bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmaco‐resistant seizures: self‐triggering capacity, scale‐free properties and predictability?
Authors: Osorio Ivan , Frei Mark G. , Sornette Didier , Milton John
Published: October 2009

Relevant and timely questions such as regarding the predictability of seizures and their capacity to trigger more seizures remain the subject of debate in epileptology. The present study endeavors to gain insight into these dynamic issues by adopting a non‐reductionist approach and via the use of mathematical tools. Probability distribution functions of seizure energies and inter‐seizure intervals and the probability of seizure occurrence conditional upon the time elapsed from the previous seizure were estimated from prolonged recordings from subjects with pharmaco‐resistant seizures, undergoing surgical evaluation, on reduced doses of or on no medications. The energy and inter‐seizure interval distributions for pharmaco‐resistant seizures, under the prevailing study conditions, are governed by power laws (‘scale‐free’ behavior). Pharmaco‐resistant seizures tend to occur in clusters and the time to the next seizure increases with the duration of the seizure‐free interval since the last one. However, characteristic size energy probability density functions were found in a few subjects. These findings suggests that: (i) pharmaco‐resistant seizures have an inherent self‐triggering capacity; (ii) their time of occurrence and intensity may be predictable in light of the existence of power law distributions and of their self‐triggering capacity; and (iii) their lack of typical size and duration (scale‐free), features upon which their classification into ictal or interictal is largely based, may be inadequate/insufficient classifiers.
Further genetic evidence implicates the vasopressin system in childhood‐onset mood disorders
Authors: Dempster Emma L. , Burcescu Irina , Wigg Karen , Kiss Eniko , Baji Ildiko , Gadoros Julia , Tamás Zsuzsanna , Kapornai Krisztina , Daróczy Gabriella , Kennedy James L. , Vetró Agnes , Kovacs Maria , Barr Cathy L. ,   The International Consortium for Childhood‐Onset Mood Disorders
Published: October 2009

Studies in both animals and humans advocate a role for the vasopressin (AVP) system in the aetiology of depressive symptoms. Attention has particularly focused on the role of AVP in the overactivation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA)‐axis in mood disorders. Elevated AVP plasma levels have been found in mood disorder patients, which are often positively correlated with the severity of symptoms. We recently reported an association between childhood‐onset mood disorders (COMD) and polymorphisms in the receptor responsible for the AVP‐mediated activation of the HPA‐axis (AVPR1B). As genetic variation in the vasopressinergic system could provide a mechanism to explain the endocrine alterations observed in mood disorders, we investigated other genes in this system. The gene encoding AVP is the strongest candidate, particularly as genetic variation in this gene in rodents is associated with anxiety‐related behaviours. Six single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped across the AVP gene in a sample comprised of 586 Hungarian nuclear families ascertained through affected probands with a diagnosis of COMD. In addition, AVP coding and putative regulatory regions were screened for mutations using denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography. One SNP, 3′ to the AVP, gene reached significance (P = 0.03), as did the overtransmission of a five‐marker haplotype with a frequency of 22% (P = 0.0001). The subsequent mutation screen failed to identify any putative functional polymorphisms. The outcome of this study, combined with our previous association between COMD and AVPR1B, implicates genetic variation in vasopressinergic genes in mediating vulnerability to COMD.
Differential effects of anesthetics on cocaine’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects in brain
Authors: Du Congwu , Tully Melissa , Volkow Nora D. , Schiffer Wynne K. , Yu Mei , Luo Zhongchi , Koretsky Alan P. , Benveniste Helene
Published: October 2009

Most studies of the effect of cocaine on brain activity in laboratory animals are preformed under anesthesia, which could potentially affect the physiological responses to cocaine. Here we assessed the effects of two commonly used anesthetics [α‐chloralose (α‐CHLOR) and isofluorane (ISO)] on the effects of acute cocaine (1 mg/kg i.v.) on cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and tissue hemoglobin oxygenation (StO2) using optical techniques and cocaine’s pharmacokinetics (PK) and binding in the rat brain using (PET) and [11C]cocaine. We showed that acute cocaine at a dose abused by cocaine abusers decreased CBF, CBV and StO2in rats anesthetized with ISO, whereas it increased these parameters in rats anesthetized with α‐CHLOR. Importantly, in ISO‐anesthetized animals cocaine‐induced changes in CBF and StO2were coupled, whereas for α‐CHLOR these measures were uncoupled. Moreover, the clearance of [11C]cocaine from the brain was faster for ISO (peak half‐clearance 15.8 ± 2.8 min) than for α‐CHLOR (27.5 ± 0.6 min), and the ratio of specific to non‐specific binding of [11C]cocaine in the brain was higher for ISO‐ (3.37 ± 0.32) than for α‐CHLOR‐anesthetized rats (2.24 ± 0.4). For both anesthetics, cocaine‐induced changes in CBF followed the fast uptake of [11C]cocaine in the brain (peaking at ∼2.5–4 min), but only for ISO did the duration of the CBV and StO2changes correspond to the rate of [11C]cocaine’s clearance from the brain. These results demonstrate that anesthetics influence cocaine’s hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the brain, and its binding and PK, which highlights the need to better understand the interactions between anesthetics and pharmacological challenges in brain functional imaging studies.
Segregation of short‐wavelength‐sensitive (S) cone signals in the macaque dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
Authors: Roy Sujata , Jayakumar Jaikishan , Martin Paul R. , Dreher Bogdan , Saalmann Yuri B. , Hu Daping , Vidyasagar Trichur R.
Published: October 2009

An important problem in the study of the mammalian visual system is whether functionally different retinal ganglion cell types are anatomically segregated further up along the central visual pathway. It was previously demonstrated that, in a New World diurnal monkey (marmoset), the neurones carrying signals from the short‐wavelength‐sensitive (S) cones [blue–yellow (B/Y)‐opponent cells] are predominantly located in the koniocellular layers of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), whereas the red–green (R/G)‐opponent cells carrying signals from the medium‐ and long‐wavelength‐sensitive cones are segregated in the parvocellular layers. Here, we used extracellular single‐unit recordings followed by histological reconstruction to investigate the distribution of color‐selective cells in the LGN of the macaque, an Old World diurnal monkey. Cells were classified using cone‐isolating stimuli to identify their cone inputs. Our results indicate that the majority of cells carrying signals from S‐cones are located either in the koniocellular layers or in the ‘koniocellular bridges’ that fully or partially span the parvocellular layers. By contrast, the R/G‐opponent cells are located in the parvocellular layers. We conclude that anatomical segregation of B/Y‐ and R/G‐opponent afferent signals for color vision is common to the LGNs of New World and Old World diurnal monkeys.
Early olfactory experience modifies neural activity in the antennal lobe of a social insect at the adult stage
Authors: Arenas A. , Giurfa M. , Farina W. M. , Sandoz J. C.
Published: October 2009

In the antennal lobe (AL), the first olfactory centre of the insect brain, odorants are represented as spatiotemporal patterns of glomerular activity. Whether and how such patterns are modified in the long term after precocious olfactory experiences (i.e. in the first days of adulthood) remains unknown. To address this question, we used in vivo optical imaging of calcium activity in the antennal lobe of 17‐day‐old honeybees which either experienced an odorant associated with sucrose solution 5–8 days after emergence or were left untreated. In both cases, we imaged neural responses to the learned odor and to three novel odors varying in functional group and carbon‐chain length. Two different odor concentrations were used. We also measured behavioral responses of 17‐day‐old honeybees, treated and untreated, to these stimuli. We show that precocious olfactory experience increased general odor‐induced activity and the number of activated glomeruli in the adult AL, but also affected qualitative odor representations, which appeared shifted in the neural space of treated animals relative to control animals. Such effects were not limited to the experienced odor, but were generalized to other perceptually similar odors. A similar trend was found in behavioral experiments, in which increased responses to the learned odor extended to perceptually similar odors in treated bees. Our results show that early olfactory experiences have long‐lasting effects, reflected in behavioral responses to odorants and concomitant neural activity in the adult olfactory system.
GABAergic signaling induces divergent neuronal Ca2+ responses in the suprachiasmatic nucleus network
Authors: Irwin Robert P. , Allen Charles N.
Published: October 2009

Intercellular communication between γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons facilitates light‐induced phase changes and synchronization of individual neural oscillators within the SCN network. We used ratiometric Ca2+ imaging techniques to record changes in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) to study the role of GABA in interneuronal communication and the response of the SCN neuronal network to optic nerve stimulations that mimic entraining light signals. Stimulation of the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) evoked divergent Ca2+ responses in neurons that varied regionally within the SCN with a pattern that correlated with those evoked by pharmacological GABA applications. GABAA and GABAB receptor agonists and antagonists were used to evaluate components of the GABA‐induced changes in [Ca2+]i. Application of the GABAA receptor antagonist gabazine induced changes in baseline [Ca2+]i in a direction opposite to that evoked by GABA, and similarly altered the RHT stimulation‐induced Ca2+ response. GABA application induced Ca2+ responses varied in time and region within the SCN network. The NKCC1 cotransporter blocker, bumetanide, and L‐type calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, attenuated the GABA‐induced rise of [Ca2+]i. These results suggest that physiological GABA induces opposing effects on [Ca2+]i based on the chloride equilibrium potential, and may play an important role in neuronal Ca2+ balance, synchronization and modulation of light input signaling in the SCN network.
N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor‐ and metabotropic glutamate receptor‐dependent long‐term depression are differentially regulated by the ubiquitin‐proteasome system
Authors: Citri Ami , Soler‐Llavina Gilberto , Bhattacharyya Samarjit , Malenka Robert C.
Published: October 2009

Long‐term depression (LTD) in CA1 pyramidal neurons can be induced by activation of either N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptors (NMDARs) or metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), both of which elicit changes in synaptic efficacy through α‐amino‐3‐hydroxyl‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionate receptor (AMPAR) endocytosis. To address the role of the ubiquitin‐proteasome system in regulating AMPAR endocytosis during these forms of LTD, we examined the effects of pharmacological inhibitors of proteasomal degradation and protein ubiquitination on endocytosis of glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) ‐containing AMPARs in dissociated rat hippocampal cultures as well as LTD of excitatory synaptic responses in acute rat hippocampal slices. Our findings suggest that the contribution of the ubiquitin‐proteasome system to NMDAR‐induced vs. mGluR‐induced AMPAR endocytosis and the consequent LTD differs significantly. NMDAR‐induced AMPAR endocytosis and LTD occur independently of proteasome function but appear to depend, at least in part, on ubiquitination. In contrast, mGluR‐induced AMPAR endocytosis and LTD are enhanced by inhibition of proteasomal degradation, as well as by the inhibitor of protein ubiquitination. Furthermore, the decay of mGluR‐induced membrane depolarization and Erk activation is delayed following inhibition of either ubiquitination or proteasomal degradation. These results suggest that, although NMDAR‐dependent LTD may utilize ubiquitin as a signal for AMPAR endocytosis, mGluR‐induced signaling and LTD are limited by a feedback mechanism that involves the ubiquitin‐proteasome system.
Reproductive ecology and scientific inference of steepness: a fundamental metric of population dynamics and strategic fisheries management
Authors: Mangel Marc , Brodziak Jon , DiNardo Gerard
Published: October 2009

The relationship between the biomass of reproductively mature individuals (spawning stock) and the resulting offspring added to the population (recruitment), the stock–recruitment relationship, is a fundamental and challenging problem in all of population biology. The steepness of this relationship is commonly defined as the fraction of recruitment from an unfished population obtained when the spawning stock biomass is 20% of its unfished level. Since its introduction about 20 years ago, steepness has become widely used in fishery management, where it is usually treated as a statistical quantity. Here, we investigate the reproductive ecology of steepness, using both unstructured and age‐structured models. We show that if one has sufficient information to construct a density‐independent population model (maximum per capita productivity and natural mortality for the unstructured case or maximum per capita productivity, natural mortality and schedules of size and maturity at age for the structured model) then one can construct a point estimate for steepness. Thus, steepness cannot be chosen arbitrarily. If one assumes that the survival of recruited individuals fluctuates within populations, it is possible, by considering the early life history, to construct a prior distribution for steepness from this same demographic information. We develop the ideas for both compensatory (Beverton–Holt) and over‐compensatory (Ricker) stock–recruitment relationships. We illustrate our ideas with an example concerning bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus/orientalis, Scombridae). We show that assuming that steepness is unity when recruitment is considered to be environmentally driven is not biologically consistent, is inconsistent with a precautionary approach, and leads to the wrong scientific inference (which also applies for assigning steepness any other single value).
Robust and Efficient Surface Reconstruction From Range Data
Authors: Labatut P. , Pons J.‐P. , Keriven R.
Published: October 2009

We describe a robust but simple algorithm to reconstruct a surface from a set of merged range scans. Our key contribution is the formulation of the surface reconstruction problem as an energy minimisation problem that explicitly models the scanning process. The adaptivity of the Delaunay triangulation is exploited by restricting the energy to inside/outside labelings of Delaunay tetrahedra. Our energy measures both the output surface quality and how well the surface agrees with soft visibility constraints. Such energy is shown to perfectly fit into the minimum s − t cuts optimisation framework, allowing fast computation of a globally optimal tetrahedra labeling, while avoiding the “shrinking bias” that usually plagues graph cuts methods.

The behaviour of our method confronted to noise, undersampling and outliers is evaluated on several data sets and compared with other methods through different experiments: its strong robustness would make our method practical not only for reconstruction from range data but also from typically more difficult dense point clouds, resulting for instance from stereo image matching. Our effective modeling of the surface acquisition inverse problem, along with the unique combination of Delaunay triangulation and minimum s − t cuts, makes the computational requirements of the algorithm scale well with respect to the size of the input point cloud.
An analysis of predictors of team satisfaction in product development teams with differing levels of virtualness
Authors: Stark Eric M. , Bierly III Paul E.
Published: October 2009

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine and assess the moderating effects of extent of virtualness on a variety of well‐established predictors of new product development team satisfaction. We focus our study on 178 different new product development teams from a variety of industries and use extent of virtualness as a structural characteristic of the teams, measuring it on a continuum. The predictors of team satisfaction we studied are relationship conflict, familiarity, goal clarity and preference for group work. Primary findings include: (1) relationship conflict has a more deleterious effect on team member satisfaction as teams become more virtual, mainly because it is very difficult for team members of virtual teams to resolve their interpersonal disputes; (2) the relationship between preference for group work and team satisfaction is moderated by extent of virtualness, such that preference for group work increases team satisfaction more as virtualness increases; (3) goal clarity and familiarity are not moderated by extent of virtualness, but have a significant direct effect on team satisfaction. Managerial and research implications of these findings relative to new product development teams are also discussed.
Inventor bricolage and firm technology research and development
Authors: Banerjee Preeta M. , Campbell Benjamin A.
Published: October 2009

We examine the conditions around firm use of ‘inventor bricolage,’ or the reconstruction of technological capabilities through reallocation of extant individual inventors to address new opportunities embodied in patents. Empirically, we examine the dynamics of both firm and individual patenting activity in publicly traded Life Science Diagnostic firms to explore how inventor bricolage is related to firms' existing research and development (R&D) capabilities and firms' acquisition of external capabilities through merger and acquisition (M&A) activities. Evidence at the firm level suggests that breadth of inventors' human capital and collaboration with co‐researchers with relevant experience is positively related to inventor bricolage. At the inventor level, the fewer patents an inventor has, the broader the individual's prior patent portfolio, and the more co‐researchers with relevant experience, the more likely inventors will patent in a new area. M&A does not appear to have an impact on the utilization of existing human capital. Our findings suggest that R&D managers should assign inventors with less assimilative capacity and more creative capacity in teams where there is relevant experience in order to promote inventor bricolage.
Contributing beyond the call of duty: examining the role of culture in fostering citizenship behavior and success in project‐based work
Authors: Aronson Zvi H. , Lechler Thomas G.
Published: October 2009

Shifting goals, priorities and evolving customer demands require an exceptional effort, beyond the call of duty, on the part of employees to increase the likelihood for successful implementation of technologically driven projects. Our model posits that citizenship behavior, which captures individuals' behavior that goes above and beyond prescribed roles, effects project success and is influenced by the culture that exists in the project. We provide support for the model utilizing 222 participants in 71 product development, IT implementation and engineering projects, originating in firms from various industries in the United States using structural equation modeling. Owing to the constraints typically facing project managers, in terms of personnel availability and control over rewards, our findings suggest that project culture can be used by managers as an alternative lever to trigger employees' citizenship behavior, which in turn drives success. We provide valuable implications for individuals assigned to lead projects, who are concerned with aligning project culture with citizenship behavior, as part of their planning activities.
Information leakage in innovation outsourcing
Authors: Ho Shirley J.
Published: October 2009

This paper studies an R&D outsourcing contract between a firm and a contractor, considering the possibility that in the interim stage, the contractor might sell the innovation to a rival firm. Our result points out that due to the competition in the interim stage, the reward needed to prevent leakage will be pushed up to the extent that a profitable leakage‐free contract does not exist. This result will also apply to cases considering revenue‐sharing schemes and a disclosure punishment for commercial theft. Then, we demonstrate that in a competitive mechanism where the R&D firm hires two contractors together with a relative performance scheme, the disclosure punishment might help and there exists a perfect Bayesian Nash equilibrium where the probability of information leakage is lower and the equilibrium reward is also cheaper than hiring one contractor.
List of publications on the economic and social history of Great Britain and Ireland published in 2008
Authors: Hale Matthew , Hawkins Richard , Wright Catherine
Published: October 2009

(The place of publication is London and the date 2008 unless otherwise stated.)
Transnational Ties During a Time Of Crisis: Israeli Emigration, 2000 To 2004
Authors: Gold Steven , Hart Rona
Published: October 2009

Despite their impressive patterns of economic mobility and generally successful adaptation into Western host societies, Israeli emigrants frequently view their stay abroad through the perspective of Zionism. As such, they express ambivalence about their presence on foreign soil. They seldom describe themselves as host country nationals, commonly socialize with other Israelis, frequently describe their intentions to return home, and often do so.

However, recent events may challenge this outlook. During the 1990s, Israel’s significant demographic and economic growth, relatively peaceful relations with neighbouring countries and increasingly globalized economy had the effect of lessening the stigma on going abroad. Then, since the fall of 2000, Israel has been rocked by the Al Aksa Intifada, as well as a major recession. These events have made life more difficult for Israelis. Accordingly, conditions of the last several years can be seen as altering Israelis’ motives for emigration and simultaneously shifting the probability of return among those already overseas.

While a topic of interest in its own right, the experience of Israeli emigrants since late 2000 also offers a natural experiment for evaluating how theories about migrant transnationalism consider the consequences of specific events upon relations with citizens abroad.

This paper relies on in‐depth interviews and other data sources to explore Israeli emigrants’ views about remaining in host societies versus returning to Israel since late 2000. In so doing, it considers how emigrants evaluate potential benefits, costs and feelings of identification associated with residence overseas versus Israel. The paper also seeks more general insights into how relations between migrants and the country of origin are altered when events affect political and economic conditions in the country of origin.
Strengthening Data and Research Tools on Migration and Development
Authors: Black Richard , Skeldon Ronald
Published: October 2009

This paper reviews available data sources for the study of migration and development through both retrospective and continuous data collection systems. It is argued that much basic data already exists for the study of international migration but that the addition of a relatively small number of simple, although not necessarily cheap measures can be taken to improve existing data. The priority is to generate flow data between countries for recent time periods and the paper makes suggestions how this can be best achieved. The paper goes on to an assessment of the types and availability of data needed to understand better the relationships between migration and development more broadly. Data at several scales, macro and micro, and for a variety of types of migration will be required in order to achieve this objective, particularly if less visible flows, such as those internal to developing countries, or those involving women, are to be better understood. The paper concludes by moving beyond the traditional state‐led data‐gathering systems to examine the potential for civil society organizations to help in strengthening data and research on migration and development.
Can Migration Foster Development in Mexico? The Case of Poverty and Inequality
Authors: Latapí Agustín Escobar
Published: October 2009

The impact of migration on development can be analysed from a number of perspectives. This article focuses on poverty and inequality. It assesses the relative contribution of migrants to Mexico′s economy through remittances, compared to other Latin American countries; analyses the distributional impact of remittances (with an emphasis on the poor), and compares this impact to the counterfactual impact of migrants’ stay‐at‐home income. It explains the processes leading to scant economic success rates among poor international migrants. Finally, it describes the nature and impact of current Mexican migrant‐oriented policies, and recommends a shift in focus, to lessen emigration, increase the income of migrants, promote returns, and bolster the economic impact of returning migrants.
Optimal Robust Two‐Stage Designs for Genome‐Wide Association Studies
Authors: Nguyen Thuy Trang , Pahl Roman , Schäfer Helmut
Published: October 2009

Optimal robust two‐stage designs for genome‐wide association studies are proposed using the maximum of the recessive, additive and dominant linear trend test statistics. These designs combine cost‐saving two‐stage genotyping with robustness against misspecification of the genetic model and are much more efficient than designs based on a single model specific test statistic in detecting multiple loci with different modes of inheritance. For given power of 90%, typical cost savings of 34% can be realised by increasing the total sample size by about 13% but genotyping only about half of the sample for the full marker set in the first stage and carrying forward about 0.06% of the markers to the second stage analysis. We also present robust two‐stage designs providing optimal allocation of a limited budget for pre‐existing samples. If a sample is available which would yield a power of 90% when fully genotyped, genotyping only half of the sample due to a limited budget will typically cause a loss of power of more than 55%. Using an optimal two‐stage approach in the same sample under the same budget restrictions will limit the loss of power to less than 10%. In general, the optimal proportion of markers to be followed up in the second stage strongly depends on the cost ratio for chips and individual genotyping, while the design parameters of the optimal designs (total sample size, first stage proportion, first and second stage significance limit) do not much depend on the genetic model assumptions.
Mutation spectrum of the fibrillin‐1 (FBN1) gene in Taiwanese patients with Marfan syndrome
Authors: Hung Chia‐Cheng , Lin Shin‐Yu , Lee Chien‐Nan , Cheng Hui‐Yu , Lin Shuan‐Pei , Chen Ming‐Ren , Chen Chih‐Ping , Chang Chien‐Hui , Lin Chiou‐Ya , Yu Chih‐Chieh , Chiu Hsin‐Hui , Cheng Wen‐Fang , Ho Hong‐Nerng , Niu Dau‐Ming , Su Yi‐Ning
Published: October 2009

The aim of this study was to establish a national database of mutations in the fibrillin‐1 (FBN1) gene that cause Marfan syndrome (MFS) in the Taiwanese population. In this study, we screened 294 patients from 157 families for the presence of FBN1 mutations using polymerase chain reaction/ denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (PCR/DHPLC). We identified 56 mutations in 62 of the 157 (40%) families including 49 single‐base substitutions (36 missense mutations, seven nonsense mutations, and six splicing sites), one small insertion, four small deletions, one small indel (insertion and deletion), and one exonic deletion (Exon 36). When family history was taken into consideration, the mutation detection rate rose to 91% (29 of 32). We further investigated the phenotypic data and found that one third (47 of 157) of the families fit the Ghent criteria for MFS. Based on that data, the mutation rate was 98% (46/47). That finding implies that family history and the Ghent criteria play a more important role than clinical manifestations in establishing a clinical diagnosis of Marfan syndrome. Among the 56 mutations found in this study, 40 (71%) have not been registered in the Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD) or in the Universal Mutation Database (UMD). This is the first study of the mutation spectrum of MFS in a cohort of patients in Taiwan. The database is expected to considerably improve genetic counseling for and medical care of MFS families.
Worster‐Drought syndrome: poorly recognized despite severe and persistent difficulties with feeding and speech
Authors: CLARK MARIA , HARRIS REBECCA , JOLLEFF NICOLA , PRICE KATIE , NEVILLE BRIAN GR
Published: October 2009

Aim  Worster‐Drought syndrome (WDS), or congenital suprabulbar paresis, is a permanent movement disorder of the bulbar muscles causing persistent difficulties with swallowing, feeding, speech, and saliva control owing to a non‐progressive disturbance in early brain development. As such, it falls within the cerebral palsies. The aim of this study was to describe the physical and neuropsychological profiles of children with WDS.

Method  Forty‐two children with WDS (26 males, 16 females; mean age 7y 10mo, SD 3y 1mo; range 2y 6mo to 16y 5mo) were studied prospectively using a standard protocol.

Results  All of the children had severe bulbar dysfunction; 36 out of 42 had feeding difficulties and 23 of 38 had unintelligible speech, which was poorly compensated for by augmentative communication. There were accompanying disturbances in cognition (mean non‐verbal IQ 59), behaviour (12/40 attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]), social communication (8/42 autism), and epilepsy (12/39). The severity of bulbar dysfunction and impact of additional impairments made it difficult to use formal assessments.

Interpretation  WDS causes severe and persistent bulbar dysfunction that is often accompanied by additional impairments, as in other cerebral palsies. Speech prognosis is particularly poor. Early diagnosis with appreciation of the underlying neurology would encourage critical evaluation of interventions and long‐term planning to improve outcome.
Supporting ‘Best Research for Best Health’ with best information
Authors: Beecroft Claire , Booth Andrew , Otter Mary Edmunds , Keen Christine , Lynch Colin
Published: October 2009

Background:  This article describes the potential role for National Health Service (NHS) libraries in supporting health research. The content is partly based on the proceedings of the ‘Best Information for Best Research for Best Health’ event at University of Leicester in November 2006.

Objectives:  With reference to the UK Department of Health's Research and Development (R&D) strategy, Best Research for Best Health and the Cooksey Review of public funding of health research, the article seeks to identify areas where NHS library and information staff can become involved in supporting the research process.

Methods:  The authors examined the challenges and opportunities that these reports offer and looked at two areas where library and information services (LIS) staff can potentially expand their services‐supporting researchers at every stage of the research process and transferring research into practice.

Results:  Staff in NHS libraries need to create an environment in which their role in the research process is recognized and valued. LIS staff can develop roles within the research process and thereby improve the robustness and validity of research outputs. Training and development of LIS staff is a key priority and can be taken forward despite the limitations of budgets and staffing levels.

Conclusions:  A proactive and assertive approach is needed to achieve a cultural shift within NHS library practice from supporting research from the outside, to being fully integrated within the research process.
Sharing the cost: health information licensing programmes in Canada
Authors: Stieda Vivian , Bačić Marijana
Published: October 2009

Background:  Increasing pressure on health libraries to provide access to electronic resources to their clientèle has witnessed the establishment of a number of initiatives in Canada’s provinces.

Objectives:  To provide a structured and descriptive account of Canadian initiatives that focus primarily on licensing health‐related information to post‐secondary education institutions, hospitals, libraries and related organisations in the health sector.

Methods:  Programmes were identified via communication with peers, an unpublished paper and the authors’ existing knowledge. This resulted in a survey of the programmes using an online questionnaire.

Results:  A total of seven programmes were identified. A descriptive account of their establishment, aim and function, governance, funding, resource selection and licensing is provided.

Conclusions:  Sharing out the cost of subscribing to electronic resources in the health sciences is a continued concern, as witnessed by continuing developments in this area.
Scenario planning: a tool for academic health sciences libraries
Authors: Ludwig Logan , Giesecke Joan , Walton Linda
Published: October 2009

Objective:  Review the International Campaign to Revitalise Academic Medicine (ICRAM) Future Scenarios as a potential starting point for developing scenarios to envisage plausible futures for health sciences libraries.

Method:  At an educational workshop, 15 groups, each composed of four to seven Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) directors and AAHSL/NLM Fellows, created plausible stories using the five ICRAM scenarios.

Results:  Participants created 15 plausible stories regarding roles played by health sciences librarians, how libraries are used and their physical properties in response to technology, scholarly communication, learning environments and health care economic changes.

Conclusions:  Libraries are affected by many forces, including economic pressures, curriculum and changes in technology, health care delivery and scholarly communications business models. The future is likely to contain ICRAM scenario elements, although not all, and each, if they come to pass, will impact health sciences libraries. The AAHSL groups identified common features in their scenarios to learn lessons for now. The hope is that other groups find the scenarios useful in thinking about academic health science library futures.
Geolocators map the wintering grounds of threatened Lesser Kestrels in Africa
Authors: Rodríguez Airam , Negro Juan J. , Bustamante Javier , Fox James W. , Afanasyev Vsevolod
Published: October 2009

Aim To identify the wintering grounds of the threatened western European Lesser Kestrels to focus conservation efforts in those areas.

Location Huelva Province, southern Spain, as breeding range, and western Africa (Senegal and Mauritania), as wintering range.

Methods We used archival light level geolocators (1.5 g) to map the wintering areas and determine some characteristics of the migratory journeys of 20 adult Lesser Kestrels from the Iberian Peninsula tagged in 2007.

Results Thirteen geolocators were recovered the following breeding season (2008) after attachment in 2007. Four recovered geolocators provided useful data. According to kernel density analyses, kestrels wintered near the Senegal River (border between Mauritania and Senegal). Pre‐nuptial migration took longer than the post‐nuptial migration, which may be the consequence of a loop migration.

Main conclusions Geolocators have solved a crucial conservation question (i.e. the winter destination of western European Lesser kestrels), and these devices have thus proved useful to determine the location of the winter quarters of small sized migratory species. Our data indicate that European Lesser Kestrels winter in West Africa, in accordance with previous suggestions based on scattered observations during the winter months. This valuable information should serve to focus conservation efforts both in northern Senegal and southern Mauritania. Large roosts gathering thousands of lesser kestrels had been recorded in these areas over the years, but there was no previous confirmation of individuals staying all winter long. Specific and sustained protection of the roost sites, where the birds may be most vulnerable, should be sought in conjunction with local authorities.
The prehistory and biogeography of terrestrial vertebrates on Guam, Mariana Islands
Authors: Pregill Gregory K. , Steadman David W.
Published: October 2009

Aim  By establishing a prehistoric fossil record for the vertebrate fauna of Guam, we can document the composition of the island’s fauna prior to Western contact. It will also complement the extensive prehistoric fossil data already known from the nearby islands of Rota, Tinian and Aguiguan, and improve our understanding of natural distributional patterns through a chronologically deeper view of the biogeography of the Mariana Islands.

Location  Northern Guam, Mariana Islands, Micronesia.

Methods  Fossil‐bearing sediment was removed from karst features with vertically and horizontally controlled excavation methods. Age determinations of the fossils were estimated by radiocarbon dating associated wood charcoal samples.

Results  The 3314 bones (fossils) of terrestrial vertebrates date to the past two millennia and represent 34 species. Among 12 species of squamate reptiles, one is extinct (a gekkonid lizard) and another, the monitor lizard, Varanus indicus, was introduced to Guam no later than about 1600 years ago. The 17 species of birds feature five that are extinct. Two others not recorded previously on Guam are extirpated. Eight others were lost on Guam in historic times. We also recovered bones of two species of indigenous bats, (Pteropus sp., extirpated; Emballonura semicaudata, probably extirpated), and non‐native rodents, (Rattus spp.).

Main conclusions  Guam’s contemporary faunal losses have been well documented since invasion of the Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis) during or shortly after WWII. Other exotics, as well as habitat deterioration, have abetted this snake’s deleterious presence. Our data further show that human impact led to declines or losses of vertebrate populations by late prehistoric times. Numerous anthropogenic extirpations would not be evident without studying fossils. Our chrono‐stratigraphic evidence argues for the arrival of non‐native rats (Rattus sp.) only about 1000 years ago, which helps to explain why a flightless rail survived on Guam into modern times, unlike on most other islands in Oceania.
European green crabs (Carcinus maenas) in the northeastern Pacific: genetic evidence for high population connectivity and current‐mediated expansion from a single introduced source population
Authors: Tepolt C. K. , Darling J. A. , Bagley M. J. , Geller J. B. , Blum M. J. , Grosholz E. D.
Published: October 2009

Aim  The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) expanded dramatically after its introduction to the west coast of North America, spreading over 1000 km in < 10 years. We use samples of Carcinus maenas collected over time and space to investigate the genetic patterns underlying the species’ initial establishment and spread, and discuss our findings in the context of the species’ life history characteristics and demography.

Location  The central west coast of North America, encompassing California, Oregon, and Washington (USA) and British Columbia (Canada).

Methods  We collected 1040 total samples from 21 sites representing the major episodes of population establishment and expansion along the west coast of North America. Microsatellite markers were used to assess genetic diversity and structure at different time points in the species’ spread, to investigate connectivity between embayments and to estimate both short‐term effective population sizes and the number of original founders. Assignment testing was performed to determine the likely source of the introduction.

Results  Carcinus maenas in western North America likely derived from a single introduction of a small number of founders to San Francisco Bay, CA from the east coast of North America. Throughout its western North American range, the species experiences periodic migration between embayments, resulting in a minor loss of genetic diversity in more recently established populations versus the populations in the area of initial establishment.

Main conclusions  Low genetic diversity has not precluded the ability of C. maenas to successfully establish and spread on the west coast of North America. An efficient oceanographic transport mechanism combined with highly conducive life history traits are likely the major drivers of C. maenas spread. Evidence for a single introduction underscores the potential utility of early detection and eradication of high‐risk invasive species.
Effects of herbivore species richness on the niche dynamics and distribution of blue sheep in the Trans‐Himalaya
Authors: Namgail Tsewang , Mishra Charudutt , De Jong Christine B. , Van Wieren Sipke E. , Prins Herbert H. T.
Published: October 2009

Aim  To understand the community structure of mountain ungulates by exploring their niche dynamics in response to sympatric species richness.

Location  Ladakh and Spiti Regions of the Western Indian Trans‐Himalaya.

Methods  We used the blue sheep Pseudois nayaur, a relatively widely distributed mountain ungulate, as a model species to address the issue. We selected three discrete valleys in three protected areas with similar environmental features but varying wild ungulate species richness, and studied blue sheep’s diet and habitat utilization in them. Habitat variables such as slope angle, distance to cliff and elevation at blue sheep locations were recorded to determine the habitat width of the species. Faecal pellets were collected and microhistological faecal analysis was carried out to determine the diet width of blue sheep in the three areas with different ungulate species richness. Blue sheep’s niche width in terms of habitat and diet was determined using the Shannon’s Index.

Results  The habitat width of blue sheep had a negative relationship with the number of sympatric species. However, contrary to our expectation, there was a hump‐shaped relationship between blue sheep’s diet width and the sympatric species richness, with the diet width being narrower in areas of allopatry as well as in areas with high herbivore species richness, and the greatest in areas with moderate species richness.

Main conclusions  We suspect that the narrow diet width in allopatry is out of choice, whereas it is out of necessity in areas with high herbivore species richness because of resource partitioning that enables coexistence. We suggest that interactions with sympatric species lead to niche adjustment of mountain ungulates, implying that competition may play a role in structuring Trans‐Himalayan mountain ungulate assemblages. Given these results, we underscore the importance of including biotic interactions in species distribution models, which have often been neglected.
Using null model analysis of species co‐occurrences to deconstruct biodiversity patterns and select indicator species
Authors: Azeria Ermias T. , Fortin Daniel , Hébert Christian , Peres‐Neto Pedro , Pothier David , Ruel Jean‐Claude
Published: October 2009

Aim Using total species richness to characterize biodiversity may mask multiple response patterns of species. We propose a null model analysis of species co‐occurrence‐based classification to identify sets of species that may have similar (within‐groups) and distinct (between groups) response patterns to their environment. The classification should also provide an explicit framework for selecting indicator species with characteristic co‐occurrence patterns to predict overall species richness.

Location Côte‐Nord, Québec, Canada.

Methods We combined null‐model of species co‐occurrence and cluster analysis to identify species groups within diverse assemblages of ground‐dwelling and flying beetles of stands in a boreal forest mosaic; we then examined their co‐occurrence and response patterns to habitat characteristics. Best subset regressions were used to select indicator species of richness within each group, from which indicators of total species richness were selected.

Results The identified species groups appeared to display contrasting co‐occurrence and response patterns to at least one of the stand‐level habitat characteristics. Among flying beetles, for example, richness increased with stand‐level heterogeneity for two groups and decreased for two other groups, but the relationship was non‐significant for the total richness. We identified 28 indicator species that explained > 80% (validated by bootstrap analysis) of the variation in total species richness. Predictive performance of indicators was higher than when their co‐occurrence were reshuffled, even under a highly constrained null model, indicating that co‐occurrence patterns contributed to their predictive performance.

Main conclusions Co‐occurrence‐based classification appears as a promising and effective tool for deconstructing biodiversity into species groups which reflect their ecological commonalities and differences, thus reducing the risk of making faulty inferences about the causes underlying overall diversity patterns. The method provides an explicit framework for selecting indicator species representing different species groups that may reflect the multiple responses of species co‐occurring with them. Indicator species can be effective for predicting overall species richness.
Increased fluid intake does not augment capacity to lay down new collagen in nursing home residents at risk for pressure ulcers: A randomized, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Stotts Nancy A. , Hopf Harriet W. , Kayser‐Jones Jeanie , Chertow Glenn M. , Cooper Bruce A. , Wu Horng‐Shiuann
Published: October 2009

Prevention of pressure ulcers is fundamental to safe care of nursing home residents yet the role of hydration in pressure ulcer prevention has not been systematically examined. This randomized clinical trial was undertaken to determine whether administration of supplemental fluid to nursing home residents at risk for pressure ulcers would enhance collagen deposition, increase estimated total body water, augment subcutaneous tissue oxygenation, and was safe. After a baseline period, 64 subjects were randomized to receive the fluid volume prescribed or additional fluid (prescribed plus 10 mL/kg) for 5 days. Participants' potential to heal as measured with hydroxyproline was low at baseline and did not increase significantly during treatment when additional fluid was systematically provided. Fluid intake increased significantly during treatment. Estimates of total body water and subcutaneous oxygen did not increase, indicating hydration was not improved. Supplemental fluid did not result in overhydration as measured by clinical parameters. Further work is needed to examine the relationship between fluid intake and hydration in nursing home residents as well as the role of hydration in pressure ulcer prevention.