bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased in situ expression of melanocortin‐1 receptor in sebaceous glands of lesional skin of patients with acne vulgaris
Authors: Ganceviciene Ruta , Graziene Vida , Böhm Markus , Zouboulis Christos C.
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  Central or peripheral stress may induce the development of clinical inflammation in the pilosebaceous unit, leading to the development of acne lesions or to exacerbation of pre‐existing acne. Melanocortin peptides such as α‐melanocyte‐stimulating hormone and its receptors do not only regulate melanogenesis but can also affect non‐pigmentary processes, such as inflammation, apoptosis and sebogenesis. The purpose of the study was to investigate by immunohistochemistry if changes of melanocortin‐1 receptor expression exist in acne lesions versus normal skin. In all, 33 patients with acne vulgaris and seven age‐matched volunteers without acne participated in the study. Skin biopsies were taken from acne‐involved faces, the non‐involved thigh skin of the same patients and from normal human skin. Melanocortin‐1 receptor immunoreactivity was most prominently detectable in adnexal structures. Sebocytes and keratinocytes of the ductus seboglandularis of acne‐involved and non‐involved skin showed very intense melanocortin‐1 receptor expression in contrast to less intense scattered immunoreactivity in normal skin samples. These data suggest that melanocortin‐1 receptor is involved in the pathogenesis of acne.
Dual effects of sodium lauryl sulphate on human oral epithelial structure
Authors: Neppelberg Evelyn , Costea Daniela Elena , Vintermyr Olav Karsten , Johannessen Anne Christine
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is a common detergent known to cause irritation and inflammatory reactions in skin. SLS is also the most commonly used toothpaste detergent and has been related to intraoral adverse effects. However, its specific biological effects on the oral mucosa (OM) have not yet been identified. The objective of this study was to investigate the putative effects of SLS on human oral epithelium using a novel in vitro reconstructed three‐dimensional cell culture model. Reconstructed human OM, generated from primary normal human oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts, was exposed to clinically relevant concentrations of SLS (range 0.015–1.5%). The cultured tissues were evaluated by histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry (Ki‐67, epithelial (E)‐cadherin, α6‐, β1‐integrins, cleaved caspase‐3) and the TUNEL method. Increased epithelial thickness, enhanced proliferation (Ki‐67), a more pronounced expression of E‐cadherin throughout all epithelial cell layers and single TUNEL‐positive cells in the middle spinous cell layers were observed in cultures exposed to low concentrations (0.015%) of SLS. At exposure to higher SLS concentrations (≥0.15%), epithelial thickness, cell proliferation and E‐cadherin expression gradually decreased and in the central areas of exposed regions, cells detached from each other and underwent cell death. In conclusion, clinically relevant concentrations of SLS have dual effects on reconstituted human OM; although occasional cell death within the epithelium was also observed, the increased epithelial thickness, proliferation and E‐cadherin expression induced at lower concentrations might be associated with a protective mucosal response, whereas at higher concentrations a more destructive type of reaction predominated.
Switch in syndecan‐1 and syndecan‐4 expression controls maturation associated dendritic cell motility
Authors: Averbeck Marco , Gebhardt Carl , Anderegg Ulf , Termeer Christian , Sleeman Jonathan P. , Simon Jan C.
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  Dendritic cells (DCs) need to mobilize within the extracellular matrix (ECM) during their maturation and concomitant migration from peripheral sites to lymphoid organs. Syndecans are cell surface proteoglycans that mediate the interaction of DCs with the ECM. Here we investigated the influence of syndecans on dendritic cell motility and morphology. Langerhans cells of the epidermis and monocyte‐derived DCs were found to undergo a switch in syndecan expression during maturation. Syndecan‐1 was downregulated and syndecan‐4 was strongly upregulated within the first hours of lipopolysaccharide‐induced dendritic cell maturation and during Langerhans cell emigration from human skin, as shown by flow cytometry and qRT‐PCR. Syndecan‐1 downregulation was inhibited by syndecan‐4 siRNA knock‐down, indicating a functional interconnection between enhanced syndecan‐4 expression and syndecan‐1 downregulation. Syndecan‐4 upregulation is functionally involved in dendritic cell motility, as inhibition of syndecan‐4 function by means of blocking antibodies or through siRNA knock‐down decreased dendritic cell motility. In other experiments, the cytoskeletal component a‐actinin was observed to be upregulated in DCs as a consequence of the induction of maturation, and was found to colocalize with syndecan‐4. Furthermore, lammellopodial spreading by DCs on fibronectin (FN)‐coated surfaces was dependent on syndecan‐4. This binding of syndecan‐4 to FN and its association with the cytoskeleton may be relevant for syndecan‐4‐dependent dendritic cell motility. We conclude that the switch in syndecan expression during dendritic cell maturation controls the motility of DCs in a way that appears to be crucial for their mobilization from peripheral sites and subsequent migration to lymphoid tissues.
Vitamin D and the skin: an ancient friend, revisited
Authors: Reichrath Jörg
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  Most vertebrates need vitamin D to develop and maintain a healthy mineralized skeleton. However, 1,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3], the biologically active vitamin D metabolite, exerts a multitude of important physiological effects independent from the regulation of calcium and bone metabolism. We know today that the skin has a unique role in the human body's vitamin D endocrine system. It is the only site of vitamin D photosynthesis, and has therefore a central role in obtaining a sufficient vitamin D status. Additionally, the skin has the capacity to synthesize the biologically active vitamin D metabolite 1,25(OH)2D3, and represents an important target tissue for 1,25(OH)2D3. In keratinocytes and other cell types, 1,25(OH)2D3 regulates growth and differentiation. Consequently, vitamin D analogues have been introduced for the treatment of the hyperproliferative skin disease psoriasis. Recently, sebocytes were identified as 1,25(OH)2D3‐responsive target cells, indicating that vitamin D analogues may be effective in the treatment of acne. Other new functions of vitamin D analogues include profound effects on the immune system as well as in various tissues protection against cancer and other diseases, including autoimmune and infectious diseases. It can be speculated that the investigation of biological effects of vitamin D analogues will lead to new therapeutic applications that, besides cancer prevention, may include the prevention and treatment of infectious as well as of inflammatory skin diseases. Additionally, it can be assumed that dermatological recommendations on sun protection and health campaigns for skin cancer prevention will have to be re‐evaluated to guarantee a sufficient vitamin D status.
Imbalance between activin A and follistatin drives postburn hypertrophic scar formation in human skin
Authors: Fumagalli Mara , Musso Tiziana , Vermi William , Scutera Sara , Daniele Roberta , Alotto Daniela , Cambieri Irene , Ostorero Alessia , Gentili Francesca , Caposio Patrizia , Zucca Mario , Sozzani Silvano , Stella Maurizio , Castagnoli Carlotta
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  Hypertrophic scarring is a skin disorder characterized by persistent inflammation and fibrosis that may occur after wounding or thermal injury. Altered production of cytokines and growth factors, such as TGF‐β, play an important role in this process. Activin A, a member of the TGF‐β family, shares the same intra‐cellular Smad signalling pathway with TGF‐β, but binds to its own specific transmembrane receptors and to follistatin, a secreted protein that inhibits activin by sequestration. Recent studies provide evidences of a novel role of activin A in inflammatory and repair processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of activin A and follistatin expression in the different phases of scar evolution. Immunostaining of sections obtained from active phase hypertrophic scars (AHS) revealed the presence of a high number of α‐SMA+ myofibroblasts and DC‐SIGN+ dendritic cells coexpressing activin A. Ex‐vivo AHS fibroblasts produced more activin and less follistatin than normal skin or remission phase hypertrophic scar (HS) fibroblasts, both in basal conditions and upon TGF‐βs stimulation. We demonstrate that fibroblasts do express activin receptors, and that this expression is not affected by TGF‐βs. Treatment of HS fibroblasts with activin A induced Akt phosphorylation, promoted cell proliferation, and enhanced α‐SMA and type I collagen expression. Follistatin reduced proliferation and suppressed activin‐induced collagen expression. These results indicate that the activin/follistatin interplay has a role in HS formation and evolution. The impact of these observations on the understanding of wound healing and on the identification of new therapeutic targets is discussed.
Ultraviolet‐B irradiation enhances melanoma cell motility via induction of autocrine interleukin 8 secretion
Authors: Gebhardt Carl , Averbeck Marco , Viertel Andrea , Kauer Friederike , Saalbach Anja , Anderegg Ulf , Simon Jan C.
Published: June 2007

Abstract:  Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to be involved in the initiation and progression of malignant melanoma. Many studies have focused on the initiation of melanoma, but less is known about the effect of UVR on established tumor cells. Here, we show that after ultraviolet‐B (UVB) irradiation, melanoma cells (MM) are able to secrete autocrine factors that enhance their motility. Time‐lapse videomicroscopy of UVB irradiated (15 or 30 mJ/cm2) MM showed an initial decrease in MM cell motility one hour after irradiation, with subsequent increase 24 h after UV‐B treatment. Conditioned media harvested from MM 24 h following UV‐B irradiation specifically enhanced the motility of un‐irradiated MM, suggesting that a newly synthesized soluble factor released by UVB MM is involved. As interleukin 8 (IL‐8) is known to be up‐regulated by different cell types after UV‐B irradiation, we investigated IL‐8 expression after UVB exposure. Quantitative RT‐PCR and ELISA demonstrated an induction of IL‐8 in MM by UVB (15 or 30 mJ/cm2), and addition of recombinant IL‐8 to cell cultures enhanced cell motility to a similar degree than UVB. Importantly, blocking IL‐8 activity by a neutralizing anti IL‐8 antibody inhibited the up‐regulation of MM motility after UVB treatment. We conclude that UVB enhances MM motility and that this effect is mediated at least in part by IL‐8 released by MM in an autocrine fashion. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that UVB is not only involved in the initiation of melanoma, but may also be important for some aspects of tumor progression.
Asymptomatic shedding of HSV‐1 in patients undergoing oral surgical procedures and attending for noninvasive treatment
Authors: Hyland PL , Coulter WA , Abu‐Ruman I , Fulton CR , O'Neill HJ , Coyle PV , Lamey P‐J
Published: June 2007

Oral surgery and stress can trigger and/or increase asymptomatic shedding of herpes simplex virus type‐1 (HSV‐1) into human saliva. In this investigation we examined the frequency of HSV‐1 shedding in 32 patients undergoing an oral surgery procedure compared with 40 control patients attending for noninvasive treatment. Control patients comprised 18 migraine patients and 22 patients with temporomandibular (TMD) joint problems. Nested‐PCR was carried out on oral rinses collected from each patient prior to treatment and 7 days post‐treatment. Fifty‐two of sixty‐one seroposivitive patients were positive for HSV‐1 DNA in one or both oral rinses. The frequencies of HSV‐1 shedding for the oral surgery and control patients were 84.6% and 85.7% respectively. Seropositive patients who started shedding after treatment were significantly higher in oral surgery patients (46.2%) compared to control patients (34.3%). Shedding of HSV‐1 in the oral cavity is not only increased by direct surgical trauma, but also appears to be common in migraine and TMD patients attending for general dental treatment. Thus pain or pain‐induced stress as well as anxiety associated with dental treatment may also be a risk factor for asymptomatic shedding in specific seropositive patients attending for dental treatment.
IL‐1α, IL‐1ra and IL‐8 are differentially induced by Candida in experimental oral candidiasis
Authors: Jayatilake JAMS , Samaranayake LP , Lu Q , Jin LJ
Published: June 2007

Objective:  To investigate the expression of interleukin‐1α (IL‐1α), IL‐1ra and IL‐8 by the oral epithelium challenged by various Candida species.

Materials and methods:  In vitro candidiasis was induced by C. albicans wild type SC5314, its EFG1, CPH1 and secretory aspartyl proteinase (SAP) mutants and, ATCC isolates of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. dubliniensis using a reconstituted human oral epithelium (RHOE) model. IL‐1α, IL‐1ra and IL‐8 levels in culture media were quantified by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay at 12, 24 and 48 h. Fungal invasion and IL‐1ra expression in RHOE were detected by periodic acid‐Schiff staining and immunohistochemistry.

Results:  Overall, the invasive Candida induced relatively higher levels of IL‐1α, IL‐1ra and IL‐8 in the culture media than the noninvasive isolates. IL‐1α and IL‐1ra levels induced by Candida with hyphal invasion were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those induced by the isolates without hyphal invasion at 12, 24 and 48 h. Candida albicans SC5314 induced IL‐1ra expression in RHOE at 12 and 24 h but not at 48 h consistent with its hyphal invasion; while the noninvasive mutants and non‐albicans Candida induced IL‐1ra expression at 48 h.

Conclusions:  The cytokine expression profiles in experimental oral candidiasis may be associated with the invasive potential of Candida.
Usefulness of mouse models to study the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Soyfoo MS , Steinfeld S , Delporte C
Published: June 2007

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by ocular and oral dryness as well as systemic manifestations. The immunopathogenesis of SS is complex with different intricate factors. Because of the delay in the appearance of symptoms and due to ethical issues it is very difficult to study the wide array of factors intervening in the pathogenesis of SS in human patients. To circumvent this problem, different animal models have been elaborated for studying the different subsets of the aspects of the physiopathology of this disease. In this review, we focus on the mouse models that have been established to deepen our insight into the immunopathogenesis of SS.
St Thomas's sermonPuer Iesus: a neglected source for his understanding of teaching and learning
Authors: Boland Vivian
Published: June 2007

There are a number of places in his works where Thomas Aquinas writes about teaching and learning. Following a summary account of his understanding of education, this paper presents and discusses a neglected source on these matters. The sermonPuer Iesus, probably preached in January 1271, contains thoughts on pedagogy that are, in the words of its Leonine editor, ‘original and of great interest’. The sermon offers a broad sketch of human development in which the adolescence of Christ, the ‘most excellent of teachers’, is appealed to as an inspiration and an example. It raises Christological and pedagogical questions and it is the latter that are considered here. Encouraging his student congregation to listen generously, enquire diligently, respond prudently and meditate attentively, Aquinas outlines for them a practical method of learning that is at once critical and contemplative.
The Price of Peace: A Discussion
Authors: Wicker Brian
Published: June 2007

It is a pity that The Price of Peace, resulting from a prolonged transatlantic dialogue between theologians and academics, should begin with a flawed section on modern ‘just war’ thinking which fails to recognise the difference between: 1. war between states, in which, international law having failed, the objective is to render the enemy powerless so that the victor can dictate what happens next; and 2. global criminality, as in the terrorism of gangs like al-Qaeda, which requires to be dealt with by a global police force designed precisely to restore the rule of law for the sake of the common good of all humanity. Pace authors like George Weigel, thinking about the justice of armed force cannot remain what it was: it needs to develop, as the papacy has long taught, to take full account of the fact that crime is today replacing war as the prevailing international evil.
Recent Activities of HTS Power Application in Korea
Authors: Park Minwon , Jo Young‐Sik , Ryu Kang‐Sik
Published: June 2007

From April 2007, DAPAS (Development of the Advanced Power system by Applied Superconductivity technologies), which is a 10‐year‐long program, entered the final phase with 4 years. For the last 7 years, the significant achievement of DAPAS is that a 10 m long and 100 A critical current‐coated conductor and core technologies of distribution line voltage class HTS power systems including cables, transformers, fault current limiters (FCLs), and motors have been developed. In particular, a 100 m length HTS power cable was installed and is operating well in the Gochang power system test center. Two different types of FCL were successfully developed and demonstrated very good results of fault current test with 22.9 kV distribution line voltage class. In the case of the HTS motor, it was well operated too on connecting to 2 units of a 1.1 MVA conventional induction motor each as a load. In addition, the coated conductor project team achieved a 30 m length and 185 A critical current‐coated conductor tape after 6 months since the hardware was set up.
Processing and Applications of Bulk RE–Ba–Cu–O Superconductors
Authors: Murakami Masato
Published: June 2007

I will summarize the current status of processing and applications of bulk high‐temperature RE–Ba–Cu–O (RE: rare‐earth elements) superconductors. Recent advancement of processing techniques led to the production of single‐grain RE–Ba–Cu–O superconductors >10 cm in diameter. The maximum‐trapped field values of single‐grain RE–Ba–Cu–O are 4 T at 77 K, 9 T at 46 K, and 17 T at 29 K. The mechanical properties as well as thermal stability were greatly improved through impregnation of metals and resin, which is highly important for practical engineering applications. Industrial applications of bulk RE–Ba–Cu–O can be categorized into three major regions: levitation, trapped field magnets, and conductors. Stable levitation without active control has been used for non‐contact bearings of a flywheel energy storage system, levitated vehicles, and non‐contact mixers. Trapped field magnets are used for a field generator, a magnetic separator for water purification, a magnetron‐sputtering device, a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer, and an undulator. Bulk RE–Ba–Cu–O is also used as conductors like current leads and resistive fault current limiters.
Overview of MgB2 Superconductor Applications
Authors: Tomsic Michael , Rindfleisch Matthew , Yue Jinji , McFadden Kevin , Phillips John , Sumption Michael D. , Bhatia Mohit , Bohnenstiehl Scot , Collings Edward W.
Published: June 2007

Since 2001, when magnesium diboride (MgB2) was first reported to have a transition temperature of 39 K, conductor development has progressed to where MgB2 superconductor wire in kilometer‐long piece‐lengths has been demonstrated in coil form. Now that the wire is available commercially, work has started on demonstrating a MgB2 wire in superconducting devices. This article discusses the progress on MgB2 conductor and coil development, and the potential for MgB2 superconductors in a variety of commercial applications: magnetic resonance imaging, fault current limiters, transformers, motors, generators, adiabatic demagnetization refrigerators, magnetic separation, magnetic levitation, superconducting magnetic energy storage, and high‐energy physics applications.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Hot‐Pressed α‐Al2O3‐Seeded γ‐Alumina Ceramics
Authors: Li Jiang , Pan Yubai , Wu Yusong , Kou Huamin , Guo Jingkun
Published: June 2007

High‐quality alumina ceramics were fabricated by a hot pressing with MgO and SiO2 as additives using α‐Al2O3‐seeded nanocrystalline γ‐Al2O3 powders as the raw material. Densification behavior, microstructure evolution, and mechanical properties of alumina were investigated from 1250°C to 1450°C. The seeded γ‐Al2O3 sintered to 98% relative density at 1300°C. Obvious grain growth was observed at 1400°C and plate‐like grains formed at 1450°C. For the 1350°C hot‐pressed alumina ceramics, the grain boundary regions were generally clean. Spinel and mullite formed in the triple‐grain junction regions. The bending strength and fracture toughness were 565 MPa and 4.5 MPa·m1/2, respectively. For the 1300°C sintered alumina ceramics, the corresponding values were 492 MPa and 4.9 MPa·m1/2.
Recent Progress on Rice Genetics in China
Authors: Jiang Hua , Guo Long‐Biao , Qian Qian
Published: June 2007

Through thousands of years of evolution and cultivation, tremendously rich genetic diversity has been accumulated in rice (Oryza sativa L.), developing a large germplasm pool from which people can select varieties with morphologies of interest and other important agronomic traits. With the development of modern genetics, scientists have paid more attention to the genetic value of these elite varieties and germplasms, and such rich rice resources provide a good foundation for genetic research in China. Approximately 100 000 accessions of radiation‐, chemical‐ or insertion‐induced mutagenesis have been generated since the 1980s, and great progress has been made on rice molecular genetics. So far at least 16 variant/mutant genes including MOC1, BC1, SKC1, and Rf genes have been isolated and characterized in China. These achievements greatly promote the research on functional genomics, understanding the mechanism of plant development and molecular design breeding of rice in China. Here we review the progress of three aspects of rice genetics in China: moving forward at the molecular level, genetic research on elite varieties and germplasms, and new gene screening and genetic analysis using mutants. The prospects of rice genetics are also discussed.
Structural and Expressional Variations of the Mitochondrial Genome Conferring the Wild Abortive Type of Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Rice
Authors: Liu Zhen‐Lan , Xu Hong , Guo Jing‐Xin , Liu Yao‐Guang
Published: June 2007

The so‐called “wild abortive” (WA) type of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) derived from a wild rice species Oryza rufipogon has been extensively used for hybrid rice breeding. However, extensive analysis of the structure of the related mitochondrial genome has not been reported, and the CMS‐associated gene(s) remain unknown. In this study, we exploited a mitochondrial genome‐wide strategy to examine the structural and expressional variations in the mitochondrial genome conferring the CMS. The entire mitochondrial genomes of a CMS‐WA line and two normal fertile rice lines were amplified by Long‐polymerase chain reaction into tilling fragments of up to 15.2 kb. Restriction and DNA blotting analyses of these fragments revealed that structural variations occurred in several regions in the WA mitochondrial genome, as compared to those of the fertile lines. All of the amplified fragments covering the entire mitochondrial genome were used as RNA blot probes to examine the mitochondrial expression profile among the CMS‐WA and fertile lines. As a result, only two mRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between the CMS‐WA and the fertile lines, which were detected by a probe containing the nad5 and orf153 genes and the other having the ribosomal protein gene rpl5, respectively. These mRNAs are proposed to be the candidates for further identification and functional studies of the CMS gene.
Proteomic Analysis of Rice Plasma Membrane‐associated Proteins in Response to Chitooligosaccharide Elicitors
Authors: Chen Fang , Li Qun , He Zuhua
Published: June 2007

Chitooligomers or chitooligosaccharides (COS) are elicitors that bind to the plasma membrane (PM) and elicit various defense responses. However, the PM‐bound proteins involved in elicitor‐mediated plant defense responses still remain widely unknown. In order to get more information about PM proteins involved in rice defense responses, we conducted PM proteomic analysis of the rice suspension cells elicited by COS. A total of 14 up‐ or downregulated protein spots were observed on 2‐D gels of PM fractions at 12 h and 24 h after COS incubation. Of them, eight protein spots were successfully identified by MS (mass spectrography) and predicted to be associated to the PM and function in plant defense, including a putative PKN/PRK1 protein kinase, a putative pyruvate kinase isozyme G, a putative zinc finger protein, a putative MAR‐binding protein MFP1, and a putative calcium‐dependent protein kinase. Interestingly, a COS‐induced pM5‐like protein was identified for the first time in plants, which is a transmembrane nodal modulator in transforming growth factor‐β (TGFβ) signaling in vertebrates. We also identified two members of a rice polyprotein family, which were up‐regulated by COS. Our study would provide a starting point for functionality of PM proteins in the rice basal defense.
Rice Mitogen‐activated Protein Kinase Gene Family and Its Role in Biotic and Abiotic Stress Response
Authors: Rohila Jai S. , Yang Yinong
Published: June 2007

The mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is an important signaling module that transduces extracellular stimuli into intracellular responses in eukaryotic organisms. An increasing body of evidence has shown that the MAPK‐mediated cellular signaling is crucial to plant growth and development, as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. To date, a total of 17 MAPK genes have been identified from the rice genome. Expression profiling, biochemical characterization and/or functional analysis were carried out with many members of the rice MAPK gene family, especially those associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this review, the phylogenetic relationship and classification of rice MAPK genes are discussed to facilitate a simple nomenclature and standard annotation of the rice MAPK gene family. Functional data relating to biotic and abiotic stress responses are reviewed for each MAPK group and show that despite overlapping in functionality, there is a certain level of functional specificity among different rice MAP kinases. The future challenges are to functionally characterize each MAPK, to identify their downstream substrates and upstream kinases, and to genetically manipulate the MAPK signaling pathway in rice crops for the improvement of agronomically important traits.
Duplication and Divergence of Floral MADS‐Box Genes in Grasses: Evidence for the Generation and Modification of Novel Regulators
Authors: Xu Guixia , Kong Hongzhi
Published: June 2007

The process of flowering is controlled by a hierarchy of floral genes that act as flowering time genes, inflorescence/floral meristem identity genes, and/or floral organ‐identity genes. The most important and well‐characterized floral genes are those that belong to the MADS‐box family of transcription factors. Compelling evidence suggests that floral MADS‐box genes have experienced a few large‐scale duplication events. In particular, the pre‐core eudicot duplication events have been considered to correlate with the emergence and diversification of core eudicots. Duplication of floral MADS‐box genes has also been documented in monocots, particularly in grasses, although a systematic study is lacking. In the present study, by conducting extensive phylogenetic analyses, we identified pre‐Poaceae gene duplication events in each of theAP1, PI, AG, AGL11, AGL2/3/4, andAGL9gene lineages. Comparative genomic studies further indicated that some of these duplications actually resulted from the genome doubling event that occurred 66‐70 million years ago (MYA). In addition, we found that after gene duplication, exonization (of intron sequences) and pseudoexonization (of exon sequences) have contributed to the divergence of duplicate genes in sequence structure and, possibly, gene function.
The WRKY Gene Family in Rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Ross Christian A. , Liu Yue , Shen Qingxi J.
Published: June 2007

WRKY genes encode transcription factors that are involved in the regulation of various biological processes. These zinc‐finger proteins, especially those members mediating stress responses, are uniquely expanded in plants. To facilitate the study of the evolutionary history and functions of this supergene family, we performed an exhaustive search for WRKY genes using HMMER and a Hidden Markov Model that was specifically trained for rice. This work resulted in a comprehensive list of WRKY gene models in Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica and L. ssp. japonica. Mapping of these genes to individual chromosomes facilitated elimination of the redundant, leading to the identification of 98 WRKY genes in japonica and 102 in indica rice. These genes were further categorized according to the number and structure of their zinc‐finger domains. Based on a phylogenetic tree of the conserved WRKY domains and the graphic display of WRKY loci on corresponding indica and japonica chromosomes, we identified possible WRKY gene duplications within, and losses between the two closely related rice subspecies. Also reviewed are the roles of WRKY genes in disease resistance and responses to salicylic acid and jasmonic acid, seed development and germination mediated by gibberellins, other developmental processes including senescence, and responses to abiotic stresses and abscisic acid in rice and other plants. The signaling pathways mediating WRKY gene expression are also discussed.
BWMK1 Responds to Multiple Environmental Stresses and Plant Hormones
Authors: Hong Wai‐Foong , He Chaozu , Wang Lijun , Wang Dong‐Jiang , Joseph Leina M. , Jantasuriyarat Chatchawan , Dai Liangying , Wang Guo‐Liang
Published: June 2007

Many plant mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play an important role in regulating responses to both abiotic and biotic stresses. The first reported rice MAPK gene BWMK1 is induced by both rice blast (Magnaporthe grisea) infection and mechanical wounding. For further analysis of its response to other environmental cues and plant hormones, such as jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), and benzothiadiazole (BTH), the promoter of BWMK1 was fused with the coding region of the β‐glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. Two promoter‐GUS constructs with a 1.0– and 2.5–kb promoter fragment, respectively, were generated and transformed into the japonica rice cultivars TP309 and Zhonghua 11. Expression of GUS was induced in the transgenic lines by cold, drought, dark, and JA. However, light, SA, and BTH treatments suppressed GUS expression. These results demonstrate that BWMK1 is responsive to multiple abiotic stresses and plant hormones and may play a role in cross‐talk between different signaling pathways.
Gibberellin Signal Transduction in Rice
Authors: Fan Liu‐Min , Feng Xiaoyan , Wang Yu , Deng Xing Wang
Published: June 2007

In the past decade, significant knowledge has accumulated regarding gibberellin (GA) signal transduction in rice as a result of studies using multiple approaches, particularly molecular genetics. The present review highlights the recent developments in the identification of GA signaling pathway components, the discovery of GA‐induced destruction of GA signaling repressor (DELLA protein), and the possible mechanism underlying the regulation of GA‐responsive gene expression in rice.
Characterization and Use of Male Sterility in Hybrid Rice Breeding
Authors: Li Shaoqing , Yang Daichang , Zhu Yingguo
Published: June 2007

The hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding that was initiated in China in the 1970s led to a great improvement in rice productivity. In general, it increases the grain yield by over 20% to the inbred rice varieties, and now hybrid rice has been widely introduced into Africa, Southern Asia and America. These hybrid varieties are generated through either three‐line hybrid and two‐line hybrid systems; the former is derived from cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and the latter derived from genic male sterility (GMS). There are three major types of CMS (HL, BT and WA) and two types of GMS (photoperiod‐sensitive (PGMS) and temperature‐sensitive (TGMS)). The BT‐ and HL‐type CMS genes are characterized as orf79 and orfH79, which are chimeric toxic genes derived from mitochondrial rearrangement. Rf3 for CMS‐WA is located on chromosome 1, while Rf1, Rf4, Rf5 and Rf6 correspond to CMS‐BT, CMS‐WA and CMS‐HL, located on chromosome 10. The Rf1 gene for BT‐CMS has been cloned recently, and encodes a mitochondria‐targeted PPR protein. PGMS is thought to be controlled by two recessive loci on chromosomes 7 and 12, whereas nine recessive alleles have been identified for TGMS and mapped on different chromosomes. Attention is still urgently needed to resolve the molecular complexity of male sterility to assist rice breeding.
Magnetar oscillations pose challenges for strange stars
Authors: Watts Anna L. , Reddy Sanjay
Published: June 2007

Compact relativistic stars allow us to study the nature of matter under extreme conditions, probing regions of parameter space that are otherwise inaccessible. Nuclear theory in this regime is not well constrained: one key issue is whether neutron stars are in fact composed primarily of strange quark matter. Distinguishing the two possibilities, however, has been difficult. The recent detection of seismic vibrations in the aftermath of giant flares from two magnetars (highly magnetized compact stars) is a major breakthrough. The oscillations excited seem likely to involve the stellar crust, the properties of which differ dramatically for strange stars. We show that the resulting mode frequencies cannot be reconciled with the observations for reasonable magnetar parameters. Ruling out strange star models would place a strong constraint on models of dense quark matter.
Social Neuroscience: Progress and Implications for Mental Health
Authors: Cacioppo John T. , Amaral David G. , Blanchard Jack J. , Cameron Judy L. , Carter C. Sue , Crews David , Fiske Susan , Heatherton Todd , Johnson Marcia K. , Kozak Michael J. , Levenson Robert W. , Lord Catherine , Miller Earl K. , Ochsner Kevin , Raichle Marcus E. , Shea M. Tracie , Taylor Shelley E. , Young Larry J. , Quinn Kevin J.
Published: June 2007

Social neuroscience is a new, interdisciplinary field devoted to understanding how biological systems implement social processes and behavior. Social neuroscience capitalizes on biological concepts and methods to inform and refine theories of social behavior, and it uses social and behavioral constructs and data to inform and refine theories of neural organization and function. We focus here on the progress and potential of social neuroscience in the area of mental health. Research in social neuroscience has grown dramatically in recent years. Among the most active areas of research we found are brain-imaging studies in normal children and adults; animal models of social behavior; studies of stroke patients; imaging studies of psychiatric patients; and research on social determinants of peripheral neural, neuroendocrine, and immunological processes. We also found that these areas of research are proceeding along largely independent trajectories. Our goals in this article are to review the development of this field, examine some currently promising approaches, identify obstacles and opportunities for future advances and integration, and consider how this research can inform work on the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
Better, Stronger, Faster: Self-Serving Judgment, Affect Regulation, and the Optimal Vigilance Hypothesis
Authors: Roese Neal J. , Olson James M.
Published: June 2007

Self-serving judgments, in which the self is viewed more favorably than other people, are ubiquitous. Their dynamic variation within individuals may be explained in terms of the regulation of affect. Self-serving judgments produce positive emotions, and threat increases self-serving judgments (a compensatory pattern that restores affect to a set point or baseline). Perceived mutability is a key moderator of these judgments; low mutability (i.e., the circumstance is closed to modification) triggers a cognitive response aimed at affect regulation, whereas high mutability (i.e., the circumstance is open to further modification) activates direct behavioral remediation. Threats often require immediate response, whereas positive events do not. Because of this brief temporal window, an active mechanism is needed to restore negative (but not positive) affective shifts back to a set point. Without this active reset, an earlier threat would make the individual less vigilant toward a new threat. Thus, when people are sad, they aim to return their mood to baseline, often via self-serving judgments. We argue that asymmetric homeostasis enables optimal vigilance, which establishes a coherent theoretical account of the role of self-serving judgments in affect regulation.
A Dynamical Systems Approach to the Development and Expression of Female Same-Sex Sexuality
Authors: Diamond Lisa M.
Published: June 2007

Researchers have documented substantial variability in the development and expression of same-sex sexuality, especially among women, posing challenges to traditional linear developmental models. In this article, I argue for a new approach to conceptualizing the development and expression of female same-sex sexuality over the life course, based in dynamical systems theory. Dynamical systems models seek to explain how complex patterns emerge, stabilize, change, and restabilize over time. Although originally developed by mathematicians and physicists to model complex physical phenomena in the natural world, they have increasingly been applied to social-behavioral phenomena, ranging from motor development to cognition to language. I demonstrate the utility of this approach for modeling change over time in female same-sex sexuality, reviewing extant published research and also introducing data collected from an ongoing, 10-year longitudinal study of young nonheterosexual women. I provide evidence that female same-sex sexuality demonstrates the emblematic features of a dynamical system: nonlinear change over time, spontaneous emergence of novel forms, and periodic reorganizations and phase transitions within the overall system. I highlight the specific contribution of a dynamical systems perspective for understanding such phenomena and suggest directions for future study.
“Leaky” Rationality: How Research on Behavioral Decision Making Challenges Normative Standards of Rationality
Authors: Keys Daniel J. , Schwartz Barry
Published: June 2007

For more than 30 years, decision-making research has documented that people often violate various principles of rationality, some of which are so fundamental that theorists of rationality rarely bother to state them. We take these characteristics of decision making as a given but argue that it is problematic to conclude that they typically represent departures from rationality. The very psychological processes that lead to “irrational” decisions (e.g., framing, mental accounting) continue to exert their influence when one experiences the results of the decisions. That is, psychological processes that affect decisions may be said also to “leak” into one's experience. The implication is that formal principles of rationality do not provide a good enough normative standard against which to assess decision making. Instead, what is needed is a substantive theory of rationality—one that takes subjective experience seriously, considers both direct and indirect consequences of particular decisions, considers how particular decisions fit into life as a whole, and considers the effects of decisions on others. Formal principles may play a role as approximations of the substantive theory that can be used by theorists and decision makers in cases in which the formal principles can capture most of the relevant considerations and leakage into experience is negligible.
What Do Implicit Measures Tell Us?: Scrutinizing the Validity of Three Common Assumptions
Authors: Gawronski Bertram , LeBel Etienne P. , Peters Kurt R.
Published: June 2007

Experimental paradigms designed to assess “implicit” representations are currently very popular in many areas of psychology. The present article addresses the validity of three widespread assumptions in research using these paradigms: that (a) implicit measures reflect unconscious or introspectively inaccessible representations; (b) the major difference between implicit measures and self-reports is that implicit measures are resistant or less susceptible to social desirability; and (c) implicit measures reflect highly stable, older representations that have their roots in long-term socialization experiences. Drawing on a review of the available evidence, we conclude that the validity of all three assumptions is equivocal and that theoretical interpretations should be adjusted accordingly. We discuss an alternative conceptualization that distinguishes between activation and validation processes.
Considerations Relating to the Study of Group Differences in Intelligence
Authors: Hunt Earl , Carlson Jerry
Published: June 2007

There are signs that the debate over racial and gender differences in intelligence is about to begin again. In this article we will be concerned primarily with racial differences but will make remarks about gender differences where applicable. Previously there have been bitter arguments over whether or not races exist, over whether it is either important or proper to study racial and gender differences in intelligence, and over the conclusions that have been drawn about environmental and genetic causes as determinants of these differences. We argue that races do, indeed, exist and that studying differences in cognitive competence between groups is a reasonable thing to do. We also point out that past research on both racial and gender differences in intelligence has been marked by methodological errors and overgeneralizations by researchers on all sides of the issue. We propose ten principles of design, analysis, and reporting that ought to be considered carefully when doing or evaluating research in this area.
Effects of ageing and gender on contractile properties in human skeletal muscle and single fibres
Authors: Yu F. , Hedström M. , Cristea A. , Dalén N. , Larsson L.
Published: June 2007

Aim:  The objective of this study is to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the ageing‐ and gender‐related muscle weakness.

Methods:  Ageing‐ and gender‐related differences in regulation of muscle contraction have been studied in knee‐extensor muscles at the whole muscle and single muscle fibre levels in young and old sedentary men and women. In vivo knee‐extensor muscle function was measured at slow (30° s−1) and faster (180 ° s−1) speeds of movement. Maximum velocity of unloaded shortening (V0) and maximum force normalized to cross‐sectional area (CSA) [specific tension (ST)] were measured in single ‘skinned’ skeletal muscle fibre segments.

Results:  Significant ageing‐ and gender‐related differences were observed in muscle torque. A 33–55% ageing‐related decline (P < 0.001) in maximum torque was observed irrespective of gender. At the single muscle fibre level, the ageing‐related decline in knee‐extensor muscle function was accompanied by a 20–28% decline in ST in muscle fibres expressing the type I MyHC isoform in both men and women, and a 29% decline in type IIa muscle fibre CSA, but the decreased fast‐twitch fibre size was restricted to the men. Furthermore, in both men and women, V0 decreased in muscle cells expressing the type I and IIa MyHC isoforms.

Conclusion:  The present results provide evidence of specific ageing‐ and gender‐related differences in regulation of muscle contraction at the cellular level. It is suggested that these cellular changes have a significant impact on muscle function and the ageing‐related motor handicap.
Diabetes‐induced hyperfiltration in adenosine A1‐receptor deficient mice lacking the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism
Authors: Sällström J. , Carlsson P.‐O. , Fredholm B. B. , Larsson E. , Persson A. E. G. , Palm F.
Published: June 2007

Aims:  Glomerular hyperfiltration is commonly found in diabetic patients early after the onset of disease. This is one of the first indications of the development of progressive diabetic nephropathy. It has been proposed that glomerular hyperfiltration is caused by decreased delivery of electrolytes to the macula densa due to the increased sodium and glucose reabsorption in the proximal tubule, which would increase the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) via the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. In this study, we investigated the role of TGF in diabetes‐induced glomerular hyperfiltration by inducing diabetes in adenosine A1‐receptor knockout (A1AR−/−) mice known to lack a functional TGF mechanism.

Methods:  Diabetes was induced by alloxan (75 mg kg−1 bw) injected into the tail vein. The 24‐hour urinary electrolyte excretion was measured in metabolic cages, the GFR determined by inulin clearance under isoflurane‐anaesthesia, and histological changes evaluated.

Results:  All alloxan‐treated animals developed hyperglycaemia (≥20 mm). Normoglycaemic animals had a similar GFR independent of genotype (A1AR+/+ 9.3 ± 0.5 vs. A1AR−/− 10.1 ± 0.8 μL min−1g−1 bw) and diabetes resulted in similar glomerular hyperfiltration in both groups (A1AR+/+ 14.0 ± 1.7, n = 9 vs. A1AR−/− 15.3 ± 1.9 μL min−1g−1 bw). Diabetic animals had a similar tendency to develop interstitial fibrosis, whereas the glomerular volume was similar in both genotypes, and unaltered by diabetes.

Conclusions:  This study shows that the A1AR−/− mice develop diabetes‐induced glomerular hyperfiltration, demonstrating that the TGF mechanism is not the major cause of the development of hyperfiltration. Furthermore, the hyperfiltration in the present study was not related to alterations in the glomerular filtration area.
Central corneal dermoid in a Labrador retriever puppy
Authors: Brudenall D. K. , Bernays M. E. , Peiffer R. L.
Published: June 2007

An eight‐week‐old, male Labrador retriever puppy was presented with an abnormal appearance of the left cornea, observed after the eyelids opened in the second week of life. Ocular examination showed a large central dermoid of the left cornea. The dermoid was excised by superficial keratectomy, and healing was uneventful. The dermoid was classified as a Mann’s second type. To the authors’ knowledge, a Mann’s second type corneal dermoid has not previously been reported in a dog.
Ulnocarpal arthrodesis in a cat
Authors: Pucheu B. , Duhautois B.
Published: June 2007

A nine‐year‐old cat was presented with non‐weight‐bearing lameness of the right forelimb subsequent to an old fracture of the antebrachium previously treated by external stabilisation. Radiography showed severe atrophic non‐union of the distal third of the radius and carpal luxation. Ulnocarpal arthrodesis was performed using a uniplanar external fixator. Follow‐up radiography showed that bone fusion was slow but without complication. After 16 weeks, the external fixator was removed, and a Robert‐Jones bandage was applied for one month. From postoperative week 2 onwards, the animal progressively made use of the limb in a weight‐bearing capacity. At the last examination, one year postoperative, no lameness was observed.