bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural and practical identifiability analysis of partially observed dynamical models by exploiting the profile likelihood
Authors: Raue A. , Kreutz C. , Maiwald T. , Bachmann J. , Schilling M. , Klingmüller U. , Timmer J.
Published: June 2009

Motivation: Mathematical description of biological reaction networks by differential equations leads to large models whose parameters are calibrated in order to optimally explain experimental data. Often only parts of the model can be observed directly. Given a model that sufficiently describes the measured data, it is important to infer how well model parameters are determined by the amount and quality of experimental data. This knowledge is essential for further investigation of model predictions. For this reason a major topic in modeling is identifiability analysis.

Results: We suggest an approach that exploits the profile likelihood. It enables to detect structural non-identifiabilities, which manifest in functionally related model parameters. Furthermore, practical non-identifiabilities are detected, that might arise due to limited amount and quality of experimental data. Last but not least confidence intervals can be derived. The results are easy to interpret and can be used for experimental planning and for model reduction.

Availability: An implementation is freely available for MATLAB and the PottersWheel modeling toolbox at http://web.me.com/andreas.raue/profile/software.html.

Contact:  andreas.raue@me.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Preventive Effects of Salacia reticulata on Obesity and Metabolic Disorders in TSOD Mice
Authors: Akase Tomoko , Shimada Tsutomu , Harasawa Yukiko , Akase Tomohide , Ikeya Yukinobu , Nagai Eiichi , Iizuka Seiichi , Nakagami Gojiro , Iizaka Shinji , Sanada Hiromi , Aburada Masaki
Published: June 2009

The extracts of Salacia reticulata (Salacia extract), a plant that has been used for the treatment of early diabetes, rheumatism and gonorrhea in Ayurveda, have been shown to have an anti‐obesity effect and suppress hyperglycemia. In this study, the effects of Salacia extract on various symptoms of metabolic disorder were investigated and compared using these TSOD mice and non‐obese TSNO mice. Body weight, food intake, plasma biochemistry, visceral and subcutaneous fat (X‐ray and CT), glucose tolerance, blood pressure and pain tolerance were measured, and histopathological examination of the liver was carried out. A significant dose‐dependent decline in the gain in body weight, accumulation of visceral and subcutaneous fat and an improvement of abnormal glucose tolerance, hypertension and peripheral neuropathy were noticed in TSOD mice. In addition, hepatocellular swelling, fatty degeneration of hepatocytes, inflammatory cell infiltration and single‐cell necrosis were observed on histopathological examination of the liver in TSOD mice. Salacia extract markedly improved these symptoms upon treatment. Based on the above results, it is concluded that Salacia extract has remarkable potential to prevent obesity and associated metabolic disorders including the development of metabolic syndrome.
Surface electrocardiogram to predict outcome in candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy: a sub‐analysis of the CARE‐HF trial
Authors: Gervais Renaud , Leclercq Christophe , Shankar Aparna , Jacobs Sandra , Eiskjær Hans , Johannessen Arne , Freemantle Nick , Cleland John G.F. , Tavazzi Luigi , Daubert Claude ,   on behalf of the CARE‐HF investigators
Published: June 2009

Aims

In CARE‐HF, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) lowered morbidity and mortality in patients with moderate to severe heart failure. We examined whether baseline and follow‐up electrocardiographic characteristics might predict long‐term outcome.

Methods and results

CARE‐HF randomly assigned 409 patients to medical therapy (MT) plus CRT, and 404 patients to MT alone. Electrocardiographic measurements were made at baseline during sinus rhythm, and at 3 months during paced or spontaneous rhythm depending on treatment assignment. Favourable outcome was defined as freedom from death, urgent transplantation, or cardiovascular hospitalization. Among patients assigned to CRT, 39% had unfavourable outcomes including 55 deaths. By single variable analysis, (i) prolonged PR interval, left QRS axis (but not QRS duration), and left bundle branch block (BBB) at baseline, and (ii) heart rate, PR, and QRS duration at 3 months predicted unfavourable outcome. By multiple variable analysis, treatment assignment (P = 0.0001), PR (P = 0.0004), and right BBB (P < 0.00013) at baseline predicted outcome, whereas baseline JTc and QRS duration at 3 months predicted all‐cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization (P = 0.0071).

Conclusion

In CARE‐HF, QRS duration at baseline did not predict outcome, but QRS at 3 months was a predictor by single variable analysis. Patients with prolonged PR interval and the 5% of patients with right BBB had a particularly high event rate.
Identification of genetic markers associated with fatness and leg weakness traits in the pig
Authors: Fan B. , Onteru S. K. , Nikkilä M. T. , Stalder K. J. , Rothschild M. F.
Published: June 2009

Pigs have undergone long‐term selection in commercial conditions for improved rate and efficiency of lean gain. Interestingly, it has been observed in both experimental and field conditions that leg weakness has increased over time, concurrent with the selection for improved rate of lean gain, while fatter animals tend to have better leg action, and foot and leg (FL) structure. The exact molecular mechanisms or individual genes responsible for this apparent genetic correlation between fatness and leg weakness and other physical adaptability traits have been less well reported. Based on our recent studies involving candidate genes and leg weakness traits, the present investigation has identified 30 SNPs from 26 genes that were found to be associated with 10th rib backfat in a sow population consisting of 2066 animals. The specific alleles associated with increased backfat tended to be associated with better overall leg action, as shown for the genes including MTHFR, WNT2, APOE, BMP8, GNRHR and OXTR, while inconsistent associations with the single FL structure trait and backfat were observed for other genes. This study suggests that in some cases there may be a common genetic mechanism or linked genes regulating fatness and leg weakness. Such relationships are clearly complex, and the utilization of genetic markers associated with both traits should be treated cautiously.
Polymorphisms in the STAT6 gene and their association with carcass traits in feedlot cattle
Authors: Rincon G. , Farber E. A. , Farber C. R. , Nkrumah J. D. , Medrano J. F.
Published: June 2009

Identification of the genes and polymorphisms underlying quantitative traits, and understanding how these genes and polymorphisms affect economic traits, are important for successful marker‐assisted selection and more efficient management strategies in commercial cattle populations. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) gene is tightly connected to IL‐4 and IL‐13 signalling and plays a key role in TH2 polarization of the immune system. In addition, STAT6 acts as a mediator of leptin signalling and has been associated with body weight regulation. The objective of this study was to determine if SNPs within the bovine STAT6 gene are associated with economically important traits in feedlot cattle. The approach consisted of resequencing STAT6 using a panel of DNA from unrelated animals of different beef breeds. Specifically, 16 kb of STAT6 was resequenced in 47 animals and the process revealed 39 SNPs. From the 39 SNPs, a panel of 15 tag SNPs was genotyped in 1500 beef cattle samples with phenotypes to perform a marker‐trait association analysis. Among the 15 tag SNPs, five and six were polymorphic in Bos taurus and Bos indicus respectively. An association analysis was performed between the 15 tag SNPs and 14 performance and production traits. SNP ss115492459:C > A, ss115492461:A > G and ss115492458:G > C were significantly associated with back fat, calculated yield grade, cutability, hot carcass weight, dry matter intake, days on feed, back fat rate and average daily gain. These three SNPs were present in all Bos taurus beef breeds examined. Our results provide evidence that polymorphisms in STAT6 are associated with carcass and growth efficiency traits, and may be used for marker‐assisted selection and management in feedlot cattle.
Stream macroinvertebrate occurrence along gradients in organic pollution and eutrophication
Authors: FRIBERG NIKOLAI , SKRIVER JENS , LARSEN SØREN E. , PEDERSEN MORTEN L. , BUFFAGNI ANDREA
Published: June 2009

1. We analysed a large number of concurrent samples of macroinvertebrate communities and chemical indicators of eutrophication and organic pollution [total‐P, total‐N, NH4–N, biological oxygen demand (BOD5)] from 594 Danish stream sites. Samples were taken over an 11‐year time span as part of the Danish monitoring programme on the aquatic environment. Macroinvertebrate communities were sampled in spring using a standardised kick‐sampling procedure whereas chemical variables were sampled six to 24 times per year per site. Habitat variables were assessed once when macroinvertebrates were sampled.

2. The plecopteran Leuctra showed a significant negative exponential relationship (r2 = 0.90) with BOD5 and occurred at only 16% of the sites with BOD5 above 1.6 mg L−1. Sharp declines with increasing BOD5 levels were found for the trichopteran families Sericostomatidae and Glossosomatidae although they appeared to be slightly less sensitive than Leuctra. Other plecopterans such as Isoperla showed a similar type of response curve to Leuctra (negative exponential) but occurred at sites with relatively high concentrations of BOD5 up to 3–4 mg L−1. In contrast, the response curve of the isopod Asellus aquaticus followed a saturation function reaching a plateau above 3–4 mg L−1 BOD5 and the dipteran Chironomus showed an exponential increase in occurrence with increasing BOD5 concentration.

3. Macroinvertebrate occurrence appeared to be related primarily to concentrations of BOD5, NH4–N and total‐P whereas there were almost no relationships to total‐N. Occurrence of a number of taxa showed a stronger relationship to habitat conditions (width and substrate) than chemical variables.

4. Important macroinvertebrate taxa are reduced at concentrations of BOD5 that are normally perceived as indicating unimpacted stream site conditions. Our results confirmed sensitivity/tolerance patterns used by existing bioassessment systems only to some degree.
Estimating the near surface amplification factor to minimize earthquake damage: a case study at West Wadi Hagoul area, Egypt
Authors: Mohamed Adel M.E.
Published: June 2009

The damage caused by earthquake occurrences in different localities all over the world necessitates the evaluation of the underground and/or sub‐soil structure for strategic projects. The case study is the proposed area for a new factory construction that lies 3 km west of Suez Cement factory, in the area between Kottamiya and Ain Sokhna. The shallow seismic refraction survey was carried out through 10 major lines (grid lines), comprising 30 seismic profiles. The microtremor measurements were done at 25 locations at the grid intersection points. The obtained compressional (P) and horizontal shear (SH) wave velocities, with the horizontal to vertical (H/V) spectral ratios, are used to deduce the subsurface structures, to evaluate the elastic and dynamic properties and the transfer function at both the surface and bedrock. The results illustrate that there is a good correlation between the fundamental frequencies deduced through the theoretical transfer function and the H/V spectral ratio. The maximum value of ground motion amplification factor of the study area is 3.3 at a corresponding frequency of 7.8 Hz.
Time‐related changes of the intestinal morphology of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., at two different soybean meal inclusion levels
Authors: Urán P A , Schrama J W , Rombout J H W M , Taverne‐Thiele J J , Obach A , Koppe W , Verreth J A J
Published: June 2009

Soybean meal (SBM) induces enteritis in the distal intestine of Atlantic salmon. The present study assesses the effects of SBM concentrations on the kinetics of the enteritis process. Fish of 300 g, kept at 12 °C, were fed diets with different SBM inclusions: 0%, 10% and 20% SBM for 57 days. Samples of the distal intestine of five fish per treatment were taken for histological and electron microscopical analysis. A semi‐quantitative scoring system was used to assess the degree of the morphological changes induced by SBM feeding in the distal intestinal epithelium. The first signs of enteritis appeared earlier in the salmon fed the 20SBM diet than in those fed the 10SBM diet. Thereafter, the condition increased steadily, displaying no signs of recovery. Furthermore, at the lower concentration, the process marking the onset of enteritis began more gradually than at the higher concentration and it displayed a tendency to stabilize after 13–20 days of continuous feeding. Electron microscopy indicated that the endocytosis process was hampered at day 3 of 20SBM and at 7 days of 10SBM. Furthermore, a strong reduction of microvilli was already evident after 7 days of 20SBM feeding, thus indicating a decreased uptake capacity of the distal enterocytes. In addition, transformation and migration of eosinophilic granulocytes was observed, which, in combination with the lysozyme C immunoreactivity supports their protective role during the inflammatory process in the distal gut of Atlantic salmon. It can be concluded that the severity of enteritis and its kinetics are concentration‐dependent, showing no signs of recovery during feeding with diets containing SBM.
Influence of Maternal Hyperglycaemia on Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells in Response to Diabetes‐associated Autoantigens
Authors: Stechova K. , Spalova I. , Durilova M. , Bartaskova D. , Cerny M. , Cerna M. , Pithova P. , Chudoba D. , Stavikova V. , Ulmannova T. , Faresjö M.
Published: June 2009

Perfect maternal diabetes compensation is crucial for the outcome of the baby. However, little is known how hyperglycaemia influences the specific immune response. Furthermore, babies of type 1 diabetes (T1D) mothers have less risk of development T1D than babies with a T1D father. This study aimed to analyze the effect of maternal hyperglycaemia on newborns with focus on the response to diabetes‐associated autoantigens. Populations: (1) Newborns of T1D mothers split into groups according to maternal diabetes compensation during the 3rd trimester: perfect (n = 15) or acceptable (n = 25) compensation. (2) newborns with T1D father (n = 12) (3) newborns with a mother treated for either gestational or type 2 diabetes (n = 10) (4) control newborns (n = 25). Spontaneous as well as diabetes‐associated autoantigen‐stimulated production of 23 cytokines and chemokines were tested using protein microarray. In addition, the influence of glucose on cytokine and chemokine responsiveness was analyzed in vitro. The study groups differed in their spontaneous as well as stimulated cytokine and chemokine spectra. A prominent Th1 response (high IFN‐gamma) from autoantigen stimulation was observed especially in babies of T1D fathers (P = 0.001) and also in mothers with perfect diabetes compensation during the 3rd trimester (P = 0.016) in comparison with control newborns. By contrast, cord blood mononuclear cells cultivated in vitro in high glucose concentration decreased the diabetogenic stimulated Th1 cytokine response. Maternal ‘sweet’ as well as ‘autoimmune environment’ may both lead to lower occurrence of T1D within their offspring. Further studies will reveal the exact immunological mechanism of this observation.
Homologous recombination‐mediated knock‐in targeting of the MET1a gene for a maintenance DNA methyltransferase reproducibly reveals dosage‐dependent spatiotemporal gene expression in rice
Authors: Yamauchi Takaki , Johzuka‐Hisatomi Yasuyo , Fukada‐Tanaka Sachiko , Terada Rie , Nakamura Ikuo , Iida Shigeru
Published: June 2009

Although homologous recombination‐promoted knock‐in targeting to monitor the expression of a gene by fusing a reporter gene with its promoter is routine practice in mice, gene targeting to modify endogenous genes in flowering plants remains in its infancy. In the knock‐in targeting, the junction sequence between a reporter gene and an endogenous target promoter can be designed properly, and transgenic plants carrying an identical and desired knock‐in allele can be repeatedly obtained. By employing a reproducible gene‐targeting procedure with positive–negative selection in rice, we were able to obtain fertile transgenic knock‐in plants with the promoterless GUS reporter gene encoding β‐glucuronidase fused with the endogenous promoter of MET1a, one of two rice MET1 genes encoding a maintenance DNA methyltransferase. All of the primary (T0) transgenic knock‐in plants obtained were found to carry only one copy of GUS, with the anticipated structure in the heterozygous condition, and no ectopic events associated with gene targeting could be detected. We showed the reproducible, dosage‐dependent and spatiotemporal expression of GUS in the selfed progenies of independently isolated knock‐in targeted plants. The results in knock‐in targeted plants contrast sharply with the results in transgenic plants with the MET1a promoter‐fused GUS reporter gene integrated randomly in the genome: clear interindividual variation of GUS expression was observed among independently obtained plants bearing the randomly integrated transgenes. As our homologous recombination‐mediated gene‐targeting strategy with positive–negative selection is, in principle, applicable to modify any endogenous gene, knock‐in targeting would facilitate basic and applied plant research.
RRS1 and RPS4 provide a dual Resistance‐gene system against fungal and bacterial pathogens
Authors: Narusaka Mari , Shirasu Ken , Noutoshi Yoshiteru , Kubo Yasuyuki , Shiraishi Tomonori , Iwabuchi Masaki , Narusaka Yoshihiro
Published: June 2009

Colletotrichum higginsianum is a fungal pathogen that infects a wide variety of cruciferous plants, causing important crop losses. We have used map‐based cloning and natural variation analysis of 19 Arabidopsis ecotypes to identify a dominant resistance locus against C. higginsianum. This locus named RCH2 (for recognition of C. higginsianum) maps in an extensive cluster of disease‐resistance loci known as MRC‐J in the Arabidopsis ecotype Ws‐0. By analyzing natural variations within the MRC‐J region, we found that alleles of RRS1 (resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum 1) from susceptible ecotypes contain single nucleotide polymorphisms that may affect the encoded protein. Consistent with this finding, two susceptible mutants, rrs1‐1 and rrs1‐2, were identified by screening a T‐DNA‐tagged mutant library for the loss of resistance to C. higginsianum. The screening identified an additional susceptible mutant (rps4‐21) that has a 5‐bp deletion in the neighboring gene, RPS4‐Ws, which is a well‐characterized R gene that provides resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 expressing avrRps4 (Pst‐avrRps4). The rps4‐21/rrs1‐1 double mutant exhibited similar levels of susceptibility to C. higginsianum as the single mutants. We also found that both RRS1 and RPS4 are required for resistance to R. solanacearum and Pst‐avrRps4. Thus, RPS4‐Ws and RRS1‐Ws function as a dual resistance gene system that prevents infection by three distinct pathogens.
Weed occurrence on pavements in five North European towns
Authors: MELANDER B , HOLST N , GRUNDY A C , KEMPENAAR C , RIEMENS M M , VERSCHWELE A , HANSSON D
Published: June 2009

Weeds on pavements in urban areas are unwanted mainly because they cause an untidy appearance or sometimes structural damage. Glyphosate has been the principal weed control method for years, but policies in several European towns have changed to lower dependence on herbicides. Instead, less effective and more species‐dependent non‐chemical methods are used, but little is known about the pavement flora. Consequently, we surveyed the flora on pavements in five North European towns [Braunschweig (DE), Malmö (SE), Næstved (DK), Royal Leamington Spa (UK) and Wageningen (NL)] by recording weed species and their coverage in 56 recording points randomly placed in each town. Weeds were recorded at several dates in 2005 and 2006 and no weed control was applied apart from sweeping. Weed coverage increased during the survey (averaging 1.4% in late 2006) and was highest in the towns having the strictest policies limiting herbicide use. Most coverage (averaging 2%) was found along the pavement edge away from the road. Poa annua was the most frequently recorded species, followed by bryophytes (mainly mosses), Sagina procumbens and perennial grasses. Grasses and some other species frequently found, notably Taraxacum officinale, should receive particular attention when planning a non‐chemical weed control campaign on pavements.
Multiple introductions are responsible for the disjunct distributions of invasive Parthenium hysterophorus in China: evidence from nuclear and chloroplast DNA
Authors: TANG S Q , WEI F , ZENG L Y , LI X K , TANG S C , ZHONG Y , GENG Y‐P
Published: June 2009

Parthenium hysterophorus is an invasive weed native to tropical and subtropical America. Since its introduction into China in 1926, this weed has been limited to southern areas (18°–25°N). However, new populations were recently reported in Shandong (35°N). The origin of this geographically isolated population remains unclear. In this study, we used inter simple sequence repeat and chloroplast DNA sequence markers (trnQ‐5’rps16) to investigate the genetic structure of 18 invading populations of P. hysterophorus and to examine the genetic relationship of Shandong and southern populations. Our data show that Shandong population is genetically different and has apparently higher levels of genetic diversity than most populations in southern China. Both neighbour‐joining clustering and principal coordination analysis clearly separated Shandong from other populations. Chloroplast DNA sequence analysis further confirmed that the Shandong population was characterised by a unique haplotype that was not found in southern populations. We conclude that the population in Shandong may have been independently introduced from areas outside China. As P. hysterophorus has a broad potential distribution in China, attention should be paid to both international and domestic quarantine to prevent new introductions and curtail the possible hybridisation and gene flow between populations in different regions.
Prevalence of clinical rejection after surveillance biopsies in pediatric renal transplants: Does early subclinical rejection predispose to subsequent rejection episodes?
Authors: Hymes Leonard C. , Warshaw Barry L. , Hennigar Randolph A. , Amaral Sandra G. , Greenbaum Larry A.
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  We analyzed rates of both SCR and CR in children receiving SB at three months post‐transplant to determine if SCR predisposed patients to acute CR. Acute rejection was defined according to Banff criteria to include borderline classification or higher. All cases of SCR and CR were treated with anti‐rejection protocols. Between October 2004 and July 2008, 89 SB were performed at three months post‐transplant. Twenty‐six cases of SCR were detected (29%). Sixteen patients experienced 22 episodes of biopsy‐proven CR occurring after SB, including seven episodes following SCR and 15 after normal SB. The onset of CR varied from one to 27 months after SB and occurred at similar intervals for cases with SCR and normal SB. The percentage of patients remaining free of CR at 30 months post‐transplant was similar in patients with SCR and normal SB. Renal function and graft survival at 30 months also were no different between patients with SCR and those with normal SB. Early‐SCR, when treated with rejection protocols, is not a prognostic indicator for subsequent CR episodes.
Differential gene expression in whiteflyBemisia tabaci‐infested tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants at progressing developmental stages of the insect's life cycle
Authors: Estrada‐Hernández María Gloria , Valenzuela‐Soto José Humberto , Ibarra‐Laclette Enrique , Délano‐Frier John Paul
Published: June 2009

A suppression‐subtractive‐hybridization (SSH) strategy was used to identify genes whose expression was modified in response to virus‐free whiteflyBemisia tabaci(Bt, biotype A) infestation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Thus, forward and reverse SSH gene libraries were generated at four points in the whitefly's life cycle, namely at (1) 2 days (adult feeding and oviposition: phase I); (2) 7 days (mobilecrawlerstage: phase II); (3) 12 days (second to third instar nymphal transition: phase III) and (4) 18 days (fourth instar nymphal stage: phase IV). The 169 genes with altered expression (up and downregulated) that were identified in the eight generated SSH libraries, together with 75 additional genes that were selected on the basis of their involvement in resistance responses against phytofagous insects and pathogens, were printed on a Nexterion®Slide MPX 16 to monitor their pattern of expression at the above phases. The results indicated thatBtinfestation in tomato led to distinctive phase‐specific expression/repression patterns of several genes associated predominantly with photosynthesis, senescence, secondary metabolism and (a)biotic stress. Most of the gene expression modifications were detected in phase III, coinciding with intense larval feeding, whereas fewer changes were detected in phases I and IV. These results complement previously reported gene expression profiles inBt‐infested tomato and Arabidopisis, and support and expand the opinion thatBtinfestation leads to the downregulation of specific defense responses in addition to those controlled by jasmonic acid.
Carbon and Nitrogen Transport during Grain Filling in Rice Under High‐temperature Conditions
Authors: Ito S. , Hara T. , Kawanami Y. , Watanabe T. , Thiraporn K. , Ohtake N. , Sueyoshi K. , Mitsui T. , Fukuyama T. , Takahashi Y. , Sato T. , Sato A. , Ohyama T.
Published: June 2009

Rice (Oryza sativa cv. Koshihikari) seedlings were grown in a sandy dune soil in pots with a basal dressing of N (0.5 g N), P and K. Two N treatments were applied, a +N treatment in which a top dressing of 15N‐labeled 0.5 g N was supplied on July 20 and a −N treatment in which no additional fertilizer was supplied. During the grain‐filling stage from August 6 to 13, plants were subjected to one of three temperature treatments; controlled low temperature, LT (day/night 28/23 °C), controlled high temperature, HT (35/30 °C) and uncontrolled glasshouse temperature, UT (day/night averages, 38/26 °C). All plants were then exposed to 13CO2 for 1 h on August 11 in a growth chamber at 25 °C. On August 13, all plants were harvested and the 13C and 15N abundances and starch and sugar concentrations in the ears, shoots and roots were determined. The 13C content of the ear was lower in UT than in LT irrespective of the +N or −N treatment. The translocation of 15N to the ears was also slightly depressed in UT compared with LT. Under high‐temperature conditions (HT and UT), the starch content per plant was reduced for −N, but for +N, it was not significantly different among the temperature treatments. A high accumulation of sucrose was observed in all plant parts under UT conditions. It is suggested that extreme high day temperatures during the grain‐filling period may reduce starch synthesis in the grains and, especially so under N‐deficient conditions. High temperatures also induce an accumulation of sucrose and a decrease in carbon and nitrogen transport from the shoots to the ears via the phloem.
Enforced herbivory on Canavalia ensiformis and Tithonia diversifolia and its effects on leaf‐cutting ants, Atta cephalotes
Authors: Valderrama‐Eslava E. I. , Montoya‐Lerma J. , Giraldo C.
Published: June 2009

Herbivory by leaf‐cutting ants can lead to serious problems for agricultural and forest systems in the Neotropics. Chemical insecticides are the major, if not only, control tactic, but the efficiency of this approach is questionable. Moreover, continued reliance on insecticidal control leads to environmental damage and risks to human and animal health. Developing alternative management tactics for leaf‐cutting ants is thereby a justifiable and sensible need. Recent findings suggest that the Mexican sunflower, Tithonia diversifolia and the jackbean, Canavalia ensiformis, have detrimental effects on leaf‐cutting ant populations under laboratory and field conditions. It is unclear, however, whether those effects involve the development and growth of the ant’s symbiotic fungus, the ants or both. To address this question, an experiment was conducted on 18 artificial Atta cephalotes colonies maintained with three feeding treatments: a control (mango, Mangifera indica), T. diversifolia and C. ensiformis. Six repetitions of each treatment were assigned to the colonies in a completely randomized design and evaluated over a period of 2 months under laboratory conditions. Both T. diversifolia and C. ensiformis negatively altered growth of the symbiotic fungus Leucoagaricus gongilophorus and thereby affected the survival of A. cephalotes. The greatest reduction in fungus size (up to 100%) and the highest ant mortality (83.3%) were observed in colonies fed on T. diversifolia, but not until 45 days after the start of the experiment. In colonies fed on C. ensiformis, the greatest reduction in fungus size (95.3%) and the highest ant mortality (66.6%) were reached at 57 days. During the course of the study, no negative effects were observed in the control colonies, which displayed a consistently healthy symbiotic fungus and low rate of ant mortality (16.6%). Based on these results, plants of both T. diversifolia and C. ensiformis offer promise for the biological control of A. cephalotes populations.
Life‐history traits of the edible stinkbug, Encosternum delegorguei (Hem., Tessaratomidae), a traditional food in southern Africa
Authors: Dzerefos C. M. , Witkowski E. T. F. , Toms R.
Published: June 2009

Little is known of the life history of the edible stinkbug, Encosternum delegorguei, although it is an important food for people living in north‐eastern South Africa and southern Zimbabwe. The present study aimed to establish key elements influencing long‐term sustainable harvesting. Outdoor insectaries of two sizes were constructed to observe: daily activity, utilization of plants, copulation, oviposition, eclosion and survival from May 2006 to February 2007. The rest of the annual life cycle was observed in the field in March and April 2007 and identified as univoltine. In autumn (May) E. delegorguei entered reproductive diapause and aggregated within the escarpment mist‐belt where it survived the winter on vapour condensation without feeding. Monthly dissections showed that abdominal fat content was highest in June. In spring (September) E. delegorguei fed on sap of the trees Combretum imberbe, Combretum molle, Peltophorum africanum, to a lesser degree on Dodonaea viscosa and the grass Pennisetum clandestinum. Copulation occurred in October and November. An overall total of 1752 E. delegorguei eggs were laid by 103 females and incubation time averaged 18.7 ± 9.0 days (range 7–37) at outdoor temperature ranging from 11°C to 25°C. The mean number of eggs in 64 egg masses was 27.4 ± 13.9 (range of 2–56 eggs). Shade cloth (68.8%) was the most commonly used substrate for depositing eggs followed by P. clandestinum (12.5%), C. imberbe (7.8%), P. africanum (6.3%), D. viscosa (1.6%), C. molle (1.6%) and C. erythrophyllum (1.6%). The parasitoid wasp, Anastatus sp. (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) infected 57% of the eggs deposited by captive females. Availability of food plants in combination with parasitoid threat may be a reason for seasonal migration between overwintering sites within the mist‐belt and summer oviposition sites. Diminishing harvests could be attributed to fuelwood harvesting of food plants in the summer sites.
Simvastatin inhibits angiotensin II‐induced cardiac cell hypertrophy: Role of Homer 1a
Authors: Guo Wan‐Gang , Su Fei‐Fei , Yuan Li‐Jun , Yang Guo‐Dong , Shi Xiao‐Qin , Li Ruo‐Yu , Shu Qing , Liu Xiong‐Tao , Lu Zi‐Fan , Zheng Qiang‐Sun
Published: June 2009

The scaffolding protein Homer 1a is constitutively expressed in the myocardium, although its function in cardiomyocytes remains poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to investigate Homer 1a expression in hypertrophic cardiac cells and its role in angiotensin (Ang) II‐induced cardiac hypertrophy.

After serum starvation for 24 h, cells were treated with 1 μmol/L simvastatin, 100 nmol/L angiotensin (Ang) II or their combination added to Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 0.5% serum. For combination treatment with AngII plus simvastatin, cells were exposed to simvastatin 12 h before the addition of AngII to the medium and cells were then incubated in the presence of both drugs for a further 24 h. Western blotting was used to determine Homer 1a protein expression. Hypertrophy was evaluated by determining the protein content per cell.

Homer 1a protein levels were upregulated following AngII‐induced hypertrophy in H9C2 cells and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and these increases were augmented by simvastatin pretreatment. Concomitantly, simvastatin pretreatment inhibited extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation and AngII‐induced hypertrophy.

The inhibitory effects of simvastatin against AngII‐induced hypertrophy were attenuated by Homer 1a silencing, suggesting that simvastatin suppresses cardiac hypertrophy in a Homer 1a‐dependent manner. Furthermore, AngII‐induced hypertrophy and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were significantly inhibited following the overexpression of Homer 1a using an adenovirus.

These results suggest a possible role for Homer 1a in inhibiting cardiac hypertrophy perhaps in part through inhibition of ERK1/2 activation.
Involvement of volume‐sensitive Cl− channels in the proliferation of human subcutaneous pre‐adipocytes
Authors: Hu Hao , Li Dong‐Ling , Fan Lin , Ren Jun , Wang Sheng‐Peng , Jia Bing , Liu Bing‐Hang , Sun Lei , Yu Xiao‐Jiang , Zang Wei‐Jin
Published: June 2009

Obesity is a significant challenge in terms of public health and preventive medicine. Inhibition of pre‐adipocyte proliferation is believed to be important in the proposed anti‐obesity mechanism. The aim of the present study was to examine the interplay between Cl− channels and their possible involvement in the proliferation of undifferentiated human pre‐adipocytes.

Pre‐adipocytes were isolated from human abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Membrane ion currents were recorded using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. Expression of the Cl− channel ClC‐3 gene and protein was determined by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and western blot, respectively. Cell proliferation was evaluated using the [3H]‐thymidine incorporation assay.

Electrophysiological recordings revealed a volume‐sensitive Cl− current (ICl.vol) expressed in pre‐adipocytes that was activated under hyposmotic conditions (external osmolarity decreased by 80%) and inhibited by the Cl− channel blocker tamoxifen.

Expression of the ClC‐3 channel gene and protein was confirmed by RT‐PCR and western blot analysis. Blocking ICl.vol with tamoxifen supressed the proliferation of pre‐adipocytes in a concentration‐dependent manner.

Collectively, the results of the present study indicate that the volume‐sensitive Cl− channel participates in regulation of the proliferation of human subcutaneous pre‐adipocytes.
Relationship between endogenous concentrations of vasoactive substances and measures of peripheral vasodilator function in patients with coronary artery disease
Authors: Casey Darren P , Nichols Wilmer W , Conti C Richard , Braith Randy W
Published: June 2009

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between plasma concentrations of nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and endothelin (ET)‐1 and non‐invasive measures of peripheral vasodilator function in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Twenty‐two patients with angiographic CAD underwent non‐invasive measurement of peripheral vasodilator function in the brachial conduit artery (flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) testing via ultrasound) and in the forearm resistance arteries (via venous occlusion plethysmography) during reactive hyperaemia after 5 min ischaemia. In addition, plasma NOx and ET‐1 concentrations were determined.

The plasma concentration of NOx was related to the peak brachial FMD response when expressed as either the relative (%) or absolute (mm) change in diameter (r = 0.73, P < 0.001; and r = 0.64, P < 0.01, respectively). Moreover, plasma concentrations of NOx demonstrated a relationship with forearm vasodilation estimated by total forearm blood flow following 5 min ischaemia (r = 0.63, P < 0.01) and the flow debt repayment of the forearm (r = 0.54, P < 0.01). Finally, ET‐1 concentrations were inversely related to FMD% (r = –0.45, P < 0.05).

The findings of the present study demonstrate a relationship between the plasma concentrations of NOx and measures of vascular reactivity in conduit and resistance arteries in patients with CAD. Therefore, measurement of plasma NOx may serve as a reliable marker for peripheral vasodilator dysfunction in patients with CAD.
Fatigue behaviour of cast magnesium alloy AZ91 microstructurally modified by friction stir processing
Authors: UEMATSU Y. , TOKAJI K. , FUJIWARA K. , TOZAKI Y. , SHIBATA H.
Published: June 2009

Friction stir processing (FSP) was applied to cast magnesium alloy AZ91‐F to modify the as‐cast microstructure, and the effect of FSP on fatigue behaviour was discussed based on microstructural consideration, crack initiation, crack growth behaviour, and fracture surface analysis. Fully reversed axial fatigue tests have been performed using as‐cast, T5‐aged and their FSPed specimens (as‐cast/FSP and T5/FSP). It was found that both FSPed specimens exhibited significantly higher fatigue strength than the as‐cast and T5‐aged specimens. FSP resulted in the break‐up of coarse as‐cast microstructure, grain refinement of the matrix, finely dispersed precipitates and increase of hardness, thereby both the crack initiation resistance and the crack growth resistance were considerably enhanced compared with the as‐cast and T5‐aged specimens, resulting in the improved fatigue strengths of the FSPed specimens.
Fatigue life improvement for cruciform welded joint by mechanical surface treatment using hammer peening and ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification*
Authors: HAN S.‐H. , HAN J.‐W. , NAM Y.‐Y. , CHO I.‐H.
Published: June 2009

For the improvement of the fatigue strength for welded structures, mechanical posttreatments have been applied in various industrial fields and in most cases have been found to give substantial increases in their fatigue lives. These methods, generally, consist of the modification of weld toe geometry and the introduction of compressive residual stresses. In mechanical surface treatments, for example, PHP (pneumatic hammer peening) and UNSM (ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification), the weld profile is modified due to removed or reduced minute crack‐like flaws, and compressive residual stresses are also induced. In this study, a PHP procedure and a UNSM device were introduced, and a quantitative measure of fatigue strength improvement was performed. The fatigue strength at 2 × 106 cycles of hammer‐peened and UNSM treated on a non‐load‐carrying cruciform welded joint shows 220 and 260 MPa, respectively, which are more than two times higher than that of as‐welded specimen. Especially, the surface layer in the vicinity weld toe treated by the UNSM provides nanocrystal structure created by an ultrasonic cold forging and introduces very high welding residual stress in compression.
Ammonia‐oxidizing communities in a highly aerated full‐scale activated sludge bioreactor: betaproteobacterial dynamics and low relative abundance of Crenarchaea
Authors: Wells George F. , Park Hee‐Deung , Yeung Chok‐Hang , Eggleston Brad , Francis Christopher A. , Criddle Craig S.
Published: June 2009

Ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) have long been considered key to the removal of nitrogen in activated sludge bioreactors. Culture‐independent molecular analyses have established that AOB lineages in bioreactors are dynamic, but the underlying operational or environmental factors are unclear. Furthermore, the contribution of ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) to nitrogen removal in bioreactors has not been studied. To this end, we investigated the abundance of AOA and AOB as well as correlations between dynamics in AOB lineages and operational parameters at a municipal wastewater treatment plant sampled weekly over a 1 year period. Quantitative PCR measurements of bacterial and archaeal ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes revealed that the bacterial homologue predominated by at least three orders of magnitude in all samples. Archaeal amoA was only detectable in ∼15% of these samples. Using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, we monitored AOB lineages based on amoA genes. The Nitrosomonas europaea lineage and a novel Nitrosomonas‐like cluster were the dominant AOB signatures, with a Nitrosospira lineage present at lower relative abundance. These lineages exhibited strong temporal oscillations, with one becoming sequentially dominant over the other. Using non‐metric multidimensional scaling and redundancy analyses, we tested correlations between terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles and 20 operational and environmental parameters. The redundancy analyses indicated that the dynamics of AOB lineages correlated most strongly with temperature, dissolved oxygen and influent nitrite and chromium. The Nitrosospira lineage signal had a strong negative correlation to dissolved oxygen and temperature, while the Nitrosomonas‐like (negative correlations) and N. europaea lineages (positive correlations) were inversely linked (relative to one another) to influent nitrite and chromium. Overall, this study suggests that AOA may be minor contributors to ammonia oxidation in highly aerated activated sludge, and provides insight into parameters controlling the diversity and dominance of AOB lineages within bioreactors during periods of stable nitrification.
Pierpont and the Capital Market
Authors: BROWN PHILIP , FERGUSON ANDREW , JACKSON ANDREW B.
Published: June 2009

For almost forty years Trevor Sykes was one of the most recognizable business journalists in Australia. Sykes created his Pierpont character in February 1972 while writing for Australia's leading financial paper, the Australian Financial Review. Pierpont was a take on J. Pierpont Morgan, founder of the J. P. Morgan banking house. Sykes used his Pierpont column to research and reflect on the curious world of Australian business. Articles were mostly in narrative form, comprising an in‐depth critique of one or more companies and written with more than a touch of humour. Over the years Pierpont garnered a large following, and it is therefore quite possible his musings influenced investors' beliefs about company fundamentals. We assess this possibility by examining the share price movements of companies around the time they found themselves featured in a Pierpont column. We extend previous work in this area by examining the market reaction to a popular columnist's writings published regularly over a lengthy period, and by implementing an extensive double‐coding procedure that allows us to more finely and reliably partition trading recommendations based on the content of each column. In brief, we find evidence that stocks with positive coverage by Pierpont enjoyed abnormal returns averaging 6.4 per cent over thirty days around the publication date, while stocks with negative coverage suffered abnormal losses of 5.5 per cent. Trading volume was also affected.
Public Sector Consolidated Statements—an Assessment
Authors: WALKER R. G.
Published: June 2009

Judgments potentially made by various participants in (or observers of) the public sector on the basis of aggregative financial information about governments are reviewed. Distinctions are drawn between judgments that are made routinely, or under certain conditions, by decision makers or observers. It is recognized that (in Australia) the financial information that is relevant to the majority of these judgments is already supplied by other sources (principally budget documents, or in Government Finance Statistics) rather than by public sector consolidated statements. It is concluded that a number of routine judgments could be based on financial information presented in the form of consolidated statements (of varying scope). Alternative criteria for determining the scope of consolidated statements are reviewed. Accountability and control are noted as potential bases. Depending on the adopted objective, it is concluded that tests of control are either not relevant, or inappropriate. It is contended that prior studies that have recommended use of control have focused on processes (trying to find a suitable test for determining the ambit of consolidated statements) rather than on objectives, and examining in some detail what information would be relevant to different users and uses.
Investment‐Based Cost Accounting as a Fundamental Basis of Decision‐Oriented Management Accounting
Authors: KÜPPER HANS‐ULRICH
Published: June 2009

Decision making concerns over cost allocations, especially common cost allocations, have a long history. They are well canvassed in Thomas (1969) and Wells (1978). This article revisits the cost allocation debate, albeit in a new setting, and rehearses arguments relevant to long‐ and short‐term decision contexts. Here a means is proposed to address those problems, namely to adopt the investment‐based approach to cost accounting. This approach draws on ideas of Hotelling (1925), Preinreich (1938) and Schneider (1961), and applies the notion of net present value in another setting, namely to cost accounting theory. Research has revealed no discussion of this in the Anglo‐American literature. This article shows analytically that the investment‐based approach offers a general basis for decision‐oriented cost accounting, as it combines investment theory with cost accounting and thereby connects long‐term with short‐term decisions. While reviewing primarily European literature, it also examines several Anglo‐American works. The analysis reveals how for three classical decision problems—production program planning, purchase order lot sizes, and break‐even price limits—two different types of costs, namely depreciation and material costs, have to be based on cash flows and net present value. The proposed investment‐based approach permits an examination of the extent to which cost accounting concepts and cost information are relevant to those decisions. This theoretical concept is used to derive pertinent cost dimensions and to solve traditional problems of cost allocation. A caution is that the investment approach is limited to decision facilitating cost accounting. Whether it may be possible to couple it with agency theory and its focus on decision influencing has not been explored and is an issue for further research.