bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The disposition of five therapeutically important antimicrobial agents in llamas
Authors: CHRISTENSEN J. M. , SMITH B. B. , MURDANE S. B. , HOLLINGSHEAD N.
Published: April 2008

The disposition of five therapeutic antimicrobial agents was studied in llamas (Lama glama) following intravenous bolus administration. Six llamas were each given ampicillin, tobramycin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, enrofloxacin and ceftiofur at a dose of 12 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 3 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg, and 2.2 mg/kg of body weight, respectively, with a wash out period of at least 3 days between treatments. Plasma concentrations of these antimicrobial agents over 12 h following i.v. bolus dosing were determined by reverse phase HPLC. Disposition of the five antimicrobial agents was described by a two compartment open model with elimination from the central compartment, and also by non‐compartmental methods. From compartmental analysis, the elimination rate constant, half‐life, and apparent volume of distribution in the central compartment were determined. Statistical moment theory was used to determine noncompartmental pharmacokinetic parameters of mean residence time, clearance, and volume of distribution at stead state. Based on the disposition parameters determined, and stated assumptions of likely effective minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) a dose and dosing interval for each of five antimicrobial agents were suggested as 6 mg/kg every 12 h for ampicillin; 4 mg/kg once a day or 0.75 mg/kg every 8 h for tobramycin; 3.0 mg/kg/15 mg/kg every 12 h for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole; 5 mg/kg every 12 h for enrofloxacin; and 2.2 mg/kg every 12 h for ceftiofur sodium for llamas. Steady‐state peak and trough plasma concentrations were also predicted for the drugs in this study for llamas.
Pharmacokinetic interactions between repeated dose phenylbutazone and gentamicin in the horse
Authors: WHITTEM T. , FIRTH E. C. , HODGE H. , TURNER K.
Published: April 2008

This study examined the pharmacokinetics of steady‐state phenylbutazone and single bolus intravenous gentamicin when administered together in the horse. The trial design was completed as a cross‐over with seven thoroughbred horses. In the first phase each horse received 2.2 mg/kg gentamicin intravenously. After a 2‐week washout, each horse received 4.4 mg/kg phenylbutazone intravenously every 24 h for 5 days. On the fourth day each horse received gentamicin as before. Plasma was harvested for gentamicin concentration determination by fluorescence polarization immunoassay and for phenylbutazone concentration determination by high‐performance liquid chromatography. All gentamicin data were best approximated by a two‐compartment open model using sequential, weighted non‐linear regression. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using model‐dependent formulae. Phenylbutazone data were analysed by non‐compartmental methods. Phenylbutazone induced a 49% increase in the rate of gentamicin return to the central compartment from peripheral tissues (k21) (P<0.05) and there was a trend to a 24% increase in k12(P = 0.052). The gentamicin elimination half‐life was decreased 23% and the Vd(area)was reduced by 26%. No induction by gentamicin of changes in phenylbutazone pharmacokinetics were detected. In summary, phenylbutazone induced changes to the rate and extent of distribution and elimination of gentamicin. Therefore, care should be exercised in the use of aminoglycosides in equine patients concurrently maintained on phenylbutazone.
Influences of study design and location on the relationship between particulate matter air pollution and birthweight
Authors: Parker Jennifer D. , Woodruff Tracey J.
Published: April 2008

A large number of studies have identified a relationship between particulate matter air pollution and birthweight. Although reported associations are small and varied, they have been identified in studies from places around the world. Exposure assignment, covariates and study inclusion criteria vary among studies. To examine the effect of these and other study characteristics on associations between particulate matter and birthweight, US birth records for singletons delivered at 40 weeks gestation in 2001–03 during the months of March, June, September and December were linked to quarterly estimates of pollution exposure, both particulate matter exposure and exposure to multiple pollutants, by county of residence and month of birth. Annual, 9‐month and trimester‐specific exposures were assigned.

Among births linked to particulate matter exposure there was a small association between coarse particle exposure and birthweight (beta −13 g per 10 µg/m3 increase [95% CI −18.3 g, −7.6 g]) after controlling for maternal factors; this association was attenuated slightly and remained statistically significant after further adjustment for contextual factors, year of birth, region, or urban–rural status. The associations were slightly weaker among births linked to multiple pollutant exposure than among births linked to just particulate matter exposure. The association varied markedly by region, ranging from a decrement of 43 g per 10 µg/m3[95% CI −58.6 g, −27.6 g] in the north‐west to a null association in the south‐west. Trimester findings were smaller, yet remained significant and varied regionally. The association between fine particle exposure and birthweight varied considerably, with an overall small positive association that became null after control for region. This study found that wide regional differences in association may contribute to the varied published findings. The association between coarse particle exposure and birthweight appeared robust, if small; fine particles had no overall association with birthweight.
Associated factors and consequences of late preterm births: results from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort
Authors: Santos Iná S. , Matijasevich Alicia , Silveira Mariângela F. , Sclowitz Iândora K. T. , Barros Aluísio J. D. , Victora Cesar G. , Barros Fernando C.
Published: April 2008

Although neonatal and infant mortality rates have fallen in recent decades in Brazil, the prevalence of preterm deliveries has increased in certain regions, especially in the number of late preterm births. This study was planned to investigate: (1) maternal antenatal characteristics associated with late preterm births and (2) the consequences of late preterm birth on infant health in the neonatal period and until age 3 months. A population‐based birth cohort was enrolled in Pelotas, Southern Brazil, in 2004. Mothers were interviewed and the gestational age of newborns was estimated through last menstrual period, ultrasound and Dubowitz's method. Preterm births between 34 and 36 completed weeks of gestational age were classified as late preterm births. Only singleton live births from mothers living in the urban area of Pelotas were investigated. Three months after birth, mothers were interviewed at home regarding breast feeding, morbidity and hospital admissions. All deaths occurring in the first year of life were recorded.

A total of 447 newborns (10.8%) were late preterms. Associations were observed with maternal age <20 years (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.3 [95% CI 1.1, 1.6]), absence of antenatal care (PR 2.4 [1.4, 4.2]) or less than seven prenatal care visits, arterial hypertension (PR 1.3 [1.0, 1.5]), and preterm labour (PR 1.6 [1.3, 1.9]). Compared with term births, late preterm births showed increased risk of depression at birth (Relative risk [RR] 1.7 [1.3, 2.2]), perinatal morbidity (RR 2.8 [2.3, 3.5]), and absence of breast feeding in the first hours after birth (PR 0.9 [0.8, 0.9]). RRs for neonatal and infant mortality were, respectively, 5.1 [1.7, 14.9] and 2.1 [1.0, 4.6] times higher than that observed among term newborns. In conclusion, in our setting, the prevention of all preterm births must be a priority, regardless of whether early or late.
Inhibition of ammonium assimilation restores elongation of seminal rice roots repressed by high levels of exogenous ammonium
Authors: Hirano Tatsuya , Satoh Yoshikazu , Ohki Atsushi , Takada Ryuji , Arai Toshiro , Michiyama Hiroyasu
Published: April 2008

Elongation of seminal and lateral roots of rice seedlings was markedly inhibited by high ammonium levels in growth medium. However, high exogenous nitrate concentrations had little inhibitory effect on root growth. The objective of this study was to elucidate the relationship between inhibition of rice root growth induced by high ammonium conditions and ammonium assimilation in the seedlings. Activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) was kept at a low level in the seminal roots of the seedlings grown under high nitrate levels. In contrast, high ammonium levels significantly enhanced the GS activity in the roots, so that Gln abundantly accumulated in the shoots. These results indicate that ammonium assimilation may be activated in the seminal roots under high ammonium conditions. Application of methionine sulfoximine (MSO), an inhibitor of GS, relieved the repression of the seminal root elongation induced by high ammonium concentrations. However, the elongation of lateral roots remained inhibited even under the same condition. Furthermore, MSO drastically increased ammonium level and remarkably decreased Gln level in the shoots grown under high ammonium conditions. These results show that, for rice seedlings, an assimilatory product of ammonium, and not ammonium itself, may serve as an endogenous indicator of the nitrogen status involved in the inhibition of seminal root elongation induced by high levels of exogenous ammonium.
Age‐specific, density‐dependent and environment‐based mortality of a short‐lived perennial herb
Authors: Picó F. X. , Retana J.
Published: April 2008

Density‐independent and density‐dependent processes affect plant mortality. Although less well understood, age‐specific mortality can also play an important role in plant mortality. The goal of this study was to analyse several factors accounting for mortality in the Mediterranean short‐lived perennial herb Lobularia maritima. We followed three cohorts of plants (from emergence to death) during 4 years in field conditions. We collected data on plant mortality of the effect of biotic agents (moth larvae and mycoplasma‐like organisms, MLOs) and environmental variables. We also estimated density‐dependent relationships affecting the fate of seedlings and adults. Results show that cohorts differed in their survival curves and ageing significantly increased mortality risk. Seedling mortality was density‐dependent whereas adult mortality was not affected by density. MLO infection led to higher plant mortality whereas moth larvae attack did not affect plant mortality. In general, seedlings and adult plants experienced the highest mortality events in summer. We found, however, weak relationships between weather records and plant mortality. Age and size structures were not correlated. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive review of age‐specific, density‐dependent and density‐independent factors that account for mortality of L. maritima plants throughout their life cycle in field conditions, highlighting the fact that age is an important factor in determining plant population dynamics.
Tinea capitis among primary school children in some parts of central Nigeria
Authors: Ayanbimpe Grace M. , Taghir Henry , Diya Abigail , Wapwera Samuel
Published: April 2008

Tinea capitis is the most common superficial mycosis in children of school age. Although it is of public health importance, it is not a reportable or notifiable disease; therefore, actual prevalence figures are unknown in many endemic areas. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of tinea capitis among primary school children in two states in central Nigeria, highlighting the main aetiological agents of the infection and possible predisposing factors. A total of 28 505 primary school children aged between 3 and 16 years were recruited for the study, from 12 primary schools in two local government areas of Benue and Plateau States of Nigeria. Of them, 796 had lesions, which were clinically suggestive of tinea capitis out of which 248 (31.2%) were confirmed positive by microscopy and culture. Tinea capitis was more frequent in males, 194 (78.2%) than in females, 54 (21.8%). Children aged 10–14 years, followed by 5–9 years were predominantly infected, with 106 (42.7%) and 100 (40.3%) respectively. There was a significant correlation between age group and occurrence of tinea capitis in the study population at 95% confidence level (P = 0.004). Tinea capitis was significantly more frequent in Jos State (44.6%) than in Gboko State (23.2%) (t = .659; 95% confidence level). The prevalence of tinea capitis was influenced by social and cultural habits of the areas rather than by population density. The aetiological agent of tinea capitis in the study population was Trichophyton soudanense, 76 (30.6%), followed by Microsporum ferrugineum, 19 (7.7%) and Microsporum audouinii, 19 (7.7%). Differences in aetiology were observed for Gboko and Jos, except for T. soudanense, which predominated in both areas. The high prevalence of tinea capitis in the areas studied may be attributed to frequent interaction with soil and animals and low level of health education on personal and environmental hygiene. Aetiological agents varied from one geographical area to another.
Trichophyton rubrum autoinoculation from infected nails is not such a rare phenomenon
Authors: Szepietowski Jacek C. , Matusiak Łukasz
Published: April 2008

Kerion‐like lesions are usually caused by zoophilic dermatophytes. Here, we present a rare case report – an inflammatory tinea barbae due to an anthropophilic fungus (Trichophyton rubrum), which is the main pathogen of onychomycosis and tinea pedis. Probably the infection, in the presented case, spread from diseased fingernails. We do postulate that physicians should consider autoinoculation as a not so rare way of fungal infection transmission.
Posaconazole as first line treatment for disseminated zygomycosis
Authors: Peel Trisha , Daffy John , Thursky Karin , Stanley Peter , Buising Kirsty
Published: April 2008

We describe the first case report of posaconazole use as first line agent in the treatment of disseminated zygomycosis with prosthetic hip joint and pulmonary involvement due to Rhizopus microsporus. This infection occurred in a heavily immunosuppressed patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Comparative efficacy and tolerability of Ketomousse® (ketoconazole foam 1%) and ketoconazole cream 2% in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor: results of a prospective, multicentre, randomised study
Authors: Di Fonzo E. M. , Martini P. , Mazzatenta C. , Lotti L. , Alvino S.
Published: April 2008

Ketomousse® (K), a new thermophobic formulation (ketoconazole 1%), has proven its efficacy in the treatment of dandruff, caused by the same agent as pityriasis versicolor (PV). The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of K thermophobic foam vs. ketoconazole cream 2% (N) in the treatment of PV. Forty‐six patients (22 in K and 24 in N group) with PV involving no more than 15% of the total trunk surface were randomly assigned for treatment either with K or N once daily for 14 days. Three weeks after the completion of treatment, improvement rate and side‐effects were evaluated by clinical and mycological examination (Wood’s light). Follow‐up was available for 81% of subjects. Complete resolution was observed in five patients (29%) in K group and in nine (47%) in N group (P = 0.291). One patient in the N group reported urticaria while no adverse events were reported for K. Both products were cosmetically acceptable with respect to feasibility of application and formulation with a preference for K. Ketomousse® (1% ketoconazole) provides an equal efficacy and tolerability compared to ketoconazole cream 2%. Therefore, Ketomousse® could be considered an excellent therapeutic option in the treatment of PV.
Basidiomycete metabolites attenuate virulence properties of Candida albicans in vitro
Authors: Falkensammer Barbara , Pleyer Lisa , Ressler Sigrun , Berg Albrecht , Borg‐von Zepelin Margarethe , Nagl Markus , Lass‐Flörl Cornelia , Speth Cornelia , Dierich Manfred P. , Würzner Reinhard
Published: April 2008

Secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) represent an important virulence factor facilitating fungal adherence. Several protease inhibitors (PIs), including HIV PIs, have been shown to reduce Candida adhesion. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether or not the recently discovered PIs Aureoquinone and Laccaridiones A and B, isolated from Basidiomycete cultures, or Bestatin, act as Sap‐inhibitors and/or inhibitors of fungal adhesion. Drug effects on candidial Sap‐production were determined by Sap‐ELISA. Control tubes, in the absence of drug, served as positive controls, while tubes excluding both drug and proteinase induction medium were used as negative controls. Aureoquinone as well as Laccaridiones A and B, but not Bestatin, significantly inhibited Candida albicans adhesion to both epithelial and endothelial cells in a dose dependent manner and also reduced Sap‐release (effects were not because of a direct interaction of the Basidiomycete metabolites with secreted Saps). Laccaridione B was consistently found to be the most effective PI tested. Interestingly, these drugs are neither fungistatic nor fungicidal at the concentrations applied. Laccaridione B may represent a promising novel type of antimycotic drug – targeting virulence factors without killing the yeast.
Pleuritis caused by Acremonium strictum in a patient with colon adenocarcinoma
Authors: Koç A. Nedret , Mutlu Sarigüzel Fatma , Artiş Tarık
Published: April 2008

Although Acremonium strictum is environmentally widespread as opportunistic mold, it may cause infection in patients who have immunodeficiency problems. In this study, Staphylococcus aureus and A. strictum were isolated from the pleural fluid of a patient with colon adenocarcinoma. The patient did not receive antifungal therapy because the patient died after the isolation of mold. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of amphotericin B, fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole for the A. strictum strain isolated from pleural fluid were 0.125, 256, 2 and 1.5, 0.25 μg ml−1 respectively. In conclusion, bacteria and fungus, especially opportunistic mold, should be taken into consideration in developing pleuritis in the patients with immune‐deficiency.
Tumour necrosis factor inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Reed M. R. , Taylor A. L.
Published: April 2008

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the most common form of spondyloarthropathy. Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory medications and exercise are used to manage the chronic inflammatory spinal pain and stiffness. Up to 20% of patients have a peripheral inflammatory arthritis, which is treated with standard disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs especially sulfasalazine and methotrexate. Patients may also have extra‐articular manifestations, such as anterior uveitis, psoriasiform skin lesions and inflammatory bowel disease. Anti‐tumour necrosis (TNF) therapy has been used with great success in rheumatoid arthritis. There are now good data of the efficacy of anti‐TNF therapies in the short and medium terms in AS. Etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab have been shown in randomized placebo‐controlled trials of short duration to significantly reduce disease activity, including pain and stiffness as well as improving function, spinal movement and quality of life. It is hoped that long‐term therapy will prevent radiologic progression and ankylosis and studies of long‐term efficacy are awaited. Anti‐TNF therapies are generally well tolerated in AS. It is important to screen for latent tuberculosis before the commencement of anti‐TNF therapy. The side‐effect profile of anti‐TNF therapies in AS does not appear different from that in rheumatoid arthritis. Currently, treatment with anti‐TNF therapy in AS is indicated in established disease with radiographic damage. There is evidence that response to therapy is greater in patients with earlier disease and less damage. Future developments may see this therapy extended to patients with pre‐radiographic AS.
Wet forced‐air warming blankets are ineffective at maintaining normothermia
Authors: LIN ERICA P. , SMITH KATHLEEN , VALLEY ROBERT D.
Published: April 2008

Background:  Forced‐air warming systems have proven effective in preventing perioperative hypothermia. To date, reported adverse events relate primarily to overheating and thermal injuries. This study uses a simple model to show that forced‐air warming blankets become ineffective if they get wet.

Methods:  Temperature sensor probes were inserted into three 1‐liter fluid bags. Group C bags served as the control. Groups D (dry) and W (wet) bags were placed on Bair Hugger® Model 555 (Arizant Healthcare, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN, USA) pediatric underbody blankets. The warming blanket for Group W bags was subsequently wet with irrigation fluid. Temperature was documented every 5 min. This model was repeated two times for a total of three cycles. Statistical analysis was performed using anova for repeated measures.

Results:  Starting temperatures for each model were within a 0.3°C range. Group C demonstrated a steady decline in temperature. Group D maintained and slightly increased in temperature during the observation period, while Group W exhibited a decrease in temperature at a rate similar to Group C. These results were significant at P < 0.005.

Conclusions:  A wet forced‐air warming blanket is ineffective at maintaining normothermia. Once wet, the warming blanket resulted in cooling similar to the control group.
Entrepreneurship and Liquidity Constraints: Evidence from Sweden
Authors: Nykvist Jenny
Published: April 2008

Hurst and Lusardi (2004)use a specification with higher‐order polynomials to estimate the relationship between wealth and entrepreneurship. They find evidence against the existence of extensive liquidity constraints in the United States. In this paper, their approach is replicated on Swedish data. A positive relationship between wealth and entrepreneurship is found, which supports the liquidity constraints hypothesis. Alternative methods for handling the endogeneity problem and distinguishing between absolute decreasing risk aversion and liquidity constraints lend further support to the hypothesis. The analysis suggests that there exist liquidity constraints in Sweden, which are possibly more extensive than in the United States.
Adult Outcomes for Children of Teenage Mothers
Authors: Francesconi Marco
Published: April 2008

Using data from the British Household Panel Survey, this study examines the relationship between several outcomes in early adulthood (e.g. education, inactivity, earnings and health) and being born to a teenage mother. Besides standard cross‐sectional multivariate regression estimates, we also present evidence from non‐parametric estimates and from estimates that account for unmeasured family background heterogeneity by comparing siblings born to the same mother who timed their births at different ages. Regardless of the econometric technique, being born to a teenage mother is usually associated with worse outcomes. An important channel of transmission of this adverse effect is childhood family structure, which plays a more powerful role than childhood family poverty. Albeit smaller, some of the detrimental effects are also found for children of mothers who gave birth in their early 20s.
Maternal Emotion‐related Socialization and Preschoolers' Developing Emotion Self‐awareness
Authors: Warren Heather K. , Stifter Cynthia A.
Published: April 2008

Preschoolers' ability to demonstrate awareness of their own emotion is an important socio‐emotional competence which has received increasing attention in the developmental literature. The present study examined emotion self‐awareness of happiness, sadness, and anger in response to a delay of gratification task in 78 preschool children. Maternal emotion‐related socialization behaviors (ERSBs) including reported emotional expressivity, responses to her child's emotions, and observed emotion talk, were examined as predictors of children's emotion self‐awareness skill one year later. Results show that, after controlling for receptive language ability, supportive ERSBs were predictive of high self‐awareness of happiness whereas non‐supportive ERSBs were predictive of low self‐awareness of sadness. The results demonstrate that the concordance between observed and self‐reported emotion serves as a useful index of children's awareness of their emotional experience.
Seeing The World Through Rose‐colored Glasses? Neglect of Consensus Information in Young Children's Personality Judgments
Authors: Boseovski Janet J. , Lee Kang
Published: April 2008

The present study examined the use of consensus information in early childhood. Ninety‐six three‐ to six‐year‐olds watched a demonstration that depicted the positive or negative behavior of one or several actors toward a recipient (low vs. high consensus, respectively). Subsequently, participants made behavioral predictions and personality judgments about the actors and recipients. Participants viewed all story characters favorably and were reluctant to assign blame for negative outcomes, although the appropriate use of consensus information increased with age for behavioral predictions. These findings suggest that there is a positivity bias in young children's personality judgments even in the face of explicit contradictory behavioral evidence. Children's early ‘theory of personality’ is apparently driven by a baseline assumption that people are nice.
Patterns of deviant career in the history of female methadone clients: an exploratory study
Authors: Öhlund Lennart S. , Grönbladh Leif
Published: April 2008

The aim of this article is to describe the drug career of 71 severely opioid‐dependent women who had a history of selling sex and were enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment. Data were collected through semi‐structured interviews, from medical records and reports from social agencies and correctional institutions. The sequential pattern could be described in the following order: initiation of the first drug of abuse, opioid onset, initiation of selling sex, first non‐methadone treatment episode, first sentence and, finally, methadone maintenance treatment. There were significant age differences and correlations between most of the events. The main correlation (r= 0.70) was the one between debut of opioid use and selling sex, which was confirmed in a stepwise multiple regression analysis. In addition, a history of running away from home advanced the age at which the women started selling sex for those with an onset of opioid use at an older age than the mean of 18.4 years.
Out‐of‐home care among immigrant children in Sweden: a national cohort study
Authors: Vinnerljung Bo , Franzén Eva , Gustafsson Björn , Johansson Ing‐Marie
Published: April 2008

We used data from several national registers for ten entire birth cohorts (n > 1 million) to examine the representation of first generation immigrant children among first time entries into out‐of‐home care (foster or residential care) at ages 7–12 and 13–17. Logistic regression models were used to adjust results for socioeconomic background factors. Immigrant children were categorised in six groups relating to birth country/continent. Compared with Swedish‐born peers, immigrant children from non‐European countries had between two‐ and three‐fold sex and birth‐year adjusted odds for being placed in care for the first time at ages 7–12. After adjustments for five socioeconomic background variables, none of these overrisks remained. Instead there was a tendency towards immigrant background being associated with reduced risks, statistically significant for immigrant children born in non‐Nordic European countries. Immigrant children had between two‐ and six‐fold age and birth‐year adjusted odds for entering care for the first time during adolescence. After adjusting the results for socioeconomic background, only immigrant children born in Sub‐Saharan Africa or in Asia outside the Middle East had significant overrisks for care entries at ages 13–17 (odds ratio = 1.5).
Atypical development of face and greeble recognition in autism
Authors: Suzanne Scherf K. , Behrmann Marlene , Minshew Nancy , Luna Beatriz
Published: April 2008

Background:  Impaired face processing is a widely documented deficit in autism. Although the origin of this deficit is unclear, several groups have suggested that a lack of perceptual expertise is contributory. We investigated whether individuals with autism develop expertise in visuoperceptual processing of faces and whether any deficiency in such processing is specific to faces, or extends to other objects, too.

Method:  Participants performed perceptual discrimination tasks, including a face inversion task and a classification‐level task, which requires especially fine‐grained discriminations, on three classes of stimuli: socially‐laden faces, perceptually homogenous novel objects, greebles, and perceptually heterogeneous common objects.

Results:  We found that children with autism develop typical levels of expertise for recognition of common objects. However, they evince poorer recognition for perceptually homogenous objects, including faces and, most especially, greebles.

Conclusions:  Documenting the atypical recognition abilities for greebles in children with autism has provided an important insight into the potential origin of the relatively poor face recognition skills. Our findings suggest that, throughout development, individuals with autism have a generalized deficit in visuoperceptual processing that may interfere with their ability to undertake configural processing, and that this, in turn, adversely impacts their recognition of within‐class perceptually homogenous objects.
Oily fish intake during pregnancy – association with lower hyperactivity but not with higher full‐scale IQ in offspring
Authors: Gale Catharine R. , Robinson Sian M. , Godfrey Keith M. , Law Catherine M. , Schlotz Wolff , O’Callaghan F. J.
Published: April 2008

Background:  Long‐chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are thought to be important for fetal neurodevelopment. Animal studies suggest that a deficiency of omega‐3 fatty acids may lead to behavioural or cognitive deficits. As oily fish is a major dietary source of omega‐3 fatty acids, it is possible that low intake of fish during pregnancy may have adverse effects on the developing fetal brain.

Methods:  We used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence to assess behavioural problems and intelligence in 217 nine‐year‐old children. The mothers of these children had participated in a study of nutrition during pregnancy during which fish intake was assessed in early and late gestation.

Results:  Children whose mothers had eaten oily fish in early pregnancy had a reduced risk of hyperactivity compared to those whose mothers did not eat oily fish: OR .34, 95% CI .15 to .78, after adjustment for potential confounding factors. Children whose mothers had eaten fish (whether oily or non‐oily) in late pregnancy had a verbal IQ that was 7.55 points higher (95% CI .75 to 14.4) than those whose mothers did not eat fish. There were, however, no significant associations between fish intake in pregnancy and other behavioural problems or full‐scale and performance intelligence, after adjustment for potential confounding factors.

Conclusions:  Although maternal fish intake in pregnancy was associated with hyperactivity scores and verbal IQ in children, in general, how much fish women ate during pregnancy appeared to have little long‐term relation with neurodevelopmental outcomes in their child.
Glutamate activates GFAP gene promoter from cultured astrocytes through TGF‐β1 pathways
Authors: Romão Luciana Ferreira , Sousa Vivian de Oliveira , Neto Vivaldo Moura , Gomes Flávia Carvalho Alcantara
Published: April 2008

Glial cells are currently viewed as active partners of neurons in synapse formation. The close proximity of astrocytes to the synaptic cleft suggests that these cells might be potential targets for neuronal‐released molecules although this issue has been less addressed. Here, we evaluated the role of the excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate, in astrocyte differentiation. We recently demonstrated that cortical neurons activate the gene promoter of the astrocyte maturation marker, GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) of cerebral cortex astrocytes by inducing TGF‐β1 (transforming growth factor beta 1) secretion in vitro. To access the effect of glutamate on GFAP gene, we used transgenic mice bearing the β‐Galactosidase (β‐Gal) reporter gene under the regulation of the GFAP gene promoter. We report that 100 μM glutamate activates the GFAP gene promoter of astrocytes from cerebral cortex revealed by a significant increase in the number of β‐Gal positive astrocytes. Neutralizing antibodies against TGF‐β completely prevented glutamate and neuronal‐induction of GFAP gene, thus indicating that this event is mediated by TGF‐β1. Further, induction of GFAP gene in response to glutamate was followed by nuclear translocation of the Smad transcription factor, a hallmark of TGF‐β1 pathway activation. The antagonist of the metabotropic glutamate receptor, MCPG, inhibited neuronal effect suggesting that neuronal activation of GFAP gene promoter involves glutamate metabotropic receptors. MAPK (PD98059) and PI3K (LY294002) inhibitors fully prevented activation of GFAP gene promoter by all treatments. Surprisingly, these inhibitors also abrogated TGF‐β1 direct action on GFAP gene although they did not inhibit Smad‐2 phosphorylation, suggesting that TGF‐β1‐induced GFAP gene activation might involve cooperation between the canonical and non‐canonical TGF‐β pathways. Together, our results suggest that glial metabotropic glutamate 2/3 receptor activation by neurons induces TGF‐β1 secretion, leading to GFAP gene activation and astrocyte differentiation and involves Smad and MAPK/PI3K pathways. Our work provides evidence that astrocytes surrounding synapses are target of neuronal activity and might shed light into the role of glial cells into neurological disorders associated with glutamate neurotoxicity.
Restoring Rainforest Fragments: Survival of Mixed‐Native Species Seedlings under Contrasting Site Conditions in the Western Ghats, India
Authors: Raman T. R. Shankar , Mudappa Divya , Kapoor Vena
Published: April 2008

Historical fragmentation and a current annual deforestation rate of 1.2% in the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot have resulted in a human‐dominated landscape of plantations, agriculture, and developed areas, with embedded rainforest fragments that form biodiversity refuges and animal corridors. On private lands in the Anamalai hills, India, we established restoration sites within three rainforest fragments (5, 19, and 100 ha) representing varying levels of degradation such as open meadow, highly degraded sites with dense Lantana camara invasion, abandoned exotic tree plantations (Eucalyptus grandis and Maesopsis eminii), and sites with mixed‐native and exotic tree canopy. Between 2000 and 2004, we planted annually during the southwest monsoon 7,538 nursery‐raised seedlings of around 127 species in nine sites (0.15–1.0 ha). Seedlings monitored at 6‐monthly intervals showed higher mortality over the dry season than the wet season and survival rates over a 2‐year period of between 34.4 and 90.3% under different site conditions. Seedling survival was higher in sites with complete weed removal as against partial removal along planting lines and higher in open meadow and under shade than in sites that earlier had dense weed invasion. Of 44 species examined, survival across sites after 24 months for a majority of species (27 species, 61.4%) was higher than 50%. Retaining regenerating native species during weed clearing operations was crucial for rapid reestablishment of a first layer of canopy to shade out weeds and enhance survival of shade‐tolerant rainforest seedlings.
Suitability Modeling of Lake Sturgeon Habitat in Five Northern Lake Michigan Tributaries: Implications for Population Rehabilitation
Authors: Daugherty Daniel J. , Sutton Trent M. , Elliott Robert F.
Published: April 2008

The availability of lotic spawning, staging, and nursery habitats is considered a major factor limiting the recovery of Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in Lake Michigan. Despite efforts to better understand the population biology and habitat use of remnant Lake sturgeon stocks, little information exists on the quantity, quality, and spatial distribution of habitats for riverine life stages. We applied georeferenced habitat information on substrate, water depth, and stream gradient to a Lake sturgeon habitat suitability index in a geographic information system to produce spatially explicit models of life stage–specific habitat characteristics in the Menominee River, Michigan–Wisconsin; the Peshtigo, Oconto, and lower Fox rivers, Wisconsin; and the Manistique River, Michigan. High‐quality Lake sturgeon spawning habitat associated with coarse substrates (≥2.1 mm) and moderate‐ to high‐stream gradients (≥0.6 m/km) comprised 1–6% of the available habitat in each system. Staging habitat characterized by water depths greater that 2 m located near potential spawning habitat comprised an additional 17–41%. However, access to a majority of these habitat types (range 30–100%) by Lake sturgeon from Lake Michigan is currently impeded by dams. High‐quality juvenile Lake sturgeon habitat associated with finer substrates, lower stream gradients, and a broad range of water depths (i.e., 0.5–8 m) was relatively ubiquitous throughout each system and comprised 69–100% of the available habitat. Our study suggests that efforts to rehabilitate Lake sturgeon populations should consider providing fish passage and creating supplemental spawning habitat to increase reproductive and recruitment potential.
Habitat Restoration for Lupine and Specialist Butterflies
Authors: Pfitsch William A. , Williams Ernest H.
Published: April 2008

The decline of the Frosted elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus (Godart)) population in the Rome Sand Plains (RSP) of central New York is directly related to loss of its host plant, Wild blue lupine (Lupinus perennis L.), as Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) invades the open sandy habitats where lupine grows. A Frosted elfin (New York threatened) population remains where lupine is the densest. We tested the hypotheses that tree canopy hinders lupine performance and restricts elfin behavior. Removal of white pines in experimental plots resulted in dramatic increases in canopy openness. Lupine flowering stems and lupine cover increased significantly in the tree removal plots and remained constant or declined in the control plots. The total number of lupine stems decreased, however, in both control and cleared plots. Observations of butterflies in the experimental plots increased significantly after tree removal, and male elfins, which form mating territories in sandy areas at the edges of lupine patches, established new territories in open patches where trees had been removed. Several new territories have been used each year since tree removal. This rapid response by the butterflies reflects their behavioral preferences for open areas near lupine patches. Selective tree removal at the RSP has benefited individual lupine plants and increased habitat for Frosted elfin butterflies, but more extensive habitat manipulation may be necessary to increase lupine population numbers.
Approaches to Selecting Native Plant Replacements for Fleshy‐Fruited Invasive Species
Authors: Gosper Carl R. , Vivian‐Smith Gabrielle
Published: April 2008

Invasive plants are a serious threat to biodiversity. Yet, in some cases, they may play an important ecological role in heavily modified landscapes, such as where fleshy‐fruited invasive plants support populations of native frugivores. How can such conservation conflicts be managed? We advocate an approach in which native fleshy‐fruited plants are ranked on their ability to provide the fruit food resources for native frugivores currently being provided by invasive plants. If these native taxa are preferentially used, where ecologically appropriate, in plantings for restoration and in park and garden settings, they could help support native frugivore populations in the event of extensive invasive plant control. We develop and critically examine six approaches to selecting candidate native plant taxa: a multivariate approach based on the frugivore assemblage, a scoring model, and several multivariate approaches (including trait combinations having the greatest correlation with the diet of the native frugivore assemblage) based on the functional traits of fruit morphology, phenology, conspicuousness, and accessibility. To illustrate these approaches, we use a case study with Bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata) (Asteraceae), an Australian Weed of National Significance. The model using a dissimilarity value generated from all available traits identified a set of species used by the frugivores of C. monilifera more than null models. A replacement approach using species ranked by either all traits available or the frugivore community appears best suited to guide selection of plants in restoration practice.
How Much Compensation is Enough? A Framework for Incorporating Uncertainty and Time Discounting When Calculating Offset Ratios for Impacted Habitat
Authors: Moilanen Atte , Van Teeffelen Astrid J. A. , Ben‐Haim Yakov , Ferrier Simon
Published: April 2008

Biodiversity offset areas may compensate for ecological damage caused by human activity elsewhere. One way of determining the offset ratio, or the compensation area needed, is to divide the present conservation value of the development site by the predicted future conservation value of a compensation area of the same size. Matching mean expected utility in this way is deficient because it ignores uncertainty and time lags in the growth of conservation value in compensation areas. Instead, we propose an uncertainty analytic framework for calculating what we call robustly fair offset ratios, which guarantee a high enough probability of the exchange producing at least as much conservation value in the offset areas than is lost from the development site. In particular, we analyze how the fair offset ratio is influenced by uncertainty in the effectiveness of restoration action, correlation between success of different compensation areas, and time discounting. We find that very high offset ratios may be needed to guarantee a robustly fair exchange, compared to simply matching mean expected utilities. These results demonstrate that considerations of uncertainty, correlated success/failure, and time discounting should be included in the determination of the offset ratio to avoid a significant risk that the exchange is unfavorable for conservation in the long run. This is essential because the immediate loss is certain, whereas future gain is uncertain. The proposed framework is also applicable to the case when offset areas already hold conservation value and do not require restoration action, in which case uncertainty about the conservation outcome will be lower.
The Influence of Soil Inoculum and Nitrogen Availability on Restoration of High‐Elevation Steppe Communities Invaded by Bromus tectorum
Authors: Rowe Helen I. , Brown Cynthia S. , Paschke Mark W.
Published: April 2008

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) is an exotic annual grass that has invaded approximately 40,000,000 ha of rangelands in the United States, including montane ecosystems that are important habitats for wildlife and livestock. In addition to well‐understood mechanisms by which Cheatgrass gains competitive advantage, recent studies have shown that Cheatgrass may also change the associated soil microbial community to impact native perennial plants and promote the persistence of Cheatgrass. Furthermore, reducing plant‐available N represents a tool for initiating conditions that accelerate successional change from annual‐ to perennial‐dominated communities. At a montane, mixed shrub–grassland Cheatgrass‐dominated site in Colorado, we applied sucrose to reduce available N, and we added soil from a native plant community in order to reestablish the microbial community. This approach tested the idea that intact native soil microbial communities may enhance the beneficial effect of reducing soil N availability in a restoration setting. By the end of the experiment, reduced N availability decreased Cheatgrass by 9.8%, non‐native annual/biennial plant cover by 15.0%, and increased relative perennial plant cover by 13.4%; soil inoculation reduced Cheatgrass by 7.6% and increased perennial abundance by 11.3%. Soil inoculum additions and reduced N availability both contributed toward restoring a perennial‐dominated community and demonstrates that addition of native soil inoculum may be a useful tool for restoration efforts.
Intravenous Valproate for Status Epilepticus … An Effective, Yet Still Merely Empirical Alternative!
Authors: Kanner Andres M.
Published: April 2008

Valproate Is an Effective, Well-Tolerated Drug for Treatment of Status Epilepticus/Serial Attacks in Adults. Olsen KB, Taubøll E, Gjerstad L. Acta Neurol Scand Suppl 2007;187:51–54. OBJECTIVE: Status epilepticus (SE) and serial attacks (SA) represent neurological emergencies, and mortality rate for SE/SA is high, ranging from 3% to 25%, depending on cause and co-morbidity. As SE/SA become more refractory to treatment over time, rapid, appropriate treatment is extremely important. Here, we report a prospective registration of the effect of intravenous (IV) valproate (VPA) on SE/SA in a group of Norwegian patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-one adult patients (18 males, 23 females) were included in the study. All had previously been unsuccessfully treated with diazepam. For 19, the main SE/SA seizure type was generalized tonic-clonic, while 16 had complex-partial seizures. Six had seizures that were difficult to classify. The treatment protocol recommended 25 mg/kg of VPA loading dose over 30 min, followed by continuous infusion of 100 mg/h for at least 24 h, then per oral administration. If seizures persisted after the loading dose, general anaesthesia (barbiturates/propofol/midazolam) was administered. RESULTS: No serious side effects were reported. In 76% of the cases (31 of 41), SE/SA stopped and anaesthesia was not required. Of the patients treated within 3 h, only 5% needed anaesthesia, whereas of those treated after 3–24 h, 38% needed anaesthesia. Of those who waited for more than 24 h before treatment, 60% required anaesthesia. Furthermore, 60% of the patients who needed anaesthesia were given loading doses below 2100 mg. CONCLUSIONS: VPA seems to be a safe, effective treatment of SE/SA, but efficacy is dependent on time lapse between symptoms and VPA treatment, and administration of a sufficiently high loading dose.
Seizures Beget Seizures in Temporal Lobe Epilepsies: The Boomerang Effects of Newly Formed Aberrant Kainatergic Synapses
Authors: Ben-Ari Yehezkel , Crepel Valerie , Represa Alfonso
Published: April 2008

Do temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) seizures in adults promote further seizures? Clinical and experimental data suggest that new synapses are formed after an initial episode of status epilepticus, however their contribution to the transformation of a naive network to an epileptogenic one has been debated. Recent experimental data show that newly formed aberrant excitatory synapses on the granule cells of the fascia dentate operate by means of kainate receptor-operated signals that are not present on naive granule cells. Therefore, genuine epileptic networks rely on signaling cascades that differentiate them from naive networks. Recurrent limbic seizures generated by the activation of kainate receptors and synapses in naive animals lead to the formation of novel synapses that facilitate the emergence of further seizures. This negative, vicious cycle illustrates the central role of reactive plasticity in neurological disorders.