bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution, characterization and clinical significance of microglia in glioneuronal tumours from patients with chronic intractable epilepsy
Authors: Aronica E. , Gorter J. A. , Redeker S. , Ramkema M. , Spliet W. G. M. , Van Rijen P. C. , Leenstra S. , Troost D.
Published: May 2005

Cells of the microglia/macrophage lineage represent an important component of different brain tumours. However, there is little information about the microglia/macrophage cell system in glioneuronal tumours and its possible contribution to the high epileptogenecity of these lesions. In the present study, the distribution of cells of the microglia/macrophage lineage was studied by immunocytochemistry for CD68 and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR in a group of glioneuronal tumours, including gangliogliomas (GG, n = 30), and dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumours (DNT, n = 17), from patients with chronic intractable epilepsy. A significant number of microglia/macrophage cells were observed in the large majority of glioneuronal tumours, both within the tumour and in the peritumoral region. Activated microglial cells positive for HLA‐DR were localized around blood vessels and clustered around tumour neuronal cells. The density of activated microglial cells correlated with the duration of epilepsy, as well as with the frequency of seizures prior to surgical resection. These observations indicate that the presence of cells of the microglial/macrophage cell system is a feature of glioneuronal tumours and is functionally related to epilepsy, either directly in epileptogenesis or through activation following seizure activity.
Up‐regulation of osteopontin and αΒ‐crystallin in the normal‐appearing white matter of multiple sclerosis: an immunohistochemical study utilizing tissue microarrays
Authors: Sinclair C. , Mirakhur M. , Kirk J. , Farrell M. , McQuaid S.
Published: May 2005

Tissue microarrays assembled from control and multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue have been used to assess the expression patterns and cellular distribution of two antigens, the proinflammatory cytokine osteopontin and the inducible heat shock protein αΒ‐crystallin, which have previously been implicated in MS pathogenesis. Tissue cores were taken from paraffin‐embedded donor blocks containing chronic active or chronic inactive plaques and normal‐appearing white matter (NAWM) in seven MS cases, and white matter (WM) in five control cases. Expression patterns of both proteins were assessed against myelin density and microglial activation in the different tissue categories. Both proteins showed increased expression in all categories of MS tissue compared with control WM. The results indicate progressive up‐regulation of expression of osteopontin with increased plaque activity, while elevation of αΒ‐crystallin expression in MS tissue was independent of demyelination. In MS NAWM a significant correlation was observed between high levels of expression of osteopontin and αΒ‐crystallin. Osteopontin expression was predominantly confined to astrocytes throughout MS tissues. αΒ‐crystallin was expressed on astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and occasionally on demyelinated axons. Taken together, these data indicate a wider distribution of osteopontin and αΒ‐crystallin in MS tissues than previously described and support their proposed role in MS pathogenesis.
The impact of argyrophilic grain disease on the development of dementia and its relationship to concurrent Alzheimer's disease‐related pathology
Authors: Thal D. R. , Schultz C. , Botez G. , Del Tredici K. , Mrak R. E. , Griffin W. S. T. , Wiestler O. D. , Braak H. , Ghebremedhin E.
Published: May 2005

Argyrophilic grain disease (AGD) constitutes a neurodegenerative disorder that occurs in the brains of the elderly and affects 5% of all patients with dementia. τ protein‐containing lesions known as argyrophilic grains and located predominantly in limbic regions of the brain characterize this disease. Dementia is encountered in only a subset of cases that display the morphological pattern of AGD. The aim of this study is to determine the role of concurrent Alzheimer's disease (AD)‐related pathology for the development of dementia in AGD patients. A total of 204 post‐mortem brains from 30 demented and 49 nondemented AGD patients, 39 AD patients, and from 86 nondemented controls without AGD were staged for AD‐related neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) as well as amyloid β‐protein (Aβ) deposition. To identify differences in AD‐related pathology between demented and nondemented AGD cases, and to differentiate the pattern of AD‐related changes in demented and nondemented AGD cases from that seen in AD and nondemented controls, we  statistically  compared  the  stages of Aβ and NFT distribution among these groups. Using a logistic regression model, we showed that AGD has a significant effect on the development of dementia beyond that attributable to AD‐related pathology (P < 0.005). Demented AGD cases showed lower stages of AD‐related pathology than did pure AD cases but higher stages than nondemented AGD patients. AGD associated dementia was seen in the presence of NFT (Braak)‐stages II–IV and Aβ‐phases 2–3, whereas those stages were not associated with dementia in the absence of AGD. In conclusion, AGD is a clinically relevant neurodegenerative entity that significantly contributes to the development of dementia by lowering the threshold for cognitive deficits in the presence of moderate amounts of AD‐related pathology.
Does drug abuse alter microglial phenotype and cell turnover in the context of advancing HIV infection?
Authors: Anthony I. C. , Ramage S. N. , Carnie F. W. , Simmonds P. , Bell J. E.
Published: May 2005

The aim of this study was to test the effects of drug abuse, in particular opiate abuse, on the phenotype and turnover of microglial cells within the brain in the context of advancing HIV infection. Basal ganglia and hippocampus sections were studied in 51 cases divided into six groups: HIV‐negative normal controls, HIV‐negative drug abusers, AIDS nondrug abusers, AIDS drug abusers, HIV encephalitis (HIVE) nondrug abusers and HIVE drug abusers. None of the cases studied had received highly active anti‐retroviral therapy (HAART). Microglial phenotypes were defined using CD14, CD16, CD68 and major histocompatibility class II (MHC II). Microglial turnover was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) (DNA damage), BAX (proapoptotic marker), Fas (CD95) (proapoptotic), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (proliferation and DNA repair), Ki‐67 (cell proliferation) and BCL‐2 (antiapoptosis). We find increased expression of MHC II and CD16 in response to drug abuse. We also noted increased levels of TUNEL positivity in drug abusers compared to nondrug abusers, although conversely we found lower levels of BAX in those who had abused drugs. We find no evidence of microglial proliferation in any of our study groups, including HIVE, although HIV infection leads to increased expression of CD16, CD68 and MHC II. CD14 expression was restricted to perivascular microglia in all groups (including normal controls) apart from the two HIVE groups where some but not all cases also showed parenchymal expression of CD14. In contrast, CD16 was found in parenchymal microglia in all groups. Using high‐pressure antigen retrieval and tyramide signal amplification, we find moderately high levels of CD16 expression in the parenchyma of normal brains which is not normally observed using standard avidin/biotin complex (ABC) techniques. This suggests that a low basal expression of CD16 occurs in many resident microglial cells which may potentially be upregulated in HIV‐infected individuals. From these data, we suggest that not all the CD16+ parenchymal cells detected in AIDS brains (using ABC) represent influx of monocyte lineage cells from the blood. Finally the increased expression of MHC II and CD68 detected in drug abusers with HIVE compared to nondrug abusers with HIVE suggests that the combination of drug abuse and HIV infection has a greater deleterious effect on the brain than either individual insult on its own.
Type and location of fluorescent probes incorporated into the potent μ‐opioid peptide [Dmt1]DALDA affect potency, receptor selectivity and intrinsic efficacy*
Authors: Schiller P.W. , Berezowska I. , Weltrowska G. , Chen H. , Lemieux C. , Chung N.N.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  The dermorphin‐derived tetrapeptide H‐Dmt‐d‐Arg‐Phe‐Lys‐NH2 (Dmt = 2′,6′‐dimethyltyrosine) ([Dmt1]DALDA) is a highly potent and selective μ‐opioid agonist capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier and producing a potent, centrally mediated analgesic effect when given systemically. For the purpose of biodistribution studies by fluorescence techniques, [Dmt1]DALDA analogues containing various fluorescent labels [dansyl, anthraniloyl (atn), fluorescein, or 6‐dimethylamino‐2′‐naphthoyl] in several different locations of the peptide were synthesized and characterized in vitro in the guinea‐pig ileum and mouse vas deferens assays, and in μ‐, δ‐ and κ‐opioid receptor‐binding assays. The analogues showed various degrees of μ receptor‐binding selectivity, but all of them were less μ‐selective than the [Dmt1]DALDA parent peptide. Most analogues retained potent, full μ‐agonist activity, except for one with fluorescein attached at the C‐terminus (3a) (partial μ‐agonist) and one containing β‐(6′‐dimethylamino‐2′‐naphthoyl)alanine (aladan) in place of Phe3 (4) (μ‐ and κ‐antagonist). The obtained data indicate that the receptor‐binding affinity, receptor selectivity and intrinsic efficacy of the prepared analogues vary very significantly, depending on the type of fluorescent label used and on its location in the peptide. The results suggest that the biological activity profile of fluorescence‐labeled peptide analogues should always be carefully determined prior to their use in biodistribution studies or other studies. One of the analogues containing the atn group (2a) proved highly useful in a study of cellular uptake and intracellular distribution by confocal laser scanning microscopy.
Fatty acyl moieties: improving Pro‐rich peptide uptake inside HeLa cells
Authors: Fernández‐Carneado J. , Kogan M.J. , Van Mau N. , Pujals S. , López‐Iglesias C. , Heitz F. , Giralt E.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  In the field of drug delivery there has been a continuous study of powerful delivery systems to aid non permeable drugs in reaching their intracellular target. Among the systems explored are cell penetrating peptides (CPPs), which first garnered interest a decade ago when the interesting translocation properties of the pioneer CPPs Tat and Antp were described. A new family of CPPs has recently been described as non cytotoxic Pro‐rich vectors with favorable profiles for internalization in HeLa cells. Fatty acyl moieties that can tune a peptide's interaction with the lipophilic environment of a cell membrane have been incorporated into the Pro‐rich sequence. Improvements in cellular uptake of peptides modified with fatty acyl groups, as studied by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry, as well as the results obtained by the interaction of these peptides with a model dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) membrane and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), illustrate the importance of the fatty acyl moieties for efficient internalization.
Abbreviated nomenclature for cyclic and branched homo‐ and hetero‐detic peptides
Authors: Spengler J. , Jiménez J.‐C. , Burger K. , Giralt E. , Albericio F.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Amino acid sequences and linear or head‐to‐tail cyclopeptides can be represented conveniently in one‐line text formulae using the three‐letter symbols. However, other – but nonetheless important – topologies of peptides are ‘side chain‐to‐head (or tail)’, ‘backbone‐to‐backbone’, ‘side chain‐to‐side chain’ cyclopeptides, ‘side chain‐to‐side chain’ connected peptide strands, and branched peptides (like peptide dendrimers). In general, such structures cannot be described using the three‐letter symbols in one‐line text: a chemical structure editor is required for symbolic representations according to the IUPAC‐IUBMB recommendations. The aim of this contribution is to offer an unambiguous and general nomenclature system that enables researchers to represent all cyclic and branched homo‐ and hetero‐detic peptides in a coherent manner in one‐line text – as long as their as constituents can be represented in (three)‐letter codes. The application of this new nomenclature would overcome the existing difficulties and provide a way to express complex situations in the shortest way in order to highlight more clearly the salient points in a given scientific communication.
Monomeric and dimeric states exhibited by the kinesin‐related motor protein KIF1A
Authors: Rashid D.J. , Bononi J. , Tripet B.P. , Hodges R.S. , Pierce D.W.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  KIF1A, a kinesin‐related motor protein that transports pre‐synaptic vesicles in neurons, was originally presumed to translocate along microtubules (MT) as a monomer. Protein structure predictions from its amino acid sequence failed to identify the long coiled‐coil domains typical of kinesins, which led researchers to believe it does not oligomerize into the canonical kinesin dimer. However, mounting evidence using recombinant chimeric protein indicates that KIF1A, like conventional kinesin, requires dimerization for fast, unidirectional processive movement along MTs. Because these studies are somewhat indirect, we wished to test the oligomerization state of native KIF1A, and to compare that to full‐length recombinant protein. We have performed hydrodynamic analyses to determine the molecular weights of the respective complexes. Our results indicate that most native KIF1A is soluble and indeed monomeric, but recombinant KIF1A is a dimer. MT‐binding studies also showed that native KIF1A did not bind to MTs in either the presence of AMP‐PNP, apyrase, or adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but recombinant KIF1A bound to MTs most stably in the presence of ATP, indicating very different motor functional states. To further characterize KIF1A's dimerization potential, we prepared peptides corresponding to the neck domains of MmKIF1A and CeUnc104, and by circular dichroism spectroscopy compared these peptides for their ability to form coiled‐coils. Interestingly, both MmKIF1A and CeUnc104 neck peptides formed homodimeric coiled‐coils, with the MmKIF1A neck coiled‐coil exhibiting the greater stability. Collectively, from our data and from previous studies, we predict that native KIF1A can exist as both an inactive monomer and an active homodimer formed in part through its neck coiled‐coil domain.
Therapeutic peptidomimetic strategies for autoimmune diseases: costimulation blockade*
Authors: Allen S.D. , Rawale S.V. , Whitacre C.C. , Kaumaya P.T.P.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Cognate interactions between immune effector cells and antigen‐presenting cells (APCs) govern immune responses. Specific signals occur between the T‐cell receptor peptide and APCs and nonspecific signals between pairs of costimulatory molecules. Costimulation signals are required for full T‐cell activation and are assumed to regulate T‐cell responses as well as other aspects of the immune system. As new discoveries are made, it is becoming clear how important these costimulation interactions are for immune responses. Costimulation requirements for T‐cell regulation have been extensively studied as a way to control many autoimmune diseases and downregulate inflammatory reactions. The CD28:B7 and the CD40:CD40L families of molecules are considered to be critical costimulatory molecules and have been studied extensively. Blocking the interaction between these molecules results in a state of immune unresponsiveness termed ‘anergy’. Several different strategies for blockade of these interactions are explored including monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), Fab fragments, chimeric, and/or fusion proteins. We developed novel, immune‐specific approaches that interfere with these interactions. Using experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis mediated by central nervous system (CNS)‐specific T‐cells, we developed a multi‐targeted approach that utilizes peptides for blockade of costimulatory molecules. We designed blocking peptide mimics that retain the functional binding area of the parent protein while reducing the overall size and are thus capable of blocking signal transduction. In this paper, we review the role of costimulatory molecules in autoimmune diseases, two of the most well‐studied costimulatory pathways (CD28/CTLA‐4:B7 and CD40:CD40L), and the advantages of peptidomimetic approaches. We present data showing the ability of peptide mimics of costimulatory molecules to suppress autoimmune disease and propose a mechanism for disease suppression.
Combined solid‐phase/solution synthesis of large ribonuclease A C‐terminal peptides containing a non‐natural proline analog*
Authors: Čeřovský V. , Scheraga H.A.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Three large peptides corresponding to the 65–124 (60‐mer), 72–124 (53‐mer), and 77–124 (48‐mer) sequence of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) were assembled from either two or three shorter protected peptide fragments by chemical coupling in solution. The fragments were synthesized manually by 9‐fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)‐based solid‐phase peptide chemistry in plastic syringes, and subsequently purified by normal‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography on a silica gel column. The main aim of this work was to incorporate sterically hindered l‐5,5‐dimethylproline (dmP) as a substitute for Pro93 into the sequence of RNase A in order to constrain the –Tyr92‐Pro93– peptide group to a single cis‐conformation.
Evaluation of geranylazide and farnesylazide diphosphate for incorporation of prenylazides into a CAAX box‐containing peptide using protein farnesyltransferase*
Authors: Rose M.W. , Rose N.D. , Boggs J. , Lenevich S. , Xu J. , Barany G. , Distefano M.D.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase) catalyzes the attachment of a geranylazide (C10) or farnesylazide (C15) moiety from the corresponding prenyldiphosphates to a model peptide substrate, N‐dansyl‐Gly‐Cys‐Val‐Ile‐Ala‐OH. The rates of incorporation for these two substrate analogs are comparable and approximately twofold lower than that using the natural substrate farnesyl diphosphate (FPP). Reaction of N‐dansyl‐Gly‐Cys(S‐farnesylazide)‐Val‐Ile‐Ala‐OH with 2‐diphenylphosphanylbenzoic acid methyl ester then gives a stable alkoxy‐imidate linked product. This result suggests future generations whereby azide groups introduced using this enzymatic approach are functionalized using a broad range of azide‐reactive reagents. Thus, chemistry has been developed that could be used to achieve highly specific peptide and protein modification. The farnesylazide analog may be useful in certain biological studies, whereas the geranylazide group may be more useful for general protein modification and immobilization.
Peptides and the development of double‐ and triple‐resonance solid‐state NMR of aligned samples*
Authors: Sinha N. , Grant C.V. , Rotondi K.S. , Feduik‐Rotondi L. , Gierasch L.M. , Opella S.J.
Published: May 2005

Abstract:  Peptides have been instrumental in the development of solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and their roles in the development of solid‐state NMR of aligned samples is reviewed. In particular, the roles of synthetic peptides in the development of triple‐resonance methods are described. Recent developments of pulse sequences and NMR probes for triple‐resonance NMR of aligned samples are presented.
Reaction of Cotton Cultivars and an F2 Population to Stem Inoculation with Isolates Verticillium dahliae
Authors: Bolek Y. , Bell A. A. , El‐Zik K. M. , Thaxton P. M. , Magill C. W.
Published: May 2005

Four Verticillium dahliae isolates (V76, TS‐2, PH, and V44) were used in screening four cotton cultivars (Pima S‐7, Acala Prema, M‐315 and Acala 44). Pima S‐7 and Acala Prema gave the highest resistance reactions and Acala 44 was the most susceptible. Isolate V76 of V. dahliae was the most virulent. An interspecific cross between the resistant cv Pima S‐7 (Gossypium barbadense) and the susceptible cv. Acala 44 (G. hirsutum) was made and the F2 population phenotyped for Verticillium wilt effect. Phenotyping of plant reaction to the disease was quantified by using a set of six growth parameters (number of healthy leaves, number of nodes, leaf weight, stem weight, leaf to stem ratio, and total shoot weight) measured 3 weeks after inoculation. The F2 phenotypic distribution of these parameters suggests that distribution is towards resistance and polygenic. Transgressive segregation also was observed. The number of healthy leaves and total shoot weight were found to be the best indicators of resistance. Results obtained in this study will be useful to quantify resistance to V. dahliae and identify the best parameters to phenotype in genetic studies.
Effect of Carbon Source on Production of Lytic Enzymes by the Sclerotial Parasites Trichoderma atroviride and Coniothyrium minitans
Authors: Kaur J. , Munshi G. D. , Singh R. S. , Koch E.
Published: May 2005

Three isolates of Trichoderma atroviride and two isolates of Coniothyrium minitans known to efficiently degrade sclerotia of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were cultured on minimal medium with sucrose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), xylan, laminarin, colloidal chitin or powdered sclerotia as carbon source. The activity of endochitinase, endo‐β‐1,3‐glucanase, endoxylanase and endocellulase in culture filtrates was determined after 7 and 15 days of culture using dye‐labelled substrates. The strongest inducers of chitinase were colloidal chitin and sclerotia powder. Chitinase activity appeared to be faster induced in the isolates of T. atroviride than in the isolates of C. minitans, but the maximum level of activity present in culture filtrates of the two species was similar. With CMC and xylan as carbon source, concurrent production of the corresponding enzymes was observed for the Trichoderma isolates. The isolates of C. minitans produced cellulase on xylan but not on CMC, whereas xylanase was produced on both carbon sources. Laminarin induced the formation of glucanases in the three isolates of T. atroviride but not the isolates of C. minitans. However, in the sclerotia‐containing cultures of C. minitans glucanase activity was even higher than in the respective cultures of the Trichoderma isolates. During the 31‐day study period, the pattern of enzyme production in shake cultures containing sclerotia powder was very similar for the isolates of T. atroviride and C. minitans. Glucanase activity generally reached a peak 24 days after inoculation of the flasks, whereas the activity of chitinase, cellulase and xylanase remained fairly constant throughout the experiment.
Prevalence of Barrett's esophagus in Korea
Authors: KIM JIN YONG , KIM YOUNG SUN , JUNG MOON‐KI , PARK JONG‐JAE , KANG DONG HOON , KIM JAE SEON , SONG CHI‐WOOK , LEE SANG WOO , BAK YOUNG‐TAE
Published: May 2005

Background: In contrast to Western countries, the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus (BE) is still believed to be very low in the Far East. The aim of the present paper was to assess the prevalence of BE in Korea.

Methods: Nine hundred and ninety‐two consecutive patients undergoing their first diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopies due to various indications were included from four university hospitals in Korea. Esophagus of each patient was examined during insertion of the endoscope with minimum air inflation. From subjects who were found, during endoscopy, to have columnar‐lined esophagus, at least two biopsy samples were taken from the columnar epithelium. Patients exhibiting specialized columnar epithelium on histological examination were diagnosed as having BE.

Results: Among 992 patients, 108 cases (10.9%) were endoscopically diagnosed as short‐segment BE, and three cases (0.3%) were endoscopically diagnosed as long‐segment BE. However, only 36 patients (3.6%) met the histological criteria for BE. Among these patients, only one (0.1%) was histologically diagnosed as having long‐segment BE. Reflux esophagitis, mostly in a mild degree, was found in 25.0% of the BE group, and 8.6% of the non‐BE group (P = 0.0022). Hiatal hernias were more commonly found in the BE group than in the non‐BE group (22.2% vs 8.9%, P = 0.0163).

Conclusions: Although the prevalence of BE in Korea appears to be lower than the reported rates from Western countries, it may not be as low as was previously thought.
Reduced basal activity and increased functional homogeneity in sensorimotor and striatum of a Parkinson's disease rat model: a functional MRI study
Authors: Pelled Galit , Bergman Hagai , Ben‐Hur Tamir , Goelman Gadi
Published: May 2005

Functional neuro‐imaging studies of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and animal models show inconsistent cortical responses to sensory stimulation: some present increased sensorimotor cortex activation contradicting classical basal ganglia–cortex circuitry models, whereas others show decreased activation. As functional neuro‐imaging activation is defined as the signal difference between stimulation ON and stimulation OFF, reduced ‘activation’ can point to either increased neuronal activity during stimulation ON or to decreased basal neuronal activity during stimulation OFF. A unique non‐invasive method that uses the temporal and the spatial variances of functional magnetic resonance imaging signal is employed here to compare basal neuronal activity levels and ‘functional homogeneity’ between groups. Based on the assumption that the temporal variance reflects average neuronal activity, the variance of activity within a predefined region is defined as the region's ‘functional homogeneity’, which is assumed to estimate neuronal synchronization. Comparison of temporal and spatial variances of the sensorimotor cortex and the striatum in the 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) PD rat model and a control rat group show bilaterally decreased temporal and spatial variances in the 6‐OHDA rat group, suggesting bilateral reduction of basal neuronal activity levels together with an increase in local neuronal synchronization in line with classical basal ganglia–cortex circuit models.
Ecological behaviour of herbaceous forest species along a pH gradient: a comparison between oceanic and semicontinental regions in northern France
Authors: Coudun Christophe , Gégout Jean‐Claude
Published: May 2005

Aim  On the basis of 2402 phytoecological relevés, with complete species lists, and real pH measurements resulting from chemical analyses of the top layer of forest soils, this paper compares quantitatively the ecological response of 46 herbaceous forest species along a pH gradient in two regions of northern France.

Location  The two regions investigated are oceanic north‐western France (NW) and semicontinental north‐eastern France (NE).

Methods  For each of the 46 species with more than 50 occurrences in both NW and NE regions, an ecological response curve was computed with simple logistic regression models, and two synthetic numerical values were derived: ecological optimum (OPT) and ecological amplitude (AMP). A comparison of the ecological behaviour of species present in both regions was performed in terms of shift in optimum and/or amplitude.

Results  All 46 species did reveal a reaction to pH. Our main observation was the relative stability of the behaviour of most species with reference to pH conditions, which is consistent with results from some previous studies. Slight differences regarding the two synthetic parameters (OPT and AMP) were however observed between the NW and NE regions, probably due to a form of competitive release in neutral environments in the NW.

Main conclusions  Among the main possibilities that could explain a geographical shift in the ecological behaviour of herbaceous species, competitive effects are, we suggest, the most plausible explanation. In the light of former studies, it seems that further analyses of geographical shifts in the ecological behaviour of forest plant species over large areas are needed, such as for example over the European continent.

Nomenclature  Tutin et al. (2001).
Diversity and assemblage structure of phytophagous Hemiptera along a latitudinal gradient: predicting the potential impacts of climate change
Authors: Andrew Nigel R. , Hughes Lesley
Published: May 2005

Aims  The aims were (1) to assess the species richness and structure of phytophagous Hemiptera communities along a latitudinal gradient, (2) to identify the importance of rare species in structuring these patterns, and (3) to hypothesize about how phytophagous Hemiptera communities may respond to future climate change.

Location  East coast of Australia.

Methods  Four latitudes within the 1150 km coastal distribution of Acacia falcata were selected. The insect assemblage on the host plant Acacia falcata was sampled seasonally over two years. Congeneric plant species were also sampled at the sites.

Results  Ninety‐eight species of phytophagous Hemiptera were collected from A. falcata. Total species richness was significantly lower at the most temperate latitude compared to the three more tropical latitudes. We classified species into four climate change response groups depending on their latitudinal range and apparent host specificity. Pairwise comparisons between groups showed that the cosmopolitan, generalist feeders and specialists had a similar community structure to each other, but the climate generalists had a significantly different structure. Fifty‐seven species were identified as rare. Most of these rare species were phloem hoppers and their removal from the dataset led to changes in the proportional representation of all guilds in two groups: the specialist and generalist feeders.

Main conclusions  We found no directional increase in phytophagous Hemiptera species richness. This indicates that, at least in the short term, species richness patterns of these communities may be similar to that found today. As the climate continues to change, however, we might expect some increases in species richness at the more temperate latitudes as species migrate in response to shifting climate zones. In the longer term, more substantial changes in community composition will be expected because the rare species, which comprise a large fraction of these communities, will be vulnerable to both direct climatic changes, and indirect effects via changes to their host's distribution.
Integration of CO2 flux and remotely‐sensed data for primary production and ecosystem respiration analyses in the Northern Great Plains: potential for quantitative spatial extrapolation
Authors: Gilmanov Tagir G. , Tieszen Larry L. , Wylie Bruce K. , Flanagan Larry B. , Frank Albert B. , Haferkamp Marshall R. , Meyers Tilden P. , Morgan Jack A.
Published: May 2005

Aim  Extrapolation of tower CO2 fluxes will be greatly facilitated if robust relationships between flux components and remotely sensed factors are established. Long‐term measurements at five Northern Great Plains locations were used to obtain relationships between CO2 fluxes and photosynthetically active radiation (Q), other on‐site factors, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from the SPOT VEGETATION data set.

Location  CO2 flux data from the following stations and years were analysed: Lethbridge, Alberta 1998–2001; Fort Peck, MT 2000, 2002; Miles City, MT 2000–01; Mandan, ND 1999–2001; and Cheyenne, WY 1997–98.

Results  Analyses based on light‐response functions allowed partitioning net CO2 flux (F) into gross primary productivity (Pg) and ecosystem respiration (Re). Weekly averages of daytime respiration, γday, estimated from light responses were closely correlated with weekly averages of measured night‐time respiration, γnight (R2 0.64 to 0.95). Daytime respiration tended to be higher than night‐time respiration, and regressions of γday on γnight for all sites were different from 1 : 1 relationships. Over 13 site‐years, gross primary production varied from 459 to 2491 g CO2 m−2 year−1, ecosystem respiration from 996 to 1881 g CO2 m−2 year−1, and net ecosystem exchange from −537 (source) to +610 g CO2 m−2 year−1 (sink). Maximum daily ecological light‐use efficiencies, ɛd,max = Pg/Q, were in the range 0.014 to 0.032 mol CO2 (mol incident quanta)−1.

Main conclusions  Ten‐day average Pg was significantly more highly correlated with NDVI than 10‐day average daytime flux, Pd (R2 = 0.46 to 0.77 for Pg‐NDVI and 0.05 to 0.58 for Pd‐NDVI relationships). Ten‐day average Re was also positively correlated with NDVI, with R2 values from 0.57 to 0.77. Patterns of the relationships of Pg and Re with NDVI and other factors indicate possibilities for establishing multivariate functions allowing scaling‐up local fluxes to larger areas using GIS data, temporal NDVI, and other factors.
Integrating a global agro‐climatic classification with bioregional boundaries in Australia
Authors: Hutchinson Michael F. , McIntyre Sue , Hobbs Richard J. , Stein Janet L. , Garnett Stephen , Kinloch Janine
Published: May 2005

Aim  Stratification of major differences in the biophysical features of landscapes at the continental scale is necessary to collectively assess local observations of landscape response to management actions for consistency and difference. Such a stratification is an important step in the development of generalizations concerning how landscapes respond to different management regimes. As part of the development of a comparative framework for this purpose, we propose a climate classification adapted from an existing broad scale global agro‐climatic classification, which is closely aligned with natural vegetation formations and common land uses across Australia.

Location  The project considered landscapes across the continent of Australia.

Methods  The global agro‐climatic classification was adapted by using elevation‐dependent thin plate smoothing splines to clarify the spatial extents of the 18 global classes found in Australia. The clarified class boundaries were interpolated from known classes at 822 points across Australia. These classes were then aligned with the existing bioregional classification, Interim Biogeographic Regionalization for Australia IBRA 5.1.

Results  The aligned climate classes reflect major patterns in plant growth temperature and moisture indices and seasonality. These in turn reflect broad differences in cropping and other land use characteristics. Fifty‐two of the 85 bioregions were classified entirely into one of the 18 agro‐climatic classes. The remaining bioregions were classified according to sub‐bioregional boundaries. A small number of these sub‐bioregions were split to better reflect agro‐climatic boundaries.

Main conclusions  The agro‐climatic classification provided an explicit global context for the analysis. The topographic dependence of the revised climate class boundaries clarified the spatial extents of poorly sampled highland classes and facilitated the alignment of these classes with the bioregional classification. This also made the classification amenable to explicit application. The bioregional and subregional boundaries reflect discontinuities in biophysical features. These permit the integrated classification to reflect major potential differences in landscape function and response to management. The refined agro‐climatic classification and its integration with the IBRA bioregions are both available for general use and assessment.
Children's Perceptions of Discrimination: A Developmental Model
Authors: Spears Brown Christia , Bigler Rebecca S.
Published: May 2005

Discrimination affects millions of children in the United States and throughout the world. Although the topic is important for both theoretical and applied reasons, little developmental work has examined children's perceptions of discrimination directed toward themselves and others. A review of past theoretical and empirical work on the perception of discrimination is provided. Next, a developmental model of the perception of discrimination is offered. The model identifies developmental and individual differences expected to influence judgments about discrimination, as well as situational variables that are likely to support attributions to discrimination.
Modifications in Children's Goals When Encountering Obstacles to Conflict Resolution
Authors: Troop‐Gordon Wendy , Asher Steven R.
Published: May 2005

Previous studies have demonstrated that children's goals are associated with their success in peer relationships. The current study extends earlier findings by examining changes in children's goals during hypothetical conflicts. Participants were 252 children ages 9 to 12 years old (133 boys, 119 girls). As predicted, children's goals changed significantly when they encountered obstacles to conflict resolution, and these changes were predictive of their subsequent strategy choices. Both aggressive‐ and submissive‐rejected children were more likely to evidence antisocial changes in their goals, including an increased desire to retaliate. They also showed reluctance to forego instrumental objectives. Other findings highlighted the need to investigate the combinations of goals children pursue as predictors of their strategies and the quality of their peer relationships.
What Does It Look Like and What Can It Do? Category Structure Influences How Infants Categorize
Authors: Horst Jessica S. , Oakes Lisa M. , Madole Kelly L.
Published: May 2005

Despite a large body of research demonstrating the kinds of categories to which infants respond, few studies have directly assessed how infants' categorization unfolds over time. Four experiments used a visual familiarization task to evaluate 10‐month‐old infants' (N=98) learning of exemplars characterized by commonalities in appearance or function. When learning exemplars with a common function, infants initially responded to the common feature, apparently forming a category, and only learned the individual features with more extensive familiarization. When learning exemplars with a common appearance, infants initially learned the individual features and apparently only formed a category with more extensive familiarization. The results are discussed in terms of models of category learning.
Social Exclusion and Civil Law: Experience of Civil Justice Problems among Vulnerable Groups
Authors: Buck Alexy , Balmer Nigel , Pleasence Pascoe
Published: May 2005

Combating social exclusion has become a priority target for many governments and was a key factor in the establishment of the Legal Services Commission (LSC) and the Community Legal Service (CLS) in England and Wales in April 2000. This study aims to assess whether socially excluded groups within the general population are more likely to suffer justiciable problems (problems for which there is a potential legal remedy) and whether such groups differ in their problem resolution strategies and advice‐seeking behaviour. We draw upon a large‐scale survey of 5,611 people representative of the population of England and Wales, and a further survey of 197 people in temporary accommodation. Five vulnerable groups are extracted: survey respondents with a long‐term illness or disability, young and elderly respondents, low‐income respondents and those living in temporary accommodation. We identify how some of these vulnerable groups have a high likelihood of experiencing justiciable problems. We also examine advice‐seeking strategies among our vulnerable groups and, where contact was made, which advisers were typically contacted. The findings demonstrate the potentially crucial role of access to justice and advice and legal services in tackling social exclusion.
‘WHY ARE WE CURSED?’: WRITING HISTORY AND MAKING PEACE IN NORTH WEST UGANDA
Authors: Leopold Mark
Published: May 2005

This article examines the nature of peacemaking and social reconstruction in Arua district, a marginalized border area of Uganda, in the late 1990s. After considering other recent accounts of violence and peacemaking, it focuses on the roles of local history writing and other forms of historical narrative in coming to terms with past violence. Local historians had two main aims: to maintain a particular understanding of the past within the local community itself, and to present themselves to others as the victims, rather than the perpetrators, of the violence in their past, as part of a wider process of mending relationships with both neighbouring groups and the Ugandan state. In attempting this, they deployed a variety of media that may be understood as historical narratives, from the performance of ritual healing ceremonies to writing conventional local histories.
EXPENDING MULTIPLICITY: MONEY IN CUBAN IFÁ CULTS
Authors: Holbraad Martin
Published: May 2005

Countering the assumption that money acts as an agent of abstraction and ‘disembedment’, anthropologists tend to draw money into analogies with other objects of exchange, downplaying its uniquely quantitative nature. This article seeks to disentangle the association, implicit in this tendency, of quantity with abstraction. Focusing on the peculiar character of money as a ‘purely multiple’ object, the aim is to account for ‘embeddedness’ without bracketing quantity: what does quantity look like when it is not viewed as an abstract denominator? The question is explored with reference to Ifá, an Afro‐Cuban diviner cult that takes monetary transactions as a cosmological premise.
THE IMAGINED ‘CONSUMER DEMOCRACY’ AND ELITE (RE)PRODUCTION IN YEMEN
Authors: VomBruck Gabriele
Published: May 2005

In the republican state which emerged in North Yemen after the 1962 revolution the new ruling elite, which forms the core of the nouveaux riches, buttresses its claim to high status by wealth display and conspicuous consumption. Depending on regional variation, the old elite's acquiescence in or rejection of new consumption practices expresses respectively either the maintenance of an elevated social position or a protest against what is considered a corrupt social order. Whereas consumption has led to a degree of homogeneity among the affluent old and the new elite of San‘a, the old elite as a whole has become more fragmented. In light of Bourdieu's Distinction, this article argues that ‘taste’, generated by class‐related incorporated dispositions, may manifest itself in practices ranging from lavish consumption to renunciation. Consumer choice must be explored in relation both to moral schemes and to the pursuit of social pre‐eminence.
FROM SUGAR CANE TO ‘SWORDS’: HOPE AND THE EXTENSIBILITY OF THE GIFT IN FIJI
Authors: Miyazaki Hirokazu
Published: May 2005

Hope has recently emerged as an important subject of inquiry in anthropology and social theory. This article examines the hope entailed in efforts to extend aspects of gift‐giving to various other social and theoretical projects. I identify and contrast two different kinds of hope found in these efforts, which I will call ‘hope in an end’ and ‘hope in the means’. The discussion focuses on two extensions of indigenous Fijian gift‐giving: John D. Kelly and Martha Kaplan's recent analysis of Indo‐Fijian sugar cane farmers’‘gift’ of cane to an indigenous Fijian high chief in 1944; and the Fiji government Ministry of Tourism's efforts in the mid‐1990s to train indigenous Fijian souvenir traders in a properly ‘Fijian’ manner of engagement with tourists. With this contrast, I argue that ‘hope in an end’ occludes ‘hope in the means’.
INNOVATION AND ANCESTRAL REVELATION: THE CASE OF DREAMS
Authors: Glaskin Katie
Published: May 2005

This article explores aspects of the relationship between tradition and innovation in an Australian Aboriginal society by looking at dreams as a ‘traditional’ facet of cultural change. In many Aboriginal societies spirits of the deceased, spirit beings, and ancestral figures are said to communicate with and ‘reveal’ certain things to the dreamer. Some things that are revealed, such as those pertaining to ritual and ceremonial life, are said to have existed ‘from the beginning’ and are not considered to be ‘new’. Here I discuss a case of ancestral revelation relating to a commonplace sphere of Aboriginal life – the card game. Through this I explore something of the complexity of the ways in which ‘traditional’ beliefs and forms of innovation are dialectically interdependent with contemporary cultural experiences as well as with distinctive historical experiences which have preceded them.
THE CHRISTIANITY OF ANTHROPOLOGY*
Authors: Cannell Fenella
Published: May 2005

This article critiques the way in which the discipline of anthropology has construed Christianity, arguing that too narrow and ascetic a model of Christianity has become standard and questioning the claims of the ‘secular’ social sciences to have severed themselves entirely from their Christian theological underpinnings. The article is in conversation with other writers on related themes, including Jonathan Parry on Mauss'sThe gift, Talal Asad, John Millbank, and Marshall Sahlins. Here, however, established anthropological assumptions on topics including transcendence, modernity, asceticism, and genealogy are reconsidered through a fieldwork‐based examination of American Mormonism, a religion which posits relationships between the mortal and the divine that are unique in Christianity. Despite their strong belief in Christ, Mormons have often been labelled as ‘not really Christian’ by mainstream churches. It is argued here that such theological position‐taking is echoed in the social sciences and that this reveals some of its (that is, our own) unrecognized orthodoxies.
Twenty‐four‐month comparison of immunomodulatory treatments – a retrospective open label study in 308 RRMS patients treated with beta interferons or glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®)
Authors: Haas J. , Firzlaff M.
Published: May 2005

A total of 308 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) documented in a clinical database have been analysed for comparison of treatment effects of first line immunomodulating therapies. During follow up for 24 months the reduction of relapse rates was evaluated in a retrospective and open‐label clinical study by comparing the efficacy of interferon (INF)β‐1a i.m. (Avonex®), INFβ‐1b s.c. (Betaferon®), INFβ‐1a 22 μg s.c. (Rebif® 22) and glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone®) in patients with RRMS (enhanced disability status score (EDSS) < 3.5) who have been treated for at least 6 months. Compared with baseline, relapse rate was reduced to a comparable extend after 6 month treatment with all regimen. For all drugs the effect on the relapse rate was sustained over 24 months.. There was no superiority of one of the INFβ preparations concerning reduction of relapse rate after 12 and 24 months, however reduction was significantly higher for patients treated with GA compared with all beta interferons (−0.71, P < 0.001). In addition, the discontinuation rate within 24 months was significantly lower for GA. Despite some limitations of the study design, the results provide helpful clinical information regarding the efficacy of immunomodulatory therapies in early stages of RRMS patients in a clinical setting.