bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Crystal Structure of Thallium(I) Trithiocarbonate, Tl2CS3
Authors: Beck Johannes , Benz Sebastian
Published: April 2009

Thallium trithiocarbonate, Tl2CS3, was prepared by the reaction of Na2CS3 with TlNO3 in aqueous solution. Tl2CS3 has a low solubility and is precipitated as an orange powder. DSC measurements show Tl2CS3 to be stable up to 155 °C. Above this temperature exothermic decomposition under evolution of CS2 occurs. The crystal structure was determined based on powder diffraction data and Rietveld refinement (monoclinic, C2/c, a = 1143.33(1), b = 627.70(1), c = 916.03(1) pm, β = 118.77(1)°, Z = 4). The structure shows a close relationship and is isopointal to the structure of β‐Na2CS3 (Henseler, Jansen 1992). Tl+ has an irregular nonacoordination. The overall arrangement of the ions can be described as being analog to the anti‐CaF2 structure type with Tl+ making up a strongly distorted primitive cubic array and CS32– occupying one half of the cubical cavities. In the crystal, the D3h symmetry of the CS32– ions is lowered to the site symmetry C2 and a slight angular deformation is observed. This loss of symmetry is also observed in the Raman and IR spectra by the splitting of degenerate modes.
A Decade of Genetic Counseling in Frontotemporal Dementia Affected Families: Few Counseling Requests and much Familial Opposition to Testing
Authors: Riedijk S. R. , Niermeijer M. F. N. , Dooijes D. , Tibben A.
Published: April 2009

A decade of genetic counseling of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) affected families has generated two important observations. First, the uptake rate for presymptomatic testing for FTD is low in our department of Clinical Genetics at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands. Second, FTD at‐risk counselees reported substantial familial opposition to genetic testing, which is distinct from the attitude in Huntington Disease affected families. We hypothesize that the low acceptance for FTD genetic counseling is consequential to the familial opposition and explain this within the theoretical framework of separation‐individuation. Furthermore, we hypothesize that separation‐individuation problems do not similarly influence the acceptance of HD genetic counseling, due to the educative role of the well‐organised patient organization for HD in the Netherlands. We offer counseling recommendations that serve to facilitate the individuation of the counselee with respect to the FTD genetic test.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Two Commercial Reactive Dyes in Aqueous Phase Using Nanophotocatalysts
Authors: Kansal Sushil Kumar , Kaur Navjeet , Singh Sukhmehar
Published: April 2009

This study involves the photocatalytic degradation of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Reactive Orange 4 (RO4) dyes, employing heterogeneous photocatalytic process. Photocatalytic activity of different semiconductors such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) has been investigated. An attempt has been made to study the effect of process parameters through amount of catalyst, concentration of dye, and pH on photocatalytic degradation of RB5 and RO4. The experiments were carried out by varying pH (3–11), amount of catalyst (0.25–1.5 g/L), and initial concentration of dye (10–100 mg/L). The optimum catalyst dose was found to be 1.25 and 1 g/L for RB5 and RO4, respectively. In the case of RB5, maximum rate of decolorization was observed in acidic medium at pH 4, whereas the decolorization of RO4 reached maximum in basic region at pH 11. The performance of photocatalytic system employing ZnO/UV light was observed to be better than TiO2/UV system. The complete decolorization of RB5 was observed after 7 min with ZnO, whereas with TiO2, only 75% dye degraded in 7 min. In the case of RO4, 92 and 62% decolorization was noticed in the same duration.
Gap junctions in dorsal root ganglia: Possible contribution to visceral pain
Authors: Huang Tian‐Ying , Belzer Vitali , Hanani Menachem
Published: April 2009

Peripheral injuries can lead to sensitization of neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), which can contribute to chronic pain. The neurons are sensitized by a combination of physiological and biochemical changes, whose full details are still obscure. Another cellular element in DRGs are satellite glial cells (SGCs), which surround the neurons, but little is known about their role in nociception. We investigated the contribution of SGCs to neuronal sensitization in isolated S1 DRGs from a mouse model of colonic inflammation induced by local application of dinitrosulfonate benzoate (DNBS). Retrograde labeling was used to identify DRG neurons projecting to the colon. Cell‐to‐cell coupling was determined by intracellular dye injection, and the electrical properties of the neurons were studied with intracellular electrodes. Pain behavior was assessed with von‐Frey hairs. The dye injections showed that 10–12 days after DNBS application there was a 6.6‐fold increase in gap junction–mediated coupling between SGCs surrounding adjacent neurons, and this occurred preferentially (another 2‐fold increase) near neurons that project to the colon. Neuron–neuron coupling incidence increased from 0.7% to 12.1% by colonic inflammation. Inflammation led to an augmented neuronal excitability, and to a reduced pain threshold. Gap junction blockers abolished the inflammation‐induced changes in SGCs and neurons, and significantly reversed the pain behavior. We propose that inflammation induces augmented cell coupling in DRGs that contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability, which in turn leads to visceral pain. Gap junction blockers may have potential as analgesic drugs.
Maternal alcohol consumption may influence cord blood ascorbic acid concentration: findings from a study of Brazilian mothers and their newborns
Authors: Madruga de Oliveira Andréia , Rondó Patrícia H. C. , Oliveira Julicristie M.
Published: April 2009

Studies that have investigated ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations in cord blood have pointed to significant associations with maternal blood AA concentrations, smoking, age, diet, type of delivery, duration of gestation, fetal distress and birth weight. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between cord blood AA concentrations in newborns and maternal characteristics. A total of 117 Brazilian healthy parturients were included in this cross-sectional study. The concentrations of AA in blood were determined by the HPLC method. Data concerning socio-economic, demographic, obstetric, nutritional and health characteristics of the parturients, including alcohol consumption and smoking habit, were assessed by a standardised questionnaire. A FFQ was used to investigate the intake of foods rich in vitamin C. Cord blood AA concentration was significantly correlated with per capita income (r 0·26; P = 0·005), maternal blood AA concentration (r 0·48; P < 0·001) and maternal vitamin C-rich food intake score (r 0·36; P < 0·001). The linear regression model including maternal AA concentration, alcohol consumption, smoking, parity, vitamin C-rich food intake score and per capita income explained 31·13 % of the variation in cord blood AA concentrations in newborns. We recommend further experimental studies to assess the effects of ethanol on placental AA uptake, and epidemiological cohort studies to evaluate in detail the influence of maternal alcohol consumption on cord blood AA concentrations.
Fruit and vegetable consumption in older individuals in Northern Ireland: levels and patterns
Authors: Appleton Katherine M. , McGill Rory , Woodside Jayne V.
Published: April 2009

Low intakes of fruit and vegetables have previously been reported in the older population of Great Britain, particularly among certain socio-demographic groups. Levels and patterns of consumption in the older population of Northern Ireland, however, remain unknown. A representative sample of 1000 members of the older population of Northern Ireland were contacted by telephone to assess average intake of all fruits and vegetables and various demographic details. Data from 426 individuals (representative of the whole population) reported a mean consumption of 4·0 (sd 1·3) and 4·1 (sd 1·3) portions of fruit and vegetables per weekday and per weekend day respectively. Regression analyses revealed greater consumption on weekdays by females (B 0·53; P < 0·01), younger individuals (B − 0·02; P = 0·01) and those living in less deprived areas (B − 0·01; P = 0·04), and greater consumption at weekends by females (B 0·54; P < 0·01) and younger individuals (B − 0·03; P = 0·01). The amount of fruit and vegetables consumed is slightly higher than that reported in older populations in Great Britain, possibly as a result of differences in farming practices and rural activities, although levels of consumption remain below current recommendations for health. Patterns of consumption are similar across the UK, and suggest that strategies to increase fruit and vegetable consumption should target males, older individuals and those living in more deprived areas.
Shell development, growth and sexual dimorphism in the Recent thecideide brachiopod Thecidellina meyeri sp. nov. from the Lesser Antilles, Caribbean
Authors: Hoffmann Jana , Lüter Carsten
Published: April 2009

A new thecideide brachiopod species, Thecidellina meyeri, is described from the southern Lesser Antilles (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao), Caribbean Sea, with unique morphological characters which clearly separate it from all other described species of Thecidellina in the region. A virtually complete series of ontogenetic stages is recorded, providing insight into the plasticity of shell development during growth in thecideide brachiopods and offering a well-defined standard for comparison with fossil material. Study of the soft tissue suggests that T. meyeri is dioecious, which contradicts the idea of Thecidellina to be hermaphroditic. The limited distribution and the unexpectedly high species diversity within the genus Thecidellina in the Caribbean region support the idea of allopatric speciation due to limited dispersal ability.
Global tracking for robot manipulators using a simple causal PD controller plus feedforward
Authors: Nunes Eduardo V. L. , Hsu Liu
Published: April 2009

This paper shows that a well-known causal PD controller plus feedforward solves the global output feedback tracking control problem of robot manipulators, by requiring only the existence of the robot natural damping, no matter how small. To this end, we first demonstrate that a robot controlled by a causal PD is globally input-to-state stable (ISS) with respect to a bounded input disturbance. Then, we prove that the addition of a feedforward compensation renders the error system uniformly globally asymptotically stable. Furthermore, we present a possible extension to more general nonlinear systems and also to uncertain systems.
Künstlerische Therapien – Begriffsklärung
Authors: Hörmann Karl
Published: April 2009

Zusammenfassung. Zum Jubiläum des 20-jährigen Bestehens der vorliegenden Zeitschrift für künstlerische Therapien im Bildungs-, Sozial- und Gesundheitswesen wird an die Bedeutung der Bezeichnung „künstlerische Therapien” erinnert und von jener des musischen Tun und den darauf beruhenden Kreativtherapien abgegrenzt.
Testing the Significance of Difference in Average Rates of Change in Controlled Longitudinal Studies With High Dropout Rates
Authors: Overall John E. , Tonidandel Scott , Schmitz Joy M.
Published: April 2009

This article concerns methodology for testing the significance of differences in mean rates of change in controlled repeated measurements designs with limited sample sizes, autoregressive error structures, nonlinear patterns of underlying true mean change, dropout rates exceeding 50%, plus other missing data. Each of these is problematic for ordinary repeated measures analysis of variance, and a complex generalized linear mixed model formulation popularly advocated for the ability to deal with autoregressive error structures and missing data is shown to perform poorly in such circumstances. Monte Carlo simulation methods confirm that simple two-stage analyses of dropout-weighted linear slope coefficients provide conservative Type 1 error protection, although adequate power requires the presence of large treatment effects in studies with the limited sample sizes and high proportions of missing data. No other analysis has been documented to provide both conservative Type 1 error protection and competitive power under similarly taxing conditions.
Climate and ecosystem15N natural abundance along a transect of Inner Mongolian grasslands: Contrasting regional patterns and global patterns
Authors: Cheng Weixin , Chen Quansheng , Xu Yuqing , Han Xingguo , Li Linghao
Published: April 2009

Nitrogen isotopes provide integrated information about nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. This study explores the regional patterns of ecosystem15N abundance along a 1200 km transect in Inner Mongolian grasslands and their relationships with climate. Results indicate that climatic variables control approximately 50% of the variation in ecosystem15N abundance along the transect. Ecosystem15N abundance decreases as both mean annual precipitation (MAP) and mean annual temperature (MAT) increase. Regional patterns obtained from our study differ from reported global patterns. Ecosystem15N abundance is negatively correlated with MAT along the eastern part of the transect, while a positive correlation between MAT and ecosystem15N is apparent at the global scale. MAP exerts stronger controls on ecosystem15N abundance along the western part of the transect than what is shown in a global regression model. Ecosystem15N abundance in the western part of the transect is substantially higher (ca. 3‰) than the values projected by a global model. The Δ15Nsoil‐plant(‰) (difference inδ15N values between plant and soil) values in Inner Mongolian grasslands are not significantly correlated with either MAP or MAT; but Δ15Nsoil‐plantvalues are positively correlated with MAT and negatively correlated with MAP at the global scale. These conflicting trends strongly indicate that climatic controls on ecosystem15N abundance are scale‐dependent. Regional N deposition gradients, grazing‐induced ammonia volatilization, and variation in plant‐soil types are among the possible causes of these inconsistencies.
Concept of planetary thermal balance and global warming
Authors: Nickolaenko Alexander P.
Published: April 2009

The concept of Earth's thermal balance is used to suggest that solar energy absorbed by a planet is equal to the heat radiated from that planet. Such an approach substantially simplifies estimating the anthropogenic warming of the planet. We compare the solar irradiance with the current heat production caused by burning different kinds of fuel. We show that anthropogenic heating is able to cause global warming of 1°C in a century.
Modeling hydrography and marine sedimentation in the Cariaco Basin since the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Lane‐Serff G. F. , Pearce R. B.
Published: April 2009

The Cariaco Basin has shallow connections with the Caribbean Sea, and these are further reduced at times of lower sea level, such as at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). A numerical model was developed to describe the oceanography and biogenic sedimentation in the Cariaco Basin and nearby Caribbean. The model is run with different sea levels in order to simulate the changing oceanography and the development of deep water anoxia in the Cariaco Basin since the LGM. In the main sequence of numerical experiments, the surface forcing is kept fixed at present‐day values while the sea level is changed in order to separate the effects of sea level from the effects of climate. As the sea level rises, the main sedimentation zone moves first to the shallow broad northern sill and NE part of the Cariaco Basin and then, once sea level reaches approximately 60 m below present, moves south to the northern coast of mainland Venezuela. The model shows that there would be an overall increase in sedimentation in the basin as the sea level rises, even if there was no change in the surface forcing. However, the model also shows that sedimentation at particular points in the basin exhibits more complicated behavior, which needs to be taken into account when interpreting individual records. Preliminary numerical experiments examine the effects of changing surface forcing while keeping the sea level at LGM values, and the applicability of a mathematical hydraulic control model in this case is also considered.
A new mass conservation approach to the study of CO2 advection in an alpine forest
Authors: Montagnani Leonardo , Manca Giovanni , Canepa Elisa , Georgieva Emilia , Acosta Manuel , Feigenwinter Christian , Janous Dalibor , Kerschbaumer Günther , Lindroth Anders , Minach Luigi , Minerbi Stefano , Mölder Meelis , Pavelka Marian , Seufert Günther , Zeri Marcelo , Ziegler Waldemar
Published: April 2009

A new method is proposed for the computation of CO2 Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) and its components in a forest ecosystem. Advective flux is estimated by taking into account the air mass conservation principle. For this purpose, wind and dry air density values on the surface of the control volume are first corrected and then the advective flux is estimated on the surface of the control volume. Turbulent flux is also computed along the surface of the control volume while storage flux is computed inside the volume. Additional characteristics of this method are that incompressibility of the mean flow is not assumed a priori, and that vertical and horizontal advective fluxes are not treated separately, but their sum is estimated directly. The methodology is applied to experimental data collected with a three‐dimensional scheme at the alpine site of Renon during the Advex project (July 2005). The advection flux was found to be prevailing positive at night and negative during the day, as was found in previous studies on advection for the same site, but showed a lower scatter in half‐hour calculated values. We tested the effect of its summation on turbulent and storage fluxes to produce half‐hourly values of NEE. Nighttime NEE values were used in functional relations with soil temperature, daytime values with PPFD. The effect of addition of the advection component was an increase in the values of parameters indicating ecosystem respiration, quantum yield, and photosynthetic capacity. The coefficient of correlation between NEE and environmental drivers increased.
Lattice Boltzmann simulation of snow crystal growth in clouds
Authors: Lu Guoping , DePaolo Donald J. , Kang Qinjun , Zhang Dongxiao
Published: April 2009

The Lattice Boltzmann (LB) method can be used to simulate aspects of chemical reactions such as mineral precipitation from a fluid phase or condensation from a vapor phase. The LB method has the advantage of allowing the shape of the condensing phase to evolve depending on local conditions rather than being specified, so that the controls on condensed phase grain shape can be studied simultaneously with the controls on chemical composition and growth rate. We have used the LB approach to simulate the growth of ice crystals from water vapor‐oversaturated air as a first step in developing methods for treating more complex chemical reaction problems, including isotopic effects. The formation of ice crystals (i.e., snow) in air is a classic problem in diffusion‐limited crystal growth. There are many complexities, but the process is attractive for modeling purposes because it involves only one chemical component and there is abundant information on reaction kinetics and the relationships between crystal morphology and growth conditions. In this paper we describe the LB approach used, and address strategies for properly conserving mass at a surface of a growing “crystal,” the scaling of the calculations to the actual physical problem, and the conditions for growth of dendritic versus compact crystals.
Neogene uplift of central eastern Patagonia: Dynamic response to active spreading ridge subduction?
Authors: Guillaume Benjamin , Martinod Joseph , Husson Laurent , Roddaz Martin , Riquelme Rodrigo
Published: April 2009

The Chile Triple Junction (CTJ) episodically migrated northward during the past 14 Ma from 54°S to its present‐day position at 46°30′S, as different almost trench‐parallel spreading segments entered in subduction. This migration resulted in the opening of an asthenospheric window below Patagonia, inducing a disturbance in the regional mantle convection. On the overriding plate, the middle Miocene time corresponds to a major change in the central Patagonian basin dynamics, with a transition from subsidence to generalized uplift. The detailed mapping and the morphological study of post‐middle Miocene terraces evidence regional‐scale trench‐parallel tilt histories that differ depending on latitude. South of 46°30′S, the slopes of the fluvial terraces indicate a change from northward to southward tilt during late Miocene. Terraces younger than the early Pliocene do not show any trench‐parallel tilt. North of 46°30′S, in contrast, only northward tilt, active until the Pleistocene, is recorded. We use a semianalytical model of dynamic topography which suggests that the northward migration of the Chile Triple Junction should be accompanied by a dynamic uplift of the central Patagonian basin. Uplift would cause both north directed and south directed tilt, north and south of the triple junction, respectively, with values of ∼0.1–0.2% 500 km east of the trench. Tilt measured in the southeastern part of the central Patagonian basin (∼0.1%) is comparable to values predicted using the semianalytical model. The dynamic topography associated to the Chile ridge subduction may have exerted a major control on the Neogene dynamics of Patagonia.
A Bayesian approach for inversion of hydraulic tomographic data
Authors: Castagna Marta , Bellin Alberto
Published: April 2009

Hydraulic tomography is a promising methodology that shows the potential to map subsurface hydraulic properties at an unprecedented level of detail by interpreting a suite of hydraulic tests. In the present work, we apply the hydraulic tomography concept to a Multiple Pulse Multiple Receiver (MPMR) cross‐well configuration, which consists of two boreholes subdivided into intervals by packers. A short pressure (or flow) pulse is applied sequentially to all the intervals, and for each perturbation, the transient heads are recorded at the remaining intervals. The resulting tomograms are inverted within the Bayesian framework by using the pilot point approach. In addition to the values of the hydraulic conductivity at the pilot points, we assume that the stochastic parameters of the spatial variability model (the structural parameters) are unknown. Using synthetic two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional examples, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the MPMR configuration and the inversion procedure for characterizing the spatial variability of the hydraulic conductivity with limited or no prior information. We observed that increasing the number of source points (the locations at which the pulse is alternatively applied) provides more details on the spatial variability and that the parameters of the hydrogeological model of spatial variability are inferred with an acceptable, although variable, level of accuracy. In particular, the theoretical variance of the log conductivity is estimated with large errors, while the estimate of the anisotropic integral scales depends on the distance between the boreholes. Inversion preserves the overall spatial pattern of hydraulic conductivity, although low conductivity values are less connected in the inferred than in the true conductivity fields.
Basin‐scale, integrated observations of the early 21st century multiyear drought in southeast Australia
Authors: Leblanc Marc J. , Tregoning Paul , Ramillien Guillaume , Tweed Sarah O. , Fakes Adam
Published: April 2009

The Murray‐Darling Basin in southeast Australia is experiencing one of the most severe droughts observed recently in the world, driven by several years of rainfall deficits and record high temperatures. This paper provides new basin‐scale observations of the multiyear drought, integrated to a degree rarely achieved on such a large scale, to assess the response of water resources and the severity of the drought. A combination of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data with in situ and modeled hydrological data shows the propagation of the water deficit through the hydrological cycle and the rise of different types of drought. Our observations show the rapid drying of soil moisture and surface water storages, which reached near‐stationary low levels only ∼2 years after the onset of the drought in 2001, with a loss of ∼80 and ∼12 km3 between January 2001 and January 2003, respectively. The multiyear drought has led to the almost complete drying of surface water resources which account for most of the water used for irrigation and domestic purposes. High correlation between observed groundwater variations and GRACE data substantiates the persistent reduction in groundwater storage, with groundwater levels still declining 6 years after the onset of the drought (groundwater loss of ∼104 km3 between 2001 and 2007). The hydrological drought continues even though the region returned to average annual rainfall during 2007.
Grid Computing for Earth Science
Authors: Renard Philippe , Badoux Vincent , Petitdidier Monique , Cossu Roberto
Published: April 2009

The fundamental challenges facing humankind at the beginning of the 21st century require an effective response to the massive changes that are putting increasing pressure on the environment and society. The worldwide Earth science community, with its mosaic of disciplines and players (academia, industry, national surveys, international organizations, and so forth), provides a scientific basis for addressing issues such as the development of new energy resources; a secure water supply; safe storage of nuclear waste; the analysis, modeling, and mitigation of climate changes; and the assessment of natural and industrial risks. In addition, the Earth science community provides short‐ and medium‐term prediction of weather and natural hazards in real time, and model simulations of a host of phenomena relating to the Earth and its space environment. These capabilities require that the Earth science community utilize, both in real and remote time, massive amounts of data, which are usually distributed among many different organizations and data centers.
Arctic change science plan
Authors: Showstack Randy
Published: April 2009

The International Study of Arctic Change (ISAC) Draft Science Plan, which outlines an open‐ended international research program and framework for a comprehensive study of Arctic environmental change, is available for review and comment through 1 May 2009.
What Can Water Vapor Reveal About Past and Future Climate Change?: AGU Chapman Conference on Water Vapor and Its Role in Climate; Kailua‐Kona, Hawaii, 20–24 October 2008
Authors: Sherwood Steven C. , Andronova Natalia , Fetzer Eric , Kursinski E. Robert
Published: April 2009

An AGU Chapman Conference on water vapor was held in Hawaii with approximately 120 attendees from nine countries. The meeting began with a keynote presentation on the hydrological cycle and climate change and continued with sessions on issues related to the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere region (UT/LS), the interactions of convection and water vapor, and the behavior of water vapor on large scales and in future and past climates.
Shelly Receives 2008 Keiiti Aki Young Scientist Award
Authors: Beroza Gregory C. , Shelly David R.
Published: April 2009

David R. Shelly received the 2008 Keiiti Aki Young Scientist Award at the 2008 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held 17 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes the scientific accomplishments of a junior scientist who makes outstanding contributions to the advancement of seismology.
Lagroix Receives 2008 William Gilbert Award
Authors: Moskowitz Bruce M. , Banerjee Subir K. , Lagroix France
Published: April 2009

France Lagroix received the William Gilbert Award at the 2008 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held 17 December in San Francisco, Calif. The award recognizes outstanding and unselfish work in magnetism of Earth materials and of the Earth and planets.
New Editors Appointed for Sections of Journal of Geophysical Research
Authors: Anonymous
Published: April 2009

New editors have been appointed for the Atmospheres, Biogeosciences, and Oceans sections of the Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR).

Joost de Gouw (NOAA, Boulder, Colo.) and Renyi Zhang (Texas A&M, College Station) are filling the vacancies of retiring Atmospheres section editors John Austin and Jose Fuentes. De Gouw and Zhang join the continuing editors Steven Ghan and Yinon Rudich. Sara Pryor (Indiana University, Bloomington) is joining the Atmospheres section editorial board as an associate editor now; she will transition to editor in January 2010.
A novel symbiosis between chemoautotrophic bacteria and a freshwater cave amphipod
Authors: Dattagupta Sharmishtha , Schaperdoth Irene , Montanari Alessandro , Mariani Sandro , Kita Noriko , Valley John W , Macalady Jennifer L
Published: April 2009

Symbioses involving animals and chemoautotrophic bacteria form the foundation of entire ecosystems at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, but have so far not been reported in terrestrial or freshwater environments. A rare example of a terrestrial ecosystem sustained by chemoautotrophy is found within the sulfide-rich Frasassi limestone cave complex of central Italy. In this study, we report the discovery of abundant filamentous bacteria on the exoskeleton of Niphargus ictus, a macroinvertebrate endemic to Frasassi. Using 16S rDNA sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), we show that N. ictus throughout the large cave complex are colonized by a single phylotype of bacteria in the sulfur-oxidizing clade Thiothrix. The epibiont phylotype is distinct from Thiothrix phylotypes that form conspicuous biofilms in the cave streams and pools inhabited by N. ictus. Using a combination of 13C labeling, FISH, and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), we show that the epibiotic Thiothrix are autotrophic, establishing the first known example of a non-marine chemoautotroph-animal symbiosis. Conditions supporting chemoautotrophy, and the N. ictus-Thiothrix association, likely commenced in the Frasassi cave complex between 350 000 and 1 million years ago. Therefore, the N. ictus-Thiothrix symbiosis is probably significantly younger than marine chemoautotrophic symbioses, many of which have been evolving for tens to hundreds of million years.
Characterization of the complex bacterial communities colonizing biliary stents reveals a host-dependent diversity
Authors: Scheithauer Britta K , Wos-Oxley Melissa L , Ferslev Björn , Jablonowski Helmut , Pieper Dietmar H
Published: April 2009

This study provides a comprehensive survey of the spatial and temporal bacterial composition of biliary stent biofilms. The bacterial diversity, distribution and dynamics of 59 biliary and 4 pancreatic stent communities from 40 patients being treated at two different hospitals, which implant stents either simultaneously or consecutively, were characterized by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Fifty-one phylotypes belonging to 5 bacterial phyla and 24 bacterial families were detected across 63 stents. This is a much broader diversity than previously detected through culture-dependent methods, particularly in regard to the diversity of obligate anaerobes. Stent bacterial diversity was patient-dependent and more similar when stents were implanted simultaneously rather than consecutively. Stent bacterial community composition differed between hospitals specifically because of the difference in abundance of Bifidobacteria. Co-colonization of Veillonella sp., Streptococcus anginosus and organisms closely related to Fusobacterium nucleatum revealed a potentially important attachment and survival strategy that has yet to be reported in biliary stents. This work reveals a more complete survey of the identities of bacterial species that form biofilms in biliary stents, their co-colonization patterns and the natural variation in species composition between different patients, hospitals and locations along the stent. Consideration of the community composition from individual patients will allow tailoring of prophylactic antibiotic treatments and thus will make the management of stent biofilms more effective.
Subcutaneous Fat Shows Higher Thyroid Hormone Receptor‐α1 Gene Expression Than Omental Fat
Authors: Ortega Francisco J. , Moreno‐Navarrete José M. , Ribas Vicent , Esteve Eduardo , Rodriguez‐Hermosa Jose I. , Ruiz Bartomeu , Peral Belén , Ricart Wifredo , Zorzano Antonio , Fernández‐Real José M.
Published: April 2009

The aims of this work were to evaluate thyroid hormone receptor‐α (TRα), TRα1, and TRα2 mRNA gene expression and TRα1:TRα2 ratio, identified as candidate factors for explaining regional differences between human adipose tissue depots. TRα, TRα1, and TRα2 mRNA levels, and the gene expressions of arginine–serine‐rich, splicing factor 2 (SF2), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (hnRNP H1), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1), and Spot 14 (S14) were evaluated in 76 paired adipose tissue samples obtained from a population of 38 women who varied widely in terms of obesity and body fat distribution. Gene expression for these factors was also studied in stromal‐vascular cells (SVCs) and mature adipocytes (MAs) from eight paired fat depots. TRα gene and TRα1 mRNA expression were increased 1.46‐fold (P = 0.006) and 1.80‐fold (P < 0.0001), respectively, in subcutaneous (SC) vs. visceral fat. These differences in gene expression levels were most significant in the obese group, in which the TRα1:TRα2 ratio was 2.24‐fold (P < 0.0001) higher in SC vs. visceral fat. S14 gene expression was also increased by 2.42‐fold (P < 0.0001) and correlated significantly with TRα and TRα1 gene expression and with the TRα1:TRα2 ratio. In agreement with these findings, hnRNP A1:SF2 ratio was decreased by 1.39‐fold (P = 0.001). TRα and S14 levels were 2.1‐fold (P < 0.0001) and 112.4‐fold (P < 0.0001), respectively, higher in MAs than in SVCs from both fat depots. In summary, genes for TR‐α, their upstream regulators, and downstream effectors were differentially expressed in SC vs. omental (OM) adipose tissue. Our findings suggest that TRα1 could contribute to SC adipose tissue expandability in obese subjects.
BMI, Waist Circumference, and Mortality According to Health Status in the Older Adult Population of Spain
Authors: Guallar‐Castillón Pilar , Balboa‐Castillo Teresa , López‐García Esther , León‐Muñoz Luz M. , Gutiérrez‐Fisac Juan L. , Banegas José R. , Rodríguez‐Artalejo Fernando
Published: April 2009

Among the explanations proposed for the weak and inconsistent association between BMI and mortality in the elderly are the lack of adjustment for waist circumference (WC) and that the association varies with health status. This work examines the independent association of BMI and WC with mortality in older adults, and the influence of health status on this association. A cohort of 3,536 persons representative of the Spanish population aged ≥60 years was selected in 2000 and 2001, and followed prospectively until 2007. The analyses were performed with Cox models and adjusted for the main confounders. During follow‐up, 659 persons died (18.6% of the cohort). Before adjusting for WC, mortality in the upper quartile of BMI was 15% lower than in the lower quartile (hazard ratio (HR): 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.66–1.08; P for linear trend = 0.076). After adjusting for WC, the association was even stronger, so that mortality in the upper quartile of BMI was 37% lower than in the lower quartile (HR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.45–0.88; P for linear trend < 0.003). Before adjusting for BMI, no association was observed between WC and mortality. After adjusting for BMI, WC was positively associated with mortality (HR for upper vs. lower quartile of WC: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.07–2.05; P for linear trend = 0.008). These associations were mainly observed in those with limitations in mobility and agility. BMI has an inverse, and WC has a direct, independent association with mortality in older adults, particularly in those with worse health status.
Risk Factors for Adult Overweight and Obesity in the Quebec Family Study: Have We Been Barking Up the Wrong Tree?
Authors: Chaput Jean‐Philippe , Leblanc Claude , Pérusse Louis , Després Jean‐Pierre , Bouchard Claude , Tremblay Angelo
Published: April 2009

The aim of this study was to determine the independent contribution of previously reported risk factors for adult overweight and obesity. A cross‐sectional (n = 537) and a longitudinal (n = 283; 6‐year follow‐up period) analysis was performed for nine risk factors for overweight and obesity assessed in adult participants (aged 18–64 years) of the Quebec Family Study (QFS). The main outcome measure was overweight/obesity, defined as a BMI ≥25 kg/m2. Using logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic status, short sleep duration, high disinhibition eating behavior, low dietary calcium intake, high susceptibility to hunger behavior, nonparticipation in high‐intensity physical exercise, high dietary restraint behavior, nonconsumption of multivitamin and dietary supplements, high dietary lipid intake, and high alcohol intake were all significantly associated with overweight and obesity in the cross‐sectional sample. The analysis of covariance adjusted for age, socioeconomic status, and all other risk factors revealed that only individuals characterized by short sleep duration, high disinhibition eating behavior, and low dietary calcium intake had significantly higher BMI compared to the reference category in both sexes. Over the 6‐year follow‐up period, short‐duration sleepers, low calcium consumers, and those with a high disinhibition and restraint eating behavior score were significantly more likely to gain weight and develop obesity. These results show that excess body weight or weight gain results from a number of obesogenic behaviors that have received considerable attention over the past decade. They also indicate that the four factors, which have the best predictive potential of variations in BMI, be it in a cross‐sectional or a longitudinal analytical design, do not have a “caloric value” per se.
An Ex Ante Framework for the Strategic Study of Social Utility of Sport Events
Authors: Schulenkorf Nico
Published: April 2009

The area of sport event tourism has been growing over the past decade, which has led to an increasing amount of research on both the economic and social impacts of sport events. Whereas a substantial number of ex post assessment frameworks for event evaluation is available, there is growing demand for process- orientated ex ante frameworks that guide the strategic study of social utility of events. To address this issue, this paper presents a framework suitable for theoretical and practical research in the area of inter-community sport events. It combines the areas of community participation, intergroup relations, social identity and event impacts in a process towards generating social development within and among communities. The ex ante framework is designed to support the strategic investigation of inter-community sport events and their contribution to social capital, social change and capacity building, and ultimately the enhancement of communities' quality of life.
Genetic parameters for bodyweight, wool, and disease resistance and reproduction traits in Merino sheep. 3. Genetic relationships between ultrasound scan traits and other traits
Authors: Huisman A. E. , Brown D. J.
Published: April 2009

The Australian Merino is the predominant genetic resource for both the lamb and sheep meat industries of Australia. There are very few studies that provide information on the relationships between wool and non-wool traits. This paper describes the genetic relationships between ultrasound scan traits and wool, disease resistance and reproduction traits in Merino sheep. Fleece weight and fibre diameter coefficient of variation were negatively correlated with ultrasound scanned fat and eye muscle depth (–0.10). Staple length, fibre curvature, and scrotal circumference were not correlated with scanned fat or eye muscle depth. Staple strength, number of lambs born and number of lambs weaned had a positive genetic correlation with fat and eye muscle depth (0.20–0.30). Faecal egg count had a negative genetic correlation with scanned fat (–0.10) and scanned eye muscle depth (–0.20). Results indicate that the combined improvement of carcass and wool characteristics in Merino sheep is possible.
Quantitative analysis of performance, carcass and meat quality traits in cattle from two Australian beef herds in which a null myostatin allele is segregating
Authors: Rourke B. A. O' , Dennis J. A. , Healy P. J. , McKiernan W. A. , Greenwood P. L. , Cafe L. M. , Perry D. , Walker K. H. , Marsh I. , Parnell P. F. , Arthur P. F.
Published: April 2009

Two Australian beef cattle herds, in which selection for muscularity was a primary objective, were used in this study to identify bovine myostatin (MSTN) mutations associated with increased muscling, and to assess associations between genotype and performance, carcass and meat quality traits. One was a research herd (herd A) established from Angus × Hereford cows, and comprised a high and low muscle selection line. The other (herd B) was a commercial beef enterprise with cattle of Angus and Charolais origin. Sequencing of the MSTN coding region and flanking splice junctions in an initial sample of 34 animals from both herds identified the 821 del11 mutation as well as six other polymorphic sites. The nucleotide 374–50C > T polymorphism in intron 1 was found to be in linkage disequilibrium with the 821 del11 mutation, with both variants confined to the high muscle selection line in herd A. No other variants were exclusive to either of the two herd A selection lines. The effect of the 821 del11 mutation was further investigated in a total of 803 cattle from both herds. A relatively high prevalence of 821 del11 heterozygotes (herd A 16%; herd B 23%) was found and heterozygotes had significant advantages in eye muscle area and muscle score over their wildtype counterparts, and did not differ in meat quality. Retail beef yield from steers was higher for the 821 del11 heterozygotes from herd A (67.0 v. 63.5%) and herd B (71.8 v. 68.6%), relative to homozygous wildtype contemporaries, demonstrating the benefits of incorporating single null MSTN alleles into breeding programs.
Programming sheep production on saltbush: adaptations of offspring from ewes that consumed high amounts of salt during pregnancy and early lactation
Authors: Chadwick M. A. , Vercoe P. E. , Williams I. H. , Revell D. K.
Published: April 2009

We investigated if feeding a high salt diet (pellet containing 14% NaCl) or saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) to ewes between day 60 of gestation and day 21 of lactation would allow their offspring to gain more weight, and produce more wool, when grazing saltbush as adults compared to offspring from ewes that were fed a control diet (2% NaCl) or grazed pasture.
At 10 months of age, offspring grazed saltbush for 8 weeks then dry pasture for 2 weeks. Throughout this time, liveweights, plasma renin activity and wool growth (g/day) were measured. Greasy and clean fleece weights, and fleece characteristics were measured at 14 months of age, and greasy fleece weight was measured again at 22 months after grazing pasture.
Offspring from ewes that consumed the high salt pellet had an 8 and 10% increased fleece weight at 14 and 22 months of age, respectively (P ≤ 0.01). Offspring of ewes that consumed saltbush also showed an 8% increase in greasy fleece weight at 22 months of age (P ≤ 0.05). Offspring from ewes that consumed saltbush had lower plasma renin activity and gained tissue weight when grazing saltbush (P ≤ 0.05), whereas the other three treatment groups all lost weight (P > 0.05).
Grazing pregnant ewes on saltbush induces important adaptations in plasma renin activity of their offspring, which allows them to gain weight when grazing saltbush as adults and may also increase the density of their wool follicles. Grazing pregnant ewes on saltbush can profit farmers in three main ways: (i) ability to utilise salt-affected land; (ii) increase weight gain of sheep when grazing saltbush; and (iii) increase fleece weight.
Cooperative regulation of p53 by modulation of ternary complex formation with CBP/p300 and HDM2
Authors: Ferreon Josephine C. , Lee Chul Won , Arai Munehito , Martinez-Yamout Maria A. , Dyson H. Jane , Wright Peter E.
Published: April 2009

The tumor suppressor activity of p53 is regulated by interactions with the ubiquitin ligase HDM2 and the general transcriptional coactivators CBP and p300. Using NMR spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry, we have dissected the binding interactions between the N-terminal transactivation domain (TAD) of p53, the TAZ1, TAZ2, KIX, and nuclear receptor coactivator binding domains of CBP, and the p53-binding domain of HDM2. The p53 TAD contains amphipathic binding motifs within the AD1 and AD2 regions that mediate interactions with CBP and HDM2. Binding of the p53 TAD to CBP domains is dominated by interactions with AD2, although the affinity is enhanced by additional interactions with AD1. In contrast, binding of p53 TAD to HDM2 is mediated primarily by AD1. The p53 TAD can bind simultaneously to HDM2 (through AD1) and to any one of the CBP domains (through AD2) to form a ternary complex. Phosphorylation of p53 at T18 impairs binding to HDM2 and enhances affinity for the CBP KIX domain. Multisite phosphorylation of the p53 TAD at S15, T18, and S20 leads to increased affinity for the TAZ1 and KIX domains of CBP. These observations suggest a mechanism whereby HDM2 and CBP/p300 function synergistically to regulate the p53 response. In unstressed cells, CBP/p300, HDM2 and p53 form a ternary complex that promotes polyubiquitination and degradation of p53. After cellular stress and DNA damage, p53 becomes phosphorylated at T18 and other residues in the AD1 region, releases HDM2 and binds preferentially to CBP/p300, leading to stabilization and activation of p53.
A unique basaltic micrometeorite expands the inventory of solar system planetary crusts
Authors: Gounelle Matthieu , Chaussidon Marc , Morbidelli Alessandro , Barrat Jean-Alix , Engrand Cécile , Zolensky Michael E. , McKeegan Kevin D.
Published: April 2009

Micrometeorites with diameter ≈100–200 μm dominate the flux of extraterrestrial matter on Earth. The vast majority of micrometeorites are chemically, mineralogically, and isotopically related to carbonaceous chondrites, which amount to only 2.5% of meteorite falls. Here, we report the discovery of the first basaltic micrometeorite (MM40). This micrometeorite is unlike any other basalt known in the solar system as revealed by isotopic data, mineral chemistry, and trace element abundances. The discovery of a new basaltic asteroidal surface expands the solar system inventory of planetary crusts and underlines the importance of micrometeorites for sampling the asteroids' surfaces in a way complementary to meteorites, mainly because they do not suffer dynamical biases as meteorites do. The parent asteroid of MM40 has undergone extensive metamorphism, which ended no earlier than 7.9 Myr after solar system formation. Numerical simulations of dust transport dynamics suggest that MM40 might originate from one of the recently discovered basaltic asteroids that are not members of the Vesta family. The ability to retrieve such a wealth of information from this tiny (a few micrograms) sample is auspicious some years before the launch of a Mars sample return mission.