Style Guide and Information for Authors

The following specifications aim at speeding publication and minimizing editorial changes and retyping. The details of the American Anthropologist style as specified here are in part a codification of past practices and in part changes from them. Therefore, authors are urged to follow this guide carefully instead of relying on past issues.     

Life style — An emergent concept in the sociomedical sciences

The concept of life style recently has gained prominence in sociomedical research; yet the term remains poorly defined. This paper traces the evolution of the life style concept from its origins in sociological and personality studies to its current use in reference to behavioral risk factors for disease. Particular attention is given to the changes in meaning that have taken place over the past few decades. Similarities between the notion of life style and concepts of cultural integration are noted, and the various uses of life style are categorized along an idealist-materialist continuum. Finally, the authors fault medicalized notions of life style for failing to acknowledge the importance of the context and meaning of health-related behavior.     

中国灵芝科的分类研究——Ⅷ8个订正种和3个新种

自1978年以来作者比较系统的进行了中国灵芝科(Ganodermataceae)的分类研究。于1981年“中国灵芝”一书中报道了53种1变种和1变型。除前两个种下分类单位已承认为种外,后又陆续报道了30种。目前共报道了中国灵芝科85种。随着各国专家对灵芝科分类研究的不断进展,对于过去记载的种类,其中一部分种类已进行了考证,重新作了订正,作者也正在对中国灵芝科的种类进行订正。参考了Steyaert(1980)和Corner 1983)以及其他作者的重要文献,对现有8种进行了订正。本文共报道11种,其中有3新种。它们是坝王岭灵芝(Ganoderma bawanglingense Zhao et X.Q.Zhang),江西假芝(Amauroderma jiangxiense Zhao et X.Q.Zhang)和五指山假芝(A.wuzhishanense Zhao)。本文研究标本全部保藏于中国科学院微生物研究所真菌标本室。     

Strangers no more’s several contributions (and my few regrets)

ABSTRACT

The main strengths of the book include, I argue, the authors’ sophisticated conceptualization of immigrants’ and their offspring’s integration into the host society as complex, multi-dimensional processes which can contain contradictory tendencies; a well-executed and informative comparative analysis of these developments in several countries with – rare among the social scientists – a firm anchoring of the present situations in the past from which they emerge; and useful practical suggestions for policy-making derived by the authors from their findings. Rather than outright criticisms, I then present a few regrets regarding, on the one hand, the book’s presentation style or what I felt were some too forcefully stated claims, and, on the other hand, some un(der)explored issues which, in my opinion, merited more analytic attention.     

微生物学案例式教学的探索与实践

基于《微生物学》课程的知识内容零散、错综复杂等特点,应用案例式教学的模式进行探索与实践,介绍了案例式教学中案例设计、课堂实施与效果评价等要点。案例式教学对于微生物教学改革有着重要意义与推广价值,但在实施的过程中需要注意调整与不断完善。     

Widespread discordance of gene trees with species tree in Drosophila: evidence for incomplete lineage sorting

The phylogenetic relationship of the now fully sequenced species Drosophila erecta and D. yakuba with respect to the D. melanogaster species complex has been a subject of controversy. All three possible groupings of the species have been reported in the past, though recent multi-gene studies suggest that D. erecta and D. yakuba are sister species. Using the whole genomes of each of these species as well as the four other fully sequenced species in the subgenus Sophophora, we set out to investigate the placement of D. erecta and D. yakuba in the D. melanogaster species group and to understand the cause of the past incongruence. Though we find that the phylogeny grouping D. erecta and D. yakuba together is the best supported, we also find widespread incongruence in nucleotide and amino acid substitutions, insertions and deletions, and gene trees. The time inferred to span the two key speciation events is short enough that under the coalescent model, the incongruence could be the result of incomplete lineage sorting. Consistent with the lineage-sorting hypothesis, substitutions supporting the same tree were spatially clustered. Support for the different trees was found to be linked to recombination such that adjacent genes support the same tree most often in regions of low recombination and substitutions supporting the same tree are most enriched roughly on the same scale as linkage disequilibrium, also consistent with lineage sorting. The incongruence was found to be statistically significant and robust to model and species choice. No systematic biases were found. We conclude that phylogenetic incongruence in the D. melanogaster species complex is the result, at least in part, of incomplete lineage sorting. Incomplete lineage sorting will likely cause phylogenetic incongruence in many comparative genomics datasets. Methods to infer the correct species tree, the history of every base in the genome, and comparative methods that control for and/or utilize this information will be valuable advancements for the field of comparative genomics.     

Paleodemography: “Not quite dead”

As Kim Hill¹ recently noted in Evolutionary Anthropology, humans are unique among the hominoids with regard to the length of their lives, as well as other elements in the individual life histories. The evolutionary details that modified a basic pongid life history into a hominid one remain obscure, but aspects of recent human demographic history are assailable. Study of the last 10,000 years or so is an important part of ongoing anthropological discourse, for demographic changes may be intimately linked to such major developments as agriculture and urbanization.^2-8 Whether demographic changes are antecedents for or consequences of these major developments is a matter of great contention, but at the least we should attempt to document the nature of human demographic changes in the recent past. Although this documentation can take different forms, the principal sources are archeological information on past settlement patterns and analyses of prehistoric human skeletal material.     

The Solomon Islands Project: an introduction

The twin themes of the Solomon Islands Biomedical Project remain 1) the remarkable genetic heterogeneity of the groups in the Solomons; and 2) the differential responses to these groups to rapid modernization/acculturation over the past two decades of this long term study. This introduction summarizes the historical and ethnic relationships of the survey groups, their established genetic distances and their rankings with regard to acculturation at the times of their first survey, and changes occurring up to 1985-86. Relevant features of diet, life style, and epidemiology are described.     

Novel Application of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy and 3D Volume Rendering toward Improving the Resolution of the Fossil Record of Charcoal

Variations in the abundance of fossil charcoals between rocks and sediments are assumed to reflect changes in fire activity in Earth’s past. These variations in fire activity are often considered to be in response to environmental, ecological or climatic changes. The role that fire plays in feedbacks to such changes is becoming increasingly important to understand and highlights the need to create robust estimates of variations in fossil charcoal abundance. The majority of charcoal based fire reconstructions quantify the abundance of charcoal particles and do not consider the changes in the morphology of the individual particles that may have occurred due to fragmentation as part of their transport history. We have developed a novel application of confocal laser scanning microscopy coupled to image processing that enables the 3-dimensional reconstruction of individual charcoal particles. This method is able to measure the volume of both microfossil and mesofossil charcoal particles and allows the abundance of charcoal in a sample to be expressed as total volume of charcoal. The method further measures particle surface area and shape allowing both relationships between different size and shape metrics to be analysed and full consideration of variations in particle size and size sorting between different samples to be studied. We believe application of this new imaging approach could allow significant improvement in our ability to estimate variations in past fire activity using fossil charcoals.     

Reduction malarplasty through an intraoral incision: a new method

Until recently, osteotomies and surgeries to reposition prominent zygoma have been performed by means of a coronal incision or intraoral and preauricular incisions. Such incisions have penalties such as scars, the possibility of facial nerve injury, and long operative times. After reflecting on their past experiences with facial bone surgery, the authors developed an alternative approach. In this method, the cheekbone protrusion is corrected by performing an osteotomy and repositioning through an intraoral incision only. During the past 3 years, the authors have operated on 23 patients with malar prominences. The amount of bone to be removed is determined by preoperative interviews, physical examinations, and x-rays. Intraoral incisions provide access to the zygomatic body and lateral orbital rim. After L-shaped osteotomies (two parallel vertical and one transverse osteotomy at the medial part of the zygomatic body), the midsegment is removed. The posterior portion of the zygomatic arch was approached through the medial aspect and was outfractured using a curved osteotome. After completing the triple osteotomy, the movable zygomatic complex was reduced medially and fixed with miniplates and screws on the zygomaticomaxillary buttress. The patients were followed for 9.5 months, with acceptable results and few complications. The authors conclude that this technique is an effective and safe method of reduction malarplasty.     

Late holocene human impact on two coastal environments in New South Wales,Australia: a comparison of Aboriginal and European impacts

There are few historical analyses quantifying impacts of human activity in Australia. This paper compares vegetation change, fire regime, erosion and eutrophication rates between the European period and the recent prehistoric past in two lake systems on the south coast of New South Wales. The variance in pollen abundance and hence species population changes increased markedly in the historical period, especially amongst understorey taxa, and this could be related to changes in the local fire regimes and to the effects of grazing. Local fire activity decreased from the prehistorical period at both sites. Erosion rates increased in the historical period and both organic and inorganic components were deposited in the lakes. Erosion episodes could be related to fire during some periods but are clearly controlled by forest disturbance and land-use at other periods. The trophic status of the lakes was increasing from before European settlement but accelerated in the recent past. This was in part due to the increased erosion rates and in part due to fertiliser application. The results suggest that lower rates of erosional and eutrophic change occur in catchments with basaltic than with Holocene sand substrata.     

Numerical and comparative analyses of the modern systems of classification of the flowering plants

The modern classifications of Cronquist, Dahlgren, Takhtajan, and Thorne have been compared with one another and also with those published at the beginning of the 20th century, which comprise the ones by Bessey, Engler, Gobi, and Hallier. Mantel and consensus tests have been used to compare the different matrices taken from the above classifications. Results indicate that all four modern classifications do not differ from one another statistically. Ordinal delimitation has not changed significantly for a century at least: Orders of the modern classifications are similar to those of the past classifications. However, the topology or structure of Cronquist’s and Takhtajan’s classifications differs from that of Bessey’s. Also, Engler’s dicotyledon classification is statistically different from those of the modern systems. Among past classifications, that of Hallier resembles the modern ones most. The resemblance among the modern classifications and, in general, with the past ones can be explained by the similarity in taxonomic principles and in the practice used. Two other factors help in explaining similarities among classifications: cognitive constraint and historical inertia. For instance, the Linnean scheme—upon which all botanical classifications are based—imposes on the latter a structure which allows only with difficulty and approximation the representation of taxon evolution. Moreover, not only have modern authors mutually influenced one another (particularly Cronquist/Takhtajan, Dahlgren/Thorne), but also they have been influenced by past authors. Indeed, modern classifications are a reshuffling of past ones. Also, Engler’s influence is great, especially at the ordinal level. For changes and modifications to become effective in future classifications of flowering plants, one will have to minimize, if not avoid, the implicit influence of the modern systems as standard systems, and to count on, among others, molecular data in redefining taxonomic concepts founded on classical morphology, and consequently to remove the prudence that makes us look at classification as a useful convention for which one of the basic criteria remains the stability of taxa recognized long ago.     

Effect of medicolegal liability on patterns of general and family practice in Canada.

As part of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Review on Liability and Compensation Issues in Health Care, in 1988 we surveyed Canadian general practitioners and family physicians to determine the effect of liability concerns on their practices in the previous 5 years. Questionnaires were sent to a random, stratified national sample of 1295 physicians, with a response rate of 64.6%. However, a high proportion of the returned questionnaires were ineligible because the physicians were not in general or family practice, were not involved in direct patient care, or had died or moved; thus, the corrected response rate was 50.8%. The newsletter of the Canadian Medical Protective Association was the source of information on liability most frequently cited (by 88.1% of the physicians) and most influential (to 62.4%). Only 15.5% of the physicians cited personal involvement with medicolegal issues as a source of information; the rate was higher for Ontario physicians and those in urban areas generally. A total of 74.6% of the respondents had altered their style of practice in the previous 5 years, and 56.3% reported changes in the scope of their practice. Concern about litigation was the most important reason for changing style of practice and reducing or eliminating administration of anesthesia, whereas lifestyle and other issues along with liability concerns most influenced decisions to reduce obstetric care and emergency department work. Our findings suggest that physicians'' perceptions of liability issues have had a profound influence on primary care practice in Canada in the past several years.     

Teaching plastic surgery from different perspectives

Just as everyone has a different learning style, teachers too approach the task from different perspectives. There are five basic teaching perspectives or styles: transmission, apprenticeship, developmental, nurturing, and social justice. The acronym BIAS is useful to describe the beliefs, intentions, assessments, and strategies associated with each perspective. The authors present a hypothetical 1-week rotation in plastic and reconstructive surgery in which a student encounters instructors who embody the five basic teaching perspectives. By presenting these perspectives, the authors introduce valuable teaching techniques that can benefit all those charged with the education of learners along the spectrum from premedical to continuing education venues. Educational objectives include the following: (1) explain and illustrate different approaches to effective teaching in plastic surgery; (2) introduce readers to the Teaching Perspectives Inventory as a means of determining their primary teaching style; and (3) argue for a "plurality of the good" in teaching.     

Changes in anthropometrical data of the Hungarian child and adult population during the last thirty years based on family studies conducted by the Department of Forensic Medicine at Budapest

Studies of the Hungarian child and adult population have revealed striking changes over the past thirty years with respect to body height and body mass, an observation, which has also been confirmed by other investigations (Gyenis & Joubert 2003, Maródi et. al. 2002). Based on these deviations the authors were interested in the variability of some anthropometrical head measures, which are of particular importance for forensic anthropological questions concerning face reconstruction (Editorial 2001, Jayprakash et. al. 2001, Szilvdssy & Kritscher 1997, Szilvdssy et al. 1997). The majority of such reconstruction methods, however, do not take into consideration the process of secular trend. It is the aim of this study to improve the anthropological basis for exact reconstruction methods by elaboration of temporal changes of face, head and body measures of the Hungarian population collected during the past thirty years. For this data from 2353 adults and 861 children investigated in 1974, and 869 adults 287 children investigated between 1994 and 2004 are available.     

Neuroleptic-like electroencephalographic changes in schizophrenics through biofeedback

Nine schizophrenic patients participated in a study which explored whether EEG feedback techniques could effect changes in the EEG similar to those associated with neuroleptic-induced improvement. During five sessions, each patient was presented feedback signals which continuously refected the discrepancy between characteristics of the patient's EEG power spectral profile and spectral profile characteristics associated by past research with neuroleptic induced clinical improvement. Significant within-session changes were observed for two of three EEG power spectrum bands of interest. No significant session-to-session EEG changes were observed. The results suggest that the EEG of schizophrenics can be temporarily altered, using feedback techniques, in a way that mimics the EEG changes that have been shown to occur with neuroleptic induced clinical improvement.The authors are indebted to Turan M. Itil, John W. Fredrickson, Michael Madwed, and Irene B. Francis. Senior authorship is shared equally.     

The morphofunctional characteristics of the cecum in experimental escherichiosis]

Using the model of experimental escherichiosis in mice by means of morphological, immunomorphological, morphometrical and electron microscopy methods, the authors give morphofunctional characteristics of caecum 15 minutes to 2 weeks after inoculation. The authors show the dynamics of infectious process, characterized by changes of microcirculation, increasing lymphoplasmocellular infiltration, dystrophic changes in cells of neuroplexes and degranulation of mast and endocrine cells. The data obtained show that pathological process in caecum during experimental escherichiosis has an immune character, that the above portion of the intestine is a part of endocrine system.     

Language, Ideology, and the Press in Catalonia

This article, relying on Bakhtin's approach to canonization, demonstrates an empirical link between language and ideology. The authors employ content and discourse analysis to examine political discourse exemplified in editorial writing as a particular speech genre. They scrutinize editorials in four newspapers published in Catalonia, two of them in Castilian and two in Catalan. Despite political differences between the papers in each language, the authors discern a Catalan-language discourse style that differs significantly from the Caslilian-language discourse style. They conclude that the historically canonized discourse styles, different in Catalonia's Castilian and Catalan press, reflect the intimate relationship between language of use and ideology.     

The Importance of the Stigma in Flower Senescence in Petunia (Petunia hybrida)

Senescence of flowers of Petunia hybrida Vilm. cv Gypsy is characterizedby colour changes, wilting and abscission. In emasculated detachedflowers the onset of these processes is hastened by any treatmentwhich reduces the vigour of the stigma. Thus pricking it, excisingsegments, or freezing with liquid nitrogen all reduce the timeto morphological changes associated with corolla senescence.Removal of the stigma has the most dramatic effect, reducinglifespan of the flower by about 50 per cent, to 3 d. This reductioncan be lessened if IAA or 2,4-D is applied to the cut surfaceof the style. In intact flowers, the style may usually be implicatedin the production of a stimulus leading to corolla abscission,but abscission will also occur in the absence of the style.Some senescence acceleration takes place not only in the completeabsence of the style, but also when the upper part of the ovaryhas been excised in addition. The speeding up of senescenceand of corolla abscission cannot be due solely to damage perse since when the corolla limb was excised, leaving only thecorolla tube, the tube abscised at about the same time as thecontrols, despite the quite extensive wounding. This also impliesthat the distal parts of the corolla do not play a major rolein the development of the abscission zone at the base of thecorolla tube. A healthy, undamaged stigma appears to be very important incorolla longevity and one of its roles may be to prevent theproduction of an abscission/wilting stimulus by some other componentof the flower. Possibly auxins in the stigma are important inthat either they are mobile and protect the abscission zoneor they create a sink for other substances which are implicatedin flower senescence. Petunia hybrida, abscission, auxins (IAA, 2,4-D), corolla, flower senescence, stigma, style, wilting