bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum amyloid A is an innate immune opsonin for Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Shah Chandrabala , Hari-Dass Ranjeeta , Raynes John G.
Published: May 2006

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is the major acute-phase protein in man and most mammals. Recently we demonstrated that SAA binds to many Gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa through outer membrane protein A (OmpA) family members. Therefore we investigated whether SAA altered the response of innate phagocytic cells to bacteria. Both the percentage of neutrophils containing E coli and the number of bacteria per neutrophil were greatly increased by SAA opsonization, equivalent to the increase seen for serum opsonization. In contrast, no change was seen for Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacteria that did not bind SAA. Neutrophil reactive oxygen intermediate production in response to bacteria was also increased by opsonization with SAA. SAA opsonization also increased phagocytosis of E coli by peripheral blood mononuclear cell-derived macrophages. These macrophages showed strong enhancement of TNF-α and IL-10 production in response to SAA-opsonized E coli and P aeruginosa. SAA did not enhance responses in the presence of bacteria to which it did not bind. These effects of SAA occur at normal concentrations consistent with SAA binding properties and a role in innate recognition. SAA therefore represents a novel innate recognition protein for Gram-negative bacteria.
ADAM17 deficiency by mature neutrophils has differential effects on L-selectin shedding
Authors: Li Ying , Brazzell Jennifer , Herrera Amy , Walcheck Bruce
Published: May 2006

L-selectin directs neutrophils to sites of inflammation, and upon their activation, surface expression of the receptor is rapidly down-regulated by ectodomain shedding. Tumor necrosis factor–α–converting enzyme (TACE, or ADAM17) is a sheddase of L-selectin; however, Adam17 gene targeting (ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn) in mice is perinatal lethal and its role in L-selectin shedding by mature neutrophils has not been determined. This was addressed here by using radiation-chimeric mice reconstituted with ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn fetal liver cells. ADAM17-deficient neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes failed to shed L-selectin in response to PMA, as did neutrophils infiltrating the inflamed peritoneum. In addition, the absence of functional ADAM17 resulted in significantly increased levels of L-selectin surface expression by peripheral-blood leukocytes, indicating the sheddase also plays a role in the constitutive cleavage of L-selectin. Interestingly, not all manners of L-selectin turnover required ADAM17. Plasma L-selectin levels were similar between ADAM17ΔZn/ΔZn-chimeric and control mice, as was the shedding of L-selectin by neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. The latter process, however, was diminished by a metalloprotease inhibitor, indicating the role of a sheddase other than ADAM17. Together, our data reveal that L-selectin's surface density on neutrophils is regulated by ADAM17, but homeostatic L-selectin cleavage is not.
G-CSF and AMD3100 mobilize monocytes into the blood that stimulate angiogenesis in vivo through a paracrine mechanism
Authors: Capoccia Benjamin J. , Shepherd Rebecca M. , Link Daniel C.
Published: May 2006

There is compelling evidence that circulating angiogenic cells exist that are able to home to sites of vascular injury and stimulate angiogenesis. However, the number of angiogenic cells in the blood is low, limiting their delivery to sites of ischemia. Treatment with certain cytokines may mobilize angiogenic cells into the blood, potentially circumventing this limitation. Herein, we show that treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or AMD3100, a novel CXCR4 antagonist, significantly stimulated angiogenesis in a murine model of acute hindlimb ischemia. The kinetics of angiogenic-cell mobilization by these agents appears to be distinct, with more rapid revascularization observed in AMD3100-treated mice. Combination treatment with G-CSF and AMD3100 resulted in the earliest and most complete recovery in blood flow to the ischemic hindlimb. Adoptive transfer of mobilized blood mononuclear cells, while potently stimulating angiogenesis, did not result in the significant incorporation of donor cells into the neoendothelium. Cell-fractionation studies showed that it is the monocyte population in the blood that mediates angiogenesis in this model. Collectively, these data suggest that monocytes mobilized into the blood by G-CSF or AMD3100 stimulate angiogenesis at sites of ischemia through a paracrine mechanism.
Modeling the effects of a Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) on the apoptosis pathway
Authors: Higgs Brandon W , Dileo John , Chang Wenling E , Smith Haley B , Peters Olivia J , Hammamieh Rasha , Jett Marti , Feidler Jordan C
Published: May 2006

Background

The lack of detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of many biowarfare agents poses an immediate challenge to biodefense efforts. Many potential bioweapons have been shown to affect the cellular pathways controlling apoptosis [1–4]. For example, pathogen-produced exotoxins such as Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB) and Anthrax Lethal Factor (LF) have been shown to disrupt the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway [2, 4]. To evaluate how these agents affect these pathways it is first necessary to understand the dynamics of a normally functioning apoptosis network. This can then serve as a baseline against which a pathogen perturbed system can be compared. Such comparisons can expose both the proteins most susceptible to alteration by the agent as well as the most critical reaction rates to better instill control on a biological network.

Results

We explore this through the modeling and simulation of the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway under normal and SEB influenced conditions. We stimulated human Jurkat cells with an anti-Fas antibody in the presence and absence of SEB and determined the relative levels of seven proteins involved in the core pathway at five time points following exposure. These levels were used to impute relative rate constants and build a quantitative model consisting of a series of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that simulate the network under both normal and pathogen-influenced conditions. Experimental results show that cells exposed to SEB exhibit an increase in the rate of executioner caspase expression (and subsequently apoptosis) of 1 hour 43 minutes (± 14 minutes), as compared to cells undergoing normal cell death.

Conclusion

Our model accurately reflects these results and reveals intervention points that can be altered to restore SEB-influenced system dynamics back to levels within the range of normal conditions.
Late periorbital haemorrhage following functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a caution for potential day case surgery
Authors: Arya Arvind Kumar , Machin David , Al-Jassim Hadi
Published: May 2006

Background

Orbital complications following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) are fortunately rare. They are usually easily and rapidly recognizable.

Case presentation

We present an unusual case of a forty-five year old woman who underwent routine FESS and was not packed nasally after the procedure. Six hours later she started bleeding and nasal packs were inserted. She soon developed unilateral periorbital bruising and within hours her condition had worsened so much that the viability of the eye was thrown into question. She underwent medial and lateral canthotomies and made an uneventful post-operative recovery.

Conclusion

This rare case demonstrates that late, brisk post-operative bleeding can occur after FESS with potentially catastrophic consequences. Clinicians should be aware that discharging patients after FESS too early may lead to medico-legal problems.
A population-based study of tumor gene expression and risk of breast cancer death among lymph node-negative patients
Authors: Habel Laurel A , Shak Steven , Jacobs Marlena K , Capra Angela , Alexander Claire , Pho Mylan , Baker Joffre , Walker Michael , Watson Drew , Hackett James , Blick Noelle T , Greenberg Deborah , Fehrenbacher Louis , Langholz Bryan , Quesenberry Charles P
Published: May 2006

Introduction

The Oncotype DX assay was recently reported to predict risk for distant recurrence among a clinical trial population of tamoxifen-treated patients with lymph node-negative, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. To confirm and extend these findings, we evaluated the performance of this 21-gene assay among node-negative patients from a community hospital setting.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted among 4,964 Kaiser Permanente patients diagnosed with node-negative invasive breast cancer from 1985 to 1994 and not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Cases (n = 220) were patients who died from breast cancer. Controls (n = 570) were breast cancer patients who were individually matched to cases with respect to age, race, adjuvant tamoxifen, medical facility and diagnosis year, and were alive at the date of death of their matched case. Using an RT-PCR assay, archived tumor tissues were analyzed for expression levels of 16 cancer-related and five reference genes, and a summary risk score (the Recurrence Score) was calculated for each patient. Conditional logistic regression methods were used to estimate the association between risk of breast cancer death and Recurrence Score.

Results

After adjusting for tumor size and grade, the Recurrence Score was associated with risk of breast cancer death in ER-positive, tamoxifen-treated and -untreated patients (P = 0.003 and P = 0.03, respectively). At 10 years, the risks for breast cancer death in ER-positive, tamoxifen-treated patients were 2.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–3.9%), 10.7% (95% CI 6.3–14.9%), and 15.5% (95% CI 7.6–22.8%) for those in the low, intermediate and high risk Recurrence Score groups, respectively. They were 6.2% (95% CI 4.5–7.9%), 17.8% (95% CI 11.8–23.3%), and 19.9% (95% CI 14.2–25.2%) for ER-positive patients not treated with tamoxifen. In both the tamoxifen-treated and -untreated groups, approximately 50% of patients had low risk Recurrence Score values.

Conclusion

In this large, population-based study of lymph node-negative patients not treated with chemotherapy, the Recurrence Score was strongly associated with risk of breast cancer death among ER-positive, tamoxifen-treated and -untreated patients.
Transcriptional control of Pactolus: evidence of a negative control region and comparison with its evolutionary paralogue, CD18 (β2 integrin)
Authors: Hale J Scott , Dahlem Timothy J , Margraf Rebecca L , Debnath Irina , Weis Janis J , Weis John H
Published: May 2006

The mouse Pactolus and CD18 genes are highly conserved paralogues. The expression patterns of these genes are diverse in that most cells of hematopoietic lineage express CD18, but Pactolus is only expressed by maturing neutrophils. The minimal promoters of these two genes are homologous, including the conservation of two tandem PU.1-binding sites upstream of the transcriptional start site. To define the means by which these two structurally similar but functionally distinct promoters operate, a series of reporter assays, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses, were performed. Transfection of Pactolus constructs into mouse macrophages, which do not express Pactolus, defined a negative control element within the first 100 base pairs. The presence of this negative regulatory site, distinct from the PU.1-binding site, was confirmed by EMSA oligonucleotide competition and gene reporter assays of Pactolus/CD18 chimeric constructs. Although PU.1 binding can be detected on Pactolus and CD18 minimal promoter segments with EMSA, only the CD18 promoter shows PU.1 binding in vivo, suggesting that the negative regulatory protein may block PU.1 from binding to the Pactolus promoter, thus inhibiting transcription of the gene. Sequence analysis of the negative control region in the Pactolus promoter suggested potential control by Snail and/or Smad families of transcription regulators. EMSA supershift analysis with antibodies against these proteins, using extracts from macrophages and mucosal mast cells, identified specific binding of Smuc to the promoter element, including a Smuc/PU.1/DNA trimeric complex. These data implicate Smuc as blocking Pactolus transcription in cells expressing PU.1 (and CD18) but not Pactolus.
Disaster relief efforts: an update
Authors: Paul Bimal Kanti
Published: May 2006

A vast literature currently exists focusing on disaster response. This literature clearly suggests that victims of natural disasters need outside support to cope with hardships and distress caused by extreme events. This is particularly true for victims in developing countries, where disasters create demands that cannot be met by domestic resources. However, many hazard researchers claim that relief goods that are often sent are not properly distributed and these goods are often not of the appropriate type nor sufficient in quantity. These researchers further claim that emergency aid is counter-productive and it increases dependency on external sources. The objective of this paper is to critically review the provision of disaster relief in developing countries, with special reference to Bangladesh. The primary emphasis of this paper is on changes that have occurred in the area of disaster relief over the last three decades. This paper provides evidence that, because of these changes, relief efforts have become more integrated with development projects and less burdened with the problems outlined in earlier literature critical of the provision of emergency relief to disaster victims.
Radiotherapy and Temozolomide for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: Recursive Partitioning Analysis of the EORTC 26981/22981-NCIC CE3 Phase III Randomized Trial
Authors: Mirimanoff René-Olivier , Gorlia Thierry , Mason Warren , Van den Bent Martin J. , Kortmann Rolf-Dieter , Fisher Barbara , Reni Michele , Brandes Alba A. , Curschmann Jüergen , Villa Salvador , Cairncross Gregory , Allgeier Anouk , Lacombe Denis , Stupp Roger
Published: May 2006

Purpose

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer and National Cancer Institute of Canada trial on temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) in glioblastoma (GBM) has demonstrated that the combination of TMZ and RT conferred a significant and meaningful survival advantage compared with RT alone. We evaluated in this trial whether the recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) retains its overall prognostic value and what the benefit of the combined modality is in each RPA class.

Patients and Methods

Five hundred seventy-three patients with newly diagnosed GBM were randomly assigned to standard postoperative RT or to the same RT with concomitant TMZ followed by adjuvant TMZ. The primary end point was overall survival. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer RPA used accounts for age, WHO performance status, extent of surgery, and the Mini-Mental Status Examination.

Results

Overall survival was statistically different among RPA classes III, IV, and V, with median survival times of 17, 15, and 10 months, respectively, and 2-year survival rates of 32%, 19%, and 11%, respectively (P < .0001). Survival with combined TMZ/RT was higher in RPA class III, with 21 months median survival time and a 43% 2-year survival rate, versus 15 months and 20% for RT alone (P = .006). In RPA class IV, the survival advantage remained significant, with median survival times of 16 v 13 months, respectively, and 2-year survival rates of 28% v 11%, respectively (P = .0001). In RPA class V, however, the survival advantage of RT/TMZ was of borderline significance (P = .054).

Conclusion

RPA retains its prognostic significance overall as well as in patients receiving RT with or without TMZ for newly diagnosed GBM, particularly in classes III and IV.
Dachs: an unconventional myosin that functions downstream of Fat to regulate growth, affinity and gene expression inDrosophila
Authors: Mao Yaopan , Rauskolb Cordelia , Cho Eunjoo , Hu Wei-Li , Hayter Heather , Minihan Ginny , Katz Flora N. , Irvine Kenneth D.
Published: May 2006

The dachs gene was first identified almost a century ago based on its requirements for appendage growth, but has been relatively little studied. Here, we describe the phenotypes of strong dachs mutations, report the cloning of the dachs gene, characterize the localization of Dachs protein, and investigate the relationship between Dachs and the Fat pathway. Mutation of dachs reduces, but does not abolish, the growth of legs and wings. dachs encodes an unconventional myosin that preferentially localizes to the membrane of imaginal disc cells. dachs mutations suppress the effects of fat mutations on gene expression, cell affinity and growth in imaginal discs. Dachs protein localization is influenced by Fat, Four-jointed and Dachsous, consistent with its genetic placement downstream of fat. However, dachs mutations have only mild tissue polarity phenotypes, and only partially suppress the tissue polarity defects of fat mutants. Our results implicate Dachs as a crucial downstream component of a Fat signaling pathway that influences growth, affinity and gene expression during development.
ER storage diseases: a role for ERGIC-53 in controlling the formation and shape of Russell bodies
Authors: Mattioli L. , Anelli T. , Fagioli C. , Tacchetti C. , Sitia R. , Valetti C.
Published: May 2006

Owing to the impossibility of reaching the Golgi for secretion or the cytosol for degradation, mutant Ig-μ chains that lack the first constant domain (μΔCH1) accumulate as detergent-insoluble aggregates in dilated endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, called Russell bodies. The presence of similar structures hallmarks many ER storage diseases, but their pathogenic role(s) remain obscure. Exploiting inducible cellular systems, we show here that Russell bodies form when the synthesis of μΔCH1 exceeds the degradation capacity. Condensation occurs in different sub-cellular locations, depending on the interacting molecules present in the host cell: if Ig light chains are co-expressed, detergent-insoluble μΔCH1-light chain oligomers accumulate in large ribosome-coated structures (rough Russell bodies). In absence of light chains, instead, aggregation occurs in smooth tubular vesicles and is controlled by N-glycan-dependent interactions with ER-Golgi intermediate compartment 53 (ERGIC-53). In cells containing smooth Russell bodies, ERGIC-53 co-localizes with μΔCH1 aggregates in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. Our findings identify a novel ERGIC-53 substrate, and indicate that interactions with light chains or ERGIC-53 seed μΔCH1 condensation in different stations of the early secretory pathway.
Evaluating Portfolio Policies: A Duality Approach
Authors: Haugh Martin B. , Kogan Leonid , Wang Jiang
Published: May 2006

The performance of a given portfolio policy can in principle be evaluated by comparing its expected utility with that of the optimal policy. Unfortunately, the optimal policy is usually not computable, in which case a direct comparison is impossible. In this paper, we solve this problem by using the given portfolio policy to construct an upper bound on the unknown maximum expected utility. This construction is based on a dual formulation of the portfolio optimization problem. When the upper bound is close to the expected utility achieved by the given portfolio policy, the potential utility loss of this policy is guaranteed to be small. Our algorithm can be used to evaluate portfolio policies in models with incomplete markets and position constraints. We illustrate our methodology by analyzing the static and myopic policies in markets with return predictability and constraints on short sales and borrowing.
A Note on Probability Distributions with Increasing Generalized Failure Rates
Authors: Lariviere Martin A.
Published: May 2006

Distributions with an increasing generalized failure rate (IGFR) have useful applications in pricing and supply chain contracting problems. We provide alternative characterizations of the IGFR property that lead to simplify verifying whether the IGFR condition holds. We also relate the limit of the generalized failure rate and the moments of a distribution.
Nebulized Magnesium Sulfate in the Management of Acute Exacerbations of Asthma
Authors: Villeneuve Eric J , Zed Peter J
Published: May 2006

Objective:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nebulized magnesium sulfate in the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma.

Data Sources:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed (all to October 2005) were searched using the key words magnesium, magnesium sulfate, magnesium compounds, nebulise, nebulize, vaporise, vaporize, nebulizers and vaporizers, aerosols, asthma, exacerbation, bronchial spasm, and bronchospasm.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Prospective, randomized, controlled trials that evaluated efficacy and safety endpoints of nebulized magnesium sulfate in the management of acute exacerbations of asthma were included. All studies were evaluated independently by both authors. Efficacy outcomes included pulmonary function, clinical disease severity (as defined by each study), and rate of hospitalization. Safety outcomes were as described by each trial.

Data Synthesis:

Six prospective trials met the study criteria. Nebulized magnesium alone failed to demonstrate any benefit compared with β2-agonists alone at improving pulmonary function. In trials in which nebulized magnesium was used as a vehicle for albuterol, there appear to be additional benefits to albuterol therapy in terms of improvements in pulmonary function in a population with mild-to-moderate asthma. The heterogeneous patient populations, study designs, magnesium doses, and the delivery methods preclude the extrapolation of these results to current clinical practice.

Conclusions:

The studies included in this review fail to clarify the role of nebulized magnesium sulfate; therefore, this therapy cannot be recommended at this time. Future studies evaluating the role of nebulized magnesium as an adjunct therapy to β2-agonist, anticholinergic, and corticosteroid therapy are necessary to determine whether a clinically relevant benefit of this intervention exists.
Atomoxetine Versus Stimulants for Treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Gibson Aaron P , Bettinger Tawny L , Patel Nick C , Crismon M Lynn
Published: May 2006

Objective:

To identify, review, and analyze studies comparing atomoxetine with psychostimulants with the intent of determining the role of atomoxetine in the pharmacologic management of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Data Sources:

Primary, review, and meta-analysis articles were identified by a MEDLINE search (1966–December 2005). MeSH headings used in the search include: attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, atomoxetine, stimulants, psychostimulants, methylphenidate, and amphetamine salts. Relevant data presented at professional meetings that we attended were also identified.

Study Selection and Extraction:

All clinical studies comparing atomoxetine with psychostimulants, regardless of study design, were evaluated. Relevant efficacy and safety data from these studies were included in the discussion.

Data Synthesis:

At time of writing, 5 head-to-head trials had compared psychostimulants and atomoxetine in the treatment of ADHD. No significant difference between atomoxetine and methylphenidate immediate-release were found on the ADHD Rating Scale total score. Osmotic oral release system (OROS) methylphenidate showed significantly greater improvement at weeks 1 and 2, and significantly more patients treated with OROS methylphenidate were classified as responders. Patients on both atomoxetine and mixed amphetamine salts extended-release (MAS XR) showed significant improvements at endpoint over baseline; however, Swanson, Kotkin, Agler, M-Flynn, and Pelham (SKAMP) scores were significantly better with MAS XR. Tolerability was similar between atomoxetine and stimulant medications.

Conclusions:

Based on available evidence, psychostimulants are regarded as first-line pharmacologic treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD, as the efficacy and safety of these agents have been well established based on clinical trials and extensive naturalistic use. Adverse effects in some patients and abuse potential have led to the search for new treatments. Atomoxetine represents an alternative treatment for ADHD and is unlikely to be associated with abuse; however, long-term safety data are needed to further establish its place in therapy.
Gender differences in explicit and implicit risk attitudes: A socially facilitated phenomenon
Authors: Ronay Richard , Kim Do‐Yeong
Published: May 2006

The present study (a) examined the question of whether gender differences in hypothetical risk decisions might be socially facilitated by the presence of gender‐homogenous groups and (b) investigated the conscious and non‐conscious motivators of risk‐taking through the application of both explicit and implicit measures of risk attitude. Using hypothetical choice dilemma items, no gender difference was found at an individual level; however, when placed in‐groups, males expressed a stronger pro‐risk position than females. While males self‐reported a stronger pro‐risk position than did females on two explicit measures of risk‐attitude, no gender differences were found on two parallel implicit measures. However, a newly developed implicit measure of risk‐attitude showed its utility in the form of convergent, predictive and incremental validity with respect to a behavioural outcome.
Different Conformations of Amyloid β Induce Neurotoxicity by Distinct Mechanisms in Human Cortical Neurons
Authors: Deshpande Atul , Mina Erene , Glabe Charles , Busciglio Jorge
Published: May 2006

Characterization of soluble oligomeric amyloid β (Aβ) species in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and transgenic models has raised the possibility that different conformations of Aβ may contribute to AD pathology via different mechanisms. To characterize the toxic effect of different Aβ conformations, we tested side by side the effect of well characterized Aβ oligomers (AβOs), Aβ-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs), and fibrillar Aβ (Aβf) preparations in human cortical neurons (HCNs). Both AβOs and ADDLs bind rapidly and with high affinity to synaptic contacts and cellular membranes. AβOs (5 μm) induced rapid and massive neuronal death. Calcium influx accelerated, but was not required for, AβO toxicity. AβOs elicited a stereotyped succession of cellular changes consistent with the activation of a mitochondrial death apoptotic pathway. At low concentrations AβOs caused chronic and subtler mitochondrial alterations but minimal cell death. ADDLs induced similar toxic changes as AβOs but on a fivefold longer time scale. Higher concentrations of Aβf and longer incubation times were required to produce widespread neuritic dystrophy but modest HCN cell death. Thus various Aβ species may play relevant roles in AD, causing neurotoxicity by distinct non-overlapping mechanisms affecting neuronal function and viability over multiple time courses.
Foreign accent in voice discrimination: a case study
Authors: Rogers Henry
Published: May 2006

This article describes the phonetic analysis of a case of speaker identification involving a foreign accent. A taped telephone message in English with a Cantonese accent resulted in the arrest of Lo, a Cantonese speaker. The investigation compared the voice on the tape with that of Lo, particularly noting the accent in English. In several places, close auditory examination showed that Lo had a stronger accent in English than that of the voice on the tape. Acoustic analysis corroborated this view. The theoretical point underlying the conclusion is that non-native speakers can imitate a stronger accent than they normally use, but not a weaker accent.
Speaker discrimination in a foreign language: first language environment, second language learners
Authors: Sullivan Kirk P.H. , Schlichting Frank
Published: May 2006

A witness to a crime may be required to identify a speaker based on voice samples from a language which is not their first language. Previous experimental work has shown that knowledge of a language has an effect on an individual's ability to identify speakers. This paper examines whether this ability increases over the course of the British four-year language degree. The results from a series of different open-test voice line-up presentations showed that listener ability improved on beginning to study a foreign language, yet showed no unambiguous improvement after the second semester of study.
Telephone speaker recognition amongst members of a close social network
Authors: Foulkes Paul , Barron Anthony
Published: May 2006

This article presents results from a speaker recognition task carried out by a close-knit network of speakers (university friends who have lived in shared accommodation with each other for two years). Ten male speakers recorded a scripted message on to an answer machine via a mobile telephone. Two foil speakers from outside thenetwork were also recorded. Samples of between 8 and 10 seconds were extracted from all twelve recordings, and used as stimuli for an open speaker recognition test performed by the network members. Listeners varied widely in their performance, and one listener failed to recognize his own voice. Some of the voices were easy to identify, but several speakers were consistently misidentified, and one speaker was particularly hard to identify. Both of the foil speakers were sometimes mistaken for network members Auditory analysis of the voices shows, as expected, that speakers with the most distinctive regional accents and other idiosyncratic features were the most consistently identified. Acoustic analysis of F0 was also undertaken. It was found that the speakers who were most consistently identified were those with relatively high and low mean F0 values, as well as those with the widest and narrowest overall F0 range. Speakers with average pitch values and ranges in the middle of the overall group values proved harder to identify. The findings support the view that average pitch is a robust diagnostic of speaker identity, not only for forensic phoneticians, but also for naive listeners. They furthermore demonstrate that naive speaker recognition, even among members of a close-knit social network, is not a task which can be achieved infallibly.
Migration and Spawning of Radio‐Tagged Zulega Prochilodus argenteus in a Dammed Brazilian River
Authors: Godinho Alexandre L. , Kynard Boyd
Published: May 2006

It is difficult for agencies to evaluate the impacts of the many planned dams on São Francisco River, Brazil, migratory fishes because fish migrations are poorly known. We conducted a study on zulega Prochilodus argenteus, an important commercial and recreational fish in the São Francisco River, to identify migrations and spawning areas and to determine linear home range. During two spawning seasons (2001–2003), we radio‐tagged fish in three main‐stem reaches downstream of Três Marias Dam (TMD), located at river kilometer (rkm) 2,109. We tagged 10 fish at Três Marias (TM), which is 5 km downstream of TMD; 12 fish at Pontal, which is 28 km downstream of TMD and which includes the mouth of the Abaeté River; and 10 fish at Cilga, which is 45 km downstream of TMD. Late‐stage (ripe) adults tagged in each area during the spawning season remained at or near the tagging site, except for four Cilga fish that went to Pontal and probably spawned. The Pontal area at the Abaeté River mouth was the most important spawning site we found. Prespawning fish moved back and forth between main‐stem staging areas upstream of the Abaeté River mouth and Pontal for short visits. These multiple visits were probably needed as ripe fish waited for spawning cues from a flooding Abaeté River. Some fish homed to prespawning staging areas, spawning areas, and nonspawning areas. The migratory style of zulega was dualistic, with resident and migratory fish. Total linear home range was also dualistic, with small (<26‐km) and large (53–127‐km) ranges. The locations of spawning areas and home ranges suggest that the Pontal group (which includes Cilga fish) is one population that occupies about 110 km. The Pontal population overlaps a short distance with a population located downstream of Cilga. Movements of late‐stage TM adults suggest that the TM group is a separate population, possibly with connections to populations upstream of TMD.
First Evidence of a Nursery Habitat for Juvenile Gag in the Southern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Renán X. , Brulé T. , Lecomte‐Finiger R.
Published: May 2006

Information on a nursery area for juvenile gag Mycteroperca microlepis in the southern Gulf of Mexico is offered for the first time in this study. A total of 817 gags that ranged in size from 1.5 to 34.5 cm standard length (SL) were captured with a small trawl net from January to December 2001 in a shallow sea grass bed (mainly turtle grass Thalassia testudinum, manatee grass Syringodium filiforme, and shoal grass Halodule wrightii). The gag biomass in the swept area was 217 ± 74 kg/km2 (mean ± SD) with a density of 48,393 ± 125 fish/km2. Peak ingress of gag was observed from March to May, when newly settled organisms (range, 1.5–2.8 cm SL; n = 28) and the smallest young of the year (age 0; 3.2–4.9 cm SL; n = 72) were caught. After settlement, juveniles reached maximum abundance by July (n = 186) with a size range of 8.0–18.2 cm SL and then began to leave the nursery area in September. The monthly occurrence of newly settled gag, length‐frequency analysis, and otolith aging indicate that age‐0 gag (range, 1.5–19.5 cm SL; n = 756) were present in this nursery area from March to December 2001 as a single discrete cohort. These results suggest that settlement is discontinuous for gag in this region. Back‐calculated hatching dates, estimated from otoliths of early juveniles captured in April (3.5–5.2 cm SL; n = 13), ranged between January 28 and February 10, 2001.
The Effect of an Introduced Summer Steelhead Hatchery Stock on the Productivity of a Wild Winter Steelhead Population
Authors: Kostow Kathryn E. , Zhou Shijie
Published: May 2006

We investigated the effect of a hatchery program for summer steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss on the productivity of a wild winter steelhead population in the Clackamas River, Oregon. We used a suite of Ricker and Beverton–Holt stock–recruitment models that incorporated species interaction variables to demonstrate that when high numbers of hatchery summer steelhead adults were present the production of wild winter steelhead smolts and adults was significantly decreased. We found that large releases of hatchery smolts also contributed to the decrease in wild adult productivity. Averaged over the results of our models, a 50% decline in the productivity parameter (the number of recruits per spawner at low densities) and a 22% decline in the maximum number of recruits produced in the basin were observed when high numbers of hatchery fish were present. We concluded that over the duration of the hatchery program, the number of hatchery steelhead in the upper Clackamas River basin regularly caused the total number of steelhead to exceed carrying capacity, triggering density‐dependent mechanisms that impacted the wild population. The number of smolts and adults in the wild winter steelhead population declined until critically low levels were reached in the 1990s. Hatchery fish were removed from the system in 2000, and early results indicate that the declining trends have reversed.
Multiscale Genetic Structure of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in the Upper Snake River Basin
Authors: Cegelski Christine C. , Campbell Matthew R. , Meyer Kevin A. , Powell Madison S.
Published: May 2006

Populations of Yellowstone cutthroat troutOncorhynchus clarkii bouvieriihave declined throughout their native range as a result of habitat fragmentation, overharvest, and introductions of nonnative trout that have hybridized with or displaced native populations. The degree to which these factors have impacted the current genetic population structure of Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations is of primary interest for their conservation. In this study, we examined the genetic diversity and genetic population structure of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Idaho and Nevada with data from six polymorphic microsatellite loci. A total of 1,392 samples were analyzed from 45 sample locations throughout 11 major river drainages. We found that levels of genetic diversity and genetic differentiation varied extensively. The Salt River drainage, which is representative of the least impacted migration corridors in Idaho, had the highest levels of genetic diversity and low levels of genetic differentiation. High levels of genetic differentiation were observed at similar or smaller geographic scales in the Portneuf River, Raft River, and Teton River drainages, which are more altered by anthropogenic disturbances. Results suggested that Yellowstone cutthroat trout are naturally structured at the major river drainage level but that habitat fragmentation has altered this structuring. Connectivity should be restored via habitat restoration whenever possible to minimize losses in genetic diversity and to preserve historical processes of gene flow, life history variation, and metapopulation dynamics. However, alternative strategies for management and conservation should also be considered in areas where there is a strong likelihood of nonnative invasions or extensive habitat fragmentation that cannot be easily ameliorated.
Effects of Bioactive Glass on Bone Augmentation Within a Titanium Cap in Rabbit Parietal Bone
Authors: Nishida Tetsuya , Yamada Yutaka , Murai Masakazu , Shimizu Yuka , Oshikawa Maiko , Ito Koichi
Published: May 2006

Background: The condition of alveolar bone influences the success and subsequent esthetics of implant treatment. This study investigated the early effects of bioactive glass (BG) on bone augmentation within a hemispherical titanium cap in rabbit parietal bone.

Methods: Twelve adult male Japanese white rabbits were used. One titanium cap (test site) was packed with BG in a collagen gel, and the other (control site) was packed with the collagen gel alone. After 1 and 3 months, animals were euthanized, and the experimental area was examined using fluorescence and light microscopy.

Results: Newly generated bone was observed at 1 and 3 months of healing. Although bone was also generated without BG, newly mineralized bone was generated sooner with BG present for guided bone augmentation than without BG. At 1 and 3 months, the BG was not bioabsorbed completely, and some particles remained.

Conclusion: New bone is generated at an early stage of bone formation using BG for bone augmentation.
Impact of State Vaccine Financing Policy on Uptake of Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
Authors: Stokley Shannon , Shaw Kate M. , Barker Lawrence , Santoli Jeanne M. , Shefer Abigail
Published: May 2006

Objective. We examined heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) uptake among children aged 19 to 35 months in the United States and determined how uptake rates differed by state vaccine financing policy.

Methods. We analyzed data from the 2001–2003 National Immunization Survey. States that changed their vaccine financing policy between 2001 and 2003 (n=17) were excluded from analysis. Logistic regression was performed to identify the association between state vaccine financing policy and receipt of 3 or more doses of PCV7 after control for demographic characteristics.

Results. The proportion of children receiving 3 or more doses increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 69.0% in 2003. After controlling for demographic characteristics, children residing in states that provided all vaccines except PCV7 to all children had lower odds of receiving 3 or more doses compared to children residing in states that provided PCV7 only to children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program (odds ratio=0.58; 95% confidence interval=0.51, 0.66).

Conclusion. It is essential that we continue to monitor the effect that state vaccine financing policy has on the delivery of PCV7 and future vaccines, which are likely to be increasingly expensive.
Likelihood of Home Death Associated With Local Rates of Home Birth: Influence of Local Area Healthcare Preferences on Site of Death
Authors: Silveira Maria J. , Copeland Laurel A. , Feudtner Chris
Published: May 2006

Objectives. We tested whether local cultural and social values regarding the use of health care are associated with the likelihood of home death, using variation in local rates of home births as a proxy for geographic variation in these values.

Methods. For each of 351110 adult decedents in Washington state who died from 1989 through 1998, we calculated the home birth rate in each zip code during the year of death and then used multivariate regression modeling to estimate the relation between the likelihood of home death and the local rate of home births.

Results. Individuals residing in local areas with higher home birth rates had greater adjusted likelihood of dying at home (odds ratio [OR]=1.04 for each percentage point increase in home birth rate; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03, 1.05). Moreover, the likelihood of dying at home increased with local wealth (OR=1.04 per $10000; 95% CI=1.02, 1.06) but decreased with local hospital bed availability (OR=0.96 per 1000 beds; 95% CI=0.95, 0.97).

Conclusions. The likelihood of home death is associated with local rates of home births, suggesting the influence of health care use preferences.
Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy for the treatment of varicose veins
Authors: Darke S G , Baker S J A
Published: May 2006

Background

The aim was to assess the early efficacy and complications of ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) in a cohort of patients with varicose veins.

Methods

Of 192 consecutive patients referred with varicose veins over 15 months, only 11 chose surgery; the rest underwent UGFS treatment. Polidocanol was foamed 1:3 with air. Under ultrasound control via butterfly or Seldinger cannulation, 1 per cent foam was injected into superficial veins and 3 per cent foam into saphenous trunks, up to a total volume of 14 ml. Outcome was defined as complete when occlusion of the saphenous trunk and/or over 85 per cent of the varicosities was achieved, and partial closure when less.

Results

In 163 legs, complete occlusion occurred after one intervention, a further 32 after a second, and one after a third (overall 91 per cent). Of the remainder, all other legs achieved partial occlusion after up to three interventions, apart from two legs with great saphenous vein (GSV) incompetence, which failed. All 23 legs with small saphenous veins had complete occlusion after one intervention compared with 64 of 97 legs with GSV incompetence (P < 0·010). Occlusion rates were also higher when the GSV was cannulated directly: 56 of 70 versus 8 of 27 (P < 0·001).

Conclusions

UGFS achieved early complete occlusion safely in over 90 per cent of legs with varicose veins.
Afferent and efferent connections of the cerebellum of a salmonid, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): A tract‐tracing study
Authors: Folgueira Mónica , Anadón Ramón , Yáñez Julián
Published: May 2006

The connections of the cerebellum of the rainbow trout were studied by experimental methods. The pretectal paracommissural nucleus has reciprocal connections with the cerebellum. Three additional pretectal nuclei project to both the corpus and valvula cerebelli, and seem to receive cerebellar afferents. A large number of cells of the lateral nucleus of the valvula project to wide regions of the cerebellum, including the valvula, the corpus, the granular eminences, and the caudal lobe, whereas the contralateral inferior olive and scattered reticular cells project only to the corpus and valvula cerebelli. Afferents to the corpus were also observed from the ventral tegmental nucleus, the “paraisthmic nucleus,” the perilemniscal nucleus, the central gray, and the octavolateral area. Valvular afferents were also observed from the torus semicircularis and the midbrain tegmental areas. In most cases of cerebellar application, labeled fibers were seen in the thalamus, the pretectum, the torus longitudinalis and torus semicircularis, the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle, and midbrain and rhombencephalic reticular areas. From the corpus cerebelli some fibers also project to the posterior tubercle and the hypothalamus. Moreover, the granular eminences project to the cerebellar crest. DiI application to most of the areas showing labeled fibers after cerebellar tracer application led to the labeling of characteristic eurydendroid cells, mainly in the valvula cerebelli and the caudal lobe. A few putative eurydendroid cells were labeled from the octavolateralis regions. These results in a teleost with a generalized brain indicate several differences with respect to the cerebellar connections reported in other teleost fishes that have specialized brains. J. Comp. Neurol. 497:542–565, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Capillary electrophoresis of double‐stranded DNA fragments using a new fluorescence intercalating dye EvaGreen
Authors: Sang Fuming , Ren Jicun
Published: May 2006

EvaGreen is a new DNA intercalating dye successfully used in quantitative real‐time PCR. In the present work, we firstly apply EvaGreen to the analysis of dsDNA by CE with LIF detection. Comparisons of EvaGreen dye with the commonly used dyes SYBR Green I and SYBR Gold were preformed in dsDNA analysis by CE. The linear range of dsDNA using EvaGreen was slightly wider than that using SYBR Gold and SYBR Green I, and the detection limits of dsDNA were not significantly different for the three dyes. Good separations of dsDNA fragments were obtained using the three dyes. Reproducibility of migration time and the peak area of dsDNA fragments with EvaGreen were better than those for SYBR Green I and SYBR Gold. The RSD values were 0.24–0.27% for migration time and 3.45–7.59% for peak area within the same day, 1.35–1.63% for migration time and 6.72–12.05% for peak area for three days. Our data demonstrated that EvaGreen is well suited for the dsDNA analysis by CE with LIF detection.
Consumer reactions to crowded retail settings: Cross‐cultural differences between North America and the Middle East
Authors: Pons Frank , Laroche Michel , Mourali Mehdi
Published: May 2006

Most of the research dealing with consumer–consumer interactions emphasizes the negative consequences of sharing the service experience with other consumers. Crowding, in particular, represents one of the important environmental factors affecting consumers' retail experience. However, recent studies in the context of hedonic services (e.g., amusement parks, concerts, etc.) have mentioned that crowds may potentially enhance consumers' service experience. The present study aims at demonstrating the presence of these positive consumer responses in a crowded hedonic situation, while investigating the influence of cultural differences in crowd‐related issues. With the use of consumers from different cultures (North America and the Middle East), reactions to similarly crowded situations in a hedonic situation are compared. Results suggest that Middle Eastern respondents perceive both a lower level of density and appreciate crowded situations more than their North American counterparts. Potential explanations are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.