedure is illustrated in analyses of the WAIS-IV and WMS-IV standardization data, and of data from the Virginia Cognitive Aging Project. (JINS, 2009,15, 650–661.)
Celtic influence on Old English: phonological and phonetic evidence
Authors: SCHRIJVER PETER
Published: July 2009

It has generally been assumed that Celtic linguistic influence on Old English is limited to a few marginal loanwords. If a language shift had taken place from Celtic to Old English, however, one would expect to find traces of that in Old English phonology and (morpho)syntax. In this article I argue that (1) the way in which the West Germanic sound system was reshaped in Old English strongly suggests the operation of a hitherto unrecognized substratum; (2) that phonetic substratum is strongly reminiscent of Irish rather than British Celtic; (3) the Old Irish phonetic−phonological system provides a more plausible model for reconstructing the phonetics of pre-Roman Celtic in Britain than the British Celtic system. The conclusion is that there is phonetic continuity between pre-Roman British Celtic and Old English, which suggests the presence of a pre-Anglo-Saxon population shifting to Old English.
An explanation for the early phonemicisation of a voice contrast in English fricatives
Authors: LAKER STEPHEN
Published: July 2009

Most handbooks and grammars contend that in Old English the voiced fricatives [v, ð, z] were merely allophones of /f, θ, s/ in sonorous environments. How these voiced fricatives became phonemes is debated among scholars. In this article, all previous accounts are critically reviewed. A new proposal is then presented, which explains the facts in a more direct way than previous theses. I argue that phonemicisation of a previous allophonic voice alternation in fricatives had already taken place in many areas of Anglo-Saxon England through language contact with Brittonic. Voiceless as well as voiced fricative phonemes existed in Brittonic at the time of contact, and language shift would have led directly to the phonemicisation of the previous allophonic variation found in early Old English.
Celtic influence on Old English and West Germanic
Authors: LUTZ ANGELIKA
Published: July 2009

This article concentrates on the question of language contact between English and Celtic in the period between the Anglo-Saxon conquest of Britannia (?AD 449) and the Norman conquest of England (AD 1066) but in some places reaches out to West Germanic times and to the period after the Norman conquest. It focuses on a certain region, that of the Southern Lowlands, mainly Anglo-Saxon Wessex, and deals with evidence that has been mentioned before: (1) the twofold paradigm of ‘to be’ and (2) the Old English designations for Celts that refer to their status as slaves. The article demonstrates that both the syntactic and the lexico-semantic evidence is particularly concentrated in West Saxon texts. Together, both types of evidence are shown to support the assumption that a very substantial Celtic population exerted substratal influence on (pre-)Old English by way of large-scale language shift in one of the early heartlands of England. This substratal Insular Celtic influence on Old English is contrasted with the adstratal Celtic influence on continental West Germanic.