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Selected AbstractsEffects of a community intervention to reduce the serving of alcohol to intoxicated patronsADDICTION, Issue 6 2010Katariina Warpenius ABSTRACT Aims To assess the effects of an alcohol prevention programme to reduce the serving of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated clients on licensed premises. Research design A controlled pre- (2004) and post-intervention study (2006) design. Intervention A community-based programme combining law enforcement, responsible beverage service training, information campaigns and policy initiatives in one Finnish town (Jyväskylä). Participants and measurements A male actor pretended to be clearly under the influence of alcohol and tried to buy a pint of beer at licensed premises. For the baseline measurement, every bar and nightclub was visited in the intervention and the control areas (94 licensed premises in total). Post-intervention data were gathered with the same principles (100 licensed premises in total). A researcher observed every visit and documented the results. Results In the post-intervention study there was a statistically significant increase in refusals to serve denials alcohol to the actor in the intervention area (from 23% to 42% of the licensed premises) compared to refusals in the control area (from 36% to 27% of the licensed premises). Conclusion Previous research has documented that multi-component community-based interventions can have a significant impact on over-serving of alcohol when training and house policies are combined with effective law enforcement. The present findings also demonstrate that comprehensive Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) interventions applied at a local community level can be effective in decreasing service to intoxicated clients in a Nordic context. [source] Cytotoxicity and oxidative stress caused by chemicals adsorbed on particulate matter,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Andrea Müller Abstract Air particulate matter (PM) and bound chemicals are potential mediators for adverse health effects. The cytotoxicity and changes in energy-providing processes caused by chemical compounds bound to PM of different size fractions were investigated in Tetrahymena pyriformis. The PM samplings were carried out using a high volume cascade impactor (6 size fractions between 10 ,m and less than 0.49 ,m) at three points of La Plata, Argentina: in an industrial area, a traffic-influenced urban area, and a control area. Extracts from respirable particles below 1 ,m initiated the highest cytotoxic effects, demonstrating their higher risk. In contrast, an increase on oxygen consumption was observed especially in tests of extracts from particles less than 1 ,m from urban and industrial areas. The increase on oxygen consumption could be caused by decoupling processes in the respiratory chain. Otherwise the ATP concentration was increased too, even though to a lower extent. The observed imbalance between oxygen consumption and ATP concentration in exposed T. pyriformis cells may be due to oxidative stress, caused by chemical compounds bound to the particles. Owing to the complexity of effects related to PM and their associated chemical compounds, various physiological parameters necessarily need to be investigated to obtain more information about their possible involvement in human relevant pathogenic processes. As shown here, effects on cell proliferation and on energy-providing processes are suitable indicators for the different impact of PM and adsorbed chemicals from various sampling locations. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 457,463, 2006. [source] Saturday opening of alcohol retail shops in Sweden: an experiment in two phasesADDICTION, Issue 6 2005Thor Norström ABSTRACT Aim In February 2000, a trial started with Saturday opening of alcohol retail shops in certain parts of Sweden (phase I), and in July 2001, Saturday opening was extended to the whole country (phase II). The aim of this study is to assess the impact of phase II, and to probe previous results regarding phase I. Design Prior to February 2000, all alcohol monopoly outlets were closed on Saturdays. After this date, stores in an experimental area (six counties) were open on Saturdays. In the control area (seven counties) the shops remained closed. To prevent biases due to trade leakage, the experimental and control areas were separated by a buffer area (seven counties). Because continuous evaluations of the trial did not reveal any negative consequences, the Saturday opening was implemented in the whole of Sweden after 17 months. Data and methods The outcome measures included alcohol sales and indicators of assaults and drunk driving. The pre-intervention period covered the time period January 1995-January 2000, phase I of the post-intervention period February 2000,June 2001 (17 months), and phase II July 2001,July 2002 (13 months). The effects of the two phases were estimated through analyses of monthly data (auto-regressive integrated moving-average (ARIMA) modelling) depicting how sales and harm rates evolved in the experimental area compared to the control area during phase I as well as during phase II. Results The analysis uncovered a statistically significant increase in alcohol sales of 3.7% during phase I, and about the same increase during phase II (3.6%). There were no significant changes in any of the assault indicators, neither during phase I nor during phase II. There was a statistically significant increase in drunk driving (12%) during phase I, but no change during phase II. The analyses suggested that the increase during phase I was mainly due to a change in the surveillance strategy of the police. Conclusions The results lend support to the public health perspective in that the increased accessibility to alcohol rendered by Saturday opening also seems to have increased consumption. On the other hand, we could not detect any increase in alcohol-related harm. The question of whether this may be due to insufficient statistical power is discussed, together with some other methodological complications that were highlighted by the study. [source] Prior knowledge processing for initial state of Kalman filterINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADAPTIVE CONTROL AND SIGNAL PROCESSING, Issue 3 2010E. Suzdaleva Abstract The paper deals with a specification of the prior distribution of the initial state for Kalman filter. The subjective prior knowledge, used in state estimation, can be highly uncertain. In practice, incorporation of prior knowledge contributes to a good start of the filter. The present paper proposes a methodology for selection of the initial state distribution, which enables eliciting of prior knowledge from the available expert information. The proposed methodology is based on the use of the conjugate prior distribution for models belonging to the exponential family. The normal state-space model is used for demonstrating the methodology. The paper covers processing of the prior knowledge for state estimation, available in the form of simulated data. Practical experiments demonstrate the processing of prior knowledge from the urban traffic control area, which is the main application of the research. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Neuropathological evidence for ischemia in the white matter of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in late-life depressionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 1 2003Alan J. Thomas Abstract Background Signal hyperintensities on magnetic resonance imaging in late-life depression are associated with treatment resistance and poor outcome. These lesions are probably vascular in origin and proposed sites for vascular damage include the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Methods We therefore examined white matter in these areas for microvascular disease and evidence of ischemia using intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). We obtained postmortem tissue from elderly depressed (n,=,20) and control (n,=,20) subjects and blindly rated microvascular disease and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 amount using quantitative image analysis in sections of the DLPFC, ACC and occipital cortex (OC; control area). Results We found a significant increase in ICAM-1 in the deep white matter of the DLPFC in the depressed group (p,=,0.01) and a trend towards an increase for VCAM-1 (p,=,0.10). In the gyral white matter there was a trend towards significance for both molecules (p,=,0.07 and 0.10). No differences were found in the ACC or OC or for microvascular disease in any area. Conclusions These findings are consistent with white matter ischemia in the DLPFC and lend support to the ,vascular depression' hypothesis. They implicate the DLPFC as an important site in the pathogenesis of late-life depression and have major implications for the understanding and management of late-life depression and raise the possibility of novel treatments being introduced in the future. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Condition, reproduction and survival of barn swallows from ChernobylJOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2005A. P. MØLLER Summary 1We investigated the relationship between radiation arising from the fall-out due to the explosion of the nuclear reactor at Chernobyl, Ukraine, and body condition, rate of reproduction and survival in a migratory passerine bird, the barn swallow Hirundo rustica L., by comparing a contaminated region and a control region (Kanev) during 6 years between 1991 and 2004. 2The fraction of nonreproducing adults was on average 23% in Chernobyl compared with close to zero in Kanev and other European populations. 3Body condition as estimated from body mass was similar in Chernobyl and Kanev. Although laying date did not differ significantly between the two regions, clutch was reduced by 7%, brood size by 14% and hatching success by 5% in the Chernobyl region relative to the control area. 4Annual adult survival, estimated from mark,recapture analyses, was on average 28% in the Chernobyl region, but 40% in Kanev. 5The relationships were generally confirmed in rank correlation analyses between response variables and ambient radiation levels in different colonies. 6The overall findings are consistent with the hypothesis that radioactive contamination in the Chernobyl region has significant negative impact on rates of reproduction and survival of the barn swallow. We hypothesize that these effects are mediated by antioxidants and/or mutations. [source] Nest-site limitation and density dependence of reproductive output in the common goldeneye Bucephala clangula: implications for the management of cavity-nesting birdsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2002H. Pöysä Summary 1,Hole-nesting birds are frequently faced with a shortage of suitable nest sites in regions of intensive forest management. Nest boxes are sometimes provided to alleviate nest-site limitation in cavity-nesting waterfowl and are also recommended for several rare and endangered species. However, the impacts on effective breeding numbers and breeding success have rarely been considered, particularly in instances where density dependence might operate. 2,We experimentally manipulated nest sites to assess limits on the population size of a secondary cavity-nesting species, the common goldeneye Bucephala clangula, living on freshwater lakes. We also examined density dependence in their reproductive output. 3,Breeding pairs were counted in experimental and control areas over a 12-year period; for 4 years (1988,91) before nest box addition (1992,94 in the experimental area) and for 5 years (1995,99) afterwards. Broods were counted each year between 1988 and 1999 to study reproductive output. 4,Mean number of pairs per lake increased after the addition of nest boxes in the experimental area but not in the control area. However, neither the mean number of broods per lake nor the mean number of fledged birds per lake increased significantly in the experimental area. 5,When the whole period of 1988,99 was considered and data pooled from all the lakes, the numbers of broods and fledged birds showed negative density dependence of reproductive output. 6,Our results indicate that nest sites limit the population size of breeding common goldeneye, but show also that density-dependent factors operate to limit reproductive output. The possibility that density dependence may negate management actions directed at increasing breeding numbers in cavity-nesting waterfowl should be considered carefully before taking these actions. This also applies to nest box provisioning programmes aiming to manage populations of endangered species. [source] Using bald eagles to indicate the health of the Great Lakes' environmentLAKES & RESERVOIRS: RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002William W. Bowerman Abstract The bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is one of the most studied birds of North America, and a great amount of natural life-history information, including the response of various stressors on the eagles' ability to reproduce, are well known. In Michigan, the eagle has been chosen to track the trends of bioaccumulative compounds of concern across watersheds in the state. The state has been divided into major watersheds, and 20% of these are surveyed each year. A control area in northern Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park, is also sampled annually. We report here on the methods used, the preliminary results of the 1999 field season, and how differences in mercury concentrations varied over a 10-year period. Mercury in feathers of nestling eagles declined over time only in Lakes Michigan and Huron, but have not decreased among other subpopulations in Michigan. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 4,4,-DDE in blood plasma from nestling eagles have declined over time for most subpopulations; however, they remain greater for breeding areas associated with the Great Lakes' food web. Sea eagles of the genus Haliaeetus are a good sentinel species to track trends in bioaccumulative compounds in aquatic systems. [source] Do "Off-Site" Adult Businesses Have Secondary Effects?LAW & POLICY, Issue 2 2009Empirical Evidence, Legal Doctrine, Social Theory Recent federal court decisions appear to limit the ability of cities to mitigate the ambient crime risks associated with adult entertainment businesses. In one instance, a court has assumed that criminological theories do not apply to "off-site" adult businesses. After developing the legal doctrine of secondary effects, we demonstrate that the prevailing criminological theory applies to all adult business models. To corroborate the theory, we report the results of a before/after quasi-experiment for an off-site adult business. When an off-site adult business opens, ambient crime risk doubles compared to a control area. As theory predicts, moreover, ambient victimization risk is most acute in night-time hours. The theoretical development and empirical results have obvious implications for the evolving legal doctrine of secondary effects. [source] A lethal ovitrap-based mass trapping scheme for dengue control in Australia: II.MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Impact on populations of the mosquito Aedes aegypti Abstract. In Cairns, Australia, the impacts on Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) populations of two types of ,lure & kill' (L&K) lethal ovitraps (LOs), the standard lethal ovitrap (SLO) and the biodegradable lethal ovitrap (BLO) were measured during three mass-trapping interventions. To assess the efficacy of the SLO, two interventions (one dry season and one wet season) were conducted in three discrete areas, each lasting 4 weeks, with the following treatments: (i) SLOs (>200 traps, ,4/premise), BG-sentinel traps (BGSs; ,15, 1/premise) and larval control (container reduction and methoprene treatment) and (ii) larval control alone, and (iii) untreated control. Female Ae. aegypti populations were monitored for 4 weeks pre- and post-treatment in all three areas using BGSs and sticky ovitraps (SOs) or non-lethal regular ovitraps (ROs). In the dry season, 206 SLOs and 15 BGSs set at 54 and 15 houses, respectively, caught and killed an estimated 419 and 73 female Ae. aegypti, respectively. No significant decrease in collection size of female Ae. aegypti could be attributed to the treatments. In the wet season, 243 SLOs and 15 BGSs killed ,993 and 119 female Ae. aegypti, respectively. The mean number of female Ae. aegypti collected after 4 weeks with SOs and BGSs was significantly less than the control (LSD post-hoc test). The third mass-trapping intervention was conducted using the BLO during the wet season in Cairns. For this trial, three treatment areas were each provided with BLOs (>500, ,4/premise) plus larval control, and an untreated control area was designated. Adult female Ae. aegypti were collected for 4 weeks pre- and post-treatment using 15 BGSs and 20 SOs. During this period, 53.2% of BLOs contained a total of 6654 Ae. aegypti eggs. Over the intervention period, collections of Ae. aegypti in the treatment areas were significantly less than in the control area for BGSs but not SOs. An influx of relatively large numbers of young females may have confounded the measurement of changes in populations of older females in these studies. This is an important issue, with implications for assessing delayed action control measures, such as LOs and parasites/pathogens that aim to change mosquito age structure. Finally, the high public acceptability of SLOs and BLOs, coupled with significant impacts on female Ae. aegypti populations in two of the three interventions reported here, suggest that mass trapping with SLOs and BLOs can be an effective component of a dengue control strategy. [source] Recovering the Reptile Community after the Mine-Tailing Accident of Aznalcóllar (Southwestern Spain)RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Rocío Márquez-Ferrando Abstract Ecosystem restoration requires that habitat requirements of all species be considered. Among animal communities in Mediterranean ecosystems, reptiles, as ectothermic vertebrates, need refuges for avoidance of extreme environmental temperatures, concealment from predators, and oviposition sites. In 1998, a massive amount of tailings broke out of the holding pond of the Aznalcóllar mine (southwestern Spain) and polluted the Guadiamar river valley. After the accident, a soil- and vegetation restoration program began, and the Guadiamar Green Corridor was created to connect two huge natural areas, Doñana National Park and the Sierra Morena. Within this corridor, the reptile community remained dramatically impoverished, probably because of elimination of all natural refuges during the soil restoration program. To test this hypothesis, we set an array of artificial refuges (logs) in a large experimental plot. During the 5 years of the experiment (2002,2006), the area managed with artificial refuges exhibited a better and faster recovery of the reptile community in species richness and individual abundance than did the control area with no artificial refuges. Moreover, reptile colonization of the Guadiamar Green Corridor was transverse rather than lineal,that is, it did not act as a corridor for reptiles, at least in the first stages of colonization. This suggests that landscape restoration programs should not neglect refuge availability, a limiting resource for reptile species. [source] Effect of Wax Epilation Before Hair Removal With a Long-Pulsed Alexandrite Laser: A Pilot StudyDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2 2003Michael S. Lehrer MD Background. Recent reports indicate that laser hair removal is most effective on anagen hairs. However, no published trials have examined laser epilation after hair cycle synchronization. Objective. To evaluate the potential for enhanced laser hair removal after the induction of telogen hairs into anagen by wax epilation. Methods. We identified four 2.5-cm square areas with equivalent hair length and density on the backs of 13 dark-haired white men. To induce typically telogen hairs into anagen, two areas on each patient were wax epilated. Two weeks later, one waxed area and one unwaxed area were treated with a long-pulsed alexandrite laser. One month after laser treatment, a subjective comparison was made based on hair density, length, and thickness. Results. In 12 of 13 patients, lasered areas that had been pretreated with wax epilation were clearer of hair as compared with areas that had been pretreated by shaving (P=0.0034). No significant difference was noted between waxed and unwaxed control areas that had not been laser treated (P=1.0). Conclusion. Wax epilation 2 weeks before laser hair removal improves cosmetic outcomes at 1 month. This effect may be secondary to the recruitment and heightened sensitivity of early anagen hairs. [source] A Community Intervention by Firefighters to Increase 911 Calls and Aspirin Use for Chest PainACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 4 2006Hendrika Meischke PhD Abstract Objectives: To test the effectiveness of an intervention, delivered face-to-face by local firefighters, designed to increase utilization of 911 and self-administration of aspirin for seniors experiencing chest pain. Methods: King County, Washington was divided into 126 geographically distinct areas that were randomized to intervention and control areas. A mailing list identified households of seniors within these areas. More than 20,000 homes in the intervention areas were contacted by local firefighters. Data on all 911 calls for chest pain and self-administration of aspirin were collected from the medical incident report form (MIRF). The unit of analysis was the area. Firefighters delivered a heart attack survival kit (that included an aspirin) and counseled participants on the importance of aspirin and 911 use for chest pain. Main outcome measures were 911 calls for chest pain and aspirin ingestion for a chest pain event, obtained from the MIRFs that are collected by emergency medical services personnel for 2 years after the intervention. Results: There were significantly more calls (16%) among seniors on the mailing list in the intervention than control areas in the first year after the intervention. Among the seniors who were not on the mailing list, there was little difference in the intervention and control areas. The results were somewhat sensitive to the analytical model used and to an outlier in the treatment group. Conclusions: A community-based firefighter intervention can be effective in increasing appropriate response to symptoms of a heart attack among elders. [source] Effects of a community intervention to reduce the serving of alcohol to intoxicated patronsADDICTION, Issue 6 2010Katariina Warpenius ABSTRACT Aims To assess the effects of an alcohol prevention programme to reduce the serving of alcoholic beverages to intoxicated clients on licensed premises. Research design A controlled pre- (2004) and post-intervention study (2006) design. Intervention A community-based programme combining law enforcement, responsible beverage service training, information campaigns and policy initiatives in one Finnish town (Jyväskylä). Participants and measurements A male actor pretended to be clearly under the influence of alcohol and tried to buy a pint of beer at licensed premises. For the baseline measurement, every bar and nightclub was visited in the intervention and the control areas (94 licensed premises in total). Post-intervention data were gathered with the same principles (100 licensed premises in total). A researcher observed every visit and documented the results. Results In the post-intervention study there was a statistically significant increase in refusals to serve denials alcohol to the actor in the intervention area (from 23% to 42% of the licensed premises) compared to refusals in the control area (from 36% to 27% of the licensed premises). Conclusion Previous research has documented that multi-component community-based interventions can have a significant impact on over-serving of alcohol when training and house policies are combined with effective law enforcement. The present findings also demonstrate that comprehensive Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) interventions applied at a local community level can be effective in decreasing service to intoxicated clients in a Nordic context. [source] Optimal CBM of tie lines between control areas in a deregulated environmentELECTRICAL ENGINEERING IN JAPAN, Issue 1 2009Hideaki Kuraishi Abstract In order to keep power supply reliability at a certain level, electric power utilities have a certain amount of reserve capacity. When no generator outage or no unexpected large power demand occurs, however, the reserve capacity is regarded as surplus facility. To reduce the reserve capacity, some margin is reserved in tie lines between utilities. This margin is called the capacity benefit margin (CBM). In this study, a method of calculating optimal CBM in tie line under deregulated environment is described and two kinds of optimal CBM are proposed. As a result, it is shown how the deregulation affects the optimal CBM by using numerical simulation for the IEE Japan West 30 test system. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 167(1): 35, 48, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.20654 [source] Risk of weathered residual Exxon Valdez oil to pink salmon embryos in Prince William SoundENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2007Ernest L. Brannon Abstract It has been hypothesized that pink salmon eggs incubating in intertidal streams transecting Prince William Sound (PWS) beaches oiled by the Exxon Valdez oil spill were exposed to lethal doses of dissolved hydrocarbons. Since polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in the incubation gravel were too low to cause mortality, the allegation is that dissolved high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons (HPAH) leaching from oil deposits on the beach adjacent to the streams were the source of toxicity. To evaluate this hypothesis, we placed pink salmon eggs in PWS beach sediments containing residual oil from the Exxon Valdez oil spill and in control areas without oil. We quantified the hydrocarbon concentrations in the eggs after three weeks of incubation. Tissue PAH concentrations of eggs in oiled sediments were generally <100 ppb and similar to background levels on nonoiled beaches. Even eggs in direct contact with oil in the sediment resulted in tissue PAH loads well below the lethal threshold concentrations established in laboratory bioassays, and very low concentrations of HPAH compounds were present. These results indicate that petroleum hydrocarbons dissolved from oil deposits on intertidal beaches are not at concentrations that pose toxic risk to incubating pink salmon eggs. The evidence does not support the hypothesis that interstitial pore water in previously oiled beaches is highly toxic. [source] Saturday opening of alcohol retail shops in Sweden: an experiment in two phasesADDICTION, Issue 6 2005Thor Norström ABSTRACT Aim In February 2000, a trial started with Saturday opening of alcohol retail shops in certain parts of Sweden (phase I), and in July 2001, Saturday opening was extended to the whole country (phase II). The aim of this study is to assess the impact of phase II, and to probe previous results regarding phase I. Design Prior to February 2000, all alcohol monopoly outlets were closed on Saturdays. After this date, stores in an experimental area (six counties) were open on Saturdays. In the control area (seven counties) the shops remained closed. To prevent biases due to trade leakage, the experimental and control areas were separated by a buffer area (seven counties). Because continuous evaluations of the trial did not reveal any negative consequences, the Saturday opening was implemented in the whole of Sweden after 17 months. Data and methods The outcome measures included alcohol sales and indicators of assaults and drunk driving. The pre-intervention period covered the time period January 1995-January 2000, phase I of the post-intervention period February 2000,June 2001 (17 months), and phase II July 2001,July 2002 (13 months). The effects of the two phases were estimated through analyses of monthly data (auto-regressive integrated moving-average (ARIMA) modelling) depicting how sales and harm rates evolved in the experimental area compared to the control area during phase I as well as during phase II. Results The analysis uncovered a statistically significant increase in alcohol sales of 3.7% during phase I, and about the same increase during phase II (3.6%). There were no significant changes in any of the assault indicators, neither during phase I nor during phase II. There was a statistically significant increase in drunk driving (12%) during phase I, but no change during phase II. The analyses suggested that the increase during phase I was mainly due to a change in the surveillance strategy of the police. Conclusions The results lend support to the public health perspective in that the increased accessibility to alcohol rendered by Saturday opening also seems to have increased consumption. On the other hand, we could not detect any increase in alcohol-related harm. The question of whether this may be due to insufficient statistical power is discussed, together with some other methodological complications that were highlighted by the study. [source] ,Sympathetic Song': the Silent and the Overt Vocal Repertoire, Exemplified with a Dueting Pair of the African Slate-Coloured Boubou, Laniarius funebrisETHOLOGY, Issue 9 2000Uta Seibt In many bird species the total song repertoire consists of an overt repertoire normally uttered, and a silent repertoire produced only under special circumstances. A silent repertoire can be inferred from specific vocal responses of an individual to hearing parts of its own silent repertoire uttered by another bird (,sympathetic song'). The silent repertoire plays a prominent role in dueting birds, in particular those with sex-specific overt song repertoires, where the overt repertoire of one partner is the silent repertoire of the other. This is here exemplified with a pair of the slate-coloured boubou L. funebris. Silent repertoires should be taken into consideration when relating the complexity of birds' vocal behaviour to the size or structure of their forebrain vocal control areas. [source] Co-induction of activity-dependent genes in songbirdsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 7 2005Tarciso A. F. Velho Abstract Song behavior in songbirds induces the expression of activity-dependent genes in brain areas involved in perceptual processing, production and learning of song. This genomic response is thought to represent a link between neuronal activation and long-term changes in song-processing circuits of the songbird brain. Here we demonstrate that Arc, an activity-regulated gene whose product has dendritic localization and is associated with synaptic plasticity, is rapidly induced by song in the brain of zebra finches. We show that, in the context of song auditory stimulation, Arc expression is induced in several telencephalic auditory areas, most prominently the caudomedial nidopallium and mesopallium, whereas in the context of singing, Arc is also induced in song control areas, namely nucleus HVC, used as a proper name, the robust nucleus of the arcopallium and the interface nucleus of the nidopallium. We also show that song-induced Arc expression co-localizes at the cellular level with those of the transcriptional regulators zenk and c-fos, and that the song induction of these three genes is dependent on activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. These findings provide evidence for an involvement of Arc in the brain's response to birdsong. They also demonstrate that genes representing distinct genomic and cellular regulatory programs, namely early effectors and transcription factors, are co-activated in the same neuronal cells by a naturally learned stimulus. [source] Vegetation responses in Alaskan arctic tundra after 8 years of a summer warming and winter snow manipulation experimentGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005C.-H. A. Wahren Abstract We used snow fences and small (1 m2) open-topped fiberglass chambers (OTCs) to study the effects of changes in winter snow cover and summer air temperatures on arctic tundra. In 1994, two 60 m long, 2.8 m high snow fences, one in moist and the other in dry tundra, were erected at Toolik Lake, Alaska. OTCs paired with unwarmed plots, were placed along each experimental snow gradient and in control areas adjacent to the snowdrifts. After 8 years, the vegetation of the two sites, including that in control plots, had changed significantly. At both sites, the cover of shrubs, live vegetation, and litter, together with canopy height, had all increased, while lichen cover and diversity had decreased. At the moist site, bryophytes decreased in cover, while an increase in graminoids was almost entirely because of the response of the sedge Eriophorum vaginatum. These community changes were consistent with results found in studies of responses to warming and increased nutrient availability in the Arctic. However, during the time period of the experiment, summer temperature did not increase, but summer precipitation increased by 28%. The snow addition treatment affected species abundance, canopy height, and diversity, whereas the summer warming treatment had few measurable effects on vegetation. The interannual temperature fluctuation was considerably larger than the temperature increases within OTCs (<2°C), however. Snow addition also had a greater effect on microclimate by insulating vegetation from winter wind and temperature extremes, modifying winter soil temperatures, and increasing spring run-off. Most increases in shrub cover and canopy height occurred in the medium snow-depth zone (0.5,2 m) of the moist site, and the medium to deep snow-depth zone (2,3 m) of the dry site. At the moist tundra site, deciduous shrubs, particularly Betula nana, increased in cover, while evergreen shrubs decreased. These differential responses were likely because of the larger production to biomass ratio in deciduous shrubs, combined with their more flexible growth response under changing environmental conditions. At the dry site, where deciduous shrubs were a minor part of the vegetation, evergreen shrubs increased in both cover and canopy height. These changes in abundance of functional groups are expected to affect most ecological processes, particularly the rate of litter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and both soil carbon and nitrogen pools. Also, changes in canopy structure, associated with increases in shrub abundance, are expected to alter the summer energy balance by increasing net radiation and evapotranspiration, thus altering soil moisture regimes. [source] Modelling the benefits of American Mink Mustela vison management options for terns in west ScotlandIBIS, Issue 2008NORMAN RATCLIFFE American Mink Mustela vison is a semi-aquatic predator that has invaded the west coast of Scotland and many of its associated islands. We developed a GIS model of their potential range based on their dispersal abilities and habitat use, which revealed that most islands in west Scotland are accessible to Mink, and that these host a large proportion of the region's Common Sterna hirundo and Arctic Terns S. paradisaea. Mink are predators on tern eggs and chicks, and statistical modelling of long-term productivity data demonstrated that unprotected sites within their range have an average productivity of 0.33 chicks per pair, whereas that at sites where Mink were trapped was 253% higher. We assessed the benefits of current Mink control projects for terns in the Western Isles and the remainder of west Scotland using a population modelling approach. This showed that both projects delivered considerable benefits for Common Terns, because a large proportion of their numbers were within the area of the control programmes and in sites that would be accessible to Mink if no control were in operation. For Arctic Terns, the benefits were less clear, as a larger proportion of their numbers were outside the control areas, and many of these were in sites isolated from, or unsuitable for, Mink. We discuss the implications of these findings for future strategic planning of Mink management in west Scotland. [source] Nest-site limitation and density dependence of reproductive output in the common goldeneye Bucephala clangula: implications for the management of cavity-nesting birdsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2002H. Pöysä Summary 1,Hole-nesting birds are frequently faced with a shortage of suitable nest sites in regions of intensive forest management. Nest boxes are sometimes provided to alleviate nest-site limitation in cavity-nesting waterfowl and are also recommended for several rare and endangered species. However, the impacts on effective breeding numbers and breeding success have rarely been considered, particularly in instances where density dependence might operate. 2,We experimentally manipulated nest sites to assess limits on the population size of a secondary cavity-nesting species, the common goldeneye Bucephala clangula, living on freshwater lakes. We also examined density dependence in their reproductive output. 3,Breeding pairs were counted in experimental and control areas over a 12-year period; for 4 years (1988,91) before nest box addition (1992,94 in the experimental area) and for 5 years (1995,99) afterwards. Broods were counted each year between 1988 and 1999 to study reproductive output. 4,Mean number of pairs per lake increased after the addition of nest boxes in the experimental area but not in the control area. However, neither the mean number of broods per lake nor the mean number of fledged birds per lake increased significantly in the experimental area. 5,When the whole period of 1988,99 was considered and data pooled from all the lakes, the numbers of broods and fledged birds showed negative density dependence of reproductive output. 6,Our results indicate that nest sites limit the population size of breeding common goldeneye, but show also that density-dependent factors operate to limit reproductive output. The possibility that density dependence may negate management actions directed at increasing breeding numbers in cavity-nesting waterfowl should be considered carefully before taking these actions. This also applies to nest box provisioning programmes aiming to manage populations of endangered species. [source] Short-term survival and long-term mortality of Acacia drepanolobium after a controlled burnAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2008B. D. Okello Abstract We investigated the short- and long-term effects of a controlled burn in Acacia drepanolobium woodland in Laikipia, Kenya in 1998. Fire temperatures averaged 250°C at ground level, with a maximum of over 500°C, but were rarely >100°C at 1.5 m above the ground or more. Nine months after the fire, virtually all A. drepanolobium trees had survived the fire. Some smaller trees were burnt to ground level, but most were only ,top-killed' and had coppiced. Taller trees suffered less damage than smaller trees. However, a 2003 satellite image suggested a dramatic reduction in A. drepanolobium canopy cover at the site. A survey of the site in 2006 revealed that the density of larger A. drepanolobium trees was nearly three times greater in adjacent control areas than in the old burn, with a lesser reduction in the density of smaller trees. These data suggest that short-term measures of postburn survivorship may be deceptive, and that an additional source of tree mortality (perhaps elephants) was concentrated on trees in burned areas, even many months after the burn, with long-term consequences for tree and ecosystem dynamics. Résumé Nous avons étudié les effets à court et à long terme d'un feu contrôlé dans la forêt àAcacia drepanolobium située à Laikipia, au Kenya, en 1998. La température du feu avoisinait les 250°C au niveau du sol, avec un maximum de 500°C, mais elle dépassait rarement les 100°C à 1,5 mètre au-dessus du sol et plus haut. Neuf mois après le feu, pratiquement tous les Acacia drepanolobium avaient survécu. Certains des arbres plus petits avaient brûlé jusqu'au ras du sol, mais chez la plupart, seule la partie aérienne avait brûlé et ils avaient fait des repousses. Les arbres plus grands avaient subi moins de dommages. Pourtant, une image satellite prise en 2003 a suggéré une réduction spectaculaire de la canopée d'A. drepanolobiumà cet endroit. Une étude du site réalisée en 2006 a révélé que la densité des plus grands A. drepanolobiumétait près de trois fois plus forte dans les zones de contrôle adjacentes que sur le site brûlé, où la densité des plus petits arbres était moins réduite. Ces données suggèrent que les mesures de la survie postincendie faites à court terme peuvent être trompeuses, et qu'une source supplémentaire de mortalité des arbres (peut-être des éléphants) s'est concentrée sur les arbres des zones brûlées, même plusieurs mois plus tard, avec des conséquences à long terme pour les arbres et la dynamique de l'écosystème. [source] The Effect of Menthol on Cold Allodynia in Patients with Neuropathic PainPAIN MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008Gunnar Wasner MD ABSTRACT Objective., Cutaneous application of menthol in healthy subjects induces cold allodynia via sensitization of cold-sensitive nociceptors. We investigated the effects of menthol on preexisting cold allodynia in patients to test whether the allodynia was exacerbated. Design., In eight neuropathic pain patients (six of peripheral, two of central origin), 40% menthol was applied topically to an area of preexisting cold allodynia. Mirror-image skin areas and aged-matched healthy subjects served as controls in patients with unilateral and bilateral neuropathic pain, respectively. Prior to and after menthol, cold pain thresholds were measured using a thermotest device. Results., Menthol induced significant cold allodynia in control areas. However, in neuropathic areas, results were more heterogeneous. Overall, preexisting cold allodynia was not aggravated by topical menthol and was attenuated in 6/8 patients. Conclusions., These results suggest that, unlike in controls, menthol is not more hyperalgesic, but may be analgesic in some patients with peripheral and central neuropathic pain. [source] The impact of red howler monkey latrines on the distribution of main nutrients and on topsoil profiles in a tropical rain forestAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2010NADIA DOS SANTOS NEVES Abstract Scarcity of organic matter and nutrients in the topsoil is a typical feature of lowland primary tropical rain forests. However, clumped defecation by vertebrate herbivore troops and further dung beetle processing may contribute to locally improve soil biological activity and plant growth. We studied the impact of clumped defecation by the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), a frugivorous primate, on the vertical distribution of topsoil (0,6 cm) main nutrients and microstructures in a tropical rain forest (French Guiana). Three latrines, where monkey troops regularly defecate, were sampled, together with adjoining controls for carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and microscopic components. The vertical distribution of C and N was affected by clumped defecation: nutrients were mostly restricted to the top 2 cm in control areas while latrines exhibited homogeneously distributed C and N, resulting in higher C and N content below 2 cm. No marked effect of defecation was registered on Olsen P. A small although significant increase in pH (0.1,0.3 pH units) and a marked increase in soil respiration (×1.5,2.5) were registered in latrines. Soil microstructures were studied by the small-volume method. Variation according to depth, site and clumped defecation was analysed by Redundancy Analysis. The three latrines were characterized by an increase in root-penetrated mineral-organic assemblages, mainly composed of recent and old earthworm faeces. The local stimulation of plant roots, microbial and earthworm activity was prominent, together with an increase in soil fertility. Consequences for the regeneration of tropical rain forests in the Amazonian basin were discussed, in the light of existing knowledge. [source] Auditing SAP R/3 , Control Risk AssessmentAUSTRALIAN ACCOUNTING REVIEW, Issue 22 2000PETER BEST This paper provides an introduction to auditing in an SAP R/3 environment, focusing primarily on the assessment of control risk. A number of distinguishing characteristics of the SAP R/3 system that affect the audit are described. The application of a standard internal control framework to the assessment of application controls is illustrated. Two significant pervasive general control areas are examined - system development and program maintenance, and user access control. Relevant controls in these areas are discussed and methods for auditing these controls are outlined. Several opporhcnities for research in the auditing of SAP R/3 are proposed. [source] Influence of preimplant surgical intervention and implant placement on bone wound healingCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 5 2003Christer Slotte Abstract: The aims of the present investigation were to study (1) the influence of preimplant (4 weeks) surgical intervention and (2) the influence of the implant placement per se on bone density and mineralized bone,implant contact (BIC) at implant sites in the rabbit jawbone. The experiment was performed in the edentulous area of the maxillas of 16 adult rabbits. In eight rabbits, the alveolar bone on the left side (test) was surgically exposed and a groove was prepared in the bone crest. Trabecular bone and marrow tissue were removed, and a bioabsorbable barrier membrane was placed to cover the groove. The right side underwent no treatment and served as the control. Four weeks later, a screw-shaped titanium implant was placed transversally through the maxilla, penetrating both the test and the control areas. After another 4 weeks of healing, the animals were killed to obtain ground sections for histomorphometry. Untreated jaws from eight rabbits served as reference specimens. In the rabbits subjected to surgery, the areas (mm2) of both mineralized bone and marrow tissue were similar for test and control (4.9 ± 1.7 vs. 5.1 ± 2.2 and 6.3 ± 5.7 vs. 6.8 ± 5.7 for bone and marrow, respectively). The BIC (%) for all threads was significantly lower on the test side than on the control side (32.1 ± 27.7 vs. 47.7 ± 20.3). The bone density (%) of the total experimental area was similar for test and control (48.5 ± 12.1 vs. 46.5 ± 9.3), as was the bone density in the area within the implant thread valleys and their mirror areas (43.0 ± 13.9 vs. 41.3 ± 13.5, and 40.2 ± 11.0 vs. 40.3 ± 7.2 for thread area and mirror area, respectively). The bone density of the total experimental area in the untreated rabbits was 35.9 ± 5.2%. This value was significantly lower than the values in the total experimental areas (test and control) of the surgically treated rabbits. Similarly, the density of the reference area in the untreated rabbits was 25.4 ± 5.3%, which was also significantly lower than the bone density of the periimplant area of the surgically treated rabbits. We conclude that the surgical trauma caused by the placement of implants in the maxilla of rabbits significantly enhanced the bone density of the implant sites. Surgical intervention in the implant sites 4 weeks prior to the implant placements, however, did not further enhance bone density or BIC. Résumé Les buts de cette étude ont été d'étudier 1) l'influence d'une intervention chirurgicale préimplantaire (4 semaines) et 2) l'influence du placement de l'implant per se sur la densité osseuse et le contact implant-os minéralisé (BIC). Cette expérience a été effectuée dans la région édentée du maxillaire de seize lapins adultes. Chez huit lapins, l'os alvéolaire du côté gauche (test) était chirurgicalement exposé et une marque a été faite dans la crête osseuse. L'os trabéculaire et le tissu spongieux ont été enlevés et une membrane biorésorbable a été placée pour couvrir ce trou. Le côté droit ne subissait aucun traitement et a servi de contrôle. Quatre semaines après, un implant en titane vis a été placé transversalement à travers le maxillaire pénétrant tant la zone test que contrôle. Après quatre semaines de guérison les animaux ont été tués pour obtenir des coupes pour l'histomorphométrie. Les mâchoires non-traitées de huit lapins ont servi de spécimens de référence. Chez les lapins soumis à la chirugie les zones d'os minéralisé et de tissu spongieux étaient semblables pour le test et le contrôle (respectivement 4,9±1,7 mm2 vs 5,1±2,2 mm2 et 6,3±5,7 mm2 vs 6,8±5,7mm2). Les BIC pour tous les filetages étaient significativement moins importants au niveau des tests que des contrôles (32,1±27,7% vs 47,7±20,3%). La densité osseuse du total de l'aire expérimentale était semblable pour les tests et les contrôles (48,5±12,1%vs 46,3±9,3%) comme l'était la densité osseuse dans la zone à l'intérieur du filetage de l'implant et de leurs aires mineures (43,0±13,9%vs 41,3±13,5% pour les filetages et 40,2±11,0% vs40,3±7,2% pour les aires mineures). La densité osseuse de l'aire expérimentale totale chez les lapins nont-traités était de 35,9 ±5,2%. Cette valeur était significativement inférieure à celles dans les aires expérimentales totales (tests et contrôles) des lapins traités chirurgicalement. Parallèlement, la densité de l'aire de référence des lapins non-traités était de 25,4±5,3% c.-à-d. inférieure à la densité osseuse de la zone paroïmplantaire des lapins traités chirurgicalement. Le trauma chirurgical causé par le placement d'implants dans le maxillaire de lapins augmente significativement la densité osseuse au niveau des sites implantaires. L'intervention chirurgicale des sites à implanter quatre semaines avant le placement des implants n'avait cependant augmenté ni la densité osseuse ni le BIC. Zussammenfassung Der Einfluss eines praeimplantären chirurgischen Eingriffes und der Implantation per se auf die Heilung der Knochenwunde. Eine Studie am Kieferknochen des Kaninchens. Ziel: Das Ziel dieser Studie war es 1) den Einfluss eines praeimplantären chirurgischen Eingriffes (4 Wochen vorher) und 2) den Einfluss der Implantation per se auf die Knochendichte und den mineralisierten Knochen-Implantatkontakt (BIC) an einer Implantationsstelle im Kieferknochen des Kaninchens zu untersuchen. Material und Methode: Die Testregion war der zahnlose Oberkieferabschnitt von 16 ausgewachsenen Kaninchen. Bei 8 Kaninchen wurde der Alveolarknochen der linken Seite (Test) chirurgisch freigelegt und eine Vertiefungen in den Knochenkortex präpariert. Dann entfernte man den trabekulären Knochen und das Knochenmark und deckte die Vertiefung mit einer bioresorbierbaren Membran ab. Die rechte Seite wurde unbehandelt belassen und diente als Kontrolle. Vier Wochen später implantierte man ein schraubenförmiges Titanimplantat transversal durch die Maxilla, so dass es Test- oder Kontrollregion durchdrang. Nach einer Heilphase von weiteren vier Wochen wurden die Tiere geopfert und von der zu untersuchenden Region Grundschnitte für die Histologie hergestellt. Als Referenz dienten unbehandelte (jungfräuliche) Kiefer von weiteren 8 Kaninchen. Resultate: Bei den Kaninchen, welche die oben beschriebenen chirurgischen Schritte durchlaufen haben, waren sowohl bei der Test- wie auch bei der Kontrollgruppe die Fläche von mineralisiertem Knochen und Knochenmark (in mm2) ähnlich gross (4.9+1.7 gegenüber 5.1+2.2 beim Knochen und 6.3+5.7 gegenüber 6.8+5.7 beim Knochenmark). Der BIC (%) war in allen Schraubenwindungen auf der Testseite signifikant tiefer als auf der Kontrollseite (32.1+27.7 gegenüber 47.7+20.3). Die Knochendichte (%) war in der untersuchten Region bei der Test- und Kontrollseite etwa gleich gross (48.5+12.1 gegenüber 46.5+9.3) wie die Knochendichte in den Vertiefungen der Schraubenwindungen und ihrer spiegelbildlichen Regionen (43.0+13.9 gegenüber 41.3+13.5 in den Schraubenwindungen und 40.2+11.0 gegenüber 40.3+7.2 in den spiegelbildlichen Regionen). Die Knochendichte in der gesamten Region der unbehandelten (jungfräulichen) Kaninchen betrug 35.9+5.2%. Dieser Wert war signifikant tiefer als die Werte der gesamten untersuchten Region der chirurgisch behandelten Kaninchen (Test- und Kontrollseite). Ganz ähnlich war die Dichte in der Referenzregion der unbehandelten Kaninchen 25.4+5.3%, ein Wert der auch signifikant tiefer war als die Knochendichte in der periimplantären Region von chirurgisch behandelten Kaninchen. Zusammenfassung: Das chirurgische Trauma, das beim Setzen eines Implantates im Oberkiefer von Kaninchen entsteht, begünstigt die Knochendichte an den Stellen der Implantate signifikant. Der chirurgischen Eingriff vier Wochen vor der Implantation jedoch, förderte an den zur Implantation vorgesehenen Stellen weder Knochendichte noch BIC. Resumen Objetivos: La intención de la presente investigación fue estudiar 1) la influencia de la intervención quirúrgica (4 semanas) periimplantaria y 2) la influencia de la colocación de implantes per se en la densidad ósea y el contacto del hueso mineralizado al implante (BIC) en los lugares de implante en el hueso mandibular del conejo. Material y métodos: El experimento se realizó en el área edéntula del maxilar de 16 conejos adultos. Se expuso quirúrgicamente el hueso alveolar en el lado izquierdo (test) de 8 conejos y se preparó un hueco en la cresta ósea. Se retiró el hueso trabecular y el tejido de médula ósea, colocándose una membrana de barrera biorreabsorbible para cubrir el hueco. El lado derecho no sufrió ningún tratamiento y sirvió de control. Cuatro semanas mas tarde, se colocó un implante de forma roscada transversalmente a través del maxilar, penetrando las áreas de prueba y de control. Tras otras 4 semanas de cicatrización, los animales se sacrificaron para obtener cortes histológicos para histomorfometría. Las mandíbulas sin tratar de los 8 conejos sirvieron como especímenes de referencia. Resultados: En los conejos sometidos a cirugía las áreas (mm2) del hueso mineralizado y del tejido medular fueron similares para la prueba y el control (4.9 ± 1.7 vs. 5.1 ± 2.2 y 6.3 ± 5.7 vs. 6.8 ± 5.7, hueso y médula respectivamente). El BIC (%) para todas las roscas fue significativamente mas bajo en el lado de prueba que en el de control (32.1 ± 27.7 vs. 47.7 ± 20.3). La densidad de ósea (%) de toda el área experimental fue similar para la prueba y el control (48.5 ± 12.1 vs. 46.5 ± 9.3) así como la densidad ósea en el área en los valles entre las roscas y en su área espejo (43.0 ± 13.9 vs. 41.3 ± 13.5, y 40.2 ± 11.0 vs. 40.3 ± 7.2, área de roscas y área espejo respectivamente). La densidad ósea en el área total experimental en los conejos no tratados (vírgenes) fue del 35.9 ± 5.2%. Este valor fue significativamente mas bajo que los valores en el total de las áreas experimentales (test y control) de los conejos tratados quirúrgicamente. Del mismo modo, la densidad del área de referencia de los conejos no tratados fue de 25.4 ± 5.3%, que también fue significativamente mas baja que la densidad ósea del área periimplantaria de los conejos tratados quirúrgicamente. Conclusión: El trauma quirúrgico causado por la colocación de implantes en el maxilar de conejos estimuló significativamente la densidad ósea de los lugares de implantes. Sin embargo, la intervención quirúrgica de los lugares de implantes 4 semanas antes de la colocación de los implantes no estimuló mas la densidad ósea o el BIC. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||