bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in fat contents of US snack foods in response to mandatory trans fat labelling
Authors: Van Camp Debra , Hooker Neal H , Lin Chung-Tung Jordan
Published: February 2012

Objective

Impact of mandatory trans fat labelling on US snack food introductions is examined.

Design

Using label information, lipid ingredients and fat profiles are compared pre- and post-labelling.

Setting

Key products in the US snack food industry contribute significant amounts of artificial trans fat. Industry efforts to reformulate products to lower trans fat may alter the overall fat profile, in particular saturates.

Subjects

Composition data for more than 5000 chip and cookie products introduced for sale between 2001 (pre-labelling) and 2009 (post-labelling) were analysed.

Results

One-way ANOVA was used to test for significant changes in saturated fat content per serving and the ratio of saturated to total fat. The shares of chip and cookie introductions containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oil declined by 45 and 42 percentage points, respectively. In cookies, there was an increase of 0·49 (98 % CI 0·01, 0·98) g in the average saturated fat content per 30 g serving and an increase of 9 (98 % CI 3, 15) % in the average ratio of saturated to total fat. No statistically significant changes in fat content were observed in chips.

Conclusions

This research suggests that, holding other factors constant, the policy has resulted in a decreased use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil in chip products without a corresponding increase in saturated fat content, but led to significantly higher levels of saturated fat and ratio of saturated fat to total fat in cookie products.
Conservation tillage for organic agriculture: Evolution toward hybrid systems in the western USA
Authors: Luna John M. , Mitchell Jeffrey P. , Shrestha Anil
Published: February 2012

Organic farming has been historically dependent on conventional tillage operations to convert perennial pasture leys to annual crop rotations, incorporate crop residues, compost and cover crops, as well as to mechanically kill existing vegetation. Conventional tillage, however, has long been known to lead to soil degradation and erosion. A recently developed no-till organic production system that uses a roller–crimper technology to mechanically kill cover crops was evaluated in two states in the western United States. In Washington, pumpkins (Cucurbitaspp.) grown in a no-till roller–crimper (NT-RC) system produced yields 80% of conventional tillage, but with fewer weeds. However, in California on-farm research trials in organic cotton (Gossypium barbadenseL.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentumMill.), eggplant (Solanum melongenaL.) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.), the no-till system produced virtual crop failure, or yields less than 20% of the standard production method. The major problems associated with rolled cover crops in California included reduced crop seedling emergence, planter impediment with excessive residue, lack of moisture and delay in transplanting of vegetable crops due to continued growth of cover crops, in-season crop competition from cover crop regrowth and impracticability of using cultivators. Further, excessive dry residue during summer in California can present the risk of fire. In both California and Oregon, considerable success has been demonstrated with zone tillage (strip tillage) in conventionally produced field and vegetable crops. In a replicated Oregon trial, the organic strip tillage treatment produced 85% of the broccoli (Brassica oleraceaL.) yield compared to a conventional tillage treatment. Our studies suggest that the zone tillage concept may offer opportunities to overcome many of the agronomic challenges facing no-till.
Food Deprivation Sensitizes Pain Perception
Authors: Pollatos Olga , Herbert Beate M. , Füstös Jürgen , Weimer Katja , Enck Paul , Zipfel Stephan
Published: February 2012

While food deprivation has known effects on sympathovagal balance, little is known about hunger’s influence on the perception of pain. Since autonomic activities influence many cognitive and emotional processes, this suggests that food deprivation should interact with the perception of pain. This study analyzed the possible effects of short-term food deprivation on pain sensitivity in healthy female participants. This study was comprised of 32 healthy female participants who underwent a 48-hr inpatient hospital investigation. Prior to testing, heart rate and heart rate variability were assessed. After a standardized breakfast, day 1 measurements were taken. Food intake was then not allowed again until the following evening for 22 participants (experimental group), while 12 participants were served standard meals (control group). Pain threshold and tolerance were assessed at 10:00 a.m. on both days using a pressure algometer. Additionally pain experience was examined. Food deprivation significantly reduced pain thresholds and tolerance scores in the experimental group. Additionally, the sympathovagal balance changed, characterized by a decrease in parasympathetic activation. Higher vagal withdrawal after food deprivation was associated with higher pain sensitivity in the experimental group. Furthermore, perceived unpleasantness and pain intensity increased for threshold and tolerance stimuli in the experimental group. We conclude that short-term food deprivation sensitized pain perception in healthy females. An imbalance in sympathovagal activation evoked by food deprivation accounted for this effect. Our results might be a pathogenic mechanism for the development of emotional difficulties associated with disturbed eating behavior.
Enhancing Spatial Ability Through Sport Practice
Authors: Moreau David , Clerc Jérome , Mansy-Dannay Annie , Guerrien Alain
Published: February 2012

This experiment investigated the relationship between mental rotation and sport training. Undergraduate university students (n = 62) completed the Mental Rotation Test ( Vandenberg & Kuse, 1978 ), before and after a 10-month training in two different sports, which either involved extensive mental rotation ability (wrestling group) or did not (running group). Both groups showed comparable results in the pretest, but the wrestling group outperformed the running group in the posttest. As expected from previous studies, males outperformed women in the pretest and the posttest. Besides, self-reported data gathered after both sessions indicated an increase in adaptive strategies following training in wrestling, but not subsequent to training in running. These findings demonstrate the significant effect of training in particular sports on mental rotation performance, thus showing consistency with the notion of cognitive plasticity induced from motor training involving manipulation of spatial representations. They are discussed within an embodied cognition framework.
Individual Differences and the Susceptibility to the Influence of Anchoring Cues
Authors: Furnham Adrian , Boo Hua Chu , McClelland Alastair
Published: February 2012

This study looks at individual difference (personality and intelligence) correlates of proneness to anchoring bias. In all, 172 participants completed four anchoring tasks, and in each case there was a significant effect of the high/low anchor. They also completed the NEO-FFI personality test (measuring Neuroticism, Extroversion, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness) as well as two intelligence tests. Only Extroversion was found to be related to individual judgments – and only for one of the tasks. The results are discussed with respect to the literature on individual differences and anchoring bias.
Intelligence and Information Processing
Authors: De Pascalis Vilfredo , Varriale Vincenzo
Published: February 2012

The relationship between mental ability (MA, Raven Progressive Matrices) and speed of information processing was examined by recording mismatch negativity (MMN) parameters from 41 women during passive listening to auditory standard and deviant stimuli with backward masking. The intertone interval (ITI) between the offset of the standard or deviant tone and the onset of the masking tone was varied between conditions (25, 50, or 150 ms). Three versions of a trail-making test (Zahlen-Verbindungs-Test, ZVT) were also presented to obtain a behavioral index of information processing speed. Multiple regression analysis showed that the more difficult versions of the ZVT and midline frontal MMN latency at 25-ms ITI were both significant predictors of MA. Across all ITI conditions, the higher ability (HA) group exhibited a shorter MMN latency than the lower ability (LA) group. Finally, the HA group also had a larger MMN amplitude than the LA group for the 25-ms ITI condition. These results indicate that low-level auditory discrimination, indexed by MMN, contributes to individual differences in fluid intelligence. In this regard, MMN provides a valuable tool for examining individual differences in intelligence in individuals who are not able to comply with psychometric testing.
What Do Music Preferences Reveal About Personality?
Authors: Langmeyer Alexandra , Guglhör-Rudan Angelika , Tarnai Christian
Published: February 2012

The present study is the first to examine the relationship between music preferences and personality among a sample of young Germans (N = 422, age range 21–26 years). We replicated the factor structure of the Short Test of Music Preferences (STOMP, Rentfrow & Gosling, 2003 ) by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The validity of the STOMP was also confirmed for the first time by rating soundclips. The relationship between the dimensions of personality (Big Five Inventory) and music preferences (STOMP and soundclips) was analyzed with a structural equation model (SEM). Gender differences were examined with multigroup analyses (MGA). Our findings corroborate earlier findings on the relationship between music preferences and personality: Individuals open to experience prefer reflective and complex music (e.g., classical) and intense and rebellious music (e.g., rock), whereas they dislike upbeat and conventional types of music (e.g., pop music). Extraverts, on the other hand, prefer upbeat and conventional and energetic and rhythmic types of music (e.g., rap/hip-hop). The results reveal some gender differences.
Nonparametric method for estimating the effects of climatic and catchment characteristics on mean annual evapotranspiration
Authors: Shao Quanxi , Traylen Anthony , Zhang Lu
Published: February 2012

It is now well known that forested catchments have higher evapotranspiration than grassed catchments. Models for mean annual evapotranspiration have been developed to quantify catchment scale differences in mean annual evapotranspiration. Zhang et al. (2001) developed a simple, one parameter, model for the relationships between evapotranspiration and vegetation cover by evaluating the differences of model parameter values for different vegetation covers. However, other factors such as climate and catchment topography may also affect evapotranspiration and therefore the model parameter. Simple models acknowledging only categorical vegetation cover (forested, mixed, and grassed) may introduce some uncertainty, and more seriously, lead to inconsistent conclusions regarding relationships between vegetation cover and evapotranspiration. Zhang et al. (2004) investigated possible inclusion of climatic factors and catchment characteristics to improve the estimation of mean annual evapotranspiration by modeling the residuals of the model parameter via a stepwise linear regression. In this paper we propose the use of a multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) model for estimating the model parameter. In contrast to a simple stepwise regression, the MARS model provides not only insight into the interactions between explanatory factors but also a potential for prediction for ungauged basins as long as the values of explanatory factors are within the domain of calibration catchments. The MARS model is able to determine statistically significant factors and therefore is a powerful tool to identify important factors and their interactions. Using 241 Australian catchments where climate factors and catchment characteristics are available, we found the following significant terms affecting the mean annual evapotranspiration. (1) The functional relationship with the number of months that peak precipitation follows peak potential evapotranspiration (PfE) states that closer phase between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration results in less streamflow. (2) The interactions between coefficient of variation of precipitation and average storm depth shows that the value of the model parameter is smaller when the coefficient of variance of precipitation is larger than 2.24 and the average storm depth is less than 8.70 mm d−1. (3) The interaction between relief ratio and average storm depth term shows that both larger average storm depth in flat catchments and smaller average storm depth in hilly catchments result in more streamflow. (4) The interaction between relief ratio and forest coverage reveals that for flat catchments with reasonable forest cover, increasing forest cover generally results in more mean annual evapotranspiration and less mean annual streamflow. The performance of the MARS model was assessed by a calibration‐testing procedure to support its usage for prediction for ungauged basins.
The effect of CO2 on creep of wet calcite aggregates
Authors: Liteanu E. , Niemeijer A. , Spiers C. J. , Peach C. J. , de Bresser J. H. P.
Published: February 2012

This paper reports uniaxial compaction creep experiments performed on porous calcite aggregates in the presence of CO2 at controlled conditions similar to those relevant for geological storage of CO2 in carbonate reservoirs. The experiments were conducted on pre‐compacted calcite aggregates of various mean grain sizes in the range 1 to 250 μm, under dry and wet conditions, at temperatures of 28–100°C and applied effective stresses of 4–40 MPa. Carbon dioxide was added to wet samples at pressures up to 10 MPa. The results demonstrate that dry granular calcite shows virtually no creep, but that significant creep occurs when saturated aqueous solution is added. In wet samples, the strain rate increases with increasing grain size and applied stress. When CO2 is added from the outset, the strain rate decreases with increasing grain size up to 106 μm, and increases with grain size above 106 μm. Below 106 μm, the strain rate also increases with applied stress and strongly with CO2 (partial) pressure, but decreases with increasing temperature. The mechanical data together with microstructural evidence indicate that combined grain scale microcracking and diffusion controlled pressure solution best explain the behavior observed. Notably, in experiments where CO2 was added before loading, pressure solution dominated creep at fine grain size, giving way to subcritical cracking control at grain sizes above 106 μm. Our results point to pressure solution accelerating by up to 50 times at CO2 pressures increased from 6 to 10 MPa. Integrating our findings, we suggest that if a depleted carbonate reservoir exhibits measurable compaction creep due to diffusion‐controlled pressure solution, then injection of CO2 has the potential to speed this up by amounts up to 50 times or more.
A fully multiple‐criteria implementation of the Sobol′ method for parameter sensitivity analysis
Authors: Rosolem Rafael , Gupta Hoshin V. , Shuttleworth W. James , Zeng Xubin , de Gonçalves Luis Gustavo Gonçalves
Published: February 2012

We present a novel rank‐based fully multiple‐criteria implementation of the Sobol′ variance‐based sensitivity analysis approach that implements an objective strategy to evaluate parameter sensitivity when model evaluation involves several metrics of performance. The method is superior to single‐criterion approaches while avoiding the subjectivity observed in “pseudo” multiple‐criteria methods. Further, it contributes to our understanding of structural characteristics of a model and simplifies parameter estimation by identifying insensitive parameters that can be fixed to default values during model calibration studies. We illustrate the approach by applying it to the problem of identifying the most influential parameters in the Simple Biosphere 3 (SiB3) model using a network of flux towers in Brazil. We find 27–31 (out of 42) parameters to be influential, most (∼78%) of which are primarily associated with physiology, soil, and carbon properties, and that uncertainties in the physiological properties of the model contribute most to total model uncertainty in regard to energy and carbon fluxes. We also find that the second most important model component contributing to the total output uncertainty varies according to the flux analyzed; whereas morphological properties play an important role in sensible heat flux, soil properties are important for latent heat flux, and carbon properties (mainly associated with the soil respiration submodel) are important for carbon flux (as expected). These distinct sensitivities emphasize the need to account for the multioutput nature of land surface models during sensitivity analysis and parameter estimation. Applied to other similar models, our approach can help to establish which soil‐plant‐atmosphere processes matter most in land surface models of Amazonia and thereby aid in the design of field campaigns to characterize and measure the associated parameters. The approach can also be used with other sensitivity analysis procedures that compute at least two model performance metrics.
Short‐term forecasting through intermittent assimilation of data from Taiwan and mainland China coastal radars for Typhoon Meranti (2010) at landfall
Authors: Zhao Kun , Li Xinfeng , Xue Ming , Jou Ben Jong‐Dao , Lee Wen‐Chau
Published: February 2012

Radial velocity (Vr) and reflectivity (Z) data from eight coastal operational radars of mainland China and Taiwan are assimilated for the first time using the ARPS 3DVAR and cloud analysis package for Pacific Typhoon Meranti of 2010. It is shown that the vortex‐scale circulations of Meranti can be adequately established after only 2 hourly assimilation cycles while additional cycles provide more details for subvortex‐scale structures. Subsequent 12 h forecasts of typhoon structure, intensity, track, and precipitation are greatly improved over the one without radar data assimilation. Vr data lead to a larger improvement to the intensity and track forecasts than Z data, while additional Z data further improve the precipitation forecast. Overall, assimilating both Vr and Z data from multiple radars gives the best forecasts. In that case, three local rainfall maxima related to typhoon circulations and their interactions with the complex terrain in the southeast China coastal region are also captured. Assimilating radar data at a lower 3 or 6 hourly frequency leads to a weaker typhoon with larger track forecast errors compared to hourly frequency. An attempt to assimilate additional best track minimum sea level pressure data is also made; it results in more accurate surface pressure analyses, but the benefit is mostly lost within the first hour of forecast. Assimilating data from a single Doppler radar with a good coverage of the typhoon inner core region is also quite effective, but it takes one more cycle to establish circulation analyses of similar quality. The forecasts using multiple radars are still the best.
On the modelling of equatorial waves
Authors: Constantin A.
Published: February 2012

The present theory of geophysical waves that either raise or lower the equatorial thermocline, based on the reduced‐gravity shallow‐water equations on theβ‐plane, ignores vertical variations of the flow. In particular, the vertical structure of the Equatorial Undercurrent is absent. As a remedy we propose a simple approach by modeling this geophysical process as a wave‐current interaction in thef‐plane approximation, the underlying current being of positive constant vorticity. The explicit dispersion relation allows us to conclude that, despite its simplicity, the proposed model captures to a reasonable extent essential features of equatorial waves.
Pro-Angiogenic Effects of Resveratrol in Brain Endothelial Cells: Nitric Oxide-Mediated Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Metalloproteinases
Authors: Simão Fabricio , Pagnussat Aline S , Seo Ji Hae , Navaratna Deepti , Leung Wendy , Lok Josephine , Guo Shuzhen , Waeber Christian , Salbego Christianne G , Lo Eng H
Published: February 2012

Resveratrol may be a powerful way of protecting the brain against a wide variety of stress and injury. Recently, it has been proposed that resveratrol not only reduces brain injury but also promotes recovery after stroke. But the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that resveratrol promotes angiogenesis in cerebral endothelial cells and dissected the signaling pathways involved. Treatment of cerebral endothelial cells with resveratrol promoted proliferation, migration, and tube formation in Matrigel assays. Consistent with these pro-angiogenic responses, resveratrol altered endothelial morphology resulting in cytoskeletal rearrangements of β-catenin and VE-cadherin. These effects of resveratrol were accompanied by activation of phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3-K)/Akt and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/ERK signaling pathways that led to endothelial nitric oxide synthase upregulation and increased nitric oxide (NO) levels. Subsequently, elevated NO signaling increased vascular endothelial growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase levels. Sequential blockade of these signaling steps prevented resveratrol-induced angiogenesis in cerebral endothelial cells. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the potential use of resveratrol as a candidate therapy to promote angiogenesis and neurovascular recovery after stroke.
Overweight and Obesity in Military Personnel: Sociodemographic Predictors
Authors: Smith Tracey J. , Marriott Bernadette P. , Dotson Laura , Bathalon Gaston P. , Funderburk LesLee , White Alan , Hadden Louise , Young Andrew J.
Published: February 2012

In the United States, nationally representative civilian studies have shown that BMI is associated with select sociodemographic characteristics. Active‐duty military personnel are not included in these surveys and the persistence of these associations in military personnel is unknown. Data from the worldwide, representative 2002 and 2005 Department of Defense (DoD) Surveys of Health‐Related Behaviors Among Active Duty Military Personnel were used to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity and, the association of BMI with sociodemographic characteristics. The final response bases included 12,756 (2002) and 16,146 (2005) personnel. Results indicated that the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity in military personnel increased to an all‐time high in 2005 (60.5%) with higher prevalence of obesity in 2005 compared to 2002 (12.9% vs. 8.7, respectively, P ≤ 0.01). Holding other variables constant, regression analysis indicated that women were significantly less likely than men to be overweight or obese in both survey years (P ≤ 0.0001), which is contrary to civilian data. Similar to civilian data, the prevalence of obesity was significantly associated with increased age, black or Hispanic/Latino race/ethnicity, and being married (P ≤ 0.01). US military personnel are not immune to the US obesity epidemic. Demographic characteristics associated with being overweight should be considered when developing military‐sponsored weight management programs.
Characterization of and functional evidence for Ste27 of Streptomyces sp. 139 as a novel spermine/spermidine acetyltransferase
Authors: Zhang Yang , Zhou Jinming , Chang Ming , Bai Liping , Shan Junjie , Yao Chen , Jiang Rong , Guo Lianhong , Zhang Ren , Wu Jiangbo , Li Yuan
Published: February 2012

Ebosin, a novel exopolysaccharide produced by Streptomyces sp. 139, has remarkable anti-rheumatoid arthritis activity in vivo and its biosynthesis gene cluster (ste) consists of 27 ORFs (open reading frames). The present paper reports our study of the protein product encoded by ste27. Database searching reveals the homology of Ste27 with some spermidine/spermine acetyltransferases. To confirm the prediction, the ste27 gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells and recombinant Ste27 was purified. The following enzymatic analysis revealed its ability of transferring the acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to spermidine and spermine, with spermidine being the preferred substrate. Ste27 can acetylate the N1, N4 and N8 positions on spermidine. The Km values of Ste27 were determined for spermidine and spermine, as well as for acetyl-CoA, poly-L-lysine and glucosamine 6-phosphate. Upon gene knockout, the exopolysaccharide-27m produced by the mutant strain Streptomyces sp. 139 (ste27−), compared with Ebosin, exhibited a significantly reduced binding activity to the interleukin-1 receptor. After gene complementation, the binding activity was partially restored. This demonstrated that the ste27 gene is involved in the biosynthesis of Ebosin. Molecular modelling was also carried out to predict the binding mode of Ste27 with acetyl-CoA, spermidine or spermine.
Effective change management in a regional Sub-acute Ambulatory Care Services setting
Authors: Campbell Bruce W.
Published: February 2012

Government policies and community expectations in Australia continually lead to calls for healthcare change. These changes are often met with resistance from clinicians and managers. Making change happen requires consideration of the way policies, culture, context, shared vision and leadership can drive or impede change. This reflective case study critically investigates one change process; the evolution of a Sub-acute Ambulatory Care Services (SACS) program in an Australian regional hospital over a 3-year period. The new Community Rehabilitation Services (CRS) program evolved from a merger of Centre and Home Based Rehabilitation (CBR and HBR). Hospital amalgamations, closures and privatisation, and the Department of Health policy relating to SACS, ambulatory care and rehabilitation were some of the key elements explored in this paper.

What is known about the topic?
Healthcare is an industry constantly focussed on improving services and care to patients. There has been a lot written about change management in healthcare. Change can be difficult to implement and is a dynamic phenomenon. There are many factors which can assist or hinder change.

What does this paper add?
This reflective case study outlines the change process in this particular regional healthcare setting context within a multidisciplinary team. This paper adds to the body of knowledge by considering the influences of the unique history and culture of the setting, and the complex interrelated nature of factors which can affect change.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Healthcare service managers need to understand that the change process is complex and can be confusing. Government policy constantly drives change in this industry to improve patient care, but how an organisation works through this is unique to the setting. One size does not fit all, and understanding the organisation, staff, culture and having a vision at that point in time is an essential prerequisite. Any change requires working with people who need time to adapt, up skill and learn new processes and procedures. Reanalysing the change process and being flexible during the journey can assist in reaching the desired change outcome.
Do Indigenous Australians age prematurely? The implications of life expectancy and health conditions of older Indigenous people for health and aged care policy
Authors: Cotter Philippa R. , Condon John R. , Barnes Tony , Anderson Ian P. S. , Smith Leonard R. , Cunningham Teresa
Published: February 2012

Objective.
To assess whether Indigenous Australians age prematurely compared with other Australians, as implied by Australian Government aged care policy, which uses age 50 years and over for population-based planning for Indigenous people compared with 70 years for non-indigenous people.

Methods.
Cross-sectional analysis of aged care assessment, hospital and health survey data comparing Indigenous and non-indigenous age-specific prevalence of health conditions. Analysis of life tables for Indigenous and non-indigenous populations comparing life expectancy at different ages.

Results.
At age 63 for women and age 65 for men, Indigenous people had the same life expectancy as non-indigenous people at age 70. There is no consistent pattern of a 20-year lead in age-specific prevalence of age-associated conditions for Indigenous compared with other Australians. There is high prevalence from middle-age onwards of some conditions, particularly diabetes (type unspecified), but there is little or no lead for others.

Conclusion.
The idea that Indigenous people age prematurely is not well supported by this study of a series of discrete conditions. The current focus and type of services provided by the aged care sector may not be the best way to respond to the excessive burden of chronic disease and disability of middle-aged Indigenous people.

What is known about the topic?
The empirical basis for the Australian Government’s use of age 50 for Indigenous aged care planning, compared to age 70 for the non-indigenous population, is not well established. It is not clear whether Indigenous people’s poorer health outcomes and lower life expectancy are associated with premature ageing.

What does this paper add?
This paper compares Indigenous and non-indigenous life expectancy and prevalence of health conditions. Only some conditions associated with ageing appear to affect Indigenous people earlier than other Australians. The proposition of premature ageing based on this explanatory framework is uncertain. The estimated gap between Indigenous and non-indigenous life expectancy in later life is ~6 years.

What are the implications for practitioners?
The current rationale for using a lower Indigenous planning age is problematic; however, further research is required to assess the effectiveness of this policy measure. The much higher prevalence of preventable chronic conditions among Indigenous Australians in middle-age groups is clear. The ‘early ageing’ frame can imply irremediable disability and disease. The aged care sector may be filling gaps in other services. The community care services for this group require a more tailored approach than simply lowering the planning age for aged care services.
A neurophysiological–metabolic model for burst suppression
Authors: Ching ShiNung , Purdon Patrick L. , Vijayan Sujith , Kopell Nancy J. , Brown Emery N.
Published: February 2012

Burst suppression is an electroencepholagram (EEG) pattern in which high-voltage activity alternates with isoelectric quiescence. It is characteristic of an inactivated brain and is commonly observed at deep levels of general anesthesia, hypothermia, and in pathological conditions such as coma and early infantile encephalopathy. We propose a unifying mechanism for burst suppression that accounts for all of these conditions. By constructing a biophysical computational model, we show how the prevailing features of burst suppression may arise through the interaction between neuronal dynamics and brain metabolism. In each condition, the model suggests that a decrease in cerebral metabolic rate, coupled with the stabilizing properties of ATP-gated potassium channels, leads to the characteristic epochs of suppression. Consequently, the model makes a number of specific predictions of experimental and clinical relevance.
Dam Removal and Implications for Fish Health: Ceratomyxa shasta in the Williamson River, Oregon, USA
Authors: Hurst Charlene N. , Holt Richard A. , Bartholomew Jerri L.
Published: February 2012

The removal of dams on a river is one potential tool for the ecological restoration of native salmonid fishes. However, the removal of barriers also introduces risks, such as the introduction of fish pathogens into previously isolated populations. The proposed removal of four dams on the Klamath River, Oregon–California, provides an opportunity for examining the disease risks associated with dam removal. A salmonid pathogen endemic to the region, Ceratomyxa shasta, is responsible for high mortality in juvenile Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and coho salmon O. kisutch below the dams. Above the dams, parasite densities are lower and not implicated in salmonid mortality, except in the Williamson River tributary, where high parasite densities raise concerns over the restoration of anadromous fish that are likely to take advantage of spawning habitat in that river. In the current study, baseline information on parasite density, distribution, and genotype composition in the Williamson River was gathered to determine how salmonid reintroduction might be affected by parasite dynamics. Assay of water samples highlighted two areas of high parasite density: between the mouth of the Williamson River and the confluence of the Sprague River tributary, and above the Spring Creek confluence. Despite these high parasite densities, mortality did not occur in sentinel coho or Chinook salmon. Genetic analyses of parasites from water samples and infected fish demonstrated that C. shasta genotype II was dominant and was associated with stocked nonnative rainbow trout O. mykiss. The absence of pathogenicity of this parasite genotype for Chinook and coho salmon suggests that reintroduction plans will not initially be adversely affected by the high parasite densities in the Williamson River. However, following dam removal, returning adult salmon will transport parasite genotypes present below the dams upstream. These genotypes are likely to become established and may reach densities that could affect juvenile Chinook and coho salmon.

Received December 21, 2010; accepted August 17, 2011
Habitat for Age-0 Shovelnose Sturgeon and Pallid Sturgeon in a Large River: Interactions among Abiotic Factors, Food, and Energy Intake
Authors: Sechler Dawn R. , Phelps Quinton E. , Tripp Sara J. , Garvey James E. , Herzog David P. , Ostendorf David E. , Ridings Joseph W. , Crites Jason W. , Hrabik Robert A.
Published: February 2012

The main stems of large rivers throughout the world have been highly modified with little consideration for effects on fishes that rely on these areas to complete their life histories. Particularly important is the ability of riverine habitats to provide foraging opportunities for young fish. We explored how temperature, flow, and food availability influenced diet content, prey selection (Strauss's linear selectivity index), and energy condition of age-0 shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus and pallid sturgeon S. albus in major habitat areas (e.g., islands, channel borders, wing dikes, and side channels) of the middle Mississippi River during spring (March–May) and summer (June–August) 2008. Standardized diet mass (dry mass standardized for fish body mass) of the age-0 sturgeon peaked at about 19°C and at a flow velocity of 0.5 m/s. Although potential prey taxa were diverse, the diets for age-0 sturgeon of all sizes were dominated by mayflies (Ephemeroptera) and midge larvae (Chironomidae) across all habitats. As age-0 sturgeon grew, the relative energy return per habitat appeared to diverge; island tips upstream of the main channel and channel border areas behind wing dikes provided higher gains in standardized diet mass than other habitats. No differences in energy condition (kJ/g) occurred among habitats, although large (51–200 mm total length [TL]) age-0 sturgeon had higher energy densities than their small (≤50 mm TL) counterparts. Enhancement of areas with flow and substrates that facilitate the production and availability of midges and mayflies (e.g., instream island complexes) is critical for the recruitment of age-0 Scaphirhynchus sturgeon in large rivers.

Received August 2, 2011; accepted October 6, 2011
Hookah Use Among U.S. College Students: Results From the National College Health Assessment II
Authors: Jarrett Traci , Blosnich John , Tworek Cindy , Horn Kimberly
Published: February 2012

Introduction:

Tobacco use is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Hookah use is a growing tobacco trend among young adults; yet little is known about how young adult college student hookah smokers differ from nonsmokers or cigarette smokers.

Methods:

Results from 18- to 24-year-old participants in the Fall 2008–Spring 2009 National College Health Assessment II (N = 82,155) were used in multinomial logistic regression models to compare nonsmokers, cigarette-only smokers, hookah-only smokers, and dual (cigarette and hookah) users.

Results:

Ten percent of the sample reported hookah use in the last 30 days. Compared with nonsmokers, cigarette, hookah, and dual users were more likely to be younger, male, White, and use other substances (including alcohol). Compared with nonsmokers, hookah and dual users were more likely to be members of fraternities/sororities (odds ratio [OR] = 1.17 and 1.14, respectively), live in the West (OR = 1.49 and 1.31, respectively), and attend larger institutions. Compared with cigarette-only smokers, hookah and dual users were more likely to be younger, male, live on campus, live in the West, attend large institutions, and were less likely to attend public institutions. Compared with cigarette-only smokers, hookah-only users were more likely to be non-White and less likely to use marijuana or other drugs.

Conclusions:

Hookah-only and dual users are demographically different than cigarette-only or nonsmoking college students. Interventions for tobacco use on college campuses should address the demographic differences among tobacco users (including polysubstance use) and attempt to recruit students as entering freshman to provide education and prevent hookah use uptake.
Negotiating with Labor under Financial Distress
Authors: Benmelech Efraim , Bergman Nittai K. , Enriquez Ricardo J.
Published: February 2012

We analyze how firms renegotiate labor contracts to extract concessions from labor. While anecdotal evidence suggests that firms tend to renegotiate wages downward in times of financial distress, there is no empirical evidence that documents such renegotiation, its determinants, and its magnitude. This article attempts to fill this gap. Using a unique data set of airlines, which includes detailed information on wages and pension plans, we document an empirical link between airline financial distress, pension underfunding, and wage concessions. (JEL G23, G33, J31, J33, L93)
Assessing Systemicity of Peanut Fungicides Through Bioassay of Plant Tissues with Sclerotium rolfsii
Authors: Augusto J. , Brenneman T. B.
Published: February 2012

To better understand movement of systemic fungicides in peanut (Arachis hypogaea), three terminal, fully expanded leaves of primary lateral branches of ‘Tifrunner’ peanut were treated with prothioconazole + tebuconazole (Provost, 0.29 kg a.i./ha), azoxystrobin (Abound, 0.31 kg a.i./ha), or flutolanil (Moncut, 0.79 kg a.i./ha) in field experiments. Basipetal leaves and pods on the same branch with the treated leaves were sequentially numbered from 1 to 3, with 1 being closest to treated foliage. These nontreated tissues, with newly formed terminal leaves, were sampled 4, 8, and 12 days after treatment for bioassay with Sclerotium rolfsii. All fungicides protected new acropetal leaves while prothioconazole + tebuconazole also provided some inhibition of S. rolfsii in nontreated basipetal leaves but no fungicide protected pods. In the greenhouse, applications of prothioconazole + tebuconazole or prothioconazole (Proline, 0.18 kg a.i./ha) to main stems of ‘Georgia Green’ provided some protection to leaves from nontreated cotyledonary branches sampled 14 days after last treatment but S. rolfsii was not inhibited on nontreated roots, stems, or pods. The results demonstrate acropetal protection by all fungicides evaluated, and indicate that prothioconazole + tebuconazole or prothioconazole applied to foliage can sometimes reduce diseases in the lower, nontreated portions of the plant.
Golovinomyces biocellatus on Oregano (Origanum vulgare ‘Compactum’) in Italy
Authors: Garibaldi A. , Bertetti D. , Martini P. , Repetto L. , Gullino M. L.
Published: February 2012

Origanum vulgare L., common name oregano, also known as pot marjoram, Lamiaceae family, is grown for its aromatic and medicinal properties and as an ornamental. In particular, O. vulgare ‘Compactum’ is becoming popular as a potted plant. During January 2011, 3-month-old plants grown on a commercial farm located near Albenga (northern Italy) showed signs and symptoms of an unknown powdery mildew. Ninety percent of the plants were affected. The adaxial leaf surfaces were covered with white mycelia and conidia, while the abaxial surfaces were less infected. As the disease progressed, infected leaves turned yellow, wilted, and eventually fell off. Mycelia were also observed on stems. Conidia were hyaline, elliptical, borne single or in short chains (three to four conidia per chain), and measured 37.9 × 19.6 (31.2 to 45.1 × 14.9 to 26.2) μm. Conidiophores were erect with a cylindrical foot cell measuring 81.1 × 9.7 (54.2 to 112.4 × 7.9 to 11.6) μm followed by two to three shorter cells measuring 26.8 × 11.8 (16.6 to 38.1 × 8.5 to 15.3) μm. Fibrosin bodies were absent. Chasmothecia were not observed in the collected samples. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified with the primers ITS1F/ITS4 and sequenced (3) (GenBank Accession No. JN594608). The 560-bp amplicon had 99% homology with the sequence of Golovinomyces biocellatus (GenBank Accession No. AB307675). Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation by spraying a conidial suspension (6 × 104 CFU/ml) prepared from diseased leaves onto leaves of healthy O. vulgare ‘Compactum’ plants. Four plants were inoculated while the same number of noninoculated plants served as a control. Plants were maintained in a glasshouse at temperatures ranging from 23 to 28°C. Ten days after inoculation, typical symptoms of powdery mildew developed on inoculated plants. The fungus observed on inoculated plants was morphologically identical to that originally observed. Noninoculated plants did not show symptoms. The pathogenicity test was carried out twice. G. biocellatus on O. vulgare has been reported in Switzerland (2) and Argentina (4) and it is present on other plant genera in Italy. In Italy, on the same host, attacks of Erysiphe galeopsis have been previously reported (1). The economic importance of this disease is currently limited due to limited planting of this species. However, in the last years, potted aromatic plants represent a steady increasing crop in Italy. Voucher specimens are available at the Agroinnova Collection, University of Torino.

References: (1) K. Amano. Host Range and Geographical Distribution of the Powdery Mildew Fungi. Japan Science Society Press, Tokyo, 1986. (2) A. Bolay. Cryptog. Helv. 20:1, 2005. (3) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al., eds. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990. (4) S. M. Wolcan. J. Plant Patho. 91:501, 2009.
Selective bird predation on the peppered moth: the last experiment of Michael Majerus
Authors: Cook L. M. , Grant B. S. , Saccheri I. J. , Mallet J.
Published: February 2012

Colour variation in the peppered mothBiston betulariawas long accepted to be under strong natural selection. Melanics were believed to be fitter than pale morphs because of lower predation at daytime resting sites on dark, sooty bark. Melanics became common during the industrial revolution, but since 1970 there has been a rapid reversal, assumed to have been caused by predators selecting against melanics resting on today's less sooty bark. Recently, these classical explanations of melanism were attacked, and there has been general scepticism about birds as selective agents. Experiments and observations were accordingly carried out by Michael Majerus to address perceived weaknesses of earlier work. Unfortunately, he did not live to publish the results, which are analysed and presented here by the authors. Majerus released 4864 moths in his six-year experiment, the largest ever attempted for any similar study. There was strong differential bird predation against melanic peppered moths. Daily selection against melanics (s≃ 0.1) was sufficient in magnitude and direction to explain the recent rapid decline of melanism in post-industrial Britain. These data provide the most direct evidence yet to implicate camouflage and bird predation as the overriding explanation for the rise and fall of melanism in moths.
Primate communication in the pure ultrasound
Authors: Ramsier Marissa A. , Cunningham Andrew J. , Moritz Gillian L. , Finneran James J. , Williams Cathy V. , Ong Perry S. , Gursky-Doyen Sharon L. , Dominy Nathaniel J.
Published: February 2012

Few mammals—cetaceans, domestic cats and select bats and rodents—can send and receive vocal signals contained within the ultrasonic domain, or pure ultrasound (greater than 20 kHz). Here, we use the auditory brainstem response (ABR) method to demonstrate that a species of nocturnal primate, the Philippine tarsier (
Tarsius syrichta
), has a high-frequency limit of auditory sensitivity of
ca
91 kHz. We also recorded a vocalization with a dominant frequency of 70 kHz. Such values are among the highest recorded for any terrestrial mammal, and a relatively extreme example of ultrasonic communication. For Philippine tarsiers, ultrasonic vocalizations might represent a private channel of communication that subverts detection by predators, prey and competitors, enhances energetic efficiency, or improves detection against low-frequency background noise.
Lost at sea: genetic, oceanographic and meteorological evidence for storm-forced dispersal
Authors: Monzón-Argüello C. , Dell'Amico F. , Morinière P. , Marco A. , López-Jurado L. F. , Hays Graeme C. , Scott Rebecca , Marsh Robert , Lee Patricia L. M.
Published: February 2012

For many species, there is broad-scale dispersal of juvenile stages and/or long-distance migration of individuals and hence the processes that drive these various wide-ranging movements have important life-history consequences. Sea turtles are one of these paradigmatic long-distance travellers, with hatchlings thought to be dispersed by ocean currents and adults often shuttling between distant breeding and foraging grounds. Here, we use multi-disciplinary oceanographic, atmospheric and genetic mixed stock analyses to show that juvenile turtles are encountered ‘downstream’ at sites predicted by currents. However, in some cases, unusual occurrences of juveniles are more readily explained by storm events and we show that juvenile turtles may be displaced thousands of kilometres from their expected dispersal based on prevailing ocean currents. As such, storms may be a route by which unexpected areas are encountered by juveniles which may in turn shape adult migrations. Increased stormy weather predicted under climate change scenarios suggests an increasing role of storms in dispersal of sea turtles and other marine groups with life-stages near the ocean surface.
High-resolution microrheology in the pericellular matrix of prostate cancer cells
Authors: Nijenhuis Nadja , Mizuno Daisuke , Spaan Jos A. E. , Schmidt Christoph F.
Published: February 2012

Many cells express a membrane-coupled external mechanical layer, the pericellular matrix (PCM), which often contains long-chain polymers. Its role and properties are not entirely known, but its functions are believed to include physical protection, mechanosensing, chemical signalling or lubrication. The viscoelastic response of the PCM, with polysaccharides as the main structural components, is therefore crucial for the understanding of its function. We have here applied microrheology, based on optically trapped micrometre-sized colloids, to the PCM of cultured PC3 prostate cancer cells. This technology allowed us to measure the extremely soft response of the PCM, with approximately 1 µm height resolution. Exogenously added aggrecan, a hyaluronan-binding proteoglycan, caused a remarkable increase in thickness of the viscoelastic layer and also triggered filopodia-like protrusions. The viscoelastic response of the PCM, however, did not change significantly.