bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iris Marion Young
Authors: Allen Danielle , Gooding-Williams Robert , Markell Patchen , McCormick John P. , Nussbaum Martha , Sunstein Cass R. , Tarcov Nathan
Published: February 2008

Iris' written work has been very widely admired; she has
obviously helped shape the field of democratic political theory; she has
deeply influenced students. The discussion of this work will go on in
books and articles until her ideas have been fully absorbed. Here I will
say a little about my particular experience of her collegiality. I was
Iris' junior colleague at Chicago for six years. I met Iris eight
years ago this week, under a portico outside a large hotel like the one in
which you are all gathered, not too long after I had first read
Democracy and Difference and shortly before my first APSA paper
presentation on, as it happened, deliberative democracy. I had no way of
knowing then how directly and deeply she would affect my intellectual
life. She was already for me a standard, even before I met her. But how
that fact deepened over time is what I want to render here.
L. Harmon Zeigler
Authors: Orbell John
Published: February 2008

L. Harmon Zeigler died from a massive heart attack in Tacoma on July
31, 2006. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pat; his two children,
Mike and Amanda; and three grandchildren, Ben, Zoe and Ruby.
Carl Michael von Hausswolff
Authors: Cascella Daniela
Published: February 2008

For over twenty years, Swedish artist Carl Michael von Hausswolff (born 1956 in Linköping) has been giving shape to a range of works which push the boundaries of sound experimentation and reach out into installation art, photography, video, performance and curating projects. Stemming from his experiments with tape and investigations into EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and setting up a number of ongoing collaborations with artist Leif Elggren and with a wide range of experimental musicians in the collective, site-specific sound installation freq_out, von Hausswolff's work spans the undefined territory between sound and the visual arts – he has done so, also by organising exhibitions such as the 2nd Göteborg Biennial in 2003. His audio production, using devices such as oscillators, tone generators, microphones attached to electricity circuits, is inextricably linked to his visual and conceptual research, always addressing issues of borders, interior/exterior, liminal states and hidden fluxes of energies. At the forefront of international experimentation, his work has been featured in some of the most important exhibitions and museums in the world, and his audio pieces have been published by the most remarkable avant-garde labels.
Sounds of the system: the emancipation of noise in the music of Carsten Nicolai
Authors: Collis Adam
Published: February 2008

In contrast to general perceptions of noise as undesirable audio phenomena, consideration of the objective acoustic properties of ‘noise’ and the functional aspects of noise in Information Theory are used to show how, rather than an impediment to communication, noise can aid in increasing communication. A review of noise in music of the twentieth century and beyond shows how this has become increasingly understood by composers, and that the greater use of noise as a sound source has arisen out of developments in audio technology. This article argues that the music of Carsten Nicolai (alva noto) represents a consolidation of this process. The Autorec CD and the track Impulse are cited as examples of how noise is used as part of a new practice in electronic music. By looking at the structural features of the cited musical examples, it is seen how this new practice follows neither the electroacoustic nor the commercial dance music mainstreams but manages to synthesise references to both traditions.
Phytosterol-enriched products on the Irish market: examination of intake and consumption patterns
Authors: Hearty Áine , Duffy Edel , Joyce Jennifer , O’Connor Caitriona , Gibney Michael J
Published: February 2008

Objective

To study patterns of phytosterol intakes in the Irish population from enriched sources.

Design

An interview-assisted questionnaire, which recorded information on sociodemographics, product types, intake amounts and patterns of intake. Independent samplesttests, one-way ANOVA and cross-tabulations were used to establish significant relationships between groups of variables. The top tertile of phytosterol intakes was also calculated.

Setting

Point-of-purchase of phytosterol-enriched products in Irish supermarkets.

Subjects

Four hundred and sixty-eight consumers (186 men and 282 women) of phytosterol-enriched foods.

Results

The mean phytosterol intake from enriched sources for the sample population was 2·45 g/d. Men had greater intakes than women (2·71 g/dv. 2·29 g/d, respectively). A total of 62 % of consumers were unaware of the importance of consuming fruit and vegetables while taking these products. The majority of respondents reported that they had high cholesterol (61 %) and 22 % of consumers also took cholesterol-lowering medication (statins). In total, 23 % had phytosterol intakes >3·0 g/d and the majority of consumers (58 %) had been consuming these products for >1 year. The mean intake for respondents with phytosterol intakes >3·0 g/d was 4·1 g/d and 74 % of this subgroup had been consuming these products for >1 year.

Conclusion

In general, phytosterol intakes are within efficacious levels in the Irish population. However, there appears to be a subgroup that has been consuming these products at intakes greater than current recommendations for >1 year.
Adequacy of vitamin A and fat in the breast milk of lactating women in south Sri Lanka
Authors: Liyanage Chandrani , Hettiarachchi Manjula , Mangalajeewa Prabhath , Malawipathirana Sarath
Published: February 2008

Objective

To determine vitamin A (retinol) and fat concentrations in breast milk during early lactation.

Methods

Healthy lactating women (n88) aged between 18 and 35 years were randomly selected for the study from urban, semi-urban, rural and estate (plantation) sectors of Galle District. Their anthropometry was recorded; breast milk samples were collected from the right breast one hour after the last feed. Breast milk retinol was determined by HPLC and fat content by the crematocrit method.

Results

Subjects were in the 2nd to 9th month of lactation. Retinol concentrations of the breast milk samples ranged from 0·10 to 2·46 μmol/l, with a mean of 0·50 μmol/l, and correlated positively with parity (Pearson correlation coefficient,r= 0·307;P= 0·01) and negatively with period of lactation (r= −0·209;P= 0·05). The fat content of breast milk ranged between 5·09 and 56·46 g/l with a mean of 26·95 g/l. A significant difference in either breast milk fat or retinol content and mean birth weight of the babies was not seen between the groups. The ratio of retinol to fat in breast milk was positively correlated with weight (r= 0·274;P= 0·01) and height (r= 0·328;P< 0·001) of the mothers.

Conclusions

In this primary investigation on breast milk quality the fat content was found to be marginal; the majority of lactating mothers (92·0 %) were not providing the minimum daily requirement (1·05 μmol/l) of retinol to their babies.
Some Useful Sources
Authors: Greener Ian
Published: February 2008

Clarke, J., Newman, J., Smith, N., Vidler, E. and Westmarland, L. (2007), Creating Citizen-consumers: Changing Publics and Changing Public Services, London: Paul Chapman Publishing. An important theoretical and empirical contribution to understanding the debates around both citizenship and consumption in the UK
Substrate age and tree islands influence carbon and nitrogen dynamics across a retrogressive semiarid chronosequence
Authors: Selmants Paul C. , Hart Stephen C.
Published: February 2008

The long‐term dynamics of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in semiarid ecosystems remain poorly understood. We measured pools and fluxes of surface soil C and N, as well as other soil properties, under tree canopies and in intercanopy spaces at four sites that form a volcanic substrate age gradient in semiarid piñon‐juniper woodlands of northern Arizona, United States. Clay content and soil water‐holding capacity increased consistently with substrate age, but both soil organic C and N increased only up to the 750,000 year site and then declined at the oldest (3,000,000 year) site. Measures of soil C and N flux displayed a similar pattern to total C and N pools. Pools and fluxes of C and N among the three canopy types became more homogeneous with substrate age up to the 750,000 year site, but disparity between tree and intercanopy microsites widened again at the oldest site. Theδ15N of both tree leaves and surface soils became progressively more enriched across the substrate age gradient, consistent with a N cycle increasingly dominated by isotope fractionating losses. Our results point to consistencies in patterns of ecosystem development between semiarid and more humid ecosystems and suggest that pedogenic development may be an important factor controlling the spatial distribution of soil resources in semiarid ecosystems. These data should help both unify and broaden current theory of terrestrial ecosystem development.
Geochemical monitoring in the Marmara region (NW Turkey): A search for precursors of seismic activity
Authors: İnan Sedat , Akgül Tayfun , Seyis Cemil , Saatçılar Ruhi , Baykut Süleyman , Ergintav Semih , Baş Mahmut
Published: February 2008

Physical and chemical properties of warm and hot spring waters as well as soil radon concentrations were measured continuously during a 3‐year period in the Marmara region; following the devastating İzmit earthquake of 17 August 1999 (Mw = 7.4). Promising and encouraging anomalies in ground radon emanation have been recorded and found to be closely related to seismic activity. The temporal and spatial variations in the soil radon data are presented. The earthquakes with magnitude >4 in the region were correlated with positive radon anomalies. Furthermore, during quiescence (absence of seismic activity) the radon data indicate random walk behavior of radon in soil and show Rayleigh‐type probability density function (pdf), however, during the earthquake build‐up period, the data show deviations from Rayleigh‐type pdf. The radon positive anomalies indicate disturbance of the path of gas movement or gas release pattern prior to earthquakes. However, systematic and consistent anomalies in physical and/or chemical properties of the spring waters have not been detected for earthquakes occurring in the observation period (M < 5.3).
Influence of grain boundary structure on dissolution controlled pressure solution and retarding effects of grain boundary healing
Authors: van Noort Reinier , Visser Hendrica J. M. , Spiers Christopher J.
Published: February 2008

It is widely accepted that the structure of a grain boundary undergoing pressure solution can have a strong influence on the rates at which diffusive transport in the grain boundary occurs. However, the influence of grain boundary structure on internal grain boundary dissolution rates has received little attention, despite evidence that dissolution controlled pressure solution in quartz is slower than expected assuming dissolution kinetics appropriate for free surfaces. In this paper, three hypothetical steady state grain boundary structures are defined and the influence of these structures on dissolution controlled pressure solution rates in an elastic solid are considered by deriving simple models based on internal grain boundary mass and energy balances. It is found that average dissolution rates in a rough grain boundary (island‐channel network) are slowed down by up to 13% compared to dissolution in a flat grain boundary containing a thin fluid film. This can only partly account for the discrepancy between models and experiments reported in the literature. In addition a model is derived providing a criterion or “yield stress” for pressure solution, below which the process is prevented by surface energy driven grain boundary healing (progressive reduction of the contact area filled by connected fluid). This “yield stress criterion” for pressure solution offers a further explanation for reduced rates or cessation of pressure solution at low effective stresses in nature and experiment. Using this criterion, limiting porosity depth curves are predicted for sandstones compacting by pressure solution, which show favorable agreement with porosity‐depth data for quartz sandstones.
QBO and annual cycle variations in tropical lower stratosphere trace gases from HALOE and Aura MLS observations
Authors: Schoeberl M. R. , Douglass A. R. , Newman P. A. , Lait L. R. , Lary D. , Waters J. , Livesey N. , Froidevaux L. , Lambert A. , Read W. , Filipiak M. J. , Pumphrey H. C.
Published: February 2008

We have analyzed thirteen years (1993 to 2005) of HALOE and over two years of EOS MLS observations (September 2004 to December 2006) for QBO and annual cycle trace variations in tropical H2O, HCl, ozone, N2O, CO, HF, and CH4. We use these results to develop the theory explaining both Brewer‐Dobson circulation (BDC) and QBO driven fluctuations in tropical trace gases. For H2O, BDC variations drive part of the tropopause annual forcing through annual variations in the temperature as has been shown previously. For CO, the annual variations in the BDC amplify the annual fluctuations in CO at the tropopause as has recently been shown by Randel et al (2007). In both cases, the tropopause signal is carried upward by the mean BDC. For ozone, N2O, HCl and other gases, photochemical processes force fluctuations in the trace gases to be synchronized with annual and QBO variations in the zonal mean residual vertical velocity as is shown using lag correlations.
Relationships among Narrow Bipolar Events, “total” lightning, and radar‐inferred convective strength in Great Plains thunderstorms
Authors: Wiens Kyle C. , Hamlin Timothy , Harlin Jeremiah , Suszcynsky David M.
Published: February 2008

Narrow Bipolar Events (NBEs) are a recently discovered distinct class of intracloud lightning discharges whose associated processes produce the most powerful very high frequency (VHF) radiation observed from lightning. NBEs are thus the prime candidate for proposed satellite‐based VHF global lightning mapping and storm tracking missions. In this study, we offer a detailed evaluation of the Great Plains Los Alamos Sferic Array (LASA). We then statistically compare NBE rates to non‐NBE lightning rates measured by both the LASA and the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) and to NEXRAD radar‐inferred metrics of convective strength for thunderstorms in the Great Plains from May to July 2005. We find strong correlations between total lightning rate and convective strength, especially in terms of the height of 30 dBZ radar echo. However, we find much weaker correlations between NBE rate and non‐NBE lightning rate and between NBE rate and radar‐inferred convective strength. Though NBEs occur in the same storms as other lightning, they cluster more closely in both space and time and may be indicative of specific types of storms and/or specific stages in convective development. Indeed, we find that NBEs are more prevalent in, and perhaps indicative of, the strongest convection. However, even the strongest convection (as inferred by radar) does not always produce NBEs. We compare these results to past studies of NBEs which were based in Florida. We also briefly discuss the implications of these results for satellite‐based VHF lightning detection.
2008 Election Results
Authors: McDonough William , Bamzai Anjuli , Robinson Robert
Published: February 2008

Voting by the membership for Union and Section officers for the 2008–2010 term was completed on 10 January 2008. Voting was conducted electronically through an Internet Web site using commercial surveying software. Paper ballots were available upon request. The tallying and recording of the election was managed by AGU staff using Vovici software.
Committee Service
Authors: Anonymous
Published: February 2008

Committees are the backbone of AGU, and committee members serve in a variety of indispensable roles. They are advisors to the president and to the Council; and they provide continuing guidance for all AGU programs, review ongoing and proposed programs, and suggest new ones. As an organization, the Union could not operate effectively without this strong core of volunteers who give so generously of their time, talent, and energy to participate in committee activities.

There are several types of committees: committees of Council, policy and operating committees, and medal and award selection committees. The Council designates the committees of the Council. The Union president appoints the chairs and members of the other Union committees and most ad hoc working groups.
Plasma proteome changes in subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus with a low or high early insulin response
Authors: Sundsten Tea , Zethelius Björn , Berne Christian , Bergsten Peter
Published: February 2008

Circulating proteins contribute to the pathogenesis of T2DM (Type 2 diabetes mellitus) in various ways. The aim of the present study was to investigate variations in plasma protein levels in subjects with T2DM and differences in β-cell function, characterized by the EIR (early insulin response), and to compare these protein levels with those observed in individuals with NGT (normal glucose tolerance). Ten subjects with NGT+high EIR, ten with T2DM+high EIR, and ten with T2DM+low EIR were selected from the community-based ULSAM (Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men) cohort. Plasma protein profiling was performed using SELDI-TOF (surface-enhanced laser-desorption ionization–time-of-flight) MS. In total, nine plasma proteins differed between the three study groups (P<0.05, as determined by ANOVA). The levels of two forms of transthyretin, haemoglobin α-chain and haemoglobin β-chain were decreased in plasma from subjects with T2DM compared with subjects with NGT, irrespective of the EIR of the subjects. Apolipoprotein H was decreased in plasma from individuals with T2DM+high EIR compared with subjects with NGT. Four additional unidentified plasma proteins also varied in different ways between the experimental groups. In conclusion, the proteins detected in the present study may be related to the development of β-cell dysfunction.
Patterns of growth and nutrient accumulation in expanding leaves of Eucalyptus regnans (Myrtaceae)
Authors: England Jacqueline R. , Attiwill Peter M.
Published: February 2008

Patterns of leaf growth and nutrient accumulation were investigated in relation to leaf ontogeny in the tree species Eucalyptus regnans F.Muell. Newly emergent leaves were tagged in the field and collected every 14 days for measurement of leaf dimensions and nutrient concentrations over a 113-day period. Patterns of growth in area, length, width and mass of leaves followed sigmoid curves. An exponential rate of growth for all measures was observed up to 56 days after leaf emergence, after which there was little increase. Conversely, specific leaf area (leaf area/leaf mass) decreased from emergence to about Day 56 and then remained relatively constant. Contents of all nutrients (measured on a leaf basis) increased during leaf expansion. Concentrations of N, P and K decreased and Ca concentration increased, but there was no clear trend for Mg concentration with leaf development. In general, the results of the present study verify previously developed ‘idealised curves’ of changes in dry mass and nutrient concentrations with leaf age for eucalypts. Patterns of leaf growth and nutrient accumulation (particularly N) show that leaves had reached full expansion and physiological maturity by ~80–90 days after emergence.
Environmental heterogeneity decides bio-heterogeneity of the Spiraea japonica complex (Rosaceae) in China
Authors: Zhang Zhaoyang , Du Ning , Pu Chunxia , Gu Zhijian , Zhou Zhekun
Published: February 2008

Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprint was the measure used to reveal the patterns of genetic variation within the Spiraea japonica L. f. complex, in the context of physical environment differentiation stemming from the Himalaya–Tibet plateau uplift, the most significant geological event in eastern Asia since the late Paleocene. The complex displays obvious genetic heterogeneity among geographic populations, which was greater in south-western China than in eastern China. The uplift of the Himalaya–Tibet plateau, and consequent increase in environmental complexity in south-western China, is presumed to be responsible for this genetic structure. The obvious genetic heterogeneity among populations or varieties of the S. japonica complex indicates that the rich biodiversity in south-western China is possibly based on genetic variation, suggesting that the biodiversity centre of south-western China represents a tremendous gene pool. It also supports the idea that the protected area and conservation investment made in south-western China should be further augmented. In addition, the greater genetic heterogeneity displayed by plants in south-western China suggests that conservation plans in this region should be more inclusive than those in eastern China.
Impaired insulin secretion and glucose intolerance in synaptotagmin-7 null mutant mice
Authors: Gustavsson Natalia , Lao Ye , Maximov Anton , Chuang Jen-Chieh , Kostromina Elena , Repa Joyce J. , Li Cai , Radda George K. , Südhof Thomas C. , Han Weiping
Published: February 2008

Vertebrates express at least 15 different synaptotagmins with the same domain structure but diverse localizations and tissue distributions. Synaptotagmin-1,-2, and -9 act as calcium sensors for the fast phrase of neurotransmitter release, and synaptotagmin-12 acts as a calcium-independent modulator of release. The exact functions of the remaining 11 synaptotagmins, however, have not been established. By analogy to the role of synaptotagmin-1, -2, and -9 in neurotransmission, these other synaptotagmins may serve as Ca
2+
transducers regulating other Ca
2+
-dependent membrane processes, such as insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells. Of these other synaptotagmins, synaptotagmin-7 is one of the most abundant and is present in pancreatic β-cells. To determine whether synaptotagmin-7 regulates Ca
2+
-dependent insulin secretion, we analyzed synaptotagmin-7 null mutant mice for glucose tolerance and insulin release. Here, we show that synaptotagmin-7 is required for the maintenance of systemic glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Mutant mice have normal insulin sensitivity, insulin production, islet architecture and ultrastructural organization, and metabolic and calcium responses but exhibit impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion, indicating a calcium-sensing defect during insulin-containing secretory granule exocytosis. Taken together, our findings show that synaptotagmin-7 functions as a positive regulator of insulin secretion and may serve as a calcium sensor controlling insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells.
A
Caenorhabditis elegans
model for epithelial–neuronal transdifferentiation
Authors: Jarriault Sophie , Schwab Yannick , Greenwald Iva
Published: February 2008

Understanding transdifferentiation—the conversion of one differentiated cell type into another—is important from both basic science and clinical perspectives. In
Caenorhabditis elegans
, an epithelial cell named Y is initially part of the rectum but later appears to withdraw, migrate, and then become a motor neuron named PDA. Here, we show that this represents a bona fide transdifferentiation event: Y has epithelial hallmarks without detectable neural characteristics, and PDA has no residual epithelial characteristics. Using available mutants and laser microsurgery, we found that transdifferentiation does not depend on fusion with a neighboring cell or require migration of Y away from the rectum, that other rectal epithelial cells are not competent to transdifferentiate, and that transdifferentiation requires the EGL-5 and SEM-4 transcription factors and LIN-12/Notch signaling. Our results establish Y-to-PDA transdifferentiation as a genetically tractable model for deciphering the mechanisms underlying cellular plasticity
in vivo
.
Synaptotagmin-1 and -7 are functionally overlapping Ca
2+
sensors for exocytosis in adrenal chromaffin cells
Authors: Schonn Jean-Sébastien , Maximov Anton , Lao Ye , Südhof Thomas C. , Sørensen Jakob B.
Published: February 2008

Synaptotagmin-1, the canonical isoform of the synaptotagmin family, is a Ca
2+
sensor for fast synchronous neurotransmitter release in forebrain neurons and chromaffin cells. Even though deletion of synaptotagmin-1 abolishes fast exocytosis in chromaffin cells, it reduces overall secretion by only 20% because of the persistence of slow exocytosis. Therefore, another Ca
2+
sensor dominates release in these cells. Synaptotagmin-7 has a higher Ca
2+
affinity and slower binding kinetics than synaptotagmin-1, matching the proposed properties for the second, slower Ca
2+
sensor. Here, we examined Ca
2+
-triggered exocytosis in chromaffin cells from KO mice lacking synaptotagmin-7, and from knockin mice containing normal levels of a mutant synaptotagmin-7 whose C
2
B domain does not bind Ca
2+
. In both types of mutant chromaffin cells, Ca
2+
-triggered exocytosis was decreased dramatically. Moreover, in chromaffin cells lacking both synaptotagmin-1 and -7, only a very slow release component, accounting for ≈30% of WT exocytosis, persisted. These data establish synaptotagmin-7 as a major Ca
2+
sensor for exocytosis in chromaffin cells, which, together with synaptotagmin-1, mediates almost all of the Ca
2+
triggering of exocytosis in these cells, a surprising result, considering the lack of a role of synaptotagmin-7 in synaptic vesicle exocytosis.
Structure and dynamics of spontaneous and induced ELMs on ASDEX Upgrade
Authors: Neuhauser J. , Bobkov V. , Conway G.D. , Dux R. , Eich T. , Garcia-Munoz M. , Herrmann A. , Horton L.D. , Kallenbach A. , Kalvin S. , Kocsis G. , Kurzan B. , Lang P.T. , Maraschek M. , Mueller H.W. , Murmann H.D. , Neu R. , Peeters A.G. , Reich M. , Rohde V. , Schmid A. , Suttrop W. , Tsalas M. , Wolfrum E.
Published: February 2008

In order to assess the contribution of edge localized modes (ELMs) to plasma–wall interaction in future fusion experiments like ITER, a sound experimental database for model validation and extrapolation, and, to be prepared for the unfavourable case, the development of tools for ELM mitigation are required. On ASDEX Upgrade a large amount of experimental information has been accumulated from various diagnostics on the structure and dynamics of natural as well as pellet induced ELMs, and on related wall effects. In this paper a survey of type-I ELM results is given first and recent progress is then described in detail. In between ELMs, strong mode activity is observed in a wide mode number and frequency range, specifically large amplitude (∼20%) low frequency (several kilohertz) fluctuations. The initial dynamic ELM phase is dominated by the rapid growth of helical, low mode number structures rotating in the pedestalE×Bdirection, while the subsequent saturation and profile erosion phase is more complex and scenario dependent. Bursts of filaments ejected from the hot edge into the scrape-off layer are correlated with primary pedestal mode rotation. After partial edge profile collapse, a quiescent recovery phase is obtained despite substantial residual edge gradients. Pellet induced ELMs behave similarly to spontaneous ones, at least for the smallest pellets available so far.
Predictions for an invaded world: a strategy to predict the distribution of native and non-indigenous species at multiple scales
Authors: Reusser Deborah A. , Lee Henry
Published: February 2008

Reusser, D. A., and Lee II, H. 2008. Predictions for an invaded world: a strategy to predict the distribution of native and non-indigenous species at multiple scales. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 742–745. Habitat models can be used to predict the distributions of marine and estuarine non-indigenous species (NIS) over several spatial scales. At an estuary scale, our goal is to predict the estuaries most likely to be invaded, but at a habitat scale, the goal is to predict the specific locations within an estuary that are most vulnerable to invasion. As an initial step in evaluating several habitat models, model performance for a suite of benthic species with reasonably well-known distributions on the Pacific coast of the US needs to be compared. We discuss the utility of non-parametric multiplicative regression (NPMR) for predicting habitat- and estuary-scale distributions of native and NIS. NPMR incorporates interactions among variables, allows qualitative and categorical variables, and utilizes data on absence as well as presence. Preliminary results indicate that NPMR generally performs well at both spatial scales and that distributions of NIS are predicted as well as those of native species. For most species, latitude was the single best predictor, although similar model performance could be obtained at both spatial scales with combinations of other habitat variables. Errors of commission were more frequent at a habitat scale, with omission and commission errors approximately equal at an estuary scale.
More on Darwin's illness: comment on the final diagnosis of Charles Darwin
Authors: Sheehan William , Meller William H , Thurber Steven
Published: February 2008

Without the possibility of confirmatory exhumation, diagnostic inferences about Darwin's illness must remain speculative. A diagnosis of Darwin's aggregate symptoms must account for not only gastrointestinal distress but also his predominant and excessive retching and the conglomerate of other heterogeneous symptoms. We opine that Crohn's disease, posited as the ‘final diagnosis’, is not sufficient for subsuming his pleiomorphic symptomatology. An additional proposal is outlined that may help to explain his presentation with heterogeneous symptoms. It incorporates constitutional vulnerabilities, psychosomatic influences and Pavlovian conditioning as explanatory variables.
A new integral equation approach to elastodynamic homogenization
Authors: Parnell William J , Abrahams I. David
Published: February 2008

A new theory of elastodynamic homogenization is proposed, which exploits the integral equation form of Navier's equations and relationships between length scales within composite media. The scheme is introduced by focusing on its leading-order approximation for orthotropic, periodic fibre-reinforced media where fibres have arbitrary cross-sectional shape. The methodology is general but here it is shown for horizontally polarized shear (SH) wave propagation for ease of exposition. The resulting effective properties are shown to possess rich structure in that four terms account separately for the physical detail of the composite (associated with fibre cross-sectional shape, elastic properties, lattice geometry and volume fraction). In particular, the appropriate component of Eshelby's tensor arises naturally in order to deal with the shape of the fibre cross section. Results are plotted for circular fibres and compared with extant methods, including the method of asymptotic homogenization. The leading-order scheme is shown to be in excellent agreement even for relatively high volume fractions.
The stress analysis of thin contact layers: a singular perturbation method for integral equations
Authors: Chen C.Y , Atkinson C
Published: February 2008

In this paper, a contact problem is considered with a circular indenter pressed normally against a semi-infinite elastic composite that consists of a contact layer with uniform thickness welded together with another dissimilar medium. The indentation is modelled by means of a real continuous function
g
(
t
), and an integral equation representation for the displacement is derived in terms of
g
(
t
) on the contact boundary. The integral equation is evaluated numerically for
g
(
t
) when the contact layer is finite. In the case when the thickness of the contact layer becomes small compared with the radius of the contact region, a singular perturbation technique is used to derive an asymptotic expansion for
g
(
t
). This leads to a Wiener–Hopf equation formulation for the semi-infinite geometry in the Fourier-transformed domain of the inner coordinates. Subsequently, Van Dyke's matching principle is used to match the inner with the outer solution of
g
(
t
). The results are illustrated and verified with a simple limit solution derived using an

integral argument.
Reduction of human T‐cell leukemia virus type‐1 infection in mice lacking nuclear factor‐κB‐inducing kinase
Authors: Nitta Takayuki , Tanaka Masakazu , Sun Binlian , Sugihara Eiji , Kimura Mako , Kamada Yuhei , Takahashi Hideto , Hanai Shuji , Jiang Shi‐Wen , Fujisawa Jun–ichi , Miwa Masanao
Published: February 2008

Human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV‐1) causes adult T‐cell leukemia and inflammatory disorders. Aberrant activation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) has been linked to HTLV‐1 pathogenesis and to various kinds of cancers, including adult T‐cell leukemia. NF‐κB‐inducing kinase (NIK) is critical for non‐canonical activation of NF‐κB and for the development of lymphoid organs. HTLV‐1 activates NF‐κB by the non‐canonical pathway, but examination of the role of NIK in proliferation of HTLV‐1‐infected cells in vivo has been hindered by lack of a suitable animal model. Alymphoplasia (aly/aly) mice bear a mutation of NIK, resulting in defects in the development of lymphoid organs and severe deficiencies in both humoral and cell‐mediated immunity. In the present study we therefore used a mouse model of HTLV‐1 infection with aly/aly mice. The number of HTLV‐1‐infected cells in the reservoir organs in aly/aly mice was significantly smaller than in the control group 1 month after infection. In addition, aly/aly mice did not maintain provirus for 1 year and antibodies against HTLV‐1 were undetectable. These results demonstrate that the absence of functional NIK impairs primary HTLV‐1 proliferation and abolishes the maintenance of provirus. Interestingly, clonal proliferation of HTLV‐1‐infected mouse cells was not detected in aly/aly mice, which is consistent with the lack of HTLV‐1 persistence. These observations imply that the clonal proliferation of HTLV‐1‐infected cells in secondary lymphoid organs might be important for HTLV‐1 persistence. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 872–878)
Implantable central venous access device procedures in haemophilia patients without an inhibitor: systematic review of the literature and institutional experience
Authors: NEUNERT C. E. , MILLER K. L. , JOURNEYCAKE J. M. , BUCHANAN G. R.
Published: February 2008

Summary. Elective surgical procedures involving central venous access devices (CVADs) in patients with haemophilia are often necessary for adequate factor delivery but there are few data regarding haemostatic coverage and acute complication rates accompanying these procedures. To describe experience with CVAD insertion, revision and removal in young haemophilia patients at our institution and in the literature and to assess acute complications following CVAD procedures. PubMed, Medline and Cochrane databases were searched for articles, which included a description of factor coverage during CVAD procedures. A retrospective review of our comprehensive haemophilia database identified patients undergoing CVAD placement, revision and removal between January 1993 and August 2005. Manual and electronic searches of the published literature yielded 14 articles, which met inclusion criteria. Peri‐operative factor administration varied greatly among the reports. Mean acute infection and haematoma rates were 8% and 12.5% respectively. A retrospective review identified 49 CVAD placements, revisions, or removals meeting inclusion criteria. Most patients received outpatient bolus factor replacement to achieve a level of 100% preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7. Thirty‐six procedures were performed without hospitalization. Ten patients developed 11 (22%) minor haematomas postoperatively. Major haemorrhage, acute infection, or pneumothorax was not encountered. Few published data exist regarding haemostatic coverage and complications following CVAD procedures. Our institutional experience using a consistent management approach was favourable. Further studies are required to define optimal haemostatic coverage during minor surgical procedures in haemophilia.
A web‐based registry of inherited bleeding disorders in the region of Emilia‐Romagna: results at three and a half years
Authors: TAGLIAFERRI A. , RIVOLTA G. F. , BIASOLI C. , VALDRÉ L. , RODORIGO G. , D’INCÁ M. , MORATELLI S. , ALBERTINI P. , VINCENZI D. , ARBASI M. C. , MARIETTA M. , PATTACINI C.
Published: February 2008

Summary.  A Registry of inherited bleeding disorders was set up in the Region of Emilia‐Romagna (RER) to collect information about these diseases and to improve the quality of care. From January 2003, the eight Haemophilia Centres (HC) in the RER began to use computerized clinical records; every 6 months, they send data to Parma Hospital to be processed and published in a website (http://www.registroemofiliarer.it). Great efforts are made to ensure high quality of data. Results of general interest are included in a free ‘public area’ and more sensitive data in a ‘reserved area’ (open only to HC and to health authorities). A total of 610 individuals are included: 249 haemophilia A (HA), 63 haemophilia B (HB), 173 von Willebrand’s disease, 69 rare bleeding disorders, seven platelet disorders and 49 haemophilia carriers; 131 were genotyped, 188 were tested for inhibitors (16 affected). The most frequent bleeding was haemarthrosis. The joint score (evaluated in 104 haemophiliacs) was higher in severe HA. There were 22 HIV‐positive and 182 hepatitis C virus‐positive patients (21% have chronic hepatitis, two hepatocellular carcinoma). In 2005, two patients received primary prophylaxis, 47 secondary prophylaxis, four children were on immune‐tolerance induction. From 2003 to 2005 the use of recombinant products was greatly increased and the majority of patients received them. The mean clotting factor consumption for prophylaxis was higher than on‐demand treatment. The main features of registry are to collect high quality and comprehensive data of all patients followed by HC, to improve quality of care and it’s availability on the web.
Treatment of hepatitis C in patients with haemophilia – the Israeli National Hemophilia Center experience
Authors: MAOR Y. , SCHAPIRO J. M. , BASHARI D. , LURIE Y. , SAFADI R. , SEGOL O. , PARITSKY M. , RACHLIS Z. , AVIDAN B. , BAR‐MEIR S. , MARTINOWITZ U.
Published: February 2008

Summary.  Treatment with pegylated interferon (Peg‐IFN) and ribavirin, now the standard of care, has been shown to achieve sustained viral response (SVR) in up to 60% of patients with hepatitis C (HCV). Studies of response to this combination in HCV‐infected haemophilia patients are scarce. The aim of the study was to report the results and safety of interferon/ribavirin treatment in HCV and HCV‐/HIV‐infected patients at the Israeli National Hemophilia Center. A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on haemophilia patients infected with HCV or HCV/HIV. Patients received combination of Peg‐IFN and ribavirin. Few were still treated with standard interferon. The primary end‐point was sustained viral response (SVR). The secondary end‐point was safety, with emphasis on increased bleeding episodes. Some 18/43 (42%) HCV mono‐infected haemophilia patients achieved SVR. Relapse occurred in 14 (33%), while 11 patients (25%) were non‐responders. SVR was achieved among 17/37 (46%) naïve patients receiving Peg‐IFN and ribavirin. Among patients with genotype‐1, SVR was achieved in 12/36 (33%) and 11/30 (37%) in the whole group and Peg‐IFN treated naïve patients, respectively. In HCV/HIV co‐infected patients only 1 patient achieved SVR. Severe anaemia occurred in 14/50 (28%) patients, four received erythropoietin. None maintained stable haemoglobin levels. Two patients had significant bleeding episodes. In our cohort of haemophilia patients, SVR was achieved in a lower than expected rates. A relatively high relapse rate in the HCV mono‐infected patients and a very high non‐response rate in the HCV/HIV co‐infected patients were observed as anticipated. Anaemia was a major side effect and the use of growth factors seemed unrevealing.
Value added: increasing the power to assess treatment outcome in joint haemorrhages
Authors: DONFIELD S. M. , ASTERMARK J. , LAIL A. E. , GILBERT S. A. , BERNTORP E. ,   FOR THE FENOC STUDY GROUP
Published: February 2008

Summary.  Subject reports of efficacy of treatment of haemophilia‐related joint bleeding are by definition subjective, yet are often the primary outcome in studies comparing therapies. Verbal descriptors such as effective, partially effective, poorly effective, not effective are treated as dichotomous or categorical variables in analyses, lowering the statistical power relative to that which might be achieved with a continuous variable. The aims of this study were to examine reports of pain recorded on a 100‐mm visual analogue scale (VAS) during the course of joint bleeding; determine whether pain varied by treatment period among pairs reporting discordant outcomes on a verbal scale (one product effective, the other not effective); test whether the two products under study were equivalent with respect to VAS scores; and evaluate their relationship to verbal reports of efficacy. Data from the international, prospective, randomized, crossover FEIBA NovoSeven Comparative study of two bypassing agents used for treatment of 96 bleeding episodes in 48 participants were examined. VAS scores were associated with verbal descriptors of efficacy at every time point, and were equivalent between treatment periods. There were differences in mean scores at time points at which participants rated one treatment effective, the other not effective. As a continuous variable, the VAS score may have more power than a dichotomous variable and when used with verbal descriptions of efficacy can improve the overall accuracy of assessment. This report highlights an important consideration in the selection of outcome measurement that can be generalized to other haemophilia treatment research.
Pathological, clinical and prognostic characteristics of breast cancer in Central Sudan versus Northern Italy: implications for breast cancer in Africa
Authors: Awadelkarim K D , Arizzi C , Elamin E O M , Hamad H M A , De Blasio P , Mekki S O , Osman I , Biunno I , Elwali N E , Mariani‐Costantini R , Barberis M C
Published: February 2008

Aims:  In patients of Black African ethnicity, breast cancer is reportedly characterized by aggressive, poorly differentiated phenotype(s). To highlight possible differences between breast cancer in indigenous sub‐Saharan African and European patients, two breast cancer case series, from Central Sudan (Khartoum) and Northern Italy (Milan), were compared for clinicopathological characteristics, expression of oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Her‐2/neu, basal cytokeratin (CK) 5/6 and CK17, and breast cancer subtypes.

Methods and results:  After careful antigen retrieval, 114 and 138 consecutive formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) breast cancer cases from the Radiation and Isotope Centre (Khartoum) and from MultiMedica (Milan), respectively, were screened by immunohistochemistry for ER, PR, Her‐2/neu, CK5/6 and CK17. Compared with the Italian patients, the Sudanese patients were younger (P < 0.0001) and their tumours were larger (P < 0.0001), more advanced in stage (P < 0.00001), higher grade (P < 0.00001) and more frequently positive for nodal metastases (P < 0.00001). ER expression varied between the two series (P < 0.0008), but no significant differences were found for PR (P < 0.32), combined hormone receptors (P < 0.12), Her‐2/neu (P < 0.09), CK5/6 (P < 0.1), CK17 (P = 0.4), combined basal CK status (P = 1) or breast cancer subtypes (P = 0.12).

Conclusion:  The differences between the Sudanese and Italian breast cancer series reflect stage at diagnosis rather than intrinsic biological characteristics. This may have relevant implications for breast cancer prevention and treatment in Africa.
Chromosome 9 instability and alterations of p16 gene in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and in adjacent normal bronchi: FISH and immunohistochemical study
Authors: Dessy E , Rossi E , Berenzi A , Tironi A , Benetti A , Grigolato P
Published: February 2008

Aims:  p16, a tumour suppressor gene located at 9p21 chromosome and involved in cell cycle regulation, is often inactivated in lung carcinoma. Inactivation is also supported by the loss of p16 protein, a strong inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) 4 and 6. The aim of this study was to examine alterations of p16 both in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and in morphological normal bronchi contiguous with neoplasia.

Methods and results:  p16 gene and chromosome 9 alterations were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization and the expression of p16 protein by immunohistochemistry in pulmonary surgical specimens from 31 patients with SCC. As controls, surgical specimens from 13 patients with non‐neoplastic pathology were examined. Tumours showed molecular alterations for p16 gene and chromosome 9 abnormalities in, respectively, 29/31 and 19/31 cases respectively. p16 protein was unexpressed in 29/31 cases. In morphologically normal bronchi p16 gene and chromosome 9 alterations occurred in, respectively, 13/31 and 4/31 cases respectively; loss of protein immunoreactivity occurred in 14/31 cases. No alterations were seen in any of the control cases.

Conclusions:  Inactivation of p16 gene in histologically normal bronchi could aid the identification of individuals at risk of developing SCC of the lung.
Increased expression and altered intracellular distribution of adhesion/growth‐regulatory lectins galectins‐1 and ‐7 during tumour progression in hypopharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Saussez S , Decaestecker C , Lorfevre F , Chevalier D , Mortuaire G , Kaltner H , André S , Toubeau G , Gabius H‐J , Leroy X
Published: February 2008

Aims: To examine the level of expression of the pleiotropic regulators galectins‐1 and ‐7 in relation to neoplastic progression of hypopharyngeal (HSCCs) and laryngeal (LSCCs) squamous cell carcinomas.

Methods and results: The presence of galectins‐1 and ‐7 was investigated using quantitative immunohistochemistry in (i) a series of 78 HSCCs by comparison with 17 normal epithelia (N_E), 26 low‐grade dysplasia (low_D) and 27 high‐grade dysplasia (high_D) and (ii) a series of 56 LSCCs by comparison with 50 N_E, 23 low_D and 29 high_D. Galectin‐1 positivity expressed as a percentage of cells was significantly higher in carcinomas (HSCCs and LSCCs) than in N_E, low_D or high_D (P < 10−6). Galectin‐7 expression was elevated in low_D (P = 0.0004) compared with N_E and in carcinomas (HSCC) compared with high_D (P = 0.0002). Tumour progression from high_D to carcinomas was associated with a shift of galectin‐1 localization from the nucleus towards the cytoplasm. Increased expression of galectin‐7 in dysplasias was accompanied by a shift from the cytoplasmic compartment (N_E) to the nucleus (low_D and high_D).

Conclusions: Our data reveal an association between the level of presence of galectins‐1 and ‐7 and neoplastic progression of HSCCs and LSCCs. Moreover, inverse shifts between nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity intimating functional divergence were detected.