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Selected AbstractsPrevalence and risk of traumatic gingival recession following elective lip piercingDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Jonathan W. Leichter Abstract,,, The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence, risk and odds ratios of gingival recession defects associated with elective lip piercing and wearing of stud jewelry, and to attempt to identify risk factors that might permit the incidence of recession and its severity to be predicted, using Miller's classification. Ninety-one subjects with lip piercing and labrets were evaluated with regard to gender, age, smoking history, orthodontic history, and labret characteristics. An age-matched group of 54 individuals without peri-oral piercing provided the control. Gingival recession was recorded on teeth opposing a labret in 68.13% of pierced subjects. By contrast, only 22.2% of unpierced individuals demonstrated recession. The odds ratio between pierced and control groups indicates a likelihood of recession 7.5 times greater in a pierced individual wearing a labret than in an unpierced individual. Logistical regression analysis showed that age, gender, smoking and labret configuration did not significantly influence the development of recession. Furthermore, an illustrative example indicates that piercing and provision of a labret might typically increase the risk of recession occurring from 34.4% (pre-piercing) to 80.8 %. Recession severity was greater in the pierced group, with Miller's class 2 and 3 defects observed in 18.7% of the pierced but not at all in the unpierced group. Ordinal regression identified previous orthodontic treatment as the only significant predictor of Miller's grade. We concluded that a clear link exists between lip piercing, labret use and gingival recession. Belief that labret placement and configuration can be modified to provide protection is unfounded. [source] Do biotic interactions shape both sides of the humped-back model of species richness in plant communities?ECOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 7 2006Richard Michalet Abstract A humped-back relationship between species richness and community biomass has frequently been observed in plant communities, at both local and regional scales, although often improperly called a productivity,diversity relationship. Explanations for this relationship have emphasized the role of competitive exclusion, probably because at the time when the relationship was first examined, competition was considered to be the significant biotic filter structuring plant communities. However, over the last 15 years there has been a renewed interest in facilitation and this research has shown a clear link between the role of facilitation in structuring communities and both community biomass and the severity of the environment. Although facilitation may enlarge the realized niche of species and increase community richness in stressful environments, there has only been one previous attempt to revisit the humped-back model of species richness and to include facilitative processes. However, to date, no model has explored whether biotic interactions can potentially shape both sides of the humped-back model for species richness commonly detected in plant communities. Here, we propose a revision of Grime's original model that incorporates a new understanding of the role of facilitative interactions in plant communities. In this revised model, facilitation promotes diversity at medium to high environmental severity levels, by expanding the realized niche of stress-intolerant competitive species into harsh physical conditions. However, when environmental conditions become extremely severe the positive effects of the benefactors wane (as supported by recent research on facilitative interactions in extremely severe environments) and diversity is reduced. Conversely, with decreasing stress along the biomass gradient, facilitation decreases because stress-intolerant species become able to exist away from the canopy of the stress-tolerant species (as proposed by facilitation theory). At the same time competition increases for stress-tolerant species, reducing diversity in the most benign conditions (as proposed by models of competition theory). In this way our inclusion of facilitation into the classic model of plant species diversity and community biomass generates a more powerful and richer predictive framework for understanding the role of plant interactions in changing diversity. We then use our revised model to explain both the observed discrepancies between natural patterns of species richness and community biomass and the results of experimental studies of the impact of biodiversity on the productivity of herbaceous communities. It is clear that explicit consideration of concurrent changes in stress-tolerant and competitive species enhances our capacity to explain and interpret patterns in plant community diversity with respect to environmental severity. [source] UNEXPLAINED SPLIT SEX RATIOS IN THE NEOTROPICAL PLANT-ANT, ALLOMERUS OCTOARTICULATUS VAR. DEMERARAE (MYRMICINAE): A TEST OF HYPOTHESESEVOLUTION, Issue 1 2010Gabriel D. G. Debout We investigated sex allocation in the Neotropical ant Allomerus octoarticulatus var. demerarae. Because Allomerus is a plant symbiont, we could make geographically extensive collections of complete colonies and of foundresses in saplings, allowing us to estimate not only population- and colony-level sex allocation but also colony resource levels and the relatednesses of competing ant foundresses. This species exhibits a strongly split sex ratio, with 80% of mature colonies producing ,90% of one sex or the other. Our genetic analyses (DNA microsatellites) reveal that Allomerus has a breeding system characterized by almost complete monogyny and a low frequency of polyandry. Contrary to theoretical explanations, we find no difference in worker relatedness asymmetries between female- and male-specialist colonies. Furthermore, no clear link was found between colony sex allocation and life history traits such as the number of mates per queen, or colony size, resource level, or fecundity. We also failed to find significant support for male production by workers, infection by Wolbachia, local resource competition, or local mate competition. We are left with the possibility that Allomerus exhibits split sex ratios because of the evolution of alternative biasing strategies in queens or workers, as recently proposed in the literature. [source] Exopolysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis by Lactobacillus sakei 0,1: production kinetics, enzyme activities and EPS yieldsJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001B. Degeest Aims:,To determine optimal exopolysaccharide (EPS) production conditions of the mesophilic lactic acid bacterium strain Lactobacillus sakei 0,1 and to detect possible links between EPS yields and the activity of relevant enzymes. Methods and Results:,Fermentation experiments at different temperatures using either glucose or lactose were carried out. EPS production took place during the exponential growth phase. Low temperatures, applying glucose as carbohydrate source, resulted in the best bacterial growth, the highest amounts of EPS and the highest specific EPS production. Activities of 10 important enzymes involved in the EPS biosynthesis and the energy formation of Lact. sakei 0,1 were measured. The obtained results revealed that there is a clear link for some enzymes with EPS biosynthesis. It was also demonstrated clearly that the presence of rhamnose in the EPS building blocks is due to high activities of the enzymes involved in the rhamnose synthetic branch. Conclusions:,EPS production in Lact. sakei 0,1 is growth-associated and displays primary metabolite kinetics. Glucose as carbohydrate source and low temperatures enhance the EPS production. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of the activated sugar nucleotides play a major role in determining the monomeric composition of the synthesized EPS. Significance and Impact of the Study:,The proposed results contribute to a better understanding of the physiological factors influencing EPS production and the key enzymes involved in EPS biosynthesis by Lact. sakei. [source] Role of Silica Properties in the Polymerisation of Ethylene Using Supported Metallocene CatalystsMACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 1 2010Virginie F. Tisse Abstract The role of certain morphological properties of different silica used as supports for metallocene catalysts was investigated in order to quantify their eventual influence on the kinetics of ethylene polymerisation in heptane slurry, as well as on the polymer properties. It was shown that there is no clear link between porosity and observed activity with some highly porous silica producing relatively inactive supported catalysts. It was further shown that within a batch of silica, the particle size had a significant impact on observed kinetics. While it appears that there is possibly some diffusion resistance encountered in the larger particles, it was also shown that prolonged contact between the support and the alkylating agent could increase reaction rates in the larger particles. [source] Lipid dynamics in the viperine snake, Natrix maura, from the Ebro Delta (NE Spain)OIKOS, Issue 1 2004Xavier Santos Body reserves play a major role in several aspects of vertebrate biology. Accurate identification and quantification of body reserves constitute a useful contribution to the better understanding of the energetic costs of reproduction and the implication of food availability in life history traits of organisms. In this study, lipid content in fat bodies, liver and muscle of the viperine snake (Natrix maura) were measured along an active season. Samples were collected monthly from a natural population of the Ebro Delta Natural Park (NE Spain). This methodology pointed out that lipids stored in fat bodies were the main energetic source during reproduction. In addition, lipids stored in liver appeared to be critical for vitellogenesis, while lipids stored in muscle turned out to be a supplementary energetic resource to fuel reproductive effort. Relationships between changes in body reserves and prey availability in canals of the Ebro Delta were also considered. In males, lipid reserves presented a positive correlation with food availability. On the contrary, lipid reserves in female viperine snakes decreased during vitellogenesis even though food availability increased in this period, which suggests a quick transfer of body lipids to clutch. In April, when rice fields of the Ebro Delta were dry and aquatic prey was scarce for viperine snakes, males and females presented a lower lipid content in fat bodies, liver and muscle than they did in other months, showing a clear link between prey availability and body reserves during food shortage. Thus, patterns of variation in fat levels indicated that Natrix maura is a capital breeder since it acquires resources in advance and stores them until they are invested during the reproductive period. Nevertheless, the shortage in April forces Natrix maura to turn into a facultative income breeder to fuel vitellogenesis. Finally, fat reserves in body components were compared with an estimate of body condition calculated by the residuals from the regression of body mass on body length. In male viperine snakes, the estimate of body condition was correlated with fat levels, revealing that this index is useful to measure condition in living individuals. On the contrary, body condition in females was not correlated with fat levels, which suggests that it is not appropriate to infer condition in female viperine snakes since it depends on the reproductive status of the individuals. [source] Passing for English Fluent: Latino Immigrant Children Masking Language ProficiencyANTHROPOLOGY & EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2009Lilia D. Monzó This article describes passing for English fluent among Latino immigrant children. A two-year ethnography of eight Latino immigrant families was conducted in which fifth-grade children were followed in home, school, and community contexts. This article presents passing as a consequence of U.S. race relations. Their reasons for presenting themselves as English fluent suggest a sophisticated awareness of the power and status of English in this country and a clear link between language and identity.,[bilingualism, English language learners, Latino students, identity] [source] No evidence for a clear link between active intestinal inflammation and autism based on analyses of faecal calprotectin and rectal nitric oxideACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 7 2007Elisabeth Fernell Abstract Aim: Due to parental concern regarding the child's bowel habits and the ongoing discussion whether there might be an association between autism and intestinal inflammation, two inflammatory markers were analysed in a group of children with autism. Methods: Twenty-four consecutive children with autism (3,13 years) of unknown aetiology were investigated with respect to faecal calprotectin and rectal nitric oxide (NO). Results: One child who previously had a severe Clostridium difficile infection displayed raised levels of both these inflammatory markers and one child with extreme constipation for whom only calprotectin was possible to measure had raised levels. The remaining children displayed results that did not indicate an active inflammatory status in the intestine when the two inflammatory markers were combined. Conclusion: By the use of two independent markers of inflammatory reactions in the gut, i.e. rectal NO and faecal calprotectin we were not able to disclose evidence of a link between the autistic disorder and active intestinal inflammation. [source] The role of intrauterine bacteria in brain injuryACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2004MHF Sullivan Organisms appear to be present in human fetal membranes without any apparent impact on pregnancy maintenance or the fetal brain. A clear link between chorioamnionitis and fetal brain damage suggests that tissue responses at the feto-maternal interface may be the key determinant of whether preterm labour and brain damage occur. [source] Coping Strategies Developed as a Result of Social Structure and Conflict: Kosovo in the 1990sDISASTERS, Issue 2 2000Kate Ogden The end of 1989 brought with it political and economic decisions which resulted in Kosovo being stripped of its autonomy and the Albanian population being expelled from their jobs. These facts combined with ethnic tensions created a decade of conflict and oppression affecting hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Thousands of Kosovars moved overseas to seek work to support families at home, altering the way of life of the population of Kosovo irredeemably. The loss of income had serious repercussions on food security throughout the 1990s; possibilities of purchasing food were diminished, control on goods in 1998 reduced availability of foodstuffs, conflict affected accessibility to markets and shops and consequently food intake and nutritional status was compromised. The most vulnerable were those who had no family members overseas. Mass displacement of population due to ethnic cleansing during the war of spring 1999, further jeopardised food security status. Destruction at this time rendered large parts of Kosovo useless and resulted in a shift in the determinant of vulnerability in the post-war period: destruction of houses, land, livestock and agricultural products as well as loss of family members, became a far more pertinent indicator of food insecurity. The strong and clear links between conflict, socio-economic issues and food security are highlighted and discussed in this paper. [source] Personality, gender, and cryingEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 1 2001Mathell Peter This study examined gender differences in crying as well as associations between basic personality traits and self-reported indices of crying. Forty-eight men and 56 women completed the Five-Factor Personality Inventory and the Adult Crying Inventory. Substantial gender differences were demonstrated in crying frequency and crying proneness, but not with respect to mood changes after crying. As predicted, women reported a higher frequency of crying and more proneness to cry both for negative and positive reasons. For women, all these crying indices were negatively associated with Emotional Stability. For men, only a significant negative relationship between Emotional Stability and crying for negative reasons emerged. No clear links were found between personality and mood changes after crying. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant predictive role of gender for crying proneness, even when controlling for personality differences, but not for crying frequency. Adding personality by gender interaction terms resulted in a disappearance of the main effect of sex, while significant interactions with personality factors showed up for crying frequency and general crying proneness. It is suggested that future research on the relationship between personality and crying should focus more on the underlying mechanisms of observed relationships. Furthermore, it is recommended that future research should examine the role of different emotion regulation strategies. In addition, biological factors, temperament, upbringing measures, and socio-demographic variables should be taken into account. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Habitat connectivity and matrix restoration: the wider implications of agri-environment schemesJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2006PAUL F. DONALD Summary 1The spread and intensification of agriculture are recognized as two of the most important global threats to wildlife. There are clear links between agricultural change and declines in biodiversity across a wide range of agricultural systems, and convincing evidence that reversing these changes leads to a recovery in wildlife populations. 2Nearly 4 billion euros are now paid annually through agri-environment schemes (AES) to farmers in Europe and North America to make environmental improvements to their land. Where appropriately designed and targeted, these schemes have proved successful in reversing declines in farmland wildlife populations. 3We argue that insights gained from island biogeography and metapopulation theory, and from theoretical and empirical assessments of landscape connectivity suggest that AES may carry substantial wider benefits, which so far have not been considered in the design and deployment of such schemes. ,Softening' agricultural land could offset some of the negative impacts on biodiversity of the loss and fragmentation of non-agricultural habitats; could allow species to adapt to climate change; could slow the spread of alien and invasive species; and could contribute positively to the coherence of key biodiversity and protected area networks. Indeed, AES might represent the only viable way to counter these threats. 4We outline a number of ways in which these wider benefits could be taken account of in the design of AES and suggest a number of characteristics of the species most likely to benefit from them. 5Synthesis and applications. Agri-environment schemes might bring significant environmental benefits to habitats other than farmland by restoring the agricultural matrix that separates them. Theoretical and empirical research suggests that matrix restoration improves a number of ecosystem functions. Where they are available, AES might therefore represent a viable mechanism for addressing a range of pandemic environmental problems such as global climate change. Little consideration has so far been given to these wider conservation applications in the design, deployment and monitoring of AES. [source] HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLE PHENOLICS FROM POSTHARVEST STAGES FOR POTENTIAL TYPE 2 DIABETES MANAGEMENT USING IN VITRO MODELSJOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2010I. ADYANTHAYA ABSTRACT An increasing number of studies indicate that regular intake of fruits and vegetables have clear links to reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects in many cases have been attributed to the phenolic and antioxidant content of the fruits and vegetables. Apples are a major source of fiber and contain good dietary phenolics with antioxidant function. Previous epidemiological studies have indicated that intake of apples reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Our studies indicate that this reduced risk is potentially because of the modulation of postprandial glucose increase by phenolics present in apples via inhibition of, -glucosidase. Phenolic content was evaluated during 3 months of postharvest storage of four varieties of apples and results indicated positive linkage to enhanced postharvest preservation and, -glucosidase inhibition. These in vitro results along with existing epidemiological studies provide strong biochemical rationale for further animal or human clinical studies. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The understanding of phenolic-linked antioxidant enzyme responses during postharvest storage of apples has implications for using the same phenolic functional ingredients toward health benefits such as ,-glucosidase inhibition linked to glycemic index control associated with type 2 diabetes. Therefore strategies to understand phenolic-linked postharvest preservation and natural treatments to extend this preservation in selected varieties, such as McIntosh and Cortland in this study, can be basis for food ingredient design for health benefits. These strategies can then be extended to prolong postharvest preservation and enhance phenolic linked human health benefits of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. [source] THE BROCH CULTURES OF ATLANTIC SCOTLAND: ORIGINS, HIGH NOON AND DECLINE.OXFORD JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 3 2008200 BC, PART 1: EARLY IRON AGE BEGINNINGS c.700 Summary. A new overview of the broch and wheelhouse-building cultures is offered because recent comparable attempts have omitted substantial amounts of relevant data, such as discussion of the most plausible broch prototypes and of the details of the material cultural sequence, particularly the pottery. Well dated Early Iron Age roundhouse sites have often been described, but promontory forts of the same period, showing the specialized broch hollow wall, have not. The example at Clickhimin, Shetland, is now reliably dated to the sixth century BC at the latest and the associated pottery shows clear links with north-west France. Another unexcavated example in Harris can be restored in some detail and shows how these sites were probably used. The pivotal role of Shetland in the emergence of the new culture is confirmed by the early dating of the broch at Old Scatness to the fourth/third centuries BC. However, a separate development of the round broch tower seems also to have occurred in the west, in the third/second centuries BC. English Early Iron Age pottery is also prominent in some of the earliest sites in the west and north. The picture is of a dynamic, maritime zone open to influences from several remote regions. [source] Antibiotic resistance , from pathogen to disease surveillanceCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 6 2002R. Finch Surveillance is central to defining the epidemiology of antibiotic resistance, developing new strategies for its control, informing disease management, identifying targets for new drugs and vaccines and in turn, evaluating and refining the impact of these interventions. Current surveillance systems often fall short of this ideal. Since antibiotics are prescribed for the treatment of specific disease, surveillance that reliably links diagnosis, pathogen and antibiotic usage is likely to be more informative. By identifying diseases that are readily recognized, and are usually reliably defined microbiologically, and in turn have clear links to public-health issues, a broader ownership of surveillance data should result. The case is argued for a more disease-focused microbiological surveillance approach than exists at present. Examples are provided which reflect a cross-section of community, nosocomial, zoonotic and imported infectious disease challenges, and where new approaches are urgently required to combat the upward spiral of resistance. [source] | ||||||||||||||||