bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Spontaneous 3D Bone‐On‐a‐Chip for Bone Metastasis Study of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Hao Sijie , Ha Laura , Cheng Gong , Wan Yuan , Xia Yiqiu , Sosnoski Donna M. , Mastro Andrea M. , Zheng Si‐Yang
Published: February 2018

Bone metastasis occurs at ≈70% frequency in metastatic breast cancer. The mechanisms used by tumors to hijack the skeleton, promote bone metastases, and confer therapeutic resistance are poorly understood. This has led to the development of various bone models to investigate the interactions between cancer cells and host bone marrow cells and related physiological changes. However, it is challenging to perform bone studies due to the difficulty in periodic sampling. Herein, a bone‐on‐a‐chip (BC) is reported for spontaneous growth of a 3D, mineralized, collagenous bone tissue. Mature osteoblastic tissue of up to 85 µm thickness containing heavily mineralized collagen fibers naturally formed in 720 h without the aid of differentiation agents. Moreover, co‐culture of metastatic breast cancer cells is examined with osteoblastic tissues. The new bone‐on‐a‐chip design not only increases experimental throughput by miniaturization, but also maximizes the chances of cancer cell interaction with bone matrix of a concentrated surface area and facilitates easy, frequent observation. As a result, unique hallmarks of breast cancer bone colonization, previously confirmed only in vivo, are observed. The spontaneous 3D BC keeps the promise as a physiologically relevant model for the in vitro study of breast cancer bone metastasis.
Scalable 2D Mesoporous Silicon Nanosheets for High‐Performance Lithium‐Ion Battery Anode
Authors: Chen Song , Chen Zhuo , Xu Xingyan , Cao Chuanbao , Xia Min , Luo Yunjun
Published: February 2018

Constructing unique mesoporous 2D Si nanostructures to shorten the lithium‐ion diffusion pathway, facilitate interfacial charge transfer, and enlarge the electrode–electrolyte interface offers exciting opportunities in future high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries. However, simultaneous realization of 2D and mesoporous structures for Si material is quite difficult due to its non‐van der Waals structure. Here, the coexistence of both mesoporous and 2D ultrathin nanosheets in the Si anodes and considerably high surface area (381.6 m2 g−1) are successfully achieved by a scalable and cost‐efficient method. After being encapsulated with the homogeneous carbon layer, the Si/C nanocomposite anodes achieve outstanding reversible capacity, high cycle stability, and excellent rate capability. In particular, the reversible capacity reaches 1072.2 mA h g−1 at 4 A g−1 even after 500 cycles. The obvious enhancements can be attributed to the synergistic effect between the unique 2D mesoporous nanostructure and carbon capsulation. Furthermore, full‐cell evaluations indicate that the unique Si/C nanostructures have a great potential in the next‐generation lithium‐ion battery. These findings not only greatly improve the electrochemical performances of Si anode, but also shine some light on designing the unique nanomaterials for various energy devices.
Intracerebroventricular administration of growth hormone induces morphological changes in pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in adult rats
Authors: Olivares‐Hernández Juan David , García‐García Fabio , Camacho‐Abrego Israel , Flores Gonzalo , Juárez‐Aguilar Enrique
Published: February 2018

A growing body of evidence suggests that growth hormone (GH) affects synaptic plasticity at both the molecular and electrophysiological levels. However, unclear is whether plasticity that is stimulated by GH is associated with changes in neuron structure. This study investigated the effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of GH on the morphology of pyramidal neurons of the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus and layer III of the prefrontal cortex. Male Wistar rats received daily ICV injections of GH (120 ng) for 7 days, and they were euthanized 21 days later. Changes in neuronal morphology were evaluated using Golgi‐Cox staining and subsequent Sholl analysis. GH administration increased total dendritic length in the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The Sholl analysis revealed an increase in dendritic length of the third to eighth branch orders in the hippocampus and from the third to sixth branch orders in the prefrontal cortex. Interestingly, GH treatment increased the density of dendritic spines in both brain regions, favoring the presence of mushroom‐like spines only in the CA1 hippocampal region. Our results indicated that GH induces changes in the length of dendritic trees and the density of dendritic spines in two high‐plasticity brain regions, suggesting that GH‐induced synaptic plasticity at the molecular and electrophysiological levels may be associated with these structural changes in neurons.
Phenotypic and genetic divergence among island populations of sika deer (Cervus nippon) in southern Japan: a test of the local adaptation hypothesis
Authors: Terada Chisato , Saitoh Takashi
Published: February 2018

Transplant and common garden experiments have been used in studies on local adaptation, but are difficult to be conducted for large animals with long life span. A previous study on the southern Japanese islands demonstrated that relative limb lengths of sika deer (Cervus nippon) were short on islands with steep slopes. We hypothesized that this morphological variation was evidence for local adaptation, and tested this hypothesis by comparing phenotypic divergence with neutral genetic divergence among eight populations of the sika deer in the southern Japanese islands. Divergence patterns differed between the phenotypic and neutral genetic features. Genetic similarity was high among individuals on Kyushu (OI, KGS, and KGK). Individuals on Tanegashima (TN) and Yakushima (YK) also constituted a group, whereas individuals on Tsushima (TS), Wakamatsujima (WM), and Kuchinoerabujima (KE) formed a genetically distinct group. Phenotypic data indicated that individuals from TS, OI, KGS, and KGK exhibited similarity, whereas individuals on YK formed an isolated group that was separated from the other populations. The degree of phenotypic divergence was larger than that of neutral genetic divergence between TN and YK. These results suggest that divergent selection worked between two of the eight island populations (TN and YK). The morphological trait of captive‐bred individuals from TN and YK, which had never experienced their original environments, retained their original morphological features. By combining the results of multiple analyses, we found that the difference in relative limb length between the two populations was consistent with local adaptation hypothesis, although conclusive results were not obtained for the other populations.
Antibacterial applications of α-Fe2O3/Co3O4 nanocomposites and study of their structural, optical, magnetic and cytotoxic characteristics
Authors: Bhushan Mayank , Kumar Yogesh , Periyasamy Latha , Viswanath Annamraju Kasi
Published: February 2018

Owing to their multiple mechanisms of bactericidal activity, inorganic metal oxides and hybrid metal oxide nanocomposites may serve as a new class of effective disinfectants. Among metal oxide nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles exhibit minimal or no cytotoxicity to human cells with very efficient bactericidal properties over a wide spectrum of bacteria. This paper presents the very first report on antibacterial properties of novel nanocomposites of iron oxide and cobalt oxide nanoparticles against pathogenic bacterial strains B. subtilis, S. aureus, E.coli and S. typhi. The enhanced bactericidal activity of the Fe/Co oxide nanocomposite was the result of synergistic effect of iron oxide and cobalt oxide nanoparticles. The nanocomposites were synthesized using co-precipitation route with increasing cobalt content in the sample and further characterized using XRD, TEM, Raman and VSM to investigate structural, optical and magnetic properties of the prepared nanocomposites, respectively. Also, the prepared nanocomposites were highly biocompatible and found non-toxic to human cell line MCF7.
Tissue sterol composition in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) depends on the dietary cholesterol content and on the dietary phytosterol:cholesterol ratio, but not on the dietary phytosterol content
Authors: Sissener Nini H. , Rosenlund Grethe , Stubhaug Ingunn , Liland Nina S.
Published: February 2018

The aim of the study was to investigate how the dietary sterol composition, including cholesterol, phytosterol:cholesterol ratio and phytosterols, affect the absorption, biliary excretion, retention, tissue storage and distribution of cholesterol and individual phytosterols in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.). A feeding trial was conducted at two different temperatures (6 and 12°C), using nine different diets with varying contents of phytosterols, cholesterol and phytosterol:cholesterol ratio. Cholesterol retention values were clearly dependent on dietary cholesterol, and showed that fish fed cholesterol levels <1000 mg/kg feed produced considerable quantities of cholesterolde novo. Despite this production, cholesterol content increased with increasing dietary cholesterol in liver, plasma, bile, muscle, adipose tissue and whole fish at 12°C, and in plasma, bile and whole fish at 6°C. The tissue sterol composition generally depended on the dietary cholesterol content and on the dietary phytosterol:cholesterol ratio, but not on the dietary phytosterol content in itself. Campesterol and brassicasterol appeared to be the phytosterols with the highest intestinal absorption in Atlantic salmon. There was a high biliary excretion of campesterol, but not of brassicasterol, which accumulated in tissues and particularly in adipose tissue, with 2-fold-higher retention at 12°C compared with 6°C. Campesterol had the second highest retention of the phytosterols in the fish, but with no difference between the two temperatures. Other phytosterols had very low retention. Although brassicasterol retention decreased with increasing dietary phytosterols, campesterol retention decreased with increasing dietary cholesterol, indicating differences in the uptake mechanisms for these two sterols.
Organotin compounds in Mersey and Thames Estuaries a decade after UK TBT legislation
Authors: Harino H. , O'Hara S.C.M. , Burt G.R. , Chesman B.S. , Pope N.D. , Langston W.J.
Published: February 2018

Organotin (OT) compounds were determined in surface sediments and mussels Mytilus edulis from two major estuaries of the UK, the Mersey and the Thames, approximately one decade after legislation banning the use of tributyltin (TBT) compounds on small boats. Tributyltin concentrations in Mersey sediments ranged from 0·007–0·173 μg (as Sn) g−1 dry wt, increasing from the most upstream site, Fiddlers Ferry, towards the middle section of the estuary, and were highest at Stanlow, perhaps indicative of sources from the Manchester Ship Canal (MSC). A further peak in TBT concentrations occurred at New Brighton, opposite Liverpool Docks. Tributyltin was the predominant butyltin (BT) species in sediments (approximately 50%). Despite the fact that BTs represented only 4% of the total (HNO3-extractable) tin in sediments there was a linear relationship between these two tin compartments. Furthermore, BTs in mussels were correlative with total extractable tin in sediment, though in contrast to sediments, 85% of the total tin in mussels was made up of BTs, the most predominant of which was TBT. Concentrations of TBT in mussels increased from 0·058 μg Sn g−1 dry wt at the mouth of the estuary to 0·214 μg Sn g−1 dry wt at their upstream limit, close to the entrance to the MSC (Eastham). Triphenyltin (TPT) compounds were detected in only one sediment sample (New Brighton, 0·359 μg Sn g−1 dry wt) and one mussel population (Egremont, 0·022 μg Sn g−1 dry wt). Tributyltin concentrations in sediments from the Thames Estuary were marginally lower (0·002–0·078 μg Sn g−1 dry wt) than those found in the Mersey: highest concentrations were present in the upper estuary and decreased seaward. Again BTs contributed only a small percentage (<1% mean) towards the total tin loading in Thames sediments, but represented most of the tin burden (80%) in mussels. In contrast to sediments, TBT levels in mussels from the Thames Estuary were slightly higher than the Mersey (concentrations ranged from 0·100 μg Sn g−1 dry wt at the mouth to 0·302 μg Sn g−1 dry wt upstream) suggesting that TBT bioavailability is disproportionately higher in the Thames. Phenyltins were not detected in Thames samples.
Recruitment patterns of serpulids (Annelida: Polychaeta) in Bantry Bay, Ireland
Authors: Cotter Elizabeth , O'Riordan Ruth M. , Myers Alan A.
Published: February 2018

Interannual and seasonal variation in recruitment of serpulid tube worms was monitored at two depths at each of four sites between February 1999 and January 2001 in Bantry Bay, Ireland. In both years, a single peak in recruitment was observed. The timing of the peak was similar in both years, but the magnitude of the peak differed significantly. More individuals recruited onto the underside than on the upperside of the horizontally orientated panels. A higher density of recruits was observed at a depth of 7 m than at 4 m during recruitment maxima. There was little variability in recruitment rates either within or between sites. The proportions of Pomatoceros triqueter and P. lamarckii recruiting per deployment were examined. Juvenile mortality was high. Based on ongrowing laboratory experiments, the dominant species was P. lamarckii. Serpula vermicularis was also present in low abundance. Examination of the spatial patterns of distribution of the serpulids indicated that the recruits were aggregated within panels. The degree of aggregation was correlated with the overall density of recruitment per panel.
Biological effects of tributyltin exposure on the caprellid amphipod, Caprella danilevskii
Authors: Ohji Madoka , Arai Takaomi , Miyazaki Nobuyuki
Published: February 2018

To examine the biological effects of tributyltin (TBT) exposure, the caprellid amphipod, Caprella danilevskii, was exposed to five levels (0, 10, 100, 1000 and 10 000 ng l−1) of TBT during the embryonic stage (five days). Although the female proportion was 36% of the total in the control, the female proportion changed dramatically in the hatched juvenile, i.e. the proportion of females was found to increase to 55·6% at 10 ng l−1, 85·7% at 100 ng l−1, and 81·8% at 1000 ng l−1. All specimens died in 10 000 ng TBTCl l−1 within five days after spawning due to the acute toxic concentration for the species. Reproductive inhibitions such as brood loss and oogenesis inhibition occurred even at 10–100 ng TBTCl l−1 exposures in the short-term period in both parental females and their offspring females. The embryo survival rate in the offspring decreased drastically as the TBT concentrations increased, with the decrease being observed at TBT concentrations as low as 10 ng l−1 (69%) during the five days. In parental females, the survival rate also decreased at more than 100 ng TBTCl l−1, despite movement after five days into seawater with no TBT added. Data suggest that nanogram concentrations of TBT similar to those encountered in coastal waters around the developed countries can directly affect sex proportion, reproduction, and survival in the caprellid.
The karyotype of amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense (Cephalochordata)
Authors: Wang Changliu , Zhang Shicui , Zhang Yongzhong
Published: February 2018

The chromosome number and karyotype of amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtauense were studied using embryonic cells. The diploid chromosome number (2n) of B. belcheri tsingtauense is 36, and its karyotype 2n=36, 2st+34t, FN=36. This is the first report on the karyotype of the cephalochordate. Evidence suggesting the possible presence of a pair of sex-chromosomes in the amphioxus has been provided.
Fostering adoption of conservation technologies: a case study with wildlife law enforcement rangers
Authors: Sintov Nicole , Seyranian Viviane , Lyet Arnaud
Published: February 2018

New technologies can aid the success of conservation outcomes. Technology alone will not however guarantee conservation success; this hinges on user adoption. Hence, there is a need to understand users’ adoption decisions and how to account for these to streamline the introduction of new technologies. Wildlife law enforcement rangers constitute a key end-user group for conservation technologies, and although some studies have focused on ranger experiences, and on the impacts of policing technologies on crime rates, few have addressed technology adoption among law enforcement personnel, and none among rangers. To address this gap we conducted a case study focused on a new technology called the Protection Assistant for Wildlife Security (PAWS), which was developed to deter poaching by improving the deployment of wildlife law enforcement ranger foot patrols. We evaluated the impacts of an educational programme on the willingness of Indonesia-based rangers to adopt the tool. Following the programme, rangers reported high levels of willingness to adopt PAWS. Furthermore, the more engaged rangers were in the programme, the more useful and easy to use they perceived PAWS to be, and the stronger their adoption intentions. In contrast, rangers who were more resistant to technology from the outset were less engaged in the programme, highlighting the importance of identifying and addressing sources of resistance. Overall, the findings of this case study stress the significance of accounting for and educating end users in disseminating conservation technologies, reinforcing the importance of accounting for human dimensions of conservation.
Effects of Weed Density on Herbicide Absorption and Bioactivity
Authors: Winkle M. E. , Leavitt J. R. C. , Burnside O. C.
Published: February 2018

The effects of weed density on the phytotoxicity of atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] to white mustard (Brassica hirtaMoench) and alachlor [2-chloro-2′,6′-diethyl-N-(methoxymethyl)acetanilide] to foxtail millet [Setaria italica(L.) Beauv.] were determined in the greenhouse. The fresh weight of both plants was reduced by the herbicide treatments, but as the weed density (plants per pot) increased, the herbicide rate required to cause equivalent fresh weight reductions per pot also increased. White mustard and foxtail millet grown in pots absorbed less14C-atrazine or14C-alachlor per plant from the soil at high weed density than low, regardless of herbicide rate. Foxtail millet seedlings grown in petri dishes absorbed less14C-alachlor per plant from aqueous solution as the number of seedlings per petri dish increased. Data from field experiments in 1977 and 1979 indicated that more alachlor or metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl) acetamide] was required for equal control of a high than low density of forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench ‘Rox Orange’] interseeded in maize (Zea maysL.). Rox Orange sorghum was used to simulate shattercane [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench], a problem weed in Nebraska. At the higher Rox Orange sorghum seeding rate used, both alachlor and metolachlor treatments decreased Rox Orange sorghum plant populations but not yield.
Response of Small-Grain Cultivars to Chlorsulfuron
Authors: Hageman Larry H. , Behrens Richard
Published: February 2018

The response of several spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars to preemergence and postemergence applications of chlorsulfuron (tested under code number DPX-4189) {2-chloro-N-[[(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)aminocarbonyl] benzenesulfonamide} was evaluated in the field and greenhouse in 1979. In greenhouse experiments, ‘Butte’ spring wheat was less susceptible than six other spring wheat cultivars to chlorsulfuron at 1.0 kg/ha applied preemergence or postemergence. ‘Morex’, ‘Conquest’, and ‘Bonanza’ barley cultivars were less susceptible than six other barley cultivars to preemergence chlorsulfuron, but barley cultivars were similar in response to postemergence chlorsulfuron. The eight oat cultivars responded similarly to preemergence and postemergence chlorsulfuron at 1.0 kg/ha. Data from two field experiments, which included evaluation of durum wheat [Triticum durum (Desf.)] cultivars, indicated that the four small grains had adequate tolerance to postemergence chlorsulfuron at 0.125 and 0.25 kg/ha, except that durum wheat grain yield was reduced by 0.25 kg/ha at the Rosemount location. No differential cultivar responses to chlorsulfuron occurred among the small grains in the field.
EPTC Effects in the Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Hypocotyl Bioassay for Gibberellins
Authors: Donald William W.
Published: February 2018

EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) reduces hypocotyl growth of lettuce [Lactuca sativa(L.) ‘Grand Rapids’] seedlings in response to gibberellic acid (GA3) in the lettuce hypocotyl bioassay. Doses of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mM EPTC were effective over a range of gibberellin concentrations. Significant reductions in hypocotyl growth in response to all doses of EPTC and GA3at 7.68 μg/ml occurred between 12 and 24 h after initial treatment. In a 72-h experiment, pulse treatments of EPTC at 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mM plus GA3at 7.68 μg/ml for only 1 or 2 h at the beginning reduced the subsequent response of the bioassay when plants were transferred to GA3alone for the remaining 71 or 70 h, respectively. Final hypocotyl growth in GA3at 7.68 μg/ml was reduced by exposure to EPTC at 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mM plus GA3at any time during the entire 72 h test period. The interaction between EPTC and GA3was not due to herbicide-induced precipitation nor decomposition of GA3in the medium. This was demonstrated by separation of [14C]-GA3in four thin-layer chromatography solvent systems after incubation in the presence or absence of 1.0 mM EPTC for 48 h. Apparently EPTC can reduce the growth response of sensitive species to exogenous gibberellins in addition to its effects on endogenous gibberellin-like substances or gibberellin biosynthesis.
Weed Suppression in No-Till Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) by Prior Cropping of Summer-Annual Forage Grasses
Authors: Forney D. Raymond , Foy Chester L. , Wolf Dale D.
Published: February 2018

A sorghum-sudangrass hybrid [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench. xSorghum sudanense(P.) Stapf. ‘DEKALB SX17+’] (SSH) and foxtail millet [Setaria italica(L.) Beauv.] (FM) were evaluated for their effects on weed populations when grown for forage and as land conditioners prior to late-summer, no-till planting of alfalfa (Medicago sativaL. ‘Arc’). Both grasses established well in no-till situations, except for FM when excessive mulch impeded seed placement or seedling summer-annual weeds were not destroyed at planting time. SSH was the better competitor; after both were planted into a dense stand of seedling summer-annual weeds, SSH outyielded the weeds while FM did not. Both grasses suppressed weeds and enhanced subsequent alfalfa establishment. Obtaining adequate alfalfa stands was not a problem in no-till seedings: seedling populations often exceeded 300/m23 to 6 weeks after planting. Lack of adequate weed control was associated with stand losses in which disease was also a factor. Biennial and perennial broadleaf species were the predominant weeds. Prior cropping of SSH or FM is a valuable option for growers wishing to establish alfalfa without tillage, particularly when summer forage is useful.
Comparisons of HOE-39866, SC-0224, Paraquat, and Glyphosate in No-Till Corn (Zea mays)
Authors: Wilson Henry P. , Hines Thomas E. , Bellinder Robin R. , Grande John A.
Published: February 2018

Field studies were conducted for 4 yr with HOE-39866 [ammonium-(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)-methylphosphinate] and for 2 yr with SC-0224 (trimethylsulfonium carboxymethylaminomethylphosphonate) to compare foliar activities with those of paraquat (1,1’-dimethyl-4,4’-bipyridinium ion) and glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] in no-till corn (Zea maysL. ‘Pioneer 3320’ in 1981 and ‘Pioneer 3184’ in 1982 and 1983). Rates evaluated were 0.6 to 1.7 kg ai/ha for all herbicides except paraquat which was included at 0.3 and 0.6 kg ai/ha. Control of rye (Secale cerealeL.) was excellent at all rates with SC-0224, paraquat, and glyphosate, but HOE-39866 was effective only when combined with residual herbicides. All four herbicides provided good initial control of horseweed [Conyza canadensis(L.) Cronq., ♯ ERICA], but recovery following paraquat application was extensive. Combinations of HOE-39866, SC-0224, and glyphosate at 0.6 kg/ha with atrazine [2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] at 1.1 to 1.7 kg ai/ha + metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide] at 1.7 kg ai/ha produced antagonistic responses against rye and sometimes horseweed. In 1983, the combination of SC-0224 + residual herbicides provided significantly better control of rye and horseweed 8 days after treatment than the combination of glyphosate + residual herbicides.
Integrating Mechanical and Chemical Weed Management in Corn (Zea mays)
Authors: Pleasant Jane Mt. , Burt Robert F. , Frisch James C.
Published: February 2018

Experiments conducted over three years compared weed cover and grain yields in corn which received cultivation alone, herbicide alone, and treatments combining mechanical and chemical weed control. Weed cover averaged 30% with cultivation alone compared to 9% for the other treatments. Grain yields were 7% lower in one year. In the cultivation-alone treatments the rolling cultivator was less effective in controlling weeds than the shovel/sweep cultivator. In-row weed cover was greater than between-row weed cover with cultivation alone. With banded herbicide plus cultivation, in and between-row weed cover was the same. Weed cover and grain yields following banded herbicide plus cultivation were equivalent to broadcast herbicide with or without cultivation.
Efficacy and Economics of Various Mechanical Plus Chemical Weed Control Systems in Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Authors: Burnside Orvin C. , Ahrens William H. , Holder Bobby J. , Wiens Melvin J. , Johnson Michelle M. , Ristau Eric A.
Published: February 2018

Various mechanical plus chemical weed control systems for dry bean production were evaluated at Carrington, ND and Crookston and Staples, MN during 1991 and 1992. A dozen tillage plus herbicide weed control systems are available to growers that can provide selective and effective weed control in dry beans without reliance on chloramben—a standard herbicide on dry beans that has been lost. Dry bean yields were similar with low or high level tillage treatments because most of the herbicide treatments with one cultivation gave adequate weed control and any additional tillage did not improve weed control. Kidney bean yields and prices were greater than either pinto or navy beans so the net returns (bean market value minus production costs) were much greater for kidney bean production. Dry bean producers in the North Central part of the U.S. have at their disposal dependable mechanical plus chemical weed control systems, and their market value has been sufficient to make dry bean production very economical in this region.
Clopyralid Persistence in Spearmint (Mentha cardiaca) Hay Injures Potato (Solanum tuberosum)
Authors: Boydston Rick A.
Published: February 2018

Spent spearmint hay from mint that had been treated with clopyralid in the fall or spring injured ‘Russet Burbank’ potato planted into loamy sand soil amended with 50 g hay/kg soil. Lowering the ratio of mint hay to soil from 50 to 3.1 g/kg reduced, but did not eliminate, the injury to potato. Potato was inured by clopyralid at concentrations as low as 3 ppbw in soil.
Agriculture's Challenge to Develop a Vision for the Future
Authors: Peeples Kenneth A.
Published: February 2018

Our challenge is to develop a collective “vision” of environmentally sound agricultural systems for the future to enable us to produce food at twice our current level to meet the demands of a projected eight billion people in the year 2020. We must prove that our efforts are compatible with environmental concerns and our natural resources. Public concerns and regulatory pressures on pesticides are likely to increase throughout this decade and next. Can we produce a safe, abundant, and affordable food supply on limited land for more people, while maintaining an acceptable balance with nature? Sound, science-based public polices are essential. Industry and regulators must work together more closely, striving to understand each other better, as well as the needs of our customers and those of society. The research community, using guidance from our regulators, has provided environmentally compatible crop protection chemicals, like sufonylurea herbicides, products which are often applied at a factor of 50 to 500x lower than the conventional herbicides they replace. We will continue to discover new “ideal” pest control solutions, incorporating the best technology available. This “vision” of agricultural production for the future must be accepted and embraced not only by our industry and our regulators, but also by environmentalists, other interests and society as a whole. We must reach common ground to maintain a productive, economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound agricultural system to meet our future challenges.
Research Needs in Weed Science
Authors: Hess F. Dan
Published: February 2018

During 1992, the Research Committee of the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) prepared a list of research needs for the discipline of weed science. The identified needs fit well with the recommendations of the Future Directions for Weed Science Symposium held in Washington D.C. on April 15, 1993, thus are provided as a supplement to the Symposium publication. The Research Committee concluded weed science research should focus on increasing knowledge related to the economic and biological impact of weeds across a wide variety of environments (crop production, forestry, right-of-way and aquatic). An increased understanding of the biology, ecology and genetics of weeds is needed to optimize their management. Research on control of weeds with biological agents and natural products should be conducted with emphasis on optimizing performance in the field environment. The development of weed populations resistant to chemical and biological control agents should be studied so the occurrence of such populations can be minimized. Because herbicides will continue to be the primary basis of weed management for the foreseeable future, research is needed to optimize herbicide application technology and to minimize their impact on the environment, particularly related to surface and groundwater contamination. Finally, new and reliable methods to detect herbicide residues in water, soil and vegetation are needed.
Future Directions and Needs for Weed Science Research
Authors: Coble Harold D.
Published: February 2018

There is no question that weeds negatively impact human endeavors, both in agricultural and non-agricultural environments. The need for weed population management is inarguable. The important issue is “how will we manage weeds in the future”? Will it be business as usual, or will we be able to develop and implement a fully integrated approach to weed management? If Weed Science is to become a full partner in utilizing the concepts of Integrated Pest Management, there are at least four research areas that must be significantly strengthened. These research areas include: biology and ecology of weeds and crop/weed interactions, economic thresholds for weeds, alternative weed control methodology, and information delivery systems. New or non-traditional sources of funding will be required to adequately address these important issues.
Intrauterine growth restriction combined with a maternal high-fat diet increased adiposity and serum corticosterone levels in adult rat offspring
Authors: Zinkhan E. K. , Yu B. , Callaway C. W. , McKnight R. A.
Published: February 2018

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and fetal exposure to a maternal high-fat diet (HFD) independently increase the risk of developing obesity in adulthood. Excess glucocorticoids increase obesity. We hypothesized that surgically induced IUGR combined with an HFD would increase adiposity and glucocorticoids more than in non-IUGR offspring combined with the same HFD, findings that would persist despite weaning to a regular diet. Non-IUGR (N) and IUGR (I) rat offspring from dams fed either regular rat chow (R) or an HFD (H) were weaned to either a regular rat chow or an HFD. For non-IUGR and IUGR rats, this study design resulted in three diet groups: offspring from dams fed a regular diet and weaned to a regular diet (NRR and IRR), offspring rats from dams fed an HFD and weaned to a regular diet (NHR and IHR) and offspring from dams fed an HFD and weaned to an HFD (NHH and IHH). Magnetic resonance imaging or fasting visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue collection occurred at postnatal day 60. IHH male rats had greater adiposity than NHH males, findings that were only partly normalized by weaning to a regular chow. IHH male rats had a 10-fold increase in serum corticosterone levels. IHH female rats had increased adiposity and serum triglycerides. We conclude that IUGR combined with an HFD throughout life increased adiposity, glucocorticoids and triglycerides in a sex-specific manner. Our data suggest that one mechanism through which the perinatal environment programs increased adiposity in IHH male rats may be via increased systemic glucocorticoids.
Tracing Water Through the Critical Zone
Authors: Sprenger Matthias , Weiler Markus
Published: February 2018

The authors of a recent paper in Reviews of Geophysics describe how isotope hydrology offers new insights into interactions at the interface between soil, vegetation, and the atmosphere.
Correction: Author Correction: The inverse-trans-influence in tetravalent lanthanide and actinide bis(carbene) complexes
Authors: Gregson Matthew , Lu Erli , Mills David P. , Tuna Floriana , McInnes Eric J. L. , Hennig Christoph , Scheinost Andreas C. , McMaster Jonathan , Lewis William , Blake Alexander J. , Kerridge Andrew , Liddle Stephen T.
Published: February 2018

Nature Communications 8: Article number: 14137 (2017); Published: 3 February 2017; Updated: 5 February 2018 The original version of this Article contained a typographical error in Fig. 2, where reagent H2C(Ph2PNSiMe3)2 was incorrectly given as H2C(PNSiMe3)2. This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.
Wnt/β-catenin signaling stimulates the expression and synaptic clustering of the autism-associated Neuroligin 3 gene
Authors: Medina Matías A. , Andrade Víctor M. , Caracci Mario O. , Avila Miguel E. , Verdugo Daniela A. , Vargas Macarena F. , Ugarte Giorgia D. , Reyes Ariel E. , Opazo Carlos , De Ferrari Giancarlo V.
Published: February 2018

Synaptic abnormalities have been described in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The cell-adhesion molecule Neuroligin-3 (Nlgn3) has an essential role in the function and maturation of synapses and NLGN3 ASD-associated mutations disrupt hippocampal and cortical function. Here we show that Wnt/β-catenin signaling increases Nlgn3 mRNA and protein levels in HT22 mouse hippocampal cells and primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons. We characterized the activity of mouse and rat Nlgn3 promoter constructs containing conserved putative T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancing factor (TCF/LEF)-binding elements (TBE) and found that their activity is significantly augmented in Wnt/β-catenin cell reporter assays. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays and site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that endogenous β-catenin binds to novel TBE consensus sequences in the Nlgn3 promoter. Moreover, activation of the signaling cascade increased Nlgn3 clustering and co- localization with the scaffold PSD-95 protein in dendritic processes of primary neurons. Our results directly link Wnt/β-catenin signaling to the transcription of the Nlgn3 gene and support a functional role for the signaling pathway in the dysregulation of excitatory/inhibitory neuronal activity, as is observed in animal models of ASD.
Genetic alterations driving metastatic colony formation are acquired outside of the primary tumour in melanoma
Authors: Werner-Klein Melanie , Scheitler Sebastian , Hoffmann Martin , Hodak Isabelle , Dietz Klaus , Lehnert Petra , Naimer Veronika , Polzer Bernhard , Treitschke Steffi , Werno Christian , Markiewicz Aleksandra , Weidele Kathrin , Czyz Zbigniew , Hohenleutner Ulrich , Hafner Christian , Haferkamp Sebastian , Berneburg Mark , Rümmele Petra , Ulmer Anja , Klein Christoph A.
Published: February 2018

Mouse models indicate that metastatic dissemination occurs extremely early; however, the timing in human cancers is unknown. We therefore determined the time point of metastatic seeding relative to tumour thickness and genomic alterations in melanoma. Here, we find that lymphatic dissemination occurs shortly after dermal invasion of the primary lesion at a median thickness of ~0.5 mm and that typical driver changes, includingBRAFmutation and gained or lost regions comprising genes likeMETorCDKNA2, are acquired within the lymph node at the time of colony formation. These changes define a colonisation signature that was linked to xenograft formation in immunodeficient mice and death from melanoma. Thus, melanoma cells leave primary tumours early and evolve at different sites in parallel. We propose a model of metastatic melanoma dormancy, evolution and colonisation that will inform direct monitoring of adjuvant therapy targets.
LARP7-like protein Pof8 regulates telomerase assembly and poly(A)+TERRA expression in fission yeast
Authors: Mennie Amanda K. , Moser Bettina A. , Nakamura Toru M.
Published: February 2018

Telomerase is a reverse transcriptase complex that ensures stable maintenance of linear eukaryotic chromosome ends by overcoming the end replication problem, posed by the inability of replicative DNA polymerases to fully replicate linear DNA. The catalytic subunit TERT must be assembled properly with its telomerase RNA for telomerase to function, and studies in Tetrahymena have established that p65, a La-related protein 7 (LARP7) family protein, utilizes its C-terminal xRRM domain to promote assembly of the telomerase ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex. However, LARP7-dependent telomerase complex assembly has been considered as unique to ciliates that utilize RNA polymerase III to transcribe telomerase RNA. Here we show evidence that fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe utilizes the p65-related protein Pof8 and its xRRM domain to promote assembly of RNA polymerase II-encoded telomerase RNA with TERT. Furthermore, we show that Pof8 contributes to repression of the transcription of noncoding RNAs at telomeres.
Tridimensional visualization reveals direct communication between the embryo and glands critical for implantation
Authors: Yuan Jia , Deng Wenbo , Cha Jeeyeon , Sun Xiaofei , Borg Jean-Paul , Dey Sudhansu. K.
Published: February 2018

Embryo implantation is central to pregnancy success. Our previous understanding is limited by studying this phenomenon primarily in two dimensions. Here we employ 3D visualization, revealing that epithelial evaginations that form implantation chambers (crypts) consistently arise with preexisting glands, suggesting direct access of glands to embryos within the chamber. While the lobular domains of the glands become more developed, the ductal regions continue to elongate and progressively stretch following implantation. Using diapausing mice and mice with deletion of the planar cell polarity gene Vangl2 in uterine epithelial cells, we show that dynamic changes in gland topography depend on implantation-competent blastocysts and planar cell polarity. By transferring blastocyst-size beads preloaded with HB-EGF in pseudopregnant mice, we found that HB-EGF is a trigger for the communication between embryos and glands. Glands directly connecting the crypt encasing the embryo during implantation are therefore fundamental to pregnancy success.
Galectin-1 is required for the regulatory function of B cells
Authors: Alhabbab R. , Blair P. , Smyth L. A. , Ratnasothy K. , Peng Q. , Moreau A. , Lechler R. , Elgueta R. , Lombardi G.
Published: February 2018

Galectin-1 (Gal-1) is required for the development of B cells in the bone marrow (BM), however very little is known about the contribution of Gal-1 to the development of B cell regulatory function. Here, we report an important role for Gal-1 in the induction of B cells regulatory function. Mice deficient of Gal-1 (Gal-1−/−) showed significant loss of Transitional-2 (T2) B cells, previously reported to include IL-10+regulatory B cells. Gal-1−/−B cells stimulatedin vitrovia CD40 molecules have impaired IL-10 and Tim-1 expression, the latter reported to be required for IL-10 production in regulatory B cells, and increased TNF-α expression compared to wild type (WT) B cells. Unlike their WT counterparts, T2 and T1 Gal-1−/−B cells did not suppress TNF-α expression by CD4+T cells activatedin vitrowith allogenic DCs (allo-DCs), nor were they suppressivein vivo, being unable to delay MHC-class I mismatched skin allograft rejection following adoptive transfer. Moreover, T cells stimulated with allo-DCs show an increase in their survival when co-cultured with Gal-1−/−T2 and MZ B cells compared to WT T2 and MZ B cells. Collectively, these data suggest that Gal-1 contributes to the induction of B cells regulatory function.
Publisher Correction: Evaluating agroclimatic constraints and yield gaps for winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) – A case study
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Lu Jianwei , Cong Rihuan , Ren Tao , Li Xiaokun
Published: February 2018

A correction to this article has been published and is linked from the HTML version of this paper. The error has been fixed in the paper.
Early life exposure to ethinylestradiol enhances subsequent responses to environmental estrogens measured in a novel transgenic zebrafish
Authors: Green Jon M. , Lange Anke , Scott Aaron , Trznadel Maciej , Wai Htoo Aung , Takesono Aya , Brown A. Ross , Owen Stewart F. , Kudoh Tetsuhiro , Tyler Charles R.
Published: February 2018

Estrogen plays fundamental roles in a range of developmental processes and exposure to estrogen mimicking chemicals has been associated with various adverse health effects in both wildlife and human populations. Estrogenic chemicals are found commonly as mixtures in the environment and can have additive effects, however risk analysis is typically conducted for single-chemicals with little, or no, consideration given for an animal’s exposure history. Here we developed a transgenic zebrafish with a photoconvertable fluorophore (Kaede, green to red on UV light exposure) in a skin pigment-free mutant element (ERE)-Kaede-Casper model and applied it to quantify tissue-specific fluorescence biosensor responses for combinations of estrogen exposures during early life using fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. We identify windows of tissue-specific sensitivity to ethinylestradiol (EE2) for exposure during early-life (0–5 dpf) and illustrate that exposure to estrogen (EE2) during 0–48 hpf enhances responsiveness (sensitivity) to different environmental estrogens (EE2, genistein and bisphenol A) for subsequent exposures during development. Our findings illustrate the importance of an organism’s stage of development and estrogen exposure history for assessments on, and possible health risks associated with, estrogen exposure.
Next generation high throughput DNA damage detection platform for genotoxic compound screening
Authors: Sykora Peter , Witt Kristine L. , Revanna Pooja , Smith-Roe Stephanie L. , Dismukes Jonathan , Lloyd Donald G. , Engelward Bevin P. , Sobol Robert W.
Published: February 2018

Methods for quantifying DNA damage, as well as repair of that damage, in a high-throughput format are lacking. Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE; comet assay) is a widely-used method due to its technical simplicity and sensitivity, but the standard comet assay has limitations in reproducibility and throughput. We have advanced the SCGE assay by creating a 96-well hardware platform coupled with dedicated data processing software (CometChip Platform). Based on the original cometchip approach, the CometChip Platform increases capacity ~200 times over the traditional slide-based SCGE protocol, with excellent reproducibility. We tested this platform in several applications, demonstrating a broad range of potential uses including the routine identification of DNA damaging agents, using a 74-compound library provided by the National Toxicology Program. Additionally, we demonstrated how this tool can be used to evaluate human populations by analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to characterize susceptibility to genotoxic exposures, with implications for epidemiological studies. In summary, we demonstrated a high level of reproducibility and quantitative capacity for the CometChip Platform, making it suitable for high-throughput screening to identify and characterize genotoxic agents in large compound libraries, as well as for human epidemiological studies of genetic diversity relating to DNA damage and repair.
Caffeine Caused a Widespread Increase of Resting Brain Entropy
Authors: Chang Da , Song Donghui , Zhang Jian , Shang Yuanqi , Ge Qiu , Wang Ze
Published: February 2018

Entropy is an important trait of brain function and high entropy indicates high information processing capacity. We recently demonstrated that brain entropy (BEN) is stable across time and differs between controls and patients with various brain disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine whether BEN is sensitive to pharmaceutical modulations with caffeine. Both cerebral blood flow (CBF) and resting fMRI were collected from sixty caffeine-naïve healthy subjects before and after taking a 200 mg caffeine pill. Our data showed that caffeine reduced CBF in the whole brain but increased BEN across the cerebral cortex with the highest increase in lateral prefrontal cortex, the default mode network (DMN), visual cortex, and motor network, consistent with the beneficial effects of caffeine (such as vigilance and attention) on these areas. BEN increase was correlated to CBF reduction only in several regions (−0.5 < r < −0.4), indicating a neuronal nature for most of the observed BEN alterations. In summary, we showed the first evidence of BEN alterations due to caffeine ingestion, suggesting BEN as a biomarker sensitive to pharmaceutical brain function modulations.