bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
State Formation and the Politics of Regime Survival: Zimbabwe in Theoretical Perspective
Authors: ERIKSEN STEIN SUNDSTØL
Published: April 2010

This article analyses state formation in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe. The main question posed is this: Why has state power eroded so dramatically? To answer this question, the development of the state is analysed in the light of general theories of state formation. In spite of a situation which according to prevailing theories was conducive for the formation of a strong state, Zimbabwe entered a downward spiral, where state power gradually eroded. To explain this, it is necessary to move beyond these theories, and analyse the changing nature of the ruling regime's constituencies. While security threats and sources of revenue are important, their impact on processes of state formation is mediated by the inter‐relationship between ruling regimes and their constituencies, which is shaped by society's class structure.
Kant's Modalities of Judgment
Authors: Leech Jessica
Published: April 2010

Abstract: This paper proposes a way to understand Kant's modalities of judgment—problematic, assertoric, and apodeictic—in terms of the location of a judgment in an inference. Other interpretations have tended to understand these modalities of judgment in terms of one or other conventional notion of modality. For example, Mattey (1986) argues that we should take them to be connected to notions of epistemic or doxastic modality. I shall argue that this is wrong, and that these kinds of interpretation of the modality of judgments cannot be reconciled with a key claim made by Kant, namely, that the modality of a judgment does not contribute to its content, and has nothing to do with the matter that is judged. I offer an alternative interpretation based upon Kant's explicating these modalities in terms of the location of a judgment in an inference, whereby the modality of a judgment is determined by the role a judgment plays in a given course of reasoning. If I am right, then Kant in fact presents an intriguing thesis pertaining to the inferential status and potential of all our judgments.
Economic crisis and social protection in the European Union: Moving beyond immediate responses
Authors: Euzéby Alain
Published: April 2010

The economic crisis has served to remind us that social protection is both a social buffer and an economic stabilizer that cushions the impacts of recession. Social benefits are being used by the countries of the European Union (EU) as well as by the Union itself as part of its recovery plan, to support those negatively effected by the crisis and to boost household consumption, thus providing support for business activities and employment. But the crisis could also represent an opportunity for the EU to strengthen its social protection systems, through seeking inspiration from the basic principles of international social law, to emphasize the legitimacy of high levels of social protection, to encourage upward convergence among the social protection systems of its Member States and to increase budget allocations for social protection.
Motivators and barriers to exercise among adults with a high risk of type 2 diabetes – a qualitative study
Authors: Korkiakangas Eveliina E. , Alahuhta Maija A. , Husman Päivi M. , Keinänen‐Kiukaanniemi Sirkka , Taanila Anja M. , Laitinen Jaana H.
Published: April 2010

Scand J Caring Sci; 2011; 25; 62–69
 
Motivators and barriers to exercise among adults with a high risk of type 2 diabetes – a qualitative study

Purpose:  Type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be prevented through lifestyle changes. Regular exercise for more than 4 hours per week, combined with weight loss and changes in dietary habits reduces the incidence of T2D. The aim of this study was to describe motivators and barriers to exercise among adults with a high risk of T2D.

Methods:  Altogether, 74 subjects participated in a study on the Effectiveness and Feasibility of Activating Counseling Methods and Videoconferences in Dietary Group Counseling of Subjects with high risk of T2D. The qualitative data were gathered from video‐recorded group counselling sessions and were analysed using content analysis.

Results:  Enjoyment from exercise, social relationships related to exercise, encouragement from others, benefits to health, and the aim of weight control motivated subjects to exercise. The wish to join people with an active lifestyle, admiration of active friends and willingness to serve as an example for children reflected why exercise was an important value in life. The barriers to exercise were weather/season, health problems, lack of time, work‐related factors and lack of interest.

Conclusions:  Adults with high risk of T2D experienced many individually meaningful motivators. They experienced few barriers to exercise and highlighted the motivators. Thus, we present that they had a positive attitude towards increasing exercise during participation to counselling. The results can be used when developing counselling methods because they provide concrete content for counselling discussion such as importance of work‐related factors, family exercise, time management skills and social support for regular exercise.
Tax Policy and R&D Investment by Australian Firms*
Authors: THOMSON RUSSELL
Published: April 2010

This paper examines the determinants of investment in R&D by Australian firms, with a focus on the role of tax policy. The analysis considers an unbalanced panel of financial data of approximately 500 large Australian firms between 1990 and 2005. The principal result is that no evidence can be found that the user cost of R&D is an important determinant of firm R&D investment decisions. A corollary is that there is no evidence that tax incentives are an effective policy tool. Growth in sales is found to be the primary determinant of R&D investment, which is interpreted as evidence of the central role of demand conditions.
Does Bingeing Affect Earnings?*
Authors: SRIVASTAVA PREETY
Published: April 2010

Both anecdotal and empirical lines of evidence have pointed out that frequent binge drinking has far more serious consequences than occasional bingeing. As a result, a lower penalty for heavy drinking will be estimated by combining the heavy bingers with individuals who binge on rare occasions and are not necessarily less productive. This article explores the drinking–earnings relationship based on a finer distinction between frequent and occasional bingeing, and an extension to female subjects. It finds that frequent bingers experience reduced earnings whereas non‐bingers and occasional bingers earn a positive premium over abstainers.
The Influence of Institutional Constraints on Outsourcing
Authors: BALAKRISHNAN RAMJI , ELDENBURG LESLIE , KRISHNAN RANJANI , SODERSTROM NAOMI
Published: April 2010

Drawing on transaction cost economics and institutional theory we argue that the effects of institutional constraints on the transaction costs of outsourcing vary systematically with the type of service outsourced and the ownership structure of the outsourcing firm. Using data from hospitals, we demonstrate that these effects lead to a higher extent of outsourcing of nonclinical compared to clinical services, and larger outsourcing response of nonclinical services to cost pressures from managed care. Further, the effects of ownership structure and associated governance mechanisms on institutional constraints are reflected in the empirical results as cross‐sectional variations in the extent to which outsourcing is invoked as a response to cost pressures by hospitals of different ownership.
Sustainable consumption and production: Trends, challenges and options for the Asia‐Pacific region
Authors: Zhao Wei , Schroeder Patrick
Published: April 2010

This paper highlights current trends in consumption and production patterns in Asian developing countries and emerging economies. It describes the main challenges and opportunities for Asian countries making the transition towards sustainable consumption and production patterns. The main challenge for Asian economies is to address the unsustainable consumption patterns of urban consumers, which entails a policy shift from the current focus on pollution and inefficient industrial production. In view of future consumption trends and the global convergence of consumption patterns, the characteristics of the emerging ‘global consumer class’ are examined, with particular focus on urban ecological footprints and carbon emissions. Furthermore, the difference between urban and rural consumption is discussed, together with opportunities for low‐carbon urban development in the megacities of Asian developing countries. To conclude, the paper presents an overview of current policy measures taken in Asian countries to green economic development and realise sustainable consumption and production patterns.
A differentiated approach for sustainable consumption and production policies
Authors: Brodhag Christian
Published: April 2010

The importance of sustainable consumption and production in the international agenda has been growing, both because of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production in industrialized countries and because it appears to be a means for meeting the essential needs of developing countries. Adapting Fernand Braudel's model of the three layers of the economy (everyday life, market economy and global capitalism) to the current situation, this paper advocates for differentiated policies, which cannot be limited to those based on the dominant model of a rational legal system dealing with rational consumers. The cultural and collective dimensions of consumption, the social role of conspicuous consumption, the consumption of ecological services outside formal markets, the diversity of approaches to knowledge and rationality, all plead for an overarching approach and diversified policy tools. The paper underlines the need for global regulation processes which involve all stakeholders by focusing on two examples: the international task force on sustainable tourism, and the ISO 26000 standard on social responsibility.
Sustainable consumption in Brazil: Identification of preliminary requirements to guide product development and the definition of public policies
Authors: Marx Ângela Maria , De Paula Istefani Carísio , Sum Fabiane
Published: April 2010

Sustainable product development is closely related to sustainable consumption. The understanding of consumers' purchase, use and discard behaviours may facilitate the identification of requirements to guide manufacturers in the development of sustainable goods and services. The aim of this paper is to investigate consumers' perception about factors that motivate or discourage the consumption of sustainable products to identify demands and convert them into requirements. South Brazilian green and traditional consumers were asked to complete an exploratory qualitative questionnaire. Their answers were organized and compared to identify differences and similarities between the demands of these two groups. Furthermore, demands were converted into requirements for packages, products, manufactures, stores planning and discard systems. The interpretation of factors that motivate or discourage the purchase of sustainable products given by interviewees led to the creation of a list of possible public policies or programmes, aiming to support sustainable consumption. The results demonstrate the necessity of further quantitative investigation between consumer groups, for validation purposes.
Policies to promote sustainable consumption: Innovative approaches in Europe
Authors: Scholl Gerd , Rubik Frieder , Kalimo Harri , Biedenkopf Katja , Söebech Ólöf
Published: April 2010

Policy‐makers are increasingly recognising that the promotion of more sustainable consumption patterns is an indispensable prerequisite for achieving sustainable development in the long term. Policy documents and action plans have been published, and a wide array of policy instruments has been implemented with the aim of reducing the environmental and social burdens of consuming goods and services. But what are the latest trends and innovative approaches in sustainable consumption (SC) policies? What could be learnt for future policy‐making? Based on an overview of European policy instruments and several case studies, the paper discusses instructive examples of SC policy instruments, in particular the Danish information campaign “One Tonne Less”, the Dutch tax incentive scheme “Green Funds”, the British “Red/Green calculator”, and the pan‐European internet platform “TopTen”. Important features of novel policies — such as adaptability and collective action — are identified, and recommendations for future policies are presented. The recommendations refer to the foundation of SC policies, to the specific approach taken, to the applied instruments, and to the proper documentation of the implemented policies.
PHYLOGEOGRAPHY OF CUTLERIA CYLINDRICA (CUTLERIALES, PHAEOPHYCEAE) IN NORTHEASTERN ASIA, AND THE IDENTITY OF AN INTRODUCED POPULATION IN CALIFORNIA1
Authors: Kogishi Keita , Kitayama Taiju , Miller Kathy Ann , Hanyuda Takeaki , Kawai Hiroshi
Published: April 2010

Cutleria cylindrica Okamura was described from Japan in 1902 and has been reported only from northwestern Asia until its relatively recent discovery in California, USA, and Baja California, Mexico. To clarify the genetic relationships within and among the disjunct populations, we carried out a molecular phylogenetic study, as well as the examination of sex ratio and the life‐history patterns, of populations in Japan, Korea, and California. Based on the DNA sequences of mitochondrial genes cox2, cox3, the open reading frame (ORF) region, and the spacer between cox3 and ORF, a total of 23 haplotypes were detected in the 85 individuals from 20 localities in Japan, Korea, and California. All localities in Japan and Korea included multiple haplotypes, but only a single haplotype was found in California. There was a positive relationship between distance and genetic divergence in Japan and Korea. The single haplotype found in California was the same as one occurring in Japan (Aomori Pref. and Fukuoka Pref.) and Korea (Daedaepo, Pusan). Both male and female gametophytes were distributed in most northeastern Asian populations. Only female gametophytes, developing parthenogenetically from female gametes, were found in California and Aomori Pref., Japan. On the basis of these results, we conclude that the disjunct population of C. cylindrica in California originated from a relatively recent introduction from Japan and shares its origin with the parthenogenetic population in the Tsugaru Strait.
SCREENING OF ULTRAVIOLET‐A AND ULTRAVIOLET‐B RADIATION IN MARINE GREEN MACROALGAE (CHLOROPHYTA)1
Authors: Pescheck Frauke , Bischof Kai , Bilger Wolfgang
Published: April 2010

Ultraviolet‐screening capacity of macrothalli from marine chlorophytes was analyzed using an in vivo technique based on chl fluorescence. The method, originally introduced to assess epidermal UV transmittance in leaves from higher plants, is extended to macroalgae. Validation of the method was obtained by measuring unprotected samples (i.e., isolated chloroplasts from six algal species). It is shown that in a total of 71 investigated green macroalgae, including cultured and field‐collected material from six systematic orders, only 40% or 60% displayed significant screening of ultraviolet‐A (UVA) or ultraviolet‐B (UVB) radiation, respectively. Generally, the extent of screening was low in most of these species. Data analysis resulted in a clear phylogenetic pattern with minor influence of climatic origin of a given species. For some species, comparison between field‐collected and culture‐grown samples was possible. Only in 11 of 25 species field collected algae had appreciably higher screening than those grown in the absence of UVB radiation. For the first time, very efficient UVA and UVB screening is demonstrated for the order of the Cladophorales. Their UVB‐screening potential varied between 40% and 85% of incoming UVB radiation. However, the nature and localization of the detected UV‐absorbing compounds are still unknown. Long‐term UV‐exposure experiments pointed to a negative correlation of UVB‐screening capacity and UV‐induced inhibition of photosynthetic efficiency. Thus, species with pronounced screening were more UV resistant than species with lower screening.
Future Prospects for Biomarkers of Alcohol Consumption and Alcohol‐Induced Disorders
Authors: Freeman Willard M. , Vrana Kent E.
Published: April 2010

The lack of reliable measures of alcohol intake is a major obstacle to the diagnosis, treatment, and research of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Successful development of a biomarker that allows for accurate assessment of alcohol intake and drinking patterns would not only be a major advance in clinical care but also a valuable research tool. A number of advances have been made in testing the validity of proposed biomarkers as well as in identifying potential new biomarkers through systems biology approaches. This commentary will examine the definition of a biomarker of heavy drinking, the types of potential biomarkers, the steps in biomarker development, the current state of biomarker development, and critical obstacles for the field. The challenges in developing biomarkers for alcohol treatment and research are similar to those found in other fields. However, the alcohol research field must reach a competitive level of rigor and organization. We recommend that NIAAA consider taking a leadership role in organizing investigators in the field and providing a common set of clinical specimens for biomarker validation studies.
Alcohol Biomarkers in Applied Settings: Recent Advances and Future Research Opportunities
Authors: Litten Raye Z. , Bradley Ann M. , Moss Howard B.
Published: April 2010

During the past decade, advances have been made in the identification, development, and application of alcohol biomarkers. This is important because of the unique functions that alcohol biomarkers can serve in various applied settings. To carry out these functions, biomarkers must display several features including validity, reliability, adequacy of temporal window of assessment, reasonable cost, and transportability. During the past two decades, several traditional alcohol biomarkers have been studied in multiple human studies. Meanwhile, several new, promising biomarkers, including various alcohol metabolites and alcohol biosensors, are being explored in human studies. In addition, researchers have explored using biomarkers in combination and using biomarkers in combination with self‐reports, resulting in increased sensitivity with little sacrifice in specificity. Despite these advances, more research is needed to validate biomarkers, especially the new ones, in humans. Moreover, recent advances in high‐throughput technologies for genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics offer unique opportunities to discover novel biomarkers, while additional research is needed to perfect newly developed alcohol sensors. Development of more accurate biomarkers will help practicing clinicians to more effectively screen and monitor individuals who suffer from alcohol use disorders.
Single‐Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Corticotropin Releasing Hormone Receptor 1 Gene (CRHR1) Are Associated With Quantitative Trait of Event‐Related Potential and Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Chen Andrew C. H. , Manz Niklas , Tang Yongqiang , Rangaswamy Madhavi , Almasy Laura , Kuperman Samuel , Nurnberger John , O’Connor Sean J. , Edenberg Howard J. , Schuckit Marc A. , Tischfield Jay , Foroud Tatiana , Bierut Laura J. , Rohrbaugh John , Rice John P. , Goate Alison , Hesselbrock Victor , Porjesz Bernice
Published: April 2010

Background:  Endophenotypes reflect more proximal effects of genes than diagnostic categories, hence providing a more powerful strategy in searching for genes involved in complex psychiatric disorders. There is strong evidence suggesting the P3 amplitude of the event‐related potential (ERP) as an endophenotype for the risk of alcoholism and other disinhibitory disorders. Recent studies demonstrated a crucial role of corticotropin releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) in the environmental stress response and ethanol self‐administration in animal models. The aim of the present study was to test the potential associations between single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CRHR1 gene and the quantitative trait, P3 amplitude during the processing of visual target signals in an oddball paradigm, as well as alcohol dependence diagnosis.

Methods:  We analyzed a sample from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) comprising 1049 Caucasian subjects from 209 families (including 472 alcohol‐dependent individuals). Quantitative transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT) and family‐based association test (FBAT) were used to test the association, and false discovery rate (FDR) was applied to correct for multiple comparisons.

Results:  Significant associations (p < 0.05) were found between the P3 amplitude and alcohol dependence with multiple SNPs in the CRHR1 gene.

Conclusions:  Our results suggest that CRHR1 may be involved in modulating the P3 component of the ERP during information processing and in vulnerability to alcoholism. These findings underscore the utility of electrophysiology and the endophenotype approach in the genetic study of psychiatric disorders.
Preference Conditioning in Healthy Individuals: Correlates With Hazardous Drinking
Authors: Balodis Iris M. , Lockwood Kathleen P. , Magrys Sylvia A. , Olmstead Mary C.
Published: April 2010

Background:  Conditioned reward is a classic measure of drug‐induced brain changes in animal models of addiction. The process can be examined in humans using the Conditioned Pattern Preference (CPP) task, in which participants associate nonverbal cues with reward but demonstrate low awareness of this conditioning. Previously, we reported that alcohol intoxication does not affect CPP acquisition in humans, but our data indicated that prior drug use may impact conditioning scores.

Methods:  To test this possibility, the current study examined the relationship between self‐reported alcohol use and preference conditioning in the CPP task. Working memory was assessed during conditioning by asking participants to count the cues that appeared at each location on a computer screen. Participants (69 female and 23 male undergraduate students) completed the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) as measures of hazardous drinking.

Results:  Self‐reported hazardous drinking was significantly correlated with preference conditioning in that individuals who scored higher on these scales exhibited an increased preference for the reward‐paired cues. In contrast, hazardous drinking did not affect working memory errors on the CPP task.

Conclusions:  These findings support evidence that repeated drug use sensitizes neural pathways mediating conditioned reward and point to a neurocognitive disposition linking substance misuse and responses to reward‐paired stimuli. The relationship between hazardous drinking and conditioned reward is independent of changes in cognitive function, such as working memory.
Structural and Functional Effects of Developmental Exposure to Ethanol on the Zebrafish Heart
Authors: Dlugos Cynthia A. , Rabin Richard A.
Published: April 2010

Background: Fetal alcohol exposure during development results in a host of cardiac abnormalities including atrial and ventricular septal defects, teratology of Fallot, d‐transposition of the great arteries, truncus arteriosus communis, and aortico‐pulmonary window. The mechanisms behind these ethanol‐induced deficits are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the zebrafish, a simple model in which heart development and the sequence of gene expression is well elucidated and comparable to that in higher vertebrates, is sensitive to developmental exposure of pharmacologically relevant concentrations of ethanol.

Methods: Zebrafish eggs of the AB strain were raised in egg water or in 0.5% (v/v) ethanol solution for either 54 hpf (hours postfertilization) or 72 hpf. Heart pathology and volumes were evaluated on the latter group at 5 dpf (days postfertilization) on tissue sections from fixed larvae embedded in glycolmethacrylate. Heart rates were determined in embryos of 54 hpf and larvae of 5 dpf. The functional maturity of the heart’s conducting system was measured by determining the response of ethanol‐treated and control embryos and larvae to the adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol, and the cholinergic agonist, carbachol.

Results: Ethanol‐induced alterations occurred in heart morphology and heart volume. A developmental lag in the isoproterenol response and the absence of carbachol‐mediated bradycardia were also observed following ethanol treatment.

Conclusions: These results show that exposure of the zebrafish to ethanol during development results in structural and functional changes in the heart that mimic malformations that occur in patients with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). These findings promote the zebrafish heart as a future model for investigating the mechanisms responsible for ethanol’s adverse effects on vertebrate heart development.
Childhood Sleep Problems, Response Inhibition, and Alcohol and Drug Outcomes in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Authors: Wong Maria M. , Brower Kirk J. , Nigg Joel T. , Zucker Robert A.
Published: April 2010

Background:  To our knowledge, no prospective studies examine the relationships among childhood sleep problems, adolescent executive functioning, and substance outcomes (i.e., substance use and substance‐related problems). In this study, we examined whether childhood sleep problems predicted adolescent sleep problems and response inhibition. We also tested whether adolescent sleep problems and poor response inhibition mediated the relationship between childhood sleep problems and substance (alcohol and drug) outcomes in young adulthood.

Methods:  Study participants were 292 boys and 94 girls (M = 4.85, SD = 1.47) from a community sample of high‐risk families and controls.

Results:  When compared to their counterparts, those with trouble sleeping in childhood were twice as likely to have the same problem in adolescence. Childhood overtiredness predicted poor response inhibition in adolescence. Persistent trouble sleeping from childhood to adolescence and response inhibition in adolescence mediated the relationship between childhood sleep problems and drug outcomes in young adulthood, whereas overtiredness in childhood directly predicted alcohol use outcomes and alcohol‐related problems in young adulthood.

Conclusions:  This is the first study showing a long‐term relationship between childhood sleep measures and subsequent alcohol and drug outcomes. The developmental and clinical implications of these findings were discussed. Prevention and intervention programs may want to consider the role of sleep problems and response inhibition on substance use and abuse.
Sensation Seeking in Long‐Term Abstinent Alcoholics, Treatment‐Naïve Active Alcoholics, and Nonalcoholic Controls
Authors: Fein George , Di Sclafani Victoria , Finn Peter
Published: April 2010

Background:  Elevated sensation seeking is associated with the development of alcohol dependence; however, it has not been studied in long‐term abstinent alcoholics. In the current study, we examine sensation seeking in middle‐aged long‐term abstinent alcoholics (LTAA) and in younger actively drinking treatment‐naïve alcoholics (TxN).

Methods:  A modified version of the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) was administered to 52 middle‐aged LTAA (average age = 46.6 years) and 86 younger TxN (average age = 31.2 years), each study with its own age and gender comparable nonalcoholic controls (NAC). The SSS was modified to remove items specifically associated with alcohol or drug use. The associations between the SSS and alcohol use and deviance proneness were examined.

Results:  The 2 NAC samples did not differ on the SSS, allowing the 2 NAC samples to be combined into a single control group (NAC = 118), and the LTAA and TxN samples to be directly compared without concern for cohort effects. LTAA did not differ from NAC on the SSS; however, the TxN group had higher SSS scores compared with NAC on all subscales except Boredom Susceptibility. Sensation seeking was comparably associated with lower socialization in each group.

Conclusions:  The results suggest that either sensation seeking normalizes with long‐term abstinence or that relatively normal levels of sensation seeking predict the ability to achieve long‐term abstinence. In either case, the results have important implications for our understanding of long‐term abstinence.
The Remarkably High Prevalence of Epilepsy and Seizure History in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Bell Stephanie H. , Stade Brenda , Reynolds James N. , Rasmussen Carmen , Andrew Gail , Hwang Paul A. , Carlen Peter L.
Published: April 2010

Background:  Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the umbrella term that describes the range of adverse developmental outcomes that may occur in the offspring of mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy. FASD is associated with several comorbidities including epilepsy. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of epilepsy or a history of seizures in subjects with FASD and the contribution of relevant risk factors.

Methods:  A retrospective chart review was conducted on all active charts (N = 1063) at two FASD clinics. After exclusion of subjects without a confirmed diagnosis, a total of 425 subjects between the ages of 2–49 were included in the analysis. The relationships between FASD diagnosis and other risk factors for co‐occurrence of epilepsy or a seizure disorder (e.g., extent of exposure to alcohol and other drugs, type of birth, and trauma) were examined using chi‐square and multivariate multinomial logistic regression.

Results:  Twenty‐five (5.9%) individuals in the study population had a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, and 50 (11.8%) had at least one documented seizure episode, yielding an overall prevalence of 17.7% in this population. Importantly, a history of epilepsy or seizures was not different across the three diagnostic subgroups. In those subjects with available maternal drinking histories, first trimester exposure or drinking throughout all three trimesters were the predominant forms of fetal exposure. None of the other risk factors were associated with a greater prevalence of epilepsy or seizures.

Conclusions:  There is a remarkably high prevalence of epilepsy/seizures in the FASD population.
ENT1 Regulates Ethanol‐Sensitive EAAT2 Expression and Function in Astrocytes
Authors: Wu Jinhua , Lee Moonnoh R. , Choi Sun , Kim Taehyun , Choi Doo‐Sup
Published: April 2010

Background: Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) and excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) are predominantly expressed in astrocytes where they are thought to regulate synaptic adenosine and glutamate levels. Because mice lacking ENT1 display increased glutamate levels in the ventral striatum, we investigated whether ENT1 regulates the expression and function of EAAT2 in astrocytes, which could contribute to altered glutamate levels in the striatum.

Methods: We examined the effect of ENT1 inhibition and overexpression on the expression of EAAT2 using quantitative real‐time PCR and measured glutamate uptake activity in cultured astrocytes. We also examined the effect of 0 to 200 mM ethanol doses for 0 to 24 hours of ethanol exposure on EAAT2 expression and glutamate uptake activity. We further examined the effect of ENT1 knockdown by a specific siRNA on ethanol‐induced EAAT2 expression.

Results: An ENT1‐specific antagonist and siRNA treatments significantly reduced both EAAT2 expression and glutamate uptake activity while ENT1 overexpression up‐regulated EAAT2 mRNA expression. Interestingly, 100 or 200 mM ethanol exposure increased EAAT2 mRNA expression as well as glutamate uptake activity. Moreover, we found that ENT1 knockdown inhibited the ethanol‐induced EAAT2 up‐regulation.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that ENT1 regulates glutamate uptake activity by altering EAAT2 expression and function, which might be implicated in ethanol intoxication and preference.
Valorization of Foundry Sand in Clay Bricks at Industrial Scale
Authors: Alonso‐Santurde Rebeca , Coz Alberto , Quijorna Natalia , Viguri Javier R. , Andrés Ana
Published: April 2010

In this article, foundry sand as waste material has been valorized in ceramic brick manufacturing at industrial scale. The employment of a waste coming from one industry as an input for another is one of the key concepts of industrial ecology. To study the environmental behavior of the ceramic bodies in different life cycle stages, three leaching tests have been developed. We used an EN 12457 equilibrium leaching test with distilled water and a Wastewater Technology Centre acid neutralization capacity (WTC‐ANC) leaching test with different acidic leachates to carry out the environmental evaluation under different granular scenarios to ascertain the possibilities of the reuse or disposal of this granular material at the end of its useful life (end‐of‐life stage). Finally, we used a NEN 7345 diffusion leaching test for construction materials, with the aim of studying the environmental assessment at the use stage. Regulated pollutants in both stages have been evaluated. Furthermore, other soluble salts have been analyzed because they are closely related to the efflorescence phenomenon in bricks. Results indicate that core and green sand from the foundry industry can be used to replace clay content in construction materials, and that these foundry‐sand‐based ceramics improve some soluble salt results. Despite this fact, at the end‐of‐life stage in an inert waste landfill, lead, arsenic and chromium can be an environmental problem, both for commercial bricks and for foundry‐sand‐based bricks. This work can contribute to the determination of viability of sustainable processes of brick manufacturing that use foundry wastes as raw materials.
Ethical Currents: Still Trying to Add a “W”
Authors: Allen Susan L
Published: April 2010

Liam Frink is contributing editor of “Ethical Currents,” the AAA Committee on Ethics column in Anthropology News.
Phototactic responses of larvae from the marine sponges Neopetrosia proxima and Xestospongia bocatorensis (Haplosclerida: Petrosiidae)
Authors: Collin Rachel , Mobley Andrew S. , Lopez Linnet Busutil , Leys Sally P. , Diaz Maria Cristina , Thacker Robert W.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. Previous studies suggest that phototaxis in sponge larvae is generated by the bending of a tuft of long posterior cilia (LPC). The photoresponsiveness of these cilia is often assayed by examining their reaction to sudden changes in light intensity. Here, we document and describe the larvae of the tropical marine sponges Neopetrosia proxima and Xestospongia bocatorensis and examine the phototactic behavior of their larvae. Both species brood ovoid, tufted parenchymella larvae, clearly countering an earlier hypothesis that all petrosid sponges are oviparous. Larvae of N. proxima were positively phototactic and settled after 2 d, while larvae of X. bocatorensis were negatively phototactic and settled in as little as 4 h. In both species, LPC quickly responded to changes in the light intensity. When the light intensity is reduced, the larvae of N. proxima fold the cilia inwards immediately without beating, then flare them outwards, beating for a few seconds, and then gradually return to the neutral position while continuing to beat. In contrast, the larvae of X. bocatorensis flare the cilia outwards when the light intensity is reduced and fold them inwards when the light intensity is increased. Comparisons with reported ciliary responses to light for other species demonstrate that these responses do not show the hypothesized one‐to‐one correspondence with phototactic behaviors and are, therefore, of limited use in explaining the mechanisms that coordinate larval swimming.
Anatomy and ultrastructure of the male reproductive system in Pleioplana atomata (Platyhelminthes: Polycladida)
Authors: Liana Marcin K. , Litvaitis Marian K.
Published: April 2010

Abstract. The ultrastructure of the male reproductive system in the polyclad flatworm Pleioplana atomata is described. Numerous testes are scattered throughout the entire body but are heavily concentrated on the ventral side. All stages of differentiating sperm cells are present in all testes follicles. Intercellular bridges connect spermatocytes and spermatids derived from a single spermatogonium. In the distal part of spermatids, a zone of differentiation develops with a row of microtubules beneath the plasmalemma. Adjacent to these microtubules, an intercentriolar body is flanked by two basal bodies that give rise to two axonemes (each with a 9+“1” microtubular pattern) that face in opposite directions. The Golgi complex appears in the central portion of the spermatid and produces numerous small and large electron‐dense bodies. The small bodies surround the nucleus, whereas the large bodies cluster along with the mitochondria in the central part of the spermatid. Development of the spermatid leads to cell elongation and formation of a filiform, biflagellate mature spermatozoon with cortical microtubules all along the sperm shaft. The male canal system consists of paired vasa deferentia that separately enter a single seminal vesicle. A single prostatic canal connects the seminal vesicle to the prostatic vesicle. Ultrastructurally, the seminal vesicle and prostatic canal are very similar, and along with the prostatic vesicle and stylet pocket, are lined by a ciliated epithelium. The ultrastructure of the prostatic vesicle indicates that it probably produces a large volume of seminal fluid that, along with spermatozoa, is transferred to the mating partner through a stylet. Some of the findings, particularly on sperm ultrastructure, may provide characters useful for phylogenetic analysis.
Enigmatic earwig‐like fossils from Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Zhao Jing‐Xia , Ren Dong , Shih Chungkun
Published: April 2010

Abstract  A new species of a new genus, Atopderma ellipta gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Daohugou, Inner Mongolia, China. Because of poor preservation, the placement of these specimens is contentious, either Dermaptera or Coleoptera. However, we are inclined to attribute them to Dermaptera based on differences of five key characters. Detailed description and illustration of the specimens are given. Possible reasons for lacking good and complete abdomen preservation are also discussed.
Testes extracts inhibit heart contractions in females of the blood‐feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus
Authors: Martens Jocelyn D. , Chiang R. Gary
Published: April 2010

Abstract  Myogenic contractions of the heart of the female blood‐feeding insect, Rhodnius prolixus (Stål), are inhibited by crude extracts of testes applied directly to isolated dorsal vessels. Dorsal vessels were observed with a stereo microscope and heart beats timed with a stopwatch. In normal Rhodnius saline, hearts contract at 14.8 ± 7.1 beats per minute (n= 45). Crude extracts of the testes and the two male reproductive accessory organs (the opaque and transparent accessory glands) were prepared from previously frozen tissue by homogenizing 5–20 glands in a small glass homogenizer containing Rhodnius saline, centrifuging for 5 min at 2 000 g, and collecting the supernatant. Testes extract as low as 1.0 glands per mL inhibit contractions whereas crude extracts of the opaque or transparent accessory glands have no consistent effect. We refer to this cardiac inhibitor as rhodtestolin (Rhodnius testis inhibitory factor), and discuss its possible effects on the female during copulation.
Identification of isopeptidase activity in the midgut of insects: Purification, properties and nutritional ecology of a Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) larval enzyme
Authors: Simpson Robert M. , Christeller John T.
Published: April 2010

Abstract  A γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (isopeptidase) has been purified 580‐fold to homogeneity from the midgut of keratinophagous larvae of Hofmannophila pseudospretella. The enzyme is a single polypeptide of molecular mass 80 kDa. The enzyme was identified by its hydrolytic activity against the synthetic substrate, γ‐glutamyl‐AMC, its molecular mass and inhibition profile compared to other γ‐glutamyl transpeptidases. The enzyme is low or absent from most other insect digestive systems apart from other keratinophagous lepidopteran larvae and predatory carabids. While isopeptide bonds are present in high levels of the proteins in the diet of keratinophages, their presence in the diet of predatory beetles has not been established.
Oviposition preference of swallowtail butterfly, Papilio polytes (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) on four Rutaceae (Sapindales) host plant species
Authors: Suwarno  , Che Salmah M.R. , Ali Arshad , Hassan A. Abu
Published: April 2010

Abstract  Oviposition preference and egg deposition site selection by the butterfly, Papilio polytes L. (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) on four rutaceous host plants, Citrus aurantofolia (Christm.) Swing., Citrus hystrix DC., Citrus reticulata Blanco, and Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel, were assessed in field cages measuring 2 × 2 × 2 m. Simultaneous two‐choice and four‐choice oviposition tests of whole host plants were conducted. The mean total number of eggs laid per plant on C. reticulata in the two‐choice test was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than those on C. aurantifolia, C. hystrix, and M. koenigii. Among the three other host plants, C. aurantifolia was preferred over C. hystrix, and M. koenigii (P < 0.01) and C. hystrix was preferred over M. koenigii (P < 0.01). In the four‐choice test, C. reticulata was highly preferred and significantly different from C. hystrix and M. koenigii. However, no oviposition preference was detected with C. aurantifolia. Among the various plant parts in the two‐ and four‐choice tests, eggs on leaves of each plant were the highest, followed by numbers on stems, and negligible numbers on pots. These numbers on leaves of C. reticulata and C. aurantifolia were not significantly different (P > 0.05), but differed significantly (P < 0.01) from those on leaves of C. hystrix and M. koenigii. The quantitative trend of egg‐laying on stems was very similar to that observed for the leaves. Papilio polytes showed strong preference to lay eggs on the underside of leaves of all host plants than on the upper side or on the petiole. More eggs were laid on the upper side of each host plant than on its petiole. The four host plants in descending order of preference were C. reticulata≥C. aurantifolia > C. hystrix > M. koenigii. Although M. koenigii was the least preferred, it has the potential to serve as an alternative host plant for P. polytes which can be manipulated when necessary, to alleviate the infestation of this pest to the citrus industry.
Antiapoptotic molecule Bcl‐2 is essential for the anabolic activity of parathyroid hormone in bone
Authors: Nagase Yuichi , Iwasawa Mitsuyasu , Akiyama Toru , Ogata Naoshi , Kadono Yuho , Nakamura Masaki , Oshima Yasushi , Yasui Tetsuro , Matsumoto Takumi , Masuda Hironari , Bouillet Philippe , Nakamura Kozo , Tanaka Sakae
Published: April 2010

The antiapoptotic molecule Bcl‐2 inhibits apoptosis by preventing cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Although several studies have indicated the importance of Bcl‐2 in maintaining skeletal integrity, the detailed cellular and molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Since Bcl‐2−/− mice die before six weeks of age on account of renal failure and cannot be compared to adult wild‐type mice, we generated Bcl‐2−/−Bim+/− mice, in which a single Bim allele was inactivated, and compared them with their Bcl‐2+/−Bim+/− littermates. Bcl‐2−/−Bim+/− mice grew normally, but exhibited decreased bone mass compared to Bcl‐2+/−Bim+/− mice, mainly due to impaired osteoblast function. Interestingly, the anabolic effect of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was not observed in Bcl‐2−/−Bim+/− mice. This data demonstrates that Bcl‐2 is indispensable for the anabolic activity of PTH in bone.
Effects of antiresorptive agents on osteomyelitis
Authors: Li Dan , Gromov Kirill , Proulx Steven T. , Xie Chao , Li Jie , Crane Daniel P. , Søballe Kjeld , O’Keefe Regis J. , Awad Hani A. , Xing Lianping , Schwarz Edward M.
Published: April 2010

The effects of antiresorptive agents (e.g., alendronate [Aln], osteoprotegerin [OPG]) on bone infection are unknown. Thus, their effects on implant‐associated osteomyelitis (OM) were investigated in mice using PBS (placebo), gentamycin, and etanercept (TNFR:Fc) controls. None of the drugs affected humoral immunity, angiogenesis, or chronic infection. However, the significant (P < 0.05 vs. PBS) inhibition of cortical osteolysis and decreased draining lymph node size in Aln‐ and OPG‐treated mice was associated with a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the incidence of high‐grade infections during the establishment of OM. In contrast, the high‐grade infections in TNFR:Fc‐treated mice were associated with immunosuppression, as evidenced by the absence of granulomas and presence of Gram+ biofilm in the bone marrow. Collectively, these findings indicate that although antiresorptive agents do not exacerbate chronic OM, they can increase the bacterial load during early infection by decreasing lymphatic drainage and preventing the removal of necrotic bone that harbors the bacteria.
β‐catenin, cartilage, and osteoarthritis
Authors: Wu Qiuqian , Zhu Mei , Rosier Randy N. , Zuscik Michael J. , O’Keefe Regis J. , Chen Di
Published: April 2010

The early cellular events during the development of osteoarthritis (OA) are accelerated articular chondrocyte maturation and extracellular matrix degradation, which are usually seen in the weight‐bearing region of articular cartilage. The results of our recent studies from transgenic OA mouse models indicate that upregulation of β‐catenin signaling in articular chondrocytes is most likely responsible for the conversion of normal articular chondrocytes into maturing (arthritic) chondrocytes, which is associated with activation of chondrocyte maturational genes and matrix degradation. Conditional activation of the β‐catenin gene in articular chondrocytes leads to an OA‐like phenotype. Overexpression of Smurf2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, also induces an OA‐like phenotype through upregulation of β‐catenin signaling. In addition, β‐catenin upregulation was also found in articular cartilage tissues in patients with OA. These findings indicate that β‐catenin plays a central role in articular cartilage function and that activation of β‐catenin signaling may represent a pathologic mechanism for OA development.
iPS cell technology in regenerative medicine
Authors: Lengner Christopher J.
Published: April 2010

The promise of treating human genetic and degenerative diseases through the application of pluripotent cell‐based tissue engineering and regenerative medicine has come significantly closer to realization since the isolation of human embryonic stem (ES) cells. While the study of ES cells has greatly increased our fundamental understanding of pluripotency, technical and ethical limitations have been seemingly insurmountable impediments to the application of these cells in the clinic. The recent discovery that somatic mammalian cells can be epigenetically reprogrammed to a pluripotent state through the exogenous expression of the transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c‐MYC has yielded a new cell type for potential application in regenerative medicine, the induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell. Here we discuss how advances in iPS cell technology have led to the generation of patient‐specific cell lines that can potentially be used to model human diseases and ultimately act as therapeutic agents.