bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reservations about preservations: storage methods affect δ13C signatures differently even in closely related soil fauna
Authors: Krab Eveline J. , Van Logtestijn Richard S. P. , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Berg Matty P.
Published: June 2011

1. Studies of stable isotope signatures can reveal and quantify trophic carbon transfer between organisms. However, preservation of the samples before analysis cannot always be avoided. Some preservation agents are known to alter tissue δ13C values considerably, but we do not yet understand how variation in such preservation artefacts may be determined by variation in body traits of different invertebrate species and life stage.

2. Here, we tested the effect of four different preservation methods on13C signatures of two morphologically and ecologically distinct springtails,Folsomia candidaandOrchesella cincta. These springtails were fed on the fungusCladosporium cladosporioidesgrown on either a C3 or a C4 carbon source, resulting in springtails with two contrasting initial δ13C values. Subsequently, these springtails were preserved for 46 days. In addition, a juvenile–adult comparison was made forF. candida.

3. Freeze‐drying and subsequent dry storage did not affect13C signatures of either species; nor did killing springtails with liquid nitrogen and storing them at −80 °C. Preservation in 70% ethanol slightly depleted δ13C values of adultF. candidabut not ofO. cincta. In contrast, storage in saturated salt solution depleted both species considerably. Life stage affected preservation success significantly; storage in 70% ethanol depleted adultF. candidabut not its juveniles. Initial δ13C values of the springtails did not interact with preservation artefacts, suggesting that the shifts in δ13C values are caused by effects of the preservative on the animal tissue rather than by its remainders.

4. We recommend freeze‐drying as a preservation method. However, our results suggest that interspecific differences (e.g. in body size and cuticle thickness) as well as intraspecific difference (e.g. life stage‐dependent changes in the proportion of fat reserves) are important determinants of preservation effects on13C signatures. This makes interpreting stable isotope data obtained from preserved springtails relatively difficult, especially when natural13C abundances are used to study trophic interactions or interspecific functional differences. We predict that such complications also apply to other invertebrate taxa and types.
THE MEANING OF ‘ODI ET AMO’ IN CATULLUS 85
Authors: ARKINS BRIAN
Published: June 2011

The purpose of this note is categorically to reject the translation ‘I hate and I love’. This false translation has become canonical, but it will not do. In a number of poems (72, 75, 76, 85), Catullus explores the paradox that, on the one hand, Lesbia's infidelity has led him to desire her more physically, and, on the other hand, to feel less affection for her. The verbs odi et amo sum up this paradox. For odi can mean ‘detest’ or ‘loathe’, as well as ‘hate’; amo can mean ‘desire’ or ‘lust for’, as well as ‘love’. This gives the translation ‘I loathe her, I lust for her’; a more subtle and a more interesting paradox than ‘I hate and I love’.
WAR, SLAVERY, AND EMPIRE IN ROMAN IMPERIAL ICONOGRAPHY
Authors: DE SOUZA PHILIP
Published: June 2011

This paper discusses the theme of defeated and captured enemies in Roman art based on a selection of examples from the imperial period. It argues that the relative prominence and frequency of such images can be correlated with historical texts and documents to demonstrate that the taking of captives for enslavement was a significant aim of Roman warfare. Examples of similar iconography from other ancient cultures, in particular the Neo-Assyrian Empire, are compared to suggest that a preference for motifs celebrating the acquisition of slaves through warfare is a general characteristic of the commemorative art of ancient imperial cultures.
MAPPING PLINY'S WORLD: THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SOLINUS
Authors: BRODERSEN KAI
Published: June 2011

Gaius Iulius Solinus is the author of a late antique work entitled Collectanea rerum mirabilium or Polyhistor which is mainly based on Pliny' Natural history. Solinus has long been maligned as ‘Pliny's ape’, and considered to be materially irrelevant, ‘as we still have his sources'. A fresh look, however, shows his achievement: he has condensed the material and thus created a manageable work which was to become the foremost geography for a millennium. And while his sources present geographical data as a strict periplus, Solinus can be seen changing the mode of description from line to area (thus ignoring the linear mode required by the periplus), adding neighbours and directions, emphasizing the concept of plaga, and innovatively using ‘Mediterranean’ and the ‘Orient’. Ultimately, his work appears to represent the juncture from a linear text to a map showing areas: Solinus really is mapping Pliny's world.
ANONYMI CHRISTIANI TRACTATUS DE FIGURIS SENTENTIARUM ET VERBORUM (NOTA MARGINALIS IN PARIS. 1741)
Authors: JAEWON AHN
Published: June 2011

Nota Marginalis is written in the form of commentary outside the main text of Alexander (5. Alexandri opusculum de figuris sententiarum atque elocutionis [106v]) in cod. Paris. 1741. The documentation of N.M. itself might have been made in the 13th century. The text consists of 47 epitomes, which are grouped according to word figure and sentence figure. The method of defining the figure is identical to that of Paris. 2087: the examples are Christian and identical to those of 2087. Thus, there is no doubt that N.M. belongs to the tradition of Paris. 2087. The sequence of epitomes, however, differs from that of 2087, because N.M. is recorded according to the sequence of Paris. 1741: the scribe of N.M. may have tried to address the lack of Christian examples in Paris. 1741. As for authorship, it is not easy to know who the author is, but on this question, I have found an interesting example from Basil of Caesarea (AD 330–379). Based on this, I would like to suggest that the author of N.M. might be a student of Basil, who was an excellent teacher of rhetoric. From this, it can be assumed that N.M. might have been composed in the 5th century.
Motivated use of information about others: Linking the 2 × 2 achievement goal model to social comparison propensities and processes
Authors: Bounoua Lënda , Cury François , Regner Isabelle , Huguet Pascal , Barron Kenneth E. , Elliot Andrew J.
Published: June 2011

The present research used correlational and experimental methods and two well‐established social comparison paradigms to integrate and extend prior research from the achievement goal and social comparison literatures. In Study 1, a general disposition to engage in social comparison was positively correlated with each type of goal in the 2 × 2 model of achievement goals, suggesting that the desire to seek out social comparison information is not exclusive to a particular type of achievement goal pursuit. In Study 2, when evaluating the specific direction of social comparison (upward or downward), the pursuit of performance‐approach, mastery‐approach, and mastery‐avoidance goals facilitated upward social comparison, and the pursuit of performance‐avoidance goals prompted a shift away from upward comparison towards downward comparison. The present findings provide new insight to the emerging integration of achievement goals and social comparison.
The Application of Low-Profile Vortex Generators in an Intermediate Turbine Diffuser
Authors: Santner C. , Göttlich E. , Marn A. , Hubinka J. , Paradiso B.
Published: June 2011

The demand of further increased bypass ratios for turbofan engines will lead to low pressure turbines with larger diameter and lower rotational speed in conventional high-bypass aeroengine architectures. Due to that, it is necessary to guide the flow leaving the high pressure turbine to the low pressure turbine at a larger diameter without any severe loss generating separation or flow disturbances. To reduce costs and weight this turbine duct has to be as short as possible. This results in superaggressive (very high diffusion) S-shaped geometries where the boundary layers are not able to withstand the strong adverse pressure gradient, which results in flow separation. This paper describes the flow through a fully separated duct as a baseline configuration. In a next step the influence of passive flow control devices onto this separation has been investigated. Therefore, low-profile vortex generators were applied within the first bend of this S-shaped intermediate turbine diffuser in order to energize the boundary layer and further reduce or even suppress the occurring separation. This configuration was investigated downstream a transonic turbine stage. Measurements were performed by means of five-hole-probes, static wall pressure taps, and oil flow visualization at the duct endwalls. For a better understanding of the flow behavior the vortex generators were also investigated in a two-dimensional rectangular S-shaped duct using the same Mach number level. Results showed that the vortex generators reduce the separation in the 2D-duct but have no distinct influence on the separation within the turbine duct due to wakes as well as strong secondary flow effects.
Manipulating Flow to Reduce Drag of a Square Cylinder by Using a Self-Sustained Vibrating Rod
Authors: Huang Rong Fung , Cheng Jeng Cha , Chen Jia-Kun , Hsu Ching Min
Published: June 2011

The flow, vortex shedding, and surface pressure of a square cylinder at incidence were manipulated by means of a self-sustained vibrating rod placed around the leading edge of the upwind-facing lateral face of the square cylinder. The flow patterns on the cylinder surface were studied by using the surface-oil flow method for a Reynolds number between 4.5 × 104 and 1.1 × 105 as the incidence angle varied from 0° to 45°. Vortex-shedding characteristics were measured by means of a single-component hot-wire anemometer, and surface-pressure distributions were detected by using a linear-pressure scanner. The results show that owing to the influence of the rod vibration, the flow pattern on the agitated face changed from its natural state of a dual-ring bubble to the mode of boundary-layer separation. The critical incidence angle separating the dual-ring bubble and single-ring bubble modes was advanced to 11° from its natural state of 15°. The locations of the characteristic points on the cylinder surface were altered by the rod vibration, implying that the whole flow field surrounding the square cylinder was modified by the vibrating rod installed around the leading edge of the upwind-facing lateral face. The Strouhal numbers of wake instability of the controlled and uncontrolled cylinders did not present significant difference. The variations of the pressure coefficients induced by the rod vibration were closely related with the modification of the flow field on the cylinder surface. The decreases in the pressure coefficients on the upwind-facing faces and on the leeward-facing faces lead to drag reduction of the controlled cylinder by ∼25% when compared with the uncontrolled cylinder.
A Material with Electrically Tunable Strength and Flow Stress
Authors: Jin Hai-Jun , Weissmüller Jörg
Published: June 2011

Changes in a layer of oxygen absorbed onto nanoporous gold reversibly affect its mechanical properties.
Processive Movement of MreB-Associated Cell Wall Biosynthetic Complexes in Bacteria
Authors: Domínguez-Escobar Julia , Chastanet Arnaud , Crevenna Alvaro H. , Fromion Vincent , Wedlich-Söldner Roland , Carballido-López Rut
Published: June 2011

Bacteria elongation involves moving synthetic complexes around the cell wall.
Negative Epistasis Between Beneficial Mutations in an Evolving Bacterial Population
Authors: Khan Aisha I. , Dinh Duy M. , Schneider Dominique , Lenski Richard E. , Cooper Tim F.
Published: June 2011

Interactions between genes reduce the benefits of a mutation and decrease the rate of fitness gain during adaptation.
Scaling Up DNA Computation
Authors: Reif John H.
Published: June 2011

A technique uses DNA strands to perform calculations that can be scaled up in complexity.
In Evolution, the Sum Is Less than Its Parts
Authors: Kryazhimskiy Sergey , Draghi Jeremy A. , Plotkin Joshua B.
Published: June 2011

Laboratory experiments with bacteria shed light on how epistatic interactions influence the pace of evolution.
The Soviet's Chief Designer

Little Eagles
by Rona Munro; directed by Roxana Silbert

Royal Shakespeare Company, Hampstead Theatre, London. 16 April to 7 May 2011. Developed in association with Davidson College, North Carolina. www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/little-eagles/

Little Eagles
by Rona Munro

Nick Hern, London, 2011. 96 pp. Paper, £9.99. ISBN 9781848421462.
Authors: Cruz Maria
Published: June 2011

Munro's play spotlights Sergei Korolyov, "chief designer" of the Soviet space program, and his efforts to realize his dream of flying to the Moon.
Quake Experts to Be Tried for Manslaughter
Authors: Cartlidge Edwin
Published: June 2011

Seven scientists and technicians who analyzed seismic activity ahead of the devastating earthquake that struck the Italian town of L'Aquila on 6 April 2009 will indeed face trial for manslaughter, a judge announced last week.
Appraising U.K. Ecosystems, Report Envisions Greener Horizon
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: June 2011

A group of 500 scientists has just released the first-ever assessment of the status of ecosystems in the United Kingdom, evaluating their ability to provide food, sustain biodiversity, and perform many other services.
DNA Nanotechnology Grows Up
Authors: Service Robert F.
Published: June 2011

Once dismissed as molecular parlor tricks, techniques for piecing ultrasmall structures together with DNA are starting to prove their worth in serious research.
Next Step: DNA Robots?
Authors: Service Robert F.
Published: June 2011

After years of trying—and failing—to use DNA's ability to store and manipulate information to build a DNA computer, the field is finally advancing by going back to DNA's biochemical roots.
Detection of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome
mec
Type XI Carrying Highly Divergent
mecA
,
mecI
,
mecR1
,
blaZ
, and
ccr
Genes in Human Clinical Isolates of Clonal Complex 130 Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Shore Anna C. , Deasy Emily C. , Slickers Peter , Brennan Grainne , O'Connell Brian , Monecke Stefan , Ehricht Ralf , Coleman David C.
Published: June 2011

Methicillin resistance in staphylococci is mediated by penicillin binding protein 2a (PBP 2a), encoded by
mecA
on mobile staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
(SCC
mec
) elements. In this study, two clonal complex 130 (CC130) methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) isolates from patients in Irish hospitals were identified that were phenotypically PBP 2a positive but lacked
mecA
by conventional PCR and by DNA microarray screening. The isolates were identified as methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
using the GeneXpert real-time PCR assay. Whole-genome sequencing of one isolate (M10/0061) revealed a 30-kb SCC
mec
element encoding a class E
mec
complex with highly divergent
blaZ-mecA-mecR1-mecI
, a type 8 cassette chromosome recombinase (
ccr
) complex consisting of
ccrA1-ccrB3
, an arsenic resistance operon, and flanking direct repeats (DRs). The SCC
mec
element was almost identical to that of SCC
mec
type XI (SCC
mec
XI) identified by the Sanger Institute in sequence type 425 bovine MRSA strain LGA251 listed on the website of the International Working Group on the Classification of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Elements. The open reading frames (ORFs) identified within SCC
mec
XI of M10/0061 exhibited 21 to 93% amino acid identity to ORFs in GenBank. A third DR was identified ca. 3 kb downstream of SCC
mec
XI, indicating the presence of a possible SCC remnant. SCC
mec
XI was also identified in the second CC130 MRSA isolate by PCR and sequencing. The CC130 MRSA isolates may be of animal origin as previously reported CC130
S. aureus
strains were predominantly from bovine sources. The highly divergent nature of SCC
mec
XI relative to other SCC
mec
elements indicates that it may have originated in another taxon.
Bacteremia with Bacteroides pyogenes after a Cat Bite
Authors: Madsen Ida Ringsborg , Justesen Ulrik Stenz
Published: June 2011

Animal bite wounds are often infected with bacteria from the animal's oral flora. We report what we believe to be the first case of bacteremia with
Bacteroides pyogenes
resulting from an infected cat bite.
Clonal Evolution Leading to Maintenance of Antibiotic Resistance Rates among Colonizing Pneumococci in the PCV7 Era in Portugal
Authors: Simões Alexandra S. , Pereira Liliana , Nunes Sónia , Brito-Avô António , de Lencastre Hermínia , Sá-Leão Raquel
Published: June 2011

The introduction of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in Portugal led to extensive serotype replacement among carriers of pneumococci, with a marked decrease of PCV7 types. Although antimicrobial resistance was traditionally associated with PCV7 types, no significant changes in the rates of nonsusceptibility to penicillin, resistance to macrolides, or multidrug resistance were observed. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms leading to maintenance of antimicrobial resistance, despite marked serotype replacement. We compared, through molecular typing, 252 antibiotic-resistant pneumococci recovered from young carriers in 2006 and 2007 (era of high PCV7 uptake) with collections of isolates from 2002 and 2003 (
n
=374; low-PCV7-uptake era) and 1996 to 2001 (
n
=805; pre-PCV7 era). We observed that the group of clones that has accounted for antimicrobial resistance since 1996 is essentially the same as the one identified in the PCV7 era. The relative proportions of such clones have, however, evolved substantially overtime. Notably, widespread use of PCV7 led to an expansion of two Pneumococcal Molecular Epidemiology Network (PMEN) clones expressing non-PCV7 capsular variants of the original strains: Sweden
15A
ST63 (serotypes 15A and 19A) and Denmark
14
ST230 (serotypes 19A and 24F). These variants were already in circulation in the pre-PCV7 era, although they have now become increasingly abundant. Emergence of novel clones and
de novo
acquisition of resistance contributed little to the observed scenario. No evidence of capsular switch events occurring after PCV7 introduction was found. In the era of PCVs, antimicrobial resistance remains a problem among the carried pneumococci. Continuous surveillance is warranted to evaluate serotype and clonal shifts leading to maintenance of antimicrobial resistance.
Poly(C)-Binding Protein 2 Interacts with Sequences Required for Viral Replication in the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) 5′ Untranslated Region and Directs HCV RNA Replication through Circularizing the Viral Genome
Authors: Wang Linya , Jeng King-Song , Lai Michael M. C.
Published: June 2011

Sequences in the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA is important for modulating both translation and RNA replication. The translation of the HCV genome depends on an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located within the 341-nucleotide 5′UTR, while RNA replication requires a smaller region. A question arises whether the replication and translation functions require different regions of the 5′UTR and different sets of RNA-binding proteins. Here, we showed that the 5′-most 157 nucleotides of HCV RNA is the minimum 5′UTR for RNA replication, and it partially overlaps with the IRES. Stem-loops 1 and 2 of the 5′UTR are essential for RNA replication, whereas stem-loop 1 is not required for translation. We also found that poly(C)-binding protein 2 (PCBP2) bound to the replication region of the 5′UTR and associated with detergent-resistant membrane fractions, which are the sites of the HCV replication complex. The knockdown of PCBP2 by short hairpin RNA decreased the amounts of HCV RNA and nonstructural proteins. Antibody-mediated blocking of PCBP2 reduced HCV RNA replication
in vitro
, indicating that PCBP2 is directly involved in HCV RNA replication. Furthermore, PCBP2 knockdown reduced IRES-dependent translation preferentially from a dual reporter plasmid, suggesting that PCBP2 also regulated IRES activity. These findings indicate that PCBP2 participates in both HCV RNA replication and translation. Moreover, PCBP2 interacts with HCV 5′- and 3′UTR RNA fragments to form an RNA-protein complex and induces the circularization of HCV RNA, as revealed by electron microscopy. This study thus demonstrates the mechanism of the participation of PCBP2 in HCV translation and replication and provides physical evidence for HCV RNA circularization through 5′- and 3′UTR interaction.
Genomic and Proteomic Analysis of Invertebrate Iridovirus Type 9
Authors: Wong Chun K. , Young Vivienne L. , Kleffmann Torsten , Ward Vernon K.
Published: June 2011

Iridoviruses (IV) are nuclear cytoplasmic large DNA viruses that are receiving increasing attention as sublethal pathogens of a range of insects. Invertebrate iridovirus type 9 (IIV-9; Wiseana iridovirus) is a member of the major phylogenetic group of iridoviruses for which there is very limited genomic and proteomic information. The genome is 205,791 bp, has a G+C content of 31%, and contains 191 predicted genes, with approximately 20% of its repeat sequences being located predominantly within coding regions. The repeated sequences include 11 proteins with helix-turn-helix motifs and genes encoding related tandem repeat amino acid sequences. Of the 191 proteins encoded by IIV-9, 108 are most closely related to orthologs in IIV-3 (
Chloriridovirus
genus), and 114 of the 126 IIV-3 genes have orthologs in IIV-9. In contrast, only 97 of 211 IIV-6 genes have orthologs in IIV-9. There is almost no conservation of gene order between IIV-3, IIV-6, and IIV-9. Phylogenetic analysis using a concatenated sequence of 26 core IV genes confirms that IIV-3 is more closely related to IIV-9 than to IIV-6, despite being from a different genus of the
Iridoviridae
. An interaction between IIV and small RNA regulatory systems is supported by the prediction of seven putative microRNA (miRNA) sequences combined with XRN exonuclease, RNase III, and double-stranded RNA binding activities encoded on the genome. Proteomic analysis of IIV-9 identified 64 proteins in the virus particle and, when combined with infected cell analysis, confirmed the expression of 94 viral proteins. This study provides the first full-genome and consequent proteomic analysis of group II IIV.
The 2.3-Angstrom Structure of Porcine Circovirus 2
Authors: Khayat Reza , Brunn Nicholas , Speir Jeffrey A. , Hardham John M. , Ankenbauer Robert G. , Schneemann Anette , Johnson John E.
Published: June 2011

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) is a T=1 nonenveloped icosahedral virus that has had severe impact on the swine industry. Here we report the crystal structure of an N-terminally truncated PCV2 virus-like particle at 2.3-Å resolution, and the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) image reconstruction of a full-length PCV2 virus-like particle at 9.6-Å resolution. This is the first atomic structure of a circovirus. The crystal structure revealed that the capsid protein fold is a canonical viral jelly roll. The loops connecting the strands of the jelly roll define the limited features of the surface. Sulfate ions interacting with the surface and electrostatic potential calculations strongly suggest a heparan sulfate binding site that allows PCV2 to gain entry into the cell. The crystal structure also allowed previously determined epitopes of the capsid to be visualized. The cryo-EM image reconstruction showed that the location of the N terminus, absent in the crystal structure, is inside the capsid. As the N terminus was previously shown to be antigenic, it may externalize through viral “breathing.”
Human Dendritic Cells Infected with the Nonpathogenic Mopeia Virus Induce Stronger T-Cell Responses than Those Infected with Lassa Virus
Authors: Pannetier Delphine , Reynard Stéphanie , Russier Marion , Journeaux Alexandra , Tordo Noël , Deubel Vincent , Baize Sylvain
Published: June 2011

The events leading to death in severe cases of Lassa fever (LF) are unknown. Fatality seems to be linked to high viremia and immunosuppression, and cellular immunity, rather than neutralizing antibodies, appears to be essential for survival. We previously compared Lassa virus (LV) with its genetically close but nonpathogenic homolog Mopeia virus (MV), which was used to model nonfatal LF. We showed that strong and early activation of antigen-presenting cells (APC) may play a crucial role in controlling infection. Here we developed anin vitromodel of dendritic-cell (DC)-T-cell coculture in order to characterize human T-cell responses induced by MV- or LV-infected DCs. Our results show very different responses to infection with LV and MV. MV strongly and durably stimulated CD8+and CD4+T cells, showing early and high activation, a strong proliferative response, and acquisition of effector and memory phenotypes. Furthermore, robust and functional CD4+and CD8+cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) were generated. LV, however, induced only weak memory responses. Thus, this study allows an improved understanding of the pathogenesis and immune mechanisms involved in the control of human LV.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Activates Endothelial Cells
Authors: Connolly-Andersen Anne-Marie , Moll Guido , Andersson Cecilia , Åkerström Sara , Karlberg Helen , Douagi Iyadh , Mirazimi Ali
Published: June 2011

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causes viral hemorrhagic fever with high case-fatality rates and is geographically widely distributed. Due to the requirement for a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory and the lack of an animal model, knowledge of the viral pathogenesis is limited. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is characterized by hemorrhage and vascular permeability, indicating the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs). The interplay between ECs and CCHFV is therefore important for understanding the pathogenesis of CCHF. In a previous study, we found that CCHFV-infected monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) activated ECs; however, the direct effect of CCHFV on ECs was not investigated. Here, we report that ECs are activated upon infection, as demonstrated by upregulation of mRNA levels for E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1). Protein levels and cell surface expression of ICAM1 responded in a dose-dependent manner to increasing CCHFV titers with concomitant increase in leukocyte adhesion. Furthermore, we examined vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin in CCHFV-infected ECs by different approaches. Infected ECs released higher levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8; however, stimulation of resting ECs with supernatants derived from infected ECs did not result in increased ICAM1 expression. Interestingly, the moDC-mediated activation of ECs was abrogated by addition of neutralizing tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) antibody to moDC supernatants, thereby identifying this soluble mediator as the key cytokine causing EC activation. We conclude that CCHFV can exert both direct and indirect effects on ECs.
Detection of Minority Resistance during Early HIV-1 Infection: Natural Variation and Spurious Detection rather than Transmission and Evolution of Multiple Viral Variants
Authors: Gianella Sara , Delport Wayne , Pacold Mary E. , Young Jason A. , Choi Jun Yong , Little Susan J. , Richman Douglas D. , Kosakovsky Pond Sergei L. , Smith Davey M.
Published: June 2011

Reports of a high frequency of the transmission of minority viral populations with drug-resistant mutations (DRM) are inconsistent with evidence that HIV-1 infections usually arise from mono- or oligoclonal transmission. We performed ultradeep sequencing (UDS) of partial HIV-1
gag
,
pol
, and
env
genes from 32 recently infected individuals. We then evaluated overall and per-site diversity levels, selective pressure, sequence reproducibility, and presence of DRM and accessory mutations (AM). To differentiate biologically meaningful mutations from those caused by methodological errors, we obtained multinomial confidence intervals (CI) for the proportion of DRM at each site and fitted a binomial mixture model to determine background error rates for each sample. We then examined the association between detected minority DRM and the virologic failure of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). Similar to other studies, we observed increased detection of DRM at low frequencies (average, 0.56%; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.69; expected UDS error, 0.21 ± 0.08% mutations/site). For 8 duplicate runs, there was variability in the proportions of minority DRM. There was no indication of increased diversity or selection at DRM sites compared to other sites and no association between minority DRM and AM. There was no correlation between detected minority DRM and clinical failure of first-line ART. It is unlikely that minority viral variants harboring DRM are transmitted and maintained in the recipient host. The majority of low-frequency DRM detected using UDS are likely errors inherent to UDS methodology or a consequence of error-prone HIV-1 replication.
Can we accredit hospital ethics? A tentative proposal
Authors: Wu Min-Hua , Liao Chih-Hsien , Chiu Wen-Ta , Lin Ching-Ying , Yang Che-Ming
Published: June 2011

Objectives

The objective of this research was to develop ethics accreditation standards for hospitals.

Research design

Our research methods included a literature review, an expert focus group, the Delphi technique and a hospital survey. The entire process was separated into two stages: (1) the development of a draft of hospital ethics accreditation standards; and (2) conducting a nationwide hospital survey of the proposed standards.

Results

This study produced a tentative draft of hospital ethics accreditation standards comprised of six chapters and 62 standards based on the expert focus group and Delphi technique. The six chapters are: Medical ethics policies, regulations and leadership; The establishment and operation of a medical ethics committee; The establishment and operation of research-related ethics committees; Medical ethics education; Organisational ethical climate; and Respect for patients' rights and establishment of good hospital-patient relationships. The hospital survey indicated that the concept of an organisational ethical climate was new to most hospital managers, most hospitals disliked the idea of having a separate hospital ethics accreditation system, and small hospitals were concerned about their ability to comply with all of the standards.

Conclusions

Regardless of whether hospital ethics accreditation can be a stand-alone accreditation or just part of existing hospital accreditation programmes, we hope this draft can serve as a good reference for future endeavours by hospital accreditation authorities.
Waterpipe tobacco products: nicotine labelling versus nicotine delivery
Authors: Vansickel Andrea R , Shihadeh Alan , Eissenberg Thomas
Published: June 2011

Background

Waterpipe tobacco package labelling typically indicates “0.0% tar” and “0.05% or 0.5% nicotine”.

Objective

To determine the extent to which nicotine labeling is related to nicotine delivery.

Methods

110 waterpipe smokers engaged in a 45-minute waterpipe smoking session. Puff topography and plasma nicotine were measured. Three waterpipe tobacco brands were used: Nakhla (0.5% nicotine), Starbuzz (0.05% nicotine), and Al Fakher (0.05% nicotine). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.

Results

Topography did not differ across brands. Peak plasma nicotine varied significantly across brands. Al Fakher had the highest nicotine delivery (11.4 ng/ml) followed by Nakhla (9.8 ng/ml) and Starbuzz (5.8 ng/ml).

Conclusions

Nicotine labelling on waterpipe tobacco products does not reflect delivery; smoking a brand with a “0.05% nicotine” label led to greater plasma nicotine levels than smoking a brand with a “0.5% nicotine” label. Waterpipe tobacco products should be labelled in a manner that does not mislead consumers.
Transcriptional regulation of ompF2, an ompF paralogue, in Yersinia pestis
Authors: Gao He , Zhang Yiquan , Tan Yafang , Wang Li , Xiao Xiao , Guo Zhaobiao , Zhou Dongsheng , Yang Ruifu
Published: June 2011

A regulatory circuit composed of three porins (OmpF, OmpC, and OmpX) and two transcriptional regulators (OmpR and CRP) has previously been characterized in Yersinia pestis . In this follow-up study, OmpF2, an OmpF paralogue, was integrated into this regulatory circuit. Only basal expression was detected for ompF2 in the wild-type strain under different osmotic conditions. The ompF2 transcription was dramatically enhanced with increasing medium osmolarity in the ompR null mutant background. The CRP regulator had no regulatory effect on ompF2 under the growth conditions tested.
In planta reduction of maize seedling stalk lesions by the bacterial endophyteBacillus mojavensis
Authors: Bacon Charles W. , Hinton Dorothy M.
Published: June 2011

Maize ( Zea mays L.) is susceptible to infection by Fusarium verticillioides through autoinfection and alloinfection, resulting in diseases and contamination of maize kernels with the fumonisin mycotoxins. Attempts at controlling this fungus are currently being done with biocontrol agents such as bacteria, and this includes bacterial endophytes, such as Bacillus mojavensis . In addition to producing fumonisins, which are phytotoxic and mycotoxic, F. verticillioides also produces fusaric acid, which acts both as a phytotoxin and as an antibiotic. The question now is Can B. mojavensis reduce lesion development in maize during the alloinfection process, simulated by internode injection of the fungus? Mutant strains of B. mojavensis that tolerate fusaric acid were used in a growth room study to determine the development of stalk lesions, indicative of maize seedling blight, by co-inoculations with a wild-type strain of F. verticillioides and with non-fusaric acid producing mutants of F. verticillioides. Lesions were measured on 14-day-old maize stalks consisting of treatment groups inoculated with and without mutants and wild-type strains of bacteria and fungi. The results indicate that the fusaric-acid-tolerant B. mojavensis mutant reduced stalk lesions, suggesting an in planta role for this substance as an antibiotic. Further, lesion development occurred in maize infected with F. verticillioides mutants that do not produce fusaric acid, indicating a role for other phytotoxins, such as the fumonisins. Thus, additional pathological components should be examined before strains of B. mojavensis can be identified as being effective as a biocontrol agent, particularly for the control of seedling disease of maize.
Mechanism of acid tolerance in a rhizobium strain isolated from Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi
Authors: Lei Zhang , Jian-ping Gu , Shi-qing Wei , Ze-yang Zhou , Chao Zhang , Yongxiong Yu
Published: June 2011

The Rhizobium sp. strain PR389 was isolated from the root nodules of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, which grows in acidic (pH 4.6) yellow soil of the Jinyun Mountains of Beibei, Chongqing, China. While rhizobia generally have a pH range of 6.5–7.5 for optimum growth, strain PR389 grew in a liquid yeast extract – mannitol agar medium at pH 4.6, as well as in a pH 4.1 soil suspension, suggesting acid tolerance in this specific strain of rhizobium . However, at pH 4.6, the lag phase before vigorous growth was 40 h compared with 4 h under neutral conditions (pH 7.0). For PR389, the generation time after the lag phase remained the same at different pH levels despite the different durations of the lag phase. Except in the pH 4.4 treatment, the pH of the culturing media increased from 4.6, 4.8, 5.0, and 5.5 to neutral and slightly alkaline after 70 h of culture. Chloramphenicol was added to determine if protein production was involved in the increasing pH process. Chloramphenicol significantly inhibited PR389 growth under acid stress but had little effect under neutral conditions. Proton flux measured during a short acid shock (pH 3.8) revealed that this strain has an intrinsic ability to prevent H+ from entering cells when compared with acid-sensitive rhizobia. We propose that the mechanism for acid tolerance in PR389 involves both intracellular and extracellular processes. When the extracellular pH is lower than pH 4.4, the cell membrane blocks hydrogen from entering the cell. When the pH exceeds 4.4, the rhizobium strain has the ability to raise the extracellular pH, thereby, potentially decreasing the toxicity of aluminum in acid soil.
Temporal distribution of the archaeal community in the Changjiang Estuary hypoxia area and the adjacent East China Sea as determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and multivariate analysis
Authors: Liu Min , Xiao Tian , Wu Ying , Zhou Feng , Zhang Wuchang
Published: June 2011

The archaeal community and the effects of environmental factors on microbial community distribution were investigated at five sampling sites in the Changjiang Estuary hypoxia area and the adjacent East China Sea in June, August, and October 2006. Profiles of the archaeal communities were generated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA genes followed by DNA sequence analysis, and the results were analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis band patterns were analyzed by cluster analysis to assess temporal changes in the genetic diversity of the archaeal communities. Most of the October samples grouped together separately from those of June and August. Analysis of DNA sequences revealed that the dominant archaeal groups in the Changjiang Estuary hypoxia area and the adjacent East China Sea were affiliated with Euryarchaeota (mainly marine group II) and Crenarchaeota. The effects of environmental factors on the archaeal community distribution were analyzed by the ordination technique of canonical correspondence analysis. Salinity had a significant effect on the archaeal community composition.
Arachidonic acid epoxygenase and 12(S)-lipoxygenase: evidence of their concerted involvement in ductus arteriosus constriction to oxygen
Authors: Baragatti Barbara , Coceani Flavio
Published: June 2011

Oxygen promotes closure of the ductus arteriosus at birth. We have previously presented a scheme for oxygen action with a cytochrome P450 (CYP450) hemoprotein and endothelin-1 (ET-1) being, respectively, sensor and effector, and a hypothetical monooxygenase product serving as a coupling link. We have also found in the vessel arachidonic acid (AA) 12(S)-lipoxygenase (12-lipoxygenase) undergoing upregulation at birth. Here, we examined the feasibility of a sensor-to-effector messenger originating from AA monooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase pathways. The epoxygenase inhibitor, N-methylsulfonyl-6-(2-)hexanamide, suppressed the tonic contraction of ductus to oxygen. A similar effect was obtained with 12-lipoxygenase inhibitors baicalein and PD 146176. By contrast, none of the inhibitors modified the endothelin-1 contraction. Furthermore, an AA ω-hydroxylation product, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), reportedly responsible for oxygen contraction in the systemic microvasculature, had no such effect on the ductus. We conclude that AA epoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase jointly produce a hitherto uncharacterized compound acting as oxygen messenger in the ductus.
Telmisartan provides protection against development of impaired vasodilation independently of metabolic effects in SHRSP.Z-Leprfa/IzmDmcr rats with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Kagota Satomi , Tada Yukari , Nejime Namie , Nakamura Kazuki , Kunitomo Masaru , Shinozuka Kazumasa
Published: June 2011

Metabolic syndrome is known to facilitate the development of cardiovascular disease. We have demonstrated that mesenteric arteries of SHRSP.Z-Leprfa/IzmDmcr (SHRSP-fatty) rats with metabolic syndrome display an impaired vasorelaxation response mediated by nitric oxide. We examined whether the condition could be alleviated by treatment with telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist with PPAR-γ-activating properties and compared the results with those from pioglitazone, a PPAR-γ agonist. Telmisartan (5 mg·kg–1·day–1) or pioglitazone (2.5 mg·kg–1·day–1) was orally administered to male SHRSP-fatty rats for 8 weeks. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were determined, and the oral glucose tolerance test was performed to evaluate insulin resistance. Vasodilations in response to acetylcholine and nitroprusside were determined by wire myographs under isometric tension conditions, protein expressions of soluble guanylyl cyclase in mesenteric arteries by Western blotting, and the contents of 3-nitrotyrosine in aortas by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Telmisartan exerted antihypertensive effects, while pioglitazone ameliorated metabolic abnormalities in SHRSP-fatty rats. Telmisartan increased acetylcholine- and nitroprusside-induced relaxation and soluble guanylyl cyclase protein expression in mesenteric arteries and reduced 3-nitrotyrosine content in aortas. Pioglitazone displayed no such alleviating effects on vascular functions. These findings indicate that telmisartan protects against vasodilation disturbance through anti-oxidative and -nitrative stress independently of metabolic effects in SHRSP-fatty rats with metabolic syndrome.
When animals are not quite what they eat: diet digestibility influences13C-incorporation rates and apparent discrimination in a mixed-feeding herbivore
Authors: Codron Daryl , Codron Jacqui , Sponheimer Matt , Bernasconi Stefano M. , Clauss Marcus
Published: June 2011

The stable carbon isotope composition of animal tissues represents the weighted sum of the variety of food sources eaten. If sources differ in digestibility, tissues may overrepresent intake of more digestible items and faeces may overrepresent less digestible items. We tested this idea using whole blood and faeces of goats ( Capra hircus L., 1758) fed different food mixtures of C3lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) and C4grass ( Themeda triandra Forssk.). Although blood and faecal δ13C values were broadly consistent with diet, results indicate mismatch between consumer and diet isotope compositions: both materials overrepresented the C3(lucerne) component of diets. Lucerne had lower fibre digestibility than T. triandra, which explains the results for faeces, whereas underrepresentation of dietary C4in blood is consistent with low protein content of the grass hay. A diet switch experiment revealed an important difference in13C-incorporation rates across diets, which were slower for grass than lucerne diets, and in fact equilibrium states were not reached for all diets. Although more research is needed to link digestive kinetics with isotope incorporation, these results provide evidence for nonlinear relationships between consumers and their diets, invoking concerns about the conceptual value of “discrimination factors” as the prime currency for contemporary isotope ecology.
The genetics of recolonization: an analysis of the stock structure of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the northwest Atlantic
Authors: Wood S.A. , Frasier T.R. , McLeod B.A. , Gilbert J.R. , White B.N. , Bowen W.D. , Hammill M.O. , Waring G.T. , Brault S.
Published: June 2011

Although historically distributed along the northeast coast of the United States (US), grey seals ( Halichoerus grypus (Fabricius, 1791)) were considered locally extinct until the late 1980s when three naturally re-established pupping colonies were discovered. Two large populations in Canada, the Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL) and Sable Island (SI) seals, are possible sources of immigrants for the recovering US population. To assess the stock structure of grey seals in the northwest Atlantic, tissue samples were collected from Canadian and US populations for genetic analyses. We examined nine highly variable microsatellite loci (n = 158; mean number of alleles per locus = 7.22). When population differentiation was assessed without a priori inference of potential subpopulations, all individuals were placed into one population. Pairwise FSTvalues showed little difference in allele frequencies between the SI and the GSL or the Canadian and the US samples. We sequenced a 319 bp segment of the mitochondrial control region and identified 25 haplotypes (n = 163). Nucleotide diversity was similar at SI, GSL, and the US sites. Based on mtDNA haplotypes, no significant difference was found between the SI and GSL populations or the Canadian and the US populations. Although grey seals are philopatric, our study demonstrated that the genetic structure of the northwest Atlantic grey seal population is not different from the null hypothesis of panmixia.
Differences in the foraging behaviour of male and female Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus)
Authors: Barclay R.M.R. , Jacobs D.S.
Published: June 2011

Male and female animals frequently have different foraging behaviours owing to differences in body size or nutritional demand, or to intraspecific competition. We studied foraging by Egyptian fruit bats ( Rousettus aegyptiacus (E. Geoffroy, 1810)) in Cape Town, South Africa, to test predictions based on differences in nutritional demand during reproduction. Using radiotelemetry, we compared emergence, return, and foraging times of males and females during pregnancy and lactation. We also determined home-range size, habitat use, and use of figs (genus Ficus L.), which are a potential source of calcium for lactating females. During the pregnancy period, males left their roost later than females and were away from the roost for shorter periods. There were no differences in timing of foraging during lactation. Females foraged in native forest more than males did, but home-range size did not differ. There was no evidence that females fed on figs more than males did. Differences in foraging behaviour were not as predicted based on nutritional and energetic differences. The small population may have meant that there was little competition for food, and figs may have provided a profitable source of energy for both males and females. Differences in the timing of foraging are best explained by the need for males to defend roosting sites.
Survival and growth of the caddisfly Limnephilus flavastellus after predation on toxic eggs of the Rough-skinned Newt (Taricha granulosa)
Authors: Gall B.G. , Brodie E.D. , Brodie E.D.
Published: June 2011

The Rough-skinned Newt ( Taricha granulosa (Skilton, 1849)) possesses a powerful neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, in the skin that is secondarily deposited in the ova. Although assumed to serve an antipredator function in the eggs, empirical evidence of the toxin’s role in preventing egg predation is lacking. In this study, we characterized the aquatic macroinvertebrate community at a location sympatric with extremely toxic newts and estimated the abundance of caddisflies. We tested aquatic macroinvertebrates sympatric with toxic newts for their capacity to consume the toxic eggs, and examined the propensity of egg predation and its effect on growth of the only known predator of newt eggs, caddisfly larvae. Limnephilid caddisfly larvae were the only invertebrate observed to consume substantial quantities of toxic newt eggs. Survival and growth of the caddisfly Limnephilus flavastellus Banks, 1918 continued when larvae consumed toxic eggs and did not differ from L. flavastellus that also had access to an alternative food source (detritus). Limnephilus flavastellus that had access to eggs + detritus consumed a similar number of eggs compared with those provided with eggs only. These results, combined with the abundance of caddisflies, suggest that caddisflies are important predators of eggs of T. granulosa.