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Major Findings (major + finding)
Selected AbstractsExpectation of empowerment as a determinant of citizen participation in waste management planning1,2JAPANESE PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009HIROE MAEDA Abstract:, The study investigated the determinants of citizen participation in the development of a waste management plan. It was hypothesized that people would decide whether or not to participate in the planning based on the expectation of empowerment to be gained by their participation, not on the general evaluation of citizen participation. Four hundred and twenty-four volunteers responded to a self-report mailed survey conducted in August 2001 in Nisshin City. Nisshin City was selected as a city where the municipal government was starting to develop a basic plan for waste reduction and recycling. Major findings from the survey were: (a) the direct social benefits (i.e., making a better plan by citizen participation) were the main determinant of the general evaluation of citizen participation; and (b) expectation of personal empowerment (i.e., sense of self-efficacy and solidarity) was the main determinant of behavioral intention to citizen participation. [source] Ion channels in toxicologyJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Iván Restrepo-Angulo Abstract Ion channels play essential roles in human physiology and toxicology. Cardiac contraction, neural transmission, temperature sensing, insulin release, regulation of apoptosis, cellular pH and oxidative stress, as well as detection of active compounds from chilli, are some of the processes in which ion channels have an important role. Regulation of ion channels by several chemicals including those found in air, water and soil represents an interesting potential link between environmental pollution and human diseases; for instance, de novo expression of ion channels in response to exposure to carcinogens is being considered as a potential tool for cancer diagnosis and therapy. Non-specific binding of several drugs to ion channels is responsible for a huge number of undesirable side-effects, and testing guidelines for several drugs now require ion channel screening for pharmaceutical safety. Animal toxins targeting human ion channels have serious effects on the population and have also provided a remarkable tool to study the molecular structure and function of ion channels. In this review, we will summarize the participation of ion channels in biological processes extensively used in toxicological studies, including cardiac function, apoptosis and cell proliferation. Major findings on the adverse effects of drugs on ion channels as well as the regulation of these proteins by different chemicals, including some pesticides, are also reviewed. Association of ion channels and toxicology in several biological processes strongly suggests these proteins to be excellent candidates to follow the toxic effects of xenobiotics, and as potential early indicators of life-threatening situations including chronic degenerative diseases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Job satisfaction and employee perception of the learning environment in the health care management industryJOURNAL OF LEADERSHIP STUDIES, Issue 4 2008Ernest W. Brewer This study examines the relationship between job satisfaction and perception of the learning environment of administrative employees and differences in job satisfaction in terms of age, education, ethnicity, gender, location, marital status, position classification, and years of service. A total of 261 administrative employees of a national health care management organization participated in the survey. Major findings of this study revealed significant differences in some subcategories of job satisfaction and perceptions of learning environment in the respondents' ethnicity, age, and office location. Significant relationships were also found between job satisfaction, the perceived learning environment, and facets of the learning environment. [source] Arterial oxygen tension increase 2,3 h after hyperbaric oxygen therapy: a prospective observational studyACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2007B. Ratzenhofer-Komenda Background:, Inhalation of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) has been reported to decrease arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) in the early period after exposure. The current investigation aimed at evaluating whether and to what extent arterial blood gases were affected in mechanically ventilated intensive care patients within 6 h after HBO treatment. Methods:, Arterial blood gases were measured in 11 ventilated subjects [nine males, two females, synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) mode] undergoing HBO therapy for necrotizing soft tissue infection (seven patients), burn injury (two patients), crush injury (one patient) and major abdominal surgery (one patient). Blood gases were obtained with the patients in the supine position under continuous analgesia and sedation before the hyperbaric session (baseline), during isopression, after decompression, after each transport, and 1, 2, 3 and 6 h after exposure. Heart rates and blood pressures were recorded. Intensive care unit (ICU) ventilator settings remained unchanged. Transport and chamber ventilator settings were adjusted to baseline with maintenance of tidal volumes and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels. The hyperbaric protocol consisted of 222.9 kPa (2.2 absolute atmospheres) and a 50-min isopression phase. The paired Wilcoxon's test was used. Results:, Major findings (median values, 25%/75% quantiles) as per cent change of baseline: PaO2 values decreased by 19.7% (7.0/31.7, P < 0.01) after 1 h and were elevated over baseline by 9.3% (1.5/13.7, P < 0.05) after 3 h. SaO2, alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference and PaO2/FiO2 ratio behaved concomitantly. Acid-base status and carbon dioxide tension were unaffected. Conclusion:, Arterial oxygen tension declines transiently after HBO and subsequently improves over baseline in intensive care patients on volume-controlled mechanical ventilation. The effectiveness of other ventilation modes or a standardized recruitment manoeuvre has yet to be evaluated. [source] Induction of Phlorotannins During UV Exposure Mitigates Inhibition of Photosynthesis and DNA Damage in the Kelp Lessonia nigrescensPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Ivan Gómez Phlorotannins of brown algae are multifunctional compounds with putative roles in herbivore deterrence, antioxidation and as primary cell wall components. Due to their peripheral localization and absorption at short wavelengths, a photoprotective role is suggested. We examined the induction of phlorotannins by artificial UV radiation in the intertidal kelp Lessonia nigrescens and whether they attenuate the inhibition of photosynthesis and DNA damage, two major detrimental effects of UV. The soluble and cell wall-bound fractions of phlorotannins were quantified in blades collected in summer and winter. Major findings were that (1) the synthesis of phlorotannins (both forms) was induced by UV only in summer; (2) the induction was fast (within 3 days); and (3) there was a positive relationship between of the contents of insoluble phlorotannins and the suppression of photoinhibition and DNA damage, measured as formation of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 6-4 photoproducts. Overall, the photoprotective role of phlorotannins appears to respond to an interplay between the external UV stimulus, seasonal acclimation and intrinsic morpho-functional processes. In summer, when algae are naturally exposed to high UV irradiances, soluble phlorotannins are induced, while their transition to insoluble phlorotannins could be related with the growth requirements, as active blade elongation occurs during this season. [source] Effect of PCBM Concentration on Photoluminescence Properties of Composite MEH-PPV/PCBM Nanoparticles Investigated by a Franck,Condon Analysis of Single-Particle Emission SpectraCHEMPHYSCHEM, Issue 14 2009Daeri Tenery Dr. Abstract The emission of composite conjugated polymer (MEH-PPV)/fullerene (PCBM) nanoparticles is investigated by single particle spectroscopy (SPS), and changes in vibronic structure with nanoparticle composition are evaluated by means of a detailed Franck,Condon analysis. Consistent with previous reports we find that the emission spectra can be modeled as the superposition of two types of emitters, one with aggregate character and one with molecular character. Major findings from the fitting of the SPS data to a Franck,Condon model are that 1) the occurrence of each of the two types of emitters changes with nanoparticle composition to the point that no aggregate emitters are detected (at 50 wt,% PCBM), 2) at the highest PCBM doping levels (75 wt,% PCBM) aggregate emitters reappear due to nanoscale phase separation in the composite nanoparticles, 3) the molecular emitters show small Huang,Rhys factors that increase with PCBM doping, indicative of extensive delocalization and exciton migration that is reduced by the disorder introduced in the polymer material by PCBM doping and 4) the aggregate emitters show large Huang,Rhys factors, indicative of the localized nature of these energy trap sites, with a broad distribution of values of these Huang,Rhys factors. The latter observation suggests a broad heterogeneous distribution of aggregate morphologies in blended conducting polymer materials, which can be attributed to variations in polymer chain folding and stacking at the aggregate sites. The reported results obtained by the SPS approach show how blending conjugated polymers with fullerenes at various doping levels induces changes in interchain interactions and aggregate site density even at length scales below a few tens of nanometers that affect conjugated polymer material properties, an observation that has gone unnoticed in bulk studies of blended conjugated polymer films. [source] Muscle fibre size and capillarity in Korean diving womenACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 2 2003K. A. Bae Abstract Aim:, Effects of prolonged habitual cold-water immersion on fibre size and capillarity in vastus lateralis muscle were studied in human beings. The hypothesis tested in the present study was that cold acclimatized human skeletal muscle would have reduced muscle fibre size and higher capillarity, favouring the idea of efficacy of recruitment under cold environment. Methods:, Ten women breath-hold divers (BHDs) and 10 active women (controls CONs) participated in this study. Muscle biopsy was obtained from vastus lateralis and determined fibre type composition and capillary density. Results: A major finding was that all BHDs revealed a markedly smaller cross-sectional area (CSA) in all fibre types than the CONs, or even than any other morphological data reported in previous investigations. Furthermore, mean CSA of type II fibre (range 1205,2766 ,m2) was much smaller than type I fibre (2343,4327 ,m2). The number of capillaries per fibre in different fibre types in the BHDs was higher than in the CONs (P < 0.001), and diffusional area was smaller in type II fibres than in type I fibres (P < 0.001). The BHDs and the CONs have similarity in the percentage of type I fibres, but type II fibre was predominant in both groups. Interestingly the proportion of type IIx fibre in the BHDs was higher (31%) than in the CONs (22%). No significant difference was found in the thigh circumference between the groups. Conclusion:, The present study demonstrates that prolonged habitual cold-water immersion may induce a decrease in fibre size and an increase in capillarity in human skeletal muscle. [source] SURVEYING UNIVERSITY STUDENT STANDARDS IN ECONOMICSECONOMIC PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECONOMICS AND POLICY, Issue 2 2005Peter Abelson In late 2003 and early 2004 the Economic Society of Australia surveyed the Heads of Economics Departments in Australia to determine their views on three main issues: student standards; major factors affecting these standards; and policy implications. This paper describes the main results of the survey, reviews the conduct and value of this kind of survey, and discusses policy implications for economics in universities. Most respondents considered that student standards have declined and that the main causes include lower entry standards, high student/staff ratios, and a declining culture of study. However, some respondents argued that standards are multi-dimensional and that people may properly attach different weights to different attributes. Strong precautions assuring anonymity to respondents minimised strategic responses, but may not have eliminated them entirely. However, the respondents' views were based largely on experience rather than evidence and a major finding of this paper is the need for more evidence on standards and on the factors that influence them. Most respondents favoured a decentralised university-based approach to dealing with these issues, contending that centralised accreditation is inappropriate and that market forces would promote quality issues. In the writer's view, externally set and assessed exams as part of university examination procedures would lift standards and send out improved market signals. [source] REVIEW FOR SPECIAL ISSUE ON CANNABINOIDS: Ligands that target cannabinoid receptors in the brain: from THC to anandamide and beyondADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Roger G. Pertwee ABSTRACT A major finding,that (,)- trans -,9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (,9 -THC) is largely responsible for the psychotropic effects of cannabis,prompted research in the 1970s and 1980s that led to the discovery that this plant cannabinoid acts through at least two types of cannabinoid receptor, CB1 and CB2, and that ,9 -THC and other compounds that target either or both of these receptors as agonists or antagonists have important therapeutic applications. It also led to the discovery that mammalian tissues can themselves synthesize and release agonists for cannabinoid receptors, the first of these to be discovered being arachidonoylethanolamide (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. These ,endocannabinoids' are released onto their receptors in a manner that appears to maintain homeostasis within the central nervous system and sometimes either to oppose or to mediate or exacerbate the unwanted effects of certain disorders. This review provides an overview of the pharmacology of cannabinoid receptors and their ligands. It also describes actual and potential clinical uses both for cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists and for compounds that affect the activation of cannabinoid receptors less directly, for example by inhibiting the enzymatic hydrolysis of endocannabinoids following their release. [source] Ranking State Environmental Outputs: Evidence from Panel DataGROWTH AND CHANGE, Issue 1 2000John A. List This paper uses state-level pollution data from 1986,1997 to construct two indices that rank U.S. states according to environmental outputs. A major finding is that marginal performers in other indices, such as Wyoming, garner top spots in these ranking systems. The paper also presents findings from fixed and random effects models of panel data that imply state income levels are positively associated with environmental outputs after a threshold level of income is obtained. [source] The changing profile of caravanners in AustraliaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Bruce Prideaux Abstract Caravanning has been a popular leisure activity in Australia for many decades. In recent years the profile of the industry has changed with a shift from family caravanning to retirees. This change has significant implications for the industry overall as well as the regional areas visited by caravanners. This paper reports on research designed to develop a profile of contemporary caravanning in Australia. One of the most significant findings was the homogeneity of the respondents. The largest groups of respondents were ,empty nesters', people who were retired or near retirement and who were attracted to three clusters of activities: nature; shopping and eating; and visiting heritage attractions. Another major finding of interest for regional areas was the relatively low daily expenditure on food and accommodation. The paper discusses a range of options that may be used by regional areas to boost their caravan sector. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Asthma Pharmacotherapy Prescribing in the Ambulatory Population of the United States: Evidence of Nonadherence to National Guidelines and Implications for Elderly PeopleJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 7 2008Prakash Navaratnam MPH OBJECTIVES: To examine the level of physician adherence to the Expert Panel Report 2 (EPR-2) pharmacotherapy guidelines of the asthma population, specifically in the elderly ambulatory patient population of the United States. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study using a national survey. SETTING: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data of U.S. elderly patients from 1998 through 2004. PARTICIPANTS: The weighted population sample size was 82,020,318 patients. There were 1,540 observations in this study (preweighted sample size) and 96 strata, with 446 population sampling units (PSUs). There were 11,868,340 patients that were elderly, and they accounted for 14.5% of the overall population sampled. MEASUREMENTS: Specific patient demographic variables, physician demographic variables, and information about asthma medications prescribed were extracted from the data set and analyzed. Descriptive statistics for the patient demographic, physician demographic, and asthma pharmacotherapy variables were generated. A series of logistic regression models were created, with the choice of asthma pharmacotherapy agent used as the dependent variable and patient and physician demographic variables as the independent variables. RESULTS: A major finding was that physicians were not adherent to the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program EPR-2 asthma pharmacotherapy guidelines. Another finding was that, although elderly patients (aged ,65) were exposed to more-stable patterns of care, they were less likely to be prescribed controller medications, long-acting bronchodilators (LABAs), combinations of inhaled corticosteroids and LABAs, and short-acting beta agonists than patients aged 35 to 64. CONCLUSION: A more-concerted effort needs to be undertaken to improve physician adherence to the EPR-2 guidelines, especially in prescribing asthma pharmacotherapy to elderly patients. [source] Microbial composition and structure of a multispecies biofilm from a trickle-bed reactor used for the removal of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons from a waste gasJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Dariusch Hekmat Abstract The microbial composition and structure of a multispecies biofilm of a laboratory-scale trickle-bed bioreactor for the treatment of waste gas was examined. The model pollutant was a volatile organic compound-mixture of polyalkylated benzenes called Solvesso 100®. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were applied. Two new Solvesso 100® -degrading Pseudomonas sp strains were isolated from the multispecies biofilm. Corresponding isolate-specific oligonucleotide probes were designed and applied successfully. A major finding was that the fraction of Solvesso 100® -degrading bacteria in the biofilm was low (about 3,6% during long-term operation). The majority of the active cells were saprophytes which utilized intermediates and cell lysis products. The measured fraction of extracellular polymeric substances of the mature biofilm was 89,93% of the total biomass. The CLSM examinations of a 3-days-old approx 10 µm thick biofilm revealed highly heterogeneous structures with distinguished three-dimensional matrix-enclosed microcolony bodies spread across the substratum surface. The 28-days-old 80,960 µm thick biofilm exhibited voids, cell-free channels, and pores of variable sizes. In both cases, an even distribution of active cells and pollutant-degrading bacteria throughout the biofilm cross-section as well as through the biofilm depth was observed. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] A FEMINIST ANALYSIS OF SELF-HELP BESTSELLERS FOR IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS: A DECADE REVIEWJOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY, Issue 2 2001Toni Schindler Zimmerman Self-help literature is pervasive and influential in the United States. A Critical analysis of self-help books would help therapists to determine their utility for therapeutic process and assist them in making reading recommendations to clients. In this study, a content analysis was conducted of the top II relationships self-help books on the New York Times Bestseller List over a period of 10 years (1988,198) to determine the degree to which these books support a feminist approach to therapy. This study yielded three major findings. First, the number of feminist books, the number of nonfeminist books, and those falling in the middle across four components of feminist family therapy are about equal. However, the second major finding was that the top-selling books are more likely to be nonfeminist than feminist. The third finding is that most best-selling self-help books appear to have become less compatible with a feminist approach to relationships over time. This analysis encourages therapists to think critically about these best-selling books; it will also allow therapists to condider this methodology as a model for critically analyzing other books that they recommend to clients or use in their own professional development. [source] SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT YIELD PREDICTION ACCURACY USING WEPP,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 2 2004John M. Laflen ABSTRACT: The objectives of this paper are to discuss expectations for the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) accuracy, to review published studies related to WEPP goodness of fit, and to evaluate these in the context of expectations for WEPP's goodness of fit. WEPP model erosion predictions have been compared in numerous studies to observed values for soil loss and sediment delivery from cropland plots, forest roads, irrigated lands and small watersheds. A number of different techniques for evaluating WEPP have been used, including one recently developed where the ability of WEPP to accurately predict soil erosion can be compared to the accuracy of replicated plots to predict soil erosion. In one study involving 1,594 years of data from runoff plots, WEPP performed similarly to the Universal Soil Loss Erosion (USLE) technology, indicating that WEPP has met the criteria of results being "at least as good with respect to observed data and known relationships as those from the USLE," particularly when the USLE technology was developed using relationships derived from that data set, and using soil erodibility values measured on those plots using data sets from the same period of record. In many cases, WEPP performed as well as could be expected, based on comparisons with the variability in replicate data sets. One major finding has been that soil erodibility values calculated using the technology in WEPP for rainfall conditions may not be suitable for furrow irrigated conditions. WEPP was found to represent the major storms that account for high percentages of soil loss quite well,a single storm application that the USLE technology is unsuitable for,and WEPP has performed well for disturbed forests and forest roads. WEPP has been able to reflect the extremes of soil loss, being quite responsive to the wide differences in cropping, tillage, and other forms of management, one of the requirements for WEPP validation. WEPP was also found to perform well on a wide range of small watersheds, an area where USLE technology cannot be used. [source] Differential expression of lysosomal associated membrane protein (LAMP-1) during mammalian spermiogenesisMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2003Ricardo D. Moreno Abstract The mammalian acrosome is a secretory vesicle of mature sperms that plays an important role in fertilization. Recent evidence had pointed out that some components found at endosomes in somatic cells are associated with the developing acrosome during the early steps of spermiogenesis. Moreover, the mammalian acrosome contains many enzymes found within lysosomes in somatic cells. In this work, we studied the dynamics of some components of the endosome/lysosome system, as a way to understand the complex membrane trafficking circuit established during spermatogenesis. We show that the cation independent-mannose-6-phosphate receptor (CI-MPR) is transiently expressed in the cytoplasm of mid-stage spermatids (steps 5,11). On the other hand, ,-adaptin, an adaptor molecule of a complex involved in trafficking from the Golgi to lysosomes, was expressed in cytoplasmic vesicles only in pachytene and Cap-phase spermatids (steps 1,5). Our major finding is that the lysosomal protein LAMP-1 is differentially expressed during spermiogenesis. LAMP-1 appears late in spermatogenesis (Acrosome-phase) contrasting with LAMP-2, which is present throughout the complete process. Both proteins appear to be associated with cytoplasmic vesicles and not with the developing acrosome. None of the studied proteins is present in epididymal spermatozoa. Our results suggest that the CI-MPR could be involved in membrane trafficking and/or acrosomal shaping during spermiogenesis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 66: 202,209, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Value-chain innovation in aquaculture: insights from a New Zealand case studyR & D MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2006Jayaram K. Sankaran We report a case study of value-chain innovation in a niche, export-oriented aquaculture industry, namely, Chinook/King salmon, that contrasts with the much more common Atlantic/Norwegian salmon. The firm in question is vertically integrated, thus offering a ,cradle-to-grave' vista of innovation that spans ,production' (i.e. farming), processing, marketing, and distribution. A major finding is the need for a delicate balance between the relative expenditures on production research and developmental research in integrated aquaculture firms, especially those that focus on niche species. Interaction effects between the two research strands complicate the trade-off: production research adds value at the fish farm by lowering the unit cost of production , and in turn facilitates new product development as it is easier to add value to a lower-cost product than a higher-cost product. From the case study findings, we synthesize a process model of value-chain innovation that is applicable for integrated aquaculture firms. We also induce several implications for the management of Research & Development and innovation in such firms. [source] HOW FAST DO TOKYO AND NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGES RESPOND TO EACH OTHER?THE JAPANESE ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 2 2010AN ANALYSIS WITH HIGH-FREQUENCY DATA This paper uses one-min returns on the TOPIX and S&P500 to examine the efficiency of the Tokyo and New York Stock Exchanges. Our major finding is that Tokyo completes reactions to New York within six min, but New York reacts within fourteen min. Dividing the sample period into three subperiods, we found that the response time has shortened and the magnitude of reaction has become larger over the period in both markets. The magnitude of response in New York to a fall in Tokyo is roughly double that of a rise. [source] Influence of insoluble dietary cellulose on digestive enzyme activity, feed digestibility and survival in the red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (von Martens)AQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Ana Pavasovic Abstract Red claw (Cherax quadricarinatus) is a freshwater crayfish species with recognized potential for aquaculture. To better understand the digestive processes and nutritional requirements of red claw, we have examined the effects of dietary cellulose on (1) digestive enzyme activity and diet digestibility and (2) survival rate, feed conversion ratio and growth performance. In the first study, a reference diet (RF) and test diets consisting of 70% RF and 30%,-cellulose or Fuller's earth were prepared. Analysis of digestive enzyme profiles revealed that amylase and cellulase activities in midgut gland (MG) extracts were highest in the red claw fed on a diet containing 30% Fuller's earth and lowest in those fed on a diet containing 30%,-cellulose. Supplementation of the RF diet with either 30%,-cellulose or Fuller's earth significantly reduced apparent dry mater (ADMD) and apparent protein digestibilities (APD). In the second study, a feeding trial was conducted using diets supplemented with different levels of ,-cellulose. A major finding was that dietary cellulose levels above 12% were correlated with significant reductions in survival rate, specific growth rate and feeding efficiency. Based on these findings, we suggest that although cellulase enzymes are present in the red claw digestive system there are no apparent nutritive benefits obtained by including insoluble cellulose in diets for this species. [source] Molecular phylogeny of icefish Salangidae based on complete mtDNA cytochrome b sequences, with comments on estuarine fish evolutionBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 2 2007JIE ZHANG Phylogenetic relationships among 15 species in the family Salangidae were constructed based on the complete cytochrome b sequence (1141 bp). We confirmed the monophyly of the family Salangidae and defined four primitive lineages within this family: (I) Protosalanx, Neosalanx anderssoni, Neosalanx tangkahkeii, and Neosalanx argentea; (II) Neosalanx reganius, Neosalanx jordani, Neosalanx oligodontis, and Neosalanx sp.; (III) Hemisalanx, Salanx, Leucosoma, and Salangichthys ishikawae; and (IV) Salangichthys microdon. A major finding of our study is the key basal placement of Sg. microdon. According to the tentative estimation, the divergence of the four lineages appears to have been initiated in the early Miocene (21 Mya), with most speciation events occurring 1.05,9.90 Mya. Taxonomic revisions on subfamilial, generic, and specific levels were carried out based on phylogenetic relationships and genetic distance, taking into account some key morphological characters. The speciation mechanism in Salangidae is also discussed, and the evidence shows that geographical isolation, water mass, as well as some ecological factors, may not always play important roles in the speciation of temperate estuarine fish. In the most cases, sympatric salangids are not monophyletic, indicating that their coexistence reflects secondary contact rather than sympatric speciation. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 91, 327,342. [source] Gene expression of anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins in malignant and normal plasma cellsBRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Michel Jourdan Summary The survival of malignant plasma cells is a key event in disease occurrence, progression and chemoresistance. Using DNA-microarrays, we analysed the expression of genes coding for 58 proteins linked with extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, caspases and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. We considered six memory B cells (MBC), seven plasmablasts (PPC), seven bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) and purified myeloma cells (MMC) from 92 newly-diagnosed patients. Forty out of the 58 probe sets enabled the separation of MBC, PPC and BMPC in three homogeneous clusters, characterized by an elevated expression of TNFRSF10A, TNFRSF10B, BCL2A1, CASP8, CASP9 and PMAIP1 genes for MBC, of FAS, FADD, AIFM1, BIRC5, CASP CASP2, CASP3 and CASP6 for PPC and of BCL2, MCL1, BID, BIRC3 and XIAP for BMPC. Thus, B cell differentiation was associated with change of expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes. Regarding MMC, the major finding was TRAIL upregulation that might be counteracted by a high osteoprotegerin production by BM stromal cells and a decreased expression of FAS, APAF1 and BNIP3 compared to normal BMPC. Out of the 40 genes, CASP2 and BIRC5 expression in MMC had adverse prognosis in two independent series of previously-untreated patients. [source] Progress in monitoring inflammation in JIAACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009B BODAGHI Purpose To analyze the most appropriate strategy to monitor ocular inflammation in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis - associated uveitis. Methods Slit lamp biomicroscopy is widely used to evaluate the importance of anterior segment flare and cells in children with anterior uveitis. However, different studies have clearly shown that other tools such as laser flare photometry and OCT may improve the monitoring during the follow-up. Therefore, both tests are performed in all children referred to our Department for the management of JIA-associated uveitis. Results Laser flare photometry showed for the first time that active ocular inflammation may be associated with a significant level of flare even in the absence of detectable cells. This is a major finding to start a therapeutic approach or change it for a more aggressive strategy and monitor the decrease of flare. Moreover, the level of flare decrease under therapy may predict further serious complications such as secondary glaucoma or cataract. OCT features are important to identify macular alterations in nearly 85% of children with anterior uveitis associated with JIA. Conclusion Both laser flare photometry and OCT are non invasive and quantitative methods that may significantly improve the visual outcome of JIA-associated uveitis. [source] Stroke volume decreases during mild dynamic and static exercise in supine humansACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 2 2009M. Elstad Abstract Aim:, The contributions of cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance to changes in arterial blood pressure are debated and differ between dynamic and static exercise. We studied the role stroke volume (SV) has in mild supine exercise. Methods:, We investigated 10 healthy, supine volunteers by continuous measurement of heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure, SV (ultrasound Doppler) and femoral beat volume (ultrasound Doppler) during both dynamic mild leg exercise and static forearm exercise. This made it possible to study CO, femoral flow (FF) and both total and femoral peripheral resistance beat-by-beat. Results:, During a countdown period immediately prior to exercise, HR and mean arterial pressure increased, while SV decreased. During mild supine exercise, SV decreased by 5,8%, and most of this was explained by increased mean arterial pressure. Dynamic leg exercise doubled femoral beat volume, while static hand grip decreased femoral beat volume by 18%. FF is tightly regulated according to metabolic demand during both dynamic leg exercise and static forearm exercise. Conclusion:, Our three major findings are, firstly, that SV decreases during both dynamic and static mild supine exercise due to an increase in mean arterial pressure. Secondly, femoral beat volume decreases during static hand grip, but FF is unchanged due to the increase in HR. Finally, anticipatory responses to exercise are apparent prior to both dynamic and static exercise. SV changes contribute to CO changes and should be included in studies of central haemodynamics during exercise. [source] Inhibitory functioning across ADHD subtypes: Recent findings, clinical implications, and future directionsDEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 4 2008Zachary W. Adams Abstract Although growing consensus supports the role of deficient behavioral inhibition as a central feature of the combined subtype of ADHD (ADHD/C; Barkley 1997 Psychol Bull 121:65,94; Nigg 2001 Psychol Bull 127:571,598), little research has focused on how this finding generalizes to the primarily inattentive subtype (ADHD/I). This question holds particular relevance in light of recent work suggesting that ADHD/I might be better characterized as a disorder separate from ADHD/C (Diamond 2005 Dev Psychopathol 17:807,825; Milich et al. 2001 Clin Psychol Sci Pract 8:463,488). This article describes major findings in the area of inhibitory performance in ADHD and highlights recent research suggesting important areas of divergence between the subtypes. In particular, preliminary findings point to potential differences between the subtypes with respect to how children process important contextual information from the environment, such as preparatory cues that precede responses and rewarding or punishing feedback following behavior. These suggestive findings are discussed in the context of treatment implications, which could involve differential intervention approaches for each subtype targeted to the specific deficit profiles that characterize each group of children. Future research avenues aimed toward building a sound theoretical model of ADHD/I and a better understanding of its relation to ADHD/C are also presented. Specifically, investigators are encouraged to continue studying the complex interplay between inhibitory and attentional processes, as this area seems particularly promising in its ability to improve our understanding of the potentially distinct pathologies underlying the ADHD subtypes. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Dev Disabil Res Rev 2008;14:268,275. [source] Social influences on formula intake via suckling in 7 to 14-week-old-infantsDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Julie C. Lumeng Abstract To investigate social influences on human suckling behavior, 25 healthy, full term, 7 to 14-week-old infants were each bottle-fed their own formula twice by their mother and once in each of four experimental conditions: (a) held, provided social interaction; (b) held, without interaction; (c) not held, provided interaction; (d) not held, without interaction. Volume intake (VI), Total Sucks, infant gaze direction, and time elapsed since the last feeding were determined. There were three major findings: (1) social interaction increased VI; (2) VI was linearly related to the time since the last feeding in held infants; (3) Total Sucks and VI were both highly correlated with privation length when infants did not look at the feeder and when fed by the mother. Thus, social influences exert strong immediate impacts on suckling. Accordingly, suckling functions to obtain both nutrition from and social information about the feeder. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 351,361, 2007. [source] Vulnerability of community businesses to environmental disastersDISASTERS, Issue 1 2009Yang Zhang Business plays important roles in community functioning., However, disaster research has been disproportionately focused on units of analysis such as families, households and government agencies. This paper synthesises the major findings within the business development research field and the disaster research field. It constructs a framework for evaluating business vulnerability to natural disasters. Our theoretical integration of the research conducted to date addresses five major issues. First, it defines the ways in which businesses are subject to the impacts of natural disasters. Second, it identifies the factors that determine the magnitude of business impacts after a disaster. Third, it identifies how and when businesses return to their pre-disaster level in the disaster stricken community. Fourth, it describes measures that can be taken by individual firms and community planners to reduce the impacts of environmental disasters. Fifth, it identifies needs for public policy and future research to reduce business vulnerability to environmental disasters. [source] Positron emission tomography and its use to image the occupancy of drug binding sitesDRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, Issue 2 2003S. John Gatley Abstract The development of positron emission tomography (PET) and the ability to synthesize compounds labeled with the short-lived positron emitters 11C and 18F has made possible the imaging and quantification of drug binding sites in the human body. By conducting PET studies with an appropriate radioligand before and after treatment with a drug, the fraction of the total number of binding sites that is occupied by the drug (the "occupancy" of the site) can often be determined. To the extent that occupancy is a good indicator of pharmacological activity, such PET experiments can aid the development of drug dosage regimens. Some of the general issues involved in PET studies of drug occupancy are discussed. There have been many such studies involving antipsychotic drugs and dopamine D2 receptor radioligands. Since neuroleptics have been extensively reviewed elsewhere, only the major findings are discussed here. Other binding sites (and drug classes) in the dopamine system to which this methodology has been applied include: the dopamine transporter (stimulant drugs) and monoamine oxidase A and B (antidepressant drugs). Occupancy studies are also possible for many drug targets beyond the dopamine system. Drug Dev. Res. 59:194,207, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Currency boards: More than a quick fix?ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 31 2000Atish R. Ghosh Once a popular colonial monetary arrangement, currency boards fell into disuse as countries gained political independence. But recently, currency boards have made a remarkable come-back. This essay takes a critical look at their performance. Are currency boards really a panacea for achieving low inflation and high growth? Or do they merely provide a ,quick fix' allowing authorities to neglect fundamental reforms and thus fail to yield lasting benefits? We have three major findings. First, the historical track record of currency boards is sterling, with few instances of speculative attacks and virtually no ,involuntary' exits. Countries that did exit from currency boards did so mainly for political, rather than economic reasons, and such exits were usually uneventful. Second, modern currency boards have often been instituted to gain credibility following a period of high or hyperinflation, and in this regard, have been remarkably successful. Countries with currency boards experienced lower inflation and higher (if more volatile) GDP growth compared to both floating regimes and simple pegs. The inflation difference reflects both a lower growth rate of money supply (a ,discipline effect'), and a faster growth of money demand (a ,credibility effect'). The GDP growth effect is significant, but may simply reflect a rebound from depressed levels. Third, case studies reveal the successful introduction of a currency board to be far from trivial, requiring lengthy legal and institutional changes, as well as a broad economic and social consensus for the implied commitment. Moreover, there are thorny issues, as yet untested, regarding possible exits from a currency board. Thus currency boards do not provide easy solutions. But if introduced in the right circumstances, with some built-in flexibility, they can be an important tool for gaining credibility and achieving macroeconomic stabilization. [source] MATE CHOICE AND HUMAN STATURE: HOMOGAMY AS A UNIFIED FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MATING PREFERENCESEVOLUTION, Issue 8 2010Alexandre Courtiol Assortative mating for human height has long attracted interest in evolutionary biology, and the phenomenon has been demonstrated in numerous human populations. It is often argued that mating preferences generate this pattern, but other processes can also induce trait correlations between mates. Here, we present a methodology tailored to quantify continuous preferences based on choice experiments between pairs of stimuli. In particular, it is possible to explore determinants of interindividual variations in preferences, such as the height of the chooser. We collected data from a sample of 200 individuals from France. Measurements obtained show that the perception of attractiveness depends on both the height of the stimuli and the stature of the individual who judged them. Therefore, this study demonstrates that homogamy is present at the level of preferences for both sexes. We also show that measurements of the function describing this homogamy are concordant with several distinct mating rules proposed in the literature. In addition, the quantitative approach introduced here fulfills metrics that can be used to compare groups of individuals. In particular, our results reveal an important disagreement between sexes regarding height preferences in the context of mutual mate choice. Finally, both women and men prefer individuals who are significantly taller than average. All major findings are confirmed by a reanalysis of previously published data. [source] Analysis of nubbin expression patterns in insectsEVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2004Hua Li Summary Previous studies have shown that the gene nubbin (nub) exhibits large differences in expression patterns between major groups of arthropods. This led us to hypothesize that nub may have evolved roles that are unique to particular arthropod lineages. However, in insects, nub has been studied only in Drosophila. To further explore its role in insects in general, we analyzed nub expression patterns in three hemimetabolous insect groups: zygentomans (Thermobia domestica, firebrat), dyctiopterans (Periplaneta americana, cockroach), and hemipterans (Oncopeltus fasciatus, milkweed bug). We discovered three major findings. First, observed nub patterns in the ventral central nervous system ectoderm represent a synapomorphy (shared derived feature) that is not present in other arthropods. Furthermore, each of the analyzed insects exhibits a species-specific nub expression in the central nervous system. Second, recruitment of nub for a role in leg segmentation occurred early during insect evolution. Subsequently, in some insect lineages (cockroaches and flies), this original role was expanded to include joints between all the leg segments. Third, the nub expression in the head region shows a coordinated change in association with particular mouthpart morphology. This suggests that nub has also gained an important role in the morphological diversification of insect mouthparts. Overall, the obtained data reveal an extraordinary dynamic and diverse pattern of nub evolution that has not been observed previously for other developmental genes. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||