bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The crucial role of the predictability of motor response in visuomotor deficits in very preterm children at school age
Authors: De Kieviet Jorrit F , Stoof Cor J J , Geldof Christiaan J A , Smits Niels , Piek Jan P , Lafeber Harrie N , Van Elburg Ruurd M , Oosterlaan Jaap
Published: March 2013

Aim

We aimed to clarify the underpinnings of widespread visuomotor deficits in very preterm children.

Method

Fifty‐eight very preterm children (26 males, 32 females; mean [SD] age 7y 6mo [5mo], gestational age 29.2wks [1.6]; birthweight 1237g [336]), recruited from a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit, and 64 age‐matched, comparison children born at term (28 males, 36 females; mean age [SD] 7y 8mo [7mo]) participated. IQ was measured using a short form of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (3rd edition). A research diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) was defined as a score below the 15th centile on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Visuomotor performance was assessed using a computerized task, in which children followed a predictable (structured condition) or an unpredictable (non‐structured condition) trail on a touch screen using their index finger.

Results

Forty‐six per cent of the very preterm children had a research diagnosis of DCD, compared with 16% of children born at term (p<0.001, odds ratio 4.69 [95% CI 2.01–10.99]). No group difference in visuomotor performance was present for the structured condition. In the non‐structured condition, children born very preterm with and without a research diagnosis of DCD had poorer visuomotor performance than those born at term.

Interpretation

The predictability of the required motor response plays a crucial role in visuomotor deficits in very preterm children, regardless of DCD status.
What is the role of dopamine in childhood neurological disorders?
Authors: Kurian Manju A
Published: March 2013

This commentary is on the original article by Molero‐Luis et al. on pages 559–566 of this issue.
PRRT2 mutation screening in patients with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia from Southwest China
Authors: Chen Y. P. , Song W. , Yang J. , Zheng Z.‐Z. , Huang R. , Chen K. , Zhao B. , Chen X. P. , Burgunder J.‐M. , Shang H.‐F.
Published: March 2013

Background and purpose

Proline‐rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) has recently been identified as a causative gene of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD). However, the frequencies of its mutations and their correlation with the clinical features of PKD remain largely unknown.

Methods

Four exons of PRRT2 in 33 patients with PKD from Southwest China were screened by direct sequencing in this study.

Results

The mean onset age of the patients was 12.50 ± 2.70 years. Sixteen patients (48.48%) had sensory aura before their attacks. In total, 66.67% of the patients were running when the attacks occurred. c.649_650insC (p.P217fsX7), the most commonly reported insertion mutation, was identified in nine patients (27.27%).

Conclusions

Other genes are involved in the development of PKD, but PRRT2 is a common causative gene for patients with PKD from Southwest China.
Postictal psychosis in temporal lobe epilepsy: a case–control study
Authors: Hilger E. , Zimprich F. , Jung R. , Pataraia E. , Baumgartner C. , Bonelli S.
Published: March 2013

Background and purpose

To investigate the prevalence of postictal psychosis (PP) in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and to estimate the predictive value of various variables for the development of PP.

Methods

By retrospectively reviewing the charts of all patients evaluated with video‐electroencephalogram (EEG)‐monitoring at our unit between January 1995 and February 2012, we identified 684 patients with TLE, of which 48 patients had a history of PP. Patients with TLE and PP were compared with 200 controls (patients with TLE without a psychotic history) on demographic, clinical, EEG and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables.

Results

The prevalence of PP in our TLE sample was 7.0%. Aggressive behaviour during PP was present in 22.9% of the sample. Univariate analysis revealed that PP was significantly associated with early age at epilepsy onset (P = 0.007), longer duration of epilepsy (P = 0.002), presence of ictal fear (P = 0.005), impaired intellectual function (P = 0.045), and bilateral ictal and interictal epileptiform activity (both P < 0.0001). Using logistic regression analysis, ictal fear [odds ratio (OR) 2.88; P = 0.015] and bilateral interictal EEG activity (OR 6.40; P < 0.0001) were predictive of PP development. No association of PP with MRI pathology or epilepsy‐relevant aetiological factors was found.

Conclusions

PP is a frequent and potentially dangerous complication within the course of TLE. Bilateral or widespread functional central nervous system disturbances rather than distinct structural brain alterations or certain predisposing aetiologies of epilepsy appear to be a risk factor for the development of PP. Ictal fear may be a predictive clinical variable of PP in TLE.
Utility of transcranial sonography in the diagnosis of drug‐induced parkinsonism: a prospective study
Authors: Olivares Romero J. , Arjona Padillo A. , Barrero Hernández F. J. , Martín González M. , Gil Extremera B.
Published: March 2013

Background and purpose

Drug‐induced parkinsonism usually resolves after discontinuation of the causative agent. However, it persists in some patients, who actually have subclinical neurodegenerative parkinsonism. Identification of this condition is important because these patients could benefit from therapeutic measures. The objective of this study was to prove whether transcranial sonography, a technique used in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative parkinsonism, can be used for the said identification.

Methods

In this prospective study, patients with drug‐induced parkinsonism were followed for at least 6 months after discontinuation of the causative drug and performance of blinded transcranial sonography. Patients were categorized as having iatrogenic parkinsonism if the clinical presentation had resolved or subclinical drug‐exacerbated parkinsonism if it persisted. Once the patient was classified into one of the two groups, an expert assessed the transcranial sonography findings and their agreement with the clinical diagnosis.

Results

Twenty patients composed the group for analysis of results. Assessing hyperechogenicity in the substantia nigra >20 mm2 and/or hyperechogenic lentiform nucleus, differences were detected between the iatrogenic parkinsonism and the subclinical drug‐exacerbated parkinsonism groups, although they did not reach statistical significance (Fisher's exact test 0.09). Joint assessment of sonographic alterations in both structures had a negative predictive value of 85.7% for diagnosis of drug‐induced parkinsonism, with a negative likelihood ratio of 0.3.

Conclusions

Although in our study statistically significant differences were not found between the transcranial sonography characteristics of subclinical drug‐exacerbated parkinsonism and iatrogenic parkinsonism patients, we believe that transcranial sonography is a valid technique for diagnosis of drug‐induced parkinsonism.
Delphinidin, a dietary antioxidant, induces human epidermal keratinocyte differentiation but not apoptosis: studies in submerged and three‐dimensional epidermal equivalent models
Authors: Chamcheu Jean Christopher , Afaq Farrukh , Syed Deeba N. , Siddiqui Imtiaz A. , Adhami Vaqar M. , Khan Naghma , Singh Sohinderjit , Boylan Brendan T. , Wood Gary S. , Mukhtar Hasan
Published: March 2013

Delphinidin (Del), [3,5,7,3'‐,4'‐,5'‐hexahydroxyflavylium], an anthocyanidin and a potent antioxidant abundantly found in pigmented fruits and vegetables exhibits proapoptotic effects in many cancer cells. Here, we determined the effect of Del on growth, apoptosis and differentiation of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) in vitro in submerged cultures and examined its effects in a three‐dimensional (3D) epidermal equivalent (EE) model that permits complete differentiation reminiscent of in vivo skin. Treatment of NHEKs with Del (10–40 μm; 24–48 h) significantly enhanced keratinocyte differentiation. In Del‐treated cells, there was marked increase in human involucrin (hINV) promoter activity with simultaneous increase in the mRNA and protein expressions of involucrin and other epidermal differentiation markers including procaspase‐14 and transglutaminase‐1 (TGM1), but without any effect on TGM2. Del treatment of NHEKs was associated with minimal decrease in cell viability, which was not associated with apoptosis as evident by lack of modulation of caspases, apoptosis‐related proteins including Bcl‐2 family of proteins and poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase cleavage. To establish the in vivo relevance of our observations in submerged cultures, we then validated these effects in a 3D EE model, where Del was found to significantly enhance cornification and increase the protein expression of cornification markers including caspase‐14 and keratin 1. For the first time, we show that Del induces epidermal differentiation using an experimental system that closely mimics in vivo human skin. These observations suggest that Del could be a useful agent for dermatoses associated with epidermal barrier defects including aberrant keratinization, hyperproliferation or inflammation observed in skin diseases like psoriasis and ichthyoses.
Antimalarial screening via large‐scale purification of Plasmodium falciparum Ca2+‐ATPase 6 and in vitro studies
Authors: David‐Bosne Stéphanie , Florent Isabelle , Lund‐ Winther Anne‐Marie , Hansen John B. , Buch‐Pedersen Morten , Machillot Paul , le Maire Marc , Jaxel Christine
Published: March 2013

The most severe form of human malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Despite the current need, there is no effective vaccine and parasites are becoming resistant to most of the antimalarials available. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover new drugs from targets that have not yet suffered from drug pressure with the aim of overcoming the problem of new emerging resistance. Membrane transporters, such as P. falciparum Ca2+‐ATPase 6 (PfATP6), the P. falciparum sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+‐ATPase (SERCA), have been proposed as potentially good antimalarial targets. The present investigation focuses on: (a) the large‐scale purification of PfATP6 for maintenance of its enzymatic activity; (b) screening for PfATP6 inhibitors from a compound library; and (c) the selection of the best inhibitors for further tests on P. falciparum growth in vitro. We managed to heterologously express in yeast and purify an active form of PfATP6 as previously described, although in larger amounts. In addition to some classical SERCA inhibitors, a chemical library of 1680 molecules was screened. From these, we selected a pool of the 20 most potent inhibitors of PfATP6, presenting half maximal inhibitory concentration values in the range 1–9 μm. From these, eight were chosen for evaluation of their effect on P. falciparum growth in vitro, and the best compound presented a half maximal inhibitory concentration of ~ 2 μm. We verified the absence of an inhibitory effect of most of the compounds on mammalian SERCA1a, representing a potential advantage in terms of human toxicity. The present study describes a multidisciplinary approach allowing the selection of promising PfATP6‐specific inhibitors with good antimalarial activity.
H2‐driven cofactor regeneration with NAD(P)+‐reducing hydrogenases
Authors: Lauterbach Lars , Lenz Oliver , Vincent Kylie A.
Published: March 2013

A large number of industrially relevant enzymes depend upon nicotinamide cofactors, which are too expensive to be added in stoichiometric amounts. Existing NAD(P)H‐recycling systems suffer from low activity, or the generation of side products. H2‐driven cofactor regeneration has the advantage of 100% atom efficiency and the use of H2 as a cheap reducing agent, in a world where sustainable energy carriers are increasingly attractive. The state of development of H2‐driven cofactor‐recycling systems and examples of their integration with enzyme reactions are summarized in this article. The O2‐tolerant NAD+‐reducing hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha is a particularly attractive candidate for this approach, and we therefore discuss its catalytic properties that are relevant for technical applications.
Targeting apoptosis by the remodelling of calcium‐transporting proteins in cancerogenesis
Authors: Dubois Charlotte , Vanden Abeele Fabien , Prevarskaya Natacha
Published: March 2013

Calcium is a universal messenger regulating many physiological functions, including the ability of the cell to undergo orderly self‐destruction upon completion of its function, called apoptosis. In physiopathological conditions such as cancer, apoptotic processes become deregulated, leading to apoptosis‐resistant phenotypes. Recently, perturbations of cellular calcium homeostasis have been described in apoptosis‐resistant cell phenotypes. Thereby, new molecular actors have been identified, offering more accurate research possibilities in the field of apoptosis resistance and providing the bases for more rational approaches to cancer treatments. In this review, we focus on the calcium‐transporting protein‐dependent pathways involved in apoptosis, which are deregulated by cancer. We present the calcium‐transporting proteins involved in the deregulation of apoptosis, and those chemotherapies that target actors in calcium‐induced apoptosis.
The evaluation of colon biopsies using virtual microscopy is reliable
Authors: van der Post Rachel S , van der Laak Jeroen A W M , Sturm Bart , Clarijs Ruud , Schaafsma H Ewout , van Krieken J Han J M , Nap Marius
Published: March 2013

Aims

Virtual microscopy offers major advantages for pathology practice, separating slide evaluation from slide production. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of using whole slide images as compared with routine glass slides for diagnostic purposes.

Methods and results

Colon biopsies (n = 295) were assessed using both glass slides and whole slide images by four pathologists and two residents. Two pathologists scored the digital images of biopsies in a primary diagnostic setting. For each case, the consensus diagnosis was defined as the majority diagnosis on the study's glass slides. All diagnoses were grouped into seven main diagnostic categories, and further divided into subgroups. The overall concordance rates were 89.6% for whole slide images and 91.6% for light microscopy. The concordance rates of the subgroups ‘adenoma’ and ‘adenocarcinoma’ between whole slide images and conventional microscopy showed only small variability. The intraobserver (whole slide images versus glass slide) agreement, including subgroups, was substantial, with a mean κ‐value of 0.78, and was higher than the interobserver agreement for glass slides (interobserver κ‐value of 0.69).

Conclusions

This study shows good diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility for virtual microscopy, indicating that this technology can reliably be used for pathological evaluation of colon biopsies in a primary clinical setting.
The effect of group size on vigilance inRuddyTurnstonesArenaria interpresvaries with foraging habitat
Authors: Fuller Richard A. , Bearhop Stuart , Metcalfe Neil B. , Piersma Theunis
Published: March 2013

Foraging birds can manage time spent vigilant for predators by forming groups of various sizes. However, group size alone will not always reliably determine the optimal level of vigilance. For example, variation in predation risk or food quality between patches may also be influential. In a field setting, we assessed how simultaneous variation in predation risk and intake rate affects the relationship between vigilance and group size in foragingRuddyTurnstonesArenaria interpres. We compared vigilance, measured as the number of ‘head‐ups’ per unit time, in habitat types that differed greatly in prey energy content and proximity to cover from which predators could launch surprise attacks. Habitats closer to predator cover provided foragers with much higher potential net energy intake rates than habitats further from cover. Foragers formed larger and denser flocks on habitats closer to cover. Individual vigilance of foragers in all habitats declined with increasing flock size and increased with flock density. However, vigilance by foragers on habitats closer to cover was always higher for a given flock size than vigilance by foragers on habitats further from cover, and habitat remained an important predictor of vigilance in models including a range of potential confounding variables. Our results suggest that foraging Ruddy Turnstones can simultaneously assess information on group size and the general likelihood of predator attack when determining their vigilance contribution.
No overall benefit of predator exclosure cages for the endangered St. Helena Plover Charadrius sanctaehelenae
Authors: Burns Fiona , McCulloch Neil , Szekely Tamas , Bolton Mark
Published: March 2013

Predator exclosure cages are designed to increase the clutch survival of ground‐nesting birds. Predator exclosures provided for the endangered St. Helena Plover Charadrius sanctaehelenae, however, did not result in differences in clutch survival between protected and control nests and may have resulted in elevated adult mortality. Exclosures did not exclude all cats, the dominant nest predator, and it is likely that cats caused the adult mortalities observed close to the exclosures. A population model indicates that even if predator exclosures had excluded all cats, the benefits of increased clutch survival would have been more than negated by the estimated decrease in adult survival. The overall effect of predator exclosures needs to be clarified for other species, taking into consideration annual productivity and adult survival, to understand the circumstances in which predator exclosures are beneficial.
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus nest‐site selection in relation to habitat and the distribution of Goshawks Accipiter gentilis
Authors: Gamauf Anita , Tebb Graham , Nemeth Erwin
Published: March 2013

The selection of a suitable nest‐site is critical for successful reproduction. Species' preferences for nest‐sites have presumably evolved in relation to local habitat resources and/or interactions with other species. The importance of these two components in the nest‐site selection of the Eurasian Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus was assessed in two study areas in eastern Austria. There was almost no difference in macro‐ and micro‐habitat features between nest‐sites and random plots, suggesting that Honey Buzzards did not base their choice of nest‐site on habitat characteristics. However, nests were placed significantly further from nests of Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis than would be expected if nest‐sites had been chosen at random. Furthermore, in one study area Honey Buzzards appeared to favour areas close to human settlements, perhaps indicating a mechanism to avoid Goshawks, which tend to avoid the proximity of humans. No habitat variable was significantly associated with the loss of Honey Buzzard young, but predation was higher in territories closer to breeding pairs of Goshawks at both study sites. Although Honey Buzzards are restricted to nesting in forests, their choice of nest‐site therefore appears to be largely dictated by the distribution of predators. Studies of habitat association may yield misleading results if the effects of predation risk on distribution are not considered.
Reduced breeding success of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca along regulated rivers
Authors: Strasevicius Darius , Jonsson Micael , Nyholm N. Erik I. , Malmqvist Björn
Published: March 2013

Most large rivers in northern Sweden are regulated to produce hydropower, with subsequent effects on flow dynamics and aquatic insect communities. Several studies have shown that aquatic and terrestrial systems are intimately connected via the export of emergent aquatic insects, but few have assessed how human modifications of aquatic habitats may influence this connection. We compared breeding success of the insectivorous Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in near‐riparian upland forests along two regulated and two free‐flowing large rivers in northern Sweden over 3 years. The regulated rivers showed lower aquatic insect export to the surroundings, as a consequence of regulation‐induced loss of suitable aquatic insect habitats. Survival of Pied Flycatcher nestlings was 10–15% greater along the free‐flowing rivers. Females breeding near the free‐flowing rivers also started egg‐laying earlier and with greater synchrony than those at the regulated rivers, and showed a smaller decrease in weight during breeding than did females along the regulated rivers. However, there were no differences in occupation rate, clutch size or number of successfully hatched juveniles between regulated and free‐flowing rivers. As regulated rivers showed lower abundance of flying aquatic insects, which may also reduce the abundance of terrestrial invertebrate prey, regulation‐induced changes in the export of emergent aquatic insects may explain both directly and indirectly the observed reduction in Pied Flycatcher breeding success along regulated rivers. Large‐scale river regulation may therefore impair the breeding success of insectivorous birds through impacts on prey availability.
The influence of agricultural system, stand structural complexity and landscape context on foraging birds in oil palm landscapes
Authors: Azhar Badrul , Lindenmayer David B. , Wood Jeff , Fischer Joern , Manning Adrian , Mcelhinny Chris , Zakaria Mohamed
Published: March 2013

Functional diversity, an important element of avian biodiversity, can be examined by quantifying foraging guild composition. Understanding the ecological processes that underpin functional diversity of birds in oil palm Elaeis guineensis landscapes is important because different foraging guilds are likely to be influenced in different ways by land use practices. We surveyed birds at 55 sites within oil palm landscapes and at 20 sites within logged peat swamp forest, recording 208 species belonging to 19 foraging guilds. Oil palm landscapes supported a lower abundance of insectivorous, granivorous and omnivorous birds than did logged peat swamp forest despite the latter being severely degraded due to intensive timber extraction. However, abundances of other groups of foraging birds, such as raptors and wetland taxa, were higher in oil palm landscapes than logged peat swamp forest. Frugivorous species were more abundant in smallholdings than plantation estates, probably because of the presence of native trees. Foraging guild diversity was explained by stand‐level attributes such as stand age, vegetation cover, epiphyte persistence and canopy cover. However, each foraging guild exhibited unique responses to different oil palm management regimes and stand‐level attributes. Only arboreal omnivores and terrestrial frugivores were affected by the proximity of nearby natural forest. This diversity of responses implies that the occurrence of particular avian foraging guilds may not be a suitable ecological indicator of best‐practice palm oil production. Our study also suggests that multiple conservation measures will be needed in oil palm landscapes irrespective of management regimes, including: (1) the maintenance of ground layer vegetation cover; (2) the pruning of oil palm canopy to permit light penetration to the ground layer; (3) re‐vegetation of parts of oil palm landscapes with native trees; and (4) retention of natural and/or secondary forest patches within the boundaries of plantations.
Effect of Willow Tit Poecile montanus alarm calls on attack rates by Pygmy Owls Glaucidium passerinum
Authors: Kareksela Santtu , Härmä Oskari , Lindstedt Carita , Siitari Heli , Suhonen Jukka
Published: March 2013

One suggested anti‐predator function of alarm calls is to deliver a message to a predator that it has been detected. Moreover, giving the alarm call could provide a signal to the predator that capturing the individual giving the alarm is more difficult than capturing its silent group members, as the caller is probably the most aware of the predator's location. In an aviary experiment using stuffed dummy Willow Tits Poecile montanus, we assessed whether an authentic alarm call given by Willow Tit affected Pygmy Owl Glaucidium passerinum prey preference. In the experiment, the Owls attacked only the ‘silent’ dummy individuals, suggesting that alarm calling could offer direct fitness benefits to the caller by decreasing the attack risk of the caller relative to its group members.
Impacts of trichomonosis epidemics on Greenfinch Chloris chloris and Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs populations in Finland
Authors: Lehikoinen Aleksi , Lehikoinen Esa , Valkama Jari , Väisänen Risto A. , Isomursu Marja
Published: March 2013

Population consequences of parasites in wild birds are rarely documented. One exception is the decline of British finch populations due to an epidemic caused by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae. Finch trichomonosis has recently spread from the UK to northern Europe, but its consequences for local finch populations have not been studied. We assessed the extent to which the trichomonosis epidemic affected the Finnish population sizes of European Greenfinch Chloris chloris, Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs and a control species, Great Tit Parus major, and the body condition of Greenfinches. The disease was first documented in Finland in 2008 and epidemics were observed mainly in southwestern Finland. Greenfinches showed a significant decline of 47% in breeding numbers and 65% in wintering numbers in southern Finland during 2006–2010. Breeding Chaffinch numbers showed a slight decline (4%) during the same study period that was significant only in central Finland. Great Tit did not show a significant change in breeding numbers. During the initial disease epidemic the body condition of all demographic groups of Greenfinches decreased equally, which suggests that the disease was not selective in respect of age or sex. There were no encounters of Finnish‐ringed Greenfinches or Chaffinches in the UK, which could indicate that the parasite has not necessarily been transferred directly from the UK, but perhaps by migrants from Sweden and Germany.
Energy reserves stored by migrating Gray‐cheeked Thrushes Catharus minimus at a spring stopover site in northern Colombia are sufficient for a long‐distance flight to North America
Authors: Bayly Nicholas J. , Gómez Camila , Hobson Keith A.
Published: March 2013

Stopover sites used to accumulate the energy that fuels migration, especially those used prior to crossing ecological barriers, are regarded as critically important for the survival of Nearctic−Neotropical migratory birds. To assess whether South American stopover sites are used to store the energy required to cross the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to North America by a Neotropical migratory landbird, we studied Gray‐cheeked Thrushes in northern Colombia through constant effort mist‐netting during spring migration in 2010 and 2011. We combined stopover duration estimates and models of body mass change based on recaptures to estimate departure body mass and potential flight range from our study site. We recaptured 62 birds, the majority of which gained mass. Models indicated significant differences in rates of mass gain between years and age groups and with arrival date. Estimated total stopover durations varied between 15.4 (2010) and 12.5 days (2011). Predicted departure mass ranged between 41.3 and 44.9 g, and potential flight range was estimated at between 2727 and 4270 km. Gray‐cheeked Thrushes therefore departed our study site with sufficient energy reserves to cross the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (2550 km). As the first demonstration that birds departing from South American stopover sites can reach North America without refuelling, this has important implications for stopover site protection. Strategic conservation measures in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta could protect habitats in which up to 40% of the energy required to complete spring migration is stored by a Neotropical migratory land bird.
Corticosterone and stable isotopes in feathers predict egg size in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica
Authors: Kouwenberg Amy‐Lee , Mark Hipfner J. , McKay Donald W. , Storey Anne E.
Published: March 2013

Examining factors that operate outside the breeding season may provide new insights into life‐history traits such as egg size, in which individual variation has not been fully explained. We measured corticosterone (CORT) levels and δ15N values (trophic level) in feathers grown several months before egg‐laying to test the prediction that a female's physiological state and feeding behaviour prior to the breeding season can influence egg mass in Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica. As predicted, egg mass increased with both CORT and δ15N values in feathers, suggesting that the ability of female Puffins to meet the nutritional costs of egg production is related to CORT promoting increased foraging effort during moult and to consumption of a higher trophic‐level diet.
Vocal cooperation between the sexes in Little Spotted Kiwi Apteryx owenii
Authors: Digby Andrew , Bell Ben D. , Teal Paul D.
Published: March 2013

Sexual call dimorphism in birds is usually associated with sexual size dimorphism. Departures from this relationship can be used to infer call function, but research into inter‐sexual call differences, as with song function in general, has been restricted by a bias towards male passerines. The nocturnal and flightless New Zealand kiwi (Apterygidae) are acoustically similar but taxonomically and ecologically very different from other birds, so provide a contrast in exploring avian call function and evolution. However, kiwi acoustic ecology is poorly understood, with the calls of only one of the five kiwi species spectrally described, and acoustic differences between the sexes virtually unknown. We conducted the first bioacoustic study of Little Spotted Kiwi Apteryx owenii, and assessed sexual call dimorphism in this species. There were significant inter‐sexual differences in call temporal and frequency characteristics that were not related to size dimorphism. Contribution to duets and variation in temporal structure with call context also differed between the sexes. We suggest that these differences indicate divergent call function, with male calls more suited for territory defence, and female calls for pair contact. There was a striking lack of overlap in the frequency spectrum distributions of male and female calls, which was also unrelated to size and was further emphasized by the presence of formants in female calls. We propose that this provides evidence for inter‐sexual acoustic cooperation in call frequency, of a type which to our knowledge has not previously been described in birds. This may result from selection for enhanced joint resource defence in kiwi.
Brood parasitism causes female‐biased host nestling mortality regardless of parasite species
Authors: Decaire Robert , Zanette Liana Y. , Clinchy Michael
Published: March 2013

Inequality in male and female numbers may affect population dynamics and extinction probabilities and so has significant conservation implications. We previously demonstrated that Brown‐headed Cowbird Molothrus ater brood parasitism of Song Sparrows Melospiza melodia results in a 50% reduction in the proportion of female host offspring by day 6 post‐hatch and at fledging, which modelling demonstrated is as significant as nest predation in affecting demography. Many avian brood parasites possess special adaptations to parasitize specific hosts so this sex‐ratio effect could be specific to the interaction between these two species. Alternatively, perturbations associated with brood parasitism per se (e.g. the addition of an extra, larger, unrelated nestling), rather than a Cowbird nestling specifically, may be responsible. We experimentally eliminated the effects of Cowbird‐specific traits by parasitizing nests with a conspecific nestling rather than a Cowbird, while otherwise emulating the circumstances of Cowbird parasitism by adding an extra, larger (2‐day‐older), unrelated Song Sparrow nestling to Song Sparrow nests. Our parasitism treatment led to few host offspring deaths and no evidence of male‐biased sex ratios by day 6 post‐hatch. However, after day 6, female nestling mortality rates increased significantly in experimentally parasitized nests, resulting in a 60% reduction in the proportion of females fledging. Cowbird‐specific traits are thus not necessary to cause female‐biased host nestling mortality and far more general features associated with Cowbird parasitism instead appear responsible. Our results suggest, however, that Cowbird‐specific traits may help accelerate the pace of female host deaths. The conservation implications of our results could be wide reaching. Cowbirds are unrelated to all their hosts, are larger than the great majority, and a Cowbird nestling's presence can mean there is an extra mouth to feed. Thus, sex‐biased mortality in parasitized nests could be occurring across a range of host species.
Late Oligocene mousebird converges on parrots in skull morphology
Authors: Mayr Gerald
Published: March 2013

A new fossil stem group representative of Coliiformes (mousebirds) with a remarkable skull morphology is described from the late Oligocene of Germany. Oligocolius psittacocephalon sp. nov. for the first time preserves the skull of a post‐Eocene fossil mousebird. This exhibits a combination of skull features unknown from any other bird and converges on the skull of parrots in that the beak is separated from the cranium by a marked nasofrontal hinge and in that the interorbital part of the frontal bones is very wide. In addition, the mandible of the new species exhibits long retroarticular processes, which are unexpected because unlike in other coliiform birds exhibiting this feature, the short beak was probably not used for probing in substrate. It is hypothesized that the retroarticular processes of O. psittacocephalon instead served for a particular wide and forceful opening of the beak. Eight large fruit stones are situated in the area of the digestive tract of the new species. Preservation of most of these in a well‐delimited cluster in the region of the upper oesophagus suggests that, unlike in modern mousebirds, O. psittacocephalon had a crop. The new fossil shows that late Oligocene European stem group Coliiformes significantly differed from their extant relatives in morphology and probably also in feeding ecology.
Impact of extreme flooding on the annual survival of a riparian predator, the Brown Dipper Cinclus pallasii
Authors: Chiu Ming‐Chih , Kuo Mei‐Hwa , Hong Shiao‐Yu , Sun Yuan‐Hsun
Published: March 2013

The predicted effects of global climate change include altered patterns of precipitation and more extreme weather events, leading to an increase in the severity and frequency of episodic disturbances such as floods. These changes may affect lotic prey communities, which could indirectly affect aquatic and riparian predators through trophic linkages. We assessed whether extreme flooding affected the apparent survival of Brown Dippers Cinclus pallasii in Taiwan using mark–resighting data and climate data. The probability of survival was negatively correlated with the degree of flooding, and survival of first‐year birds was lower than that of adults. Previous analyses of this system suggest that the main, indirect mechanism driving such patterns is the impact of flood disturbance on the aquatic invertebrate prey of Brown Dippers. Our results show that changes in prey communities induced by flooding have the potential to affect predators in aquatic and adjacent riparian habitats. This highlights the importance of considering cross‐ecosystem linkages when identifying conservation and management goals in the face of future climate uncertainty.
Density‐dependent survival and recruitment in a long‐distance Palaearctic migrant, the Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Authors: Norman David , Peach Will J.
Published: March 2013

Long‐term studies can provide powerful insights into the relative importance of different demographic and environmental factors determining avian population dynamics. Here we use 23 years of capture–mark–recapture data (1981–2003) to estimate recruitment and survival rates for a Sand Martin Riparia riparia population in Cheshire, NW England. Inter‐annual variation in recruitment and adult survival was positively related to rainfall in the sub‐Saharan wintering grounds, but unrelated to weather conditions on the breeding grounds. After allowing for the effects of African rainfall, both demographic rates were negatively density‐dependent: adult survival was related to the size of the western European Sand Martin population (probably reflecting competition for resources in the shared wintering grounds) while recruitment was related to the size of the local study population in Cheshire (potentially reflecting competition for nesting sites or food). Local population size was more sensitive to variation in adult survival than to variation in recruitment, and an increase in population size after 1995 was driven mainly by the impact of more favourable conditions in the African wintering grounds on survival rates of adults. Overwinter survival in this long‐distance Palaearctic migrant is determined partly by the amount of suitable wetland foraging habitat in the sub‐Saharan wintering grounds (which is limited by the extent of summer rainfall) and partly by the number of birds exploiting that habitat.
Influence of reciprocating single‐file and rotary instrumentation on bacterial reduction on infected root canals
Authors: Machado M. E. L. , Nabeshima C. K. , Leonardo M. F. P. , Reis F. A. S. , Britto M. L. B. , Cai S.
Published: March 2013

Aim

To compare the bacterial reduction achieved with reciprocating and rotary systems during root canal preparation.

Methodology

Sixty distobuccal root canals of maxillary molars were contaminated with Enterococcus faecalis broth culture. After an incubation period of 21 days, bacterial samples were collected and cultured on m‐Enterococcus agar plates. The root canals were divided into five groups, according to the system used for instrumentation: WaveOne, Reciproc, ProTaper, Mtwo and manual instrumentation. The negative controls consisted of five uncontaminated root canals that were subjected to the same instrumentations as each of the experimental groups. Bacterial samples were collected immediately and 7 days after instrumentation. Statistical analysis was performed by paired t‐tests and anova tests.

Results

Compared with the samples before instrumentation, the bacterial count was significantly reduced after instrumentation in all groups, with no significant difference in bacterial count reduction amongst the reciprocating, rotary and manual techniques. However, the samples tested 7 days after instrumentation showed significantly higher bacterial counts than the samples tested immediately after instrumentation.

Conclusions

All systems tested reduced bacterial counts to a similar level.
The detection of vertical root fractures in root filled teeth with periapical radiographs and CBCT scans
Authors: Patel S. , Brady E. , Wilson R. , Brown J. , Mannocci F.
Published: March 2013

Aim

To compare ex vivo the diagnostic accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with periapical radiography in detecting artificially prepared incomplete and complete vertical root fractures (VRFs) in the presence of a gutta‐percha root filling in human teeth.

Methodology

The root canals of 20 extracted human premolar and molar teeth were radiographed and scanned with CBCT before a simulated VRF was induced (group 1). These teeth were radiographed and scanned with CBCT again after an incomplete (group 2) and complete (group 3) VRFs were induced. A suitably sized gutta‐percha point was inserted into the prepared root canal prior to each series of radiographs and CBCT scans being taken.

Results

There was no improvement in the detection of artificially created vertical root fractures (VRF) in root filled teeth using CBCT compared with periapical radiographs. The overall area under the curve (AUC) value of incomplete and complete VRF was 0.53 for periapical radiography and 0.45 for CBCT (P = 0.034). The overall sensitivity of periapical radiography (0.05) was lower than CBCT (0.57) regardless of the extent of the VRF (P = 0.027). Periapical radiographs (0.98) had a higher overall specificity than CBCT (0.34) (P = 0.027).

Conclusions

Under the conditions of this ex vivo study, periapical radiographs and CBCT were not accurate in detecting the presence and absence of simulated VRF. The imaging artefacts caused by the gutta‐percha root filling within the root canal most probably resulted in the overestimation of VRF with CBCT and also the overall inaccuracy of this system.
Respiratory syncytial virus epidemic periods in an equatorial city of Brazil
Authors: Moura Fernanda E. A. , Perdigão Anne C. B. , Ribeiro Joyce F. , Florêncio Caroline M. G. D. , Oliveira Francisco M. S. , Pereira Samuel A. R. , Botosso Viviane F. , Siqueira Marilda M. , Thomazelli Luciano M. , Caldeira Raquel N. , Oliveira Danielle B. L. , Durigon Edison L.
Published: March 2013

Background

Characterization of the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) season at the local level has important implications for appropriate decisions on the time period for administration of specific prophylaxis.

Objectives

(1) To describe five consecutive epidemic periods of HRSV in an equatorial city of Brazil and (2) to show preliminary data on genomic diversity of circulating HRSV.

Patients/Methods

Nasopharyngeal aspirates of 2885 children attending the emergency room and wards of a public hospital were collected and screened by indirect immunofluorescence for HRSV infections during five consecutive years (from January 2004 to December 2008). In addition, the genetic and antigenic variability of the HRSV strains isolated was evaluated by partial nucleotide sequencing of the protein G gene.

Results

HRSV was detected in 15·8% of the analyzed samples. HRSV seasons occurred in a restricted period of each year. The onset of each HRSV season was variable (February to May), but the end always occurred in July. From the 456 HRSV infections found, 86 cases with bronchiolitis were genotyped. Both HRSV subgroups (A and B) cocirculated during the five epidemic periods. The 58 HRSV‐A strains grouped into two clades, GA2 and GA5. In respect of the HRSV‐B strains, the 28 samples grouped into two clades: GB3 and BA.

Conclusions

HRSV accounts for a substantial proportion of ARI in the study population. As in temperate countries, HRSV infections in this equatorial area of Brazil also cause seasonal yearly epidemics, and this has implications for prophylaxis strategies. The city of Fortaleza follows the same worldwide trend of circulation of genotypes of HRSV.
Cryptic species and phylogeographical structure in the tree Cedrela odorata L. throughout the Neotropics
Authors: Cavers Stephen , Telford A. , Arenal Cruz F. , Pérez Castañeda A. J. , Valencia R. , Navarro C. , Buonamici A. , Lowe A. J. , Vendramin G. G.
Published: March 2013

Aim

The origins of much Neotropical biodiversity remain a topic of debate, with both palaeogeographical and more recent climatic drivers playing a role in diversification both among and within species. Here we use a combination of molecular data to assess genetic variation within and among species in the Neotropical tree genus Cedrela, with a focus on Cedrela odorata, to test hypotheses on the drivers of diversification, to place known ecotypic variation in context and to detect intraspecific phylogeographical structure.

Location

Central and South America, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Guadeloupe.

Methods

Samples were collected from the field, existing collections and herbaria from across the geographical range, including a total of 528 individuals from 72 sites. A phylogenetic framework was constructed using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data (intergenic spacers plus flanking 18S and 26S regions), and genetic structure was analysed using a combination of chloroplast DNA sequences (trnC–ycf6, trnH–psbA) and chloroplast and nuclear microsatellite (single sequence repeat, SSR) loci. Phylogenetic reconstruction was undertaken using a combination of Bayesian and parsimony‐based approaches; divergence times were estimated for major nodes. Geographical structure in chloroplast SSR data was analysed using SAMOVA, while that in nuclear SSR data was assessed using a combination of Bayesian clustering and principal coordinates analysis.

Results

ITS sequence data supported phylogenetic distinctiveness of four morphologically cryptic species within C. odorata. Chloroplast sequence and microsatellite data showed geographical structuring both among and within species, suggesting the influence of climatic and geographical drivers. Intraspecific genetic divergence was also present in nuclear microsatellite data, suggesting contemporary gene flow limitation across sea and mountain barriers.

Main conclusions

The data support diversification of the genus Cedrela in South America with subsequent recolonization into Central America prior to the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. At least four morphologically cryptic taxa were evident within C. odorata and within‐species phylogeographical divergence across the Andes and within Central America was present, the latter suggestive of Pleistocene climatic influence. Previously recognized ecotypes in Central America should be elevated to species level. The new molecular data support the recent reclassification and will support the monitoring of exploitation in the genus.
Loss of Phototaxis and Degeneration of an Eyespot in Long‐term Algal Cultures: Evidence from Ultrastructure and Behaviour in the Dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum
Authors: Moldrup Morten , Moestrup Øjvind , Hansen Per Juel
Published: March 2013

Phototaxis provides phytoplankton with the means to orient themselves in a light gradient. This is accomplished using an eyespot and associated organelles. For the dinoflagellate Kryptoperidinium foliaceum, which has been described as having one of the most elaborate eyespot complexes known, positive phototaxis has hitherto not been reported. In this study, we show that a newly isolated strain of K. foliaceum is indeed capable of positive phototaxis with a mean vector (± 95% confidence interval) of 352°± 2.2, where 0/360° indicates the position of the light source. A study of three strains (UTEX 1688, CCMP 1326, and MBL07) of K. foliaceum showed that the eyespot in two of these strains has degenerated following decades in culture. Thus, previous studies have failed to report positive phototaxis due to loss of directionality caused by the degenerated eyespot. The results are discussed in a broader context and we conclude that studies on algal morphology and physiology may result in erroneous conclusions if based on algal cultures maintained under laboratory conditions for extended periods.