bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stress modulates the use of spatial versus stimulus-response learning strategies in humans
Authors: Schwabe Lars , Oitzl Melly S. , Philippsen Christine , Richter Steffen , Bohringer Andreas , Wippich Werner , Schachinger Hartmut
Published: February 2007

Animal studies provided evidence that stress modulates multiple memory systems, favoring caudate nucleus-based “habit” memory over hippocampus-based “cognitive” memory. However, effects of stress on learning strategy and memory consolidation were not differentiated. We specifically address the effects of psychosocial stress on the applied learning strategy in humans. We designed a spatial learning task that allowed differentiating spatial from stimulus-response learning strategies during acquisition. In 13 subsequent trials, participants (88 male and female students) had to locate a “win” card out of four placed at a fixed location in a 3D model of a room. Relocating one cue in the last trial allowed inferring the applied learning strategy. Half of them participated first in the “Trier Social Stress Test.” Salivary cortisol and heart rate measurements were taken. Stressed participants used a stimulus-response strategy significantly more often than controls. Subsequent verbal report revealed that spatial learners had a more complete awareness of response options than stimulus-response learners. Importantly, learning performance was not affected by stress. Taken together, stress prior to learning facilitated simple stimulus-response learning strategies in humans—at the expense of a more cognitive learning strategy. Depending on the context, we consider this as an adaptive response.
Affinity Purification of Interacting Proteins from Cell Lysates: Figure 1.
Authors: Baca Manuel , Zhang Jian-Guo
Published: February 2007

INTRODUCTION

In this protocol, recombinant protein or a chemically synthesized bioactive fragment is immobilized on resin and used as a probe to capture interacting proteins directly from a cell extract. Affinity-purified proteins are fractionated by gel electrophoresis and visualized by Coomassie staining. Proteins that interact specifically are identified by comparing this gel profile to one obtained from cell lysates passed over a control resin lacking the immobilized probe protein. Specific bands are excised from the gel, proteolytically digested in situ, and analyzed by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to derive primary sequence information and consequently identify the interacting protein.
Imaging Hoechst-Labeled Chromosomes and Fluorescent Proteins during the Cell Cycle
Authors: Haraguchi Tokuko , Hiraoka Yasushi
Published: February 2007

INTRODUCTION

Fluorescence microscopy provides a powerful tool for imaging molecular components in living cells. Specific molecular components can be efficiently labeled by a combination of three methods: (1) chemical transfection of GFP-fusion constructs, (2) staining of chromosomes with the DNA-specific, fluorescent dye Hoechst 33342, and (3) microinjection of fluorescently conjugated proteins. This procedure provides an example of using all three methods in sequence to label components of living HeLa cells. These methods should be followed in the order presented, but any of them can be omitted when not needed.
Preparation and Microinjection of x-Rhodamine-Labeled Vimentin: Figure 1.
Authors: Kuczmarski Edward R. , Goldman Robert D.
Published: February 2007

INTRODUCTION

Intermediate filaments (IF) are major cytoskeletal systems of vertebrate and many nonvertebrate cells whose expression is cell-type specific and developmentally regulated. This protocol describes the x-rhodamine labeling of one type of IF, vimentin, and a method for microinjection of the labeled vimentin into cultured cells. IF dynamics can then be examined with fluorescence microscopy.
Growth and energy budget of F2‘all‐fish’ growth hormone gene transgenic common carp
Authors: Fu C. , Li D. , Hu W. , Wang Y. , Zhu Z.
Published: February 2007

The growth and energy budget for F2‘all‐fish’ growth hormone gene transgenic common carp Cyprinus carpio of two body sizes were investigated at 29·2° C for 21 days. Specific growth rate, feed intake, feed efficiency, digestibility coefficients of dry matter and protein, gross energy intake (IE), and the proportion of IE utilized for heat production (HE) were significantly higher in the transgenics than in the controls. The proportion of IE directed to waste products [faecal energy (FE) and excretory energy loss (ZE+UE) where ZE is through the gills and UE through the kidney], and the proportion of metabolizable energy (ME) for recovered energy (RE) were significantly lower in the transgenics than in the controls. The average energy budget equation of transgenic fish was as follows: 100 IE= 19·3 FE+ 6·0 (ZE+UE) + 45·2 HE+ 29·5 RE or 100 ME= 60·5 HE+ 39·5 RE. The average energy budget equation of the controls was: 100 IE= 25·2 FE+ 7·4 (ZE+UE) + 35·5 HE+ 31·9 RE or 100 ME= 52·7 HE+ 47·3 RE. These findings indicate that the high growth rate of ‘all‐fish’ transgenic common carp relative to their non‐transgenic counterparts was due to their increased feed intake, reduced lose of waste productions and improved feed efficiency. The benefit of the increased energy intake by transgenic fish, however, was diminished by their increased metabolism.
Three species of fishes from an eutrophic, seasonally alkaline lake are not more tolerant to acute exposure to high pH in the laboratory
Authors: Scott D. M. , Wilson R. W.
Published: February 2007

A number of different freshwater fish species (perch Perca fluviatilis, roach Rutilus rutilus and rudd Scardinius erythrophthalamus) from either eutrophic (Slapton Ley, a seasonally alkaline lake) or non‐eutrophic waters were compared with respect to their sodium uptake kinetics and tolerance to acute (1 h) exposure to pH 9·5. Further comparisons were made with rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and brown trout Salmo trutta. The influence of fish size was also investigated in rainbow trout. Exposure to pH 9·5 was found to disrupt sodium balance and inhibit ammonia excretion in all species and sizes of fishes. The origin of fishes did not have a significant effect on the sodium uptake kinetics or the physiological responses to high pH water. The fishes from the eutrophic lake therefore did not appear to have any increased tolerance to acute exposure to alkaline water. In contrast to previous studies there was no inhibition of Na+ uptake during exposure to high pH. Indeed in some groups of fish Na+ uptake was actually stimulated, as was Na+ efflux. These differences are attributed to experimental water composition and interspecific differences in physiology. It was not always possible to size‐match fishes of the different species, so rainbow trout were used to assess the effect of body mass (from 2 to 40 g), on Na+ uptake kinetics and Na+ or ammonia fluxes during alkaline water exposure in rainbow trout. Size had no significant effect on these measurements within this narrow range, which helps validate the comparison between species in this study.
Ontogeny of the gastrointestinal tract and selected digestive enzymes in cobia Rachycentron canadum (L.)
Authors: Faulk C. K. , Benninghoff A. D. , Holt G. J.
Published: February 2007

The ontogeny of the digestive system of cobia Rachycentron canadum from hatching to 22 days post‐hatch (dph) (20·1 mm standard length) was examined with light microscopy. The activities of selected pancreatic enzymes were also determined during this period in order to optimize current rearing methods for this species. At hatching (3·6 mm), the digestive tract consisted of a relatively undifferentiated, straight tube positioned dorsally to the yolk sac. The major morphological changes in the digestive tract primarily occurred over the first 1–4 dph (3·6–4·4 mm). During this time, larvae began exogenous feeding (3 dph) and the digestive tract differentiated into five histologically distinct regions: buccopharynx, oesophagus, stomach anlage, anterior intestine and posterior intestine. Yolk reserves were exhausted by 5 dph (4·5 mm) and the oil globule began rapidly decreasing in size disappearing entirely by 9–10 dph (6·3–6·8 mm). Gastric glands differentiated at this time, and by 12 dph (8·1 mm) surface mucous cells of the stomach anlage stained positive for neutral mucosubstances. By 16 dph (11·6 mm), the blind sac (fundic region) of the stomach formed as did the pyloric caecae which initially appeared as a single protrusion of the anterior intestine just ventral to the pyloric sphincter. Generally, enzyme activities (U larva−1) for amylase (0·0–1·8), chymotrypsin (0·0–7902·4), trypsin (0·2–16·6) and lipase (9·3–1319·0) were measurable at or soon after hatching and increased steadily from c. 8–22 dph (5·7–20·1 mm). The results of this study are discussed in terms of current and future weaning practices of this species.
Coffee consumption and the risk of endometrial cancer: Evidence from a case‐control study of female hormone‐related cancers in Japan
Authors: Hirose Kaoru , Niwa Yoshimitsu , Wakai Kenji , Matsuo Keitaro , Nakanishi Toru , Tajima Kazuo
Published: February 2007

Coffee has become a popular beverage worldwide. Caffeine, a major ingredient of coffee, has been proposed to have a favorable affect on the modulation of circulating estrogen levels and therefore may be of importance in developments on hormone‐related cancers. However, epidemiological evidence is limited and inconsistent. We examined the relationship between intake of coffee and hormone‐related cancer risk among Japanese women using data from the hospital‐based epidemiological research program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC). In total, 2122 breast, 229 endometrial and 166 ovarian cancer cases were included, and 12 425 women, confirmed as free of cancer, were recruited as the control group. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined by multiple logistic regression analysis. A statistically significant inverse association between risk of endometrial cancer and coffee consumption was noted in Japanese women, with no clear association evident for breast and ovarian cancer risk. Compared to non‐drinker, the OR of daily drinking of 1–2 cups and 3 or more cups per day for endometrial cancer were 0.64 (95% CI: 0.43–0.94) and 0.41 (95% CI: 0.19–0.87), respectively, and the linear trend was also statistically significant (P < 0.01). However, there was no statistically significant association between caffeine intake and endometrial cancer. In summary, the results of the present study suggest that coffee consumption reduces the risk of endometrial cancer in Japanese subjects. Given the scarcity of studies of coffee intake and endometrial cancer and other hormone‐dependent cancer risk, additional investigations are warranted. (Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 411–415)
Maternal depression increases infant risk of diarrhoeal illness: a cohort study
Authors: Reading Richard
Published: February 2007

.
 
Rahman A.,
Bunn J.,
Lovel H. &
Creed F.
(
2007
)

,
92
,
24
–
28
.

Aims  To examine the associations between post‐natal depression in mothers and diarrhoeal illness in their infants in the first year of life in a low‐income country.

Methods  Using a prospective cohort design, 265 infants (n = 130 of mothers having a depressive episode according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, at 3 months post‐natal and n = 135 of psychologically well mothers), living in rural Rawalpindi, Pakistan, were followed up for 1 year. Frequency of diarrhoeal episodes was measured fortnightly by health workers using a standard questionnaire.

Results  Infants of depressed mothers had significantly more diarrhoeal episodes per year than those of controls (mean 5.5 vs. 4.0; 95% CI 0.9–2.0). The relative risk of having ≥5 diarrhoeal episodes per year in infants of depressed mothers was 2.3 (95% CI 1.6–3.1). The association remained significant after adjustment for other risk factors by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions  Maternal depression is associated with infant diarrhoeal morbidity in a low‐income community setting. It is independent of the effects of known factors such as under‐nutrition, socio‐economic status and parental education. Preventive child health programmes targeting mothers must consider their mental health.
Fission yeast autophagy induced by nitrogen starvation generates a nitrogen source that drives adaptation processes
Authors: Kohda Toshiki A. , Tanaka Kayoko , Konomi Mami , Sato Mamiko , Osumi Masako , Yamamoto Masayuki
Published: February 2007

Autophagy is a conserved bulk protein degradation process that is proposed to play a role in events that arise when organisms are forced to radically change their fate, including nutritional starvation, differentiation and development. In our present study, we have identified fission yeast autophagy as a bulk protein degradation process induced by the deprivation of environmental nitrogen, the effects of which are known to trigger sexual differentiation as an adaptive response. Autophagy‐defective mutants were found to be sterile in the absence of environmental nitrogen, but could complete sexual differentiation when nitrogen was supplied, suggesting that the major function of autophagy is to provide a nitrogen source. In addition, the environmental nitrogen levels act as an autophagy “on/off” switch, whereas components essential for sexual differentiation were dispensable for this regulation. We propose that fission yeast autophagy functions to supply nitrogen and is activated when cells cannot access exogenous nitrogen, thus ensuring that they can adapt and subsequently propagate.
Host factor Ebp1: Selective inhibitor of influenza virus transcriptase
Authors: Honda Ayae , Okamoto Takuto , Ishihama Akira
Published: February 2007

Influenza virus RNA polymerase is composed of three virus‐coded proteins, and is involved in both transcription and replication of the negative‐strand genome RNA. Subunit PB1 plays key roles in both the RNA polymerase assembly and the catalytic function of RNA polymerization. Using yeast two‐hybrid screening, a HeLa cell protein with the molecular mass of 45 kDa was identified. After cloning and sequencing, this protein was identified to be Ebp1, ErbB3‐binding protein. Epb1 specifically interacts with PB1 both in vitro and in vivo, and Epb1 contact site on PB1 was mapped at its binding site of transcription primers. Ebp1 was found to interfere with in vitro RNA synthesis by influenza virus RNA polymerase (3P complex), but no inhibition was observed for capped RNA endonuclease and RNA‐cap binding, the intrinsic activities of RNA polymerase. Since inhibition was not observed against other nucleic acid polymerases tested, we propose that Ebp1 is a selective inhibitor of influenza viral RNA polymerase. Accordingly over‐expression of Ebp1 interfered with virus production. The PB1‐contact site on Ebp1 overlaps with the interaction site with ErbB3 (epidermal receptor tyrosine kinase), androgen receptor (AR) and retinoblastoma gene product (Rb), which are involved in controlling cell proliferation and differentiation.
Identification of the three‐dimensional gel microstructure from transmission electron micrographs
Authors: NISSLERT RASMUS , KVARNSTRÖM MATS , LORÉN NIKLAS , NYDÉN MAGNUS , RUDEMO MATS
Published: February 2007

Mass transport in gels depends crucially on local properties of the gel network. We propose a method for identifying the three‐dimensional (3D) gel microstructure from statistical information in transmission electron micrographs. The gel strand network is modelled as a random graph with nodes and edges (branches). The distribution of edge length, the number of edges at nodes and the angles between edges at a node are estimated from transmission electron micrographs by image analysis methods. The 3D network is simulated by Markov chain Monte Carlo, with a probability function based on the statistical information found from the micrographs. The micrographs are projections of stained gel strands in slices, and we derive a formula for estimating the thickness of the stained gel slice based on the total projected gel strand length and the number of times that gel strands enter or exit the slice.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae samples stained with FUN‐1 dye can be stored at −20°C for later observation
Authors: EGGLESTON M. D. , MARSHALL P. A.
Published: February 2007

FUN‐1, a fluorescent vital dye, has been observed to form cylindrical intravacuolar structures within the vacuoles of metabolically active yeast cells. FUN‐1 staining, which begins as a diffuse pool of fluorescent cytoplasmic stain, uses an unknown endogenous biochemical processing mechanism to compact and form orange‐red cylindrical intravacuolar structures within the cell vacuole. In the clinical setting, FUN‐1 is primarily used for identification of fungal infection. FUN‐1 is utilized in the laboratory to distinguish between metabolically active and dead fungal cells. Although this stain is useful for distinguishing between live and dead fungal dead cells, few studies have utilized this chemical. This lack of use in the scientific community may be due to the requirement that cells are visualized directly after staining. Thus, it would be of interest to be able to stain cells and store them for later use. Our lab examined the longevity of cylindrical intravacuolar structures in two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae stained with FUN‐1 and stored at −20°C. We found that cylindrical intravacuolar structures could be reliably observed and imaged utilizing differential interference contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy for 21 days. We also observed that cells stained with FUN‐1 would resume propagation on yeast extract, peptone, dextrose (YPD) plates after being frozen at −20°C for 21 days. These modifications to the published procedure for FUN‐1 dye staining should allow for a more prevalent and less time sensitive use of this important biological tool.
Selective targeting of miRNA‐regulated plant development by a viral counter‐silencing protein
Authors: Lewsey Mathew , Robertson Fiona C. , Canto Tomas , Palukaitis Peter , Carr John P.
Published: February 2007

The cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) 2b protein suppresses RNA silencing and determines viral symptoms. AmongArabidopsis thalianalines expressing 2b proteins from mild (LS and Q CMV) or severe (Fny CMV) strains, only Fny2b‐transgenic plants displayed strong symptom‐like phenotypes in leaves, stems and flowers, together with stunting of main root growth and increased emergence of lateral roots. However, LS and Fny 2b proteins both enhanced lateral root length. Micro (mi)RNA‐mediated cellular mRNA turnover was inhibited in Fny2b‐transgenic plants, but there was no evidence for this in LS2b‐transgenic plants. Both 2b proteins efficiently suppressed small interfering (si)RNA‐mediated RNA silencing, suggesting that 2b proteins can target the siRNA pathway without disrupting miRNA‐regulated RNA turnover. Thus, symptom induction is not an inevitable consequence of RNA silencing suppression. For CMV, strain‐specific differences between the 2b silencing proteins determine whether only one or both small RNA‐guided RNA destruction pathways are disrupted.
Response of zooid size in Cupuladria exfragminis (Bryozoa) to simulated upwelling temperatures
Authors: O'Dea Aaron , Rodríguez Felix , Romero Tania
Published: February 2007

We investigate the effect of the temperature–size rule upon zooids of the tropical American bryozoan Cupuladria exfragminis. Results show that mean zooid length, zooid width and zooid area vary significantly between clonal replicates of C. exfragminis kept under different controlled temperature conditions. Significantly larger zooids are produced during times of lowered water temperature that are comparable with the temperatures that occur during seasonal upwelling along the Pacific coast of Panama where the animal lives in abundance. Interpolation of data suggests that a drop of 1 °C causes a 5% increase in zooid size, and that almost all variation in zooid size in natural populations can be explained by temperature. Results are discussed in context of the potential use of zooid size variation in cupuladriid bryozoans to measure the strength of seasonal upwelling in ancient seas by analysing zooid size changes in fossil colonies. The technique of cloning cupuladriid colonies by fragmentation is also discussed with reference to its benefits in experimental studies where genotypes need to be controlled or replicated.
Mapping QTLs related to salinity tolerance of rice at the young seedling stage
Authors: Lee S. Y. , Ahn J. H. , Cha Y. S. , Yun D. W. , Lee M. C. , Ko J. C. , Lee K. S. , Eun M. Y.
Published: February 2007

Using a population of recombinant inbred lines of the 164 genotypes derived from a cross between ‘Milyang 23’ (indica) and ‘Gihobyeo’ (japonica) in rice (Oryza sativaL.), salt tolerance was evaluated at a young seedling stage in concentrations of 0.5% and 0.7% NaCl. Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to salt tolerance was carried out by interval mapping using Qgene 3.0. Two QTLs (qST1 and qST3) conferring salt tolerance at young seedling stage were mapped on chromosome 1 and 3, respectively, and explained 35.5–36.9% of the total phenotypic variation in 0.5% and 0.7% NaCl. The favourable allele ofqST1was contributed by ‘Gihobyeo’, and that ofqST3by ‘Milyang 23’. The results obtained in 0.5% and 0.7% NaCl for 2 years were similar in flanked markers and phenotypic variation.
Genetics of leaf rust resistance in three Americano landrace‐derived wheat cultivars from Uruguay
Authors: Kolmer J. A. , Oelke L. M. , Liu J. Q.
Published: February 2007

A genetic analysis of the landrace‐derived wheat accessions Americano 25e, Americano 26n, and Americano 44d, from Uruguay was conducted to identify the leaf rust resistance genes present in these early wheat cultivars. The three cultivars were crossed with the leaf rust susceptible cultivar ‘Thatcher’ and approximately 80 backcross (BC1) F2 families were derived for each cross. The BC1F2 families and selected BC1F4 lines were tested for seedling and adult plant leaf rust resistance with selected isolates of leaf rust, Puccinia triticina. The segregation and infection type data indicated that Americano 25e had seedling resistance genes Lr3, Lr16, an additional unidentified seedling gene, and one adult plant resistance gene that was neither Lr12 nor Lr13, and did not phenotypically resemble Lr34. Americano 26n was postulated to have genes Lr11, Lr12, Lr13, and Lr14a. Americano 44d appeared to have two possibly unique adult plant leaf rust resistance genes.
Production and characterization of intergeneric hybrids between Brassica oleracea and a wild relative Moricandia arvensis
Authors: Bang S. W. , Sugihara K. , Jeung B. H. , Kaneko R. , Satake E. , Kaneko Y. , Matsuzawa Y.
Published: February 2007

Intergeneric crosses were made between Brassica oleracea and Moricandia arvensis utilizing embryo rescue. Six F1 hybrid plants were generated in the cross‐combination of B. oleracea × M. arvensis from 64 pods by the placenta‐embryo culture technique, whereas three plants were produced in the reciprocal cross from 40 pods by the ovary culture technique. The hybrid plants were ascertained to be amphihaploid with 2n = 23 chromosomes in mitosis and a meiotic chromosome association of (0–3)II + (17–23)I at metaphase I (M I). In the backcross with B. oleracea, some of these hybrids developed sesquidiploid BC1 plants with 2n = 32 chromosomes that predominantly exhibited a meiotic configuration of (9II + 14I) in pollen mother cells. The following backcross of BC2 plants to B. oleracea generated 48 BC3 progeny with somatic chromosomes from 2n = 19 to 2n = 41. The 2n = 19 plants showed a chromosomal association type of (9II + 1I) and a chromosomal distribution type of (91/2 + 91/2) or (9 + 10) at M I and M II, respectively. These facts might suggest that they were monosomic addition lines (MALs) of B. oleracea carrying a single chromosome of M. arvensis that could offer potential for future genetic and breeding research, together with other novel hybrid progeny developed in this intergeneric hybridization.
Evidence of increased cell proliferation in the hippocampus in children with Ammon's horn sclerosis
Authors: Takei Hidehiro , Wilfong Angus , Yoshor Daniel , Armstrong Dawna L. , Bhattacharjee Meenakshi B.
Published: February 2007

Previous studies of Ammon's horn sclerosis (AHS) suggest that AHS is both the result of and the cause of seizures, and support the idea that seizures cause alterations in cell numbers and location. To test the hypothesis that epilepsy induces neurogenesis/gliogenesis, hippocampal cell proliferation was assessed in AHS. Twelve and four resected hippocampi in patients with AHS and with tumor‐related epilepsy (TRE), respectively, and 11 autopsy controls were immunostained for Ki‐67. Total number of Ki‐67‐positive cells (KiPC) in each hippocampal area was counted. Selected cases were further studied with double immunohistochemical labeling. KiPC were observed in all three groups. Total numbers of KiPC were significantly higher in AHS cases than in controls, but were not significantly different between TRE cases and controls. Significant differences were observed in the dentate gyrus, the cornu ammonis (CA)‐4 region, and the fissura hippocampi between the AHS and control groups. In double immunolabeling, nestin was positive in some KiPC. The existence of neurogenesis/gliogenesis was shown in the hippocampi of pediatric patients with AHS. Increased numbers of progenitor cells in the hippocampi with AHS appear not to be due to seizures per se, but to be more associated with the specific cause of epilepsy.
Medulloepithelioma: Two unusual locations
Authors: Takei Hidehiro , Florez Luisa , Moroz Krzysztof , Bhattacharjee Meenakshi B.
Published: February 2007

Reported herein are two cases of medulloepithelioma (ME) occurring in very unusual locations. Case 1 involved a 44‐year‐old man who presented with leg pain and urinary incontinence. Spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed an enhancing epidural and intradural lumbosacral mass. He underwent L3–S2 laminectomy with partial tumor resection. Approximately 2 months following surgery, he developed leptomeningeal spread of the tumor, and died 2 months later. Case 2 involved a 22‐month‐old girl who presented with painless left proptosis. MRI demonstrated diffuse, fusiform, and contrast‐enhancing enlargement of the left optic nerve. Following biopsy, she was treated with chemotherapy. Histologically, the tumors in both cases consisted of primitive pseudostratified neuroepithelial cells, arranged in papillary, tubular, or trabecular configurations. A PAS‐stained external limiting membrane (ELM) of the neuroepithelia was present. In case 1 there were scattered cartilaginous nodules within the tumor, in keeping with the diagnosis of a teratoid ME. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin, nestin, microtubule‐associated protein‐2, CD56, CD10, glial fibrillary acidic protein (focal), and S‐100 protein (focal). The main differential diagnoses include an immature teratoma and an optic nerve glioma in cases 1 and 2, respectively. Histological demonstration of the ELM by PAS stain is a simple but useful technique.
Using multitemporal digital elevation model data for detecting canopy gaps in tropical forests due to cyclone damage: An initial assessment
Authors: TICEHURST CATHERINE , PHINN STUART , HELD ALEX
Published: February 2007

Abstract  The detection and mapping of canopy disturbance caused by natural events such as cyclones in tropical rainforests is important for monitoring and understanding rainforest dynamics and recovery. In February 1999 tropical cyclone Rona crossed the coastline of Far North Queensland, Australia, causing significant damage to the rainforest canopy in some areas. This paper examines the application of multitemporal canopy digital elevation models (DEMs) generated by a NASA‐operated airborne radar mapping system called TOPSAR in 1996 and 2000, for detection of canopy disturbance caused by cyclone damage. Canopy damage was mapped here by identifying areas with a significant decrease in canopy height estimated from the difference of the 1996 and 2000 TOPSAR DEMs. Conventional aerial photographs, flown shortly after the cyclone (March 1999), were used to validate the resulting map of cyclone damaged rainforest canopy. The results showed that the DEM‐derived canopy damage map performed reasonably well when comparing the spatial distribution and size of damaged areas, while taking into account the time difference between cyclone damage and the second radar acquisition. Some errors were encountered on the steeper slopes which were related to terrain distortions inherent in radar images of steep terrain. The height accuracy of the DEM was close to the depth of some of the gaps being mapped, which also contributed to errors. Even so, the results demonstrate there may be potential for weather‐independent, regional‐scale mapping of forest canopy change from imaging radar that is not always possible from traditional optical means of measuring canopy elevation, for example, airborne laser data and stereo aerial photography. This may be possible in relatively flat areas, provided the second radar acquisition occurs within months of the damaging event. Further algorithm refinement is required to improve its robustness and the range of topographies where this approach can provide reliable estimates of the extent of canopy disturbance.
Ant mosaics in a tropical rainforest in Australia and elsewhere: A critical review
Authors: BLÜTHGEN NICO , STORK NIGEL E.
Published: February 2007

Abstract  The concept of ‘ant mosaics’ has been established to describe the structure of arboreal ant communities in plantations and other relatively simple forest systems. It is essentially built upon the existence of negative and positive associations between ant species plus the concept of dominance hierarchies. Whether this concept can be applied to ant communities in more complex mature tropical rain forests has been questioned by some authors. Here we demonstrate that some previous attempts to prove or disprove the existence of such ant mosaics sampled by knockdown insecticide canopy fogging in near pristine tropical forests may have been thwarted by poor statistical power and too coarse spatial resolution, and the conclusions may be highly dependent on ant species and forest stratum selected for the study. Moreover, the presence or absence of ant mosaics may be driven by the density of suitable resources. We use an intensively studied ant community in the lowland rainforests of North‐East Queensland, Australia to outline processes that may lead to ant mosaic patterns, reasoning that competition for highly predictable resources in space and time such as honeydew and nectar is a fundamental process to maintain the mosaic structure. Honeydew and nectar sources, particularly their amino acids, are of crucial importance for nourishment of arboreal ant species. We use canopy fogging data from the same site in Australia and from two mature rainforests in South‐East Asia to compare spatial avoidance and co‐occurrence patterns implied by ant mosaics. Significant negative and positive associations were found among the three most abundant ant species in each dataset. Several problems with such spatial analyses are discussed, and we suggest that studies of ant mosaics in complex rainforest communities would benefit from a more focused approach on patterns of resource distribution and their differential utilisation by ants.
Virus population extinction via ecological traps
Authors: Dennehy John J. , Friedenberg Nicholas A. , Yang Yul W. , Turner Paul E.
Published: February 2007

Populations are at risk of extinction when unsuitable or when sink habitat exceeds a threshold frequency in the environment. Sinks that present cues associated with high‐quality habitats, termed ecological traps, have especially detrimental effects on net population growth at metapopulation scales. Ecological traps for viruses arise naturally, or can be engineered, via the expression of viral‐binding sites on cells that preclude viral reproduction. We present a model for virus population growth in a heterogeneous host community, parameterized with data from populations of the RNA bacteriophage Φ6 presented with mixtures of suitable host bacteria and either neutral or trap cells. We demonstrate that viruses can sustain high rates of population growth in the presence of neutral non‐hosts as long as some host cells are present, whereas trap cells dramatically reduce viral fitness. In addition, we demonstrate that the efficacy of traps for viral elimination is frequency dependent in spatially structured environments such that population viability is a nonlinear function of habitat loss in dispersal‐limited virus populations. We conclude that the ecological concepts applied to species conservation in altered landscapes can also contribute to the development of trap cell therapies for infectious human viruses.
The rise and fall of William Bassett Chinnery
Authors: Scorgie Michael E.
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this article is to explain how William Bassett Chinnery, who was appointed Agent for New South Wales on 1 May 1787, was enabled to embezzle more than £80,000 of Treasury funds prior to his dismissal on 17 March 1812. In this chronicle attention is concentrated on Chinnery's duties and peculation rather than his private life and his love of music which has been exposed elsewhere (Yim, 2004). Attention is paid to accounting and control systems used at the British Treasury and the function and operation of the Audit Office which was established in 1785. In conclusion, it is argued that Chinnery was able to avoid detection because contemporary charge and discharge reporting, cash control and auditing were inadequate.
The determinants of the price impact of block trades: further evidence
Authors: Frino Alex , Jarnecic Elvis , Lepone Andrew
Published: February 2007

This article extends previous literature which examines the determinants of the price impact of block trades on the Australian Stock Exchange. As previous literature suggests that liquidity exhibits intraday patterns, we introduce time of day dummy variables to explore time dependencies in price impact. Following theoretical developments in previous literature, the explanatory power of the bid–ask spread, a lagged cumulative stock return variable and a refined measure of market returns are also examined. The model estimated explains approximately 29 per cent of the variation in price impact. Block trades executed in the first hour of trading experience the greatest price impact, while market conditions, lagged stock returns and bid–ask spreads are positively related to price impact. The bid–ask spread provides most of the explanatory power. This suggests that liquidity is the main driver of price impact.
A Bigger Piece of a Very Small Pie: Intrahousehold Resource Allocation and Poverty Reduction in Africa
Authors: O'Laughlin Bridget
Published: February 2007

Feminist research has convincingly shown that an increase in household income does not necessarily lead to improvement in the well‐being of all members of the household. More questionable is the policy conclusion often drawn from this research for rural Africa: redressing gender imbalance in control of productive resources will significantly reduce poverty. This contribution argues that the evidence and analysis presented by two studies repeatedly cited to show that gender inequality is inefficient are problematic. It is mythical to suggest that tinkering with women's market position by exchanging unequal collective rights to productive resources for individual ones will decisively reduce rural poverty in Africa. That will depend on the restructuring of long‐term and deeply unequal processes of integration in the market, not on a firmer insertion of women within existing patterns of individualization and commodification of productive resources.
Myths To Live By? Female Solidarity and Female Autonomy Reconsidered
Authors: Cornwall Andrea
Published: February 2007

Female autonomy and female solidarity occupy a special place in gender and development thinking. For some feminists, myself included, they represent closely held ideals; as such, they are very difficult to bring into question. This contribution reflects on these ideals in order to raise critical questions about the attachments that gender and development practitioners may have to particular ways of reading ‘gender relations’. It draws on ethnographic fieldwork in Nigeria to explore the lack of fit between received ‘Western’ ideas about gender and the complexity, contingency and multiplicity of relations and identifications among women in this cultural context. It argues that superimposing received notions of gendered power relations on those whom development intervention seeks to assist — in the form of gender myths that have a hold on hearts as well as minds — may offer these women neither succour, nor the means for them to empower themselves.
“We Simply Have to Do that Stuff for our Survival”: Labour, Firm Innovation and Cluster Governance in the Canadian Automotive Parts Industry
Authors: Rutherford Tod D , Holmes John
Published: February 2007

Based on a case study of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union in southern Ontario we argue for a critical reconstruction of both the labour geography and industrial cluster literature. The former stresses the active role of labour in the formation of economic landscapes, but has yet to explore labour's agency in production and how labour institutions shape technological change, firm innovation and industrial policy and strategy. Conversely, much of the industrial cluster and regional innovation systems literature is silent on the role of unions and industrial relations institutions in fostering innovation. We conclude with two main points. First, while some contend that positive union roles in innovation can only stem from partnerships with management and team working, we argue that innovation is more likely to emerge and worker interests are better protected when traditional collective bargaining structures and progressive employment legislation play a central role. Second, positive workplace and cluster level cooperation in the Canadian automotive parts industry are jeopardized by the broader and ongoing macro‐economic restructuring of OEM global production networks due to over‐capacity and intense cost‐cutting pressures reverberating down the supply chain.
Comments on the future of Asian social psychology
Authors: Matsumoto David
Published: February 2007

The efforts of Asian social psychology and the Asian Association of Social Psychology (AASP) over the past decade and longer have clearly drawn attention to Asian cultures and their potential influence on psychological processes, and have highlighted the need to incorporate Asian social psychology into a global understanding of social psychology. Despite these advancements, however, all four authors, in their own way, suggest that these efforts are only the tip of the iceberg, and describe how Asian social psychology can shift their contributions to a higher gear. In this brief commentary, I discuss three points raised in the papers by Atsumi, Hofstede, Leung, and Ward: identity, the gold standard of comparison, and the contribution of Asian social psychology to a global social psychology, all in relation to visions of the future.
MOMENT ESTIMATION IN THE CLASS OF BISEXUAL BRANCHING PROCESSES WITH POPULATION–SIZE DEPENDENT MATING
Authors: González Miguel , Mota Manuel , Ramos Alfonso
Published: February 2007

This paper concerns the estimation of the offspring mean vector, the covariance matrix and the growth rate in the class of bisexual branching processes with population‐size dependent mating. For the proposed estimators, some unconditional moments and some conditioned to non‐extinction are determined and asymptotic properties are established. Confidence intervals are obtained and, as illustration, a simulation example is given.
The Transmission of Sustained Growth through the Terms of Trade in an Endogenous Growth Model
Authors: Álvarez‐Albelo Carmen Dolores , Perera‐Tallo Fernando
Published: February 2007

This paper develops a two‐country model of endogenous growth and international trade in intermediate goods. In autarky just one of the economies enjoys sustained growth. The trade situation may be characterized by complete specialization of both countries, or by incomplete specialization of the growing economy. In either case, trade transmits perpetual growth to the stagnant economy because of the permanent improvements in its terms of trade. The existence of a non‐reproducible factor in the growing economy is crucial to ensure propagation of growth. Moreover, under incomplete specialization countries converge in per capita income. This result relies on two assumptions. First, there must be a large enough share of world income to pay for the input in which the stagnant economy has comparative advantage. Second, all technologies producing intermediate goods should be equally intensive in the non‐reproducible factor.
The Effects of Technology Changes on Sectoral Trade Patterns*
Authors: Kasuya Munehisa , Okada Toshihiro
Published: February 2007

We develop a model in which sectoral trade patterns depend on both the technology common to all sectors and the technologies specific to each sector. Changes in the common technology level affect sectoral trade patterns through their impact on intertemporal optimization behavior, while changes in the sector‐specific technology levels affect sectoral trade patterns by influencing comparative advantage. The model shows: (1) unexpected increases in the common technology level worsen sectoral trade balances, but expected increases in the common technology level improve them; and (2) given other countries’ sectoral technology levels, an increase in a sector‐specific technology level relative to other sectors improves sectoral trade balances through its operation on comparative advantage. Using Japanese data, the empirical results reported in this paper support the model’s predictions.
Japanese Language Students' Perceptions on Kanji Learning and Their Relationship to Novel Kanji Word Learning Ability
Authors: Mori Yoshiko , Sato Kumi , Shimizu Hideko
Published: February 2007

This study examines the relationship between how learners of Japanese as a second language perceive the learning of kanji (i.e., the logographic characters shared with Chinese) and their ability to learn novel kanji words using morphological and contextual information. Eighty college students learning Japanese as a foreign language completed a 60‐item kanji questionnaire, a 75‐item kanji test, and a 30‐item reading comprehension test. Results indicated modest but statistically significant correlations between the belief variables and the kanji ability measures, with reading proficiency factored out. Regression analyses revealed that although reading proficiency accounted for a large portion of variance of the participants' performance on the kanji test, belief in the effectiveness of metacognitive strategies accounted for 14–16% of the variance of success in morphological analysis. The results suggest that (a) students' task‐specific beliefs have a significant impact on their achievement on a given task and that (b) metacognitive awareness significantly affects how a learner handles a challenging learning task.
Bilingual Language Processing and Interference in Bilinguals: Evidence From Eye Tracking and Picture Naming
Authors: Kaushanskaya Margarita , Marian Viorica
Published: February 2007

Recognition and interference of a nontarget language (Russian) during production in a target language (English) were tested in Russian‐English bilinguals using eye movements and picture naming. In Experiment 1, Russian words drew more eye movements and delayed English naming to a greater extent than control nonwords and English translation equivalents. In Experiment 2, Russian words spelled using English‐specific letters drew more eye movements than control nonwords and English translation equivalents; however, both Russian words and nonword controls delayed English naming. Results of the two experiments suggest that nontarget‐language information is processed during a target‐language task. Recognition and production in bilinguals might function within distinct constraints, with recognition sensitive to lexical information (target and nontarget) and production sensitive to phonological information (lexical and nonlexical).
Authority and vision: the painter's position in the Cappella Nova at Orvieto
Authors: Wright Alison
Published: February 2007

The paper shows how, in the fresco cycle of the Last Days and Last Judgement in the Cappella Nova at Orvieto (painted from 1499), Luca Signorelli was able to construct a position of authority for himself as a painter within both a history of salvation and a history of art. Taking as a starting point the special position Signorelli occupies in Vasari's 1568 edition of the Lives, the author analyses the range of pictorial means by which the painter is inscribed as both author and visionary: through the ordering of the history of judgement/salvation as begun and left unfinished by Fra Angelico, through the development of novel, temporally self‐conscious pictorial vocabularies, often associated with the antique, and through juxtaposition with established ‘guides’ poetic and painterly. Parallels are also adduced with other painterly manifestos of artistic authority of the same period, though the cycle is arguably unique in its scale and ambition and peculiarly ‘prophetic’ of further developments within the history of art.
British Hypertension Society Recommends That β‐Blockers Are No Longer Indicated as Initial Treatment of Hypertension: Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far?
Authors: Bloch Michael J.
Published: February 2007

Beta‐blockers are no longer preferred as a routine initial therapy for hypertension.—British Hypertensive Society Guidelines, 2006.1
Resource Use in Decompensated Heart Failure by Disease Progression Categories
Authors: Kane‐Gill Sandra L. , Seybert Amy L. , Lazar Jessica , Shatzer Melanie B. , Saul Melissa I. , Kirisci Levent , Murali Srinivas
Published: February 2007

The purpose of this study was to quantify the total hospital resource use for decompensated heart failure according to disease progression categories. Clinical and cost information was obtained from an electronic data repository and chart review. During the 1‐year period from June 2002 to June 2003, qualified patients were categorized based on disease progression as (1) new onset, (2) known heart failure, or (3) readmission. The primary outcome variables were total hospital resource use and resource use by services. Analysis of variance, Scheffé analysis for pairwise comparisons, and chi‐square analysis were performed to determine differences among groups. Total hospitalization costs are similar whether it is a new diagnosis of heart failure, known diagnosis, or readmission. Among the 3 categories, 5 services contained statistically significant differences in costs (P<.05): echocardiography, electrophysiology, neurodiagnostic, nuclear cardiology, and pharmacy. Careful analysis of hospital resource use by services for heart failure patients provides opportunities for institutional cost containment.