bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of non‐small cell lung cancer according to staging – an update
Authors: LAM Wah‐Kit
Published: November 2003

The treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) depends on staging based on tumour (T), nodal (N) and metastasis (M) descriptors. Stages I and II tumours are potentially curable with surgery alone. Stage IIIA T3 tumours are also potentially operable. Preoperative chemotherapy appears promising in downstaging stage IIIA disease to enable surgical resection. Recent meta‐analyses did not support the use of postoperative chemotherapy for stages I, II and IIIA diseases, but were supportive of the use of cisplatin‐based chemotherapy in stage IIIA N2 disease (+ radiotherapy), stage IIIB disease (+ radiotherapy) and in metastatic stage IV disease in improving survival. New chemotherapy agents available over the past few years would further improve the efficacy of chemotherapy in NSCLC.
Prescribing trends in infectious keratitis: a survey of New Zealand ophthalmologists
Authors: McAllum Penny J , McGhee Charles NJ
Published: November 2003

Purpose: To obtain an overview of the treatment of infectious diseases of the cornea by New Zealand ophthalmologists and to analyse the data in the context of evidence‐based treatment recommendations.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all New Zealand ophthalmologists. It comprised 23 multiple‐choice questions pertaining to the characteristics of the respondents, the nature of their practice and their prescribing preferences in infectious conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Results: Of the 93 ophthalmologists surveyed, 80.6% returned the questionnaire. Of those in clinical practice, 91.4% regularly treated patients with corneal disease. A subspecialty interest in cornea was stated by 12.5% of these. This paper reports observations for adenoviral conjunctivitis and adenoviral, Herpes simplex, varicella zoster, bacterial, acanthamoebal and fungal keratitis. In some conditions prescribing practice varied dramatically, such as in adenoviral conjunctivitis where 50% of respondents prescribed a corticosteroid and 51.6% an antibiotic, whereas 37.5% prescribed only lubrication or no topical treatment. In other conditions there was a high degree of agreement between ophthalmologists; indeed, all ophthalmologists treated Herpes simplex dendritic keratitis with topical acyclovir. No statistically significant differences in prescribing habits were identified between subspecialist and non‐subspecialist groups, although some important clinical differences emerged. There were occasional marked differences in response when the age group of respondents was considered, particularly in relation to the management of adenoviral infections and bacterial keratitis.

Conclusions: The findings of this survey suggest that the majority of New Zealand ophthalmologists generally follow international guidelines for the management of infectious keratitis. The identified variations in management provide a foundation for informed clinical debate and the development of treatment guidelines, in line with evidence‐based recommendations.
Macular hole surgery with or without indocyanine green stained internal limiting membrane peeling
Authors: Kwok Alvin KH , Lai Timothy YY , Yuen Kenneth SC , Tam Barbara SM , Wong Victoria WY
Published: November 2003

Background: To compare the anatomical and visual outcome in primary idiopathic macular hole surgery with or without indocyanine green (ICG) stained internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling.

Methods: The medical records of the last 40 consecutive eyes receiving primary idiopathic macular hole surgery with gas as internal tamponade performed by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed and analysed. All eyes had a follow‐up period of at least 6 months. In the initial 22 consecutive eyes, no ILM peeling was performed (non‐ILM peeling group). The subsequent 18 eyes underwent surgery with ICG‐stained ILM peeling (ILM peeling group).

Results: The primary anatomical closure rates were 88.9% and 59.1% in the ILM peeling group and non‐ILM peeling group, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.038). Improvement in visual acuity was more marked in the ILM peeling group than in the non‐ILM peeling group, with a mean improvement of 3.6 and 1.3 lines, respectively (two‐tailed t‐test, P = 0.036). There were significantly more cases with improvement of two or more lines of visual acuity after surgery, with 66.7% in the ILM peeling group and 31.8% non‐ILM peeling group (Chi‐square test P = 0.028). However, there was no significant difference in the final postoperative logMAR best‐corrected visual acuity between the two groups (two‐tailed t‐test, P = 0.073).

Conclusions: Based on this study, ICG‐stained ILM peeling seems to improve the anatomical and visual outcome in primary idiopathic macular hole surgery. Further studies in this aspect are warranted.
Extensive radiculopathy: a manifestation of intracranial hypertension
Authors: Obeid T. , Awada A. , Mousali Y. , Nusair M. , Muhayawi S. , Memish S.
Published: November 2003

We report two patients with severe radiculopathy due to elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) resulting from idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IHH) in one, and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT) in the other. Our aim is to document this unique association, which escaped diagnosis in both patients.
Diagnostic challenges in combined multiple sclerosis and centronuclear myopathy
Authors: Olsen D. B. , Langkilde A. R. , Schmalbruch H. , Vissing J.
Published: November 2003

The first case of combined centronuclear myopathy and multiple sclerosis is reported. The difficulties of diagnosing multiple sclerosis in patients with muscular disorders associated with the central nervous system involvement are discussed.
Peripheral neuropathy associated with common variable immunodeficiency
Authors: Larner A. J. , Webster A. D. B. , Thomas D. J.
Published: November 2003

We report a patient with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) who developed an axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy, a hitherto unreported association to our knowledge. These conditions may be linked at the pathogenetic level, since some CVID patients are prone to the development of autoimmune disease.
Symptomatic paroxysmal hemidystonia due to a demyelinating subthalamic lesion
Authors: Fontoura P. , Vale J. , Guimarães J.
Published: November 2003

We present a case of paroxysmal hemidystonia in a patient with an isolated demyelinating lesion in the subthalamic region, involving the posterior arm of the internal capsule and extending to the subthalamic nucleus and mesencephalon, possibly due to multiple sclerosis. Compared with similar reports in the literature, in our case there was a paucity of lesions, permitting a more direct clinico‐anatomical correlation. The role of the subthalamic region and basal ganglia circuitry in the genesis of symptomatic dystonia is discussed.
Transluminal Removal of an Embolized Venous Catheter Fragment with Simple Means: A Case Report
Authors: Steiner B. , Wojtunik H. , Kessler M. , Bambauer R , Mehlmann U , Langer H.‐J.
Published: November 2003

Abstract:  Vascular catheters are associated with complications like infection, thrombosis and stenosis. The embolization of a venous catheter fragment is a rare complication. This report presents a successful transluminal removal of an embolized catheter fragment in a 87‐year‐old patient who underwent on operative revision with renewed resection and postoperative multiorgan failure. The patient needed a large‐bore catheter due to acute renal failure. By replacing the central venous catheter using the Seldinger technique a catheter fragment embolized in the right ventricle. This catheter fragment was removed with a Dormia basket.
Admixture Mapping Using Interval Transmission/Disequilibrium Tests
Authors: Lee Wen‐Chung , Yen Yu‐Chun
Published: November 2003

Family‐based studies of genetic association and linkage play a key role in mapping susceptibility genes of complex human diseases. Recent admixture between genetically differentiated populations can result in high levels of linkage disequilibrium even at far apart loci. This has been capitalized upon to reduce the burden of genotyping in a genomewide association scan. Here the authors describe an alternative approach for admixture mapping. The genome is divided into several non‐overlapping intervals and the information of the markers in the same interval is integrated—the ‘interval transmission/disequilibrium test’ (ITDT). This method requires information in the form of the marker allele frequencies in the founding populations. However, computer simulations show that the performances of ITDT are hardly affected by imprecise allele‐frequency information. Simulations also show that an interval‐by‐interval scan using ITDT perform much better than a conventional marker‐by‐marker scan using TDT, even under conditions where the admixture process occurred over many generations and the individuals in the admixed populations show considerable variation in admixture proportion. Hence the ITDT is a promising new genomewide scan method.
SELPLG Gene Polymorphisms in Relation to Plasma SELPLG Levels and Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Tregouet D. A. , Barbaux S. , Poirier O. , Blankenberg S. , Bickel C. , Escolano S. , Rupprecht H. J. , Meyer J. , Cambien F. , Tiret L. ,   AtheroGene group
Published: November 2003

P‐selectin and P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand (SELPLG, selectin P ligand) constitute a receptor/ligand complex that is likely to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis and its complications. While the genetic variability of P‐selectin has already been investigated in depth, that of the SELPLG gene has not yet been extensively explored. The coding and regulatory sequences of the SELPLG were screened and nine polymorphisms were identified. The identified polymorphisms were genotyped in the AtheroGene study, a case‐control study of coronary artery disease (CAD). Haplotype analysis revealed that two polymorphisms of SELPLG, the M62I and the VNTR, independently influenced plasma SELPLG levels. Conversely, haplotypes of SELPLG were not associated with CAD risk.
Maternal Effect: An Additional Mechanism Maintaining Balanced Polymorphisms of Haemoglobinopathies?
Authors: Duchovni‐Silva I. , Ramalho A. S.
Published: November 2003

The malarial hypothesis presupposes that carriers of sickle cell trait and β‐thalassaemia are born in accordance with Mendelian inheritance and later favoured by an environmental factor. However, an eventual distortion favouring the transmission of the mutant allele is also a plausible hypothesis. The Mendelian proportion was tested in the progeny of 201 sickle cell trait (AS) and 138 β‐thalassaemia (AT) probands married to individuals with normal haemoglobin (AA). An excess of births of heterozygotes in the offspring of the 107 AS mothers (144 AS:89AA, χ2= 12.98; p < 0.001) and 95 AT mothers (117 AT:66 AA, χ2= 14.21; p < 0.001) married to homozygous normal fathers was observed, but not for births to the reverse parental combinations (103 AS: 101AA, χ2= 0.019; p = 0.89 and 57 AT:42 AA, χ2= 2.27; p = 0.13). Such data reveal a statistically significant maternal effect favouring the transmission of haemoglobin S and β‐thalassaemia alleles. Obviously, prezygotic and postzygotic mechanisms of distortion cannot be ignored and need further investigation. However, the selective embryonic survival of AS and AT conceptuses of heterozygotic mothers, with an excess of unrecognized very early embryonic deaths among the AA conceptuses is a very attractive hypothesis that should also be taken into consideration.
Quantifying the Intragenic Distribution of Human Disease Mutations
Authors: Miller M. P. , Parker J. D. , Rissing S. W. , Kumar S.
Published: November 2003

A wide variety of functional domains exist within human genes. Since different domains vary in their roles regarding overall gene function, the ability for a mutation in a gene region to produce disease varies among domains. We tested two hypotheses regarding distributions of mutations among functional domains by using (1) sets of single nucleotide disease mutations for six genes (CFTR, TSC2, G6PD, PAX6, RS1, and PAH) and (2) sets of polymorphic replacement and silent mutations found in two genes (CFTR and TSC2). First, we tested the null hypothesis that sets of mutations are uniformly distributed among functional domains within genes. Second, we tested the null hypothesis that disease mutations are distributed among gene regions according to expectations derived from the distribution of evolutionary conserved and variable amino acid sites throughout each gene. In contrast to the mainly uniform distribution of sets of silent and polymorphic mutations, sets of disease mutations generally rejected the null hypotheses of both uniform and evolutionary‐influenced distributions. Although the disease mutation data showed a better agreement with the evolutionary‐derived expectations, disease mutations were found to be statistically overabundant in conserved domains, and under‐represented in variable regions, even after accounting for amino acid site variability of domains over long‐term evolutionary history. This finding suggests that there is a non‐additive influence of amino acid site conservation on the observed intragenic distribution of disease mutations, and underscores the importance of understanding the patterns of neutral amino acid substitutions permitted in a gene over long‐term evolutionary history.
Use of a telemetry system to examine recovery of the cardiovascular system after excitement induced by handling stress in a conscious cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Hassimoto M. , Harada T.
Published: November 2003

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to determine the time required for the cardiovascular system of a conscious cynomolgus monkey, in which a telemetry had been implanted, to recover from excitement induced by handling stress. With enforcement of guidelines regarding safety pharmacological studies, cardiovascular studies in primates have become more important. However, as macaque monkeys are promptly excited under experimental procedures, it is often difficult to evaluate the drug effects on the cardiovascular system. Therefore, we tested monkey chair restraint and intravenous injection of saline. After monkey chair restraint and intravenous injection, approximately 30 minutes were required for recovery of both heart rate and blood pressure to their pre‐treatment level; however, ECG parameters such as PR, QRS interval, and QTc did not drastically change. Based on our current results and with sufficient consideration of autonomic nervous effects, accurate evaluation of drug effects on the cardiovascular system should now be possible.
A survey for helminth parasites in feral New World non‐human primate populations and its comparison with parasitological data from man in the region
Authors: Michaud C. , Tantalean M. , Ique C. , Montoya E. , Gozalo A.
Published: November 2003

Abstract:  A survey for helminth parasites in feral New World non‐human primates was conducted and compared with parasitological data from man in the region. A total of 835 fecal samples were collected from feral Aotus nancymae, A. vociferans, Saguinus labiatus, S. mystax, Saimiri boliviensis peruviensis, S. sciureus macrodon, Lagothrix lagotricha and Cacajao calvus rubicundus. In addition, adult parasites were collected from necropsies performed on monkeys that died during quarantine and in captivity. Helminth parasites shared by non‐human primates and man in Peru were Ancylostoma braziliensis and Ascaris lumbricoides, found in a captive L. lagotricha; Necator americanus, found in a captive C. calvus rubicundus; Hymenolepis diminuta, found in feral Aotus spp. and S. mystax; and a single Trichuris spp. specimen found in a feral S. sciureus macrodon.
Genetic analysis of the Saimiri breeding colony of the Pasteur Institute (French Guiana): development of a molecular typing method using a combination of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers
Authors: Lavergne Anne , Catzeflis François , Lacôte Sandra , Barnaud Antoine , Bordier Marion , Mercereau‐Puijalon Odile , Contamin Hugues
Published: November 2003

Abstract:  Saimiri (Cebidae) groups a complex of species and subspecies, which present a large morphological plasticity. Genetic analysis is complicated by the absence of consensus on classification criteria and the paucity of molecular tools available for the genus. As the squirrel monkey is widely used in biomedical research, breeding centers have been established, but the genetic make up and diversity of many of the existing colonies is unknown precluding a rationale breeding policy. To develop a genetic typing strategy for the Saimiri breeding colony of Pasteur Institute of French Guiana, we have used Cytochrome b, a mitochondrial marker, and nuclear microsatellites. Cytochrome b sequences from wild‐caught Saimiri boliviensis, Saimiri sciureus sciureus and S. s. collinsi reference specimens and captive animals identified 11 haplotypes, grouped into three distinct clades. An estimate of genetic variability within each captive morphotype, and of the extent of molecular divergence between the Bolivian, Guyanese and Brazilian breeds was obtained from the analysis of three nuclear microsatellites. Taxon‐specific microsatellites enabled typing of F0–F3 animals, but did not differentiate Brazilian from Guyanese animals. Three locus microsatellite analysis of a representative sample from each generation showed no trend for loss of heterozygosity, and identified hybrid animals between Bolivian and the two others sub‐species. These data provide novel evidence for taxonomic classification and a rationale strategy to further type the whole colony.
Characterization of semen from olive baboons
Authors: Amboka J.N.O. , Mwethera P.G.
Published: November 2003

Abstract:  Electroejaculation is an accepted method of semen collection from non‐human primates and is typically performed using direct penile or rectal probe electro‐stimulation. Six mature male olive baboons (Papio anubis) were subjected to rectal probe electro‐stimulation procedure that yielded 65 usable ejaculates in 69 attempts over a period of 16 weeks. The four non‐usable ejaculates consisted of seminal fluid without sperm cells and thus were not analysed. The analysis of ejaculate volume, concentration, % motility, liquefaction times, and morphology in this study has provided information on the quality of semen samples. It is anticipated that this analysis will provide valuable information for male fertility studies and the development of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) system in the olive baboon as a model for human IVF.
Leptin, body composition, adrenal and gonadal hormones among captive male baboons
Authors: Muehlenbein M.P. , Campbell B.C. , Richards R.J. , Svec F. , Falkenstein K.P. , Murchison M.A. , Myers L.
Published: November 2003

Abstract:  Morphometric and hormonal measures were collected from 21 captive savanna baboons (Papio cynocephalus) maintained at the Tulane National Primate Research Center in order to determine age‐related patterns in leptin levels over the life course as well as their relationships to body composition and adrenal and gonadal steroids. Comparison of leptin levels between peri‐pubertal, adolescent, young adult, and fully mature males show lower levels among adolescent as compared with young adult males (P = 0.05 by Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA). In addition, abdominal fat varied among age groups (P = 0.003 by Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA) with the peri‐pubertal animals lower than the adolescents, young adults, and prime adults. However leptin was not related to any measure of body composition, including abdominal fat, or to adrenal hormones (dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulfate, and cortisol) or gonadal hormones (testosterone and estradiol). Age‐related changes in leptin appear similar to those reported for captive rhesus macaques, while the failure to find an association between leptin and abdominal fat is interestingly different. These results confirm elevated levels of leptin in captive baboons compared with their wild counterparts and suggest that they result from changes in fetal development.
Occurrence of hepatitis viruses in wild‐born non‐human primates: a 3 year (1998–2001) epidemiological survey in Gabon
Authors: Makuwa M. , Souquière S. , Telfer P. , Leroy E. , Bourry O. , Rouquet P. , Clifford S. , Wickings E.J. , Roques P. , Simon F.
Published: November 2003

Abstract:  Hepatitis B and C infections are endemic in human population in central Africa, particularly in Gabon. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and eventual occurrence of hepatitis C virus (HBC)–related strains in a variety of wild‐born non‐human primates living in Gabon and Congo. Plasma samples were screened for HBV and HCV markers. A non‐invasive method of DNA extraction from faeces followed by specific HBV‐DNA amplification was developed to study this infection in wild troops of chimpanzees and gorillas. No HCV infection in non‐human primates, wild‐born or captive, was detected among 596 samples tested. No HBV infection could be detected in samples tested and obtained from Cercopithecidae. In contrast, 14.7 and 42.2% of wild‐born chimpanzees in Gabon and Congo were infected with HBV or had evidence of past HBV infection. At Centre International de Recherches Médicales (CIRMF) Primate Centre, 32.1% of chimpanzees and gorillas were HBV positive or had evidence of past infection. In the cases with past infection, 5.9% wild‐born and 8.3% at CIRMF harboured HBV‐DNA despite the presence of neutralizing HbsAb. Together with previous findings, we confirm the high HBV prevalence not only in humans but also in chimpanzees and gorillas in Gabon and Congo.
Double-Balloon Enteroscopy: Preliminary Experience in Patients with Obscure Gastrointestinal Bleeding or Chronic Abdominal Pain
Authors: May A. , Nachbar L. , Wardak A. , Yamamoto H. , Ell C.
Published: November 2003

Background and Study Aims: Even in the era of capsule endoscopy, diseases of the small bowel are sometimes difficult to diagnose, and endoscopic treatment is not possible without surgical laparotomy. The new method of carrying out enteroscopy using a double-balloon technique allows not only diagnostic but also therapeutic endoscopic interventions for lesions in the small bowel. Preliminary experience with this new method is reported here.
Patients and Methods: Between the end of March 2003 and August 2003, eight patients (four women, four men; mean age 59 ± 23 years, range 20 - 90) with chronic gastrointestinal bleeding or abdominal pain, or both, underwent enteroscopy using the double-balloon technique. Seven of the patients had been suffering from chronic gastrointestinal bleeding for 56 ± 49 months (range 3 - 120 months, median 48 months). The lowest hemoglobin levels ranged from 3.6 g/dl to 8.6 g/dl (mean 6.7 ± 1.7
g/dl), and a mean of 7.6 ± 5.6 (range 1 - 15) blood units had been transfused. Capsule endoscopy was carried out in six patients, revealing angiodysplasias in three, suspected Crohn’s disease in one, fresh blood in the small bowel without a lesion in one, and a focal enanthema in another patient.
Results: Enteroscopy with the double-balloon technique was carried out using the oral approach in all patients and additionally with the anal approach in four patients. In two patients with multiple angiodysplasias, it was possible to examine the whole small bowel and to treat the angiodysplasias. All of the capsule endoscopy findings were confirmed; a definite bleeding source was found and treated in two patients with unclear bleeding, and in another patient the real bleeding source was found (not angiodysplasia). The enteroscopy system was easy to handle in all cases. No complications occurred. It was possible to carry out the procedure
with the patients under sedoanalgesia.
Conclusions: This new enteroscopy system is easy to handle and seems to be safe. Visualization of the whole small bowel is possible using both the oral and anal approaches. Enteroscopy with the double-balloon technique promises to become a standard method for diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy of the small bowel without surgical laparotomy.
Ageing in Plants: Conserved Strategies and Novel Pathways
Authors: Jing H.‐C. , Hille J. , Dijkwel P. P.
Published: November 2003

Abstract: Ageing increases chaos and entropy and ultimately leads to the death of living organisms. Nevertheless, single gene mutations substantially alter lifespan, revealing that ageing is subject to genetic control. In higher plants, ageing is most obviously manifested by the senescence of leaves, and recent molecular genetic studies, in particular the isolation of Arabidopsis mutants with altered leaf senescence, have greatly advanced our understanding of ageing regulation in plants. This paper provides an overview of the identified genes and their respective molecular pathways. Hormones, metabolic flux, reactive oxygen species and protein degradation are prominent strategies employed by plants to control leaf senescence. Plants predominantly use similar ageing‐regulating strategies as yeast and animals but have evolved different molecular pathways. The senescence window concept is proposed to describe the age‐dependent actions of the regulatory genes. It is concluded that the similarities and differences in ageing between plants and other organisms are deeply rooted in the evolution of ageing and we hope to stimulate discussion and research in the fascinating field of leaf senescence.
Pollination, Flower Longevity, and Reproductive Biology of Gongora quinquenervis Ruíz and Pavón (Orchidaceae) in an Atlantic Forest Fragment of Pernambuco, Brazil
Authors: Martini P. , Schlindwein C. , Montenegro A.
Published: November 2003

Abstract: The pollinators, flower longevity, and reproductive success of Gongora quinquenervis were studied in Refúgio Ecológico Charles Darwin, a preserved fragment of Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco. G. quinquenervis is epiphytic, and its flowers have osmophores, glands that produce aromatic volatiles, that are collected by males of Euglossini (Hymenoptera, Apidae). Every flower of an inflorescence opened simultaneously, however, overlaps in floral phases between individuals were low. Pollinaria deposition on the stigma caused immediate wilting of the perianth, while pollinaria removal had no influence on flower longevity. The reproductive system experiments showed that the species is self‐compatible. The characteristics of floral morphology and its highly specialized pollination mechanism are efficient in limiting autogamy and geitonogamy and favouring cross‐pollination. Three species of Euglossa were found (E. cordata, E. perpulchra and an undescribed species) visiting the flowers of G. quinquenervis. All these efficiently removed the pollinaria of the flowers, which adhered to the posterior margin of the scutellum. Even though there was a high pollinaria removal rate by pollinators, the reproductive success in the field was extraordinarily low. We suggest that low fruit set, despite high pollinator frequency, is a result of a combination of the particular phonological characteristics of G. quinquenervis, such as short flower longevity and low overlap of flowering phases between individuals, leading to the reduced population of this orchid in the degraded Atlantic Forest. Conservation measures are necessary to guarantee the survival of G. quinquenervis in the northern part of the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.
Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Allozyme Diversity and Conservation Status of the Coastal Sand Dune Plant Stachys maritima (Lamiaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula
Authors: López‐Pujol J. , Orellana M. R. , Bosch M. , Simon J. , Blanché C.
Published: November 2003

Abstract: Allozyme electrophoresis was used to evaluate levels and distribution of genetic diversity in Iberian populations of the threatened coastal sand dune plant Stachys maritima (Lamiaceae). During the last century, this species was subjected to severe habitat fragmentation, mainly as a consequence of tourism activities and urban pressures, with a decreasing of area up to 99 % in the Iberian Peninsula and a remaining total population size of ca. 250 individuals. Extremely low levels of genetic variation were detected (P = 14.0, A = 1.16 and He = 0.066). From the 20 interpretable loci found, only 4 were polymorphic and another one, the Idh‐2 locus, showed a fixed heterozygous banding pattern, which may be attributed to gene duplication. Low values of diversity can be related to small population size and isolation of populations. The degree of threat has been increased from vulnerable (VU) to critically endangered (CR), according to the IUCN criteria. Conservation policies should be focused on maintaining population size and gene flow, in addition to preserving its habitat, although reintroductions and reinforcements appear to be necessary to ensure long‐term viability of populations.
Fitness Traits and Dispersal Ability in the Herb Tragopogon pratensis (Asteraceae): Decoupling the Role of Inbreeding Depression and Maternal Effects
Authors: Picó F. X. , Ouborg N. J. , van Groenendael J. M.
Published: November 2003

Abstract: Inbreeding depression can decrease several fitness traits and maternal effects can strongly influence the amount of inbreeding depression. Understanding the effects of inbreeding depression on plant fitness is especially important in the context of habitat fragmentation, where plant populations become smaller and more isolated, exhibiting increasing levels of inbreeding depression. We examined the joint influence of inbreeding depression and maternal effects on life cycle traits and dispersal ability in the herb Tragopogon pratensis that grows in fragmented populations in Europe. We conducted experimental crosses to obtain selfed and outcrossed progeny in two contrasted environments. In particular, we produced a first generation of seeds and plants that were self‐pollinated again to produce a second generation of seeds. Individual seeds were weighed and their pappuses measured to estimate the dispersal potential. Pollination treatment only had a significant effect on seed mass and dispersal ability. Coefficients of inbreeding depression did not differ between selfed and outcrossed plants. Seed mass had a significant effect on germination date. Environment had a significant effect on mass of the second generation of seeds and the interaction between pollination treatment and family was significant for six traits, indicating the existence of strong maternal effects in T. pratensis. Results suggest population differentiation. Overall, T. pratensis populations exhibited a good performance under selfing, in terms of life cycle traits and dispersal ability, which would allow the species to cope with problems associated with fragmentation.
Influence of Compatibility System and Life Form on Plant Reproductive Success
Authors: Morales C. L. , Galetto L.
Published: November 2003

Abstract: We studied the compatibility system and the autonomous selfing capacity of 32 native species from the Chaco Serrano forests (central Argentina), and compared fruit set, considering plant life form and compatibility status to evaluate: (i) the extent of the association between life form and compatibility system, (ii) the influence of the life form and/or of the compatibility system on natural fruit set, and (iii) the preemergent reproductive advantages provided by self‐compatibility and autonomous self‐pollination. Ca. 60 % of the species were self‐compatible (SC). Natural fruit set of SC species triplicate those of self‐incompatible (SI) species. Almost all SC species have autonomous selfing capacity. Nevertheless, on average, SC species produce more than twice as many fruits through natural pollination in comparison to autonomous selfing, and fruit set obtained after autonomous selfing was significantly lower than hand‐selfed fruit set. Most SC species received insufficient pollen from themselves via autonomous selfing, and natural fruit set was mostly pollinator‐mediated. Thus, the reproductive assurance provided by autonomous selfing is relatively low in comparison with that provided by pollinators. We supplemented our data with published results from different sites in South America, to assess how general are the associations between life form and compatibility system and between natural fruit production and the self compatibility index. There is a differential distribution of SC and SI species according to life form, with a skew towards incompatibility among woody plants and towards compatibility in herbs. On the other hand, regression analysis showed there is a general positive trend between natural fruit set and the self compatibility index of the species.
Transient energy growth for the Lamb–Oseen vortex
Authors: Antkowiak Arnaud , Brancher Pierre
Published: November 2003

The transient evolution of infinitesimal flow disturbances which optimally induce algebraic growth in the Lamb–Oseen (Gaussian) vortex is studied using a direct-adjoint technique. This optimal perturbation analysis reveals that the Lamb–Oseen vortex allows for intense amplification of kinetic energy for two-dimensional and three-dimensional perturbations of azimuthal wavenumber m=1. In both cases, the disturbances experiencing the most growth initially take the form of concentrated spirals at the outer periphery of the vortex which rapidly excite bending waves within the vortex core. In the limit of large wavelengths, the optimal perturbation leads to arbitrarily large growths via an original scenario combining the Orr mechanism with vortex induction.
A laboratory observation of the surface temperature and velocity distributions on a wavy and windy air–water interface
Authors: Zhang Xin , Harrison Soren
Published: November 2003

Temperature and velocity distributions of the water surface are examined experimentally with infrared imaging techniques. The surface velocity is determined from the movement of the pattern of surface temperature cell. It is found that the mean wind drift is about 30%u*, much less than the widely cited measurements of 55%u*. Although many complicated thermal and dynamical processes control the surface temperature, we found that the probability distribution function (PDF) of the standardized water surface temperature does not vary significantly with wind speed. The increasing nonlinear effects of wave orbital motions and wave breaking on surface motion are shown by the similarity and trend of change in the PDFs of the water surface velocity normalized by the wave orbital velocity at different wind speeds. The standard deviation of the speed distribution increases with the wind speed while the basic skewed distribution shape remains.
Synthesis and Characterization of the Nickel(II) Complex of a Macrocyclic Schiff Base Ligand with a Single Pendant Coordinating Hydroxyl Arm
Authors: Khandar Ali Akbar , Hosseini-Yazdi Seyed Abolfazl
Published: November 2003

The synthesis and characterization of a nickel(II) complex of the ligand 8,9,18,19-tetrahydro-7H,17H-dibenzo[f,o][1,5,9,13]dioxadiazacyclohexadecin-18-ol (L) is described. Complex [NiL(NO3)]NO3 was prepared by facile template reaction of the appropriate dialdehyde 2-(3-(2-formylphenoxy)-2-hydroxypropoxy)benzaldehyde (1) and 1,3-diaminopropane in the presence of nickel nitrate. X-Ray crystallography indicated that the compound was a six-coordinate complex that contained a pentadentate ligand and an NO3− anion trans to the alcoholic donor. The blue complex contains nickel(II) in a distorted octahedral environment of N2O4 donors, and crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a 26.921(10), b 9.075(2), c 21.193(7) Å, β 122.12(2)°, and Z 8. From spectro-scopic and conductivity studies of the complex it has been found that six-coordinate [NiL(NO3)]+ cations and NO3− anions are formed in solution.
Preparation and Photochemistry of Some Cobalt(III) Complexes of Tridentate Oxime-Diamine and Oxime-Amino Acid Ligands
Authors: Otter Carl A. , Hartshorn Richard M.
Published: November 2003

Cobalt(III) complexes of tridentate ligands containing oxime-diamine and oxime-amino acid donor sets have been prepared, both by reduction of the related imine complexes. Many of the complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallographic techniques. The photochemistry of these complexes has been studied. The oxime-diamine systems are rather unreactive, undergoing slow isomerization before decomposition. The oxime-amino acid systems appear to undergo decarboxylation reactions. Photolyses of tetrachlorozincate salts of some of the complexes result in binuclear species in which a trichlorozinc moiety is bound to the cobalt species through an oxime oxygen atom.
Gas-Phase Studies on the Reactivity of the Azido(diethylenetriamine)platinum(II) Cation and Derived Species
Authors: Wee Sheena , White Jonathan M. , McFadyen W. David , O'Hair Richard A. J.
Published: November 2003

The recent report of the gas-phase loss of nitrogen from [Pt(dien)3]+ (dien = diethylenetriamine = N-(2-amino-ethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine) under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions has prompted us to investigate the intriguing structure(s)of [Pt(dien)N]+. This was carried out via CID and ion–molecule reactions (IMR) of [Pt(dien)N]+ in the gas phase. Labelling studies (15N and 2H labelling of the dien ligand) were also employed. As a result, some of the previously proposed structures were ruled out and three other potential structures of [Pt(dien)N]+ are considered. Labelling studies also indicate that the hydrogen atoms of both the amino groups and the carbon backbone of the dien ligand are involved in loss of NH3 from [Pt(dien)N]+. The gas-phase chemistry of [Pt(dien)N-NH3]+, the fragmentation product of [Pt(dien)N]+, was also probed using IMR and CID. The crystal structure of the [Pt(dien)3]+ cation has also been determined.
Phosphorus sorption by sandy soils from Western Australia: effect of previously sorbed P on P buffer capacity and single-point P sorption indices
Authors: Bolland M. D. A. , Allen D. G.
Published: November 2003

Soil samples collected from 8 field experiments in Western Australia to which 5–8 amounts of superphosphate had been applied once only 13–23 years previously were used to measure the phosphorus (P) buffer capacity of soil (PBC) and P sorption by several single-point indices. PBC was estimated from well-defined P sorption curves when several levels of P were added to soil suspensions, and was the amount of P sorbed when the concentration of P in the final solution was raised from 0.25 to 0.35 mg P/L. The single-point P sorption indices were measured by adding one amount of P (10 mg P/L) to soil suspensions (1 : 20, soil : 0.02 M KCl or 0.01 M CaCl2). Three indices were calculated from the amount of P sorbed by soil (S, mg P/kg soil) and the amount of P in solution (c, mg P/L)—(1) the phosphorus retention index (PRI, S/c [L/kg]), (2) the Freundlich retention index (FRI, S/c0.35 [dimensionless]), and (3) the phosphorus sorption index (PSI, S/log10 [c × 1000] [dimensionless])—to provide PRI K & Ca, FRI K & Ca, and PSI K & Ca values. P sorption was also measured by the P buffer index (PBI), the new single-point P sorption index recommended for national use, to provide PBICa values. To estimate the previous P sorbed by soil (native soil P is negligible for these soils, so previously sorbed P originates from fertiliser P applied in a previous year), the amount of P extracted by 0.5 M sodium bicarbonate from soil (Colwell soil test P) was added to the amount of P sorbed by soil to calculate PRI*K & Ca, FRI*K & Ca, PSI*K & Ca, and PBI*Ca values. In addition, previously sorbed P was estimated using the q coefficient of the Freundlich equation; q was added to P sorption to calculate PSI**, FRI**, PSI** and PBI** values to take account of previously sorbed P.For the 8 experiments, PBC values significantly decreased where more fertiliser P had been applied to the soils 13–23 years previously. This indicated that the capacity of the 8 soils to sorb P decreased as more P was applied in a previous year, and a single-point P sorption index would need to reflect this decrease. As the amount of P applied to soil in the field plots increased, the following trends occurred : (1) Colwell soil test P always increased; (2) PRIK & Ca, FRIK & Ca, PSIK & Ca, and PBICa consistently decreased; (3) PRI*K & Ca, FRI*K & Ca, PSI*K & Ca, and PBI*Ca mostly increased, but with some values being unaffected or decreasing; (4) PRI**, FRI**, PSI**, and PBI** values were largely unaffected by the amount of P applied in a previous year. Evidently, either adding Colwell soil test P or q to P sorption to calculate the single-point P sorption indices mostly overestimated P sorption by the sandy, low P sorbing soils used, but the overestimate was larger for Colwell soil test P than for q.
Fractionation of trace elements in some non-agricultural Australian soils
Authors: Li J. , Rate A. W. , Gilkes R. J.
Published: November 2003

The fractionation of Ag, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in highly weathered soils was investigated using 5 operationally defined fractions: exchangeable, organic, amorphous Fe oxides, crystalline Fe oxides, and residual fraction. Crystalline Fe oxide and residual phases were the dominant hosts of Ag in the original soils, but for soils to which soluble Ag was added, much Ag was in the crystalline Fe oxide fractions and only a relatively small proportion of Ag was in the residual fraction. Crystalline Fe oxides and the residual fraction were also the major hosts to Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn.
Heavy metals in road dust, gully pots and parkland soils in a highly urbanised sub-catchment of Port Jackson, Australia
Authors: Birch G. F. , Scollen A.
Published: November 2003

The current temporal and spatial investigation was undertaken to determine the nature and concentration of heavy metals in road dust and to assess whether road dust was a possible source of metals to adjacent soils and gully pots.Three roads were selected in the Iron Cove catchment, Sydney Harbour, to investigate the influence of traffic volume on the heavy metal concentrations and accumulations rates with time. The mass of road dust increased irregularly with time since the last cleaning event and metal concentrations increased with traffic volume, but concentrations did not increase with antecedent time, possible due to variable particle size distributions. The mass of material accumulating on 1 m2 of road surface over 5 days was 72.5, 41.7, and 4.8 g for high (Parramatta Road), medium (Marion Street), and low (National Street) traffic volume roads, respectively. The source area of road surface for the test sites (200–400 m of road) may provide, over the 5-day test period, maximum loads of (g): Cr 2, Cu 7, Ni 2, Pb 29, and Zn 28 for Marion Street; Cr 0.1, Cu 0.3, Ni 0.1, Pb 2, and Zn 3 for National Street; and Cr 2, Cu 8, Ni 1, Pb 26, and Zn 18 for Parramatta Road. To provide better spatial information than the 3 samples sites used in the temporal study, road dust (n = 171) and gully pot (n = 23) samples where taken across the entire Iron Cove catchment. Mean concentrations of road dust were 6, 34, 164, 28 000, 284, 27, 487, and 523 μg/g for Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, respectively, for all road types, and concentrations in gully pot material were 7, 20, 112, 24 000, 316, 20, 199, and 257 μg/g, respectively. A large proportion of these metals is associated with the mobile, fine fraction (<62.5 μm), and the majority (54–100%) of these elements are extracted with weak leaching agents (EDTA and 1 M hydrochloric acid). However, more information on speciation is required to determine bioavailability. SEM/EDAX analysis suggests that metals in the fine fraction may be adsorbed, whereas particulate metal and inclusion phases are common in the coarser (62.5–125 μm) material.Metal concentrations in parkland soils adjacent to the roads are highly enriched and increase with traffic volume. Concentrations decline markedly with distance from roads, but maximum values are at 30–50 m from the road edge, due to high-velocity wind generated by vehicles in proximity to the road. Metal-rich soils and gully pot deposits may be available for transport to the adjacent stormwater system.
The hydrology of Vertosols used for cotton production: I. Hydraulic, structural and fundamental soil properties
Authors: Vervoort R. W. , Cattle S. R. , Minasny B.
Published: November 2003

This paper describes the hydraulic, structural and fundamental soil properties for 23 Vertosol horizons from 18 sampling sites in New South Wales and southern Queensland. At each site a combination of infiltration measurements and soil sampling was conducted. Samples were collected for determination of the soil water characteristic, shrink–swell relationships, and fundamental soil properties such as particle size distributions, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+), extractable P contents, extractable sulfate and Fe contents, and CaCO3 and total C contents. Large cores were sampled, impregnated with resin, and sectioned for image analysis. The program SOLICON v2.1 was used to calculate structural form parameters from the images. Measured hydraulic conductivities of the surface soils were large compared with earlier reported research for Vertosols. However, a sharp decrease in hydraulic conductivity occurred with depth in the profiles, which is assumed to be due to increased bulk densities and exchangeable sodium percentages (ESP). The data also indicated a general north–south trend in the structural development of these Vertosols. Surface soils from the northern areas, such as the Gwydir and Namoi valleys, exhibited more porous structural forms, and as a result, greater average hydraulic conductivities. This appears to be due to differences in ESP, clay content and the mineralogical suite of the clay; surface samples with smaller ESPs and larger proportions of smectitic clay tended to have the greatest values of hydraulic conductivity. Other fundamental soil properties such as extractable Fe and P contents, and CaCO3 content, were found to have little or no correlation to the hydraulic or structural properties of these Vertosols, while differences in measured shrink-swell and water retention properties were largely a function of soil depth. The database developed has given an overview of the hydraulic properties of Vertosols used for cotton production in south-eastern Australia.
The changes in soil organic matter in a forest-cultivation sequence traced by stable carbon isotopes
Authors: Liu Q. M. , Wang S. J. , Piao H. C. , Ouyang Z. Y.
Published: November 2003

There is an obvious difference in δ13C values between plants that assimilate carbon via the C3 photosynthetic pathway and those that do so by the C4 photosynthetic pathway. In terms of this characteristic, we analysed the organic carbon content and δ13C values of total soil and δ13C values in different size and density fractions of profile-soil samples either in farmland or in forestland near the Maolan Karst virgin forest, south-west China. This is an area where C3 plants grew previously, now replaced by C4 plants. Deforestation has accelerated the decomposition rate of soil organic matter and reduced the proportion of active components in soil organic matter and thus soil fertility. The δ13C values of different size fractions in forest soil are δ13Ccoarse sand < δ13Cfine sand < δ13Ccoarse silt < δ13Cclay < δ13Cfine silt, and the δ13C values of different size fractions in farmland soil are δ13Ccoarse sand > δ13Cfine sand > δ13Ccoarse silt > δ13Cclay > δ13Cfine silt, indicating that soil organic matter is fresh in coarse sand and oldest in fine silt. The δ13C values of different density fractions in forest soil are δ13Clight < δ13Cheavy, and the δ13C values of different density fractions in farmland soil are δ13Clight > δ13Cheavy, indicating that the soil organic matter is fresh in light fractions and old in heavy fractions.