bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoring tropical diversity: beating the time tax on species loss
Authors: Martínez‐Garza Cristina , Howe Henry F.
Published: June 2003

Fragmentation of tropical forest is accelerating at the same time that already cleared land reverts to secondary growth. Fragments inexorably lose deep‐forest species to local extinction while embedded in low‐diversity stands of early successional pioneer trees.

Pasture matrices undergoing passive secondary succession become a ‘pioneer desert’ from the vantage of remnant immigration, imposing a ‘time tax’ of loss of deep‐forest plants from forest fragments. However, if seeds of deep‐forest trees find pastures, or seedlings are planted there, many will prosper.

Bypassing early domination of pioneer trees in regenerating matrices, or enriching matrices with animal‐dispersed forest trees, may stem the loss of species from forest fragments and accelerate succession far from the edges of old forest.

Synthesis and applications. Planting disperser‐limited trees that establish in open ground may bypass 30–70 years of species attrition in isolated remnants by attracting animals that encourage normal processes of seed dispersal into and out of the fragments. Development of criteria for selection of persistent, reasonably rapidly growing, animal‐dispersed species that are mixed with planted or naturally arriving pioneers will be an important component of enrichment planting.
Use of nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in plant tissue as an indicator of nutrient limitation and nitrogen saturation
Authors: Tessier Jack T. , Raynal Dudley J.
Published: June 2003

Ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) in plant foliage have been used to assess nutrient limitation in wetland ecosystems and to indicate nitrogen saturation. Extension of this application to ecosystems other than wetlands remains to be evaluated.

We compared published N:P ratios as thresholds of nutrient limitation with published accounts from nutrient‐addition experiments and the N:P ratios of understorey vegetation (Acer spp., Dryopteris intermedia, Erythronium americanum, Lycopodium lucidulum, Oxalis acetosella and Viola macloskeyi) from the Catskill Mountains of New York State, USA. We also performed a nutrient‐addition experiment to test the response of these understorey plant species to inputs of N and P.

N:P ratios of Catskill understorey species indicated they were at or near P limitation relative to N:P ratios from other upland ecosystems. Our experiment supported this finding in that none of the species responded to N addition but all increased in P concentration and one increased in biomass with added P. Collectively, these results suggest that the understorey vegetation of the Catskill Mountains is not nitrogen limited, providing further evidence that hardwood forests in this area are nitrogen‐saturated.

Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates that N:P ratios can be effective predictors of nutrient limitation in upland ecosystems. Therefore N:P ratios can be used for management and monitoring purposes in considering the nutrient status of upland ecosystems with particular relevance to the continued deposition of elevated atmospheric N and to the diagnosis of nitrogen saturation.
Demography and management of the invasive plant speciesHypericum perforatum. I. Using multi‐level mixed‐effects models for characterizing growth, survival and fecundity in a long‐term data set
Authors: Buckley Yvonne M. , Briese David T. , Rees Mark
Published: June 2003

Hypericum perforatum, St John's wort, is an invasive perennial herb that is especially problematic on waste ground, roadsides, pastures and open woodland in south‐eastern Australia. We use detailed data from a long‐term observational study to develop quantitative models of the factors affecting growth, survival and fecundity ofH. perforatumindividuals.

Multi‐level or hierarchical mixed‐effects statistical models are used to analyse how environmental and intrinsic plant variables affect growth and reproduction within a complex nested spatial and temporal context. These techniques are relatively underused in ecology, despite the prevalence of multi‐level and repeated‐measures data generated from ecological studies.

We found that plant size (rosette or flowering stems) was strongly correlated with all life stages studied (growth, probability of flowering, asexual reproduction, survival and fruit production). Environmental variables such as herbivory, ground cover and rainfall had significant effects on several life stages.

Significant spatial variation at the quadrat level was found in the probability of flowering, flowering stem growth and fruit production models; variation at all other spatial levels in all models was non‐significant. Yearly temporal variation was significant in all models where multi‐year data were available.

Plants in shaded habitats were smaller but had higher survival probabilities than plants in open habitats. They are therefore likely to have slightly different population dynamics.

Synthesis and applications.Analysis of these models forH. perforatumhas provided insights into which plant traits and environmental factors determine how populations increase and persist in exotic ecosystems, enabling population management strategies to be most effectively targeted. Spatially and temporally correlated data are often collected in long‐term ecological studies and multi‐level models are a way in which we can fully exploit the wealth of data available. Without these tools data are either underexploited or crucial assumptions of independence on which many statistics are based are contravened.
Evaluating and synthesizing qualitative research: the need to develop a distinctive approach
Authors: Barbour Rosaline S. , Barbour Michael
Published: June 2003

The growing popularity of qualitative research has led to calls for it to be incorporated into the evidence base. It is argued that, in seeking to respond to this challenge, it is important that we recognize the important differences between qualitative and quantitative research and that we take this into account in developing a distinctive approach. This paper outlines the distinctive contribution made by qualitative research with regard to the nature of the curiosity involved, the iterative research process and its treatment of data, analysis and findings. We caution against simply importing templates developed for systematic review of quantitative work, and make suggestions with regard to developing a new model for evaluating and synthesizing qualitative work. The proposed new model takes a critical look at some of the assumptions underpinning systematic review, such as the process of literature searching and selection of relevant material. Although there is potential for checklist items – such as purposive sampling, respondent validation, multiple coding, triangulation and grounded theory – to be used over‐prescriptively in evaluating qualitative papers, it is argued that a more creative engagement with these concepts could yield a distinctive approach more appropriate for this type of work. Moreover, we speculate that some of the questions thereby raised might be usefully applied to consideration of established procedures for reviewing quantitative work.
Are performance indicators generic? The international experience of the Quality Indicator Project®
Authors: Kazandjian Vahé A. , Matthes Nikolas , Wicker Karol G.
Published: June 2003

Performance indicators for healthcare organizations represent a strategy for accountability worldwide. A universal approach to either the design for indicators or their applicability to local needs remains a work in progress. The Maryland Hospital Association's Quality Indicator Project® (QIP) is the only indicator‐based performance measurement system used worldwide. This paper presents, for the first time in QIP's 17 years of existence, data showing why MHA's QIP may qualify as the most accepted generic methodology for healthcare performance measurement and evaluation.
Seeking evidence from medical research consumers as part of the medical research process could improve the uptake of research evidence
Authors: Whitstock Margaret T.
Published: June 2003

Concerns have been expressed about gaps between available medical research evidence and current medical practice. These gaps have been attributed to process problems with the implementation of evidence previously judged to be appropriate, rather than to problems with the appropriateness of the evidence provided for implementation. Two such ‘appropriateness’ problems are the applicability of research evidence to an individual patient, and the acceptability to an individual patient of a proposed treatment. Part of both these problems is due to the pre‐eminence of the scientific paradigm within the medical research domain, and of the randomized controlled clinical trial within that domain. However, there is an opportunity beneficially to address both these problems by supporting reciprocal communication between medical research ‘producers’ and medical research ‘consumers’– both practising clinicians and patients’ representatives – in the setting of research priorities, selection of topics for research, development of research questions and study designs, in‐progress reviewing, and final reporting of medical research projects. Such communication could allow researchers to understand, and respond to, clinicians’ and patients’ inputs concerning the applicability, utility and acceptability issues that will ultimately affect whether, and how, medical research findings can be applied. Such communication could also assist with some post‐research implementation issues: integration of appropriate evidence into everyday practice; access to appropriate information sources; and a critical lack of necessary time.
Evaluating change in health care practice: lessons from three studies
Authors: Redfern Sally , Christian Sara , Norman Ian
Published: June 2003

Implementation and evaluation of evidence‐based practice are high on the policy agenda in the UK National Health Service. Over the last 30 years evaluation of practice in the health services has moved from a (medical) profession‐led mode to a politically and managerially led mode in which objectives are pre‐set by those who legitimate and fund the services. Against this background we describe three recent evaluations of nursing practice as examples to illustrate challenges encountered when evaluating changes in practice developments in health care. If evaluations are to contribute to improvements in practice, a shift is needed from an over‐reliance on one‐off outcome evaluations to those that have a cumulative component and take account of context and process as well as outcome. The merits of realistic evaluation are suggested as a solution to the methodological limitations of traditional approaches and to developing generalizable theory.
Public disclosure of comparative clinical performance data: lessons from the Scottish experience
Authors: Mannion Russell , Goddard Maria
Published: June 2003

There is growing international interest in making information available on the clinical quality and performance of health care providers. In the United States of America, where public reporting is most advanced, comparative performance information in the form of ‘report cards’, ‘provider profiles’ and ‘consumer reports’ has been published for over a decade. In Europe, Scotland has been at the forefront of releasing clinical performance data and has disseminated such information since 1994. This paper reviews the Scottish experience of public disclosure and distils the key lessons for other countries seeking to implement similar programmes. It is based on the findings of the first empirical evaluation of a national clinical reporting initiative outside the United States. The study examined the impact of publication of Scottish (CRAG) clinical outcome indicators on four key stakeholder groups: health care providers, regional government health care purchasers, general practitioners and consumer advocacy agencies. We conclude that those responsible for developing clinical reporting systems should not only pay close attention to developing technically valid and professionally credible data which are tailored to the information needs of different end users, but should also focus on developing a suitable incentive structure and organizational environment that fosters the constructive use of such information.
The evolution of clinical audit as a tool for quality improvement
Authors: Berk Michael , Callaly Thomas , Hyland Mary
Published: June 2003

Clinical auditing practices are recognized universally as a useful tool in evaluating and improving the quality of care provided by a health service. External auditing is a regular activity for mental health services in Australia but internal auditing activities are conducted at the discretion of each service. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of 6 years of internal auditing activities in a mental health service. A review of the scope, audit tools, purpose, sampling and design of the internal audits and identification of the recommendations from six consecutive annual audit reports was completed. Audit recommendations were examined, as well as levels of implementation and reasons for success or failure. Fifty‐seven recommendations were identified, with 35% without action, 28% implemented and 33.3% still pending or in progress. The recommendations were more likely to be implemented if they relied on activity, planning and action across a selection of service areas rather than being restricted to individual departments within a service, if they did not involve non‐mental health service departments and if they were not reliant on attitudinal change. Tools used, scope and reporting formats have become more sophisticated as part of the evolutionary nature of the auditing process. Internal auditing in the Barwon Health Mental Health Service has been effective in producing change in the quality of care across the organization. A number of evolutionary changes in the audit process have improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the audit.
Reframing the evaluation of qualitative health research: reflections on a review of appraisal guidelines in the health sciences
Authors: Eakin Joan M. , Mykhalovskiy Eric
Published: June 2003

In this article, we explore the form of evaluation put forward by guidelines used in the health sciences for appraising qualitative research and we begin to articulate an alternative posture. Most guidelines are derivative of the modes of assessment developed by clinical epidemiologists as part of the promotion of evidence‐based medicine (EBM). They are predominantly proceduralist in orientation, equating quality with the proper execution of research techniques. We argue that this form of judgment assumes a fixed relationship between research practice and knowledge generated, and tends to over‐simplify and standardize the complex and non‐formulaic nature of qualitative inquiry. A concern with methods as objects of judgment in and of themselves restricts the reader's field of vision to the research process and diverts attention away from the analytic content of the research. We propose an alternative ‘substantive’ perspective that focuses on the analysis put forward, and regards methods as resources for engaging with and understanding the substantive findings and topic of inquiry. An important challenge is to find a way to embody such a form of judgment in practical assessment tools.
Inductive reasoning in medicine: lessons from Carl Gustav Hempel's ‘inductive‐statistical’ model
Authors: Gandjour Afschin , Lauterbach Karl Wilhelm
Published: June 2003

The purpose of this paper is to discuss both the fundamental requirements of sound scientific explanations and predictions and common fallacies that occur in explaining and predicting medical problems. To this end, the paper presents Carl Gustav Hempel's ‘covering‐law’ model (1948 and 1962) and reviews some of the criticism of the model. The strength of Hempel's model is that it shows that inductive arguments, when applied with the requirement of maximal specificity, can serve as explanations as well as predictions. The major weakness of the ‘covering‐law’ model, its inability to portray causal relatedness, has been addressed by philosophers such as Wesley Salmon. While few philosophers today agree with the ‘covering‐law’ model in its original formulation, there is widespread consensus that the law has made a central contribution to describing the fundamental requirements of sound scientific explanations. Applying this model and its revisions in the medical context may help uncover potentially undetected fallacies in reasoning when explaining and predicting medical problems.
Evaluation of screening for a cancer: annotated catechism of the Gold Standard creed
Authors: Miettinen Olli S. , Yankelevitz David F. , Henschke Claudia I.
Published: June 2003

Even non‐scientific people are generally aware of, and commonly also personally affected by, the confusion and debates that arose from two recent systematic reviews and their associated meta‐analyses of the published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that had been designed to assess the usefulness of screening for breast cancer. With nothing about the principles of research on cancer screening learned from this debacle, an RCT on screening for lung cancer has just been launched in the same ‘gold standard’ framework; and so in about 10 years, and upon expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars, we are said to be able to learn whether the screening saves lives and whether it thereby is justifiable as a matter of public policy. We here examine the core tenets and precepts in this ‘gold standard’ line of thinking, and we argue that they are matters of belief at variance with the dictates of reason.
Further cytological characteristics of a male‐sterile mutant in soybean affecting cytokinesis and microspore development
Authors: Bione N. C. P. , Pagliarini M. S. , Almeida L. Alves DE , Röbbelen R.
Published: June 2003

A spontaneous male‐sterile mutation affecting microspore development has been found in BR97‐13509H line of the official Brazilian soybean breeding programme. Slightly abnormal and irregular chromosome segregation occurred in both meiotic divisions, albeit insufficient to explain total pollen sterility. The main cause of male sterility was the absence of cytokinesis after telophase II. Instead of the typical tetrads of microspores, four‐nucleate coenocytic microspores were formed. Coenocytic microspores resulting from the absence of cytokinesis have also been described in ms1 and ms4 male‐sterile soybean mutants, although with certain differential characteristics. In the BR97‐13509H mutant line, after interphase the four nuclei were rejoined in one or two metaphase plates and progressed through the first pollen mitosis. Pollen then underwent a progressive process of degeneration characterized by continuous cytoplasmic shrinkage. The second pollen mitosis failed to occur, and pollen sterility became total.
Identification of a major QTL in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) associated with resistance to witches’ broom disease
Authors: Queiroz V. T. , Guimarães C. T. , Anhert D. , Schuster I. , Daher R. T. , Pereira M. G. , Miranda V. R. M. , Loguercio L. L. , Barros E. G. , Moreira M. A. , Wricke G.
Published: June 2003

The witches’ broom disease caused by the fungus Crinipellis perniciosa is the main limiting factor for cocoa production in South America and the Caribbean. In Brazil, this disease affects almost all cocoa‐growing regions, causing serious economic, social and ecological damage. The aim of this study was to map genomic regions associated with resistance to C. perniciosa using an F2 population derived from a cross between ‘Scavina‐6’(resistant) and ‘ICS‐1’(susceptible). The phenotypic index was determined as the average number of vegetative witches’ brooms per canopy area of each plant, the witches’ brooms were counted and eliminated during six field evaluations between May 1998 and August 1999. A total of 124 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and 69 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were mapped along 25 linkage groups covering 1713 cM of cocoa genome. After employing single factor and composite interval mapping analyses, a major quantitative trait loci (QTL) flanked by the marker AV14.940 was identified in the linkage group 11, explaining almost 35% of the resistance to witches’ broom. The present result suggests that this QTL acts as a major dominant component of resistance to this pathogen, with great potential for use in marker‐assisted selection procedures in cocoa breeding programmes.
Alkaloid accumulation in capsules of the selfed and cross‐pollinated poppy
Authors: Bernáth J. , Németh É. , Petheõ F. , Friedt W.
Published: June 2003

In harmony with international regulations the creation of poppy cultivars with high alkaloid content as well as free of alkaloids is in progress. In the course of selection procedures, five poppy cultivars of high chemical diversity, ‘Kheops’, ‘AT, ‘Tebona’, ‘Kék Gemona’ and ‘Przemko’, were selfed and crossed in two successive years (2000‐01). After full ripening, both the biomass production and the alkaloid content of capsules of selfed and crossed plants were determined. When the castrated alkaloid‐free cultivar ‘Przemko’ (accumulating only 0.01 mg/100 g morphine in capsules) was pollinated with cultivars rich in alkaloids, the morphine content of its capsules increased to 0.9‐7.5 mg/100 g‐values. Based on the well‐known biosynthetic background of poppy alkaloids, this can be explained by promotion of (S)‐norcoclaurine synthesis, which seems to be suppressed in alkaloid‐free plants; but tissues of the developing hybrid seeds, which contain a combined gene pool of both alkaloid‐free cultivar and that of the pollen donor plants, release this suppression. The chemical metaxenia also manifested itself in other combinations. In particular, the appearance of narcotine (0.1‐1.1 mg/100 g) in the narcotine‐free cultivars ‘Kheops’, ‘A1’ and ‘Przemko’ can be explained biochemically. If the narcotine‐type plants ‘Kék Gemona’ (accumulating 11.3 mg/g narcotine) were used for pollination, the developing seed tissue, which contains the gene pool of narcotine biosynthesis, might contribute to the suppression of the activity of 1,2‐dehydroreticuline reductase, which leads to the accumulation of narcotine at the cost of morphinanes.
Tuber yield and quality of 4x‐2x (FDR) potato progenies derived from the wild diploid species Solanum berthaultii and Solanum tarijense
Authors: Buso J. A. , Boiteux L. S. , Peloquin S. J. , Salamini F.
Published: June 2003

Field experiments were carried out in order to evaluate 4x‐2x families derived from crosses between elite 4x potato cultivars and 2x Tuberosum‐Solanum tarijense and 2x Tuberosum‐Solanum berthaultii clones. Three traits were assessed: total tuber yield (TTY), haulm maturity (HM) and general tuber appearance (GTA). The degree of heterosis of these hybrid families was evaluated by comparison with the respective 2x and 4x parents as well as with seven 4x cultivars. The parental haploid species hybrids derived from S. berthaultii and S. tarijense combined two or more positive horticultural characteristics. Expressed as yield percentage of the 4x parents, the TTY of the families ranged from 53% to 246%. For TTY, the best 4x‐2x hybrid family ranked better than seven out of nine elite 4x cultivars. Some families had GTA scores in the range of the highly selected 4x cultivars. The families, however, were generally later maturing than the 4x parent group. Specific combining ability for TTY and GTA were the only two significant sources of variation observed in this genetic material. Parent‐offspring correlation coefficients were low for all traits, and indicated that parental performance would not be informative at either ploidy level. These results parallel previous investigations with distinct haploid species hybrids where a 4x‐2x breeding scheme was found to be an effective strategy for increasing progeny TTY over the 4x parents. However, the high degree of heterosis for TTY along with good GTA scores observed in certain cross combinations derived from these unadapted 2x species was a somewhat surprising result. Thus far, the importance of these two South American wild potato species, from the potato‐breeding standpoint, has been limited to the fact that they are natural reservoirs of major genes controlling resistance against important diseases and insects. However, the level of performance of some 4x‐2x families in comparative assays with elite cultivars suggests the unanticipated possibility of introgressing genetic factors from S. berthaultii and S. tarijense with positive effects on quantitative traits of horticultural importance along with these major resistance genes.
Identification and characterization of microsatellites in eggplant
Authors: Nunome T. , Suwabe K. , Iketani H. , Hirai M. , Wricke G.
Published: June 2003

The potential of microsatellite markers for use in genetic studies in eggplant, Solanum melongena, has been evaluated. A genomic library of eggplant was screened for GA and GT repeat motifs to isolate microsatellite clones. The frequency of each repeat motif in the eggplant genome was found to be every 3200 kb for GA repeats and every 820 kb for GT repeats. Sixty‐one per cent of GT repeats were found to directly flank AT repeats. A total of 37 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer pairs were designed, 23 of which amplified a single product or several products. The level of microsatellite polymorphism was evaluated by using S. melongena lines and related Solanum species. Two to six alleles per primer pair were displayed in the S. melongena lines and two to 13 alleles were displayed in the Solanum relatives. Seven microsatellites showed polymorphism between parental lines of the mapping population and segregated in a codominant Mendelian manner. These microsatellite loci were distributed throughout the linkage map.
Mapping of the Vrn‐B1 gene in Triticum aestivum using microsatellite markers
Authors: Leonova I. , Pestsova E. , Salina E. , Efremova T. , Röder M. , Börner A. , Fischbeck G.
Published: June 2003

An F2 population segregating for the dominant gene Vrn‐B1 was developed from the cross of the substitution line ‘Diamant/'Miro‐novskaya 808 5A’ and the winter wheat cultivar ‘Bezostaya 1′. Microsatellite markers (Xgwm and Xbarc) with known map locations on chromosome 5B of common wheat were used for mapping the gene Vrn‐B1. Polymorphism between parental varieties was observed for 28 out of 34 microsatellite markers (82%). Applying the quantitative trait loci mapping approach, the target gene was mapped on the long arm of chromosome 5B, closely linked to Xgwm408. The map position of Vrn‐B1 suggests that the gene is homoeologous to other vernalization response genes located on the homoeologous group 5 chromosomes of wheat, rye and barley.
Evaluation of parsley for resistance to the pathogens Alternaria radicina, Erysiphe heraclei, Fusarium oxysporum, and celery mosaic virus (CeMV)
Authors: Marthe F. , Scholze P. , Kramer R. , Proll E. , Hammer K. , Wricke G.
Published: June 2003

Resistance tests of 127 parsley accessions (Petroselinum crispum) were carried out during 2 years of field investigations involving natural infection for black leaf spot (Alternaria radicina), mildew (Erysiphe heraclei), leaf chlorosis (Fusarium oxysporum) and viruses, particularly celery mosaic virus (CeMV). In this first extensive evaluation of parsley for all tested pathogens accessions were found to be free of symptoms.

Varieties of vars.crispumandtuberosumcontained more accessions weakly infected or immune to black leaf spot than vars.vulgareandneapolitanicum. In a separate test five var.crispumaccessions showed significantly reduced disease ratings, indicating their potential as sources of resistance. Mildew attacked almost the same number of accessions in both years: 29 accessions of var.crispumshowed no symptoms, but 16 of the var.tuberosumaccessions were highly susceptible. Whereas in the var.vulgareone half of the introductions were moderately or strongly infected by viruses, mainly CeMV, a high number of plants remained uninfected in the vars.crispum, neapolitanicumandtuberosum. In the case ofF. oxysporum, the greatest amount of infection was in the var.crispumduring both years. The sources of resistance described including multiple resistance would be of interest in future breeding programmes for resistance to the parsley pathogens discussed.
Inheritance of tolerance to zinc deficiency in barley
Authors: Genc Y. , Shepherd K. W. , Mcdonald G. K. , Graham R. D. , Leon J.
Published: June 2003

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is often grown on alkaline zinc (Zn)‐deficient soils where reductions in yield and grain quality are frequently reported. Currently, the use of Zn‐based fertilizer along with Zn‐deficiency‐tolerant genotypes is considered the most thorough approach for cropping the Zn‐deficient soils; however, developing or breeding genotypes with higher Zn efficiency requires a good understanding of the inheritance of tolerance to Zn deficiency. This study was conducted to determine genetic control of this trait in barley. Two parental cultivars ('Skiff, moderately tolerant; and ‘Forrest’, sensitive), 185 F2 plants, and 48 F2‐derived F3 families from this cross were screened to determine inheritance of tolerance to Zn deficiency using a visual score of deficiency symptoms. The segregation ratios observed indicated that greater tolerance to Zn deficiency in ‘Skiff compared with ‘Forrest’ at the seedling stage is controlled by a single gene with no dominance. The results also indicate that visual scores are useful for genetic analysis of tolerance to Zn deficiency.
Identification of a molecular marker linked to an Agropyron elongatum‐derived gene Lr19 for leaf rust resistance in wheat
Authors: Cherukuri D. P. , Gupta S. K. , Charpe A. , Koul S. , Prabhu K. V. , Singh R. B. , Haq Q. M. R. , Chauhan S. V. S. , Weber W.E.
Published: June 2003

The leaf rust resistance gene Lr19, transferred from Agropyron elongatum into wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) imparts resistance to all pathotypes of leaf rust (Puccinia recondita f.sp. tritici) in South‐east Asia. A segregating F2 population from a cross between the leaf rust resistant parent ‘HW 2046’ carrying Lr19 and a susceptible parent ‘Agra Local’ was screened in the phytotron against a virulent pathotype 77‐5 of leaf rust with the objective of identifying the molecular markers linked to Lr19. The gene was first tagged with a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker S73728. The RAPD marker linked to the gene Lr19 which mapped at 6.4 ± 0.035 cM distance, was converted to a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker. The SCAR marker (SCS73719) was specific to Lr19 and was not amplified in the near‐isogenic lines (NILs) carrying other equally effective alien genes Lr9, Lr28 and Lr32 enabling breeders to pyramid Lr19 with these genes.
Positive effect of the high‐molecular‐weight glutenin allele, Glu‐D1d, on the bread‐making quality of common wheat
Authors: Tanaka H. , Nakata N. , Osawa M. , Tomita M. , Tsujimoto H. , Yasumuro Y. , Fischbeck G.
Published: June 2003

The seed storage proteins of wheat flour are the determinants of bread‐making quality. Many cultivars having good bread‐making quality carry the Glu‐D1d allele responsible for the development of glutenin, a major seed storage protein. The Glu‐D1d allele was introduced into four leading Japanese wheat cultivars by recurrent backcrossing and the quality of these near‐isogenic lines (NILs) was evaluated by the sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation value of their flour. The values for the NILs were significantly higher than for the corresponding recipient cultivars. However, the values did not reach the level of the cultivar that had been used as the donor of the Glu‐D1d allele.
Detection of endophytic fungi in Festuca spp. by means of tissue print immunoassay
Authors: Hahn H. , Huth W. , Schöberlein W. , Diepenbrock W. , Weber W. E.
Published: June 2003

Many wild and cultivated grasses live in mutualistic symbiosis with endophytic fungi of the genera Neotyphodium and Epichloë. These associations are of agronomic importance because endophytes may induce a range of beneficial effects for the host plant but also produce alkaloids detrimental to livestock. Conventional detection of endophytes by means of histological staining is time‐consuming and not suited for large numbers of samples. Therefore, in order to simplify the detection of endophytic fungi the utility of tissue print immunoassay (TPIA) was studied and compared with the commonly used microscopic analysis. Ecotypes collected from natural grassland habitats and plants from field experiments were analyzed for endophyte infection. Both methods provided similar results. Based on stained or non‐stained mycelium in tissue prints, endophyte‐infected (E +) and endophyte‐free (E‐) tillers and inflorescences of Festuca pratensis, F. arundinacea and F. rubra were clearly distinguishable. Prints of cross sections of tillers allow the precise localization of endophyte infection within the plant tissues. Because TPIA allows the examination of endophytes in individual branches and segments of inflorescences it is a useful method for dissemination studies. Tissue print immunoassay appears to be a reliable method suited for routine work in research, practical grassland management and selection of defined E + or E‐ material for breeding.
Use of diploid self incompatible rose genotypes as a tool for gene flow analyses in roses
Authors: Debener T. , Dohm A. , Mattiesch L. , Forkmann G.
Published: June 2003

A diploid rose genotype previously found to be self incompatible in greenhouse pollination experiments was analyzed in order to investigate the capacity to self fertilize under field conditions. A subset of 36 plants from open pollinations were analyzed by means of AFLP markers. All plants were found to be the result of outcrossing events, thereby demonstrating the utility of these kinds of rose genotypes as effective pollen sinks for future gene flow analyses under field conditions. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that isolation distances of 250 m from large rose plantations are insufficient to prevent gene flow between populations.
Evaluation of floral characteristics of barley in the semi‐arid climate of north Syria
Authors: Abdel‐Ghani A. H. , Parzies H. K. , Ceccarelli S. , Grando S. , Geiger H. H. , Graner A.
Published: June 2003

Previous studies have revealed that, in areas affected by severe drought, yielding ability and stability of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) could be improved by increasing the level of heterozygosity. One possible approach to increase the heterozygosity level is to improve the outcrossing rate. In view of that, the genetic variability and phenotypic correlation coefficients involving four floral traits related to outcrossing behaviour were investigated in 274 drought adapted barley lines from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA's) current breeding programme. A significant quantitative variation existed in anther length and width, stigma length, and anther extrusion, which indicate that selection for these traits may be effective. Anther extrusion showed weak but highly significant positive correlations with anther and stigma length. Somewhat higher positive correlations were found between anther and stigma length. The results indicate that selection for high anther extrusion and longer anthers and stigmata may increase outcrossing in cultivated barley and consequently improve yielding ability through enhanced heterozygosity.
Transmission of a Bacillus thuringiensis cry3Aa transgene from diploid to tetraploid potato using 4x‐2x hybridization: effect of ploidy increase on transgene expression and implications for TPS hybrid production
Authors: Johnson A. A. T. , Nault B. A. , Veilleux R. E. , Salamini F.
Published: June 2003

The study examined the effect of ploidy elevation through unreduced gametes on transgene expression in potato. Tetraploid transgenic progenies were obtained from one tetraploid potato cultivar crossed with 2n pollen producing diploid clones harbouring an exogenous transgene (cry3Aa). Both single‐ and multiple‐insert diploid transgenic lines that were regenerated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens leaf disc inoculation were used in crosses. A DAS‐ELISA system and no‐choice feeding bioassay enabled characterization of the parental lines as either ‘high’ or low’ expressers of the Cry3Aa protein. High Cry3Aa expression was observed for both single‐insert transgenic diploids and their 4x‐2x progeny. On the contrary, 68% of 4x‐2x progeny derived from a multiple‐insert, diploid transgenic had significantly reduced Cry3Aa expression compared with the parent, with 32% demonstrating nearly complete silencing of the transgene. Multiple copies of a transgene, like homologous native genes, may be susceptible to transgene silencing following polyploidization. Therefore, incorporation of exogenous transgenes into a true potato seed (TPS) production system is feasible if a single‐insert diploid parent is used. Gene‐centromere mapping of the cry3Aa transgene demonstrated that a non‐transgenic refuge might be naturally created in a TPS hybrid system through genetic recombination.
An early scientific approach to heredity by the plant breeder Wilhelm Rimpau (1842‐1903)
Authors: Meinel A.
Published: June 2003

Wilhelm Rimpau (1842–1903), independently of Gregor Mendel, observed all the regular patterns which are central to breeding methods with self‐pollinating plants and which were later interpreted in terms of Mendel's Laws of Inheritance. The different approaches of Rimpau and Mendel to heredity ‐ due to their different objectives ‐laid the foundations over the course of the late 19th century of two new promising disciplines: modern plant breeding and genetics.
Allocation of Responsibility: Managerial Perspectives on Pollution in Three Chinese Municipalities
Authors: Fryxell Gerald E , Lo Carlos W H , Lam Tao-Chiu
Published: June 2003

It is widely acknowledged that China's economic miracle has been achieved at the expense of its natural environment. Although considerable emphasis is now being given to the environment in the central government's current policy initiatives, reversing the degradation of natural capital will require the full range of policy mechanisms. Although businesses must be made to comply with regulations, collaboration from management will be required to implement various nonregulatory policy mechanisms. Consequently, it is important to understand managers' assessment of the current situation, particularly in light of China's ‘command-and-control’ tradition and whom they hold responsible. From a sample of 653 managers in three large urban centers, it was found that Chinese managers hold multiple institutions responsible. The central and local governments are held primarily responsible—both for not having passed stricter regulations and for not having enforced those already on the books. Economic organizations are held secondarily responsible. Significant differences among sectors and regions, however, were also observed.
The Conceptual Integration of Planning and Sustainability: An Investigation of Planners in the United States
Authors: Jepson Edward J
Published: June 2003

The author reports the results of a survey of more than five hundred local planners in the United States. The purpose of the survey was to measure the extent to which an ecological definition of sustainable development is reflected in planners' views and opinions. Through statistical and other quantitative analyses of the results of the survey, it was found that the conceptual integration of sustainability is most related to the planners' academic background, the state public policy context in which they work, and their general level of support for the concept. Although there is much consistency between planners' views and sustainability there remain several areas of conceptual conflict, primarily in relation to nonurban issues (that is, agriculture and natural open space) and private market forces that affect the use of land.
Charting Uncertainty in Science-Policy Discourses: The Construction of the Chlorinated Drinking-Water Issue and Cancer
Authors: Driedger S Michelle , Eyles John
Published: June 2003

Drinking-water guidelines remain an ongoing issue within Canada, as elsewhere. Given recent epidemiological evidence concerning chlorinated disinfection byproducts in drinking water and cancer outcomes, some branches within Health Canada have been undertaking an extensive review of the issue. This paper examines what impact contested scientific authorities, as filtered through a regulatory agency, may have on the policymaking process in the setting of Canadian drinking-water guidelines. Using an agenda-setting framework, we rely on a textual analysis of a Health Canada expert panel report and a position paper written to accompany the panel report; Canadian print media translations of scientific evidence; and in-depth interviews with scientists (from the academy, industry, and government) and other interested stakeholders [for example, chlorine and water industry, and environmental nongovernmental organizations]. Through this analysis we reconstruct a discourse which suggests government-science in policy, rather than policymakers, is primarily and presently driving the issue. The issue itself appears to remain a debate which is largely over the strength of the scientific evidence from regulatory and public-health scientists (for example, in Health Canada), and their colleague research scientists (for example, leading researchers in the field). Although we argue that it is primarily cancer that drives the science-policy agenda, with respect to chlorinated drinking water, it is possible that reproductive effects are likely to be central to the debate for controlling chlorine use in the future.
Overreliance on the Core—Periphery Model? The Case of Israel
Authors: Bar-El Raphael , Parr John B
Published: June 2003

In the field of national and regional development planning considerable use has been made of the core–periphery model as a means of generalising the spatial structure of a national economy. The general argument of the paper is that under certain conditions such a model may represent an unsatisfactory characterization of actual conditions which, in turn, may cause decisionmakers to make an inaccurate diagnosis of a regional problem, leading to an inappropriate policy response. After considering the core–periphery model and its recent extensions, this general argument is examined with respect to the Southern region of Israel, a region customarily viewed as one of the nation's peripheries. It is demonstrated that in several important respects the region does not conform to the usual stereotype of the periphery. The impact of public policy on the development of the region is also considered, and it is argued that the particular form of intervention has not always been in the best interests of the region. Two alternative policy emphases for the future development of the Southern region are outlined.
Nongovernmental Organizations as Intermediaries for Decentralization in Bolivia
Authors: Kohl Ben
Published: June 2003

During the implementation of the 1994 Law of Popular Participation (LPP) nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) assumed a new role as intermediaries between the government and the Bolivian population. The law, at the heart of a decentralization program, transferred 20% of the national budget to municipalities, established participatory planning, and mandated oversight by grass-roots territorial organizations. In some cases, NGOs with long-term commitments to an area have served as effective planning agents, successfully assisting a relatively democratic process of decentralization, and using their project-writing expertise to find matching grants to leverage revenue-sharing funds. Perhaps most important, some NGOs have educated residents of small municipalities about their rights to participate in local planning and budgeting. At the same time, rivalries between NGOs, NGO control of planning, and the failure to establish a permanent presence in a municipality have limited NGO effectiveness. Despite these shortcomings, NGOs have the potential to help prevent local elite cooption of the LPP and the corruption found throughout the country as small municipalities develop the technical capacity to direct local development.

Examination of the Bolivian experience offers lessons both on the opportunities and on the limitations of NGOs as partners with governments that seek efficient and more equitable solutions to problems of local development. This assessment is particularly important as multilateral donors and institutions have consistently used Bolivia over the past fifteen years to experiment with new policy models which they later apply elsewhere in the developing world.
The Fluttering-Heart Illusion: A New Hypothesis
Authors: Nguyen-Tri David , Faubert Jocelyn
Published: June 2003

The fluttering-heart illusion is a perceived lagging behind of a colour target on a background of a different colour when the two are oscillated together. It has been proposed that the illusion is caused by a differential in the perceptual latencies of different colours (Helmholtz 1867/1962), a differential in rod–cone latencies (von Kries 1896) and rod–cone interactions (von Grünau 1975, 1976 Vision Research15 431–436, 437–440; 16 397–401; see list of references there). The purpose of this experiment was to assess the hypothesis that the fluttering-heart illusion is caused by a differential in the perceived velocities of chromatic and achromatic motion. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tested observers possessing normal colour vision and deuteranopes. The perceived delay of a chromatic target relative to an achromatic target was measured as a function of background cone contrast and target colour. For observers with normal colour vision, the perceived delay of the chromatic target is greater in the L–S than the L–M testing conditions. The reverse is observed in deuteranope observers. We suggest that this is caused by the absence of an L–M opponent mechanism contributing to chromatic motion in deuteranopes. Greater background cone contrasts tended to yield smaller perceived delays in both normal and deuteranope observers, indicating that greater chromatic modulation decreases the perceived delay of the colour target. These results support the hypothesis that the fluttering-heart illusion can be explained by a differential in the perceived velocities of chromatic and achromatic motion.
The Time Course of Abstract Visual Representation
Authors: Tatler Benjamin W , Gilchrist Iain D , Rusted Jenny
Published: June 2003

Studies in change blindness re-enforce the suggestion that veridical, pictorial representations that survive multiple relocations of gaze are unlikely to be generated in the visual system. However, more abstract information may well be extracted and represented by the visual system. In this paper we study the types of information that are retained and the time courses over which these representations are constructed when participants view complex natural scenes. We find that such information is retained and that the resultant abstract representations encode a range of information. Different types of information are extracted and represented over different time courses. After several seconds of viewing natural scenes, our visual system is able to construct a complex information-rich representation.