bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perioperative Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Authors: Welch Marnie B. , Brummett Chad M. , Welch Terrence D. , Tremper Kevin K. , Shanks Amy M. , Guglani Pankaj , Mashour George A.
Published: August 2009

Background

Peripheral nerve injuries represent a notable source of anesthetic complications and can be debilitating. The objective of this study was to identify associations with peripheral nerve injury in a broad surgical population cared for in the last decade.

Methods

At a tertiary care university hospital, the quality assurance, closed claims, and institution-wide billing code databases were searched for peripheral nerve injuries over a 10-yr period. Each reported case was individually reviewed to determine whether a perioperative injury occurred, defined as a new sensory and/or motor deficit. The location and type of the injury were also identified. Nerve complications as a result of the surgical procedure itself were excluded, and an expert review panel assisted in the adjudication of unclear cases. Patient preoperative characteristics, anesthetic modality, and surgical specialty were evaluated for associations.

Results

Of all patients undergoing 380,680 anesthetics during a 10-yr period, 185 patients were initially identified as having nerve injuries, and after review, 112 met our definition of a perioperative nerve injury (frequency = 0.03%). Hypertension, tobacco use, and diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with perioperative peripheral nerve injuries. General and epidural anesthesia were associated with nerve injuries. Significant associations were also found with the following surgical specialties: Neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, general surgery, and orthopedic surgery.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the largest number of consecutive patients ever reviewed for all types of perioperative peripheral nerve injuries. More importantly, this is the first study to identify associations of nerve injuries with hypertension, anesthetic modality, and surgical specialty.
Preserved Memory Function during Bispectral Index–guided Anesthesia with Sevoflurane for Major Orthopedic Surgery
Authors: Kerssens Chantal , Gaither Julie R. , Sebel Peter S.
Published: August 2009

Background

Memory function under anesthesia is undesired but may arise from light hypnosis as well as stress-enhanced learning during surgery. The bispectral index (BIS, Aspect Medical Systems, Norwood, MA) is a monitor of hypnotic state that can help to avoid light hypnosis (i.e., BIS above 60). This study tested the hypothesis that BIS-guided anesthesia maintaining BIS 50-60 reduces the likelihood of memory function under anesthesia.

Methods

After obtaining informed consent, 128 patients scheduled for joint replacement surgery under general anesthesia with sevoflurane were randomly assigned to BIS-guided anesthesia, titrating drugs to BIS 50-60 (BIS group), or a standard practice group in which BIS was recorded but did not guide drug administration. After induction, all patients were repeatedly played a list of 15 words. After recovery from anesthesia, all were interviewed about recall and completed a recognition memory test containing the presented words (targets, 33.3%) and new words (distractors). Preoperatively, patients filled out a stress questionnaire (Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory).

Results

BIS values above 60 were recorded in both groups, but no patient recalled the presented words postoperatively. Only patients in the BIS group selected targets more often than distractors (37.1% vs. 31.5% hit rate, P = 0.001). Target hit rates correlated poorly to stress scores (P > 0.9), but were associated with the amount of fentanyl received preoperatively (P = 0.01) and pain management technique (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

BIS titration to BIS 50-60 does not necessarily curb memory function under anesthesia when BIS values higher than 60 occur. Preoperative analgesia attenuated the likelihood of memory function under anesthesia.
Contact-free Infrared Thermography for Assessing Effects during Acupuncture: A Randomized, Single-blinded, Placebo-controlled Crossover Clinical Trial
Authors: Agarwal-Kozlowski Kamayni , Lange Ann-Christin , Beck Helge
Published: August 2009

Background

Although evidence of its effects is tentative, acupuncture has long been used in the treatment of multiple maladies. So far, it has not been possible to discriminate the effects of the venue from specific results of needling itself, thus physicians merely depend on patients' statements. The authors investigated the efficacy of infrared thermography in distinguishing response to true acupuncture as compared to nonacupoint cutaneous and muscular needling (sham or minimal acupuncture), as well as without manipulation.

Methods

Thermographic imaging was performed in 50 healthy volunteers randomly assigned to four groups: Acupuncture of Hegu (LI 4), needling of a cutaneous and a muscular point where no acupuncture point has been described yet, and without manipulation. In a crossover protocol, each proband completed all four arms of the protocol in a random order. Infrared thermograms were gathered at defined points in each group.

Results

A significant increase in surface temperature occurred within 2 min after needling the acupuncture point Hegu (from 30.1 +/- 2.7 degrees C [SD] to 31.2 +/- 3.0 degrees C and to 31.9 +/- 2.5 degrees C after 10 min, P < 0.001), whereas needling of the cutaneous and muscular point, as well as without any manipulation resulted in a decrease of temperature in the monitored area.

Conclusion

Contact-free infrared thermographic imaging is a reliable and easy-to-handle tool to distinguish between needling at Hegu and needling of a nonacupoint ("sham" acupuncture).
Edward Norton Lorenz. 23 May 1917 — 16 April 2008
Authors: Palmer T. N.
Published: August 2009

Ed Lorenz was a pioneer of chaos theory; he provided the first realization of a strange attractor based on a mathematical model of just three coupled differential equations. In addition, Ed made many seminal contributions to theoretical meteorology, not only in studies of the predictability of weather and climate, but also in advancing our basic understanding of the dynamics and thermodynamics of climate.
Donald Allan Ramsay CM. 11 July 1922 — 25 October 2007
Authors: Davidson Walter F. , McKellar A. R. W.
Published: August 2009

Donald Allan Ramsay made significant contributions to the study of molecular spectra and molecular structure during a 60-year career at the Sussex Drive Laboratories of the National Research Council of Canada. He was an early pioneer in the technique of flash photolysis, or kinetic spectroscopy, opening new vistas in generating the spectra of unstable free radical molecules and probing their dynamics. His work on the amidogen radical, NH
2
, provided the first example of the Renner–Teller effect in molecular spectroscopy, resulting from interactions between electronic and vibration–rotational motions. He was one of the best-known figures in the field of molecular spectroscopy. Travelling widely, he had abundant and productive collaborations with scientists from all around the world. His seminal publications are a true indication of the energy, insight and originality that he applied to his scientific work.
Ronald Harry Ottewill OBE FRS. 8 February 1927 — 4 June 2008
Authors: Vincent Brian
Published: August 2009

Ron Ottewill was educated at Southall County School and at Queen Mary College, London, where he obtained a first-class honours degree in chemistry and then a PhD, under the supervision of Dr D. C. Jones. He moved to Cambridge (Fitzwilliam College) in 1952 on a Nuffield Fellowship, and joined the famous Colloid Science Department, which had been founded by Eric Rideal FRS. There Ron worked with Paley Johnson on antibody–antigen interactions, before becoming an assistant director of research in 1958. After a six-month spell in Theo Overbeek's laboratory in Utrecht during 1956, Ron's research interests turned to what was to become his main research theme over the years, namely the preparation, characterization and properties of model colloidal dispersions. In particular, he became interested in the interactions between particles, which underpin the stability of particulate dispersions. In 1964 Ron Ottewill was invited to move to Bristol University, in the main to set up a new one-year postgraduate MSc course in surface chemistry and colloids. At Bristol, Ron's research group expanded greatly, as did his international reputation. He was promoted to Reader in 1966 and to a personal chair in 1971. In 1982 he became the fourth Leverhulme Professor and Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry. He also served periods as Chair of the School of Chemistry and as Dean of Science. He received many prizes and honours, the two greatest being his election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society in 1982 and the award of an OBE in 1989. He was invited to give seminars and to collaborate with academia and with industry, all around the world. Outside the university he served on many committees and was involved in the foundation of several academic societies. Ron Ottewill supervised 99 successful PhD students and published more than 300 scientific papers. He formally retired in 1992 but retained an active interest in science till the last.
Valentine Louis Telegdi. 11 January 1922 — 8 April 2006
Authors: Brown Laurie M.
Published: August 2009

Valentine Telegdi was an outstandingly original experimental physicist who contributed greatly to our understanding of the weak and electromagnetic interactions of elementary particles. Outspoken and colourful in expression, Telegdi (usually called ‘Val’) had the reputation of being a ‘conscience of physics’, known for his incisive and sometimes acerbic wit. In this respect he was reminiscent of Wolfgang Pauli, one of his teachers, whom he greatly admired. However, Val could be warm and caring to friends, professional associates and students. After receiving his doctorate from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich in 1950, he began his academic career at the University of Chicago in 1951, and his reputation grew rapidly. In 1968 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. In 1972 the University of Chicago appointed him as the first Enrico Fermi Distinguished Service Professor of Physics.
Sir Alfred Brian Pippard. 7 September 1920 — 21 September 2008
Authors: Longair Malcolm S. , Waldram John R.
Published: August 2009

Sir Brian Pippard was a brilliant experimental physicist with a deep understanding of physics and physical processes; he used this understanding to make pioneering contributions to condensed matter physics. He will be particularly remembered as the first experimenter to map a Fermi surface and for his non-local theories of electromagnetic response in normal metals and superconductors, the latter predating the theory of superconductivity of Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer. Most of his career was spent at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, where he held the Cavendish Professorship of Experimental Physics from 1971 to 1982. From 1966 to 1973 he was the first President of Clare Hall, then a newly founded graduate college. He died aged 88 years on 21 September 2008.
Book Reviews
Authors: Rosenau Milton D.
Published: August 2009

In light of the changes occurring in the European Common Market in 1992, it is particularly timely to review two books that contrast new product development practices in the United States with those in Europe and other countries. Both books are based on academics' research but are intended to provide practical insights for practitioners.

The first review is of a book that summarizes an extensive study of the world auto industry. This book, which does offer many practical lessons, compares industry practices in the United States, Europe and Japan.

The second review, by Chris Panton, examines a book that contrasts product development practices in American and British firms. Our reviewer finds that this book primarily offers an effective summary of conventional wisdom but fewer practical insights.
Tumor–stromal interactions with direct cell contacts enhance proliferation of human pancreatic carcinoma cells
Authors: Fujita Hayato , Ohuchida Kenoki , Mizumoto Kazuhiro , Egami Takuya , Miyoshi Kei , Moriyama Taiki , Cui Lin , Yu Jun , Zhao Ming , Manabe Tatsuya , Tanaka Masao
Published: August 2009

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is often characterized by an abundant desmoplastic stroma that is partially induced by activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). Indirect co‐culture has often been used to investigate the effects of cancer–stromal interactions on the proliferation of cancer cells, but the effects of cell–cell adhesion and juxtacrine signaling between cancer and stromal cells cannot be evaluated using this method. This study aimed to establish a simplified direct co‐culture system that could be used to quantify populations of cancer cells in co‐culture with PSCs, and to evaluate the effects of direct cell contact on the proliferation of cancer cells. We established three green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐expressing pancreatic cancer cell lines and were able to quantify them with high reliability and reproducibility, even when co‐cultured directly with PSCs, using a color plate reader. We assessed the differential effects of direct and indirect co‐culture with PSCs on the proliferation of cancer cells, and found that the proliferation of GFP‐expressing pancreatic cancer cell lines was dramatically enhanced by direct co‐culture with PSCs, compared with the indirect co‐culture system. We also found that direct co‐culture of cancer cells and PSCs activated the Notch signaling pathway in both cell types. Direct cell contact between cancer cells and PSCs plays an important role in the control of cancer cell proliferation, and is essential to the understanding of tumor–stromal interactions. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 2309–2317)
Mantle cell lymphoma with central nervous system involvement: frequency and clinical features
Authors: Gill Saar , Herbert Kirsten E. , Prince H. Miles , Wolf Max M. , Wirth Andrew , Ryan Gail , Carney Dennis A. , Ritchie David S. , Davies John M. , Seymour John F.
Published: August 2009

Reported rates of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are highly variable but substantial (4–26%). Data is lacking regarding risk factors for CNS relapse, and for those patients in whom CNS prophylaxis could be beneficial. We present single institution retrospective analysis of data of baseline features, clinical course, rate of CNS disease and putative risk factors in 62 patients with MCL (18 female, 44 male). CNS disease (all cases were symptomatic) occurred in four patients at a median of 12 months (range 1–58) from diagnosis, with a crude incidence of 6·5% and 5‐year actuarial incidence of 5 ± 3%. Two cases had blastic MCL at diagnosis. Survival after CNS relapse ranged from 2–9 months. Patients who developed CNS disease had a significantly shorter survival from diagnosis than those who did not (P = 0·0024). Symptomatic CNS disease in patients with MCL either at presentation or relapse is an uncommon but devastating complication. In younger patients, more aggressive immuno‐chemotherapy regimens containing CNS‐penetrating agents may reduce the incidence of CNS disease. While not routinely justified for all patients, CNS prophylaxis may particularly benefit patients with blastic histology at diagnosis, or those with systemic relapse after first‐line treatment.
Extended triple intrathecal therapy in children with T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: a report from the Israeli National ALL‐Studies
Authors: Stark Batia , Avrahami Galia , Nirel Ronit , Abramov Aya , Attias Dina , Ballin Ami , Bielorai Bella , Burstein Yoav , Gavriel Hertzel , Elhasid Ronit , Kapelushnik Joseph , Sthoeger Dalia , Toren Amos , Wientraub Michael , Yaniv Isaac , Izraeli Shai
Published: August 2009

Owing to the increased central nervous system (CNS) relapse risk in T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), it is unclear whether preventive cranial radiation (pCRT) can be safely omitted. In this study, pCRT was replaced by extended triple intrathecal therapy (TIT) in prednisone good early responders – medium‐risk (MR) group, accounting for 76% of T‐ALL patients. From 1989 to 2003, 143 T‐ALL patients aged 1–18 years were enrolled in the Israel National Studies (INS) 89 (n = 84) and INS 98 (n = 59) trials, based on ALL‐Berlin–Frankfurt–Munster (BFM) 86/90 and ALL‐BFM 95 protocols, respectively. Five‐year event‐free survival (EFS) of the MR group in the INS 89 (n = 60) was 70 ± 5·9% and the INS 98 (n = 43), 83·7 ± 5·6% (P = 0·12); the cumulative incidence (CI) of any CNS relapse was 5·0 ± 2·8% and 2·3 ± 2·3% (P = 0·50), respectively. There was no difference in outcome between MR patients with a white blood cell count (WBC) ≥100 × 109/l treated with extended TIT (n = 17) or pCRT (n = 10). For all T‐ALL patients, 5‐year EFS was 61·9 ± 5·3% in INS 89 and 72·9 ± 5·8% in INS 98, (P = 0·21); the CI of any CNS relapse was 7·1 ± 2·8% and 1·7 ± 1·7% (P = 0·142), respectively. Outcome of T‐ALL MR patients given extended TIT in the context of BFM‐based protocols with long‐term follow‐up appeared to be comparable to studies in which a larger proportion of patients was irradiated, and was associated with low risk of CNS relapse, regardless of the WBC.
Immune function in children under chemotherapy for standard risk acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a prospective study of 20 paediatric patients
Authors: Eyrich Matthias , Wiegering Verena , Lim Annick , Schrauder Andre , Winkler Beate , Schlegel Paul G.
Published: August 2009

Multidrug chemotherapy is a highly effective treatment for paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), but at the same time compromises immunity of patients. Immune function in a homogenous cohort of 20 children with standard‐ and intermediate‐risk ALL was analysed by immunophenotyping, intracellular cytokine staining, assessment of serum cytokine concentrations, T‐cell receptor (TCR) repertoire diversity and thymic function. B‐cells were most severely affected by chemotherapy, rapidly declined under induction and did not recover until the cessation of maintenance therapy. This recovery was paralleled by a relative increase in naive IgM+IgD+CD27− B‐cells, indicating de novo B‐cell generation as the major pathway for B‐cell reconstitution. T‐ and Natural Killer‐cells were less severely affected. Although numerically diminished by chemotherapy, they had partially recovered at the end of induction. Interestingly, CD4:CD8 ratio, distribution of naive versus memory T‐cells, cytokine production, TCR‐repertoire complexity and thymic function were all only marginally affected by chemotherapy. Patients receiving dexamethasone had significantly less IFNγ+ T‐cells than those receiving prednisone. Our data show that during chemotherapy in standard‐ and intermediate‐risk paediatric ALL patients the T‐cell system remains relatively well preserved. Future studies will show if this effect can be exploited for inclusion of immunotherapy in standard ALL treatment protocols.
Bottom‐up effects of glucosinolate variation on aphid colony dynamics in wild cabbage populations
Authors: NEWTON ERIKA , BULLOCK JAMES M. , HODGSON DAVE
Published: August 2009

1. There is an ongoing debate about the relative importance of top‐down and bottom‐up regulation of herbivore dynamics in the wild. Secondary metabolites, produced by plants, have negative effects on survival and growth of some herbivore species, causing bottom‐up regulation of population dynamics. Herbivore natural enemies may use plant secondary metabolites as cues to find their prey, but their survival and reproduction can also be influenced by the upward cascade of secondary metabolites through the food web. Thus plant chemistry might also affect herbivore populations by mediating top‐down regulation.

2. We investigated the influence of heritable variation in aliphatic glucosinolates, a class of secondary metabolites produced by Brassica plants, on the relative importance of top‐down and bottom‐up regulation of Brevicoryne brassicae (mealy cabbage aphid) colonies in natural Brassica oleracea (wild cabbage) populations. We manipulated natural enemy pressure on plants differing in their glucosinolate profiles, and monitored aphid colony growth and disperser production.

3. Aphid colony sizes were significantly smaller on plants producing sinigrin, compared with plants producing alternative aliphatic glucosinolates. Aphid natural enemy numbers correlated with aphid colony size, but there was no additional effect of the plants' chemical phenotype on natural enemy abundance. Furthermore, experimental reduction of natural enemy pressure had no effect on aphid colony size or production of winged dispersers.

4. Our results provide evidence for glucosinolate‐mediated, bottom‐up regulation of mealy cabbage aphid colonies in natural populations, but we found no indication of top‐down regulation. We emphasise that more studies of these processes should focus on tritrophic interactions in the wild.
Resolving the conflict between driven‐grouse shooting and conservation of hen harriers
Authors: Thompson Patrick S. , Amar Arjun , Hoccom David G. , Knott Jeff , Wilson Jeremy D.
Published: August 2009

1.  Birds of prey and driven‐grouse shooting are at the centre of a long‐standing human–wildlife conflict. Hen harrier predation can reduce grouse shooting bags, limit grouse populations and cause economic losses. Despite legal protection, hen harrier numbers are severely depleted on driven‐grouse moors.

2.  In limited trials, provision of supplementary food to hen harriers greatly reduced their predatory impact on young grouse, but did not result in higher grouse densities for shooting. Consequently, grouse moor managers have failed to adopt the technique.

3.  A recent Forum paper has called for a trial ‘population ceiling scheme’ for hen harriers, arguing that this represents the best way to increase hen harrier numbers on driven‐grouse moors. Once densities exceed the agreed ceiling, the excess would be translocated to other suitable habitat.

4.  Whilst a ‘ceiling’ scheme might work, it would be difficult to implement and we believe that other approaches to population recovery should be tested first.

5.  While driven‐grouse shooting makes an important economic contribution to some rural communities, some grouse moor owners receive considerable sums of public money. Despite this, many moors are in poor condition, the ecosystem services they supply may be at risk from both climate change and current management practices, and grouse numbers are in decline. The socio‐economic and environmental implications of alternative models of grouse management need urgent examination.

6.
 Synthesis and applications. If driven‐grouse shooting is only viable when birds of prey are routinely disturbed and killed, then we question the legitimacy of driven‐grouse shooting as a sustainable land use. Moorland owners need to consider more broadly sustainable shooting practices for the 21st century.
Hen harriers and red grouse: economic aspects of red grouse shooting and the implications for moorland conservation
Authors: Sotherton Nick , Tapper Stephen , Smith Adam
Published: August 2009

1.  Thirgood & Redpath (2008) propose ways in which red grouse : hen harrier conflicts could be resolved. It has also been suggested that grouse management could accept lower bag sizes (number of birds shot) thus reducing the need for intensive management of predators and habitats. This would allow hen harriers to co‐exist more easily on grouse moors.

2.  We compare the bags, costs and incomes from these less intensive forms of grouse shooting with the more intensive driven shooting.

3.  Allowing high density grouse moors to decline to low density ones will result in greater loss of income than the corresponding saving of costs. This can result in moor owners abandoning grouse management and thus gamekeepers losing their employment.

4.  Losing gamekeepers from the uplands would jeopardize the protection of heather moorland and Special Protection Areas for birds, large areas of which are keepered and which currently support high numbers of breeding waders.

5.
 Synthesis and applications. We agree with the study by Thirgood & Redpath that consideration of social and economic factors will be needed to resolve conflict but a reduction in management effort from driven to walked‐up shooting is not the answer. A more satisfactory approach to the harrier : grouse conflict could be to try to reduce harrier predation by means of diversionary feeding and to address the problem of the rapid build‐up in harrier numbers by exploring the use of a ceiling on harrier densities.
Hen harriers and red grouse: moving towards consensus?
Authors: Redpath Steve , Thirgood Simon
Published: August 2009

1.  The presence of predators may lead to conflict between different stakeholders. Finding ways to resolve such conflicts is a challenge to all involved.

2.
 Within the UK a long and, at times, acrimonious conflict has developed around the conservation of hen harriers Circus cyaneus on moorland managed for red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. This paper follows our original forum article and the replies from colleagues in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).

3.  Whilst differences of opinion remain, there are encouraging signs that both sides are striving for consensus. There is broad agreement that evidence is required on three fronts to address: (1) the ecological, economic and social consequences of alternative forms of land management in the uplands; (2) the efficacy of diversionary feeding of hen harriers; and (3) the utility of a brood management scheme to improve harrier conservation status and reduce the extent of the conflict.

4.
 Synthesis and applications: The conflict between hen harrier conservation and red grouse management has existed for decades with little sign of progress. For the first time, stakeholders, researchers and policy advisors are engaged in effective dialogue and are striving for solutions. There are encouraging signs that all sides are now willing to listen to alternative viewpoints and appear prepared to seriously consider compromises. It is to be hoped that a solution to the harrier–grouse conflict can be found as this will have considerable positive ramifications for management of heather moorlands in the UK and wider implications for the conservation of predators around the world.
The inshore fish faunas over soft substrates and reefs on the tropical west coast of Australia differ and change with latitude and bioregion
Authors: Travers M. J. , Potter I. C. , Clarke K. R. , Newman S. J. , Hutchins J. B.
Published: August 2009

Aim  To test the following hypotheses regarding ichthyofaunal compositions along an extensive tropical coastline. The compositions over soft substrates and reefs: (1) consistently differ markedly; (2) change progressively with latitude and temperature through sequential changes in the abundances of certain species; and (3) vary among bioregions, as those regions differ markedly in their environmental characteristics.

Location  Tropical north‐western Australia.

Methods  Similarity matrices, derived from percentage contributions of each fish species to catches obtained over soft substrates by trawling and over reefs by trapping at seven regularly spaced sites along 1500 km of coast, were subjected to cluster analysis, non‐metric multidimensional scaling ordination and associated tests.

Results  In total, 361 species were obtained by trawling and trapping along the tropical coast of north‐western Australia (NWA). Only 56 species were recorded over both soft substrates and reefs, whereas 229 and 76 species were caught exclusively over soft substrates and reefs, respectively. The Leiognathidae, Carangidae and Terapontidae contributed most individuals (62.2%) to catches over soft substrates, whereas the Lethrinidae and Lutjanidae dominated those over reefs (81.9%). The species compositions in both habitats were related to latitude and water temperature. Ichthyofaunal compositions in the Kimberley region differed markedly from those in the Canning/Pilbara regions further south, which, in turn, each had distinct characters. The vast majority of species found over both habitats also occur in the Pacific Ocean to the north.

Main conclusions  The most important fish families over soft substrates and reefs in inshore marine waters of tropical NWA differ markedly. The ichthyofaunal compositions of both habitats undergo similar patterns of progressive change with latitude, due to site‐staggered changes in the relative abundances of key fish species in their respective habitats. Ichthyofaunal composition in both habitats was found to be influenced by water temperature. The latitudinal trends exhibited by species composition are overlaid on a strong bioregional effect, reflecting the influence of the very different environmental conditions in those bioregions, which include marked differences in such factors as tidal regime, turbidity and whether mangroves are nearby. The important contribution of species with a Pacific affinity was presumably facilitated by the polewards‐flowing Indonesian Throughflow, which links the Pacific Ocean with waters bordering the NWA coast.
Catechin–metal interactions as a mechanism for conditional allelopathy by the invasive plant Centaurea maculosa
Authors: Pollock Jarrod L. , Callaway Ragan M. , Thelen Giles C. , Holben William E.
Published: August 2009

1. Evaluating variation, or ‘conditionality’, in plant interactions is crucial to understanding their ecological importance and predicting where they might be at play. Much is known about conditionality for competition, facilitation and herbivory, but not for allelopathy, which likely contributes to the equivocal nature of reports on this topic. Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed) is an invasive species in North America, whose success has been attributed, at least in part, to the allelochemical root exudate (±)‐catechin.

2. Understanding the ecological relevance of (±)‐catechin necessitates determining how it interacts with various soil components. We found that some metals caused rapid declines in measurable (±)‐catechin, while calcium impeded its auto‐oxidation, maintaining concentrations higher than for (±)‐catechin alone. Certain (±)‐catechin–metal complexes were more phytotoxic than (±)‐catechin alone, while others showed lower toxicity.

3. The variable phytotoxicity of these complexes suggests that (±)‐catechin effects are enhanced, mitigated or otherwise affected by complexation with different metals and perhaps other soil components.

4. Synthesis. These findings serve to illustrate that the precise chemical forms, interactions and effects of catechin in the environment are highly variable and that further examination is warranted to increase our understanding of its role in invasion and allelopathy. The conditional effects observed for catechin detection and phytotoxicity likely extend to related allelopathic compounds, other root exudates and potentially other systems involving chemically complex and spatially heterogeneous environments.
Stimulus type does not affect infant arousal response patterns
Authors: RICHARDSON HEIDI L. , WALKER ADRIAN M. , HORNE ROSEMARY S.C.
Published: August 2009

Previous studies have examined infant arousal responses to various arousal stimuli; however it is unclear whether the patterns of responses to different stimuli are comparable within subjects across early development. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of both respiratory and somatosensory stimulation on arousal processes in the same infants throughout the first 6 months of life. Ten healthy term infants were studied with daytime polysomnography at 2–4 weeks, 2–3 and 5–6 months. Infants were challenged with both hypoxia (15% O2, balanced N2) and a pulsatile air‐jet to the nostrils. Stimulus‐induced sub‐cortical activations (SCA) and cortical arousals (CA) were expressed as percentages of total arousals. Heart rate (HR) changes and electroencephalogram (EEG) desynchronization were also contrasted for the two stimuli. During active sleep (AS), there was no significant effect of stimulus type on proportions of CA at any of the ages studied. During quiet sleep (QS), hypoxia elicited higher CA proportions than the air‐jet at 2–3 and 5–6 months (P < 0.01). Overall, HR responses associated with SCA and CA and the duration of EEG desynchronization during CA were similar for both stimuli. Mild hypoxia and nasal air‐jet stimulation produce qualitatively similar patterns of arousal responses during the first 6 months of life, supporting the concept of a final common neural pathway of cortical activation. Quantitatively, full CA from QS is more likely with hypoxia, in keeping with it being a life‐threatening stimulus. This study supports the nasal air‐jet as an appropriate stimulus for assessing developmental patterns of infant arousal process.
A phylogenetic framework for wing pattern evolution in the mimetic Mocker Swallowtail Papilio dardanus
Authors: CLARK REBECCA , VOGLER ALFRIED P.
Published: August 2009

The Batesian mimetic swallowtail butterfly Papilio dardanus exhibits numerous distinct wing colour morphs whose evolutionary origins require large phenotypic shifts. A phylogenetic framework to study the history of these morphs was established by DNA sequencing of representative subspecies from sub‐Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands. Two mitochondrial genes and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer marker revealed deeply separated eastern and western African mainland lineages, plus one lineage each on Madagascar and Grande Comore. These markers showed very little polymorphism within lineages. In contrast, markers genetically linked to the mimicry locus H, including the transcription factor invected and two adjacent amplified fragment length polymorphisms‐derived sequences, showed high nucleotide diversity but were not geographically structured. Variation in the unlinked wingless gene showed a similar pattern, rejecting the hypothesis that high level of variation in the H region is due to balancing selection exerted by the phenotypes. The separation from a common ancestor with Papilio phorcas estimated at 2.9 Ma coincides with the origin of a mimicry model, Danaus chrysippus. However, the model reached Africa only at the time of the internal splits of P. dardanus mtDNA groups, here estimated at 0.55–0.94 Ma. The nuclear genome shows less geographic structure and may not track recent population differentiation, suggesting that widespread mimicry morphs have arisen early in the evolution of the P. dardanus lineage, although after the male–female dimorphism which is ancestral. The current wide distribution of P. dardanus and population subdivision evident from mtDNA may have been achieved only with the spread of the models across Africa.
Environmental regulation of floral anthocyanin synthesis in Ipomoea purpurea
Authors: LU YINGQING , DU JIN , TANG JINGYU , WANG FANG , ZHANG JIE , HUANG JINXIA , LIANG WEIFENG , WANG LIANGSHENG
Published: August 2009

Responses of metabolites to environmental fluctuations may play large roles in biological adaptation, yet how these responses initiate in the natural environment and the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Synthesis of floral anthocyanins, as typical examples of secondary metabolites, is known to respond to the physical environment and therefore an ideal system for understanding the process of the environmental regulation. Here, by simultaneous monitoring of six natural environmental variables and anthocyanin content of daily opening flowers throughout a natural flowering season (∼50 days) of Ipomoea purpurea, we have identified significant and positive correlations of temperature (3‐days ago) and ultraviolet (UV) light intensity (5‐days ago) with the floral anthocyanin content. We sequenced all known (seven structural and three regulatory) anthocyanin genes in I. purpurea flowers and examined their transcript quantities in the natural environment across eight floral developmental stages (covering 0–96 h before anthesis). The anthocyanin gene expression patterns corroborated with the inferred effects from the time‐series data, and further showed that the positive UV effect became negative on transcript levels about 36 h before anthesis. With falling natural temperature, content of the principal anthocyanin declined, whereas that of an alternative anthocyanin with fewer glucose and caffeic acid moieties increased. Our data suggest that environmental regulation of the anthocyanin pathway may account for more than half of the flux variation in the floral limb, and is influenced mainly by daily average temperature and UV light intensity that modulate anthocyanin transcript levels (most likely via myb1) at floral developmental stages.
The non‐ribosomal assembly and frequent occurrence of the protease inhibitors spumigins in the bloom‐forming cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena
Authors: Fewer David P. , Jokela Jouni , Rouhiainen Leo , Wahlsten Matti , Koskenniemi Kerttu , Stal Lucas J. , Sivonen Kaarina
Published: August 2009

Nodularia spumigena is a filamentous nitrogen‐fixing cyanobacterium that forms toxic blooms in brackish water bodies worldwide. Spumigins are serine protease inhibitors reported from a single strain of N. spumigena isolated from the Baltic Sea. These linear tetrapeptides contain non‐proteinogenic amino acids including a C‐terminal alcohol derivative of arginine. However, very little is known about these compounds despite the ecological importance of N. spumigena. We show that spumigins are assembled by two non‐ribosomal peptide synthetases encoded in a 21 kb biosynthetic gene cluster. The compact non‐ribosomal peptide synthetase features a reductive loading and release mechanism. Our analyses demonstrate that the bulk of spumigins produced by N. spumigena are released as peptide aldehydes in contrast to earlier findings. The main spumigin E variant contains an argininal residue and is a potent trypsin inhibitor. Spumigins were present in all of the N. spumigena strains isolated from the Baltic Sea and comprised up to 1% of the dry weight of the cyanobacterium. Our results demonstrate that bloom‐forming N. spumigena strains produce a cocktail of enzyme inhibitors, which may explain in part the ecological success of this cyanobacterium in brackish water bodies worldwide.
Effects of Salivary Gland Homogenate from Wild‐Caught and Laboratory‐Reared Lutzomyia longipalpis on the Evolution and Immunomodulation of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis Infection
Authors: Laurenti M. D. , Da Matta V. L. R. , Pernichelli T. , Secundino N. F. C. , Pinto L. C. , Corbett C. E. P. , Pimenta P. P. F.
Published: August 2009

We investigated the effects of Lutzomyia longipalpis salivary glands homogenate of wild‐caught and laboratory‐reared vectors on the lesion evolution and immunomodulation of the infection caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. To compare the effect of both salivary glands homogenate (SGH), C57BL/6 mice were inoculated subcutaneously into the hind footpads or into the ear dermis with 106 promastigotes in the presence or not of SGH from wild‐caught and laboratory‐colonized sand flies. Comparing SGH groups, the lesion size was lower in mice co‐inoculated with wild‐caught SGH, as the parasitism and the infiltration of macrophages at the inoculation site. Wild‐caught SGH also determined lower production of IL‐4 and IL‐10 but higher IL‐12 levels compared with laboratory‐reared SGH. Our findings address a probable bias by using SGH from laboratory‐colonized sand flies instead of wild‐caught vector SGH in studies concerning saliva effects. A possible mild influence of sand fly saliva in natural infections caused by Leishmania is also speculated, as infection is transmitted by wild and not by laboratory‐reared vectors.
Lipoxin A4 Metabolites/Analogues from Two Commercial Sources have No Effects on TNF‐α‐mediated Priming or Activation through the Neutrophil Formyl Peptide Receptors
Authors: Forsman H. , Dahlgren C.
Published: August 2009

The eicosanoid lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a potent anti‐inflammatory mediator in many in vivo experimental models, and it has been proposed that the effects of this molecule are mediated through binding to FPR2 (also termed FPRL1 or ALXR), a member of the formyl peptide receptor family. Research has shown that LXA4 inhibits neutrophil function, which has been suggested to be an important mechanism in the anti‐inflammatory activity of this lipoxin. However, experiments demonstrating such an impact of LXA4 have not always been convincing. In this study, we examined the influence of metabolically stable LXA4 analogues on the biological activities induced by a previously characterized FPR2 agonist (WKYMWM) and a commonly used FPR1 agonist (fMLF). We also investigated the analogues regarding their direct effect on TNFα‐mediated neutrophil mobilization of the complement receptor 3 (CR3) and their indirect effect on cytokine‐dependent priming of the cells. The LXA4 analogues we used came from two commercial sources. In our experiments, they did not induce any direct neutrophil response, nor did they affect the increase in the number of CR3 molecules on the neutrophil surface or the primed response. Therefore, we conclude that these LXA4 analogues do not have an impact on TNF‐α induced signalling in neutrophils. We also applied a recently described technique that has proven to be a valuable tool for identifying selective FPR1 and FPR2 agonists and antagonists. We found that the lipoxin analogues did not induce any changes in the neutrophil response, which implies that LXA4 does not act through FPR2 in these cells.
Regions of Differences Encoded Antigens as Targets for Immunodiagnosis of Tuberculosis in Humans
Authors: Parkash O. , Singh B. P. , Pai M.
Published: August 2009

Tuberculosis is one of the major global health problems causing nearly 2 million deaths every year. It continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Accurate early diagnosis and proper treatment can control the spread of tuberculosis in the community. Currently used diagnostic tests have certain limitations such as low sensitivity and suboptimal turn‐around times. Hence, introduction of diagnostic methods that are comparatively more sensitive and specific can increase the efficiency of strategies to control tuberculosis. In recent years, there has been a remarkable progress in identifying new and potentially useful antigens for diagnosis of both latent and active tuberculosis. Regions of differences (RD) encoded proteins are among such promising candidate antigens (RD antigens). Some of these antigens are encoded by regions of differences located in the genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. africanum, M. bovis but are absent in all the Bacillus Calmette Guerin substrains and many of the environmental mycobacteria. Over the past few years, RD antigens, particularly RD‐based diagnostic methods such as improved tuberculin skin testing, interferon‐gamma release assays, and RD1‐based serological assays are being tested and have shown promising results. This article provides an overview of the use of RD antigens in the immunodiagnosis of tuberculosis infection and disease.
Cyclostratigraphic reasoning and orbital time calibration
Authors: Bailey Robin John
Published: August 2009

Cyclostratigraphy postulates that the stratigraphic record cyclically encodes the periodic orbital forcing of terrestrial insolation, thus providing a time calibration.Regular cyclesare sought using spectral analysis of lithological data series, but there are inherent ambiguities in this method. It may detect more cyclicities than conventional orbital forcing allows, but only those with the closest correspondence to estimated orbital frequencies are used for time calibration.Irregular cyclesare subjectively defined in terms of non‐rhythmic repetitions of facies. The calibrations assume that they record the spatially distorted sedimentary effects of orbitally forced periodicity in insolation. The null hypothesis that such non‐rhythmic repetitions are autogenic, rather than orbitally forced, cannot, however, be rejected. Both types of cyclicity conform to an ‘expected universe’ where orbital forcing is reliably and recognisably encoded in the stratigraphic record. Neither form of cyclicity rules out the presence of hiatuses; thus, even if orbital in origin, neither can provide dependably refined, orbitally scaled, time calibration.
Stem cell‐related therapies for vascular diseases
Authors: Martin‐Rendon E. , Snowden J. A. , Watt S. M.
Published: August 2009

summary.

The therapeutic potential of ‘adult’ or at least non‐embryonic stem cells and their progeny has developed gradually over the past half century as a consequence of the wealth of knowledge derived from stem cell research. Translational research coupled with clinical trials and derived from basic research has led the way to the clinic. This commenced with the use of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), to treat haematological malignancies, to be followed by the most recent clinical trials to treat a variety of coronary and peripheral artery diseases. Stem cells and their progeny isolated from bone marrow or blood appear to exert an ameliorating effect in certain vascular disorders. Although promising, some of these treatments remain controversial and further research and, where indicated, appropriately powered trials are required to confirm the safety and determine the efficacy of these novel therapies.
Eliciting individual preferences for health care: a case study of perinatal care
Authors: Van Der Pol Marjon , Shiell Alan , Au Flora , Jonhston David , Tough Suzanne
Published: August 2009

Objective  To demonstrate how a discrete choice experiment (DCE) can be used to elicit individuals’ preferences for health care and how these preferences can be incorporated into a cost–benefit analysis.

Methods  A DCE which elicited preferences for three perinatal services: specialist nurse appointments; home visits from a trained lay visitor; and home‐help. Cost was included to obtain a monetary measure of the value that individuals place on the services. In total, 292 women who had previously participated in a randomized trial of alternative forms of pre‐natal care were interviewed.

Results  The most preferred service configuration consisted of three nurse appointments and two home visits before birth and 4 h of home‐help per week for the first 4 weeks after birth. On average, women are willing to pay $371 for this package. A package that excluded home‐help was valued at $122 whilst provision of three nurse appointments only was valued at $97. The predicted uptake of the services ranged from 37% to 93% depending on the woman’s experience with the service, whether or not it was her first child and her level of education.

Conclusion  The willingness to pay values were much higher than the costs for nurse appointments, suggesting this service produces a net social benefit. The willingness to pay for the package including both the nurse appointments and home visits only just exceeded the costs of the package, suggesting there is a relatively high chance that this package produces a net social loss.