bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of retinal image degradation on pre‐attentive visual search (PAVS) efficiency for flicker, movement and orientation stimuli
Authors: Davison Peter , Loughman James 
Published: August 2006

AbstractBackground:  Previous research has shown that several clinical conditions cause increased pre‐attentive visual search (PAVS) times, implying reduced parallel search capabilities in glaucoma and DLB dementia. The purpose of the research reported here was to examine for the first time the resistance of PAVS to dioptric blur using targets differing from the background in terms of flicker, vertical displacement, and orientation. Resistance would enhance the applicability of PAVS as a screening method for glaucoma and other clinical conditions affecting performance of a substantial area of the retina.Method:  Computer generated flicker, orientation and vertical displacement targets were used to assess PAVS efficiency. The subject's task was to locate a small single target subtending 0.92° as quickly as possible (embedded in a field of 119 distractors) on either the left‐ or right‐hand side of a computer monitor. Average PAVS response times were calculated for 40 presentations of each target type presented randomly in any one of 120 positions within ±15° of fixation. Subjects performed the test using their distance spectacles (unless emmetropic), then three tests using positive lenses simulating myopia of up to −3 D, and finally using optimum correction again.Results:  anova revealed that blur of up to 3 D had no statistically significant effect on response times to the flicker target. Blur of over 2.0 D however resulted in increased response times for the displacement target, but only for eyes which were not cyclopleged. The orientation target became significantly more difficult to locate, response times becoming progressively slower with increasing levels of blur (p < 0.05%).Conclusions:  The present flicker and displacement targets are relatively resistant to the effects of reduced acuity, while the orientation target is only suitable for testing subjects with good visual acuity.
Efficacy of multipurpose solutions for rigid gas permeable lenses
Authors: Boost Maureen , Cho Pauline , Lai Sindy 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe use of multipurpose solutions for cleaning and disinfecting rigid gas permeable lenses has replaced single purpose solutions, but there are no reports of the efficacy of these multipurpose solutions, or of the effects of storage conditions on their disinfecting capacities. This study investigated activity against four bacterial and two fungal species, and the effects of storage in a refrigerator, at room temperature, at elevated temperature in both dry and humid conditions and with exposure to sunlight. The disinfecting solutions were challenged with the micro‐organisms initially upon opening and then at 2‐weekly intervals up to 12 weeks after being stored under the different conditions. Solutions were opened daily to simulate use. One solution failed to meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria to reduce numbers of bacteria by three log dilutions and of fungi by one log dilution. Storage reduced activity of all solutions over the 12‐week period, but not below the requirements of the FDA. Storage in the refrigerator tended to reduce disinfecting capacity more quickly. Multipurpose solutions for rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses lose activity over the 3 months recommended time of use but remain satisfactory for use over this time in the conditions tested. Practitioners need to remind patients to replace their solutions regularly and should advise against storage in the refrigerator. Multipurpose solutions for RGP lenses have simplified cleaning and disinfecting processes and the current formulations have improved disinfecting capacity compared to former disinfecting solutions, which is particularly important for wearers of orthokeratology lenses.
Optometrist referrals for cataract and ‘Action on Cataracts’ guidelines: are optometrists following them and are they effective?
Authors: Lash S. C. , Prendiville C. P. , Samson A. , Lewis K. , Munneke R. , Parkin B. T. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractPurpose:  To assess the information included in optometrist referrals for cataract to the Hospital Eye Service with reference to the recommendations made by the Department of Health in ‘Action on Cataracts’ and the resultant surgical listing rates.Methods:  We prospectively collected and analysed the information included in three different types of optometrist referrals for cataract over 8 weeks. Referrals containing ‘full information’ as recommended in ‘Action on Cataracts’ confirmed cataract as the cause of visual loss with a detrimental effect on the patient's lifestyle, and a willingness for surgery. The referral outcomes were assessed in terms of listing rate and the reasons for not listing, for each type of referral form.Results:  A total of 412 referrals were analysed. Of these, 50% (208) were ‘conventional’ referrals via the general practitioner (GP) [39% (n = 162) using the General Ophthalmic Services (GOS) 18 referral form and 11% (n = 46) an optometrist's custom letter]; 35% (n = 143) were direct referrals and 15% (n = 61) were GP referrals with no optometrist information (these results were excluded from further analysis). The listing rates for optometric referrals were 78% (n = 272) overall, 83% (n = 119) for direct and 74% (n = 153) for conventional referrals. ‘Full information’ was included in 17% (n = 8) of letter referrals and 10% (n = 16) of GOS 18 referrals. The listing rates were 83% for referrals with full information and 73% for referrals specifying only that cataracts were the cause of visual loss. The listing rates for referrals with partial information were 78% for ‘cataract’ plus ‘effect on lifestyle’ and 67% for ‘cataract’ plus ‘willingness for surgery’. The most common reason for not listing a patient for surgery was ‘no effect on lifestyle’, accounting for 42% (n = 32).Conclusion:  We recommend that all referrals for cataract should confirm a detrimental effect on lifestyle and the patient’s willingness for surgery, in addition to confirming cataract as the main cause of visual loss.
Islam, Slavery and Jihad in West Africa
Authors: Searing James 
Published: August 2006

AbstractModernist readings of Islam exist in different forms, from the Orientalist to the Islamist, but they agree in defining Islam by looking back to the founding period of the Prophet and his immediate successors. Muslim reformers undertook this step to cut out centuries of commentary and precedent that they blamed for the stagnation of the Muslim world, but their influence is now so pervasive that it distorts historical interpretations of Muslim thought by imposing modernist interpretations that erase past debates about contentious issues such as jihad and slavery. This article challenges the assumptions of this modernist consensus by exploring past debates about slavery and jihad in West Africa from 1600 to 1900, and exploring the diversity of positions defended by West African Muslims. For heuristic purposes, these are defined as those of the revolutionary, the jurist, and the mystic.
Slavery and the Founding
Authors: Mason Matthew 
Published: August 2006

AbstractOne of the oldest but hottest debates over the U.S. Constitution has concerned its relationship to slavery, a dispute that goes right to the heart of the meaning of the founding of the republic. Some observers have portrayed slavery as a – even the – vital problem of the Founding, and denounced the Constitution as a proslavery document. Other scholars contend that this picture unduly elevates the importance of slavery in the contest over the Constitution and distorts the intent of the Founders. This essay reviews recent entries in this debate to frame its argument that slavery figured largely as a weapon that Federalists and Antifederalists wielded to press their more primary points. It examines the debates over – and using – the various slavery clauses in the document to conclude that slavery was a versatile tool in rather than a core concern of the Constitutional Convention and ratification debates.
Biological and biochemical differences between in vitro‐ and in vivo‐reared Exorista larvarum
Authors: Dindo Maria Luisa , Grenier Simon , Sighinolfi Luca , Baronio Piero 
Published: August 2006

AbstractQuantitative and qualitative parameters of Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared on two insect‐material‐free artificial media and in the factitious host Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were compared. Significantly higher puparial yields and weights were obtained in both a milk‐based and a veal homogenate‐based medium than in the factitious host. Longevity and parasitization rates were not different between the in vitro‐ and in vivo‐reared flies. Despite the greater puparial weight of the veal medium‐reared E. larvarum females, the number of eggs laid by these females on host larvae was not higher than that of females reared under the other two rearing conditions. Moreover, in a complementary experiment, with homogeneous puparial weights of milk medium‐ and host‐reared females, the former oviposited fewer eggs. Hence, puparial weight alone is not a reliable quality parameter for E. larvarum reared on artificial media. Lower amino acid content, with a deficiency in aromatic amino acids and an excess in proline, was found for in vitro third instar parasitoid larvae reared on both media compared to the in vivo‐reared ones. These results suggest a correlation between the amino acid deficiency and imbalance of medium‐reared larvae and the lower number of eggs laid by the females obtained.
Haldane's rule in Carabus: interspecific mating between Carabus punctatoauratus and Carabus splendens using experimental tests and molecular markers
Authors: Brouat Carine , Meusnier Serge , Veyrier Renaud , Streiff Réjane 
Published: August 2006

Abstract Carabus splendens Olivier and Carabus punctatoauratus Germar (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Carabini) are ground beetles found in sympatry in forests in the eastern Pyrénées. We investigated potential interspecific mating using crossing experiments under controlled laboratory conditions and paternity analyses based on microsatellite markers. We show that under laboratory conditions, interspecific mating produces viable and fertile offspring. Although hybrid males were sterile, females were fertile and thus reproductive isolation between the two species is far from complete. We discuss the results in relation to species integrity due to pre‐ or post‐zygotic barriers, and compare them to a previous study quantifying hybridization between the two species in natural populations.
Manipulating fertilization: a management tactic against Frankliniella occidentalis on potted chrysanthemum
Authors: Chau Amanda , Heinz Kevin M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractFertilization during production of greenhouse chrysanthemum, Dendranthema grandiflora (Tzvelev), will influence Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) populations as well as plant productivity and postproduction longevity. It is essential to include fertilization effects in the development of crop management practices that reduce thrips populations and maintain plant marketability. In this study, we lowered fertilization to reduce thrips population abundance while maintaining plant productivity. We tested fertilization levels below and above the recommended level (375 p.p.m. N) for commercial production. We reduced mean rate of change in F. occidentalis abundance from 0.05 to 0.03 (day−1) and mean number of thrips per plant by 44% by fertilizing with either 188 p.p.m. N (50% of the recommended level) or 568 p.p.m. N (150%) and higher. Fertilization influenced not only the rate of change in thrips abundance but also the production time (from transplanting to flower opening). Lowering fertilization to 50% of the recommended level lengthened mean production time from 84 to 88 days. Plant height, flower size, and flower number were not adversely affected when fertilization was reduced to 50% of the recommended level. Mean postproduction longevity was shortened from 26 to 24 days when plants were fertilized with 50% of the recommended level. Two important advantages of lowering fertilization to 50% of the recommended level were (1) a 44% reduction in mean F. occidentalis abundance and (2) a significant reduction in fertilizer input for the production system. Manipulation of fertilization can be a useful management tactic against F. occidentalis.
Impact of chemical elicitor applications on greenhouse tomato plants and population growth of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae
Authors: Boughton Anthony J. , Hoover Kelli , Felton Gary W. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractRecent advances in the understanding of plant signaling pathways have opened the way for using elicitor‐induced plant resistance as a tactic for protecting plants against arthropod pests. Four common elicitors of induced responses in tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Solanaceae), were evaluated with regard to phytotoxicity, induction of plant defensive proteins, and effects on population growth and fecundity of a common pest, the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae). Ethephon and methyl jasmonate (MJ) treatments caused varying degrees of phytotoxicity. Ethephon caused pronounced changes in plant growth form and severe, dose‐dependent negative impacts on plant growth and flowering. Effects with MJ were milder, but still caused temporary inhibition of development, leading to smaller plants and delayed flowering. The commercial elicitors benzothiadiazole (BTH) and harpin did not cause detectable phytotoxicity. The highest doses of ethephon and MJ significantly increased leaf peroxidase (POD) levels but only MJ treatments significantly increased polyphenol oxidase (PPO) levels. BTH and harpin had no detectable effects on POD and PPO. Populations of green peach aphids grew significantly more slowly on plants treated with BTH or MJ than on control plants or plants treated with harpin or ethephon. Slowed aphid population growth on BTH‐treated plants was due to significant reductions in aphid fecundity, although this was independent of changes in time to onset of reproduction or time to death. Aphid fecundity was also reduced on MJ‐treated plants relative to controls, but this difference was not statistically significant, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in slowing aphid population growth on MJ‐treated plants. Growth of aphid populations on plants treated with a MJ–BTH mixture was reduced almost as much as with treatments of MJ alone, suggesting that antagonism between JA‐dependant and SA‐dependent plant signaling pathways is only mild with regard to induced defenses against aphids.
Potential distribution and relative abundance of swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, an invasive pest in Canada
Authors: Olfert O. , Hallett R. , Weiss R.M. , Soroka J. , Goodfellow S. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThe swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a pest of most cultivated Brassicaceae such as broccoli, canola, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. The species primarily has a Palaearctic distribution and occurs throughout Europe and southwestern Asia to the Caucasus. Between 1996 and 1999, producers of cruciferous vegetables in Ontario, Canada, reported crop damage that was consistent with damage symptoms characteristic of C. nasturtii feeding and in 2000, field studies confirmed that this damage was caused by C. nasturtii. A bioclimatic model was developed to predict potential range and relative abundance of C. nasturtii in Canada in order to determine the impact of the establishment and spread of C. nasturtii populations. Model output indicated that C. nasturtii could potentially become established in all provinces of Canada, with the risk being greatest in southwestern British Columbia, southern Ontario and Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Results indicated that C. nasturtii population growth in the Prairie Ecozone of western Canada would be greatest in years with above average precipitation.
Spatio‐temporal abundance of flushing leaves shapes host selection in the willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora
Authors: Egusa Sawako , Nishida Takayoshi , Fujisaki Kenji , Sawada Hiroichi 
Published: August 2006

AbstractIn the willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora (Laicharting) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), food resources available for adults are severely restricted by leaf toughness, which increases with age. Nevertheless, females require their own food almost all their life in order to produce eggs. In this paper, we have focused our attention on the spatio‐temporal abundance of flushing leaves and have examined its effect on host‐plant selection by adults among four co‐occurring willow species (Salix chaenomeloides, Salix eriocarpa, Salix integra, and Salix serissaefolia) (Salicaceae) by field observations and experiments at two spatial scales. Among the various factors associated with this, the amount of new leaf production contributed maximally to variation in adult abundance. By conducting two experiments, we confirmed that the adults preferentially flew towards willow trees with abundant flushing leaves. Furthermore, we detected substantial seasonal changes in new leaf abundance and realized fecundity in the field, and a strong positive correlation was observed between them. Availability of adult food resources limited the reproductive performance of adults, particularly in mid‐summer when only S. serissaefolia produced a few new leaves. These results supported the substantial effect of new leaf abundance on adult abundance in the field. Thus, we concluded that adult feeding is a critical factor that shapes the host‐plant selection of P. versicolora and determines its seasonal occurrence through the dispersal and settlement of adults.
Factors affecting DNA preservation from museum‐collected lepidopteran specimens
Authors: Mandrioli Mauro , Borsatti Federica , Mola Lucrezia 
Published: August 2006

AbstractRecent innovations in molecular genetics made DNA an intriguing molecule not only in molecular biology, but also in ecology and evolutionary and conservation biology. Despite this general interest, several discrepancies have been reported in the literature regarding the techniques for preserving insects for DNA analysis, prompting us to analyse the effects of different storage conditions on lepidopteran DNA preservation. In particular, in the present paper, adults of the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were stored under various conditions in order to verify which method is the most suitable to preserve lepidopteran specimens for DNA studies. Mamestra brassicae adults were stored by rapid desiccation with silica gel, by preservation in acetone, 2‐propanol, Carnoy's or ethanol (both at 75 and 100% concentrations) solutions, and finally by storage in an ultracold freezer and liquid nitrogen. Adults preserved by each method were used to extract DNA at the aim of verifying the size of the extracted DNAs, the extraction yield and the possibility of using these samples to amplify both short and long DNA sequences by polymerase chain reaction. The results were compared with those obtained using fresh samples acting as controls. Acetone preservation appeared to be the most recommendable method for moth specimens as it proved to be a good storage medium for DNA analysis, it is cost‐effective, and it is applicable not only to field surveys, but also to obtain efficient and low‐cost storage of lepidopteran specimens in museum collections.
Delayed mating reduces fecundity of blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana, on cranberry
Authors: Fitzpatrick Sheila M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractThis study examines the effects of delayed mating on two successive generations of blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana Hübner (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a pest of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton (Ericaceae). The first (spring) generation produces eggs that hatch soon after oviposition, whereas the second (summer) generation produces mostly diapause eggs. Unmated female and male moths were placed together on the first, second, fourth, sixth, or eighth day after emergence. In the first generation, incidence of mating was greatest in the 1‐, 2‐, and 4‐day treatments then declined as female survival decreased. In the second generation, incidence of mating was lowest in the 1‐day treatment and greatest in the 2‐, 4‐, and 6‐day treatments. Most second generation females in the 6‐ and 8‐day treatments survived to mate. The mean oviposition period was 2.6 days for first generation females and 4.1 days for second generation females. Fecundity of singly mated females in both generations declined as age at mating advanced, but the pattern of decline differed between generations. First generation females that were mated on the first or second day laid more eggs than those mated on the fourth, sixth, or eighth day, and the number of infertile eggs increased as age at mating advanced. Fecundity of second generation females declined more gradually and the number of infertile eggs was greatest for females mated on the first, sixth, or eighth day. A consequence of the marked decline in fecundity due to mating delays in the first generation was that mean fecundity of the entire group of first generation females was ca. 13% less than that of the group of second generation females. On cranberry farms, pheromone‐mediated mating disruption can prevent or delay mating of blackheaded fireworm. If the frequency of disrupted (prevented and delayed) matings is similar in the two generations, fewer eggs will be laid in the first generation than in the second.
Insecticide resistance in Chinese populations of the Culex pipiens complex through esterase overproduction
Authors: Cui F. , Lin L.‐F. , Qiao C.‐L. , Xu Y. , Marquine M. , Weill M. , Raymond M. 
Published: August 2006

AbstractIn most parts of China, mosquitoes have been subjected to organophosphate (OP) insecticide treatments since the mid‐1960s, and resistance gene monitoring in the Culex pipiens complex (Diptera: Culicidae) started in only a few locations from the end of the 1980s. Many resistant alleles at the Ester locus have been found in field populations, including those commonly found around the world (EsterB1 and Ester2), and those endemic to China (EsterB6, EsterB7, Ester8, and Ester9). This situation is atypical, and may represent a complex situation for the evolution of insecticide resistance genes in China. To increase our understanding of the Chinese situation and our ability to manage resistance in the C. pipiens complex, a large study was performed. Twenty field populations were sampled from Beijing to Guangzhou. Bioassays with five insecticides (dichlorvos, parathion, chlorpyrifos, 2‐sec‐butylphenyl methyl carbamate, and propoxur) disclosed resistance levels variable according to the geographic origin, and up to 85‐fold for dichlorvos. Six overproduced esterases were identified, including two that have not been previously described. Most of them were found in all samples, although at variable frequencies, suggesting variable selection or a transient situation, e.g., each one was recently restricted to a particular geographic area. The results are discussed in the context of recent alterations to insecticide campaigns, and of the evolution of resistance genes in Chinese C. pipiens populations.