bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theoretical Study on Raman Spectra of Aqueous Peroxynitric Acid
Authors: Wei Wen-mei , Zheng Ren-hui , Jing Yuan-yuan , Liu Ya-ting , Hu Jun-cheng , Ye Yong , Shi Qiang
Published: November 2011

Using density functional theory and polarizable continuum models, we study the Raman spectra of aqueous peroxynitric acid. The calculated results indicate that the solvent effect has significant influence on the electric dipole transition moments between the ground and excited electronic state and Raman polarizabilities. The theoretical Raman spectra agree well with the experimental results. From the experimental depolarization ratio, we can conclude that peroxynitric acid is not a plane molecule. We also find that the hydrogen bond can enhance IR intensity of hydroxyl group by several times.
Asymptotic distributions of the zeros of a family of hypergeometric polynomials
Authors: Zhou Jian-Rong , Srivastava H. , Wang Zhi-Gang
Published: November 2011

The main object of this paper is to consider the asymptotic distribution of the zeros of certain classes of the Gauss hypergeometric polynomials. Some classical analytic methods and techniques are used here to analyze the behavior of the zeros of the Gauss hypergeometric polynomials,
\[

2

F
1

(
−
n
,
a
;
−
n
+
b
;
z
)
,

\;_2F_1(-n, a; -n+b;z),

\]
where

n
n

is a nonnegative integer. Owing to the connection between the classical Jacobi polynomials and the Gauss hypergeometric polynomials, we prove a special case of a conjecture made by Martínez-Finkelshtein, Martínez-González and Orive. Numerical evidence and graphical illustrations of the clustering of the zeros on certain curves are generated by Mathematica (Version 4.0).
Typical geodesics on flat surfaces
Authors: Dankwart Klaus
Published: November 2011

We investigate typical behavior of geodesics on a closed flat surface

S
S

of genus

g
≥
2

g\geq 2

. We compare the length quotient of long arcs in the same homotopy class with fixed endpoints for the flat and the hyperbolic metric in the same conformal class. This quotient is asymptotically constant

F
F

a.e. We show that

F
F

is bounded from below by the inverse of the volume entropy

e
(
S
)

e(S)

. Moreover, we construct a geodesic flow together with a measure on

S
S

which is induced by the Hausdorff measure of the Gromov boundary of the universal cover. Denote by

e
(
S
)

e(S)

the volume entropy of

S
S

and let

c
c

be a compact geodesic arc which connects singularities. We show that a typical geodesic passes through

c
c

with frequency that is comparable to

exp
⁡
(
−
e
(
S
)
l
(
c
)
)

\exp (-e(S)l(c))

. Thus a typical bi-infinite geodesic contains infinitely many singularities, and each geodesic between singularities

c
c

appears infinitely often with a frequency proportional to

exp
⁡
(
−
e
(
S
)
l
(
c
)
)

\exp (-e(S)l(c))

.
YPR139c/LOA1encodes a novel lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase associated with lipid droplets and involved in TAG homeostasis
Authors: Ayciriex Sophie , Le Guédard Marina , Camougrand Nadine , Velours Gisèle , Schoene Mario , Leon Sebastien , Wattelet-Boyer Valerie , Dupuy Jean-William , Shevchenko Andrej , Schmitter Jean-Marie , Lessire René , Bessoule Jean-Jacques , Testet Eric
Published: November 2011

For many years, lipid droplets (LDs) were considered to be an inert store of lipids. However, recent data showed that LDs are dynamic organelles playing an important role in storage and mobilization of neutral lipids. In this paper, we report the characterization of LOA1 (alias VPS66, alias YPR139c), a yeast member of the glycerolipid acyltransferase family. LOA1 mutants show abnormalities in LD morphology. As previously reported, cells lacking LOA1 contain more LDs. Conversely, we showed that overexpression results in fewer LDs. We then compared the lipidome of loa1Δ mutant and wild-type strains. Steady-state metabolic labeling of loa1Δ revealed a significant reduction in triacylglycerol content, while phospholipid (PL) composition remained unchanged. Interestingly, lipidomic analysis indicates that both PLs and glycerolipids are qualitatively affected by the mutation, suggesting that Loa1p is a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPA AT) with a preference for oleoyl-CoA. This hypothesis was tested by in vitro assays using both membranes of Escherichia coli cells expressing LOA1 and purified proteins as enzyme sources. Our results from purification of subcellular compartments and proteomic studies show that Loa1p is associated with LD and active in this compartment. Loa1p is therefore a novel LPA AT and plays a role in LD formation.
Provision of Farm Animal Welfare: Integrating Productivity and Non‐Use Values
Authors: Johan Lagerkvist Carl , Hansson Helena , Hess Sebastian , Hoffman Ruben
Published: November 2011

Decisions made by livestock producers inevitably determine the extent of actual farm animal welfare (FAW) provision in livestock production. This article identify key issues in the identification and empirical measurement of farmer's preferences for FAW‐related, non‐use values to encourage theoretically‐sound future research to address relevant potential producer trade‐off such as those between use and non‐use values with consequences for the total amount of FAW provisions to be delivered to society. Producer preferences for specific non‐use values, as well as their overall strength of preferences for non‐use values relative to use values will determine their provision of FAW. Investment and/or adjustment costs, however, may prevent producers from changing their production system to their preferred choice and economic welfare measures will be biased whenever such costs are neglected.
Repeated Rounds with Price Feedback in Experimental Auction Valuation: An Adversarial Collaboration
Authors: Corrigan Jay R. , Drichoutis Andreas C. , Lusk Jayson L. , Nayga Rodolfo M. , Rousu Matthew C.
Published: November 2011

It is generally thought that market outcomes are improved with the provision of market information. As a result, the use of repeated rounds with price feedback has become standard practice in the applied experimental auction valuation literature. We conducted two experiments to determine how rationally subjects behave with and without price feedback in a second‐price auction. Results from an auction for lotteries show that subjects exposed to price feedback are significantly more likely to commit preference reversals. However, this irrationality diminishes in later rounds. Results from an induced value auction indicate that price feedback caused greater deviations from the Nash equilibrium bidding strategy. Our results suggest that while bidding on the same item repeatedly improves auction outcomes (i.e., reduced preference reversals or bids closer to induced values), this improvement is not the result of price feedback.
Association of galectin‐3 and fibrosis markers with long‐term cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, and dyssynchrony: insights from the CARE‐HF (Cardiac Resynchronization in Heart Failure) trial
Authors: Lopez‐Andrès Natalia , Rossignol Patrick , Iraqi Wafae , Fay Renaud , Nuée Josette , Ghio Stefano , Cleland John G.F. , Zannad Faiez , Lacolley Patrick
Published: November 2011

Aims

Circulating biomarkers of collagen turnover reflect extracellular cardiac matrix (ECCM) remodelling. The extent to which the success of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is influenced by the degree of cardiac fibrosis and whether CRT can influence matrix remodelling has yet to be studied. Our aim was to determine, in patients with heart failure (HF) and cardiac dyssynchrony, whether ECCM biomarkers are influenced by CRT and can predict cardiovascular outcomes and response to CRT.

Methods and results

Serum levels of ECCM biomarkers [galectin‐3 (Gal‐3), N‐terminal propeptides of type I and III procollagens (PINP and PIIINP), type I collagen telopeptide (ICTP), and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP‐1)] were measured in 260 patients, in a substudy of CARE‐HF, a randomized controlled trial which evaluated the effects of CRT in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac dyssynchrony. ECCM biomarkers did not change throughout the 18‐month follow‐up period. In age‐ and gender‐adjusted analyses, Gal‐3 and PIIINP were associated with death or HF hospitalization. In a further multivariate model, Gal‐3 >30 ng/mL was associated [OR (95% CI):2.98 (1.43–6.22), P = 0.004] with death or HF hospitalization, along with left ventricular end‐systolic volume >200 mL [3.42 (OR: 1.65–7.10), P = 0.001]. The outcome death or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% was associated with MMP‐1 [≤3 ng/mL: 3.04 (1.37–6.71), P = 0.006]. No significant interaction was observed between the tested biomarkers and the treatment group.

Conclusions

Increased Gal‐3 and PIIINP, and low MMP‐1 are associated with adverse long‐term cardiovascular outcomes but did not predict response to CRT. CRT did not favourably affect serum concentrations of ECCM markers.
Identification and Characterization of Tomato Mutants Affected in theRx-Mediated Resistance to PVX Isolates
Authors: Sturbois Bénédicte , Dubrana-Ourabah Marie-Pierre , Gombert Julie , Lasseur Bertrand , Macquet Audrey , Faure Chantal , Bendahmane Abdelhafid , Baurès Isabelle , Candresse Thierry
Published: November 2011

Five tomato mutants affected in the Rx-mediated resistance against Potato virus X (PVX) were identified by screening a mutagenized population derived from a transgenic, Rx1-expressing ‘Micro-Tom’ line. Contrary to their parental line, they failed to develop lethal systemic necrosis upon infection with the virulent PVX-KH2 isolate. Sequence analysis and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments indicated that the mutants are not affected in the Rx1 transgene or in the Hsp90, RanGap1 and RanGap2, Rar1 and Sgt1 genes. Inoculation with the PVX-CP4 avirulent isolate demonstrated that the Rx1 resistance was still effective in the mutants. In contrast, the virulent PVX-KH2 isolate accumulation was readily detectable in all mutants, which could further be separated in two groups depending on their ability to restrict the accumulation of PVX-RR, a mutant affected at two key positions for Rx1 elicitor activity. Finally, transient expression of the viral capsid protein elicitor indicated that the various mutants have retained the ability to mount an Rx1-mediated hypersensitive response. Taken together, the results obtained are consistent with a modification of the specificity or intensity of the Rx1-mediated response. The five Micro-Tom mutants should provide very valuable resources for the identification of novel tomato genes affecting the functioning of the Rx gene.
The Aquaporin TcAQP1 of the Desert Truffle Terfezia claveryi Is a Membrane Pore for Water and CO2 Transport
Authors: Navarro-Ródenas Alfonso , Ruíz-Lozano Juan Manuel , Kaldenhoff Ralf , Morte Asunción
Published: November 2011

Terfezia claveryi is a hypogeous mycorrhizal fungus belonging to the so-called “desert truffles,” with a good record as an edible fungus and of considerable economic importance. T. claveryi improves the tolerance to water stress of the host plant Helianthemum almeriense, for which, in field conditions, symbiosis with T. claveryi is valuable for its survival. We have characterized cDNAs from T. claveryi and identified a sequence related to the aquaporin gene family. The full-length sequence was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends and was named TcAQP1. This aquaporin gene encoded a functional water-channel protein, as demonstrated by heterologous expression assays in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The mycorrhizal fungal aquaporin increased both water and CO2 conductivity in the heterologous expression system. The expression patterns of the TcAQP1 gene in mycelium, under different water potentials, and in mycorrhizal plants are discussed. The high levels of water conductivity of TcAQP1 could be related to the adaptation of this mycorrhizal fungus to semiarid areas. The CO2 permeability of TcAQP1 could be involved in the regulation of T. claveryi growth during presymbiotic phases, making it a good candidate to be considered a novel molecular signaling channel in mycorrhizal fungi.
The Association Between In Vitro Propiconazole Sensitivity and Field Efficacy of Five New England Sclerotinia homoeocarpa Populations
Authors: Popko James T. , Ok Chang-Ho , Campbell-Nelson Katie , Jung Geunhwa
Published: November 2011

Dollar spot (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) is a major turfgrass disease requiring fungicide application to maintain acceptable conditions for golf. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to determine the association between field efficacy of propiconazole and in vitro fungicide sensitivity of isolates from five S. homoeocarpa populations. Four golf courses with prior propiconazole exposure (Hartford Golf Club, Hickory Ridge Country Club, Shuttle Meadow Country Club, and Wintonbury Hills Golf Club), and a baseline site with no prior propiconazole exposure (Joseph Troll Turf Research Facility) were chosen as field sites. Experimental plots at each site received the following treatments at 21-day intervals: untreated, propiconazole (0.44, 0.88, 1.32, and 1.76 kg a.i. ha–1), and chlorothalonil (8.18 kg a.i. ha–1). S. homoeocarpa isolates were sampled at three time points during 2009 and 2010: initial (directly before fungicide treatment), 7 days after treatment (DAT), and 21 days after the last treatment. Isolates sampled from dollar spot infection centers at 7 DAT (2009 and 2010) were considered to exhibit “practical field resistance”. In parallel, S. homoeocarpa isolates from each site were assayed for in vitro sensitivity to propiconazole by determining relative mycelium growth percentages (RMG%) on potato dextrose agar amended with propiconazole at a discriminatory concentration of 0.1 μg a.i. ml–1. S. homoeocarpa isolates from the four exposed populations displayed significantly higher RMG% values than the baseline population. In general, field efficacy at all propiconazole rates tested was lower at the four locations with prior propiconazole exposure when compared with the baseline population. Increased RMG% values on the propiconazole discriminatory concentration 0.1 μg a.i. ml–1 were associated with decreased relative control values for all propiconazole rates in 2009 and 2010. Results suggest RMG values above 50% at the propiconazole discriminatory concentration of 0.1 μg a.i. ml–1 may be a suitable threshold for detection of S. homoeocarpa isolates that cause practical DMI field resistance.
First Report of Apricot pseudo-chlorotic leaf spot virus Infecting Plum (Prunus domestica) in the Czech Republic
Authors: Šafářová D. , Navrátil M. , Faure C. , Candresse T. , Marais A.
Published: November 2011

Apricot pseudo-chlorotic leaf spot virus (APCLSV) is a novel, still poorly known Trichovirus in the family Betaflexiviridae. It is most closely related to Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) (2,4) and infects stone fruit trees of the Prunus genus. Its presence has so far been detected in apricot, plum, Japanese plum, and peach trees in Italy, Spain, France, Hungary, Turkey, Jordan, and Australia (1,2,4). During the summers of 2008 and 2010, leaf samples of old Czech local plum cultivars were obtained from the Holovousy collection and assessed for the presence of viruses belonging to the Capillovirus, Trichovirus, and Foveavirus genera using the polyvalent degenerate oligonucleotides (PDO) nested reverse transcription (RT)-PCR test (3). Following amplification from total RNAs extracts, the amplicons were cloned and several clones were sequenced for each plant sample. In plum (Prunus domestica) cv. Babce, a mixture of amplicons was observed and BlastN and BlastX analyses of the obtained sequences revealed the presence of ACLSV and APCLSV. The 310-bp APCLSV amplicon (GenBank Accession No. JN790294) showed highest identity (82.9% in nucleotide sequence and 97.1% in amino acid sequence) with the Sus2 isolate of APCLSV (4) and clustered with APCLSV isolates in a phylogenetic analysis. APCLSV infection was further confirmed with an APCLSV-specific RT-PCR assay (4), which yielded a product of the expected 205-bp size (GenBank Accession No. JN653070) with closest homology again to the Sus2 APCLSV isolate (83.4 and 94.3% nucleotide and amino acid identity, respectively). To our knowledge, this finding represents the first detection of APCLSV in domestic plums in the Czech Republic, extending our vision of APCLSV diversity and its geographic distribution. For unknown reasons, APCLSV has almost always been reported in mixed infection with ACLSV (1,2,4) and the situation in cv. Babce does not deviate from this trend. This has greatly hindered the analysis of the pathogenicity of APCLSV, a situation further complicated in the current case because the Babce cultivar was also infected by Plum pox virus.

References: (1) M. Barone et al. Acta Hortic. 781:53, 2008. (2) T. Candresse et al. Virus and Virus-Like Diseases of Pome and Stone Fruit Trees. A. Hadidi et al., eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2011. (3) X. Foissac et al. Phytopathology 95:617, 2005. (4) D. Liberti et al. Phytopathology 95:420, 2005.
First Report of Spruce Needle Drop Associated with Setomelanomma holmii on Spruce in Illinois
Authors: Plewa D. E. , Jossey S. , Porter S. K. , Bissonnette S. M.
Published: November 2011

Spruce needle drop (also known as sudden needle drop of spruce, both referred to as SNEED) is a condition consistently associated with the fungus Setomelanomma holmii. While the pathogenicity of this fungus is still under investigation, it has been reported to cause the discoloration and needle drop of older needles on white spruce (Picea glauca) and Colorado blue spruce (P. pungens) (1). In the spring and summer of 2011, the University of Illinois Plant Clinic received several samples of Norway spruce (P. abies) and Colorado blue spruce branches that all exhibited the same symptoms: browning of older needles followed by needle drop. Solitary, black, globose, 105 to 230 μm diameter pseudothecia were observed on the upper surface of the branches and bud scales with a dissecting microscope. Many of the fruiting structures contained setae. When examined under a compound microscope, asci were bitunicate, 60 to 100 × 10.5 to 15 μm (mean 71.9 × 12.7 μm), and contained eight pale brown, three-septate, 15.5 to 22.5 × 5.5 to 9 μm (mean 19.4 × 5 μm) ascospores. On the basis of the asci and ascospores, the fungus was tentatively identified as S. holmii. To confirm the identification, single-ascospore colonies were cultured on acid potato dextrose agar. DNA was extracted from the mycelia of a single colony and amplified with PCR using universal fungal primers (2). The amplified DNA was sequenced and assembled using the primers NS1, NS3, NS5, and NS7 in the forward direction and NS2, NS4, NS6, and NS8 in the reverse direction (2). When the consensus sequence was compared with all accessions in the National Center for Biotechnology Information GenBank nucleotide collection, it had 100% homology to the S. holmii 18S ribosomal gene (Accession No. AY161121, isolated from a sample of P. pungens collected in France). S. holmii was first observed in the United States in 1998 (1). Although it has been tentatively identified on the basis of morphological characteristics in many states in the Midwest, this is the first time it has been conclusively identified in Illinois to our knowledge. Additionally, this is the first time Norway spruce has been confirmed as a host of S. holmii based on genetic sequencing in Illinois. Sporulation has been observed from mid-May through early August. Currently, the presence of S. holmii has been confirmed in 14 counties in central and northern Illinois.

References: (1) A. Rossman et al. Can. J. Bot. 80:1209, 2002. (2) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. M. A. Innis et al. eds. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, 1990.
Transgenerational effects of parent and grandparent gender on offspring development in a biparental beetle species
Authors: Lock Judith E.
Published: November 2011

Parental effects on offspring life-history traits are common and increasingly well-studied. However, the extent to which these effects persist into offspring in subsequent generations has received less attention. In this experiment, maternal and paternal effects on offspring and grand-offspring were investigated in the biparental burying beetleNicrophorus vespilloides, using a split-family design. This allowed the separation of prenatal and postnatal transgenerational effects. Grandparent and parent gender were found to have a cumulative effect on offspring development and may provide a selection pressure on the division of parental investment in biparental species.
Evidence for a vertebrate catapult: elastic energy storage in the plantaris tendon during frog jumping
Authors: Astley Henry C. , Roberts Thomas J.
Published: November 2011

Anuran jumping is one of the most powerful accelerations in vertebrate locomotion. Several species are hypothesized to use a catapult-like mechanism to store and rapidly release elastic energy, producing power outputs far beyond the capability of muscle. Most evidence for this mechanism comes from measurements of whole-body power output; the decoupling of joint motion and muscle shortening expected in a catapult-like mechanism has not been demonstrated. We used high-speed marker-based biplanar X-ray cinefluoroscopy to quantify plantaris muscle fascicle strain and ankle joint motion in frogs in order to test for two hallmarks of a catapult mechanism: (i) shortening of fascicles prior to joint movement (during tendon stretch), and (ii) rapid joint movement during the jump without rapid muscle-shortening (during tendon recoil). During all jumps, muscle fascicles shortened by an average of 7.8 per cent (54% of total strain) prior to joint movement, stretching the tendon. The subsequent period of initial joint movement and high joint angular acceleration occurred with minimal muscle fascicle length change, consistent with the recoil of the elastic tendon. These data support the plantaris longus tendon as a site of elastic energy storage during frog jumping, and demonstrate that catapult mechanisms may be employed even in sub-maximal jumps.
The large-scale structure of software-intensive systems
Authors: Booch Grady
Published: November 2011

The computer metaphor is dominant in most discussions of neuroscience, but the semantics attached to that metaphor are often quite naive. Herein, we examine the ontology of software-intensive systems, the nature of their structure and the application of the computer metaphor to the metaphysical questions of self and causation.
A computable evolution equation for the joint response-excitation probability density function of stochastic dynamical systems
Authors: Venturi D. , Sapsis T. P. , Cho H. , Karniadakis G. E.
Published: November 2011

By using functional integral methods, we determine a computable evolution equation for the joint response-excitation probability density function of a stochastic dynamical system driven by coloured noise. This equation can be represented in terms of a superimposition of differential constraints, i.e. partial differential equations involving unusual limit partial derivatives, the first one of which was originally proposed by Sapsis & Athanassoulis. A connection with the classical response approach is established in the general case of random noise with arbitrary correlation time, yielding a fully consistent new theory for non-Markovian systems. We also address the question of computability of the joint response-excitation probability density function as a solution to a boundary value problem involving only one differential constraint. By means of a simple analytical example, it is shown that, in general, such a problem is undetermined, in the sense that it admits an infinite number of solutions. This issue can be overcome by completing the system with additional relations yielding a closure problem, which is similar to the one arising in the standard response theory. Numerical verification of the equations for the joint response-excitation density is obtained for a tumour cell growth model under immune response.
Three-dimensional acoustic scattering by layered media: a novel surface formulation with operator expansions implementation
Authors: Nicholls David P.
Published: November 2011

The scattering of acoustic waves by irregular structures plays an important role in a wide range of problems of scientific and technological interest. This contribution focuses on the rapid and highly accurate numerical approximation of solutions of Helmholtz equations coupled across irregular periodic interfaces meant to model acoustic waves incident upon a multi-layered medium. We describe not only a novel surface formulation for the problem in terms of boundary integral operators (Dirichlet–Neumann operators), but also a Boundary Perturbation methodology (the Method of Operator Expansions) for its numerical simulation. The method requires only the discretization of the layer interfaces (so that the number of unknowns is an order of magnitude smaller than volumetric approaches), while it avoids not only the need for specialized quadrature rules but also the dense linear systems characteristic of Boundary Integral/Element Methods. The approach is a generalization to multiple layers of Malcolm & Nicholls' Operator Expansions algorithm for dielectric structures with two layers. As with this precursor, this approach is efficient and spectrally accurate.
Relevance of evolutionary history for food web structure
Authors: Eklöf Anna , Helmus Matthew R. , Moore M. , Allesina Stefano
Published: November 2011

Explaining the structure of ecosystems is one of the great challenges of ecology. Simple models for food web structure aim at disentangling the complexity of ecological interaction networks and detect the main forces that are responsible for their shape. Trophic interactions are influenced by species traits, which in turn are largely determined by evolutionary history. Closely related species are more likely to share similar traits, such as body size, feeding mode and habitat preference than distant ones. Here, we present a theoretical framework for analysing whether evolutionary history—represented by taxonomic classification—provides valuable information on food web structure. In doing so, we measure which taxonomic ranks better explain species interactions. Our analysis is based on partitioning of the species into taxonomic units. For each partition, we compute the likelihood that a probabilistic model for food web structure reproduces the data using this information. We find that taxonomic partitions produce significantly higher likelihoods than expected at random. Marginal likelihoods (Bayes factors) are used to perform model selection among taxonomic ranks. We show that food webs are best explained by the coarser taxonomic ranks (kingdom to class). Our methods provide a way to explicitly include evolutionary history in models for food web structure.
Characterization of intracellular localization of PrPSc in prion-infected cells using a mAb that recognizes the region consisting of aa 119–127 of mouse PrP
Authors: Yamasaki Takeshi , Suzuki Akio , Shimizu Takeshi , Watarai Masahisa , Hasebe Rie , Horiuchi Motohiro
Published: November 2011

Generation of an abnormal isoform of the prion protein (PrPSc) is a key aspect of the propagation of prions. Elucidation of the intracellular localization of PrPScin prion-infected cells facilitates the understanding of the cellular mechanism of prion propagation. However, technical improvement in PrPSc-specific detection is required for precise analysis. Here, we show that the mAb 132, which recognizes the region adjacent to the most amyloidogenic region of PrP, is useful for PrPSc-specific detection by immunofluorescence assay in cells pre-treated with guanidine thiocyanate. Extensive analysis of the intracellular localization of PrPScin prion-infected cells using mAb 132 revealed the presence of PrPScthroughout endocytic compartments. In particular, some of the granular PrPScsignals that were clustered at peri-nuclear regions appeared to be localized in an endocytic recycling compartment through which exogenously loaded transferrin, shiga and cholera toxin B subunits were transported. The granular PrPScsignals at peri-nuclear regions were dispersed to the peripheral regions including the plasma membrane during incubation at 20 °C, at which temperature transport from the plasma membrane to peri-nuclear regions was impaired. Conversely, dispersed PrPScsignals appeared to return to peri-nuclear regions within 30 min during subsequent incubation at 37 °C, following which PrPScat peri-nuclear regions appeared to redisperse again to peripheral regions over the next 30 min incubation. These results suggest that PrPScis dynamically transported along with the membrane trafficking machinery of cells and that at least some PrPSccirculates between peri-nuclear and peripheral regions including the plasma membrane via an endocytic recycling pathway.
Importance of Emotional Competence in Designing an Antidrug Education Curriculum for Junior Secondary School Students in Hong Kong
Authors: Law Ben M. F. , Lee Tak Yan
Published: November 2011

Adolescent substance abuse is a serious problem in Hong Kong. Antidrug education campaigns should aim at enhancing students' understanding of the effects of illegal drugs to themselves. Moreover, life skill training is important in helping adolescents face life's challenges without attempting to do drugs. A major component of life skill training is the promotion of emotional competence. The present study outlines the importance of emotional competence and adolescent development. For an antidrug education campaign to be effective, adolescents should be able to identify their emotions and understand their own emotion regulation mechanism. Likewise, they should be made aware of the consequences of their emotions and emotion-driven behaviors. Finally, the use of an inspirational story with a strong message against substance abuse to trigger emotions is recommended for designing an antidrug education curriculum. All these components are integrated in the newly developed curriculum of the P.A.T.H.S. Project in Hong Kong.
Combating School Bullying through Developmental Guidance for Positive Youth Development and Promoting Harmonious School Culture
Authors: Hui Eadaoin K. P. , Tsang Sandra K. M. , Law Bella C. M.
Published: November 2011

Bullying and violence, which can bring detrimental effects, are situations which young people have to face in their process of development. Though school bullying has been a spreading and explicit problem in Hong Kong schools, most of the programs or guidelines dealing with the problem lack citywide, recognized initiatives and the effectiveness of these programs is unknown due to the lack of evaluation. The present paper discusses preventing school bullying from a developmental guidance perspective, using the positive youth development paradigm and promoting the values of harmony and forgiveness at the whole-school level to cultivate a harmonious school culture as a way of combating school bullying.
Aberrant firing of replication origins potentially explains intragenic nonrecurrent rearrangements within genes, including the human DMD gene
Authors: Ankala Arunkanth , Kohn Jordan N. , Hegde Anisha , Meka Arjun , Ephrem Chin Lip Hon , Askree Syed H. , Bhide Shruti , Hegde Madhuri R.
Published: November 2011

Non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR), non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), and microhomology-mediated replication-dependent recombination (MMRDR) have all been put forward as mechanisms to explain DNA rearrangements associated with genomic disorders. However, many nonrecurrent rearrangements in humans remain unexplained. To further investigate the mutation mechanisms of these copy number variations (CNVs), we performed breakpoint mapping analysis for 62 clinical cases with intragenic deletions in the human DMD gene (50 cases) and other known disease-causing genes (one PCCB, one IVD, one DBT, three PAH, one STK11, one HEXB, three DBT, one HRPT1, and one EMD cases). While repetitive elements were found in only four individual cases, three involving DMD and one HEXB gene, microhomologies (2–10 bp) were observed at breakpoint junctions in 56% and insertions ranging from 1 to 48 bp were seen in 16 of the total 62 cases. Among these insertions, we observed evidence for tandem repetitions of short segments (5–20 bp) of reference sequence proximal to the breakpoints in six individual DMD cases (six repeats in one, four repeats in three, two repeats in one, and one repeat in one case), strongly indicating attempts by the replication machinery to surpass the stalled replication fork. We provide evidence of a novel template slippage event during replication rescue. With a deeper insight into the complex process of replication and its rescue during origin failure, brought forward by recent studies, we propose a hypothesis based on aberrant firing of replication origins to explain intragenic nonrecurrent rearrangements within genes, including the DMD gene.
[Ni(H2O)6](NO3)2·(15-crown-5)·2H2O: three phase transitions and an intermediate modulated phase stable over a range of ca 40 K
Authors: Siegler Maxime A. , Hao Xiang , Parkin Sean , Brock Carolyn Pratt
Published: November 2011

In the range 308–90 K single crystals of [Ni(H2O)6](NO3)2·(15-crown-5)·2H2O continue to diffract well as they undergo three phase transitions. Structures have been determined at 28 different temperatures; data were collected at six more but could not be refined satisfactorily. The transitions identified structurally are in good agreement with those found by thermal analysis. Phase I (above ca 292 K; I2/m, Z = 2, Z′ = ¼) is disordered because the 15-crown-5 molecule is located on a 2/m site. Phase II (ca 292–248 K; P21/m, Z = 2, Z′ = ½) is less disordered. Phase III (ca 248–208 K; B21, Z = 28, Z′ = 7 in a commensurate approximation) is modulated with some regions resembling phase II and the rest resembling the fully ordered phase IV (P21/c, Z = 4, Z′ = 1) that is stable below ca 208 K. The modulated structure could be determined well because crystals flash-cooled to 90 K usually retain the phase III structure. The unusual phase III may be a consequence of the differing thermal contraction of two types of alternating layers, one composed of neutral 15-crown-5 molecules and the other composed of the cations, anions and lattice water molecules, which form a hydrogen-bonded network. The two kinds of layers are linked by Oether...H2Oaxial—Ni hydrogen bonds.
Dual origins of social parasitism in North American Dialictus (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) confirmed using a phylogenetic approach
Authors: Gibbs Jason , Albert Jennifer , Packer Laurence
Published: November 2011

The bee subgenus Dialictus (Halictidae: Lasioglossum) displays a large array of behaviours including solitary behaviour, eusociality, and social parasitism. Socially parasitic Dialictus share a suite of morphological traits; these could result from shared ancestry, but given their functional significance, could also have resulted from adaptive convergence. A combined morphological and molecular phylogenetic approach was used to test for monophyly of North American socially parasitic Dialictus. Two data sets were used in the phylogenetic analyses. First, short mitochondrial DNA sequences from previous taxonomic studies of North American Dialictus, including six social parasites, were used because of the broad taxon sampling they provide. These data were analysed in combination with a set of 40 morphological characters, including a large proportion of characters associated with social parasitism. Phylogenetic analysis of the combined DNA barcode and morphology data set resolves two distinct lineages of social parasite. The second data set was based on three genes (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, elongation factor 1α, and long‐wavelength rhodopsin), but with sparser taxon sampling, including one representative from each putative social parasite‐lineage. This also supported dual origins of social parasitism among North American Dialictus. The evolution of social parasitism is discussed.

© The Willi Hennig Society 2011.
Complete deficiency of the sixth complement component (C6Q0), susceptibility to Neisseria meningitidis infections and analysis of the frequencies of C6Q0 gene defects in South Africans
Authors: Orren A , Owen E P , Henderson H E , van der Merwe L , Leisegang F , Stassen C , Potter P C
Published: November 2011

Complete complement component 6 deficiency (C6Q0) is a co-dominant genetic disease presenting as increased susceptibility to invasive Neisseria meningitidis infections. Affected individuals have two affected alleles which can be homozygous or compound heterozygous for the particular gene defects they carry. This disorder has been diagnosed relatively frequently in Western Cape South Africans. Affected patients are prescribed penicillin prophylaxis. In 2004 we commenced a clinical follow-up study of 46 patients. Of these, 43 had family age-matched C6 sufficient controls. Participants were classified as either (i) well, or (ii) having a serious illness (SI) or died (D). An SI was a long-term illness that did not allow the performance of normal daily activities. Among 43 patients, 21 were well and 22 were SI/D, while among 43 matched controls, 35 were well and eight were SI/D. This difference is highly significant. Among all 46 C6Q0 patients, those who had had recurrent infection had significantly more SI/D than those who had suffered none or one infection. Thus, this work demonstrates the long-term serious outcome of repeated meningococcal disease (MD) episodes. We investigated the frequencies of four C6Q0 pathogenic mutations known to affect Cape patients (828delG, 1138delC, 821delA and 1879delG) in 2250 newborns. A total of 103 defective alleles (2·28%) and three affected C6Q0 individuals were detected. For all defects combined, 5·24 affected subjects (C6Q0) are expected among 10 000 individuals. What is still unknown is the number of C6Q0 individuals who suffer MD or other infectious diseases.
Inorganic phosphate and FGF‐23 predict outcome in stable systolic heart failure
Authors: Plischke Max , Neuhold Stephanie , Adlbrecht Christopher , Bielesz Bernhard , Shayganfar Sascha , Bieglmayer Christian , Szekeres Thomas , Hörl Walter H. , Strunk Guido , Vavken Patrick , Pacher Richard , Hülsmann Martin
Published: November 2011

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (6): 649–656

Background  Recent studies show associations between inorganic phosphate and risk of heart failure in the general population as well as between fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF‐23) and outcome in coronary heart disease. This study was carried out to assess whether circulating levels of inorganic phosphate and FGF‐23, a new central hormone in mineral bone metabolism, predict outcome in systolic heart failure.

Materials and methods  Ninety‐nine consecutive outpatients with systolic heart failure were enrolled. Mean (SD) age was 61 years (11), mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 33% (10), 82 patients were men, median estimated creatinine clearance was 83 mL/min (Q1–Q3 58–106), median NTproBNP level was 803 pg/mL (Q1–Q3 404–2757), median inorganic phosphate was 1·12 mM (Q1–Q3 1·02–1·22), median FGF‐23 was 39·02 pg/mL (Q1–Q3 32·45–55·86) and median follow‐up was 35 months. Associations between inorganic phosphate, FGF‐23 and endpoints were assessed using Cox regression analyses.

Results  Inorganic phosphate and FGF‐23 levels were significantly higher (P < 0·001 and P = 0·009) in patients reaching the combined endpoint of cardiac hospitalization or death. FGF‐23 (ln) predicted all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 5·042, P = 0·032) in a model adjusted for age, gender, estimated creatinine clearance, LVEF, New York Heart Association (NYHA) stage and NTproBNP level. Inorganic phosphate predicted heart failure hospitalization (HR 26·944, P = 0·021), cardiac hospitalization (HR 16·016, P = 0·017) and the combined endpoint (HR 13·294, P = 0·015) in models adjusted for the same co‐variables.

Conclusion  The results of this study demonstrate the independent prognostic value of inorganic phosphate and FGF‐23 in heart failure even in the context of established risk markers.
Review of theoretical developments in stream ecology and their influence on stream classification and conservation planning
Authors: MELLES S. J. , JONES N. E. , SCHMIDT B.
Published: November 2011

1. We review some of the classic literature on geomorphology and ecology of streams in an effort to examine how theoretical developments in these aquatic sciences have influenced the way fresh flowing waters are classified. Our aim was to provide a historical examination of conceptual developments related to fluvial classification, and to discuss implications for conservation planning and resource management.

2. Periods of conceptual influences can be separated into three overlapping phases each distinguished by theoretical, analytical or technological advances: (i) early Darwinian perspectives; (ii) the quantitative revolution; and, (iii) age of the computer, hierarchy and scale.

3. During the first phase, stream geomorphologists were largely influenced by Darwinian metaphors. The study of stream origin and change through time became more important than the study of stream systems themselves. The idea that streams progress deterministically through successive stages of development seemed to create a veil, most prevalently in North America, that barred analysis of the full scope of variability in these systems for over 50 years.

4. The quantitative revolution brought about many new ideas and developments, including the laws of stream numbers. This period focused on predictive and mechanistic explanations of stream processes, setting the stage for physically based stream classifications that assume that streams can be restored by engineering their physical characteristics.

5. In the most recent ‘age of the computer’, concepts from the fields of geographic information science and landscape ecology have been incorporated into stream ecology and aquatic classification. This has led to investigations in stream and aquatic ecosystems at hierarchical spatial scales and along different dimensions (upstream/downstream, riparian/floodplain, channel/ground water and through time). Yet, in contrast to terrestrial landscapes, flowing waters are not as easily classified into spatially nested hierarchical regions wherein upper levels can be subdivided into smaller and smaller regions at finer spatial scales. Riverscapes are perhaps best described as directionally nested hierarchies: aquatic elements further downstream cannot be rendered equivalently to elements upstream. Moreover, fully integrated aquatic ecosystem classifications that incorporate lake and river networks, wetlands, groundwater reservoirs and upland areas are exceedingly rare.

6. We reason that the way forward for classification of flowing waters is to account for the directionally nested nature of these networks and to encode flexibility into modern digital freshwater inventories and fluvial classification models.
Economic modelling of an integrated grazed and conserved perennial ryegrass forage production system
Authors: Finneran E. , Crosson P. , O’Kiely P. , Shalloo L. , Forristal P. D. , Wallace M.
Published: November 2011

The Grange Feed Costing Model was modified to simulate the economic implications of grassland management strategies for a grass‐based suckler beef calf‐to‐weanling system at the whole‐farm level. The modified model enabled costing of annual grass consumed as grazed grass and silage when the farm grazing and conservation areas are integrated. Grass growth data from sites in the south, east and north of Ireland were used. Sixty‐three scenarios were simulated, enabling analysis of site, stocking rate and silage strategy effects on total annual feed cost for the grass forage production system. Total annual feed cost (of grazed grass and grass silage) ranged from €96 to €111 per 1000 UFL (Unité Fourragère Lait) and €411 to €456 per beef cow unit (CU). The silage strategy with respect to the number of harvests and whether the silage area was grazed in the spring had negligible impact on annual total feed cost per CU. However, a tendency towards reduced annual feed cost under a two harvest, relative to a one harvest, silage strategy was observed. The lowest cost stocking rate was 2 CU ha−1. Site‐specific differences such as seasonal growth distribution and nitrogen fertilizer response rate had the greatest influence on the annual cost of the grass‐based feeding system.
Expression of calretinin by breast carcinoma and the potential for misdiagnosis of mesothelioma
Authors: Powell George , Roche Heather , Roche William R
Published: November 2011

Powell G, Roche H & Roche W R  (2011) Histopathology59, 950–956

Expression of calretinin by breast carcinoma and the potential for misdiagnosis of mesothelioma

Aims:  Calretinin and cytokeratin (CK)5/6 are frequently used to differentiate between metastatic breast cancer and primary malignant mesothelioma in pleural biopsies, but both tumours may express these markers. This study was aimed at evaluating the frequency of calretinin expression in primary breast carcinomas, and assessing the characteristics of the calretinin‐positive tumours.

Methods and results:  Fifty‐three primary breast adenocarcinomas were analysed for immunohistochemical expression of calretinin. CK5/6 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) immunostaining were performed on the calretinin‐positive subset. Tumours were classified as basal‐like if they met standard morphological and immunohistochemical criteria. Fifteen per cent (8/53) of the breast tumours were positive for calretinin. Eighty‐eight per cent (7/8) of the calretinin‐positive tumours were grade 3, as compared with 20% (9/45) of the calretinin‐negative tumours (P < 0.001). Only 13% (1/8) of the calretinin‐positive tumours were also oestrogen receptor (ER)‐positive, as compared with 87% (39/45) of the calretinin‐negative tumours (P < 0.001). Eleven per cent (6/53) of the tumours were classified as basal‐like. Of these, four were positive for calretinin and two were negative (P = 0.003).

Conclusions:  Fifteen per cent of breast carcinomas stain with calretinin. These tumours are more likely to be high‐grade, ER‐negative, and display a basal‐like phenotype. These tumours may be misdiagnosed as malignant mesothelioma when they metastasize to the pleura.