bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunisation against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) increases growth and reduces variability in group-housed boars
Authors: Dunshea F. R. , Cronin G. M. , Barnett J. L. , Hemsworth P. H. , Hennessy D. P. , Campbell R. G. , Luxford B. , Smits R. J. , Tilbrook A. J. , King R. H. , McCauley I.
Published: August 2011

It is generally accepted that entire boars are leaner and more efficient than barrows but that they have poorer meat quality with an increased risk of boar taint. An additional issue in producing boars to meet market specifications is variation in growth performance, which may be exacerbated by high levels of aggression and mounting behaviour in group-housed animals. Immunisation against gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), leading to immunological castration, offers a means of reducing aggression and mounting behaviour while maintaining most of the production efficiencies associated with entire boars. A total of 120 control boars, 120 immunised boars and 60 barrows (physically castrated at 5 days of age) were used in a study conducted in two replicates. Each replicate consisted of two pens each of boars, immunised boars and barrows, each pen containing 15 pigs, and two blocks of 15 individually-housed boars and immunised boars. The group-housed pigs had access to two single place electronic feeders per pen. Immunised boars were given the anti-GnRH vaccine (Improvac) at 14 and 18 weeks of age. In the 2 weeks immediately after the secondary immunisation at 18 weeks, average daily gain was greater in the immunised boars than the boars or barrows, particularly in those that were group housed, as indicated by the interaction (P = 0.035). From 18 to 23 weeks of age average daily gain was greater (P = 0.005) in immunised boars than in control boars and barrows and was greater (P < 0.001) in individually- than in group-housed pigs. The average daily gain of group-housed immunised boars and individually-housed control boars were similar over the 5-week period after secondary immunisation (1090 vs 1099 g/day), being ~20 and 15% higher than the group-housed control boars and barrows, respectively. The average daily feed intake was greater (P = 0.011) in immunised boars than in control boars with barrows intermediate. The standard deviation of bodyweight increased with age but was lower (P from 0.032 to 0.09) in immunised boars than in control boars and barrows between 18 and 22 and 17 and 21 weeks of age. Carcass fighting damage and pork pH were higher (P < 0.05) for control boars than for immunised boars or barrows. In conclusion, immunisation against GnRH increased average daily gain and average daily feed intake while decreasing variation in bodyweight and improving carcass and pork quality.
On-farm greenhouse gas emissions and water use: case studies in the Queensland beef industry
Authors: Eady Sandra , Viner James , MacDonnell Justin
Published: August 2011

In response to climate change, research is being undertaken to understand the on-farm greenhouse gas emissions and water use for agricultural systems and investigate options farmers may have for mitigating or offsetting emissions. In the present study, a life cycle assessment framework is used to determine on-farm GHG emissions and water use, and the overall ‘cradle-to-farm gate’ GHG emissions and water use attributed to beef production. The total on-farm emissions for the two properties were 2984 t CO2-e/year (or 1.93 t CO2-e/livestock unit) for the 634-cow enterprise turning off weaner cattle at Gympie and 5725 t CO2-e/year (or 1.70 t CO2-e/livestock unit) for the 720-cow enterprise turning off finished steers in the Arcadia Valley. The on-farm emissions are largely attributable to enteric methane emissions from the beef herd. The overall ‘cradle-to-farm gate’ GHG emissions associated with enterprise products were 3145 t CO2-e/year at Gympie and 7253 t CO2-e/year in the Arcadia Valley, with the additional emissions coming from off-farm inputs (fuel for farm vehicles and earth-moving equipment, electricity, supplementary feed, agricultural chemicals, farm services) and additionally, for the Arcadia Valley enterprise, from purchased store steers. The carbon footprint of beef products at the farm gate ranged from 17.5 to 22.9 kg CO2-e/kg liveweight at Gympie, where wearers are the primary product, and from 11.6 to 15.5 kg CO2-e/kg liveweight in the Arcadia Valley, where finished steers are the primary product. Green water use ranged from 7400 to 12 700 L/kg liveweight depending on class of livestock, with on-farm blue water use of 51–96 L/kg liveweight and off-farm blue water use of 0.1–59 L/kg liveweight. The ability to offset on-farm GHG emissions through reforestation varied between the two locations, with predicted biosequestration rates of 19.3–34.7 t CO2-e/ha per year at Gympie (rainfall 1200 mm/year) from eucalypt plantation and 1.5–9.8 t CO2-e/ha per year in the Arcadia Valley (rainfall 600 mm/year) through reforestation from a combination of brigalow regrowth, leucaena and environmental eucalypt plantings. The area that would need to be reforested to offset on-farm emissions (over a 30-year time horizon) would be 86–155 ha at Gympie (7–13% of the holding) and 629–4108 ha in the Arcadia Valley (9–60%). If carbon sequestration could be achieved at the higher end of the rates nominated, a significant proportion of on-farm emissions could be offset by sequestration in timber, with minimal impact on beef production. However, at the lower end of the forest sequestration range, the required level of land-use change would reduce the carrying capacity, and hence beef production, especially at the Arcadia Valley site.
DNA-induced narrowing of the gyrase N-gate coordinates T-segment capture and strand passage
Authors: Gubaev Airat , Klostermeier Dagmar
Published: August 2011

DNA gyrase introduces negative supercoils into DNA in an ATP-dependent reaction. DNA supercoiling is catalyzed by a strand-passage mechanism, in which a T-segment of DNA is passed through the gap in a transiently cleaved G-segment. Strand passage requires the coordinated closing and opening of three protein interfaces in gyrase, the N-gate, DNA-gate, and C-gate. We show here that DNA binding to the DNA-gate of gyrase and wrapping of DNA around the C-terminal domains of GyrA induces a narrowing of the N-gate. This half-closed state prepares capture of a T-segment in the upper cavity of gyrase. Subsequent N-gate closure upon binding of ATP then poises the reaction toward strand passage. The N-gate reopens after ATP hydrolysis, allowing for further catalytic cycles. DNA binding, cleavage, and wrapping and N-gate narrowing are intimately linked events that coordinate conformational changes at the DNA and the N-gate.
Time-resolved energy transduction in a quantum capacitor
Authors: Jung Woojin , Cho Doohee , Kim Min-Kook , Choi Hyoung Joon , Lyo In-Whan
Published: August 2011

The capability to deposit charge and energy quantum-by-quantum into a specific atomic site could lead to many previously unidentified applications. Here we report on the quantum capacitor formed by a strongly localized field possessing such capability. We investigated the charging dynamics of such a capacitor by using the unique scanning tunneling microscopy that combines nanosecond temporal and subangstrom spatial resolutions, and by using Si(001) as the electrode as well as the detector for excitations produced by the charging transitions. We show that sudden switching of a localized field induces a transiently empty quantum dot at the surface and that the dot acts as a tunable excitation source with subangstrom site selectivity. The timescale in the deexcitation of the dot suggests the formation of long-lived, excited states. Our study illustrates that a quantum capacitor has serious implications not only for the bottom-up nanotechnology but also for future switching devices.
Can research into the diagnostic testing of reading in a second or foreign language contribute to SLA research?
Authors: Alderson J.Charles , Huhta Ari
Published: August 2011

Language testing researchers have recently shown interest in diagnostic testing. However, diagnostic testing requires a better understanding of language abilities at a less general level than has been normal in language testing, and this has posed challenges to testers to define their diagnostic constructs both theoretically and operationally. In theory, second language acquisition (SLA) should be able to offer insights into the construct of reading in a second or foreign language (S/FL), and testing ought to be able to base diagnostic tests of S/FL reading on theoretical insights from SLA. It is, however, unclear whether this happens in practice. In this paper we examine the potential synergy between second language acquisition and second and foreign language testing, and we report on progress in three inter-related research projects into S/FL reading.
Developing a lexical profiler for spoken French L2 and Italian L2
Authors: Bardel Camilla , Lindqvist Christina
Published: August 2011

This study is a follow-up to Lindqvist et al. (to press), where we investigated lexical frequency profiles of learners of French and Italian at different proficiency levels. By analyzing the proportion of low-frequency words used by the learners, we could distinguish proficiency levels that differ significantly at group level and correspond to morphosyntactic proficiency levels. However, some individual results within the groups indicated a need to analyze individual profiles in order to get a better picture of the actual quality of the learner’s vocabulary knowledge. The present study focuses on thematic vocabulary and cognates among the low-frequency words used by learners at different proficiency levels. We suggest that investigating qualitative aspects of learners’ word knowledge is a fruitful complement to traditional lexical profiling analysis. Such a combination can lead to a more complete picture of learners’ lexical profiles. Although we are aware that word frequency is known to be a powerful factor in vocabulary acquisition, our on-going research aims at developing a more general lexical profiler that integrates additional aspects that we have found to be relevant for learnability.
Gossamer or bindweed?
Authors: Meara Paul
Published: August 2011

This paper reports a single-subject study of word associations in English. The work uses an innovative research methodology which makes it possible to examine very large numbers of associations. From this we can make some reasonably reliable estimates about the global and local structure of the association network of the Subject. The data suggests that this network is more dense than some common metaphorical descriptions of lexical networks imply. Some of the implications of this for models of L2 vocabulary development are briefly explored.
Feature composition in Differential Object Marking
Authors: Guijarro-Fuentes Pedro
Published: August 2011

In this paper we examine the acquisition of interpretable features in English L2 learners of Spanish by investigating the personal preposition a in Spanish. The presence of a in direct object NPs relates to the animacy/specificity of the NP, the animacy/agentivity of the subject and the semantics of the predicate (Torrego, 1998; Zagona, 2002); that is, personal a is constrained by the interpretability of semantic features. Forty-nine English L2 learners of Spanish of different proficiency levels, and 16 Spanish controls participated in an Acceptability Judgement task. The results showed that L2 learners of Spanish across three proficiency levels behaved differently from native speakers of Spanish. The L2 learners seem to have attained some of the interpretable features (i.e., [±animate]) of the Spanish a-DP direct objects, but reveal delays with others. Nonetheless, our data illustrate partial convergence by advanced learners with the native speakers: some interpretable features are attainable, while others may be less accessible and subject to developmental processes. In analyzing our data we draw on Lardiere’s (2008, 2009) Feature Reassembly Hypothesis, but expanded and extended it in an attempt to critically evaluate and broaden it.
Beyond canonical order
Authors: Bettoni Camilla , Di Biase Bruno
Published: August 2011

Learners can go a long way in making themselves understood by mapping conceptual arguments such as agent, event and patient straight onto canonical word order. However, in order to optimise communicative intentions they need to go beyond it. We will discuss such notions as canonical order, functional assignment and marked word orders within the framework of Processability Theory. This SLA theory seems particularly suited to do so, having recently expanded its scope by adding a discourse-pragmatically motivated syntactic component to the original morpho-syntactic one. We take Italian as an example, a head-marking, pro-drop language located towards the less configurational end of the typological spectrum, characterised by a rich morphology and a flexible syntax which is highly sensitive to pragmatic and discourse choices. For these typological characteristics Italian is well suited for testing how learners acquire the skills to free up the rigidity of canonical order, and learn to add their own perspective and emphases to the propositional content in order to guide the listener’s attention, e.g., by topicalising and focalising different elements of their message in an unequivocal (that is, grammatically accurate) manner.
Consuming the consumers
Authors: Hiramoto Mie
Published: August 2011

Previous sociolinguistic research concerning the use of Hawai‘i Creole (HC) in public discourse has posited a link between a negative public image and subsequent discouragement of its use by government and media (e.g. Romaine 1999; Sato 1989, 1991, 1994), except in some limited venues. This paper reports on the emerging trend of HC use in media discourse, presenting data from local television advertisements and discussing the role of language therein. Despite the fact that HC has traditionally been a stigmatized variety in public discourse, its employment in television advertisements is currently on the rise, riding a wave of positive sentiment for Hawai‘i’s local culture. The use of HC in the commercials is strategic and carefully controlled; while heavy Pidgin (basilectal HC) is still avoided as possibly detrimental to brand image, the right touch of HC is a favored tactic among these advertisement producers. HC is one of a number of criteria for implicit membership for the Hawai‘i residents on which advertisers may draw in an attempt to fabricate a synthetic membership with the audience.
The expression of number in Jamaican Creole
Authors: Stewart Michele M.
Published: August 2011

In this paper I argue that there is no true number morphology in Jamaican Creole (JC). Instead, I show that dem, traditionally taken to be a plural marker, is more properly analyzed as a marker of inclusiveness, a defining characteristic of definiteness. These are expected outcomes of JC being in the class of languages which are claimed to have set nouns, i.e. nouns which, when combined with a numeral X, refer to an X-numbered set of individuals rather than to X number of individuals (Rijkhoff 2004). Since JC does not mark plurality in the same way as its lexifier English, individuation and number in JC cannot be analysed in the same way as is done for English. The proposal for a syntactic analysis of number in JC, given the above, is that functional structure above the NP provides for optional individuation via Cl(assifier)Phrase, and additionally for optional number specification, via Num(ber)Phrase.
How motion verbs are spatial
Authors: Aurnague Michel
Published: August 2011

This paper aims to bring out the spatial properties of motion eventualities by focusing on French intransitive motion verbs. After examining changes of posture and changes of placement, we introduce the concept of change of basic locative relation (J.-P. Boons 1987) in order to accurately grasp the telic processes usually characterized as changes of location. The complex combinatory possibilities as between changes of relation and changes of placement are then illustrated by pinpointing the factors that condition the use of predicates of change of placement in utterances denoting changes of relation and placement (the notion of tendenciality). Finally, a categorization of French intransitive verbs of change of relation and placement is proposed, which is based on the way these two notions interact in their semantics.
Collocations complexes (application à l’espagnol)
Authors: García-Page Mario
Published: August 2011

Complex collocations are a type of collocation whose syntactic structure is more complex than that of simple collocations. Thus, they are binary standardized or frequent phrases whose components show a lexical restriction relationship. The complex character of its structure means that one of its components, the collocative, is not a lexical unit, but rather a fixed phrase. Most of them are adverbial, either in the case of verbal predicates (llover a cántaros) or adjectival predicates (loco de atar), although they can also — in less frequent cases — be adjectival, as when combined with a noun (dinero en efectivo), or also nominal, in combination with a verb (hacer un corte de mangas).
Hebrew plural inflection
Authors: Vaknin-Nussbaum Vered , Shimron Joseph
Published: August 2011

Research on several Indo-European languages attests to notable difficulties in inflecting irregular nouns and verbs. In these languages morphological and phonological factors are often intertwined in a way that obscures the source of the problem. Hebrew by contrast allows isolation of morphological and phonological factors in nominal inflection. Three experiments demonstrated that as in Indo-European languages, nominal inflection of Hebrew irregular nouns is slower than that of regular nouns and involves more errors. The occurrence of phonological alterations to the noun’s stem with the inflection is an additional source of irregularity, which also taxes the inflectional process in reaction time and error rate. The empirical results underline the power of the default automatic suffixation process as the main obstacle to irregular inflection. A theoretical contribution of this study is an interpretation of the irregularity effect based on a morphological analysis that views Hebrew as having a linear rather than a non-linear morphology. The stem–suffix match is suggested as the dominant factor affecting the inflectional process, responsible for the difficulties in irregular inflections. It is argued that in Hebrew, the differences between inflecting regular and irregular nouns can be easily and adequately explained as resulting from a mismatch between a stem and an affix.
The effects of N-gram probabilistic measures on the recognition and production of four-word sequences
Authors: Tremblay Antoine , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: August 2011

The present study investigates the processing and production of four-word sequences such as I don’t really know, at the age of, and I think it’s the. Specifically, we investigate the influence of families of probabilistic measures such as unigram, bigram, trigram, and quadgram frequency of occurrence, logarithmic (log) probability of occurrence, and mutual information. Log probability of occurrence emerged as the predominant predictor family in the onset latency analysis, suggesting that recognition is mainly underpinned by competition between a target N-gram and its family members. In contrast, the amount of experience one has with an N-gram (frequency of occurrence) surfaced as the most prominent predictor in production. Further, probabilistic measures tied to trigrams surfaced as the best predictors in the onset latency analysis, while the measures tied to unigrams were most predictive of production durations.Finally, the interactions between probabilistic measures tied to unigrams, bigrams, trigrams, and quadgrams suggest that N-grams of different lengths are processed in parallel in both recognition and production.
Fluorescent Transgenic Zebra Danio More Vulnerable to Predators than Wild‐Type Fish
Authors: Hill Jeffrey E. , Kapuscinski Anne R. , Pavlowich Tyler
Published: August 2011

There is a knowledge gap in the ecological risk assessment of transgenic fish as to whether novel traits change their vulnerability to predation and thus their ability to establish themselves in nature. The U.S. commercialization of ornamental transgenic zebra danios Danio rerio and the approaching commercialization of other transgenic fish heighten the need for ecologically realistic models with which to address this question. Transgenic zebra danios with fluorescent body colors represent a good model system because marketed lines are likely to be released by hobby aquarists and it is relatively easy to study their interspecific interactions under nearly natural conditions. In experiments including habitat complexity, transgenic red‐fluorescent‐protein zebra danios were approximately twice as vulnerable as the wild type to predation by largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki, two native predators that potentially resist invasion by introduced fish. Increased predation vulnerability should decrease the risk of transgenics’ becoming established if other fitness‐related traits are equivalent in nature. The zebra danio model is ideal for further testing the generality of this result under more complex ecological conditions.
Formative evaluation of the transition to postgraduate study for counselling and psychotherapy training: Students' perceptions of assignments and academic writing
Authors: West Angela
Published: August 2011

Background: Transition to postgraduate study has received little attention and it is often assumed that little adjustment is needed. Focus: This article focuses on the academic writing aspect of the transition to postgraduate study for counselling and psychotherapy students on a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)‐accredited course. Method: A two‐year formative evaluation was used to elicit students' views on how they experienced the transition to postgraduate study, and to identify what was most and least helpful to students in managing this transition. Results: The findings showed that there was a significant transition, which 63% of students found difficult. Timetabled and integrated, subject specific, academic support is recommended to assist students with their learning needs.
Stringy Hodge numbers of strictly canonical nondegenerate singularities
Authors: Schepers Jan
Published: August 2011

We describe a class of isolated nondegenerate hypersurface singularities that give a polynomial contribution to Batyrev’s stringy

E
E

-function. These singularities are obtained by imposing a natural condition on the facets of the Newton polyhedron, and they are strictly canonical. We prove that Batyrev’s conjecture concerning the nonnegativity of stringy Hodge numbers is true for complete varieties with such singularities, under some additional hypotheses on the defining polynomials (e.g. convenient or weighted homogeneous). The proof uses combinatorics on lattice polytopes. The results form a strong generalisation of previously obtained results for Brieskorn singularities.
On the non-analyticity locus of an arc-analytic function
Authors: Kurdyka Krzysztof , Parusiński Adam
Published: August 2011

Let

X
X

be a real analytic manifold. A function

f
:
X
→

R

f:X\to \mathbb {R}

is called arc-analytic if it is real analytic on each real analytic arc. In real analytic geometry there are many examples of arc-analytic functions that are not real analytic. They appear while studying the arc-symmetric sets and the blow-analytic equivalence.

In this paper we show that the non-analyticity locus of an arc-analytic function is arc-symmetric. We also discuss the behavior of the non-analyticity locus under blowings-up. By a result of Bierstone and Milman, an arc-analytic function

f
:
X
→

R

f:X\to \mathbb {R}

that satisfies a polynomial equation with real analytic coefficients, can be made analytic, over any relatively compact subset of

X
X

, by a sequence of blowings-up with smooth centers. We show that these centers can be chosen, at each stage of the resolution, inside the non-analyticity loci.
On the bicanonical map of irregular varieties
Authors: Barja Miguel , Lahoz Martí , Naranjo Juan , Pareschi Giuseppe
Published: August 2011

From the point of view of uniform bounds for the birationality of pluricanonical maps, irregular varieties of general type and maximal Albanese dimension behave similarly to curves. In fact Chen-Hacon showed that, at least when their holomorphic Euler characteristic is positive, the tricanonical map of such varieties is always birational. In this paper we study the bicanonical map. We consider the natural subclass of varieties of maximal Albanese dimension formed by primitive varieties of Albanese general type. We prove that the only such varieties with non-birational bicanonical map are the natural higher-dimensional generalization to this context of curves of genus

2
2

: varieties birationally equivalent to the theta-divisor of an indecomposable principally polarized abelian variety. The proof is based on the (generalized) Fourier-Mukai transform.
The perverse filtration and the Lefschetz hyperplane theorem, II
Authors: de Cataldo Mark
Published: August 2011

The perverse filtration in cohomology and in cohomology with compact supports is interpreted, in terms of kernels of restriction maps to suitable subvarieties by using the Lefschetz hyperplane theorem and spectral objects. Various mixed-Hodge-theoretic consequences for intersection cohomology and for the decomposition theorem are derived.
Large-scale dynamic gene regulatory network inference combining differential equation models with local dynamic Bayesian network analysis
Authors: Li Zheng , Li Ping , Krishnan Arun , Liu Jingdong
Published: August 2011

Motivation: Reverse engineering gene regulatory networks, especially large size networks from time series gene expression data, remain a challenge to the systems biology community. In this article, a new hybrid algorithm integrating ordinary differential equation models with dynamic Bayesian network analysis, called Differential Equation-based Local Dynamic Bayesian Network (DELDBN), was proposed and implemented for gene regulatory network inference.

Results: The performance of DELDBN was benchmarked with an in vivo dataset from yeast. DELDBN significantly improved the accuracy and sensitivity of network inference compared with other approaches. The local causal discovery algorithm implemented in DELDBN also reduced the complexity of the network inference algorithm and improved its scalability to infer larger networks. We have demonstrated the applicability of the approach to a network containing thousands of genes with a dataset from human HeLa cell time series experiments. The local network around BRCA1 was particularly investigated and validated with independent published studies. BRAC1 network was significantly enriched with the known BRCA1-relevant interactions, indicating that DELDBN can effectively infer large size gene regulatory network from time series data.

Availability: The R scripts are provided in File 3 in Supplementary Material.

Contact:  zheng.li@monsanto.com; jingdong.liu@monsanto.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Dual-Targeted Soybean Protein Is Involved in Bradyrhizobium japonicum Infection of Soybean Root Hair and Cortical Cells
Authors: Libault Marc , Govindarajulu Manjula , Berg R. Howard , Ong Yee Tsuey , Puricelli Kari , Taylor Christopher G. , Xu Dong , Stacey Gary
Published: August 2011

The symbiotic interaction between legumes and soil bacteria (e.g., soybean [Glycine max L.] and Bradyrhizobium japonicum]) leads to the development of a new root organ, the nodule, where bacteria differentiate into bacteroids that fix atmospheric nitrogen for assimilation by the plant host. In exchange, the host plant provides a steady carbon supply to the bacteroids. This carbon can be stored within the bacteroids in the form of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate granules. The formation of this symbiosis requires communication between both partners to regulate the balance between nitrogen fixation and carbon utilization. In the present study, we describe the soybean gene GmNMNa that is specifically expressed during the infection of soybean cells by B. japonicum. GmNMNa encodes a protein of unknown function. The GmNMNa protein was localized to the nucleolus and also to the mitochondria. Silencing of GmNMNa expression resulted in reduced nodulation, a reduction in the number of bacteroids per infected cell in the nodule, and a clear reduction in the accumulation of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate in the bacteroids. Our results highlight the role of the soybean GmNMNa gene in regulating symbiotic bacterial infection, potentially through the regulation of the accumulation of carbon reserves.
VisG is essential for biosynthesis of virginiamycin S, a streptogramin type B antibiotic, as a provider of the nonproteinogenic amino acid phenylglycine
Authors: Ningsih Fitria , Kitani Shigeru , Fukushima Eriko , Nihira Takuya
Published: August 2011

A streptogramin type B antibiotic, virginiamycin S (VS), is produced by Streptomyces virginiae, together with a streptogramin type A antibiotic, virginiamycin M1 (VM), as its synergistic counterpart. VS is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide containing a nonproteinogenic amino acid, l-phenylglycine (l-pheGly), in its core structure. We have identified, in the left-hand extremity of the virginiamycin supercluster, two genes that direct VS biosynthesis with l-pheGly incorporation. Transcriptional analysis revealed that visF, encoding a nonribosomal peptide synthetase, and visG, encoding a protein with homology to a hydroxyphenylacetyl-CoA dioxygenase, are under the transcriptional regulation of virginiae butanolide (VB), a small diffusing signalling molecule that governs virginiamycin production. Gene deletion of visG resulted in complete loss of VS production without any changes in VM production, suggesting that visG is required for VS biosynthesis. The abolished VS production in the visG disruptant was fully recovered either by the external addition of pheGly or by gene complementation, which indicates that VisG is involved in VS biosynthesis as the provider of an l-pheGly molecule. A feeding experiment with l-pheGly analogues suggested that VisF, which is responsible for the last condensation step, has high substrate specificity toward l-pheGly.
PcchiB1, encoding a class V chitinase, is affected by PcVelA and PcLaeA, and is responsible for cell wall integrity in Penicillium chrysogenum
Authors: Kamerewerd Jens , Zadra Ivo , Kürnsteiner Hubert , Kück Ulrich
Published: August 2011

Penicillin production inPenicillium chrysogenumis controlled by PcVelA and PcLaeA, two components of the regulatoryvelvet-like complex. Comparative microarray analysis with mutants lacking PcVelA or PcLaeA revealed a set of 62 common genes affected by the loss of both components. A downregulated gene in both knockout strains isPcchiB1, potentially encoding a class V chitinase. Under nutrient-depleted conditions, transcript levels ofPcchiB1are strongly upregulated, and the gene product contributes to more than 50 % of extracellular chitinase activity. Functional characterization by generatingPcchiB1-disruption strains revealed that PcChiB1 is responsible for cell wall integrity and pellet formation inP. chrysogenum.Further, fluorescence microscopy with a DsRed-labelled chitinase suggests a cell wall association of the protein. An unexpected phenotype occurred when knockout strains were grown on media containingN-acetylglucosamine as the sole C and N source, where, in contrast to the recipient, a penicillin producer strain, the mutants and an ancestral strain show distinct mycelial growth. We discuss the relevance of this class V chitinase for morphology in an industrially important fungus.
Transcriptome analysis reveals that ClpXP proteolysis controls key virulence properties of Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Kajfasz Jessica K. , Abranches Jacqueline , Lemos José A.
Published: August 2011

The ClpXP proteolytic complex is critical for maintaining cellular homeostasis, as well as expression of virulence properties. However, with the exception of the Spx global regulator, the molecular mechanisms by which the ClpXP complex exerts its influence in Streptococcus mutans are not well understood. Here, microarray analysis was used to provide novel insights into the scope of ClpXP proteolysis in S. mutans. In a ΔclpP strain, 288 genes showed significant changes in relative transcript amounts (P≤0.001, twofold cut-off) as compared with the parent. Similarly, 242 genes were differentially expressed by a ΔclpX strain, 113 (47 %) of which also appeared in the ΔclpP microarrays. Several genes associated with cell growth were downregulated in both mutants, consistent with the slow-growth phenotype of the Δclp strains. Among the upregulated genes were those encoding enzymes required for the biosynthesis of intracellular polysaccharides (glg genes) and malolactic fermentation (mle genes). Enhanced expression of glg and mle genes in ΔclpP and ΔclpX strains correlated with increased storage of intracellular polysaccharide and enhanced malolactic fermentation activity, respectively. Expression of several genes known or predicted to be involved in competence and mutacin production was downregulated in the Δclp strains. Follow-up transformation efficiency and deferred antagonism assays validated the microarray data by showing that competence and mutacin production were dramatically impaired in the Δclp strains. Collectively, our results reveal the broad scope of ClpXP regulation in S. mutans homeostasis and identify several virulence-related traits that are influenced by ClpXP proteolysis.
Positive impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment on antiretroviral treatment adherence in human immunodeficiency virus–HCV coinfected patients: one more argument for expanded access to HCV treatment for injecting drug users
Authors: Roux Perrine , Fugon Lionel , Winnock Maria , Salmon‐Céron Dominique , Lacombe Karine , Sogni Philippe , Spire Bruno , Dabis François , Carrieri Maria Patrizia ,   for the ANRS‐CO‐13‐HEPAVIH Study Group
Published: August 2011

Aims  Treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV) may be delayed significantly in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV coinfected patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART) for fear that its burden could compromise ART adherence. However, the effect such treatment has on ART adherence in observational settings remains largely unknown. Longitudinal data were used to investigate the relationship between initiating HCV treatment and adherence to ART in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Design  The French national prospective cohort of patients coinfected with HIV and HCV (ANRS‐CO‐13‐HEPAVIH) is a multi‐centre cohort.

Setting  Seventeen out‐patient hospital services delivering HIV and HCV care in France.

Participants  HIV/HCV coinfected patients on ART (n = 593 patients, 976 visits).

Measurements  Self‐administered questionnaires and medical records. A mixed logistic regression model based on generalized estimates equations (GEE) to identify factors associated with non‐adherence to ART.

Findings  Among the 593 patients, 36% were classified as non‐adherent to ART at the enrolment visit and 12% started HCV treatment during follow‐up. ART adherence was not associated statistically with HCV treatment initiation. The proportion of patients maintaining adherence or becoming adherent to ART for those starting HCV treatment was higher than in the rest of the sample (P = 0.07). After multiple adjustment for known correlates, such as poor housing conditions, binge drinking, recent drug use and depressive symptoms, patients who initiated HCV treatment were less likely to be non‐adherent to ART [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 0.41 (0.24–0.71)].

Conclusions  Engaging human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfected individuals in hepatitis C virus treatment is associated with high adherence to antiretroviral treatment. Physicians should prioritize hepatitis C virus treatment as part of a multi‐disciplinary approach.
Prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus among pregnant women using injecting drugs in Ukraine, 2000–10
Authors: Thorne Claire , Semenenko Igor , Malyuta Ruslan ,   Ukraine European Collaborative Study Group in EuroCoord
Published: August 2011

Aims  To compare clinical status, mother‐to‐child transmission (MTCT) rates, use of prevention of (PMTCT) interventions and pregnancy outcomes between HIV‐infected injecting drug users (IDUs) and non‐IDUs.

Design and setting  Prospective cohort study conducted in seven human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) Centres in Ukraine, 2000–10.

Participants  Pregnant HIV‐infected women, identified before/during pregnancy or intrapartum, and their live‐born infants (n = 6200); 1028 women followed post‐partum.

Measurements  Maternal and delivery characteristics, PMTCT prophylaxis, MTCT rates, preterm delivery (PTD) and low birth weight (LBW).

Findings  Of 6200 women, 1111 (18%) reported current/previous IDU. The proportion of IDUs diagnosed with HIV before conception increased from 31% in 2000/01 to 60% in 2008/09 (P < 0.01). Among women with undiagnosed HIV at conception, 20% of IDUs were diagnosed intrapartum versus 4% of non‐IDUs (P < 0.01). At enrolment, 14% of IDUs had severe/advanced HIV symptoms versus 6% of non‐IDUs (P < 0.001). IDUs had higher rates of PTD and LBW infants than non‐IDUs, respectively, 16% versus 7% and 22% versus 10% (P < 0.001). IDUs were more likely to receive no neonatal or intrapartum PMTCT prophylaxis compared with non‐IDUs (OR 2.81, p < 0.001). MTCT rates were 10.8% in IDUs versus 5.9% in non‐IDUs; IDUs had increased MTCT risk (adjusted odds ratio 1.32, P = 0.049). Fewer IDUs with treatment indications received HAART compared with non‐IDUs (58% versus 68%, P = 0.03).

Conclusions  Pregnant human immunodeficiency virus‐infected injecting drug users in Ukraine have worse clinical status, poorer access to prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission prophylaxis and highly active antiretroviral therapy, more adverse pregnancy outcomes and higher risk of mother‐to‐child transmission than non‐injecting drug user women.
Disturbed development of the enteric nervous system after in utero exposure of selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. Part 1: Literature review
Authors: Nijenhuis Cynthia M. , ter Horst Peter G. J. , de Jong‐van den Berg Lolkje T. W. , Wilffert Bob
Published: August 2011

The increase in selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitor (SSRI) use during pregnancy, questions concerning abnormal development of the enteric nervous system (ENS), increase in laxative use in children and the association of fluoxetine with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) gave rise to this pharmacological literature review. The role of 5‐HT and the NE uptake in ontogeny of the ENS and the effects SSRIs and TCAs might have on the development of the ENS were investigated. The literature study showed that SSRIs may influence the development of the ENS in two ways. Blockage of the serotonin re‐uptake transporter (SERT) during foetal development could influence migration, differentiation and survival of cells. This could lead to abnormal development in the first trimester of pregnancy. The other way is that 5‐HT seems to be a growth factor in the primitive ENS. This growth factor like action is mediated through the 5‐HT2B receptor and stimulation of this receptor by SSRIs influences the fate of late‐developing enteric neurons. This could lead to abnormal development in the second and third trimester. TCAs could influence the development of the ENS, besides through inhibition of the SERT, through inhibition of the norepinephrine transporter (NET). Expression of the NET seems to be essential for a full development of enteric neurons and especially for serotonergic neurons. In addition the NET was detected early in ontogeny and precedes neuronal differentiation, which suggests that TCAs might influence development of the ENS when exposed early in pregnancy. The insights of this study gave rise to hypotheses which will be tested in an epidemiological cohort study.
Reduced growth hormone secretion in obesity is associated with smaller LDL and HDL particle size
Authors: Makimura Hideo , Feldpausch Meghan N. , Stanley Takara L. , Sun Noelle , Grinspoon Steven K.
Published: August 2011

Objective  Reduced growth hormone (GH) secretion is observed in obesity and may contribute to increases in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Lipoprotein characteristics including increased small dense low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) particles are known independent risk factors for CVD. We hypothesized that reduced GH secretion in obesity would be associated with a more atherogenic lipid profile including increased small dense LDL particles.

Design  To evaluate this hypothesis, we studied 102 normal weight and obese men and women using standard GH stimulation testing to assess GH secretory capacity and performed comprehensive lipoprotein analyses including determination of lipoprotein particle size and subclass concentrations using proton NMR spectroscopy.

Results  Obese subjects were stratified into reduced or sufficient GH secretion based on the median peak‐stimulated GH (≤6·25 μg/l). Obese subjects with reduced GH secretion (n = 35) demonstrated a smaller mean LDL and HDL particle size in comparison to normal weight subjects (n = 33) or obese subjects with sufficient GH (n = 34) by anova (P < 0·0001). Univariate analyses demonstrated peak‐stimulated GH was positively associated with LDL (r = 0·50; P < 0·0001) and HDL (r = 0·57; P < 0·0001), but not VLDL (P = 0·06) particle size. Multivariate regression analysis controlling for age, gender, race, ethnicity, tobacco, use of lipid‐lowering medication, BMI and HOMA demonstrated peak‐stimulated GH remained significantly associated with LDL particle size (β = 0·01; P = 0·01; R2 = 0·42; P < 0·0001 for overall model) and HDL particle size (β = 0·008; P = 0·001; R2 = 0·44; P < 0·0001 for overall model).

Conclusions  These results suggest reduced peak‐stimulated GH in obesity is independently associated with a more atherogenic lipoprotein profile defined in terms of particle size.
Elevated E‐selectin and diastolic blood pressure in diabetic children
Authors: Maggio Albane B. R. , Farpour‐Lambert Nathalie J. , Montecucco Fabrizio , Pelli Graziano , Marchand Laetitia M. , Schwitzgebel Valérie , Mach François , Aggoun Yacine , Beghetti Maurice
Published: August 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (3): 303–309

Background  Cardiovascular risk markers are related to micro‐angiopathy in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), but there is no information about their relationship with blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function.

Materials and methods  This was a case–control study including 29 children with T1DM (mean age 10·5 ± 2·7 years, disease duration: 3·8 ± 2·2 years) and 39 healthy controls (mean age: 9·8 ± 2·7 years). We assessed 24‐h ambulatory BP, vascular function and serum level of lipids, vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1; ICAM) and selectins (E‐selectin; P‐selectin).

Results  The subject groups had similar physical characteristics and lipids level, except body mass index (BMI) which was higher in T1DM than in healthy children (18·6 ± 2·6 vs. 16·7 ± 2·5 kg/m2, P = 0·003). Children with T1DM had increased 24 h diastolic BP z‐score (0·62 ± 0·9 vs. −0·65 ± 0·8, P < 0·001), even after adjustment for BMI, as well as higher VCAM‐1 concentration (492 ± 346 vs. 340 ± 225 ng/mL, P = 0·039) compared to healthy subjects. Diastolic BP z‐scores were associated with disease duration, E‐selectin and triglyceride levels in the T1DM group (P < 0·05). E‐selectin was also related to triglycerides, otherwise there were no relationships between vascular function, markers and BP.

Conclusion  E‐selectin, an early atherosclerosis biomarker, is positively associated with diastolic BP values in children with T1DM, despite relatively short disease duration.
Insertion of an intact CR1 retrotransposon in a cadherin gene linked with Bt resistance in the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella
Authors: Fabrick J. A. , Mathew L. G. , Tabashnik B. E. , Li X.
Published: August 2011

Three mutations in the Pectinophora gossypiella cadherin gene PgCad1 are linked with resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ac. Here we show that the r3 mutation entails recent insertion into PgCad1 of an active chicken repeat (CR1) retrotransposon, designated CR1‐1_Pg. Unlike most other CR1 elements, CR1‐1_Pg is intact, transcribed by a flanking promoter, contains target site duplications and has a relatively low number of copies. Examination of transcripts from the PgCad1 locus revealed that CR1‐1_Pg disrupts both the cadherin protein and a long noncoding RNA of unknown function. Together with previously reported data, these findings show that transposable elements disrupt eight of 12 cadherin alleles linked with resistance to Cry1Ac in three lepidopteran species, indicating that the cadherin locus is a common target for disruption by transposable elements.
Shelf life of alginate beads containing lactobacilli and bifidobacteria: characterisation of microspheres containing Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus
Authors: Corbo Maria Rosaria , Bevilacqua Antonio , Sinigaglia Milena
Published: August 2011

Capsules, containing different microorganisms (Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L. delbrueckii subsp. delbrueckii, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium breve and B. animalis subsp. lactis), were produced through a simple extrusion protocol and dipped in a CaCl2 solution (0.5% or 8%). Beads were characterised, to assess the encapsulation yield (EY) and the shelf life at 4 °C (defined as the time to retain inside a cell count of 6 log CFU g−1); then, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was used as target for system optimisation, through the study of the kinetic of cell release, as a function of the concentration of CaCl2 solution, agitation (150 rpm) and recycling. The EY was 50% or higher, and the shelf life was at least 30 days. Concerning beads containing L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, the release of cells from capsules followed a biphasic (diauxic) trend and the microsphere could be used successfully for two times, as only after third reuse, the amount of release cells decreased.
Assessment of cavitated and active non‐cavitated caries lesions in 3‐ to 4‐year‐old preschool children: a field study
Authors: PARISOTTO THAÍS M. , STEINER‐OLIVEIRA CAROLINA , De SOUZA‐e‐SILVA CÍNTIA M. , PERES REGINA C. R. , RODRIGUES LIDIANY K. A. , NOBRE‐DOS‐SANTOS MARINÊS
Published: August 2011

International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 2012; 22: 92–99

Background.  The prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) is high in developing countries; thus, sensitive methods for the early diagnosis of ECC are of prime importance to implement the appropriate preventive measures.

Aim.  To investigate the effects of the addition of early caries lesions (ECL) into WHO threshold caries detection methods on the prevalence of caries in primary teeth and the epidemiological profile of the studied population.

Design.  In total, 351 3‐ to 4‐year‐old preschoolers participated in this cross‐sectional study. Clinical exams were conducted by one calibrated examiner using WHO and WHO + ECL criteria. During the exams, a mirror, a ball‐ended probe, gauze, and an artificial light were used. The data were analysed by Wilcoxon and Mc‐Nemar’s tests (α = 0.05).

Results.  Good intra‐examiner Kappa values at tooth/surface levels were obtained for WHO and WHO + ECL criteria (0.93/0.87 and 0.75/0.78, respectively). The dmfs scores were significantly higher (P < 0.05) when WHO + ECL criteria were used. ECLs were the predominant caries lesions in the majority of teeth.

Conclusions.  The results strongly suggest that the WHO + ECL diagnosis method could be used to identify ECL in young children under field conditions, increasing the prevalence and classification of caries activity and providing valuable information for the early establishment of preventive measures.