bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Telomere length and progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Fyhrquist F. , Tiitu A. , Saijonmaa O. , Forsblom C. , Groop P.‐H. ,   on behalf of the FinnDiane Study Group
Published: June 2009

Abstract.  Fyhrquist F, Tiitu A, Saijonmaa O, Forsblom C, Groop P‐H, on behalf of the FinnDiane Study Group (Minerva Institute for Medical Research; Helsinki University Central Hospital; and Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics; Helsinki, Finland). Telomere length and progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes. J Intern Med 2010; 267: 278–286.

Objectives.  To determine whether short telomere length of blood leucocytes from patients with type 1 diabetes is associated with or predictive of progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Design and methods.  Two consecutive DNA samples were obtained from 132 patients from the nationwide Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study with type 1 diabetes. Control DNA samples were taken from 44 healthy blood donors. Telomere length was measured by Southern blot. Patients were divided into three groups according to their urinary albumin excretion rate (AER): 48 patients with normoalbuminuria (AER < 20 μg min−1); seven patients with microalbuminuria (AER ≥ 20 μg min−1 <200 μg min−1) and 77 patients with macroalbuminuria (AER ≥ 200 μg min−1). Progression was defined as a change in albuminuria to a higher level.

Results.  Progression occurred in 21 patients. Progressors had shorter mean telomere length (8.1 ± 0.7 kb, mean ± SD; P = 0.017) and higher percentage of short telomeres (32.0 ± 8%, P = 0.002) than nonprogressors (8.5 ± 0.7 kb and 27 ± 7.2%, respectively). Thus, both shorter telomeres (HR = 0.190, 95%CI 0.065–0.558, P = 0.0025) and higher proportion of short telomeres (HR = 1.115, 1.039–1.195, P =0.0023) were independent predictors of diabetic nephropathy. Telomere length was not associated with the degree of albuminuria and was not different in patients with type 1 diabetes compared with healthy controls.

Conclusions.  Short telomeres are independent predictors of progression of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Suppression of dendritic cell maturation by Trichinella spiralis excretory/secretory products
Authors: LANGELAAR M. , ARANZAMENDI C. , FRANSSEN F. , VAN DER GIESSEN J. , RUTTEN V. , VAN DER LEY P. , PINELLI E.
Published: June 2009

Evidence from experimental studies indicates that during chronic infections with certain helminth species a regulatory network is induced that can down‐modulate not only parasite‐induced inflammation but also reduce other immunopathologies such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. The mechanisms however, and the molecules involved in this immunomodulation are unknown. Here, we focus on the effect of Trichinella spiralis excretory/secretory antigens (TspES) on the innate immune response by studying the effect of TspES on DC maturation in vitro. Bone marrow‐derived DC from BALB/c mice were incubated with TspES either alone or in combination with LPS derived from two different bacteria. As indicators of DC maturation, the cytokine production (IL‐1α, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐12p70 and TNF‐α) and the expression of various surface molecules (MHC‐II, CD40, CD80 and CD86) were measured. Results indicate that while TspES alone did not change the expression of the different surface molecules or the cytokine production, it completely inhibited DC maturation induced by Escherichia coli LPS (E. coli LPS). In contrast, DC maturation induced by LPS from another bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, was not affected by TspES. These results were confirmed using TLR4/MD2/CD14 transfected HEK 293 cells. In conclusion, T. spiralis ES antigens lead to suppression of DC maturation but this effect depends on the type of LPS used to activate these cells.
Expression of a bacterial bi‐functional chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase modulates primary and secondary metabolism associated with aromatic amino acids in Arabidopsis
Authors: Tzin Vered , Malitsky Sergey , Aharoni Asaph , Galili Gad
Published: June 2009

Plants can synthesize the aromatic amino acid Phe via arogenate, but it is still not known whether they also use an alternative route for Phe biosynthesis via phenylpyruvate, like many micro‐organisms. To examine this possibility, we expressed a bacterial bi‐functional PheA (chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase) gene in Arabidopsis thaliana that converts chorismate via prephenate into phenylpyruvate. The PheA‐expressing plants showed a large increase in the level of Phe, implying that they can convert phenylpyruvate into Phe. In addition, PheA expression rendered the plants more sensitive than wild‐type plants to the Trp biosynthesis inhibitor 5‐methyl‐Trp, implying that Phe biosynthesis competes with Trp biosynthesis from their common precursor chorismate. Surprisingly, GC‐MS, LC‐MS and microarray analyses showed that this increase in Phe accumulation only had a very minor effect on the levels of other primary metabolites as well as on the transcriptome profile, implying little regulatory cross‐interaction between the aromatic amino acid biosynthesis network and the bulk of the Arabidopsis transcriptome and primary metabolism. However, the levels of a number of secondary metabolites derived from all three aromatic amino acids (Phe, Trp and Tyr) were altered in the PheA plants, implying regulatory cross‐interactions between the flux of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis from chorismate and their further metabolism into various secondary metabolites. Taken together, our results provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and their interaction with central primary metabolism, as well as the regulatory interface between primary and secondary metabolism.
Genome organization of the tomato sun locus and characterization of the unusual retrotransposon Rider
Authors: Jiang Ning , Gao Dongying , Xiao Han , Van Der Knaap Esther
Published: June 2009

DNA sequences provide useful insights into genome structure and organization as well as evolution of species. We report on a detailed analysis of the locus surrounding the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit‐shape gene SUN to determine the driving force and genome environment that foster the appearance of novel phenotypes. The gene density at the sun locus is similar to that described in other euchromatic portions of the tomato genome despite the relatively high number of transposable elements. Genes at the sun locus include protein‐coding as well as RNA genes, are small in size, and belong to families that were duplicated at the locus an estimated 5–74 million years ago. In general, the DNA transposons at the sun locus are older than the RNA transposons, and their insertion pre‐dates the speciation of S. lycopersicum and S. pimpinellifolium. Gene redundancy and large intergenic regions may explain the tolerance of the sun locus to frequent rearrangements and transpositions. The most recent transposition event at the sun locus involved Rider, a recently discovered high‐copy retrotransposon. Rider probably arose early during the speciation of tomato. The element inserts into or near to genes and may still be active, which are unusual features for a high‐copy element. Rider full‐length and read‐through transcripts past the typical transcription termination stop are detected, and the latter are required for mobilizing nearby sequences. Rider activity has resulted in an altered phenotype in three known cases, and may therefore have played an important role in tomato evolution and domestication.
Orobanche cumana race F: performance of resistant sunflower hybrids and aggressiveness of populations of the parasitic weed
Authors: MOLINERO‐RUIZ M L , GARCÍA‐RUIZ R , MELERO‐VARA J M , DOMÍNGUEZ J
Published: June 2009

The production of sunflower is threatened by Orobanche cumana (broomrape) infections in many countries of southern and eastern Europe. The most virulent race of this parasitic weed, race F, is widespread in Spain. Most of the current commercial hybrids of resistant sunflower do not completely prevent broomrape emergence in the field. The performance (broomrape incidence and severity, final yields and oil contents) of four resistant and two susceptible sunflower hybrids was studied in different years in several O. cumana– infested locations. O. cumana– sunflower interactions were characterised by low severity and intermediate incidence in the resistant hybrids; both depended on the environment. An increase in sunflower yield because of the use of resistant hybrids was most noticeable under heavy field infestations and under drought. Characterisation of 20 populations of O. cumana classified as race F in terms of the standardised area under the degree of attack progress curve (SAUDC) and O. cumana incidence (BI) suggested differential intrinsic pathogenicities. These results highlight the variability within race F of O. cumana, mirroring the environmentally dependent horizontal resistance in sunflower.
A novel HLA‐DRB1 allele, DRB*1611, is identified in two Taiwanese individuals
Authors: Chu C.‐C. , Lee H.‐L. , Lin M.
Published: June 2009

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DRB1*1611 has one nucleotide change at codon 14 (GAG→AAG) from DRB1*160201, resulting in a coding change from Glu to Lys.
Identification of a novel HLA‐Cw*04 allele, HLA‐Cw*040106, by sequence‐based typing in the Korean population
Authors: Han S.‐H , Heo Y.‐A. , Kwon O.‐J. , Yoon H.‐R. , Lee K.‐R.
Published: June 2009

A new human leukocyte antigen‐Cw*0401 allele showed one nucleotide difference from Cw*04010101 in exon 3 at nucleotide position 561 (codon 163 ACG→ACT) without a coding change.
SFB‐based S‐haplotyping of apricot (Prunus armeniaca) with DHPLC
Authors: Raz A. , Stern R. A. , Bercovich D. , Goldway M.
Published: June 2009

Most cultivars that belong to the Rosaceae are self‐incompatible and depend on cross‐pollination. The pollen donor and pollen recipient have to flower synchronously and must be genetically compatible. Genetic compatibility is governed by the S‐locus, which holds the S‐RNase and S‐haplotype‐specific F‐Box (SFB) genes. Thus, the S‐genotype of cultivars is an important feature and is characterized molecularly by the S‐RNase and SFB alleles which are distinctive for each S‐haplotype. Here, we report the usage of DNA chromatography (denaturing high‐performance liquid chromatography – DHPLC) for identifying the S‐genotypes of European apricots on the basis of their SFB alleles. DHPLC is amenable to high‐throughput automation, and therefore is valuable for breeding and for high‐quality plant typing in the nursery.
QTL alleles from a winter feed type can improve malting quality in barley
Authors: Laidò G. , Barabaschi D. , Tondelli A. , Gianinetti A. , Stanca A. M. , Li Destri Nicosia O. , Di Fonzo N. , Francia E. , Pecchioni N.
Published: June 2009

Mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for malting quality traits in barley populations has been the main genetic approach to malting quality breeding. A ‘winter × spring’ doubled haploid barley population ‘Nure’ × ‘Tremois’, where such traits were segregating, has been recently developed. Our objective was to map QTLs for malting quality from 2 years of trials in two contrasting locations. QTLs were found on six chromosomes, with a main cluster on chromosome 1H. For wort viscosity and malt extract, favourable alleles at two loci on chromosome 5H were carried by the winter feeding parent ‘Nure’. Doubled‐haploids with higher quality than the spring malting cultivar ‘Tremois’ showed either a facultative or a winter growth habit and a level of frost tolerance comparable with that of the winter tolerant parent ‘Nure’. Markers and QTLs of quality traits were further validated on a separate set of DH lines, coming from the same cross, by means of marker‐assisted selection. This showed that, at least in the present cross combination, positive contributions to malting quality can be found in winter feed barley.
Costs of managing conditions associated with obesity among Australian teenagers
Authors: Booth Michael L , Dobbins Timothy , Aitken Robert , Denney‐Wilson Elizabeth , Hardy Louise L , Okely Anthony D , George Jacob , Sullivan David , Cowell Christopher T
Published: June 2009

Aim:  To determine the health‐care charges associated with monitoring and managing, over 1 year, the cases of elevated insulin concentration, elevated alanine aminotransferase concentration and dyslipidaemia due to overweight or obesity among 15–19‐year‐old Australian males and females.

Methods:  Fasting blood samples (n= 500) were collected in 2004 from a representative population sample of adolescents (n= 496; mean age 15.3 years) attending schools in Sydney, Australia. Full service charges and Medicare expenditures for specialist medical and dietary consultations, pathology tests and radiological investigations, over 1 year, under efficient and inefficient health‐care delivery models, including and excluding participants in the healthy body mass index (BMI) category.

Results:  Under an inefficient delivery model and including all participants with elevated risk factors, the Medicare expenditure was $A305.1 million per annum (M pa). Exclusion of participants in the healthy BMI category resulted in an annual Medicare expenditure of $A170.0M pa. Under an efficient delivery model and including all participants with elevated risk factors, the Medicare expenditure was $A295.5M pa. Exclusion of participants in the healthy BMI category reduced annual Medicare expenditure to $A164.8M pa. Medicare expenditure for 15–19‐year‐olds would increase by 48% if only cases among overweight and obese adolescents were treated and by 85% if all cases were identified and treated.

Conclusions:  Short‐term management of the health consequences of overweight and obesity among adolescents will increase Medicare expenditure on this group by at least 48%. Failure to treat will delay, but compound, health‐care expenditure.
Productivity and community structure of ectomycorrhizal fungal sporocarps under increased atmospheric CO2 and O3
Authors: Andrew Carrie , Lilleskov Erik A.
Published: June 2009

Sporocarp production is essential for ectomycorrhizal fungal recombination and dispersal, which influences fungal community dynamics. Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and ozone (O3) affect host plant carbon gain and allocation, which may in turn influence ectomycorrhizal sporocarp production if the carbon available to the ectomycorrhizal fungus is dependant upon the quantity of carbon assimilated by the host. We measured sporocarp production of ectomycorrhizal fungi over 4 years at the Aspen FACE (free air CO2 enrichment) site, which corresponded to stand ages seven to 10 years. Total mean sporocarp biomass was greatest under elevated CO2, regardless of O3 concentration, while it was generally lowest under elevated O3 with ambient CO2. Community composition differed significantly among the treatments, with less difference in the final year of the study. Whether this convergence was due to succession or environmental factors is uncertain. CO2 and O3 affect ectomycorrhizal sporocarp productivity and community composition, with likely effects on dispersal, colonization and sporocarp‐dependent food webs.
The Converged Experience of Risk and Disease
Authors: ARONOWITZ ROBERT A.
Published: June 2009

Context: One underappreciated consequence of modern clinical and public health practices is that the experience of being at risk for disease has been converging with the experience of disease itself. This is especially true for certain chronic diseases, in which early diagnosis and aggressive treatment have led to symptom‐less and sign‐less disease and in which treatments have largely been aimed at altering the disease's future course.

Methods: This article reviews the historical scholarship and medical literature pertinent to transformations in the chronic disease and risk experiences.

Findings: The experience of chronic disease increasingly resembles or has become indistinguishable from risk because of (1) new clinical interventions that have directly changed the natural history of disease; (2) increased biological, clinical, and epidemiological knowledge about the risk of chronic disease; (3) the recruitment of larger numbers into chronic disease diagnoses via new screening and diagnostic technology and disease definitions; (4) new ways of conceptualizing efficacy; and (5) intense diagnostic testing and medical interventions.

Conclusions: The converged experience of risk and disease has led to some unsettling and generally underappreciated consequences that might be subjected to more clinical and policy reflection and response: (1) some puzzling trends in medical decision making, such as the steep and uniform increase in the numbers of women across a broad spectrum of risk/disease in breast cancer who have opted for prophylactic mastectomies; (2) a larger and highly mobilized disease/risk population, resulting in an expanded market for interventions and greater clout for disease advocates; (3) shifts in the perceived severity of the disease, with ripple effects on how people experience and understand their illness and risk of disease; and (4) interventions that promise both to reduce the risk of disease and to treat its symptoms.
European Regional Convergence Revisited: A Weighted Least Squares Approach
Authors: PETRAKOS GEORGE , ARTELARIS PANAGIOTIS
Published: June 2009

A plethora of past studies have concluded that unconditional β‐convergence is present in a broad sample of regions, implying that poor regions grow faster than rich ones. All these econometric studies tend to overlook the relative importance or size of each region in the national setting, treating all regional observations as equal. However, this assumption might lead to unrealistic or misleading results. Convergence analysis could be more meaningful if it included a weighting mechanism taking into account the size of regions. The aim of this paper is to investigate whether the inclusion of a weighting mechanism in β‐convergence analysis, giving more weight to larger regions and less to smaller ones, can result in sharply different implications for the regional convergence‐divergence process. For this reason, both unweighted ordinary least squares (OLS) and weighted least squares estimators are used in the analysis of regional (intra‐national) convergence within 10 European Union (EU) countries over the period 1990–2000. The comparison between the two methods reveals that when regions are appropriately weighted for their size, intra‐national divergence, rather than convergence found with the OLS approach, seems to be the dominant experience in the EU.
Redefining “Offshore” in Latin America
Authors: COBB SHARON C.
Published: June 2009

Offshoring and outsourcing are two terms—often used interchangeably—that comprise an essential element of the modern post‐industrial global economy. Analysis of this phenomenon in the United States is often framed in the light of job loss and economic decline relating to the manufacturing or low‐end services sectors, but this paper will revisit the traditional offshore industry—that of offshore finance and offshore financial centers (OFCs) and compare OFC offshoring with traditional offshoring in Latin America. This paper argues that some similarities are evident when comparing OFC offshoring with traditional offshoring but many differences exist. Using the framework or “lens” of politics certain OFC offshoring issues and tensions with the onshore world relating to unfair tax competition, money laundering, sovereignty, secrecy, regulation, trust, and reputation are analyzed and are shown to be more onerous, tense and different from those occurring in the mainstream offshoring/outsourcing world. In addition, using the “lens” of cyberspace and e‐commerce, and a case study of the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas, this paper argues that the creation of an electronic infrastructure in the OFC offshoring world is as necessary as in the onshore world, but the actors and institutions creating and promoting such infrastructures are different. Future work could pursue more reputable and comparative data gathering to further more rigorous statistical modeling of the relationships bothbetweenOFCs as they compete for offshore capital, and between offshore and onshore as the onshore world seeks to further lift the veil of offshore financial opacity, particularly related to issues of money laundering.
Industry Cost of Equity Capital: UK Evidence
Authors: Gregory Alan , Michou Maria
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  This paper explores the industry cost of equity capital for the UK. We replicate the Fama and French (1997) US analysis for UK industries, but additionally investigate the industry cost of equity capital obtained from a conditional CAPM, the Cahart (1997) four factor model, and the Al‐Horani, Pope and Stark (2003) R&D model. In line with the Fama‐French US results, the out of sample performance of all the models is disappointing Whilst the FF3F model has a somewhat higher explanatory power than the CAPM in terms of explaining past returns, the SMB and HML factor slopes show considerable variability through time. However, all our models of the cost of equity capital in the UK outperform a simple ‘beta one’ model, a result that has implications for the regulatory process. There is also some evidence to suggest that a conditional CAPM may be of interest to regulators. The new R&D model of Al‐Horani et al. clearly has potential, in that over the limited period for which data is available it yields return errors not dissimilar to those found under the FF3F model, but exhibits slope coefficients on the fourth R&D factor that seem to be relatively stable.
Risk Reduction and Mean‐Variance Analysis: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Fletcher Jonathan
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  I examine the performance of global minimum variance (GMV) and minimum tracking error variance (TEV) portfolios in UK stock returns using different models of the covariance matrix. I find that both GMV and TEV portfolios deliver portfolio risk reduction benefits in terms of significantly lower volatility and tracking error volatility relative to passive benchmarks for every model of the covariance matrix used. However, the GMV (TEV) portfolios do not provide significantly superior Sharpe (1966) (adjusted Sharpe) performance relative to passive benchmarks except for the restricted GMV portfolios. I find that a number of alternative covariance matrix models can improve the performance of the restricted TEV portfolio formed using the sample covariance matrix but not the restricted GMV portfolio. I also find that simpler covariance matrix models perform as well as the more sophisticated models.
The Relevance of Accounting Information in a Stock Market Bubble: Evidence from Internet IPOs
Authors: Bhattacharya Nilabhra , Demers Elizabeth , Joos Philip
Published: June 2009

Abstract: Prior research shows that accounting information is relevant for stock valuation, failure prediction, performance evaluation, optimal contracting, and other decision‐making contexts in relatively stable market settings. By contrast, accounting's role during stock market bubbles such as those involving a revolutionary emerging technology is the subject of considerable debate, and prominent market observers have alleged that outdated and flawed accounting practices contributed to the crash of the Internet‐led high‐tech bubble of the late 1990s. We address the issue of whether accounting data is informative in a stock market bubble by examining its failure prediction ability in the context of Internet IPOs, one of the most egregious and economically significant sectors of the high tech bubble. Our setting of young start‐up firms is one in which there is relatively little room for managerial discretion with respect to accounting accruals; Internet firms' accounting earnings closely approximate operating cash flows. Yet in contrast to widespread criticisms of accounting and its alleged role in fueling the bubble, we find that accounting variables are highly informative for failure prediction; specifically, they are significant in explainingex post realized Internet IPO failures. Using an existing IPO failure prediction methodology and two alternative definitions of innovative IPOs, we further show thatex ante, out‐of‐sample Internet IPO failure forecasts are associated with economically and statistically significant hedge returns. Our analyses suggest that the traditional financial reporting system could serve as an anchor during speculative bubbles.
Anti‐inflammatory and anti‐peroxidative roles of diacerein are possibly mediated through an alteration in thyroid functions in animal model of inflammation
Authors: Jatwa Rameshwar , Kar Anand
Published: June 2009

This study was designed to reveal the possible involvement of thyroid hormones, if any, in diacerein induced alterations in glucose metabolism and tissue lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the animal model of carrageenan‐induced inflammation. We studied the influence of diacerein administration on the changes in carrageenan‐induced thyroid dysfunction; hepatic, renal and cardiac LPO as well as serum glucose, thyroid hormones and insulin concentrations in Wistar rats. Alterations in paw volume, serum levels of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides as well as hepatic, renal and cardiac reduced glutathione (GSH) contents were also studied as supporting parameters. While a decrease in the level of serum thyroid hormones and HDL‐C and in tissue GSH content was observed in carrageenan‐treated animals, it increased paw volume, the concentration of other serum lipids, glucose and insulin as well as tissue LPO. However, following diacerein administration for 21 days to carrageenan‐treated animals, level of thyroid hormones and all other thyroid dependent parameters were reversed suggesting that the drug might be acting through stimulation in the thyroid functions.
CFO Fiduciary Responsibilities and Annual Bonus Incentives
Authors: INDJEJIKIAN RAFFI , MATĚJKA MICHAL
Published: June 2009

We examine how firms design bonus plans of their CFOs. CFOs participate in decision making much like other executives, but they also have significant fiduciary responsibilities for reporting firms’ financial results. Responsibility for financial reporting raises the question of whether it is appropriate to pay CFOs annual bonuses contingent on self‐reported financial performance. In this paper, we provide a framework that characterizes CFO bonuses as a tradeoff between CFOs’ decision‐making responsibilities and their fiduciary duties over financial reporting. This framework yields a number of implications that we examine empirically using a proprietary survey of CFO compensation practices of public and private firms. Our main finding shows that from 2003 to 2007 public entities (relative to private entities) reduced the percentage of CFO bonuses contingent on financial performance. We interpret this result as evidence that firms mitigate misreporting practices in part by deemphasizing CFO incentive compensation.
Stable isotopes in a stalagmite from NW Sweden document environmental changes over the past 4000 years
Authors: SUNDQVIST HANNA S. , HOLMGREN KARIN , MOBERG ANDERS , SPÖTL CHRISTOPH , MANGINI AUGUSTO
Published: June 2009

Sundqvist, H. S., Holmgren, K., Moberg, A., Spötl, C. & Mangini, A. 2009: Stable isotopes in a stalagmite from NW Sweden document environmental changes over the past 4000 years. Boreas, 10.1111/j.1502‐3885.2009.00099.x. ISSN 0300‐9483.

This study of a 4000‐year‐old stalagmite from Korallgrottan in northwestern Sweden highlights the potentials and challenges when using stable isotopes in stalagmites as climate proxies, as well as the fact that the relationship between climate and proxy may change through time. Both the oxygen and the carbon isotopes display an overall trend of enrichment together with decreasing growth rates over the time period covered by the stalagmite, which is considered a generally cooling period according to current palaeoclimate understanding. The stable isotope records show enriched isotopic values during the, for Scandinavia, comparatively cold period AD 1300–1700 and depleted values during the warmer period AD 800–1000. The indication of a negative relationship between measured δ18O and surface temperature concurs with earlier reported stalagmite records from regions with a seasonal snow cover and is further supported by the fact that the stalagmite δ18O record shows general similarities with both regional and hemispheric temperature reconstructions available for the past 500 and 2000 years, respectively. Compared with a stable isotope record of lacustrine carbonates from northern Sweden, however, shifting correlations over time between the two records indicate that a local hydrological change may have taken place at Korallgrottan, or at the lake, compared with around 1000 years ago. The earlier part of the stalagmite δ18O might thus be influenced, to some extent, by another process than the later part, which means that a negative relationship between δ18O and surface temperature might not hold for the entire 4000‐year‐old record.
Utility of Measuring Abundance versus Consistent Occupancy in Predicting Biodiversity Persistence
Authors: GROUIOS CHRISTOPHER P. , MANNE LISA L.
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  The primary goals of reserve selection are to represent all chosen units of biodiversity and to ensure their long‐term persistence while minimizing costs. We considered two simple proxies of species persistence: a time series of point‐count data to calculate abundance and a time series of presence–absence data to calculate permanence (a measure of consistent occupancy over time). Using two 10‐year intervals of data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, we compared the performance of each measure at predicting persistence 18 years later. For nonrare species, abundance and permanence predicted persistence similarly well. We performed complementarity‐based reserve selections with data on species abundance and permanence (from 1970 to 1979) and then evaluated the effectiveness of the reserve networks at maintaining species populations and efficiency in land use (data from 1997 to 2006). Abundance proved a better predictor of future local persistence than permanence, which justifies the relatively larger financial and temporal costs of collecting a time series of point‐count data to estimate abundance. If future extinction events were used as a measure of reserve‐network effectiveness, the performance of abundance and permanence did not differ markedly. Nevertheless, when future abundance, which is a more sensitive measure of network effectiveness, was used, abundance was significantly better than permanence at selecting longer‐term, high‐quality, species‐specific habitat but required larger reserves to do so.
Intrathecal Ziconotide for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: Seven Case Reports
Authors: Kapural Leonardo , Lokey Kristi , Leong Michael S. , Fiekowsky Sharon , Stanton‐Hicks Michael , Sapienza‐Crawford Anne J. , Webster Lynn R.
Published: June 2009

Ziconotide is a nonopioid analgesic currently indicated as monotherapy, but frequently used in combination with opioids, for the management of severe chronic pain in patients for whom intrathecal (IT) therapy is warranted and who are intolerant of, or whose pain is, refractory to other treatments. There is a paucity of information regarding ziconotide use in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Seven cases in which IT ziconotide was used in patients with CRPS were analyzed. All patients (4 male, 3 female; age range, 14 to 52 years) had experienced inadequate pain relief with multiple conventional and interventional treatments. Three patients received ziconotide monotherapy exclusively; 4 patients received ziconotide monotherapy initially, then combination IT therapy. The mean ziconotide dose was 5.2 mcg/d (range, 0.5 to 13 mcg/d) at initiation and 24.7 mcg/d (range, 0.06 to 146 mcg/d) at the last available assessment. The mean duration of ziconotide therapy was 3.1 years (range, 26 days to 8 years). At ziconotide initiation, the mean visual analog scale (VAS) score was 89.3 mm (range, 75 to 100 mm); VAS scores decreased by a mean of 47.5% (range, 5% to 100%) at last assessment. Of the 5 patients who experienced substantial improvement in pain, edema, skin abnormalities, and/or mobility with ziconotide therapy, 2 have discontinued ziconotide and are pain free. Another patient experienced marked reversal of both edema and advanced skin trophic changes. Adverse events included urinary retention, depression, anxiety, and hallucinations. Adverse events generally resolved spontaneously, with treatment, or with ziconotide discontinuation/dose reduction. Although further studies are required, ziconotide holds promise as an effective treatment for CRPS.
Clinical Characteristics, Pharmacotherapy and Healthcare Resource Use among Patients with Fibromyalgia Newly Prescribed Gabapentin or Pregabalin
Authors: Gore Mugdha , Sadosky Alesia Beth , Zlateva Gergana , Clauw Daniel J.
Published: June 2009

Objective:  To characterize comorbidities, pain‐related pharmacotherapy, and healthcare resource use among patients with fibromyalgia (FM) newly prescribed pregabalin or gabapentin in clinical practice.

Methods and design:  Using the PharMetrics® Database, FM patients (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification code 729.1X) newly prescribed pregabalin (n = 1,606; mean age 49.9 ± 9.6 years; 87.9% female) and gabapentin (n = 930; mean age 49.5 ± 9.6 years; 86.6% female) on/after July 1, 2007 were identified. Prevalence of comorbidities, pharmacotherapy, and healthcare resource use/costs (pharmacy, outpatient, inpatient, total) were examined during the 6 months preceding (preindex) and following (postindex) the date of their first pregabalin or gabapentin (index) prescription.

Results:  Patients in both cohorts had a variety of comorbidities and used multiple medications. There were significant decreases (P values < 0.05) in the use of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (32.1% vs. 29.5%), anticonvulsants (27.0% vs. 22.0%), and combination therapies in the pregabalin cohort in the postindex period. There were significant increases (all P values < 0.05) in use of short‐acting opioids (58.8% vs. 63.7%), any opioids (61.5% vs. 65.6%), serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (22.5% vs. 24.5%), anticonvulsants (16.3% vs. 26.2%), benzodiazepines (33.2% vs. 36.6%), topical agents (6.6% vs. 9.0%), and combination therapies in the gabapentin cohort. Although there were no changes in units of healthcare resources used, there were increases in the postindex period in hospitalization, medications, and total costs for pregabalin, and office visits and medication costs for gabapentin (all P values < 0.05).

Conclusions:  Results suggest a high comorbidity and medication use burden in FM patients in this study. Further evaluation is warranted to clarify differences in resource utilization/costs observed with these two anticonvulsants.
Does Pain Cause the Perception of Fatigue in Patients with Chronic Pain? Findings from Studies for Management of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain with Duloxetine
Authors: Fishbain David A. , Hall Jerry A. , Risser Richard C. , Gonzales Jill S.
Published: June 2009

A major issue in pain literature is whether an etiological association between pain, sleep, and vitality exists. We utilized data from clinical trials of duloxetine for management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) to investigate these associations. Data were pooled from 3 double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, 12‐week trials of patients without mood disorder (N =  1,139). After excluding 442 patients who reported maximum vitality at baseline, experienced treatment‐emergent somnolence, asthenia or fatigue, or were taking sedating concomitant medications or duloxetine 20 mg/day, 697 were included in the analysis. Efficacy measures included weekly mean scores for average daily and night pain, pain interference with sleep, and vitality. Baseline to end point mean improvements in daily and night pain, Brief Pain Inventory sleep interference, and vitality were significantly superior for duloxetine compared with placebo (P ≤ 0.001). Correlations between changes in daily and night pain, and sleep interference with vitality changes were −0.34, −0.32, and −0.28, respectively (P < 0.001). The direct effect of treatment on change in vitality was statistically significant (68%, P = 0.010) when assessed in an indirect manner through change in sleep interference alone but not in daily or night pain solely. Path analyses suggested vitality improvement in patients with chronic pain may be secondary to improvement in pain by duloxetine. Results do not prove pain causes fatigue, but indicate in DPNP patients with fatigue that treatment of pain can improve perception of improvement in fatigue. Thus, improvement of pain may be important in the context of trying to improve fatigue in DPNP patients.
Frequency of bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates before and after introduction of diversion method in Japan
Authors: Satake Masahiro , Mitani Takako , Oikawa Shinji , Nagumo Hideto , Sugiura Sayoko , Tateyama Hidemi , Awakihara Syuji , Mitsutomi Yoshiro , Muraoka Masato , Tadokoro Kenji
Published: June 2009

BACKGROUND: Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates (PCs) is the major infectious risk in transfusion medicine. To evaluate the necessity of implementing novel strategies for the reduction of bacterial contamination, it is necessary to establish a precise contamination frequency in PCs.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The frequency of bacterial contamination in PCs issued by the Japanese Red Cross was determined using expired PCs before and after the implementation of the diversion method. The culture method was designed such that it yields the least possibility of false‐negative results: platelet specimens were sampled after at least 4 days of storage and the inoculum volume was 10 mL for both aerobic and anaerobic bottle cultures.

RESULTS: Of the 21,786 PCs cultured, 36 (0.17%) were confirmed to be bacterially contaminated before the implementation of the diversion method. After its implementation, the number of contaminated PCs decreased to 11 of 21,783 (0.05%) with a reduction rate of 71% and the number of contaminations of clinical importance was 4 (0.018%) excluding PCs positive for Propionibacterium acnes. The frequency of contamination by bacteria presumed to originate from donors' blood did not decrease.

CONCLUSION: The effect of the diversion method on the frequency of bacterial contamination is robust. The low incidence of septic reactions after PC transfusion in Japan in spite of the contamination frequency being comparable to those in Western countries and the noninstitution of culture screening suggests the importance of a short shelf life (72 hr) for PCs introduced in Japan.
A Cover of Glass: First Report of Biomineralized Silicon in a Ciliate, Maryna umbrellata (Ciliophora: Colpodea)
Authors: FOISSNER WILHELM , WEISSENBACHER BIRGIT , KRAUTGARTNER WOLF‐DIETRICH , LÜTZ‐MEINDL URSULA
Published: June 2009

ABSTRACT. Using hydrofluoric acid, scanning electron microscope‐assisted X‐ray microanalysis, and energy‐filtered transmission electron microscopy, we present the first definite proof of biomineralized silicon [(SiO2)]n in a ciliophoran protist, Maryna umbrellata, a common inhabitant of ephemeral pools. In the trophic specimen, the amorphic silicon (glass) granules are accumulated in the anterior half of the body. When entering the dormant stage, most glass granules are excreted to form the surface cover of the globular resting cyst. Most likely, the silicon granules are synthesized in vesicles of the Golgi apparatus. First, nanospheres with a size of 20–40 nm are formed in a fibrous matrix; they grow to be spongious complexes, eventually becoming amorphous glass granules with an average size of 819 nm × 630 nm. In the transmission electron microscope, the silicon granules show the characteristic fracture pattern of glass known from many other silicon‐bearing organisms. A literature survey suggests that silicon is very rare in ciliates. The fine structure and genesis of silicon granules in M. umbrellata are very similar to those of other organisms, including vascular plants and animals, indicating a common mechanism. Light perception and protection against mechanical stress and predators might be functions of the silicon granules in M. umbrellata. The palaeontological significance of glass cysts in ciliates is also discussed.
Loneliness, Interpersonal Distrust, and Alexithymia in University Students1
Authors: Qualter Pamela , Quinton Stephanie J. , Wagner Hugh , Brown Steve
Published: June 2009

Loneliness has been linked to emotional knowledge and interpersonal distrust, but it is unknown whether it is mediated or moderated by these variables. Using self‐report measures, the relationship between loneliness, interpersonal distrust, and alexithymia was investigated in undergraduate students (N = 224). Analyses showed a direct relationship between alexithymia and social, family, and romantic loneliness. We also found that interpersonal distrust partly mediates this relationship, and that alexithymia and interpersonal distrust interacted to predict social and family loneliness. These findings suggest that links between the different facets of alexithymia, interpersonal distrust, and loneliness are complex and multifaceted, and they are discussed with regard to interventions for young adults.
Characterization of restricted area searching behavior following consumption of prey and non‐prey food in a cursorial spider, Hibana futilis
Authors: Patt Joseph M. , Pfannenstiel Robert S.
Published: June 2009

Cursorial spiders are important predators of crop pests in a variety of agricultural systems. Their survivorship, growth, and fecundity can be enhanced by the consumption of extra‐floral nectar. We recently showed that Hibana futilis (Banks) (Araneae: Anyphaenidae) engages in restricted area search following contact with nectar, is stimulated by nectar aroma, and can learn to recognize novel aroma cues. Studies have shown that H. futilis is also responsive to solvent extracts of the eggs and scales of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea Boddie (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of its primary prey insects in cotton. The arrestment behavior of cursorial spiders following consumption of prey and non‐prey food has not been characterized. In the present study, the responses of spiders were measured following consumption of prey (H. zea eggs) or non‐prey (droplets of dilute honey) food items and compared with individuals tested without food items. The food items were presented to the spiders in test arenas constructed from the top of an inverted glass Petri dish cover. A combination of real time and recorded observations were made via a video camera attached to a computer. The behaviors and movement patterns of individual spiders were analyzed with behavioral tracking software. Significant differences in the behaviors and motion paths of spiders tested in the different treatments were observed. Hibana futilis displayed significantly more dispersal behavior on a blank test arena, than on test arenas supplied with honey droplets or moth eggs. Likewise, spiders tested on the blank arena crawled faster and their motion paths were significantly less tortuous than those of spiders tested in the arenas with honey or moth eggs. Following consumption of both the honey droplets and moth eggs, spiders showed elevated levels of restricted area search and lowered levels of dispersal behavior. The analysis showed that these spiders could crawl rapidly for extended distances. Behaviors such as restricted area search and learned recognition of food‐based stimuli would facilitate efficient location of the food resources needed to maintain their high activity levels.
Influence of tannic acid and Cry1Ac toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis on larval survival, growth, and development of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Guan Xiumin , Liu Xiaoxia , Lu Zengquan , Zhao Zhangwu , Zhang Qingwen , Xia Jingyuan
Published: June 2009

Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) causes huge economic losses in cotton production around the world. Tannin, one of the important secondary substances in cotton plants, can increase the δ‐endotoxin activity of Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki. The mechanism of interaction between tannin and Bt toxin on H. armigera is unclear. We investigated the interaction between tannic acid and Cry1Ac toxin in H. armigera, and monitored survival, growth, and development during the larval period after treating the larvae with four concentrations of Cry1Ac toxin (0, 2, 8, and 14 μg−1) alone or in combination with four concentrations of tannic acid (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg g−1). Mortality of larvae treated with both tannic acid and Cry1Ac was higher than the mortality of larvae treated with tannic acid or Cry1Ac alone. Mortality was 47.5 and 51.5% in larvae treated with 14 μg g−1 Cry1Ac alone or 2 mg g−1 tannic acid alone, respectively. In contrast, larval mortality was 75% when treated with the mixture of 14 μg g−1 Cry1Ac and 2 mg g−1 tannic acid, suggesting that a mixture of the two enhanced the effectiveness of each one alone. The developmental time of larvae treated with the combination of tannic acid and Cry1Ac was significantly longer than when they were treated with Cry1Ac or tannic acid alone. Larval weight, pupal weight, and pupation rate were also significantly reduced in larvae treated with both toxins, compared with the larvae treated with either toxin alone. These results showed that the interactive effect of tannic acid and Cry1Ac on larval growth inhibition is additive, and that tannic acid improves Cry1Ac toxicity to insects. Tannic acid used in combination with B. thuringiensis might potentially reduce overall insecticide use, thus delaying development of insecticide resistance.
Three hundred and fifty generations of extreme food specialisation: testing predictions of nutritional ecology
Authors: Warbrick‐Smith James , Raubenheimer David , Simpson Stephen J. , Behmer Spencer T.
Published: June 2009

We used a strain of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostellaL. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), that had been reared for approximately 350 generations in a precisely characterised environment to test hypotheses regarding the influence of nutritional heterogeneity on the evolution of nutrient regulatory responses. Caterpillars were maintained with ad libitum access to a diet that emulated that of an extreme nutritional specialist, comprising a homogeneous food of fixed nutrient composition. We measured performance (survival, development rate, and pupal mass), as well as the protein and carbohydrate intake of individual caterpillars confined to one of a range of single foods differing in their protein, carbohydrate, and water content. In a separate experiment, we measured the amount and balance of protein and carbohydrate self‐selected by caterpillars presented with nutritionally complementary foods. Results showed a close fit with three of four predictions about the nutritional responses of ‘nutrient specialist’ feeders: (1) survival, development rate, and pupal mass were highest for animals given diets with the protein:carbohydrate composition of the ancestral culture diet, and dropped off sharply with higher and lower protein:carbohydrate balance, (2) caterpillars coped poorly with dietary dilution by water, irrespective of the macronutrient balance, and (3) the self‐selected intake point corresponded with the macronutrient balance that gave peak performance (i.e., that of the ancestral culture diet). The fourth prediction, that caterpillars would be disinclined to over‐ingest nutrients on imbalanced diets, was at best weakly met. We hypothesise that the evolution and maintenance of the specialist strategy might, paradoxically, require some degree of environmental heterogeneity.