Integrating behavioural thermoregulatory strategy into the animal personality framework using the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara as a model.

The study of consistent between-individual behavioural variation in single (animal personality) and across two or more behavioural traits (behavioural syndrome) is a central topic of behavioural ecology. Besides behavioural type (individual mean behaviour), behavioural predictability (environment-independent within-individual behavioural variation) is now also seen as an important component of individual behavioural strategy. Research focus is still on the 'Big Five' traits (activity, exploration, risk-taking, sociability and aggression), but another prime candidate to integrate to the personality framework is behavioural thermoregulation in small-bodied poikilotherms.

Distribution and diversity of fishes and lampreys in Transylvania (Romania): a complete survey and suggestions for new protected areas.

Freshwater fishes are in a serious state of decline across the world, making them one of the most threatened groups of vertebrates. The Danube River catchment area in Europe holds the richest freshwater fish community, but our knowledge of the current distribution of these species is limited. Transylvania, the largest region of Romania, is one of the important tributaries of the Danube, from where 77 fish and two lamprey species were recorded until now.

Limited reciprocal surrogacy of bird and habitat diversity and inconsistencies in their representation in Romanian protected areas.

Because it is impossible to comprehensively characterize biodiversity at all levels of organization, conservation prioritization efforts need to rely on surrogates. As species distribution maps of relished groups as well as high-resolution remotely sensed data increasingly become available, both types of surrogates are commonly used. A good surrogate should represent as much of biodiversity as possible, but it often remains unclear to what extent this is the case.

Effect of storage conditions on the stability and fermentability of enzymatic lignocellulosic hydrolysate.

To minimize the change of lignocellulosic hydrolysate composition during storage, the effects of storage conditions (temperature, pH and time) on the composition and fermentability of hydrolysate prepared from AFEX™ (Ammonia Fiber Expansion - a trademark of MBI, Lansing, MI) pretreated corn stover were investigated. Precipitates formed during hydrolysate storage increased with increasing storage pH and time. The precipitate amount was the least when hydrolysate was stored at 4 °C and pH 4.

Experimental H-type and L-type bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle: observation of two clinical syndromes and diagnostic challenges.

Background: The majority of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases so far identified worldwide have been detected by active surveillance. Consequently the volume and quality of material available for detailed characterisation is very limiting. Here we report on a small transmission study of both atypical forms, H- and L-type BSE, in cattle to provide tissue for test evaluation and research, and to generate clinical, molecular and pathological data in a standardised way to enable more robust comparison of the two variants with particular reference to those aspects most relevant to case ascertainment and confirmatory diagnosis within existing regulated surveillance programmes.

Heart rate variability analysis in sheep affected by transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Background: The function of the autonomic nervous system can be assessed by determining heart rate variability (HRV), which is impaired in some brainstem diseases in humans. Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in sheep are diseases characterised by accumulation of disease-associated prion protein in the brainstem, including nuclei of the parasympathetic nervous system. This study was undertaken to assess whether analysis of HRV can be used as an aid in the diagnosis of TSEs in clinically affected, naturally or experimentally infected sheep.

Time and frequency domain analysis of heart rate variability in cattle affected by bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a method to assess the function of the autonomic nervous system. Brainstem nuclei that influence HRV are affected by vacuolar changes and accumulation of disease-associated prion protein (PrPd) in bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) resulting in clinical signs suggestive of an increased parasympathetic tone. It was hypothesised that BSE in cattle causes changes in the autonomic nervous system; this was tested by comparing HRV indices derived from 1048 electrocardiograms, which were recorded from 51 naturally or experimentally infected cattle with BSE confirmed by postmortem tests, 321 clinical suspect cases or cattle inoculated with potentially infectious tissue without disease confirmation and 78 BSE-free control cattle.

Rehabilitation in the context of HIV: an interprofessional multi-stakeholder process for curriculum development.

Unlabelled: With longer survival, individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are facing a multitude of health-related challenges due to HIV, its associated concurrent health conditions, and treatments. Despite the need for rehabilitation, few rehabilitation professionals work with people living with HIV, with many feeling they lack adequate knowledge and skills to assess and treat this population.

Purpose: We describe a national multi-stakeholder consultation used to inform the development of an interprofessional curriculum for rehabilitation professionals on HIV/AIDS.

Relationship between clinical signs and postmortem test status in cattle experimentally infected with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent.

Background: Various clinical protocols have been developed to aid in the clinical diagnosis of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which is confirmed by postmortem examinations based on vacuolation and accumulation of disease-associated prion protein (PrPd) in the brain. The present study investigated the occurrence and progression of sixty selected clinical signs and behaviour combinations in 513 experimentally exposed cattle subsequently categorised postmortem as confirmed or unconfirmed BSE cases. Appropriate undosed or saline inoculated controls were examined similarly and the data analysed to explore the possible occurrence of BSE-specific clinical expression in animals unconfirmed by postmortem examinations.

Monitoring of clinical signs in goats with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Background: As there is limited information about the clinical signs of BSE and scrapie in goats, studies were conducted to describe the clinical progression of scrapie and BSE in goats and to evaluate a short clinical protocol for its use in detecting scrapie-affected goats in two herds with previously confirmed scrapie cases. Clinical assessments were carried out in five goats intracerebrally infected with the BSE agent as well as five reported scrapie suspects and 346 goats subject to cull from the two herds, 24 of which were retained for further monitoring. The brain and selected lymphoid tissue were examined by postmortem tests for disease confirmation.

HIV and rehabilitation: development of a conceptual framework for curriculum planning.

The overall purpose of this paper is to present the development of a conceptual framework of existing HIV curricula and educational resources on to inform future curriculum planning for the education of rehabilitation professionals on rehabilitation in the context of HIV/AIDS. We conducted a scoping review of the literature from 1980 onwards to identify existing HIV curricula and resources used with current or future health professionals. Preliminary findings were reviewed with a national Advisory Committee and a framework was developed to inform future curriculum planning.

Pruritus is a common feature in sheep infected with the BSE agent.

Background: The variability in the clinical or pathological presentation of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in sheep, such as scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), has been attributed to prion protein genotype, strain, breed, clinical duration, dose, route and type of inoculum and the age at infection. The study aimed to describe the clinical signs in sheep infected with the BSE agent throughout its clinical course to determine whether the clinical signs were as variable as described for classical scrapie in sheep. The clinical signs were compared to BSE-negative sheep to assess if disease-specific clinical markers exist.

Clinical findings in two cases of atypical scrapie in sheep: a case report.

Background: Atypical scrapie is a recently recognised form of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of sheep that differs from classical scrapie in its neuropathological and biochemical features. Most cases are detected in apparently healthy sheep and information on the clinical presentation is limited.

Case Presentation: This report describes the clinical findings in two sheep notified as scrapie suspects and confirmed as atypical scrapie cases by immunohistochemistry and Western immunoblotting.

Clinical findings in 78 suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Great Britain.

The clinical findings in 59 cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) were compared with those in 19 cattle that were submitted as BSE suspects but not confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Both groups were also compared with a control group of 20 healthy cows. Abnormalities in behaviour, temperament, mental status and activity, neurogenic disorders of gait and hyperreactivity to touch were frequently observed in the cattle with BSE.

Two-year results of once-weekly administration of alendronate 70 mg for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The aim of this study was to provide confirmation that once-weekly dosing with 70 mg of alendronate (seven times the daily oral dose) and twice-weekly dosing with 35 mg is equivalent to the 10-mg once-daily regimen and to gain more extensive safety experience with this new dosing regimen. Twelve hundred fifty-eight postmenopausal women (aged 42-95 years) with osteoporosis (bone mineral density [BMD] of either lumbar spine or femoral neck at least 2.5 SDs below peak young adult mean or prior vertebral or hip fracture) were assigned to receive oral once-weekly alendronate, 70 mg (n = 519); twice-weekly alendronate, 35 mg (n = 369); or daily alendronate 10 mg (n = 370) for a total of 2 years of double-blind experience.

Stereotactic radiosurgery for hypothalamic hamartomas.

Hypothalamic hamartomas are nonneoplastic lesions often characterized by central precocious puberty and gelastic epilepsy. Due to the delicate location surgery is often unsuccessful and associated with considerable risks. In the presented series, Gamma Knife radiosurgery was applied.

Evaluation of gross and fine motor functions in children with hemidecortication: predictors of outcomes and timing of surgery.

The purpose of this study is three-fold: First, to determine the levels of gross and fine motor functions in children before and after hemidecortication, using standardized measurement tools; second, to investigate if predictors of these outcomes can be characterized; and third, to explore if both clinical measures and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) potentially can identify optimal timing of surgery. The Gross Motor Function Measure and the Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test are shown to be comprehensive, standardized outcome measures of movement performance in affected children. Age at surgery and interval between age at seizure onset and age at surgery could be the most reliable predictors of clinical outcomes.

Fluvoxamine treatment of alcoholic amnestic disorder.

The serotonin uptake inhibitor fluvoxamine was assessed in treatment of alcohol-induced Korsakoff's syndrome (KS) using fixed (4 weeks, 200 mg/day) or individualized (6 weeks, plasma concentration > or = 400 ng/ml) dosing in randomized placebo-controlled double-blind crossover studies. Cognitive functions and concentrations of the major cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metabolites of serotonin (5-HIAA), norepinephrine (MHPG), and dopamine (HVA) were determined in abstinent, nondepressed KS patients (aged 45-75), at baseline and placebo (3-4 weeks), and after 3-4 (n = 10) or 6 (n = 4) weeks of fluvoxamine administration. Fluvoxamine decreased CSF 5-HIAA compared to placebo (P < 0.

[Magnetic resonance tomography and skeletal scintigraphy in spondylodiscitis].

12 patients were diagnosed as suffering from spondylodiscitis by means of clinical and laboratory investigations. Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) and bone scintigraphy (with Tc 99m-diphosphonate) were performed and 6 patients had further MRT follow up investigations. In the initial state of disease the comparison of MRT and bone scan both revealed a sensitivity of 92%.