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Selected AbstractsMexico's Community-Managed Forests as a Global Model for Sustainable LandscapesCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2003David Barton Bray On the other hand, conservationists have declared that the only way to stem the tide of deforestation is to place as many tracts as possible under strict protection. In this context, Mexico presents a national laboratory for studying the social and ecological benefits of delivering forests to local people. As a little-noticed result of the Mexican Revolution in the second decade of the twentieth century, well over half of the forests of Mexico were placed in community-held lands. In historic struggles that passed through several phases, most of these communities have now gained substantial control over the use of their forests. Because of the substantial degree of social capital in rural forms of organization in Mexico, this control of forest resources has led to an estimated 290,479 community forest enterprises ( CFEs ), through which communities are producing timber on their own lands. New studies are beginning to suggest that important gains in both social and economic justice, good forest management, and biodiversity protection are resulting from the actions of these CFEs. As more forests globally are being devolved to local communities, it is important to carry out more research on the Mexican model of community forest management for timber production. Resumen: Investigadores preocupados por el manejo sostenible de bosques en los trópicos han argumentado que el camino para una custodia mas efectiva de los recursos forestales es la transferencia de la responsabilidad a las comunidades locales que obtienen sustento de ellos. Por otro lado, conservacionistas han declarado que la única manera de detener la ola de deforestación es colocar bajo protección estricta tantas regiones como sea posible. En este contexto, México representa un laboratorio para el estudio de los beneficios sociales y ecológicos de entregar los bosques a los habitantes locales. Como un resultado poco conocido de la Revolución Mexicana, en la segunda década del siglo veinte, más de la mitad de los bosques de México se ubicaban en tierras que estaban en manos de las comunidades. Las comunidades forestales han atravesado por distintas etapas de conflicto, tras la cuáles han obtendio un control sustancial de los usos de sus bosques. Debido al nivel considerable de capital social en formas de organización rural en México, este control de los recursos forestales ha conducido a la integración de entre 290,479 empresas forestales comunitarias ( EFC ), en las que las comunidades están produciendo madera en sus propias tierras. Nuevos estudios están comenzando a sugerir que se están produciendo ganancias importantes en las acciones de estas EFC están generando beneficios importantes, tanto en lo que se refiere a justicia social como económica, la administración correcta de bosques y la protección de la biodiversidad. A medida en que se deleguen mayores extensiones de bosques a comunidades locales, es importante llevar a cabo más investigación sobre el modelo mexicano de manejo comunitario de bosques para la producción de forestal maderable. [source] Non-remission of depression in the general population as assessed by the HAMD-7 scaleDEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 5 2008Andrew G. Bulloch Ph.D. Abstract Remission from the symptoms of depression is the optimal outcome for depression treatment. Many studies have assessed the frequency of treatment, but there are none that have estimated the frequency of treated remission in the general population. We addressed this issue in the population of Alberta using a brief Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD)-7 scale (recently validated against the HAMD-17 scale in a clinical setting) that has been proposed as a suitable indicator for remission in primary care. We used data from a survey conducted within the Alberta Depression Initiative in 2005 (n=3,345 adults), to produce a population-based estimate of the number of respondents taking antidepressant medication for depression. From this group we selected a subpopulation that did not screen positive when the MINI module for major depression was administered (i.e., who did not have an active episode). Non-remission in this subpopulation was assessed with a version of the HAMD-7 scale adapted for telephone administration by a nonclinician. Of the survey respondents, 189 reported taking antidepressant medication for depression. Of these, 115 were found not to have an active episode. However, 49.0% of this subpopulation was not in remission as evaluated by the HAMD-7. We estimate that 1.3% (95% confidence interval, 0.9,2.0%) of the population is in treated non-remission for depression. Our study indicates a substantial degree of non-remission from depression in individuals taking antidepressants in the general population. This suggests that, in addition to increasing the frequency of treatment, increasing the effectiveness of treatment can have an impact on population health. Depression and Anxiety 0:1,5, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Behavioural treatment of urinary incontinence and encopresis in children with learning disabilities: transfer of stimulus controlDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2000Linda Smith MAMSc Clinical Psychologist Urinary and faecal incontinence present a considerable problem in people with learning disabilities, despite the general effectiveness of behavioural techniques in continence training. Children with learning disabilities and obsessional behaviour may be particularly resistant to toilet training, even where relatively cognitively able, and often despite a substantial degree of control over their eliminatory functions. Their resistance may be more appropriately regarded as a challenging behaviour and their incontinence better explained by factors other than a simple failure to learn. A 'stimulus-control'hypothesis proposes that the child's nappy (diaper) /potty/underwear has developed strong stimulus control over the elimination response. This report describes three case studies in which treatment-resistant children, aged between 8 and 12 years, with mild or moderate learning disabilities, were successfully treated for nappy-dependent nocturnal encopresis or diurnal urinary incontinence. The children were routine case referrals for whom previous attempts to train bowel or bladder control had failed. Behavioural techniques, such as 'shaping'(gradually increasing the proximity to the toilet),,fading'(reducing the presence of the nappy), and rewards for eliminating, effected successful transfer of stimulus control over elimination from nappy to toilet. Treatment times varied, depending on the degree of the child's obsession and resistance to change. [source] Postsynaptic M1 and M3 receptors are responsible for the muscarinic enhancement of retrograde endocannabinoid signalling in the hippocampusEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 1 2003Takako Ohno-Shosaku Abstract The cholinergic system is crucial for higher brain functions including learning and memory. These functions are mediated primarily by muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) that consist of five subtypes (M1,M5). A recent study suggested a novel role of acetylcholine as a potent enhancer of endocannabinoid signalling that acts retrogradely from postsynaptic to presynaptic neurons. In the present study, we further investigated the mechanisms of this cholinergic effect on endocannabinoid signalling. We made paired whole-cell recordings from cultured hippocampal neurons, and monitored inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). The postsynaptic depolarization induced a transient suppression of IPSCs (DSI), a phenomenon known to involve retrograde signalling by endocannabinoids. The cholinergic agonist carbachol (CCh) markedly enhanced DSI at 0.01,0.3 µm without changing the presynaptic cannabinoid sensitivity. The facilitating effect of CCh on DSI was mimicked by the muscarinic agonist oxotremorine-M, whereas it was eliminated by the muscarinic antagonist atropine. It was also blocked by a non-hydrolizable analogue of GDP (GDP-,-S) that was applied intracellularly to postsynaptic neurons. The muscarinic enhancement of DSI persisted to a substantial degree in the neurons prepared from M1 -knockout and M3 -knockout mice, but was virtually eliminated in the neurons from M1/M3 -compound-knockout mice. CCh still enhanced DSI significantly under the blockade of postsynatpic K+ conductance, and did not significantly influence the depolarization-induced Ca2+ transients. These results indicate that the activation of postsynaptic M1 and M3 receptors facilitates the depolarization-induced release of endocannabinoids. [source] Transportation, Communication, and the Movement of Peoples in the Frankish Kingdom, ca.HISTORY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2009900 C.E As historians and archeologists continue to debate the volume of commercial traffic in Western Europe following the disappearance of Roman imperial rule, it has become increasingly clear that an infrastructure of transportation and communication continued to facilitate travel and the movement of people in this period. This is particularly apparent in the Frankish Kingdom between the sixth and tenth centuries. Relying to a substantial degree on technology and routes inherited from the Roman past, the Franks employed this communication infrastructure for purposes dictated by entirely contemporary concerns. Recent scholarship has demonstrated conclusively that commerce was far from the only motivation for travel in the Frankish Kingdom, and that the diversity of means and motives for communication is indicative of a mobile society. [source] A Re,examination of the Effectiveness of the Bankruptcy ProcessJOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 9-10 2002Harlan D. Platt As an increasing number of companies go bankrupt, society grows concerned with the process's efficacy. In contrast to previous research, we find that relatively healthy companies emerge from bankruptcy as evidenced by their operating and equity performance post bankruptcy. While we find a substantial degree of variation in the forecast accuracy of sales, EBIT and net income, we find that forecast errors are not statistically significant and are smaller than had been thought. We provide evidence to support the argument that the economy's health affects operating and equity outcomes post bankruptcy. [source] Uric Acid as a Marker for Renal Dysfunction in Hypertensive Women on Diuretic and Nondiuretic TherapyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 5 2009Rodolfo. Hyperuricemia is a common finding in hypertensive patients, especially among those who are on diuretic therapy. However, its clinical relevance regarding cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease (CKD) has not clearly been established. The authors assessed whether, in a population of 385 hypertensive women categorized according to diuretic therapy, the stratification in quartiles by uric acid levels would identify a gradient of changes in renal function and in risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The following were evaluated: serum uric acid, glycemia, total and fractional cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein (Apo) B, Apo A-I, and C-reactive protein. Renal function was assessed by serum creatinine, albuminuria, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, whereas cardiovascular risk was estimated through the Framingham score. A total of 246 women were on diuretic therapy; 139 were taking other antihypertensive medications. There was a reduction in eGFR parallel to the increase in uric acid levels, regardless of diuretic use and without a concomitant increase in albuminuria. In both groups, higher uric acid levels translated into an increase in metabolic syndrome components, in markers of insulin resistance, triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein levels, and Apo B/Apo A-I ratios, as well as in Framingham scores. Hyperuricemia was associated with an increase in inflammatory markers only in patients on diuretic therapy. In a binary logistic regression, hyperuricemia (uric acid >6.0 mg/dL) was independently associated with CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) (odds ratio, 2.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.61,4.3; P<.001). In hypertensive women, the presence of hyperuricemia indicated a substantial degree of kidney dysfunction as well as a greater cardiovascular risk profile. [source] Do psychological prices contribute to price rigidity?AGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2006Evidence from German scanner data on food brands A substantial degree of price rigidity has been reported for branded foods in various studies with scanner data. One possible explanation for price rigidity is the existence of psychological pricing points. The authors analyze to what extent psychological pricing plays a role in grocery retailing and whether it contributes to the price rigidity of branded foods in Germany. Psychological pricing,defined here as just-below-the-round-figure-pricing,is empirically analyzed with scanner data of weekly prices for 20 food brands in 38 retail outlets from September 1996 to June 1999. Psychological pricing turned out to be extremely important in German food retailing. Branded food prices are remarkably sticky and psychological pricing points contribute strongly to price rigidity. Other factors like the sales phenomenon and firm-specific effects are additionally important. [EconLit Classifications: Q110, Q130]. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Agribusiness 22: 51,67, 2006. [source] Genotypic analysis of two hypervariable human cytomegalovirus genesJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 9 2008Amanda J. Bradley Abstract Most human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) genes are highly conserved in sequence among strains, but some exhibit a substantial degree of variation. Two of these genes are UL146, which encodes a CXC chemokine, and UL139, which is predicted to encode a membrane glycoprotein. The sequences of these genes were determined from a collection of 184 HCMV samples obtained from Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and North America. UL146 is hypervariable throughout, whereas variation in UL139 is concentrated in a sequence encoding a potentially highly glycosylated region. The UL146 sequences fell into 14 genotypes, as did all previously reported sequences. The UL139 sequences grouped into 8 genotypes, and all previously reported sequences fell into a subset of these. There were minor differences among continents in genotypic frequencies for UL146 and UL139, but no clear geographical separation, and identical nucleotide sequences were represented among communities distant from each other. The frequent detection of multiple genotypes indicated that mixed infections are common. For both genes, the degree of divergence was sufficient to preclude reliable sequence alignments between genotypes in the most variable regions, and the mode of evolution involved in generating the genotypes could not be discerned. Within genotypes, constraint appears to have been the predominant mode, and positive selection was detected marginally at best. No evidence was found for linkage disequilibrium. The emerging scenario is that the HCMV genotypes developed in early human populations (or even earlier), becoming established via founder or bottleneck effects, and have spread, recombined and mixed worldwide in more recent times. J. Med. Virol. 80:1615,1623, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Differential Mortality and the Design of the Italian System of Public PensionsLABOUR, Issue 2003Graziella Caselli After reviewing the secular trends in elderly mortality in Italy, and the evolution of regional differences in survival over the last three decades, we evaluate the impact, on the conversion factors introduced by the Dini reform, of a further decline in elderly mortality over the next few decades. We compute the conversion factors using a close approximation to the unknown formula employed in the Dini reform but allowing for gender- and region-specific survival probabilities. Our results leave no doubt about the importance of frequently updating the conversion factors in the light of the rapid increase in elderly survival. The paper also quantifies to what extent gender- and region-specific conversion factors may differ from their currently legislated values, that only vary by age. Finally, we recognize that the actuarial fairness of the system introduced by the recent reform can only be guaranteed on average and that, in the presence of a heterogeneous population of individuals that differ considerably in their mortality prospects, the current system implies a substantial degree of redistribution from high-mortality groups (typically characterized by low income and low wealth) to low-mortality groups (typically characterized by high income and high wealth). [source] Properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate),poly(ethylene naphthalene 2,6-dicarboxylate) blends with montmorillonite clayPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 12 2005Antonio Sanchez-Solis Abstract The production and properties of blends of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene naphthalene 2,6-dicarboxylate) (PEN) with three modified clays are reported. Octadecylammonium chloride and maleic anhydride (MAH) are used to modify the surface of the montmorillonite,Na+ clay particles (clay,Na+) to produce clay,C18 and clay,MAH, respectively, before they are mixed with the PET/PEN system. The transesterification degree, hydrophobicity and the effect of the clays on the mechanical, rheological and thermal properties are analysed. The PET,PEN/clay,C18 system does not show any improvements in the mechanical properties, which is attributed to poor exfoliation. On the other hand, in the PET,PEN/clay,MAH blends, the modified clay restricts crystallization of the matrix, as evidenced in the low value of the crystallization enthalpy. The process-induced PET,PEN transesterification reaction is affected by the clay particles. Clay,C18 induces the largest proportion of naphthalate,ethylene,terephthalate (NET) blocks, as opposed to clay,Na+ which renders the lowest proportion. The clay readily incorporates in the bulk polymer, but receding contact-angle measurements reveal a small influence of the particles on the surface properties of the sample. The clay,Na+ blend shows a predominant solid-like behaviour, as evidenced by the magnitude of the storage modulus in the low-frequency range, which reflects a high entanglement density and a substantial degree of polymer,particle interactions. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Talar morphology, phylogenetic affinities, and locomotor adaptation of a large-bodied amphipithecid primate from the late middle eocene of MyanmarAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Laurent Marivaux Abstract A well-preserved fossil talus [National Museum of Myanmar Primates (NMMP) 82] of a large-bodied primate is described from the late middle Eocene Pondaung Formation of central Myanmar. The specimen was collected at Thandaung Kyitchaung, a well-known amphipithecid primate,bearing locality near the village of Mogaung. NMMP 82 adds to a meager but growing sample of postcranial remains documenting the large-bodied primates of the Pondaung Formation. This new talus exhibits a suite of features that resemble conditions found in living and fossil haplorhine primates, notably anthropoids. As such, the phylogenetic signal deriving from the morphology of NMMP 82 conflicts with that provided by NMMP 20, a partial skeleton (including a fragmentary calcaneus) of a second large-bodied Pondaung primate showing undoubted adapiform affinities. Analysis subtalar joint compatibility in a hypothetical NMMP 82/NMMP 20 combination (talus/calcaneus) reveals a substantial degree of functional mismatch between these two tarsal bones. The functional incongruence in subtalar joint morphology between NMMP 20 and NMMP 82 is consistent with the seemingly divergent phylogenetic affinities of these specimens, indicating that two higher level taxa of relatively large-bodied primates are documented in the Pondaung Formation. On the basis of its size and morphology, we refer the NMMP 82 talus to the large-bodied amphipithecid Pondaungia. The occurrence of anthropoid-like tali in the Pondaung Formation obviates the need to invoke homoplasy to explain the shared, derived dental characters that are common to amphipithecids and undoubted anthropoids. Functionally, the NMMP 82 talus appears to have pertained to a primate that is engaged in active quadrupedalism in an arboreal environment along broad and subhorizontal branches. The primate taxon represented by NMMP 82 was capable of climbing and leaping, although it was not particularly specialized for either of these activities. Am J Phys Anthropol 143:208,222, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] In search of the wage-labour/service contract: new evidence on the validity of the Goldthorpe class schemaTHE BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Geoffrey Evans ABSTRACT In this paper we examine new empirical evidence on the coherence and magnitude of the main classes in the Goldthorpe class schema. Particular attention is paid to issues that have recently been a source of academic dispute: the coherence and size of the service class and the distinction between the service class and intermediate classes. Using recently available British data collected by the Office for National Statistics we examine: (i) the extent to which measures of class-relevant job characteristics are empirically discriminated by the categories of the schema; (ii) the structure of a ,contract type' dimension of employment relations conceived of as a categorical latent variable; and (iii) the association between this latent variable and both the Goldthorpe class schema and a related measure,socio-economic group (SEG). We find that the data are consistent with the existence of a three category latent ,contract type' variable largely corresponding to the notions of service, intermediate and wage-labour contracts explicit in discussions of the theoretical rationale for the Goldthorpe schema. We further find a substantial degree of fit between the latent ,contract types' and the schema. However, the service class fault line appears to lie within class I and II of the schema rather than between them and the intermediate classes which suggests a revised, smaller service class would better capture the reality of the contemporary British occupational structure. [source] Genetic characterization of specific pathogen-free rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) populations at the California National Primate Research Center (CNPRC)AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2010Sree Kanthaswamy Abstract A study based on 14 STRs was conducted to understand intergenerational genetic changes that have occurred within the California National Primate Research Center's (CNPRC) regular specific pathogen-free (SPF) and super-SPF captive rhesus macaque populations relative to their conventional founders. Intergenerational genetic drift has caused age cohorts of each study population, especially within the conventional population, to become increasingly differentiated from each other and from their founders. Although there is still only minimal stratification between the conventional population and either of the two SPF populations, separate derivation of the regular and super-SPF animals from their conventional founders has caused the two SPF populations to remain marginally different from each other. The regular SPF and, especially, the super-SPF populations have been influenced by the effects of differential ancestry, sampling, and lost rare alleles, causing a substantial degree of genetic divergence between these subpopulations. The country of origin of founders is the principal determinant of the MHC haplotype composition of the SPF stocks at the CNPRC. Selection of SPF colony breeders bearing desired genotypes of Mamu-A*01 or -B*01 has not affected the overall genetic heterogeneity of the conventional and the SPF research stocks. Because misclassifying the ancestry of research stocks can undermine experimental outcomes by excluding animals with regional-specific genotypes or phenotypes of importance, understanding founder/descendent genetic relationships is crucial for investigating candidate genes with distinct geographic origins. Together with demographic management, population genetic assessments of SPF colonies can curtail excessive phenotypic variation among the study stocks and facilitate successful production goals. Am. J. Primatol. 72:587,599, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Transcriptome of the Fetal Inflammatory Response SyndromeAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Sally A. Madsen-Bouterse Problem, The fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is considered the counterpart of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), but similarities in their regulatory mechanisms are unclear. This study characterizes the fetal mRNA transcriptome of peripheral leukocytes to identify key biological processes and pathways involved in FIRS. Method of study, Umbilical cord blood from preterm neonates with FIRS (funisitis, plasma IL-6 >11 pg/mL; n = 10) and neonates with no evidence of inflammation (n = 10) was collected at birth. Results, Microarray analysis of leukocyte RNA revealed differential expression of 541 unique genes, changes confirmed by qRT-PCR for 41 or 44 genes tested. Similar to SIRS and sepsis, ontological and pathway analyses yielded significant enrichment of biological processes including antigen processing and presentation, immune response, and processes critical to cellular metabolism. Results are comparable with microarray studies of endotoxin challenge models and pediatric sepsis, identifying 25 genes across all studies. Conclusion, This study is the first to profile genome-wide expression in FIRS, which demonstrates a substantial degree of similarity with SIRS despite differences in fetal and adult immune systems. [source] EVOLUTION OF REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION WITHIN A PARASITIC FUNGAL SPECIES COMPLEXEVOLUTION, Issue 7 2007Mickael Le Gac Despite important advances in the last few years, the evolution of reproductive isolation (RI) remains an unresolved and critical gap in our understanding of speciation processes. In this study, we investigated the evolution of RI among species of the parasitic fungal species complex Microbotryum violaceum, which is responsible for anther smut disease of the Caryophyllaceae. We found no evidence for significant positive assortative mating by M. violaceum even over substantial degrees of genetic divergence, suggesting a lack of prezygotic isolation. In contrast, postzygotic isolation increased with the genetic distance between mating partners when measured as hyphal growth. Total RI, measured as the ability of the pathogen to infect and produce a diploid progeny in the host plant, was significantly and positively correlated with genetic distance, remaining below complete isolation for most of the species pairs. The results of this study, the first one on the time course of speciation in a fungus, are therefore consistent with previous works showing that RI generally evolves gradually with genetic distance, and thus presumably with time. Interestingly, prezygotic RI due to gamete recognition did not increase with genetic distance, in contrast to the pattern found in plants and animals. [source] Psychological aspects of adductor spasmodic dysphonia: a prospective population controlled questionnaire studyCLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY, Issue 1 2010A.A. Kaptein Clin. Otolaryngol. 2010, 35, 31,38. Objective:, To examine psychosocial concomitants, illness perceptions, and treatment perceptions in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia. Design:, Prospective controlled cohort study. Setting:, A tertiary care facility. Participants:, Forty-nine out-patients (38 women, 11 men; average age of 52 years) with adductor spasmodic dysphonia completed a battery of reliable and validated psychometric assessment instruments. Control patients' data were derived from scores in questionnaires by samples in the formal Manuals of the questionnaires used. Main outcome measures:, Psychosocial functioning, illness perceptions, and treatment perceptions. Results:, Scores on psychosocial measures were elevated in male patients especially, indicating levels of psychological morbidity significantly above those seen in the general population. Assessments of illness perceptions and treatment perceptions indicated that patients perceive that they have a very low degree of control over the disorder, and experience a high emotional impact from it. Voice Handicap Index scores illustrated substantial degrees of perceived handicap. Conclusions:, Adductor spasmodic dysphonia is associated with significant negative psychosocial concomitants, coupled with low perceived control over the condition. Future research should elucidate the implications of illness perceptions and treatment perceptions for the biopsychosocial care of persons with adductor spasmodic dysphonia in order to improve self-management and enhance quality of life. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||