bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre‐transplant pharmacokinetic profiling and tacrolimus requirements post‐transplant
Authors: CAMPBELL SCOTT , HAWLEY CARMEL , IRISH ASHLEY , HUTCHISON BRIAN , WALKER ROWAN , BUTCHER BELINDA E , FERRARI PAOLO
Published: May 2010

Aim:  To determine the proportion of patients achieving tacrolimus whole‐blood concentrations of ≥10 ng/mL within 3 days of kidney transplantation, after randomization either to standard dosing (control group) or post‐transplantation dosing guided by a 2‐hour (C2) level following a preoperative tacrolimus dose (T2 group).

Methods:  The first postoperative tacrolimus dose was given either according to standard care (control group) or 0.15 mg/kg b.d. if the pre‐transplant C2 level was ≤20 ng/mL, 0.1 mg/kg b.d. if the C2 level was 21–59 ng/mL or 0.05 mg/kg b.d. if the C2 level was ≥60 ng/mL (T2 group). Subsequent dosing in both groups was based upon tacrolimus trough level monitoring. Participants received concomitant mycophenolate mofetil and steroids.

Results:  Ninety patients were recruited, of which 84 were included in the analysis (control group n = 43; T2 group n = 41). There was no difference in the proportion of subjects achieving tacrolimus trough levels ≥10 ng/mL (82.9% Control vs 93.0% T2; P = 0.19) or between 10 and 15 ng/mL (41.5% Control vs 41.9% T2; P = 0.97) at day 3 post transplant. The T2 group achieved tacrolimus trough levels of ≥10 ng/mL significantly faster than the control group (100% achievement in 14 days (Control) versus 4 days (T2); P = 0.01).

Conclusion:  Performing a pre‐transplant tacrolimus C2 does not significantly increase the high proportion of subjects achieving 10 ng/mL tacrolimus concentrations by day 3 using routine protocols. However, compared with standard care, performing a pre‐transplant tacrolimus C2 does lead to patients achieving a whole‐blood concentration of ≥10 ng/mL sooner.
Relationship between late‐life depression and life stressors: Large‐scale cross‐sectional study of a representative sample of the Japanese general population
Authors: Kaji Tatsuhiko , Mishima Kazuo , Kitamura Shingo , Enomoto Minori , Nagase Yukihiro , Li Lan , Kaneita Yoshitaka , Ohida Takashi , Nishikawa Toru , Uchiyama Makoto
Published: May 2010

Aim:  The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between late‐life depression and daily life stress in a representative sample of 10 969 Japanese subjects.

Methods:  Data on 10 969 adults aged ≥50 who participated in the Active Survey of Health and Welfare in 2000, were analyzed. The self‐administered questionnaire included items on 21 reasons for life stressors and the magnitude of stress, as well as the Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES‐D). The relationship between the incidence of life stressors and mild–moderate (D16) and severe (D26) depressive symptoms was examined using logistic regression analysis.

Results:  A total of 21.9% of subjects had D16 symptoms, and 9.3% had D26 symptoms. Further, increased age and being female were associated with more severe depressive state. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the strongest relationship between both the incidence of D16 and D26 symptoms and life stressors stemmed from ‘having no one to talk to’ (odds ratio = 3.3 and 5.0, respectively). Late‐life depression was also associated with ‘loss of purpose in life’, ‘separation/divorce’, ‘having nothing to do’, ‘health/illness/care of self’, and ‘debt’.

Conclusion:  There is a relationship between late‐life depression and diminished social relationships, experiences involving loss of purpose in life or human relationships, and health problems in the Japanese general population.
Consistently high levels of exhaled nitric oxide in children with asthma
Authors: Sakai Tadakazu , Sugiyama Nobuyoshi , Hirai Kota , Muramatsu Reiko , Hagiwara Satomi , Oh Yasumasa , Mochizuki Hiroyuki , Arakawa Hirokazu
Published: May 2010

Background:  Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) levels in children are unstable because they are regulated by many potent factors. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the reliability of eNO levels between a long interval and other lung functions in normal and asthmatic children.

Methods:  Eighty‐three elementary school children (aged 11–12 years; male : female, 39 : 44) participated in this study. Lung function, airway resistance and eNO levels were measured twice: the first measurement was in autumn 2007, and the second was one year later.

Results:  There were 62 non‐asthmatic control children (male : female, 31 : 31) and 21 asthmatic children (male : female, 8 : 13). In both the first and the second examination, the levels of eNO in children with asthma were higher than those in children without asthma. The parameters of lung function and the respiratory resistance in children without asthma showed a good correlation between the results of the first and second examinations. The eNO level in non‐asthmatic children showed a good correlation between the two. On the other hand, the peripheral airway parameters of lung function and the respiratory resistance in children with asthma were not correlated between the first and the second examinations. The eNO level in these patients was well correlated between the two examinations.

Conclusions:  These data suggest that the eNO level showed good reproducibility in children with and without asthma. The eNO level is therefore considered to be a useful marker for reproducibly evaluating a subject's airway condition.
Acute chest syndrome in sickle cell disease
Authors: Laurie G. A.
Published: May 2010

Acute chest syndrome is a common cause of death among patients with sickle cell disease, and an unfamiliar condition to most Australian medical practitioners. We present a case of acute chest syndrome successfully treated with inhaled nitric oxide and exchange transfusion. In the discussion we review current and future management options of acute chest syndrome.
Multisensory cues improve sensorimotor synchronisation
Authors: Elliott M. T. , Wing A. M. , Welchman A. E.
Published: May 2010

Synchronising movements with events in the surrounding environment is an ubiquitous aspect of everyday behaviour. Often, information about a stream of events is available across sensory modalities. While it is clear that we synchronise more accurately to auditory cues than other modalities, little is known about how the brain combines multisensory signals to produce accurately timed actions. Here, we investigate multisensory integration for sensorimotor synchronisation. We extend the prevailing linear phase correction model for movement synchronisation, describing asynchrony variance in terms of sensory, motor and timekeeper components. Then we assess multisensory cue integration, deriving predictions based on the optimal combination of event time, defined across different sensory modalities. Participants tapped in time with metronomes presented via auditory, visual and tactile modalities, under either unimodal or bimodal presentation conditions. Temporal regularity was manipulated between modalities by applying jitter to one of the metronomes. Results matched the model predictions closely for all except high jitter level conditions in audio–visual and audio–tactile combinations, where a bias for auditory signals was observed. We suggest that, in the production of repetitive timed actions, cues are optimally integrated in terms of both sensory and temporal reliability of events. However, when temporal discrepancy between cues is high they are treated independently, with movements timed to the cue with the highest sensory reliability.
Increase in midgut microbiota load induces an apparent immune priming and increases tolerance to Bacillus thuringiensis
Authors: Hernández‐Martínez Patricia , Naseri Bahram , Navarro‐Cerrillo Gloria , Escriche Baltasar , Ferré Juan , Herrero Salvador
Published: May 2010

The insect immune system is comprised of both humoral and cellular components that are mobilized in response to parasitic or pathogenic infections. Activation of the immune response implies a considerable expenditure of energy and that is why insects rely on inducible pathways that are activated after coming into contact with the pathogenic agent. Known as immune priming, insects can prolong the activation of the immune response and transmit their immune status to the next generation. Starting from a laboratory colony of the lepidopteran Spodoptera exigua and using the lytic zone assay as a measure of the immune status, we selected for a sub‐colony with high levels of immune activity in the absence of external challenging with bacteria. Immune‐activated insect showed characteristics that are typical reported for immune primed insects, such as increased tolerance to pathogens (Bacillus thuringiensis in our case), fitness‐cost associated to the immune status, and maternal transmission of the immune status. However, additional analysis revealed that the selection for the immune‐activated insects was based on the selection of insects carrying a higher bacterial load in the midgut. Our results suggest that activation of the immune system in S. exigua may not only occur as consequence of the immune priming but also from an increase in midgut microbiota load.
Pelagic food web patterns: do they modulate virus and nanoflagellate effects on picoplankton during the phytoplankton spring bloom?
Authors: Ory Pascaline , Hartmann Hans J. , Jude Florence , Dupuy Christine , Del Amo Yolanda , Catala Philippe , Mornet Françoise , Huet Valérie , Jan Benoit , Vincent Dorothée , Sautour Benoit , Montanié Hélène
Published: May 2010

As agents of mortality, viruses and nanoflagellates impact on picoplankton populations. We examined the differences in interactions between these compartments in two French Atlantic bays. Microbes, considered here as central actors of the planktonic food web, were first monitored seasonally in Arcachon (2005) and Marennes‐Oléron (2006) bays. Their dynamics were evaluated to categorize trophic periods using the models of Legendre and Rassoulzadegan as a reference framework. Microbial interactions were then compared through 48 h batch culture experiments performed during the phytoplankton spring bloom, identified as herbivorous in Marennes and multivorous in Arcachon. Marennes was spatially homogeneous compared with Arcachon. The former was potentially more productive, featuring a large number of heterotrophic pathways, while autotrophic mechanisms dominated in Arcachon. A link was found between viruses and phytoplankton in Marennes, suggesting a role of virus in the regulation of autotroph biomass. Moreover, the virus–bacteria relation was weaker in Marennes, with a bacterial lysis potential of 2.6% compared with 39% in Arcachon. The batch experiments (based on size‐fractionation and viral enrichment) revealed different microbial interactions that corresponded to the spring‐bloom trophic interactions in each bay. In Arcachon, where there is a multivorous web, flagellate predation and viral lysis acted in an opposite way on picophytoplankton. When together they both reduced viral production. Conversely, in Marennes (herbivorous web), flagellates and viruses together increased viral production. Differences in the composition of the bacterial community composition explained the combined flagellate‐virus effects on viral production in the two bays.
Land‐use changes as major drivers of mountain pine (Pinus uncinataRam.) expansion in the Pyrenees
Authors: Améztegui Aitor , Brotons Lluís , Coll Lluís
Published: May 2010

Aim To assess the spatial patterns of forest expansion (encroachment and densification) for mountain pine (Pinus uncinataRam.) during the last 50 years at a whole mountain range scale by the study of different topographic and socio‐economic potential drivers in the current context of global change.

Location The study area includes the whole distributional area of mountain pine in the Catalan Pyrenees (north‐east Spain). This represents more than 80 municipalities, covering a total area of 6018 km2.

Methods Forest cover was obtained by image reclassification of more than 200 pairs of aerial photographs taken in 1956 and 2006. Encroachment and densification were determined according to changes in forest cover, and were expressed as binary variables on a 150 × 150 m cell‐size grid. We then used logistic regression to analyse the effects of several topographic and socio‐economic variables on forest expansion.

Results In the period analysed, mountain pine increased its surface coverage by 8898 ha (an increase of more than 16%). Mean canopy cover rose from 31.0% in 1956 to 55.6% in 2006. Most of the expansion was found on north‐facing slopes and at low altitudes. Socio‐economic factors arose as major factors in mountain pine expansion, as encroachment rates were higher in municipalities with greater population losses or weaker primary sector development.

Main conclusions The spatial patterns of mountain pine expansion showed a good match with the main patterns of land‐use change in the Pyrenees, suggesting that land‐use changes have played a more important role than climate in driving forest dynamics at a landscape scale over the period studied. Further studies on forest expansion at a regional scale should incorporate patterns of land‐use changes to correctly interpret drivers of forest encroachment and densification.
Pan‐continental invasion ofPseudorasbora parva: towards a better understanding of freshwater fish invasions
Authors: Gozlan Rodolphe E , Andreou Demetra , Asaeda Takashi , Beyer Kathleen , Bouhadad Rachid , Burnard Dean , Caiola Nuno , Cakic Predrag , Djikanovic Vesna , Esmaeili Hamid R , Falka Istvan , Golicher Duncan , Harka Akos , Jeney Galina , Kováč Vladimír , Musil Jiří , Nocita Annamaria , Povz Meta , Poulet Nicolas , Virbickas Tomas , Wolter Christian , Serhan Tarkan A , Tricarico Elena , Trichkova Teodora , Verreycken Hugo , Witkowski Andrzej , Guang Zhang Chun , Zweimueller Irene , Robert Britton J
Published: May 2010

In recent years, policy‐makers have sought the development of appropriate tools to prevent and manage introductions of invasive species. However, these tools are not well suited for introductions of non‐target species that are unknowingly released alongside intentionally‐introduced species. The most compelling example of such invasion is arguably the topmouth gudgeonPseudorasboraparva, a small cyprinid species originating from East Asia. A combination of sociological, economical and biological factors has fuelled their rapid invasion since the 1960s; 32 countries (from Central Asia to North Africa) have been invaded in less than 50 years. Based on a combination of monitoring surveys (2535 populations sampled) and literature reviews, this paper aims to quantify and characterise important invasion parameters, such as pathways of introduction, time between introduction and detection, lag phase and plasticity of life history traits. Every decade, five new countries have reportedP. parvaintroduction, mainly resulting from the movement of Chinese carps for fish farming. The mean detection period after first introduction was 4 years, a duration insufficient to prevent their pan‐continental invasion. High phenotypic plasticity in fitness related traits such as growth, early maturity, fecundity, reproductive behaviour and the ability to cope with novel pathogens has predisposedP. parvato being a strong invader. ThePseudorasboraparva invasion has provided quantitative data for the development of 1) early warning systems across different spatial scales; 2) rapid eradication programmes prior to natural spread in open systems and 3) sound risk assessments with emphasis on plasticity of life history traits.
Why and How Will a Group Act Autonomously to Make an Impact on the Development of Organizational Capabilities?
Authors: Pandza Krsto
Published: May 2010

abstract

In this paper I report the findings of an inductive, interpretative case study of proactive and autonomous actions instigated by a group at a major pharmaceutical firm in order to accelerate and shape organizational capability at this firm. This two‐year field research was seen as an ideal vehicle for investigating why a group within a firm proactively engages with a pattern of capability development, how such proactive engagement is conducted, and what these proactive activities are. I assert that autonomous action originates from intra‐firm heterogeneity of group‐level cognitive frames and social identities. The evidence suggests that a group with a particularly distinct perception of the strategic value of a capability will be more likely to initiate autonomous action with the aim of making an impact on capability development. The likelihood of autonomous action increases further if a group acts to strengthen the distinctiveness of its own identity by raising the perceived value of a capability that compares unfavourably with other firms' capabilities. The field observations suggest that in circumstances of high inter‐group dependency and limited group authority, the group attempts to make an impact on capability development by adopting creative and socially complex framing practices. The group formalizes a collective and cognitive search process in order to legitimize the preferred action and subtly sells the issue to higher authority without causing conflict, while still sustaining the group's intent.
Activating the Countryside: Rural Power, the Power of the Rural and the Making of Rural Politics
Authors: Bell Michael M. , Lloyd Sarah E. , Vatovec Christine
Published: May 2010

Against the current moment of rural doubt, we argue that the material, symbolic and relational practices of the rural continue to be articulate aspects of our politics. We term the material practices ‘rural power’ and the symbolic practices ‘the power of the rural’. The relational practices we term ‘rural constituencies’ when relations are bounded materially and ‘constituencies of the rural’ when they are bounded symbolically. We apply this framework to a critique of contemporary theory, especially mobilities research, which, we argue, typically speaks with a passive rural voice. We argue for recognising the active rural voice in the mobilisation and stabilisation of the rural.
Screening for ‘window‐period’ acute HIV infection among pregnant women in rural South Africa
Authors: Kharsany ABM , Hancock N , Frohlich JA , Humphries HR , Abdool Karim SS , Abdool Karim Q
Published: May 2010

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the HIV‐1 RNA pooled nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) strategy to screen pregnant women in the ‘window period’ of acute HIV infection (AHI) in rural South Africa.

Methods

In 2007 and 2008, 750 consecutive pregnant women on their first antenatal care visit to a primary health care clinic were tested anonymously for HIV infection. HIV‐1 RNA pooled NAAT was performed on HIV antibody‐negative samples. All positive pools were tested individually and positive samples were classified as incident cases to calculate HIV incidence.

Results

The overall HIV prevalence was 37.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 34.3–41.3]. Of the 467 HIV antibody‐negative samples, four (0.9%) were HIV‐1 RNA‐positive. The mean viral load in the four samples was 386 260 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL (range 64 200–1 228 130). The HIV incidence was 11.2% per year (95% CI 0.3–22.1) and all women with AHI were ≤21 years of age.

Conclusions

Identifying AHI in pregnancy is important for health interventions to reduce perinatal and heterosexual transmission of HIV, and to estimate HIV incidence for epidemiological surveillance.
Evaluating the effect of spastin splice mutations by quantitative allele‐specific expression assay
Authors: Klimpe S. , Zibat A. , Zechner U. , Wellek B. , Shoukier M. , Sauter S. M. , Pantakani D. V. K. , Mannan A. U.
Published: May 2010

Background:  Mutations in the SPG4/SPAST gene are the most common cause for hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). The splice‐site mutations make a significant contribution to HSP and account for 17.4% of all types of mutations and 30.8% of point mutations in the SPAST gene. However, only few studies with limited molecular approach were conducted to investigate and decipher the role of SPAST splice‐site mutations in HSP.

Methods:  A reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) analysis and quantitative allele‐specific expression assay were performed.

Results:  We have characterized the consequence of two novel splice‐site mutations (c.1493 + 1G>A and c.1414−1G>A) in the SPAST gene in two different families with pure HSP. The RT‐PCR analysis revealed that both spastin mutations are indeed splice‐site mutations and cause skipping of exon 12. Furthermore, RT‐PCR data suggested that these splice‐site mutations may cause leaky splicing. By means of a quantitative allele‐specific expression assay, we could confirm that both splice‐site mutations cause leaky splicing, as the relative expression of the exon 12‐skipped transcript was reduced (21.1 ± 3.6 compared to expected 50%).

Conclusions:  Our finding supports a “threshold‐effect‐model” for functional spastin in HSP. A higher level (78.8 ± 3.9%) of functional spastin than the expected ratio of 50% owing to leaky splicing might cause late age at onset of HSP. Remarkably, we could show that a quantitative allele‐specific expression assay is a simple and effective tool to evaluate the role of most types of spastin splice‐site mutations in HSP.
A novel missense mutation in GTP cyclohydrolase I (GCH1) gene causes dopa‐responsive dystonia in Chinese Han population
Authors: Hu F.‐Y. , Xu Y.‐M. , Yu L.‐H. , Ma M.‐Y. , He X.‐H. , Zhou D.
Published: May 2010

Background:  Dopa‐responsive dystonia has been shown to be caused by a number of different mutations in the GCH1 gene. Up to now, only several genetic studies of Chinese patients with Dopa‐responsive dystonia (DRD) have been reported.

Methods:  We performed a genetic analysis by amplifying the entire coding region of GCH1 gene and direct sequencing in four DRD families from mainland China.

Results:  A novel missense mutation, Gly155Ser, has been identified in a sporadic case from a consanguineous marriage family. Furthermore, two known mutations, Met137Arg and Gly203Arg, have also been detected in the other families.

Conclusions:  A novel missense mutation in the GCH1 gene can be associated with DRD. Our findings further expanded the mutational spectrum of GCH1 gene associated with DRD.
Dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins and risk of Parkinson’s disease: a case–control study in Japan
Authors: Miyake Y. , Fukushima W. , Tanaka K. , Sasaki S. , Kiyohara C. , Tsuboi Y. , Yamada T. , Oeda T. , Miki T. , Kawamura N. , Sakae N. , Fukuyama H. , Hirota Y. , Nagai M. ,   Fukuoka Kinki Parkinson’s Disease Study Group
Published: May 2010

Background:  Antioxidant vitamins are expected to protect cells from oxidative damage by neutralizing the effects of reactive oxygen species. However, epidemiological evidence regarding the associations between antioxidant vitamin intake and Parkinson’s disease (PD) is limited and inconsistent. We investigated the relationship between dietary intake of selected antioxidant vitamins, vegetables and fruit and the risk of PD in Japan using data from a multicenter hospital‐based case–control study.

Methods:  Included were 249 patients within 6 years of onset of PD. Controls were 368 inpatients and outpatients without a neurodegenerative disease. Information on dietary factors was collected using a validated self‐administered diet history questionnaire. Adjustment was made for sex, age, region of residence, pack‐years of smoking, years of education, body mass index, dietary intake of cholesterol, alcohol, total dairy products, and coffee and the dietary glycemic index.

Results:  Higher consumption of vitamin E and β‐carotene was significantly associated with a reduced risk of PD after adjustment for confounders under study: the adjusted odds ratio in the highest quartile was 0.45 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.25–0.79, P for trend = 0.009) for vitamin E and 0.56 (95% CI: 0.33–0.97, P for trend = 0.03) for β‐carotene. Stratified by sex, such inverse associations were significant only in women. No material relationships were shown between intake of vitamin C, α‐carotene, cryptoxanthin, green and yellow vegetables, other vegetables, or fruit and the risk of PD.

Conclusions:  Higher intake of vitamin E and β‐carotene may be associated with a decreased risk of PD.
Balm for The Soul: Immigrant Religion and Emotional Well‐Being
Authors: Connor Phillip
Published: May 2010

Immigrants can face insurmountable odds in their acculturation to the new society, and subsequently suffer from poor emotional/mental health. Using immigrant data from the United States, Australia, and Western Europe, this paper tests the relationship between immigrant religious involvement and emotional well‐being. Results demonstrate that regular religious participation is associated with better emotional/mental health outcomes. Conversely, non‐religious group involvement (i.e., ethnic associations, leisure groups, work groups) do not have as equally a positive association with emotional well‐being. This pattern is consistent across all countries examined in this study, suggesting that religion has a unique relationship with immigrant emotional well‐being regardless of national context. Therefore, it is posited that in easing the emotional/mental adjustment of immigrants, religion is not an artifact of context or of a particular religious group, but a generality of immigrant adaptation. Policy implications for the study’s findings are discussed.

Yet to him, in his troubled state, Christianity brought also the miracle of redemption. Poor thing that he was, his soul was yet a matter of consequence. For him the whole drama of salvation had been enacted: God had come to earth, had suffered as a man to make for all men a place in a life everlasting. Through that sacrifice had been created a community of all those who had faith, a kind of solidarity that would redress all grievances and right all wrongs, if not now, then in the far more important aftermath to life. (Handlin, 1973 [1951]:93)
Kosten und Nutzen der Ausbildung an Tertiärbildungsinstitutionen im Vergleich
Authors: Riphahn Regina T. , Eschelbach Martina , Heineck Guido , Müller Steffen
Published: May 2010

We compare German institutions of tertiary education (universities and polytechnics) with respect to the cost of and the returns to their educational degrees. Based on cost data from two different sources we find that on average the expenditures of universities are lower than those of polytechnics when we consider expenditures per potential enrollee and per student enrolled during the regular education period. We apply data from the German Socio-economic Panel (2001-2007) to estimate the private returns to tertiary education and find higher returns to university than polytechnic training. These results are robust to a variety of alternative procedures.
Wie wirken die automatischen Stabilisatoren in der Wirtschaftskrise? Deutschland im Vergleich zu anderen EU-Staaten und den USA
Authors: Dolls Mathias , Fuest Clemens , Peichl Andreas
Published: May 2010

This paper analyzes the effectiveness of the tax and transfer systems in the European Union and the US to act as an automatic stabilizer in the current economic crisis. We consider two scenarios: a proportional income shock and a shock on employment which increases the rate of unemployment. We find that automatic stabilizers absorb 38 percent of a proportional income shock in the EU, compared to 32 percent in the US. In the case of an unemployment shock 48 percent of the shock is absorbed in the EU, compared to 34 percent in the US. Under the assumption that only credit constrained households adjust current spending on consumption goods to current disposable income, the cushioning of disposable income leads to a demand stabilization of 26 to 35 percent in the EU and 19 percent in the US. There is large heterogeneity within the EU. Automatic stabilizers in Eastern and Southern Europe are much lower than in Central and Northern European countries. With respect to income stabilization, Germany is above the European average for both scenarios. Demand stabilization in Germany is weaker because the number of liquidity constrained households is below the EU average.
Fiskalpolitik als antizyklisches Instrument? Eine Betrachtung der Schweiz
Authors: Schaltegger Christoph A. , Weder Martin
Published: May 2010

This paper examines the stabilizing effects of Swiss fiscal policy. First, we find that the federation adopted a countercyclical fiscal policy in approximately 60% of all periods observed. During recessions, fiscal policy was always countercyclical and therefore helped to stabilize the economy. In case of the cantons, fiscal policy was countercyclical in 55% of all recessions. In recent years, there has been a trend for both the federation and the cantons toward stronger stabilization. Second, the two stabilizing instruments of fiscal policy, automatic stabilizers and discretionary fiscal policy are compared with each other. Over the last 50 years, automatic stabilizers have been expanded continuously, particularly on the federal level. We find that the impulse of automatic stabilizers is about twice as large as the one of discretionary fiscal policy. Third, macroeconomic effects of Switzerland’s fiscal policy during recessions are examined. Automatic stabilizers have been particularly effective in the cantons whereas the effects of discretionary fiscal policy on economic growth have tended to be weaker.
Breite Bemessungsgrundlage und niedriger Proportionaltarif als alternative Erbschaftsteuerreform – Eine empirische Analyse
Authors: Houben Henriette , Maiterth Ralf
Published: May 2010

This submission deals with an alternative to the German Inheritance Tax Reform Act 2009 in form of an inheritance tax with a broad tax base and low tax rates. In contrast to the new German Estate Tax Act we analyse an inheritance tax reform proposal that provides no tax relief for particular asset categories but contains low proportional tax rates. Our empirical analysis shows that abolishing of tax exemptions and market valuation of assets lead to a remarkable broadening of the inheritance tax base and enables substantial tax rate cuts.
Using phylogenetics to detect pollinator‐mediated floral evolution
Authors: Smith Stacey DeWitt
Published: May 2010

The development of comparative phylogenetic methods has provided a powerful toolkit for addressing adaptive hypotheses, and researchers have begun to apply these methods to test the role of pollinators in floral evolution and diversification. One approach is to reconstruct the history of both floral traits and pollination systems to determine if floral trait change is spurred by shifts in pollinators. Looking across multiple shifts, it is also possible to test for significant correlations between floral evolution and pollinators using parsimony, likelihood and Bayesian methods for discrete characters or using statistical comparative methods for continuous characters. Evolutionary shifts in pollinators and floral traits may cause changes in diversification rates, and new methods are available for simultaneously studying character evolution and diversification rates. Relatively few studies have yet used formal comparative methods to elucidate how pollinators affect floral evolution across the phylogeny, and fruitful directions for future applications are discussed.
Activation of Akt/FoxO signaling pathway contributes to induction of neuroprotection against transient global cerebral ischemia by hypoxic pre‐conditioning in adult rats
Authors: Zhan Lixuan , Wang Tao , Li Wen , Xu Zao C. , Sun Weiwen , Xu En
Published: May 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 897–908.

It is well established that pre‐conditioning protects neuronal injury against ischemia. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ischemic tolerance are not completely understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of Akt/forkhead transcription factor, class O (FoxO) pathway in hypoxic pre‐conditioning (HPC) using a newly developed HPC to transient global cerebral ischemia (tGCI) model in adult rats. HPC for 30–120 min significantly reduced cell death in the CA1 subregion after 10 min of tGCI. HPC was effective only when applied 1–4 days before ischemia. The maximum protection was observed with 30 min of hypoxia and 1 day interval between hypoxia and ischemia. The phosphorylated Akt and FoxOs measured by western blot and immunohistochemistry were significantly increased after hypoxia‐ischemia except for a transient decrease in the HPC group. Lateral ventricular infusion of LY294002 before HPC blocked the increase in phosphorylated Akt and FoxOs and increased neuronal damage in HPC animals. These results suggest that pre‐exposure to hypoxia induces protection against tGCI in adult rats. Activation of Akt results in the inactivation of FoxOs which may mediate ischemic tolerance after HPC.
Interrelation of dopamine transporter oligomerization and surface presence as studied with mutant transporter proteins and amphetamine
Authors: Li Yan , Cheng Shu‐Yuan , Chen Nianhang , Reith Maarten E. A.
Published: May 2010

J. Neurochem.(2010)114, 873–885.

Our previous work suggested a role for oligomerization in regulating dopamine transporter (DAT) internalization, withd‐amphetamine dissociating DAT oligomers and monomers being endocytosed. This model was put to detailed testing in the present work with the use of DAT constructs differentially tagged with Myc or Flag, reversal of tags in co‐immunoprecipitation and cross‐linking assays, and application of antibodies against different tags in biotinylation experiments. Upon pairing wild‐type (WT) DAT with W84L mutant, effects ofd‐amphetamine on oligomerization (decrease) but not surface DAT are observed. Internalization of W84L monomers appears to be slow as inferred from the inability ofd‐amphetamine to reduce surface Myc upon co‐expressing Flag‐WT with Myc‐W84L but not Myc‐WT with Flag‐W84L, and from the sluggish Myc‐W84L endocytosis rate (both with or withoutd‐amphetamine). Results obtained for D313N, D345N, or D436N mutants can all be accommodated by a model in whichd‐amphetamine is unable to dissociate mutant protomers from oligomers (tetramers or higher‐order assemblies) that contain them; this interpretation is confirmed in experiments with both tag reversal in co‐expression and antibody reversal in western blotting. Upon co‐transfecting Myc‐ and Flag‐tagged constructs, resulting tetramers can be calculated to be composed of different species (MycMycMycMyc, MycMycMycFlag, MycMycFlagFlag, MycFlagFlagFlag, and FlagFlagFlagFlag), but it is shown that outcomes predicted by models based on MycMycFlagFlag oligomers are not changed in a major way by the occurrence of the additional species.
Carboxypeptidase E cytoplasmic tail mediates localization of synaptic vesicles to the pre‐active zone in hypothalamic pre‐synaptic terminals
Authors: Lou Hong , Park Joshua J. , Cawley Niamh X. , Sarcon Annahita , Sun Lei , Adams Tiffany , Peng Loh Yoke
Published: May 2010

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 886–896.

How synaptic vesicles (SVs) are localized to the pre‐active zone (5–200 nm beneath the active zone) in the nerve terminal, which may represent the slow response SV pool, is not fully understood. Electron microscopy revealed the number of SVs located in the pre‐active zone, was significantly decreased in hypothalamic neurons of carboxypeptidase E knockout (CPE‐KO) mice compared with wild‐type mice. Additionally, we found K+‐stimulated glutamate secretion from hypothalamic embryonic neurons was impaired in CPE‐KO mice. Biochemical studies indicate that SVs from the hypothalamus of wild‐type mice and synaptic‐like microvesicles from PC12 cells contain a transmembrane form of CPE, with a cytoplasmic tail (CPEC10), maybe involved in synaptic function. Yeast two‐hybrid and pull‐down experiments showed that the CPE cytoplasmic tail interacted with γ‐adducin, which binds actin enriched at the nerve terminal. Total internal reflective fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy using PC12 cells as a model showed that expression of GFP‐CPEC15 reduced the steady‐state level of synaptophysin‐mRFP containing synaptic‐like microvesicles accumulated in the area within 200 nm from the sub‐plasma membrane (TIRF zone). Our findings identify the CPE cytoplasmic tail, as a new mediator for the localization of SVs in the actin‐rich pre‐active zone in hypothalamic neurons and the TIRF zone of PC12 cells.
Changes in taxonomy and species distributions and their influence on estimates of faunal homogenization and differentiation in freshwater fishes
Authors: Taylor Eric B.
Published: May 2010

Aim  To assess how changing taxonomy and distribution data affect estimates of faunal homogenization and differentiation as agents of global change in freshwater fishes.

Location  Provinces and territories of Canada.

Methods  Species presence–absence data were collated in 2000 and 2005 from regional and national lists, and faunal homogenization and differentiation were calculated using Jaccard’s faunal similarity index. Differences between time periods and areas were summarized using principal coordinate analysis. Differences in faunal assemblages between native and total faunas were assessed via Whittaker’s (1960) beta diversity (βw) index and tests of differences in multivariate dispersion of fish species compositions.

Results  Among aquatic ecoregions in one province (British Columbia) there were four taxonomic changes and 18 distributional changes between the 2000 and 2005 databases. Pairwise Jaccard’s faunal similarity index between the eight aquatic ecoregions declined by an average of 4.8% from 35.9% in native faunas to 31.1% in total faunas (introductions – extinctions/extirpations) indicating overall faunal differentiation. Average pairwise similarity declined by 0.9% between 2000 and 2005. Across thirteen provinces and territories of Canada, there were five taxonomic changes and 61 distributional changes between the 2000 and 2005 databases. Generally, faunal homogenization increased; pairwise Jaccard’s increased by an average of 1.8% from 27.1% in native faunas to 28.9% in total faunas or an average of 0.6% per comparison.

Main conclusions  Despite changing taxonomy and fish distribution information, comparative analysis of 2000 and 2005 databases consistently show overall faunal differentiation at the smallest (provincial) spatial scale and homogenization at the largest scale (across Canada) and that these trends continued between time periods. Homogenization and differentiation followed expectations from conceptual models based on the relative prevalence of species invasions and extinctions within communities. General conclusions of the onset and extent of homogenization and differentiation were relatively insensitive to our changing understanding of taxonomy and distribution.
UPPER BOUNDEDNESS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF RELATIVE DEPRIVATION
Authors: Esposito Lucio
Published: May 2010

A new index of relative deprivation is derived axiomatically. Thanks to an asymptotically concave individual contribution function, the new measure provides a sounder quantification to the concept of relative deprivation as conceptualized in the seminal work ofRunciman (1966) and better reflects the sociological connotations of the phenomenon.
HOW BIASED ARE MEASURES OF CYCLICAL MOVEMENTS IN PRODUCTIVITY AND HOURS?
Authors: Aaronson Stephanie , Figura Andrew
Published: May 2010

The movement of hours worked over the business cycle is an important input into the estimation of many key parameters in macroeconomics. Unfortunately, the available data on hours do not correspond precisely to the concept required for accurate inference. We study one source of mismeasurement—that the most commonly used source data measure hours paid instead of hours worked. In particular, we focus our attention on salaried workers, a group for whom the gap between hours paid and hours worked is likely to be large. We show that the measurement gap varies significantly and positively with changes in labor demand. As a result, we estimate that the standard deviations of the workweek and of total hours worked are 27 and 5 percent larger, respectively, than published measures of hours suggest. We also find that this measurement gap is unlikely to be the source of the acceleration in published measures of productivity in the early 2000s.
Pilot analysis of cytokines levels in stored granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor–mobilized peripheral blood stem cell concentrates
Authors: Woods Iyonna , Tawab‐Amiri Abdul , Byrne Karen , Sabatino Marianna , Stroncek David F.
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND: The transfusion of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) concentrates is sometimes associated with febrile transfusion reactions. PBSC concentrates contain large numbers of white blood cells, and during storage the levels of soluble cytokines that could cause transfusion reactions may increase.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Aliquots of granulocyte–colony‐stimulating factor (CSF)–mobilized PBSC concentrates from nine healthy subjects were stored in bags at 2 to 8°C for 48 hours. The levels of 19 growth factors and biologic response modifiers were measured in the plasma of PBSC concentrates at 0, 24, and 48 hours of storage using a nested enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The same 19 factor levels were also measured in blood plasma from six healthy subjects.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the PBSC and plasma levels of soluble interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, which can cause febrile reactions. The levels of TGF‐β1, matrix metalloproteinase‐8, CCL5/(reduced on activation normal T expressed and secreted), and platelet (PLT)‐derived growth factor‐AB were significantly greater in PBSCs than in plasma and the level of CCL2/MCP‐1 was significantly less in PBSCs. Duration of PBSC storage had no effect on the levels of these five factors. There was a trend for reduced levels of IL‐1β, IL‐2, IL‐7, IL‐8, IL‐12p70, IL‐15, interferon‐γ, CD40L, and granulocyte‐macrophage–CSF and increased levels of TNF‐α and IL‐10 levels in PBSC concentrates, but the differences were not significant.

CONCLUSIONS: There was no increase in stored PBSC concentrates of cytokines that have been associated with febrile transfusion reactions; however, the levels of other factors that were likely released by PLTs and granulocytes during the collection process were elevated.
Forensic usefulness of a 25 X‐chromosome single‐nucleotide polymorphism marker set
Authors: Tomas Carmen , Sanchez Juan J. , Castro Jose Aurelio , Børsting Claus , Morling Niels
Published: May 2010

BACKGROUND: The analysis of X‐chromosome markers can be valuable in particular situations, for example, deficiency kinship cases, where the putative father cannot be typed. X‐chromosome short‐tandem repeats (X‐STRs) are widely used in forensic genetics, while the use of X‐chromosome single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (X‐SNPs) is still limited.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The forensic usefulness of a set of 25 SNPs located across the X‐chromosome was analyzed in 13 populations. The applicability of the 25 X‐SNPs in kinship testing was illustrated in two immigration cases where the conclusions based on the analysis of 15 autosomal STRs were ambiguous and, in one of the cases, misleading. The samples in the two cases were also typed for eight X‐STRs, 52 autosomal SNPs, and seven autosomal variable number of tandem repeats.

RESULTS: The combined power of discrimination of the 25 X‐chromosome markers varied from one in 1.7 × 106 males to one in 7.8 × 109 females and the combined mean chance of exclusion varied between 99.78% in duos to 99.998% in trios. In the two immigration cases, the use of X‐linked markers increased the number of genetic inconsistencies and the cases could be solved. The usefulness of X‐chromosome markers was particularly illustrative in Case 1, where the typing of 25 X‐SNPs would have been sufficient to exclude paternity.

CONCLUSION: The high level of polymorphism, low degree of linkage disequilibrium, and very low probability of mutation of the 25 X‐SNPs makes this set of markers suitable as a supplementary set of markers in relationship testing.
Recruitment of burbot (Lota lota L.) in Lake Erie: an empirical modelling approach
Authors: Stapanian M. A. , Witzel L. D. , Cook A.
Published: May 2010

Stapanian MA, Witzel LD, Cook A. Recruitment of burbot (Lota lota L.) in Lake Erie: an empirical modelling approach.  Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 326–337. Published 2010. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA

Abstract –  World‐wide, many burbot Lota lota (L.) populations have been extirpated or are otherwise in need of conservation measures. By contrast, burbot made a dramatic recovery in Lake Erie during 1993–2001 but declined during 2002–2007, due in part to a sharp decrease in recruitment. We used Akaike’s Information Criterion to evaluate 129 linear regression models that included all combinations of one to seven ecological indices as predictors of burbot recruitment. Two models were substantially supported by the data: (i) the number of days in which water temperatures were within optimal ranges for burbot spawning and development combined with biomass of yearling and older (YAO) yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchill); and (ii) biomass of YAO yellow perch. Warmer winter water temperatures and increases in yellow perch biomass were associated with decreases in burbot recruitment. Continued warm winter water temperatures could result in declines in burbot recruitment, particularly in the southern part of the species’ range.
Diet and trophic niche overlap of native and nonnative fishes in the Gila River, USA: implications for native fish conservation
Authors: Pilger T. J. , Gido K. B. , Propst D. L.
Published: May 2010

Pilger TJ, Gido KB, Propst DL. Diet and trophic niche overlap of native and nonnative fishes in the Gila River, USA: implications for native fish conservation. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 300–321. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Abstract –  The upper Gila River basin is one of the few unimpounded drainage basins west of the Continental Divide, and as such is a stronghold for endemic fishes in the region. Nevertheless, multiple nonindigenous fishes potentially threaten the persistence of native fishes, and little is known of the trophic ecology of either native or nonnative fishes in this system. Gut contents and stable isotopes (13C and 15N) were used to identify trophic relationships, trophic niche overlap and evaluate potential interactions among native and nonnative fishes. Both native and nonnative fishes fed across multiple trophic levels. In general, adult native suckers had lower 15N signatures and consumed more algae and detritus than smaller native fish, including juvenile suckers. Adult nonnative smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis) and two species of trout preyed on small‐bodied fishes and predaceous aquatic invertebrates leading to significantly higher trophic positions than small and large‐bodied native fishes. Thus, the presence of these nonnative fishes extended community food‐chain lengths by foraging at higher trophic levels. Although predation on juvenile native fishes might threaten persistence of native fishes, the high degree of omnivory suggests that impacts of nonnative predators may be lessened and dependent on environmental variability.