bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scientists' Letter Supports Climate Change Panel
Authors: Chell Kaitlin
Published: April 2010

Recent media coverage about climate change has focused on errors in the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) and other concerns. In light of this media coverage, an open letter sent on 12 March to members of the U.S. Congress and various U.S. federal agencies in support of the IPCC has been signed (at Eos press time) by more than 250 U.S. scientists.

The letter lays out the IPCC process and also examines climate science findings since the publication of AR4. “Our goal with this letter is to demonstrate the strong support that exists within the scientific community for the IPCC and its main findings,” Gary Yohe of Wesleyan University noted in a press release issued about the letter.
Sripathi Receives 2009 Sunanda and Santimay Basu Early Career Award
Authors: Anonymous
Published: April 2010

Sripathi Receives 2009 Sunanda and Santimay Basu Early Career Award Samireddipalle Sripathi has been awarded the AGU Sunanda and Santimay Basu Early Career Award in Sun‐Earth Systems Science. The award recognizes an individual scientist from a developing nation for making outstanding contributions to research in Sun‐Earth systems science that further the understanding of both plasma physical processes and their applications for the benefit of society. Sripathi's thesis is entitled “VHF radar studies of E‐region plasma irregularities at low latitude.” He was formally presented with the award at the Space Physics and Aeronomy section dinner during the 2009 AGU Fall Meeting, held 14–18 December in San Francisco, Calif.
A new high‐precision furnace for paleomagnetic and paleointensity studies: Minimizing magnetic noise generated by heater currents inside traditional thermal demagnetizers
Authors: Zheng Zhong , Zhao Xixi , Horng Chorng‐Shern
Published: April 2010

Although magnetic noise fields generated by heater currents in thermal demagnetizers have been noticed for a long time, no satisfactory tests have been conducted to quantify their effects. Toward this end, we have developed a new high‐precision thermal demagnetizer that greatly reduces the magnetic noise field. We show the data quality generated by the new oven and the comparative results on several real samples that demonstrate the effects of the magnetic noise field due to heater currents. The properties of the spurious magnetization emanating from the heater currents critically depend on the decay rate of amplitude and its waveform of electric power which is delivered to oven coils at the end of the heating stage of thermal demagnetization. These results also illustrate the potential applications of this new instrument in paleomagnetism and paleointensity studies.
A rotating-compensator based reflectance difference spectrometer for fast spectroscopic measurements
Authors: Hu C. G. , Sun L. D. , Flores-Camacho J. M. , Hohage M. , Liu C. Y. , Hu X. T. , Zeppenfeld P.
Published: April 2010

We present a new type of reflectance difference (RD) spectrometer for fast spectroscopic measurements based on a rotating-compensator (RC) design. The instrument uses a 1024 element Si photodiode linear array for simultaneous multiwavelength detection. High quality RD spectra covering a spectral range from 1.5 to 4.5 eV can be acquired within a few seconds. A detailed description of the working principle, the instrumentation, and the algorithms used for data collection and reduction is presented, followed by a discussion of errors introduced by lamp instability and optical imperfections of the compensator. Finally, to demonstrate the performance of the new RCRD spectrometer, we illustrate its application for the in situ, real-time monitoring of the initial stages of organic thin film growth of para-sexiphenyl (p-6P) on the Cu(110)-(2×1)O surface.
Observation of electron trapping along scratches on SiO2 surface in mirror electron microscope images under ultraviolet light irradiation
Authors: Hasegawa Masaki , Shimakura Tomokazu
Published: April 2010

Surface charge distribution change caused by electrons trapped at defects of a SiO2 surface has been observed by using a mirror electron microscope (MEM) under monochromatized ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. Scratches on the SiO2 surface on a silicon wafer were formed by mechanically polishing to create spatially distributed defects on the SiO2 surface. Exposure of the SiO2 surface by UV light with energy above 4.25 eV, which is the threshold energy for internal photoemission from silicon to SiO2, produced significant change in the contrast in the MEM images. This contrast change is mainly due to negative charging by the photoexcited electrons trapped at the defects along the scratches. The negative charging changes the curvature of the electrostatic equipotential surface above the scratches from a concave shape to a convex shape; as a result, their contrast in the MEM image becomes reversed. The surface density of the trapped electrons at a typical scratch was roughly estimated to be 1010 cm−2. This result of analysis of the contrast change shows that the MEM can be used for spatially resolved and spectroscopic characterizations of defects relating charge trapping in insulator films in conjunction with a charge-injection technique such as UV irradiation.
High sensitivity magnetic imaging using an array of spins in diamond
Authors: Steinert S. , Dolde F. , Neumann P. , Aird A. , Naydenov B. , Balasubramanian G. , Jelezko F. , Wrachtrup J.
Published: April 2010

We present a solid state magnetic field imaging technique using a two-dimensional array of spins in diamond. The magnetic sensing spin array is made of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers created at shallow depths. Their optical response is used for measuring external magnetic fields in close proximity. Optically detected magnetic resonance is read out from a 60×60 μm2 field of view in a multiplexed manner using a charge coupled device camera. We experimentally demonstrate full two-dimensional vector imaging of the magnetic field produced by a pair of current carrying microwires. The presented wide-field NV magnetometer offers, in addition to its high magnetic sensitivity and vector reconstruction, an unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and functionality at room temperature.
Note: A sampling method for quantum random bit generation
Authors: Yu L. M. , Yang M. J. , Wang P. X. , Kawata S.
Published: April 2010

In this note, we present a new sampling method for quantum random bit generation. The new method requires only one single-photon detector and does not measure the time slots of emitted photons. A binary random bit sequence obtained is independent on the time slot of the pulses and the precision of the measurement instrument. The effect of the exclusive-or operation for eliminating the bias in the raw sequences is also discussed.
Scattering mechanism in modulation-doped shallow two-dimensional electron gases
Authors: Laroche D. , Das Sarma S. , Gervais G. , Lilly M. P. , Reno J. L.
Published: April 2010

We report on a systematic investigation of the dominant scattering mechanism in shallow two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) formed in modulation-doped GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs heterostructures. The power-law exponent of the electron mobility versus density, μ∝nα, is extracted as a function of the 2DEG’s depth. When shallower than 130 nm from the surface, the power-law exponent of the 2DEG, as well as the mobility, drops from α≃1.65 (130 nm deep) to α≃1.3 (60 nm deep). Our results for shallow 2DEGs are consistent with theoretical expectations for scattering by remote dopants, in contrast to the mobility-limiting background charged impurities of deeper heterostructures.
Capacitor-less memory-cell fabricated on nanoscale unstrained Si layer on strained SiGe layer-on-insulator
Authors: Kim Seong-Je , Kim Tae-Hyun , Shim Tae-Hun , Park Jea-Gun
Published: April 2010

We investigated the effect of the presence of strained SiGe layer inserted between unstrained Si and buried oxide layer and the Ge concentration in strained SiGe layer on the memory margin of capacitor-less memory-cell. We observed that memory margin of unstrained Si on strained SiGe-on-insulator capacitor-less memory-cells increases with the Ge concentration of the strained SiGe layer and obtained memory margin at the Ge concentration of 19 at% that was 3.2 times larger than that at the silicon-on-insulator capacitor-less memory-cell. This enhancement was due to the potential-barrier lowering increasing exponentially with the Ge concentration resulting from higher hole confinement in spite of the reduction in the saturated drain current.
Depth-dependence of electrical conductivity of diamondlike carbon films
Authors: Sikora A. , Paolino P. , Ftouni H. , Guerret-Piécourt C. , Garden J.-L. , Loir A.-S. , Garrelie F. , Donnet C. , Bourgeois O.
Published: April 2010

The electrical behavior of diamondlike carbon (DLC) has been measured as a function of depth. The amorphous carbon (a-C) films are deposited by pulsed laser deposition using two complementary setups: a femtosecond (fs) and a nanosecond (ns) pulse lasers. It is demonstrated through four probe resistance measurements and contact resistance mapping that the fs DLC are electrically heterogeneous in thickness. The presence of a thick sp2 rich layer on top is evidenced for fs a-C and is apparently away in the sp3 rich ns a-C. It is attributed to different subplantation processes between ns and fs a-C films.
Giant dielectric constant dominated by Maxwell–Wagner relaxation in Al2O3/TiO2 nanolaminates synthesized by atomic layer deposition
Authors: Li Wei , Auciello Orlando , Premnath Ramesh N. , Kabius Bernd
Published: April 2010

Nanolaminates consisting of Al2O3 and TiO2 oxide sublayers were synthesized by using atomic layer deposition to produce individual layers with atomic scale thickness control. The sublayer thicknesses were kept constant for each multilayer structure, and were changed from 50 to 0.2 nm for a series of different samples. Giant dielectric constant (∼1000) was observed when the sublayer thickness is less than 0.5 nm, which is significantly larger than that of Al2O3 and TiO2 dielectrics. Detailed investigation revealed that the observed giant dielectric constant is originated from the Maxwell–Wagner type dielectric relaxation.
Characterization of polycrystals with elongated duplex microstructure by inversion of ultrasonic backscattering data
Authors: Lobkis O. I. , Rokhlin S. I.
Published: April 2010

In this letter a simple analytical ultrasonic backscattering model is proposed for determination of characteristic microstructural scales in polycrystalline materials with elongated grains. The inversion methodology for microstructural parameters is based on backscattering coefficient ratios measured in different propagation directions. The ultrasonic backscattering measurements were performed on a Ti alloy sample with a duplex microstructure and the model was applied to experimental data inversion to size the material microtexture.
Healthcare Worker Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Influenza Immunization and Childhood Vaccination
Authors: Myers Angela L. , Lantos John , Douville Lauren , Jackson Mary Anne
Published: April 2010

We surveyed healthcare workers (HCWs) about influenza vaccination and routine childhood vaccinations. We found that most HCWs' children received vaccinations, despite concerns regarding safety and efficacy. HCWs who received influenza vaccine were more likely to immunize their children against influenza, although a substantial proportion of HCWs' children did not receive influenza vaccination.
Ergatis: a web interface and scalable software system for bioinformatics workflows
Authors: Orvis Joshua , Crabtree Jonathan , Galens Kevin , Gussman Aaron , Inman Jason M. , Lee Eduardo , Nampally Sreenath , Riley David , Sundaram Jaideep P. , Felix Victor , Whitty Brett , Mahurkar Anup , Wortman Jennifer , White Owen , Angiuoli Samuel V.
Published: April 2010

Motivation: The growth of sequence data has been accompanied by an increasing need to analyze data on distributed computer clusters. The use of these systems for routine analysis requires scalable and robust software for data management of large datasets. Software is also needed to simplify data management and make large-scale bioinformatics analysis accessible and reproducible to a wide class of target users.

Results: We have developed a workflow management system named Ergatis that enables users to build, execute and monitor pipelines for computational analysis of genomics data. Ergatis contains preconfigured components and template pipelines for a number of common bioinformatics tasks such as prokaryotic genome annotation and genome comparisons. Outputs from many of these components can be loaded into a Chado relational database. Ergatis was designed to be accessible to a broad class of users and provides a user friendly, web-based interface. Ergatis supports high-throughput batch processing on distributed compute clusters and has been used for data management in a number of genome annotation and comparative genomics projects.

Availability: Ergatis is an open-source project and is freely available at http://ergatis.sourceforge.net

Contact:  jorvis@users.sourceforge.net
Pregnancy and childbirth in carriers of the lamin A/C‐gene mutation
Authors: Palojoki Eeva , Kaartinen Maija , Kaaja Risto , Reissell Eeva , Kärkkäinen Satu , Kuusisto Johanna , Heliö Tiina
Published: April 2010

This retrospective case report describes 11 pregnancies in five women. All of the women were carriers of the lamin A/C gene mutation known to cause dilated cardiomyopathy, often together with atrioventricular conduction disturbances. The penetrance of these mutations is age‐dependent but almost complete. We found no major adverse effects or worsening in the cardiac condition during or after the pregnancy in these patients. All babies were healthy except for one with a small ventricular septal defect, one diagnosed with tracheobronchomalasia, and one with a patent ductus arteriosus. None of these defects have been associated with lamin A/C mutations.
Long‐term prognosis of combined chronic heart failure and chronic renal dysfunction after acute stroke
Authors: Tsagalis George , Bakirtzi Neratzoula , Spengos Konstantinos , Vemmou Anastasia , Manios Efstathios , Xinos Konstantinos , Vemmos Konstantinos
Published: April 2010

Aims

To assess the prevalence of combined chronic heart failure and chronic renal dysfunction (CHF–CRD) in acute stroke patients and to investigate any prognostic significance on long‐term outcome.

Methods and results

First‐ever acute stroke patients (n = 831) were divided into four groups based on the presence of heart failure (HF, NYHA II–IV with or without left ventricular ejection fraction <40%) and/or renal dysfunction (RD, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients with acute kidney injury and/or acute decompensated HF were excluded. Group 1 comprised patients without HF or RD (nHF + nRD), Group 2 patients with RD but no HF (nHF + RD), Group 3 those with HF and no RD (HF + nRD), whereas Group 4 included patients with both HF and RD (HF + RD). HF and RD were independent predictors of mortality at 10 years. Patients in Groups 2, 3, and 4 had an increased probability of death during follow‐up compared with Group 1: HR 1.34 (95% CI 1.02–1.77, P < 0.05) for group 2; HR 2.24 (95% CI 1.50–3.36, P < 0.001) for group 3; and HR 3.42 (95% CI 2.36–4.95, P < 0.001) for group 4. Age, history of transient ischaemic attacks and combined HF and RD were independent predictors of new cardiovascular events. When compared with Group 1, patients in Group 2 had an HR of 1.48 (95% CI 1.11–1.98, P < 0.01), those in Group 3 an HR of 2.21 (95% CI 1.48–3.29, P < 0.001), and those in Group 4 an HR of 3.59 (95% CI 2.40–5.39, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The combination of CHF–CRD after acute stroke is an independent predictor for mortality and new cardiovascular morbidity over 10 years.
Coordination of multiple appendages in drag-based swimming
Authors: Alben Silas , Spears Kevin , Garth Stephen , Murphy David , Yen Jeannette
Published: April 2010

Krill are aquatic crustaceans that engage in long distance migrations, either vertically in the water column or horizontally for 10 km (over 200 000 body lengths) per day. Hence efficient locomotory performance is crucial for their survival. We study the swimming kinematics of krill using a combination of experiment and analysis. We quantify the propulsor kinematics for tethered and freely swimming krill in experiments, and find kinematics that are very nearly metachronal. We then formulate a drag coefficient model which compares metachronal, synchronous and intermediate motions for a freely swimming body with two legs. With fixed leg velocity amplitude, metachronal kinematics give the highest average body speed for both linear and quadratic drag laws. The same result holds for five legs with the quadratic drag law. When metachronal kinematics is perturbed towards synchronous kinematics, an analysis shows that the velocity increase on the power stroke is outweighed by the velocity decrease on the recovery stroke. With fixed time-averaged work done by the legs, metachronal kinematics again gives the highest average body speed, although the advantage over synchronous kinematics is reduced.
Reduced synthesis of the Ybt siderophore or production of aberrant Ybt-like molecules activates transcription of yersiniabactin genes in Yersinia pestis
Authors: Miller M. Clarke , Fetherston Jacqueline D. , Pickett Carol L. , Bobrov Alexander G. , Weaver Robert H. , DeMoll Edward , Perry Robert D.
Published: April 2010

Synthesis of the siderophore yersiniabactin (Ybt) proceeds by a mixed nonribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthase mechanism. Transcription of ybt genes encoding biosynthetic and transport functions is repressed under excess iron conditions by Fur, but is also activated by Ybt via the transcriptional regulator YbtA. While mutations in most biosynthetic genes and ybtA negate transcription activation from the regulated promoters, three biosynthetic mutations do not reduce this transcriptional activation. Here we show that two of these mutants, one lacking the putative type II thioesterase (TE) YbtT and the other with a mutation in the TE domain of HMWP1, produce reduced levels of authentic Ybt that are capable of signalling activity. Alanine substitutions in two residues of YbtT that are essential for catalytic activity in other type II TEs reduced the ability of Yersinia pestis to grow under iron-chelated conditions. The third mutant, which lacks the salicylate synthase YbtS, did not make authentic Ybt but did produce a signalling molecule. Finally, a Δpgm strain of Y. pestis, which lacks essential Ybt biosynthetic genes, also produced a signalling molecule that can activate transcription of ybt genes. The non-Ybt signal molecules from these two mutants are likely separate compounds. While these compounds are not biologically relevant to normal Ybt regulation, a comparison of the structures of Ybt and other signalling molecules will help in determining the chemical structures recognized as a Ybt signal.
Production of hydrogen sulfide by two enzymes associated with biosynthesis of homocysteine and lanthionine in Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. nucleatum ATCC 25586
Authors: Yoshida Yasuo , Ito Shuntaro , Kamo Masaharu , Kezuka Yuichiro , Tamura Haruki , Kunimatsu Kazushi , Kato Hirohisa
Published: April 2010

Fusobacterium nucleatumproduces a large amount of the toxic metabolite hydrogen sulfide in the oral cavity. Here, we report the molecular basis ofF. nucleatumH2S production, which is associated with two different enzymes: the previously reported Cdl (Fn1220) and the newly identified Lcd (Fn0625). SDS-PAGE analysis with activity staining revealed that crude enzyme extracts fromF. nucleatumATCC 25586 contained three major H2S-producing proteins. Two of the proteins with low molecular masses migrated similarly to purified Fn0625 and Fn1220. Their kinetic values suggested that Fn0625 had a lower enzymic capacity to produce H2S froml-cysteine (∼30 %) than Fn1220. The Fn0625 protein degraded a variety of substrates containingβC–S linkages to produce ammonia, pyruvate and sulfur-containing products. Unlike Fn0625, Fn1220 produced neither pyruvate nor ammonia froml-cysteine. Reversed-phase HPLC separation and mass spectrometry showed that incubation ofl-cysteine with Fn1220 produced H2S and an uncommon amino acid, lanthionine, which is a natural constituent of the peptidoglycans ofF. nucleatumATCC 25586. In contrast, most of the sulfur-containing substrates tested, exceptl-cysteine, were not used by Fn1220. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that thefn1220gene showed several-fold higher expression thanfn0625and housekeeping genes in exponential-phase cultures ofF. nucleatum. Thus, we conclude that Fn0625 and Fn1220 produce H2S in distinct manners: Fn0625 carries outβ-elimination ofl-cysteine to produce H2S, pyruvate and ammonia, whereas Fn1220 catalyses theβ-replacement ofl-cysteine to produce H2S and lanthionine, the latter of which may be used for peptidoglycan formation inF. nucleatum.
Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a suite of cytochrome P450 enzymes implicated in insect hydrocarbon degradation in the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Pedrini Nicolás , Zhang Shizhu , Juárez M. Patricia , Keyhani Nemat O.
Published: April 2010

The insect epicuticle or waxy layer comprises a heterogeneous mixture of lipids that include abundant levels of long-chain alkanes, alkenes, wax esters and fatty acids. This structure represents the first barrier against microbial attack and for broad-host-range insect pathogens, such as Beauveria bassiana, it is the initial interface mediating the host–pathogen interaction, since these organisms do not require any specialized mode of entry and infect target hosts via the cuticle. B. bassiana is able to grow on straight chain alkanes up to n-C33 as a sole source of carbon and energy. The cDNA and genomic sequences, including putative regulatory elements, for eight cytochrome P450 enzymes, postulated to be involved in alkane and insect epicuticle degradation, were isolated and characterized. Expression studies using a range of alkanes as well as an insect-derived epicuticular extract from the blood-sucking bug Triatomas infestans revealed a differential expression pattern for the P450 genes examined, and suggest that B. bassiana contains a series of hydrocarbon-assimilating enzymes with overlapping specificity in order to target the surface lipids of insect hosts. Phylogenetic analysis of the translated ORFs of the sequences revealed that the enzyme which displayed the highest levels of induction on both alkanes and the insect epicuticular extract represents the founding member of a new cytochrome P450 family, with three of the other sequences assigned as the first members of new P450 subfamilies. The remaining four proteins clustered with known P450 families whose members include alkane monooxygenases.
Mammalian microRNAs: experimental evaluation of novel and previously annotated genes
Authors: Chiang H. Rosaria , Schoenfeld Lori W. , Ruby J. Graham , Auyeung Vincent C. , Spies Noah , Baek Daehyun , Johnston Wendy K. , Russ Carsten , Luo Shujun , Babiarz Joshua E. , Blelloch Robert , Schroth Gary P. , Nusbaum Chad , Bartel David P.
Published: April 2010

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that derive from distinctive hairpin transcripts. To learn more about the miRNAs of mammals, we sequenced 60 million small RNAs from mouse brain, ovary, testes, embryonic stem cells, three embryonic stages, and whole newborns. Analysis of these sequences confirmed 398 annotated miRNA genes and identified 108 novel miRNA genes. More than 150 previously annotated miRNAs and hundreds of candidates failed to yield sequenced RNAs with miRNA-like features. Ectopically expressing these previously proposed miRNA hairpins also did not yield small RNAs, whereas ectopically expressing the confirmed and newly identified hairpins usually did yield small RNAs with the classical miRNA features, including dependence on the Drosha endonuclease for processing. These experiments, which suggest that previous estimates of conserved mammalian miRNAs were inflated, provide a substantially revised list of confidently identified murine miRNAs from which to infer the general features of mammalian miRNAs. Our analyses also revealed new aspects of miRNA biogenesis and modification, including tissue-specific strand preferences, sequential Dicer cleavage of a metazoan precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA), consequential 5′ heterogeneity, newly identified instances of miRNA editing, and evidence for widespread pre-miRNA uridylation reminiscent of miRNA regulation by Lin28.
High-Affinity K+ Transport in Arabidopsis: AtHAK5 and AKT1 Are Vital for Seedling Establishment and Postgermination Growth under Low-Potassium Conditions
Authors: Pyo Young Jae , Gierth Markus , Schroeder Julian I. , Cho Myeon Haeng
Published: April 2010

Potassium (K+) is a major plant nutrient required for growth and development. It is generally accepted that plant roots absorb K+ through uptake systems operating at low concentrations (high-affinity transport) and/or high external concentrations (low-affinity transport). To understand the molecular basis of high-affinity K+ uptake in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), we analyzed loss-of-function mutants in AtHAK5 and AKT1, two transmembrane proteins active in roots. Compared with the wild type under NH4  +-free growth conditions, athak5 mutant plants exhibited growth defects at 10 μ  m K+, but at K+ concentrations of 20 μ  m and above, athak5 mutants were visibly indistinguishable from the wild type. While germination, scored as radicle emergence, was only slightly decreased in athak5 akt1 double mutants on low-K+ medium, double mutants failed to grow on medium containing up to 100 μ  m K+ and growth was impaired at concentrations up to 450 μ  m K+. Moreover, transfer of 3-d-old plants from high to low K+ concentrations led to growth defects and leaf chlorosis at 10 μ  m K+ in athak5 akt1 double mutant plants. Determination of Rb+(K+) uptake kinetics in wild-type and mutant roots using rubidium (86Rb+) as a tracer for K+ revealed that high-affinity Rb+(K+) uptake into roots is almost completely abolished in double mutants and impaired in single mutants. These results strongly indicate that AtHAK5 and AKT1 are the two major, physiologically relevant molecular entities mediating high-affinity K+ uptake into roots during seedling establishment and postgermination growth and that residual Rb+(K+) uptake measured in athak5 akt1 double mutant roots is insufficient to enable plant growth.
The Mechanism of Boron Mobility in Wheat and Canola Phloem
Authors: Stangoulis James , Tate Max , Graham Robin , Bucknall Martin , Palmer Lachlan , Boughton Berin , Reid Robert
Published: April 2010

Low-molecular-weight borate complexes were isolated from canola (Brassica napus) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) phloem exudates, as well as the cytoplasm of the fresh-water alga Chara corallina, and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Phloem exudate was collected from field-grown canola inflorescence stalks by shallow incision, while wheat phloem exudate was collected by aphid stylectomy. Chara cytoplasm was collected by careful manual separation of the cell wall, vacuole, and cytosolic compartments. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry showed the presence of isotopic borate complexes, at mass-to-charge ratio of 690.22/691.22 in the canola and wheat phloem and at 300.11/301.11 in canola phloem and Chara cytoplasm. Using reference compounds, the borate complexes with mass-to-charge ratio 690.22/691.22 was identified as a bis-sucrose (Suc) borate complex in which the 4,6-hydroxyl pairs from the two α-glucopyranoside moieties formed an [L2B]−1 complex. Further investigation using liquid chromatography electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of the bis-Suc borate complex in wheat phloem with a concentration up to 220 μ  m. The 300.11/301.11 complex was putatively identified as a bis-N-acetyl-serine borate complex but its concentration was below the detection limits of the liquid chromatography electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometer so could not be quantified. The presence of borate complexes in the phloem provides a mechanistic explanation for the observed phloem boron mobility in canola and wheat and other species that transport Suc as their primary photoassimilate.
An Autoinhibitory Domain Confers Redox Regulation to Maize Glycerate Kinase
Authors: Bartsch Oliver , Mikkat Stefan , Hagemann Martin , Bauwe Hermann
Published: April 2010

Glycerate 3-kinase (GLYK) is the terminal enzyme of the photorespiratory cycle in plants and many cyanobacteria. For several C4 plants, notably grasses of the NADP-malic enzyme (ME) subtype, redox regulation of GLYK has been reported, but the responsible molecular mechanism is not known. We have analyzed the enzyme from the NADP-ME C4 plant maize (Zea mays) and found that maize GLYK, in contrast to the enzyme from C3 plants and a dicotyledonous NADP-ME C4 plant, harbors a short carboxy-terminal extension. In its oxidized (night) form, a disulfide bridge is formed between the two cysteine residues present in this extra domain, and GLYK activity becomes inhibited. Cleavage of this bond by thioredoxin f produces the fully active thiol form, releasing autoinhibition. Fusion of the maize GLYK redox-regulatory domain to GLYK from C3 plants confers redox regulation to these otherwise unregulated enzymes. It appears that redox regulation of GLYK could be an exclusive feature of monocotyledonous C4 plants of the NADP-ME type, in which linear electron transport occurs only in the mesophyll chloroplasts. Hence, we suggest that GLYK, in addition to its function in photorespiration, provides glycerate 3-phosphate for the accelerated production of triose phosphate and its export from the mesophyll. This could facilitate the activation of redox-regulated Calvin cycle enzymes and the buildup of Calvin cycle intermediates in the bundle sheath of these particular C4 plants during the dark/light transition.
Effects of holding temperature and handling stress on the upper thermal tolerance of threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense
Authors: Monirian J. , Sutphin Z. , Myrick C.
Published: April 2010

The critical thermal maxima (TMAX) of threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense exposed to standardized stress (30 s handling in a dip‐net), simulating stressors endured during fish loading before transport, were measured over a range of holding temperatures (15, 20 and 25° C). Dorosoma petenense TMAX showed a significant thermal effect, displaying mean ±s.d. critical thermal maxima of 26·5 ± 1·6, 30·9 ± 1·2 and 33·3 ± 1·4° C, when tested at temperatures of 15, 20 and 25° C, respectively. Dorosoma petenense TMAX levels were also affected by stress, with handled fish showing significantly lower values than control fish exposed to 15 (mean ±s.d. TMAX = 25·6 ± 2·0° C), 20 (27·6 ± 2·8° C) and 25° C (32·0 ± 2·6° C). In addition to providing basic information on D. petenense thermal tolerance, experimental results suggest that fishery managers should consider the whole suite of potential stressors, such as air exposure during handling and fish loading, when developing management criteria.
Effects of the microcystin profile of a cyanobacterial bloom on growth and toxin accumulation in common carpCyprinus carpiolarvae
Authors: El Ghazali I. , Saqrane S. , Carvalho A. P. , Ouahid Y. , Del Campo F. F. , Vasconcelos V. , Oudra B.
Published: April 2010

A 12 day growth trial was conducted to compare the effect of the variation in microcystins (MC) composition of two bloom samples ofMicrocystis aeruginosaon the growth performance and microcystin accumulation in common carpCyprinus carpiolarvae. TwoM. aeruginosanatural bloom samples with different MC profiles were collected and larvae were exposed to cyanobacterial cells through their diet. Three diets, a basal control diet and two diets prepared from the basal diet plus the same toxins content (60 ng MC g−1diet) of each cyanobacterial bloom, were given at the same ration level to three groups of larvae during the experimental period. Larval mass and standard length from day 9 were significantly different between cyanobacterial treatments and in both cases lower than that of the control. The MC accumulation by larvae, inversely correlated with the growth performance, was also significantly different between cyanobacterial treatments (26·96v. 17·32 ng g−1at the end of the experimental period). These results indicate that MC variants profile may have effects on the toxin uptake and toxicity. To date, this is the first laboratory study to show that fish accumulate MC depending on the toxin profile of the cyanobacterial bloom.
Migration depths of adult steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in relation to dissolved gas supersaturation in a regulated river system
Authors: Johnson E. L. , Clabough T. S. , Caudill C. C. , Keefer M. L. , Peery C. A. , Richmond M. C.
Published: April 2010

Adult steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss tagged with archival transmitters primarily migrated through a large river corridor at depths >2 m interspersed with frequent but short (<5 min) periods closer to the surface. The recorded swimming depths and behaviours probably provided adequate hydrostatic compensation for the supersaturated dissolved gas conditions encountered and probably limited development of gas bubble disease (GBD). Results parallel those from a concurrent adult Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha study, except O. mykiss experienced greater seasonal variability and were more likely to have depth uncompensated supersaturation exposure in some dam tailraces, perhaps explaining the higher incidence of GBD in this species.
Variation in scale shape among alternative sympatric phenotypes of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus from two lakes in Scotland
Authors: Garduño‐Paz M. V. , Demetriou M. , Adams C. E.
Published: April 2010

Landmark‐based geometric morphometric analysis was used to detect differences in scale shape between ecologically distinct phenotypes of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus coexisting in the same lake. Relative warp analysis and standard multivariate analyses of the partial warps, obtained after a Procrustes superimposition, showed that scale landmarks were efficient in discriminating among two closely related alternative phenotypes within each of the two lakes. In Loch Tay, S. alpinus exhibited a bimodal body size‐frequency distribution among sexually mature fish, whereas in Loch Awe, S. alpinus are unimodal in body size but segregated into two distinct spawning phenotypes. In both lakes, alternative phenotypes showed significant differences in foraging ecology, habitat use and life history. It is probable that differences in scale shape reflect differences in ecology of these forms.
A new species of Profundulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Profundulidae) from the Honduran central highlands
Authors: Matamoros W. A. , Schaefer J. F.
Published: April 2010

A new species of Profundulus, Profundulus portillorum, from the Honduran central highlands is described. Profundulus portillorum belongs to the Profundulus labialis species group and is distinct from the Profundulus punctatus species group in that it lacks a humeral spot and less than half of the caudal fin is scaled. Within the P. labialis species group, P. portillorum has a more slender body, smaller eye, fewer anal rays, caudal rays and lateral‐line scales than other species. Forty‐one specimens were collected around emergent vegetation in the margins of two small (2–5 m in width, 20–40 cm in depth), high‐elevation (1300 m) tributaries of the Río Calam within the Río Ulúa drainage. These specimens represent the easternmost collection of any Profundulus and the first collection of any member of the P. labialis species group from Honduras.
Phase I study of inotuzumab ozogamicin (CMC‐544) in Japanese patients with follicular lymphoma pretreated with rituximab‐based therapy
Authors: Ogura Michinori , Tobinai Kensei , Hatake Kiyohiko , Uchida Toshiki , Kasai Masanobu , Oyama Takashi , Suzuki Tatsuya , Kobayashi Yukio , Watanabe Takashi , Azuma Teruhisa , Mori Masakazu , Terui Yasuhito , Yokoyama Masahiro , Mishima Yuko , Takahashi Shunji , Ono Chiho , Ohata Junko
Published: April 2010

Inotuzumab ozogamicin (CMC‐544), an antibody‐targeted chemotherapeutic agent composed of an anti‐CD22 antibody conjugated to calicheamicin, a potent cytotoxic antibiotic, specifically targets the CD22 antigen present in >90% of B‐lymphoid malignancies, rendering it useful for treating patients with B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (B‐NHL). This phase I study evaluated the safety, tolerability, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of inotuzumab ozogamicin in Japanese patients. Eligible patients had relapsed or refractory CD22‐positive B‐NHL without major organ dysfunction. Inotuzumab ozogamicin was administered intravenously once every 28 days (dose escalation: 1.3 and 1.8 mg/m2). All 13 patients had follicular lymphoma, were previously treated with ≥1 rituximab‐alone or rituximab‐containing chemotherapy, and were enrolled into two dose cohorts (1.3 mg/m2, three patients; 1.8 mg/m2, 10 patients). No patient had dose‐limiting toxicities, and the maximum tolerated dose, previously determined in non‐Japanese patients (1.8 mg/m2), was confirmed. Drug‐related adverse events (AEs) included thrombocytopenia (100%), leukopenia (92%), lymphopenia (85%), neutropenia (85%), elevated AST (85%), anorexia (85%), and nausea (77%). Grade 3/4 drug‐related AEs in ≥15% patients were thrombocytopenia (54%), lymphopenia (31%), neutropenia (31%), and leukopenia (15%). The AUC and Cmax of inotuzumab ozogamicin increased dose‐dependently with pharmacokinetic profiles similar to non‐Japanese. Seven patients had complete response (CR, 54%) including unconfirmed CR, four patients had partial response (31%), and two patients had stable disease (15%). The overall response rate was 85% (11/13). Inotuzumab ozogamicin was well tolerated at doses up to 1.8 mg/m2 and showed preliminary evidence of activity in relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma pretreated with rituximab‐containing therapy, warranting further investigations. This trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00717925). (Cancer Sci 2010)
Incidence of postmolar gestational trophoblastic disease in androgenetic moles and the morphological features associated with low risk postmolar gestational trophoblastic disease
Authors: Kaneki Eisuke , Kobayashi Hiroaki , Hirakawa Toshio , Matsuda Takao , Kato Hidenori , Wake Norio
Published: April 2010

In the present study, we evaluated the incidence of postmolar gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) in molar pregnancy. We also validated the macroscopic diagnosis based on the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) classification. A total of 297 samples of hydropic villi were classified according to DNA polymorphisms as androgenetic moles, dispermic triploids, or biparental diploids (hydropic abortion), clinically corresponding to complete hydatidiform mole (CHM), partial hydatidiform mole (PHM), and hydropic abortion, respectively. These samples were also classified morphologically based on the JSOG classification. A follow‐up study was performed to investigate the incidence of postmolar GTD. A subset of 267 samples eligible for testing were analyzed and diagnosed as androgenetic moles (232 cases), dispermic triploids (20 cases), and biparental diploids (15 cases). Most of the macroscopically diagnosed CHM cases were genetically androgenetic in origin. The PHM cases consisted of 30 androgenetic moles and 12 dispermic triploids. We reviewed the outcomes of 200 patients (178 cases of androgenetic mole, 13 cases of dispermic triploids, and nine cases of biparental diploids). Twenty‐eight cases (16%) of androgenetic moles developed postmolar GTD. None of the patients with dispermic triploids developed postmolar GTD. Among the 28 patients who developed postmolar GTD, the shortest diameter of the largest hydropic villi was significantly longer than that of patients not developing postmolar GTD. None of the patients with androgenetic moles who had hydropic villi <2 mm in their shortest diameter developed postmolar GTD. For the patients with dispermic triploids, the risk of postmolar GTD is extremely low. The risk of postmolar GTD is also low in patients with androgenetic moles with small hydropic villi. The JSOG classification based on the morphology of hydropic villi is reliable for the diagnosis of CHM, but inaccurate for the diagnosis of PHM or “microscopic” moles. (Cancer Sci 2010)
Chitin synthase‐deficient mutant of Fusarium oxysporum elicits tomato plant defence response and protects against wild‐type infection
Authors: PAREJA‐JAIME YOLANDA , MARTÍN‐URDÍROZ MAGDALENA , RONCERO MARÍA ISABEL GONZÁLEZ , GONZÁLEZ‐REYES JOSÉ ANTONIO , ROLDÁN MARÍA DEL CARMEN RUIZ
Published: April 2010

A mutant of the root pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, deficient in class V chitin synthase, has been shown previously to be nonvirulent. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the cause of its avirulence could be the elicitation of the induced plant defence response, leading to the restriction of fungal infection. Co‐inoculation of tomato plants with the wild‐type strain and the ΔchsV mutant resulted in a significant reduction in symptom development, supporting a protective mechanism exerted by the mutant. The ability of the mutant to penetrate and colonize plant tissues was determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as fluorescence microscopy using green fluorescent protein‐ or cherry fluorescent protein‐labelled fungal strains. The extent of wild‐type strain colonization in co‐inoculated plants decreased steadily throughout the infection process, as shown by the quantification of fungal biomass using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The hypothesis that defence responses are activated by the ΔchsV mutant was confirmed by the analysis of plant pathogenesis‐related genes using real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. Tomato plants inoculated with the ΔchsV mutant showed a three fold increase in endochitinase activity in comparison with wild‐type inoculated plants. Taken together, these results suggest that the perturbation of fungal cell wall biosynthesis results in elicitation of the plant defence response during the infection process.
Lecanicillium fungicola: causal agent of dry bubble disease in white‐button mushroom
Authors: BERENDSEN ROELAND L. , BAARS JOHAN J. P. , KALKHOVE STEFANIE I. C. , LUGONES LUIS G. , WÖSTEN HAN A. B. , BAKKER PETER A. H. M.
Published: April 2010

Lecanicillium fungicola causes dry bubble disease in commercially cultivated mushroom. This review summarizes current knowledge on the biology of the pathogen and the interaction between the pathogen and its most important host, the white‐button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. The ecology of the pathogen is discussed with emphasis on host range, dispersal and primary source of infection. In addition, current knowledge on mushroom defence mechanisms is reviewed.

Taxonomy: Lecanicillium fungicola (Preuss) Zare and Gams: Kingdom Fungi; Phylum Ascomycota; Subphylum Pezizomycotina; Class Sordariomycetes; Subclass Hypocreales; Order Hypocreomycetidae; Family Cordycipitaceae; genus Lecanicillium.

Host range: Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus bitorquis and Pleurotus ostreatus. Although its pathogenicity for other species has not been established, it has been isolated from numerous other basidiomycetes.

Disease symptoms: Disease symptoms vary from small necrotic lesions on the caps of the fruiting bodies to partially deformed fruiting bodies, called stipe blow‐out, or totally deformed and undifferentiated masses of mushroom tissue, called dry bubble. The disease symptoms and severity depend on the time point of infection. Small necrotic lesions result from late infections on the fruiting bodies, whereas stipe blow‐out and dry bubble are the result of interactions between the pathogen and the host in the casing layer.

Economic importance: Lecanicillium fungicola is a devastating pathogen in the mushroom industry and causes significant losses in the commercial production of its main host, Agaricus bisporus. Annual costs for mushroom growers are estimated at 2–4% of total revenue. Reports on the disease originate mainly from North America and Europe. Although China is the main producer of white‐button mushrooms in the world, little is known in the international literature about the impact of dry bubble disease in this region.

Control: The control of L. fungicola relies on strict hygiene and the use of fungicides. Few chemicals can be used for the control of dry bubble because the host is also sensitive to fungicides. Notably, the development of resistance of L. fungicola has been reported against the fungicides that are used to control dry bubble disease. In addition, some of these fungicides may be banned in the near future.

Useful websites: http://www.mycobank.org; http://www.isms.biz; http://www.cbs.knaw.nl
Impaired fetal growth decreases the risk of childhood atopic eczema: a Swedish twin study
Authors: Lundholm C. , Örtqvist A. K. , Lichtenstein P. , Cnattingius S. , Almqvist C.
Published: April 2010

Background
Studies have found associations between birth weight and risk of atopic eczema or allergic rhinitis (AR), although this could be due to confounding.

Objective
We sought to evaluate associations between fetal growth and the risk of atopic eczema or AR in childhood, controlling for gestational age (GA), shared (familial) environmental and genetic factors.

Methods
Data on atopic eczema, AR, birth characteristics and confounders were collected from registers and telephone interviews with the parents of 9‐ and 12‐year‐old twins. Firstly, cohort analyses on all twins (eczema n=10 132 and AR n=10 896) were performed. Secondly, to control for genetic and shared environment, co‐twin‐control analyses were performed in twin pairs discordant for atopic eczema (n=480) and AR (n=332).

Results
The rate of atopic eczema increased with birth weight, from 12.6% in twin children <2000 g to 17.3% in children 3500 g. The rate of AR varied between 7.8% and 8.8%. In the cohort analyses, the odds ratio (OR) for atopic eczema was 1.62 (95% CI: 1.27–2.06) for 500 g increase in birth weight and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.75–1.33) for AR. In co‐twin‐control analyses on atopic eczema, OR was 3.93 (95% CI: 1.55–9.98) for 500 g increase in birth weight, with no significant difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins (P=0.84).

Conclusions
We found a positive association between fetal growth and childhood atopic eczema, but not AR, independent of GA, shared environmental and genetic factors. This indicates fetal growth affects the immune system, and supports further studies on early mechanisms.

Cite this as: C. Lundholm, A. K. Örtqvist, P. Lichtenstein, S. Cnattingius and C. Almqvist, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1044–1053.