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Selected AbstractsDiversity, endemism and evolution in the Coral TriangleJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 10 2009J. C. Briggs Abstract In a recent paper by D. R. Bellwood and C. P. Meyer (,Searching for heat in a marine biodiversity hotspot', Journal of Biogeography, 2009, 36, 569,576), the authors had two evident objectives: (1) to disprove the theory that the geographical origins of reef organisms could be determined by locating concentrations of endemic species, and (2) to emphasize that the high diversity of the Coral Triangle was due to an accumulation of species from outside that area. With regard to the first point, no such theory had previously been proposed to my knowledge. Second, the accumulation theory was promoted without consideration of the facts supporting the centre of origin hypothesis, except to dismiss it by saying that it had its origin in pre-continental drift ideas. This short response outlines the properties and evidence for the operation of centres of origin in this region. [source] Intranasal immunization using biphasic lipid vesicles as delivery systems for OmlA bacterial protein antigen and CpG oligonucleotides adjuvant in a mouse modelJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 8 2005V. L. Alcón The nasal mucosa is an important arm of the mucosal system since it is often the first point of contact for inhaled antigens. The ineffectiveness of the simple delivery of soluble antigens to mucosal membranes for immunization has stimulated extensive studies in appropriate delivery systems and adjuvants. We have evaluated biphasic lipid vesicles as a novel intranasal (i.n.) delivery system (designated as vaccine targeting adjuvant, VTA) containing bacterial antigens and CpG oligode-oxynucleotides (ODNs). Results show that administration of antigen and CpG ODNs in biphasic lipid vesicles resulted in greater induction of IgA levels in serum (P<0.05) and mucosal antibody responses such as IgA in nasal secretions and lung (P<0.01) after immunization with a combined subcutaneous (s.c.)/i.n. as compared to s.c./s.c. approach. Based on antibody responses, VTA formulations were found to be suitable as delivery systems for antigens and CpG ODNs by the intranasal route, resulting in a Th2-type of immune response, characterized by IgG1 and IL-4 production at the systemic level. [source] Nature of the Martian uplands: Effect on Martian meteorite age distribution and secondary crateringMETEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, Issue 10 2006William K. Hartmann Some 80,89% of these launch sites sampled igneous rock formations from only the last 29% of Martian time. We hypothesize that this imbalance arises not merely from poor statistics, but because the launch processes are dominated by two main phenomena: first, much of the older Martian surface is inefficient in launching rocks during impacts, and second, the volumetrically enormous reservoir of original cumulate crust enhances launch probability for 4.5 Gyr old rocks. There are four lines of evidence for the first point, not all of equal strength. First, impact theory implies that MM launch is favored by surface exposures of near-surface coherent rock (,102 m deep), whereas Noachian surfaces generally should have ,102 m of loose or weakly cemented regolith with high ice content, reducing efficiency of rock launch. Second, similarly, both Mars Exploration Rovers found sedimentary strata, 1,2 orders of magnitude weaker than Martian igneous rocks, favoring low launch efficiency among some fluvial-derived Hesperian and Noachian rocks. Even if launched, such rocks may be unrecognized as meteorites on Earth. Third, statistics of MM formation age versus cosmic-ray exposure (CRE) age weakly suggest that older surfaces may need larger, deeper craters to launch rocks. Fourth, in direct confirmation, one of us (N. G. B.) has found that older surfaces need larger craters to produce secondary impact crater fields (cf. Barlow and Block 2004). In a survey of 200 craters, the smallest Noachian, Hesperian, and Amazonian craters with prominent fields of secondaries have diameters of ,45 km, ,19 km, and ,10 km, respectively. Because 40% of Mars is Noachian, and 74% is either Noachian or Hesperian, the subsurface geologic characteristics of the older areas probably affect statistics of recognized MMs and production rates of secondary crater populations, and the MM and secondary crater statistics may give us clues to those properties. [source] An acoustic emission study on the fracture behavior of continuous glass fiber/polypropylene composites based on commingled yarnPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 7 2008Yantao Wang The fracture behavior of continuous glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites made of commingled yarn in the form of biaxial (±±45°) noncrimp warp-knitted fabric, twill woven fabric, and swirl mat, respectively, was investigated by virtue of single edge notched tensile (SEN-T) specimens. These composite laminates were manufactured by compression molding and cooled at two different rates (1°C/min and 10°C/min) during the last processing phase of the laminates. The failure mechanisms were studied by acoustic emission (AE) analysis. AE amplitude ranges corresponding to the individual failure modes have been identified. For biaxial noncrimp fabric reinforced materials, the failure mechanisms involved in the fracture procedure are governed by the interface related failure events. Higher cooling rate, which is accompanied by better fiber/matrix adhesion, results in not only the increase in the relative proportion of high-amplitude failure events, but also the occurrence of a large quantity of fiber fracture events. For woven fabric and mat reinforced composites, fiber-dominated failure mechanisms result in the higher fracture toughness when compared with biaxial noncrimp fabric composites. Under this circumstance, the change in cooling rate only results in the difference in the relative frequency of the individual failure modes. In addition, it is found out that the initiation fracture toughness of SEN-T specimens can be easily assessed by marking the load value which corresponds to the first point of AE signals emitted stably in AE events-displacement curves. POLYM. COMPOS., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers [source] MI 6's Requirements Directorate: Integrating Intelligence into the Machinery of British Central GovernmentPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 1 2000Philip H.J. DaviesArticle first published online: 17 DEC 200 The following article examines the relationship between the British Secret Intelli-gence Service (SIS, a.k.a. MI 6) and the machinery of central government, particularly departments of state and other agencies which employ information generated by the SIS. It is argued the main link between the SIS and its consumers in British government is the SIS's requirements ,side', embodied throughout most of the post-war era in the form of a Requirements Directorate. The article argues that the Requirements mechanism operates as a line of communication between the SIS and its consumers separate from the Cabinet Office Joint Intelligence Organisation (JIO), although there is overlap and interdependency between the two architectures. This discussion traces the development of the ,requirements side' from the interwar period up to the post-Cold War era using information from archival sources and a programme of interviews with former UK intelligence officials. It is further argued that the structure and process of the SIS ,requirements side' has developed and changed as a consequence of changes in the structure of demand in the machinery of British government, including adapting to the increasingly central role of the JIO. However, despite that increasingly central role of the JIO, the ,requirements side' has continued to serve as the first point of contact between the SIS and its customers in Whitehall. [source] Oxidative stress parameters during starvation and refeeding periods in Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 6 2009M. FURNÉ Abstract This work analyses the changes in the redox balance in two fish species: Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during starvation and refeeding period. The starvation period raised the lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric-acid-reacting substances) levels in liver and blood, while a decline occurred in the antioxidant enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) in both fish species. In liver, after the refeeding period, SOD activity recovered in both species, whereas CAT activity recovered only in trout. Furthermore, in both tissues of the two species, the lipid peroxidation levels remained high after 2 months of refeeding. In white muscle and heart, the lipid peroxidation levels indicate that these tissues did not undergo oxidative stress during the 72-day period. During starvation, in the muscle of both fish the fall in the lipid peroxidation level coincided with a rise in CAT, GPX and GR. The refeeding period in this tissue raised the lipid peroxidation level, and the enzymatic activities reached the values of the first point of starvation. In heart, no oxidative damage was detected during starvation in either species. The CAT and SOD activities increased during the starvation period only in trout. [source] Primary health care personnel faced with cadaveric organ donation: a multicenter study in south-eastern SpainCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2008A. Ríos Abstract:, Introduction:, Primary health care (PHC) is the first point of contact between the public and the health system and it is an important channel for the communication and promotion of organ donation and transplantation. The objective of this study was to analyze the attitude of PHC personnel toward donation and to determine the psychosocial variables affecting this attitude. Materials and methods:, A random sample was stratified by job category and geographical location among PHC personnel (n = 482) from 32 health centers. Attitude was evaluated using a questionnaire validated in our local area. (It was completed anonymously and was self-administered.) Results:, The questionnaire completion rate was 86% (n = 414): 78% (n = 325) are in favor and the remaining 22% (n = 89) are either against or are not sure. The reason given for a negative attitude is fear of apparent death (16%; n = 14). There are many independent factors that affect attitude: (i) job category (OR = 2.4); (ii) knowledge of the concept of brain death (OR = 2.2); (iii) a preference for alternatives to burial (OR = 2.99); (iv) being in favor of cremation (OR = 01.87) and (v) knowledge of the attitude of one's partner toward organ donation (OR = 0.312). Conclusion:, PHC personnel have a favorable attitude toward donation, especially physicians, although it would be useful to provide more information to PHC personnel. Physicians could be a key element in the direct and indirect promotion of donation and transplantation. [source] |