bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A role for ubiquitin ligases and Spartin/SPG20 in lipid droplet turnover
Authors: Eastman Scott W. , Yassaee Mina , Bieniasz Paul D.
Published: March 2009

HECT (homologous to the E6AP C terminus) ubiquitin ligases have diverse functions in eukaryotic cells. In screens for proteins that bind to the HECT ubiquitin ligase WWP1, we identified Spartin, which is also known as SPG20. This protein is truncated in a neurological disease, Troyer syndrome. In this study, we show that SPG20 associates with the surface of lipid droplets (LDs) and can regulate their size and number. SPG20 binds to another LD protein, TIP47, and both proteins compete with an additional LD protein, adipophilin/adipocyte differentiation-related protein, for occupancy of LDs. The mutant SPG20 present in Troyer syndrome does not possess these activities. Depletion of SPG20 using RNA interference increases the number and size of LDs when cells are fed with oleic acid. Binding of WWP1 to SPG20 and the consequent ubiquitin transfer remove SPG20 from LDs and reduce the levels of coexpressed SPG20. These experiments suggest functions for ubiquitin ligases and SPG20 in the regulation of LD turnover and potential pathological mechanisms in Troyer syndrome.
Regulation of epithelial–mesenchymal IL-1 signaling by PPARβ/δ is essential for skin homeostasis and wound healing
Authors: Chong Han Chung , Tan Ming Jie , Philippe Virginie , Tan Siew Hwey , Tan Chek Kun , Ku Chee Wai , Goh Yan Yih , Wahli Walter , Michalik Liliane , Tan Nguan Soon
Published: March 2009

Skin morphogenesis, maintenance, and healing after wounding require complex epithelial–mesenchymal interactions. In this study, we show that for skin homeostasis, interleukin-1 (IL-1) produced by keratinocytes activates peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor β/δ (PPARβ/δ) expression in underlying fibroblasts, which in turn inhibits the mitotic activity of keratinocytes via inhibition of the IL-1 signaling pathway. In fact, PPARβ/δ stimulates production of the secreted IL-1 receptor antagonist, which leads to an autocrine decrease in IL-1 signaling pathways and consequently decreases production of secreted mitogenic factors by the fibroblasts. This fibroblast PPARβ/δ regulation of the IL-1 signaling is required for proper wound healing and can regulate tumor as well as normal human keratinocyte cell proliferation. Together, these findings provide evidence for a novel homeostatic control of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation mediated via PPARβ/δ regulation in dermal fibroblasts of IL-1 signaling. Given the ubiquitous expression of PPARβ/δ, other epithelial–mesenchymal interactions may also be regulated in a similar manner.
Non-breeding season events influence sexual selection in a long-distance migratory bird
Authors: Reudink Matthew W , Marra Peter P , Kyser T. Kurt , Boag Peter T , Langin Kathryn M , Ratcliffe Laurene M
Published: March 2009

The study of sexual selection has traditionally focused on events and behaviours immediately surrounding copulation. In this study, we examine whether carry-over effects from the non-breeding season can influence the process of sexual selection in a long-distance migratory bird, the American redstart (
Setophaga ruticilla
). Previous work on American redstarts demonstrated that overwintering in a high-quality habitat influences spring departure dates from the wintering grounds, advances arrival dates on the breeding grounds and increases apparent reproductive success. We show that the mixed-mating strategy of American redstarts compounds the benefits of overwintering in high-quality winter habitats. Males arriving to breed in Canada from high-quality winter habitats arrive earlier than males from poor-quality habitats, resulting in a lower probability of paternity loss, a higher probability of achieving polygyny and ultimately higher realized reproductive success. Such results suggest that the process of sexual selection may be influenced by events interacting throughout the annual cycle.
The double odyssey of Madagascan polystome flatworms leads to new insights on the origins of their amphibian hosts
Authors: Verneau Olivier , Du Preez Louis H , Laurent Véronique , Raharivololoniaina Liliane , Glaw Frank , Vences Miguel
Published: March 2009

Polystomatid flatworms are parasites of high host specificity, which mainly infect amphibian hosts. Only one polystome species has so far been recorded from Madagascar despite the high species richness and endemicity of amphibians on this island. Out of the 86 screened Malagasy frog species, we recovered polystomes from 25 in the families Ptychadenidae and Mantellidae. Molecular phylogenetic analysis uncovered an unexpected diversity of polystome species belonging to two separate clades: one forming a lineage within the genusMetapolystoma, with one species inPtychadenaand several species in the mantellid host generaAglyptodactylusandBoophis; and the second corresponding to an undescribed genus that was found in the species of the subfamily Mantellinae in the family Mantellidae. The phylogenetic position of the undescribed genus along with molecular dating suggests that it may have colonized Madagascar in the Late Mesozoic or Early Cainozoic. By contrast, the more recent origin ofMetapolystomain Madagascar atca14–2 Myr ago strongly suggests that the ancestors ofPtychadena mascareniensiscolonized Madagascar naturally by overseas dispersal, carrying theirMetapolystomaparasites. Our findings provide a striking example of how parasite data can supply novel insights into the biogeographic history of their hosts.
Environmental control of diatom community size structure varies across aquatic ecosystems
Authors: Finkel Zoe V , Vaillancourt Colin Jacob , Irwin Andrew J , Reavie Euan D , Smol John P
Published: March 2009

Changes in the size structure of photoautotrophs influence food web structure and the biogeochemical cycling of carbon. Decreases in the median size of diatoms within communities, in concert with climate warming and water column stratification, have been observed over the Cenozoic in the ocean and over the last 50 years in Lake Tahoe. Decreases in the proportion of larger plankton are frequently observed in response to reduced concentrations of limiting nutrients in marine systems and large stratified lakes. By contrast, we show a decrease in the median size of planktonic diatoms in response to higher nutrient concentrations in a set of intermediate-sized alkaline lakes. Climate-induced increases in the frequency, duration and strength of water column stratification may select smaller planktonic species in the ocean and larger lakes owing to a reduction in nutrient availability and sinking rates, while light limitation, stimulated by nutrient eutrophication and high chlorophyll concentrations, may select smaller species within a community owing to their high light absorption efficiencies and lower sinking rates. The relative importance of different physiological and ecological rates and processes on the size structure of communities varies in different aquatic systems owing to varying combinations of abiotic and biotic constraints.
Can parasites drive population cycles in mountain hares?
Authors: Townsend Sunny E , Newey Scott , Thirgood Simon J , Matthews Louise , Haydon Daniel T
Published: March 2009

Understanding the drivers of population fluctuations is a central goal of ecology. Although well-established theory suggests that parasites can drive cyclic population fluctuations in their hosts, field evidence is lacking. Theory predicts that a parasite that loosely aggregates in the host population and has stronger impact on host fecundity than survival should induce cycling. The helminth
Trichostrongylus retortaeformis
in the UK's only native lagomorph, the mountain hare, has exactly these properties, and the hares exhibit strong population fluctuations. Here we use a host–parasite model parametrized using the available empirical data to test this superficial concordance between theory and observation. In fact, through an innovative combination of sensitivity and stability analyses, we show that hare population cycles do not seem to be driven by the parasite. Potential limitations in our parametrization and model formulation, together with the possible secondary roles for parasites in determining hare demography, are discussed. Improving our knowledge of leveret biology and the quantification of harvesting emerge as future research priorities. With the growing concern over the present management of mountain hares for disease control in Scotland, understanding their population drivers is an important prerequisite for the effective management of this species.
Saccadic head rotations during walking in the stalk-eyed fly (Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni)
Authors: Ribak Gal , Egge Alison R , Swallow John G
Published: March 2009

In stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae), the eyes are positioned at the end of rigid peduncles protruding laterally from the head. Sexual selection for eye span in maleCyrtodiopsis dalmanniresults in eye span that exceeds body length and exceeds the eye span of females. We studied whether the twofold higher moment of inertia (MOI) of the male head results in a reduced head rotation velocity during turning. We analysed films of flies performing walking turns and compared the head kinematics between the sexes. The significance of head rotation to turning was evaluated from the turning kinematics of flies with immobilized (glued) heads. Male and femaleC. dalmannirotated their heads relative to the surrounding environment 1.55-fold (male) and 1.65-fold (female) faster than the angular velocity of the body by performing rapid head saccades. During the larger turns, flies with immobilized heads were unable to reorient gaze as fast as the control flies. Despite the larger MOI of the head, maleC. dalmannimatch the head saccade of females suggesting that eye span elongation is coupled by an adaptation of the neck apparatus to rotate the wider head.
No actual conflict over colony inheritance despite high potential conflict in the social wasp
Polistes dominulus
Authors: Monnin Thibaud , Cini Alessandro , Lecat Vincent , Fédérici Pierre , Doums Claudie
Published: March 2009

Social insect societies are outstanding examples of cooperation and conflict. Individuals work together, yet seek to increase their inclusive fitness at each others' expense. One such conflict is over colony inheritance, when a queen inherits the colony following the death of the previous queen. Colony inheritance is common in the social wasp
Polistes dominulus
, and it can have dramatic fitness consequences. The subordinate inheriting the colony is often unrelated to the initial foundress (alpha) and the workers, who therefore get zero inclusive fitness. Workers are capable of mating and reproducing, so that inheritance by a subordinate rather than by a related worker is surprising. Using patterns of egg-laying and egg destruction, we show in 32 laboratory colonies that, upon the removal of alpha, workers fully accepted a subordinate as the new breeder. This new alpha monopolized reproduction to the same extent as alpha, and there was no increase in reproduction by workers and other subordinates. Why workers accept a potentially unrelated subordinate as breeder rather than a full-sister worker is unclear. They may be constrained to do so, and they may seek fitness benefits by producing males later in the season or by absconding the nest.
Orienting to threat: faster localization of fearful facial expressions and body postures revealed by saccadic eye movements
Authors: Bannerman Rachel L , Milders Maarten , de Gelder Beatrice , Sahraie Arash
Published: March 2009

Most studies investigating speeded orientation towards threat have used manual responses. By measuring orienting behaviour using eye movements a more direct and ecologically valid measure of attention can be made. Here, we used a forced-choice saccadic and manual localization task to investigate the speed of discrimination for fearful and neutral body and face images. Fearful/neutral body or face pairs were bilaterally presented for either 20 or 500 ms. Results showed faster saccadic orienting to fearful body and face emotions compared with neutral only at the shortest presentation time (20 ms). For manual responses, faster discrimination of fearful bodies and faces was observed only at the longest duration (500 ms). More errors were made when localizing neutral targets, suggesting that fearful bodies and faces may have captured attention automatically. Results were not attributable to low-level image properties as no threat bias, in terms of reaction time or accuracy, was observed for inverted presentation. Taken together, the results suggest faster localization of threat conveyed both by the face and the body within the oculomotor system. In addition, enhanced detection of fearful body postures suggests that we can readily recognize threat-related information conveyed by body postures in the absence of any face cues.
The evolution of primate visual self-recognition: evidence of absence in lesser apes
Authors: Suddendorf Thomas , Collier-Baker Emma
Published: March 2009

Mirror self-recognition typically emerges in human children in the second year of life and has been documented in great apes. In contrast to monkeys, humans and great apes can use mirrors to inspect unusual marks on their body that cannot be seen directly. Here we show that lesser apes (family
Hylobatidae
) fail to use the mirror to find surreptitiously placed marks on their head, in spite of being strongly motivated to retrieve directly visible marks from the mirror surface itself and from their own limbs. These findings suggest that the capacity for visual self-recognition evolved in a common ancestor of all great apes after the split from the line that led to modern lesser apes approximately 18 Myr ago. They also highlight the potential of a comparative approach for identifying the neurological and genetic underpinnings of self-recognition and other higher cognitive faculties.
Mimicry, colour forms and spectral sensitivity of the bluestriped fangblenny,Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos
Authors: Cheney Karen L , Skogh Charlotta , Hart Nathan S , Marshall N. Justin
Published: March 2009

Animals change their body coloration for a variety of purposes including communication, thermoregulation and crypsis. The cues that trigger adaptive colour change are often unclear, and the role of colour vision remains largely untested. Here, we investigated the bluestriped fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos), an aggressive mimic that changes its body coloration to impersonate a variety of coral reef fishes. In this field, we determined the fish species that the fangblenny associated with and measured the spectral reflectance of mimics and their models. We measured the spectral absorbance characteristics of the retinal photoreceptor visual pigments in the bluestriped fangblenny using microspectrophotometry and found it to have rod photoreceptors (λmax498 nm), single cones (449 nm) and double cones (561 nm principal member; 520 nm accessory member). Using theoretical vision models, fangblennies could discriminate between the colours they adopted and the colours of the fish they associated with. Potential signal receivers (Abudefduf abdominalisandCtenochaetus strigosus) perceived colours of most mimics to closely resemble fishes they associated with. However, fishes with ultraviolet-sensitive visual pigments were better at discriminating between mimics and models. Therefore, colour vision could be used by fangblennies when initiating colour change enabling them to accurately resemble fishes they associate with and to avoid detection by signal receivers.
Flat lizard female mimics use sexual deception in visual but not chemical signals
Authors: Whiting Martin J , Webb Jonathan K , Keogh J. Scott
Published: March 2009

Understanding what constrains signalling and maintains signal honesty is a central theme in animal communication. Clear cases of dishonest signalling, and the conditions under which they are used, represent an important avenue for improved understanding of animal communication systems. Female mimicry, when certain males take on the appearance of females, is most commonly a male alternative reproductive tactic that is condition-dependent. A number of adaptive explanations for female mimicry have been proposed including avoiding the costs of aggression, gaining an advantage in combat, sneaking copulations with females on the territories of other males, gaining physiological benefits and minimizing the risk of predation. Previous studies of female mimicry have focused on a single mode of communication, although most animals communicate using multiple signals. Male Augrabies flat lizards adopt alternative reproductive tactics in which some males (she-males) mimic the visual appearance of females. We experimentally tested in a wild population whether she-males are able to mimic females using both visual and chemical signals. We tested chemical recognition in the field by removing scent and relabelling females and she-males with either male or female scent. At a distance, typical males (he-males) could not distinguish she-males from females using visual signals, but during close encounters, he-males correctly determined the gender of she-males using chemical signals. She-males are therefore able to deceive he-males using visual but not chemical signals. To effectively deceive he-males, she-males avoid close contact with he-males during which chemical cues would reveal their deceit. This strategy is probably adaptive, because he-males are aggressive and territorial; by mimicking females, she-males are able to move about freely and gain access to females on the territories of resident males.
The motion after-effect: local and global contributions to contrast sensitivity
Authors: Nordström Karin , O'Carroll David C
Published: March 2009

Motion adaptation is a widespread phenomenon analogous to peripheral sensory adaptation, presumed to play a role in matching responses to prevailing current stimulus parameters and thus to maximize efficiency of motion coding. While several components of motion adaptation (contrast gain reduction, output range reduction and motion after-effect) have been described, previous work is inconclusive as to whether these are separable phenomena and whether they are locally generated. We used intracellular recordings from single horizontal system neurons in the fly to test the effect of local adaptation on the full contrast-response function for stimuli at an unadapted location. We show that contrast gain and output range reductions are primarily local phenomena and are probably associated with spatially distinct synaptic changes, while the antagonistic after-potential operates globally by transferring to previously unadapted locations. Using noise analysis and signal processing techniques to remove ‘spikelets’, we also characterize a previously undescribed alternating current component of adaptation that can explain several phenomena observed in earlier studies.
Genetic modulation of energy metabolism in birds through mitochondrial function
Authors: Tieleman B. Irene , Versteegh Maaike A , Fries Anthony , Helm Barbara , Dingemanse Niels J , Gibbs H. Lisle , Williams Joseph B
Published: March 2009

Despite their central importance for the evolution of physiological variation, the genetic mechanisms that determine energy expenditure in animals have largely remained unstudied. We used quantitative genetics to confirm that both mass-specific and whole-organism basal metabolic rate (BMR) were heritable in a captive-bred population of stonechats (Saxicola torquataspp.) founded on birds from three wild populations (Europe, Africa and Asia) that differed in BMR. This argues that BMR is at least partially under genetic control by multiple unknown nuclear loci each with a limited effect on the phenotype. We then tested for a genetic effect on BMR based on mitochondrial–nuclear coadaptation using hybrids between ancestral populations with high and low BMR (Europe–Africa and Asia–Europe), with different parental configurations (femalehigh–malelowor femalelow–malehigh) within each combination of populations. Hybrids with different parental configurations have on average identical mixtures of nuclear DNA, but differ in mitochondrial DNA because it is inherited only from the mother. Mass-specific BMR differed between hybrids with different parental configurations, implying that the combination of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA affected metabolic rate. Therefore, our findings implicate mitochondrial function as an important regulator of energy metabolism. In combination with the substantial heritabilities of metabolic rate, and corroborated by genetic differences in the mitochondrial genome, these results set the stage for further investigations of a genetic control mechanism involving both mitochondrial and nuclear genes determining metabolic rate at the whole-organism level.
Parents' reactions to the diagnosis of cerebral palsy: associations between resolution, age and severity of disability
Authors: Schuengel C. , Rentinck I. C. M. , Stolk J. , Voorman J. M. , Loots G. M. P. , Ketelaar M. , Gorter J. W. , Becher J. G.
Published: March 2009

Background For parents, receiving a diagnosis, typically in early childhood, that their child has cerebral palsy may conjure up high distress and anxiety. Resolution of these initial reactions may help parents to focus on the challenges and needs of their children. Aims of the study were to test whether parents of older children displayed resolution more often than parents of younger children, and whether parents of children with less severe cerebral palsy also showed more resolution.

Method Resolution of reactions to diagnosis was assessed with the Reaction to Diagnosis Interview, in a clinic‐based sample of 255 parents of children with cerebral palsy aged between 1.4 and 17.3 years. Physicians rated motor ability using the Gross Motor Function Classification System.

Results Overall, the responses of 81.6% of the parents were predominantly indicative of resolution. Unresolved reactions were significantly more often found among parents of younger children and parents of children with more severe motor disabilities. Among parents of teenage children, resolution was more often apparent from a focus on action to better the lives of their children, whereas in parents of younger children, it was more apparent from their focus on constructive thoughts and information seeking.

Conclusions Given time, the large majority of parents may resolve their reactions to the diagnosis that their child has cerebral palsy. Parents of the most severely affected children may need specific support which, given the age trends, might be aimed at different resolution processes for parents of younger and older children.
Assessment of caring and its effects in young people: development of the Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities Checklist (MACA‐YC18) and the Positive and Negative Outcomes of Caring Questionnaire (PANOC‐YC20) for young carers
Authors: Joseph S. , Becker S. , Becker F. , Regel S.
Published: March 2009

Background  Many children, adolescents and young people are involved in caring for parents, siblings, or other relatives who have an illness, disability, mental health problem or other need for care or supervision. The aim was to develop two new instruments for use in research with young carers to assess caring activities and their psychological effects.

Method  Two studies are reported. In study 1, 410 young carers were recruited via The Princess Royal Trust for Carers database of UK projects and asked to complete an initial item pool of 42 and 75 questionnaire items to assess caring activities and caring outcomes respectively. In study 2 a further 124 young carers were recruited.

Results  Following exploratory principal components analysis in study 1, 18 items were chosen to compose the Multidimensional Assessment of Caring Activities Checklist (MACA‐YC18), and 20 items chosen to compose the Positive and Negative Outcomes of Caring Scales (PANOC‐YC20). In study 2, normative and convergent validity data on the two instruments are reported.

Conclusion  The MACA‐YC18 is an 18‐item self‐report measure that can be used to provide an index of the total amount of caring activity undertaken by the young person, as well as six sub‐scale scores for domestic tasks, household management, personal care, emotional care, sibling care and financial/practical care. The PANOC‐YC20 is a 20‐item self‐report measure that can be used to provide an index of positive and negative outcomes of caring.
Incidence and clinical presentation of dysarthria and dysphagia in the acute setting following paediatric traumatic brain injury
Authors: Morgan A. T. , Mageandran S‐D. , Mei C.
Published: March 2009

Background  A lack of data on dysarthria and dysphagia outcomes for children following traumatic brain injury (TBI) limits our clinical evidence base, and poses daily challenges for the speech language pathologist (SLP) managing this group. The present study aimed to examine dysarthria and dysphagia incidence and the clinical presentation of children with these disorders in the acute phase following TBI.

Methods  Incidence and characteristics were determined via a comprehensive retrospective medical chart review of children consecutively referred to a tertiary paediatric hospital over an 8‐year period. Cases (n= 22 dysarthria, n= 72 dysphagia) and matched controls were compared across ancillary variables (e.g. age, severity of TBI, motor impairment).

Results  Incidence across the entire cohort was low [i.e. dysarthria (1.2%, 22/1895), dysphagia (3.8%, 72/1895)], but was markedly higher for the sub‐category of children with severe TBI [e.g. dysphagia (76%, 63/83)]. Speech deficits were reported across respiration, phonation, resonance, articulation and prosody. Swallowing deficits included reduced lip closure, delayed swallow initiation, wet voice and coughing. Language and swallowing deficits were often co‐morbid with dysarthria. Motor impairment was frequently co‐morbid with both dysarthria and dysphagia. Cases had longer periods of hospitalization, ventilation and supplementary feeding compared with controls.

Conclusion  Despite the low incidence of dysarthria and dysphagia across the entire TBI cohort, this sub‐group may place longer‐term burden on SLP services, having prolonged periods of ventilation, extended periods of hospitalization and a complex co‐morbid clinical presentation compared with controls. The prevalence of co‐morbid communication and swallowing impairments suggests a need for integrated rather than single discipline (i.e. dysphagia stream only) SLP services.
Supporting insensitive mothers: the Vilnius randomized control trial of video‐feedback intervention to promote maternal sensitivity and infant attachment security
Authors: Kalinauskiene L. , Cekuoliene D. , Van IJzendoorn M. H. , Bakermans‐Kranenburg M. J. , Juffer F. , Kusakovskaja I.
Published: March 2009

Objective  This randomized control trial examined the effects of a short‐term, interaction‐focused and attachment‐based video‐feedback intervention (VIPP: video‐feedback intervention to promote positive parenting).

Design  VIPP effect on mothers' sensitive responsiveness and infant–mother attachment security was evaluated in a sample (n = 54) of low sensitive, non‐clinical, middle class Lithuanian mothers.

Methods  Maternal sensitivity was assessed in a free play session with the Ainsworth's sensitivity scale, and attachment security was observed using the Attachment Q sort for home observations.

Results  We found that the intervention mothers indeed significantly improved their sensitive responsiveness through participation in our VIPP. The effect size was large according to Cohen's criteria, d = 0.78. VIPP enhanced maternal sensitive responsiveness even when maternal age, educational level, depression, daily hassles, efficacy, infant gender, and infant negative and positive affect were controlled for. However, attachment security in the VIPP infants was not enhanced after the intervention, compared with the control infants, and the infants did not seem to be differentially susceptible to the increase in maternal sensitivity dependent on their temperamental reactivity.

Conclusion  We suggest that a relatively brief and low‐cost programme can provide effective support for mothers who lack sensitivity in the interactions with their infants.
A pilot study of the Incredible Years Teacher Training programme and a curriculum unit on social and emotional skills in community pre‐schools in Jamaica
Authors: Baker‐Henningham H. , Walker S. , Powell C. , Gardner J. Meeks
Published: March 2009

Background  School‐based interventions involving teacher and/or child training have been shown to benefit teacher practices and to prevent conduct problems and improve children's social and emotional competence in developed countries; however, we are aware of no reports from a developing country. We conducted a pilot study of the Incredible Years Teacher Training programme and a curriculum unit on social and emotional skills based on concepts and activities drawn from the Incredible Years Dina Dinosaur Classroom Curriculum to determine if this approach is appropriate for use with Jamaican pre‐school teachers and children.

Methods  Five pre‐schools in Kingston, Jamaica were randomly assigned to an intervention (3 pre‐schools with 15 classrooms) or control (2 pre‐schools with 12 classrooms) condition. Intervention involved seven whole‐day teacher workshops using the Incredible Years Teacher Training programme supplemented by 14 child lessons in each class. The project was evaluated through structured observations of four categories of teacher behaviour and four observer ratings: two rating scales of child behaviour and two rating scales of classroom atmosphere.

Results  Significant intervention benefits were found to teachers' behaviour with increased positive behaviour [b = 7.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.5, 12.3], reduced negative behaviour (b =−3.5; 95% CI: −6.6, −0.2) and increases in the extent to which teachers promoted children's social and emotional skills (b = 46.4; 95% CI: 11.0, 81.7). The number of teacher commands was not significantly reduced (b =−2.71; 95% CI: −6.01, 0.59). Significant intervention benefits were found to ratings of child behaviour with an increase in children's appropriate behaviour (b = 5.7, 95% CI: 1.0, 10.8) and in children's interest and enthusiasm (b = 7.2, 95% CI: 0.9, 13.5). Intervention also benefited classroom atmosphere with increases in opportunities provided for children to share and help each other (b = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.5, 2.1) and in teacher warmth (b = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.9, 1.8).

Conclusion  This is a promising approach for improving the emotional climate of Jamaican pre‐school classrooms and for improving child behaviour and participation.
Implications of family environment and language development: comparing typically developing children to those with spina bifida
Authors: Vachha B. , Adams R.
Published: March 2009

Introduction  This study examines the effect of family environment on language performance in children with myelomeningocele compared with age‐ and education‐matched controls selected from the same geographic region.

Methods  Seventy‐five monolingual (English) speaking children with myelomeningocele [males: 30; ages: 7–16 years; mean age: 10 years 1 month, standard deviation (SD) 2 years 7 months] and 35 typically developing children (males: 16; ages 7–16 years; mean age: 10 years 9 months, SD 2 years 6 months) participated in the study. The Comprehensive Assessment of Spoken Language (CASL) and the Wechsler tests of intelligence were administered individually to all participants. The CASL measures four subsystems: lexical, syntactic, supralinguistic and pragmatic. Parents completed the Family Environment Scale (FES) questionnaire and provided background demographic information. Standard independent sample t‐tests, chi‐squared and Fisher's exact tests were used to make simple comparisons between groups for age, socio‐economic status, gender and ethnicity. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to detect associations between language and FES data. Group differences for the language and FES scores were analysed with a multivariate analysis of variance at a P‐value of 0.05.

Results  For the myelomeningocele group, both Spearman correlation and partial correlation analyses revealed statistically significant positive relationships for the FES ‘intellectual–cultural orientation’ (ICO) variable and language performance in all subsystems (P < 0.01). For controls, positive associations were seen between: (1) ICO and lexical/semantic and syntactic subsystems; and (2) FES ‘independence’ and lexical/semantic and supralinguistic tasks.

Conclusions  The relationship between language performance and family environment appears statistically and intuitively sound. As in our previous study, the positive link between family focus on intellectually and culturally enhancing activities and language performance among children with myelomeningocele and shunted hydrocephalus remains robust. Knowledge of this relationship should assist parents and professionals in supporting language development through activities within the natural learning environment.
Sibling separation and psychological problems of double AIDS orphans in rural China – a comparison analysis
Authors: Gong J. , Li X. , Fang X. , Zhao G. , Lv Y. , Zhao J. , Lin X. , Zhang L. , Chen X. , Stanton B.
Published: March 2009

Objective  We investigated the psychological impact of sibling separation among children who lost both of their parents to AIDS and were placed in group care or kinship care settings in rural China.

Methods  Comparative analysis of cross‐sectional survey data among 155 children among whom 96 experienced sibling separation. Trauma symptoms (Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Post‐traumatic stress, Dissociation, Sexual concerns) were compared between the AIDS orphans who experienced sibling separation and those who did not using analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of covariance.

Results  Among the participants (47.7% girls) with an average age of 12.4 years, univariate and multivariate analyses showed that separation from siblings was associated with significantly higher scores in anxiety, depression, anger and dissociation before or after controlling for gender, age, care arrangement, number of household replacement, trusting relationship with the current caregivers and perceived quality of current living condition. Sibling separation among orphans was not associated with level of post‐traumatic stress and sexual concerns.

Conclusion  AIDS orphans separated from their siblings suffered from increased psychological distress compared with those who remained with their siblings. The data in the current study suggest that care arrangement for AIDS orphan should include accommodating the siblings together or providing them with opportunities for frequent contact and/or communication with each other. Appropriate psychological counselling should be given to those orphans experiencing sibling separation.
Visceral fat accumulation is a significant risk factor for white matter lesions in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Anan F. , Masaki T. , Eto T. , Iwao T. , Shimomura T. , Umeno Y. , Eshima N. , Saikawa T. , Yoshimatsu H.
Published: March 2009

Background  The presence of white matter lesions (WML) is an important prognostic factor for the development of stroke. The elevated visceral fat accumulation (VFA) has been reported to be closely related to the development of atherosclerosis. This preliminary study was therefore designed to test the hypothesis that the presence of WML correlates with VFA and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic patients not receiving insulin treatment.

Material and methods  Based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 95 type 2 diabetic patients were divided into two groups: WML‐positive group (aged 59 ± 7 years, mean ± SD n = 37) and WML‐negative group (aged 58 ± 5, years, n = 58). The level of blood glucose was assessed by fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting immunoreactive insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, and haemoglobin A1c. The fat distribution was evaluated by measuring the visceral fat accumulation by abdominal computerized tomography at the umbilical level.

Results  The body mass index was higher in the WML‐positive group than in the WML‐negative group (P < 0·005). Plasma levels of triglycerides were higher while high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower in the WML‐positive group than in the WML‐negative group (P < 0·05 and P < 0·01, respectively). FPG (P < 0·01), insulin concentrations (P < 0·0001), HOMA index (P < 0·0001) and VFA (<0·0001) levels were higher in the WML‐positive group than in the WML‐negative group. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that WML was independently predicted by the high VFA and insulin resistance (P < 0·001, P < 0·0001, respectively).

Conclusions  The results of this preliminary study indicate that the presence of WML was associated with the high VFA and insulin resistance in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further larger cohort studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Significance of white blood cell count and its subtypes in patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Huang G. , Zhong X.‐N. , Zhong B. , Chen Y.‐Q. , Liu Z.‐Z. , Su L. , Ling Z.‐Y. , Cao H. , Yin Y.‐H.
Published: March 2009

Background  Inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis.

Materials and methods  Six hundred twenty‐three patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) referred for coronary angiography for the first time in our hospital were enrolled in this study. White blood cell and its subtypes were measured on admission. The study population was divided into three groups based on total white blood cell count and followed up. Clinical end points were major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including cardiogenic death, stroke, heart failure, non‐fatal myocardial infarction, rehospitalization for angina pectoris.

Results  The median age was 68 years (range 31–92) and 64·2% of the patients were men. The median white blood cell count was 6·48 × 109 L−1 (range 2·34–27·10 × 109 L−1). The median follow‐up duration was 21 months (range 1–116) and MACEs occurred in 167 patients. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that neutrophil count [Relative risk = 1·098, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1·010–1·193, P = 0·029) was a risk factor for MACEs. The logistic regression model revealed that lymphocyte count [Odds ratio (OR) = 1·075, 95% CI: 1·012–1·142, P = 0·018] and monocyte count (OR = 8·578, 95% CI: 2·687–27·381, P < 0·001) were predictive of stenosis ≥ 75%; Neutrophil proportion (OR = 1·060, 95% CI: 1·007–1·115, P = 0·026), monocyte count (OR = 12·370, 95% CI: 1·298–118·761, P = 0·029) were predictive of the presence of multivessel disease. Kaplan–Meier analysis of short‐term and long‐term cumulative survival showed no significant statistical differences among three groups.

Conclusions  Neutrophil count adds prognostic information to MACEs in ACS. Monocyte count and lymphocyte count are predictive of severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
Gravity contributions to the understanding of salt tectonics from the Jebel Cheid area (dome zone, Northern Tunisia)
Authors: Hamdi‐Nasr Imen , Hédi Inoubli Mohamed , Ben Salem Abdelhamid , Tlig Saïd , Mansouri Abdelbaki
Published: March 2009

Detailed gravity measurements integrated with geological data were computed to constrain the mechanisms that were active during the emplacement of the Triassic evaporite‐bearing folds of Jebel Cheid from the salt‐dome zone in the Atlassic region. The gravity analysis consists in mapping the contrasting gravity responses: complete Bouguer anomaly, residual anomaly and derivative maps; the main results display a positive amplitude gravity anomaly as the response of Triassic evaporite bodies and important NE–SW‐trending features at the boundaries between the Triassic outcrops and their enveloping strata. In contrast with gravity calculations of a salt dome structure usually resulting in negative gravity anomaly models, the Jebel Cheid clearly expresses a positive gravity anomaly; furthermore, this result is supported by synthetic gravity interpretation.
Operator‐oriented CRS interpolation
Authors: Hoecht German , Ricarte Patrice , Bergler Steffen , Landa Evgeny
Published: March 2009

In common‐reflection‐surface imaging the reflection arrival time field is parameterized by operators that are of higher dimension or order than in conventional methods. Using the common‐reflection‐surface approach locally in the unmigrated prestack data domain opens a potential for trace regularization and interpolation. In most data interpolation methods based on local coherency estimation, a single operator is designed for a target sample and the output amplitude is defined as a weighted average along the operator. This approach may fail in presence of interfering events or strong amplitude and phase variations. In this paper we introduce an alternative scheme in which there is no need for an operator to be defined at the target sample itself. Instead, the amplitude at a target sample is constructed from multiple operators estimated at different positions. In this case one operator may contribute to the construction of several target samples. Vice versa, a target sample might receive contributions from different operators. Operators are determined on a grid which can be sparser than the output grid. This allows to dramatically decrease the computational costs. In addition, the use of multiple operators for a single target sample stabilizes the interpolation results and implicitly allows several contributions in case of interfering events. Due to the considerable computational expense, common‐reflection‐surface interpolation is limited to work in subsets of the prestack data. We present the general workflow of a common‐reflection‐surface‐based regularization/interpolation for 3D data volumes. This workflow has been applied to an OBC common‐receiver volume and binned common‐offset subsets of a 3D marine data set. The impact of a common‐reflection‐surface regularization is demonstrated by means of a subsequent time migration. In comparison to the time migrations of the original and DMO‐interpolated data, the results show particular improvements in view of the continuity of reflections events. This gain is confirmed by an automatic picking of a horizon in the stacked time migrations.
Hepatitis A and B immunization for individuals with inherited bleeding disorders
Authors: STEELE M. , COCHRANE A. , WAKEFIELD C. , STAIN A‐M. , LING S. , BLANCHETTE V. , GOLD R. , FORD‐JONES L.
Published: March 2009

Summary. Hepatitis A and B vaccines are highly effective tools that can greatly reduce infection risk in the bleeding disorder population. Although hepatitis A and B immunization for individuals with bleeding disorders is universally recommended, various advisory bodies often differ with respect to many practical aspects of vaccination. To review the published literature and guidelines and form a practical, comprehensive and consistent approach to hepatitis A and B immunization for individuals with bleeding disorders. We reviewed published immunization guidelines from North American immunization advisory bodies and published statements from North American and international haemophilia advisory bodies. A search of the MEDLINE database was performed to find original published literature pertaining to hepatitis A or B immunization of patients with haemophilia or bleeding disorder patients that provided supporting or refuting evidence for advisory body guidelines. Various advisory bodies’ immunization guidelines regarding individuals with bleeding disorders have contradictory statements and often did not clarify issues (e.g. post vaccination surveillance). Published literature addressing immunization in bleeding disorder patients is sparse and mostly examines route of vaccine administration, complications and corresponding antibody response. Although the risk of hepatitis A and B infection is low, the use of simple measures such as vaccination is reasonable and advocated by haemophilia advisory bodies. Following our review of the available literature and North American guidelines, we have developed comprehensive and practical recommendations addressing hepatitis A and B immunization for the bleeding disorder population that may be applicable in Bleeding Disorder clinics.
Efficacy of recombinant activated factor VII vs. activated prothrombin complex concentrate for patients suffering from haemophilia complicated with inhibitors: a Bayesian meta‐regression
Authors: TREUR M. J. , MCCRACKEN F. , HEEG B. , JOSHI A. V. , BOTTEMAN M. F. , DE CHARRO F. , VAN HOUT B.
Published: March 2009

Summary. The optimal on‐demand treatment of joint bleeds in haemophilia patients with inhibitors is a source of debate, with studies reporting various efficacy levels for different drugs and dosage regimens. To analyse, in a unified Bayesian meta‐regression model, the published efficacy of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) and/or activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) as on‐demand treatments for joint bleeds in haemophilia patients with inhibitors. A systematic search was carried out to identify studies reporting on dosage and efficacy of rFVIIa and aPCC in the treatment of joint bleeds in the target patient population. Data were abstracted and included in the model and adjusted for potential sources of heterogeneity. Pooled efficacy levels for typical rFVIIa and aPCC regimens were estimated. Seventeen studies, collectively reporting on >2000 joint bleeds, were included. Medication type combined with dosage was the only significant explanatory parameter. The model predicts that a typical regimen of 90 μg kg−1rFVII repeated every 3 h if needed results in cumulative joint bleed resolution of 66%, 88% and 95% after 12, 24 and 36 h, respectively. In comparison, a typical regimen of 75 IU kg−1aPCC repeated every 12 h if needed results in cumulative joint bleed resolution of 39%, 62% and 76%, respectively. These differences were statistically significant and were also robust in sensitivity analyses. This analysis suggests that a typical rFVIIa regimen will resolve joint bleeds more effectively than a typical aPCC regimen after 12, 24 and 36 h.