bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A serum amyloid P‐binding hydrogel speeds healing of partial thickness wounds in pigs
Authors: Gomer Richard H. , Pilling Darrell , Kauvar Lawrence M. , Ellsworth Stote , Ronkainen Sanna D. , Roife David , Davis Stephen C.
Published: May 2009

During wound healing, some circulating monocytes enter the wound, differentiate into fibroblast‐like cells called fibrocytes, and appear to then further differentiate into myofibroblasts, cells that play a key role in collagen deposition, cytokine release, and wound contraction. The differentiation of monocytes into fibrocytes is inhibited by the serum protein serum amyloid P (SAP). Depleting SAP at a wound site thus might speed wound healing. SAP binds to some types of agarose in the presence of Ca2+. We found that human SAP binds to an agarose with a KD of 7 × 10−8 M and a Bmax of 2.1 μg SAP/mg wet weight agarose. Mixing this agarose 1 : 5 w/v with 30 μg/mL human SAP (the average SAP concentration in normal serum) in a buffer containing 2 mM Ca2+ reduced the free SAP concentration to ∼0.02 μg/mL, well below the concentration that inhibits fibrocyte differentiation. Compared with a hydrogel dressing and a foam dressing, dressings containing this agarose and Ca2+ significantly increased the speed of wound healing in partial thickness wounds in pigs. This suggests that agarose/Ca2+ dressings may be beneficial for wound healing in humans.
Staphylococcal biofilms impair wound healing by delaying reepithelialization in a murine cutaneous wound model
Authors: Schierle Clark F. , De la Garza Mauricio , Mustoe Thomas A. , Galiano Robert D.
Published: May 2009

Bacterial biofilms have gained increasing visibility in recent years as a ubiquitous form of survival for microorganisms in myriad environments. A number of in vivo models exist for the study of biofilms in the setting of medically relevant implanted foreign bodies. Growing evidence has demonstrated the presence of bacterial biofilms in the setting of a number of chronic wound states including pressure sores, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous stasis ulcers. Here we present a novel murine cutaneous wound system that directly demonstrates delayed reepithelialization caused by the presence of a bacterial biofilm. We established biofilms using either Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus epidermidis in splinted cutaneous punch wounds created on the backs of normal C57Bl6/J mice. Wound reepithelialization was significantly delayed by bacterial biofilms. This effect was specifically dependent on the ability of the bacteria to form biofilms as demonstrated by exogenous administration of biofilm inhibiting peptides and the use of mutant Staphylococcus spp. deficient in biofilm formation. This represents the first direct evidence for the effect of bacterial biofilms on cutaneous wound healing.
MICROFISSURATA GEN. NOV. (BACILLARIOPHYTA), A NEW DIATOM GENUS FROM DYSTROPHIC AND INTERMITTENTLY WET TERRESTRIAL HABITATS1
Authors: Cantonati Marco , Van de Vijver Bart , Lange‐Bertalot And Horst
Published: May 2009

A new freshwater benthic diatom genus, Microfissurata gen. nov., was identified from light and scanning electron micrographs. The most characteristic morphological feature (referred to also by the name of the new genus) is the structure of the striae/alveoli, which are simple, mostly uninterrupted, transapical slits. The combination of characteristics of the new genus is unique. It includes two new species: Microfissurata paludosa Cantonati et Lange‐Bert. sp. nov. and M. australis Van de Vijver et Lange‐Bert. sp. nov., distributed in Europe and on an austral island, respectively. The new genus occurs in freshwater dystrophic lakes, pools, seepage springs, mires, and in intermittently wet terrestrial habitats. It is not abundant but widespread wherever these habitat types are well developed, in Nordic‐alpine and sub‐Antarctic areas. Overall, the new genus appears to be mostly epiphytic (bryophilous) and capable of tolerating a wide range of moisture conditions (xerotolerant). The finding of the type species (M. paludosa) in a well‐investigated area like central Europe highlights the diatom species richness of dystrophic habitats and their importance for diatom biodiversity conservation.
FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED MICROSPECTROSCOPY AS A TOOL TO IDENTIFY MACROALGAL PROPAGULES1
Authors: Bellgrove Alecia , Kihara Hiroshi , Iwata Akira , Aoki Masakazu N. , Heraud Philip
Published: May 2009

Understanding of macroalgal dispersal has been hindered by the difficulty in identifying propagules. Different carrageenans typically occur in gametophytes and tetrasporophytes of the red algal family Gigartinaceae, and we may expect that carpospores and tetraspores also differ in composition of carrageenans. Using Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) microspectroscopy, we tested the model that differences in carrageenans and other cellular constituents between nuclear phases should allow us to discriminate carpospores and tetraspores of Chondrus verrucosus Mikami. Spectral data suggest that carposporophytes isolated from the pericarp and female gametophytes contained κ‐carrageenan, whereas tetrasporophytes contained λ‐carrageenan. However, both carpospores and tetraspores exhibited absorbances in wave bands characteristic of κ‐, ι‐, and λ‐carrageenans. Carpospores contained more proteins and may be more photosynthetically active than tetraspores, which contained more lipid reserves. We draw analogies to planktotrophic and lecithotrophic larvae. These differences in cellular chemistry allowed reliable discrimination of spores, but pretreatment of spectral data affected the accuracy of classification. The best classification of spores was achieved with extended multiplicative signal correction (EMSC) pretreatment using partial least squares discrimination analysis, with correct classification of 86% of carpospores and 83% of tetraspores. Classification may be further improved by using synchrotron FT‐IR microspectroscopy because of its inherently higher signal‐to‐noise ratio compared with microspectroscopy using conventional sources of IR. This study demonstrates that FT‐IR microspectroscopy and bioinformatics are useful tools to advance our understanding of algal dispersal ecology through discrimination of morphologically similar propagules both within and potentially between species.
Survival of Community‐Dwelling Older People: The Effect of Cognitive Impairment and Social Engagement
Authors: Sampson Elizabeth L. , Bulpitt Christopher J. , Fletcher Astrid E.
Published: May 2009

OBJECTIVES:To examine the association and interaction between cognitive impairment and social support and mortality.

DESIGN:Prospective cohort study.

SETTING:Fifty‐three family practices in the United Kingdom.

PARTICIPANTS:Community‐dwelling people (aged ≥75) participating in the Medical Research Council Trial of the Assessment and Management of Older People in the Community (10,720 individual subjects analyzed).

MEASUREMENTS:Cognition was measured using the Mini‐Mental State Examination. Social engagement was assessed using categorical data on marital status, living situation, availability of assistance, availability of a confidant, and frequency of social contact. The primary outcome was all‐cause mortality.

RESULTS:The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 13.0% (mild) and 2.0% (moderate to severe). In Cox survival models (fully adjusted for physical health, lifestyle, daily function, and depression), there was a consistent association between greater cognitive impairment and mortality risk (mild cognitive impairment, hazard ratio (HR)=1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.21–1.40; moderate to severe cognitive impairment, HR=1.64, 95% CI=1.41–1.93. Mortality risk was greater in the medium (HR=1.09, 95% CI=1.02–1.16) and low social engagement groups (HR=1.17, 95% CI=1.05–1.29) than in those with the highest level of social engagement. Lower social engagement did not increase mortality risk in those who were more cognitively impaired.

CONCLUSION:Cognitive impairment and social support are independent risk factors for mortality. Interventions that promote early identification and management of cognitive impairment and enhance social support for older people may decrease mortality and produce public health benefits.
The Effects of Weight Changes After Middle Age on the Rate of Disability in an Elderly Population Sample
Authors: Busetto Luca , Romanato Giovanna , Zambon Sabina , Calò Elisa , Zanoni Silvia , Corti Maria Chiara , Baggio Giovannella , Enzi Giuliano , Crepaldi Gaetano , Manzato Enzo
Published: May 2009

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between weight loss and weight gain after middle age and the prevalence of late disability.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of baseline data from a longitudinal population study.

SETTING: Progetto Veneto Anziani Study.

PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand nine hundred ten (1,187 male, 1,723 female) Italians aged 65 and older.

MEASUREMENTS: Disability status (impairment in at least one activity of daily living) was analyzed according to current body mass index (BMI), BMI at age 50, and intercurrent weight changes (weight gain >10%, weight gain 5–10%, weight stable, weight loss 5–10%, weight loss >10%).

RESULTS: In subjects with normal weight at aged 50, weight gain of more than 10%, weight gain of 5% to 10%, and weight loss of more than 10% were significantly associated with disability (reference stable weight). Adjustment for major chronic diseases did not affect the relationship between weight gain and disability but attenuated the association between weight loss and disability. In participants with obesity at aged 50, weight gain of more than 10% and weight gain of 5% to 10% were associated with the presence of disability; adjustment for chronic diseases did not affect these associations. In these participants, no associations were found between weight loss and disability status.

CONCLUSION: Weight gain after middle age was associated with late disability, particularly in participants who were already obese. Weight loss after middle age was associated with disability only in normal‐weight participants, and this association was attenuated after adjustment for chronic diseases.
Improving the Process of Pain Care in Nursing Homes: A Literature Synthesis
Authors: Swafford Kristen Lynne , Miller Lois Lachmann , Tsai Pao‐Feng , Herr Keela Ann , Ersek Mary
Published: May 2009

Regulatory agencies, researchers, and clinicians have identified improving pain assessment and management in nursing homes as a high priority, but there is no consensus regarding the best strategies to change pain management practices in nursing homes. The goal of this article is to present a synthesis of published literature of process‐level pain management improvement projects in nursing homes and identify and describe the role and necessary skills of various clinicians and nursing leaders in successful interventions. This literature synthesis is limited to research in nursing homes. Reports of research or reports of evaluation of quality improvement programs and descriptions of process interventions that targeted pain assessment and management were reviewed. Studies that focused primarily on the efficacy of pain treatment (e.g., analgesic trials or nonpharmacological therapies) were excluded. Of the original 472 articles, 53 were kept for a full text review. Of these, 10 were included in the final synthesis. Findings from this synthesis suggest that pain management practices may improve with the adoption of systematic implementation models, clinical decision‐making algorithms, an interdisciplinary approach, continuous evaluation of outcomes, and use of on‐site resource consultants. Clinician leaders in nursing homes require adept pain assessment and management skills and working knowledge of organizational change practices, including quality improvement processes, team building, collaborative decision‐making, and assessing and solving system‐level problems.
The “Continuum of Care” for Older Adults: Design and Evaluation of an Educational Series
Authors: McNabney Matthew K. , Willging Paul R. , Fried Linda P. , Durso Samuel C.
Published: May 2009

Geriatricians work within a continuum of health services designed to meet the diverse care needs of older adults. They must develop expertise in these care models and be able to guide safe and efficient transitions. This article describes a 9‐week educational series designed to review the evidence base and practical aspects of implementing key services that span the continuum of care for older adults. The sessions in the series covered geriatric assessment, ambulatory care, acute hospital, house call, hospital‐at‐home, Program of All‐Inclusive Care for the Elderly, assisted living, inpatient consultation, rehabilitation, nursing home, chronic hospital, and palliative care and hospice. To assess the educational effect of these sessions, evaluations were collected at the end of each session, including one “summative evaluation” after the completion of the entire 9‐week series. The vast majority (97%) of survey responses evaluating individual sessions were positive (scores of 4 or 5 on a 5‐point Likert scale), and 89% of responses on the summative evaluation were in that range. This educational series efficiently provides a sequential “tour” of health services for older adults, allowing learners to appreciate the continuum of geriatric care models and relationships between services. Feedback from attendees suggests that this format increases knowledge of health services along the continuum of care for older adults and does so in an efficient manner for learners at different levels of training.
Impact of Pressure Ulcers on Quality of Life in Older Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gorecki Claudia , Brown Julia M. , Nelson E. Andrea , Briggs Michelle , Schoonhoven Lisette , Dealey Carol , Defloor Tom , Nixon Jane ,   on behalf of the European Quality of Life Pressure Ulcer Project group
Published: May 2009

OBJECTIVES: To identify the impact of pressure ulcers (PUs) and PU interventions on health‐related quality of life (HRQL).

DESIGN: Systematic review and metasynthesis of primary research reporting the impact of PU and PU interventions on HRQL according to direct patient reports. Quality assessment criteria were developed and applied. Data extraction identified findings in the form of direct quotes from patients or questionnaire items and domain results. Combined synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research was performed using content analysis to generate categories and themes from findings. Thirteen electronic databases were searched, and hand searching, cross‐referencing, contact with experts, and an online search was undertaken. No language restrictions were applied.

SETTING: Adults with PUs in acute, community, and long‐term care settings across Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia.

PARTICIPANTS: Thirty‐one studies including 2,463 participants with PUs were included in the review. Ages ranged from 17 to 96.

RESULTS: The review included 10 qualitative and 21 quantitative studies; 293 findings, 46 categories, and 11 themes emerged. The 11 HRQL themes were physical impact, social impact, psychological effect, PU symptoms, general health, and other impacts of PUs: healthcare professional–client relationships, need for versus effect of interventions, impact on others, financial impact, perceived etiology, and need for knowledge.

CONCLUSION: There is evidence that PUs and PU interventions have a significant impact on HRQL and cause substantial burden to patients.
Human Rights in an Era of Neoliberal Globalization: The Alien Tort Claims Act and Grassroots Mobilization in Doe v. Unocal
Authors: Holzmeyer Cheryl
Published: May 2009

This article examines a widely publicized corporate accountability and human rights case filed by Burmese plaintiffs and human rights litigators in 1996 under the Alien Tort Claims Act in U.S. courts, Doe v. Unocal, in conjunction with the three main theoretical approaches to analyzing how law may matter for broader social change efforts: (1) legal realism, (2) Critical Legal Studies (CLS), and (3) legal mobilization. The article discusses interactions between Doe v. Unocal and grassroots Burmese human rights activism in the San Francisco Bay Area, including intersections with corporate accountability activism. It argues that a transnationally attuned legal mobilization framework, rather than legal realist or CLS approaches, is most appropriate to analyze the political opportunities and indirect effects of Doe v. Unocal and similar litigation in the context of neoliberal globalization. Further, this article argues that human rights discourse may serve as a common vocabulary and counterhegemonic resource for activists and litigators in cases such as Doe v. Unocal, contrary to overarching critiques of such discourse that emphasize only its hegemonic potentials in global governance regimes.
“If I lie, I tell you, may heaven and earth destroy me.” Language and Legal Consciousness in Hong Kong Bilingual Common Law
Authors: Ng Kwai Hang
Published: May 2009

Based on an ethnographic study of courtroom interactions in the bilingual (Chinese/English) common law system in Hong Kong, this article investigates how language plays a constitutive role in shaping the ways people use, argue, and think about law. While the use of English in Hong Kong prescribes by default the supposedly universal speech act of statement-making, the presence of Cantonese allows local speech acts to be brought into the courtrooms. Two local speech acts, “catching fleas in words” and “speaking bitterness,” are discussed. The findings of this study suggest that by studying the local practices and beliefs in postcolonial settings, researchers can gain insights into the complex ways in which Anglo American–style legal institutions are reconstituted.
Postfledging habitat selection of juvenile middle spotted woodpeckers: a multi‐scale approach
Authors: Ciudad Carlos , Robles Hugo , Matthysen Erik
Published: May 2009

Despite its relevance for the persistence of populations, the ecological mechanisms underlying habitat use decisions of juvenile birds are poorly understood. We examined postfledging habitat selection of radio‐tracked juvenile middle spotted woodpeckersDendrocopos mediusat multiple hierarchically‐nested spatial scales in NW Spain. At the landscape and home range scales, old oak forest was the most used and selected habitat, young oak forests and pine plantations were avoided, and riverside forests were used as available. At a lower scale, birds selected larger diameter trees for foraging. Home ranges had higher densities of large deciduous trees (mainly oaksQuercusspp., but also poplarsPopulusspp. and willowsSalixspp. >22 cm and >33 cm DBH) selected for foraging by juveniles than non‐used areas. These results suggest that foraging conditions may drive, at least partly, habitat use decisions by juvenile birds. We also discuss the potential influence of intraspecific competition, the search for a future breeding territory in the early postfledging period and predation avoidance on habitat use decisions by juvenile birds. Contrary to previous studies on migrant forest birds, postfledging juvenile woodpeckers selected the same habitat as for the breeding adults (i.e. old oak forest), indicating that migrant and resident specialist avian species may require different conservation actions. Conservation strategies of woodpecker populations should consider the protection of old oak forests with high densities of large trees to provide suitable habitat to breeding adults and postfledging juveniles. The habitat improvement for this indicator and umbrella species would also favour other organisms that depend on characteristics of old‐growth oak forests.
Multiple predators induce risk reduction in coexisting vole species
Authors: Hoset Katrine S. , Koivisto Elina , Huitu Otso , Ylönen Hannu , Korpimäki Erkki
Published: May 2009

Large predators may affect the hunting efficiency of smaller ones directly by decreasing their numbers, or indirectly by altering their behaviour. Either way this may have positive effects on the density of shared prey. Using large outdoor enclosures, we experimentally studied whether the presence of the Tengmalm's owl Aegolius funereus affects the hunting efficiency of the smallest member of the vole‐eating predator guild, the least weasel Mustela nivalis, as measured by population responses of coexisting prey species, the field vole Microtus agrestis and the sibling vole M. levis. We compared the density and survival probability of vole populations exposed to no predation, weasel predation or combined predation by a weasel and an owl. The combined predation of both owl and weasel did not result in obvious changes in the density of sibling and field vole populations compared to the control populations without predators, while predation by least weasel alone decreased the densities of sibling voles and induced a similar trend in field vole densities. Survival of field voles was not affected by predator treatment while sibling vole survival was lower in predator treated populations than in control populations. Our results suggest that weasels are intimidated by avian predators, but without changing the effects of predators on competitive situations between the two vole species. Non‐lethal effects of intraguild predation therefore will not necessarily change competitive interactions between shared prey species.
Foraging behaviour of predators in heterogeneous landscapes: the role of perceptual ability and diet breadth
Authors: Bianchi F. J. J. A , Schellhorn N. A , Van Der Werf W.
Published: May 2009

Oligophagous and polyphagous predators are confronted with spatially and temporally varying distributions of prey. Their species‐specific foraging strategies should be able to cope with this variability. Using an individual based model, we explore how diet breath and the spatial scale at which predators respond to prey affects their capture efficiency in four heterogeneous prey landscapes, and combinations thereof. We interpret the spatial scale of the predator's response as perceptual range, and propose giving‐up density as a proxy for diet breadth. Foraging behaviour is evaluated for a total of 121 perceptual range/giving‐up density combinations, with four of them reflecting the strategies adopted by real ladybeetle species. Foraging rules of oligophagous ladybeetles were generally not very effective in terms of attained predation rate when foraging in a single prey landscape, but appear to be more effective when foraging in multiple prey landscapes. This finding is compatible with the notion that oligophagous predators do not adopt a foraging strategy that is especially adapted to a specific prey landscape, but to multiple prey landscapes. Simulations further indicated that there was not a ‘best’ foraging rule that resulted in the highest predation rates for a range of spatial prey distributions and prey densities. The findings thus suggest that strategies of four ladybeetle species are effective in generating sufficient prey capture under a broad range of spatial distributions, rather than maximum capture under a narrower set of distributions.
Fire‐mediated interactions between shrubs in a South American temperate savannah
Authors: Biganzoli Fernando , Wiegand Thorsten , Batista William B.
Published: May 2009

We examined spatial patterns of fire‐caused mortality and after‐fire establishment of two dominant shrub species, Baccharis dracunculifolia and Eupatorium buniifolium in a humid temperate South American savannah. Our objective was to determine whether fires mediate in interactions between these two species. After a natural fire burned a large tract of savannah, we established two plots (respectively 550 and 500 m2) within which we mapped all surviving and dead shrubs as well as all individuals of shrub species that recruited in the following year. We used techniques of point‐pattern analysis to test specific null hypotheses about spatial associations in the distribution, mortality, and establishment of shrubs. Results support the notions that fire mediates interactions between these two species. Fire‐caused death of E. buniifolium tended to occur selectively in the vicinities of Baccharis individuals, and recruitment of B. dracunculifolia tended to be concentrated in the places of dead shrubs. These responses, however, were contingent on local abundances of shrubs which depend in part from the recent fire history. Anthropogenic perturbation of the natural fire regime would have therefore distorted the role of fire mediated interactions as drivers of the dynamics of the vegetation of this temperate savannah.
Negative native–exotic diversity relationship in oak savannas explained by human influence and climate
Authors: Lilley Patrick L. , Vellend Mark
Published: May 2009

Recent research has proposed a scale‐dependence to relationships between native diversity and exotic invasions. At fine spatial scales, native–exotic richness relationships should be negative as higher native richness confers resistance to invasion. At broad scales, relationships should be positive if natives and exotics respond similarly to extrinsic factors. Yet few studies have examined both native and exotic richness patterns across gradients of human influence, where impacts could affect native and exotic species differently. We examined native–exotic richness relationships and extrinsic drivers of plant species richness and distributions across an urban development gradient in remnant oak savanna patches. In sharp contrast to most reported results, we found a negative relationship at the regional scale, and no relationship at the local scale. The negative regional‐scale relationship was best explained by extrinsic factors, surrounding road density and climate, affecting natives and exotics in opposite ways, rather than a direct effect of native on exotic richness, or vice versa. Models of individual species distributions also support the result that road density and climate have largely opposite effects on native and exotic species, although simple life history traits (life form, dispersal mode) do not predict which habitat characteristics are important for particular species. Roads likely influence distributions and species richness by increasing both exotic propagule pressure and disturbance to native species. Climate may partially explain the negative relationship due to differing climatic preferences within the native and exotic species pools. As gradients of human influence are increasingly common, negative broad‐scale native–exotic richness relationships may be frequent in such landscapes.
Spatio‐temporal variation in the structure of pollination networks
Authors: Dupont Yoko L. , Padrón Benigno , Olesen Jens M. , Petanidou Theodora
Published: May 2009

Pollination networks are representations of all interactions between co‐existing plants and their flower visiting animals at a given site. Although the study of networks has become a distinct sub‐discipline in pollination biology, few studies have attempted to quantify spatio‐temporal variation in species composition and structure of networks. We here investigate patterns of year‐to‐year change in pollination networks from six different sites spanning a large latitudinal gradient. We quantified level of species persistence and interactions among years, and examined year‐to‐year variation of network structural parameters in relation to latitude and sampling effort. In addition, we tested for correlations between annual variation in network parameters and short and long‐term climate change variables. Numbers of plant and animal species and interactions were roughly constant from one year to another at all sites. However, composition of species and interactions changed from one year to another. Turnover was particularly high for flower visitors and interactions. On the other hand, network structural parameters (connectance, nestedness, modularity and centralization) remained remarkably constant between years, regardless of network size and latitude. Inter‐annual variation of network parameters was not related to short or long term variation in climate variables (mean annual temperature and annual precipitation). We thus conclude that pollination networks are highly dynamic and variable in composition of species and interactions among years. However, general patterns of network structure remain constant, indicating that species may be replaced by topologically similar species. These results suggest that pollination networks are to some extent robust against factors affecting species occurrences.
Is Nothing Sacred? Christ’s Harrowing through Lewis’s Gothic Lens
Authors: Griffin Melanie
Published: May 2009

“Is nothing sacred? Christ’s Harrowing through Lewis’s Gothic lens” examines the anti‐Catholic symbolism and distortion in Matthew Lewis’s The Monk. While it is acknowledged that extensive past research on the perversions of Catholic dogma in the text already exists, this article focuses specifically on the text’s inversion of one piece of Catholic doctrine that has yet to be sufficiently examined – Christ’s Harrowing of Hell – and how Lewis inverted this doctrine to illustrate the Protestant view of Catholicism as selfish, cruel, and hypocritical. Research includes documentation to support claims about the general knowledge of the Harrowing doctrine during Lewis’s time, including the Catechism from the Council of Trent, to shore up the argument that the Harrowing doctrine (and general knowledge of it) would have survived through the Middle Ages to Lewis’s time.
DRD1 5′UTR variation, sex and early infant stress influence ethanol consumption in rhesus macaques
Authors: Newman T. K. , Parker C. C. , Suomi S. J. , Goldman D. , Barr C. S. , Higley J. Dee
Published: May 2009

The mesolimbic dopamine system plays an important role in mediating a variety of behaviors and is involved in mediating the reinforcing effects of ethanol. Genes encoding dopamine receptor subtypes are thus good candidate loci for understanding the genetic etiologies of susceptibility to alcohol dependence and its antecedent behavioral phenotypes. We tested whether variation in DRD1 influences alcohol consumption in rhesus macaques and whether its influence is mediated by sex and early rearing experience. We genotyped a single nucleotide polymorphism (−111 G/T) in the 5′UTR of DRD1 in 96 subjects raised with their mothers until 6 months of age (n = 43) or in peer‐only groups (n = 53). As young adults they underwent a 7‐week voluntary ethanol consumption experiment. anova revealed a significant main effect of sex (F1,95 = 6.3, P = 0.014) and an interaction between genotype, sex and rearing on ethanol consumption (F7,95 = 4.63, P = 0.0002). Maternally deprived males heterozygous for the T allele consumed significantly more ethanol (P > t≤ 0.0001) than the other subgroups. Maternal deprivation can produce individuals that are anxious and impulsive, both of which are known risk factors for alcohol dependence. Our work demonstrates a potential role for the dopamine D1 receptor gene in modulating alcohol consumption, especially in the context of early environmental stress.
The Multiple Dimensions of the Church Towards an Explanatory Account
Authors: Dadosky John
Published: May 2009

This paper offers a survey and proposal concerning Catholic ecclesiology in the post-Vatican II context. As a survey, it addresses the attempts by four major Catholic thinkers, de Lubac, Congar, Rahner and Balthasar to articulate dual dimensions of the Church. In the last century, the surge in biblical studies and empirical methodologies has wrought numerous ecclesial images, dimensions and models for understanding the various aspects of the Church. While many of these attempts are descriptive, or even symbolic, there is a need to move to an explanatory method for a more systematic apprehension of the various dimensions of the Church. The proposal of this paper will argue that such an explanation lies in how the Church understands itself with respect to each of the missions of the Son and the Holy Spirit as developed from the thought of Bernard Lonergan on the two dimensions of the Church. This will allow for a plethora of images, but simultaneously it will provide for some normative control of meaning over these various dimensions.
What the Problem with Russell Isn't
Authors: Oppy Graham
Published: May 2009

Mark Nelson thinks that Bertrand Russell's well-known criticisms of St. Thomas Aquinas turn on Russell's acceptance of a highly implausible epistemic principle (DAM), and that my previous objection to this claim depends upon the attribution to Russell of an even more implausible Insincerity Objection. While I agree that Russell's criticisms do not turn on the Insincerity Objection, I argue that my previous rejection of the attribution of (DAM) to Russell is well-justified: there is a plausible reading of Russell that requires neither (DAM) nor the Insincerity Objection.
Theological, Sociological and Historical Factors Influencing the Evangelical Turn in Contemporary Catholicism
Authors: Rymarz Richard M.
Published: May 2009

Theological, historical and sociological factors help explain the evangelical turn in contemporary Catholicism. Theological factors considered here are an emphasis on evangelization as something of the Church's very nature and not just an activity that it does. This sits well with an ecclesiology that stresses the Church as a communion of disciples of Jesus. Three historical factors are raised all of which result in a more evangelical expression of Catholicism. These are a greater tension between the culture of the Church and wider culture. A renewed emphasis on conversion with a Christological focus and a greater emphasis on scripture in the life of the church. In sociological terms, a more evangelical Catholicism is evident in the movement away from a socialization model of religious affiliation to one which emphasizes choice, the religious consumer and a range of options. In this environment the Church must put more emphasis on evangelical proclamation as a way of pastoral outreach. A more evangelical Catholicism is seen as a general principle without being closed to other types of expression.
Before Analogy: Recovering Barth's Ontological Development
Authors: Stanley Timothy
Published: May 2009

What is the nature of Barth's development over the 1920s? Barth himself understood this period as his “apprenticeship,” and cites his 1931 book on Anselm as a significant juncture in moving beyond this stage in his thinking. Barth's emphasis upon both change and continuity lies at the heart of the discrepancy between two prominent interpreters of his theology, Hans Urs von Balthasar and Bruce McCormack. On the surface it appears as though their disagreement centers around Barth's employment of dialectic and analogy in his theology. However, our thesis is that this focus conceals the ontological strategies Barth's multifarious uses of analogy and dialectic always implied. Although McCormack is right to suggest that Balthasar's depiction of a shift from dialectic to analogy is inadequate, in the end McCormack's account of Barth's development over the 1920s conceals as much as it reveals. The following essay attempts to demonstrate the kinds of insights which can be made of the past accounts of Barth's development which focused on the transition from dialectic to analogy. Far from relegating these accounts to the sidelines, McCormack's work helps us see all the more clearly just what was at stake in figures like Balthasar's work. By looking past McCormack and Balthasar's respective periodizations of Barth's development, a clearer focus upon Barth's theological ontology can begin to take place.
Regulation of OsSPX1 and OsSPX3 on Expression of OsSPX domain Genes and Pi‐starvation Signaling in Rice
Authors: Wang Zhiye , Hu Han , Huang Hongjie , Duan Ke , Wu Zhongchang , Wu Ping
Published: May 2009

The rice (Oryza sativa L.) genome contains at least six genes exclusively with an SPX (SYG1/PHO81/XPR1) domain at the N‐terminal, designated as OsSPX1‐6. Here we report the diverse expression patterns of the OsSPX genes in different tissues and their responses to Pi‐starvation. Among them, five genes, OsSPX1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 are responsive to Pi‐starvation in shoots and/or in roots. The subcellular localization analysis indicates that OsSPX1 and OsSPX2 is exclusively located in nucleus, OsSPX3 in the cytoplasm, and OsSPX4 is a membrane localization protein. OsSPX1 regulates OsSPX2, 3 and 5 at the transcription level and is positively involved in the responses of the genes to Pi‐starvation. Overexpression of OsSPX3 downregulates OsSPX5 in shoots under Pi‐sufficiency. OsSPX3 negatively regulates the PSI (Pi‐starvation induced) gene, OsIPS1 and is involved in the responses of miR399 and OsPHO2 to Pi‐starvation. Our results suggest that OsSPX1 may be a regulator involved in the transcriptions of OsSPX2, 3 and 5. OsSPX3 plays a role in OsIPS1/miR399 mediated long distance regulation on OsPHO2. Our results also indicate that OsSPX3 is involved in plant tolerance to Pi‐starvation stress.
Mandibular first premolar with two roots and three canals
Authors: Poorni Saravanan , Karumaran Chellasamy Savarimala , Indira Rajamani
Published: May 2009

This case report presents a relatively uncommon clinical case of a mandibular premolar with two roots and three canals. The possibility of additional root canals should be considered even in teeth with a low frequency of abnormal root canal anatomy. Sound knowledge of root canal anatomy, appropriate assessment of the pulp chamber floor, critical interpretation of radiographs and high‐magnification examinations are highly desirable to achieve the best possible outcome in complicated root canal therapy.
Fitness consequences of body melanization inDrosophila immigransfrom montane habitats
Authors: SINGH Shama , RAMNIWAS Seema , PARKASH Ravi
Published: May 2009

We investigated eight populations ofDrosophila immigransfrom low to high montane localities (600–2202 m) for altitudinal variations in abdominal melanization and fitness‐related traits (desiccation resistance, copulation duration, and fecundity). On the basis of common garden experiments, persistence between‐population differences at 21°C suggests that observed variations in fitness‐related traits have a genetic basis. Parent–offspring regression analyses showed higher heritability (h2= 0.77) for melanization patterns on all the abdominal tergites. All the traits showed significantly higher repeatability across generations. Under colder and drier environments in dispersed montane localities, abdominal melanization and desiccation resistance significantly increased (1.5–1.9 fold) along altitude. Thus, there are correlated effects of abdominal melanization on desiccation resistance. Genetic correlations, based on family means, were significantly high between abdominal melanization and other fitness traits. Furthermore, darker flies along increasing altitude resulted in a 35–40% increase in copulation duration as well as fecundity. There are significantly positive correlations of abdominal melanization with copulation duration as well as fecundity on the basis of within‐ as well as between‐population variations. Such observations are in agreement with the thermal budget hypothesis. Present data suggest that changes in body melanization impact fitness‐related traits in montane populations ofDrosophila immigrans.
Parasitoid complex of the bird cherry ermine mothYponomeuta evonymellusin Korea
Authors: LEE Jang‐Hoon , PEMBERTON Robert W.
Published: May 2009

The parasitoid complex ofYponomeuta evonymellusL. (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae), the bird cherry ermine moth (BCEM), was sought in South Korea with the goal of identifying its potential biological controls. Thirteen primary and two secondary parasitoids were found.Diadegma armillatum(Grav.),Herpestomus brunnicornisGrav. (Icheumonidae), andZenillia dolosa(Meigen) (Tachinidae) were the most important parasitoids causing 3.5%, 7.1%, and 7.7% of the combined parasitism of the host larvae and pupae, respectively. The composition of parasitoid species was more diverse in larvae than in pupae; 10 species were reared from larvae, compared to six from pupae. The parasitoid complex contributed to the relatively low mortality levels ofYponomeuta evonymelluswith the combined total rate of parasitism of 29.6% for the host larvae and pupae. This level is below that found in some European populations (50%) and is not greater than the larval rate of parasitism (31%) found in the congeneric apple ermine moth in Korea. This low rate of parasitism is partly attributed to the parasitism byAgeniaspis fuscicollis(1%) detected inYponomeuta evonymellus,which is similar to that detected inYponomeuta evonymellusin European reports. This is the first report of the parasitoid complex attacking the BCEM in Korea.
Taxonomy of the genus Phytomyza Fallén (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Korea
Authors: KWON Yong Jung , KIM Jinseo , SUH Sang Jae
Published: May 2009

In the present study, six Korean Phytomyza species are revised taxonomically. Of these, three species are newly recorded in the Korean fauna: P. angelicae kibunensis, P. arnaudi and P. sedicola. A key to the Korean species, host plants and distributional data for each species are given. The detailed redescriptions and illustrations with their diagnostic characters are also provided.
Sociolinguistics and Sociology: Current Directions, Future Partnerships
Authors: Mallinson Christine
Published: May 2009

In this article, I discuss the past, present, and future of interdisciplinary scholarship between sociolinguists and sociologists. After detailing some of the broader history of collaboration between sociolinguists and sociologists, I examine two sub‐areas of scholarship: the variationist tradition from sociolinguistics and the social stratification tradition from sociology. I contend that, given their complementary research questions and analytic traditions, these areas provide new potential for interdisciplinary research initiatives. I give suggestions for research partnerships between sociolinguists and sociologists, and close with a discussion of some practical ways in which sociolinguists and sociologists can build interdisciplinarity both pedagogically as well as professionally.
Geographies of Sustainability: Low Impact Developments and Radical Spaces of Innovation
Authors: Pickerill Jenny , Maxey Larch
Published: May 2009

Drawing upon low impact development (LID), a radical approach to housing, livelihoods and everyday living, this article interrogates the notion of sustainability and argues for greater attention to be paid to its geographies. We wish to reconceptualise the geographies of sustainability to do five things: (i) pay close attention to ‘actually existing sustainabilities’; (ii) consider radical solutions; (iii) consider sustainability as holistic, integrating social, economic and environmental factors; (iv) be more assertively political; and (v) include a clearer consideration of scale. Drawing on a detailed case study of LID, we identify seven insights into how geographers, and others, can further shape debates about geographies of sustainability. LID emphasises flexibility, holism, engaging with questions of scale, transferability, mixed and modern approaches, and popular participation whilst acknowledging the difficulties of practising sustainability. All of this allows LID to offer valuable insights into how geographers could be considering questions of sustainability.
How Does Volume Status Affect BNP and Troponin Levels as Markers of Cardiovascular Status in Peritoneal Dialysis?
Authors: Garg Rajeev , Singh Avneet , Khaja Azam , Martin Alpert , Aggarwal Kul
Published: May 2009

Cardiac biomarkers such as brain natriuretic peptide, amino‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP), and cardiac troponin provide information on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with normal renal function. In a considerable number of chronic hemodialysis patients, both biomarkers—NT‐proBNP and troponin—are elevated despite the absence of cardiac ischemia. The elevation of cardiac biomarkers in chronic hemodialysis patients is of prognostic value with respect to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, they can serve as tools for volume assessment for optimization of the fluid management aspect of dialysis. However, the association of both these markers in peritoneal dialysis is not clear. Therefore, the authors reviewed the literature to examine the role of these markers in peritoneal dialysis patients both as prognostic indicators as well as tools for volume assessment.
Validation of Scrophularia macrocarpa (Scrophulariaceae) endemic to southwestern China
Authors: Xiang Chun‐Lei , Peng Hua
Published: May 2009

Scrophularia macrocarpa P. C. Tsoong, originally described from Sichuan, China, was not validly published in 1979 because two type specimens (one fruiting, one in flower) were designated. To enable formal use of the name, the species name is validated here, with the fruiting specimen designated as the holotype.
The Specificity of Self‐Efficacy over the Course of a Progressive Exercise Programme
Authors: Rodgers Wendy M. , Murray Terra C. , Courneya Kerry S. , Bell Gordon J. , Harber Vicki J.
Published: May 2009

Regular physical exercise is an important health‐promoting behaviour. Self‐efficacy has been demonstrated to be a robust predictor of health behaviour in general and physical activity in particular. Two studies are reported where the change in task self‐efficacy, scheduling self‐efficacy, and coping self‐efficacy for two types of physical activity (walking or traditional fitness activity) was examined over time in a progressive exercise programme. A progressive programme increases in intensity and duration over the course of the study. A sample of 115 people completed a 6‐month activity trial where they were assigned to a walking group, a traditional exercise group, or no activity control group. Repeated measures MANOVAs for each type of self‐efficacy revealed quadratic patterns of change that were specific to the type of exercise engaged in. The results suggest that self‐efficacy is behaviour specific and can be expected to be responsive to overt experiences with specific exercise modalities. Results also suggest that additional support might be necessary as late as 3 months into the programme to maintain levels of exercise consistent with public health guidelines.
Lip cancer in Western Australia, 1982–2006: a 25‐year retrospective epidemiological study
Authors: Abreu L , Kruger E , Tennant M
Published: May 2009

Background:  The aim of this study was to report on the epidemiological trends in incidence and mortality rates of lip cancer in Western Australia from 1982–2006.

Methods:  Incidence and mortality data were provided by the Western Australian Cancer Registry. Analysis of demographic distribution by gender, age, metro‐rural residence and Indigenous status and by sub‐site of lip cancer was undertaken. Percentages, crude, age‐specific and direct age‐standardized rates were computed with 95% confidence intervals.

Results:  In Western Australia, lip cancer represents 49 per cent of all oral cancer cases. A total of 2152 new cases and 31 deaths due to lip cancer were reported. Eighty‐one per cent of new cases occurred on the lower lip. The incidence rate ratio of males to females was 2.5‐3:1, with non‐Indigenous people suffering 98 per cent of lip cancer. Rural dwellers have higher standardized incidence rates when compared to people living in metropolitan areas. An increasing trend with older age is consistent throughout the study period.

Conclusions:  Over the 25 years, on average 90–100 people are diagnosed with lip cancer but only 1–2 people die each year. These mortality rates are very low indeed and are the reason for its good prognosis.
A Sound (and Light) Way to Measure Confined Electrons
Authors: Simon Steven H.
Published: May 2009

A technique that uses the wavelength of sound and the energy of light can probe the elusive properties of electrons in quantum Hall states.
Phone Infections
Authors: Havlin Shlomo
Published: May 2009

Is a mobile phone virus epidemic on the horizon?
Scourge of Tobacco and Trans Fats Chosen for CDC
Authors: Koenig Robert
Published: May 2009

New York City health commissioner Thomas Frieden has been appointed by President Barack Obama to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.