bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Microbial Community Structure in Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrates: Comparative Analysis of DNA- and RNA-Derived Clone Libraries
Authors: Mills Heath J. , Martinez Robert J. , Story Sandra , Sobecky Patricia A.
Published: June 2005

The characterization of microbial assemblages within solid gas hydrate, especially those that may be physiologically active under in situ hydrate conditions, is essential to gain a better understanding of the effects and contributions of microbial activities in Gulf of Mexico (GoM) hydrate ecosystems. In this study, the composition of the
Bacteria
and
Archaea
communities was determined by 16S rRNA phylogenetic analyses of clone libraries derived from RNA and DNA extracted from sediment-entrained hydrate (SEH) and interior hydrate (IH). The hydrate was recovered from an exposed mound located in the northern GoM continental slope with a hydrate chipper designed for use on the manned-submersible
Johnson Sea Link
(water depth, 550 m). Previous geochemical analyses indicated that there was increased metabolic activity in the SEH compared to the IH layer (B. N. Orcutt, A. Boetius, S. K. Lugo, I. R. Macdonald, V. A. Samarkin, and S. Joye, Chem. Geol. 205:239-251). Phylogenetic analysis of RNA- and DNA-derived clones indicated that there was greater diversity in the SEH libraries than in the IH libraries. A majority of the clones obtained from the metabolically active fraction of the microbial community were most closely related to putative sulfate-reducing bacteria and anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea. Several novel bacterial and archaeal phylotypes for which there were no previously identified closely related cultured isolates were detected in the RNA- and DNA-derived clone libraries. This study was the first phylogenetic analysis of the metabolically active fraction of the microbial community extant in the distinct SEH and IH layers of GoM gas hydrate.
Influence of Glutamate on Growth, Sporulation, and Spore Properties ofBacillus cereusATCC 14579 in Defined Medium
Authors: de Vries Ynte P. , Atmadja Ratna D. , Hornstra Luc M. , de Vos Willem M. , Abee Tjakko
Published: June 2005

A chemically defined medium in combination with an airlift fermentor system was used to study the growth and sporulation ofBacillus cereusATCC 14579. The medium contained six amino acids and lactate as the main carbon sources. The amino acids were depleted during exponential growth, while lactate was metabolized mainly during stationary phase. Two concentrations of glutamate were used: high (20 mM; YLHG) and low (2.5 mM; YLLG). Under both conditions, sporulation was complete and synchronous. Sporulation started and was completed while significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen sources were still present in the medium, indicating that starvation was not the trigger for sporulation. Analysis of amino acids and NH4+in the culture supernatant showed that most of the nitrogen assimilated by the bacteria was taken up during sporulation. The consumption of glutamate depended on the initial concentration; in YLLG, all of the glutamate was used early during exponential growth, while in YLHG, almost all of the glutamate was used during sporulation. In YLLG, but not in YLHG, NH4+was taken up by the cells during sporulation. The total amount of nitrogen used by the bacteria in YLLG was less than that used by the bacteria in YLHG, although a significant amount of NH4+was present in the medium throughout sporulation. Despite these differences, growth and temporal expression of key sigma factors involved in sporulation were parallel, indicating that the genetic time frames of sporulation were similar under both conditions. Nevertheless, in YLHG, dipicolinic acid production started later and the spores were released from the mother cells much later than in YLLG. Notably, spores had a higher heat resistance when obtained after growth in YLHG than when obtained after growth in YLLG, and the spores germinated more rapidly and completely in response to inosine,l-alanine, and a combination of these two germinants.
Rational Design of a
Corynebacterium glutamicum
Pantothenate Production Strain and Its Characterization by Metabolic Flux Analysis and Genome-Wide Transcriptional Profiling
Authors: Hüser Andrea T. , Chassagnole Christophe , Lindley Nic D. , Merkamm Muriel , Guyonvarch Armel , Elišáková Veronika , Pátek Miroslav , Kalinowski Jörn , Brune Iris , Pühler Alfred , Tauch Andreas
Published: June 2005

A “second-generation” production strain was derived from a
Corynebacterium glutamicum
pantothenate producer by rational design to assess its potential to synthesize and accumulate the vitamin pantothenate by batch cultivation. The new pantothenate production strain carries a deletion of the
ilvA
gene to abolish isoleucine synthesis, the promoter down-mutation P-
ilvE
M3 to attenuate
ilvE
gene expression and thereby increase ketoisovalerate availability, and two compatible plasmids to overexpress the
ilvBNCD
genes and duplicated copies of the
panBC
operon. Production assays in shake flasks revealed that the P-
ilvE
M3 mutation and the duplication of the
panBC
operon had cumulative effects on pantothenate production. During pH-regulated batch cultivation, accumulation of 8 mM pantothenate was achieved, which is the highest value reported for
C. glutamicum
. Metabolic flux analysis during the fermentation demonstrated that the P-
ilvE
M3 mutation successfully reoriented the carbon flux towards pantothenate biosynthesis. Despite this repartition of the carbon flux, ketoisovalerate not converted to pantothenate was excreted by the cell and dissipated as by-products (ketoisocaproate,
dl
-2,3,-dihydroxy-isovalerate, ketopantoate, pantoate), which are indicative of saturation of the pantothenate biosynthetic pathway. Genome-wide expression analysis of the production strain during batch cultivation was performed by whole-genome DNA microarray hybridization and agglomerative hierarchical clustering, which detected the enhanced expression of genes involved in leucine biosynthesis, in serine and glycine formation, in regeneration of methylenetetrahydrofolate, in de novo synthesis of nicotinic acid mononucleotide, and in a complete pathway of acyl coenzyme A conversion. Our strategy not only successfully improved pantothenate production by genetically modified
C. glutamicum
strains but also revealed new constraints in attaining high productivity.
Novel Carotenoid Oxidase Involved in Biosynthesis of 4,4′-Diapolycopene Dialdehyde
Authors: Tao Luan , Schenzle Andreas , Odom J. Martin , Cheng Qiong
Published: June 2005

Biosynthesis of C
30
carotenoids is relatively restricted in nature but has been described in
Staphylococcus
and in methylotrophic bacteria. We report here identification of a novel gene (
crtNb
) involved in conversion of 4,4′-diapolycopene to 4,4′-diapolycopene aldehyde. An aldehyde dehydrogenase gene (
ald
) responsible for the subsequent oxidation of 4,4′-diapolycopene aldehyde to 4,4′-diapolycopene acid was also identified in
Methylomonas
. CrtNb has significant sequence homology with diapophytoene desaturases (CrtN). However, data from knockout of
crtNb
and expression of
crtNb
in
Escherichia coli
indicated that CrtNb is not a desaturase but rather a novel carotenoid oxidase catalyzing oxidation of the terminal methyl group(s) of 4,4′-diaponeurosporene and 4,4′-diapolycopene to the corresponding terminal aldehyde. It has moderate to low activity on neurosporene and lycopene and no activity on β-carotene or ζ-carotene. Using a combination of C
30
carotenoid synthesis genes from
Staphylococcus
and
Methylomonas
, 4,4′-diapolycopene dialdehyde was produced in
E. coli
as the predominant carotenoid. This C
30
dialdehyde is a dark-reddish purple pigment that may have potential uses in foods and cosmetics.
Characteristics and Living Patterns of Marine Myxobacterial Isolates
Authors: Zhang Yu-qing , Li Yue-zhong , Wang Bing , Wu Zhi-hong , Zhang Cui-ying , Gong Xun , Qiu Zhi-jun , Zhang Yong
Published: June 2005

The growth, morphology, and life cycle of two marine myxobacterial isolates, halotolerant
Myxococcus fulvus
strain HW-1 and halophilic
Haliangium ochraceum
strain SMP-2, were studied as models to determine the living patterns of myxobacteria in the ocean. The growth, morphology, and development of halotolerant strain HW-1 shifted in response to salinity. The optimal seawater concentration for growth of HW-1 was 0 to 80% (salinity, 0.1 to 2.9%), and the strain grew poorly in media with a salinity of more than 4%. The cells became shorter as the seawater concentration increased. The fruiting body structure was complete only on agar prepared with low concentrations of seawater or salts (less than 60% seawater; salinity, 2.1%), and rudimentary structures or even simple cell mounds appeared as the seawater concentration increased. In contrast, the halophilic strain SMP-2 was unable to grow without NaCl. The cell length and the morphology of the fruiting body-like structure did not change in response to salts. In seawater liquid medium, the cells of both strains were confirmed to be able to form myxospores directly from vegetative cells, but they could not do so in medium containing a low seawater concentration (10% or less). HW-1 cells from medium containing a high concentration of seawater grew independent of cell density, while cells from medium containing a low concentration of seawater (10% or less) showed density-dependent growth. SMP-2 cells showed density-dependent growth under all salinity conditions. The results suggest that the halotolerant myxobacteria are the result of degenerative adaptation of soil myxobacteria to the marine environment, while the halophilic myxobacteria form a different evolutionary group that is indigenous to the ocean.
Surface Display of Recombinant Proteins on
Bacillus thuringiensis
Spores
Authors: Du Cheng , Chan Wing C. , McKeithan Timothy W. , Nickerson Kenneth W.
Published: June 2005

The insecticidal protoxin from
Bacillus thuringiensis
has been shown to be a major component of the spore coat. We have developed a novel surface display system using
B. thuringiensis
spores in which the N-terminal portion of the protoxin is replaced with a heterologous protein. The expression vector with a sporulation-specific promoter was successfully used to display green fluorescent protein and a single-chain antibody (scFv) gene that encodes anti-4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyl-2-oxazolin-5-one (anti-phOx) antibody. The spores that carry the anti-phOx antibody can bind to phOx specifically.
Genomic DNA Amplification from a Single Bacterium
Authors: Raghunathan Arumugham , Ferguson Harley R. , Bornarth Carole J. , Song Wanmin , Driscoll Mark , Lasken Roger S.
Published: June 2005

Genomic DNA was amplified about 5 billion-fold from single, flow-sorted bacterial cells by the multiple displacement amplification (MDA) reaction, using φ 29 DNA polymerase. A 662-bp segment of the 16S rRNA gene could be accurately sequenced from the amplified DNA. MDA methods enable new strategies for studying nonculturable microorganisms.
Occurrence of Drug-Resistant Bacteria in Two European Eel Farms
Authors: Alcaide Elena , Blasco María-Dolores , Esteve Consuelo
Published: June 2005

The occurrence of strains that are resistant to oxolinic acid, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and nitrofurantoin among heterotrophic bacteria, including human and fish pathogens, in two freshwater eel farms was investigated. High levels of individual- and multiple-drug-resistant bacteria were detected, although sampling events were not correlated with clinical outbreaks and drug therapy.
Evaluation of Agar Plates for Direct Enumeration of
Campylobacter
spp. from Poultry Carcass Rinses
Authors: Oyarzabal Omar A. , Macklin Kenneth S. , Barbaree James M. , Miller Robert S.
Published: June 2005

Campy-Cefex, a modification of Campy-Cefex, modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate (mCCDA), Karmali, CAMPY, and Campy-Line agars were evaluated for their efficiency to isolate and enumerate
Campylobacter
spp. from poultry carcass rinses. Campy-Cefex and its modification produced the best results but were statistically similar to CAMPY, mCCDA, and Karmali.
Anaerobic Degradation of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and
o
-Xylene in Sediment-Free Iron-Reducing Enrichment Cultures
Authors: Jahn Michael K. , Haderlein Stefan B. , Meckenstock Rainer U.
Published: June 2005

Monoaromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are widespread contaminants in groundwater. We examined the anaerobic degradation of BTEX compounds with amorphous ferric oxide as electron acceptor. Successful enrichment cultures were obtained for all BTEX substrates both in the presence and absence of AQDS (9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid). The electron balances showed a complete anaerobic oxidation of the aromatic compounds to CO
2
. This is the first report on the anaerobic degradation of
o
-xylene and ethylbenzene in sediment-free iron-reducing enrichment cultures.
Environmental Contamination with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci from Hospital Sewage in Portugal
Authors: Novais Carla , Coque Teresa M. , Ferreira Helena , Sousa João Carlos , Peixe Luisa
Published: June 2005

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were detected in samples of sewage obtained downstream of hospitals of the Porto area in Portugal, and in samples from the Douro Estuary. Clonal analysis, Tn
1546
typing, and presence of putative virulence traits indicate the clinical origin of these isolates. This observation highlights the importance of hospital sewage in the VRE contamination of the environment.
Large-Scale Engineering of the
Corynebacterium glutamicum
Genome
Authors: Suzuki Nobuaki , Okayama Satoshi , Nonaka Hiroshi , Tsuge Yota , Inui Masayuki , Yukawa Hideaki
Published: June 2005

The engineering of
Corynebacterium glutamicum
is important for enhanced production of biochemicals. To construct an improved
C. glutamicum
genome, we developed a precise genome excision method based on the Cre/
loxP
recombination system and successfully deleted 11 distinct genomic regions identified by comparative analysis of
C. glutamicum
genomes. Despite the loss of several predicted open reading frames, the mutant cells exhibited normal growth under standard laboratory conditions. With a total of 250 kb (7.5% of the genome), the 11 genomic regions were loaded with cryptic prophages, transposons, and genes of unknown function which were dispensable for cell growth, indicating recent horizontal acquisitions to the genome. This provides an interesting background for functional genomic studies and can be used in the improvement of cell traits.
Bacteriocin from Honeybee Beebread
Enterococcus
avium
, Active against
Listeria
monocytogenes
Authors: Audisio M. Carina , Terzolo Horacio R. , Apella María C.
Published: June 2005

Enterococcus
avium
isolated from
Apis
mellifera
beebread produces a thermoresistant bacteriocin with a strain-dependent inhibitory effect on
Listeria
and without effect on gram-negative bacteria. The bacteriocin appeared to be a polypeptide of about 6 kDa. Genetic analyses revealed no extrachromosomal material in
E. avium
.
Glutamine Synthesis Is Essential for Growth of
Streptococcus thermophilus
in Milk and Is Linked to Urea Catabolism
Authors: Monnet Christophe , Mora Diego , Corrieu Georges
Published: June 2005

Growth of a glutamine synthetase-deficient mutant of
Streptococcus thermophilus
was compared to that of the parent strain in milk that was not supplemented or was supplemented with ammonium chloride, glutamine, or the urease inhibitor flurofamide. It was concluded that one of the functions of urease is to supply ammonia for the synthesis of glutamine.
Nitrate and Phosphate Affect Cultivability of Cyanobacteria from Environments with Low Nutrient Levels
Authors: Ernst Anneliese , Deicher Manfred , Herman Peter M. J. , Wollenzien Ute I. A.
Published: June 2005

Nitrate and phosphate concentrations higher than those found in the natural environment slowed down growth of two strains of non-bloom-forming, phycoerythrin-richSynechococcusspp. isolated from mesotrophic subalpine lakes. The results make clear why isolation of these picocyanobacteria in standard cultivation media was difficult. At low concentrations, closely related strains exhibited distinct growth characteristics with respect to these two nutrients, possibly explaining differences in their seasonal appearance in the natural environment.
Evaluation of Five Antibody Detection Tests for Diagnosis of Bovine Paratuberculosis
Authors: Collins Michael T. , Wells Scott J. , Petrini Kristine R. , Collins James E. , Schultz Ronald D. , Whitlock Robert H.
Published: June 2005

Five diagnostic tests based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology for bovine paratuberculosis were evaluated by using individual serum or milk samples from 359 dairy cattle in seven paratuberculosis-free herds and 2,094 dairy cattle in seven
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
-infected dairy herds. Three independent laboratories using three different culture procedures completed fecal cultures for
M. paratuberculosis
on these cattle and found 417 cows to be shedding
M. paratuberculosis
in their feces. An animal that was fecal culture positive for
M. paratuberculosis
by any of the three laboratories was considered a confirmed case of infection. The specificity of three ELISAs (two on serum and one on milk) was ≥99.8%. The specificity of the remaining two ELISAs, both done on serum, was 94.9 and 84.7%. Four of the five ELISAs evaluated produced similar sensitivity in detecting fecal culture-positive cattle (27.8 to 28.9%). Serum ELISA “D” had the lowest specificity (84.7%) and the highest sensitivity (44.5%), but if the cutoff value defining a positive test was changed from 125 to 250% (of the positive control) the sensitivity and specificity, 31.8 and 97.5%, respectively, were comparable to those of the other four assays. If the case definition for
M. paratuberculosis
infection was based on the culture results of a single laboratory instead of the combined results of three laboratories, ELISA sensitivity estimates were 45.7 to 50.0%. With the exception of ELISA D, assay agreement was high (kappa 0.66 to 0.85) for categorical assay interpretations (positive or negative), but linear regression of quantitative results showed low correlation coefficients (
r
2
= 0.40 to 0.68) due to the fact that ELISA results for some cows were high in one assay but low in another assay. Likelihood ratio analysis showed a direct relationship between the magnitude of ELISA result and the odds of a cow shedding
M. paratuberculosis
in its feces. If used judiciously and interpreted quantitatively, these ELISAs are useful tools in support of paratuberculosis control programs in dairy herds.
Lipopolysaccharide-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Experimental Use in Detection of Antibodies toLawsonia intracellularisin Pigs
Authors: Kroll J. J. , Eichmeyer M. A. , Schaeffer M. L. , McOrist S. , Harris D. L. , Roof M. B.
Published: June 2005

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) forLawsonia intracellulariswas developed and compared with a whole-cell antigen-based immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The antigen-containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was derived from Percoll gradient purified cultures ofL. intracellularisby using a modification of the Westphal hot phenol procedure. The antigen was bound directly to polystyrene 96-well microtiter plates, and the assay was performed in an indirect ELISA format. Specificity and sensitivity values based on 80 known positive and 80 known negative serum samples from controlled experimental trials were 93.7% and 88.7%, respectively. Serological results from a controlledL. intracellularischallenge exposure study confirmed the high specificity and sensitivity of this assay (100% and 99.5%, respectively). Comparisons between the LPS ELISA and the IFAT in detecting anti-Lawsoniaantibodies in this controlled study revealed significantly more LPS ELISA-positive pigs than IFAT-positive pigs on days 21, 28, 35, and 42 (P= 0.003, 0.030, 0.002, and 0.006, respectively). This indirect ELISA (LPS ELISA) test is an improved method of detecting antibodies in pigs soon after exposure toL. intracellularis, regardless of isolate type (vaccine or wild type) in experimental studies. The LPS ELISA may be used as a tool to support future research trials on vaccine efficacy and to further understand the immune response induced byL. intracellularis.
Antibody Responses in Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) Infected withMycobacterium bovis
Authors: Waters W. R. , Palmer M. V. , Bannantine J. P. , Greenwald R. , Esfandiari J. , Andersen P. , McNair J. , Pollock J. M. , Lyashchenko K. P.
Published: June 2005

Despite having a very low incidence of disease, reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) are subject to tuberculosis (TB) testing requirements for interstate shipment and herd accreditation in the United States. Improved TB tests are desperately needed, as many reindeer are falsely classified as reactors by current testing procedures. Sera collected sequentially from 11 (experimentally)Mycobacterium bovis-infected reindeer and 4 noninfected reindeer were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblotting, and multiantigen print immunoassay (MAPIA) for antibody specific toM. bovisantigens. Specific antibody was detected as early as 4 weeks after challenge withM. bovis. By MAPIA, sera were tested with 12 native and recombinant antigens, which were used to coat nitrocellulose. AllM. bovis-infected reindeer developed responses to MPB83 and a fusion protein, Acr1/MPB83, and 9/11 had responses to MPB70. Other antigens less commonly recognized included MPB59, ESAT-6, and CFP10. Administration of purified protein derivatives for skin testing boosted serum antibody responses, as detected by each of the assays. Of the noninfected reindeer, 2/4 had responses that were detectable immediately following skin testing, which correlated with pathological findings (i.e., presence of granulomatous lesions yet the absence of acid-fast bacteria). The levels of specific antibody produced by infected reindeer appeared to be associated with disease progression but not with cell-mediated immunity. These findings indicate thatM. bovisinfection of reindeer elicits an antibody response to multiple antigens that can be boosted by skin testing. Serological tests using carefully selected specific antigens have potential for early detection of infections in reindeer.
Adoptive Immunotherapy of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus with Autologous Ex Vivo-Stimulated Lymphoid Cells Modulates Virus and T-Cell Subsets in Blood
Authors: Flynn J. Norman , Pistello Mauro , Isola Patrizia , Zaccaro Lucia , Del Santo Barbara , Ricci Enrica , Matteucci Donatella , Bendinelli Mauro
Published: June 2005

The potential of immunotherapy with autologous virus-specific T cells to affect the course of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection was explored in a group of specific-pathogen-free cats infected with FIV a minimum of 10 months earlier. Popliteal lymph node cells were stimulated by cocultivation with UV-inactivated autologous fibroblasts infected with recombinant vaccinia viruses expressing either FIVgagorenvgene products, followed by expansion in interleukin-2. One or two infusions of both Gag- and Env-stimulated cells resulted in a slow increase in FIV-specific gamma interferon-secreting T cells in the circulation of cats. In the same animals, viral set points fluctuated widely during the first 2 to 3 weeks after adoptive transfer and then returned to pretreatment levels. The preexisting viral quasispecies was also found to be modulated, whereas no novel viral variants were detected. Circulating CD4+counts underwent a dramatic decline early after treatment. CD4/CD8 ratios remained instead essentially unchanged and eventually improved in some animals. In contrast, a single infusion of Gag-stimulated cells alone produced no apparent modulations of infection.
CD4+CD25+T Cells Prevent Arthritis Associated withBorreliaVaccination and Infection
Authors: Nardelli Dean T. , Cloute Joseph P. , Luk K. H. Kevin , Torrealba Jose , Warner Thomas F. , Callister Steven M. , Schell Ronald F.
Published: June 2005

CD4+CD25+T cells are a population of regulatory T cells associated with control of arthritis in anti-interleukin-17 antibody-treatedBorrelia-vaccinated and challenged gamma interferon-deficient mice. Here, we present direct evidence that adoptive transfer of enriched CD4+CD25+T cells from these mice can prevent the development of arthritis inBorrelia-vaccinated and challenged mice. These findings establish a major role for CD4+CD25+T cells in the prevention of arthritis inBorrelia-vaccinated and challenged animals.
The validity of a four week self-recall of sports injuries
Authors: Valuri G , Stevenson M , Finch C , Hamer P , Elliott B
Published: June 2005

The ability of sports injury studies to provide reliable incidence estimates depends on accurate injury data. One of the most commonly used methods of collecting injury data is through self-report, but the validity of such information is largely unknown. This study validated a four week self-report sports injury recall against a range of external sources including hospital records, health practitioner records, and third parties. Cases were drawn from the larger, Western Australian Sports Injury Study (WASIS). This study demonstrates acceptable to good levels of agreement between self-report and more objective data in relation to details such as the nature and body part injured, and the level of injury treatment sought (κ = 0.48 to 0.78). However, self-reported injury severity did not agree with the Injury Severity Score classification of severity.
Effectiveness of an outside-the-boot ankle brace in reducing parachuting related ankle injuries
Authors: Schmidt M D , Sulsky S I , Amoroso P J
Published: June 2005

Objectives:To examine the efficacy of an outside-the-boot parachute ankle brace (PAB) in reducing risk of ankle injury to army paratrooper trainees and to identify inadvertent risks associated with PAB use.

Design:The authors compared hospitalization rates for ankle, musculoskeletal, and other traumatic injury among 223 172 soldiers trained 1985–2002 in time periods defined by presence/absence of PAB use protocols. Multiple logistic regression analysis estimated adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for injury outcomes, comparing pre and post brace periods to the brace protocol period.

Setting:A research database consisting of training rosters from the US Army Airborne training facility (Fort Benning, GA) occupational, demographic, and hospitalization information.

Main outcome measures:Injuries were considered training related if they occurred during a five week period starting with first scheduled static line parachute jump and a parachuting cause of injury code appeared in the hospital record.

Results:Of 939 parachuting related hospitalizations during the defined risk period, 597 (63.6%) included an ankle injury diagnosis, 198 (21.1%) listed a musculoskeletal (non-ankle) injury, and 69 (7.3%) cited injuries to multiple body parts. Risk of ankle injury hospitalization was higher during both pre-brace (adjusted OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.92 to 2.95) and post-brace (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.32) periods compared with the brace protocol period. Odds of musculoskeletal (non-ankle) injury or injury to multiple body parts did not change between the brace and post-brace periods.

Conclusion:Use of a PAB during airborne training appears to reduce risk of ankle injury without increasing risk of other types of traumatic injury.
Education level inequalities and transportation injury mortality in the middle aged and elderly in European settings
Authors: Borrell C , Plasència A , Huisman M , Costa G , Kunst A , Andersen O , Bopp M , Borgan J-K , Deboosere P , Glickman M , Gadeyne S , Minder C , Regidor E , Spadea T , Valkonen T , Mackenbach J P
Published: June 2005

Objective:To study the differential distribution of transportation injury mortality by educational level in nine European settings, among people older than 30 years, during the 1990s.

Methods:Deaths of men and women older than 30 years from transportation injuries were studied. Rate differences and rate ratios (RR) between high and low educational level rates were obtained.

Results:Among men, those of low educational level had higher death rates in all settings, a pattern that was maintained in the different settings; no inequalities were found among women. Among men, in all the settings, the RR was higher in the 30–49 age group (RR 1.46, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.61) than in the age groups 50–69 and ⩾70 years, a pattern that was maintained in the different settings. For women for all the settings together, no differences were found among educational levels in the three age groups. In the different settings, only three had a high RR in the youngest age group, Finland (RR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.74), Belgium (RR 1.38; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.67), and Austria (RR 1.49, 95% CI 0.75 to 2.96).

Conclusion:This study provides new evidence on the importance of socioeconomic inequalities in transportation injury mortality across Europe. This applies to men, but not to women. Greater attention should be placed on opportunities to select intervention strategies tailored to tackle socioeconomic inequalities in transportation injuries.
Non-fatal injuries among adults with activity limitations and participation restrictions
Authors: Xiang H , Leff M , Stallones L
Published: June 2005

Objective:To investigate non-fatal unintentional injuries among adults with activity/participation limitations.

Design:Injuries in the previous 12 months were reported by a stratified probability sample of non-institutionalized adults. Based on self reported activity/participation limitations, 2602 respondents were classified into three groups (no limitations, moderate limitations, and severe limitations) and injury characteristics were compared.

Results:A total of 19.2% of respondents reported activity/participation limitations. Twenty four percent (95% confidence intervals (CI) 14.5% to 33.6%) with severe and 17.8% (95% CI 13.2% to 22.4%) with moderate limitations were injured, compared with 12.6% (95% CI 10.6% to 14.7%) of respondents without limitations. The odds ratio of injury was 3.72 (95% CI 1.94 to 7.14) for respondents with severe and 1.87 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.77) for respondents with moderate limitations. The leading cause of injuries among respondents with activity/participation limitations was falls.

Conclusions:Individuals with activity/participation limitations are at an increased risk for injuries.
Concordance between childhood injury diagnoses from two sources: an injury surveillance system and a physician billing claims database
Authors: Kostylova A , Swaine B , Feldman D
Published: June 2005

Objectives:(1) To determine the concordance between injury diagnoses (head injury (HI), probable HI, or orthopedic injury) for children visiting an emergency department for an injury using two data sources: an injury surveillance system (Canadian Hospitals Injury Research and Prevention Program, CHIRPP) and a physician billing claims database (Régie de l’assurance maladie de Québec, RAMQ), and (2) to determine the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic and procedure codes in billing claims for identifying HI and orthopedic injury among children.

Design:In this cross sectional cohort, data for 3049 children who sought care for an injury (2000–01) were obtained from both sources and linked using the child’s personal health insurance number.

Methods:The physician recorded diagnostic codes from CHIRPP were used to categorize the children into three groups (HI, probable HI, and orthopedic), while an algorithm, using ICD-9-CM diagnostic and procedures codes from the RAMQ, was used to classify children into the same three groups.

Results:Concordance between the data sources was “substantial” (weighted Kappa 0.66; 95% CI 0.63 to 0.69). The sensitivity of diagnostic and procedure codes in the RAMQ database for identifying HI and for orthopedic injury were 0.61 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.64) and 0.97 (95% CI 0.96 to 0.98), respectively. The specificity for identifying HI and for orthopedic injury were 0.97 (95% CI 0.96 to 0.98) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.63), respectively.

Conclusion:Combining diagnostic and procedures codes in a physician billing claims database (the RAMQ database) may be a valid method of estimating injury occurrence among children.
Cost effectiveness of a dealer’s intervention in retrofitting rollover protective structures
Authors: Myers M L , Cole H P , Westneat S C
Published: June 2005

Objective:To evaluate the cost effectiveness of a 4.5 year education campaign that promoted farmers’ adoption of rollover protective structures (ROPS) to prevent tractor overturn injuries.

Design:Randomized controlled trial, decision analysis, and cost effectiveness analysis.

Setting:One treatment county and one control county in the State of Kentucky.

Intervention:A campaign by a local tractor and equipment dealership to encourage farmers to purchase and install ROPS and seatbelt retrofit kits for older tractors.

Main outcome measures:Number of injuries averted and cost per injury averted.

Results:The dealership’s 4.5 year intervention was shown to potentially reduce both fatal (0.26) and non-fatal (1.50) injuries by 2.6% in its county over the intervention period using a 20 year analytic horizon. When extrapolated statewide, 6.7 lives would be saved and 39 non-fatal injuries would be averted over the combined 24.5 year combined intervention period and analytic horizon. The intervention for this period was cost effective with a “savings” of $35 713 per injury (fatal plus non-fatal) averted at a 4% discount rate.

Conclusions:Tractor manufacturer promotions can influence their dealerships to promote ROPS retrofits by their customers. A manufacturer backed dealer ROPS retrofit campaign was cost effective in reducing overturn related injuries.
Welding related occupational eye injuries: a narrative analysis
Authors: Lombardi D A , Pannala R , Sorock G S , Wellman H , Courtney T K , Verma S , Smith G S
Published: June 2005

Objective:To determine the activities and circumstances proximal to a welding related occupational eye injury, a hybrid narrative coding approach derived from two well developed classification systems was developed to categorize and describe the activity, initiating process, mechanism of injury, object and/or substance, and the use of protective eyewear from the narrative text data reported for each injury.

Methods:Routinely collected workers’ compensation claims over a one year period (2000) were analyzed from a large US insurance provider. An index term search algorithm of occupation, incident, and injury description fields identified 2209 potential welding related eye injury claims. After detailed review of these claims, 1353 welders and 822 non-welders were analyzed.

Results:During 2000, eye(s) as the primary injured body part accounted for 5% (n = 26 413) of all compensation claims. Eye injuries accounted for 25% of all claims for welders. Subjects were mainly male (97.1%) and from manufacturing (70.4%), service (11.8%), or construction (8.4%) related industries. Most injuries were foreign body (71.7%) or burn (22.2%) and 17.6% were bilateral. Common activities include welding (31.9%) and/or grinding (22.5%). Being struck by an airborne object occurred in 56.3% of cases. Non-welders showed similar patterns except that burns (43.8%) were more frequent and more often initiated by another worker (13.9%).

Conclusions:Narrative injury text provides valuable data to supplement traditional epidemiologic analyses. Workers performing welding tasks or working nearby welders should be trained to recognize potential hazards and the effective use of proper safety equipment to prevent ocular injury.
It might work in Oklahoma but will it work in Oakhampton? Context and implementation in the effectiveness literature on domestic smoke detectors
Authors: Arai L , Roen K , Roberts H , Popay J
Published: June 2005

Objective:To explore data on factors affecting implementation processes in papers contributing to a Cochrane systematic review (SR) of smoke alarm interventions, supplemented by further papers not included in the review.

Design:Screening for data on implementation on the basis of: (1) primary studies included in a Cochrane SR, (2) further papers relating to these and similar studies, and (3) approaches to authors of these and other relevant studies and reports.

Results:Relatively few data were found to help people seeking to implement smoke alarm promotion interventions.

Conclusions:For practitioners and policymakers to be able to build on research evidence, researchers and journal editors need to ensure that sufficient data are published, or are otherwise available to interested parties to move fromunderstandingthe evidence tousingit.
Automatic calculation of the sensitivity of Bayesian fisheries models to informative priors
Authors: Millar Russell B , Stewart Wayne S
Published: June 2005

The derivatives of Bayes estimators, with respect to changes in hyper-parameters of the prior density, are posterior covariances. Hence, these derivatives can be readily estimated from a posterior sample and the calculation is shown to be especially straightforward for parameters having a marginal prior that is of exponential family form. Three examples are given. The first fits a Ricker curve to stockrecruit data and, for several important management parameters, examines the sensitivity of the Bayes estimates to the informative log-normal priors placed on the maximum annual reproductive rate and density-dependent compensation parameters. Using the WinBUGS software, it is demonstrated that these derivatives can easily be estimated by a minor addition to the program code. The utility of the estimated sensitivities is examined by refitting the Ricker model using a range of different priors. The second example revisits a hierarchical model that was used to perform a meta-stock assessment on several US West Coast rockfish (Sebastes spp.) stocks, and examines the sensitivity of the Bayes estimate of bulk catchability to the hyper-prior. The final example looks at an example from the literature and uses summary statistics provided therein to determine the sensitivity of model parameters to their prior means.
Fishing methods to reduce sea turtle mortality associated with pelagic longlines
Authors: Watson John W , Epperly Sheryan P , Shah Arvind K , Foster Daniel G
Published: June 2005

Changes in hook design and bait type were investigated as measures to reduce the bycatch of sea turtles on pelagic longlines in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Specifically, the effectiveness of 18/0 circle hooks and mackerel (Scomber scombrus) bait was evaluated with respect to reducing sea turtle interactions and maintaining swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and tuna (Thunnus spp.) catch rates. Individually, circle hooks and mackerel bait significantly reduced both loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtle bycatch. Circle hooks also significantly reduced the rate of hook ingestion by the loggerheads, potentially reducing postrelease mortality. The combination of circle hooks and mackerel bait was even more effective for loggerhead turtles and had no negative effect on swordfish catch. These modifications in fishing methods, in conjunction with tools developed to remove hooks and line from the turtles, significantly reduced the capture rate of sea turtles and potentially the post-hooking mortality of those that were caught and did not negatively impact the primary target species catch rate. In addition, these mitigation measures have the potential to reduce mortality of sea turtles and other bycatch species worldwide.
A model of total swimming costs in turbulent flow for juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)
Authors: Enders Eva C , Boisclair Daniel , Roy André G
Published: June 2005

Juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) live in rivers characterized by highly turbulent flows. In these environments, flow turbulence is associated with a wide range of instantaneous flow velocities, which may affect the energetic costs of habitat utilization of juvenile Atlantic salmon. The purpose of our work was to develop a swimming costs model for juvenile Atlantic salmon that especially accounts for the effects of velocity fluctuations in turbulent environments. We estimated the total swimming costs of fish in a respirometer in which we produced five turbulent flow conditions, each characterized by a mean and a standard deviation of flow. Respirometry experiments were conducted at water temperatures of 10, 15, and 20 °C with fish ranging in size between 4.3 and 17.6 g at three mean flow velocities (18, 23, and 40 cm·s1) and three standard deviations of flow velocity (5, 8, and 10 cm·s1). Our results confirmed that total swimming costs increased with an increase of water temperature, body mass, mean flow velocity, and standard deviation of flow velocity (R2 = 0.93). Water temperature, body mass, mean flow velocity, and standard deviation of flow velocity contributed respectively 2%, 31%, 46%, and 14% to the explained variation in total swimming costs.
Photodegradation-induced changes in dissolved organic matter in acidic waters
Authors: Wu F C , Mills R B , Cai Y R , Evans R D , Dillon P J
Published: June 2005

Photodegradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from stream waters was investigated using dissolved organic carbon (DOC) analysis, ultraviolet-visible absorbance, three-dimensional excitational emission matrix fluorescence, and high-performance size exclusion chromatography. The effects of altering pH and various iron concentrations on DOM characteristics during irradiation were examined. DOC concentration, absorbance, and fluorescence all decreased with increasing irradiation. These decreases were accompanied by a decrease in absorbance spectral slope and average molecular size and a blue-shift in fluorescence maximum; decreasing pH enhanced these changes. The photooxidation rate constants were wavelength dependent. For the ratio of the photooxidation rate constant at pH 4 to that at pH 8 under ultraviolet irradiation, there were two maxima at wavelengths of approximately 280 and 320 nm, respectively, indicating that aromatic fractions were most pH photosensitive. The isolated humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) fractions had different photodegradation characteristics in terms of the photooxidation rate constant and the effects of pH and iron. The results suggest that iron played a more significant role in the photodegradation of the HA fraction than that of the FA fraction and that the HA fraction was mainly responsible for the observed DOM photodegradation. The results indicate that DOM photodegradation in stream waters is strongly influenced by iron and acidity.
Intergenerational valuation of fisheries resources can justify long-term conservation: a case study in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
Authors: Ainsworth C H , Sumaila U R
Published: June 2005

Where the conventional model of discounting advocates aggressive harvest policies, intergenerational discounting could have been used to render the historic gross overfishing of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) economically unappealing compared with a more conservative long-term strategy. Under these discounting approaches, we compare the historic harvest trend from 1985 (and projected postcollapse earnings) with theoretical optimal harvest profiles determined by an ecosystem model. The optimal scenarios generate less initial harvest than the historic profile but maintain the resource and provide greater yields over the long term. At a discount rate equal to market interest, we demonstrate that it was more economic under conventional valuation to harvest the cod stock to collapse than it would have been to sustain the population. However, under intergenerational valuation, the sustainable optimal scenarios outperform the actual harvest profile. Application of conventional discounting by fishing consortiums may be partly to blame for depletion, yet management fell short of even that ideal.
Community interactions affecting the relative abundances of native and invasive amphipods in the St. Lawrence River
Authors: Palmer M E , Ricciardi Anthony
Published: June 2005

The Eurasian amphipod Echinogammarus ischnus is reportedly replacing the common native amphipod Gammarus fasciatus in the Great Lakes  St. Lawrence River system. A potential mechanism for this replacement is competition mediated by resident species. Other Eurasian invaders, dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissena bugensis), dominate rocky substrates throughout the system and might be promoting the rapid expansion of E. ischnus by providing habitat and refugia from predation. Using an in-situ predator-exclusion experiment, we tested the hypothesis that E. ischnus is better able than G. fasciatus to use Dreissena spp. colonies as refugia and thus is less susceptible to predators in the St. Lawrence River. Co-occurring E. ischnus and G. fasciatus showed similar increases in density in the presence of Dreissena spp., in spite of E. ischnus having evolutionary experience with Dreissena spp. Predators reduced the density of both amphipod species, but E. ischnus was more susceptible to predation on dreissenid substrates, which suggests that predation mediates the coexistence of G. fasciatus and E. ischnus in the river.
Risk analysis for species introductions: forecasting population growth of Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus)
Authors: Drake John M
Published: June 2005

The North American distribution of the Eurasian ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus), an ecologically important and costly invasive fish, is presently limited to the Laurentian Great Lakes. Risk analyses for accidental introductions of ruffe to inland lakes should focus on the chance of establishment for small introductions such as those that would result from transporting ruffe as bait. Here I use Akaike's Information Criterion to select a population growth model for ruffe based on observed population dynamics during the invasion of Loch Lomond, Scotland. This population is regulated by a high carrying capacity and Allee effects were undetected. Parameter estimates obtained from this population forecast that the chance of establishment for possible introductions of ruffe to inland lakes in North America is high. A model for ruffe winter survival suggests that survivorship between introductions and spawning may be an important determinant of establishment success, but that the chance of establishment is high for introductions of only a few individuals. To prevent invasions of ruffe in inland waters, release of ruffe, whether intentional or accidental, should not be tolerated.
Inferring sedimentary chlorophyll concentrations with reflectance spectroscopy: a novel approach to reconstructing historical changes in the trophic status of mountain lakes
Authors: Das Biplob , Vinebrooke Rolf D , Sanchez-Azofeifa Arturo , Rivard Benoit , Wolfe Alexander P
Published: June 2005

Reflectance spectroscopy has made it possible to rapidly and nondestructively assess the chlorophyll content of plants and natural waters. However, to date this approach has not been applied to chlorophyll and chlorophyll derivatives preserved in lake sediments. Here, we explore the relationships between visible-near-infrared spectral properties of lake sediments and measured pigment concentrations for lakes that have been exposed recently to anthropogenic nitrogen deposition. Down-core decreases in pigment concentrations and changes in reflectance properties effectively chronicle increases in whole-lake primary production since 1950. Specifically, reflectance spectra of sediments from four alpine lakes in Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado Front Range, USA) preserve salient troughs near 675 nm that covary in magnitude with concentrations of chlorophyll a and associated pheopigments. The area of the trough in reflectance between 600 and 760 nm best explains the sum of total chlorophyll a and its derivatives (r2 = 0.82, n = 23, P < 0.01). This result suggests that chlorophyll a preserved in lake sediments can be remotely sensed using a simple index derived from reflectance spectroscopy, thus providing a new paleolimnological strategy for rapid exploratory assessments of changing lake trophic status.