bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B reactivation in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation setting: A pediatric experience
Authors: Faraci M. , Cappelli B. , Lanino E. , Morreale G. , Fioredda F. , Giudice C. L. , Giacchino R.
Published: November 2008

Abstract:  Reactivation of HBV is a well known complication in patients undergoing HSCT. Lamivudine treatment appears to prevent hepatitis B virus reactivation and to decrease the mortality in at risk HSCT patients. We describe HBV reactivation occurred in three allogeneic HSCT pediatric patients coming from Eastern Europe, one of whom was successfully treated with lamivudine. Our experience confirms that HBV‐DNA may persist as intra‐hepatic infection or in extra‐hepatic sites and that HBV reactivation may appear during immunodepression. Careful and complete screening for HBV markers is mandatory before HSCT, especially in children coming from countries at risk for HBV. Furthermore, a treatment with lamivudine could also represent an efficacious prophylaxis in pediatric patients to avoid HBV reactivation and to decrease the development of severe hepatic disease.
Egg size, embryonic development time and ovoviviparity in Drosophila species
Authors: MARKOW T. A. , BEALL S. , MATZKIN L. M.
Published: November 2008

Lengths, widths and volumes of eggs from 11 species of Drosophila whose genomes have been fully sequenced exhibit significant variation that is not explained by their phylogenetic relationships. Furthermore, egg size differences are unrelated to embryonic development time in these species. In addition, two of the species, Drosophila sechellia and, to a lesser degree, D. yakuba, both ecological specialists, exhibit ovoviviparity, suggesting that female control over oviposition in these species differs from what is observed in D. melanogaster. The interspecific differences in these reproductive characters, coupled with the availability of whole genome sequences for each, provide an unprecedented opportunity to examine their evolution.
Chloroplast parameters differ in wild type and transgenic poplars overexpressing gsh1 in the cytosol
Authors: Ivanova L. A. , Ronzhina D. A. , Ivanov L. A. , Stroukova L. V. , Peuke A. D. , Rennenberg H.
Published: November 2008

Poplar mutants overexpressing the bacterial genes gsh1 or gsh2 encoding the enzymes of glutathione biosynthesis are among the best‐characterised transgenic plants. However, this characterisation originates exclusively from laboratory studies, and the performance of these mutants under field conditions is largely unknown. Here, we report a field experiment in which the wild‐type poplar hybrid Populus tremula × P. alba and a transgenic line overexpressing the bacterial gene gsh1 encoding γ‐glutamylcysteine synthetase in the cytosol were grown for 3 years at a relatively clean (control) field site and a field site contaminated with heavy metals. Aboveground biomass accumulation was slightly smaller in transgenic compared to wild‐type plants; soil contamination significantly decreased biomass accumulation in both wild‐type and transgenic plants by more than 40%. Chloroplasts parameters, i.e., maximal diameter, projection area and perimeter, surface area and volume, surface/volume ratio and a two‐dimensional form coefficient, were found to depend on plant type, leaf tissue and soil contamination. The greatest differences between wild and transgenic poplars were observed at the control site. Under these conditions, chloroplast sizes in palisade tissue of transgenic poplar significantly exceeded those of the wild type. In contrast to the wild type, palisade chloroplast volume exceeded that of spongy chloroplasts in transgenic poplars at both field sites. Chlorophyll content per chloroplast was the same in wild and transgenic poplars. Apparently, the increase in chloroplast volume was not connected to changes in the photosynthetic centres. Chloroplasts of transgenic poplar at the control site were more elongated in palisade cells and close to spherical in spongy mesophyll chloroplasts. At the contaminated site, palisade and spongy cell chloroplasts of leaves from transgenic trees and the wild type were the same shape. Transgenic poplars also had a smaller chloroplast surface/volume ratio, both at the control and the contaminated site. Chloroplast number per cell did not differ between wild and transgenic poplars at the control site. Soil contamination led to suppression of chloroplast replication in wild‐type plants. From these results, we assume that overexpressing the bacterial gsh1 gene in the cytosol interacts with processes in the chloroplast and that sequestration of heavy metal phytochelatin complexes into the vacuole may partially counteract this interaction in plants grown at heavy metal‐contaminated field sites. Further experiments are required to test these assumptions.
Identification of Arabidopsis Mutants with Enhanced Resistance to Sclerotinia Stem Rot Disease from an Activation‐tagged Library
Authors: Wang Ai‐Rong , Zhang Chun‐Hua , Zhang Li‐Li , Lin Wen‐Wei , Lin De‐Shu , Lu Guo‐Dong , Zhou Jie , Wang Zong‐Hua
Published: November 2008

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes severe stem rot disease in many crops. Little is known about the genetic mechanism of pathogenesis, making it difficult to breed new, disease‐resistant crop varieties. Here, we report a screen for Arabidopsis mutants with enhanced resistance to S. sclerotiorum through a functional genomics approach. First, an activation‐tagged library of Arabidopsis thaliana Col‐4 was generated, followed by screening of more than 50 000 T1 lines for enhanced resistance by inoculating detached leaves. Second, 50 lines with enhanced resistance were further characterized to identify the responsible genes by analyzing T‐DNA flanking regions via a sequence BLAST analysis against the Arabidopsis genomic database. Third, the expression of candidate genes expression was confirmed by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. Finally, SALK T‐DNA insertion mutants were generated from Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center, which contain loss‐of‐function mutations for these candidate genes, and inoculated with S. sclerotiorum to determine the effect on infection. Our results suggest that a functional genomics approach is effective in dissecting the molecular mechanism of plant pathosystems that do not show a gene‐for‐gene relationship.
Introgression of reproductive traits from Trifolium nigrescens increases the seed yield of white clover (T. repens)
Authors: Marshall A. H. , Michaelson‐Yeates T. P. T. , Abberton M. T.
Published: November 2008

Interspecific hybrids between white clover and the annual, profuse flowering ball clover have been developed as a strategy to improve the potential seed yield of white clover. The seed yield and seed yield components of advanced white clover × ball clover hybrids were compared with white clover in replicated field experiments over two harvest years. The backcross 3 hybrid had more reproductive nodes per stolon than the control variety ‘AberHerald’ which was reflected in more inflorescences per unit area but inflorescences with fewer florets and seeds. The hybrid had a greater potential seed yield than the control variety in 2002 but not 2001. Backcross 3 hybrids have also been produced across the range of leaf size categories. Medium and large leaved hybrids produced significantly more inflorescences and a higher potential seed yield than control varieties of comparable leaf size in both harvest years. The small leaved hybrid was not significantly greater than the control variety ‘AberDale’ in either inflorescence production or seed yield.
Genotypic and environmental variability of yield for cultivars from 30 different crops in German official variety trials
Authors: Laidig F. , Drobek T. , Meyer U.
Published: November 2008

Genotypic, environmental and genotype by environmental variability of 30 different crops was evaluated by estimating variance components from trial series in 16 years. Yield data from official German variety trials for cultivation and use (VCU) were analysed over the period from 1991 to 2006. The natural dominant part was pure environmental variation. Genotype, genotype by environment and plot error are smaller and of the same magnitude. Interaction of genotypes with locations is larger than with years. Compared with variance component estimates of crops from a study involving 16 crops from former West German VCU trials between 1975 and 1986 overall variability of yielding performance was lower in the recent study for all components except for location. Precision of variety comparisons over locations and years is higher in recent VCU trial systems when assuming equal dimensioning of testing resources. Lower values for genotype by environmental variances, especially for the genotype by year component lead to lower standard errors for variety comparisons.
Comparison of Oestrous Intensity between Natural Oestrus and Oestrus Induced with Ovsynch Based Treatments in Japanese Black Cows
Authors: Meng Chao Lu , Sato S , Yoshida K , Kawano Y , Kojima T , Kubota C
Published: November 2008

Contents

The aim of this study was to examine the possible differences of oestrous intensity between natural oestrus and induced oestrus using the walking activity measuring device. Walking activity was used as an evaluation index of oestrous intensity. A total of 27 Japanese Black cows, more than 40 days after calving and clinically normal, were randomly assigned to three groups. Walking activity was recorded using a commercially available computerized pedometer system. The treatment groups consisted of an Ovsynch (n = 8) and a controlled internal drugs releasing device (CIDR) + Ovsynch (n = 9) group. The control group (n = 10) received no treatment. Walking activity was examined in all groups. Timed artificial insemination (timed AI) was performed at 16 hours after the onset of oestrus in the control group and at 24 h after second administration of GnRH in the treatment groups. Duration of oestrus had a tendency to be shorter in both the Ovsynch and the CIDR + Ovsynch groups when compared with the control group. The time required from the onset of oestrus to the time showing the highest number of steps of walking (the time to peak) showed a tendency to be shorter in CIDR + Ovsynch group. The number of steps of walking at peak and overall walking activities were significantly lower in both treatment groups than in the control group. Both activity and super‐activity periods of time in the treatment groups were shorter than the control group. No difference was observed in the conception rate between the control (50.0%; 10/20), Ovsynch (50.0%; 4/8) and CIDR + Ovsynch groups (66.7%; 6/9). This study demonstrates that the oestrous intensity of cows in oestrus was different between natural oestrus and induced oestrus and also between the methods of the synchronization, but no difference was observed in the conception rate among the three groups.
Clinical evaluation of paroxetine in post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 52‐week, non‐comparative open‐label study for clinical use experience
Authors: Kim Yoshiharu , Asukai Nozomu , Konishi Takako , Kato Hiroshi , Hirotsune Hideto , Maeda Masaharu , Inoue Hirotaka , Narita Hiroyasu , Iwasaki Masaru
Published: November 2008

Aim:  The present study was a 52‐week, non‐comparative, open‐label study of flexible dose paroxetine (20–40 mg) in 52 Japanese post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients in order to obtain clinical experience regarding efficacy and safety in regular clinical practice.

Methods:  Efficacy was measured using the Clinician‐Administered PTSD Scale One Week Symptom Status Version (CAPS‐SX).

Results:  The mean change from baseline in CAPS‐SX total score was −19.1, −22.8 and −32.3 at weeks 4, 12 and 52, respectively, and that in the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Severity of Illness score was −1.1 at week 12 and −1.7 at week 52. A total of 46.9% were CGI responders at week 12, while 67.3% were improved on the CGI at week 52. Of 52 subjects who entered into the drug treatment, 25 completed the study. Only one patient withdrew from the study due to lack of efficacy. In patients who were rated as ‘moderately ill’ or less at baseline, the proportion of CGI responders at end‐point was higher at a dose of 20 mg/day than at higher doses, whereas in patients rated as ‘markedly ill’ or more, it was higher at 30 and 40 mg/day, suggesting that severely ill patients could benefit from higher doses.

Conclusion:  Paroxetine appeared generally tolerated in short‐ and long‐term use, and the safety profile in this study was consistent with international trials and other Japanese populations (i.e. patients suffering from depression, panic disorder or obsessive–compulsive disorder). Although the study was not conducted in double‐blind fashion, the current findings suggest that paroxetine may contribute to clinically meaningful improvement that is maintained during long‐term use and is generally well tolerated.
Verbal memory and verbal fluency in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Authors: Landrø Nils Inge , Ueland Torill
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Although impaired verbal memory and verbal fluency are frequently found in adults with schizophrenia, there has been a paucity of studies investigating adolescents with schizophrenia. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the main subcomponents of verbal memory and verbal fluency in adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.

Methods:  Verbal learning and memory and verbal fluency was assessed in 21 adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (mean age, 15.4 years) compared with 28 healthy adolescents (mean age, 15.1 years).

Results:  The patient group performed significantly below healthy controls on measures of learning, delayed recall and on a frequency estimation task. No differences between the groups were found for measures of recognition, retention, implicit memory, or susceptibility to interference. Although they had impaired delayed recall the patients remembered most of what they actually learned. The patient group was impaired on phonological and semantic fluency, but there were no differences between the groups with respect to clustering or switching on the fluency tasks, when controlling for total output. There was no disproportionate impairment in semantic, as compared to phonological fluency, in the patient group.

Conclusions:  Adolescents with schizophrenia spectrum disorders exhibit impairments in verbal learning and verbal fluency, which might have an impact on the individual's everyday functioning.
Somatization as a predictor of suicidal ideation in dissociative disorders
Authors: Öztürk Erdinç , Sar Vedat
Published: November 2008

Aim:  This study was concerned with correlates of suicidal ideation among patients with chronic complex dissociative disorders.

Method:  Participants were 40 patients diagnosed as having either dissociative identity disorder or dissociative disorder not otherwise specified according to the DSM‐IV. The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule, the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the Somatoform Dissociation and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaires, the Spielberger Trait Anger Inventory, the Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale, and the Borderline Personality Disorder section of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Personality Disorders were administered to all patients.

Results:  Patients with suicidal ideas (n = 15) had concurrent somatization disorder more frequently than the remaining patients. Having significantly high scores on both trait and state dissociation measures, their dissociative disorder was more severe than that of the patients with no suicidal ideation. They had elevated scores for childhood emotional abuse, physical abuse and emotional neglect. Concurrent somatization disorder diagnosis was the only predictor of suicidal ideation when childhood trauma scores and borderline personality disorder diagnosis were controlled.

Conclusions:  Among dissociative patients, there is an association between somatization and suicidal ideation. A trauma‐related insecure attachment pattern is considered as a common basis of this symptom cluster.
Insight in social behavioral dysfunction in schizophrenia: Preliminary study
Authors: Yoshizumi Miho , Hirao Kazuyuki , Ueda Keita , Murai Toshiya
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Previous studies have demonstrated attenuated insight among schizophrenia subjects about having a mental disorder and about their psychopathology. Few studies, however, have investigated in detail patients' unconcern for their social behavioral problems.

Methods:  Using the subjective and objective versions of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe), the nature of awareness of social behavioral problems was investigated in chronic schizophrenia subjects.

Results:  First, schizophrenia subjects were found to have problems in three major domains of social behavior: apathy, disinhibition, and executive dysfunction. Second, awareness, estimated by the difference between the subjective and objective ratings, was not uniformly disturbed in schizophrenia subjects, although it had a significant interaction with the subjects' estimated IQs: subjects with higher IQs had a tendency to overestimate their problems, while those with lower IQs had the opposite tendency. Third, the same pattern of interaction was demonstrated for the retrospective premorbid ratings of FrSBe.

Conclusion:  Awareness among schizophrenia subjects of their social behavioral problems is affected by their cognitive capacity, and this applies not only to current behaviors but also to the retrospective estimation of their behaviors in the social domain.
Severity of depressive symptoms as predictor of impairment of quality of life in chronic migraine: Comparison with episodic migraine
Authors: Canuet Leonides , Ishii Ryouhei , Fernandez‐Concepcion Otman , Iwase Masao , Takeda Masatoshi
Published: November 2008

To identify predictors of quality of life (QoL) in episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM), 116 migraineurs were evaluated using the Headache Needs Assessment (HANA). QoL was significantly more impaired in patients with CM. Disability was a predictor of QoL in both EM and CM. Severity of depressive symptoms emerged as a predictor of QoL in CM. QoL was also poorer in women and in those with greater headache intensity and nausea associated with headache in the total sample. The present findings suggest a specific role for depressive symptoms in impaired QoL in CM sufferers.
Comparisons of insight in schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, and depressive disorders with and without comorbid alcohol use disorder
Authors: Yen Cheng‐Fang , Chen Cheng‐Chung , Cheng Chung‐Ping , Yen Chia‐Nan , Lin Huang‐Chi , Ko Chih‐Hung , Yen Ju‐Yu , Chen Cheng‐Sheng
Published: November 2008

Aims:  To compare the level of insight among six groups of patients with psychiatric disorders, including those with schizophrenia (SZ), bipolar I disorder (BP), or depressive disorders (DD) who had or did not have comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods:  A total of 285 outpatients meeting the aforementioned criteria were recruited into the study. The Schedule of Assessment of Insight–Expanded version (SAI‐E) was used to measure subjects' insight. Analysis of covariance (ancova) was used to compare the levels of insight among the six groups of subjects.

Results:  Regardless of whether patients had comorbid AUD or not, patients with DD had higher levels of insight than did patients with SZ. Comorbid AUD had independent effects on the differences in the level of insight between patients with DD and BP and between patients with BP and SZ. No statistically significant difference in insight was found between patients with the same psychiatric diagnosis with and without comorbid AUD.

Conclusions:  In addition to psychotic features and clinical states, comorbid AUD should be taken into consideration when comparing the level of insight among patients with different psychiatric diagnoses.
Individual versus group cognitive behavioral treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder: Follow up
Authors: Jaurrieta Nuria , Jiménez‐Murcia Susana , Alonso Pino , Granero Roser , Segalàs Cinto , Labad Javier , Menchón José M.
Published: November 2008

Aim:  To compare the effectiveness of two forms of cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT; group and individual) in a sample of patients with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up.

Method:  Thirty‐eight subjects meeting DSM‐IV‐TR OCD criteria completed 20 sessions of individual and group CBT. They were assessed using the Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale and the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales at baseline, after treatment and at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up.

Results:  The clinical improvement obtained at the end of the treatment was maintained at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up. The clinical outcome of the individual treatment (IT) and the group treatment (GT) was the same. The dropout rates were significantly higher in women than in men, but were similar for IT and GT.

Conclusions:  CBT was effective in a sample of OCD patients. Individual and group CBT had similar results at 6‐month and 12‐month follow up. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Prior transient ischemic attack is independently associated with lesser in‐hospital case fatality in acute stroke
Authors: Zsuga Judit , Gesztelyi Rudolf , Juhasz Bela , Kemeny‐Beke Adam , Fekete Istvan , Csiba Laszlo , Bereczki Daniel
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Ischemic preconditioning has been well established in healthy human hearts, but limited information is available about its occurrence or its integrity in the brain. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate whether a prior cerebral ischemic episode (stroke or transient ischemic attack [TIA]) is able to confer protection against ischemic stroke, reflected by in‐hospital case fatality.

Methods:  A total of 2874 acute stroke patients included in the prospective, hospital‐based Debrecen Stroke Database were studied, of whom 673 had previous stroke and 195 had prior TIA.

Results:  Following adjustment for active confounders, TIA but not stroke in the history was associated with decreased odds for in‐hospital case fatality (odds ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval: 0.29–0.98; P = 0.041). The fitness of the final multiple regression model was good (Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness‐of‐fit χ2 statistic (P = 0.328).

Conclusion:  TIA may have an ischemic preconditioning effect in the human brain.
Increased cell‐free DNA concentrations in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Shin Chol , Kim Jin K. , Kim Je H. , Jung Ki H. , Cho Kyung J. , Lee Chang K. , Lee Seung G.
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Blood concentrations of cell‐free DNA, which is considered to be released during apoptosis, are elevated under some pathological conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cell‐free DNA concentrations has not been reported so far. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between OSA and plasma DNA concentrations.

Methods:  A case–control study was conducted using a total of 164 men aged 39–67 years, who were free of coronary heart disease and cancer. Laboratory‐based overnight polysomnography was performed for all participants.

Results:  On the basis of polysomnography, patients with an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) = 5–30 events/h were defined as having mild–moderate OSA (n = 33) and those with >30 events/h were defined as having severe OSA (n = 49). All 82 controls had AHI < 5 events/h. Plasma DNA concentrations from all participants were analyzed for the β‐globin gene using fluorescence‐based real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Patients with severe OSA had significantly higher plasma DNA concentrations than persons with mild–moderate OSA and those without OSA (P < 0.05). AHI was significantly associated with body mass index (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.001), and plasma DNA concentration (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:  After taking into account hypertension and other potential risk factors, persons with high plasma DNA concentrations (>8 µg/L) had approximately fourfold higher odds of OSA than those with low DNA levels. Further data are warranted to confirm the association for men and to evaluate the association for women.
Postural induced‐tremor in psychiatry
Authors: Arbaizar Beatriz , Gómez‐Acebo Inés , Llorca Javier
Published: November 2008

Postural tremor is the most common movement disorder in psychiatry, and often a difficult problem for clinicians. It can be classified as physiological, essential, drug‐induced, and postural tremor in Parkinson's disease. Drugs used in psychiatry that can produce postural tremor, include lithium, valproic acid, lamotrigine, antidepressants, and neuroleptics. Clinical characteristics of postural tremor induced by each of these drugs are described. Pharmacological strategies for therapy in disabling drug‐induced tremor include beta‐blockers, primidone, gabapentin, topiramate, and benzodiazepines; their utility, doses and side‐effects are also discussed.
Reduced frontopolar activation during verbal fluency task associated with poor social functioning in late‐onset major depression: Multi‐channel near‐infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Pu Shenghong , Matsumura Hiroshi , Yamada Takeshi , Ikezawa Satoru , Mitani Hideaki , Adachi Akiko , Nakagome Kazuyuki
Published: November 2008

Aim:  Functional neuroimaging studies to date have indicated prefrontal dysfunction in late‐onset major depression (LOD). The relationships between prefrontal dysfunction and clinical characteristics including social functioning, however, have been unclear. The objective of the present study was to evaluate prefrontal hemodynamic response related to an executive task in LOD and to assess the relationship between activation in the prefrontal regions and clinical characteristics including social functioning.

Methods:  Twenty‐four subjects with LOD and 30 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy subjects were recruited for the present study. Hemoglobin concentration changes in the prefrontal and superior temporal cortical surface area were measured during verbal fluency task (VFT) using 52‐channel near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which enables real‐time monitoring of cerebral blood volume (CBV) in the cortical surface area.

Results:  The two groups had a distinct spatiotemporal pattern of oxy‐hemoglobin concentration change; LOD patients had less activation in a broad area covering both prefrontal and superior temporal cortices than healthy controls. In addition, reduced activation of the frontopolar region had a significant positive correlation with lower self‐assessment of social functioning scores in the patient group.

Conclusion:  Reduced frontopolar cortical activation was associated with social functioning impairment in patients with LOD, and NIRS may be an efficient clinical tool for monitoring these characteristics.
Dendritic excitability during increased synaptic activity in rat neocortical L5 pyramidal neurons
Authors: Bar‐Yehuda Dan , Ben‐Porat Hana , Korngreen Alon
Published: November 2008

Recent years have seen increased study of dendritic integration, mostly in acute brain slices. However, due to the low background activity in brain slices the integration of synaptic input in slice preparations may not truly reflect conditions in vivo. To investigate dendritic integration, back‐propagation of the action potential (AP) and initiation of the dendritic Ca2+ spike we simultaneously recorded membrane potential at the soma and apical dendrite of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons in quiescent and excited acute brain slices. After excitation of the brain slice the somatic input resistance decreased and the apparent passive space constant shortened. However, the back‐propagating AP and dendritic Ca2+ spike were robust during increased synaptic activity. The dendritic Ca2+ spike was suppressed by the ionic composition of the bath solution required for slice excitation, suggesting that Ca2+ spikes may be smaller in vivo than in the acute slice preparation. The results presented here suggest that, under the conditions of slice excitation examined in this study, the increased membrane conductance induced by activation of voltage‐gated channels during back‐propagation of the AP and dendritic Ca2+ spike initiation is sufficiently larger than the membrane conductance at subthreshold potentials to allow these two regenerative dendritic events to remain robust over several levels of synaptic activity in the apical dendrite of L5 pyramidal neurons.
Developmental maturation of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in rat vestibular nuclear neurons responsive to vertical linear acceleration
Authors: Lai Suk‐King , Lai Chun‐Hong , Tse Yiu‐Chung , Yung Ken K. L. , Shum Daisy K. Y. , Chan Ying‐Shing
Published: November 2008

We investigated the maturation profile of subunits of ionotropic glutamate receptors in vestibular nuclear neurons that were activated by sinusoidal linear acceleration along the vertical plane. The otolithic origin of Fos expression in these neurons was confirmed as a marker of functional activation when labyrinthectomized and/or stationary control rats contrasted by showing sporadically scattered Fos‐labeled neurons in the vestibular nuclei. By double immunohistochemistry for Fos and one of the receptor subunits, otolith‐related neurons that expressed either α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole‐propionate or N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate subunits were first identified in the medial vestibular nucleus, spinal vestibular nucleus and Group x by postnatal day (P)7, and in the lateral vestibular nucleus and Group y by P9. No double‐labeled neurons were found in the superior vestibular nucleus. Within each vestibular subnucleus, these double‐labeled neurons constituted ∼90% of the total Fos‐labeled neurons. The percentage of Fos‐labeled neurons expressing the GluR1 or NR2A subunit showed developmental invariance in all subnuclei. For Fos‐labeled neurons expressing the NR1 subunit, similar invariance was observed except that, in Group y, these neurons decreased from P14 onwards. For Fos‐labeled neurons expressing the GluR2, GluR2/3, GluR4 or NR2B subunit, a significant decrease was found by the adult stage. In particular, those expressing the GluR4 subunit showed a two‐ to threefold decrease in the medial vestibular nucleus, spinal vestibular nucleus and Group y. Also, those expressing the NR2B subunit showed a twofold decrease in Group y. Taken together, the postsynaptic expression of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in different vestibular subnuclei suggests that glutamatergic transmission within subregions plays differential developmental roles in the coding of gravity‐related vertical spatial information.
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor functions as a metabotrophin to mediate the effects of exercise on cognition
Authors: Gomez‐Pinilla Fernando , Vaynman Shoshanna , Ying Zhe
Published: November 2008

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to mediate the effects of exercise on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function, in a process in which energy metabolism probably plays an important role. The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of exercise on rat hippocampal expression of molecules involved in the regulation of energy management and cognitive function, and to determine the role of BDNF in these events. One week of voluntary exercise that enhanced learning and memory performance elevated the expression of molecular systems involved in the metabolism of energy [AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK) and uncoupling protein 2] and molecules that work at the interface of energy and synaptic plasticity [BDNF, insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I) and ghrelin]. The levels of BDNF mRNA were associated with the mRNA levels of AMPK, uMtCK, IGF‐I and ghrelin. Inhibiting the action of BDNF during exercise abolished an exercise‐mediated enhancement in spatial learning and increased the expression of all of the molecular systems studied. BDNF blocking also disrupted the association between learning speed and levels of AMPK, uMtCK, ghrelin and IGF‐I mRNAs. These findings suggest that the effects of exercise on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function involve elements of energy metabolism, and that BDNF seems to work at the interface between the two processes as a metabotrophin.
AQP4 expression in striatal primary cultures is regulated by dopamine – implications for proliferation of astrocytes
Authors: Küppers Eva , Gleiser Corinna , Brito Veronica , Wachter Britta , Pauly Thorsten , Hirt Bernhard , Grissmer Stephan
Published: November 2008

Proliferation of astrocytes plays an essential role during ontogeny and in the adult brain, where it occurs following trauma and in inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases as well as in normal, healthy mammals. The cellular mechanisms underlying glial proliferation remain poorly understood. As dopamine is known to modulate proliferation in different cell populations, we investigated the effects of dopamine on the proliferation of striatal astrocytes in vitro. We found that dopamine reduced proliferation. As proliferation involves, among other things, a change in cell volume, which normally comes with water movement across the membrane, water channels might represent a molecular target of the dopamine effect. Therefore we studied the effect of dopamine on aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression, the main aquaporin subtype expressed in glial cells, and observed a down‐regulation of the AQP4‐M23 isoform. This down‐regulation was the cause of the dopamine‐induced decrease in proliferation as knockdown of AQP4 using siRNA techniques mimicked the effects of dopamine on proliferation. Furthermore, stimulation of glial proliferation by basic fibroblast growth factor was also abolished by knocking down AQP4. In addition, blocking of AQP4 with 10 μm tetraethylammonium inhibited osmotically induced cell swelling and stimulation of glial cell proliferation by basic fibroblast growth factor. These results demonstrate a clear‐cut involvement of AQP4 in the regulation of proliferation and implicate that modulation of AQP4 could be used therapeutically in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases as well as in the regulation of reactive astrogliosis by preventing or reducing the glia scar formation, thus improving regeneration following ischemia or other trauma.
Dynamic changes in DNA methylation during thermal control establishment affect CREB binding to the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor promoter
Authors: Yossifoff Maya , Kisliouk Tatiana , Meiri Noam
Published: November 2008

Thermal control establishment develops during a critical period by alterations in cellular properties in the frontal hypothalamus. These alterations may be modulated by the epigenetic code that determines the repertoire of transcribed proteins. Here we demonstrate transient changes in the expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) during both thermal conditioning and re‐exposure of conditioned chicks to heat stress, relative to their age‐matched naive counterparts. These changes coincide with changes in CpG methylation pattern in the avian Bdnf promoter region. Reduction in methylation during heat conditioning was observed at a cAMP response element‐binding (CREB) site which coincided with both elevation in phospho‐CREB levels and its binding to the Bdnf promoter. At the same time, an increase in methylation was observed at two other CpG sites, accompanied by elevation of the DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) expression. DNMT3a was also found to bind to the two elevated methyl CpG sites, but not to the CREB binding site. These data suggest that complex and dynamic changes in DNA methylation are involved in the regulation of Bdnf expression during thermotolerance acquisition.
Evolutionary constraints on regional faunas: whom, but not how many
Authors: Algar Adam C. , Kerr Jeremy T. , Currie David J.
Published: November 2008

The latitudinal diversity gradient has been hypothesized to reflect past evolutionary dynamics driven by climatic niche conservation during cladogenesis, i.e. the tropical conservatism hypothesis. Here we show that the species diversity of treefrogs (Hylidae) across the western hemisphere is actually independent of evolutionary niche dynamics. We evaluated three key predictions of the tropical conservatism hypothesis that relate to the relationships between climate, species richness and the phylogenetic structure of regional treefrog faunas across the continental Americas. Species composition was dependent on the inability of some lineages to evolve cold tolerance, but the actual number of species in a region was strongly predicted by precipitation, not temperature. Moreover, phylogenetic structure was independent of precipitation. Thus, species in low‐richness areas were no more closely related than species in highly diverse regions. These results provide no support for the tropical conservatism hypothesis. Instead, they show that regional species composition and richness are constrained by different climatic components, demonstrating that global biodiversity gradients can be independent of niche stasis during cladogenesis.
Seascape genetics and the spatial ecology of marine populations
Authors: Selkoe Kimberly A , Henzler Christine M , Gaines Steven D
Published: November 2008

Molecular tools perform at their best when integrated with other data and approaches. The value of integrating approaches is especially high when the underlying genetic signal is relatively weak, as occurs in many marine species. Recently, studies combining genetic, oceanographic, behavioural and modelling approaches have provided new insights into the spatial ecology of marine populations, in particular regarding larval migration, barriers to dispersal and source‐sink population dynamics. In this perspectives piece, we explore the advantages of a multidisciplinary approach to marine population genetics by (i) providing a synthesis of what has been learned about connectivity from studies that combine genetic data with other tools, (ii) discussing how incorporation of ecological and oceanographic information into alternative hypotheses can boost inference when genetic power is low, and (iii) summarizing recent innovations in statistical population genetics that enable seamless integration of ecological, environmental and genetic data. These topics are covered in the context of how genetic inferences of connectivity and dispersal can contribute to pressing questions facing marine conservation and management.
Bridging the gap between the genotype and the phenotype: linking genetic variation, selection and adaptation in fishes
Authors: Naish Kerry A , Hard Jeffrey J
Published: November 2008

One of the most challenging problems in evolutionary biology is linking the evolution of the phenotype with the underlying genotype, because most phenotypes are encoded by many genes that interact with each other and with the environment. Further, many phenotypes are correlated and selection on one can affect evolution of the other. This challenge is especially important in fishes, because their evolutionary response to harvest, global warming and conservation actions are among the least understood aspects of their management. Here, we discuss two major genetic approaches to studying the evolution of complex traits, multivariate quantitative genetics and molecular genetics, and examine the increasing interaction between the two fields. These interactions include using pedigree‐based methods to study the evolution of multivariate traits in natural populations, comparing neutral and quantitative measures of population structure, and examining the contribution that the two approaches have made to each other. We then explore the major role that quantitative genetics is playing in two key issues in the conservation and management of fish populations: the evolutionary effects of fishing and adaptation to climate change. Throughout, we emphasize that it is important to anticipate the availability of improvements in molecular technology and statistical analyses by creating research populations such as inbred lines and families segregating at fitness traits, developing approaches to measuring the full range of phenotypes related to fitness, and collecting biological material and ecological data in natural populations. These steps will facilitate studies of the evolution of complex traits over informative temporal and spatial scales.
Waking the dead: the value of population genetic analyses of historical samples
Authors: Nielsen Einar Eg , Hansen Michael Møller
Published: November 2008

Archived scales and otoliths constitute a unique source of DNA that potentially enables extension of the temporal scale of genetic studies of fish populations by decades and even centuries. We review recent insights into fish population and conservation genetics obtained using analysis of DNA from archived samples. This involves both new knowledge about demographic parameters and population structure in wild populations and insights into consequences of anthropogenic pressure resulting from over‐harvesting, habitat degradation and stocking. We show that the latter category of studies have led to significant changes of management practices. Ongoing improvement of genetic methods will undoubtedly further expand the ability to utilize historical DNA samples. We envisage that temporal comparisons of large numbers of coding genes will lead to novel insights into selective responses of fish populations to anthropogenic challenges, particularly fisheries‐induced selection and global warming. However, both acquisition and storage of historical DNA samples can be hurdles to temporal genetic analyses, while degradation and low copy number in historical DNA samples render genetic data from such sources prone to technical artefacts. We summarize recommendations for storage of samples and DNA extraction and provide checklists for validation of genotyping results. Finally, we stress that validation procedures also involve documentation of the time and population of origin of historical samples, and the inferences drawn should account for the technical and statistical uncertainties associated with historical DNA analysis.
Fisheries forensics: the use of DNA tools for improving compliance, traceability and enforcement in the fishing industry
Authors: Ogden Rob
Published: November 2008

There is an increasing requirement for traceability of fish and fish products, both for consumer protection and for regulatory enforcement, in particular with respect to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. IUU fishing is a serious global problem and one of the main impediments to the achievement of sustainable world fisheries. Genetic markers are used for the identification of species and populations in fisheries biology and can potentially also be used to support investigations and deter IUU fishing and food fraud. This review examines the development and application of non‐human forensic genetic techniques for the purposes of species identification, population assignment and supply chain traceability in world fisheries. Key issues in the transfer from academic research to validated forensic methods are presented highlighting differences in how data are produced and interpreted. The rapid increase in genomic data production and subsequent future potential for greater spatial resolution of fish stocks is discussed alongside the biological and practical limitations of using DNA markers for fisheries enforcement.
Australia's Rural Reconstruction Commission, 1943‐46: A Reassessment
Authors: Whitford Troy , Boadle Don
Published: November 2008

The Rural Reconstruction Commission 1943‐46 remains the most ambitious inquiry ever undertaken into Australia's rural affairs. Despite the Commission's scope it has attracted little interest from historians. This lack of interest stems from an inaccurate assessment of the impact the reports had on policy making. Assessments have emphasised the few recommendations adopted, but have failed to appreciate the Commission's usefulness to governments confronted with the diverse interests and entrenched jurisdictional boundaries that complicate rural policy making.
Crisp, The Senate, And The Constitution
Authors: Bach Stanley
Published: November 2008

This essay explores the development of L.F. Crisp's understanding of the appropriate role of Australia's Senate in the national political system. A review of his widely‐used textbook over three decades reveals that, to Crisp, the Senate was conceived primarily to protect state interests, but that role was nullified almost immediately by the emergence of disciplined parties. Thereafter, the Senate usually was an ineffectual irrelevancy until the introduction of proportional representation transformed it into a threat to the constitutional system as it should operate. Crisp also appreciated that disciplined parties undermined effective control of government by the House of Representatives, yet he consistently failed to recognize in the Senate an institution capable of doing what the House of Representatives cannot: enforcing accountability on the government of the day.
Conscience Voting in the Australian Federal Parliament*
Authors: Warhurst John
Published: November 2008

This article examines the merits of conscience voting and the historical record of parties imposing discipline when matters of individual conscience are raised in the Australian federal parliament. It examines three examples of conscience voting in which legislators were freed from their normal obligation to vote as their party requires. These involved bills to do with euthanasia, research involving embryonic stem cells, and the abortion drug RU486 — all issues posing parliamentarians with difficult questions of personal morality and highlighting the contentious intersection between religion and politics. Voting records on these bills are examined in detail as is the interaction, once party discipline was removed, between the voting decision and residual party loyalty, gender and religious affiliation. Although parties allowed legislators to vote according to their conscience, party differences remained apparent. However, gender and religious variables did challenge majority party opinion. Conscience voting remains the exception rather than the rule in the Australian parliament. Party leaders on both sides prefer predictable outcomes and to retain executive control of the legislative process.
Game on: Theory Y meets Generation Y
Authors: Birkinshaw Julian , Crainer Stuart
Published: November 2008

Julian Birkinshaw and Stuart Crainer look at a Microsoft team that is changing the way it works by incorporating the interests of its young employees to increase creativity and productivity.
Infosys: Computing the power of people
Authors: Birkinshaw Julian
Published: November 2008

Infosys, an IT services and consulting company, is a leader in management innovation in India. Julian Birkinshaw says its unique human resource practices are major reasons for its success.
Born Global
Authors: Kudina Alina , Yip George S. , Barkema Harry G.
Published: November 2008

Some companies rapidly become players on the global stage, often much faster than larger competitors. Alina Kudina, George Yip and Harry Barkema studied a dozen such firms all located in Silicon Fen. Such companies, the authors believe, have lessons to teach in an increasingly international marketplace.
The virtues of transformational leaders
Authors: Spinosa Charles , Glennon Billy , Sota Luis
Published: November 2008

They are a rare breed: transformative leaders earn that heady title by transforming not just companies, but industries. Charles Spinosa, Billy Glennon and Luis Sota believe there are four virtues that such leaders manifest.