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Echovirus 11 (E11) has gained attention owing to its association with severe neonatal infections. Due to the limited data available, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers public health risk to the general population to be low. The present study investigated the genetic variation and molecular evolution of E11 genomes collected from May to December 2023. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed for 16 E11 strains. Phylogenetic analysis on WG showed how all Italian strains belonged to genogroup D5, similarly to other E11 strains recently reported in France and Germany all together aggregated into separate clusters. A cluster‐specific recombination pattern was also identified using phylogenetic analysis of different genome regions. Echovirus 6 was identified as the major recombinant virus in 3Cpro and 3Dpol regions. The molecular clock analysis revealed that the recombination event probably occurred in June 2018 (95% HPD interval: Jan 2016–Jan 2020). Shannon entropy analyses, within P1 region, showed how 11 amino acids exhibited relatively high entropy. Five of them were exposed on the canyon region which is responsible for receptor binding with the neonatal Fc receptor. The present study showed the recombinant origin of a new lineage of E11 associated with severe neonatal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies have achieved great efficacy and safety for the treatment of numerous infectious diseases. However, their neutralization potency is often rapidly lost when the target antigen mutates. Instead of isolating new antibodies each time a pathogen variant arises, it can be attractive to adapt existing antibodies, making them active against the new variant. Potential benefits of this approach include reduced development time, cost, and regulatory burden. Here a methodology is described to rapidly evolve neutralizing antibodies of proven activity, improving their function against new pathogen variants without losing efficacy against previous ones. The reported procedure is based on structure‐guided affinity maturation using combinatorial mutagenesis and phage display technology. Its use against the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is demonstrated, but it is suitable for any other pathogen. As proof of concept, the method is applied to CoV‐X2, a human bispecific antibody that binds with high affinity to the early SARS‐CoV‐2 variants but lost neutralization potency against Delta. Antibodies emerging from the affinity maturation selection exhibit significantly improved neutralization potency against Delta and no loss of efficacy against the other viral sequences tested. These results illustrate the potential application of structure‐guided affinity maturation in facilitating the rapid adaptation of neutralizing antibodies to pathogen variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is a zoonotic disease endemic in the rainforest countries of Central and West Africa. Understanding the immune response in zoonosis is fundamental to prevent and contrast viral spreading. MPXV is a close relative of Variola (smallpox) virus and vaccination with vaccinia virus gives approximatively 85% of protection against MPXV. With the emergence of the recent MPXV outbreak, JYNNEOS vaccine has been proposed to individuals at high‐risk of exposure. Comparative data on MPXV immune response in vaccinated or infected subjects are still limited. Here we set‐up an immunofluorescence method for the evaluation of humoral response elicited by natural infection and healthy vaccinated subjects, including historically smallpox‐vaccinated individuals and newly vaccinated subjects. Neutralization assay was also included, and in vaccinated subjects, cell‐mediated response was evaluated. We observed that the natural infection produces a strong immune response that can control the disease. In naïve subjects, a second dose boosts the serological response to levels similar to those of the MPXV patients. Last, smallpox‐vaccinated controls retain a degree of protection, even after years from vaccination, most visible in the t‐cellular response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rumurutiites (R chondrites) are rare, highly oxidized chondrites belonging to the noncarbonaceous superclan and characterized by low chondrule abundances. Although textural and chemical features of Rumurutiite chondrules resemble those of ordinary chondrites (OCs), their formation conditions and potential genetic link remain debated. Here, we report high‐resolution elemental X‐ray mapping analyses and in situ O isotopic measurements of olivine grains from five chondrules and eight isolated olivine grains (IOGs) in the NWA 12482 R3 chondrite. The chondrules show chemical zonings similar to their counterparts in ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites (CCs), implying that gas–melt interaction processes between chondrule precursors and SiO‐ and Mg‐rich gas were operative throughout the circumsolar disk. Our isotopic data show that R chondrules are isotopically similar to ordinary chondrules, although differences in their abundances of relict olivine grains and chondrule textural characteristics suggest different formation environments, with R chondrules being formed from 16O‐poorer precursors. As with chondrules in OCs, the O isotopic characteristics of R chondrules and IOGs suggest limited transport between CC and noncarbonaceous reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the early phase of the pandemic (20 February–4 April 2020), we have investigated the temporal and geographical evolution of the virus in Lombardy showing the circulation of at least seven lineages distributed differently in the Region. In the present study, the molecular epidemiology of SARS‐CoV‐2 was monitored in a period between two pandemic waves in order to track the circulation of new variants (April‐August 2020). A great majority of SARS‐CoV‐2 strains (70.8%) belonged to lineages B, B.1, B.1.1 and B.1.1.1, and five strains belonging to four lineages were already reported in Italy (B.1.1.148, B.1.1.162, B.1.1.71, and B.1.425). In addition, 21 SARS‐CoV‐2 strains belonged to six lineages not previously observed in Italy were detected. No variants of concern were observed. A total of 152/1274 (11.3%) amino acid changes were observed among spike gene sequences and only 26/152 (17.1%) occurred in the receptor‐binding domain region of the spike protein. Results of this study are indicative of ongoing transmission throughout the lockdown period, rather than re‐introduction of novel lineages past lockdown. The use of molecular epidemiology in Italy should be promoted in order to provide additional understanding of the transmission of the disease and to have major effect on controlling the spread of disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apatite has been widely used for assessing the volatile inventory and hydrothermal fluid compositions of asteroidal and planetary bodies. We report the OH, F, and Cl abundances, as well as the hydrogen isotope composition, of apatite in the CM1‐2 chondrite Boriskino and in the C1‐ungrouped Bench Crater meteorite. Apatite in both meteorites is halogen‐poor, close to the hydroxylapatite endmember composition, and characterized by average δDSMOW values of −226 ± 59% and 233 ± 92%, respectively. Compared to apatite, the matrix in Bench Crater is depleted in D with a δDSMOW value of −16 ± 119‰. Comparing apatite and water H isotope compositions yields similar apatite‐water D/H fractionation ΔDApatite‐Water of approximately 120–150‰ for both chondrites, suggesting that apatite formed at similar temperatures. Combining a lattice strain partitioning model with apatite F and Cl abundances in Boriskino and Bench Crater yields low F and Cl abundances <300 μg g−1 in apatite‐forming fluids, and fluid F/Cl ratios that are roughly consistent with the bulk F/Cl ratios of other CI and CM chondrites. This suggests that hydrothermal alteration on these meteorite parent bodies took place under closed‐system conditions. Based on the OH abundance estimates for the apatite‐forming fluids, we estimated the pH values of alteration fluids to be of approximately 10–13. Such alkaline fluid compositions are consistent with previous modeling and suggest that apatite formed late, toward the end of completion of hydrothermal alteration processes on the Boriskino and Bench Crater parent bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report microscopic, cathodoluminescence, chemical, and O isotopic measurements of FeO‐poor isolated olivine grains (IOG) in the carbonaceous chondrites Allende (CV3), Northwest Africa 5958 (C2‐ung), Northwest Africa 11086 (CM2‐an), and Allan Hills 77307 (CO3.0). The general petrographic, chemical, and isotopic similarity with bona fide type I chondrules confirms that the IOG derived from them. The concentric CL zoning, reflecting a decrease in refractory elements toward the margins, and frequent rimming by enstatite are taken as evidence of interaction of the IOG with the gas as stand‐alone objects. This indicates that they were splashed out of chondrules when these were still partially molten. CaO‐rich refractory forsterites, which are restricted to ∆17O <−4‰ likely escaped equilibration at lower temperatures because of their large size and possibly quicker quenching. The IOG thus bear witness to frequent collisions in the chondrule‐forming regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pediatric population seems to be at a lower risk of developing severe clinical symptoms of COVID‐19. However, the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID‐19 in children are yet to be fully clarified. This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the frequency of pediatric laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 patients from February 2020 to April 2021. A total of 740 (5.1% of total) pediatric COVID‐19 cases were observed during the study period. The peak of pediatric cases was observed in November 2020, with 239 cases. During the first wave of pandemics, the frequency of pediatric cases was 0.89% (49/5877 cases), ranging from 0.6% in February 2020 to 1.3% in April 2020. On the contrary, after the beginning of the second wave, the frequency of pediatric cases raised from 5.3% in September 2020 to 9.4%in February 2021, with an overall frequency of 8.2% (690/8416 cases). A different rate of SARS‐CoV‐2 circulation was observed among the pediatric population between the pandemic waves. During the second wave, two peaks of cases were observed. The last peak was associated with the spread of a more transmissive SARS‐CoV‐2 strain (VOC 202012/01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) diagnosis is based on molecular detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 in respiratory samples such as nasal swab (NS). However, the evidence that NS in patients with pneumonia was sometimes negative raises the attention to collect other clinical specimens. SARS‐CoV‐2 was shown in 10.3% rectal swabs (RS), 7.7% plasma, 1% urine, and 0% feces from 143 NS‐positive patients. Potential infection by fluids different from respiratory secretion is possible but unlikely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the difficulty in establishing the exact time of HCMV transmission from mother to fetus, HCMV intrauterine infection was investigated in 46 infected fetuses/newborns by correlating maternal and fetal parameters with clinical outcome according to the time interval between the onset of maternal infection and prenatal diagnosis. In detail, 17/28 (60.7%) asymptomatic and 18/18 (100%) symptomatic fetuses/newborns were infected as a consequence of a primary maternal HCMV infection acquired ≤8 weeks of gestational age, while 11/28 (39.3%) asymptomatic and 0/18 (0%) symptomatic fetuses/newborns were congenitally infected when maternal infection was acquired >8 weeks' gestation. Symptomatic fetal infections appeared to be associated with a maternal primary infection occurring at ≤ 8 weeks' gestation. Cordocentesis performed at 20 weeks' gestation should be restricted to high risk infected fetuses. J. Med. Virol. 88:120-126, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Irrespective of their primitive or differentiated nature, meteorites exhibit a fundamental isotopic dichotomy (e.g., O, Cr, Ti) between a carbonaceous (CC) and a non-carbonaceous (NC) group, which might represent the outer and inner solar system, respectively [1-2]. The bulk chondrite isotopic dichotomy is now observed at the scale of individual chondrules [3], which are ubiquitous submillimeter-size igneous silicate spheroids formed during the evolution of the protoplanetary disk. This suggests NC and CC chondrules formed from different precursors and/or under different conditions, thus calling into question the conditions of dust formation in both reservoirs. Material & method: We acquired high-resolution element X-ray maps, and high-precision EPMA elemental and O isotopic compositions of olivine grains in 11 PO type 1 chondrules from three ordinary chondrites belonging to the NC group (OC; Bishunpur (3.15), Piancaldoli (3.10), Semarkona (3.00)). Results: OC olivine-rich chondrules show similar features compared to CC chondrules with (i) chemical zonings of trace and minor elements (e.g., Al2O3, TiO2, CaO, MnO, and Cr2O3), and (ii) asymmetric growth of outer crystals [4-8]. However, some hopper-textured crystals in porphyritic OC chondrules are observed whereas it has only been reported in CC barred olivine chondrules so far [7]. Four chondrules show relict olivine grains, having distinct O isotopic compositions from host grains (Δ17OHost ~ 0.9 ± 1.3 ‰), without any specific spatial distributions within chondrules. Relict grains plot roughly along the PCM (Primitive Chondrule Minerals) line while the host grains are systematically displaced toward its left. Discussion: From these data [9], we draw three constraints on chondrule formation. Firstly, the similar features observed within OC and CC chondrules [4-8] indicate that the processes that control chondrule formation were similar at different heliocentric distances in the disk. These processes are the partial melting of precursor aggregates with gas-melt interactions. This allows external gaseous matter to condensate [4-8] and buffers the O isotopic composition of the melt to that of the local reservoir composition [4-5, 10-12]. SiO(g) and Mg(g) would have a predominant role in explaining observed textures [4-8] but H2O vapor might have also significantly contributed to the O isotopic budget as a major component of the gas phase [12]. Secondly, the mass-dependent variability in O isotopic compositions (i.e., variations of δ18O and δ17O at a constant Δ17O) observed for host olivine grains within each single chondrule can be explained by kinetic fractionation, either by diffusion during the crystal growth or by condensation/evaporation. However, the extreme conditions required for crystal growth fractionation give preference for the later. Finally, we identified several generations of relicts within each chondrule. Relict grains derived from refractory inclusions (Δ17O ~ -25 ‰) are rare but still observable, as in CC chondrules [4-5]. We also highlighted a second generation of relicts having a Δ17O ~ -5 ‰ and variable chemical compositions as observed for host grains in CC chondrules. However, O isotopic compositions, expressed as Δ18O (= δ18O - δ17O), is lower for OC chondrules compared to CC, indicating this second generation cannot result from recycling of host grains from the CC reservoir. Such an interval between the two groups is bigger than intra-chondrule variations and seems to reflect bulk chondrite features. This might reveal the OC and CC reservoir separation was already established before the final chondrule formation event. This supports the well-isolated NC and CC reservoir conclusions and argue against disk-wide transport of chondrules across and between these two reservoirs. Primary causes of chondrule forming event might have been different between NC and CC reservoirs [13], although having resulted from the same major processes for explaining chondrule textural and isotopic features. These differences in disk dynamic might have resulted in variation of dust production efficiency and/or recycling, that can be as much as twice efficient/frequent in inner solar system compared to outer solar system, as infer from relict grain abundances within each chondrule and chondrule abundances within chondrites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs), the first solids to have condensed out of the gaseous nebula surrounding the nascent Sun, represent direct witnesses of the processes that set the initial architecture of our solar system. In particular, CAIs preserve evidence that short-lived radionuclides (SLRs; e.g., 10Be, 26Al, 41Ca, 60Fe) with half lives < 5Myr were present during the earliest phases of our solar system's build-up [1]. However, the source(s) of SLRs in the CAI-forming region, as well as the heterogeneous nature of their overall distribution across the solar system, remain highly uncertain. It is unclear whether the occurrence of SLRs in CAIs represent the inheritance of the long-term chemical evolution of the Galaxy, early injection into the solar system by a nearby supernova, and/or traces of early solar irradiation (e.g., [1-4]). These information are yet crucial for understanding the birth environment and formation timescales of the solar system, as well as the nature and extent of early solar irradiation processes. Fossil records of solar irradiation have the potential to inform us about the nature (gradual vs. impulsive flares) and magnitude of the young Sun's activity, the cosmolocation of the CAI factory, and the process(es) accounting for their efficient transport to the outer Solar System [5], where they were accreted into carbonaceous asteroids. Among the SLRs whose former existence in the solar nebula has been demonstrated, 26Al (decays to 26Mg, t1/2 = 0.7 Myr) and 41Ca (decays to 41K, t1/2 = 0.1 Myr) have attracted increasing interest since the proposal of their correlated presence/absence in CV chondrite CAIs and CM chondrite refractory hibonite grains [6-8]. A synchronous decay between 26Al and 41Ca would indeed suggest that the two radionuclides were homogeneously distributed in the solar nebula, and that the Al-Mg and Ca-K systems can be used as chronometers. In 2012, the reanalysis of the Ca-K system with an advanced analytical technique however led to an order of magnitude revision of the initial 41Ca/40Ca in the solar system [9]. Even then, the major interference of (40Ca42Ca)++ at mass 41 could not be resolved under any available mass resolution (M/ΔM = 34,000 is needed) [9]. Recent 41Ca-41K isotopic data acquired for two Type A CAIs from the Vigarano CV3 chondrite using this technique were combined with Al-Mg systematics to suggest that 41Ca distribution was actually not homogeneous when 26Al was widespread at the canonical level [10]. Such a 41Ca heterogeneity could reflect the effect of in-situ charged particle irradiation by the protoSun in the solar nebula. High precision measurements of 41Ca/40Ca in CAIs are clearly needed to shed light on the source(s) of 41Ca in the early solar system, and determine whether or not the Ca-K system constitutes a reliable chronometer for early solar system formation. Research project: We have carried out in-situ 26Al-26Mg and 41Ca-41K analyses in a series of coarse-grained CAIs from the Efremovka (including the well characterized CAI E101.1 [11]), Vigarano, and Allende (CAI 3529-Z [12]) CV3 chondrites, as well as a Forsterite-bearing Type B CAI (from Allende, bulk ?17O = -12‰) exhibiting remarkable internal zoning structures revealed by high-resolution cathodoluminescence imaging. This study takes advantage of the new generation Cameca 1280 HR2 SIMS (Nancy, France) recently equipped with a stable, high-density radio frequency primary ion source. In collaboration with the Cameca firm, we have recently developed new acquisition cards for faraday cups (1012 O) allowing for significantly higher sensitivity and stability during analysis. The unique equipment and design of the CRPG Cameca 1280 HR2 SIMS offers the possibility to perform high mass resolution (= 30,000) measurements enabling, for the first time, resolution of the major interference of (40Ca42Ca)++ at mass 41. We present our most recent analytical developments allowing for high precision 41Ca/40Ca analyses of CAIs, which we interpret in combination with 26Al-26Mg systematics to identify the source(s) of 41Ca in the early solar system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterovirus 68 (EV-D68) was associated with mild to severe respiratory infections. In the last 4 years, circulation of different EV-D68 strains has been documented worldwide. In this study, the phylogenetic characterization of nine EVD68 strains identified in patients in the 2010-2012 period and 12 additional EV-D68 Italian strains previously identified in 2008 in Italy was described. From January 2010 to December 2012, a total of 889 respiratory specimens from 588 patients stayed or visited at the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo were positive for HRV or HEV. Extracted nucleic acids were amplified by one-step RT-PCR with primer specific for VP1 region of EV-D68 and purified positive PCR products were directly sequenced. Overall, 9/3736 (0.24%) patients were EV-D68 positive. Of these, 7/9 (77.8%) were pediatric and two (22.2%) were adults. Five out of seven (71.4%) pediatric patients had lower respiratory tract infection with oxygen saturation <94%. Four cases were detected from August through October 2010, while five other cases from September through December 2012. The Italian EV-D68 strains in 2008 belonged to clade A (n=5) and clade C (n=7). In 2010 all the Italian strains belonged to clade A (n=4) and in 2012, four Italian strains 4 to clade B and one to clade A. In conclusion, we provide additional evidence supporting a role of EV-D68 in severe respiratory infection in pediatric patients. In addition, all the three EV-D68 clades circulating worldwide were identified in Italy in a 5-year period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular characterization of circulating influenza A viruses is crucial to detect mutations potentially involved in increased virulence, drug resistance and immune escape. A molecular and phylogenetic analysis of A(H1N1)pdm09 neuraminidase (NA) gene sequences from different patient categories defined according to the severity of influenza infection were analyzed. A total of 126 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 positive samples from patients with severe infections in comparison with those with moderate and mild infections was performed in Lombardy (Northern Italy, nearly 10 million inhabitants) during the 2010-2011 season. NA sequences included in this study segregated into five distinct clusters. Nineteen amino acid substitutions were detected exclusively in NA sequences of viruses identified in patients with severe or moderate influenza infection. Three of them (F74S, S79P, E287K) were observed in virus strains with the 222G/N hemagglutinin mutation. None of NA sequences under study had mutations related to the resistance to the NA inhibitors. Four out of 126 (3.2%) NA sequences from patients with severe infection lost a N-linked glycosylation site due to the change from N to K at residue 386. Two additional N-linked glycosylation sites in the NA stalk region (residues 42 and 44) were found in 12 (9.5%) NA sequences. Sporadic NA mutations were detected in NA viral sequences from critically ill patients, and no variants with reduced sensitivity to NA inhibitors were observed either in treated or untreated patients. J. Med. Virol. 85: 944-952, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human parechoviruses (HPeVs) infection is associated with a wide range of clinical syndromes such as respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurologic diseases, and neonatal sepsis-like illness. The main objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of HPeVs infection in hospitalized patients in a period of 2 years. Respiratory samples from 3,525 patients with respiratory syndrome, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 340 patients with neurologic syndrome as well as CSF and plasma samples from five neonatal patients with sepsis-like illness collected from October 2008 to 2010 were tested retrospectively using HPeV-specific real-time RT-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis of VP3/VP1 region was performed on the positive samples. Fourteen out of 3,525 (0.4%) patients with respiratory syndrome and five out of five patients with sepsis-like illness were positive for HPeV. In 3/5 patients with sepsis-like illness multiple samples (e.g., stool, plasma, CSF, or respiratory samples) were available, and HPeV was found in all specimens. In contrast, no positive CSF was detected among the 340 patients with neurologic syndromes. Eleven patients (57.9%) were infected with HPeV1 strain, 7 (36.8%) with HPeV3, and 1 (5.3%) with HPeV6 strains. Ten of the 14 HPeV patients with respiratory syndrome were co-infected with other respiratory viruses (eight with rhinovirus and two with coronavirus OC43). All five patients with sepsis-like illness were less than 1 month of age and were infected with HPeV3. Although not circulating at high frequency and unlikely to cause respiratory syndrome, HPeV was associated with severe clinical syndromes in a minority of newborns. J. Med. Virol. 84:686-690, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While human rhinoviruses (HRVs) are well accepted as a major cause of common cold syndromes (rhinitis), their role in the etiology of lower respiratory tract infections is still controversial, and their detection in asymptomatic patients is relatively common. The HRV pathogenic role in four groups of hospitalized patients (pediatric immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, and adult immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients) was investigated by quantifying HRV load in nasopharyngeal aspirates or bronchoalveolar lavage samples by real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Real-time RT-PCR was performed in duplicate on all respiratory samples resulting positive by qualitative RT-PCR. In addition, molecular typing allowed detection of all known HRV species (A, B, and C). In immunocompetent pediatric patients HRVs were mostly associated with lower respiratory tract infections (in the absence of other viral agents) and wheezing, when viral load was ≥106 RNA copies/ml. In young immunocompromised patients (stem cell transplantation recipients), an inverse correlation between HRV persistence over time and time at which the infection occurred after transplantation was observed, whereas in adult immunocompromised patients (lung transplant recipients) HRVs could be detected at a medium-low level (<105 RNA copies/ml) in bronchoalveolar lavage samples taken routinely from asymptomatic patients. In conclusion, when detected at high viral load, HRVs may cause severe upper and lower respiratory tract infections, whereas when detected at a medium-low viral load, an event more frequent in immunocompromised subjects, they may represent only bystander viruses. J. Med. Virol. 81:1498-1507, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The source of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection was investigated in 29 pregnant women with primary HCMV infection by comparing DNA sequences of UL146, UL144 and a portion of UL55 gene of HCMV strains circulating within each family. Thirteen families were identified in which the pregnant woman, the husband and/or a child were shedding HCMV. In three of these families, both the woman and the husband suffered from a concomitant primary HCMV infection. Phylogenetic analysis of UL146, UL144, and UL55 genes indicated that strains circulating within each family were identical, whereas strains from different families appeared to be distinct. However, identical UL146, UL144, and UL55 DNA sequences were observed sporadically among unrelated strains. A child rather than the husband was the virus source for the great majority of pregnant women. No association was observed between UL144 polymorphisms and intrauterine transmission. J. Med. Virol. 80:1415-1425, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]