bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Figuring of Morality in Adjudication: Not so Special?*
Authors: DONNELLY‐LAZAROV BEBHINN
Published: August 2011

Jurisprudential debate about the grounds of law often focuses on the status of morality. Given the undoubted fact of judicial engagement with morality in legal reasoning, the key question is whether morality legitimately counts as a ground of law. This article seeks to challenge the special status accorded to morality in debates about the grounds of law. The claim I seek to advance is that very often judicial engagement with morality is not different in kind to judicial engagement with other diverse objects of legal reasoning. What the comparison tends to show is that instances of “moral reasoning” in law do not obviously challenge our account of the grounds of law. Rather these instances can be viewed as central case examples of legal reasoning. Conventional grounds of law are left untouched.
Contract farming and the remaking of agrarian landscapes: Insights from South India's chilli belt
Authors: Pritchard Bill , Connell John
Published: August 2011

This analysis of a backward integration traceability scheme for red chillies developed by a multinational food company in India emphasizes spatial integration and differentiation within contract farming. The scheme is premised on the procurement of identically credentialed produce from 10 different sites in two states and incorporates growers in highly flexible and place‐contingent modes. Interviews with corporate informants and farmers reveal this flexibility to be the result of a two‐way process of risk management between the company and growers. The company spread its geographical exposure by initiating production across a number of far‐flung cultivation sites, and growers cultivate chillies for the company within the context of diverse agricultural systems, thereby mitigating dependence. The scheme has had positive impacts for participants, but has more complex implications for the evolution of agrarian landscapes in India. The selective enrolment of participants through ‘progressive farmer’ networks acts to reorganize rural spaces by generating new geographies of advantage and opportunity.
Servicing a world elsewhere? Examining everyday work practices in the emerging economic spaces of Malaysia's business process outsourcing industry
Authors: Brooker Daniel
Published: August 2011

The paper seeks to illuminate everyday work practices in the economic spaces of Malaysia's business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. It draws upon empirical evidence from call centre staff and promotes analytical sensitivity to the experience of labour and spatiotemporal relations within the offshore back offices of multinational corporations located in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. The analysis provides an empirical snapshot of how IT‐facilitated work practices in the global information economy are embedded and socially reproduced in everyday settings. To this end, the paper engages anthropologically with BPO labour, and critiques ‘globalist’ representations of economic and social transformation frequently articulated through an abstract, dehumanized space of networks and flows often seen to wash over local places, culture and people.
Measuring the accessibility of different household income groups to basic community services in upland Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines
Authors: Delgado Marc Elgin M. , Canters Frank
Published: August 2011

Improving household accessibility to basic community services can help reduce poverty in upland areas. In this study, spatial analysis with GIS was used to measure the accessibility of different household income groups to community services in the landlocked upland municipality Claveria in Northern Mindanao, the Philippines. Important community services were identified through villagers' participation in a matrix‐scoring activity. Travel information was derived from key informant interviews while the geographical coordinates of sample households and important services were collected using GPS receivers. The Flowmap GIS software (version 7.2) was used to compute accessibility to services along the road network by habal‐habal (two‐wheel motorcycle). Outcomes from the participatory data gathering activities revealed that agricultural, educational and health facilities, as well as government services are important to the community to achieve sustainable livelihoods. Because local people perceive accessibility in terms of monetary costs, rather than distance, road distance measurements were converted into fare costs. Results of the accessibility analysis show that higher‐income household groups generally incur lower mean one‐way travel costs to reach important community services than poorer households. However, almost all households spend more than the daily per capita poverty threshold for the province to reach basic community services. A scenario to improve accessibility to services in the study area was investigated to emphasize the potential of GIS‐based accessibility analysis in rural service planning.
Asymptotic Behaviour of the Posterior Distribution in Overfitted Mixture Models
Authors: Rousseau Judith , Mengersen Kerrie
Published: August 2011

We study the asymptotic behaviour of the posterior distribution in a mixture model when the number of components in the mixture is larger than the true number of components: a situation which is commonly referred to as an overfitted mixture. We prove in particular that quite generally the posterior distribution has a stable and interesting behaviour, since it tends to empty the extra components. This stability is achieved under some restriction on the prior, which can be used as a guideline for choosing the prior. Some simulations are presented to illustrate this behaviour.
Privatization and the Decline of Labour's Share: International Evidence from Network Industries
Authors: Azmat Ghazala , Manning Alan , Reenen John Van
Published: August 2011

Some authors have suggested that deregulation of product and labour markets is responsible for the decline in Labour's share of GDP. A simple model predicts that privatization is associated with a lower labour share, due to job shedding. We test this hypothesis by focusing on privatization of network industries in the OECD. We find that, on average, privatization accounts for a fifth of the fall of Labour's share, and over half in Britain and France. This is due to lower employment, but it is partially offset by higher wages and falling barriers to entry, which dampen profit margins.
Hepatitis E virus coinfection in patients with HIV infection
Authors: Keane FE , Gompels M , Bendall RP , Drayton R , Jennings L , Black J , Baragwanath G , Lin NX , Henley WE , Ngui S‐L , Ijaz S , Dalton HR
Published: August 2011

Objectives

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an emerging infection in developed countries and is thought to be a porcine zoonosis. HEV can cause chronic infection and cirrhosis in the immunosuppressed, including patients with HIV infection. Little is known about HEV and HIV coinfection. The aim of the study was to document the incidence of chronic HEV coinfection in patients with HIV infection and to determine the anti‐HEV seroprevalence and compare it with that of a control population.

Methods

A cohort/case–control study was carried out in two teaching hospitals in southwest England. A total of 138 patients with HIV infection were tested for HEV using an immunoassay for anti‐HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and 464 control subjects were tested for anti‐HEV IgG. Demographic, lifestyle and laboratory data were prospectively collected on each patient with HIV infection. The anti‐HEV IgG seroprevalence in patients with HIV infection was compared with that in controls and demographic risk factors for HEV exposure were explored using logistic regression models.

Results

There was no difference in anti‐HEV IgG seroprevalence between the HIV‐infected patients and controls. The only risk factor predictive of anti‐HEV seropositivity was the consumption of raw/undercooked pork; sexual risk factors were unrelated. No patient with HIV infection had evidence of chronic coinfection with HEV

Conclusions

Anti‐HEV seroprevalence is similar in controls and patients with HIV infection. Risk factor analysis suggests that HEV is unlikely to be transmitted sexually. Chronic coinfection with HEV was absent, indicating that chronic HEV/HIV coinfection is not a common problem in this cohort.
Biomarkers for skin involvement and fibrotic activity in scleroderma
Authors: Moinzadeh P. , Denton C.P. , Abraham D. , Ong V. , Hunzelmann N. , Eckes B. , Krieg T.
Published: August 2011

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is characterized as a severe and very heterogeneous disease with a bright variation of skin and organ manifestations in individual patients.

The pathogenesis is still not fully elucidated; however, it is known that this disease starts with an initial vascular damage, which then leads to an inflammatory process and finally promotes the development of an accumulation of collagen and other extracellular matrix (ECM) components.

As a result of the heterogeneous characteristics of this multisystem, autoimmune disease, it is always a challenge to identify high‐risk patients and to monitor the fibrotic activity also in response to therapies. This can be achieved by several physical methods including the mRSS, the durometer and ultrasound determination of skin thickness. However, this also requires the use of laboratory biomarkers, which are easily detectable and that reflect the inflammatory and/or fibrotic activity. As skin correlates well with the extent of fibrosis also in other organs, we focused in this review on biomarkers which reflect skin involvement of scleroderma patients.

These include growth factors, cytokines and proteases as well as their inhibitors. Moreover, several ECM proteins, especially the collagens have been determined in skin biopsies and in blood/serum samples. Determination of proteins has been supported by mRNA levels using PCR techniques and expression analysis of gene expression patterns.

This review summarizes all non‐invasive physical and laboratory examinations, which permit a better understanding of the fibrotic activity of the disease, can be effectively used to assess potential therapeutic response and help to find better treatment options.
Longitudinal Study of Parents’ Impact on Quality of Life of Children and Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Cramm Jane M. , Nieboer Anna P.
Published: August 2011

Background  Earlier research has distinguished five domains of Quality of life (QoL) for people with ID: material well‐being, development and activity, physical well‐being, social well‐being, and emotional well‐being. We investigated parents’ perspectives on these domains and QoL for children and young adults with ID and hypothesized that parents’ well‐being would be a predictive factor in QoL of their children with ID.

Methods  Our longitudinal study administered questionnaires to parents at T0 (n = 147) and T1 (n = 108). The inclusion criteria were: (i) the child’s age 0–24 years and (ii) the child’s intellectual disability (IQ < 70 or IQ < 85 in combination with behavioural problems).

Results  Social well‐being of parents (P ≤ 0.001), changes in parents’ social well‐being (P ≤ 0.01) and changes in children’s social well‐being (P ≤ 0.05) were strong predictors of QoL for children with ID. Emotional well‐being of children with ID (P ≤ 0.01), changes in children’s emotional well‐being (P ≤ 0.01) and changes in emotional well‐being of parents (P ≤0.05) also predicted QoL of children with ID. Material well‐being of parents, and health, development and activity of the children were not predictors.

Conclusion  Our study revealed that predictors of QoL in children and young adults with ID occurred in the following domains: physical well‐being (children), social well‐being (parents and children) and emotional well‐being (parents and children).
Electrophysiological correlates of the maintenance of the representation of pitch objects in acoustic short‐term memory
Authors: Guimond Synthia , Vachon François , Nolden Sophie , Lefebvre Christine , Grimault Stephan , Jolicoeur Pierre
Published: August 2011

We studied the neuronal mechanisms that implement acoustic short‐term memory (ASTM) for pitch using event‐related potentials (ERP). Experiment 1 isolated an ERP component, the sustained anterior negativity (SAN), that increased in amplitude with increasing memory load in ASTM using stimuli with equal duration at all memory loads. The SAN load effect found in Experiment 1, when pitch had to be remembered to perform the task, was absent in Experiment 2 using the same sounds when memory was not required. In Experiment 3, the memory task was performed without or with concurrent articulatory suppression during the retention interval to prevent rehearsal via an articulatory loop. Load‐related effects observed in Experiment 1 were found again, whether participants engaged in concurrent suppression or not. The results suggest that the SAN reflects activity required to maintain pitch objects in an ASTM system that is distinct from articulatory rehearsal.
Biphasic effects of copper on neurotransmission in rat hippocampal neurons
Authors: Peters Christian , Muñoz Braulio , Sepúlveda Fernando J , Urrutia Juan , Quiroz Mauricio , Luza Sandra , De Ferrari Giancarlo V. , Aguayo Luis G. , Opazo Carlos
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 78–88.

The importance of copper in the CNS is well documented, but the mechanisms related to its brain functions are poorly understood. Copper is released at the synaptic cleft, where it may modulate neurotransmission. To understand the functional impact of copper on the neuronal network, we have analyzed the synaptic activity of primary rat hippocampal neurons by using different approaches including whole cell patch clamp, recording of calcium transients, immunofluorescence and western blot. Here, we show that copper produces biphasic changes in neurotransmission. When copper is acutely applied to the plate it blocks neurotransmission. Interestingly, when it is applied for 3 h to hippocampal neurons it mainly increases the frequency and amplitude of α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)ergic currents (control: 0.21 ± 0.05 Hz/22.9 ± 1.3 pA; copper: 0.68 ± 0.16 Hz/30.5 ± 2.5 pA), intracellular calcium transients (control: 0.05 ± 0.013 Hz; copper: 0.11 ± 0.02 Hz) and evoked AMPA currents (control: EC50 8.3 ± 0.5 μM; copper: EC50 2.9 ± 0.2 μM). Moreover, our results suggest that copper increases GluA1 subunit levels of the AMPA receptor through the anchorage of AMPA receptors to the plasma membrane as a result of PSD‐95 accumulation. We also found that copper‐treated neurons displayed an undistinguishable neurotransmission to control neurons after 24 h of treatment, indicating that changes in neurotransmission induced by copper at 3 h of incubation are homeostatically regulated after long‐term exposure to the metal. Together, our data reveal an unexpected biphasic effect of copper on neurotransmission, which may be relevant to understand the effects of this ion in brain diseases that display copper dyshomeostasis such as that observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Identification and characterization of a neuronal enriched novel transcript encoding the previously described p60Fe65 isoform
Authors: Domingues Sara Catarina , Henriques Ana Gabriela , Fardilha Margarida , da Cruz e Silva Edgar F. , da Cruz e Silva Odete A.B.
Published: August 2011

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 1086–1098.

Fe65 is a multimodular adaptor protein that interacts with the cytosolic domain of the β‐amyloid precursor protein (APP), the major component of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) senile plaques. In the work here presented, we describe the existence of a new Fe65 transcript variant (GenBank Accession EF103274). A unique 5’ sequence of 69 nucleotides, spanning a region between exons 2 and 3 of the FE65 gene, was present in a yeast two‐hybrid (YTH) clone from a human brain cDNA library. In silico analysis and RT‐PCR revealed the presence of a novel exon of 133 bp, and we redefined the structure of the human FE65 gene. The novel exon 3a‐inclusive transcript generates a shorter isoform, p60Fe65. The migration pattern of the p60Fe65 isoform was observed previously and attributed to an alternative translation initiation site within the p97Fe65 transcript. Here, we provide evidence for the origin of the previously unexplained p60Fe65 isoform. Moreover, Fe65E3a is expressed preferentially in the brain and the p60Fe65 protein levels increased during PC12 cell differentiation. This novel Fe65 isoform and the regulation of the splicing events leading to its production, may contribute to elucidating neuronal specific roles of Fe65 and its contribution to AD pathology.
Predicting invasiveness of Australian acacias on the basis of their native climatic affinities, life history traits and human use
Authors: Castro‐Díez Pilar , Godoy Oscar , Saldaña Asunción , Richardson David M.
Published: August 2011

Aim  Many Australian Acacia species have been widely planted around the world. Some taxa are among the most aggressive of invasive alien plants and cause severe ecosystem degradation. We aimed to predict invasiveness of taxa in a large set of Australian Acacia species on the basis of easy‐to‐assess predictors.

Location  Global.

Methods  We considered three groups of predictors: (1) climatic affinities of species in their native ranges; (2) life history traits; and (3) human usage factors. Logistic multiple regressions were applied to construct predictive models for 85 Australian acacias (species in Acacia subgenus Phyllodineae) that are known to have been transported outside of their native range (17 known to be invasive and 68 non‐invasive). The best model was then applied to predict the probability of an additional 34 Acacia species with unknown invasive status.

Results  Water availability in the native range and human uses were significant predictors of invasiveness in all models. Life history index (proportional to plant height, leaf area and seed mass) and climatic amplitude were also positive predictors of invasiveness when human use was not considered. The best model, based on human uses and water availability, correctly classified 92% of the species. Results suggest that Acacia species that evolved under low climatic stress have a greater chance of becoming invasive.

Main conclusions  Species that are useful to humans are more likely to be disseminated to and within new regions, thus increasing the risk of invasion. Combining ecological, evolutionary and human‐use criteria is useful for quantifying the risk of Australian acacias becoming invasive. Acacia species can attain invasive status by virtue of intrinsic traits and/or through increased use by humans. Therefore, we predict that the invasion risk of species coming from native areas with high water availability will rise sharply if the interest in exploiting these species increases.
Jack‐of‐all‐trades and master of many? How does associated rhizobial diversity influence the colonization success of Australian Acacia species?
Authors: Rodríguez‐Echeverría Susana , Le Roux Johannes J. , Crisóstomo João A. , Ndlovu Joice
Published: August 2011

Aim  To evaluate the role of rhizobial diversity, and symbiotic promiscuity, on the invasive ability of Australian acacias (Acacia species in subgenus Phyllodineae native to Australia).

Location  Global.

Methods  A bibliographic review of the rhizobial diversity associated with Australian Acacia species was performed to assess symbiotic promiscuity for invasive and non‐invasive species. The rhizobial diversity associated with Acacia dealbata and A. saligna in Australia and Portugal and with A. pycnantha in Australia and South Africa was assessed by 16S rDNA and intergenic spacer sequencing of bacteria isolated from field‐collected nodules.

Results  All studied Australian acacias are nodulated by strains in the genus Bradyrhizobium, which appears to be the dominant group of acacia symbionts in native and non‐native soils. Both literature and experimental data from this study suggest that Australian bradyrhizobia might have been co‐introduced with acacias to new geographical regions. The studied Acacia species can also harbour other root‐nodulating alpha and betaproteobacteria genera, although these are less abundant than Bradyrhizobium.

Main conclusions  There is no clear difference in the diversity of rhizobial species associated with invasive and non‐invasive Australian acacias. All studied invasive acacias nodulate in both native and non‐native regions, harbouring predominantly Bradyrhizobium strains but showing some degree of symbiotic promiscuity. The co‐introduction of compatible root‐nodulating bacteria from Australia might explain the establishment of invasive populations, but novel associations with rhizobia from the invaded soils are also possible. Invasive legumes might use both strategies but species with low symbiotic promiscuity would become invasive only if compatible bacteria are co‐introduced in the new regions. The progress of invasion and the impacts on the invaded ecosystems might also differ depending on the nodulation strategy.
Cannabidiol, a non‐psychotropic component of cannabis, attenuates vomiting and nausea‐like behaviour via indirect agonism of 5‐HT1A somatodendritic autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus
Authors: Rock EM , Bolognini D , Limebeer CL , Cascio MG , Anavi‐Goffer S , Fletcher PJ , Mechoulam R , Pertwee RG , Parker LA
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To evaluate the hypothesis that activation of somatodendritic 5‐HT1A autoreceptors in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) produces the anti‐emetic/anti‐nausea effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a primary non‐psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The potential of systemic and intra‐DRN administration of 5‐HT1A receptor antagonists, WAY100135 or WAY100635, to prevent the anti‐emetic effect of CBD in shrews (Suncus murinus) and the anti‐nausea‐like effects of CBD (conditioned gaping) in rats were evaluated. Also, the ability of intra‐DRN administration of CBD to produce anti‐nausea‐like effects (and reversal by systemic WAY100635) was assessed. In vitro studies evaluated the potential of CBD to directly target 5‐HT1A receptors and to modify the ability of the 5‐HT1A agonist, 8‐OH‐DPAT, to stimulate [35S]GTPγS binding in rat brainstem membranes.

KEY RESULTS CBD suppressed nicotine‐, lithium chloride (LiCl)‐ and cisplatin (20 mg·kg−1, but not 40 mg·kg−1)‐induced vomiting in the S. murinus and LiCl‐induced conditioned gaping in rats. Anti‐emetic and anti‐nausea‐like effects of CBD were suppressed by WAY100135 and the latter by WAY100635. When administered to the DRN: (i) WAY100635 reversed anti‐nausea‐like effects of systemic CBD, and (ii) CBD suppressed nausea‐like effects, an effect that was reversed by systemic WAY100635. CBD also displayed significant potency (in a bell‐shaped dose–response curve) at enhancing the ability of 8‐OH‐DPAT to stimulate [35S]GTPγS binding to rat brainstem membranes in vitro. Systemically administered CBD and 8‐OH‐DPAT synergistically suppressed LiCl‐induced conditioned gaping.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These results suggest that CBD produced its anti‐emetic/anti‐nausea effects by indirect activation of the somatodendritic 5‐HT1A autoreceptors in the DRN.

LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2012.165.issue‐8. To view Part I of Cannabinoids in Biology and Medicine visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2011.163.issue‐7
Extracorporeal liver support with multipass albumin dialysis or plasmapheresis and filtering systems in acute liver failure
Authors: Bacher Andreas
Published: August 2011

Acute liver failure is a very complex type of disease with a mortality of up to 90%, leading to numerous severe disturbances of the whole organism. Bleeding because of absent synthesis of various coagulation factors and disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute kidney failure, circulatory failure with vasopressor dependence, respiratory failure with adult respiratory distress syndrome, neurological failure up to coma because of hepatic encephalopathy, and a very high risk of infection and sepsis frequently result from the initial state of isolated liver failure. High urgency liver transplantation is a highly efficient therapy if performed in time. However, increasing the rate of spontaneous recovery of the patients' own liver, and reducing the need for liver transplantation is preferable and would further improve the outcome of acute liver failure. Extracorporeal liver support by multipass albumin dialysis or plasmapheresis and filtering systems may offer a possibility to fulfill these aims of therapy. A prospective study in 88 patients with acute liver failure has shown a nonsignificant trend in improvement of survival after acute liver failure by multipass albumin dialysis and filtering. Other retrospective studies have shown benefits in improving hepatic encephalopathy and brain oedema. Further, an increase in the rate of spontaneous recovery of liver function has been described. With regional citrate anticoagulation for multipass albumin dialysis and filtering, the need for systemic anticoagulation – a potentially very harmful measure in these patients – can be eliminated and the rate of filter clotting can extremely effectively be reduced.
Normalisation of insulin‐like growth factor‐I does not improve insulin action in cirrhosis
Authors: Nielsen Michael F. , Aagaard Niels K. , Grøfte Thorbjørn , Frystyk Jan , Greisen Jacob , Christiansen Jens S. , Holland‐Fischer Peter , Vilstrup Hendrik
Published: August 2011

Background & Aims:

Cirrhosis of the liver is characterised by insulin resistance and low levels of insulin‐like growth factor I (IGF‐I). Lack of IGF‐I may contribute to this insulin resistance, as IGF‐I increases insulin sensitivity. This study aimed to determine the effects of normalisation of IGF‐I on insulin action in cirrhosis.

Methods:

This article is a randomised sequence‐crossover placebo controlled study. Eight patients with cirrhosis and eight controls were studied following treatment with IGF‐I (50 μg/kg twice daily) or saline. Insulin action, glucose utilisation and endogenous glucose production were measured during the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp.

Results:

The patients with cirrhosis had normal fasting glucose level, but increased levels of insulin (P < 0.05) and C‐peptide (P < 0.05). Insulin resistance resulted from a defect in glycogen synthesis, whereas insulin‐mediated suppression of glucose production was unaltered. In cirrhosis, IGF‐I treatment normalised free (from 0.07 ± 0.01 to 0.26 ± 0.05 μg/L) and total IGF‐I (from 73 ± 6 to 250 ± 39 μg/L), whereas in controls, the IGF‐I level increased into the upper physiological range (free IGF‐I from 0.23 ± 0.02 to 0.61 ± 0.06 μg/L; total IGF‐I from 200 ± 19 to 500 ± 50 μg/L) (all P‐values < 0.05). In cirrhosis, IGF‐I treatment did not change fasting glucose, insulin or C‐peptide levels (P > 0.05). In the controls, insulin and C‐peptide levels decreased (P < 0.05). IGF‐I treatment did not improve insulin sensitivity in cirrhosis.

Conclusions:

Because normalisation of IGF‐I levels did not affect insulin sensitivity lack of IGF‐I is unlikely to result in insulin resistance in cirrhosis. IGF‐I supplementation is therefore unlikely to improve insulin action in patients with cirrhosis.
Relationships between frontal‐gland formation and mandibular modification during JH III‐induced presoldier differentiation in the termite Reticulitermes speratus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Authors: WATANABE Dai , MAEKAWA Kiyoto
Published: August 2011

Termite soldiers engage in colony defense and they possess weapons in order to attack enemies. Defensive strategies vary among species depending on the morphology of the soldier's weapons. Both the frontal gland and elongated mandibles are formed during soldier differentiation of Reticulitermes speratus workers, which is associated with an increase in juvenile hormone (JH) titer. It was shown that the amount of JH applied and coexistence with soldiers affected mandibular elongation of the induced presoldiers. To determine the relationship between applied JH concentration and frontal‐gland development of R. speratus, mandibular modification and frontal‐gland formation of presoldiers induced by 20, 40 and 80 µg JH III in the presence or absence of soldiers were observed. Both presoldier differentiation rates and their mandibular lengths were affected by the presence of soldiers in treatments with 20 and 40 µg JH III. Especially in the treatment with 20 µg JH III, frontal‐pore malformation was observed in some presoldiers. All presoldiers with a malformed frontal pore had almost the same sized mandibles, compared with those of stationarily molted workers. Interestingly, sections of these presoldiers showed that frontal‐gland invagination occurred incompletely in comparison with presoldiers with relatively elongated mandibles. Consequently, frontal‐gland formation might be affected by JH titer (applied and endogenous JH), and individuals with a malformed frontal pore were probably differentiated by JH titers only slightly above the threshold for presoldier differentiation.
Meat‐eating enhances larval development of Anthracophora rusticola Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), which breeds in bird nests
Authors: KOSHIYAMA Yozo , MIYATA Ryo , MIYATAKE Takahisa
Published: August 2011

The scarab beetle Anthracophora rusticola Burmeister breeds in the nests of carnivorous birds including the honey buzzard Pernis apivorus (Linnaeus), Chinese goshawk Accipiter soloensis (Horsfield), oriental stork Ciconia boyciana Swinhoe and great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus). Although larvae of the beetle probably feed on animal matter (e.g. remnants of birds' food) in the nests of these birds, the effect of eating flesh on the growth of larvae has not been investigated. Laboratory experiments clearly showed that the development was faster, survival rate higher and body heavier just before pupation in larvae fed dried chicken meat with humus soil than in those fed only humus soil. We also investigated feeding behaviors of larvae of the beetle. A piece of chicken meat placed on the surface of humus soil was pulled under the soil by the larva, mostly at night. Video recordings made during the night showed that larvae came to the humus soil surface and ate the dried chicken meat or tried to take the meat under the soil. Our laboratory observations suggest that larvae in nature stay under the humus accumulated in bird nests during the daytime, and then come up to the surface mostly at night to actively seek and eat remnants of the birds' food.
Control of Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) by a flightless strain of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on green pepper plants in open fields
Authors: IGUCHI Masahiro , FUKUSHIMA Fusako , MIURA Kazuki
Published: August 2011

The cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) are economically important pests with a worldwide distribution. We evaluated the efficacy of releasing a flightless adult strain of the multicolored Asian lady beetle Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) as a control measure against these aphids on green pepper plants in open fields. Flightless H. axyridis adults were observed on the green pepper plants in the releasing plots throughout the experimental period and were found to be effective biocontrol agents, markedly decreasing the numbers of aphids. These results suggest that adults of this flightless strain of H. axyridis are effective in controlling aphids on green pepper plants in open fields.
Unexpected problem in aphid DNA barcoding by universal primers
Authors: LEE Wonhoon , LEE Seunghwan
Published: August 2011

DNA barcode (mitochondrial COI) sequences have allowed for species identification of aphids. In this study, we newly found a DNA barcoding problem in a part of the DNA sequences for Sitobion avenae. Five S. avenae individuals showed differences of, on average, 32.60% in the DNA sequences from other conspecific individuals, and a BLAST search revealed that the five sequences are similar to those of aphid parasitoids such as Aphidius, Ephedrus and Praon spp. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Based on these results, we concluded that the universal primers used in aphid DNA barcodes can amplify barcode sequences from parasitoid species within host aphids.
In Vitro Comparison of Support Capabilities of Intra‐Aortic Balloon Pump and Impella 2.5 Left Percutaneous
Authors: Schampaert Stéphanie , van't Veer Marcel , van de Vosse Frans N. , Pijls Nico H.J. , de Mol Bas A. , Rutten Marcel C.M.
Published: August 2011

The Impella 2.5 left percutaneous (LP), a relatively new transvalvular assist device, challenges the position of the intra‐aortic balloon pump (IABP), which has a long record in supporting patients after myocardial infarction and cardiac surgery. However, while more costly and more demanding in management, the advantages of the Impella 2.5 LP are yet to be established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of the 40 cc IABP and the Impella 2.5 LP operating at 47 000 rpm in vitro, and compare their circulatory support capabilities in terms of cardiac output, coronary flow, cardiac stroke work, and arterial blood pressure. Clinical scenarios of cardiogenic preshock and cardiogenic shock (CS), with blood pressure depression, lowered cardiac output, and constant heart rate of 80 bpm, were modeled in a model‐controlled mock circulation, featuring a systemic, pulmonary, and coronary vascular bed. The ventricles, represented by servomotor‐operated piston pumps, included the Frank–Starling mechanism. The systemic circulation was modeled with a flexible tube having close‐to‐human aortic dimensions and compliance properties. Proximally, it featured a branch mimicking the brachiocephalic arteries and a physiological correct coronary flow model. The rest of the systemic and pulmonary impedance was modeled by four‐element Windkessel models. In this system, the enhancement of coronary flow and blood pressure was tested with both support systems under healthy and pathological conditions. Hemodynamic differences between the IABP and the Impella 2.5 LP were small. In our laboratory model, both systems approximately yielded a 10% cardiac output increase and a 10% coronary flow increase. However, since the Impella 2.5 LP provided significantly better left ventricular unloading, the circulatory support capabilities were slightly in favor of the Impella 2.5 LP. On the other hand, pulsatility was enhanced with the IABP and lowered with the Impella 2.5 LP. The support capabilities of both the IABP and the Impella 2.5 LP strongly depended on the simulated hemodynamic conditions. Maximum hemodynamic benefits were achieved when mechanical circulatory support was applied on a simulated scenario of deep CS.
Who Helps Natural‐Disaster Victims? Assessment of Trait and Situational Predictors
Authors: Marjanovic Zdravko , Struthers C. Ward , Greenglass Esther R.
Published: August 2011

This investigation examined whether trait variables (empathy, global social responsibility) and perceived human responsibility predict and interact to predict people's helping of natural‐disaster victims. In Study 1, participants completed a questionnaire and read one of two bogus earthquake reports which portrayed victims as either prepared or unprepared for a foreseeable earthquake. In Study 2, participants completed a questionnaire about the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Across studies, helping was best elicited from high‐empathy individuals who attributed responsibility for disasters to human actions (e.g., government), not natural phenomena (e.g., hurricane). Trait variables correlated with helping when assessed individually, but accounted for little unique variance in helping in multiple regression analyses. Judgment of human responsibility predicted helping when participants were familiar with the target disaster (Study 2) but did not predict helping when the disaster was unfamiliar (Study 1). Theoretical implications for researchers and practical implications for aid agencies are discussed.
Potential Underuse, Overuse, and Inappropriate Use of Antidepressants in Older Veteran Nursing Home Residents
Authors: Hanlon Joseph T. , Wang Xiaoqiang , Castle Nicholas G. , Stone Roslyn A. , Handler Steven M. , Semla Todd P. , Pugh Mary Jo , Berlowitz Dan R. , Dysken Maurice W.
Published: August 2011

OBJECTIVES: To examine prevalence and resident‐ and site‐level factors associated with potential underuse, overuse, and inappropriate use of antidepressants in older Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Living Center (CLC) residents.

DESIGN: Longitudinal study.

SETTING: One hundred thirty‐three VA CLCs.

PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand six hundred ninety‐two veterans aged 65 and older admitted between January 1, 2004, and June 3, 2005, with long stays (≥90 days).

MEASUREMENTS: Prevalence of potential underuse, inappropriate use, and overuse of antidepressants in residents with and without depression (as documented according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes or Depression Rating Scale).

RESULTS: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed antidepressant. Of the 877 residents with depression, 25.4% did not receive an antidepressant, suggesting potential underuse. Of residents with depression who received antidepressants, 57.5% had potential inappropriate use due primarily to problems seen with drug–drug and drug–disease interactions. Of the 2,815 residents who did not have depression, 1,190 (42.3%) were prescribed one or more antidepressants; only 48 (4.0%) of these had a Food and Drug Administration–approved labeled indication, suggesting potential overuse. Overall, only 17.6% of antidepressant use was appropriate (324/1,844). The only consistent resident factor associated with potential underuse and overuse use was taking an antipsychotic without evidence of schizophrenia (underuse: adjusted relative risk ratio (ARRR)=0.56, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.33–0.94; overuse: adjusted odds ratio=1.52, 95% CI=1.21–1.91). Having moderate to severe pain (ARRR=1.54, 95% CI=1.08–2.20) and the prescribing of an anxiolytic or hypnotic (ARRR=1.33, 95% CI=1.02–1.74) increased the risk of potential inappropriate antidepressant use.

CONCLUSION: Potential problems with the use of antidepressants were frequently observed in older U.S. veteran CLC residents. Future studies are needed to examine the true risks and benefits of antidepressant use in CLC and non‐VA nursing homes.
Cardiac Structure and Function and Dependency in the Oldest Old
Authors: Leibowitz David , Jacobs Jeremy M. , Stessman‐Lande Irit , Cohen Aharon , Gilon Dan , Ein‐Mor Eliana , Stessman Jochanan
Published: August 2011

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between cardiac function and activities of daily living (ADLs) in an age‐homogenous, community‐dwelling population born in 1920 and 1921.

DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analysis of a prospective cohort study.

SETTING: Community‐dwelling elderly population.

PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited from the Jerusalem Longitudinal Cohort Study, which has followed an age‐homogenous cohort of Jerusalem residents born in 1920 and 1921. Four hundred eighty‐nine of the participants (228 male, 261 female) from the most recent set of data collection in 2005 and 2006 underwent echocardiography at their place of residence in addition to structured interviews and physical examination.

MEASUREMENTS: A home‐based comprehensive assessment was performed to assess health and functional status, including performance of ADLs. Dependence was defined as needing assistance with one or more basic ADLs. Standard echocardiographic assessment of cardiac structure and function, including ejection fraction (EF) and diastolic function as assessed using early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity measurements obtained using tissue Doppler, was performed.

RESULTS: Of the participants with limitation in at least one ADL, significantly more had low EF (<55%) than the group that was independent (52.6 % vs 39.1%; P=.01). In addition, participants with dependence in ADL had higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (129.3 vs 119.7 g/m2) and left atrial volume index (LAVI) (41.3 vs 36.7 mL/m2). There were no differences between the groups in percentage of participants with impaired diastolic function or average ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular tissue velocity (11.5 vs 11.8; P=.64).

CONCLUSION: In this age‐homogenous cohort of the oldest old, high LVMI and LAVI and indices of systolic but not diastolic function as assessed according to Doppler were associated with limitations in ADLs.
Evaluating pathogen reduction of Trypanosoma cruzi with riboflavin and ultraviolet light for whole blood
Authors: Tonnetti Laura , Thorp Aaron M. , Reddy Heather L. , Keil Shawn D. , Goodrich Raymond P. , Leiby David A.
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND: Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasitic agent of Chagas disease, can be transmitted by blood transfusion. In 2007, most US blood banks started screening blood donations for T. cruzi, but the cost and perceived need of the test have been the subject of ongoing discussion. In this study, we evaluated the ability of the Mirasol System (CaridianBCT), which uses riboflavin (RB) and ultraviolet light to inactivate pathogens, to reduce the levels of infectious T. cruzi in whole blood (WB).

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: WB units were inoculated with 4, 40, 400, and 4000 trypomastigotes/mL. After addition of RB and illumination at various energy levels, the samples were tested for the presence of live parasites by hemoculture.

RESULTS: All preillumination samples exhibited T. cruzi growth in hemoculture, while postillumination samples from units containing 4 and 40 trypomastigotes/mL showed no signs of viable parasites after 16 weeks of culture. In contrast, at both 400 and 4000 parasites/mL, two of the three units were positive for viable parasites.

CONCLUSIONS: The total log reduction observed for T. cruzi was 3.5 log or greater, but less than 4.5 log. This level of reduction is likely to be orders of magnitude higher than what would be expected in a tainted blood donation, indicating that the Mirasol System could be effective at preventing transfusion of the causative agent of Chagas disease.
Molecular blood typing augments serologic testing and allows for enhanced matching of red blood cells for transfusion in patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Wilkinson Katie , Harris Samantha , Gaur Prashant , Haile Askale , Armour Rosalind , Teramura Gayle , Delaney Meghan
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have dissimilar red blood cell (RBC) phenotypes compared to the primarily Caucasian blood donor base due, in part, to underlying complex Rh and silenced Duffy expression. Gene array–based technology offers high‐throughput antigen typing of blood donors and can identify patients with altered genotypes. The purpose of the study was to ascertain if RBC components drawn from predominantly Caucasian donors could provide highly antigen‐matched products for molecularly typed SCD patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: SCD patients were genotyped by a molecular array (HEA Beadchip, BioArray Solutions). The extended antigen phenotype (C, c, E, e, K, k, Jka, Jkb, Fya, Fyb, S, s) was used to query the inventory using different matching algorithms; the resulting number of products was recorded.

RESULTS: A mean of 96.2 RBC products was available for each patient at basic‐level, 34 at mid‐level, and 16.3 at high‐level stringency. The number of negative antigens correlated negatively with the number of available products. The Duffy silencing mutation in the promoter region (67T>C) (GATA) was found in 96.5% of patients. Allowing Fy(b+) products for patients with GATA increased the number of available products by up to 180%, although it does not ensure prevention of Duffy antibodies in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS: This feasibility study provides evidence that centers with primarily Caucasian donors may be able to provide highly antigen‐matched products. Knowledge of the GATA status expands the inventory of antigen‐matched products. Further work is needed to determine the most clinically appropriate match level for SCD patients.
Relative distribution of West Nile virus RNA in blood compartments: implications for blood donor nucleic acid amplification technology screening
Authors: Lai Lori , Lee Tzong‐Hae , Tobler Leslie , Wen Li , Shi Ping , Alexander Jeff , Ewing Helen , Busch Michael
Published: August 2011

BACKGROUND: Despite implementation of targeted individual‐donor nucleic acid test (NAT) screening of blood donors for West Nile virus (WNV), three “breakthrough” WNV transfusion transmission cases were reported (2004‐2008), suggesting that current plasma‐based assays are unable to detect all WNV‐infectious donations. A 2007 report found that 19 of 20 red blood cell components from WNV‐infected donors contained 1 log higher viral load than plasma components. This study's aim was to further establish the value of screening whole blood relative to plasma for WNV RNA by generating differential viral loads on paired samples derived from blood screening tubes.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: WNV RNA–positive donors identified by routine NAT screening were enrolled and quantitative viral data were generated using cross‐sectional (index‐donation) and longitudinal (follow‐up) specimens. A real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction viral load assay was used on both study sample sets and replicate qualitative NAT screening assays were also used on the longitudinal study samples.

RESULTS: For the cross‐sectional study, seronegative index donations (n = 29) had WNV RNA concentrations fourfold higher in plasma than in whole blood, whereas for seropositive donations (n = 13), the WNV RNA concentrations were 10‐fold higher in whole blood than in plasma. All 10 longitudinal study participants were seropositive throughout the follow‐up study; whole blood viral load was consistently greater than plasma viral load (mean difference, 343 copies; p < 0.001) up to 200 days after index.

CONCLUSION: The improved sensitivity of WNV NAT using whole blood instead of plasma was confirmed, but appears to be limited to better detection in seropositive stages. However, the implication of these findings for blood screening requires further study to establish the infectivity of persistent whole blood viremia.
MDLChunker: A MDL‐Based Cognitive Model of Inductive Learning
Authors: Robinet Vivien , Lemaire Benoît , Gordon Mirta B.
Published: August 2011

This paper presents a computational model of the way humans inductively identify and aggregate concepts from the low‐level stimuli they are exposed to. Based on the idea that humans tend to select the simplest structures, it implements a dynamic hierarchical chunking mechanism in which the decision whether to create a new chunk is based on an information‐theoretic criterion, the Minimum Description Length (MDL) principle. We present theoretical justifications for this approach together with results of an experiment in which participants, exposed to meaningless symbols, have been implicitly encouraged to create high‐level concepts by grouping them. Results show that the designed model, called hereafter MDLChunker, makes precise quantitative predictions both on the kind of chunks created by the participants and also on the moment at which these creations occur. They suggest that the simplicity principle used to design MDLChunker is particularly efficient to model chunking mechanisms. The main interest of this model over existing ones is that it does not require any adjustable parameter.