bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement of the quality of life concerning the health of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) after successful bypass surgery
Authors: Wohlgemuth  , Safonova  , Engelhardt  , Freitag  , Wölfle  , Kirchhof
Published: November 2008

Background: To test whether quality of life depends on the psyche of patients after successful bypass surgery for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Patients and methods: A total of 74 consecutive patients aged 36–69 years (57.7 ± 8.8 years) with symptomatic PAD in the stages Fontaine IIb–IV were enrolled in a prospective study after successful bypass surgery. Because of bypass failure and one death during the study period, 11 of these patients were excluded from evaluation. Prior to surgery, Doppler sonography and digital subtraction angiography were carried out in all patients. Before and after revascularization, the ankle / brachial index (ABI) was determined in all study objects and the pain free walking distance (PFWD) in those with PAD stage Fontaine IIb. Health-related quality of life was measured by using the "Medical Outcomes Study Group Short Form 36" (SF-36), and personality was determined by employing the Psycho-Diagnostic-Test (PDT). Results: After surgery, there was an increase in ABI from 0.32 ± 0.13 to 0.79 ± 0.19 (p < .01), in PFWD from 42.6 m ± 38.6 m to 419.7 m ± 152.3 m (p < .01), and in the SF-36 scales "Physical functioning", "Bodily pain", "General health perceptions", and "Role-functioning physical" (p < .05). ABI correlated positively with "Bodily pain" (p < .01), "General health perceptions" (p < .01) and "Mental health" (p < .05). Among SF-36 and PDT-scales, "Role-functioning physical" correlated negatively with "Moodiness" / "Neuroticism" (p < .05), and "Social functioning" correlated positively with "General activity" (p < .01). Conclusions: Whether objective clinical improvement increases quality of life mainly depends on the psyche of patients: A high level of general activity favors an improved quality of life and neurotic characteristics are more likely to be a hindrance.
The arteriomobil project for peripheral arterial disease
Authors: Pfeiffer  , Bock  , Hohenberger  , Kröger
Published: November 2008

Background: Peripheral Arterial Disease in Germany is underestimated with regard to incidence and the consequences. In 1997 the Federal Association of the Peripheral Arterial Disease Self Help Groups started the Arteriomobil Project to increase the awareness for venous and arterial diseases in the general population. We report peripheral arterial disease (PAD) prevalence rates and discuss the unique concept of this project. Patients and methods: The Arteriomobil is a mobile home modified to a simple investigation room with an examination couch, a Doppler equipment and a computer for data acquisition. From April 1997 to April 2007, a total of 14.785 volunteers aged 18 to 102 years (mean age ± SD: 64 ± 11 years, 63% females) were investigated. Patients were recruited as a result of their active visit to the Arteriomobil and their active participation in the investigation. In all participants the medical history was documented according to a standardized computer-assisted interview and a standardized Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) determined. Results: PAD prevalence in females (ABI < 0.9) increased from 2% in the 5th decade of life to 33% in 10th decade and in males from 4.8% to 41% accordingly. Age- and gender-adjusted odds ratios for PAD were highest in smoker: Odds ratio 2.85 (95% Confidence interval 2.5–3.2) and Diabetes mellitus 1.91 (95%CI 1.7–2.2). Hypertension and hypercholesterolemia had a lower impact. Family history of known PAD, CHD or CVD had no impact. Although 49.5% of all participants complained of "leg disorders during exercise" intermittent claudication turned out to be the most discriminating symptom for PAD 5.87 (95%IC 5.18–6.66). Previous myocardial infarction (MI) was the most frequently reported vascular co-morbidity in those with PAD (OR 2.23, 95%IC 1.9–2.7) followed by stroke (2.12, 1.7–2.7), angina pectoris (1.50, 1.3–1.8) and paresis (2.01, 1.6–2.6). The incidence of anti-platelet treatment was significantly higher in participants with coronary heart disease than in those with PAD or cerebrovascular disease. Conclusions: The Arteriomobil Project is the largest database regarding the prevalence of PAD in the German population. and the data underlines the high prevalence of PAD in Germany.
Septic course of chronic pancreatitis caused by infected visceral pseudoaneurysm content
Authors: Paluszkiewicz  , Kolaczynski
Published: November 2008

Visceral pseudoaneurysms occur in approximately 4–10% of all patients with chronic pancreatitis and in untreated cases the mortality rate can reach 90% of cases. The septic course of visceral pseudoaneurysm formation adds major problems to the complex treatment of these patients: Namely the removal of infected material and the occlusion of the ruptured visceral artery significantly complicate treatment strategy. The aim of this report is to present the case of a patient with severe sepsis due to chronic pancreatitis complicated by pseudoaneurysm formation of the gastroduodenal artery in the head of the pancreas. A 32-year-old man underwent semi-urgent surgery after initial haemodynamic stabilization and urgent diagnostic processing including color-coded abdominal duplex sonography, angio-CT, angiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreaticography. The removal of infected pseudoaneurysm content was performed and preceded by the extra-pancreatic ligatures of the gastroduodenal and right-sided gastro-epiploic arteries. Blood transfusions could be avoided and the postoperative outcome was uneventful. The rare septic course of visceral pseudoaneurysm complicating chronic pancreatitis may be treated successfully by open surgical technique, with consecutive elimination of the septic focus and the occlusion of ruptured and feeding arteries performed as a one-step procedure.
Detecting inhomogeneities in Caribbean and adjacent Caribbean temperature data using sea‐surface temperatures
Authors: Stephenson T. S. , Goodess C. M. , Haylock M. R. , Chen A. A. , Taylor M. A.
Published: November 2008

This study presents a systematic evaluation of the homogeneity of daily surface temperature observations for the Caribbean and neighboring regions on a monthly timescale. The reference series are developed using adjacent sea‐surface temperatures (SSTs). This novel approach is undertaken instead of the conventional use of highly correlated nearby stations, given the sparse station network for the Caribbean and adjacent Caribbean. The temperature data are from the regional climate change workshops held for the Caribbean, and Central and Northern South America in 2001 and 2004, respectively, complemented with data from the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), and the Caribbean meteorological stations. Correlations are used to explore the degree of association between the maximum and minimum temperatures and SSTs, and homogeneity tests are performed on their individual and difference series (e.g., maximum temperature minus SSTs). The results suggest SSTs as a viable option for use in evaluating homogeneity in the data sparse region of the Caribbean. Common statistically significant change points identified across at least three stations are investigated using composite analysis to determine links to large‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns. The study identifies two homogeneous periods from the analyses, i.e., 1970–1992 and 1984–1998, with the former used to reanalyze some extreme temperature trends for the Caribbean and adjacent Caribbean. The results are found to be consistent with those obtained from the 2001 Caribbean data workshop.
Global monthly averaged CO2 fluxes recovered using a geostatistical inverse modeling approach: 2. Results including auxiliary environmental data
Authors: Gourdji Sharon M. , Mueller Kim L. , Schaefer Kevin , Michalak Anna M.
Published: November 2008

Geostatistical inverse modeling has been shown to be a viable alternative to synthesis Bayesian methods for estimating global continental‐scale CO2 fluxes. This study extends the geostatistical approach to take advantage of spatially and temporally varying auxiliary data sets related to CO2 flux processes, which allow the inversion to capture more grid‐scale flux variability and better constrain fluxes in areas undersampled by the current atmospheric monitoring network. Auxiliary variables are selected for inclusion in the inversion using a hypothesis‐based variable selection method, and are then used in conjunction with atmospheric CO2 measurements to estimate global monthly fluxes for 1997 to 2001 at a 3.75° × 5° resolution. Results show that the inversion is able to infer realistic relationships between the selected variables and flux, with leaf area index and the fraction of canopy‐intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (fPAR) capturing a large portion of the biospheric signal, and gross domestic product and population densities explaining approximately three quarters of the expected fossil fuel emissions signal. The extended model is able to better constrain estimates in regions with sparse measurements, as confirmed by a reduction in the a posteriori uncertainty at the grid and aggregated continental scales, as compared to the inversion presented in the companion paper (Mueller et al., 2008).
Spread in aspect angles of equatorial E region irregularities
Authors: Lu Fei , Farley Donald T. , Swartz Wesley E.
Published: November 2008

We revisit and extend the 50 MHz radar aspect angle study made in Peru by Kudeki and Farley in 1985, taking advantage of upgraded facilities at Jicamarca. We discuss here (1) type 1 and 2 echoes from the electrojet region, (2) early evening echoes from somewhat above the electrojet, and (3) daytime “150 km” echoes from the ∼145 to 170 km altitude region. Our electrojet data (1) confirm the earlier results for weak type 2 conditions, namely, that the rms aspect angle θrms decreases from about 0.3° at 99 km to slightly less than 0.2° at 108 km, and (2) provide much more information about the aspect angles of type 1 echoes and the apparent nonlinear interaction between type 1 waves and slower waves. Type 1 waves, with phase velocities near the ion‐acoustic velocity, have θrms decreasing from about 0.15° near 104 km to about 0.10° near 110 km. There is strong evidence that horizontally traveling type 1 waves in the upper midday electrojet, where upward electron density gradients are absent, can sometimes nonlinearly couple to slow, vertically traveling waves with aspect angles sometimes larger than 0.5°. In the early evening we often observe echoes in the 125–135 km region with θrms ≤ 0.05°. During daytime the relatively weak “150 km” echoes have even smaller θrms. At the end of the paper we discuss ideas concerning the nonlinear coupling of the plasma waves.
The Nrf1 CNC/bZIP protein is a nuclear envelope-bound transcription factor that is activated by t-butyl hydroquinone but not by endoplasmic reticulum stressors
Authors: Zhang Yiguo , Lucocq John M. , Hayes John D.
Published: November 2008

In rat liver RL-34 cells, endogenous Nrf1 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45 subunit-related factor 1) is localized in the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) where it exists as a glycosylated protein. Electron microscopy has demonstrated that ectopic Nrf1 in COS-1 cells is located in the ER and the NE (nuclear envelope). Subcellular fractionation, together with a membrane proteinase protection assay, revealed that Nrf1 is an integral membrane protein with both luminal and cytoplasmic domains. The N-terminal 65 residues of Nrf1 direct its integration into the ER and NE membranes and tether it to a Triton X-100-resistant membrane microdomain that is associated with lipid rafts. The activity of Nrf1 was increased by the electrophile tBHQ (t-butyl hydroquinone) probably through an N-terminal domain-dependent process. We found that the NST (Asn/Ser/Thr-rich) domain, along with AD1 (acidic domain 1), contributes positively to the transactivation activity of full-length Nrf1. Furthermore, the NST domain contains seven putative -Asn-Xaa-Ser/Thr- glycosylation sites and, when glycosylation was prevented by replacing all of the seven asparagine residues with either glutamine (Nrf11–7×N/Q) or aspartic acid (Nrf11–7×N/D), the former multiple point mutant possessed less activity than the wild-type factor, whereas the latter mutant exhibited substantially greater activity. Lastly, the ER stressors tunicamycin, thapsigargin and Brefeldin A were found to inhibit basal Nrf1 activity by ∼25%, and almost completely prevented induction of Nrf1-mediated transactivation by tBHQ. Collectively, these results suggest that the activity of Nrf1 critically depends on its topology within the ER, and that this is modulated by redox stressors, as well as by its glycosylation status.
A study of ryegrass architecture as a self-regulated system, using functional - structural plant modelling
Authors: Verdenal Alban , Combes Didier , Escobar-Gutiérrez Abraham J.
Published: November 2008

The canopy structure of grasslands is a major determinant of their use-value, as it affects the quantity and quality of the forage removed when mowed or grazed. The structure of this canopy is determined by individual plant architecture, which is highly sensitive to both environmental variations and management practices such as cutting regimes. In the case of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), this architectural plasticity may partially be mediated by a self-regulation process, i.e. the actual state of the architecture (e.g. length of the pseudostem) may indirectly control some morphogenetic processes. To test the robustness of this hypothesis, we designed an exploratory model of ryegrass morphogenesis exhibiting this cybernetic behaviour. This functional-structural model is based on the L-system formalism. It was able to capture satisfactorily the major quantitative architectural traits of ryegrass under non-limiting growing conditions and under a cutting constraint. From these simulation results it appears that (i) self-regulation rules could be of practical use to ryegrass modelling, and (ii) when activated in an integrated model, they are not markedly incompatible with observations.
A process-based model to simulate nitrogen distribution in wheat (Triticum aestivum) during grain-filling
Authors: Bertheloot Jessica , Andrieu Bruno , Fournier Christian , Martre Pierre
Published: November 2008

Nitrogen (N) distribution among plant organs plays a major role in crop production and, in general, plant fitness to the environment. In the present study, a process-based model simulating N distribution within a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) culm during grain filling was developed using a functional–structural approach. A model of turnover of the photosynthetic apparatus was used to describe the fluxes between a common pool of mobile N and each leaf lamina. Grain N accumulation within a time-step was modelled as the minimum between the quantity calculated by a potential function and the N available in the common pool. Nitrogen dynamics in the other organs (i.e. stem, chaff, root N uptake and remobilisation) were accounted for by forced variables. Using a unique set of six parameters, the model was able to simulate the observed N kinetics of each lamina and of the grains under a wide range of crop N supplies and for three cultivars. The time-course of the vertical gradient of lamina N during grain filling was realistically simulated as an emerging property of the local processes defined at the lamina scale. The model described in the present study offers new insight into the interactions between N metabolism, plant architecture and productivity.
Forest patch modeling: using high performance computing to simulate aboveground interactions among individual trees
Authors: Host George E. , Stech Harlan W. , Lenz Kathryn E. , Roskoski Kyle , Mather Richard
Published: November 2008

Functional–structural plant models (FSPMs) typically integrate suites of detailed physiological and phenological processes to simulate the growth of individual plants. Recent advances in high-performance computing have allowed FSPMs to be extended to patches of interacting trees. Here, we describe a parallel modelling strategy to run simultaneous individual tree models across an 8 × 8 patch of trees. The 64 ‘core’ trees are surrounded by multiple rings of neighbour trees to remove edge effects. A sensitivity analysis of the patch model demonstrates that computational factors such as the number of independently simulated trees (9 v. 36) or number of neighbour rings (3 v. 6) did not significantly influence model estimates of tree volume growth. Updated submodels for phenology and redistribution of overwinter carbohydrate storage allow the simulation to be more responsive to above ground competition among trees in a patch over multiple growing seasons. An 8-year patch-scale simulation of aspen clones 216 and 259 was conducted using high-resolution environmental data from the Aspen FACE Experiment, a long-term free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) study. Tree heights and volumes were comparable to 8-year growth measurements made at the Aspen FACE site.
Medial temporal lobe BOLD activity at rest predicts individual differences in memory ability in healthy young adults
Authors: Wig Gagan S. , Grafton Scott T. , Demos Kathryn E. , Wolford George L. , Petersen Steven E. , Kelley William M.
Published: November 2008

Human beings differ in their ability to form and retrieve lasting long-term memories. To explore the source of these individual differences, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) activity in healthy young adults (
n
= 50) during periods of resting fixation that were interleaved with periods of simple cognitive tasks. We report that medial temporal lobe BOLD activity during periods of rest predicts individual differences in memory ability. Specifically, individuals who exhibited greater magnitudes of task-induced deactivations in medial temporal lobe BOLD signal (as compared to periods of rest) demonstrated superior memory during offline testing. This relationship was independent of differences in general cognitive function and persisted across different control tasks (i.e., number judgment versus checkerboard detection) and experimental designs (i.e., blocked versus event-related). These results offer a neurophysiological basis for the variability in mnemonic ability that is present amongst healthy young adults and may help to guide strategies aimed at early detection and intervention of neurological and mnemonic impairment.
High-throughput sequencing allows the identification of binding molecules isolated from DNA-encoded chemical libraries
Authors: Mannocci Luca , Zhang Yixin , Scheuermann Jörg , Leimbacher Markus , De Bellis Gianluca , Rizzi Ermanno , Dumelin Christoph , Melkko Samu , Neri Dario
Published: November 2008

DNA encoding facilitates the construction and screening of large chemical libraries. Here, we describe general strategies for the stepwise coupling of coding DNA fragments to nascent organic molecules throughout individual reaction steps as well as the first implementation of high-throughput sequencing for the identification and relative quantification of the library members. The methodology was exemplified in the construction of a DNA-encoded chemical library containing 4,000 compounds and in the discovery of binders to streptavidin, matrix metalloproteinase 3, and polyclonal human IgG.
The mechanism of transport by mitochondrial carriers based on analysis of symmetry
Authors: Robinson Alan J. , Overy Catherine , Kunji Edmund R. S.
Published: November 2008

The structures of mitochondrial transporters and uncoupling proteins are 3-fold pseudosymmetrical, but their substrates and coupling ions are not. Thus, deviations from symmetry are to be expected in the substrate and ion-binding sites in the central aqueous cavity. By analyzing the 3-fold pseudosymmetrical repeats from which their sequences are made, conserved asymmetric residues were found to cluster in a region of the central cavity identified previously as the common substrate-binding site. Conserved symmetrical residues required for the transport mechanism were found at the water–membrane interfaces, and they include the three PX[DE]XX[RK] motifs, which form a salt bridge network on the matrix side of the cavity when the substrate-binding site is open to the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Symmetrical residues in three [FY][DE]XX[RK] motifs are on the cytoplasmic side of the cavity and could form a salt bridge network when the substrate-binding site is accessible from the mitochondrial matrix. It is proposed that the opening and closing of the carrier may be coupled to the disruption and formation of the 2 salt bridge networks via a 3-fold rotary twist induced by substrate binding. The interaction energies of the networks allow members of the transporter family to be classified as strict exchangers or uniporters.
B cells drive lymphocyte activation and expansion in mice with the CD45 wedge mutation and Fas deficiency
Authors: Gupta Vikas A. , Hermiston Michelle L. , Cassafer Gail , Daikh David I. , Weiss Arthur
Published: November 2008

CD45 and Fas regulate tyrosine phosphorylation and apoptotic signaling pathways, respectively. Mutation of an inhibitory wedge motif in CD45 (E613R) results in hyperresponsive thymocytes and B cells on the C57BL/6 background, but no overt autoimmunity, whereas Fas deletion results in a mild autoimmune disease on the same genetic background. In this study, we show that these two mutations cooperate in mice, causing early lethality, autoantibody production, and substantial lymphoproliferation. In double-mutant mice, this phenotype was dependent on both T and B cells. T cell activation required signaling in response to endogenous or commensal antigens, demonstrated by the introduction of a transgenic T cell receptor. Genetic deletion of B cells also prevented T cell activation. Similarly, T cells were necessary for B cell autoantibody production. However, B cells appeared to be intrinsically activated even in the absence of T cells, suggesting that they may drive the phenotype of these mice. These results reveal a requirement for careful control of B cell signaling and cell death in preventing inappropriate lymphocyte activation and autoimmunity.
Long-pore Electrostatics in Inward-rectifier Potassium Channels
Authors: Robertson Janice L. , Palmer Lawrence G. , Roux Benoît
Published: November 2008

Inward-rectifier potassium (Kir) channels differ from the canonical K+ channel structure in that they possess a long extended pore (∼85 Å) for ion conduction that reaches deeply into the cytoplasm. This unique structural feature is presumably involved in regulating functional properties specific to Kir channels, such as conductance, rectification block, and ligand-dependent gating. To elucidate the underpinnings of these functional roles, we examine the electrostatics of an ion along this extended pore. Homology models are constructed based on the open-state model of KirBac1.1 for four mammalian Kir channels: Kir1.1/ROMK, Kir2.1/IRK, Kir3.1/GIRK, and Kir6.2/KATP. By solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, the electrostatic free energy of a K+ ion is determined along each pore, revealing that mammalian Kir channels provide a favorable environment for cations and suggesting the existence of high-density regions in the cytoplasmic domain and cavity. The contribution from the reaction field (the self-energy arising from the dielectric polarization induced by the ion's charge in the complex geometry of the pore) is unfavorable inside the long pore. However, this is well compensated by the electrostatic interaction with the static field arising from the protein charges and shielded by the dielectric surrounding. Decomposition of the static field provides a list of residues that display remarkable correspondence with existing mutagenesis data identifying amino acids that affect conduction and rectification. Many of these residues demonstrate interactions with the ion over long distances, up to 40 Å, suggesting that mutations potentially affect ion or blocker energetics over the entire pore. These results provide a foundation for understanding ion interactions in Kir channels and extend to the study of ion permeation, block, and gating in long, cation-specific pores.
Effect of Sorghum Decortication and Use of Protease Before Liquefaction with Thermoresistant α‐Amylase on Efficiency of Bioethanol Production
Authors: Pérez‐Carrillo Esther , Serna‐Saldívar Sergio O. , Alvarez Mario M. , Cortes‐Callejas M. Luisa
Published: November 2008

The aim was to study the dual effect of sorghum decortication and protease treatment before liquefaction with α‐amylase on the performance of subsequent steps of saccharification and fermentation. A bifactorial experiment with a level of confidence of P < 0.05 was designed to study differences among grains (maize, whole, and decorticated sorghum) and the effectiveness of the protease before liquefaction. Sorghum was decorticated to remove most of the pericarp and part of the germ and increase starch concentration of the feedstock. The decorticated sorghum had significantly higher starch hydrolysis during liquefaction compared with the whole kernel. These hydrolyzates contained ≈50% more reducing sugars than the untreated counterparts. At the end of saccharification, the final glucose concentration in hydrolyzates treated without protease was the highest for maize (180 mg/mL), followed by decorticated sorghum (165 mg/mL), and whole sorghum (145 mg/mL). Decortication and protease treatment had a significant effect on fermentation times. In decorticated sorghum mash treated with and without protease, fermentation times were 22 and 60 hr, respectively. The decorticated sorghum treated with protease yielded similar amounts of ethanol compared with maize and 44% more ethanol compared with the untreated whole sorghum. Both sorghum decortication and protease treatments before hydrolysis with α‐amylase are recommended to increase ethanol yields, lower yields of distilled grains, and save liquefaction, saccharification, and fermentation times.
A Novel Homeobox-Like Gene Associated with Reaction to Stripe Rust and Powdery Mildew in Common Wheat
Authors: Liu D. , Xia X.-C. , He Z.-H. , Xu S.-C.
Published: November 2008

Stripe rust and powdery mildew, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici and Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, respectively, are severe diseases in wheat (Triticum aestivum) worldwide. In our study, differential amplification of a 201-bp cDNA fragment was obtained in a cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis between near-isogenic lines Yr10NIL and Avocet S, inoculated with P. striiformis f. sp. tritici race CYR29. A full-length cDNA (1,357 bp) of a homeobox-like gene, TaHLRG (GenBank accession no. EU385606), was obtained in common wheat based on the sequence of GenBank accession AW448633 with high similarity to the above fragment. The genomic DNA sequence (2,396 bp) of TaHLRG contains three exons and two introns. TaHLRG appeared to be a novel homeobox-like gene, encoding a protein with a predicted 66-amino-acid homeobox domain. It was involved in race-specific responses to stripe rust in real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses with Yr9NIL, Yr10NIL, and Avocet S. It was also associated with adult-plant resistance to stripe rust and powdery mildew based on the field trials of doubled haploid lines derived from the cross Bainong 64/Jingshuang 16 and two F2:3populations from the crosses Lumai 21/Jingshuang 16 and Strampelli/Huixianhong. A functional marker, THR1 was developed based on the sequence of TaHLRG and located on chromosome 6A using a set of Chinese Spring nulli-tetrasomic lines.
Divergence Between Sympatric Rice- and Soybean-Infecting Populations of Rhizoctonia solani Anastomosis Group-1 IA
Authors: de Assis Joana Bernardes , Peyer Patrik , Rush Milton C. , Zala Marcello , McDonald Bruce A. , Ceresini Paulo C.
Published: November 2008

Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group (AG)-1 IA causes soybean foliar blighting (aerial blight) and rice sheath blight diseases. Although taxonomically related within the AG-1 complex, sister populations of R. solani AG-1 IA infecting Poaceae (rice) and Fabaceae (soybean) are genetically distinct based on internal transcribed spacer rDNA. However, there is currently no information available regarding the extent of genetic differentiation and host specialization between rice- and soybean-infecting populations of R. solani AG-1 IA. We used 10 microsatellite loci to compare sympatric R. solani AG-1 IA populations infecting rice and soybeans in Louisiana and one allopatric rice-infecting population from Texas. None of the 154 multilocus genotypes found among the 223 isolates were shared among the three populations. Partitioning of genetic diversity showed significant differentiation among sympatric populations from different host species (ΦST = 0.39 to 0.41). Historical migration patterns between sympatric rice- and soybean-infecting populations from Louisiana were asymmetrical. Rice- and soybean-derived isolates of R. solani AG-1 IA were able to infect both rice and soybean, but were significantly more aggressive on their host of origin, consistent with host specialization. The soybean-infecting population from Louisiana was more clonal than the sympatric rice-infecting population. Most of the loci in the soybean-infecting populations were out of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), but the sympatric rice-infecting population from Louisiana was mainly in HWE. All populations presented evidence for a mixed reproductive system.
Co-Infection by Two Criniviruses Alters Accumulation of Each Virus in a Host-Specific Manner and Influences Efficiency of Virus Transmission
Authors: Wintermantel William M. , Cortez Arturo A. , Anchieta Amy G. , Gulati-Sakhuja Anju , Hladky Laura L.
Published: November 2008

Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV), and Tomato infectious chlorosis virus (TICV), family Closteroviridae, genus Crinivirus, cause interveinal chlorosis, leaf brittleness, and limited necrotic flecking or bronzing on tomato leaves. Both viruses cause a decline in plant vigor and reduce fruit yield, and are emerging as serious production problems for field and greenhouse tomato growers in many parts of the world. The viruses have been found together in tomato, indicating that infection by one Crinivirus sp. does not prevent infection by a second. Transmission efficiency and virus persistence in the vector varies significantly among the four different whitefly vectors of ToCV; Bemisia tabaci biotypes A and B, Trialeurodes abutilonea, and T. vaporariorum. Only T. vaporariorum can transmit TICV. In order to elucidate the effects of co-infection on Crinivirus sp. accumulation and transmission efficiency, we established Physalis wrightii and Nicotiana benthamiana source plants, containing either TICV or ToCV alone or both viruses together. Vectors were allowed to feed separately on all virus sources, as well as virus-free plants, then were transferred to young plants of both host species. Plants were tested by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and results indicated host-specific differences in accumulation by TICV and ToCV and alteration of accumulation patterns during co-infection compared with single infection. In N. benthamiana, TICV titers increased during co-infection compared with levels in single infection, while ToCV titers decreased. However, in P. wrightii, titers of both TICV and ToCV decreased during mixed infection compared with single infection, although to different degrees. Vector transmission efficiency of both viruses corresponded with virus concentration in the host in both single and mixed infections. This illustrates that Crinivirus epidemiology is impacted not only by vector transmission specificity and incidence of hosts but also by interactions between viruses and efficiency of accumulation in host plants.
Critical threshold in pipe flow transition
Authors: Mellibovsky Fernando , Meseguer Alvaro
Published: November 2008

This study provides a numerical characterization of the basin of attraction of the laminar Hagen–Poiseuille flow by measuring the minimal amplitude of a perturbation required to trigger transition. For pressure-driven pipe flow, the analysis presented here covers autonomous and impulsive scenarios where either the flow is perturbed with an initial disturbance with a well-defined norm or perturbed by means of local impulsive forcing that mimics injections through the pipe wall. In both the cases, the exploration is carried out for a wide range of Reynolds numbers by means of a computational method that numerically resolves the transitional dynamics. For

, the present work provides critical amplitudes that decay as
Re
−3/2
and
Re
−1
for the autonomous and impulsive scenarios, respectively. For
Re
=2875, accurate threshold amplitudes are found for constant mass-flux pipe by means of a shooting method that provides critical trajectories that never relaminarize or trigger transition. These transient states are used as initial guesses in a damped Newton–Krylov method formulated to find periodic travelling wave solutions that either travel downstream or exhibit a helicoidal advection.
Development of sensory organs in larvae of African catfish Clarias gariepinus
Authors: Mukai Y. , Tuzan A. D. , Lim L. S. , Wahid N. , Sitti Raehanah M. S. , Senoo S.
Published: November 2008

African catfish Clarias gariepinus hatched with morphologically immature features; however, sensory organs developed rapidly with fish growth. Although the eyes of newly hatched larvae were immature without pigment, in 2 day‐old larvae, the retina of the eyes had already developed except for the rod cells. No free neuromasts were observed in newly hatched larvae. In 1 day‐old larvae, however, free neuromasts were observed on the head and trunk. Free neuromasts increased with larval growth. Newly hatched larvae had simple round‐shaped otic vesicles; however, all sensory epithelia of the inner ear were observed until the larvae were 3 days old. Two day‐old larvae swam horizontally, had sharp teeth, commenced ingesting rotifers and also artificial feed (small‐size pellets) under both light and dark conditions; by then the larvae already had many taste buds. Three day‐old larvae showed negative phototaxis and cannibalism by eating their conspecifics. Most of the free neuromasts observed in this study had the peculiar feature of many microvilli around the sensory cells on the apical surface. Detected free neuromasts as ordinary type lateral‐line organs were not observed in previous reports in teleosts. In 10 day‐old larvae, there were two lines of free neuromasts on the flank and lower edge of the trunk; presumptive canal neuromasts were oval shaped and had begun to sink under the skin. The direction of maximum sensitivity of the neuromasts was parallel with the longitudinal axis of their elliptical apical surface.
Genetic and reproductive evidence for two species of ornate wobbegong shark Orectolobus spp. on the Australian east coast
Authors: Corrigan S. , Huveneers C. , Schwartz T. S. , Harcourt R. G. , Beheregaray L. B.
Published: November 2008

This study reports on evidence for reproductive isolation among Orectolobus ornatus and Orectolobus halei, two previously cryptic and recently redescribed species of wobbegong shark (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae) from the east coast of Australia. The evidence is based on disparity in size at sexual maturity, diagnostic nuclear and mitochondrial DNA variants, and marked phylogenetic divergence. Plots of total length (LT) and maturity for the two species were non‐overlapping and illustrative of statistically significant size dimorphism. Genetic analyses and phylogenetic reconstruction did not provide indication of hybridization between O. ornatus and O. halei. In fact, sequence divergence between them was higher than in comparisons with another congeneric and largely co‐distributed wobbegong species (Orectolobus maculatus). The assumption of a molecular clock revealed that the two species have evolved in isolation for c. 3·9 million years. These results challenge a paradigm often mentioned in the biodiversity literature that most cryptic species are the product of recent speciation events and will contribute to the development of effective management strategies for wobbegong sharks.
Auricular acupuncture for postoperative pain control: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials
Authors: Usichenko T. I. , Lehmann Ch. , Ernst E.
Published: November 2008

The number of publications on the peri‐operative use of auricular acupuncture has rapidly increased within the last decade. The aim was to evaluate clinical evidence on the efficacy of auricular acupuncture for postoperative pain control. Electronic databases: Medline, MedPilot, DARE, Clinical Resource, Scopus and Biological Abstracts were searched from their inception to September 2007. All randomised clinical trials on the treatment of postoperative pain with auricular acupuncture were considered and their quality was evaluated using the Jadad scale. Pain intensity and analgesic requirements were defined as the primary outcome measures. Of 23 articles, nine fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Meta‐analytic approach was not possible because of the heterogeneity of the primary studies. In eight of the trials, auricular acupuncture was superior to control conditions. Seven randomised clinical trials scored three or more points on the Jadad scale but none of them reached the maximum of 5 points. The evidence that auricular acupuncture reduces postoperative pain is promising but not compelling.
Use of a leucocyte filter to remove tumour cells from intra‐operative cell salvage blood
Authors: Catling S. , Williams S. , Freites O. , Rees M. , Davies C. , Hopkins L.
Published: November 2008

The intra‐operative blood loss of 50 consecutive gynae‐oncology patients undergoing surgery for endometrial, cervical or ovarian cancer was cell salvaged and filtered. In each case blood samples were taken from the effluent tumour vein, a central venous line, the cell saver reservoir, the cell salvage re‐transfusion bag after processing but before filtration and from the cell salvage re‐transfusion bag after processing and filtration. Samples were examined using immunohistochemical monoclonal antibody markers for epithelial cell lines. Viable, nucleated malignant cells were detected in 2/50 central venous samples, 34/50 reservoir samples and 31/50 unfiltered cell salvaged samples. After passage through a Pall RS leucocyte depletion filter no remaining viable, nucleated malignant cells were detected in any sample. The clinical risks of cell salvage in these circumstances should be reviewed in the light of the risks of allogeneic blood transfusion.
Prevalence of difficult intubation in a bariatric population, using the beach chair position
Authors: Fox W. T. A. , Harris S. , Kennedy N. J.
Published: November 2008

We retrospectively reviewed the anaesthetic charts of patients who had undergone bariatric surgery in our regional centre since the start of the service. We identified Cormack and Lehane grade of laryngoscopy, any difficulties associated with tracheal intubation, and the impact of age, gender and body mass index on laryngoscopy grade. The patients were anaesthetised in the in the ‘beach chair’ position prior to laryngoscopy. One hundred and ninety‐two patients’ notes were available for review out of a total of 198. Mean age was 43.3 years (SD 10.3) and mean BMI 50.8 (SD 8.0). Grade of laryngoscopy was unrecorded in 20 patients. Of the 192 patients, 162 (84%) had a Cormack and Lehane grade of 1 or 2. Nine (4.7%) patients were graded as 3 and only one patient had a grade 4 laryngoscopy. There were two cases (1%) of difficulty in intubation. A bougie was used 16 times (8%). Logistic regression showed that age was a significant factor for increasing laryngoscopy grade (p = 0.0102) but that BMI was not (p = 0.6271).
A study to assess the value of bispectral analysis in intravenous sedation with midazolam during third molar surgery under local anaesthesia
Authors: Cheung C. W. , Irwin M. G. , Chiu W. K. , Ying C. L. A.
Published: November 2008

This study aimed to determine whether bispectral index (BIS) can be used as an indicator of sedation and recovery with intravenous midazolam. In Part A, 30 healthy patients undergoing third molar extraction under local anaesthesia were recruited. They were sedated with intravenous midazolam titrated to clinical endpoints. BIS values were recorded when adequately sedated (BISS) and when clinical recovery criteria were met (BISR). In Part B, another 30 patients were sedated to the range of BISS obtained in Part A. Recovery was assessed postoperatively when the range of BISR from Part A was reached. BIS titrated patients required less midazolam (p < 0.001). Seventy percent of Part B patients required increments of midazolam during surgery, compared to 16.7% in Part A (p < 0.001). Total dose of midazolam given was lower in Part B (p = 0.025). BIS is not effective as a sole indicator of endpoint in sedation with intravenous midazolam.
Responsiveness to stimuli of bispectral index, middle latency auditory evoked potentials and clinical scales in critically ill children
Authors: Lamas A. , López‐Herce J. , Sancho L. , Mencía S. , Carrillo Á. , José Santiago M. , Martínez V.
Published: November 2008

We performed simultaneous recordings of Bispectral Index (BIS) and middle latency auditory evoked potentials. We also recorded two clinical scales, the Modified Ramsay scale and the COMFORT scale. Heart rate and blood pressure were measured once a day, for a maximum of 5 days, in 81 critically ill children. Changes with tactile, auditory, and painful stimuli were analysed. All the stimuli significantly increased the BIS value, the painful stimulus having the greatest effect. The painful stimulus was the only one that altered the middle latency auditory evoked potentials. Although the responses of the clinical scales to stimuli were statistically significant, they were of little clinical relevance. None of the stimuli used significantly altered the heart rate or blood pressure. We conclude that tactile, auditory and painful stimuli produced changes of little relevance in the clinical scales, BIS or middle latency auditory evoked potentials. We found the BIS was the most sensitive method and the painful stimulus had the greatest effect.
A study of the occurrence of monochorionic and monozygotic twinning in the pig
Authors: Bjerre D. , Thorup F. , Jørgensen C. B. , Vejlsted M. , Fredholm M.
Published: November 2008

In humans as well as in most farm animals, monozygotic twins have been described. Nevertheless, only a few reports of twinning in the pig have been published. It has been suggested that monozygotic twins are formed during the first 14 days of pregnancy. This monozygotic twin study includes the investigation of porcine monochorionic embryos from 76 sows at days 26–29 post‐insemination (p.i.), as well as an examination of 10 whole litters at days 21–22 p.i. In the former group, 29% of the sows carried monochorionic embryos. Based on DNA profiling using microsatellite markers, one monozygotic twin pair was found among these embryos. In the latter group, three monozygotic twin pairs were identified. Thus, it can be concluded that although the occurrence of monozygotic twins in pigs is a sporadic event, the fusion of extra‐embryonic membranes is relatively common.
Expression of the porcine adrenergic receptor beta 2 gene in longissimus dorsi muscle is affected by cis‐regulatory DNA variation
Authors: Muráni E. , Ponsuksili S. , Srikanchai T. , Maak S. , Wimmers K.
Published: November 2008

The beta‐2 adrenergic receptor (AR) mediates metabolic actions of catecholamines, including glycogenolysis, lipolysis and proteolysis, in muscle and adipose tissue. Factors influencing the density of beta‐2 ARs thus might affect carcass composition and meat quality. One such factor might represent cis‐regulatory DNA variation affecting mRNA expression of the adrenergic receptor beta 2 (ADRB2) gene in relevant tissues. To identify potential cis‐regulatory DNA variation of porcine ADRB2, we comparatively sequenced part of the 5′ flanking region and identified 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The SNP at position g.673C>T (AF000134) resides in an evolutionarily conserved region (ECR) in an in silico predicted androgen response element. Quantification of total transcript levels and allelic expression imbalance (AEI) revealed significant variability in mRNA expression of ADRB2 in longissimus dorsi muscle of slaughter pigs, partly attributable to cis‐regulatory DNA variation. However, the g.673C>T SNP has, in the given temporo‐spatial context, no significant effect but is apparently in linkage disequilibrium with the causal cis‐regulatory DNA variant. We used the g.673C>T SNP as a marker to study the association of ADRB2 variation with carcass and meat quality in four commercial lines. We found association with the pH of loin at 45 min and 24 h postmortem (p.m.) and with the pH of ham at 24 h p.m. Supporting evidence for ADRB2 as a candidate gene for pork quality is provided by our assignment of the gene to the telomeric end of the q arm of porcine chromosome 2, where several quantitative trait loci for meat quality were reported.
Safety and efficacy of imatinib in chronic eosinophilic leukaemia and hypereosinophilic syndrome – a phase‐II study
Authors: Metzgeroth Georgia , Walz Christoph , Erben Philipp , Popp Helena , Schmitt‐Graeff Annette , Haferlach Claudia , Fabarius Alice , Schnittger Susanne , Grimwade David , Cross Nicholas C. P. , Hehlmann Rüdiger , Hochhaus Andreas , Reiter Andreas
Published: November 2008

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of imatinib in chronic eosinophilic leukaemia (CEL, n = 23) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES, n = 13). In CEL with FIP1L1‐PDGFRA (n = 16) or various PDGFRB fusion genes (n = 5), complete haematological remission (CHR) was achieved in 95% (20/21) after 3 months. Complete molecular remission (CMR) was seen in 75% (12/16) of cases with FIP1L1‐PDGFRA positive CEL by 6 months, and in 87% (13/15) after 12 months. CMR was achieved in three of five PDGFRB fusion positive patients after 3, 9 and 18 months respectively. All patients are currently on imatinib (100 mg; n = 13, 400 mg; n = 8) and no molecular relapse has yet been observed (median 26·7 months; range, 6·9–39·9). Imatinib was less effective in HES and CEL without known molecular aberration (n = 15); CHR was observed in 40% (6/15) of patients, two patients relapsed after 4·8 and 24·5 months. Three patients died due to imatinib‐resistant progressive CEL (n = 2) or myocardial infarction (n = 1) unrelated to study treatment. Overall, imatinib was well tolerated with a low incidence of grade III/IV toxicities. These data confirmed the long‐term efficacy of imatinib for PDGFR‐rearranged CEL patients, and also showed that a minority of HES cases without known molecular aberrations may benefit from imatinib.