bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Language policies for Hong Kong schools since 1997
Authors: Kan Vincent , Adamson Bob
Published: June 2010

Francis of Education (print)/1474-8479 (online) Article 2010 Language in education debates in Hong Kong focus on the role and status of English (as the former colonial language and an important means for international communication); Cantonese, the mother tongue of the majority of the
population; and Putonghua, the national language of China. This paper examines the language policy formulated in 1997–1998, and finds that it radically departed from previous policies by mandating the use of Cantonese as the medium of instruction in secondary schools. The paper then
analyses two subsequent policy revisions and concludes that, while the tonal emphasis on mother-tongue education has remained, the policy revisions have reversed the language policy to previous practices that emphasised the importance of English.
Simon-Like and Functional Affordance Effects with Tools: The Effects of Object Perceptual Discrimination and Object Action State
Authors: Pellicano Antonello , Iani Cristina , Borghi Anna M. , Rubichi Sandro , Nicoletti Roberto
Published: June 2010

In the present study two separate stimulus–response compatibility effects (functional affordance and Simon-like effects) were investigated with centrally presented pictures of an object tool (a torch) characterized by a structural separation between the graspable portion and the goal-directed portion. In Experiment 1, participants were required to decide whether the torch was red or blue, while in Experiment 2 they were required to decide whether the torch was upright or inverted. Our results showed that with the same stimulus two types of compatibility effect emerged: one based on the direction signalled by the goal-directed portion of the tool (a Simon-like effect as observed in Experiment 1), and the other based on the actions associated with an object (a functional affordance effect as observed in Experiment 2). Both effects emerged independently of the person's intention to act on the stimulus, but depended on the stimulus properties that were processed in order to perform the task.
The Burden of Infectious Gastroenteritis in Elderly Residents and Staff of Long-Term Care Facilities, Australia
Authors: Kirk M. D. , Moffatt C. R. M. , Hall G. V. , Becker N. , Booy R. , Heron L. , MacIntyre R. , Dwyer D. E. , Lindley R.
Published: June 2010

We estimated the incidence of gastroenteritis in 16 Australian long-term care facilities. During 12 months' surveillance, 245 (96%) of 254 episodes of gastroenteritis among long-term care residents were associated with 17 outbreaks in 11 facilities. Incidence in long-term care residents was 0.64 episodes per 1,000 bed-days (95% confidence interval, 0.29-1.42).
Catchability of pelagic trawls for sampling deep-living nekton in the mid-North Atlantic
Authors: Heino M. , Porteiro F. M. , Sutton T. T. , Falkenhaug T. , Godø O. R. , Piatkowski U.
Published: June 2010

Heino, M., Porteiro, F. M., Sutton, T. T., Falkenhaug, T., Godø, O. R., and Piatkowski, U. 2011. Catchability of pelagic trawls for sampling deep-living nekton in the mid-North Atlantic. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 377–389. Material collected in summer 2004 from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Iceland and the Azores with three pelagic trawls was used to estimate relative catchabilities of common fish, cephalopod, decapod, and jellyfish species. Catchability is defined as the ratio of numbers caught between two trawls, standardized for towed distance. Taxon-specific catchability coefficients were estimated for two large pelagic trawls with graded meshes, using a smaller pelagic trawl with a uniform mesh size as the reference trawl. Two of the trawls were equipped with multiple opening–closing codends that allowed sampling of different depth layers. Generalized linear and mixed models suggest that most of the taxa have catchabilities much lower than expected from the area of opening alone, indicating that only a few species are herded by the large mesh at the mouth of larger trawls. Catchability coefficients across taxa show a very large spread, indicating that the sampled volume for the larger trawls with graded meshes was highly taxon-specific. Part of this variability can be explained by body size and taxonomic group, the latter probably reflecting differences in body form and behaviour. The catchability estimates presented here form the basis for combining data for quantitative analyses of community structure.
Ignatzschineria indica sp. nov. and Ignatzschineria ureiclastica sp. nov., isolated from adult flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)
Authors: Gupta Arvind Kumar , Dharne Mahesh Shantappa , Rangrez Ashraf Yusuf , Verma Pankaj , Ghate Hemant V. , Rohde Manfred , Patole Milind Shivaji , Shouche Yogesh Shreepad
Published: June 2010

Two Gram-negative-staining, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacteria, designated strains FFA1T and FFA3T, and belonging to the class Gammaproteobacteria were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of adult flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data placed these two strains within the genus Ignatzschineria with similarities of 98.6 % (FFA1T) and 99.35 % (FFA3T) to Ignatzschineria larvae L1/68T. The level of gene sequence similarity between strains FFA1T and FFA3T was 99 %, 97.15 % and 78.1 % based on the 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences, respectively. Strains FFA1T and FFA3T shared 24 % DNA–DNA relatedness. DNA–DNA hybridization revealed a very low level of relatedness between the novel strains (22 % for strain FFA1T and 44 % for strain FFA3T) and I. larvae L1/68T genomic DNA. The respiratory quinone was Q-8 in both novel strains. The DNA G+C contents were 41.1 mol% and 40.1 mol% for strains FFA1T and FFA3T, respectively. The cell membrane of both strains consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipids and aminophospholipid. The major fatty acids for both strains were C16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), CyC19 : 0ω8c and C14 : 0. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization between the two new strains and I. larvae L1/68T, in combination with phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, biochemical and electron microscopic data, demonstrated that strains FFA1T and FFA3T represented two novel species of the genus Ignatzschineria for which the names Ignatzschineria indica sp. nov. (type strain FFA1T = DSM 22309T = KCTC 22643T = NCIM 5325T) and Ignatzschineria ureiclastica sp. nov. (type strain FFA3T = DSM 22310T = KCTC 22644T = NCIM 5326T) are proposed.
Paenibacillus phoenicis sp. nov., isolated from the Phoenix Lander assembly facility and a subsurface molybdenum mine
Authors: Benardini James N. , Vaishampayan Parag A. , Schwendner Petra , Swanner Elizabeth , Fukui Youhei , Osman Sharif , Satomi Masakata , Venkateswaran Kasthuri
Published: June 2010

A novel Gram-positive, motile, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterium was isolated from the NASA Phoenix Lander assembly clean room that exhibits 100 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to two strains isolated from a deep subsurface environment. All strains are rod-shaped, endospore-forming bacteria, whose endospores are resistant to UV radiation up to 500 J m−2. A polyphasic taxonomic study including traditional phenotypic tests, fatty acid analysis, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and DNA–DNA hybridization analysis was performed to characterize these novel strains. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing convincingly grouped these novel strains within the genus Paenibacillus as a separate cluster from previously described species. The similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequences among the novel strains was identical but only 98.1 to 98.5 % with their nearest neighbours Paenibacillus barengoltzii ATCC BAA-1209T and Paenibacillus timonensis CIP 108005T. The menaquinone MK-7 was dominant in these novel strains as shown in other species of the genus Paenibacillus. The DNA–DNA hybridization dissociation value was <45 % with the closest related species. The novel strains had DNA G+C contents of 51.9 to 52.8 mol%. Phenotypically, the novel strains can be readily differentiated from closely related species by the absence of urease and gelatinase and the production of acids from a variety of sugars including l-arabinose. The major fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0 as seen in P. barengoltzii and P. timonensis whereas the proportion of C16 : 0 was significantly different from the closely related species. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic results, it was concluded that these strains represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus phoenicis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 3PO2SAT ( = NRRL B-59348T  = NBRC 106274T).
Halomonas vilamensis sp. nov., isolated from high-altitude Andean lakes
Authors: Menes Rodolfo Javier , Viera Claudia Elizabeth , Farías María Eugenia , Seufferheld Manfredo J.
Published: June 2010

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (SV325T) was isolated from the sediment of a hypersaline lake located 4600 m above sea level (Laguna Vilama, Argentina). Strain SV325T formed cream to pink colonies, was motile and moderately halophilic, and tolerated NaCl concentrations of 1–25 % (w/v) with an optimum of 5–10 % (w/v). Growth occurred at 5–40 °C (optimum around 30 °C) and at pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum 7.0–8.0). The bacterium did not produce exopolysaccharides and stained positively for intracellular polyphosphate granules but not for poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates. It produced catalase and oxidase, reduced nitrate to nitrite, hydrolysed gelatin, did not produce acids from sugars and utilized a limited range of substrates as carbon and energy sources: acetate, caproate, fumarate, dl-β-hydroxybutyrate, malate, maleate, malonate and succinate. The predominant ubiquinones were Q-9 (92.5 %) and Q-8 (7.5 %), the major fatty acids were C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15:0 2-OH, and the DNA G+C content was 55.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain SV325T belongs to the genus Halomonas in the class Gammaproteobacteria. Physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain SV325T from closely related species with validly published names. We therefore propose a novel species, Halomonas vilamensis sp. nov., with type strain SV325T ( = DSM 21020T  = LMG 24332T).
Caldilinea tarbellica sp. nov., a filamentous, thermophilic, anaerobic bacterium isolated from a deep hot aquifer in the Aquitaine Basin
Authors: Grégoire Patrick , Bohli Malek , Cayol Jean-Luc , Joseph Manon , Guasco Sophie , Dubourg Karine , Cambar Jean , Michotey Valérie , Bonin Patricia , Fardeau Marie-Laure , Ollivier Bernard
Published: June 2010

An anaerobic, thermophilic, filamentous (0.45 × >100 µm) bacterium, designated D1-25-10-4T, was isolated from a deep hot aquifer in France. Cells were non-motile and Gram-negative. Growth was observed at 43–65 °C (optimum 55 °C), at pH 6.8–7.8 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0–5 g NaCl l−1 (optimum 0 g NaCl l−1). Strain D1-25-10-4T was a chemo-organotroph and fermented ribose, maltose, glucose, galactose, arabinose, fructose, mannose, sucrose, raffinose, xylose, glycerol, fumarate, peptone, starch and xylan. Yeast extract was required for growth. Sulfate, thiosulfate, sulfite, elemental sulfur, nitrate, nitrite and fumarate were not used as terminal electron acceptors. The G+C content of the DNA was 61.9 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain D1-25-10-4T were C17 : 0, C18 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The closest phylogenetic relative of strain D1-25-10-4T was Caldilinea aerophila STL-6-O1T (97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). DNA–DNA relatedness between strain D1-25-10-4T and Caldilinea aerophila DSM 14535T was 8.7±1 %. On the basis of phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain D1-25-10-4T represents a novel species within the genus Caldilinea, class Caldilineae, phylum Chloroflexi, for which the name Caldilinea tarbellica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D1-25-10-4T ( = DSM 22659T  = JCM 16120T).
The role of nucleus accumbens shell in learning about neutral versus excitatory stimuli during Pavlovian fear conditioning
Authors: Bradfield Laura A. , McNally Gavan P.
Published: June 2010

We studied the role of nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) in Pavlovian fear conditioning. Rats were trained to fear conditioned stimulus A (CSA) in Stage I, which was then presented in compound with a neutral stimulus and paired with shock in Stage II. AcbSh lesions had no effect on fear-learning to CSA in Stage I, but selectively prevented learning about the neutral conditioned stimulus (CS) in Stage II. These results add to a growing body of evidence indicating an important role for the ventral striatum in fear-learning. They suggest that the ventral striatum and AcbSh, in particular, directs learning toward or away from a CS as a consequence of how well that CS predicts the shock unconditioned stimulus (US). AcbSh is required to reduce the processing of established predictors, thereby permitting neutral or less predictive stimuli to be learned about.
Orally supplementedLactobacillus acidophilusstrain L‐92 inhibits passive and active cutaneous anaphylaxis as well as 2,4‐dinitroflurobenzene and mite fecal antigen induced atopic dermatitis‐like skin lesions in mice
Authors: Shah Mohammad Monir , Miyamoto Yoshihiro , Yamada Yoshihito , Yamashita Hirotaka , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Ezaki Takayuki , Nagai Hiroichi , Inagaki Naoki
Published: June 2010

Oral supplementation of lactic acid bacteria is a potential approach to the prevention and manipulation of allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis. Our previous report showed that heat‐killedLactobacillus acidophilusstrain L‐92 (L‐92) possessed anti‐allergic properties, although its physiological function in atopic dermatitis has largely remained undefined. To evaluate the anti‐allergic efficacy of L‐92, we used four experimental animal models with the major features of atopic dermatitis and compared the results to those of clinically active drugs. ICR mice were passively sensitized by anti‐dinitrophenyl mouse monoclonal IgE for passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), and BALB/c mice were actively sensitized by ovalbumin for active cutaneous anaphylaxis (ACA). Allergic reaction was induced by repeated exposure to 2,4‐dinitroflurobenzene (DNFB) and mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) fecal allergen, in BALB/c and NC/Nga mice, respectively. Orally administrated L‐92 significantly inhibited the vascular permeability increase in both PCA and ACA, and the elevation of ovalbumin‐specific IgE titer in ACA. Moreover, repeated applications of DNFB and mite fecal antigen onto the BALB/c and NC/Nga mouse ear, respectively, caused clinical symptoms similar to atopic dermatitis such as ear swelling, scratching behavior and elevation of total serum IgE levels that were also moderately suppressed by L‐92. In addition, L‐92 treated mice exhibited lower levels of mast cells, eosinophil infiltration and Th1/Th2 cytokine expression. Our results, therefore, suggest that oral administration of L‐92 might be useful for alleviating allergic symptoms.
Stability of the irritable bowel syndrome and subgroups as measured by three diagnostic criteria – a 10‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Olafsdottir L. B. , Gudjonsson H. , Jonsdottir H. H. , Thjodleifsson B.
Published: June 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 670–680

Background  The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder, but information on its natural history is limited.

Aim  To study the performance of four IBS criteria in detecting incidence and stability of categories over a 10‐year period.

Method  This study was a population‐based postal study. Questionnaire was mailed to the same age‐ and gender‐stratified random sample of the Icelandic population aged 18–75 years in 1996 and again in 2006. IBS was estimated by the Manning criteria, Rome II, Rome III, subgroups and self‐report.

Results  Prevalence of IBS varied according to criteria: Manning showed the highest (32%) and Rome II the lowest (5%). Younger subjects and females were more likely to have IBS. Prevalence was stable over 10 years for all criteria except Rome III. There was a turnover in all IBS subgroups and a strong correlation among IBS, functional dyspepsia and heartburn.

Conclusions  The prevalence of the IBS remained stable over a 10‐year period with a turnover in symptoms. The study suggests that IBS is a cluster of symptoms that float in time between different IBS categories, functional dyspepsia and heartburn. The irritable bowel syndrome in Iceland is very common and indicates a chronic condition, which poses a heavy burden on the health care system.
An imbalance in mucosal cytokine profile causes transient intestinal inflammation following an animal's first exposure to faecal bacteria and antigens
Authors: Sydora B C , MacFarlane S M , Lupicki M , Dmytrash A L , Dieleman L A , Fedorak R N
Published: June 2010

Intestinal microflora play a critical role in the initiation and perpetuation of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. In genetically susceptible hosts, bacterial colonization results in rapid-onset chronic intestinal inflammation. Nevertheless, the intestinal and systemic immune response to faecal bacteria and antigen exposure into a sterile intestinal lumen of a post-weaned animal with a mature immune system are not understood clearly. This study examined the effects of faecal bacteria and antigen exposure on the intestinal mucosal and systemic immune system in healthy axenic mice. Axenic wild-type mice were inoculated orally with a crude faecal slurry solution derived from conventionally raised mice and were analysed prior to and then at days 3, 7, 14 and 28 post-treatment. Ingestion of faecal slurry resulted in a transient, early onset of proinflammatory interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-17 response that was maximal at day 3. In contrast, the transient release of the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4 occurred later and was maximal at day 7. Both responses subsided by day 14. This early cytokine imbalance was associated with a brief rise in colonic and caecal histopathological injury score at day 7. The bacterial antigen-specific systemic response was found to follow the intestinal immune response with a maximal release of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines at day 7. Thus, first exposure of healthy axenic wild-type mice to normal faecal flora and antigens results in an early proinflammatory cytokine response and transient colonic inflammation that then resolves in conjunction with a subsequent anti-inflammatory cytokine profile.
Natural killer cells in viral hepatitis: facts and controversies
Authors: Mondelli Mario U. , Varchetta Stefania , Oliviero Barbara
Published: June 2010

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (9): 851–863

Background  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are major human hepatotropic pathogens responsible for a large number of chronic infections worldwide. Their persistence is thought to result from inefficiencies of innate and adaptive immune responses; however, very little information is available on the former. Natural killer (NK) cells are a major component of innate immunity and their activity is tightly regulated by several inhibitory and activating receptors.

Design  In this review, we examine controversial findings regarding the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic liver disease caused by HCV and HBV.

Results  Recent studies built up on technical advances to identify NK receptors and their functional correlates in this setting. While NK cells seem to behave correctly during acute hepatitis, it would appear that the NK cytotoxic potential is generally conserved in chronic hepatitis, if not increased in the case of HCV. In contrast, their ability to secrete antiviral cytokines such as interferon ex vivo or after cytokine stimulation is severely impaired.

Conclusions  Current evidence suggests the existence of an NK cell functional dichotomy, which may contribute to virus persistence, while maintaining low‐level chronic liver inflammation. The study of liver‐infiltrating NK cells is still at the very beginning, but it is likely that it will shed more light on the role of this simple and at the same time complex innate immune cell in liver disease.
Neuroendocrine‐immune crosstalk in vertebrates and invertebrates: implications for host defence
Authors: Demas Gregory E. , Adamo Shelley A. , French Susannah S.
Published: June 2010

1. Communication among cells, tissues and organ systems is essential for survival. Vertebrate and invertebrate animals rely primarily on three physiological systems for intra‐organismal communication: the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Rather than acting independently of one another, these systems communicate in an integrated fashion to coordinate suites of species‐appropriate physiological and behavioural responses.

2. Our understanding of how these three systems are coordinated remains incomplete, in part because the importance of the immune system as part of this regulatory network has only recently been recognized. In contrast to the well‐established integrative approach to the study of the endocrine and nervous systems, the study of immunity has traditionally occurred in relative isolation from other physiological systems. Immunity was typically considered to be largely buffered from environmental perturbations.

3. In the last several decades, however, this simplistic view has changed dramatically; we now know that a wide variety of extrinsic and intrinsic factors can affect immune responses (reviewed in:Ader, Felten & Cohen 2001). This altered perspective has led to the development of new scientific disciplines including psychoneuroimmunology (Ader & Cohen 1981) and ecological immunology (Sheldon & Verhulst 1996).

4. These new research fields focus on the connections among the endocrine, nervous and immune systems. These fields also examine how environmental factors influence interactions among the three systems, and the implications of these interactions for behaviour and host defence. A comparative approach will benefit the search for the adaptive functions of these interactions.
From bivalves to birds: oxidative stress and longevity
Authors: Buttemer William A. , Abele Doris , Costantini David
Published: June 2010

1. The oxidative stress theory of ageing predicts that animals living longer will have less cumulative oxidative damage together with structural characteristics that make them more resistant to oxidative damage itself.

2. Although a general relationship between body size, metabolism and longevity does not exist in marine invertebrates, they are generally characterized by low rates of metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation associated with lower antioxidant enzyme activities compared to vertebrates.

3. Birds and mammals have very similar size‐affected metabolic rates and their metabolic intensity explains only some of the variation in maximum lifespan potential (MLSP). Within each class, smaller animals have higher rates of metabolism and ROS production and membranes that are more susceptible to oxidative damage and autocatalytic propagation of free radicals than larger ones.

4. Although the high variation in life‐history strategies is accompanied by substantial variation in MLSP, there is a consistent positive correlation between rates of ROS formation and antioxidant levels among most animals examined so far for these traits. The consensus of these studies is that ROS and antioxidant levels are inversely related to MLSP.

5. The lack of a clear stoichiometric relation between variables contributing to oxidative stress limits our capacity to infer longevity consequences from measures of pro‐oxidant or antioxidant status among or within species.
Influence of pore pressure on velocity in low‐porosity sandstone: Implications for time‐lapse feasibility and pore‐pressure study
Authors: Xu Xiaoxia , Hofmann Ronny , Batzle Michael , Tshering Tashi
Published: June 2010

As seismic data quality improves, time‐lapse seismic data is increasingly being called upon to interpret and predict changes during reservoir development and production. Since pressure change is a major component of reservoir change during production, a thorough understanding of the influence of pore pressure on seismic velocity is critical. Laboratory measurements show that differential pressure (overburden minus fluid pressure) does not adequately determine the actual reservoir conditions. Changes in fluid pressure are found to have an additional effect on the physical properties of rocks. The effective‐stress coefficient n is used to quantify the effect of pore pressure compared to confining pressure on rock properties. However, the current practice in time‐lapse feasibility studies, reservoir‐pressure inversion and pore‐pressure prediction is to assume that n= 1. Laboratory measurements, reported in both this and previous research show that n can be significantly less than unity for low‐porosity rocks and that it varies with porosity, rock texture and wave type.

We report the results of ultrasonic experiments to estimate n for low‐porosity sandstones with and without microcracks. Our results show that, for P‐waves, n is as low as 0.4 at a differential pressure of 20 MPa (about 3000 psi) for a low‐porosity sandstone. Thus, in pore‐pressure inversion, an assumption of n= 1 would lead to a 150% underestimation of the pore pressure. Comparison of the effective‐stress coefficient for fractured and unfractured samples suggests that the presence of microfractures increases the sensitivity of P‐wave velocity to pore pressure, and therefore the effective‐stress coefficient. Our results show that the effective‐stress coefficient decreases with the differential pressure, with a higher differential pressure resulting in a lower effective‐stress coefficient. While the effective‐stress coefficient for P‐wave velocity can be significantly less than unity, it is close to one for S‐waves.
Laboratory measures of isotope discrimination factors: comments on Caut, Angulo & Courchamp (2008, 2009)
Authors: Perga Marie‐Elodie , Grey Jonathan
Published: June 2010

1. In a recent paper, Caut, Angulo & Courchamp (2008, Functional Ecology, 22, 255) experimentally measured isotope discrimination factors for rats Rattus rattus. In their study, values for their discrimination factors spanned a much larger range than previously reported in the literature and were found to be negatively related to the stable isotope composition of the diet that the rats were fed.

2. In a subsequent meta‐analysis, Caut, Angulo & Courchamp (2009, Journal of Applied Ecology, 46, 443) confirmed the trends they had found in their previous study and pointed to a method for obtaining adequate values for discrimination factors when they could not be measured experimentally.

3.
Synthesis and applications. We argue that the discrimination factors determined by Caut et al. (2008) were an artefact of experimental design. We also argue that the reported linear relationships between the stable isotope composition of the diet and isotope discrimination factors in their follow‐up meta‐analyses (Caut et al. 2009) do not reflect relevant trends that can be extrapolated to the field and that the method they proposed for obtaining adequate values for discrimination factors should be used with considerable care.
Forest patch size and isolation as drivers of bird species richness in Maputaland, Mozambique
Authors: Guldemond Robert A. R. , van Aarde Rudi J.
Published: June 2010

Aim  To examine the response of forest‐dependent and generalist bird assemblages and feeding guilds to patch characteristics of forest fragments in the context of island biogeography and metapopulation theories in an area that supports high levels of species diversity and endemism.

Location  Dune, riverine, sand and swamp forest fragments in southern Mozambique’s Maputaland.

Methods  We recorded 20 forest‐dependent and 69 generalist bird species at 220 survey points in 30 forest fragments that ranged in size from 5 to 7432 ha and that were 100 to 5100 m apart. We used linear regressions to relate the number of species to forest fragment size, isolation, perimeter, fractal dimension, shape and core area for frugivores, insectivores, granivores, nectarivores, carnivores and omnivores separately for forest‐dependent and generalist bird assemblages. We tested for modality in occupancy frequency distributions of species in forest fragments and used the binary matrix temperature calculator to determine whether the assemblages had a nested structure separately for forest‐dependent and generalist bird species.

Results  The number of forest‐dependent and generalist bird species categorized into the feeding guilds varied independently from forest patch parameter values. Occupancy models showed a random distribution for forest‐dependent birds, and generalists had a unimodal distribution. Both the forest‐dependent and generalist bird assemblages had a non‐nested structure. The presence of eight rare forest‐dependent and four endemic bird species in 22 of the 30 fragments contributed to the non‐nested structure of these bird assemblages.

Main conclusions  Fragmented forests did not induce the expected responses of the forest bird assemblages in that the number of species was not explained by patch characteristics, nor could we find evidence for metapopulation dynamics. Non‐nestedness may be caused by the few rare and endemic species occupying forest fragments with a wide range of patch characteristics. Knowledge of the response of species to forest fragmentation can benefit conservation planning catering for rare and endemic species. Our study suggests that all forest fragments in the region may have to be included in a conservation network to complement existing landscape‐based plans to protect the region.
Pancreas disease (PD) in sea‐reared Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Norway; a prospective, longitudinal study of disease development and agreement between diagnostic test results
Authors: Jansen M D , Wasmuth M A , Olsen A B , Gjerset B , Modahl I , Breck O , Haldorsen R N , Hjelmeland R , Taksdal T
Published: June 2010

A prospective longitudinal study was performed on three cages at each of three Norwegian Atlantic salmon seawater sites that experienced outbreaks of pancreas disease (PD). Once salmonid alphavirus (SAV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) was detected by real‐time RT‐PCR (Rt RT‐PCR) at a site, it became detected in all studied cages and was persistently found until the end of the study period up to 19 months after first detection. SAV‐specific antibodies were detected at all sites until the end of the study period and were also found at a high prevalence in broodfish at the time of stripping. No evidence of increased viral activity was detected in these broodfish. One site tested negative over several months prior to the first detection of SAV by Rt RT‐PCR and SAV‐specific antibody, which occurred 1 month prior to clinical manifestations of PD. Moribund fish or thin fish/runts that were sampled after the first PD diagnosis had almost twice the risk of testing positive by one or more diagnostic tests compared to that of randomly selected apparently healthy individuals. This paper describes the first detailed investigation of the disease development of PD at site and cage level in Norway, as well as an assessment of the performance and agreement of the commonly used diagnostic tests.
Immersion oil for high‐resolution live‐cell imaging at 37°C: optical and physical characteristics
Authors: OOMEN L.C.J.M. , SACHER R. , BROCKS H.H.J. , ZWIER J.M. , BRAKENHOFF G.J. , JALINK K.
Published: June 2010

The use of normal immersion oil, developed for 23°C, at 37°C greatly compromises both axial resolution and signal intensity. We developed and characterized an immersion oil for optimal performance in live‐cell imaging at 37°C. We quantify the improvements in resolution and intensity obtained when using the new oil instead of its standard 23°C counterparts.
Development of multiple pigmented viral plaques and squamous cell carcinomas in a dog infected by a novel papillomavirus
Authors: Munday John S. , O’Connor Karin I. , Smits Bronwyn
Published: June 2010

Canine viral plaques are uncommon skin lesions that are induced by papillomaviruses (PVs). Plaques are usually of little clinical significance in dogs, although they have been reported rarely to progress to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Here is described a 7‐year‐old mixed‐breed dog that developed numerous darkly pigmented plaques up to 8 cm in diameter. Multiple ulcerated nodular masses were visible within plaques on the ventrum and axilla. The dog showed no clinical evidence of immunodeficiency and appeared otherwise healthy. Over the next 2 years, five surgeries were performed to remove 23 ulcerated masses that ranged in size from 2 to 5 cm in diameter. Five masses were submitted for histology, and all were SCCs. Each was surrounded by epidermis that contained histological features consistent with those described in canine plaques. Suggestive of a PV aetiology, massive numbers of large keratohyaline granules were present throughout the thickened epidermis. Additionally, koilocytes were focally present, and one sample contained a band of keratinocytes within the superficial epidermis that contained pale cytoplasm and marginated chromatin. From two samples, DNA sequences from a previously unreported PV were amplified, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of PV antigen in both. The PV DNA sequences were most similar to those of canine PVs previously associated with plaque formation. The plaques observed in this case were unusual owing to their rapid growth, large size and frequent malignant transformation. It is unknown whether this unusual behaviour was due to the specific PV detected in this case or to host factors within the dog.
Sensitivity of Ambrosia artemisiifolia to glufosinate and glyphosate at various developmental stages
Authors: GAUVRIT C , CHAUVEL B
Published: June 2010

Gauvrit C & Chauvel B (2010). Sensitivity of Ambrosia artemisiifolia to glufosinate and glyphosate at various developmental stages. Weed Research50, 503–510.

Glufosinate and glyphosate at 375 g a.i. ha−1 and 540 g a.e. ha−1, respectively, were assessed for control of Ambrosia artemisiifolia under non‐crop conditions at four different developmental stages (vegetative, BBCH 14; bud appearance, BBCH 53–55; onset of pollen production, BBCH 61; mid female flowering, BBCH 73–77). Both herbicides displayed high efficacies at all development stages. However, after treatments at BBCH 14, new emergence or re‐growth of A. artemisiifolia led to the presence of plants that produced pollen and seeds. Treatments at BBCH 53–55 gave more than 99.9% reduced pollen production. Seed production was more than 99.9% reduced by glyphosate and 92.0–99.8% by glufosinate. Treatments at BBCH 61 suppressed viable seed production by more than 99.8%. When treatments were made at BBCH 73–77, seed production by A. artemisiifolia was not significantly affected, but seed viability was decreased by 10–85%. Although significantly reduced, the number of viable seeds was still 283–652 and 827–3893 m−2 in the plots treated by glufosinate and glyphosate respectively. It is concluded that on non‐crop areas, herbicide treatment of A. artemisiifolia at bud appearance (BBCH 53–55) with glufosinate or glyphosate gave the most effective control of both pollen and seed production.
Building models for crack propagation under fatigue loads: application to macrocrack growth
Authors: CASTILLO C. , FERNÁNDEZ‐CANTELI A. , CASTILLO E. , PINTO H.
Published: June 2010

This paper deals with the problem of building crack growth models. First, some inconveniences of existing models are described. Next, a general methodology is presented starting by identifying the set of variables involved in the crack growth problem obtaining a minimum subset of dimensionless parameters with the help of the Buckingham  theorem, and imposing some consistency and compatibility conditions in terms of functional equations. These functional equations, once solved, provide the subset of crack growth models satisfying the required deterministic and stochastic compatibility conditions, which, in addition to providing mean values of the crack sizes as a function of time, as alternative models do, also give densities of the crack sizes. The main elements required to build a crack growth model, such as the initial crack size distribution, the crack growth function and a loading effect function, have been identified. The methodology is illustrated with some examples, including crack growth for different load histories. Finally, some models proposed in the past are shown to satisfy these conditions and one numerical example is given.
Closely related protist strains have different grazing impacts on natural bacterial communities
Authors: Glücksman Edvard , Bell Thomas , Griffiths Robert I. , Bass David
Published: June 2010

Heterotrophic protists are abundant in most environments and exert a strong top‐down control on bacterial communities. However, little is known about how selective most protists are with respect to their bacterial prey. We conducted feeding trials using cercomonad and glissomonad Cercozoa by assaying them on a standardized, diverse bacterial community washed from beech leaf litter. For each of the nine protist strains assayed here, we measured several phenotypic traits (cell volume, speed, plasticity and protist cell density) that we anticipated would be important for their feeding ecology. We also estimated the genetic relatedness of the strains based on the 18S rRNA gene. We found that the nine protist strains had significantly different impacts on both the abundance and the composition of the bacterial communities. Both the phylogenetic distance between protist strains and differences in protist strain traits were important in explaining variation in the bacterial communities. Of the morphological traits that we investigated, protist cell volume and morphological plasticity (the extent to which cells showed amoeboid cell shape flexibility) were most important in determining bacterial community composition. The results demonstrate that closely related and morphologically similar protist species can have different impacts on their prey base.
Risk of urinary tract infection after detrusor botulinum toxin A injections for refractory neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with no antibiotic treatment
Authors: Mouttalib Sofia , Khan Shahid , Castel‐Lacanal Evelyne , Guillotreau Julien , De Boissezon Xavier , Malavaud Bernard , Marque Philippe , Rischmann Pascal , Gamé Xavier
Published: June 2010

Study Type – Harm/Safety (case series) Level of Evidence 4

OBJECTIVE

To determine if antibiotic prophylaxis is required for intradetrusor botulinum toxin A (BoNT‐A) injections.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective non‐randomized study. Inclusion criteria were adult patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity who failed anticholinergic‐based first‐line treatment and had sterile urine culture 7 days before injections, a negative dipstick test on the day of the injections, and were performing clean intermittent self‐catheterization. Injections were performed using a rigid cystoscope, under local anaesthetic. Patients received BoNT‐A as either Botox® (Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA, USA) 300 U in 30 sites or Dysport® (Ipsen Ltd, Ipsen, Paris, France) 750 U in 20 sites. Urine culture was done 6 days and 6 weeks after the injections. If urinary tract infection (UTI) was suspected, a physician performed a complete physical examination. The primary outcome criterion was the occurrence of UTI during the first week after injections.

RESULTS

In all, 42 patients (22 women, 20 men) with a mean (sd) age 45.3 (16.4) years were included. A symptomatic UTI occurred during the first week after the injections in three patients (7.1%). The urinary colonization rate was 31% and 26% at 6 days and 6 weeks after injection, respectively. The most common bacterium was Escherichia coli (62.5%). There were no differences between 20 and 30 injection sites or between the sexes.

CONCLUSION

The rate of UTI after intradetrusor injections of BoNT‐A was 7.1%. The most frequent bacterium involved was Escherichia coli. These results indicate that antibiotic prophylaxis for intradetrusor BoNT‐A injections seems necessary.
PTEN genomic deletion is an early event associated with ERG gene rearrangements in prostate cancer
Authors: Bismar Tarek A. , Yoshimoto Maisa , Vollmer Robin T. , Duan Qiuli , Firszt Matthew , Corcos Jacques , Squire Jeremy A.
Published: June 2010

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

So far we know that ERG rearrangements and PTEN deletions interact to induce prostate cancer in transgenic mice. The study confirms that an association also exists between the two genetic aberrations in human prostate cancer, as there is increased incidence of PTEN deletions in cases with ERG rearrangements.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the interaction between, and significance of, ERG gene rearrangements and PTEN genomic deletions in relation to the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We interrogated an initial cohort of 220 men with localized PCA using fluorescence in situ hybridization for ERG rearrangements and PTEN genomic deletions.

RESULTS

The incidences of ERG rearrangements and PTEN deletions in PCA were significantly higher than in high‐grade prostatic intra‐epithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and benign prostate tissue (P < 0.001). ERG rearrangements and PTEN deletions were detected in 41.9 and 42.6% of patients’ tumours, respectively. ERG rearrangements were never detected in benign prostate tissue, while PTEN aberrations were present at a basal level of 4.6%. PTEN hemizygous deletions showed higher frequency than homozygous deletions within each diagnostic category from benign prostate tissue to HGPIN and PCA (P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, in 29 patients where all three tissues were available, PTEN genomic aberrations in PCA were significantly different from those in benign tissue (P = 0.005) and HGPIN (P = 0.02), reflecting the accumulation of genomic aberrations in the early stages of disease progression. Within this cohort, 71.4% of homozygous and 44.2% of hemizygous PTEN deletions occurred simultaneously with ERG rearrangements (P ≈ 0). Stratified according to Gleason score (GS), hemizygous PTEN deletions across various GS groups were observed at a higher frequency than homozygous deletions. However, PTEN homozygous deletions showed positive trends with higher GS, increasing in poorly differentiated PCA (GS 8–10) in comparison to moderately and well differentiated tumours (GS 6 and 7).

CONCLUSION

We show significant association between ERG gene rearrangements and PTEN genomic aberrations in subset of PCA. Our analysis also provides further support for the observation that homozygous PTEN deletions can occur within the subset of HGPIN lesions, and shows accumulating genetic aberrations with disease progression, evidenced by higher detection in PCA than in HGPIN and more PTEN homozygous deletions in GS 8–10 than in 6–7.
Mortality trends for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer in English populations 1979–2006
Authors: Duncan Marie E. , Goldacre Michael J.
Published: June 2010

Study Type – Prevalence (retrospective cohort) Level of Evidence 2b

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is very common. It does not itself cause death, but its complications, and therapy, may.

Prostatic cancer has recently overtaken lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in England.

Mortality rates for deaths attributed to benign prostatic hypertrophy have fallen dramatically over the past three decades. This is likely to be a consequence of improvements in quality of care of men with the condition.

Over a similar period, mortality for prostate cancer initially increased, peaked in the 1990s, and since then has shown a decline.

OBJECTIVE To determine mortality trends for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer in English populations, between1979 and 2006.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS Analysis of datasets that include both the underlying cause and all other mentioned causes on death certificates (together, termed ‘mentions’): the Oxford Record Linkage Study, 1979–2006, and English national data, 1995–2006.

RESULTS In the Oxford region, underlying‐cause mortality from BPH fell from 45 deaths per million in 1979 to 2.4 in 2006. For mentions, the respective rates were 93 and 7.1. In England, underlying‐cause mortality reduced from 9.2 deaths per million in 1995 to 4.5 deaths per million in 2006. For mentions, the rates were 20 and 9.9 deaths per million. When BPH was certified on death certificates, it was selected as the underlying cause of death on fewer than half. Underlying‐cause mortality for prostate cancer in Oxford increased from 213 deaths per million in 1979 to 335 by 1991, and thereafter declined to 253 deaths per million in 2006. Mentions‐mortality in Oxford followed a similar pattern. In later years, when there were comparable data for Oxford and England, the pattern of decline in England was similar to that in Oxford. Where mentioned, prostate cancer was coded as the underlying cause of death on three‐quarters of death certificates.

CONCLUSIONS The fall in BPH mortality, evident in statistics on underlying cause, was confirmed by statistics on all certified causes of death. The fall is dramatic in scale, likely to be attributable to clinical care, and could be regarded as an indicator of improving standards of care. Mortality for prostate cancer increased, peaking in the 1990s, then decreased in recent years in rates as measured both by underlying cause and by mentions.
SAMPLE SIZE FOR TWO INDEPENDENT PROPORTIONS: A REVIEW
Authors: Gordon Ian
Published: June 2010

This paper reviews methods for determining sample sizes when inference is required on the difference between two proportions from independent samples. The sample sizes for Fisher's exact test are generally regarded as the desired values, but they are very tedious to calculate, so many approximations have been introduced. These are described and their relative merits assessed.
THINK, MANAGE AND LEAD SYSTEMICALLY
Authors: TATE WILLIAM
Published: June 2010

William Tate believes that individual competence is important but not sufficient to make organisations successful. He argues that only systemic thinking can ensure that the organisational whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
In Defence of Animal Sentience: A Critique of Cochrane's Liberty Thesis
Authors: Garner Robert
Published: June 2010

In a recent article in Political Studies, Alasdair Cochrane argues that animals have an instrumental, but not – unlike humans – an intrinsic, interest in liberty. This, he argues, has important implications for our treatment of animals because it denies the argument, made by some animal rights ethicists and activists, that all uses of animals ought to be abolished. This response critiques Cochrane in two ways. Firstly, his perfunctory dismissal of the argument from marginal cases underestimates the counter-intuitive character of the conclusions that derive from attempting to show that marginal humans, like animals, do not have an intrinsic interest in liberty and, by extrapolation, life. Secondly, it is argued that even if we accept that animals do not have an intrinsic interest in liberty, there are important elements of the use of animals (as experimental subjects and as sources of food in particular) that cannot exist, or exist very easily, without the infliction of suffering. An ethic based on sentience therefore can go a long way, in practice, towards achieving the goals of the animal rights movement.