Relationships among climate, latitude and migration: Australian butterflies are not temperate-zone birds

We examined the distribution of butterflies over the mostly arid and semi-arid continent of Australia and analyzed the proportion of migrant species and species diversity with respect to an array of climatic and geographic variables. On a continent-wide scale, latitude explained virtually no variance in either proportion of migrants (r(2) = 0.01) or species diversity (r(2) = 0.03) in Australian butterflies. These results are in marked contrast to those for temperate-zone birds from three continents where latitude explained between 82 and 98% of the variance in frequency of migrants and also accounted for much of the variance in bird species diversity. In eastern Australia where rainfall regimes are similar to those in temperate Europe and North and South America, latitude explains 78% of the variance in frequency of butterfly migrants. In both eastern and central Australia, latitude also accounts for relatively high proportions of the variance in species diversity. Rainfall patterns and especially soil moisture are negatively associated with migration frequency in Australian butterfly faunas, both alone and in combination with other climate variables. Where moisture levels are relatively high, as in eastern Australia, measures of temperature are associated with migration frequency, a result consistent with findings for temperate-zone birds, suggesting latitude is a surrogate for temperature. The ultimate causes of migration in temperate-zone birds and Australian butterflies are the uneven temporal, and in Australia also spatial, distribution of resources. Uneven distribution is brought about primarily by temperature in temperate regions and by erratic rainfall over much of arid Australia. As a key determinant of productivity, especially in the tropics and subtropics, aridity is likely to be an important determinant of the global distributions of migrants.

Target similarity effects: Support for the parallel distributed processing assumptions

Recent research has begun to provide support for the assumptions that memories are stored as a composite and are accessed in parallel (Tehan & Humphreys, 1998). New predictions derived from these assumptions and from the Chappell and Humphreys (1994) implementation of these assumptions were tested. In three experiments, subjects studied relatively short lists of words. Some of the Lists contained two similar targets (thief and theft) or two dissimilar targets (thief and steal) associated with the same cue (ROBBERY). AS predicted, target similarity affected performance in cued recall but not free association. Contrary to predictions, two spaced presentations of a target did not improve performance in free association. Two additional experiments confirmed and extended this finding. Several alternative explanations for the target similarity effect, which incorporate assumptions about separate representations and sequential search, are rejected. The importance of the finding that, in at least one implicit memory paradigm, repetition does not improve performance is also discussed.

Identification and validation of candidate Myb target genes

While a considerable number of candidate Myb target genes have been reported to date, most of these are likely to play little or no role in transformation by myb oncogenes. Here we have used a conditionally myb-transformed myeloid cell line (ERMYB) to further examine Myb regulation of one candidate target gene-c-myc-that has the potential to affect cell proliferation. It was found that the major influence on c-myc expression was the presence of cytokine (GM-CSF) rather than Myb activity. We also describe the application of PCR-based subtractive hybridization and low-density cDNA array screening, in conjunction with the ERMYB line, to the identification of additional Myb target genes. Preliminary identification of a number of candidates is reported; these include myeloperoxidase, which is known to have essential Myb-binding sites in its regulatory region. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

A method for setting the size of plant conservation target areas

Realistic time frames in which management decisions are made often preclude the completion of the detailed analyses necessary for conservation planning. Under these circumstances, efficient alternatives may assist in approximating the results of more thorough studies that require extensive resources and time. We outline a set of concepts and formulas that may be used in lieu of detailed population viability analyses and habitat modeling exercises to estimate the protected areas required to provide desirable conservation outcomes for a suite of threatened plant species. We used expert judgment of parameters and assessment of a population size that results in a specified quasiextinction risk based on simple dynamic models The area required to support a population of this size is adjusted to take into account deterministic and stochastic human influences, including small-scale disturbance deterministic trends such as habitat loss, and changes in population density through processes such as predation and competition. We set targets for different disturbance regimes and geographic regions. We applied our methods to Banksia cuneata, Boronia keysii, and Parsonsia dorrigoensis, resulting in target areas for conservation of 1102, 733, and 1084 ha, respectively. These results provide guidance on target areas and priorities for conservation strategies.

Determining complicated winding patterns for shim coils using stream functions and the target-field method

In a magnetic resonance imaging equipment, gradient and shim coils are needed to produce a spatially varying magnetic field throughout the sample being imaged. Such coils consist of turns of wire wound on the surface of a cylindrical tube. Shim coils in particular, must sometimes be designed to produce complicated magnetic fields to correct for impurities. Streamline patterns for shim coils are much more complicated than those for gradient coils, In this work we present a detailed analysis of streamline methods and their application to shim coil design, A method is presented for determining the winding patterns to generate these complicated fields. (C) 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Correlation of business cycles in the euro zone

In this short article we use a simple differences-in-clifferences technique to investigate whether bilateral correlation of business cycles increased more amongst members of the European Monetary Union (EMU) after the implementation of the Euro than amidst other OECD economies. We present evidence suggesting this to be the case. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Who chooses to inflation target?

In this article, we seek what are the factors behind a country`s decision to move to Inflation Targeting. We find that high past inflation, low debt levels and the absence of a nominal exchange rate anchor increase the probability that a country will end up opting for it. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

THE ANTERIOR CINGULATE CORTEX IS A TARGET STRUCTURE FOR THE ANXIOLYTIC-LIKE EFFECTS OF BENZODIAZEPINES ASSESSED BY REPEATED EXPOSURE TO THE ELEVATED PLUS MAZE AND FOS IMMUNOREACTIVITY

Prior experience with the elevated plus maze (EPM) increases the avoidance of rodents to the open arms and impairs the anxiolytic-like effects of benzodiazepines on the traditional behaviors evaluated upon re-exposure to the maze, a phenomenon known as one-trial tolerance. Risk assessment behaviors are also sensitive to benzodiazepines. During re-exposure to the maze, these behaviors reinstate the information-processing initiated during the first experience, and the detection of danger generates stronger open-arm avoidance. The present study investigated whether the benzodiazepine midazolam alters risk assessment behaviors and Fos protein distribution associated with test and retest sessions in the EPM. Naive or maze-experienced Wistar rats received either saline or midazolam (0.5 mg/kg i.p.) and were subjected to the EPM. Midazolam caused the usual effects on exploratory behavior, increasing exploratory activity of naive rats in the open arms and producing no effects on these conventional measures in rats re-exposed to the maze. Risk assessment behaviors, however, were sensitive to the benzodiazepine during both sessions, indicating anxiolytic-like effects of the drug in both conditions. Fos immunohistochemistry showed that midazolam injections were associated with a distinct pattern of action when administered before the test or retest session, and the anterior cingulate cortex, area 1 (Cg1), was the only structure targeted by the benzodiazepine in both situations. Bilateral infusions of midazolam into the Cg1 replicated the behavioral effects of the drug injected systemically, suggesting that this area is critically involved in the anxiolytic-like effects of benzodiazepines, although the behavioral strategy adopted by the animals appears to depend on the previous knowledge of the threatening environment. (C) 2009 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Occasion setting in Pavlovian ambiguous target discriminations

Rats were trained in a Pavlovian serial ambiguous target discrimination, in which a target cue was reinforced if it was preceded by one stimulus (P -> T+) but was not reinforced if it was preceded by another stimulus (N -> T-). Test performance indicated that stimulus control by these features was weaker than that acquired by features trained within separate serial feature positive (P -> T+, T-) and serial feature negative (N -> W-, W+) discriminations. The form of conditioned responding and the patterns of transfer observed suggested that the serial ambiguous target discrimination was solved by occasion setting. The data are discussed in terms of the use of retrospective coding strategies when solving Pavlovian serial conditional discriminations, and the acquisition of special properties by both feature and target stimuli. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Targeting Antigen-loaded Liposomes to Myeloid Antigen Presenting Cells

Objective: To target antigen-loaded liposomes to myeloid APC in vivo for immunotherapy and to manipulate immune function through liposome composition. Method: Liposomes were loaded with ovalbumin, the lipophilic red fluorescent marker, DiI, with or without QuilA adjuvant then injected either i.v. or s.c. to naı¨ ve C57Bl/6 mice. Spleen, liver and draining LN were stained with MHC class II and various myeloid markers to determine the uptake of liposomes. Frozen sections of spleen and draining LN were stained with FITC-labeled mAb to determine which cells take up the liposomes. To determine the effect on OVA-specific T cell responses, liposomes were administered to Balb/c mice which received DO11.10 OVAspecific TCR transgenic T cells labelled with CFSE. Results: The DiI fluorescence was visualized in MHC class II+ macrophages and DC in draining lymph nodes after s.c. injection and in spleen and liver after i.v injection. Immunofluorescence microscopy shows liposome uptake in marginal zone macrophages and some DC in the T cell areas of the spleen after i.v. injection. Administration of ova-liposomes with or without QuilA stimulated a specific T cell response as measured by CFSE dilution. Conclusion: APC of liver, spleen and LN, and subsequent antigen presentation to T cells can be targeted for immunotherapy by the administration of liposomes encapsulating antigen and adjuvant. Varying the composition and routes of liposome administration is expected to alter the function of the targeted APC and the T cell response.

Early Control of PTH and FGF23 in Normophosphatemic CKD Patients: A New Target in CKD-MBD Therapy?

Background and objectives: Levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the phosphaturic hormone FGF23, a fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family member, increase early in chronic kidney disease (CKD) before the occurrence of hyperphosphatemia. This short-term 6-wk dose titration study evaluated the effect of two phosphate binders on PTH and FGF23 levels in patients with CKD stages 3 to 4. Design, setting, participants, and measurements: Patients were randomized to receive over a 6-wk period either calcium acetate (n = 19) or sevelamer hydrochloride (n = 21). Results: At baseline, patients presented with elevated fractional excretion of phosphate, serum PTH, and FGF23. During treatment with both phosphate binders there was a progressive decline in serum PTH and urinary phosphate, but no change in serum calcium or serum phosphate. Significant changes were observed for FGF23 only in sevelamer-treated patients. Conclusions: This study confirms the positive effects of early prescription of phosphate binders on PTH control. Prospective and long-term studies are necessary to confirm the effects of sevelamer on serum FGF23 and the benefits of this decrease on outcomes. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 5: 286-291, 2010. doi: 10.2215/CJN.05420709

Intermittent target inhibition with dasatinib 100 mg once daily preserves efficacy and improves tolerability in imatinib-resistant and -intolerant chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia

Purpose Dasatinib is a BCR-ABL inhibitor, 325-fold more potent than imatinib against unmutated BCR-ABL in vitro. Phase II studies have demonstrated efficacy and safety with dasatinib 70 mg twice daily in chronic-phase (CP) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) after imatinib treatment failure. In phase I, responses occurred with once-daily administration despite only intermittent BCR-ABL inhibition. Once-daily treatment resulted in less toxicity, suggesting that toxicity results from continuous inhibition of unintended targets. Here, a dose-and schedule-optimization study is reported. Patients and Methods In this open-label phase III trial, 670 patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant CP-CML were randomly assigned 1: 1: 1: 1 between four dasatinib treatment groups: 100 mg once daily, 50 mg twice daily, 140 mg once daily, or 70 mg twice daily. Results With minimum follow-up of 6 months (median treatment duration, 8 months; range, = 1 to 15 months), marked and comparable hematologic (complete, 86% to 92%) and cytogenetic (major, 54% to 59%; complete, 41% to 45%) response rates were observed across the four groups. Time to and duration of cytogenetic response were similar, as was progression-free survival (8% to 11% of patients experienced disease progression or died). Compared with the approved 70-mg twice-daily regimen, dasatinib 100 mg once daily resulted in significantly lower rates of pleural effusion (all grades, 7% v 16%; P = .024) and grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia (22% v 37%; P = .004), and fewer patients required dose interruption (51% v 68%), reduction (30% v 55%), or discontinuation (16% v 23%). Conclusion Dasatinib 100 mg once daily retains the efficacy of 70 mg twice daily with less toxicity. Intermittent target inhibition with tyrosine kinase inhibitors may preserve efficacy and reduce adverse events.

Bone marrow cell therapy prevents infarct expansion and improves border zone remodeling after coronary occlusion in rats

Background: Since the cell therapy benefits for myocardial infarction are mainly related to infarct reduction by regenerating lost myocardium or increasing survival of tissues at risk, we evaluated the effects of bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells (MNC), implanted after the completion of necrosis, on infarct progression and cardiac remodeling. Methods: After 48 h of induction of myocardial infarction (MI), Lewis-inbred rats were injected with 6 x 10(6) cells (MI + MNC) or saline (MI). After six weeks, scar dimension, ventricular morphology and function were analyzed by echocardiography followed by histomorphology of the infarcted and border zones. Results: After therapy, the relative size of the infarct was smaller in MI + MNC (37 +/- 1% of the left ventricle) than in MI (43 +/- 1%). While the MI group exhibited parallel elongation of the infarcted (31.6 +/- 3.8% increase) and reminiscent ventricular portions (33.5 +/- 3.7%), MNC therapy preserved the initial infarct length. Infarcted walls were thicker (979 +/- 31 mm) in the MNC group than in the untreated group (709 +/- 41 mm), also demonstrating an absence of infarct expansion. In the border zones, MNC led to increased capillary densities and capillary/myocyte ratios. The cardiac systolic function remained depressed in MI, but improved by 19 +/- 5% in MI + MNC which reduced the incidence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (37.5% in MI and 6.25% in MI + MNC). Conclusion: MNC therapy prevented the infarct expansion and thinning related to cardiac remodeling and was associated with an improvement of border zone microcirculation: as a result, MNC therapy reduced typical MI dysfunctional repercussions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical characterization of soils of a tropical humid forest zone: A methodology

A methodology, based on a combination of routinely performed analyses and investigation of fundamental charge and anion sorption properties, was used to characterize the soils of the humid forest zone of Cameroon, In general, the soils have about 2 cmol kg(-1) permanent negative charge, with about 1 cmol kg(-1) from variable-charge sources at current soil pH values, Furthermore, they are impoverished with respect to Ca, Mg, and K, while Al frequently dominates the exchange complex. Thus, the ability of these soils to retain base cations is more limited than is suggested by the cation-exchange capacity (CEC), Therefore we propose the concept of a degradation index (DI) defined as: DI = 100(CEC5.5 - sum of basic cations)/CEC5.5, where CEC5.5 is the CEC measured at pH 5.5, This index encompasses degradation a soil may have experienced from natural or man-made causes, Extractable PO4 concentrations are considered very low and the soils have a moderate to high capacity to fix added PO4. Surface soil SO4 concentrations are considered marginal to deficient for plant growth, though adequate reserves of SO4 are held in the subsoil by SO4 sorption, The approach used demonstrated that the five morphologically different soil profile classes identified in the zone have similar chemical characteristics. Thus, the results of experimentation conducted on one of the soil profile classes will be applicable throughout the zone, Furthermore, the approach has provided a means of identifying comparable soil types in other parts of the world and will guide technology transfer, The analytical methods used in this study are relatively simple and require no specialized equipment, and are therefore within the capabilities of many laboratories in the developing world.

Leishmania sp identification by PCR associated with sequencing of target SSU rDNA in paraffin-embedded skin samples stored for more than 30 years

Paraffin-embedded samples commonly stored at educational and research institutions constitute tissues banks for follow-up or epidemiological studies; however, the paraffin inclusion process involves the use of substances that can cause DNA degradation. In this study, a PCR protocol was applied to identify Leishmania strains in 33 paraffin-embedded skin samples of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis. DNA was obtained by the phenol-chloroform protocol following paraffin removal and then used in PCR or nested PCR based on the nucleotide sequence of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rDNA). The amplicons obtained were cloned and sequenced to determine the single nucleotide polymorphism that distinguishes between different Leishmania species or groups. This assay allowed to distinguish organisms belonging to the subgenus Viannia and identify L. (Leishmania) amazonensis and L. (L.) chagasi of the Leishmania subgenus. Of the 33 samples, PCR and nested PCR identified 91% of samples. After sequencing the PCR product of 26 samples, 16 were identified as L. (L.) amazonensis, the other 10 contain organisms belonging to the L. (Viannia) sub-genus. These results open a huge opportunity to study stored samples and promote relevant contributions to epidemiological studies.