bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Iodine sources and iodine levels in pregnant women from an area without known iodine deficiency
Authors: Alvarez‐Pedrerol Mar , Ribas‐Fitó Núria , García‐Esteban Raquel , Rodriguez Àgueda , Soriano Dolors , Guxens Mònica , Mendez Michelle , Sunyer Jordi
Published: March 2009

Objective  An adequate iodine intake during pregnancy is essential for normal development of the foetus. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the median urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in a population of pregnant women should range between 150 and 249 μg/l. The aim of this study was to evaluate iodine status and to examine the main sources of iodine in pregnant women from an apparently iodine‐sufficient area.

Methods  Six hundred pregnant women in the third trimester completed a food frequency questionnaire, and iodine was measured in urine samples. Urinary iodine concentrations were described in the whole population and in subgroups according to their frequency of intake of milk, fish, eggs, bread and iodized salt, as iodine supplements.

Results  The median UIC was 104 μg/l (n = 600), however, the median was higher among women who had a high milk intake (117 μg/l), used iodized salt (117 μg/l) or who were supplemented with iodine (141 μg/l). Women receiving iodine supplementation who also consumed more than one cup of milk per day had median UIC higher than 150 μg/l. In multivariate models, women with moderate and high milk intake had lower risk of having UIC below 150 μg/l [OR (95% CI): 0·42 (0·22–0·82) and 0·29 (0·15–0·55) respectively], after adjustment for potential confounders.

Conclusions  On the basis of WHO criteria, the iodine status of pregnant women was inadequate in this area. Milk was the most important dietary source of iodine, and iodine supplementation was also an important source of iodine, although not enough to reach the current recommendations.
The impact of blood glucose levels on stimulated adrenocorticotropin hormone and growth hormone release in healthy subjects
Authors: Jakobsdóttir S. , Twisk J. W. R. , Drent M. L.
Published: March 2009

Objective  In studies investigating the influence of glucose levels on the pituitary function the methods used have been variable and mainly focused on the change in function as a reaction to unphysiological low or high blood glucose levels. In the present study the impact of physiological and elevated blood glucose levels on adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) and growth hormone release are investigated.

Design  The euglycaemic and hyperglycaemic clamp techniques were used to reach stable levels of 4, 8 and 12 mmol/l blood glucose levels. After a stabilization phase of 2 h, a corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) or a growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulation test was performed.

Subjects  Seven and eight healthy male volunteers, belonging to two groups, participated in this study.

Measurements  The area under the curve (AUC), peak values and time to peak of ACTH, cortisol and growth hormone were calculated to evaluate the response to the CRH and GHRH stimulation test.

Results  The peak values of ACTH, cortisol and growth hormone seemed to be the highest during the 4 mmol/l clamp sessions, compared with the 8 and 12 mmol/l clamps, although the differences were not statistically significant when analysed for every subject individually. The AUC and time to peak measurements were comparable during the three clamp procedures.

Conclusion  The pituitary reaction on CRH and GHRH was not significantly changed by various blood glucose levels.
Cortisol response to general anaesthesia for medical imaging in children
Authors: Rains Phillipa C. , Rampersad Neeta , De Lima Jonathan , Murrell David , Kinchington David , Lee Jennifer W. , Maguire Ann M. , Donaghue Kim C.
Published: March 2009

Objective  The cortisol response to surgical stress has been frequently studied, and recommendations developed for steroid replacement in adrenally insufficient patients. There are currently no guidelines, however, for adrenal hormone replacement during anaesthesia alone. The objective of this study was to characterize the normal cortisol response to general anaesthesia in the absence of a surgical procedure in children.

Design  Prospective observational study.

Patients  Thirty‐seven children (aged 0.5–7 years) without known endocrine disease or cranial neoplasms undergoing outpatient magnetic resonance imaging, under general anaesthesia for investigation of nonacute problems in a tertiary referral paediatric hospital.

Measurements  Serum cortisol and salivary cortisol were measured before and after anaesthesia and during recovery.

Results  The mean cortisol level was 303 (±117) nmol/l at induction, 396 (±241) nmol/l at emergence from anaesthesia and 584 (±218) nmol/l during recovery. A stress response (increase in serum cortisol >550 nmol/l) occurred in 23% of children at emergence and in 52% of children at recovery. Eight children (31%) actually demonstrated a decrease in cortisol levels during anaesthesia, without an increase in complications. Mean salivary cortisol levels were 6.5 ± 4.8 nmol/l before induction, 23.5 ± 13.8 nmol/l at emergence from anaesthesia and 26.9 ± 21.6 nmol/l during recovery. A stress response (an increase in salivary cortisol greater than seven‐fold) occurred in 26% of children during the study.

Conclusions  While some children demonstrated a rise in their cortisol levels in response to anaesthesia without surgery, the response was variable and often more pronounced during recovery. There was consistently no classic stress response.
Influence of hydrocortisone dosage scheme on health‐related quality of life in patients with adrenal insufficiency
Authors: Bleicken Benjamin , Hahner Stefanie , Loeffler Melanie , Ventz Manfred , Decker Oliver , Allolio Bruno , Quinkler Marcus
Published: March 2009

Context  Recent studies suggest that current glucocorticoid replacement therapies fail to completely restore well‐being in patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI).

Objective  The objective of this study was to investigate health‐related quality of life (QoL) in patients with AI depending on dose and frequency of daily intake of hydrocortisone (HC).

Design and patients  In a cross‐sectional study, primary and secondary AI patients were contacted and asked to complete three validated self‐assessment questionnaires [Short Form‐36 (SF‐36), Giessen Complaint List (GBB‐24), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. HC doses were corrected for body surface area. Results were compared with sex‐ and age‐matched controls drawn from the questionnaire‐specific reference cohort.

Results  Completed questionnaire sets were available from 334 patients on HC (primary AI n = 194; secondary AI n = 140). Patients on higher doses of HC (>30 mg/day) showed significantly impaired subjective health status in two of eight SF‐36 dimensions, and three of five GBB‐24 scales compared with those on lower HC doses. No significant differences in QoL were found between lower HC doses (15–30 mg/day) or between primary or secondary AI. Patients on HC with thrice daily intake showed significantly impaired QoL in one of eight SF‐36 dimensions (15–20 mg/day, 20–25 mg/day), in one of five GBB‐24 scales (15–20 mg/day), as well as higher anxiety scores.

Conclusions  Health‐related QoL was impaired in patients with primary and secondary AI. HC doses above 30 mg/day were associated with a worse health status. Thrice daily intake of HC was not superior to twice daily intake. Our data support the perception that current replacement strategies are still insufficient to fully restore well‐being and daily performance.
A prospective study of dental anxiety in a cohort of children followed from 5 to 9 years of age
Authors: TICKLE MARTIN , JONES CLARE , BUCHANNAN KATIE , MILSOM KEITH M. , BLINKHORN ANTHONY S. , HUMPHRIS GERRY M.
Published: March 2009

Background.  The development of dental anxiety in children is poorly understood.

Aims.  The aims of this study were to measure changes in dental anxiety over time and to examine the relationship between anxiety, dental care, and other factors.

Design.  A prospective cohort study of children in the north‐west of England followed from 5 to 9 years of age. The participants were clinically examined and their parents completed the same questionnaire at 5 and 9 years.

Results.  The majority (54.3%N = 38) of participants who were anxious at 5 years were no longer anxious at 9 years, but a large proportion of children who were anxious at 5 remained anxious at 9 years of age (45.7%N = 32). During the follow‐up period, a larger proportion of children developed anxiety (11.7%N = 85) than the proportion of children who were reported as being anxious at baseline (8.8%N = 70). At 9 years of age, dental anxiety was significantly associated with girls; parental anxiety; a history of extraction; and irregular, asymptomatic dental visiting. These factors were also significantly associated with dental anxiety at 5 years old.

Conclusions.  Dental anxiety was cumulative in the study population over time, and its development influenced by multiple variables. Results suggest that adverse conditioning and vicarious learning are both important in the development of this condition.
Spring Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) predicts annual variation in timing of peak faecal crude protein in mountain ungulates
Authors: Hamel Sandra , Garel Mathieu , Festa‐Bianchet Marco , Gaillard Jean‐Michel , Côté Steeve D.
Published: March 2009

In recent years, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been used to assess the relationships between habitat quality and animal life‐history traits. Since numerous ecological studies now use NDVI rather than perform direct vegetation assessments, field validations are essential to provide confidence in the biological significance of NDVI estimates. While some studies have compared NDVI with plant biomass, very few examined the relationship between NDVI and changes in vegetation quality.

Using data from two long‐term studies of alpine ungulates, we assessed the relationship between two NDVI indices and the date of peak in faecal crude protein (FCP), which represents temporal variability in the availability of high‐quality vegetation. We also evaluated if NDVI data could predict annual variation in the timing of spring green‐up.

In both populations, integrated NDVI in June was negatively correlated with the date of the peak in FCP, indicating that high integrated NDVI values corresponded to early springs in alpine habitats. Maximum NDVI increase during spring green‐up was positively correlated with the timing of peak FCP, illustrating that rapid increases in NDVI represented delayed springs.

Predicted values of date of peak FCP estimated each year from NDVI data satisfactorily fitted observed values, and prediction intervals included all observed values. These results suggest that NDVI can reliably predict variation over years in the timing of spring.

Synthesis and applications. Our long‐term studies demonstrate that a multi‐year time series of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) can reliably measure yearly changes in the timing of the availability of high‐quality vegetation for temperate herbivores. This finding therefore supports the use of NDVI as a proxy for vegetation attributes in population ecology and wildlife management studies.
Enhancement of Allee effects in plants due to self‐incompatibility alleles
Authors: Levin Donald A. , Kelley Christopher D. , Sarkar Sahotra
Published: March 2009

Founder populations of plants are usually small and may become extinct due to many factors including inbreeding and low pollen transfer besides stochastic factors. This positive relationship between population size and individual fitness is taken as evidence of an Allee effect. Very few studies have quantitatively compared the influence of self‐incompatibility systems and S‐allele counts on the magnitude of observed Allee effects for different population sizes and seed and pollen dispersal distances.

This paper uses a stochastic, spatially explicit, individual‐based cellular automaton model to simulate the dynamics of newly established plant populations with sporophytic or gametophytic self‐incompatibility (SI) alleles and compares these to a null (Mendelian) population. Parameters varied in model simulation are the S‐allele count, the initial population size, and the pollen and seed dispersal distances. These parameters were studied over a wide range to assess their relative impact on population viability compared to the null case in order to model the effect of self‐incompatibility on population fitness.

The results indicate that Allee effects are enhanced and growth rates are slowed in newly established populations of species with S‐alleles relative to Mendelian populations, leading to enhanced extinction risk. They also show the importance of the relationship between pollen and seed dispersal ranges on the fitness of the population. Populations with sporophytic self‐incompatibility were more extinction‐prone than those with gametophytic SI, and the latter more so than Mendelian populations when all other factors were held constant.

Synthesis. Overall, the simulation results indicate that Allee effects in small populations are enhanced in plants with S‐alleles. Even in relatively large populations, S‐allele count controls the strength of observed Allee effects. A high S‐allele count is able to compensate for lower initial population size. Pollen and seed dispersal ranges had a similarly strong effect on the viability of populations with S‐alleles. These effects are stronger in populations with sporophytic self‐incompatibility than in those with gametophytic SI. Simulation results also indicate that S‐alleles were not lost to genetic drift over time, in contrast with some earlier studies of S‐allele systems displaying Allee effects.
Molecular genetic variation and population structure in morphologically differentiated cave and surface populations of the freshwater amphipod Gammarus minus
Authors: CARLINI DAVID B. , MANNING JOHN , SULLIVAN PATRICK G. , FONG DANIEL W.
Published: March 2009

Gammarus minus is an important component of surface spring and cave ecosystems throughout Appalachia, and is a useful indicator of the hydrology and gene flow in freshwater communities. Gammarus minus populations occupying large cave passages (> 2 km) are usually troglomorphic, having reduced eyes, fewer ommatidia, larger body size, longer antennae, and reduced pigmentation relative to surface populations. We surveyed five cave stream and 10 surface spring populations for DNA sequence variation in the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS‐1) genes with an aim towards characterizing phylogeographical structure and comparing the nature of genetic variation in cave vs. surface populations. Although standing variation at both loci was rather low within populations, a significant degree of divergence and spatial structuring of populations was observed. Levels of genetic variation within cave and spring populations differed substantially, with caves harbouring significantly less variation at the COI locus than surface springs. Codon usage bias was significantly lower in caves, indicating that cave streams harbour smaller and/or more recently colonized populations. Overall these data indicate limited gene flow among populations and suggest that the cave populations sampled in this study are prone to bottlenecks, possibly due to larger temperature fluctuations and more frequent incidence of drought conditions associated with these particular cave habitats.
Sudden expansion of a single brown bear maternal lineage across northern continental Eurasia after the last ice age: a general demographic model for mammals?
Authors: KORSTEN MARJU , HO SIMON Y. W. , DAVISON JOHN , PÄHN BERIT , VULLA EGLE , ROHT MARIS , TUMANOV IGOR L. , KOJOLA ILPO , ANDERSONE‐LILLEY ZANETE , OZOLINS JANIS , PILOT MALGORZATA , MERTZANIS YORGOS , GIANNAKOPOULOS ALEXIOS , VOROBIEV ALEX A. , MARKOV NIKOLAI I. , SAVELJEV ALEXANDER P. , LYAPUNOVA ELENA A. , ABRAMOV ALEXEI V. , MÄNNIL PEEP , VALDMANN HARRI , PAZETNOV SERGEI V. , PAZETNOV VALENTIN S. , RÕKOV ALEXANDER M. , SAARMA URMAS
Published: March 2009

The brown bear has proved a useful model for studying Late Quaternary mammalian phylogeography. However, information is lacking from northern continental Eurasia, which constitutes a large part of the species’ current distribution. We analysed mitochondrial DNA sequences (totalling 1943 bp) from 205 bears from northeast Europe and Russia in order to characterize the maternal phylogeography of bears in this region. We also estimated the formation times of the sampled brown bear lineages and those of its extinct relative, the cave bear.

Four closely related haplogroups belonging to a single mitochondrial subclade were identified in northern continental Eurasia. Several haplotypes were found throughout the whole study area, while one haplogroup was restricted to Kamchatka. The haplotype network, estimated divergence times and various statistical tests indicated that bears in northern continental Eurasia recently underwent a sudden expansion, preceded by a severe bottleneck. This brown bear population was therefore most likely founded by a small number of bears that were restricted to a single refuge area during the last glacial maximum. This pattern has been described previously for other mammal species and as such may represent one general model for the phylogeography of Eurasian mammals. Bayesian divergence time estimates are presented for different brown and cave bear clades. Moreover, our results demonstrate the extent of substitution rate variation occurring throughout the phylogenetic tree, highlighting the need for appropriate calibration when estimating divergence times.
Phylogeography and host race differentiation in the European mistletoe (Viscum album L.)
Authors: ZUBER D. , WIDMER A.
Published: March 2009

Mistletoes are bird dispersed, hemi‐parasitic shrubs infecting a large number of woody host plants. Chloroplast fragment length polymorphisms were used to study genetic differentiation among presumed host races, population genetic structure, and to elucidate the postglacial migration history of mistletoe (Viscum album) across the entire natural distribution range in Europe. The populations sampled belong to four closely related taxa, three of which are widely distributed and differ in their host trees, whereas a fourth taxon is rare and endemic to the Island of Crete. The molecular analysis of chloroplast DNA variation supported the distinction of these four taxa. We further found evidence for phylogeographical structure in each of the three widely distributed host races. Independent of host race, mistletoe haplotypes from Turkey were distinct and distant from those found elsewhere in Europe, suggesting that highly differentiated populations, and possibly new taxa, exist at the range limit of the species.
AtMBD9 modulates Arabidopsis development through the dual epigenetic pathways of DNA methylation and histone acetylation
Authors: Yaish Mahmoud W. F. , Peng Mingsheng , Rothstein Steven J.
Published: March 2009

Mutations within the Arabidopsis METHYL‐CpG BINDING DOMAIN 9 gene (AtMBD9) cause pleotropic phenotypes including early flowering and multiple lateral branches. Early flowering was previously attributed to the repression of flowering locus C (FLC) due to a reduction in histone acetylation. However, the reasons for other phenotypic variations remained obscure. Recent studies suggest an important functional correlation between DNA methylation and histone modifications. By investigating this relationship, we found that the global genomic DNA of atmbd9 was over‐methylated, including the FLC gene region. Recombinant AtMBD9 does not have detectable DNA demethylation activity in vitro, but instead has histone acetylation activity. Ectopic over‐expression of AtMBD9 and transient DNA demethylation promotes flowering and causes partial recovery of the normal branching phenotype. Co‐immunoprecipitation assays suggest that AtMBD9 interacts in vivo with some regions of the FLC gene and binds to histone 4 (H4). Gene expression profile analysis revealed earlier up‐regulation of some flower‐specific transcriptional factors and alteration of potential hormonal and signal transducer axillary branching regulatory genes. In accordance with this result, AtMBD9 itself was found to be localized in the nucleus and expressed in the flower and axillary buds. Together, these results suggest that AtMBD9 controls flowering time and axillary branching by modulating gene expression through DNA methylation and histone acetylation, and reveal another component of the epigenetic mechanism controlling gene expression.
Oral N‐acetylcysteine attenuates pulmonary emphysema and alveolar septal cell apoptosis in smoking‐induced COPD in rats
Authors: CAI Shan , CHEN Ping , ZHANG Cheng , CHEN Jian‐Bo , WU Jie
Published: March 2009

Background and objective:  The role of apoptosis in lung destruction in emphysema/COPD is increasingly being recognized. The relationship between anti‐oxidants and alveolar septal cell apoptosis in COPD lungs remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the anti‐oxidant, N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), on the development of emphysema and alveolar septal cell apoptosis in smoking‐induced COPD in rats.

Methods:  Sprague–Dawley rats (n = 48) were randomly assigned to normal, COPD, sham and NAC groups. The effects of treatment were assessed by measuring the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in BAL fluid by ELISA, VEGF and VEGF receptor‐2 (VEGFR2) protein expression by western blotting, and the apoptotic index (AI) of alveolar septal cells by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labelling (TUNEL) assay. Histopathological evaluations (mean linear intercept (MLI), destructive index (DI)) and lung function measurements were performed.

Results:  FEV0.3/FVC and PEF were lower in the COPD group than in the normal group. MLI and DI were lower in the NAC‐treated group than in the COPD or sham‐treated groups. As confirmed by western blotting, the levels of VEGF in BAL fluid were higher in the NAC‐treated group than in the COPD group. VEGFR2 protein expression was higher in the NAC‐treated group than in the COPD group. The AI was significantly lower in the NAC‐treated group than in the COPD group. There was an inverse correlation between levels of VEGF in BAL fluid and the AI of alveolar septal cells.

Conclusions:  NAC attenuates lung damage, pulmonary emphysema and alveolar septal cell apoptosis by partly reversing the decrease in VEGF secretion and VEGFR2 protein expression in smoking‐induced COPD in rats.
Influence of chunky graphite on mechanical and fatigue properties of heavy‐section cast iron
Authors: MOURUJÄRVI A. , WIDELL K. , SAUKKONEN T. , HÄNNINEN H.
Published: March 2009

This research work aimed to find out the influences of the different amounts of chunky graphite on mechanical and fatigue properties of GJS 800 ductile cast iron. Chunky graphite has been a problem of heavy section thick‐walled ductile cast iron components. Chunky graphite is branched and interconnected as a network within eutectic cells and has been observed to form in thermal centres of heavy ductile cast iron sections during solidification. This research work proved that chunky graphite in the microstructure decreases the ultimate tensile strength, the elongation to fracture and fatigue life significantly, but does not influence on the yield stress of ductile cast iron GJS 800 substantially. Low nodular count and nodularity rate also decrease the fatigue life of ductile cast iron, and the difference of fatigue life of specimens containing chunky graphite or having low nodular count and nodularity rate is not large. Influence of the amount of chunky graphite on fatigue life increases until 20% chunky graphite content, and above that the fatigue life does not decrease substantially.
A NOTE ON THE EFFECT OF TRADE LIBERALIZATION VIA OPTIMAL POLLUTION TAX
Authors: Haibara Takumi
Published: March 2009

This paper reexamines the environmental consequences of trade liberalization in a general equilibrium model of a small open economy facing trade and environmental distortions. I show that, under certain conditions, trade liberalization achieved by reducing trade barriers increases the amount of pollution through change in the optimal pollution tax. This result is worthy of consideration in regard to countries that pursue trade liberalization, and the subsequent environmental cleanup.
The Importance of Role Models and Demographic Context for Senior Women's Work Identity Development
Authors: Sealy Ruth H.V. , Singh Val
Published: March 2009

The lack of senior female role models continues to be cited as a key barrier to women's career success. Yet there is little academic research into the gendered aspects of role modelling in organizations, or the utility of role models at a senior level. The paper starts with a review of papers examining the construction of role models in organizational settings. This leads to the inclusion of two related areas – organizational demographics as the contextual factor affecting the availability of role models and how they are perceived, and work identity formation as a possible key explanatory factor behind the link between the lack of senior female role models and the lack of career progression to top organizational levels. The literature looking at social theories of identity formation is then considered from a gender perspective. The key gaps identified are that while the behavioural value of role models has been well documented, a better understanding is needed of how gender and organizational demography influence the role modelling process. Importantly, the symbolic value and possibly other values of female role models in the identity construction of senior women require further in‐depth investigation. Finally, this review calls for a more integrated approach to the study of role models and work identity formation, pulling together literatures on organizational demography, the cognitive construal of role models and their importance for successful work identity formation in senior women.
Forest fragmentation relaxes natural nest predation in an Afromontane forest
Authors: Spanhove T. , Lehouck V. , Boets P. , Lens L.
Published: March 2009

Nest predation is widely regarded as a major driver underlying the population dynamics of small forest birds. Following forest fragmentation and the subsequent invasion by species from non‐forested landscape matrices, shifts in predator communities may increase nest predation near forest edges. However, effects of human‐driven habitat change on nest predation have mainly been inferred from studies with artificial nests, despite being regarded as poor surrogates for natural ones. We studied variation in predation rates, and relationships with timing of breeding and characteristics of microhabitats and fragments, on natural white‐starred robin Pogonocichla stellata nests during three consecutive breeding seasons (2004–2007) in a Kenyan fragmented cloud forest. More than 70% of all initiated nests were predated during each breeding season. Predation rates nearly quadrupled between the earliest and the latest nests within a single breeding season, increased with distance to the forest edge, and decreased with the edge‐to‐area ratio of forest fragments. These spatial relationships oppose the traditional perception of edge and fragmentation effects on nest predation, but are in line with results from artificial nest experiments in other East African forests. In case of inverse edge and fragmentation effects on nest predation, such as shown in this study, species that tolerate edges for breeding may be affected positively, rather than negatively, by forest fragmentation, while the opposite can be expected for species restricted to the forest interior. The possibility of inverse edge effects, and its conservation implications, should therefore be taken into account when drafting habitat restoration plans.
Implications of predatory specialization for cranial form and function in canids
Authors: Slater G. J. , Dumont E. R. , Van Valkenburgh B.
Published: March 2009

The shape of the cranium varies widely among members of the order Carnivora, but the factors that drive the evolution of differences in shape remain unclear. Selection for increased bite force, bite speed or skull strength may all affect cranial morphology. We investigated the relationship between cranial form and function in the trophically diverse dog family, Canidae, using linear morphometrics and finite element (FE) analyses that simulated the internal and external forces that act on the skull during the act of prey capture and killing. In contrast to previous FE‐based studies, we compared models using a newly developed method that removes the effects of size and highlights the relationship between shape and performance. Cranial shape varies among canids based on diet, and different selective forces presumably drove evolution of these phenotypes. The long, narrow jaws of small prey specialists appear to reflect selection for fast jaw closure at the expense of bite force. Generalists have intermediate jaw dimensions and produce moderate bite forces, but their crania are comparable in strength to those of small prey specialists. Canids that take large prey have short, broad jaws, produce the largest bite forces and possess very strong crania. Our FE simulations suggest that the remarkable strength of skulls of large prey specialists reflect the additional ability to resist extrinsic loads that may be encountered while struggling with large prey items.
A synthetic NCAM‐derived mimetic peptide, FGL, exerts anti‐inflammatory properties via IGF‐1 and interferon‐γ modulation
Authors: Downer Eric J. , Cowley Thelma R. , Cox Fionnuala , Maher Francis O. , Berezin Vladimir , Bock Elisabeth , Lynch Marina A.
Published: March 2009

Microglial cell activity increases in the rat hippocampus during normal brain aging. The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)‐derived mimetic peptide, FG loop (FGL), acts as an anti‐inflammatory agent in the hippocampus of the aged rat, promoting CD200 ligand expression while attenuating glial cell activation and subsequent pro‐inflammatory cytokine production. The aim of the current study was to determine if FGL corrects the age‐related imbalance in hippocampal levels of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) and pro‐inflammatory interferon‐γ (IFNγ), and subsequently attenuates the glial reactivity associated with aging. Administration of FGL reversed the age‐related decline in IGF‐1 in hippocampus, while abrogating the age‐related increase in IFNγ. FGL robustly promotes IGF‐1 release from primary neurons and IGF‐1 is pivotal in FGL induction of neuronal Akt phosphorylation and subsequent CD200 ligand expression in vitro. In addition, FGL abrogates both age‐ and IFNγ‐induced increases in markers of glial cell activation, including major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) and CD40. Finally, the proclivity of FGL to attenuate IFNγ‐induced glial cell activation in vitro is IGF‐1‐dependent. Overall, these findings suggest that FGL, by correcting the age‐related imbalance in hippocampal levels of IGF‐1 and IFNγ, attenuates glial cell activation associated with aging. These findings also highlight a novel mechanism by which FGL can impact on neuronal CD200 ligand expression and subsequently on glial cell activation status.
Centenarians – a useful model for healthy aging? A 29‐year follow‐up of hospitalizations among 40 000 Danes born in 1905
Authors: Engberg Henriette , Oksuzyan Anna , Jeune Bernard , Vaupel James W. , Christensen Kaare
Published: March 2009

Centenarians surpass the current human life expectancy with about 20–25 years. However, whether centenarians represent healthy aging still remains an open question. Previous studies have been hampered by a number of methodological shortcomings such as a cross‐sectional design and lack of an appropriate control group. In a longitudinal population‐based cohort, it was examined whether the centenarian phenotype may be a useful model for healthy aging. The study was based on a complete follow up of 39 945 individuals alive in the Danish 1905 birth cohort on January 1, 1977 identified through the Danish Civil Registration System (DCRS). Data from the Danish Demographic Database and The Danish National Patient Register (in existence since 1977) were used. The 1905 cohort was followed up from 1977 through 2004 with respect to hospitalizations and number of hospital days. Survival status was available until December 2006. Danish centenarians from the 1905 cohort were hospitalized substantially less than their shorter‐lived contemporaries at the same point in time during the years 1977 through 2004. For example, at age 71–74, the proportion of nonhospitalized centenarians was 80.5% compared with 68.4% among individuals who died in their early 80s. This trend was evident in both sexes. As a result of their lower hospitalization rates and length of stay in hospital compared with their contemporaries, who died at younger ages, Danish centenarians represent healthy agers. Centenarians constitute a useful study population in the search for fixed traits associated with exceptional longevity, such as genotype.
Harmonized soil profile data for applications at global and continental scales: updates to the WISE database
Authors: Batjes N. H.
Published: March 2009

Version 3.1 of the ISRIC‐WISE database holds selected site and horizon data for some 10 250 soil profiles from 149 countries. Profile data were extracted from a wide range of sources and harmonized with respect to the original (1974) and revised (1988) Legend of the FAO‐Unesco Soil Map of the World. Profiles have been described, sampled, and analysed according to methods and standards in use in the originating countries; analytical results for the same property cannot always be compared directly; as a result the amount of measured data available for modelling is sometimes much less than expected. WISE was specifically developed for land‐related applications at continental and global scales.
Gender as a Moderator of the Relationship between Child Exposure to the World Trade Centre Disaster and Behavioural Outcomes
Authors: Bannon William , DeVoe Ellen R. , Klein Tovah P. , Miranda Claudia
Published: March 2009

Objectives:  This study examined the moderating effect of gender on the relationship of child exposure to the World Trade Centre (WTC) disaster and child behavioural difficulties among a sample of very young children who resided in New York City on September 11, 2001.

Methods:  The authors interviewed 180 parents of children who were age five or younger on September 11th, 2001. Parents were asked to provide information concerning family demographic characteristics, their own and their children’s mental health, their children’s behavioural difficulties in the aftermath of the WTC disaster, the number of WTC disaster experiences their children were exposed to, and the number of stressful life events their children experienced prior to the disaster.

Results:  Gender moderated the relationship between child exposure to the WTC disaster and several behavioural outcomes. Specifically, among children who were highly exposed boys evidenced significantly higher scores on parent report measures of internalising and total behavioural difficulties relative to girls.

Conclusions:  Findings are contrary to other research on children and trauma, in which gender differences are more often reported with higher rates of internalising behaviour among girls. Future research is needed that examines how and whether younger children’s vulnerabilities in the face of trauma may differ by gender.
Unexplained fetal death: Are women with a history of fetal loss at higher risk?
Authors: MEASEY Mary‐Anne , TURSAN d’ESPAIGNET Edouard , CHARLES Adrian , DOUGLASS Catherine
Published: March 2009

Aims: To identify factors, including the loss of a previous pregnancy before 20 weeks gestation, which are associated with increased risk of singleton antepartum unexplained fetal death (UFD) in Western Australia (WA) using information recorded in routine data collections.

Methods: All fetal deaths in WA from 1990 to 1999 that underwent thorough post‐mortem investigations were classified using the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Perinatal Death Classification System. All UFDs were selected as cases and unmatched controls were randomly drawn from all live births in WA occurring during the study period. Demographic and clinical information on cases and controls was obtained from the WA Midwives’ Notification System. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to determine the independent effect of risk factors and calculate odds ratios.

Results: Almost one quarter (22%) of stillbirths were unexplained. Primigravid and primiparous women with a history of pregnancy loss before 20 weeks were at higher risk of UFD than multiparous women who had not experienced any loss. Women with a history of fetal death (after 20 weeks) had the highest risk of UFD.

Conclusion: The current practice of closely monitoring pregnant women with a history of fetal loss or death should continue as this study suggests they may have a higher risk of poor obstetric outcome. Larger studies are needed to confirm the association between previous pregnancy loss and UFD.
High frequency oscillations (80–500 Hz) in the preictal period in patients with focal seizures
Authors: Jacobs Julia , Zelmann Rina , Jirsch Jeffrey , Chander Rahul , Dubeau Claude‐Édouard Châtillon François , Gotman Jean
Published: March 2009

Purpose:  Intracranial depth macroelectrode recordings from patients with focal seizures demonstrate interictal and ictal high frequency oscillations (HFOs, 80–500 Hz). These HFOs are more frequent in the seizure‐onset zone (SOZ) and reported to be linked to seizure genesis. We evaluated whether HFO activity changes in a systematic way during the preictal period.

Methods:  Fifteen minutes of preictal intracranial electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were evaluated in seven consecutive patients with well‐defined SOZ. EEG was filtered at 500 Hz and sampled at 2,000 Hz. Ripples (80–250 Hz) and fast ripples (250–500 Hz) were visually marked, and spectral analysis was performed in seizure‐onset as well as nonseizure‐onset channels. Linear regressions fitted to the power trends corresponding to intervals of 1, 5, and 15 min before the seizure onset was calculated.

Results:  Total rates of HFOs were significantly higher in the SOZ than outside. Preictal increases and decreases in HFO rates and band power could be detected in all patients, and they were not limited to the SOZs. These measures were very variable, and no systematic trends were observed when comparing patients or seizures in the same patient.

Discussion:  High frequencies in the range of 80–500 Hz are present during the preictal period and are more prominent in the SOZ. They do not change in a systematic way before seizure onset for the horizons we tested. The 80–500 Hz band may be used for the localization of seizure‐onset areas but may be more difficult to use for seizure prediction purposes.
GENETIC DIVERSITY AND INTROGRESSION IN TWO CULTIVATED SPECIES (PORPHYRA YEZOENSISANDPORPHYRA TENERA) AND CLOSELY RELATED WILD SPECIES OFPORPHYRA(BANGIALES, RHODOPHYTA)1
Authors: Niwa Kyosuke , Iida Satoko , Kato Aki , Kawai Hiroshi , Kikuchi Norio , Kobiyama Atsushi , Aruga Yusho
Published: March 2009

We investigated the genetic variations of the samples that were tentatively identified as two cultivatedPorphyraspecies (Porphyra yezoensisUeda andPorphyra teneraKjellm.) from various natural populations in Japan using molecular analyses of plastid and nuclear DNA. From PCR‐RFLP analyses using nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and plastid RUBISCO spacer regions and phylogenetic analyses using plastidrbcL and nuclear ITS‐1 rDNA sequences, our samples from natural populations ofP. yezoensisandP. tenerashowed remarkably higher genetic variations than found in strains that are currently used for cultivation. In addition, it is inferred that our samples contain four wildPorphyraspecies, and that three of the four species, containingPorphyra kinositae, are closely related to cultivatedPorphyraspecies. Furthermore, our PCR‐RFLP and molecular phylogenetic analyses using both the nuclear and plastid DNA demonstrated the occurrence of plastid introgression fromP. yezoensistoP. teneraand suggested the possibility of plastid introgression from cultivatedP. yezoensisto wildP. yezoensis. These results imply the importance of collecting and establishing more strains of cultivatedPorphyraspecies and related wild species from natural populations as genetic resources for further improvement of cultivatedPorphyrastrains.
FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF MICROALGAE AS A NOVEL TOOL FOR BIODIVERSITY STUDIES, SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, AND THE ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY1
Authors: Domenighini Alberto , Giordano Mario
Published: March 2009

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry was used to study the spectral features of 12 eukaryotic and two prokaryotic species of microalgae. The algae were cultured in liquid media containing either NO3− or NH4+ as the sole N‐source; for the NH4+ treatment, the algae were subjected to short‐term (24 h) or long‐term (1 month) incubations; for the hypersaline species, cells were also grown in the presence of 2 M NaCl. Over 500 spectra, acquired from at least three distinct cultures for each species, in each growth regime, were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and were successfully separated according to their taxonomy, showing that the overall spectra were characteristic of each species and that this technique could be fruitfully employed to separate microalgal species living in a similar condition (as would be the case for a natural assemblage). In addition, in most cases, it was possible to differentiate between algae subjected to different growth treatments although belonging to the same species. We also demonstrated that it is possible to accurately identify species and determine the nutritional status of their environment of origin (e.g., N‐source), provided that suitable FTIR spectral libraries are available. This study aims to provide the basis for the development of rapid, easy, and inexpensive methods for the evaluation of biodiversity in natural phytoplankton samples and to monitor the water quality of natural environments.
NITZSCHIA OVALIS(BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) MONO LAKE STRAIN ACCUMULATES 1,4/2,5 CYCLOHEXANETETROL IN RESPONSE TO INCREASED SALINITY1
Authors: Garza‐Sánchez Fernando , Chapman David J. , Cooper James B.
Published: March 2009

The growth of microalgae in hypersaline conditions requires that cells accumulate osmoprotectants. In many instances, these are polyols. We isolated the diatomNitzschia ovalisH. J. Arn. from the saline and alkaline water body Mono Lake (CA, USA). This isolate can grow in salinities ranging from 5 to 120 parts per thousand (ppt) of salt but normally at 90 ppt salinity. In this report, we identified the major polyol osmoprotectant as 1,4/2,5 cyclohexanetetrol by electron ionization‐mass spectrometry (EI–MS),1H,13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and infrared (IR) and showed an increase in cellular concentration in response to rising salinity. This increase in the cyclitol concentration was evaluated by gas chromatography of the derived tetraacetylated cyclohexanetetrol obtaining an average of 0.7 fmol · cell−1at 5 ppt and rising to 22.5 fmol · cell−1at 120 ppt. The 1,4/2,5 cyclohexanetetrol was also detected in the red algaPorphyridium purpureum. Analysis of the free amino acid content inN. ovaliscultures exposed to changes in salinity showed that proline and lysine also accumulate with increased salinity, but the cellular concentration of these amino acids is about 10‐fold lower than the concentration of 1,4/2,5 cyclohexanetetrol. The comparison of amino acid concentration per cell with cyclitol suggests that this polyol is important in compensating the cellular osmotic pressure due to increased salinity, but other physiological functions could also be considered.
The Senate Electoral Cycle and Bicameral Appropriations Politics
Authors: Shepsle Kenneth A. , Van Houweling Robert P. , Abrams Samuel J. , Hanson Peter C.
Published: March 2009

We consider the consequences of the Senate electoral cycle and bicameralism for distributive politics, introducing the concept of contested credit claiming, i.e., that members of a state's House and Senate delegations must share the credit for appropriations that originate in their chamber with delegation members in the other chamber. Using data that isolate appropriations of each chamber, we test a model of the strategic incentives contested credit claiming creates. Our empirical analysis indicates that the Senate electoral cycle induces a back‐loading of benefits to the end of senatorial terms, but that the House blunts this tendency with countercyclical appropriations. Our analysis informs our understanding of appropriations earmarking and points a way forward in studying the larger consequences of bicameral legislatures.
Of Clues and Signs: The Dead Body and Its Evidential Traces
Authors: Crossland Zoe¨
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT Taking the conflict over the remains of Ned Kelly as a starting point, in this article I trace the various conceptions of the, body as evidence within the intertwined histories of anthropology, criminology, and medicine to explore how anthropological practice brings the dead into being through exhumation and analysis. I outline the popular rhetorical tropes within which evidentiary claims are situated, exploring how the agency of people after death is understood within the framework of present‐day forensic anthropological practice and how this is underwritten by a particular heritage of anatomical analysis. [Keywords: archaeology, forensic anthropology, materiality, semiotics of the body]
Imagining Postnationalism: Arts, Citizenship Education, and Arab American Youth
Authors: El‐Haj Thea Renda Abu
Published: March 2009

This article explores an Arab American community arts organization as a site for promoting youth civic participation and social activism. Studying a citizenship education project outside the school walls, and focusing on the arts as a medium for this work, foregrounds the role of the symbolic for engaging youth as active participants in democratic society. The article also examines the symbolic political argument for postnational citizenship that the young participants articulated through a film they produced. [Arab American youth, citizenship education, arts, immigration]
Seasonal Abundances of Naked Amoebae in Biofilms on Shells of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) with Comparative Data from Rock Scrapings
Authors: BISCHOFF PAUL J. , WETMORE SCOTT
Published: March 2009

ABSTRACT. In North America, zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are notoriously known as invasive species. The abundance of naked amoebae sampled from the shells of zebra mussels was compared with abundances from rock scrapings at approximately monthly intervals for 1 year. The sites were 2 km apart along the same shoreline. No significant difference in abundance of naked amoebae (F=1.44; P≤0.270) was detected for the two sampling sites. The combined data showed a minimum density of naked amoebae in winter, followed by peaks in early spring. The percent encysted increased from a low of 1% in the summer to 80% in early winter.