bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Premedication with clonidine is superior to benzodiazepines. A meta analysis of published studies
Authors: DAHMANI S. , BRASHER C. , STANY I. , GOLMARD J. , SKHIRI A. , BRUNEAU B. , NIVOCHE Y. , CONSTANT I. , MURAT I.
Published: January 2010

Background: Premedication is considered important in pediatric anesthesia. Benzodiazepines are the most commonly used premedication agents. Clonidine, an α2 adrenoceptor agonist, is gaining popularity among anesthesiologists. The goal of the present study was to perform a meta‐analysis of studies comparing premedication with clonidine to Benzodiazepines.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify clinical trials focusing on the comparison of clonidine and Benzodiazepines for premedication in children. Six reviewers independently assessed each study to meet the inclusion criteria and extracted data. Original data from each trial were combined to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) or the mean differences (MD), 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] and statistical heterogeneity were accessed.

Results: Ten publications fulfilling the inclusion criteria were found. Premedication with clonidine, in comparison with midazolam, exhibited a superior effect on sedation at induction (OR=0.49 [0.27, 0.89]), decreased the incidence of emergence agitation (OR=0.25 [0.11, 0.58]) and produced a more effective early post‐operative analgesia (OR=0.33 [0.21, 0.58]). Compared with diazepam, clonidine was superior in preventing post‐operative nausea and vomiting (PONV).

Discussion: Premedication with clonidine is superior to midazolam in producing sedation, decreasing post‐operative pain and emergence agitation. However, the superiority of clonidine for PONV prevention remains unclear while other factors such as nausea prevention might interfere with this result.
Regional cerebral glucose metabolism during sevoflurane anaesthesia in healthy subjects studied with positron emission tomography
Authors: SCHLÜNZEN L. , JUUL N. , HANSEN K. V. , GJEDDE A. , COLD G. E.
Published: January 2010

Background: The precise mechanism by which sevoflurane exerts its effects in the human brain remains unknown. In the present study, we quantified the effects of sevoflurane on regional cerebral glucose metabolism (rGMR) in the human brain measured with positron emission tomography.

Methods: Eight volunteers underwent two dynamic 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) scans. One scan assessed conscious‐baseline metabolism and the other scan assessed metabolism during 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) sevoflurane anaesthesia. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were monitored and bispectral index responses were registered. Statistical parametric maps and conventional regions of interest analysis were used to determine rGMR differences.

Results: All subjects were unconsciousness at 1.0 MAC sevoflurane. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were constant over time. In the awake state, rGMR ranged from 0.24 to 0.35 μmol/g/min in the selected regions. Compared with the conscious state, total GMR decreased 56% in sevoflurane anaesthesia. In white and grey matter, GMR was averaged 42% and 58% of normal, respectively. Sevoflurane reduced the absolute rGMR in all selected areas by 48–71% of the baseline (P≤0.01), with the most significant reductions in the lingual gyrus (71%), occipital lobe in general (68%) and thalamus (63%). No increases in rGMR were observed.

Conclusions: Sevoflurane caused a global whole‐brain metabolic reduction of GMR in all regions of the human brain, with the most marked metabolic suppression in the lingual gyrus, thalamus and occipital lobe.
The mismeasurement of sexual selection
Authors: Klug H. , Heuschele J. , Jennions M. D. , Kokko H.
Published: January 2010

Sexual selection can explain major micro- and macro-evolutionary patterns. Much of current theory predicts that the strength of sexual selection (i) is driven by the relative abundance of males and females prepared to mate (i.e. the operational sex ratio, OSR) and (ii) can be generally estimated by calculating intra-sexual variation in mating success (e.g. the opportunity for sexual selection, Is). Here, we demonstrate the problematic nature of these predictions. The OSR and Is only accurately predict sexual selection under a limited set of circumstances, and more specifically, only when mate monopolization is extremely strong. If mate monopolization is not strong, using OSR or Is as proxies or measures of sexual selection is expected to produce spurious results that lead to the false conclusion that sexual selection is strong when it is actually weak. These findings call into question the validity of empirical conclusions based on these measures of sexual selection.
Ontogenetic shifts and temporal changes in the trophic patterns of the deep‐sea red shrimp,Aristaeomorpha foliacea(Decapods: Aristeidae), in the Eastern Ionian Sea (Eastern Mediterranean)
Authors: Kapiris Kostas , Thessalou‐Legaki Maria , Petrakis George , Conides Alexis
Published: January 2010

The purpose of this paper is to provide the first detailed data concerning the diet and feeding activity of the giant red shrimp,Aristaeomorpha foliacea, in the Eastern Ionian Sea (Eastern Mediterranean), in relation to season, size class and sex. Feeding activity inA. foliaceawas intense, based on its low vacuity index and high prey diversity, with a diet dominated by mesopelagic prey and less frequent occurrence of benthic taxa. Giant red shrimp displayed a highly diversified diet that exhibited slight seasonal fluctuations. The diets of both sexes consisted of 60 different prey categories belonging chiefly to three groups: crustaceans (e.g.decapods, such asPlesionikaspp. and Pasiphaeidae, amphipods), cephalopods (mainly Enoploteuthidae) and fishes (Myctophidae, Macrouridae). These three prey categories accounted for 72–82% of the relative abundance and total occurrence for males and 70–88% for females, respectively. Variation in food availability, as well as increased energy demands related to gonad development and breeding activity, appear to be critical factors driving temporal changes in feeding strategy. Feeding activity increased during spring and summer, which coincides with reproductive activities (mating, gonad maturation, egg‐laying). Females seem to be more active predators than males, consuming prey with greater swimming ability. However, ontogenetic shifts in diet were also apparent, despite high dietary overlap among small, medium and large females. Large individuals, which are more efficient predators, selected highly mobile prey (e.g.fishes), whereas small individuals consumed low‐mobility prey (e.g.copepods, ostracods, tanaids and sipunculans).
Hawaiian hotspots: enhanced megafaunal abundance and diversity in submarine canyons on the oceanic islands of Hawaii
Authors: Vetter Eric W. , Smith Craig R. , De Leo Fabio C.
Published: January 2010

Submarine canyons are important sources of habitat heterogeneity on the slopes of continents and islands, but the study of canyon ecology has been largely restricted to continental margins. Here we use visual and video surveys from 36 submersible dives to evaluate the role of canyons as abundance and diversity hotspots for megafauna in the Hawaiian Archipelago, an island chain embedded in an oligotrophic ocean. We surveyed megafauna in canyon and slope settings at depths of 350–1500 m along the margins of four islands: the low ‘islands’ of Nihoa and Maro Reef, and the high islands of Oahu and Moloka’i. Megafaunal communities in canyons differed significantly from those in nearby slope habitats at all depths. Highly mobile fishes and invertebrates were consistently more abundant in canyons than on nearby slopes at the same depth off all islands, suggesting that canyons may be important sources of larvae for surrounding habitats. In the few cases where megafaunal abundances were similar or higher on the slope, the differences were typically driven by higher slope abundance of sessile suspension feeders or animals with limited mobility, i.e. by organisms which are likely to have difficulty with high currents and sediment transport in canyons. Megafaunal species richness and diversity generally trended higher within canyons, especially for the highly mobile taxa. Canyons contained 41 megafaunal species never observed on the slope, and increased estimated regional species richness by 25–30 species, indicating that canyons enhanced beta and gamma (regional) biodiversity. An expected trend of greater enhancement of diversity and abundance in canyons on the margins of high versus low oceanic islands was not observed, although megafauna were generally more abundant in both canyon and slope habitats on the high islands (Oahu and Moloka’i). We conclude that submarine canyons on both low and high islands in the Hawaiian Archipelago may provide keystone structures, enhancing megafaunal abundance, providing source populations for the open slope, and enhancing local and regional species diversity.
Entities and frequency of neonatal diabetes: data from the diabetes documentation and quality management system (DPV)
Authors: Grulich‐Henn J. , Wagner V. , Thon A. , Schober E. , Marg W. , Kapellen T. M. , Haberland H. , Raile K. , Ellard S. , Flanagan S. E. , Hattersley A. T. , Holl R. W.
Published: January 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 709–712 (2010)

Aims  The aim of this study was to elucidate the entities and the frequency of neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) in a large representative database for paediatric diabetes patients in Germany and Austria.

Methods  Based on the continuous diabetes data acquisition system for prospective surveillance (DPV), which includes 51 587 patients with onset of diabetes before the age of 18 years from 299 centres in Germany and Austria, we searched for patients with onset of diabetes mellitus in the first 6 months of life.

Results  Ninety patients were identified, comprising 0.17% of all paediatric cases in the DPV registry. This represented an incidence of approximately one case in 89 000 live births in Germany. A monogenic basis for NDM was established in 30 subjects (seven UPD6, 10 KCNJ11, seven ABCC8, two FOXP3, two PDX1, one INS, one EIF2AK3). Pancreatic hypoplasia or agenesis was reported in 10 patients and seven subjects were classified as having Type 1 diabetes by their centres. Transient neonatal diabetes (TNDM) accounted for approximately 10% of all cases with NDM. No aetiology was defined in 41 subjects, which may reflect incomplete genetic testing or novel genetic aetiologies.

Conclusion  Based on a large database, we identified a higher rate of NDM in Germany than has been reported previously. Full molecular genetic testing should be performed in all patients diagnosed before 6 months of age.
Diabetes and other glucose metabolism abnormalities in Mexican Zapotec and Mixe Indians
Authors: Escobedo J. , Chavira I. , Martínez L. , Velasco X. , Escandón C. , Cabral J.
Published: January 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 412–416 (2010)

Aims  Aboriginal populations are experiencing an explosive rise in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and other glucose metabolism abnormalities in Mexican Zapotec and Mixe Indians and to determine their association with known risk factors.

Methods  A cross‐sectional study was conducted in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Two communities of Zapotec population and three of Mixe population were randomly chosen. Mexican Indians ≥ 35 years old were invited to participate; 394 Zapotec and 730 Mixe Indians participated. Diabetes and other glucose metabolism abnormalities were diagnosed using standard World Health Organization criteria after an oral glucose tolerance test. Prevalence and odds ratio (OR) were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results  The crude prevalence of diabetes was 8.19% (95% CI 6.7–9.9%) and the age‐ and sex‐adjusted prevalence was 8.27%, significantly higher among Zapotec (8.71%) than among Mixe Indians (6.90%). The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance was 9.9% and 4.7% of the studied subjects had impaired fasting glucose. The main risk factors related to the occurrence of diabetes were a family history of diabetes (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.9–8.8), obesity (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.6–5.6), hypertension (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.5–4.7) and a high‐risk waist–hip ratio (4.6; 95% CI 1.2–17.7).

Conclusions  The prevalence of diabetes is high in this population, the highest so far reported in Mexican Indians. Mexico’s health system faces a huge challenge to avert the advanced spread of diabetes in this susceptible population.
Diabetes Care Protocol: effects on patient‐important outcomes. A cluster randomized, non‐inferiority trial in primary care
Authors: Cleveringa F. G. W. , Minkman M. H. , Gorter K. J. , Van Den Donk M. , Rutten G. E. H. M.
Published: January 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 442–450 (2010)

Aims  The Diabetes Care Protocol (DCP) combines task delegation, intensification of diabetes treatment and feedback. It reduces cardiovascular risk in Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. This study determines the effects of DCP on patient‐important outcomes.

Methods  A cluster randomized, non‐inferiority trial, by self‐administered questionnaires in 55 Dutch primary care practices: 26 practices DCP (1699 patients), 26 usual care (1692 patients). T2DM patients treated by their general practitioner were included. Main outcome was the 1‐year between‐group difference in Diabetes Health Profile (DHP‐18) total score. Secondary outcomes: DHP‐18 subscales, general perceived health [Medical Outcomes Study 36‐Items Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36), Euroqol 5 Dimensions (EQ‐5D) and Euroqol visual analogue scale (EQ‐VAS)], treatment satisfaction (Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire; DTSQ status) and psychosocial self‐efficacy (Diabetes Empowerment Scale Short Form; DES‐SF). Per protocol (PP) and intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analyses were performed: non‐inferiority margin Δ = −2%. At baseline 2333 questionnaires were returned and 1437 1 year thereafter.

Results  Comparing DCP with usual care, DHP‐18 total score was non‐inferior: PP −0.88 (95% CI −1.94 to 0.12), ITT −0.439 (95% CI −1.01 to 0.08), SF‐36 ‘health change’ improved: PP 3.51 (95% CI 1.23 to 5.82), ITT 1.91 (95% CI 0.62 to 3.23), SF‐36 ‘social functioning’ was inconclusive: PP −1.57 (95% CI −4.3 to 0.72), ITT −1.031 (95% CI −2.52 to −0.25). Other DHP and SF‐36 scores were inconsistent or non‐inferior. DHP‐18 ‘disinhibited eating’ was significantly worse in PP analyses. For EQ‐5D/EQ‐VAS, DTSQ and DES‐SF, no significant between‐group differences were found.

Conclusion  DCP does not seem to influence health status negatively, therefore diabetes care providers should not shrink from intensified treatment. However, they should take possible detrimental effects on ‘social functioning’ and ‘disinhibited eating’ into account.
Risks of marathon running and hypoglycaemia in Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Graveling A. J. , Frier B. M.
Published: January 2010

Diabet. Med. 27, 585–588 (2010)

Background  Exercise‐induced hypoglycaemia is common in people with insulin‐treated diabetes and if severe can provoke neurological morbidity including coma and seizures. Depending on the duration and demands of the physical activity, various strategies can be used to limit the risk of hypoglycaemia with strenuous exercise. However, metabolic events occurring in the 48 h before the exercise can influence the risk and responses to exercise‐induced hypoglycaemia.

Case report  A 27‐year‐old man with Type 1 diabetes suffered an episode of nocturnal hypoglycaemia which provoked a tonic‐clonic seizure. Despite this he ran in a marathon the following day during which he collapsed with severe hypoglycaemia and a further associated seizure. He subsequently developed severe myalgia accompanied by a pronounced and persistent elevation of plasma creatine kinase, indicating rhabdomyolysis, and deranged liver function, suggestive of hypoxic hepatitis. The biochemical abnormalities and symptoms lasted for several weeks.

Conclusions  The case highlights the dangers of intense and prolonged physical exercise following severe hypoglycaemia, demonstrating the risks of acute damage to skeletal muscle and to organs such as the liver, in addition to the risk of severe neuroglycopenia and the induction of seizures. The mechanisms underlying these problems are discussed. People with insulin‐treated diabetes should be advised not to undertake prolonged intensive exercise after severe hypoglycaemia.
Language as a Tool for Interacting Minds
Authors: TYLÉN KRISTIAN , WEED ETHAN , WALLENTIN MIKKEL , ROEPSTORFF ANDREAS , FRITH CHRIS D.
Published: January 2010

What is the role of language in social interaction? What does language bring to social encounters? We argue that language can be conceived of as a tool for interacting minds, enabling especially effective and flexible forms of social coordination, perspective‐taking and joint action. In a review of evidence from a broad range of disciplines, we pursue elaborations of the language‐as‐a‐tool metaphor, exploring four ways in which language is employed in facilitation of social interaction. We argue that language dramatically extends the possibility‐space for interaction, facilitates the profiling and navigation of joint attentional scenes, enables the sharing of situation models and action plans, and mediates the cultural shaping of interacting minds.
The Logic Instinct
Authors: CRAIN STEPHEN , KHLENTZOS DREW
Published: January 2010

We present a series of arguments for logical nativism, focusing mainly on the meaning of disjunction in human languages. We propose that all human languages are logical in the sense that the meaning of linguistic expressions corresponding to disjunction (e.g. English or, Chinese huozhe, Japanese ka) conform to the meaning of the logical operator in classical logic, inclusive‐ or. It is highly implausible, we argue, that children acquire the (logical) meaning of disjunction by observing how adults use disjunction. Findings from studies of child language acquisition and from cross‐linguistic research invite the conclusion that children do not learn to be logical—it comes naturally to them.
Thought Insertion and Self‐Knowledge
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ JORDI
Published: January 2010

I offer an account of thought insertion based on a certain model of self‐knowledge. I propose that subjects with thought insertion do not experience being committed to some of their own beliefs. A hypothesis about self‐knowledge explains why. According to it, we form beliefs about our own beliefs on the basis of our evidence for them. First, I will argue that this hypothesis explains the fact that we feel committed to those beliefs which we are aware of. Then, I will point to one feature of schizophrenia that suggests that subjects with thought insertion may not be able to know their own beliefs in that way.
Embodied Cognition and Mindreading
Authors: SPAULDING SHANNON
Published: January 2010

Recently, philosophers and psychologists defending the embodied cognition research program have offered arguments against mindreading as a general model of our social understanding. The embodied cognition arguments are of two kinds: those that challenge the developmental picture of mindreading and those that challenge the alleged ubiquity of mindreading. Together, these two kinds of arguments, if successful, would present a serious challenge to the standard account of human social understanding. In this paper, I examine the strongest of these embodied cognition arguments and argue that mindreading approaches can withstand the best of these arguments from embodied cognition.
The predictors of subjective career success: an empirical study of employee development in a Korean financial company
Authors: Park Yongho
Published: January 2010

Subjective career success has recently been discussed widely in the academic field of career development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of subjective career success. It examined the effects of the calling work orientation, the individual's career‐enhancing strategy and the organizational learning climate on the subjective career success of 253 employees in a company in the Korean financial sector. The results identified three significant predictors of subjective career success: creating opportunity, calling work orientation and continuous learning. Among the significant predictors, creating opportunity – part of the individual's career‐enhancing strategy – proved to be the best predictor of subjective career success. Conclusions were drawn and implications and limitations discussed.
Vocational education and training and employer engagement: an industry‐led sectoral system in the Netherlands
Authors: Sung Johnny
Published: January 2010

The overall objective of this paper is to determine, through a qualitative case study of the Dutch sectoral training system, factors associated with successful employer engagement. As well as examining the key features of the Dutch approach to vocational education and training (VET), the article makes a number of specific arguments: (1) employer ‘buy‐in’ is crucial to the success of the sectoral approach to VET; (2) simply establishing a system of sector‐based training bodies (e.g. skills councils) does not guarantee effective employer engagement; and (3) to make sectoral training work, especially in countries where a ‘supply‐led’ system dominates, a fundamental reform is required in areas such as funding, qualification structure, leadership and system support.
Employees' choices in learning how to use information and communication technology systems at work: strategies and approaches
Authors: Korpelainen Eija , Kira Mari
Published: January 2010

The purpose of this paper is to promote the understanding of how employees learn to use information and communication technology (ICT) systems at work. The elements of a learning activity in the context of ICT use are identified from the literature. In particular, approaches to learning, learning strategies and problem‐solving strategies are reviewed. The empirical part of the study examines how employees choose to start learning how to use ICT systems, and how they choose to learn while solving problems related to system use. The data were collected using qualitative semi‐structured interviews with 39 employees in three organizations. The interviewees usually preferred to learn how to use ICT quickly and without investing too much effort. The interviewees preferred informal learning and problem‐solving strategies. The most commonly used strategies were to try things out alone or together with peers, or to ask for help from peers. The main conclusions of the study are that the users' learning intentions affect the kind of learning support they need and that ICT learning is best approached as a learning activity strongly rooted in collaboration and the social context.
A review of twenty years of competency‐based training in the Australian vocational education and training system
Authors: Smith Erica
Published: January 2010

In this paper, the author reflects, both as an academic researcher and as a senior practitioner, on the experience of competency‐based training (CBT) in the Australian vocational education and training system. She seeks to draw conclusions about the Australian experience using a typology drawn from the academic literature which focuses on the philosophical, educational, technical and market aspects of CBT. She concludes that, despite many improvements over the past 10 years, some potential problems remain. The system is controlled overly tightly by the interests of industry and it also exhibits some inflexibilities. Both of these act to disadvantage some groups of learners. Teachers and trainers do not have adequate skills to work skilfully and critically with CBT, leading to thin pedagogy and a narrow focus on assessment of individual items of performance.
Pediatric bipolar disorder: evidence for prodromal states and early markers
Authors: Luby Joan L. , Navsaria Neha
Published: January 2010

Background:  Childhood bipolar disorder remains a controversial but increasingly diagnosed disorder that is associated with significant impairment, chronic course and treatment resistance. Therefore, the search for prodromes or early markers of risk for later childhood bipolar disorder may be of great importance for prevention and/or early identification.

Methods:  Literature searches were conducted to identify reviews, case reports and empirical papers addressing the issue of prodromes of childhood bipolar disorder.

Results:  A total of 54 articles were found that related to bipolar prodromes, risk factors for later childhood bipolar disorder, childhood risk for adult bipolar disorder, mania manifestations in early childhood, and neuropsychological and biological markers of childhood bipolar disorder. A review of articles suggest (a) childhood bipolar prodromes may be detectable prior to the onset of the disorder, (b) prodromal symptoms may display episodicity during childhood, (c) there is evidence of possible endophenotypic markers such as deficits in executive function, sustained attention, and emotion labeling, (d) there is a potential association with functional, structural, and biochemical alterations evident in brain structures involved in mood regulation, (e) a link between childhood bipolar disorder with early tempermental markers, such as emotional regulation and behavioral disinhibition and (f) there is some early but promising evidence of effective psychotherapeutic preventions.

Conclusions:  There has been very limited investigation of early prodromes of childhood bipolar disorder. Based on the promising findings of prodromes as well as high‐risk states and possible endophenotypic markers, more controlled and targeted investigations into the early markers of bipolar disorder appear warranted and potentially fruitful. Until such longitudinal studies with appropriate controls are conducted, specific markers for bipolar prodromes will remain elusive, although evidence suggests they are manifest in at least some subgroups. The finding of promising psychotherapeutic prevention programs underscores the need to find specific and sensitive markers of bipolar prodromes in childhood.
Assessment of cognitive and adaptive behaviour among individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain and anhidrosis
Authors: LEVY EREZ DANIELLA , LEVY JACOV , FRIGER MICHAEL , AHARONI‐MAYER YAEL , COHEN‐ILUZ MORAN , GOLDSTEIN ESTHER
Published: January 2010

Aim  Individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) are reported to have mental retardation* but to our knowledge no detailed study on the subject has ever been published. The present study assessed and documented cognitive and adaptive behaviour among Arab Bedouin children with CIPA.

Methods  Twenty‐three Arab Bedouin children (12 females, 11 males) with CIPA aged between 3 and 17 years (mean 9y 7mo, SD 4y 2mo) were assessed. They were compared with 19 healthy siblings of the affected children aged between 5 and 13 years (mean 8y 11mo, SD 2y 10m). All of the children in the comparison group, but only half of the CIPA group, were attending school. The children were evaluated using a standardized, non‐verbal intelligence test, the Leiter International Performance Scale – Revised, and an adaptive behaviour questionnaire, the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, 2nd edition.

Results  Based on scores on the intelligence test and the adaptive behaviour scale, children with CIPA functioned in the mental retardation range (mean IQ scores: CIPA group 53.8, comparison group 83.32 [p<0.001]; adaptive behaviour: CIPA group 68.1, comparison group 104.88 [p<0.001]). IQ was significantly higher among the children with CIPA aged up to 7 years 11 months than among the older children 73.83 vs 45.21 (p<0.001).

Interpretation  As a group, the younger children with CIPA may be functioning above the mental retardation range. We propose that early intervention addressing these children’s needs and developing an appropriate educational system, might improve their outcome.
Lower‐extremity selective voluntary motor control in patients with spastic cerebral palsy: increased distal motor impairment
Authors: FOWLER EILEEN G , STAUDT LORETTA A , GREENBERG MARCIA B
Published: January 2010

Aim  Multiple impairments contribute to motor deficits in spastic cerebral palsy (CP). Selective voluntary motor control (SVMC), namely isolation of joint movement upon request, is important, but frequently overlooked. This study evaluated the proximal to distal distribution of SVMC impairment among lower extremity joints.

Method  Using a recently developed tool, the Selective Control Assessment of the Lower Extremity (SCALE), we evaluated the SVMC of the hip, knee, ankle, subtalar joint, and toes in a cross‐sectional, observational study of 47 participants with spastic, diplegic, hemiplegic, and quadriplegic CP (22 males, 25 females; mean age 11y 9mo, SD 4y 8mo; Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I–IV).

Results  Statistically significant decreases in SCALE scores from hip to toes were found using the Page statistical test for trend (p<0.001). Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found between all joint pairs, except toes versus subtalar, toes versus ankle, and right ankle versus subtalar joints. Cross‐tabulation of score frequencies for all pairs revealed that proximal joint scores were higher or equal to distal ones 81 to 100% of the time. Excluding toes versus subtalar joints, proximal scores exceeded distal ones 94 to 100% of the time.

Interpretation  We confirmed increasing proximal to distal SVMC impairment, which may have implications for treatment and research.
FINES, ORDERS, FEAR . . . AND CONSENT? MEDICAL RESEARCH IN EAST AFRICA, C. 1950s
Authors: GRABOYES MELISSA
Published: January 2010

This article reconstructs the history of medical research in East Africa (Kenya, Tanganyika, Uganda), laying out the lies, rumours, and oppressive techniques that made research such a fraught enterprise during the colonial era. The focus is on the beginning stages of medical research: researchers' arrivals, villagers' responses, the gathering of subjects and consent. New archival and oral sources gathered in East Africa illuminate the research encounter and reintegrate the perspective of villagers cum subjects. Data from the 1950s shows that upon arrival in a village, researchers regularly lied in order to avoid sensitive topics and sidestep potential opposition. Misinformation fuelled villagers' fears, skepticism and rumours of blood stealing researchers. When it came to gathering subjects, researchers were rarely involved in the challenging work of enticing villagers to participate, preferring to rely on chiefs. Chiefs, however, often relied on heavy‐handed and ethically questionable techniques. The article concludes by looking at the much‐discussed concept of group consent, and showing that historically a chief never had the authority to consent on behalf of villagers.
Projecting the distribution of forests in New England in response to climate change
Authors: Tang Guoping , Beckage Brian
Published: January 2010

Aim  To project the distribution of three major forest types in the northeastern USA in response to expected climate change.

Location  The New England region of the United States.

Methods  We modelled the potential distribution of boreal conifer, northern deciduous hardwood and mixed oak–hickory forests using the process‐based BIOME4 vegetation model parameterized for regional forests under historic and projected future climate conditions. Projections of future climate were derived from three general circulation models forced by three global warming scenarios that span the range of likely anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

Results  Annual temperature in New England is projected to increase by 2.2–3.3 °C by 2041–70 and by 3.0–5.2 °C by 2071–99 with corresponding increases in precipitation of 4.7–9.5% and 6.4–11.4%, respectively. We project that regional warming will result in the loss of 71–100% of boreal conifer forest in New England by the late 21st century. The range of mixed oak–hickory forests will shift northward by 1.0–2.1 latitudinal degrees (c. 100–200 km) and will increase in area by 149–431% by the end of the 21st century. Northern deciduous hardwoods are expected to decrease in area by 26% and move upslope by 76 m on average. The upslope movement of the northern deciduous hardwoods and the increase in oak–hickory forests coincide with an approximate 556 m upslope retreat of the boreal conifer forest by 2071–99. In our simulations, rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations reduce the losses of boreal conifer forest in New England from expected losses based on climatic change alone.

Main conclusion  Projected climate warming in the 21st century is likely to cause the extensive loss of boreal conifer forests, reduce the extent of northern hardwood deciduous forests, and result in large increases of mixed oak–hickory forest in New England.
The worldwide expansion of the Argentine ant
Authors: Vogel Valérie , Pedersen Jes S. , Giraud Tatiana , Krieger Michael J. B. , Keller Laurent
Published: January 2010

Aim  The aim of this study was to determine the number of successful establishments of the invasive Argentine ant outside native range and to see whether introduced supercolonies have resulted from single or multiple introductions. We also compared the genetic diversity of native versus introduced supercolonies to assess the size of the propagules (i.e. the number of founding individuals) at the origin of the introduced supercolonies.

Location  Global.

Methods  We used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers and microsatellite loci to study 39 supercolonies of the Argentine ant Linepithema humile covering both the native (n = 25) and introduced range (n = 14).

Results  Data from three mitochondrial genes and 13 nuclear microsatellites suggest that the introduced supercolonies studied originated from at least seven founding events out of the native area in Argentina (primary introductions). The distribution of mtDNA haplotypes also suggests that supercolonies in the introduced range each derive from a single source supercolony and that one of these source supercolonies has been particularly successful, being the basis of many introduced populations spread across the world. Comparison of the genetic diversity of supercolonies based on the five most diverse loci also revealed that native and introduced supercolonies have greatly overlapping ranges of diversity, although the genetic diversity is on average less in introduced than in native supercolonies.

Main conclusions  Both primary introductions (from the native range) and secondary introductions (from sites with established invasive supercolonies) were important in the global expansion of the Argentine ant. In combination with the similar social organization of colonies in the native and introduced range, this indicates that invasiveness did not evolve recently as a unique and historically contingent event (e.g. reduction of genetic diversity) in this species. Rather, native L. humile supercolonies have characteristics that make them pre‐adapted to invade new – and in particular disturbed – habitats when given the opportunity. These results have important implications with regard to possible strategies to be used to control invasive ants.
Using multi‐scale species distribution data to infer drivers of biological invasion in riparian wetlands
Authors: Catford Jane A. , Downes Barbara J.
Published: January 2010

Aim  Biological invasion is a major conservation problem that is of interest to ecological science. Understanding mechanisms of invasion is a high priority, heightened by the management imperative of acting quickly after species introduction. While information about invading species’ ecology is often unavailable, species distribution data can be collected near the onset of invasion. By examining distribution patterns of exotic and native plant species at multiple spatial scales, we aim to identify the scale (of those studied) that accounts for most variability in exotic species abundance, and infer likely drivers of invasion.

Location  River Murray wetlands, south‐eastern Australia.

Methods  A nested, crossed survey design was used to determine the extent of variation in wetland plant abundance, grazing intensity and water depth at four spatial scales (reaches, wetland clumps, wetlands, wetland sections), and among three Depth‐strata. We examined responses of exotic and native species groups (grouped into terrestrial and amphibious taxa), native weeds and 10 individual species using hierarchical ANOVA.

Results  As a group dominated by terrestrial taxa, exotic species cover varied at reach‐, wetland‐ and section‐scales. This likely reflects differences in abiotic characteristics and propagule pressure at these scales. Groups based on native species did not vary at any scale examined. Cover of 10 species mostly varied among and within wetlands (patterns unrelated to species’ origin or functional group), but species’ responses differed, despite individual plants being similar in size. While flora mostly varied among wetlands, exotic cover varied most among reaches (26%), which was attributed to hydrological modification and human activities.

Main conclusions  Multi‐scale surveys can rapidly identify factors likely to affect species’ distributions and can indicate where future research should be directed. By highlighting disproportionate variation in exotic cover among reaches, this study suggests that flow regulation and human‐mediated dispersal facilitate exotic plant invasion in River Murray wetlands.
Environmental factors affecting patterns of distribution and co‐occurrence of two competing raptor species
Authors: BRAMBILLA MATTIA , BASSI ENRICO , CECI CHIARA , RUBOLINI DIEGO
Published: January 2010

Habitat selection is a complex process, that is affected by several factors, including habitat characteristics, environmental conditions, and both intra‐ and interspecific interactions. We analysed habitat preferences of two top avian predators, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, a medium‐sized diurnal raptor, and Eagle Owl Bubo bubo, a large nocturnal raptor. These two species are known to compete for preferred nest‐sites, and proximity to cliffs with Eagle Owls may reduce Peregrine breeding output through predation of young Falcons. We investigated the environmental factors affecting occurrence and coexistence of the two species and the potential role of habitat suitability in favouring co‐occurrence in 3519 km2 of the central pre‐Alps of Italy, where the two species breed on cliffs and sometimes co‐occur on the same cliff. Peregrines settled on long, steep and favourably orientated cliffs in woodland landscapes close to urban areas. Eagle Owls settled on topographically similar cliffs, but in lower rainfall areas compared with cliffs occupied by Peregrines and cliffs unoccupied by either species. Sites where the two species co‐occurred were characterized by more horizontally extended cliffs compared with sites of exclusive occurrence of each species. An analysis of relative habitat suitability revealed that sites where the two species co‐occurred had the highest predicted probability of occupancy for both species, suggesting that those sites should be regarded as high‐quality sites. Breeding productivity of Eagle Owls was negatively affected by the co‐occurrence of Peregrines, whereas the effect of Eagle Owl proximity on Peregrine productivity varied according to cliff suitability for the Peregrines. Habitat selection had fitness consequences for Eagle Owls because breeding productivity increased with cliff length. Environmental conditions, particularly climatic factors, could allow the widespread coexistence of these competing raptors at the landscape scale, whereas at the local scale co‐occurrence could take place only on larger cliffs. These were preferred sites for both species, presumably because breeding at such sites offsets the costs of settling close to the competitor species.
Migration of wild and captive‐bred Little BustardsTetrax tetrax: releasing birds from Spain threatens attempts to conserve declining French populations
Authors: VILLERS ALEXANDRE , MILLON ALEXANDRE , JIGUET FREDERIC , LETT JEAN‐MICHEL , ATTIE CAROLE , MORALES MANUEL B. , BRETAGNOLLE VINCENT
Published: January 2010

Populations of the Little BustardTetrax tetraxin the farmlands of Europe have declined greatly over the last century. In Western Europe, France now holds the only remaining migratory population, which currently numbers fewer than 300 displaying males. However, the movements of these birds are virtually unknown, in spite of the important implications of this information for the conservation of this species. We identified migratory movements and overwintering areas of French migratory populations, using wild individuals fitted with satellite or radio‐transmitters. Little Bustards completed their migration journey over a relatively short time period (2–5 days), with nocturnal migration flights of 400–600 km per night. All birds overwintered in Iberia. In addition, we tested the consequences of captive rearing on migratory movements. French wild adults and French captive‐bred juveniles behaved similarly with regard to migration, suggesting that hand‐raising does not alter migratory movements. However, birds originating from eggs collected in Spain and reared in western France did not migrate, suggesting a genetic component to migratory behaviour. These results therefore suggest that a conservation strategy involving the release in France of birds hatched from eggs collected in Spain may imperil the expression of migratory movements of the French population. More generally, to maintain the integrity of native populations, the introduced individuals should mimic their migratory movements and behaviour.
miR‐17, miR‐19b, miR‐20a, and miR‐106a are down‐regulated in human aging
Authors: Hackl Matthias , Brunner Stefan , Fortschegger Klaus , Schreiner Carina , Micutkova Lucia , Mück Christoph , Laschober Gerhard T. , Lepperdinger Günter , Sampson Natalie , Berger Peter , Herndler‐Brandstetter Dietmar , Wieser Matthias , Kühnel Harald , Strasser Alois , Rinnerthaler Mark , Breitenbach Michael , Mildner Michael , Eckhart Leopold , Tschachler Erwin , Trost Andrea , Bauer Johann W. , Papak Christine , Trajanoski Zlatko , Scheideler Marcel , Grillari‐Voglauer Regina , Grubeck‐Loebenstein Beatrix , Jansen‐Dürr Pidder , Grillari Johannes
Published: January 2010

Aging is a multifactorial process where deterioration of body functions is driven by stochastic damage while counteracted by distinct genetically encoded repair systems. To better understand the genetic component of aging, many studies have addressed the gene and protein expression profiles of various aging model systems engaging different organisms from yeast to human. The recently identified small non‐coding miRNAs are potent post‐transcriptional regulators that can modify the expression of up to several hundred target genes per single miRNA, similar to transcription factors. Increasing evidence shows that miRNAs contribute to the regulation of most if not all important physiological processes, including aging. However, so far the contribution of miRNAs to age‐related and senescence‐related changes in gene expression remains elusive. To address this question, we have selected four replicative cell aging models including endothelial cells, replicated CD8+ T cells, renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, and skin fibroblasts. Further included were three organismal aging models including foreskin, mesenchymal stem cells, and CD8+ T cell populations from old and young donors. Using locked nucleic acid‐based miRNA microarrays, we identified four commonly regulated miRNAs, miR‐17 down‐regulated in all seven; miR‐19b and miR‐20a, down‐regulated in six models; and miR‐106a down‐regulated in five models. Decrease in these miRNAs correlated with increased transcript levels of some established target genes, especially the cdk inhibitor p21/CDKN1A. These results establish miRNAs as novel markers of cell aging in humans.
Telomerase upregulation is a postcrisis event during senescence bypass and immortalization of two Nijmegen breakage syndrome T cell cultures
Authors: Degerman Sofie , Siwicki Jan Konrad , Osterman Pia , Lafferty‐Whyte Kyle , Keith W. Nicol , Roos Göran
Published: January 2010

Our knowledge on immortalization and telomere biology is mainly based on genetically manipulated cells analyzed before and many population doublings post growth crisis. The general view is that growth crisis is telomere length (TL) dependent and that escape from crisis is coupled to increased expression of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, telomerase activity upregulation and TL stabilization. Here we have analyzed the process of spontaneous immortalization of human T cells, regarding pathways involved in senescence and telomerase regulation. Two Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) T cell cultures (S3R and S4) showed gradual telomere attrition until a period of growth crisis followed by the outgrowth of immortalized cells. Whole genome expression analysis indicated differences between pre‐, early post‐ and late postcrisis cells. Early postcrisis cells demonstrated a logarithmic growth curve, very short telomeres and, notably, no increase in hTERT or telomerase activity despite downregulation of several negative hTERT regulators (e.g. FOS, JUN D, SMAD3, RUNX2, TNF‐α and TGFβ‐R2). Thereafter, cMYC mRNA increased in parallel with increased hTERT expression, telomerase activity and elongation of short telomeres, indicating a step‐wise activation of hTERT transcription involving reduction of negative regulators followed by activation of positive regulator(s). Gene expression analysis indicated that cells escaped growth crisis by deregulated DNA damage response and senescence controlling genes, including downregulation of ATM, CDKN1B (p27), CDKN2D (p19) and ASF1A and upregulation of CDK4, TWIST1, TP73L (p63) and SYK. Telomerase upregulation was thus found to be uncoupled to escape of growth crisis but rather a later event in the immortalization process of NBS T cell cultures.
A mutant telomerase defective in nuclear‐cytoplasmic shuttling fails to immortalize cells and is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction
Authors: Kovalenko Olga A. , Caron Matthieu J. , Ulema Perihan , Medrano Carolina , Thomas Andrew P. , Kimura Masayuki , Bonini Marcelo G. , Herbig Utz , Santos Janine H.
Published: January 2010

Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase specialized in telomere synthesis. The enzyme is primarily nuclear where it elongates telomeres, but many reports show that the catalytic component of telomerase (in humans called hTERT) also localizes outside of the nucleus, including in mitochondria. Shuttling of hTERT between nucleus and cytoplasm and vice versa has been reported, and different proteins shown to regulate such translocation. Exactly why telomerase moves between subcellular compartments is still unclear. In this study we report that mutations that disrupt the nuclear export signal (NES) of hTERT render it nuclear but unable to immortalize cells despite retention of catalytic activity in vitro. Overexpression of the mutant protein in primary fibroblasts is associated with telomere‐based cellular senescence, multinucleated cells and the activation of the DNA damage response genes ATM, Chk2 and p53. Mitochondria function is also impaired in the cells. We find that cells expressing the mutant hTERT produce high levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and have damage in telomeric and extratelomeric DNA. Dysfunctional mitochondria are also observed in an ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres) cell line that is insensitive to growth arrest induced by the mutant hTERT showing that mitochondrial impairment is not a consequence of the growth arrest. Our data indicate that mutations involving the NES of hTERT are associated with defects in telomere maintenance, mitochondrial function and cellular growth, and suggest targeting this region of hTERT as a potential new strategy for cancer treatment.