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Highly Significant (highly + significant)
Terms modified by Highly Significant Selected AbstractsLOCAL HETEROZYGOSITY-FITNESS CORRELATIONS WITH GLOBAL POSITIVE EFFECTS ON FITNESS IN THREESPINE STICKLEBACKEVOLUTION, Issue 8 2006Mélissa Lieutenant-Gosselin Abstract The complex interactions between genetic diversity and evolution have important implications in many biological areas including conservation, speciation, and mate choice. A common way to study these interactions is to look at heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs). Until recently, HFCs based on noncoding markers were believed to result primarily from global inbreeding effects. However, accumulating theoretical and empirical evidence shows that HFCs may often result from genes being linked to the markers used (local effect). Moreover, local effect HFCs could differ from global inbreeding effects in their direction and occurrence. Consequently, the investigation of the structure and consequences of local HFCs is emerging as a new important goal in evolutionary biology. In this study of a wild threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) population, we first tested the presence of significant positive or negative local effects of heterozygosity at 30 microsatellites loci on five fitness components: survival, mating success, territoriality, length, and body condition. Then, we evaluated the direction and shape of total impact of local HFCs, and estimated the magnitude of the impacts on fitness using regression coefficients and selection differentials. We found that multilocus heterozygosity was not a reliable estimator of individual inbreeding coefficient, which supported the relevance of single-locus based analyses. Highly significant and temporally stable local HFCs were observed. These were mainly positive, but negative effects of heterozygosity were also found. Strong and opposite effects of heterozygosity are probably present in many populations, but may be blurred in HFC analyses looking for global effects only. In this population, both negative and positive HFCs are apparently driving mate preference by females, which is likely to contribute to the maintenance of both additive and nonadditive genetic variance. [source] Primary teachers as readersENGLISH IN EDUCATION, Issue 1 2008Teresa Cremin Abstract In the context of the continued pressure and politicisation of the teaching of reading in England, the United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) sought to ascertain patterns in primary teachers' reading, both personally and professionally. The project, undertaken in 11 Local Authorities in England, explored 1200 primary teachers' personal reading habits and preferences, investigated their knowledge of children's literature, and documented their reported use of texts in the classroom through a questionnaire. In addition, it sought to establish the extent of the teachers' involvement with and use of local area/school library services. This paper reports on the findings with reference to the teachers' personal reading, the frequency of this reading and the sources they use to select their reading material. It also considers the teachers' favourite childhood texts and the books they identified as highly significant to them, as well as their perceptions of the importance of literature. Connections are made to the data gathered about their knowledge of children's literature, and how primary teachers decide which literature to work with in the classroom. [source] Accessory gland secretory proteins in relation to fitness parameters of Drosophila ananassae and D. variansENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2010Raghavendra B. HIREMANI Abstract Developmental morphometry, qualitative and quantitative analysis of the accessory gland secretory proteins, fecundity and productivity in relation to protein ejected during subsequent (first to fourth-time) matings have been studied in Drosophila ananassae Doleschall and Drosophila varians Bock. In both species, size and secretion of accessory glands increases from 1 to 8 days and the stored secretion ejected from males to the female genital tract during subsequent mating varies. The maximum number of eggs and flies are produced from the females mated with bachelor males and it is a minimum when virgin females are mated with fourth-time mated males. Sodium dodecylsulfate,polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of accessory gland secretory protein patterns and their glycosylation differs in both the species. Correlation coefficient analysis between gland size and quantity of secretion, percentage of secretory protein transferred per mating, and eggs and flies that emerged showed a highly significant, positive relationship. Among different matings, the number of eggs laid and flies that emerged per female between subsequent (first to fourth-time) matings of males was found to be highly significant and the difference between fecundity and productivity between the two species was highly significant. [source] Management of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of the Most Perishable FruitsENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2005Muhammad Ahsan KHAN ABSTRACT We investigated to minimize the dependency on the use of chemicals and thus develop safe and environmental friendly control program for the most perishable fruits i.e., apple,,ber', guava and mango. Our findings on the composition of fruit fly species reveal that Bactrocera dorsalis was dominant on apple (33.96% existence), Corpomya incompleta on,ber'(51.91% existence) and Bactrocera zonata on guava (49.62% existence) and mango (74.66% existence). The correlation between population and infestation percentage was non-significant in apple orchards, whereas positive and highly significant in between population and infestation, as well as on the cumulative basis in,ber', guava and mango orchards during 1998-1999. Hoeing, baiting and methyl eugenol were statistically equal resulting about 77% decrease in infestation. The maximum control of 91.68% was observed where all four-control operations including Dipterex® were integrated together. Weather factors, when computed together, had maximum effect on population fluctuation and infestation with rainfall contributing the major role. For guava fruits, the months of August (14.06A individuals/trap/day) and September (13.81A individuals/trap/day) were important, resulting in maximum infestation percentage of 10.76 to 14.74%, respectively. [source] Original article: Assessment of changes in oral health-related quality of life among patients with complete denture before and 1 month post-insertion using Geriatric Oral Health Assessment IndexGERODONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Kamal Shigli doi:10.1111/j.1741-2358.2009.00323.x Assessment of changes in oral health-related quality of life among patients with complete denture before and 1 month post-insertion using Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index Objective:, Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) is a 12-item measure of "patient-reported oral functional problems" intended for use in the assessment of the effectiveness of dental treatment. Design and Setting:, As there is scanty literature available on GOHAI in the Indian population, the present study was undertaken to assess the changes in GOHAI before and 1 month after placement of dentures in completely edentulous patients reporting to a dental hospital at Indore, India. Measurements:, The GOHAI questionnaire was completed by the examiner who interviewed the patients (n = 35) before placement of complete dentures and 1 month later. Mean, median values were calculated and the data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results:, When overall mean was considered, the GOHAI scores increased from 27.48 to 30.19 (p = 0.002; highly significant). Conclusion:, Patients reported improvement in functional changes after placement of complete dentures. [source] Distinct MHC class I and II alleles are associated with hepatitis C viral clearance, originating from a single sourceHEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Susan M. McKiernan The role of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, restricted by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I alleles, is recognized as highly significant in the successful clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The frequency of class I alleles in females inoculated with HCV genotype 1b from a single source was examined for an association with outcome. Class I typing was performed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers in 227 female subjects: 141 had chronic infection and 86 had viral clearance. Statistical analysis included ,2 testing and multiple logistic regression analysis. A*03, B*27, and Cw*01 occurred more frequently in those with viral clearance (39.5%, 14%, and 9.3%, respectively) compared with those with chronic infection (19.1%, 2.1%, and 1.4%, respectively; P , .005). B*08 occurred more often in those with chronic infection compared with viral clearance (39.7% vs. 19.8%; P = .002). In combination with previously reported class II allele associations, over 75% that successfully eliminate HCV carry either A*03, DRB1*0101, or *0401, compared with only 37% of those with chronic infection (P < .0001). The haplotypes A*03-B*07-DRB1*15-DQB1*0602 and A*02-B*27-Cw*01-DRB1*0101-DQB1*0501 are associated with viral clearance (P = .004 and .01, respectively). By multiple logistic regression analysis, the alleles A*03, B*27, DRB1*0101, *0401, and *15 are associated with viral clearance, and B*27 has the strongest association (odds ratio [OR] 7.99). The haplotype A*01-B*08-Cw*07-DRB1*03011-DQB1*0201 is associated with chronic infection (P = .002), being independent for DQB1*0201 (OR 0.27). In conclusion, certain class I alleles are associated with outcome in this homogenous cohort. More significantly, either HLA-A*03, -DRB1*0101, or -*0401 are carried by an overwhelming majority of those subjects who successfully clear HCV. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;40:108,114.) [source] The effect of irrigation time, root morphology and dentine thickness on tooth surface strain when using 5% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTAINTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010O. E. Sobhani Sobhani OE, Gulabivala K, Knowles JC, Ng Y-L. The effect of irrigation time, root morphology and dentine thickness on tooth surface strain when using 5% sodium hypochlorite and 17% EDTA. International Endodontic Journal, 43, 190,199, 2010. Abstract Aim, To evaluate the effect of irrigation with 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) alone and in conjunction with 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on tooth surface strain (TSS) and to analyse the influence of irrigation time, root morphology and dentine thickness. Methodology, Thirty-six single-rooted pre-molars with single canals had their crown and enamel reduced and root canals prepared using a standardized protocol. Teeth were grouped according to anatomical criteria and randomly distributed to experimental irrigation groups: (A) saline (negative control); (B) 5% NaOCl (positive control); (C) 5% NaOCl alternated with 17% EDTA. TSS was measured using electrical strain gauges bonded to the cervico-proximal part of the tooth. Teeth, mounted in clear acrylic resin placed in a universal testing machine, were subjected to nine consecutive 10-min irrigation periods followed by non-destructive occlusal loading to record TSS. Statistical analysis was carried out using two-way hierarchical anova and post hoc multiple comparisons. Results, Two groups showed an increase in TSS from the baseline (initial 10-min irrigation with saline). Group A showed a negligible reduction of 1.2% (343,339 ,,), which was not statistically significant (P = 0.7). Group B showed a highly significant (P = 0.001) increase in TSS by 53.7% (178,253 ,,), and group C showed a significant (P = 0.02) increase in TSS by 17.4% (163,192 ,,). The rate of change in TSS was significantly different between test groups. The length of the tooth (P = 0.04) as well as the mesio-distal (P = 0.05) width had significant effects on TSS. Conclusions, Irrigation with 5% with or without 17% EDTA increased TSS. The increase was significantly greater with 5% NaOCl alone than with 5% NaOCl alternated with 17% EDTA in contrast to previous findings with longer duration of irrigant exposure. Tooth length and mesio-distal root width significantly contributed to the increase in TSS. [source] The Determinants of Bank Credit in Industrialized Countries: Do Property Prices Matter?INTERNATIONAL FINANCE, Issue 2 2004Boris Hofmann In this study, we analyse the determinants of bank credit to the private non-financial sector in 16 industrialized countries based on a cointegrating VAR. Cointegration analysis suggests that property prices are an important determinant of the long-run borrowing capacity of the private sector, which needs to be taken into account to explain the long-run movements of bank lending. Impulse response analysis reveals that innovations to property prices also have a highly significant and persistent positive dynamic effect on bank lending. This result suggests that innovations to property prices may give rise to significant and persistent cycles in bank lending and are thus a potential explanation for the persistent financial cycles observed in the past. [source] Wet and dry summers in Europe since 1750: evidence of increasing droughtINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 13 2009K. R. Briffa Abstract Moisture availability across Europe is calculated based on 22 stations that have long instrumental records for precipitation and temperature. The metric used is the self-calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) which is based on soil moisture content. This quantity is calculated using a simplified water budget model, forced by historic records of precipitation and temperature data, where the latter are used in a simple parameterization for potential evaporation. The precipitation and temperature records are updated to include the 2003 summer and all records, except for one, span at least 200 years, with the record for Kew going back to 1697. The Kew record shows a significant clustering of dry summers in the most recent decade. When all the records are considered together, recent widespread drying is clearly apparent and highly significant in this long-term context. By substituting the 1961,1990 climatological monthly mean temperatures for the actual monthly means in the parameterization for potential evaporation, an estimate is made of the direct effect of temperature on drought. This analysis shows that a major influence on the trend toward drier summer conditions is the observed increase in temperatures. This effect is particularly strong in central Europe. Based on the 22 scPDSI records, a gridded scPDSI dataset covering a large part of Europe has been constructed and compared to a recent high-resolution scPDSI dataset spanning the twentieth century only. We again observe that a major cause for the large areal extent of summer drought in the last two decades is high temperatures. Temperatures in the 12 months preceding and including the summer of 2003 explain an increase in the areas experiencing slightly dry (or worse) conditions of 11.1%. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source] An evaluation of monitoring possibilities of argatroban using rotational thromboelastometry and activated partial thromboplastin timeACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2010M. ENGSTRÖM Background: Rotational thrombelastometry/thrombelastography with ROTEM® and TEG® is becoming available bedside in an increasing number of intensive care units, where many patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) are treated. The study has been performed in an effort to find out whether ROTEM® could be an alternative to activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) when argatroban is used for anticoagulation. Methods: Argatroban was added in vitro to a series of citrated whole-blood samples from 10 healthy volunteers to obtain whole-blood concentrations of 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 8.0 mg/l. ROTEM® and whole-blood aPTT analyses were performed at each argatroban concentration. Correlation analyses were performed using the Spearman correlation analysis. Results: There was a significant and strong correlation between argatroban concentrations and clotting time (CT in ROTEM® analysis with INTEM) (P<0.0001 and r=0.98). Also, the ROTEM® time to maximum clot formation velocity (MAXV-t) appeared to have a very strong and highly significant correlation to argatroban concentrations (P<0.0001 and r=0.95). When we studied the correlation between aPTT and CT, we found a highly significant and strong correlation between these two analyses (P<0.0001 and r=0.97), especially so in the clinically relevant therapeutic range up to 100 s aPTT prolongation for HIT patients. Conclusion: A significant and strong correlation was found between argatroban concentrations and several ROTEM® parameters. Rotational thrombelastometry/thrombelastography has a potential role in increasing the safety of argatroban anticoagulation in critically ill patients. [source] Response surface methodology to optimize the nutritional parameters for enhanced production of jasmonic acid by Lasiodiplodia theobromaeJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2008P.C. Dhandhukia Abstract Aims:, To find out the cumulative effect of the nutritional parameters and to enhance the production of jasmonic acid (JA) in static fermentation by Lasiodiplodia theobromae using response surface methodology (RSM). Method and Results:, Malt extract, sucrose, NaNO3 and MgSO4.7H2O were analysed by a 30-trial central composite design using RSM for optimizing their concentrations in the medium and the effect of their mutual interaction on JA production. Sucrose and NaNO3 were found highly significant in influencing the JA production. Malt extract and MgSO4.7H2O showed an effect on the JA production in interaction with other variables. When the optimum values of the parameters obtained through RSM (19·95 g l,1 malt extract, 50 g l,1 sucrose, 7·5 g l,1 NaNO3 and 3·51 g l,1 MgSO4.7H2O) were applied, 32% increase in JA production (299 mg l,1) was observed in comparison with 225 mg l,1 of JA produced with same media components not analysed by RSM and subsequently validated the statistical model. Conclusions:, Increase in JA production was achieved by optimizing the nutritional parameters. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This is the first report of using RSM for optimizing a medium for JA production. It resulted in an increase in JA production without augmentation of costly additives. [source] Quantitative Ultrasound Does Not Reflect Mechanically Induced Damage in Human Cancellous BoneJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 12 2000P. H. F. Nicholson Abstract This study investigated the ability of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) to detect reductions in the elastic modulus of cancellous bone caused by mechanical damage. Ultrasonic velocity and attenuation were measured using an in-house parametric imaging system in 46 cancellous bone cores from the human calcaneus. Each core was subjected to a mechanical testing regime to (a) determine the predamage elastic modulus, (b) induce damage by applying specified strains in excess of the yield strain, and (c) measure the postdamage elastic modulus. The specimens were divided into four groups: a control group subjected to a nominally nondestructive 0.7% maximum strain (,m) and three damage groups subjected to increasing strain levels (,m = 1.5, 3.0, and 4.5%). QUS measurements before and after the mechanical testing showed no significant differences between the control group and damage groups, despite highly significant (p < 0.001) reductions in the elastic modulus of up to 72%. These results indicate that current QUS techniques do not intrinsically reflect the elastic properties of cancellous bone. This is consistent with ultrasonic properties being determined by other factors (apparent density and/or architecture), which normally are associated strongly with elastic properties, but only when bone is mechanically intact. Clinically, this implies that ultrasound cannot be expected to detect bone fragility in the absence of major changes in bone density and/or trabecular architecture. [source] Comparative anatomy and phylogenetic distribution of the mammalian cecal appendixJOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2009H. F. SMITH Abstract A recently improved understanding of gut immunity has merged with current thinking in biological and medical science, pointing to an apparent function of the mammalian cecal appendix as a safe-house for symbiotic gut microbes, preserving the flora during times of gastrointestinal infection in societies without modern medicine. This function is potentially a selective force for the evolution and maintenance of the appendix, and provides an impetus for reassessment of the evolution of the appendix. A comparative anatomical approach reveals three apparent morphotypes of the cecal appendix, as well as appendix-like structures in some species that lack a true cecal appendix. Cladistic analyses indicate that the appendix has evolved independently at least twice (at least once in diprotodont marsupials and at least once in Euarchontoglires), shows a highly significant (P < 0.0001) phylogenetic signal in its distribution, and has been maintained in mammalian evolution for 80 million years or longer. [source] The influence of thermal parameters on the acclimation responses of pinfish Lagodon rhomboides exposed to static and decreasing low temperaturesJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007C. M. Reber Pinfish Lagodon rhomboides acclimation rates were determined by modelling changes in critical thermal minimum (Tcrit min, ° C) estimates at set intervals following a temperature decrease of 3,4° C. The results showed that pinfish gained a total of 3·7° C of cold tolerance over a range of acclimation temperatures (Tacc, ° C) from (23,12° C), that cold tolerance increased with exposure time to the reduced temperature at all Tacc, but that the rate of cold tolerance accruement (mean 0·14° C day,1) was independent of Tacc. A highly significant (P < 0·001) multivariate predictive model was generated that described the acclimation rates and thermal tolerance of pinfish exposed to reduction in water temperature: log10Tcrit min= 0·41597 , 0·01704Tacc+ 0·04320Tplunge, 0·08376[log10 (t+ 1)], where Tplunge is plunge temperature (° C) and t is the time (days). A comparison of the present data, with acclimation rate data for other species, suggests that factors such as latitude or geographic range may play a more important role than ambient temperature in determining cold acclimation rates in fishes. [source] Glial Limitans Elasticity Subjacent to the Supraoptic NucleusJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 8 2004A. K. Salm Abstract Two previous studies from our laboratory have indicated that the ventral glial limitans subjacent to the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON-VGL) undergoes a reversible thinning upon chronic activation of the magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) of the supraoptic nucleus (SON). Numerous other studies have shown that MNC somata hypertrophy with activation. One aim of the current study was to understand better how SON-VGL thinning occurs. A second aim was to quantify overall changes of the MNC somata region due to cellular hypertrophy to compare relative changes in dimensions. Here, we undertook a light microscopic stereological investigation of the SON and the subjacent SON-VGL of Nissl stained material under basal and activated conditions. Astrocyte numbers in the underlying SON-VGL remained stable across hydration state as did the overall volume of the SON-VGL and dendritic zone reference area. How these data are consistent with our earlier observations of SON-VGL thinning was resolved by the finding of a highly significant, 30% increase in the mediolateral dimension of the SON-VGL in dehydrated rats. These observations fit well with previous work from our laboratory that demonstrates a reorientation of SON-VGL astrocytes, from vertical to horizontal, which occurs in the activated SON-VGL. We found a significant, approximately 54%, increase in the overall volume of the MNC region of the SON. No significant rostrocaudal lengthening of the SON was detected, although a trend was evident. All the observed changes reversed with rehydration. These data indicate that elasticity of the SON-VGL acts to accommodate the volume expansion of the MNCs and enables the SON-VGL to continue as an interface between the underlying cerebrospinal fluid in the subarachnoid space and the expanded SON above. [source] Comparative evaluation of Ca chloride and Ca phosphate for extractable sulfur in soils with a wide range in pHJOURNAL OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009Kanwar L. Sahrawat Abstract Deficiency of sulfur (S) is becoming widespread in the rainfed systems of India, and there is increasing need for diagnosing the deficiency. Calcium chloride and Ca phosphate are commonly used for extracting available S in soils. Because of cost and the ease of availability locally, we prefer using Ca chloride as an extractant over Ca phosphate, for extracting available S. However, there is paucity of data on the comparative evaluation of the two extractants to extract available S, especially in soils having a wide range in natural pH (from acidic to alkaline range). It is recognized that soil pH plays a dominant role in the adsorption,desorption and extractability of sulfate-S in soils. We compared the extraction of S by Ca chloride and Ca phosphate in 86 Indian soils having a wide range in pH (4.5 to 10.6). Sulfur in the extracts was determined by ICP-AES. Considering all the 86 soil samples tested, there was an excellent agreement between the values of extractable S determined by using the two extractants (r = 0.96, p < 0.001). However, the correlation coefficient (r) between the values of extractable S by the two reagents, although highly significant, varied among the groups of soil samples according to the range in soil pH. The highest correlation coefficient (r = 0.99, p < 0.0001, n = 17) was found for soils with pH in the alkaline range (8.5,10.6), and the lowest correlation coefficient (r = 0.71, p < 0.0001, n = 58) was obtained with a set of soil samples with pH in the acidic range (4.5,6.5). For soil samples having pH in the near-neutral range (6.7,7.3), an excellent agreement was observed (r = 0.93, p < 0.0001, n =11) between the extractable-S values obtained by the two extractants. While Ca phosphate extracted higher amount of S compared to Ca chloride in soil samples with pH in the acidic range, the two extractants were equally effective for soil samples with pH in the neutral or alkaline range. Our results suggest that for most of the soils in the semiarid tropical regions, which have pH in the neutral to alkaline range, Ca chloride can replace Ca phosphate as an extractant for removing available S in such soils. [source] A case study in repeated maintenanceJOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2001Shuanglin Wang Abstract RTP is a widely used commercial real-time product that has been maintained over a period of 13 years. We have analyzed multiple versions of RTP, which is written in C and Assembler. We measured increases in dependencies within the code between successive versions and performed statistical analyses on the data. There was no significant difference between the maintenance of Assembler files and C files. Also, there was no significant difference between the versions written by the original developers and those written by maintenance programmers not involved in the original development. The differences between individual programmers were very highly significant. Our interpretation of these results is that the skill of the individual programmer is an important factor in ensuring that a software product remains maintainable over its lifetime and that software engineering education and training are therefore of major importance. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] FOLLOWING THE SIGNS: APPLYING URBAN REGIME ANALYSIS TO A UK CASE STUDYJOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS, Issue 5 2007NANCY HOLMAN ABSTRACT:,As the debate continues regarding the applicability of urban regime analysis in a UK context, three aspects stand out as highly significant: the target for analysis, the mode of scrutiny, and the context of local governing arrangements with its implications for interdependence as an impetus for co-operation. This article will examine urban regime analysis and the move from government to governance in order to answer why and how the private, voluntary and public sectors might be inclined to collaborate in regimes. In addition, the regime analysis will provide the parameters for examination whilst the issue of governance will afford context for local governing arrangements. Although some issues require slight reframing to reflect the UK context, the article will follow a rigorous framework for examination utilizing the full weight of regime analysis as articulated by Stone such that it could not be accused of "concept stretching." Far from it: Through the examination of an informal partnership, a coalition of actors from the public, private, and voluntary sectors that has been in existence for more than 13 years, the article focuses, specifically, on the long-term, less visible aspects of local governance. As such, it is able to demonstrate how economic and political change can have a tangible effect on the manifestation of interdependence as an impetus for co-operation, not only for this specific locale but also for other cities facing similar challenges. [source] Environmental and neighbourhood effects on tree fern distributions in a neotropical lowland rain forestJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2007Mirkka M. Jones Abstract Questions: To what extent are the distributions of tropical rain forest tree ferns (Cyatheaceae) related to environmental variation, and is habitat specialization likely to play a role in their local coexistence? Location: Lowland rain forest at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Methods: Generalized linear (GLM) and generalized additive (GAM) logistic regression were used to model the incidence of four tree fern species in relation to environmental and neighbourhood variables in 1154 inventory plots regularly distributed across 6 km2 of old-growth forest. Small and large size classes of the two most abundant species were modelled separately to see whether habitat associations change with ontogeny. Results: GLM and GAM model results were similar. All species had significant distributional biases with respect to micro-habitat. Environmental variables describing soil variation were included in the models most often, followed by topographic and forest structural variables. The distributions of small individuals were more strongly related to environmental variation than those of larger individuals. Significant neighbourhood effects (spatial autocorrelation in intraspecific distributions and non-random overlaps in the distributions of certain species pairs) were also identified. Overlaps between congeners did not differ from random, but there was a highly significant overlap in the distributions of the two most common species. Conclusions: Our results support the view that habitat specialization is an important determinant of where on the rain forest landscape tree ferns grow, especially for juvenile plants. However, other factors, such as dispersal limitation, may also contribute to their local coexistence. [source] Photo-induced cytomorphologic changes in an advanced cancer phase I clinical trialLASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 1 2002Luis A. Santana-Blank MD Abstract Background and Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate whether the application of an Infrared Pulsed Laser Device (IPLD) photo-induced significant cytomorphologic changes during the monitoring of advanced cancer patients participating in a phase I clinical trial. Materials and Methods Patients were irradiated with an IPLD (904 nm pulsed at 3 MHz) under a one-dose, one-schedule, and one-procedure design. Total daily dose consisted of a Radiant Exposure of 4.5,×,105 J/m2. Thirty-one tissue samples from eleven patients with progressive solid neoplastic diseases (TNM IV, UICC) were obtained at three intervals: Time 0 (15,90 days pre-treatment, n,=,11); Time I (2,5 months post-treatment; n,=,11); Time II (6,12 months post-treatment, n,=,09). Three blinded pathologists evaluated samples; scores were determined by consensus. Data were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The level of statistical significance was ,,=,0.05. Results Increased apoptosis (Time I, P,<,0.003; Time II, P,<,0.007), necrosis (Time I, NS; Time II, P,<,0.01), cytoplasmic vacuoles (Time I, P,<,0.03; Time II, P,<,0.02), and nuclear vacuoles (Time I, NS; Time II, P,<,0.01), reduced cell size (Time I, P,<,0.007; Time II, P,<,0.01) and intercellular adhesion (Time I, P,<,0.01; Time II, P,<,0.02) were present in neoplastic cells after IPLD treatment. No apparent changes were noted in non-neoplastic cells. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between apoptosis, necrosis, nuclear vacuoles, cytoplasmatic vacuoles, intercellular adhesion, and cell size was positive and highly significant (P,<,0.006). Conclusions Although further research is necessary, our preliminary results support the novel possibility that the IPLD photo-induces chaotic dynamics that modulate complex physiologically reparative bioeffects. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:18,25, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Evaluation of lactate and alanine as metabolic biomarkers of prostate cancer using 1H HR-MAS spectroscopy of biopsy tissuesMAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008May-Britt Tessem Abstract The goal of this study was to investigate the use of lactate and alanine as metabolic biomarkers of prostate cancer using 1H high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) spectroscopy of snap-frozen transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy tissues. A long-echo-time rotor-synchronized Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence including an electronic reference to access in vivo concentrations (ERETIC) standard was used to determine the concentrations of lactate and alanine in 82 benign and 16 malignant biopsies (mean 26.5% ± 17.2% of core). Low concentrations of lactate (0.61 ± 0.28 mmol/kg) and alanine (0.14 ± 0.06 mmol/kg) were observed in benign prostate biopsies, and there was no significant difference between benign predominantly glandular (N = 54) and stromal (N = 28) biopsies between patients with (N = 38) and without (N = 44) a positive clinical biopsy. In biopsies containing prostate cancer there was a highly significant (P < 0.0001) increase in lactate (1.59 ± 0.61 mmol/kg) and alanine (0.26 ± 0.07 mmol/kg), and minimal overlap with lactate concentrations in benign biopsies. This study demonstrates for the first time very low concentrations of lactate and alanine in benign prostate biopsy tissues. The significant increase in the concentration of both lactate and alanine in biopsy tissue containing as little as 5% cancer could be exploited in hyperpolarized 13C spectroscopic imaging (SI) studies of prostate cancer patients. Magn Reson Med 60:510,516, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The size of the disease relevant IgE antibody fraction in relation to ,total-IgE' predicts the efficacy of anti-IgE (Xolair®) treatmentALLERGY, Issue 10 2009S. G. O. Johansson Background:, Some patients with allergic asthma treated with anti-IgE (Xolair®) do not become symptom free. Better criteria for response assessment than allergy skin tests or IgE determination are needed. The impact of the size of the disease relevant allergen-specific IgE antibody fraction, i.e. the percentage of IgE antibody of total IgE, was evaluated in cat allergic patients treated with the recommended doses of Xolair®. Results were measured as changes in basophil allergen threshold sensitivity (CD-sens). Methods:, In a double-blind placebo controlled trial 20 patients with a high (>3.8%) and 18 with a low (<1%) percentage of IgE antibodies to cat were given Xolair® for 16 weeks and the change in CD-sens was compared to 11 and 10 patients, respectively, in each group receiving placebo. Results:, The CD-sens dropped significantly in both the high (P < 0.001) and low (P < 0.001) group on Xolair® but did not change significantly after placebo. For Xolair® -treated patients, at the end of the trial there was a highly significant (P < 0.001) difference in CD-sens between the high group, where no patients, and the low group, where 13/18 patients, had become negative. Conclusions:, The currently recommended doses of Xolair® very efficiently eliminate IgE antibodies if the IgE antibody fraction is <1% of total IgE but has not enough effect on allergen sensitivity if the fraction is >3,4%. Further studies will show if increased doses of Xolair® would help also these patients, who seem to represent about 1/3 of the patient population. [source] Catch-up Growth or Regression to the Mean?AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Recovery from Stunting Revisited An important question for policy is the extent to which catch-up growth can ease the impact of early stunting. Martorell et al. (1992) showed that stunted Guatemalan infants remain stunted into adulthood, whereas Adair (1999) found appreciable catch-up growth in Filipino children from 2,12 years. Both groups defined catch-up as an inverse correlation between early height and subsequent growth, but Martorell based the correlation on height, whereas Adair used height z scores. The statistical phenomenon of regression to the mean is much like catch-up growth, an inverse correlation between initial height and later height gain. The objective of this study was to reexamine the relationship between stunting and later catch-up growth in the context of regression to the mean. The design was a theoretical analysis showing that catch-up growth is more evident based on height z scores than on height, validated using data on 495 stunted South African children seen at 2 and 5 years of age. The correlation between height at 2 and height change from 2 to 5 was small based on height (,0.11) but large and highly significant based on height z score (,0.58), providing strong evidence of catch-up growth. We argue that catch-up growth should be estimated using height z score not height and that catch-up is present only when the change in z score exceeds that predicted by regression to the mean. This leads to a compact definition of catch-up growth: if z1 and z2 are the initial and final (mean) height z scores, and r is the correlation between them, then catch-up growth for groups or individuals is given by (z2 , rz1). Am. J. Hum. Biol. 17:412,417, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Surnames in Siberia: A study of the population of Yakutia through isonymyAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 2 2009L. Tarskaia Abstract We studied the isonymic structure of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), in the Russian Federation, using the surname distributions of 491,259 citizens above 18 years registered as residents in 2002. These were distributed in 35 districts and 497 towns and settlements of the Republic. The number of different surnames was 44,625. Matrices of isonymic distances between the 35 districts were tested for correlation with the geographic distance between the population centers of gravity of thedistricts. We found that, for the whole of Yakutia, Nei's distance was correlated with geographic distance (r = 0.693 ± 0.027). A dendrogram of the 35 districts was built from the distance matrix, using the UPGMA method. The clusters identified by the dendrogram correlate with the geographic position of the districts. The correlation of random inbreeding calculated from isonymy, FST, with latitude was positive and highly significant but weak (r = 0.23). So, inbreeding was highest in the Arctic districts, and lowest in the South. Average , for 497 towns was 107, for 35 districts it was 311, and for the Republic 433. The value of , was higher for Russian than for the local languages. The geographical distribution of ,, high in the Center and South-East and lower in the North-West, is compatible with the settlement of groups of migrants moving from the South-East toward the center and the North of Yakutia. It is proposed that low-density demic diffusion of human populations results in high inbreeding and may have been a general phenomenon in the early phases of human radiations. Am J Phys Anthropol 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Microsatellite markers associated with quantitative trait loci controlling antibody response to Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis in young broilersANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 6 2002R. Yunis A unique resource population was produced to facilitate detection of microsatellite markers associated with quantitative trait loci controlling antibody (Ab) response in broiler chickens. Three F1 males were produced by mating two lines divergently selected on Ab response to Escherichia coli vaccination. Each F1 male was mated with females from four genetic backgrounds: F1, high-Ab line (HH), low-Ab line and commercial line, producing three resource families, each with four progeny types. About 1700 chicks were immunized with E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis vaccines. Selective genotyping was conducted on the individuals with highest or lowest average Ab to E. coli and S. enteritidis within each progeny type in each sire family. Twelve markers were significantly associated with Ab to E. coli and six of them were also associated with Ab to S. enteritidis, mostly exhibiting a similar low effect (, 0.35 phenotypic SD) in all progeny types. Four markers exhibited a highly significant and much larger effect (,1.7 SD), but only in progeny of females from the HH, suggesting that a backcross to the high parental line should be preferred over the commonly used F2 population. Results from two markers suggested a quantitative trait locus on chromosome 2 around 400 cM. The marker MCW0083, significant in two sire families, is closely linked to the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) gene, known to be associated with the control of T-cell transformation in humans. [source] Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide and IgA rheumatoid factor predict the development of rheumatoid arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2003Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist Objective To evaluate the prevalence and predictive value of anti,cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in individuals who subsequently developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine the relationship to rheumatoid factor (RF) of any isotype. Methods A case,control study was nested within the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study and the Maternity cohorts of Northern Sweden. Patients with RA were identified among blood donors whose samples had been taken years before the onset of symptoms. Control subjects matched for age, sex, date of sampling, and residential area were selected randomly from the same cohorts. Anti-CCP antibody and RFs were determined using enzyme immunoassays. Results Eighty-three individuals with RA were identified as having donated blood before presenting with any symptoms of joint disease (median 2.5 years [interquartile range 1.1,4.7] before RA). In samples obtained before the onset of RA, the prevalence of autoantibodies was 33.7% for anti-CCP, 16.9% for IgG-RF, 19.3% for IgM-RF, and 33.7% for IgA-RF (all highly significant compared with controls). The sensitivities for detecting these autoantibodies >1.5 years and ,1.5 years before the appearance of any RA symptoms were 25% and 52% for anti-CCP, 15% and 30% for IgM-RF, 12% and 27% for IgG-RF, and 29% and 39% for IgA-RF. In conditional logistic regression models, anti-CCP antibody and IgA-RF were found to be significant predictors of RA. Conclusion Anti-CCP antibody and RFs of all isotypes predated the onset of RA by several years. The presence of anti-CCP and IgA-RF predicted the development of RA, with anti-CCP antibody having the highest predictive value. This indicates that citrullination and the production of anti-CCP and RF autoantibodies are early processes in RA. [source] ,2 adrenergic receptor 5, haplotypes influence promoter activityBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 8 2002Sharon E Johnatty Transcriptional control of the human ,2 adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2) predominantly resides within a 549 base pair region immediately 5, to the start of translation. Within this region, four naturally occurring polymorphisms, ,468 C,G, ,367 T,C, ,47 T,C, and ,20 T,C, have been identified. To determine the individual site and haplotype effects of these polymorphisms, we generated 16 luciferase-based mutant constructs which were transiently transfected into HEK293 cells, and measured ADRB2 promoter-driven luciferase activity. Two of the 16 mutant constructs, GCCT (,468G, ,367C, ,47C, ,20T) and CTCT, showed a highly significant 3 fold decrease in luciferase induction relative to the reference CTTT. These haplotype effects could not be accounted for by the separate and additive effects of each site. These findings indicate that promoter polymorphisms interact to significantly alter ,2 adrenergic receptor expression, and should be examined further for their association with disease-related phenotypes. British Journal of Pharmacology (2002) 137, 1213,1216. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0704935 [source] | |||||||||||||||||||