Impacts of alien invasive plants on soil nutrients are correlated with initial site conditions in NW Europe.

Alien invasive plants are capable of modifying ecosystem function. However, it is difficult to make generalisations because impacts often appear to be species- and site-specific. In this study, we examined the impacts of seven highly invasive plant species in NW Europe (Fallopia japonica, Heracleum mantegazzianum, Impatiens glandulifera, Prunus serotina, Rosa rugosa, Senecio inaequidens, Solidago gigantea) on nutrient pools in the topsoil and the standing biomass.

Correlation of cellular immune responses with protection against culture-confirmed influenza virus in young children.

The highly sensitive gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT) assay permits the investigation of the role of cell-mediated immunity (CMI) in the protection of young children against influenza. Preliminary studies of young children confirmed that the IFN-gamma ELISPOT assay was a more sensitive measure of influenza memory immune responses than serum antibody and that among seronegative children aged 6 to <36 months, an intranasal dose of 10(7) fluorescent focus units (FFU) of a live attenuated influenza virus vaccine (CAIV-T) elicited substantial CMI responses. A commercial inactivated influenza virus vaccine elicited CMI responses only in children with some previous exposure to related influenza viruses as determined by detectable antibody levels prevaccination.

Functional similarities between the P1 component and alpha oscillations.

The present study attempts to demonstrate functional similarities between the P1 component of event-related potentials and alpha oscillations that are predicted by the 'alpha inhibition-timing' hypothesis. On the basis of findings showing that the frequency characteristic of the P1 component lies in the alpha range and that alpha oscillation is functionally associated with inhibition, we predict that the P1 component also reflects inhibitory processes. This hypothesis is tested in two experiments, a spatial-cuing task and a visual-semantic categorization task.

Comparison of pneumococcal conjugate polysaccharide and free polysaccharide vaccines in elderly adults: conjugate vaccine elicits improved antibacterial immune responses and immunological memory.

Background: High functional antibody responses, establishment of immunologic memory, and unambiguous efficacy in infants suggest that an initial dose of conjugated pneumococcal polysaccharide (PnC) vaccine may be of value in a comprehensive adult immunization strategy.

Methods: We compared the immunogenicity and safety of 7-valent PnC vaccine (7vPnC) with that of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) in adults >/=70 years of age who had not been previously vaccinated with a pneumococcal vaccine. One year later, 7vPnC recipients received a booster dose of either 7vPnC (the 7vPnC/7vPnC group) or PPV (the 7vPnC/PPV group), and PPV recipients received a booster dose of 7vPnC (the PPV/7vPnC group).

Safety and tolerability of cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent, in infants younger than 6 months of age.

Objective: Young children are at high risk for influenza-related complications. Vaccination of close household contacts is recommended to provide indirect protection to children <6 months of age. Studies have shown that live, cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent, is efficacious in children.

Cross-frequency phase synchronization: a brain mechanism of memory matching and attention.

Spatial attention amplifies the neural response, i.e. spike rates, brain metabolism, and oscillatory activity at gamma frequency (beyond 30 Hz).

Cost of adaptation to a metalliferous environment for Thlaspi caerulescens: a field reciprocal transplantation approach.

Field reciprocal transplantations of two metallicolous populations (Mpops) and two nonmetallicolous populations (NMpops) of Thlaspi caerulescens were performed here to determine the pattern of local adaptation and to assess the cost of adaptation of Mpops to a metalliferous environment (Menv). The role of herbivores as an important selective pressure in the nonmetalliferous environment (NMenv) was also examined. Growth, survival, fitness, life cycle and herbivore consumption were monitored for each transplant for 2 yr.

The absence of enhanced disease with wild type respiratory syncytial virus infection occurring after receipt of live, attenuated, respiratory syncytial virus vaccines.

Early in the development of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines severe disease occurred in children after receipt of formalin-inactivated RSV vaccine. Continuing efforts to develop an appropriately attenuated and immunogenic live RSV vaccine have given opportunities to assure that live vaccines are safe through surveillance of children after vaccination. In the present study, the rate of RSV-associated upper respiratory tract illness in 388 children was lower in RSV vaccinated children than in controls (14% versus 20% in a 6-24 month old group and 16% versus 25% in infants).

Phase 1 trial of a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in healthy adults.

In a Phase 1 study, 15 healthy subjects were randomized to receive a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) and 15 to receive a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPS). Antibody responses were measured immediately before and approximately one month after vaccination. Serotype-specific antibodies were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and an opsonophagocytic assay (OPA) for functional antibodies.

Efficacy and safety of a live attenuated, cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent against culture-confirmed influenza in young children in Asia.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent (CAIV-T) against culture-confirmed influenza in children 12 to <36 months of age during 2 consecutive influenza seasons at multiple sites in Asia.

Methods: In year 1, 3174 children 12 to <36 months of age were randomized to receive 2 doses of CAIV-T (n = 1900) or placebo (n = 1274) intranasally > or =28 days apart. In year 2, 2947 subjects were rerandomized to receive 1 dose of CAIV-T or placebo.

Event-related phase reorganization may explain evoked neural dynamics.

The traditional view holds that event-related potentials (ERPs) reflect fixed latency, fixed polarity evoked responses that appear superimposed on the 'background EEG'. The validity of the evoked model has been questioned by studies arguing that ERPs are generated at least in part by a reset of ongoing oscillations. But a proof of phase reset that is distinct from the 'artificial' influence of evoked components on EEG phase-has been proven difficult for a variety of methodological reasons.

Comparison of results of detection of rhinovirus by PCR and viral culture in human nasal wash specimens from subjects with and without clinical symptoms of respiratory illness.

Human rhinoviruses (HRV) cause acute upper respiratory illness. The frequency of HRV-associated illnesses appears greater when PCR assays are used to detect rhinoviruses. The present study performed PCR-based detection of HRV upon entry of subjects into respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza type 3 vaccine trials when subjects were symptom-free and upon subsequent development of clinical symptoms of respiratory illness during the trial.

Are event-related potential components generated by phase resetting of brain oscillations? A critical discussion.

The event-related potential (ERP) is one of the most popular measures in human cognitive neuroscience. During the last few years there has been a debate about the neural fundamentals of ERPs. Two models have been proposed: The evoked model states that additive evoked responses which are completely independent of ongoing background electroencephalogram generate the ERP.

P1 and traveling alpha waves: evidence for evoked oscillations.

The hypothesis is tested whether the P1 of the event-related potential (ERP) component behaves like an evoked, traveling alpha wave. This hypothesis is based on different kinds of evidence showing, e.g.

Safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of cold-adapted influenza vaccine-trivalent against community-acquired, culture-confirmed influenza in young children attending day care.

Objective: The goal was to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of an investigational, refrigerator-stable formulation of live attenuated influenza vaccine (cold-adapted influenza vaccine-trivalent) against culture-confirmed influenza, acute otitis media, and effectiveness outcomes in young children in day care over 2 consecutive influenza seasons.

Methods: Children 6 to <36 months of age who were attending day care were assigned randomly in year 1 to receive 2 doses of vaccine or placebo intranasally, 35 +/- 7 days apart. In year 2, subjects received 1 dose of the same treatment as in year 1.

Superior relative efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine compared with inactivated influenza vaccine in young children with recurrent respiratory tract infections.

Background: Young children have a high incidence of influenza and influenza-related complications. This study compared the efficacy and safety of cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent (CAIV-T) with trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) in young children with a history of recurrent respiratory tract infections (RTIs).

Methods: Children 6 to 71 months of age were randomized to receive 2 doses of CAIV-T (n = 1101) or TIV (n = 1086), 35 +/- 7 days apart before the start of the 2002-2003 influenza season and were followed up for culture-confirmed influenza, effectiveness outcomes, reactogenicity, and adverse events.

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of live attenuated cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent, with trivalent inactivated influenza virus vaccine in children and adolescents with asthma.

Background: Despite their potential for increased morbidity, 75% to 90% of asthmatic children do not receive influenza vaccination. Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), a cold-adapted, temperature-sensitive, trivalent influenza vaccine, is approved for prevention of influenza in healthy children 5 to 19 years of age. LAIV has been studied in only a small number of children with asthma.

A randomized, double-blind study of the safety, transmissibility and phenotypic and genotypic stability of cold-adapted influenza virus vaccine.

Background: Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV; FluMist) is a trivalent vaccine containing cold-adapted influenza vaccine viruses that infect and replicate in cells lining the nasopharynx to induce immunity. Recovery of viruses (shedding) is measured by culture of nasal specimens. Shedding of vaccine viruses is not equated with transmission because transmission requires more virus than is detected in many nasal swabs.

Alpha phase reset contributes to the generation of ERPs.

An unresolved question in electroencephalogram (EEG) research is whether event-related potentials (ERPs) are generated by phase-reset or evoked response. We analyzed data of a visual feature detection task and will show 1) phase concentration in the alpha frequency range, 2) ongoing alpha activity prior to stimulus onset, 3) evoked alpha oscillation in the ERP, 4) lack of power increase during phase concentration, 5) decrease in amplitude variance during early evoked components preceding a decrease in power, and 6) the same cortical sources for induced prestimulus power and evoked poststimulus power. Because none of these data provide unequivocal evidence for phase reset, we additionally tested the basic assumption of the evoked model, which is the additivity of the evoked response on the basis of a simulation approach.

The interferon antagonist NS2 protein of respiratory syncytial virus is an important virulence determinant for humans.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is targeted for vaccine development, because it causes severe respiratory tract illness in the elderly, young children, and infants. A primary strategy has been to derive live attenuated viruses for use in intranasally administered vaccines that will induce a protective immune response. In the present study, the NS2 gene, whose encoded protein antagonizes the host's interferon- alpha / beta response, was deleted from RSV vaccine candidates by use of reverse genetics.

Transmissibility, infectivity and immunogenicity of a live human parainfluenza type 3 virus vaccine (HPIV3cp45) among susceptible infants and toddlers.

Background: This study examined the transmissibility between young children of an intranasally administered live attenuated human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3)-cp45 vaccine candidate.

Methods: Eighty subjects were enrolled in playgroups among whom there was at least one infected vaccinee in close contact with a seronegative placebo recipient over 21 days without a confounding infection with wtHPIV3. Following vaccination viral cultures were obtained on nine occasions to detect shedding and transmission of HPIV3cp45.

A shift of visual spatial attention is selectively associated with human EEG alpha activity.

Event-related potentials and ongoing oscillatory electroencephalogram (EEG) activity were measured while subjects performed a cued visual spatial attention task. They were instructed to shift their attention to either the left or right visual hemifield according to a cue, which could be valid or invalid. Thereafter, a peripheral target had to be evaluated.

Distinguishing the evoked response from phase reset: a comment to Mäkinen et al.

Mäkinen et al. [Mäkinen, V., Tiitinen, H.

Intelligence related upper alpha desynchronization in a semantic memory task.

Recent evidence shows that event-related (upper) alpha desynchronization (ERD) is related to cognitive performance. Several studies observed a positive, some a negative relationship. The latter finding, interpreted in terms of the neural efficiency hypothesis, suggests that good performance is associated with a more 'efficient', smaller extent of cortical activation.

Incidence of and risk factors for falls following hip fracture in community-dwelling older adults.

Background And Purpose: Hip fracture is a major medical problem among older adults, leading to impaired balance and gait and loss of functional independence. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for falls 6 months following hospital discharge for a fall-related hip fracture in older adults.

Subjects: Ninety of 100 community-dwelling older adults (> or =65 years of age) hospitalized for a fall-related hip fracture provided data for this study.