bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Harry Blackmore Whittington. 24 March 1916 — 20 June 2010
Authors: Fortey Richard A.
Published: August 2012

Harry Whittington was a palaeontologist of distinction who progressed through academic life from a modest background in the Midlands to become an authority on trilobites, and was the scientist who led the re-evaluation of the Cambrian faunas of the Burgess Shale. His studies of silicified trilobites revealed an array of previously unknown morphological details, and identified larval features of many species for the first time, with implications for the classification of the group as a whole. He recognized patterns in the distribution of Ordovician trilobites that anticipated a revolution in palaeobiogeography after the application of plate tectonic theory to the Lower Palaeozoic. The Burgess Shale project cast new light on the early evolution of complex life on Earth. Whittington had a career of exceptional longevity, which reached its acme long after the age of normal retirement and continued almost without a break to his ninetieth year. He was a professor both at Harvard University and in the University of Cambridge, and inspired a generation of palaeontologists who became well known in their own right. His meticulous reconstructions of Cambrian animals, based on his insistence on facts before speculation, revealed the morphological complexity that was already present in the Cambrian world, especially among arthropods, and provided evidence of curious designs that seemed to be far removed from those of organisms still living. He set the standard for the description and naming of organisms preserved in
Konservat-Lagerstätten
, those rare occurrences with fossils of soft-bodied organisms. The origination of the major living animal groups by the Cambrian was established by this work, which documented the Cambrian evolutionary ‘explosion’ in detail for the first time.
The hierarchical structure and mechanics of plant materials
Authors: Gibson Lorna J.
Published: August 2012

The cell walls in plants are made up of just four basic building blocks: cellulose (the main structural fibre of the plant kingdom) hemicellulose, lignin and pectin. Although the microstructure of plant cell walls varies in different types of plants, broadly speaking, cellulose fibres reinforce a matrix of hemicellulose and either pectin or lignin. The cellular structure of plants varies too, from the largely honeycomb-like cells of wood to the closed-cell, liquid-filled foam-like parenchyma cells of apples and potatoes and to composites of these two cellular structures, as in arborescent palm stems. The arrangement of the four basic building blocks in plant cell walls and the variations in cellular structure give rise to a remarkably wide range of mechanical properties: Young's modulus varies from 0.3 MPa in parenchyma to 30 GPa in the densest palm, while the compressive strength varies from 0.3 MPa in parenchyma to over 300 MPa in dense palm. The moduli and compressive strength of plant materials span this entire range. This study reviews the composition and microstructure of the cell wall as well as the cellular structure in three plant materials (wood, parenchyma and arborescent palm stems) to explain the wide range in mechanical properties in plants as well as their remarkable mechanical efficiency.
Cauchy integral formula for generalized analytic functions in hydrodynamics
Authors: Zabarankin Michael
Published: August 2012

It is shown that for several classes of generalized analytic functions arising in linearized equations of hydrodynamics and magnetohydrodynamics, the Cauchy integral formulae follow from the one for generalized holomorphic vectors in a uniform fashion. If hydrodynamic fields (velocity, pressure and vorticity) admit representations in terms of corresponding generalized analytic functions, those representations and the Cauchy integral formulae form two essential parts of the generalized analytic function approach, which readily yields either closed-form solutions or boundary integral equations. This approach is demonstrated for problems of axisymmetric and asymmetric Stokes flows, two-phase axisymmetric Stokes flows, two-dimensional and axisymmetric Oseen flows.
Grey parrots use inferential reasoning based on acoustic cues alone
Authors: Schloegl Christian , Schmidt Judith , Boeckle Markus , Weiß Brigitte M. , Kotrschal Kurt
Published: August 2012

Our ability to make logical inferences is considered as one of the cornerstones of human intelligence, fuelling investigations of reasoning abilities in non-human animals. Yet, the evidence to date is equivocal, with apes as the prime candidates to possess these skills. For instance, in a two-choice task, apes can identify the location of hidden food if it is indicated by a rattling noise caused by the shaking of a baited container. More importantly, they also use the absence of noise during the shaking of the empty container to infer that this container is not baited. However, since the inaugural report of apes solving this task, to the best of our knowledge, no comparable evidence could be found in any other tested species such as monkeys and dogs. Here, we report the first successful and instantaneous solution of the shaking task through logical inference by a non-ape species, the African grey parrot. Surprisingly, the performance of the birds was sensitive to the shaking movement: they were successful with containers shaken horizontally, but not with vertical shaking resembling parrot head-bobbing. Thus, grey parrots seem to possess ape-like cross-modal reasoning skills, but their reliance on these abilities is influenced by low-level interferences.
Life histories and the evolution of cooperative breeding in mammals
Authors: Lukas Dieter , Clutton-Brock Tim
Published: August 2012

While the evolution of cooperative breeding systems (where non-breeding helpers participate in rearing young produced by dominant females) has been restricted to lineages with socially monogamous mating systems where coefficients of relatedness between group members are usually high, not all monogamous lineages have produced species with cooperative breeding systems, suggesting that other factors constrain the evolution of cooperative breeding. Previous studies have suggested that life-history parameters, including longevity, may constrain the evolution of cooperative breeding. Here, we show that transitions to cooperative breeding across the mammalian phylogeny have been restricted to lineages where females produce multiple offspring per birth. We find no support for effects of longevity or of other life-history parameters. We suggest that the evolution of cooperative breeding has been restricted to monogamous lineages where helpers have the potential to increase the reproductive output of breeders.
Innovative problem solving by wild spotted hyenas
Authors: Benson-Amram Sarah , Holekamp Kay E.
Published: August 2012

Innovative animals are those able to solve novel problems or invent novel solutions to existing problems. Despite the important ecological and evolutionary consequences of innovation, we still know very little about the traits that vary among individuals within a species to make them more or less innovative. Here we examine innovative problem solving by spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) in their natural habitat, and demonstrate for the first time in a non-human animal that those individuals exhibiting a greater diversity of initial exploratory behaviours are more successful problem solvers. Additionally, as in earlier work, we found that neophobia was a critical inhibitor of problem-solving success. Interestingly, although juveniles and adults were equally successful in solving the problem, juveniles were significantly more diverse in their initial exploratory behaviours, more persistent and less neophobic than were adults. We found no significant effects of social rank or sex on success, the diversity of initial exploratory behaviours, behavioural persistence or neophobia. Our results suggest that the diversity of initial exploratory behaviours, akin to some measures of human creativity, is an important, but largely overlooked, determinant of problem-solving success in non-human animals.
Coming out of the starting blocks: extended lag time rearranges genetic diversity in introduced marine fishes of Hawai‘i
Authors: Gaither Michelle R. , Toonen Robert J. , Bowen Brian W.
Published: August 2012

Biological invasions with known histories are rare, especially in the sea, and empirical studies of the genetic consequences are even rarer. Fifty-five years ago, the state of Hawai‘i began a remarkable, if unintentional, ‘experiment’ with the introduction of three reef fishes,
Lutjanus fulvus
,
Cephalopholis argus
and
Lutjanus kasmira
. All have since expanded from the initial introduction of 2204 to 3163 individuals; however, historical records show that initially
L. fulvus
remained scarce,
C. argus
had modest population expansion and
L. kasmira
experienced rapid population growth. The consequences of differential population growth rates are apparent in
F
-statistics: Hawaiian
L. fulvus
demonstrate strong and significant haplotype frequency shifts from the founder location (
F
ST
= 0.449),
C. argus
shows low but significant differentiation (
F
ST
= 0.066) and
L. kasmira
is nearly identical to the founder location (
F
ST
= 0.008). All three species had higher mtDNA diversity in the introduced range, which can be explained by multiple sources for
L. fulvus
and
L. kasmira
, but not for
C. argus
. We conclude that lag time before population expansion, in conjunction with genetic drift, has defined the genetic architecture of these three species in the introduced range.
Synthesis, structure, growth and characterization of an organic crystal: 1,5-diphenylpenta-2,4-dien-1-one
Authors: Rajasekar M. , Muthu K. , Bhagavannarayana G. , Meenakshisundaram S. P.
Published: August 2012

1,5-Diphenylpenta-2,4-dien-1-one (DDO) chalcone single crystals, synthesized by a base-catalysed aldol condensation reaction between cinnamaldehyde and acetophenone, have been grown by the slow evaporation of an ethanol solution. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic system with centrosymmetric space groupPbca. The DDO crystals are transparent in the visible region and have a lower optical cut-off at ∼445 nm with a band-gap energy of 2.87 eV. Thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry thermal analysis shows that the crystal is stable up to 375 K and it has a good chemical stability. The vibrational patterns of the chalcone have been investigated by Fourier transform IR and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. Microhardness studies were also carried out to elucidate the mechanical behaviour. Theoretical calculations were performed using the Hartree–Fock method with 6-31G(d,p) as the basis set, and the first-order hyperpolarizability is 7.077 × 10−30electrostatic units, which is >25 times that of urea. The crystalline perfection evaluated by high-resolution X-ray diffraction analysis reveals multiple peaks. The molecular packing leads to a centrosymmetric arrangement, resulting in zero second harmonic generation [χ(2)= 0] efficiency. Interestingly, the bromo- and chloro-substituted chalcones are good nonlinear optical materials.
Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering of soft and hard nanofabricated gratings
Authors: Rueda D. R. , Martín-Fabiani I. , Soccio M. , Alayo N. , Pérez-Murano F. , Rebollar E. , García-Gutiérrez M. C. , Castillejo M. , Ezquerra T. A.
Published: August 2012

Grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS) has been used to structurally characterize model hard and soft gratings of nanotechnological interest. The different gratings exhibit GISAXS patterns with characteristic features that can be associated with their level of order along the direction of periodicity and the length of the lines. Highly ordered gratings, made out of silicon by electron beam lithography, and those nanofabricated on spin-coated polymer films by nanoimprint lithography, exhibit characteristic semicircle-like GISAXS patterns with intensity spots periodically distributed on a semicircle whose radius is related to the incidence angle used. These gratings can be considered as one-dimensional crystalline lattices as provided by computer simulations. Less ordered polymer gratings prepared by the laser-induced periodic surface structuring method exhibit a GISAXS pattern characterized by periodic rod-like scattering maxima whose intensity decreases with increasing horizontal scattering angle. In this case the gratings can be considered as one-dimensional paracrystals. The transition from a rod-like to a semicircle-like GISAXS pattern has been simulated and attributed to the contribution of the form factor by changing the length of the line (ripple). A critical length value for the transition is located at around a few micrometres.
Source misalignment effects on crystal collection solid angle and intensity profile
Authors: Pestehe Sayyed Jalal , Askari Germi Golamreza
Published: August 2012

The X-ray optics of singly and doubly curved crystals are studied using a vector procedure and rotation matrices and general relations for the angular deviation from the Bragg angle over the crystal surface with a source aligned or misaligned on the Rowland circle. Hence, the effective scattering area, collection solid angle and diffracted X-ray intensity profile on the crystal surface are derived. The effective areas and the diffracted X-ray intensity profiles on the crystal surface for both aligned and misaligned source cases are plotted and compared. It is argued that the introduced point-focusing crystal configuration confirms the radii that have been obtained previously by a trial and error method by optimizing the crystal collection solid angle.
Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of porous powders of CaCO3
Authors: Chavez Panduro Elvia Anabela , Beuvier Thomas , Fernández Martínez Manuel , Hassani Leila , Calvignac Brice , Boury Frank , Gibaud Alain
Published: August 2012

The results of small-angle and ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering on porous CaCO3microparticles of pulverulent vaterite made by a conventional chemical route and by using supercritical CO2are presented. The scattering curves are analysed in the framework of the Guinier–Porod model, which gives the radii of gyration of the scattering objects and their fractal dimension. In addition, the porosity and the specific surface area are determined by using the Porod invariant, which is modified to take into account the effective thickness of the pellet. The results of this analysis are compared with those obtained by nitrogen adsorption.
3DBVSMAPPER: a program for automatically generating bond-valence sum landscapes
Authors: Sale Matthew , Avdeev Maxim
Published: August 2012

A computer program,3DBVSMAPPER, was developed to generate bond-valence sum maps and bond-valence energy landscapes with minimal user intervention. The program is designed to calculate the spatial distributions of bond-valence values on three-dimensional grids, and to identify infinitely connected isosurfaces in these spatial distributions for a given bond-valence mismatch or energy threshold and extract their volume and surface area characteristics. It is implemented in the Perl scripting language embedded in AccelrysMaterials Studioand has the capacity to process automatically an unlimited number of materials using crystallographic information files as input.
Insights into the Structure and Pharmacology of the Human Trace Amine‐Associated Receptor 1 (hTAAR1): Homology Modelling and Docking Studies
Authors: Cichero Elena , Espinoza Stefano , Gainetdinov Raul R. , Brasili Livio , Fossa Paola
Published: August 2012

Trace amine‐associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a G protein–coupled receptor that belongs to the family of TAAR receptors and responds to a class of compounds called trace amines, such as β‐phenylethylamine (β‐PEA) and 3‐iodothyronamine (T1AM). The receptor is known to have a very rich pharmacology and could be also activated by other classes of compounds, including adrenergic and serotonergic ligands. It is expected that targeting TAAR1 could provide a novel pharmacological approach to correct monoaminergic dysfunctions found in several brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Parkinson’s disease. Only recently, the first selective TAAR1 agonist RO5166017 has been identified. To explore the molecular mechanisms of protein–agonist interaction and speed up the identification of new chemical entities acting on this biomolecular target, we derived a homology model for the hTAAR1. The putative protein‐binding site has been explored by comparing the hTAAR1 model with the β2‐adrenoreceptor binding site, available by X‐ray crystallization studies, and with the homology modelled 5HT1A receptor. The obtained results, in tandem with docking studies performed with RO5166017, β‐PEA and T1AM, provided an opportunity to reasonably identify the hTAAR1 key residues involved in ligand recognition and thus define important starting points to design new agonists.
Alternative approaches to antifungal therapies
Authors: Mehra Tarun , Köberle Martin , Braunsdorf Christina , Mailänder‐Sanchez Daniela , Borelli Claudia , Schaller Martin
Published: August 2012

The expansive use of immunosuppressive medications in fields such as transplantational medicine and oncology, the higher frequency of invasive procedures in an ageing population and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have increased the frequency of systemic fungal infections. At the same time, increased resistance of pathogenic fungi to classical antifungal agents has led to sustained research efforts targeting alternative antifungal strategies. In this review, we focus on two promising approaches: cationic peptides and the targeting of fungal virulence factors. Cationic peptides are small, predominantly positively charged protein fragments that exert direct and indirect antifungal activities, one mechanism of action being the permeabilization of the fungal membrane. They include lysozyme, defensins and cathelicidins as well as novel synthetic peptides. Among fungal virulence factors, the targeting of candidal secreted aspartic proteinases seems to be a particularly promising approach.
Identification of microRNA‐regulated autophagic pathways in plant lectin‐induced cancer cell death
Authors: Fu L.‐L. , Zhao X. , Xu H.‐L. , Wen X. , Wang S.‐Y. , Liu B. , Bao J.‐K. , Wei Y.‐Q.
Published: August 2012

Objectives

Plant lectins, carbohydrate‐binding proteins of non‐immune origin, have recently been reported to induce programmed cell death (including apoptosis and autophagy) in many types of cancer cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), small, non‐coding endogenous RNAs, ∼22 nucleotides (nt) in length, have been well characterized to play essential roles in regulation of the autophagy process in cancer; however, how these miRNAs regulate autophagic pathways in plant lectin‐induced cancer cells, still remains an enigma.

Materials and methods

Identification of microRNA‐regulated autophagic pathways was carried out using a series of elegant systems – biology and bioinformatics approaches, such as network construction, hub protein identification, targeted microRNA prediction, microarray analyses and molecular docking.

Results

We computationally constructed the human autophagic protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and further modified this network into a plant lectin‐induced network. Subsequently, we identified 9 autophagic hub proteins and 13 relevant oncogenic and tumour suppressive miRNAs, that could regulate these aforementioned targeted autophagic hub proteins, in human breast carcinoma MCF‐7 cells. In addition, we confirmed that plant lectins could block the sugar‐containing receptor EGFR‐mediated survival pathways, involved in autophagic hub proteins and relevant miRNAs, thereby ultimately culminating in autophagic cell death.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that network‐based identification of microRNAs modulate autophagic pathways in plant lectin‐treated cancer cells, which may shed new light on the discovery of plant lectins as potent autophagic inducers, for cancer drug discovery.
Body esteem, peer difficulties and perceptions of physical health in overweight and obese urban children aged 5 to 7 years
Authors: Williams N. A. , Fournier J. , Coday M. , Richey P. A. , Tylavsky F. A. , Hare M. E.
Published: August 2012

Objective

To determine whether there is an association between body mass index (BMI) and body esteem in young overweight and obese urban children, and to test peer relationship difficulties and perceived physical health as mediators of this relationship.

Methods

Child self‐reported body esteem, and parent‐reported child peer relationship difficulties (being bullied by peers and peer rejection) and physical health perceptions were obtained from 218 overweight and obese children aged 5–7 years (81% racial/ethnic minority, M BMI = 25.3) and their primary caregivers.

Results

Higher BMI was associated with lower body esteem for both girls and boys. This relation was mediated by poor physical health for boys but not for girls. Peer relationship difficulties did not mediate the observed association between BMI and body esteem in either group; however, girls with higher BMI experienced more bullying and being bullied by peers was associated with lower body esteem in girls.

Conclusions

Intervening with perceptions of physical health may buffer overweight and obese boys from developing low body esteem in early childhood.
Gut content and stable isotope analyses provide complementary understanding of ontogenetic dietary shifts and trophic relationships among fishes in a tropical river
Authors: DAVIS AARON M. , BLANCHETTE MELANIE L. , PUSEY BRADLEY J. , JARDINE TIM D. , PEARSON RICHARD G.
Published: August 2012

1. Despite widespread recognition of the role of body size in fish trophic ecology, little attention has been focused on this issue in isotopic studies, particularly in tropical systems.

2. We used analyses of stomach contents and stable isotopes to examine size‐related shifts in diet in a terapontid fish assemblage in the Australian wet–dry tropics. Stomach content analysis identified substantial ontogenetic dietary shifts in all species, corresponding to changes in body size–isotope trajectories for two species. Shifts away from relatively specialised diets of heavily 13C‐depleted insect larvae to consumption of a range of items across multiple basal carbon sources appeared to be the proximate cause of observed isotopic changes.

3. Allochthonous organic matter in the form of C3 riparian vegetation was particularly important to smaller terapontids before larger fish shifted to a broad range of dietary items and similarly broad range of basal carbon sources.

4. While there was general agreement between δ13C and stomach content analysis, there was minimal concurrence between the latter and δ15N isotopic derivation of estimates of trophic position. Due to factors such as omnivory, isotopically overlapping basal sources and uncertainties about rates of isotopic fractionation in both predator and prey species, stomach content analysis provides an essential complement to isotopic methodologies in tropical systems.

5. Given that basal sources supporting any individual species can change markedly with ontogeny, consideration of intraspecific, size‐related variation is necessary in isotopic studies of food web structure.
Multidose pharmacokinetics of orally administered florfenicol in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Authors: Gaunt P. S. , Langston C. , Wrzesinski C. , Gao D. , Adams P. , Crouch L. , Sweeney D. , Endris R.
Published: August 2012

Plasma disposition of florfenicol in channel catfish was investigated after an oral multidose (10 mg/kg for 10 days) administration in freshwater at water temperatures ranging from 24.7 to 25.9 °C. Florfenicol concentrations in plasma were analyzed by means of liquid chromatography with MS/MS detection. After the administration of florfenicol, the mean terminal half‐life (t1/2), maximum concentration at steady‐state (Css(max)), time of Css(max) (Tmax), minimal concentration at steady‐state (Css(min)), and Vc/F were 9.0 h, 9.72 μg/mL, 8 h, 2.53 μg/mL, and 0.653 L/kg, respectively. These results suggest that florfenicol administered orally at 10 mg/kg body weight for 10 days could be expected to control catfish bacterial pathogens inhibited in vitro by a minimal inhibitory concentration value of <2.5 μg/mL.
Prucalopride in the treatment of chronic constipation in patients from the Asia‐Pacific region: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Ke M. , Zou D. , Yuan Y. , Li Y. , Lin L. , Hao J. , Hou X. , Kim H. J.
Published: August 2012

Background  The study evaluated efficacy and safety of the 2 mg dose of prucalopride compared to placebo in patients with chronic constipation (CC) from the Asia‐Pacific region.

Methods  Randomized, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group, phase III study with 2‐week run‐in, 12‐week treatment phase, and 1‐week follow‐up. Adult patients with CC (≤2 spontaneous bowel movements per week) received 2 mg prucalopride or placebo, once‐daily, for 12 weeks. Primary efficacy measure was percentage of patients with average of ≥3 spontaneous complete bowel movements (SCBMs) per week (Responders) during the 12‐week treatment. A key secondary endpoint was Responders during first 4 weeks of treatment. Other efficacy assessments were based on patient diaries, their assessments of symptoms and quality of life, and investigator’s assessment on efficacy of treatment. Safety assessments included adverse events, laboratory values, and cardiovascular events.

Key Results  Efficacy and safety were evaluated for 501 patients who received study drug. On the primary endpoint, prucalopride was significantly more effective than placebo with 83 (33.3%) vs 26 (10.3%) patients having a weekly average of ≥3 SCBMs during the 12‐week treatment (P < 0.001). Respective percentages were 34.5%vs 11.1% over first 4 weeks (P < 0.001). On other secondary endpoints, clinical improvement was generally larger and statistically superior (P < 0.001) in the prucalopride group. Most frequently reported adverse events were diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and headache.

Conclusion & Inferences  Prucalopride 2 mg given once‐daily significantly improved bowel function, associated symptoms, and satisfaction in CC over a 12‐week treatment period, and was safe and well tolerated by patients in the Asia‐Pacific region.
A randomized double‐blinded placebo‐controlled study to evaluate an effective ciclosporin dose for the treatment of feline hypersensitivity dermatitis
Authors: King Stephen , Favrot Claude , Messinger Linda , Nuttall Tim , Steffan Jean , Forster Sophie , Seewald Wolfgang
Published: August 2012

Background – Hypersensitivity dermatitides (HD) are frequently suspected in cats, but there are few clinical studies on safe and effective treatments in the published literature.

Objectives – To establish a safe and effective dose of ciclosporin in the treatment of feline HD.

Animals – One hundred client‐owned cats with feline HD.

Methods – Double‐blind study, with cats randomly assigned to receive ciclosporin at either 7.0 mg/kg once daily (n = 33) or 2.5 mg/kg once daily (n = 32) or a placebo (n = 35) for 6 weeks.

Results – Mean Total Lesion Scores with 7.0 mg/kg ciclosporin were significantly lower than with 2.5 mg/kg ciclosporin (P = 0.0047) or placebo (P = 0.0003) at study end. Individual Total Lesion Scores improved by >50% in 70% of the 7.0 mg/kg group, compared with 47% in the 2.5 mg/kg group and 23% in the placebo group (P = 0.0006). The investigators’ Global Assessment of Improvement was ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ in 61% of cats treated with 7.0 mg/kg ciclosporin, compared with 47% of cats given 2.5 mg/kg and 23% given placebo. The improvement in Investigator Pruritus Scores was significantly greater in cats treated with 7.0 mg/kg ciclosporin (54%) compared with both 2.5 mg/kg ciclosporin (32%;P = 0.0232) and placebo (21%;P = 0.0063). Mild gastrointestinal disorders were the most common adverse events, but these did not require cessation of therapy.

Conclusions and clinical importance – Results suggest that 7.0 mg/kg ciclosporin once daily in food orper osfor 6 weeks is effective and well tolerated in feline HD.
Multidrug‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae acquisition in lung transplant recipients
Authors: Raviv Yael , Shitrit David , Amital Anat , Fox Benjamin , Bakal Ilana , Tauber Renana , Bishara Jihad , Kramer Mordechai R.
Published: August 2012

Background

Carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a pathogen that emerged in the late twentieth century and was associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report for the first time the outcomes of lung transplant recipients infected with CRKP or extended spectrum–β lactamases K. pneumoniae (ESBL‐KP).

Methods

Retrospective review of 136 lung transplant recipients who underwent transplantation between 2004 and 2007 in Rabin Medical Center, Israel.

Main results

There were 52 episodes of positive cultures for K. pneumoniae (KP) in 136 recipients – of them 11 (8.1%) with CRKP, 12 (8.8%) with ESBL‐KP, and 29 (21.3%) with carbapenem‐sensitive ESBL‐negative KP. Isolation of CRKP/ESBL‐KP was associated with death in the cohort (p < 0.0001) as well as recipients’ age at transplantation (p < 0.005). Time‐dependent age‐adjusted CRKP or ESBL‐KP acquisition was an independent factor for death in patients after lung transplant, compared to patients without KP isolation or carbapenem‐sensitive ESBL‐negative KP (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

CRKP and KP‐ESBL acquisition was associated with reduced survival among lung transplant recipients.
MELD scores with incorporation of serum sodium and death prediction in cirrhotic patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation: a single center experience in southern Brazil
Authors: Marroni Caroline Possa , de Mello Brandão Ajácio Bandeira , Hennigen Alexandre Wahl , Marroni Claudio , Zanotelli Maria Lúcia , Cantisani Guido , Fuchs Sandra Costa ,   on behalf of the Liver Transplantation Group
Published: August 2012

To compare the accuracy of standard model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) score with that of four MELD‐based scores incorporating serum sodium (SNa) to predict three‐ and six‐month mortality in cirrhotic patients after their placement on the waiting list for liver transplantation (LT). A cohort study was performed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated for MELD, MELD incorporating SNa (MELD‐Na, MELD‐Na2), integrated MELD (iMELD), and MELD to SNa ratio (MESO) index to assess the predictive accuracy of these scores to determine three‐ and six‐month mortality. The c‐statistic (area under the ROC curve [AUC]) was used to determine predictive power and the Cox proportional‐hazard ratio to estimate death risk. We studied 558 patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the predictive accuracy of scores at three months (AUCs: MELD = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.72–0.87]; MELD‐Na = 0.84 [95% CI = 0.78–0.90]; MELD‐Na2 = 0.85 [95% CI = 0.80–0.91]; iMELD = 0.85 [95% CI = 0.80–0.90]; MESO = 0.81 [95% CI = 0.80–0.91]) and at six months (MELD = 0.73 [95% CI = 0.67–0.80]; MELD‐Na = 0.79 [95% CI = 0.73–0.84]; MELD‐Na2 = 0.80 [95% CI = 0.74–0.85]; iMELD = 0.80 [95% CI = 0.75–0.85]; MESO = 0.75 [95% CI = 0.69–0.81]) (p < 0.001). Death risk was independent of age and sex. Sodium‐modified MELD scores are able to more accurately predict three‐ and six‐month mortality among cirrhotic patients awaiting LT.
A prospective study on living related kidney donors’ quality of life in the first year: choosing appropriate reference data
Authors: Kroencke Sylvia , Fischer Lutz , Nashan Björn , Herich Lena , Schulz Karl‐Heinz
Published: August 2012

Prospective studies on living kidney donors’ quality of life (QoL) are still rare. Most existing studies compare healthy donors with the general population, including subjects with diseases. This is the first prospective study comparing living donors’ QoL with reference data of both the general population and healthy individuals. We investigated QoL, anxiety, and depression in living kidney donors (n = 79) before donation and at two post‐operative data points (three months and one yr). Subsequently, data from the donors were compared with the reference data. Our results show an impaired physical QoL three months post‐donation. One yr after surgery, physical QoL had returned to the pre‐operative level. Neither mental QoL nor anxiety or depression showed major changes across time. Pre‐operative QoL was comparable to that of healthy individuals and higher than that in the general population. Donors’ perception of the recipient's health showed moderate correlations with donors’ mental outcome three months after donation. In conclusion, the impact on physical QoL seems to persist for at least three months after kidney donation. It could be demonstrated that in the context of living donation, healthy individuals provide more adequate reference data. Future research needs to determine the length and the nature of the post‐operative QoL impairment and further explore possible influencing factors.
Effects of elevated CO2 concentration and water deficit on fructan metabolism in Viguiera discolor Baker
Authors: Oliveira V. F. , Silva E. A. , Zaidan L. B. P. , Carvalho M. A. M.
Published: August 2012

Elevated [CO2] is suggested to mitigate the negative effects of water stress in plants; however responses vary among species. Fructans are recognised as protective compounds against drought and other stresses, as well as having a role as reserve carbohydrates. We analysed the combined effects of elevated [CO2] and water deficit on fructan metabolism in the Cerrado species Viguiera discolor Baker. Plants were cultivated for 18 days in open‐top chambers (OTC) under ambient (∼380 ppm), and high (∼760 ppm) [CO2]. In each OTC, plants were submitted to three treatments: (i) daily watering (control), (ii) withholding water (WS) for 18 days and (iii) re‐watering (RW) on day 11. Analyses were performed at time 0 and days 5, 8, 11, 15 and 18. High [CO2] increased photosynthesis in control plants and increased water use efficiency in WS plants. The decline in soil water content was more distinct in WS 760 (WS under 760 ppm), although the leaf and tuberous root water status was similar to WS 380 plants (WS under 380 ppm). Regarding fructan active enzymes, 1‐SST activity decreased in WS plants in both CO2 concentrations, a result consistent with the decline in photosynthesis and, consequently, in substrate availability. Under WS and both [CO2] treatments, 1‐FFT and 1‐FEH seemed to act in combination to generate osmotically active compounds and thus overcome water deficit. The proportion of hexoses to sucrose, 1‐kestose and nystose (SKN) was higher in WS plants. In WS 760, this increase was higher than in WS 380, and was not accompanied by decreases in SKN at the beginning of the treatment, as observed in WS 380 plants. These results suggest that the higher [CO2] in the atmosphere contributed to maintain, for a longer period, the pool of hexoses and of low DP fructans, favouring the maintenance of the water status and plant survival under drought.
Ex situ cultivation affects genetic structure and diversity in arable plants
Authors: Brütting C. , Hensen I. , Wesche K.
Published: August 2012

Worldwide, botanical gardens cultivate around 80,000 taxa, corresponding to approximately one‐quarter of all vascular plants. Most cultivated taxa are, however, held in a small number of collections, and mostly only in small populations. Lack of genetic exchange and stochastic processes in small populations make them susceptible to detrimental genetic effects, which should be most severe in annual species, as sowing cycles are often short. In order to assess whether ex situ cultivation affects genetic diversity of annuals, five annual arable species with similar breeding systems were assessed with 42 in situ populations being compared to 20 ex situ populations using a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis approach. Population sizes tended to be lower under ex situ cultivation and levels of genetic diversity also tended to be lower in four of the five species, with differences being significant in only two. Ex situ populations showed incomplete representation of alleles found in the wild. The duration of cultivation did not indicate any effect on genetic diversity. This implies that cultivation strategies resulted in different genetic structures in the garden populations. Although not unequivocally pronounced, differences nonetheless imply that conservation strategies in the involved gardens may need improvement. One option is cold storage of seeds, a practice that is not currently followed in the studied ex situ collections. This may reflect that the respective gardens focus on displaying living plant populations.
No effect of short‐term exposure to high‐fibre diets on the gastrointestinal morphology of layer hens (Gallus gallus domesticus): body reserves are used to manage energy deficits in favour of phenotypic plasticity
Authors: Courtney Jones S. K. , Cowieson A. J. , Williamson S. A. , Munn A. J.
Published: August 2012

Summary Using layer hens, Gallus gallus domesticus, we compared the digestive capabilities of birds on a low‐fibre diet (LF, 8.49% neutral detergent fibre; NDF), with those fed a high‐fibre diet balanced for energy and protein to match the LF diet (high fibre balanced, HFB; NDF = 15.61%) and those fed a high fibre unbalanced (HFU) diet (NDF = 16.68%). The HFU diet had the lowest apparent dry matter (DM) metabolisability at 58.14 ± 6.46%, followed by HFB, 65.87 ± 3.50 and the LF diet, 70.49 ± 7.07%. Despite significant differences between apparent DM metabolisabilities of LF and HFU diets, no morphometric changes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of layer hens were observed (including crop, gizzard, proventriculus, liver, large intestine, paired caeca and small intestine). Conversely, body mass losses were recorded for animals on HFU diet, while those on the LF and HFB diets actually gained body mass over the 14‐day trials. We suggest that the body mass losses seen in the animals fed HFU diets were attributed to losses in adipose tissue, but this was not quantified. Assuming body mass losses were mainly in adipose tissue, we propose that adipose may act to buffer environmental challenges like shortfalls in nutrient acquisition when dietary energy requirements are not met. Compared with smaller birds (e.g. quail), the larger body size of the layer hens may offer them a greater safety margin in terms of body energy reserves before changes in the GIT might be needed to redress energy deficits associated with hard‐to‐digest, high‐fibre diets.
Amylose content is not affected by overexpression of the Wx‐B1 gene in durum wheat
Authors: Sestili Francesco , Botticella Ermelinda , Proietti Gloria , Janni Michela , D’Ovidio Renato , Lafiandra Domenico
Published: August 2012

With 6 figures and 1 table

The granule‐bound starch synthase (GBSS), known as waxy protein, is the sole enzyme responsible for amylose synthesis, whereas amylopectin is produced by concerted action of several isoforms, including starch synthases, branching and debranching enzymes. Durum wheat contains two waxy genes, which encode the Wx‐A1 and Wx‐B1 proteins, respectively. In order to investigate the effect of the overexpression of the waxy genes on amylose content and starch properties, durum wheat transgenic lines overexpressing the Wx‐B1 gene were produced. Amylose content of the transgenic lines did not show any increase compared to the untransformed cultivar. One of the transgenic lines was crossed with a mutant waxy genotype of durum wheat lacking all the waxy protein isoforms. The screening of F2 segregant plants permitted the identification of lines possessing various combinations of waxy genes, including the line containing only the construct used in the transformation. In this line, the normal vitreous seed phenotype, because of the presence of amylose, was restored confirming a correct functioning of the transgene.
Surround modulation in cortical orientation map revealed by optical imaging and its dependency on receptive field eccentricity
Authors: Uchimura Kanami , Okamura Jun‐ya , Wang Gang
Published: August 2012

Optical imaging was used to investigate the difference in surround modulation on orientation map related to receptive field eccentricity in cat visual cortex. Presentation of center–surround stimuli at the center of gaze resulted in no clear surround modulation; however, significant modulation was observed in its corresponding cortical area when the center–surround stimuli were presented at 10° eccentricity in more peripheral parts of the visual field. Modulation was observed both in the response magnitude and in the spatial pattern of the response. Surround orientation perpendicular to the orientation of a center patch grating showed the largest modulation in the response magnitude. The modulation became weaker as the orientation difference between the center and surround gratings became smaller. Regardless of the orientations for the central patch gratings, a similar response spatial pattern was observed in the cortical region where the underlying cells had their receptive fields covering the central patch, if the stimuli were with the same surround gratings. These properties support the notion of a relative specialization for visual information processing in peripheral representations of cortical areas.
Overexpression of corticotropin‐releasing factor in Barrington’s nucleus neurons by adeno‐associated viral transduction: effects on bladder function and behavior
Authors: McFadden Kile , Griffin Tagan A. , Levy Valerie , Wolfe John H. , Valentino Rita J.
Published: August 2012

The stress‐related neuropeptide, corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), is prominent in neurons of the pontine micturition center, Barrington’s nucleus. These neurons co‐innervate spinal preganglionic neurons that control the bladder, and locus coeruleus (LC) neurons that provide norepinephrine innervation throughout the brain. Adeno‐associated viral (AAV) vector‐mediated transfer of CRF cDNA was used to increase CRF expression in Barrington’s nucleus neurons and investigate the impact of a gain of function in Barrington’s nucleus spinal and LC projections. AAV transfer of the reverse CRF cDNA sequence served as the control. Bladder urodynamics and behavior were assessed 4 weeks after vector injection into Barrington’s nucleus. Rats with bilateral injections of AAV–CRF cDNA into Barrington’s nucleus had immunohistochemical evidence of CRF overexpression in neurons and transport to the spinal cord and LC. The bladder : body weight ratio was greater and micturition pressure was less in these rats compared with controls, consistent with an inhibitory influence on bladder function. Other indices of urodynamic function were not altered. CRF innervation of the LC was increased in rats with bilateral Barrington’s nucleus injections of AAV–CRF cDNA, and this was associated with increased burying behavior, an endpoint of LC activation by CRF. The results provide immunohistochemical evidence for viral vector‐induced CRF overexpression in Barrington’s nucleus neurons and underscore the ability of AAV vector‐mediated transfer to increase CRF function in selective circuits. The findings support an inhibitory influence of CRF in Barrington’s nucleus regulation of the bladder and an excitatory influence on the brain norepinephrine system that translates to behavioral activation.
Fungal importance extends beyond litter decomposition in experimental early‐successional streams
Authors: Frossard Aline , Gerull Linda , Mutz Michael , Gessner Mark O.
Published: August 2012

Fungi are important decomposers of leaf litter in streams and may have knock‐on effects on other microbes and carbon cycling. To elucidate such potential effects, we designed an experiment in outdoor experimental channels simulating sand‐bottom streams in an early‐successional state. We hypothesized that the presence of fungi would enhance overall microbial activity, accompanied by shifts in the microbial communities associated not only with leaf litter but also with sediments. Fifteen experimental channels received sterile sandy sediment, minimal amounts of leaf litter, and one of four inocula containing either (i) fungi and bacteria, or (ii) bacteria only, or (iii) no microorganisms, or (iv) killed microorganisms. Subsequently, we let water from an early‐successional catchment circulate through the channels for 5 weeks. Whole‐stream metabolism and microbial respiration associated with leaf litter were higher in the channels inoculated with fungi, reflecting higher fungal activity on leaves. Bacterial communities on leaves were also significantly affected. Similarly, increases in net primary production, sediment microbial respiration and chlorophyll a content on the sediment surface were greatest in the channels receiving a fungal inoculum. These results point to a major role of fungal communities in stream ecosystems beyond the well‐established direct involvement in leaf litter decomposition.
Trends in drug use among gay and bisexual men in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland, Australia
Authors: Lea Toby , Prestage Garrett , Mao Limin , Zablotska Iryna , de Wit John , Holt Martin
Published: August 2012

Introduction and Aims

The findings of Australian drug surveys are typically not stratified by sexual orientation, despite the higher prevalence of drug use generally reported among gay and bisexual men. This paper aims to examine trends in drug use among gay and bisexual men in eastern Australia between 2004 and 2011.

Design and Methods

Data from the cross‐sectional, ongoing Gay Community Periodic Surveys (GCPS) were used to analyse drug trends among gay and bisexual men in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland. Between 2004 and 2011, 45 273 eligible questionnaires were completed.

Results

There was a downward trend in recent drug use (previous 6 months) between 2004 and 2011 from 62.2% to 57.5%. However, this trend was not found among men in Queensland, bisexual men, men aged over 40 years or HIV‐positive men. Club drug use peaked in 2006 (45.1%), before steadily declining to 32.4% in 2011. There were significant reductions in use of ecstasy, methamphetamine, ketamine and cannabis, increased use of cocaine, gamma hydroxybutyrate, erectile dysfunction medications, amyl nitrite and lysergic acid diethylamide, and no change in heroin use. Recent injecting drug use fluctuated over time but experienced an overall downward trend from 5.5% in 2004 to 4.0% in 2011.

Discussion and Conclusions

Drug use trends among gay and bisexual men in Australia are broadly consistent with downward and upward drug trends reported in other Australian drug surveys. The risks associated with drug use in this population and high rates of use supports the ongoing role of the GCPS in monitoring drug trends among homosexually active men.