bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Different variations of tissue B-group vitamin concentrations in short- and long-term starved rats
Authors: Moriya Aya , Fukuwatari Tsutomu , Sano Mitsue , Shibata Katsumi
Published: June 2011

Prolonged starvation changes energy metabolism; therefore, the metabolic response to starvation is divided into three phases according to changes in glucose, lipid and protein utilisation. B-group vitamins are involved in energy metabolism via metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids. To determine how changes in energy metabolism alter B-group vitamin concentrations during starvation, we measured the concentration of eight kinds of B-group vitamins daily in rat blood, urine and in nine tissues including cerebrum, heart, lung, stomach, kidney, liver, spleen, testis and skeletal muscle during 8 d of starvation. Vitamin B1, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, folate and biotin concentrations in the blood reduced after 6 or 8 d of starvation, and other vitamins did not change. Urinary excretion was decreased during starvation for all B-group vitamins except pantothenic acid and biotin. Less variation in B-group vitamin concentrations was found in the cerebrum and spleen. Concentrations of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, nicotinamide and pantothenic acid increased in the liver. The skeletal muscle and stomach showed reduced concentrations of five vitamins including vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid and folate. Concentrations of two or three vitamins decreased in the kidney, testis and heart, and these changes showed different patterns in each tissue and for each vitamin. The concentration of pantothenic acid rapidly decreased in the heart, stomach, kidney and testis, whereas concentrations of nicotinamide were stable in all tissues except the liver. Different variations in B-group vitamin concentrations in the tissues of starved rats were found. The present findings will lead to a suitable supplementation of vitamins for the prevention of the re-feeding syndrome.
Bioavailability of vitamin B12 in cows' milk
Authors: Matte J. Jacques , Guay Frédéric , Girard Christiane L.
Published: June 2011

The natural source of vitamin B12 in human diets comes from animal products. For example, one glass (250 ml) of milk provides approximately 50 % of the RDA (2·4 μg/d). It was hypothesised that the provision of vitamin B12 from milk is more efficiently absorbed than the synthetic form used in vitamin supplements. Pigs (n 10) were used as a model for intestinal absorption of vitamin B12 in humans to compare the net fluxes of vitamin B12 across the portal-drained viscera (PDV; an indicator of intestinal absorption) after ingestion of meals complemented with conventional and vitamin B12-enriched (via injections to cows) milk (raw, pasteurised or microfiltrated) or with equivalent amounts of cyanocobalamin, the synthetic form used in supplements or unsupplemented. Net flux of vitamin B12 across PDV after the ingestion of milk was positive, though not influenced by milk enrichment (P>0·3) or technological processes (P = 0·8) and was greater than after ingestion of equivalent amounts of cyanocobalamin (cyanocobalamin v. all milk, P ≤ 0·003). In fact, net fluxes of this vitamin were not different from 0 after either cyanocobalamin or the meal devoid of vitamin B12 (unsupplemented v. cyanocobalamin, P = 0·7). The cumulative PDV fluxes during the 24 h following ingestion of meals complemented with milk varied from 5·5 to 6·8 μg. These values correspond to an efficiency of intestinal absorption of vitamin B12 from milk varying between 8 and 10 %. Therefore, vitamin B12, which is abundant in cows' milk, is also substantially more available than the most commonly used synthetic form of this vitamin.
Environmental constraints influencing survival of an African parasite in a north temperate habitat: effects of temperature on development within the host
Authors: TINSLEY R. C. , YORK J. E. , STOTT L. C. , EVERARD A. L. E. , CHAPPLE S. J. , TINSLEY M. C.
Published: June 2011

The monogeneanProtopolystoma xenopodishas been established in Wales for >40 years following introduction withXenopus laevisfrom South Africa. This provides an experimental system for determining constraints affecting introduced species in novel environments. Parasite development post-infection was followed at 15, 20 and 25°C for 15 weeks and at 10°C for ⩾1 year and correlated with temperatures recorded in Wales. Development was slowed/arrested at ⩽10°C which reflects habitat conditions for >6 months/year. There was wide variation in growth at constant temperature (body size differing by >10 times) potentially attributable in part to genotype-specific host-parasite interactions. Parasite density had no effect on size but host sex did: worms in males were 1·8 times larger than in females. Minimum time to patency was 51 days at 25°C and 73 days at 20°C although some infections were still not patent at both temperatures by 105 days p.i. In Wales, fastest developing infections may mature within one summer (about 12 weeks), possibly accelerated by movements of hosts into warmer surface waters. Otherwise, development slows/stops in October–April, delaying patency to about 1 year p.i., while wide variation in developmental rates may impose delays of 2 years in some primary infections and even longer in secondary infections.
How to truly value implantable cardioverter-defibrillators technology: Up-front cost or daily cost?
Authors: Biffi Mauro , Ziacchi Matteo , Bertini Matteo , Gardini Beatrice , Mazzotti Andrea , Massaro Giulia , Martignani Cristian , Diemberger Igor , Boriani Giuseppe , Corsini Daniela
Published: June 2011

Background: We calculated the daily cost of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) based on their actual longevity to prove whether the up-front cost is a reliable parameter for the ICD purchasing-process.

Methods. Longevity of single chamber (SC), double chamber (DC), and biventricular (BiV) ICDs from Medtronic (MDT), Guidant (GDT), and St. Jude Medical (SJM) was measured in all the patients implanted in years 2000, 2001, 2002 who reached device replacement within December 31, 2009. The cost of each ICD (device + lead/s) was normalized for its own longevity. Data are expressed as median (25th–75th percentile).

Results: A total of 123/153 patients completed the study, 70 percent being alive 8 years after implantation. MDT devices had a superior longevity compared with GDT and SJM (p < .001). Fifty-eight percent of replaced ICDs had a service life at least 1 year shorter than the manufacturers' prediction. Longer-lasting devices had a significantly lower daily cost: €4.8 (4.6–5.7) versus €6.8 (6.2–9.2) and €6.9 (6.2–7.6) for SC (p < .001); €6.9 (6.8–7.7) versus €12.6 (11.8–13.3) and €13.4 (10.3–16.1) for DC; €8.5 (8.3–10.3) versus €15.4 (15.1–15.8) and €14.6 (14.1–14.9) for BiV (p < .005).

Conclusions: The true cost of ICD treatment is strictly dependent on device longevity, whereas device up-front cost is unreliable. This aspect should be valued in the technology purchasing process, and could set the basis for an outcome-based reimbursement system. Our observations may be the benchmark respectively for ICD longevity and daily ICD cost in future comparisons. Independent observations in the real-life scenario are needed to properly value newer technologic improvements.
Gender in health technology assessment: Pilot study on agency approaches
Authors: Panteli Dimitra , Zentner Annette , Storz-Pfennig Philipp , Busse Reinhard
Published: June 2011

Objectives:Gender as a social construct is a recognized health determinant. Because best practice in reporting health technology assessment (HTA) clearly specifies the need to appraise a technology's social impact within the target population, the extent to which gender issues are taken into account in HTA production is of interest, not only in light of equitable practices but also for reasons of effectiveness. The aim of this study is to provide a first assessment of the degree of gender sensitivity shown by HTA agencies around the world today.

Methods:The Web sites of sixty HTA agencies were analyzed. The consideration of gender aspects was specifically looked for in each agency's general mission statement, its priority setting process, and its methodological approach. Additionally, specific gender-oriented initiatives not belonging to any of the aforementioned categories were identified.

Results:Of the sixty agencies, less than half mention a commitment to addressing the social implication of health technologies. Only fifteen institutions make information on their priority setting principles available on their Web sites and gender was an issue in two of those cases. Data on methodology were obtainable online from18 agencies, two of which mentioned gender issues explicitly. Finally, gender-oriented initiatives were identified by thirteen agencies.

Conclusions:A gender-sensitive approach is apparently rarely adopted in current HTA production. Exceptional practices and relevant tools do exist and could serve as examples to be promoted by international collaborative networks.
Interannual variability of net community production and air-sea CO2 flux in a naturally iron fertilized region of the Southern Ocean (Kerguelen Plateau)
Authors: Jouandet Marie Paule , Blain Stephane , Metzl Nicolas , Mongin Mathieu
Published: June 2011

The interannual variability of net community production (NCP) and air-sea CO2 flux in a naturally iron fertilized and productive area of the Southern Ocean (Kerguelen plateau) was investigated using a 1D biogeochemical model driven by satellite chlorophyll, sea surface temperature and wind speed data for the 1997–2007 period. The model simulates the low fCO2 and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) measured during summers 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07 and the high NCP derived from a seasonal carbon budget in the surface waters of these blooms. Although satellite data show high interannual variability in the dynamics and magnitude of the bloom during the 1997–2007 decade, the simulated interannual variability of the NCP was only ± 14%. This unexpected result could be due to the combined effect of both the duration and the start date of the bloom, the latter determining the depth of the mixed layer used to compute the NCP. In the productive area, the interannual variability of air-sea CO2 flux (± 13%) was not only driven by the biological effect but also by the solubility effect. Our results contrast with previous studies in the high nutrient, low chlorophyll regions of the Southern Ocean.
Modified Nikaidoh procedure in a patient with transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with unusual coronary anatomy
Authors: Ugurlucan Murat , Sayin Omer A. , Tireli Emin
Published: June 2011

The Rastelli operation has been the most common procedure for the repair of transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. A relatively recent approach is the Nikaidoh procedure. Despite the fact that it seems promising, the operation lacks long-term follow-up data. It has been postulated that patients with anomalous coronary arteries are high-risk candidates for the Nikaidoh procedure and its modifications. In this report, we present the case of a patient with transposition of the great arteries with remote restrictive ventricular septal defect and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with coronary anomaly – with the right coronary artery originating from the left anterior descending coronary artery and crossing the right ventricular outflow tract – who underwent successful modified Nikaidoh operation.
Effectiveness of a Canteen Take Away concept in promoting healthy eating patterns among employees
Authors: Lassen Anne D , Ernst Lotte , Poulsen Sanne , Andersen Klaus K , Hansen Gitte L , Biltoft-Jensen Anja , Tetens Inge
Published: June 2011

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of a relatively novel concept of providing employees with healthy ready-to-heat meals to bring home to their families, here referred to as Canteen Take Away (CTA).

Design

Employees’ dietary intake on two weekdays when they received free CTA was compared with that on weekdays when they did not receive CTA. Four non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls were applied to assess dietary intake on a daily basis. Moreover, a digital photographic method was used to assess evening meal intake for three consecutive weeks. Data were analysed using a mixed-effects model.

Setting

A financial worksite offering CTA.

Subjects

Twenty-seven employees.

Results

Overall dietary quality as expressed by the energy density of the food (excluding beverages) was found to be significantly lower on days consuming CTA meals compared to days not consuming CTA with regard to evening meal intake (average difference: −187 (95 % CI −225, −149) kJ/100 g) and on a daily basis (average difference: −77 (95 % CI −132, −21) kJ/100 g). Other favourable differences included increased vegetable intake (average difference: 83 (95 % CI 67, 98) g/evening meal, 109 (95 % CI 62, 155) g/d).

Conclusion

The present study shows that providing healthy take-away dinners has potential for promoting healthy dietary habits among employees. This reinforces the importance of availability and convenience as effective tools to promote healthy eating habits.
Music Education in Nineteenth-Century Greece: Its Institutions and their Contribution to Urban Musical Life
Authors: Romanou Katy , Barbaki Maria
Published: June 2011

This article explores the music education of the Greek people in the nineteenth century, as revealed through the description of music education in Constantinople, Corfu and Athens.

Before the establishment of the new state of Greece early in the nineteenth century, both Greeks and Europeans speak of ‘Greece’, referring to Greek communities beyond its borders. Music education in those communities consisted mainly of the music of the Greek Orthodox Church – applying a special notation, appropriate to its monophonic, unaccompanied chant – and Western music, and was characterized by the degree to which either culture prevailed. The antithesis of those music cultures was best represented, at least up to the 1850s, among the Greeks living in Constantinople – the seat of the Greek Orthodox Church – and Corfu of the Ionian Islands – where Italian music was assimilated. Athens was elected in 1834 as the capital of the Greek state because of its ancient monuments and did not attain the significance of a contemporary cultural centre before the 1870s. In Athens, these two musical cultures were absorbed and transformed through their confrontation and interaction. However, the new state's political orientation determined the predominance of Western music in music education in the capital.
Mission provides new findings about Mercury
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: June 2011

Mercury once was considered by even some planetary scientists as “an example, to use a phrase coined by a very famous scientist, as ‘one of the burnt‐out cinders of the solar system.’ And it is anything but that,” Sean Solomon, who is principal investigator of NASA's Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry and Ranging (MESSENGER) spacecraft, said at a 16 June briefing at NASA headquarters in Washington, D. C. Scientists at the briefing announced significant new findings about the planet's chemical composition, topography, magnetic field, and other features. MESSENGER has now logged more than 1 Mercurian year (about 88 Earth days) as the first satellite in orbit around the closest planet to the Sun, and new understandings are being gleaned from the spacecraft's imaging system, which has already taken more than 20,000 images of Mercury. In addition, the laser altimeter has operated more than 2 million times from orbit thus far, and other instruments are also gathering extensive data about the planet.
Estimating uncertainties in watershed studies
Authors: Campbell John , Yanai Ruth , Green Mark
Published: June 2011

Quantifying Uncertainty in Ecosystem Studies (QUEST) Workshop: Uncertainty in Hydrologic Fluxes of Elements at the Small Watershed Scale; Boston, Massachusetts, 14–15 March 2011; Small watersheds have been used widely to quantify chemical fluxes and cycling in terrestrial ecosystems for about the past half century. The small watershed approach has been valuable in characterizing hydrologic and nutrient budgets, for instance, in estimating the net gain or loss of solutes in response to disturbance. However, the uncertainty in these ecosystem budget calculations is generally ignored. Without uncertainty estimates in watershed studies, it is difficult to evaluate the significance of observed differences between watersheds or changes in budgets over time, and erroneous conclusions may be drawn. The historical lack of attention given to uncertainty has been due at least in part to the lack of appropriate analytical tools and approaches. The issue of uncertainty has been confronted more rigorously in other disciplines, yet the advances made have not been comprehensively applied to biogeochemical input‐output budgets. In recent years, there has been growing recognition that estimates of uncertainty are essential for coming to sound scientific conclusions, identifying which budget components most need improvement, and developing more efficient monitoring strategies, thereby maximizing information gained per unit cost.
Stanley receives 2010 William Gilbert Award: Citation
Authors: Weiss Benjamin P.
Published: June 2011

Sabine Stanley received the William Gilbert Award at the 2010 AGU Fall Meeting, held 13–17 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes outstanding and unselfish work in magnetism of Earth materials and of the Earth and planets.
Modeling monthlong slow slip earthquakes
Authors: Schultz Colin
Published: June 2011

The slow crawl of the Earth's tectonic plates is periodically punctuated by the release of decades or centuries of accumulated stress. Standard earthquakes, lasting from fractions of a second to minutes in duration, are known to range from imperceptible to those that can flatten a city, but recent geodetic measurements have led to the discovery of a previously unrecognized style of fault slip—episodic slow earthquakes. These slow earthquakes recur roughly annually, involve a weeklong or monthlong speeding up of a plate's motion by a factor of 10—100, and are associated with low‐level seismic tremors. First detected about 10 years ago in Japan and western North America, they occur along the same faults that produce devastating magnitude 9 earthquakes but at greater depths. How and why slow earthquakes differ from regular earthquakes, and the extent to which they might foreshadow the shallower truly great earthquakes, are currently topics of wide interest. (Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, doi:10.1029/2010GC003386, 2011)
Tropical atmospheric circulation and precipitation changing
Authors: Tretkoff Ernie
Published: June 2011

As Earth's climate has warmed over the past several decades, atmospheric and hydrological cycle changes are being observed globally and regionally. For instance, Zhou et al. analyzed trends in the hydrological cycle in the tropics over the past 20–30 years using precipitation, cloud, and radiation data. In particular, the researchers looked at Hadley and Walker cell atmospheric circulation patterns. Hadley circulation is a major circulation pattern in the tropical atmosphere in which air masses, warmed by the Sun, rise near the equator, then travel poleward, sink back toward Earth's surface in the subtropics, and return to the equator. Similarly, in the Walker circulation, air rises over the warmer parts of the oceans near the equator, travels zonally toward the colder parts, then sinks back to the surface. There are indications that both of these circulation patterns are changing with global warming and could be altering precipitation and cloud radiation distributions in the tropical regions. (Journal of Geophysical Research‐Atmospheres, doi:10.1029/2010JD015197, 2011)
Histone demethylases in chromatin cross‐talks
Authors: Verrier Laure , Vandromme Marie , Trouche Didier
Published: June 2011

The ‘histone code’ hypothesis states that chromatin‐based regulation of nuclear processes such as transcription is brought about by the combination of distinct modifications (histone marks) at specific loci. Its correct establishment involves chromatin cross‐talks, ensuring an ordered and concerted deposition/removal of a particular set of modifications that act together to give the correct transcriptional outcome. Histone methylation on lysine residues can negatively or positively impact on gene transcription, depending on the residue and on its degree of methylation. Thanks to this complexity and given the number of chromatin ‘readers’ that can recognize methylated lysine residues, histone methylation plays a very special role in specifying the various chromatin states. The recent discovery of histone demethylases, which represent a large family of enzymes often containing histone modification binding modules, sheds new light on cross‐talk mechanisms involving methylated residues. In the present review, after a brief overview of the various families of histone demethylases, we describe the different mechanisms by which they participate in chromatin cross‐talks and how these mechanisms are integrated to achieve the mutual exclusion or the link between chromatin marks, leading to the establishment of the correct histone code.
Resource use, cattle performance and output patterns on different farm types in a mountainous province of northern Vietnam
Authors: Huyen Le Thi Thanh , Herold Pera , Markemann André , Zárate Anne Valle
Published: June 2011

This study compares the use of resources, cattle performance and outputs on three different cattle-keeping farm types (mixed small farms, mixed medium farms with a collective use of natural pastures, and specialised large farms). The purpose was to evaluate the potential for beef production on household farms, where cattle keeping is integrated with cropping, compared with specialised large beef cattle farms. Data were collected by using farmer interviews, participatory rural appraisal tools and cattle body measurements, and analysed by linear models using SAS software. Household farms raised cattle at very low input levels. Medium farms had lower costs for cattle keeping than small farms in the lowlands (0.11 Vietnamese Dong × 106/farm.year compared with 1.20 Vietnamese Dong × 106/farm.year). High inputs were observed on all large farms. Only the local Yellow cattle was found in the highlands. Yellow cattle was less fertile in the highlands than in the lowlands (age at first calving of 3.2 years and calving interval of 16.3 months compared with 2.8 years and 12.6 months, respectively). Performances of exotic breeds varied according to feeding and breeding management of large farms. Crossbred Laisind cattle had a better productive adaptability than exotic beef breeds. Cattle were used mainly for working and manure by small farms. The stock value was highest on medium farms. Low outputs on large farms were a result of high feed costs, inappropriate management and the failure of markets. Results from simulations identify the medium mixed farms with access to natural pasture showing a potential for the development of beef production, provided that access to markets and cattle management is improved.
Calculating dry matter consumption of dairy herds in Australia: the need to fully account for energy requirements and issues with estimating energy supply
Authors: Heard J. W. , Doyle P. T. , Francis S. A. , Staines M. v. H. , Wales W. J.
Published: June 2011

Feed costs are the major component of the variable costs and a significant component of the total costs of milk production on Australian dairy farms. To improve farm productivity, farmers need to understand how much feed is being consumed and the nutritive characteristics of the diet. This paper reviews an existing simple approach, the ‘Target 10’ approach, which is commonly used by the dairy industry in Victoria to estimate annual forage consumption. An alternative approach – the ‘Feeding Systems’ approach – is then introduced. The ‘Feeding Systems’ approach is compared with estimated forage consumption measured under experimental conditions. An analysis of the sensitivity of both approaches to incremental changes in key variables is presented. The ‘Feeding Standards’ approach was concordant with estimated forage consumption measured under experimental conditions. Sensitivity analysis has highlighted key variables which may have considerable influence over simulated forage consumption using this approach. Given that none of the key variables tested in this analysis can be varied in the ‘Target 10’ approach, we feel confident that the ‘Feeding Standards’ approach provides an improved method of back-calculating annual on-farm forage consumption. Using a robust approach to calculate forage consumption which fully accounts for metabolisable energy requirements is important where farmers are using home-grown forage consumption as an indicator of farm feeding system performance. It is also important to understand the assumptions involved in estimating metabolisable energy supply from either supplements or forage.
Identification and characterisation of the predominant lactic acid-producing and lactic acid-utilising bacteria in the foregut of the feral camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Australia
Authors: Ghali M. B. , Scott P. T. , Alhadrami G. A. , Al Jassim R. A. M.
Published: June 2011

The camel is emerging as a new and important animal in the Australian livestock industry. However, little is known regarding the microbial ecosystem of the gastrointestinal tract of this ruminant-like animal. This study was carried out to determine the diversity of lactic acid-producing and lactic acid-utilising bacteria in the foregut of the feral camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Australia. Putative lactic acid bacteria were isolated from the foregut contents of camels by culturing on De Man, Rogosa, Sharpe and lactic acid media. Identification of representative isolates was based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Fermentation end products of glucose (i.e. volatile fatty acids and lactate) were also measured in vitro. The key predominant bacteria identified in this study were closely related to Streptococcus bovis, Selenomonas ruminantium, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Lachnospira pectinoschiza and Prevotella ruminicola. The main L-lactate producers were those isolates closely related to S. bovis, S. ruminantium and Lactococcus garvieae, while the efficient lactate utilisers were S. ruminantium-related isolates. D-lactate was produced by isolates closely related to either L. pectinoschiza or S. ruminantium. The predominant bacteria isolated and characterised in this study are identical and/or closely related to those typically found in true ruminants (e.g. S. ruminantium, B. fibrisolvens, S. bovis). In addition, some of the bacteria isolated represent novel species of Lachnospira and Clostridium in the context of lactic acid bacteria from a large herbivorous host. The results from this study have contributed to our understanding and provide opportunities to reduce foregut acidosis in the camel.
Evaluation of the serum fructosamine test to monitor plasma glucose concentration in the late-pregnant sheep
Authors: Sorondo M. L. , Cirio A.
Published: June 2011

Since the persistent decrease in blood glucose during late pregnancy in sheep is an index of high risk of metabolic disorder, the present study aimed to evaluate the capacity of the serum fructosamine (Fser) to retrospectively monitor blood glucose. Pregnant grazing sheep were assigned to three treatments: high energy (n = 8), supplemented with 400 g of corn grain from Day 100 until lambing; medium energy (n = 7), not supplemented, and low energy (n = 8), fasted from Days 136 to 141. In weekly blood samples (7 weeks before to 3 weeks after lambing), glucose, fructosamine, β-hydroxybutyrate and total proteins were determined. Serum protein were stable and without differences among groups. β-hydroxybutyrate was higher in the fasted group the week after fasting (P < 0.05). The regression analysis between plasma glucose and Fser in the same week and in the 3 weeks following, showed no significant correlations, actual or retrospective, neither considering all sheep nor within each energy level. The results did not support the usefulness of Fser for monitoring plasma glucose concentration in late pregnant ewes.
Chemical alterations with nutritional consequences due to pelleting animal feeds: a review
Authors: Svihus Birger , Zimonja Ozren
Published: June 2011

Pelleting is an energy-demanding process that is carried out on many animal feeds to assure a large macro-structure and thus improved handling properties and a high and homogenous feed intake. Due to the heat applied during conditioning and pelleting, some chemical alterations may take place. Proteins are to some extent denatured, and this will potentially improve nutritional value through inactivation of proteinous antinutrients, although may contribute negatively through inactivation of exogenous enzymes. Only a small fraction of the starch will be gelatinised, and pelleting will not affect starch digestibility to any considerable extent. Some vitamins, however, may be destroyed during the pelleting process, and viscosity of soluble fibres may increase.
Grammatical metaphor in Chinese
Authors: Yang Yanning
Published: June 2011

This article investigates Grammatical Metaphor (GM) in Chinese by analyzing the use of GM instances in a data set formed by 37 extracts from scientific textbooks. The article first develops a framework for the identification and categorization of GM in Chinese. It then explores the distribution of GM categories and GM syndromes. For this aim, the instances in data are identified and quantified in terms of thirteen basic categories and seven types of syndromes. The article also investigates the impacts of generic structure and language development on the deployment of GM. The relationship between GM deployment and generic structure is explored by comparing the degree of GM in extracts drawn from different genres. The effect of language development on GM deployment is explored by comparing the extent of metaphor in extracts representing different levels of writing. It is found that GM distribution in Chinese is not random but determined jointly by the general tendency of GM construction and the typological properties of Chinese. Moreover, this study shows that the deployment of GM is affected by generic structure and language development.
Coho Salmon Population Structure in North America Determined from Microsatellites
Authors: Beacham Terry D. , Wetklo Michael , Deng Langtuo , MacConnachie Cathy
Published: June 2011

Population structure of coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch from Russia to California was examined with a survey of microsatellite variation to describe the distribution of genetic variation. Variation at 17 microsatellite loci was surveyed for approximately 50,000 coho salmon sampled from 318 localities. The genetic differentiation index (FST) over all populations and loci was 0.058, with individual locus FST values ranging from 0.027 to 0.143. The least genetically diverse coho salmon were observed from Russia, the Porcupine River in the Yukon River drainage, and the middle Fraser and Thompson rivers in southern British Columbia. Coho salmon from Vancouver Island, British Columbia; Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and Juan de Fuca Strait, northern Washington; and Oregon displayed the greatest number of alleles compared with coho salmon in other regions. Differentiation in coho salmon allele frequencies among regions and among populations within regions was approximately seven times greater than that of annual variation within populations. A regional structuring of populations was the general pattern observed; coho salmon spawning in different tributaries within a major river drainage or spawning in smaller rivers in a geographic area were generally more similar to each other than to populations in different major river drainages or geographic areas. The distribution of microsatellite variation in coho salmon likely reflects the origins of salmon radiating from refuges after the last glaciation period.
Influences of Habitat and Hybridization on the Genetic Structure of Redband Trout in the Upper Snake River Basin, Idaho
Authors: Kozfkay Christine C. , Campbell Matthew R. , Meyer Kevin A. , Schill Daniel J.
Published: June 2011

The genetic structure of redband trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gairdnerii in the upper Snake River basin was investigated at various scales using 13 microsatellite loci. The majority of the genetic variation was partitioned between streams, although differentiation among watersheds was significant. This diversity was probably historically partitioned at the watershed scale when steelhead O. mykiss (anadromous rainbow trout) were present, with the exception of small, isolated, headwater streams where there may have been only resident trout. Genetic structure appears to have been altered by a combination of factors, including habitat fragmentation and hybridization with hatchery trout. Redband trout populations in the desert and montane environments both experienced reduced gene flow, but the desert populations displayed higher degrees of genetic differentiation. There was also a significant inverse relationship between the degree of genetic differentiation and the level of allelic diversity. Interspecific hybrids with cutthroat trout O. clarkii were detected within 9% of the sampled sites, but they made up only 2% of fish and were mostly confined to one sample location. In contrast, intraspecific hybrids with coastal rainbow trout O. m. irideus were detected within 31% of the samples sites and were more than twice as likely to be found where historical records indicated that stocking of hatchery rainbow trout occurred. The inclusion of intraspecific hybridized populations altered genetic structure by creating an artificial shared ancestry among populations from different drainages and led to higher levels of genetic variation in each of the populations. The threats of fragmentation and hybridization will need to be considered in developing conservation and management policies for redband trout in Idaho.
Landscape Models of Adult Coho Salmon Density Examined at Four Spatial Extents
Authors: Firman Julie C. , Steel E. Ashley , Jensen David W. , Burnett Kelly M. , Christiansen Kelly , Feist Blake E. , Larsen David P. , Anlauf Kara
Published: June 2011

Salmon occupy large areas over which comprehensive surveys are not feasible owing to the prohibitive expense of surveying thousands of kilometers of streams. Studies of these populations generally rely on sampling a small portion of the distribution of the species. However, managers often need information about areas that have not been visited. The availability of geographical information systems data on landscape features over broad extents makes it possible to develop models to comprehensively predict the distribution of spawning salmon over large areas. In this study, the density of spawning coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch was modeled from landscape features at multiple spatial extents to identify regions or conditions needed to conserve populations of threatened fish, identify spatial relationships that might be important in modeling, and evaluate whether seventh‐field hydrologic units might serve as a surrogate for delineated catchments. We used geospatial data to quantify landscape characteristics at four spatial extents (a 100‐m streamside buffer, a 500‐m streamside buffer, all adjacent seventh‐field hydrologic units [mean area = 18 km2], and the catchment upstream from the reach [mean area = 17 km2]). Predictions from models incorporating land use, land ownership, geology, and climate variables were significantly correlated (r = 0.66–0.75, P < 0.0001) with observed adult coho salmon in the study area. In general, coho salmon densities (peak count of adults per kilometer) were greatest in river reaches within landscapes of undeveloped forest land with little area in weak rock types, areas with low densities of cattle and roads, and areas with a relatively large range in winter temperatures. The ability to predict the spatial distribution of coho salmon spawners from landscape data has great utility in guiding conservation, monitoring, and restoration efforts.
Response of Rainbow Trout to Different Food Web Structures in Northern Patagonia: Implications for Growth, Bioenergetics, and Invasiveness
Authors: Juncos Romina , Milano Daniela , Macchi Patricio J. , Alonso Marcelo F. , Vigliano Pablo H.
Published: June 2011

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss have successfully colonized almost all available water bodies in Patagonia. Introduction and restocking practices have taken place since the beginning of the 20th century without prior consideration of differences between environments in terms of fish community composition and trophic food web structure. We assessed how observed growth, growth efficiency, production, and biomass of rainbow trout populations from four Patagonian lakes were influenced by food web structure and prey quality, and we evaluated the growth strategies adopted by this species in response to environmental differences. Fish communities vary in terms of species composition and dominance. Bioenergetics simulations showed that size and growth patterns of rainbow trout varied between lakes, mainly owing to dietary differences. Fewer and lower‐quality food items led to low growth efficiency and stunted growth, while a more diverse and higher‐energy diet base led to higher growth efficiency and larger sizes. Rainbow trout density, production, and biomass were higher in the larger, more structurally complex lakes, although rainbow trout production values in the smallest lake were comparable with those in a lake twice its size. This study provides comparative evidence of the high plasticity of rainbow trout, for which the adoption of different growth strategies facilitates the successful colonization of environments where diet bases range widely in quality.
Nonnative Fish Control in the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, Arizona: An Effective Program or Serendipitous Timing?
Authors: Coggins Lewis G. , Yard Michael D. , Pine William E.
Published: June 2011

The federally endangered humpback chub Gila cypha in the Colorado River within Grand Canyon is currently the focus of a multiyear program of ecosystem‐level experimentation designed to improve native fish survival and promote population recovery as part of the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. A key element of this experiment was a 4‐year effort to remove nonnative fishes from critical humpback chub habitat, thereby reducing potentially negative interactions between native and nonnative fishes. Over 36,500 fish from 15 species were captured in the mechanical removal reach during 2003–2006. The majority (64%) of the catch consisted of nonnative fish, including rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (19,020), fathead minnow Pimephales promelas (2,569), common carp Cyprinus carpio (802), and brown trout Salmo trutta (479). Native fish (13,268) constituted 36% of the total catch and included flannelmouth suckers Catostomus latipinnis (7,347), humpback chub (2,606), bluehead suckers Catostomus discobolus (2,243), and speckled dace Rhinichthys osculus (1,072). The contribution of rainbow trout to the overall species composition fell steadily throughout the study period from a high of approximately 90% in January 2003 to less than 10% in August 2006. Overall, the catch of nonnative fish exceeded 95% in January 2003 and fell to less than 50% after July 2005. Our results suggest that removal efforts were successful in rapidly shifting the fish community from one dominated numerically by nonnative species to one dominated by native species. Additionally, increases in juvenile native fish abundance within the removal reach suggest that removal efforts may have promoted greater survival and recruitment. However, drought‐induced increases in river water temperature and a systemwide decrease in rainbow trout abundance concurrent with our experiment made it difficult to determine the cause of the apparent increase in juvenile native fish survival and recruitment. Experimental efforts continue and may be able to distinguish among these factors and to better inform future management actions.
The effects of the English libel laws on medicine and research – a personal view
Authors: Wilmshurst Peter
Published: June 2011

Dr Peter Wilmshurst is a consultant cardiologist. He is a leader in his field, and also a whistleblower, drawing attention to that which he believes to be wrong. He was presented with the HealthWatch Award 2003. Peter Wilmshurst has clashed with universities, editors, the medical establishment, and – perhaps inevitably – with the pharmaceutical industry. It is this last encounter that has taken him to court and that has made explicit and very public the relevance of the UK's libel laws to scientific research.
The effects of the English libel laws on medicine and research – a student's view
Authors: Stone Jay
Published: June 2011

Jay Stone is a final year Ph.D. student based at the Institute of Ophthalmology in London. She is attempting to identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of vascular proliferation in retinal disease. She believes that to be effective in the laboratory, scientists need to communicate their work to all audiences. She currently writes articles for the British Society of Cell Biology and BioNews.
The effects of the English libel laws on the freedom to publish – a view from the publishing industry
Authors: Cleevely Emily
Published: June 2011

Emily Cleevely is the Head of Public Affairs at the Publishers Association, the UK's leading publishing trade body. She has worked alongside the Libel Reform Campaign since starting this role with the Publishers Association, addressing the Campaign's anniversary event alongside Lord McNally, the Justice minister, and Richard Allan of Facebook.
Whistleblowers: heroes or traitors
Authors: Garrow John
Published: June 2011

John Garrow worked for the Medical Research Council in Jamaica and the UK for 33 years. He was professor of human nutrition, based in St Bartholomew's Hospital, until he retired in 1994, and spent a decade editing the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. John Garrow has been chairman of the charity HealthWatch for the past nine years.
Darwin's Flinch: Sensation Theatre and Scientific Looking in 1872
Authors: Watt-Smith Tiffany
Published: June 2011

This article explores the relationship between Darwin's The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (London: Murray, 1872) and the debates surrounding audiences of sensation theatre. It takes as its starting point a flinch performed by Darwin in a self-experiment at London Zoological Gardens. Darwin's flinch combined the act of scientific observation with a self-consciously staged emotional gesture. In the 1860s and early 1870s, the passionate and demonstrative audiences of sensation plays were similarly understood to watch themselves feeling. In this economy of emotional surfaces, actors and audience were caught up in unsettling relations between outwards expression and the remote landscape of interior feeling. Entangled in this theatrical instability, Darwin's scientific observation reflected broader cultural concerns about the reliability of the emotional body. Thus the article offers Darwin's Expression as an unusual but nonetheless suggestive artefact of theatrical spectatorship in 1872, while also contributing to recent debates about the history of objectivity and its supposedly unemotional and restrained scientific observer. It argues that the technique of self-conscious emotional spectatorship, shared by Darwin and theatre audiences, constituted a distinctive model of late Victorian emotion and visuality, in which communities of spectators were also spectators of themselves.
Oscillations of centroid position and surface area of soccer teams in small‐sided games
Authors: Frencken Wouter , Lemmink Koen , Delleman Nico , Visscher Chris
Published: June 2011

There is a need for a collective variable that captures the dynamics of team sports like soccer at match level. The centroid positions and surface areas of two soccer teams potentially describe the coordinated flow of attacking and defending in small‐sided soccer games at team level. The aim of the present study was to identify an overall game pattern by establishing whether the proposed variables were linearly related between teams over the course of the game. In addition, we tried to identify patterns in the build‐up of goals. A positive linear relation and a negative linear relation were hypothesized for the centroid positions and surface areas respectively. Finally, we hypothesized that deviations from these patterns are present in the build‐up of goals. Ten young male elite soccer players (mean age 17.3, s=0.7) played three small‐sided soccer games (4‐a‐side) of 8 minutes as part of their regular training routine. An innovative player tracking system, local position measurement (LPM), was used for obtaining player positions at 45 Hz per player. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to investigate the proposed linear relation of the key variables. Correlation coefficients indicate a strong positive linear relation during a whole game for the centroid position in all three games, with the strongest relation for the forward‐backward direction (r>0.94). For 10 out of 19 goals a crossing of the centroids in this direction can be seen. No negative linear relation was found for surface area (−0.01 < r<0.07). From this study, we concluded that over the course of a whole small‐sided game, the forward‐backward motion of the centroids is most strongly linearly related. Furthermore, goals show a specific pattern in the forward‐backward motion of the centroid. Therefore, surface area and particularly centroid position may provide a sound basis for a collective variable that captures the dynamics of attacking and defending in soccer at team level. Future research should develop these ideas further.
Cardiac autonomic function reveals adaptation to military training
Authors: Huovinen Jukka , Kyrolainen Heikki , Linnamo Vesa , Tanskanen Minna , Kinnunen Hannu , Hakkinen Keijo , Tulppo Mikko
Published: June 2011

The last 4 weeks of basic military training are very stressful. We tested the hypothesis that changes in cardiac autonomic function during this period are associated with changes in maximal oxygen uptake and/or serum hormonal concentrations in male conscripts (n=22). Cardiac vagal autonomic function was assessed by measuring the high‐frequency (0.15–0.4 Hz) spectral power of R–R intervals. Maximal oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O2max) and basal serum testosterone concentration were measured at the beginning and end of the period. Individual changes in vagally mediated high‐frequency power (range −15% to +25%) correlated (r=0.73, P=0.001) with changes in [Vdot]O2max (range −9% to +6%) and changes in testosterone concentration (range −52% to +43%; r=0.43, P=0.047). The mean values of [Vdot]O2max and testosterone concentration did not change during the study period. Measurements of autonomic function could be a useful tool for indicating adaptation to the highly stressful conditions associated with basic military training.