bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visualization of liquid crystal director fields within carbon nanotube cavities
Authors: Jian Kengqing , Hurt Robert H. , Sheldon Brian W. , Crawford Gregory P.
Published: April 2006

Multiwall carbon nanotube cavities were infiltrated with naphthalene polymer which exhibits a discotic nematic liquid crystal phase. The liquid crystal phase is covalently captured by thermal carbonization. High resolution transmission electron microscope images reveal a planar configuration consistent with elastic theory for extreme confinement conditions. Furthermore a spatial variation in order parameter was observed with a surface order parameter S0≈0.92 and an estimated correlation length ξ≈3.5nm.
Nanoscale displacement measurement in a variable-air-gap optical waveguide
Authors: Chen Fan , Cao Zhuangqi , Shen Qishun , Deng Xiaoxu , Duan Biming , Yuan Wen , Sang Minghuang , Wang Shengqian
Published: April 2006

Instead of analyzing the fringe shift that was recently developed by us to detect slight displacement, an alternative approach by monitoring changes in the intensity of the light reflected from a variable-air-gap optical waveguide is presented in this work. Owing to the sensitive feature of the ultrahigh-order modes, a 1.7nm resolution of displacement measurement is demonstrated without any complicated optical interference system and servotechniques.
JNK1 phosphorylation of SCG10 determines microtubule dynamics and axodendritic length
Authors: Tararuk Tatsiana , Östman Nina , Li Wenrui , Björkblom Benny , Padzik Artur , Zdrojewska Justyna , Hongisto Vesa , Herdegen Thomas , Konopka Witold , Courtney Michael J. , Coffey Eleanor T.
Published: April 2006

c-Jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNKs) are essential during brain development, when they regulate morphogenic changes involving cell movement and migration. In the adult, JNK determines neuronal cytoarchitecture. To help uncover the molecular effectors for JNKs in these events, we affinity purified JNK-interacting proteins from brain. This revealed that the stathmin family microtubule-destabilizing proteins SCG10, SCLIP, RB3, and RB3′ interact tightly with JNK. Furthermore, SCG10 is also phosphorylated by JNK in vivo on sites that regulate its microtubule depolymerizing activity, serines 62 and 73. SCG10-S73 phosphorylation is significantly decreased in JNK1−/− cortex, indicating that JNK1 phosphorylates SCG10 in developing forebrain. JNK phosphorylation of SCG10 determines axodendritic length in cerebrocortical cultures, and JNK site–phosphorylated SCG10 colocalizes with active JNK in embryonic brain regions undergoing neurite elongation and migration. We demonstrate that inhibition of cytoplasmic JNK and expression of SCG10-62A/73A both inhibited fluorescent tubulin recovery after photobleaching. These data suggest that JNK1 is responsible for regulation of SCG10 depolymerizing activity and neurite elongation during brain development.
Characteristics That Promote Transmission ofStaphylococcus aureusin German Nursing Homes
Authors: Wendt C. , Svoboda D. , Schmidt C. , Bock-Hensley O. , von Baum H.
Published: April 2006

Objective:

To determine factors that influence transmission ofStaphylococcus aureusin nursing homes in the Rhine-Neckar region of southern Germany.

Design:

Ecologie study.

Setting:

Forty-seven nursing homes in the region.

Participants:

Residents of the approached nursing homes who agreed to participate.

Methods:

Personal data and swabs of the nares were collected from participants. Swabs were examined for growth ofS. aureus.AllS. aureusisolates were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Transmission rates were calculated by dividing the number of transmissions (ie, cases in which two inhabitants shared the same PFGE type) by the number of S.aureuscarriers. Characteristics of the nursing homes were correlated with a home's transmission rate.

Results:

In each nursing home, 12% to 54% of the residents were colonized with S.aureus.The transmission rates for the 47 nursing homes ranged from 0% to 70%. A linear regression model revealed that a stay in the nursing home of longer than 6 months and accommodation in a room with 3 or more beds were positively associated with the transmission rate. Receipt of antibiotics during the 4 weeks preceding the study was negatively associated with transmission.

Conclusions:

Stays beyond 6 months and accommodation in rooms with multiple beds are important for the transmission of S.aureus.One way to reduce transmission would be to design facilities with single and double rooms. However, the social needs of the residents must be evaluated and respected.
Nursing Home-Acquired Bloodstream Infection
Authors: Smith Philip W. , Mylotte Joseph M.
Published: April 2006

Objectives:

This article reviews published studies of nursing home-acquired BSI in North America to determine whether there have been changes in the epidemiology of this infection in the past 20 years and to define indications for blood cultures in the nursing home setting.

Methods:

A Medline search was conducted for the period from 1980 to August 2003.

Results:

Seven studies of nursing home-acquired BSI were identified. The incidence of nursing home-acquired BSI was low (0.3 episode per 1,000 resident care-days). Sources of BSI changed little during the past two decades, with urinary tract infection representing approximately 50% of the episodes. The bacteriology also did not change substantially during the past 20 years; gram-negative bacilli were isolated in approximately 50% of the episodes and Escherichia coli was the most commonly isolated organism. In the most recent study, covering the period 1997-2000, resistance to fluoroquinolones and broad-spectrum penicillins and cephalosporins was uncommon among gram-negative blood isolates; MRSA was the most common resistant organism causing nursing home-acquired BSI. Case-fatality rates changed little during the past 20 years; urinary tract infection was associated with the lowest mortality and pneumonia had the highest case-fatality rate.

Conclusion:

There has been little change in the epidemiology of nursing home-acquired BSI in the past 20 years. Given the low incidence of BSI and the low overall yield of positive results of blood cultures (probably ≤ 6%), there is currently no support for the routine use of blood cultures in the nursing home setting.
Investigation of the physiological relationship between the cyanide-insensitive oxidase and cyanide production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Zlosnik James E. A. , Tavankar Gholam Reza , Bundy Jacob G. , Mossialos Dimitris , O'Toole Ronan , Williams Huw D.
Published: April 2006

Pseudomonas aeruginosais an opportunistic pathogen which demonstrates considerable respiratory versatility, possessing up to five terminal oxidases. One oxidase, the cyanide-insensitive oxidase (CIO), has been previously shown to be resistant to the potent respiratory inhibitor cyanide, a toxin that is synthesized by this bacterium. This study investigated the physiological relationship between hydrogen cyanide production and the CIO. It was found that cyanide is produced inP. aeruginosaat similar levels irrespective of its complement of CIO, indicating that the CIO is not an obligatory electron sink for cyanide synthesis. However, MICs for cyanide and growth in its presence demonstrated that the CIO providesP. aeruginosawith protection against the effects of exogenous cyanide. Nevertheless, the presence of cyanide did not affect the viability ofciomutant strains compared to the wild-type during prolonged incubation in stationary phase. The detection of the fermentation end products acetate and succinate in stationary-phase culture supernatants suggests thatP. aeruginosa, irrespective of its CIO complement, may in part rely upon fermentation for energy generation in stationary phase. Furthermore, the decrease in cyanide levels during incubation in sealed flasks suggested that active breakdown of HCN by the culture was taking place. To investigate the possibility that the CIO may play a role in pathogenicity, wild-type andciomutant strains were tested in the paralytic killing model ofCaenorhabditis elegans, a model in which cyanide is the principal toxic agent leading to nematode death. The CIO mutant had delayed killing kinetics, demonstrating that the CIO is required for full pathogenicity ofP. aeruginosain this animal model.
Transcriptional regulation of the macs1-fadD1 operon encoding two acyl-CoA synthases involved in the physiological differentiation of Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Arabolaza Ana , Banchio Claudia , Gramajo Hugo
Published: April 2006

The long-chain acyl-CoA synthase (ACS) FadD1 plays an important role in timing the levels of antibiotic production inStreptomyces coelicolor. fadD1andmacs1, encoding a putative medium-chain ACS, are part of a two-gene operon, whose expression is induced during the stationary phase of growth. Here it is reported that transcription of themacs1-fadD1operon is positively regulated by AcsR, a LuxR-type transcriptional regulator. In anacsRmutant, expression of themacs1-fadD1genes loses its normal up-regulation and the mutant becomes deficient in antibiotic production, in a clear correlation with the phenotype shown by afadD1null mutant. The absence ofmacs1-fadD1induction in theacsRmutant was restored by complementation with a wild-type copy of theacsRgene, showing a strict link between AcsR and induction of themacs1-fadD1operon. Gel mobility shift assays and DNase I footprinting indicated that AcsR binds to specific sequences about +162 nucleotides downstream of themacs1transcriptional start site. In the putative operator sequence three almost identical direct tandem repeats of seven nucleotides were identified where the central sequence is essential for AcsR recognition and binding. Transcriptional fusions of the divergent pacsRand pmacs1promoters indicated that AcsR does not regulate its own transcription, and that it binds to the operator region to control exclusively the growth-phase induction of themacs1-fadD1operon.
Functional characterization of the FimH adhesin from Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis
Authors: Kisiela Dagmara , Laskowska Anna , Sapeta Anna , Kuczkowski Maciej , Wieliczko Alina , Ugorski Maciej
Published: April 2006

Salmonella entericaserovar Enteritidis has emerged during the last 20 years as the major causative agent of food-borne gastroenteritis in humans and as the major infectious agent on poultry farms, replacingSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium as the dominant pathogenic serovar. Because adhesion to gut tissues and colonization of the alimentary tract, mediated in large part by the FimH adhesins located on type 1 fimbriae, is an important stage in the pathogenesis of both serovars, the binding properties of the FimH adhesins from these two enteropathogens were compared.SalmonellaEnteritidis FimH protein and theSalmonellaTyphimurium low-adhesive variant of this adhesin were expressed inEscherichia coliand the recombinant proteins were analysed for their ability to bind glycoproteins carrying different oligomannosidic structures and different types of eukaryotic cells. In static binding assays (ELISA and Western blotting) both FimH proteins bound equally well to all three tested glycoproteins (RNase B, horseradish peroxidase and mannan-BSA). In addition, no differences were found in the binding specificity of the FimH proteins and intact cells ofSalmonellaEnteritidis andSalmonellaTyphimurium to human colon carcinoma or bladder cancer cells. The presence of the same amino acid residues at positions 61 (glycine) and 118 (phenylalanine) and the similar binding properties of these two adhesins suggest that the newly described FimH protein ofSalmonellaEnteritidis represents the low-adhesive variant found inSalmonellaTyphimurium. To study the binding specificity ofSalmonellaEnteritidis FimH protein further, direct kinetic analysis using surface plasmon resonance was performed. With this method it was found thatSalmonellaEnteritidis FimH adhesin bound with the highestKdvalue to high-mannose typeN-glycans carried by RNase B; about 100 times lowerKdvalues were obtained in the interactions with mannan-BSA and horseradish peroxidase.
Identification of the σ
E regulon of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Skovierova Henrieta , Rowley Gary , Rezuchova Bronislava , Homerova Dagmar , Lewis Claire , Roberts Mark , Kormanec Jan
Published: April 2006

The extracytoplasmic function sigma factor, σ
E, has been shown to play a critical role in virulence of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). The previously optimized two-plasmid system has been used to identify S. Typhimurium promoters recognized by RNA polymerase containing σ
E. This method allowed identification of 34 σ
E-dependent promoters that direct expression of 62 genes in S. Typhimurium, 23 of which (including several specific for S. Typhimurium) have not been identified previously to be dependent upon σ
E in Escherichia coli. The promoters were confirmed in S. Typhimurium and transcriptional start points of the promoters were determined by S1-nuclease mapping. All the promoters contained sequences highly similar to the consensus sequence of σ
E-dependent promoters. The identified genes belonging to the S. Typhimurium σ
E-regulon encode proteins involved in primary metabolism, DNA repair systems and outer-membrane biogenesis, and regulatory proteins, periplasmic proteases and folding factors, proposed lipoproteins, and inner- and outer-membrane proteins with unknown functions. Several of these σ
E-dependent genes have been shown to play a role in virulence of S. Typhimurium.
Streptococcus pneumoniae enolase is important for plasminogen binding despite low abundance of enolase protein on the bacterial cell surface
Authors: Kolberg Jan , Aase Audun , Bergmann Simone , Herstad Tove K. , Rødal Gunnhild , Frank Ronald , Rohde Manfred , Hammerschmidt Sven
Published: April 2006

Enolase represents one of the anchorless surface proteins ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeand has previously been identified as a plasminogen-binding protein, endowing this pathogen with host proteolytic activity. In this study the mAb 245,C-6 (IgG1) was produced in a BALB/c mouse after immunizing with a protein fraction fromS. pneumoniae. The mAb reacted with recombinant pneumococcal enolase both under non-denaturing and denaturing conditions. The epitope for the mAb was mapped to residues55DKSRYGGLG63of pneumococcal enolase using a peptide array. By applying the previously reported structure of enolase, this epitope was localized in a surface-exposed loop in each of the monomers of the octameric enolase. Previous immunoelectron microscopic studies, using polyclonal rabbit antibodies against enolase, depicted enolase on the cell surface but did not quantify the amount of surface-exposed enolase on viable pneumococci. Here, flow cytometry revealed no binding of mAb 245,C-6 to viable pneumococci, including TIGR4 and its non-encapsulated isogenic mutant, and only a minor increase of fluorescence intensity was measured when the polyclonal anti-enolase antibodies were used. In contrast, control antibodies recognizing the choline-binding proteins (CBPs) PspA and PspC showed high reactivities. The non-encapsulated TIGR4 did not show increased levels of antibody binding for mAb 245,C-6 or polyclonal anti-enolase antibodies, but revealed increased binding of polyclonal antibodies reacting with PspA or PspC. These results suggest that, compared to other surface-exposed proteins such as CBPs, the amount of enolase under the selected conditions is low. Flow cytometry, however, with FITC-labelled plasminogen demonstrated that the amount of surface-exposed enolase is important for plasminogen binding and, therefore, is also important for pneumococcal pathogenesis.
Changes in cannabis use and its consequences over 3 years in a remote indigenous population in northern Australia
Authors: Clough Alan R. , Lee Kim S. Kylie , Cairney Sheree , Maruff Paul , O'Reilly Bridie , D’Abbs Peter , Conigrave Katherine M.
Published: April 2006

Background  Few studies describe cannabis use in indigenous populations, and no longitudinal studies are available in Australia. We conducted 3‐year follow‐up interviews and assessments in Aboriginal communities in Arnhem Land (Northern Territory, NT).

Methods  A randomly selected sample (n = 161; 80 males, 81 females aged 13–36 years) was assessed in October 2001 and then reassessed in September 2004. An opportunistically recruited sample (n = 104; 53 males, 51 females aged 13–36 years) was also interviewed in 2001 and followed‐up in 2004. Cannabis and other substance use were determined by combining proxy assessments by local Aboriginal health workers, medical records and data from interviews. Changes in cannabis use and symptoms of misuse were assessed using McNemar's test for paired proportions and the Wilcoxon signed rank test. Logistic regression assessed associations between clinical presentations and cannabis use at both time‐points.

Results  Those who used cannabis at both baseline and follow‐up were at greater risk than those who never used it to have suffered: auditory hallucinations; suicidal ideation; and imprisonment. In the randomly selected cohort there were fewer cannabis users at follow‐up than at baseline (P = 0.003). The reduction was evident in females generally (P = 0.008) and older males (aged = 16 at baseline) (P = 0.007). In those interviewed at both baseline and follow‐up we measured no statistically significant reduction in frequency and levels of use, although fewer cannabis users reported symptoms of misuse such as: fragmented thought processes; memory disruption; difficulties controlling use; and auditory and visual hallucinations.

Conclusions  Modest reductions in cannabis use and its consequences in this population were demonstrated. These may be the result of enhanced supply control and broader socio‐political changes.
Elevated serum interleukin (IL)-12p40 levels in common variable immunodeficiency disease and decreased peripheral blood dendritic cells: analysis of IL-12p40 and interferon-γ gene
Authors: Martinez-Pomar N , Raga S , Ferrer J , Pons J , Munoz-Saa I , Julia M-R , De Gracia J , Matamoros N
Published: April 2006

Common variable immunodeficiency disease (CVID) is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by low immunoglobulin serum levels and recurrent bacterial infections. Several studies suggest that CVID patients have a polarized immune response towards a T helper type 1 phenotype (TH1). However, the factors causing the TH1 polarization remain to be determined in this disease. In the present study, serum interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-γ levels and the IL-12p40 and IFN-γ gene were studied in CVID patients. Furthermore, we evaluate dendritic cells (DCs) compartment, myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmocytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which help to differentiate naive T cells preferentially into TH1 and TH2, respectively. The serum IL-12p40 subunit levels were increased significantly in CVID patients compared to healthy controls. We examined whether these elevated serum IL-12p40 levels are associated with IFN-γ or IL-12p40 gene polymorphisms, or with new mutations in the IL-12p40 promoter gene. In our hands, no new mutations were found and gene polymorphisms frequencies in CVID patients were similar to the control population. In conclusion, the elevated serum levels of IL-12p40 found in our CVID patients were not related to these genetic variations. The DC compartment analysis did not show an imbalance between pDCs and mDCs, but revealed the presence of low numbers and percentage of both DC populations in CVID.
Circulating IgA from acute stage of childhood Henoch-Schönlein purpura can enhance endothelial interleukin (IL)-8 production through MEK/ERK signalling pathway
Authors: Yang Y-H , Huang Y-H , Lin Y-L , Wang L-C , Chuang Y-H , Yu H-H , Lin Y-T , Chiang B-L
Published: April 2006

Recently, sera from children with active Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) have been found to enhance interleukin (IL)-8 production by human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC). To further determine the possible factor with the ability to enhance endothelial IL-8 production in sera from acute stage of HSP, 10 children with HSP at the acute stage and 10 healthy controls were enrolled. IgA antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) were detected by cell-based ELISA. Active sera with or without pretreatment with anti-human IgA antibody, sera of controls, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) derived from sera were used to stimulate the HUVEC. The ability of these factors to enhance endothelial IL-8 production was evaluated. Furthermore, signalling pathways were also assayed by different inhibitors, and confirmed by immunoblotting. Serum levels of IgA AECA in HPS patients at the acute stage were significantly higher than in controls (P < 0·001). The active sera could enhance endothelial IL-8 production (P = 0·004, compared with control sera), and the ability of these sera was mostly abolished when pretreated with fixed anti-human IgA antibody. The supernatant IL-8 levels of endothelial cells stimulated by IgA derived from acute stage of HSP were statistically higher than controls (P < 0·001). PD98059, an inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation, significantly reduced IgA AECA-stimulated endothelial IL-8. IgA AECA also enhanced the phosphorylation of ERK1 with a time-dependent manner. Together with these findings, it is concluded that IgA AECA derived from acute stage of HSP may bind to endothelial and enhance endothelial cells to produce IL-8 via MEK/REK signalling pathway.
Emerging role of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in coronary vascular function
Authors: Larsen B. T. , Gutterman D. D. , Hatoum O. A.
Published: April 2006

The importance of endothelium‐derived nitric oxide in coronary vascular regulation is well‐established and the loss of this vasodilator compound is associated with endothelial dysfunction, tissue hypoperfusion and atherosclerosis. Numerous studies indicate that the endothelium produces another class of compounds, the epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which may partially compensate for the loss of nitric oxide in cardiovascular disease. The EETs are endogenous lipids which are derived through the metabolism of arachidonic acid by cytochrome P450 epoxygenase enzymes. Also, EETs hyperpolarize vascular smooth muscle and induce dilation of coronary arteries and arterioles, and therefore may be endogenous mediators of coronary vasomotor tone and myocardial perfusion. In addition, EETs have been shown to inhibit vascular smooth muscle migration, decrease inflammation, inhibit platelet aggregation and decrease adhesion molecule expression, therefore representing an endogenous protective mechanism against atherosclerosis. Endogenous EETs are degraded to less active dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids by soluble epoxide hydrolase. Pharmacological inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase has received considerable attention as a potential approach to enhance EET‐mediated vascular protection, and several compounds have appeared promising in recent animal studies. The present review discusses the emerging role of EETs in coronary vascular function, as well as recent advancements in the development of pharmacological agents to enhance EET bioavailability.
A survey of Chinese nurses’ guidance to parents in children's postoperative pain relief
Authors: He Hong‐Gu , Pölkki Tarja , Pietilä Anna‐Maija , Vehviläinen‐Julkunen Katri
Published: April 2006

Aims and objectives.  The aim of the study was to describe parental guidance provided by Chinese nurses regarding non‐pharmacological methods in children's surgical pain relief as well as factors related to this.

Background.  Parental involvement in children's pain management has been acknowledged and encouraged in recent years. However, parents’ lack of related information has been pointed out and little is known about how parents are guided to use non‐pharmacological methods to relieve the pain.

Methods.  A previously validated European questionnaire survey was conducted in 2002. Structured questionnaires were distributed to all 187 nurses working at 12 surgical wards in five hospitals of Fujian Province, China. The average response rate was 98%.

Results.  The results show that nurses informed parents of the majority of cognitive information. The most commonly guided non‐pharmacological methods were distraction, positive reinforcement, comforting/reassurance, positioning and relaxation. Nurses’ background factors, including age, education, nursing position, professional work experience, number of their own children and experiences of earlier hospitalizations of their children, were significantly related to their perceptions regarding parental guidance.

Conclusions.  Chinese nurses provided much guidance to parents on non‐pharmacological methods. However, the results show that sensory information and physical methods were poorly conveyed to parents, which needs future attention to reinforce parents’ active role in pain management.

Relevance to clinical practice.  This study provides new information on Chinese nurses’ guiding parents to use non‐pharmacological methods in pain alleviation, thereby contributing to the body of knowledge on this subject. Furthermore, the study makes the respondents aware of the importance of involving parents in their child's pain management.
Assessing evidence from clinical trials in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Bacon B. R.
Published: April 2006

Summary. Hepatitis C is a global problem with significantly associated morbidity and mortality. Although some recent therapeutic advances have shown rates of sustained virologic remission of 50% or higher, combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin is often not well tolerated and is giving rise to a growing number of nonresponders. As a result, a large number of experimental drugs for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C are in development. As the clinical trial reports are made available, physicians need to become familiar with issues related to the design of these studies and to develop strategies to interpret the evidence they yield. The articles in this supplement describe the issues in clinical trial design and the evaluation of evidence from clinical trials in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Polyamines are involved in the gynogenesis process in onion
Authors: Geoffriau Emmanuel , Kahane Rémi , Martin‐Tanguy Josette
Published: April 2006

Haploidization in onion (Allium cepa L.) using immature flower buds simulates zygotic embryogenesis with no fecundation. In order to know the involvement of polyamines (PAs) in this process, we determined the concentration of endogenous PAs in flower buds and experimented the addition of various combinations of PA molecules in the medium. At the inoculation stage, high levels of free and conjugated spermidine and low putrescine + hydroxyputrescine/spermidine + spermine ratio characterized the highest responsive varieties. During in vitro culture, high levels of putrescine and its derivatives characterized the lowest responsive varieties, whereas high levels of spermidine and spermine characterized responsive varieties. The putrescine + hydroxyputrescine + homospermidine/spermidine + spermine ratio remained low in responsive varieties. The addition of spermidine or spermine (2 × 10−3 M) to the culture medium improved significantly the embryo production. Our results suggest that the arginine decarboxylase pathway is involved in PA biosynthesis during the in vitro culture of flower buds. Our study showed that specific ratios of PAs are required for successful gynogenesis in onion.
Identification of Mythmna separata‐induced maize volatile synomones that attract the parasitoid Campoletis chlorideae
Authors: Yan Z.‐G. , Wang C.‐Z.
Published: April 2006

Abstract:  Campoletis chlorideae Uchida (Hym., Ichneumonidae) is an important solitary koinobiont larval endoparasitoid of many noctuid species including Mythmna separata (Lep., Noctuidae). In the present study, maize volatiles induced by feeding damage of M. separata were found to be attractive to C. chlorideae in a Y‐tube olfactometer. Eleven compounds were released in significant amounts from M. separata‐infested maize seedlings, of which five compounds, (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, (E)‐2‐hexenal, linalool and phenylethyl acetate were chosen for electrophysiological and behavioural tests. All five compounds elicited electroantennogram responses in C. chlorideae. However, only pure (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate and linalool were attractive to the parasitoid in the Y‐tube. Interestingly, linalool was also attractive to starved parasitoids over a range of doses tested. These results suggested that (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate and linalool may be key infochemicals in the host‐foraging behaviour of C. chlorideae, and linalool may act as a food‐source signal for the parasitoid.
Constructing life‐tables for the invasive maize pestDiabrotica virgifera virgifera(Col.; Chrysomelidae) in Europe
Authors: Toepfer S. , Kuhlmann U.
Published: April 2006

Abstract: The western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgiferaLeConte, Col.; Chrysomelidae) is an alien invasive species in Europe. It is a univoltine species with eggs that overwinter in the soil and larvae that hatch in spring. Three larval instars feed on maize roots, which can cause plant lodging and yield loss of economic importance. Adults emerge between mid‐June and early August and can reduce yields through intensive silk feeding. In order to provide a thorough understanding of the population dynamics of this invasive pest species in the invaded European region, complete age specific life‐tables were constructed in two maize fields in southern Hungary assessing the significance of natural mortality factors acting onD. v. virgiferapopulations. This information provides a rational basis for devising sustainable integrated pest management programmes, in particular, by enabling the identification of vulnerable pest age intervals for the timely application of various management tools. The life‐table forD. v. virgiferain Europe resulted in a total mortality of about 99% from the egg stage in the autumn to the emergence of adult females in the following year (KTotal = 2.48), which is comparable with North America. The highest reduction ofD. v. virgiferanumbers resulted from the mortality in first instar larvae (94% marginal death rate) and from the unrealized fecundity (80%). However, only the variation in mortality between years can change the generational mortality and thus influence population growth. High variation in the marginal death rate between fields and years was found in the second and third instar larval stages, and in the overwintering egg stage. These mortality factors therefore have the potential to cause changes in the total generational mortality. Furthermore, the life‐table suggested that a high fecundity could compensate for a high generational mortality and would lead to population increase.
Testing the resource‐matching hypothesis in the mast seeding tree Nothofagus truncata (Fagaceae)
Authors: MONKS ADRIAN , KELLY DAVE
Published: April 2006

Abstract:  The genus Nothofagus in New Zealand and Australia exhibits strong mast seeding (i.e. highly variable seed crops between years). Seed crop variation is synchronized within and between species over large spatial scales, and results in greatly increased wind pollination efficiency which could provide a selective benefit favouring the maintenance of mast seeding. However, the null hypothesis (that plants simply match their reproductive effort to the variable resources available each year) has not been tested in Nothofagus. Here we use a 33‐year dataset on seedfall and wood ring increments for 19 individual Nothofagus truncata trees at Orongorongo, New Zealand, to test for the presence of switching (exaggeration of seedfall variability by diverting resources into, then out of, reproduction). A generalized least squares model explained 40.7% of the variance in standardized ring widths, using six weather variables (absolute minimum temperatures in March (lag 0) April (lag 0 and lag 1), May (lag 0) and rainfall in November and February (lag 0) ) and seedfall. Seedfall had a negative relationship with the current year's ring widths even after controlling for all significant weather variables. This shows that switching is occurring in N. truncata within individuals among years, and therefore that masting in this species is the result of selective forces such as increased wind pollination efficiency. As this result has been demonstrated for very few masting species, we call for this test to be applied more widely.
Categorization of major and minor complications in the treatment of patients with resectable rectal cancer using short‐term pre‐operative radiotherapy and total mesorectal excision: a Delphi round
Authors: Bakx R. , Emous M. , Legemate D. A. , Machado M. , Zoetmulder F. A. N. , Van Tets W. F. , Bemelman W. A. , Slors J. F. M. , Van Lanschot J. J. B.
Published: April 2006

Background  To properly balance the benefit (reduction of local recurrence) of short‐term pre‐operative radiotherapy for resectable rectal cancer against its harm (complications), a consensus concerning the severity of complications is required. The aim of this study was to reach consensus regarding major and minor complications after short‐term radiotherapy followed by total mesorectal excision in the treatment of rectal carcinoma, using the Delphi technique.

Methods  A Delphi round was performed in cooperation with 21 colo‐rectal surgeons from the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Sweden. The key‐question was: ‘Which of the predefined complications, caused or substantially aggravated by radiotherapy, are so important (major) that they might lead to the decision to abandon short‐term pre‐operative radiotherapy (5 × 5Gy) when treating patients with resectable rectal cancer (T1−3N0−2M0)?’

Results  After three rounds, consensus was reached for 37 (68%) of 54 complications of which 13 were considered major and 24 considered minor. The following complications were considered to be major: mortality, anastomotic leakage managed by relaparotomy, anastomotic leakage resulting in persisting fistula, postoperative haemorrhage managed by relaparotomy, intra‐abdominal abscess without healing tendency, sepsis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, compartment syndrome of the lower legs, long‐term incontinence for solid stool, long‐term problems with voiding, pelvic fracture with persisting pain, and neuropathy with persisting pain (legs). Three of 17 complications without consensus showed a tendency to be considered as major: perineal wound dehiscence managed by surgical treatment, small bowel obstruction leading to relaparotomy and long‐term incontinence for liquid stool.

Conclusion  The 13 major and three ‘accepted as major’ complications can be used to properly balance the benefit and harm of short‐term pre‐operative radiotherapy in resectable rectal cancer. This may eventually lead to improved treatment strategies for these patients.
Drainage or nondrainage in elective colorectal anastomosis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Karliczek A. , Jesus E. C. , Matos D. , Castro A. A. , Atallah A. N. , Wiggers T.
Published: April 2006

Background  There is little agreement on prophylactic use of drains in anastomoses in elective colorectal surgery despite many randomized clinical trials. Once anastomotic leakage occurs it is generally agreed that drains should be used for therapeutic purposes. However, on prophylactic use no such agreement exists.

Aim  To compare the safety and effectiveness of routine drainage and nondrainage regimes after elective colorectal surgery. The primary outcome was clinical anastomotic leakage.

Methods  A systematic search was undertaken to identify randomized clinical trials. Of the 1140 patients who were enrolled (six randomized controlled trials), 573 were allocated for drainage and 567 for no drainage. Outcome measures were: (i) mortality: 3% (18 of 573 patients) compared with 4% (25 of 567 patients); (ii) clinical anastomotic dehiscence: 2% (11 of 522 patients) compared with 1% (7 of 519 patients); (iii) radiological anastomotic dehiscence: 3% (16 of 522 patients) compared with 4% (19 of 519 patients); (iv) wound infection: 5% (29 of 573 patients) compared with 5% (28 of 567 patients); (v) reintervention: 6% (34 of 542 patients) compared with 5% (28 of 539 patients); (vi) extra‐abdominal complications: 7% (34 of 522 patients) compared with 6% (32 of 519 patients). None of these differences in outcome was significant.

Conclusion  There is insufficient evidence showing that routine drainage after colorectal anastomoses prevents anastomotic and other complications.
Marital Conflict and Disruption of Children's Sleep
Authors: El‐Sheikh Mona , Buckhalt Joseph A. , Mize Jacquelyn , Acebo Christine
Published: April 2006

Marital conflict was examined as a predictor of the quality and quantity of sleep in a sample of healthy 8‐ to 9‐year‐olds. Parents and children reported on marital conflict, the quantity and quality of children's sleep were examined through an actigraph worn for 7 consecutive nights, and child sleepiness was derived from child and mother reports. Increased marital conflict was associated with disruptions in the quantity and quality of children's sleep as well as subjective sleepiness, even after controlling for child age, ethnic group membership, socioeconomic status, sex, and body mass index. The results support the sensitization hypothesis in that exposure to marital conflict may influence an important facet of children's biological regulation, namely sleep.
Learning From Falling
Authors: Joh Amy S. , Adolph Karen E.
Published: April 2006

Walkers fall frequently, especially during infancy. Children (15‐, 21‐, 27‐, 33‐, and 39‐month‐olds) and adults were tested in a novel foam pit paradigm to examine age‐related changes in the relationship between falling and prospective control of locomotion. In trial 1, participants walked and fell into a deformable foam pit marked with distinct visual cues. Although children in all 5 age groups required multiple trials to learn to avoid falling, the number of children who showed adult‐like, 1‐trial learning increased with age. Exploration and alternative locomotor strategies increased dramatically on learning criterion trials and displays of negative affect were limited. Learning from falling is discussed in terms of the immediate and long‐term effects of falling on prospective control of locomotion.
The effects of exercise on human articular cartilage
Authors: Eckstein F. , Hudelmaier M. , Putz R.
Published: April 2006

The effects of exercise on articular hyaline articular cartilage have traditionally been examined in animal models, but until recently little information has been available on human cartilage. Magnetic resonance imaging now permits cartilage morphology and composition to be analysed quantitativelyin vivo. This review briefly describes the methodological background of quantitative cartilage imaging and summarizes work on short‐term (deformational behaviour) and long‐term (functional adaptation) effects of exercise on human articular cartilage. Current findings suggest that human cartilage deforms very littlein vivoduring physiological activities and recovers from deformation within 90 min after loading. Whereas cartilage deformation appears to become less with increasing age, sex and physical training status do not seem to affectin vivodeformational behaviour. There is now good evidence that cartilage undergoes some type of atrophy (thinning) under reduced loading conditions, such as with postoperative immobilization and paraplegia. However, increased loading (as encountered by elite athletes) does not appear to be associated with increased average cartilage thickness. Findings in twins, however, suggest a strong genetic contribution to cartilage morphology. Potential reasons for the inability of cartilage to adapt to mechanical stimuli include a lack of evolutionary pressure and a decoupling of mechanical competence and tissue mass.
The response of bone, articular cartilage and tendon to exercise in the horse
Authors: Firth Elwyn C.
Published: April 2006

Horses can gallop within hours of birth, and may begin training for athletic competition while still growing. This review cites studies on the effects of exercise on bone, tendon and articular cartilage, as detected by clinical and research imaging techniques, tissue biochemical analysis and microscopy of various kinds. For bone, alterations in bone mineral content, mineral density and the morphology of the mineralized tissue are the most common end‐points. Apparent bone density increases slightly after athletic training in the cortex, but substantially in the major load paths of the epiphyses and cuboidal bones, despite the lower material density of the new bone, which is deposited subperiosteally and on internal surfaces without prior osteoclastic resorption. With training of greater intensity, adaptive change is supervened by patho‐anatomical change in the form of microdamage and frank lesions. In tendon, collagen fibril diameter distribution changes significantly during growth, but not after early training. The exact amount and type of protracted training that does cause reduction in mass average diameter (an early sign of progressive microdamage) have not been defined. Training is associated with an increase in the cross‐sectional area of some tendons, possibly owing to slightly greater water content of non‐collagenous or newly synthesized matrix. Early training may be associated with greater thickness of hyaline but not calcified articular cartilage, at least in some sites. The age at which adaptation of cartilage to biomechanical influences can occur may thus extend beyond very early life. However, cartilage appears to be the most susceptible of the three tissues to pathological alteration. The effect of training exercise on the anatomical or patho‐anatomical features of connective tissue structures is affected by the timing, type and amount of natural or imposed exercise during growth and development which precedes the training.
Adaptability of elderly human muscles and tendons to increased loading
Authors: Narici Marco V. , Maganaris Constantinos N.
Published: April 2006

Senile sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass associated with aging, is one of the main causes of muscle weakness and reduced locomotor ability in old age. Although this condition is mainly driven by neuropathic processes, nutritional, hormonal and immunological factors, as well as a reduction in physical activity, contribute to this phenomenon. Sarcopenia alone, however, does not fully account for the observed muscle weakness, as the loss of force is greater than that accounted for by the decrease in muscle size. As a consequence, a reduction in the force per unit area, both at single fibre and at whole muscle level, is observed. We recently suggested that at whole muscle level, this reduction in intrinsic force is the result of the combined effect of changes in (1) muscle architecture, (2) tendon mechanical properties, (3) neural drive (reduced agonist and increased antagonist muscle activity) and (4) single fibre‐specific tension. Whereas several studies support the role of the last two factors in the loss of intrinsic muscle force with aging, alterations in muscle architecture and in tendon mechanical properties have also been shown to contribute to the above phenomenon. Indeed, sarcopenia of the human plantarflexors, represented by a 25% reduction in muscle volume, was found to be associated with a 10% reduction in fibre fascicle length and 13% reduction in pennation angle. These architectural alterations were accompanied by a 10% decrease in tendon stiffness, attributable to alterations in tendon material properties, as suggested by a 14% decrease in Young's modulus. Most of these changes may be reversed by 14 weeks of resistive training; both fibre fascicle length and tendon stiffness were found to be increased by 10 and 64%, respectively. Surprisingly, however, training had no effect on the estimated relative length–tension properties of the muscle, indicating that the effects of greater tendon stiffness and increased fascicle length cancelled out each other. It seems that natural strategies may be in place to ensure that the relative operating range of muscle remains unaltered by changes in physical activity, in old age.
Truth hurts – hard lessons from Australia's largest mass casualty exercise with contaminated patients
Authors: Edwards Nicholas A , Caldicott David GE , Eliseo Tony , Pearce Andrew
Published: April 2006

In response to the increasing threat of a mass casualty incident involving chemical, biological or radiological agents, and concern over the preparedness of our hospital system to cope with patients from such an incident, we conducted the largest hospital‐based field exercise involving contaminated patients that has been held in Australia. In the present paper, we outline the background to, and methodology of, Exercise Supreme Truth, and the efforts made to increase its realism. We focus our discussion on three issues highlighted by the exercise, which we believe have enormous implications for the development of hospital chemical, biological or radiological plans and the likelihood of their success – hospital security, crowd control and decontamination.
Aza‐scanning of the Potent Melanocortin Receptor Agonist Ac‐His‐d‐Phe‐Arg‐Trp‐NH2
Authors: Boeglin D. , Xiang Z. , Sorenson N. B. , Wood M. S. , Haskell‐Luevano C. , Lubell W. D.
Published: April 2006

The melanocortin pathway is an important participant in the regulation of skin pigmentation, steroidogenesis, obesity, energy homeostasis, and exocrine gland function. Melanocortin agonists contain the putative sequence ‘His‐Phe‐Arg‐Trp’, which has been designated as the ‘message’ sequence for melanocortin peptides, and this sequence has been hypothesized to adopt a bioactive reverse turn conformation. Exploring the relationship between its structure and biological activity, we report the synthesis and evaluation of seven aza‐analogs of the potent melanocortin receptor agonist Ac‐His‐d‐Phe‐Arg‐Trp‐NH2. Aza‐amino acids, in which the α‐carbon was replaced by nitrogen, were inserted along the peptide sequence to probe the importance of local configuration and turn conformation on the biology of this tetrapeptide. Although systematic substitution of aza‐amino acids for the d‐Phe and Arg residues led to a significant loss of activity relative to the parent peptide for all melanocortin receptor subtypes examined, substitution of aza‐amino acids at the C‐terminal Trp residue gave analogs equipotent to the parent peptide. In summary, the aza‐scan has demonstrated that recognition of this tetrapeptide by the melanocortin receptors is particularly sensitive to modifications of configuration and conformation at the d‐Phe and Arg residues versus the Trp amino acid. In light of aza‐residues imparting resistance from enzymatic degradation, C‐terminal aza‐amino acid analogs may be used to design new peptide mimics with enhanced metabolic stability.