bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplemental 80% oxygen does not attenuate post‐operative nausea and vomiting after breast surgery
Authors: Purhonen S. , Niskanen M. , Wüstefeld M. , Hirvonen E. , Hynynen M.
Published: October 2005

Background:  Although supplemental oxygen has been shown to be as effective as ondansetron in the prevention of post‐operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in one study in abdominal surgery patients, the antiemetic efficacy of supplemental oxygen is controversial on the basis of studies with other patients. We compared the efficacy of 80% and 30% oxygen in decreasing PONV in breast surgery. Ondansetron was used as an active control.

Methods:  Ninety patients were given a standardized sevoflurane anesthetic. They were randomly assigned to three groups: 30% oxygen in nitrogen and saline 2 ml intravenously (i.v.) at the end of surgery (group 30); 80% oxygen in nitrogen and saline 2 ml (group 80); and 30% oxygen in nitrogen and ondansetron 4 mg (group O). Oxygen was administered during surgery and up to 2 h after surgery.

Results:  The incidence of total response (no retching or vomiting, no nausea) during the first 24 post‐operative hours was not different between group 80 (17%) and group 30 (11%) but was higher in group O (43%) than in group 30 (P < 0.05). Compared with group O, patients in group 80 experienced more vomiting during the study period 0–24 h (66% vs. 32%; P < 0.05) and more nausea during the period 6–24 h (72% vs. 39%; P < 0.05). There was no difference between the groups in their risk for PONV, pain scores, opioid consumption, or patient satisfaction.

Conclusions:  In this study, supplemental 80% oxygen administration failed to decrease PONV in breast surgery.
Significance of working conditions on burnout  in anesthetists
Authors: Lederer W. , Kinzl J. F. , Trefalt E. , Traweger C. , Benzer A.
Published: October 2005

Background:  The influence of working conditions on the development of burnout syndrome was assessed in anesthetists working at a university hospital.

Methods:  Self‐reporting questionnaires were used to assess physical health and emotional well‐being (Health and Stress Profile), burnout syndrome (Maslach Burnout Inventory) and working conditions (Instrument for Stress‐Oriented Task Analysis) in anesthetists.

Results:  Twenty‐three anesthetists (25.8%) appeared to be at risk for burnout, and three anesthetists (3.4%) had already developed full‐blown burnout syndrome. Anesthetists at risk for burnout more frequently suffered from limited complexity of work (P = 0.001), lacking individual time control (P = 0.004), lack of participation possibilities (P = 0.012), and had more physical complaints (P = 0.017) and greater job dissatisfaction (P = 0.002) than did their colleagues with no burnout symptoms.

Conclusion:  Job conditions providing little opportunity to influence work pace and participation contribute to the development of burnout syndrome. Communication and contact with colleagues appear to be an important preventive regulative.
Unique genomic configuration revealed by microsatellite DNA in polyploid dogroses, Rosa sect. Caninae
Authors: Nybom H. , Esselink G. D. , Werlemark G. , Leus L. , Vosman B.
Published: October 2005

An allopolyploid complex with high genomic integrity has been studied. Dogroses transmit only seven chromosomes (from seven bivalents) through the pollen, whereas 21, 28 or 35 chromosomes (from seven bivalents and 14, 21 or 28 univalents) come from the egg cells. Seedlings derived from two interspecific crosses were analysed with flow cytometry and molecular markers to determine ploidy level, mode of reproduction and genomic constitution. Evidence was obtained for the formation of unreduced male and female gametes, which can take part in fertilization (producing seedlings with higher ploidy than the parental plants) or in apomictic reproduction. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite analyses indicated that three seedlings (5%) were derived through apomixis, whereas the other 49 were hybrids. Bivalent formation appears to involve chromosomes that consistently share the same microsatellite alleles. Allele-sharing between the maternally transmitted and highly conserved univalent-forming chromosomes reflected the taxonomic distance between different genotypes. The frequently recombining bivalent-forming chromosomes were taxonomically less informative.
The Impact of Physiological Demands on Foraging Decisions under Predation Risk: A Test with the Whelk Acanthina monodon
Authors: Soto Rubén E. , Castilla Juan C. , Bozinovic Francisco
Published: October 2005

We study whether and how physiological demands affect foraging decisions under predation risk, by evaluating the effect of starvation on the rate of food consumption and prey‐size preferences and the potential trade‐off between starvation and predation risk on foraging behavior in the whelk Acanthina monodon, a gastropod inhabiting the intertidal rocky shores of central Chile. These whelks appear to adjust their foraging strategy to physiological (nutritional) demand and predation risk. Starvation reduced the effect of predation risk on the rate of food consumption by A. monodon. Thus, in the absence of the predator sea star, the rate of food consumption by starved and satiated whelks was similar. When a predator was present, starved whelks fed faster than satiated whelks. Our results indicate that foraging behaviour represents an integrated and hierarchical response to environmental conditions and the physiological conditions of the forager.
Limits to Male Copulation Frequency: Sexual Cannibalism and Sterility in St Andrew's Cross Spiders (Araneae, Araneidae)
Authors: Herberstein M. E. , Gaskett A. C. , Schneider J. M. , Vella N. G. F. , Elgar M. A.
Published: October 2005

Sexual cannibalism is common among orb‐web spiders and may limit male copulation frequency. Each copulation by male St Andrew's Cross spiders (Argiope keyserlingi) involves the transfer of sperm from one pedipalp only. Almost half of the males survive their first copulation, but all of the surviving males are cannibalized when they copulate with the other pedipalp. We investigated why males cannot copulate more than twice. Experimentally fatigued males were not cannibalized more frequently than control males. Experimental removal of one pedipalp in virgin males did not increase cannibalism during their first copulation, but the surviving males were unable to copulate with a subsequent female, suggesting they cannot use a pedipalp more than once. Un‐manipulated males always inserted their unused pedipalp during their second copulation. Sperm counts from males preserved immediately after copulation and from males maintained for an additional 3 wk show that used pedipalps are not replenished over such a period.
Cooperative Breeding and Group Structure in the Lake Tanganyika Cichlid Neolamprologus savoryi
Authors: Heg Dik , Bachar Zina , Taborsky Michael
Published: October 2005

As yet, cooperative breeding has been described only for some fish species. However, evidence is accumulating that it is widespread among Lake Tanganyika cichlids. We studied the cooperative breeding system of the substrate breeding cichlid Neolamprologus savoryi. Breeding groups typically consisted of a large breeding male with one to four breeding females and three to 33 helpers (mean group size: 14.3 members). Group size was significantly related to breeding male and female body sizes, and larger males had more breeding females and larger sized male helpers. The size of the largest female in the group was positively related to the number and sizes of secondary breeding females and female helpers. In case of multiple breeding females, these females usually divided the group's territory into sub‐territories, each with its own helpers (subgroups). Interspersed between groups, independent fish were detected defending an individual shelter (4.4% of all fish). In 9% of the groups no breeding female was present. All group members participated in territory defence and maintenance, and showed submissive behaviours to larger group members. As expected, the level of between‐subgroup conflicts was high compared with the level of within‐subgroup conflicts. We compare these results with data available from other cooperatively breeding fishes.
Individual Consistency in Parental Effort Across Multiple Stages of Care in the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Authors: Kopisch Amy D. , Schwagmeyer P. L. , Mock Douglas W.
Published: October 2005

In many avian species in which biparental care is provided to offspring, substantial variation exists within members of each sex in the level of effort contributed to various forms of parental care. Questions remain as to whether individuals that contribute more toward one parental activity also contribute more toward other activities in which they participate. We examined the contributions of male and female house sparrows (Passer domesticus) to three forms of parental care: incubation, nestling provisioning, and nest defense, and compared the investments made by individuals at each stage of care relative to other same‐sexed parents. In both males and females, nestling feeding rates were positively associated with time spent incubating, but no relationships were found between measures of nestling feeding and nest defense. The predictability of an individual's feeding behavior based on earlier incubation efforts may make incubation a good stage for individuals to evaluate the parental abilities of their partners.
Hepatitis B virus infection in dialysis patients
Authors: WONG PING‐NAM , FUNG TANG‐TAT , MAK SIU‐KA , LO KIN‐YEE , TONG GENSY MW , WONG YUK , LOO CHING‐KONG , LAM ERIC KM , WONG ANDREW KM
Published: October 2005

Abstract  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major issue among dialysis patients. It is associated with a high risk of hepatic complication. The liver disease runs a unique clinical course in dialysis patients, as it can progress with modest hepatic inflammation and prominent fibrosis. The conventional cut‐off level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) for commencing antiviral therapy may prove too high and inappropriate for dialysis patients, and liver biopsy appears to be the only definitive means to establish the activity of liver disease in dialysis patients. Liver biopsy should be considered in patients with a serum ALT level that is persistently greater than 30 IU/L, or 0.75‐fold the upper limit of the normal level, and/or other clinical and laboratory findings that suggest active liver disease. For antiviral treatment, preliminary reports have shown that lamivudine is effective and well tolerated in dialysis patients. However, the long‐term efficacy of lamivudine and its optimal effective dose in dialysis patients remain unknown. The prevention of nosocomial transmission among dialysis patients is also important. Universal precaution measures should be strictly observed and the segregation of hepatitis B surface antigen‐positive hemodialysis patients should be considered. For HBV non‐immune patients, the importance of HBV vaccination should not be overemphasized. Until a new generation of highly immunogenic vaccines that are proven to be safe and effective in patients with end‐stage renal disease becomes available, early vaccination before the development of end‐stage renal failure remains the best way to secure immunological protection against HBV infection in dialysis patients.
Inflammatory bowel disease in Iran: A review of 457 cases
Authors: AGHAZADEH RAHIM , ZALI MOHAMMAD REZA , BAHARI ALI , AMIN KAMYAR , GHAHGHAIE FARZIN , FIROUZI FARZAD
Published: October 2005

Background and Aims: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was believed to be infrequent in Iran; however, unofficial reports have confessed the continuing rise in IBD in our country.

Methods: Demographic and clinical features, extraintestinal manifestations, extension of disease and complications of 401 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), 47 with Crohn's disease (CD), and nine with indeterminatn colitis (IC) were assessed retrospectively. The exact course of physicians’ visits of 250 IBD patient was asked through face‐to‐face interview.

Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 31.9 years in UC and 30.5 years in CD patients. The male to female ratio was 0.8 for UC and 1.3 for CD. The percentage of CD and UC patients who were non‐smokers was 82.9 and 84.5%, respectively. Patients with UC presented with rectal bleeding (41.9%), whereas those with CD complained of abdominal pain (46.9%). Among UC patients, proctosigmoid was affected in 51.9%. Colorectal cancer was diagnosed in two patients. The mean lag time between the onset of symptoms and definite diagnosis was 13.9 and 17.7 months for UC and CD patients, respectively. A total of 32.4% of patients with IBD had at least one of the five major extra‐intestinal diseases.

Conclusion: The demographic and clinical picture of IBD is more or less the same as that of other developing countries; however, the rarity of CD in Iran is noted. Although the true epidemiologic profile of IBD in Iran is still unknown, it is not as rare as previously thought, and it seems as if gradual adoption of a Western lifestyle may be associated with the continuing rise in IBD.

© 2005 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd
Outcomes of split versus reduced‐size grafts in pediatric liver transplantation
Authors: OSWARI HANIFAH , LYNCH STEPHEN V , FAWCETT JONATHAN , STRONG RUSSELL W , EE LOOI C
Published: October 2005

Background:  Split‐liver transplantation, where two grafts are created from a single donor organ, is a means of overcoming donor organ scarcity. There are few data comparing outcomes of split with reduced‐size liver grafts, which is the most common type of cadaveric graft in pediatric liver transplantation. The aims of the present paper were to compare survival and complication rates between split and reduced‐size cadaveric grafts in pediatric patients receiving a liver transplant in Brisbane.

Methods:  Review of the Queensland Liver Transplant Service database was undertaken. All pediatric patients who received either a cadaveric split or reduced‐size graft between 1985 and 2000 were examined. The incidence of patient and graft survival, vascular complications and biliary complications were identified.

Results:  A total of 251 liver transplants were performed of which 138 were reduced‐size grafts and 30 were split grafts. There were no differences in etiology of liver disease, mean age, weight, and urgency of transplant between the two groups. One‐year patient and graft survivals were comparable at 73% and 67%, respectively, in both groups. There was no difference in the incidence of vascular complications between groups. Biliary complications were significantly more common after split grafts when compared with reduced‐size grafts (21%vs 4%, P < 0.0001) but did not affect patient or graft survival.

Conclusions:  Survival and vascular complications after split‐liver grafts were comparable to outcomes after reduced‐size grafts. Biliary complications occur more commonly with split‐liver grafts but did not affect patient or graft survival. It is recommended that every pediatric recipient be considered for a split‐liver graft.
Interferon/long‐term lamivudine combination therapy in anti‐HBe positive chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: NIKOLAIDIS NIKOLAOS L , GIOULEME OLGA I , TZIOMALOS KONSTANTINOS A , SAVERIADIS ADAMOS S , GRAMMATIKOS NIKOLAOS , DOUKELIS PANAGIOTIS , VOUTSAS ANASTASIOS D , VASSILIADIS THEMISTOKLIS , PATSIAOURA KALLIOPI , ORFANOU‐KOUMERKERIDOU ELENI , BALASKA AIKATERINI , EUGENIDIS NIKOLAOS P
Published: October 2005

Background:  Monotherapy with a single antiviral agent is insufficient in controlling hepatitis B virus infection in the majority of patients with anti‐HBe positive chronic hepatitis B. Interferon/long‐term lamivudine combination therapy was evaluated to determine if this strategy would improve treatment efficacy and reduce the emergence of lamivudine resistance.

Methods:  In total, 36 consecutive anti‐HBe positive patients were treated with interferon (3 MU subcutaneously three times weekly) and lamivudine (100 mg orally once a day) for 12 months. After completion of the combined treatment, all patients continued to receive lamivudine monotherapy indefinitely.

Results:  Overall, 35 patients (97%) showed virological response at 12 months. Four patients (11%) cleared HBsAg and developed anti‐HBs. During the follow‐up time, after the discontinuation of interferon, of 30 ± 12 months (range: 7–57 months), 13 patients (36%) exhibited breakthrough infection. The cumulative rates of breakthrough infection at the end of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years of treatment were 0%, 14%, 32%, and 59%, respectively.

Conclusions:  Combination therapy appears to be effective and may also delay the selection of lamivudine‐resistant variants. However, controlled trials are definitely warranted to clarify the potential benefits of combination antiviral treatment over monotherapy.
Pathogens causing community gastroenteritis in Australia
Authors: SINCLAIR MARTHA I , HELLARD MARGARET E , WOLFE RORY , MITAKAKIS TERESA Z , LEDER KARIN , FAIRLEY CHRISTOPHER K
Published: October 2005

Background and Aim:  Many individuals with gastrointestinal symptoms do not seek medical attention and so there is little known about the pathogens involved in most cases of community gastroenteritis. We aimed to identify the pathogens responsible for community gastroenteritis and to examine the associated symptoms.

Methods:  In a prospective study of 2811 subjects over 15 months, fecal pathogens were examined following highly credible gastroenteritis (HCG) events. The population consisted of family units of at least two children (≤15 years‐old) and two adults each. Fecal samples were tested for a range of bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens. Gastroenteric episode duration and symptoms such as vomiting, nausea and diarrhea were measured.

Results:  One or more pathogens were identified in 198 of a total 791 specimens collected. Pathogens detected most often were Norovirus virus (10.7%), pathogenic E. coli (6.7%), Campylobacter spp. (3.0%) and Giardia sp. (2.5%). Children were more prone than adults to all the pathogens tested, except E. coli. Children infected with Campylobacter were 8.3 times more likely (95% CI: 2.7–25.4) to have a longer duration of diarrhea than children with Norovirus (P < 0.001). Similarly, children infected with E. coli had increased persistence of diarrhea compared to Norovirus (OR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.3–9.5; P = 0.02). Infection with Norovirus in children meant greater persistence of vomiting symptoms than infection with Campylobacter (P = 0.005), E. coli (P = 0.03), or if no pathogen was identified (P = 0.004). Adults usually vomited for fewer days than children while duration of diarrhea was similar to children.

Conclusions:  Many of the pathogens responsible for cases of gastroenteritis in the Australian community are likely to go undetected by current surveillance systems and routine clinical practice.
Monitoring and management of antituberculosis drug induced hepatotoxicity
Authors: AGAL SUBHASH , BAIJAL RAJIV , PRAMANIK SNEHANSHU , PATEL NIKHIL , GUPTE PARIJAT , KAMANI PRAFUL , AMARAPURKAR DEEPAK
Published: October 2005

Background:  Hepatotoxicity to antituberculosis therapy (ATT) poses a major challenge. This often results in inadequate therapy. The risk of fulminant hepatic failure and mortality is high once icteric hepatitis develops. There is no consensus on monitoring protocols and for the reintroduction of ATT.

Methods:  All patients (from the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Jagjivanram Hospital and the Department of Gastroenterology, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, India) with a diagnosis of tuberculosis, who were to receive ATT during the study period, were included in the present study for prospective periodic laboratory monitoring for the development of hepatotoxicity. Those patients who developed hepatotoxicity formed Group A (n = 21), whereas those who did not develop hepatotoxicity were included in Group C (n = 179). For the purpose of comparison with Group A, all the patients who presented directly with ATT induced hepatotoxicity during the study period were categorized as Group B (n = 24). Group A and B were further studied after normalization of liver functions for sequential reintroduction with therapeutic doses at a weekly interval.

Results:  In Group A, 66.6% (14 patients) of the patients were diagnosed in the asymptomatic period. Seven patients had symptomatic hepatitis, but none had icteric illness. There were no mortalities in Group A. In contrast, all the patients in Group B had symptomatic hepatitis (75% icteric hepatitis). There was a mortality rate of 16.6% (four patients). Of the 41 patients from Groups A and B who survived, reintroduction was successful in 38/39 (97.4%). In the remaining two patients who were in Group B, reintroduction was not attempted because of decompensated liver disease.

Conclusions:  Periodic laboratory monitoring is important in detecting hepatotoxicity at an early stage, thereby preventing mortality. Sequential reintroduction is often successful.
Community‐based epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in West Bengal, India: Prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen‐negative infection and associated viral variants
Authors: CHOWDHURY ABHIJIT , SANTRA AMAL , CHAKRAVORTY RUNU , BANERJI ARUP , PAL SUPARNA , DHALI GOPAL K , DATTA SIBNARAYAN , BANERJI SOMA , MANNA BYOMKESH , CHOWDHURY SUSANTA ROY , BHATTACHARYA SUJIT K , MAZUMDER DEBENDRANATH GUHA
Published: October 2005

Background and Aims:  There is a paucity of population‐based epidemiological information regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in India. The present study was planned to outline the magnitude and pattern of HBV infection, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative infection and the associated viral mutants in India.

Methods:  A community‐based epidemiological study of HBV infection was carried out in West Bengal, India. Serological markers of infection and potential risk factors for HBV transmission were determined. Among the infected individuals, HBV‐DNA, genotypes and mutations in the precore (PC) stop codon and basal core promoter (BCP) regions were determined by DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism methods.

Results:  Of the 7653 people included in the study, 227 (2.97%) tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), of whom 204 (90%) were HBeAg‐negative and hepatitis B e antibody (anti‐HBe)‐positive, and 78% had normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. HBV‐DNA could be detected by PCR in only 32% of people. G1896A PC stop codon mutants were present in 12% of people, BCP mutants in 18% and the remainder (70%) of the HBeAg‐negative infections were associated with wild type sequences in these regions.

Conclusions:  This first general population‐based epidemiological study of HBV infection from India suggests that HBV acquisition starts in early childhood and peaks in adulthood. Most infections in the community are e‐negative and inactive. The point prevalence of PC stop codon and BCP mutants is low in this primarily inactive and asymptomatic HBV‐infected population sample in eastern India.
Frugivory and seed dispersal by foxes in relation to mammalian prey abundance in a semiarid thornscrub
Authors: SILVA SERGIO I. , BOZINOVIC FRANCISCO , JAKSIC FABIAN M.
Published: October 2005

Abstract  We examine the role of the native fox, Pseudalopex culpaeus, as a frugivore and seed disperser in a semiarid thornscrub of Chile. We quantified the fruit and animal components in its diet versus the availability of fruits and small mammals in the field over a 2‐year period (January 1998 through February 2000). We tested the legitimacy and effectiveness of foxes as dispersers by quantifying the percentages of seed viability and of germination of seeds that passed through fox gut versus those picked from plants. We also studied their efficiency as dispersers, monitoring the fate of seeds in faeces placed in the field. The highest frequencies of fruit consumption by foxes were observed when abundances of small mammal prey were <6 individuals per hectare, regardless of fruit abundance in the field. Thus, foxes consumed fruits as a supplementary food resource. Based on 326 faeces, the total number of fruits consumed was about 34 000 over the 2‐year study period, and fruits from the alien shrub Schinus molle represented 98% of that total, with the native Porlieria chilensis a distant second. Germination and viability of defecated seeds of P. chilensis were reduced by 66% and 48%, respectively, in comparison to controls. In contrast, germination of seeds of S. molle increased by 50% and no effect on viability was observed. With regard to P. chilensis, foxes were legitimate (they defecated viable seeds), but ineffective (seeds in faeces had lower germination than those taken directly from parental plants and there was no seedling establishment in the field) and inefficient dispersers (seeds in faeces were deposited on microhabitats hostile to seed germination and seedling establishment). However, with regard to S. molle, foxes were legitimate, effective (seeds in faeces had higher germination than those taken directly from parental plants; there was germination but no establishment in the field), and efficient dispersers (over 41% of seeds were deposited on safe microsites). Thus, a native fox may be contributing to the spread of an alien shrub, co‐opting existing community processes.
No behavioural compensation for fitness costs of autotomy in a lizard
Authors: LANGKILDE TRACY , ALFORD ROSS A. , SCHWARZKOPF LIN
Published: October 2005

Abstract  Antipredator mechanisms employed by animals are obviously beneficial if they increase survival, but their use may be costly and decrease fitness. Fitness costs of antipredator mechanisms may, in turn, be defrayed by behavioural compensation. We used lizards as a model to measure behavioural fitness costs of the antipredator mechanism, autotomy, as they commonly lose their tails when attacked by predators. In addition, we examined whether male skinks, Carlia jarnoldae (Scincidae), behaviourally compensate for tail loss by comparing the behaviour of tailed and tailless males in experimental enclosures, either alone, with a conspecific male or female, or with a predator. Tailless males experience several costs of autotomy including reduced energy stores, and loss of autotomy as a defence. We identified an additional cost of tail loss: reduced mating success. However, this species did not behaviourally compensate these costs. Instead, characteristics of the ecology of C. jarnoldae may minimize the costs of autotomy. This species experiences an extended breeding season, which means that they experience reduced mating success for only 20% of this breeding season. Additionally, the presence of inguinal fat stores which supply energy in addition to stores in the tail reduce energetic costs.
Fauna habitat modelling and mapping: A review and case study in the Lower Hunter Central Coast region of NSW
Authors: WINTLE BRENDAN A. , ELITH JANE , POTTS JOANNE M.
Published: October 2005

Abstract  Habitat models are now broadly used in conservation planning on public lands. If implemented correctly, habitat modelling is a transparent and repeatable technique for describing and mapping biodiversity values, and its application in peri‐urban and agricultural landscape planning is likely to expand rapidly. Conservation planning in such landscapes must be robust to the scrutiny that arises when biodiversity constraints are placed on developers and private landholders. A standardized modelling and model evaluation method based on widely accepted techniques will improve the robustness of conservation plans. We review current habitat modelling and model evaluation methods and provide a habitat modelling case study in the New South Wales central coast region that we hope will serve as a methodological template for conservation planners. We make recommendations on modelling methods that are appropriate when presence‐absence and presence‐only survey data are available and provide methodological details and a website with data and training material for modellers. Our aim is to provide practical guidelines that preserve methodological rigour and result in defendable habitat models and maps. The case study was undertaken in a rapidly developing area with substantial biodiversity values under urbanization pressure. Habitat maps for seven priority fauna species were developed using logistic regression models of species‐habitat relationships and a bootstrapping methodology was used to evaluate model predictions. The modelled species were the koala, tiger quoll, squirrel glider, yellow‐bellied glider, masked owl, powerful owl and sooty owl. Models ranked sites adequately in terms of habitat suitability and provided predictions of sufficient reliability for the purpose of identifying preliminary conservation priority areas. However, they are subject to multiple uncertainties and should not be viewed as a completely accurate representation of the distribution of species habitat. We recommend the use of model prediction in an adaptive framework whereby models are iteratively updated and refined as new data become available.
Foraging in a risky environment: a comparison of Bennett's wallabies Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) and red‐bellied pademelons Thylogale billiardierii (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in open habitats
Authors: WHILE GEOFFREY M. , MCARTHUR CLARE
Published: October 2005

Abstract  This study aimed to establish whether red‐bellied pademelons (Thylogale billiardierii) and Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus) alter their foraging distribution in open habitat, in response to food availability and distance to protective shelter, the latter used as a measure of predation risk. Scat counts were used as a measure of the presence or absence of these macropods over two plantations (Russell and Dunalley). These plantations differed in both their on‐site food and shelter characteristics (the presence or absence of windrows). Logistic regression indicated that at Russell, which had low food availability but the presence of on‐site shelter, probability of scats of both species increased with the percentage cover of both edible and inedible vegetation. The probability of both pademelon and wallaby scats decreased with increasing distance from windrows, but increased with increasing distance from forest at the plantation edge. Logistic regression indicated that at Dunalley, which had high food availability but no on‐site shelter, the probability of scats of both species increased with an increase in the percentage cover of edible vegetation. In relation to predation risk, however, the two species differed in their response. Pademelons exhibited a decrease in scat probability with increasing distance from the forest at the plantation edge, while wallabies showed an increase in scat probability with distance from the forest at the plantation edge. Results indicated some differences in antipredation strategies of the two species, which may be a function of differences in body size.
Relationships between anthropogenic disturbance, soil properties and plant invasion in endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland, Australia
Authors: HILL SARAH J. , TUNG PETER J. , LEISHMAN MICHELLE R.
Published: October 2005

Abstract  Invasive exotic plants are a significant threat to areas of conservation value, with endangered ecological communities being especially vulnerable. We assessed the role of different anthropogenic disturbances in determining the success of exotic plants in the endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland community of western Sydney and examined the impact of these disturbances on soil characteristics that are likely to impact on vegetation, including total P, pH, water retention capacity, organic matter content and electrical conductivity. The disturbance types were: (i) land use incorporating clearing, agriculture and grazing by stock; (ii) creeks draining a developed catchment; and (iii) roads. Remnants that had been cleared and grazed had higher exotic and lower native species richness and cover than all other disturbance types. Areas that had been grazed but not cleared did not have more exotic species richness or cover than uncleared/ungrazed areas, thus retaining high conservation value. Areas within 2 m of a creek edge had higher exotic species richness and cover than areas further from the creek edge. Areas downslope of sealed roads had significantly higher exotic species richness and cover than areas below unsealed roads. No single soil attribute or combination of soil attributes was consistently able to account for variation in exotic species cover under the different disturbance types. Thus it appears that other factors such as site history and propagule pressure may be more important in determining exotic species success than soil characteristics alone, in this vegetation community.
Linking plant functional traits with post‐fire sprouting vigour in woody species in central Argentina
Authors: GURVICH DIEGO E. , ENRICO LUCAS , CINGOLANI ANA M.
Published: October 2005

Abstract  Sprouting vigour is determined by the plant amount of reserves and intrinsic growth rate of plants. While the first factor has been well studied, the second is far less understood. Although a higher growth rate would imply a higher sprouting vigour, fast‐growing species may have less below‐ground reserves, and thus, a lower sprouting potential. The relative importance of both opposite effects was little explored in the literature. To analyse the influence of growth rate on sprouting vigour, one growth season after a fire we measured plant height of the old (pre‐fire) and new (post‐fire) tissue in 194 individuals of 14 woody species from a woodland in central Argentina. We calculated a mean value of pre‐ and post‐fire height for each species, and obtained from a data‐base potential height at maturity, wood density (WD) and specific leaf area (SLA), as surrogates of intrinsic growth rate. We performed a forward stepwise multiple regression using WD and SLA, together with mean pre‐fire height or potential height as independent variables, and mean post‐fire height (as an indicator of resprout vigour) as the dependent variable. Interactions were also tested. Pre‐fire height, WD and their interaction term were the variables that best explained post‐fire height. We also analysed the relationship between pre‐ and post‐fire size for each species independently by fitting hyperbolic functions. Then we correlated both parameters of the functions to species characteristics (WD, SLA, potential height and mean pre‐fire height). Both parameters of the hyperbolic functions were significantly correlated only with WD, but not with the other species characteristics. All results together indicate that species with low WD (i.e. high potential growth rate) regrow more vigorously than species with high WD when pre‐fire individuals were tall. In contrast, when pre‐fire individuals were small, WD had no influence on sprout vigour. A trade‐off between allocation of biomass to underground reserves and shoot growth seems to be responsible for the patterns obtained. For small individuals, below‐ground reserves seem to play a more important role than inherent growth rate (here measured through WD) in determining the sprouting vigour, while for large individuals, growth rate seems more important than reserves.
Effects of goat pastoralism on ecosystem carbon storage in semiarid thicket, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: MILLS A. J. , COWLING R. M. , FEY M. V. , KERLEY G. I. H. , DONALDSON J. S. , LECHMERE‐OERTEL R. G. , SIGWELA A. M. , SKOWNO A. L. , RUNDEL P.
Published: October 2005

Abstract  Intensive pastoralism with goats transforms semiarid thicket in the Eastern Cape, South Africa from a dense vegetation of tall shrubs to an open landscape dominated by ephemeral grasses and forbs. Approx. 800 000 ha of thicket (which prior to the introduction of goats had a closed canopy and a Portulacaria afra Jacq. component) have been transformed in this manner. Ecosystem C storage in intact thicket and loss of C due to transformation were quantified. Carbon storage in intact thicket was surprisingly high for a semiarid region, with an average of 76 t C ha−1 in living biomass and surface litter and 133 t C ha−1 in soils to a depth of 30 cm. Exceptional C accumulation in thicket may be a result of P. afra dominance. This succulent shrub switches between C3 and CAM photosynthesis, produces large quantities of leaf litter (approx. 450 g m−2 year−1) and shades the soil densely. Transformed thicket had approx. 35% less soil C to a depth of 10 cm and approx. 75% less biomass C than intact thicket. Restoration of transformed thicket landscapes could consequently recoup more than 80 t C ha−1.
Dynamics of directional selectivity in MT receptive field centre and surround
Authors: Perge János A. , Borghuis Bart G. , Bours Roger J. E. , Lankheet Martin J. M. , Van Wezel Richard J. A.
Published: October 2005

We studied receptive field organization of motion‐sensitive neurons in macaque middle temporal cortical area (MT), by mapping direction selectivity in space and in time. Stimuli consisted of pseudorandom sequences of single motion steps presented simultaneously at many different receptive field locations. Spatio‐temporal receptive field profiles were constructed by cross‐correlating stimuli and spikes. The resulting spike‐triggered averages revealed centre‐surround organization. The temporal dynamics of the receptive fields were generally biphasic with increased probability for the preferred direction at short latency (50–70 ms) and decreased probability at longer latency (80–100 ms). The response latency of the receptive field surround was on average 16 ms longer than that of the centre. Our results show that surround input and biphasic behaviour reflect two different mechanisms, which make MT cells specifically sensitive to motion contrast in space and time.
Cognitive disorders and neurogenesis deficits in Huntington's disease mice are rescued by fluoxetine
Authors: Grote Helen E. , Bull Natalie D. , Howard Monique L. , Van Dellen Anton , Blakemore Colin , Bartlett Perry F. , Hannan Anthony J.
Published: October 2005

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat encoding an extended polyglutamine tract in the huntingtin protein. Affected individuals display progressive motor, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms (including depression), leading to terminal decline. Given that transgenic HD mice have decreased hippocampal cell proliferation and that a deficit in neurogenesis has been postulated as an underlying cause of depression, we hypothesized that decreased hippocampal neurogenesis contributes to depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in HD. Fluoxetine, a serotonin‐reuptake inhibitor commonly prescribed for the treatment of depression, is known to increase neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of wild‐type mouse hippocampus. Here we show that hippocampal‐dependent cognitive and depressive‐like behavioural symptoms occur in HD mice, and that the administration of fluoxetine produces a marked improvement in these deficits. Furthermore, fluoxetine was found to rescue deficits of neurogenesis and volume loss in the dentate gyrus of HD mice.
Striatal dopaminergic responses observed in latent inhibition are dependent on the hippocampal ventral subicular region
Authors: Peterschmitt Y. , Hoeltzel A. , Louilot A.
Published: October 2005

We showed recently that behavioural and striatal dopaminergic (DA) responses obtained in latent inhibition are crucially dependent on the parahippocampal region, the entorhinal cortex. In the present study, we investigated the influence exerted by the hippocampal ventral subicular region (SUB) on the DA responses in the anterior part of the dorsal striatum using in vivo voltammetry in freely moving rats and the same latent inhibition paradigm. To that end, the left SUB was temporarily blocked with tetrodotoxin (TTX) during pre‐exposure to a new olfactory stimulus (banana odour). During the second session the animals were aversively conditioned to banana odour. With respect to the results obtained during the test session (third presentation of banana odour), similar changes in behaviour and DA levels were obtained in control and conditioned rats microinjected with the solvent, phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS), in the SUB, consistently with a latent inhibition phenomenon. In contrast, after reversible inactivation of the SUB during the pre‐exposure session, TTX‐pre‐exposed conditioned animals displayed aversive behaviour in the test session, and anterior striatal DA variations in these animals differed significantly from those obtained in pre‐exposed rats injected locally with PBS. Striatal DA variations obtained in conditioned animals microinjected with TTX were also significantly different from those observed in conditioned non‐pre‐exposed animals. The present data suggest that, in parallel to the entorhinal cortex, the SUB regulates the latent inhibition‐related behavioural and DA responses in the anterior part of the dorsal striatum. These data may provide new insight into the pathophysiology of schizophrenic psychoses.
Time‐sensitive enhancement of motor learning with the less‐affected forelimb after unilateral sensorimotor cortex lesions in rats
Authors: Hsu J. Edward , Jones Theresa A.
Published: October 2005

Unilateral damage to the forelimb region of the sensorimotor cortex (FLsmc) results in time‐dependent changes in neuronal activity, structure and connectivity in the contralateral motor cortex of adult rats. These changes have been linked to facilitation of motor skill learning in the less‐affected/ipsilesional forelimb, which is likely to promote its use in the development of behavioral compensation. The goal of this study was to determine whether an early post‐lesion‐sensitive time period exists for this enhanced learning and whether it is linked to synaptogenesis in the contralesional motor cortex. Rats were trained for 21 days on a skilled reaching task with the ipsilesional forelimb beginning 4 or 25 days after unilateral ischemic (endothelin‐1‐induced) FLsmc lesions or sham operations. As found previously, reaching performance was significantly enhanced in rats trained early post‐lesion compared with sham‐operates. In rats trained later post‐lesion, performance was neither significantly different from time‐matched sham‐operates nor strikingly different from animals trained earlier post‐lesion. In layer V of the contralesional motor cortex, stereological methods for light and electron microscopy revealed significantly more total, multisynaptic bouton and perforated synapses per neuron compared with sham‐operates, but there were no significant differences between early‐ and late‐trained lesion groups. Thus, there appears to be a sensitive time window for the maximal expression of the enhanced learning capacity of the less‐affected forelimb but this window is broadly, rather than sharply, defined. These results indicate that relatively long‐lasting lesion‐induced neuronal changes are likely to underlie the facilitation of learning with the less‐affected forelimb.
Species divergence and trait convergence in experimental plant community assembly
Authors: Fukami Tadashi , Martijn Bezemer T. , Mortimer Simon R. , van der Putten Wim H.
Published: October 2005

Despite decades of research, it remains controversial whether ecological communities converge towards a common structure determined by environmental conditions irrespective of assembly history. Here, we show experimentally that the answer depends on the level of community organization considered. In a 9‐year grassland experiment, we manipulated initial plant composition on abandoned arable land and subsequently allowed natural colonization. Initial compositional variation caused plant communities to remain divergent in species identities, even though these same communities converged strongly in species traits. This contrast between species divergence and trait convergence could not be explained by dispersal limitation or community neutrality alone. Our results show that the simultaneous operation of trait‐based assembly rules and species‐level priority effects drives community assembly, making it both deterministic and historically contingent, but at different levels of community organization.
Effects of organism size and community composition on ecosystem functioning
Authors: Long Zachary T. , Morin Peter J.
Published: October 2005

We tested (1) if the size of dominant species influenced ecosystem functioning in food webs consisting of bacteria, algae, and protozoa; (2) whether those effects changed in importance through time; and (3) how those effects compared with differences in diversity among experimental food webs. We constructed food webs using two size fractions of organisms that differed in individual mass by approximately two orders of magnitude. We measured total biomass and respiration (total CO2production) as two aspects of ecosystem functioning. We also compared these size‐dependent patterns in functioning across two levels of species richness. Initially, organism size strongly influenced total community biomass. With time, however, biomass and respiration eventually converged in communities dominated by large or small species. We conclude that after sufficient time for community development any differences in ecosystem functioning resulted from differences in community composition, including species richness, but not the size of the dominant organisms.
Mass spectrometric analysis reveals changes in phospholipid, neutral sphingolipid and sulfatide molecular species in progressive epilepsy with mental retardation, EPMR, brain: a case study
Authors: Hermansson Martin , Käkelä Reijo , Berghäll Maria , Lehesjoki Anna‐Elina , Somerharju Pentti , Lahtinen Ulla
Published: October 2005

Progressive epilepsy with mental retardation, EPMR, belongs to a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders, the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. The CLN8 gene that underlies EPMR encodes a novel transmembrane protein that localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and ER–Golgi intermediate compartment. Recently, CLN8 was linked to a large eukaryotic protein family of TLC (TRAM, Lag1, CLN8) domain homologues with postulated functions in lipid synthesis, transport or sensing. By using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry we analysed molecular species of major phosholipid and simple sphingolipid classes from cerebral samples of two EPMR patients representing a progressive and advanced state of the disease. The progressive state brain showed reduced levels of ceramide, galactosyl‐ and lactosylceramide and sulfatide as well as a decrease in long fatty acyl chain containing molecular species within these classes. Among glycerophospholipid classes, an increase in species containing polyunsaturated acyl chains was detected especially in phosphatidylserines and phosphatidylethanolamines. By contrast, saturated and monounsaturated species were overrepresented among phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylinositol classes in the advanced state sample. The observed changes in brain sphingo‐ and phospholipid molecular profiles may result in altered membrane stability, lipid peroxidation, vesicular trafficking or neurotransmission and thus may contribute to the progression of the molecular pathogenesis of EPMR.