bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of RAD51 occurs in aggressive prostatic cancer
Authors: Mitra Anita , Jameson Charles , Barbachano Yolanda , Sanchez Lydia , Kote‐Jarai Zsofia , Peock Susan , Sodha Nayanta , Bancroft Elizabeth , Fletcher Anne , Cooper Colin , Easton Douglas ,   on behalf of The IMPACT Steering committee and IMPACT and EMBRACE Collaborators, Eeles Rosalind , Foster Christopher S
Published: November 2009

Aims:  To test the hypothesis that, in a matched series of prostatic cancers, either with or without BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, RAD51 protein expression is enhanced in association with BRCA mutation genotypes.

Methods and results:  RAD51 expression identified immunohistochemically was compared between prostatic cancers occurring in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carriers and controls. RAD51 protein expression in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the benign tissues was significantly less than in the malignant tissues (P < 0.001). In all cancers, cytoplasmic expression of RAD51 was more prevalent and associated with higher Gleason score (P < 0.05) irrespective of BRCA mutational status, than its expression in benign tissues (P < 0.001). Although nuclear immunoreactivity was not observed in BRCA‐associated cancers with Gleason score ≤7, it was significantly increased in all other groups of prostatic cancers when compared with benign tissues (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:  RAD51 protein is strongly expressed in high‐grade prostatic cancers, whether sporadic or associated with BRCA germ‐line mutations. Distinct localization of RAD51 between cytoplasm and nucleus, particularly in cancers of Gleason score ≤7, reflects distinct levels of RAD51 regulatory activity, from transcription to DNA repair. This biomarker may be of value in identifying patients requiring urgent treatment at diagnosis as well as in analysing biological mechanisms underlying aggressive phenotype of human prostatic cancer.
Allergic rhinitis and the common cold – high cost to society
Authors: Hellgren J. , Cervin A. , Nordling S. , Bergman A. , Cardell L. O.
Published: November 2009

To cite this article: Hellgren J, Cervin A, Nordling S, Bergman A, Cardell LO. Allergic rhinitis and the common cold – high cost to society. Allergy 2010; 65: 776–783.

Background:  The common cold and allergic rhinitis constitute a global health problem that affects social life, sleep, school and work performance and is likely to impose a substantial economic burden on society because of absence from work and reduced working capacity. This study assesses the loss of productivity as a result of both allergic rhinitis and the common cold in the Swedish working population.

Methods:  Four thousand questionnaires were sent to a randomized adult population, aged 18–65 years, in Sweden, stratified by gender and area of residence (metropolitan area vs rest of the country). The human capital approach was used to assign monetary value to lost productivity in terms of absenteeism (absence from work), presenteeism (reduced working capacity while at work) and caregiver absenteeism (absence from work to take care of a sick child).

Results:  Thousand two hundred and thirteen individuals responded, response rate 32%. The mean productivity loss was estimated at 5.1 days or € 653 per worker and year, yielding a total productivity loss in Sweden of € 2.7 billion a year. Of the total costs, absenteeism (44%) was the dominant factor, followed by presenteeism (37%) and caregiver absenteeism (19%). Poisson regression analyses revealed that women, people in the 18–29 year age group, and respondents with ‘doctor‐diagnosed asthma’ reported more lost days than the rest of the group.

Conclusion:  In Sweden, the cost of rhinitis is € 2.7 billion a year in terms of lost productivity. A reduction in lost productivity of 1 day per individual and year would potentially save € 528 million.
Murine and human Langerhans cells express a functional histamine H4 receptor: modulation of cell migration and function
Authors: Gschwandtner M. , Rossbach K. , Dijkstra D. , Bäumer W. , Kietzmann M. , Stark H. , Werfel T. , Gutzmer R.
Published: November 2009

To cite this article: Gschwandtner M, Rossbach K, Dijkstra D, Bäumer W, Kietzmann M, Stark H, Werfel T, Gutzmer R. Murine and human Langerhans cells express a functional histamine H4 receptor: modulation of cell migration and function. Allergy 2010; 65: 840–849.

Background:  Histamine is an important mediator of allergic reactions, and recent studies indicated that the function of different types of antigen presenting cells (APC) can be modulated by histamine, in particular via the newly described histamine H4 receptor (H4R). Therefore, we investigated possible interactions of histamine via the H4R on Langerhans cells (LC), which represent the professional APC in the skin and therefore have an important role in the initiation and maintenance of allergic skin diseases.

Methods:  The expression of the H4R was evaluated by real‐time PCR, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining. The function of the H4R was determined by intracellular flow cytometric measurement of chemokine production and LC migration assays.

Results:  Here, we show H4R expression on in vitro generated monocyte‐derived LC (mRNA and protein) and on primary LC from murine and human skin samples (protein). The immunofluorescence staining in murine and human skin samples clearly proved that LC express the H4R in situ. Stimulation with histamine or a H4R agonist downregulated the chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in human monocyte‐derived LC and primary LC. Prestimulation with a selective H4R antagonist abolished this effect. Moreover, migration of LC from the epidermis was increased after H4R agonist stimulation in ex vivo migration assays using human epidermis and murine in vivo assays.

Conclusion:  Our findings show that LC express a functional H4R and point towards a possible pathogenic relevance of the H4R in inflammatory and allergic diseases.
Isolation by distance in a continuous population under stochastic demographic fluctuations
Authors: ROBLEDO‐ARNUNCIO J. J. , ROUSSET F.
Published: November 2009

The local density of individuals is seldom uniform in space and time within natural populations. Yet, formal approaches to the process of isolation by distance in continuous populations have encountered analytical difficulties in describing genetic structuring with demographic heterogeneities, usually disregarding local correlations in the movement and reproduction of genes. We formulate exact recursions for probabilities of identity in continuous populations, from which we deduce definitions of effective dispersal () and effective density (De) that generalize results relating spatial genetic structure, dispersal and density in lattice models. The latter claim is checked in simulations where estimates of effective parameters obtained from demographic information are compared with estimates derived from spatial genetic patterns in a plant population evolving in a heterogeneous and dynamic habitat. The simulations further suggest that increasing spatio‐temporal correlations in local density reduce and generally decrease the product , with dispersal kurtosis influencing their sensitivity to density fluctuations. As in the lattice model, the expected relationship between the product and the genetic structure statistic ar holds under fluctuating density, irrespective of dispersal kurtosis. The product D σ2 between observed census density and the observed dispersal rate over one generation will generally be an upwardly biased (up to 400% in simulations) estimator of in populations distributed in spatially aggregated habitats.
Antagonistic coevolution across productivity gradients: an experimental test of the effects of dispersal
Authors: LOPEZ‐PASCUA L. D. C. , BROCKHURST M. A. , BUCKLING A.
Published: November 2009

Coevolution commonly occurs in spatially heterogeneous environments, resulting in variable selection pressures acting on coevolving species. Dispersal across such environments is predicted to have a major impact on local coevolutionary dynamics. Here, we address how co‐dispersal of coevolving populations of host and parasite across an environmental productivity gradient affected coevolution in experimental populations of bacteria and their parasitic viruses (phages). The rate of coevolution between bacteria and phages was greater in high‐productivity environments. High‐productivity immigrants (∼2% of the recipient population) caused coevolutionary dynamics (rates of coevolution and degree of generalist evolution) in low‐productivity environments to be largely indistinguishable from high‐productivity environments, whereas immigration from low‐productivity environments (∼0.5% of the population) had no discernable impact. These results could not be explained by demography alone, but rather high‐productivity immigrants had a selective advantage in low‐productivity environments, but not vice versa. Coevolutionary interactions in high‐productivity environments are therefore likely to have a disproportionate impact on coevolution across the landscape as a whole.
Fitness measures in selection analyses: sensitivity to the overall number of offspring produced in a lifetime
Authors: DUGDALE H. L. , NOUVELLET P. , POPE L. C. , BURKE T. , MACDONALD D. W.
Published: November 2009

Age at first (α) and last (ω) breeding are important life‐history traits; however, the direction and strength of selection detected on traits may vary depending on the fitness measure used. We provide the first estimates of lifetime breeding success (LBS) and λind (the population growth rate of an individual) of European badgers Meles meles, by genotyping 915 individuals, sampled over 18 years, for 22 microsatellites. Males are slightly larger than females, and the opportunity for selection was slightly greater for males, as predicted. λind and LBS both performed well in predicting the number of grand‐offspring, and both detected selection for a late ω, until the age of eight. Differential selection (S′α) for an early α, however, was only detected using LBS, not with λind. In declining populations (λind < 1) selection favours reproduction later in life, whereas early reproduction is selected in increasing populations (λind > 1). As 41% of badgers were assigned only one offspring (λind < 1), whereas 40% were assigned more than two (λind > 1), this cancelled out S′α measured by λind.
Ecological niche modelling as an exploratory tool for identifying species limits: an example based on Mexican muroid rodents
Authors: MARTÍNEZ‐GORDILLO D. , ROJAS‐SOTO O. , ESPINOSA de los MONTEROS A.
Published: November 2009

Niche conservatism theory suggests that recently diverged sister species share the same ecological niche. However, if the ecological niche evolves as part of the speciation process, the ecological pattern could be useful for recognizing cryptic species. In a broad sense systematists agree that the niche characters could be used for species differentiation. However, to date such characters have been ignored. We used the genetic algorithm for rule‐set production for modelling the ecological niche as a means of inferring ecological divergence in allopatric populations of muroid rodents for which taxonomic identity is uncertain. Our results show that niche differentiation is significant in most of the identified phylogroups. The differentiation is likely associated with natural evolutionary units, which can be identified by applying species concepts based on phylogenetic and ecological patterns (e.g. phylogenetic, cohesive, evolutionary). Even so, the role of the niche partition within phylogenetic reconstruction may be a limited one.
Avian colour perception predicts behavioural responses to experimental brood parasitism in chaffinches
Authors: AVILÉS J. M. , VIKAN J. R. , FOSSøY F. , ANTONOV A. , MOKSNES A. , RØSKAFT E. , STOKKE B. G.
Published: November 2009

Hosts of cuckoos have evolved defences allowing them to discriminate and reject parasite eggs. Mechanisms of discrimination are mostly visually mediated, and have been studied using approaches that do not account for what the receiver (i.e. host) actually can discriminate. Here, for the first time we apply a perceptual model of colour discrimination to study behavioural responses to natural variation in parasite egg appearance in chaffinches Fringilla coelebs. Discrimination of parasite eggs gradually increased with increasing differences in chromatic contrasts as perceived by birds between parasite and host eggs. These results confirm that colour differences of the eggs as perceived by birds are important integral parts of a matching signal used by chaffinch hosts.
Degeneration patterns of the olfactory receptor genes in sea snakes
Authors: KISHIDA T. , HIKIDA T.
Published: November 2009

The sense of smell relies on the diversity of olfactory receptor (OR) repertoires in vertebrates. It has been hypothesized that different types of ORs are required in terrestrial and marine environments. Here we show that viviparous sea snakes, which do not rely on a terrestrial environment, have significantly lost ORs compared with their terrestrial relatives, supporting the hypothesis. On the other hand, oviparous sea snakes, which rely on a terrestrial environment for laying eggs, still maintain their ORs, reflecting the importance of the terrestrial environment for them. Furthermore, we found one Colubroidea snake (including sea snakes and their terrestrial relatives)‐specific OR subfamily which had diverged widely during snake evolution after the blind snake–Colubroidea snake split. Interestingly, no pseudogenes are included in this subfamily in sea snakes, and this subfamily seems to have been expanding rapidly even in an underwater environment. These findings suggest that the Colubroidea‐specific ORs detect nonvolatile odorants.
Did the introduction of maize into Europe provide enemy‐free space to Ostrinia nubilalis? Parasitism differences between two sibling species of the genus Ostrinia
Authors: PÉLISSIÉ B. , PONSARD S. , TOKAREV Y. S. , AUDIOT P. , PÉLISSIER C. , SABATIER R. , MEUSNIER S. , CHAUFAUX J. , DELOS M. , CAMPAN E. , MALYSH J. M. , FROLOV A. N. , BOURGUET D.
Published: November 2009

We examined whether maize offers enemy‐free space (EFS) to its pest Ostrinia nubilalis, and may thereby have contributed to its divergence from the sibling species, Ostrinia scapulalis, feeding mainly on mugwort, when introduced into Europe five centuries ago. We collected Ostrinia larvae on maize (70 populations, 8425 individuals) and mugwort (10 populations, 1184 individuals) and recorded parasitism using both traditional (counting emerging parasitoids) and molecular methods (detection by specific polymerase chain reaction). The main parasitoid was Macrocentrus cingulum (Braconidae). On mugwort, parasitism was twice that on maize, and parasitoid‐related mortality was 8 times higher. This suggests that maize affords substantial EFS to Ostrinia feeding on it. The lower Mortality:Infestation ratio in maize suggests that O. nubilalis’ immune response might be stronger than that of O. scapulalis. If so, adapting to maize and diverging from O. scapulalis would decrease the impact of parasitism on O. nubilalis at both ecological and evolutionary levels.
Spatial regression techniques for inter‐population data: studying the relationships between morphological and environmental variation
Authors: PEREZ S. I. , DINIZ‐FILHO J. A. F. , BERNAL V. , GONZALEZ P. N.
Published: November 2009

Understanding the importance of environmental dimensions behind the morphological variation among populations has long been a central goal of evolutionary biology. The main objective of this study was to review the spatial regression techniques employed to test the association between morphological and environmental variables. In addition, we show empirically how spatial regression techniques can be used to test the association of cranial form variation among worldwide human populations with a set of ecological variables, taking into account the spatial autocorrelation in data. We suggest that spatial autocorrelation must be studied to explore the spatial structure underlying morphological variation and incorporated in regression models to provide more accurate statistical estimates of the relationships between morphological and ecological variables. Finally, we discuss the statistical properties of these techniques and the underlying reasons for using the spatial approach in population studies.
Variable discrimination and asymmetric preferences in laboratory tests of reproductive isolation between cichlid colour morphs
Authors: EGGER B. , MATTERSDORFER K. , SEFC K. M.
Published: November 2009

Mating behaviour affects reproductive isolation and phenotypic differentiation. In Lake Tanganyika, the cichlid fish Tropheus moorii diversified into numerous, currently allopatric colour variants. Allopatric isolation is periodically interrupted by dispersal and secondary contact during lake level fluctuations, making long‐term differentiation partly dependent on assortative mating. Laboratory experiments with two moderately distinct morphs revealed assortative female preferences in one (Nakaku), but random mate choice in the other morph (Mbita). No discrimination was apparent between two subtly differentiated morphs (Chimba and Moliro). Tested against each other in a previous study, the highly distinct Moliro and Nakaku exhibited strong assortative preferences. The correlation between colour pattern similarity and mate discrimination suggests that allopatry and philopatric behaviour are less crucial for the maintenance of differentiation between highly distinct morphs than for more similar morphs. Interestingly, the asymmetric isolation in one pair of morphs is congruent with a pattern of unidirectional mitochondrial introgression between populations.
An evaluation of the level of satisfaction with a dedicated inpatient venepuncture service at a rehabilitation centre
Authors: Oatey Anthea , Stiller Kathy
Published: November 2009

The purpose of this prospective observational study was to determine the levels of satisfaction of the three main ‘customers’ of a dedicated inpatient venepuncture service at a rehabilitation centre, namely the patients, medical staff and nursing staff. The venepuncture service was delivered by two part‐time nurses. One hundred and six patients, 14 medical staff and 35 nurses participated in the study. Three purpose‐designed surveys were administered to investigate levels of satisfaction. High degrees of satisfaction were reported by all three ‘customer’ groups. Patients were highly satisfied with the interpersonal skills of the venepuncture nurses and their ability to obtain blood on the first pass, medical staff agreed that a dedicated venepuncture service gave them more time to spend in patient care, and nursing staff believed that a dedicated venepuncture service caused less disruption to patients' daily schedule.
Impact of cancer on psychosexuality: Cultural perspectives of Asian women
Authors: Khoo Siew Beng
Published: November 2009

Cancers and related treatments have devastating effects on psychosexual life of patients. This study helps us to understand the cultural perspectives of 50 Asian women diagnosed with cancer. Median age was 50+ years. Median duration of time from diagnosis to interview was 23 months. Thirty‐eight per cent stopped sex before illness, 36% stopped sex completely whereas 18% stopped gradually after diagnosis; 8% continued to have sex till time of interview. Overall, 70% were living with spouse but not engaged in sexual intercourse; 31.4% slept in different room, 48.6% slept in the same room but without any form of sexual contact. Thirty‐eight per cent believed sexual activity could cause cancer recurrence, and 30% believed cancer could be sexually transmitted. Eighty‐two per cent reported acceptance of changes to physical appearance. Approximately 70–86% did not discuss sexuality with their doctor or spouse; 90% agreed doctors should ask about psychosexual issues on a routine basis. Approximately 74.4% reported good cooperation from spouse. Cultural beliefs of Asians pose as barriers to providing and receiving psychosexual affection between women diagnosed with cancer and their spouse. However, these beliefs also serve as protective factors in their mutual acceptance of change in psychosexual activities. Health‐care professionals need to be sensitive to the vast cultural differences in psychosexual expressions and needs of women diagnosed with cancer.
Magnet Recognition and Practice Development: Two journeys towards practice improvement in health care
Authors: Jordan Zoe
Published: November 2009

Health service providers continue to struggle with recruitment, retention, evidence‐based practice and practice improvement in order to provide high‐quality care for the communities they serve. In doing so, they are often required to implement strategies, which require considerable change at both organizational and ward/unit levels. The question remains, how do health service providers instigate processes that will result in positive and sustainable changes to practice and better outcomes for staff and patients? This paper outlines two increasingly used strategies for practice improvement (namely Magnet Recognition and Practice Development), their points of convergence and divergence and makes some broad recommendations for those seeking effective strategies for change that are cognizant of context and culture.
Reducing nosocomial infection in neonatal intensive care: An intervention study
Authors: Rahim Raijah Hj A , Barnett Tony
Published: November 2009

Nosocomial infection is a common cause of morbidity and mortality for hospitalized neonates. This report describes measures taken to reduce the prevalence of nosocomial infection within a 34‐bed neonatal intensive care unit in Malaysia. Interventions included a one‐to‐one education programme for nursing staff (n = 30); the education of cleaners and health‐care assistants allocated to work in the unit; and the introduction of routine (weekly) screening procedure for all infants with feedback given to staff. The education programme for nurses focused on the application of standard precautions to three common clinical procedures: hand washing, tracheobronchial suctioning and nasogastric tube feeding. These were evaluated using competency checklists. The prevalence of nosocomial blood and respiratory tract infections declined over the 7‐month study period. This study highlights the importance of education in contributing to the control of nosocomial infection in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Investigation of aquaculture dynamics at a Ramsar site, using earth observation systems in conjunction with a socio‐economic assessment
Authors: Nagabhatla Nidhi , Pattnaik C. , Sellamuttu S. Seneratna , Narendra Prasad S. , Wickramasuriya R. , Finlayson Max
Published: November 2009

This study presents a comprehensive site‐scale analysis conducted within the global wetland inventory and mapping (GWIM) project. GWIM was developed and promoted by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) through global partnerships to investigate wetland analyses at multiple scales. The present study investigates the complexity of an inland freshwater wetland system, presenting a conceptual framework for mapping and monitoring the dynamics of Lake Kolleru (a wetland of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention), utilizing a geospatial platform. Illustrating the pace of land use changes leading to the progressive elimination of the wetland ecosystem of freshwater Lake Kolleru, this study also highlights the impacts of such changes on the socio‐economic system. A comprehensive temporal analysis (1977–2007) provided a structural base to schematically analyse the dynamics of biophysical and ecological changes to the wetland by effectively using a spectrum of remote sensing data. The present status and changing trends in ecological dimensions of Lake Kolleru were illustrated, utilizing information from spatial analyses, complimented with socio‐economic assessment. Attention is drawn to the potential of utilizing earth resources systems in exploring space–time interactions in freshwater ecosystems heavily modified through aquaculture interventions. Further, the spatial derivatives are meant as reference material for local authorities and decision‐makers to rehabilitate the economic livelihood activities to the social community dependent on the lake ecosystem. The disseminated message emphasizes the applicability of geospatial tools to enhance the efficacy of the decision‐making process by facilitating regular monitoring of ecosystem dynamics and providing updated information on wetland patterns and uses.
Challenges to collective action in the management of the Kapenta fishery in lake Kariba
Authors: Nyikahadzoi Kefasi
Published: November 2009

This study focused on the Kapenta fishing industry at Lake Kariba to illustrate that variations in economic situation, and in biophysical attributes of the resource users, make it difficult to institute collective conformity with fishery management regulations. The paper discusses how the Kapenta fishing companies in the Lake Kariba region have differing preferences regarding fishery resource management, and assign different priorities to various objectives of the resource management. The differences in personal objectives regarding management of the fishery resources, and the differences in the degree of control and access over the fishery, led to situations where users had varying incentive structures. The differences in incentive structures lead to fishery management regulations based on the average characteristics of users and the biophysical environment, fuelling conflicts between fishery resource managers and users. The variations of micro‐biophysical attributes of the resource, combined with the behaviour of the resource users, make it difficult to bring resource users together for developing and initiating collective action.
Mitigating cyanobacterial blooms: how effective are ‘effective microorganisms’?
Authors: Lurling Miquel , Tolman Yora , Euwe Marieke
Published: November 2009

This study examined the effects of ‘Effective Microorganisms (EM)’ on the growth of cyanobacteria, and their ability to terminate cyanobacterial blooms. The EM was tested in the form of ‘mudballs’ or ‘Bokashi‐balls’, and as a suspension (EM‐A) in laboratory experiments. No growth inhibition was observed for a laboratory strain of Microcystis aeruginosa and for M. aeruginosa from the field at the recommended dosage of 1 EM‐mudball per square‐metre (≈0.1–0.3 g L−1). Cyanobacteria were inhibited only at very high concentrations (5–10 g L−1 cyanobacteria), and a bloom was reduced, being attributed to the high amount of clay and high water turbidity. For these high dosage treatments, the dissolved oxygen concentration dropped initially to very low levels, with longer incubation indicating that nutrients were released from the material. The EM‐A suspension appeared ineffective in hampering cyanobacterial growths at recommended usage concentrations. EM‐mudballs released phosphate (160 μg P g−1) and metals (aluminium, copper, traces of lead and lanthanum). The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that EM are effective in preventing cyanobacterial proliferation or in terminating blooms, thereby suggesting lake restoration by ‘Effective Microorganisms’ is not a convincing eutrophication control option.
Discovery of male sterile plants and their contrasting occurrence between self‐compatible and self‐incompatible populations of the hermaphroditic perennialTrillium camschatcense
Authors: KUBOTA SHOSEI , OHARA MASASHI
Published: November 2009

The sex type ofTrillium camschatcensehas been considered to be strictly monomorphic, composed of only hermaphroditic individuals. However, field observations have detected anther‐degenerated (AD) plants coexisting with hermaphrodites. The present study aimed to elucidate whether AD plants could be regarded as females and, if so, how their loss of male function is compensated. BecauseT. camschatcenseretains both self‐compatible (SC) and self‐incompatible (SI) populations, the frequencies of AD plants in multiple populations (22 SC and eight SI) were examined to predict the fate of these individuals under contrasting breeding systems. Morphological and genetic analyses in a SC population demonstrated that AD plants were completely male sterile, but female fertile. Although the quantity of seed produced was similar, hermaphrodites produced seeds predominantly via selfing, whereas seeds of AD plants were entirely outcrossed. Because inbreeding depression was severe, AD plants achieved a fitness advantage through inbreeding avoidance. However, the frequency of AD plants varied among SC populations (0–42%), suggesting that environmental variance can modify the relative fitness. Conversely, the frequency was suppressed among SI populations (0–2%). Because SI hermaphrodites are free from inbreeding, AD plants would not benefit from inbreeding avoidance and would find it difficult to invade a SI population.
Variation and plasticity of photosynthesis and respiration in local populations of fat‐hen Chenopodium album in northern Japan
Authors: HARAGUCHI AKIRA , LI BO , MATSUKI SAWAKO , NAGATA OSAMU , SUZUKI JUN‐ICHIROU , HARA TOSHIHIKO
Published: November 2009

To examine variation and plasticity of photosynthesis and dark respiration among regional populations, seven populations of Chenopodium album L. (a shade‐avoider species) were collected in northern Japan and grown under shaded and unshaded conditions. The light‐saturated photosynthetic rates (Pmax) on both a leaf area and a mass basis significantly differed among the populations; the light regime affected Pmax per leaf area, but had no effect on Pmax per leaf mass. There were no significant differences among the populations in dark respiration rates (Rd) either per leaf area or mass; the light regime affected Rd per leaf area, but had no effect on Rd per leaf mass. Specific leaf area (SLA) exhibited significant differences among populations and SLA significantly increased under shaded conditions. None of these traits showed clinal variation along a latitudinal gradient, partially because the climatic span across which the populations were collected was relatively small (13.9–18.9°C). Pmax, SLA and α (initial slope at zero irradiance of the light‐photosynthetic rate relationship curve) showed great genetic variation, whereas Rd showed little genetic variation. Pmax and Rd showed high plasticity on a leaf area basis, but not on a leaf mass basis as SLA and α had high plasticity. We found that there is great genetic variation between local populations of C. album within a small geographical range, which controlled plasticity of the reaction norm of the photosynthetic property for the light regime during the growth period. More variation in reaction norms would enable C. album populations to colonize unpredictable habitats. Genetic variation after long‐term adaptation to habitat conditions as well as plasticity during short‐term acclimation to an unpredictable environment could enable C. album to distribute itself successfully over a wide range of climates.
Floral herbivory of the wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa L.) by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.)
Authors: MÅRELL ANDERS , ARCHAUX FRÉDÉRIC , KORBOULEWSKY NATHALIE
Published: November 2009

The wood anemone Anemone nemorosa L. is a common spring‐flowering geophyte in temperate deciduous forests. Despite life‐history traits generally considered advantageous against herbivory, it is a species susceptible to floral herbivory. We studied the floral herbivory of A. nemorosa in a deciduous temperate forest south of Paris, France, in spring 2008. The browsing rate of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) on flowering shoots was locally very high (75–80%) with, on average, 30% of flowering shoots lost by roe deer browsing at the population level. Floral herbivory by roe deer occurred at a time when resources are at their minimum in rhizomes, making the plant vulnerable to herbivory in terms of survival, future growth and reproduction. We believe that floral herbivory may interact with resource allocation and that these factors play a crucial role in the population dynamics of A. nemorosa.
Regeneration of deep‐forest Stemmadenia donnell‐smithii (Apocynaceae) at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico
Authors: SHWEIKI SONIA , HOWE HENRY F.
Published: November 2009

Stemmadenia donnell‐smithii is a subcanopy neotropical tree that occurs in a wide variety of forest and successional habitats. Often regarded as a species of highly disturbed habitats, we tested the hypothesis that regeneration in old‐growth forest is consistent with that of a late‐pioneer tree, with the number of established seedlings (stature <50 cm) near fruiting trees directly proportional to canopy openness (rs = 0.82, P < 0.01). Scarce larger juveniles (stature >50 cm in forest conditions) occurred only under broken canopies.
Moral dilemmas and ethical controversies
Authors: Kirsch Stuart
Published: November 2009

In his guest editorial, Stuart Kirsch revisits the controversy surrounding Jared Diamond's NEW YORKER essay on vengeance and the state, drawing attention to how anthropologists discuss the ethical responsibilities of ethnographers.
Negotiating new visions: An interview with Anthony Shelton by Gustaaf Houtman
Authors: Shelton Anthony , Houtman Gustaaf
Published: November 2009

In his interview, Anthony Shelton reflects on his past 25 years working in museums and universities and the changing relationship between anthropology and ethnographic exhibitions and museum practices. Shelton talks about the field of critical museology which he has theorized and set out over many years and which stands as a substantial critique of conventional museum practice, and answers questions about the emergence and potential of new radical approaches to the exhibition of indigenous cultures as exemplified by the UBC Museum of Anthropology's multi‐million dollar project, ‘A Partnership of Peoples’ which is due to open in January of 2010.
Anthropology, liberalism and female genital cutting
Authors: Londoño Sulkin Carlos D.
Published: November 2009

This essay is the reaction of a non‐specialist on Africanist ethnography and female genital cutting to Sierra Leonese American Scholar Dr Fuambai Ahmadu's work on these matters. It argues that some anti‐FGM perceptions and rhetoric are parochial and illiberal, and calls for anthropologists to take counsel both from our discipline's methodological requirement actually to pay attention to what the people we write about say and do over extended periods of time, and to its age‐old demand that we be critical of our own premises, before adopting any purportedly liberal campaign to support or challenge this or that social practice.
An anthropologist in the world revolution
Authors: Hart Keith
Published: November 2009

Keith Hart argues that the rapid development of digital communications has triggered a world revolution that anthropologists must join. Everyone's trajectory through this transition is particular to them, so he tells the story through his own personal experience over the last two decades. He shows how a recent initiative, the Open Anthropology Cooperative, expresses the potential of our moment in history. Anthropologists have a lot to gain, professionally and as human beings, from opening up to this revolution.
Climate Change Negotiations Update: Process and Prospects for a Copenhagen Agreed Outcome in December 2009
Authors: Kulovesi Kati , Gutiérrez María
Published: November 2009

This article provides an update on the status of negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 3 months before the fifteenth Conference of the Parties is scheduled to reach an historic agreement on enhancing international climate change cooperation. It gives a brief overview of the process that is taking place under two distinct negotiating tracks and highlights the key substantive issues under the main areas of cooperation – namely mitigation, adaptation, technology and capacity building, as well as finance. It also briefly addresses the legal form of the outcome and outlines the main options for the post‐2012 legal framework.

With only 3 weeks of negotiating time remaining before Copenhagen and a myriad of politically sensitive issues yet to be agreed and technical details to be addressed, it has become increasingly clear that moving the process forward will require a high‐level political compromise and that many of the details that will give the post‐2012 climate regime its shape will only be agreed after Copenhagen.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions at Home or Abroad? The Implications of Kyoto's Supplementarity Requirement for the Present and Future Climate Change Regime
Authors: Platjouw Froukje Maria
Published: November 2009

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions at home or abroad has become one of the dilemmas within contemporary climate change policy, touching upon various concepts such as cost effectiveness, environmental effectiveness, equity and sustainable development, and challenging the North–South relationship in itself. Although Annex I parties to the Kyoto Protocol are legally obligated, through the supplementarity requirement, to meet their Kyoto Protocol emission reduction targets to a certain extent through ‘domestic actions’, various Annex I parties favour the use of flexibility mechanisms, arguing that actions to reduce emissions should be taken where it is cheapest, given the fact that the effect on the atmosphere will be the same. This article explores the limits to flexibility under the Kyoto regime and elucidates the implications of the supplementarity requirement in Articles 6, 12 and 17 of the Protocol. The article aims to provide an effective and justifiable interpretation of the supplementarity requirement that would be acceptable to both industrialized and developing countries, taking into account cost and environmental effectiveness, as well as equity considerations.
The Principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibility in Post‐2012 Climate Negotiations
Authors: Honkonen Tuula
Published: November 2009

The article examines the on‐going negotiation process towards a post‐2012 climate change agreement in the light of the principle of common but differentiated responsibility (CBDR). The said principle is often identified as the cornerstone upon which State commitments are to be built. Nevertheless, the diversity of views as to how the CBDR principle should actually be put into operation in the new agreement is rather discomforting. The article reviews the negotiation work carried out in this respect and maps out the way that CBDR has been treated in the process.
Using State Aid to Correct the Market Failure of Climate Change
Authors: Kaur Sanmeet
Published: November 2009

The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change makes clear that climate change is a cost. This article explores how some of this cost might be met through State Aid. In order to do this, however, the State Aid rules need to be amended. The State Aid rules were drafted with such elegance that they have required almost no amendment in 50 years. Article 87(1) sets out the general prohibition against awarding State Aid that is incompatible with the common market. This prohibition is subject to Article 87(3), which sets out when aid may be compatible with the common market. The State Aid rules in their present format cannot wholly facilitate the approval of aid which will be necessary to cut greenhouse gases through the four methods identified in the Stern Review. This is because Article 87(3) does not specifically permit aid which is designed to manage climate change. It is therefore proposed that a new sub‐article should be inserted into Article 87(3) to create Article 87(3)(f) to deal specifically with climate change. It is further proposed that new guidelines dealing with the economic challenge of climate change should be created and employed by the European Commission in exercising its discretion in conjunction with Article 87(3).
Safe Return to the Underground? The Role of International Law in Subsurface Storage of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Langlet David
Published: November 2009

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been described as an indispensable element in fighting dangerous climate change. At the same time, the technology is associated with significant uncertainties and risks. Focusing on the geological storage of captured CO2, this article takes stock of ongoing processes for accommodating CCS in international law. It finds that the current approach to CCS is patchy and, partly, short on substance. It then attempts to establish to what extent a harmonized international approach to regulating CCS is called for and how it may be achieved.
The EU in Environmental Negotiations in UNECE: An Analysis of its Role in the Aarhus Convention and the SEA Protocol Negotiations
Authors: Delreux Tom
Published: November 2009

This article sheds a light on the role of the EU in environmental negotiations that are held under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). In particular, the EU decision‐making processes with regard to the negotiations leading to the Aarhus Convention and to the SEA Protocol are examined. Based on extensive document research and in‐depth interviews with policy makers involved in these negotiations, the article argues that the internal decision‐making processes were rather chaotic because of diverging preferences in the EU. As a result, the greater part of both UNECE negotiation processes were not characterized by a strong EU actorness.1
Anatomy of Russia’s market segmentation1
Authors: Gluschenko Konstantin
Published: November 2009

Based on a relationship between price difference and demand difference among locations, the role of various market frictions in causing segmentation of the Russian goods market is analysed. The spatial sample covers most of Russian regions (70 of the 89); the data are annual, spanning 1992 to 2000. Spatial disconnectedness of regions is found to be responsible for about 70 percent of the average price differential, while the rest is caused by ‘artificial’ impediments to market integration such as regional protectionism, organized crime and intra‐region shipping conditions.
Are private banks more efficient than public banks?
Authors: Karas Alexei , Schoors Koen , Weill Laurent
Published: November 2009

We study whether bank efficiency is related to bank ownership in Russia. We find that foreign banks are more efficient than domestic private banks and, surprisingly, that domestic private banks are not more efficient than domestic public banks. These results are not driven by the choice of production process, the bank’s environment, management’s risk preferences, the bank’s activity mix or size, the econometric approach, or the introduction of deposit insurance. The policy conclusion is that the efficiency of the Russian banking system may benefit more from increased levels of competition and greater access of foreign banks than from bank privatization.
Returns to basic skills in central and eastern Europe
Authors: Denny Kevin , Doyle Orla
Published: November 2009

This article uses semi‐parametric econometric techniques to investigate the relationship between basic skills and earnings in three post‐communist countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia, using the International Adult Literacy Survey dataset. It finds that including a measure of basic skills in a Mincer model reduces the returns to education. In addition, using a partially linear model, in which log earnings is linear in education but is an arbitrary function of basic skills, it finds that this relationship is not well described by the common assumption of linearity at the tails of the distribution.
An almost‐too‐late warning mechanism for currency crises1
Authors: Cuaresma Jesús Crespo , Slacik Tomas
Published: November 2009

We propose exploiting the term structure of relative interest rates to obtain estimates of changes in the timing of a currency crisis as perceived by market participants. Our indicator can be used to evaluate the relative probability of a crisis occurring in one week as compared to a crisis happening after one week but in less than a month. We give empirical evidence that the indicator performs well for two important currency crises in Eastern Europe: the crisis in the Czech Republic in 1997 and the Russian crisis in 1998.
Democracy vs. dictatorship
Authors: Schiffbauer Marc , Shen Ling
Published: November 2009

A democratic society is often regarded as a prerequisite for economic growth and development. Yet, most empirical studies are not capable of identifying a positive link between GDP growth and democracy indexes. In addition, it is a stylized empirical fact that: (i) most developing countries are dictatorships; and (ii) many poor dictatorships have experienced high growth performances and emerged from poverty such as South Korea, China and Egypt. Against this background, it is of interest to analyse in which ways the growth performance between autocratic and democratic economies may differ, in particular among low‐income countries. To answer this question, we compare the endogenous growth paths of two economies that differ only in their political regimes in the context of an overlapping generations model. The key features of the model are: (i) a positive bequest motive in the form of investments in education or productive public capital (infrastructure); (ii) a higher marginal (inter‐temporal) utility of consumption today versus consumption tomorrow in low‐income countries (for example, subsistence level of consumption); and (iii) a dictator that cares about her income or the income of her dynasty tomorrow. In this framework, we demonstrate that poor but large and stable dictatorships exhibit a higher equilibrium growth rate than comparable (equally poor) democracies. Moreover, there exists a particular threshold value in income such that the growth‐reducing impact of dictatorial consumption (corruption) outweighs the higher (initial) public investments. Above this, the growth rate under democracy dominates the one in dictatorship.
Tariffs, market conduct and government commitment
Authors: Baghdasaryan Delia , Žigić Krešimir
Published: November 2009

We analyse a simple ‘tariffs cum foreign competition’ policy targeted at enhancing the competitive position of a domestic, developing country firm that competes with its developed country counterpart on the domestic market and that carries out an innovative (or imitative) effort. We evaluate this policy with respect to social welfare, type of oligopoly conduct, information requirement, time consistency and possibility of manipulative behaviour and conclude that the most robust policy setup is one in which the domestic government is unable to pre‐commit to the level of its policy. We also study how the unit cost heterogeneity of the domestic firm affects trade protection.
The emerging aversion to inequality
Authors: Grosfeld Irena , Senik Claudia
Published: November 2009

This paper provides evidence of the changing attitudes to inequality during transition to the market in Poland. Using repeated cross‐sections of the population, it identifies a structural break in the relationship between income inequality and satisfaction. Whereas in the first stage of the transition process, an increase in income inequality was interpreted by the population as a positive signal of wider opportunities, later in the transition period increased inequality became a factor in dissatisfaction with the country’s economic situation. This was accompanied by increasing public sentiment that the process of income distribution is flawed and corrupt.