bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Annual Reporting Practices: Information about Human Resources in Corporate Annual Reports in Major Swedish Companies
Authors: OLSSON BIRGITTA
Published: January 2008

In this article the aim is to report from two empirical studies of annual reporting of intellectual capital (IC), with particular emphasis on human resources (HR) in Swedish companies. The studies were made on the largest Swedish companies on the stock market's A‐list, during the years 1990, 1994 and 1998. The material used was the external annual reports. In the studies we wanted to assess the extent to which large companies are publicly reporting their IC. The research aimed to investigate the reporting practices in Swedish companies. The research question was to determine if company representatives' desire to make HR more transparent is merely an expression that is not supported by real conviction. The studies showed that there is a very low share of information disclosed about human resources in the corporate annual reports. A tendency to increase was evident, but it is, on average, below 4%. None of the 18 largest companies were above 7%, which reveals that there is a lack of good examples to be found in this group of companies and very little changes had taken place during the past 10 years. It must be concluded that a great deal is often said about the importance of having a more transparent HR or human capital in companies, but the evidence suggests that in the real world this is still not the case.
Dimensions of Competence in an Accounting Domain
Authors: Dusenbury Richard , Gerard Gregory J. , Reimers Jane L.
Published: January 2008

Research in the area of competence suggests that familiarity with a domain affects decision making. We extend Heath and Tversky's (1991) competence hypothesis research by examining the following propositions: (1) competence increases the propensity to take credit for success and place blame for failure, and (2) professional accountants' feelings of competence can be altered, as measured by the propensity to take credit for success and place blame for failure, by calling attention to what others know relative to what they know. Participants in the experimental study were accountants with varying levels of tax experience. Results indicated that more competent participants took more credit for being right, and placed more blame externally for being wrong, than did less competent participants. Also, participants who were told about an applicable tax regulation that was not available during the experiment took more blame for being wrong, suggesting that competence is affected by features of the context in which professional tasks are performed.
Earnings Management to Reduce Earnings Variability: Evidence from Bank Loan Loss Provisions
Authors: Kanagaretnam Kiridaran , Lobo Gerald J. , Mathieu Robert
Published: January 2008

Prior research demonstrates that share prices reflect a risk premium that is associated with earnings variability. This suggests that managers can reduce the cost of capital and increase share prices by reducing earnings variability. In this study, we investigate bank managers' use of discretion in estimating loan loss provisions (LLP) to reduce earnings variability. We find that banks with relatively high pre‐managed earnings have positive discretionary LLP and banks with relatively low pre‐managed earnings have negative discretionary LLP, results that are consistent with the hypothesis of earnings management to reduce earnings variability. In addition, we find that bank managers' decisions to reduce earnings variability are related to the need for external financing and to gains and losses on the sale of securities which serve as substitutes for accomplishing their objective of earnings variability reduction.
The Impact of the Corporate Life‐Cycle on the Value‐Relevance of Disaggregated Earnings Components
Authors: Jenkins David S. , Kane Gregory D. , Velury Uma
Published: January 2008

We investigate the relative roles of key components of earnings change in explaining the value relevance of earnings across different life‐cycle stages of the firm. We hypothesize that firms in different life‐cycle stages take different strategic actions: change in sales is emphasized in the growth and mature stages, while in later stages, profitability is emphasized. Because payoffs to such strategies vary across the life‐cycle, the stock market reaction to the success firms have in employing these strategic actions is likely to vary across the life‐cycle. To test our hypotheses, we disaggregate changes in earnings into three key components: earnings change from change in sales, earnings change from change in profitability, and an interaction term comprising both sales change and profitability change. Our findings are consistent with our hypotheses: when firms are in the growth stage, the value‐relevance of change in sales is relatively greater than that of change in profitability. In the mature stage, the value relevance of change in profitability increases, relative to that of change in sales. When firms are in stagnant stage, the value‐relevance of changes in profitability are relatively greater than that of change in sales. Collectively, the results demonstrate a shift in the value relevance of earnings components from a growth emphasis early in the life‐cycle to a profitability emphasis later in the life‐cycle.
Narratives vs Numbers in the Annual Report: Are They Giving the Same Message to the Investors?
Authors: Balata Pascal , Breton Gaétan
Published: January 2008

The annual report has two parts, financial statements and narrative sections. Commentators have raised doubts about the harmony of the two parts. The financial statements are audited, therefore submitted to a form of control. The narrative sections are free style, open to confusion and manipulation. Users are potentially exposed to contradictory messages producing an effect of dissonance. We do not test the presence of dissonance for the users, but the presence of contradictory information prone to produce dissonant effect. We conduct a content analysis of the president letter and we build an index of the level of optimism contained in it. Then, we compare this index with the change in key numbers or ratios from the financial statements. Our results indicate a moderate level of divergence between the narrative sections and the accounting data. However, this level is sufficient to raise questions about the necessity to regulate the discourse accompanying the financial statements.
Survival Analysis with Artificially Constructed Events
Authors: Jaggia Sanjiv , Thosar Satish
Published: January 2008

One of the key elements of survival models is that they enable the researcher to determine whether the length of time an individual (or economic entity) spends in a particular state affects the probability of exiting that state. Natural applications in economics and finance include the analysis of unemployment spells, corporate bankruptcies and mortgage pre‐payments. The distinguishing feature of most applications is the definitive event that marks the transition from the origin to the transition state. We believe that limiting the use of survival analysis to applications in which the event duration appears to be ‘naturally’ available is an unnecessary constraint. For example, the date of emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection is a subjective management decision and the true event duration, though treated as definitive, is in reality quite ambiguous. We propose that survival models can and should be extended to analyze researcher‐defined events such as the length of time a stock takes to reach a preset price target. We illustrate our point with an examination of IPO aftermarket behavior.
Survival Analysis and Financial Distress Prediction: Finnish Evidence
Authors: Laitinen Erkki K.
Published: January 2008

Survival analysis is statistical technique that uses longitudinal data to model the process that allows an individual or firm to survive to a particular point in time. Despite a large number of studies that use survival analysis to model the duration of time that precedes financial distress, some criticism has suggested that the application of survival analysis to financial distress research provides limited incremental knowledge. This study uses survival analysis to model the duration of time that precedes a firm's initial payment default. The data set consists of firm financial information obtained from a large credit information company in Finland for a five‐year period split into estimation and holdout samples. Financial ratios, size, industry, and age are used as covariates to model the survival process preceding the initial payment default. The hazard is compared to a logistic risk measure estimated from data one year prior to default. The proportional hazards model is shown to give a more accurate forecast of default for the earlier years prior to the onset of financial distress.
Interchange of autoinhibitory domain conformations in plasma‐membrane Ca2+‐ATPase–calmodulin complexes
Authors: Mandal Abhijit , Liyanage Mangala Roshan , Zaidi Asma , Johnson Carey K.
Published: January 2008

The Ca2+ signaling protein calmodulin (CaM) stimulates Ca2+ pumping in the plasma‐membrane Ca2+‐ATPase (PMCA) by binding to an autoinhibitory domain, which then dissociates from the catalytic domain of PMCA to allow full activation of the enzyme. We measured single‐molecule fluorescence trajectories with polarization modulation to track the conformation of the autoinhibitory domain of PMCA pump bound to fluorescently labeled CaM. Interchange of the autoinhibitory domain between associated and dissociated conformations was detected at a physiological Ca2+ concentration of 0.15 μM, where the enzyme is only partially active, but not at 25 μM, where the enzyme is fully activated. In previous work we showed that the conformation of the autoinhibitory domain in PMCA–CaM complexes could be monitored by the extent of modulation of single‐molecule fluorescence generated with rotating excitation polarization. In the present work, we determined the timescale of association and dissociation of the autoinhibitory domain with the catalytic regions of the PMCA. Association of the autoinhibitory domain was rare at a high Ca2+ concentration (25 μM). At a lower Ca2+ concentration (0.15 μM), conformations of the autoinhibitory domain interchanged with a dissociation rate of 0.042 ± 0.011 sec−1 and an association rate of 0.023 ± 0.006 sec−1. The results indicate that the response time of PMCA upon a reduction in Ca2+ is limited to tens of seconds by autoinhibitory dynamics. This property may reduce the sensitivity of PMCA to transient reductions in intracellular Ca2+. We suggest that the dynamics of the autoinhibitory domain may play a novel role in regulating PMCA activity.
Structure of a small‐molecule inhibitor complexed with GlmU from Haemophilus influenzae reveals an allosteric binding site
Authors: Mochalkin Igor , Lightle Sandra , Narasimhan Lakshmi , Bornemeier Dirk , Melnick Michael , VanderRoest Steven , McDowell Laura
Published: January 2008

N‐Acetylglucosamine‐1‐phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU) is an essential enzyme in aminosugars metabolism and an attractive target for antibiotic drug discovery. GlmU catalyzes the formation of uridine‐diphospho‐N‐acetylglucosamine (UDP‐GlcNAc), an important precursor in the peptidoglycan and lipopolisaccharide biosynthesis in both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. Here we disclose a 1.9 Å resolution crystal structure of a synthetic small‐molecule inhibitor of GlmU from Haemophilus influenzae (hiGlmU). The compound was identified through a high‐throughput screening (HTS) configured to detect inhibitors that target the uridyltransferase active site of hiGlmU. The original HTS hit exhibited a modest micromolar potency (IC50 ∼ 18 μM in a racemic mixture) against hiGlmU and no activity against Staphylococcus aureus GlmU (saGlmU). The determined crystal structure indicated that the inhibitor occupies an allosteric site adjacent to the GlcNAc‐1‐P substrate‐binding region. Analysis of the mechanistic model of the uridyltransferase reaction suggests that the binding of this allosteric inhibitor prevents structural rearrangements that are required for the enzymatic reaction, thus providing a basis for structure‐guided design of a new class of mechanism‐based inhibitors of GlmU.
Strategies for loading dendritic cells with hepatitis C NS5a antigen and inducing protective immunity
Authors: Yu H. , Babiuk L. A. , Van Drunen Littel‐van den Hurk S.
Published: January 2008

Summary.  Dendritic cell (DC)‐based vaccination strategies are promising for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases including hepatitis C virus (HCV). As the induction of T cell‐mediated immune responses by DC vaccination is highly dependent on efficient antigen loading of the DCs, the purpose of this study was to identify an optimal nonviral DC loading strategy for HCV NS5a. Furthermore, the efficacy of immunization with the NS5a‐loaded DCs in comparison to plasmid encoding NS5a and NS5a protein was evaluated. Transfection of DCs with mRNA was most efficient with close to 100% of DCs expressing NS5a, whereas approximately 10% of protein‐pulsed DCs and <1% of plasmid‐transfected DCs expressed NS5a, suggesting remarkably different loading efficiencies. Vaccination of mice with NS5a mRNA‐transfected DCs or NS5a protein‐pulsed DCs resulted in significantly stronger CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell responses and protection from challenge with vaccinia virus expressing NS3/NS4/NS5, in comparison to vaccination with NS5a DNA‐transfected DCs, plasmid encoding NS5 or rNS5a protein formulated with alum. Furthermore, vaccination with NS5a mRNA‐transfected DCs was superior to vaccination with rNS5a‐pulsed DCs. These data have important clinical implications, with mRNA‐transfected DCs providing a safe and effective vaccination strategy against hepatitis C and possibly other pathogens.
Efficient point mutagenesis in mycobacteria using single‐stranded DNA recombineering: characterization of antimycobacterial drug targets
Authors: Van Kessel Julia C. , Hatfull Graham F.
Published: January 2008

Construction of genetically isogenic strains of mycobacteria is complicated by poor recombination rates and the lack of generalized transducing phages for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We report here a powerful method for introducing single point mutations into mycobacterial genomes using oligonucleotide‐derived single‐stranded DNA recombineering and mycobacteriophage‐encoded proteins. Phage Che9c gp61‐mediated recombination is sufficiently efficient that single base changes can be introduced without requirement for direct selection, with isogenic mutant strains identified simply by PCR. Efficient recombination requires only short (50 nucleotide) oligonucleotides, but there is an unusually strong strand bias and an oligonucleotide targeting lagging strand DNA synthesis can recombine more than 10 000‐fold efficiently than its complementary oligonucleotide. This ssDNA recombineering provides a simple assay for comparing the activities of related phage recombinases, and we find that both Escherichia coli RecET and phage λ Red recombination proteins function inefficiently in mycobacteria, illustrating the utility of developing recombineering in new bacterial systems using host‐specific bacteriophage recombinases. ssDNA mycobacterial recombineering provides a simple approach to characterizing antimycobacterial drug targets, and we have constructed and characterized single point mutations that confer resistance to isoniazid, rifampicin, ofloxacin and streptomycin.
XND1, a member of the NAC domain family in Arabidopsis thaliana, negatively regulates lignocellulose synthesis and programmed cell death in xylem
Authors: Zhao Chengsong , Avci Utku , Grant Emily H. , Haigler Candace H. , Beers Eric P.
Published: January 2008

Members of the large Arabidopsis NAC domain transcription factor family are regulators of meristem development, organ elongation and separation, and deposition of patterned secondary cell walls. XYLEM NAC DOMAIN 1 (XND1) is highly expressed in xylem. Changes observed for XND1 knockout plants compared with wild‐type Arabidopsis thaliana included a reduction in both plant height and tracheary element length and an increase in metaxylem relative to protoxylem in roots of plants treated with the proteasome inhibitor MG132. Overexpression of XND1 resulted in extreme dwarfism associated with the absence of xylem vessels and little or no expression of tracheary element marker genes. In contrast, phloem marker‐gene expression was not altered and phloem‐type cells still formed. Transmission electron microscopy showed that parenchyma‐like cells in the incipient xylem zone in hypocotyls of XND1 overexpressors lacked secondary wall thickenings and retained their cytoplasmic content. Considered together, these findings suggest that XND1 affects tracheary element growth through regulation of secondary wall synthesis and programmed cell death.
Developmental information but not promoter activity controls the methylation state of histone H3 lysine 4 on two photosynthetic genes in maize
Authors: Danker Tanja , Dreesen Björn , Offermann Sascha , Horst Ina , Peterhänsel Christoph
Published: January 2008

We have investigated the establishment of histone H3 methylation with respect to environmental and developmental signals for two key genes associated with C4 photosynthesis in maize. Tri‐methylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) in roots and leaves was shown to be controlled by autonomous cell‐type‐specific developmental signals that are independent of illumination and therefore independent of the initiation of transcription. Di‐ and mono‐methylation of H3K4 act antagonistically to this process. The modifications were already established in etiolated seedlings, and remained stable when genes were inactivated by dark treatment or pharmaceutical inhibition of transcription. Constitutive di‐methylation of H3K9 was concomitantly detected at specific gene positions. The data support a histone code model whereby cell‐type‐specific signals induce the formation of a chromatin structure that potentiates gene activation by environmental cues.
Biosynthesis of circular proteins in plants
Authors: Gillon Amanda D. , Saska Ivana , Jennings Cameron V. , Guarino Rosemary F. , Craik David J. , Anderson Marilyn A.
Published: January 2008

Plant cyclotides are a large family of naturally occurring circular proteins that are produced from linear precursors containing one, two or three cyclotide domains. The mechanism of excision of the cyclotide domains and ligation of the free N‐ and C‐termini to produce the circular peptides has not been elucidated. Here, we investigate production of the prototypic cyclotide kalata B1 from the precursor Oak1 from the African plant Oldenlandia affinis. Immunoprecipitation experiments and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry analysis showed that O. affinis only produces mature kalata B1, whereas transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana benthamiana produced both linear and circular forms. Circular peptides were not produced when a highly conserved asparagine residue at the C‐terminal processing site of the cyclotide domain was replaced with an alanine or an aspartate residue, or when the conserved C‐terminal tripeptide motif was truncated. We propose that there are two processing pathways in planta: one to produce the mature cyclotide and the other to produce linear variants that ultimately cannot be cyclized.
Histone H2A.Z and homologues of components of the SWR1 complex are required to control immunity in Arabidopsis
Authors: March‐Díaz Rosana , García‐Domínguez Mario , Lozano‐Juste Jorge , León José , Florencio Francisco J. , Reyes José C.
Published: January 2008

One of the mechanisms involved in chromatin remodelling is so‐called ‘histone replacement’. An example of such a mechanism is the substitution of canonical H2A histone by the histone variant H2A.Z. The ATP‐dependent chromatin remodelling complex SWR1 is responsible for this action in yeast. We have previously proposed the existence of an SWR1‐like complex in Arabidopsis by demonstrating genetic and physical interaction of the components SEF, ARP6 and PIE1, which are homologues of the yeast Swc6 and Arp6 proteins and the core ATPase Swr1, respectively. Here we show that histone variant H2A.Z, but not canonical H2A histone, interacts with PIE1. Plants mutated at loci HTA9 and HTA11 (two of the three Arabidopsis H2A.Z‐coding genes) displayed developmental abnormalities similar to those found in pie1, sef and arp6 plants, exemplified by an early‐flowering phenotype. Comparison of gene expression profiles revealed that 65% of the genes differentially regulated in hta9 hta11 plants were also mis‐regulated in pie1 plants. Detailed examination of the expression data indicated that the majority of mis‐regulated genes were related to salicylic acid‐dependent immunity. RT‐PCR and immunoblotting experiments confirmed constitutive expression of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) marker genes in pie1, hta9 hta11 and sef plants. Variations observed at the molecular level resulted in phenotypic alterations such as spontaneous cell death and enhanced resistance to the phytopathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato. Thus, our results support the existence in Arabidopsis of an SWR1‐like chromatin remodelling complex that is functionally related to that described in yeast and human, and attribute to this complex a role in maintaining a repressive state of the SAR response.
A methodology for measurements of nasal nitric oxide in children under 5 yr
Authors: Gupta Rajesh , Gupta Nisha , Turner Stephen W.
Published: January 2008

Measurements of nasal nitric oxide (nNO) may give insight into respiratory conditions in children aged under 5 yr but no methodology has been described for this age‐group. The present study aimed to establish the methodology and reproducibility for measuring nNO during tidal breathing in young children and to relate nNO to allergic conditions. Children and siblings aged under 5 yr attending hospital clinics were enrolled. On‐line nNO measurements were obtained during tidal breathing using a chemiluminescence analyser. To establish our methodology, nNO was measured over 3, 5 or 10 s NO plateaus and nNO was also measured from left and right nostrils. nNO was then compared between children with and without allergic conditions. The reproducibility of nNO measurements over 24 h was studied in a separate group of children. Eighty‐three children participated in the methodological part of the study and nNO was successfully measured in 57 (69%), mean (s.d.) age 3.4 (1.1) years, 14 with allergic conditions. Neither NO plateau duration nor choice of nostril influenced nNO values. The mean (s.d.) nNO for non‐atopic children was 208 (103) parts per billion (ppb) and for atopic children was 284 (122), p = 0.032. Nasal NO values were not related to ambient NO, gender and passive smoke exposure; there was a non‐significant trend for nNO to be positively related to age. Nasal NO measurements were reproducible in the 21 children tested, mean difference 9.6 ppb (limits of agreement‐127, 146). We report a methodology for nNO measurement in young children. Further work is now required to establish the clinical utility of nNO in this age‐group.
Total IgE in urban Black South African teenagers: The influence of atopy and helminth infection
Authors: Levin M. E. , Le Souëf P. N. , Motala C.
Published: January 2008

Total IgE levels are usually elevated in allergic diseases, being highest in atopic eczema, followed by atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis. Genetic factors are believed to play a role in total IgE levels, with higher levels seen in Black African subjects. Total IgE is also raised in parasite infection. Thus, the higher total IgE levels in Black Africans could be because of environmental rather than genetic factors. Few studies have investigated the usefulness of total IgE levels in the evaluation of atopy in Black Africans. The objective of this study was to determine the total IgE levels in unselected urban Black African high school children and to correlate this with atopy and ascaris sensitization. Atopic status was assessed by means of specific allergen sensitization (skin prick tests to eight inhalant and four food allergens), self‐reported asthma and bronchial hyper‐responsiveness measured by methacholine challenge. Ascaris sensitization was assessed by means of ascaris IgE measured by CAP‐RAST. Total IgE levels were markedly skewed toward the left and were not distributed in a Gaussian or a log‐normal distribution. Skin prick tests were positive for aeroallergens in 32.3% of subjects. Thirty four percent had elevated ascaris IgE. Total IgE was higher in atopic vs. non‐atopic subjects and correlated with the number of positive skin prick tests, self‐reported asthma and bronchial hyper‐responsiveness. Subjects without allergy (or) atopy had a median total IgE of 80–90 kU/I. In addition total IgE correlated with ascaris IgE. Subjects with no ascaris sensitization had median total IgE of 77.1 kU/l. Subjects with neither atopy/asthma nor ascaris sensitisation had a median total IgE of 69.9 kU/I, similar to the levels seen in people of other genetic origins. This study suggests that helminthic infection rather than genetic differences, may be the major determining factor of IgE levels in certain populations.
Asthmatic symptoms among pupils in relation to microbial dust exposure in schools in Taiyuan, China
Authors: Zhao Zhuohui , Sebastian Aleksandra , Larsson Lennart , Wang Zhuanhua , Zhang Zheng , Norbäck Dan
Published: January 2008

Microbial exposure has been indicated as significant in the development of asthma and allergy among children. The aim of the study was to test whether microbial exposure and allergens in the school environment are associated with asthmatic symptoms in pupils. Data on asthmatic symptoms and respiratory infections were collected through a questionnaire survey among 1993 pupils aged 11–15 yr in 10 randomly selected schools in Taiyuan, China. Settled dust in classrooms was analysed using tandem gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry for 3‐hydroxy fatty acids, marker of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from endotoxin, muramic acid (MuA), marker of bacteria and ergosterol (Erg) for fungi, quantifying both culturable and non‐culturable microbes. A total of 29.8% reported daytime attacks of breathlessness, 8.4% wheeze and 1.2% had doctor’s diagnosed asthma. Generally, MuA was negatively associated with wheeze and daytime attacks of breathlessness, the latter of which was negatively associated with Erg to a weaker extent. Total concentration of LPS was positively associated with daytime attacks of breathlessness, but shorter lengths of LPS, C10, C12 and C14 LPS were negatively associated with either wheezing or daytime attacks of breathlessness. For MuA and C10 and C12 of LPS, the associations were independent of airborne allergens and classroom crowdedness, and even independent of the other two microbial markers for MuA. Microbial exposure indicated by certain chemical markers (e.g. MuA) could be protective for asthmatic symptoms, but for LPS (endotoxin), the picture is more complex, varying by different lengths of fatty acids of LPS.
Oral desensitization in children with immunoglobulin E‐mediated cow’s milk allergy – follow‐up at 4 yr and 8 months
Authors: Meglio Paolo , Giampietro Paolo G. , Gianni Simona , Galli Elena
Published: January 2008

Until now, the basic treatment for food allergy has been to avoid the offending item. This approach is difficult in the case of common foods and in the case where there is a risk of severe reaction after consuming the offending food, even inadvertently. This is the follow‐up of a previous study aimed at desensitizing 21 children with immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐mediated cow’s milk (CM) allergy. This protocol was totally or partially successful in 85% of cases, but failed in the remaining 15%. Our aims were to study the long‐term effectiveness and safety of oral CM desensitization, and the prognostic value of Skin Prick Test (SPT) and specific serum CM IgE. The 21 children were called back (one dropped out). The allergic history and other information on CM intake over the last 4–5 yr were recorded. Children underwent SPT, and end‐point SPT, with casein and α‐lactoalbumin. Specific CM IgE was also measured. At follow‐up, 14/20 children totally (n = 13, 65%) or partially (n = 1, 5%) tolerated CM. None of the recalled children reported use of emergency care. SPT positivity to casein and/or α‐lactoalbumin decreased significantly (p < 0.01), and all the negative SPT referred to the tolerant children. Cutaneous sensitivity to both casein and α‐lactoalbumin (end‐point SPT) significantly decreased after the 6‐month desensitization period of the previous study (p < 0.001), but did not decrease significantly at follow‐up. A significant reduction of serum‐specific CM IgE was also observed (p < 0.05). Clinical tolerance induced by oral CM desensitization persists in time. Negativization of SPT and reduction of specific CM IgE could be considered prognostic indicators of CM tolerance. Oral CM desensitization seems to be a promising method to treat CM food allergy. This protocol is time‐consuming but offers the advantage that it can be performed at home. This methodology must only be used by trained staff.
Adverse reactions to simultaneous influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccinations in children: randomized double‐blind controlled trial
Authors: Jansen Angelique G. S. C. , Sanders Elisabeth A. M. , Smulders Sara , Hoes Arno W. , Hak Eelko
Published: January 2008

In a randomized double‐blind controlled trial, the safety was assessed of simultaneous administration of influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in children with previous physician‐diagnosed respiratory tract infections. In total, 579 children aged 18–72 months were assigned to receive simultaneous intramuscular influenza and pneumococcal heptavalent conjugate vaccinations (IV + PV), influenza and placebo vaccinations (IV + plac) or control hepatitis B and placebo vaccinations (HepB + plac) in separate extremities. Local and systemic adverse events were recorded in parental diaries for 7 days after vaccination. No immediate adverse reactions were recorded. In most children local adverse reactions disappeared 2 days after vaccination. Local and systemic reactions were more prevalent (30% and 10% more) in the IV + PV group compared with the IV + plac and HepB + plac group. These results are important for designing future vaccination schedules.
Actual asthma control in a paediatric outpatient clinic population: Do patients perceive their actual level of control?
Authors: Hammer Sanne C , Robroeks Charlotte MHHT , Rij Christian van , Heynens Jan , Droog Richard , Jöbsis Quirijn , Hendriks Han JE , Dompeling Edward
Published: January 2008

Several epidemiological studies described poor asthma control in children. However, the diagnosis of childhood asthma in these studies is uncertain, and asthma control in children of an outpatient clinic population during treatment by a paediatrician is unknown. (1) to investigate the hypothesis that asthma control in a paediatric outpatient clinic population is better than epidemiological surveys suggest; (2) to find possible explanations for suboptimal asthma control. Asthmatic children aged 6–16 years, known for at least 6 months by a paediatrician at the outpatient clinic, were selected. During a normal visit, both the responsible physicians and parent/children completed a standardised questionnaire about asthma symptoms, limitation of daily activities, treatment, asthma attacks and emergency visits. Overall, excellent asthma control of 8.0% in this study was not significantly better than of 5.8% in the European AIR study (Chi‐square, p = 0.24). Separate GINA goals like minimal chronic symptoms and no limitation of activities were better met in our study. Good to excellent controlled asthma was perceived by most children/parents (83%), but was less frequently indicated by the paediatrician (73%), or by objective criteria of control (45%) (chi‐square, p = 0.0001). The agreement between patient‐perceived and doctor assessed control was low, but improved in poorly controlled children. Patients were not able to perceive the difference between ‘excellent asthma control’ and ‘good control’ (p = 0.881).Too little children with uncontrolled disease got step‐up of their asthma treatment. Although separate GINA goals like ‘minimal chronic symptoms’ and ‘no limitation of activities’ were significantly better in our study, overall, asthma control in this outpatient clinic population, treated by a paediatrician, was not significantly better than in the European AIR study. Poorly controlled disease was related to several aspects of asthma management, which are potentially accessible for improvements.
No Change Detected in Body Weight, Scrotal Circumference, Semen Characteristics and Sexual Behaviour during the Development of Prepubertal Milchschaf Lambs after Weekly Administration of eCG
Authors: Ungerfeld R , Bielli A
Published: January 2008

Contents

To study the effects of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on pubertal development, 38 Milchschaf spring born male lambs fathered by the same ram and grazing over native pasture as a single mob during all the experiment were divided into three groups as follows: group 100 (100 IU of eCG weekly i.m., n = 11), group 400 (400 IU of eCG weekly i.m., n = 12) and group 0 (controls, n = 15). Lambs were weighed and scrotal circumference was registered every 2 weeks since birth until 170 days of age (end of experiment). On days 125 and 167 semen was collected using an electroejaculator. Semen volume and concentration, mass and individual sperm motility (scale 0 to 5) and total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate were recorded. The sexual behaviour of the lambs was evaluated twice, on days 127 and 170 in a pen test with oestrous ewes. There were no significant effects of treatment on body weight or scrotal circumference, semen characteristics or sexual behaviour. At least in the administration regimens tested, eCG treatment has no effect on prepubertal reproductive development of male lambs.
Comparison of hand‐assisted laparoscopic and open donor nephrectomy in living donors
Authors: Minnee Robert C , Bemelman Frederike , Kox Cees , Surachno Susanto , ten Berge Ineke JM , Bemelman Willem A , Idu Mirza M
Published: January 2008

Objectives:  Although the advent of (hand‐assisted) laparoscopic donor nephrectomy has had a positive effect on the donor pool, there is still some concern about the increased morbidity and safety of the laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. The aim of this study was to compare the results of hand‐assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (HALD) with open donor nephrectomy (ODN).

Methods:  A single‐center non‐randomized analysis of 202 living donor kidney transplantations (44 ODN, 158 HALD) between January 1995 and April 2006 was conducted.

Results:  The left kidney was harvested in 75% in the ODN group and 53% in the HALD group (P = 0.009). There was no conversion in the HALD group. Mean donor operative time for HALD (174 min) was longer than for ODN (124 min, P < 0.001). The mean donor hospital stay (4.9 days vs 9.6 days, P < 0.001) was significantly less for HALD. HALD had lower mean creatinine values at day 7 and 1 month (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002) and lower urological complication rates (P = 0.02) compared with ODN. The 1‐year graft survival rates of the ODN and the HALD group were 84% and 95% (P = 0.006), respectively.

Conclusion:  hand‐assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is a safe procedure for a donor nephrectomy with potential benefits compared with ODN.
The GacA global regulator is required for the appropriate expression of Erwinia chrysanthemi 3937 pathogenicity genes during plant infection
Authors: Lebeau Aurore , Reverchon Sylvie , Gaubert Stéphane , Kraepiel Yvan , Simond‐Côte Elizabeth , Nasser William , Van Gijsegem Frédérique
Published: January 2008

Pathogenicity of the phytopathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi, the causal agent of soft rot disease on many plants, is a complex process involving several factors whose production is regulated by a complex, intertwined regulatory network. In this work we characterized the GacA regulator, member of the GacS–GacA two‐component system, as a global regulator which is required for disease expression but not for bacterial multiplication in planta during the first stages of the plant infection. GacA was shown to control the expression of plant cell wall‐degrading enzymes and hrp genes in vitro. Analysis of virulence gene expression during infection of Arabidopsis thaliana revealed a coordinated expression of these virulence genes at 12 h post infection and showed that GacA is required for the appropriate production of virulence factors in planta. GacA might partly act by negatively controlling the expression of the pecT gene encoding the global repressor PecT, indicating a hierarchy in the pathways involved in the E. chrysanthemi regulatory network.
A metagenomic analysis of soil bacteria extends the diversity of quorum‐quenching lactonases
Authors: Riaz Kashif , Elmerich Claudine , Moreira David , Raffoux Aurélie , Dessaux Yves , Faure Denis
Published: January 2008

A metagenomic library of 10 121 clones, generated from bacteria inhabiting a pasture soil from France, was screened for the presence of fosmids conferring either N‐acylhomoserine lactone (NAHL) synthesis or NAHL degradation ability upon their Escherichia coli host. No clone producing NAHLs was identified whereas one, containing a 31 972 bp insert in fosmid p2H8, allowed NAHL degradation. This led to the cloning and identification of a gene, qlcA, encoding an NAHL‐lactonase activity, as judged by lactone‐ring closure and HPLC/MS analyses of NAHL degradation products. The qlcA gene efficiently quenched quorum‐sensing regulated pathogenic functions when expressed in Pectobacterium carotovorum. The QlcA peptide belongs to the family of zinc‐dependent metallohydrolases and appears to be distantly related to other NAHL‐lactonases discovered in Agrobacterium, Bacillus, Photorhabdus and Rhizobium. In‐silico analysis of the metagenomic insert revealed the occurrence of 20 orf, with a constant GC% and codon usage, suggesting a unique bacterial origin. Nine out of these 20 orf were homologous to genes encoding biosynthesis of arginine; they were clustered with an unusual succession argFJADBCRGH. The fosmid p2H8 is able to complement the argA, argB and argC mutants in E. coli. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 9 orf out of 20 were related to sequences from members of the Acidobacteria, supporting the hypothesis that the analysed insert might be originated from an organism related to this phylum.
Transcription dynamics of the functional tfdA gene during MCPA herbicide degradation by Cupriavidus necator AEO106 (pRO101) in agricultural soil
Authors: Nicolaisen Mette Haubjerg , Bælum Jacob , Jacobsen Carsten Suhr , Sørensen Jan
Published: January 2008

A modified protocol for simultaneous extraction of RNA and DNA, followed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction quantification, was used to investigate tfdA gene expression during in situ degradation of the herbicide MCPA (4‐chloro‐2‐methylphenoxy‐acetic acid) in soil. tfdA encodes an α‐ketoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase catalysing the first step in the degradation pathway of MCPA and 2,4‐D (2,4‐dichlorophenoxy‐acetic acid). A linear recovery of tfdA mRNA over three orders of magnitude was shown, and the tfdA mRNA level was normalized using the tfdA mRNA/DNA ratio. The density of active cells required for tfdA mRNA detection was 105 cells g−1 soil. Natural soil microcosms inoculated with Cupriavidus necator (formerly Ralstonia eutropha) AEO106 (pRO101) cells were amended with four different MCPA concentrations (2, 20, 50 and 150 mg kg−1). Mineralization rates were estimated by quantification of 14CO2 emission from degradation of 14C‐MCPA. tfdA mRNA was detected 1 h after amendment at all four concentrations. In soils amended with 2 and 20 mg kg−1, the mRNA/DNA ratio for tfdA demonstrated a sharp transient maximum of tfdA expression from no to full expression within 3 and 6 h respectively, followed by a decline and complete loss of expression after 19 and 43 h. A more complex pattern of tfdA expression was observed for the higher 50 and 150 mg kg−1 amendments; this coincided with growth of C. necator AEO106 (pRO101) in the system. Repeated amendment with MCPA after 2 weeks in the 20 mg kg−1 scenario revealed a sharp increase of tfdA mRNA, and absence of a mineralization lag phase. For all amendments, tfdA mRNA was detectable only during active mineralization, and thus revealed a direct correlation between tfdA mRNA presence and microbial degrader activity. The present study demonstrates that direct analysis of functional gene expression dynamics by quantification of mRNA can indeed be made in natural soil.
High mitochondrial haplotype diversity of Coleps sp. (Ciliophora: Prostomatida)
Authors: Barth Dana , Tischer Karolin , Berger Helmut , Schlegel Martin , Berendonk Thomas U.
Published: January 2008

To date the awareness of the temporal population structure in eukaryotic microbes is very limited. This is exemplified in the scarce knowledge about the intraspecific genetic variation in ciliates. To elucidate the genetic variation of Coleps (Ciliophora: Prostomatida), we employed the analysis of the mitochondrial apocytochrome b gene of the Coleps community in a young lake in Germany. The analysis of 111 isolates, sampled from April 2005 to September 2006, revealed a high genetic variation for the two dominant Coleps species (11 mitochondrial haplotypes in Coleps spetai, nine in Coleps hirtus hirtus). The study represents one of the largest datasets of intraspecific diversity in a microbial eukaryote and demonstrates for the first time the suitability of a mitochondrial gene for the detection of genetic variation within populations of eukaryotic microbes. However, the results of our study warrant caution in the application of such an approach, as we amplified some non‐orthologous cob‐like sequences, whose uncritical acceptance would have led to the erroneous discovery of cryptic species.
Identification of hepatotoxin‐producing cyanobacteria by DNA‐chip
Authors: Rantala Anne , Rizzi Ermanno , Castiglioni Bianca , De Bellis Gianluca , Sivonen Kaarina
Published: January 2008

We developed a new tool to detect and identify hepatotoxin‐producing cyanobacteria of the genera Anabaena, Microcystis, Planktothrix, Nostoc and Nodularia. Genus‐specific probe pairs were designed for the detection of the microcystin (mcyE) and nodularin synthetase genes (ndaF) of these five genera to be used with a DNA‐chip. The method couples a ligation detection reaction, in which the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐amplified mcyE/ndaF genes are recognized by the probe pairs, with a hybridization on a universal microarray. All the probe pairs specifically detected the corresponding mcyE/ndaF gene sequences when DNA from the microcystin‐ or nodularin‐producing cyanobacterial strains were used as template in the PCR. Furthermore, the strict specificity of detection enabled identification of the potential hepatotoxin producers. Detection of the genes was very sensitive; only 1–5 fmol of the PCR product were needed to produce signal intensities that exceeded the set background threshold level. The genus‐specific probe pairs also reliably detected potential microcystin producers in DNA extracted from six lake and four brackish water samples. In lake samples, the same microcystin producers were identified with quantitative real‐time PCR analysis. The specificity, sensitivity and ability of the DNA‐chip in simultaneously detecting all the main hepatotoxin producers make this method suitable for high‐throughput analysis and monitoring of environmental samples.
Fitness drift of an atrazine‐degrading population under atrazine selection pressure
Authors: Devers Marion , Rouard Nadine , Martin‐Laurent Fabrice
Published: January 2008

Pseudomonas sp. ADP harbouring the atrazine catabolic plasmid ADP1 was subcultured in liquid medium containing atrazine as sole source of nitrogen. After approximately 320 generations, a new population evolved which replaced the initial population. This newly evolved population grew faster and degraded atrazine more rapidly than the initial population. Plasmid profiles and Southern blot analyses revealed that the evolved strain, unlike the ancestral strain, presented a tandem duplication of the atzB gene encoding the second enzyme of the atrazine catabolic pathway responsible for the transformation of hydroxyatrazine to N‐isopropylammelide. This duplication resulted from a homologous recombination that occurred between two direct repeats of 6.2 kb flanking the atzB gene and constituted by the insertion sequences IS1071, ISPps1 and a pdhL homologous sequence. This study highlights the IS‐mediated plasticity of atrazine‐degrading potential and demonstrates that insertion sequences not only help to disperse the atrazine‐degrading gene but also improve the fitness of the atrazine‐degrading population.
Growth phase‐dependent switch in osmolyte strategy in a moderate halophile: ectoine is a minor osmolyte but major stationary phase solute in Halobacillus halophilus
Authors: Saum Stephan H. , Müller Volker
Published: January 2008

The moderately halophilic, chloride‐dependent bacterium Halobacillus halophilus switches its osmolyte strategy with the salinity in its environment by the production of different compatible solutes. Ectoine is produced predominantly at very high salinities, along with proline. Interestingly, ectoine production is growth phase dependent which led to a more than 1000‐fold change in the ectoine : proline ratio from 0.04 in exponential to 27.4 in late stationary phase cultures. The genes encoding the ectoine biosynthesis pathway were identified on the chromosome in the order ectABC. They form an operon that is expressed in a salinity‐dependent manner with low‐level expression below 1.5 M NaCl but 10‐fold and 23‐fold increased expression at 2.5 and 3.0 M NaCl respectively. The temporal expression of genes involved in osmoresponse is different with gdh/gln and pro genes being first, followed by ect genes. Chloride had no effect on expression of ect genes, but stimulated cellular EctC synthesis as well as ectoine production. These data demonstrate, for the first time, a growth‐phase dependent switch in osmolyte strategy in a moderate halophile and, additionally, represent another piece of the chloride regulon of H. halophilus.
Metabolic versatility of the Riftia pachyptila endosymbiont revealed through metagenomics
Authors: Robidart Julie C. , Bench Shellie R. , Feldman Robert A. , Novoradovsky Alexey , Podell Sheila B. , Gaasterland Terry , Allen Eric E. , Felbeck Horst
Published: January 2008

The facultative symbiont of Riftia pachyptila, named here Candidatus Endoriftia persephone, has evaded culture to date, but much has been learned regarding this symbiosis over the past three decades since its discovery. The symbiont population metagenome was sequenced in order to gain insight into its physiology. The population genome indicates that the symbionts use a partial Calvin–Benson Cycle for carbon fixation and the reverse TCA cycle (an alternative pathway for carbon fixation) that contains an unusual ATP citrate lyase. The presence of all genes necessary for heterotrophic metabolism, a phosphotransferase system, and dicarboxylate and ABC transporters indicate that the symbiont can live mixotrophically. The metagenome has a large suite of signal transduction, defence (both biological and environmental) and chemotaxis mechanisms. The physiology of Candidatus Endoriftia persephone is explored with respect to functionality while associated with a eukaryotic host, versus free‐living in the hydrothermal environment.