bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic risk analysis of different livestock management systems
Authors: Scott J. F. , Cacho O. J. , Scott J. M.
Published: July 2013

The Cicerone farmlet experiment, conducted on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia, explored aspects of profitability and sustainability under three different whole-farmlet management regimes. The 5-year period over which the treatments were measured occurred over a period of generally below-average rainfall, hence responses to management treatments were limited. A modelling approach was used to estimate profitability over a longer period representing the variable climate of the region. A stochastic discounted cash flow model was developed to estimate economic returns of two of the Cicerone management system treatments scaled up from the farmlet scale (53 ha) to the size of a typical commercial farm in the region (920 ha) over a 20-year period. Several scenarios were used to estimate the commercial-scale returns under different rates of pasture improvement and stocking rates. Over the long-term, Farm A was found to be more profitable but also more risky (in terms of variation around the mean of cumulative discounted cash flow) than the ‘typical’ Farm B management system. If livestock managers choose to adopt a pasture improvement strategy based on renovating pastures and increasing soil fertility, they are more likely to achieve higher net worth with more moderate rates of pasture improvement than those explored on Farm A where a high rate of pasture improvement had been implemented in order to quickly differentiate treatments.
Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) are Influenced by Lipids in Milk Powders
Authors: Liu Ling , Hedegaard Rikke V. , Skibsted Leif H.
Published: July 2013

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) were determined by a polyclonal ELISA method in three milk powders of varying lipid content, during storage in sealed containers at 65°C for up to 20 days. AGEs content correlated with increased water activity (aw), decreased glass transition temperature (Tg), increased lactose crystallisation, and browning in the three milk powders. Formation of stable radicals as detected by electron spin resonance spectroscopy correlated with crystallisation of lactose and brown discoloration in the three powders indicating origin from Maillard reactions rather than lipid oxidation. AGEs content was greatest in whole milk powder with highest lipid content, while in butter milk powder formation of secondary lipid oxidation products increased faster as determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances.
Graphene microsheets enter cells through spontaneous membrane penetration at edge asperities and corner sites
Authors: Li Yinfeng , Yuan Hongyan , von dem Bussche Annette , Creighton Megan , Hurt Robert H. , Kane Agnes B. , Gao Huajian
Published: July 2013

Understanding and controlling the interaction of graphene-based materials with cell membranes is key to the development of graphene-enabled biomedical technologies and to the management of graphene health and safety issues. Very little is known about the fundamental behavior of cell membranes exposed to ultrathin 2D synthetic materials. Here we investigate the interactions of graphene and few-layer graphene (FLG) microsheets with three cell types and with model lipid bilayers by combining coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD), all-atom MD, analytical modeling, confocal fluorescence imaging, and electron microscopic imaging. The imaging experiments show edge-first uptake and complete internalization for a range of FLG samples of 0.5- to 10-μm lateral dimension. In contrast, the simulations show large energy barriers relative to
k

B

T
for membrane penetration by model graphene or FLG microsheets of similar size. More detailed simulations resolve this paradox by showing that entry is initiated at corners or asperities that are abundant along the irregular edges of fabricated graphene materials. Local piercing by these sharp protrusions initiates membrane propagation along the extended graphene edge and thus avoids the high energy barrier calculated in simple idealized MD simulations. We propose that this mechanism allows cellular uptake of even large multilayer sheets of micrometer-scale lateral dimension, which is consistent with our multimodal bioimaging results for primary human keratinocytes, human lung epithelial cells, and murine macrophages.
Induced fit substrate binding to an archeal glutamate transporter homologue
Authors: Ewers David , Becher Toni , Machtens Jan-Philipp , Weyand Ingo , Fahlke Christoph
Published: July 2013

Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) are a class of glutamate transporters that terminate glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the mammalian CNS. Glt
Ph
, an archeal EAAT homolog from
Pyrococcus horikoshii
, is currently the only member with a known 3D structure. Here, we studied the kinetics of substrate binding of a single tryptophan mutant (L130W) Glt
Ph
in detergent micelles. At low millimolar [Na
+
], the addition of
l
-aspartate resulted in complex time courses of W130 fluorescence changes over tens of seconds. With increasing [Na
+
], the kinetics were dominated by a fast component [
k

obs,fast

;
K

D

(Na
+
) = 22 ± 3 mM,
n
Hill
= 1.7 ± 0.3] with values of
k

obs,fast

rising in a saturable manner to ≈500 s
−1
(at 6 °C) with increasing [
l
-aspartate]. The binding kinetics of
l
-aspartate differed from the binding kinetics of two alternative substrates:
l
-cysteine sulfinic acid and
d
-aspartate.
l
-cysteine sulfinic acid bound with higher affinity than
l
-aspartate but involved lower saturating rates, whereas the saturating rates after
d
-aspartate binding were higher. Thus, after the association of two Na
+
to the empty transporter, Glt
Ph
binds amino acids by induced fit. Cross-linking and proteolysis experiments suggest that the induced fit results from the closure of helical hairpin 2. This conformational change is faster for Glt
Ph
than for most mammalian homologues, whereas the amino acid association rates are similar. Our data reveal the importance of induced fit for substrate selection in EAATs and illustrate how high-affinity binding and the efficient transport of glutamate can be accomplished simultaneously by this class of transporters.
Ex-527 inhibits Sirtuins by exploiting their unique NAD
+
-dependent deacetylation mechanism
Authors: Gertz Melanie , Fischer Frank , Nguyen Giang Thi Tuyet , Lakshminarasimhan Mahadevan , Schutkowski Mike , Weyand Michael , Steegborn Clemens
Published: July 2013

Significance

Sirtuin enzymes regulate metabolism and stress responses through deacetylation of specific protein lysine residues. Sirtuins are considered attractive drug targets, but selective inhibitors are rare, and their mechanisms mostly unknown. We report the mechanism of Sirtuin inhibition by Ex-527, a potent Sirt1 inhibitor widely used in physiological studies. A set of Sirtuin/ligand crystal structures, together with activity and binding data, reveals that the compound inhibits by forming a trimeric Sirtuin complex with a NAD
+
-derived coproduct. Our results yield insights in the unique Sirtuin catalytic mechanism and how it is exploited by Ex-527, and they provide essential information for rational drug development.
Abl kinases are required for vascular function, Tie2 expression, and angiopoietin-1–mediated survival
Authors: Chislock Elizabeth M. , Ring Colleen , Pendergast Ann Marie
Published: July 2013

Endothelial dysfunction is associated with diverse cardiovascular pathologies. Here, we show a previously unappreciated role for the Abelson (Abl) family kinases (Abl and Arg) in endothelial function and the regulation of angiogenic factor pathways important for vascular homeostasis. Endothelial
Abl
deletion in
Arg
-null mice led to late-stage embryonic and perinatal lethality, with mutant mice displaying focal loss of vasculature and tissue necrosis. Loss of Abl kinases led to increased endothelial cell apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, contributing to vascular dysfunction, infarction, and tissue damage. Mechanistically, we identify a unique dual role for Abl kinases in the regulation of angiopoietin/Tie2 protein kinase signaling. Endothelial Abl kinases modulate Tie2 expression and angiopoietin-1–mediated endothelial cell survival. These findings reveal a critical requirement for the Abl kinases in vascular development and function, which may have important implications for the clinical use of Abl kinase inhibitors.
PTEN loss defines a PI3K/AKT pathway-dependent germinal center subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Pfeifer Matthias , Grau Michael , Lenze Dido , Wenzel Sören-Sebastian , Wolf Annette , Wollert-Wulf Brigitte , Dietze Kerstin , Nogai Hendrik , Storek Benjamin , Madle Hannelore , Dörken Bernd , Janz Martin , Dirnhofer Stephan , Lenz Peter , Hummel Michael , Tzankov Alexandar , Lenz Georg
Published: July 2013

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents a heterogeneous diagnostic category with distinct molecular subtypes that can be defined by gene expression profiling. However, even within these defined subtypes, heterogeneity prevails. To further elucidate the pathogenesis of these entities, we determined the expression of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in 248 primary DLBCL patient samples. These analyses revealed that loss of PTEN was detectable in 55% of germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) DLBCLs, whereas this abnormality was found in only 14% of non-GCB DLBCL patient samples. In GCB DLBCL, the PTEN status was inversely correlated with activation of the oncogenic PI3K/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway in both DLBCL cell lines and primary patient samples. Reexpression of PTEN induced cytotoxicity in PTEN-deficient GCB DLBCL cell line models by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling, indicating an addiction to this pathway in this subset of GCB DLBCLs. PI3K/AKT inhibition induced down-regulation of the transcription factor MYC. Reexpression of MYC rescued GCB DLBCL cells from PTEN-induced toxicity, identifying a regulatory mechanism of MYC expression in DLBCL. Finally, pharmacologic PI3K inhibition resulted in toxicity selectively in PTEN-deficient GCB DLBCL lines. Collectively, our results indicate that PTEN loss defines a PI3K/AKT-dependent GCB DLBCL subtype that is addicted to PI3K and MYC signaling and suggest that pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K might represent a promising therapeutic approach in these lymphomas.
Cognitive and motivational deficits together with prefrontal oxidative stress in a mouse model for neuropsychiatric illness
Authors: Johnson Alexander W. , Jaaro-Peled Hanna , Shahani Neelam , Sedlak Thomas W. , Zoubovsky Sandra , Burruss Daniel , Emiliani Francesco , Sawa Akira , Gallagher Michela
Published: July 2013

Guided by features of molecular, cellular, and circuit dysfunction affecting the prefrontal cortex in clinical investigations, we targeted prefrontal cortex in studies of a model for neuropsychiatric illness using transgenic mice expressing a putative dominant-negative disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DN-DISC1). We detected marked augmentation of GAPDH–seven in absentia homolog Siah protein binding in the
DISC1
mice, a major hallmark of a nuclear GAPDH cascade that is activated in response to oxidative stress. Furthermore, deficits were observed in well-defined tests for the cognitive control of adaptive behavior using reversal learning and reinforcer devaluation paradigms. These deficits occurred even though DN-DISC1 mice showed intact performance in simple associative learning and normal responses in consumption of reward. In an additional series of assessments, motivational functions also were impoverished in DN-DISC1 mice, including tests of the dynamic modulation of reward value by effortful action, progressive ratio performance, and social behavior. Augmentation of an oxidative stress-associated cascade (e.g., a nuclear GAPDH cascade) points to an underlying condition that may contribute to the profile of cognitive and motivational impairments in DN-DISC1 mice by affecting the functional integrity of the prefrontal cortex and dysfunction within its connected networks. As such, this model should be useful for further preclinical research and drug discovery efforts relevant to the burden of prefrontal dysfunction in neuropsychiatric illness.
Saturated and unsaturated fat induce hepatic insulin resistance independently of TLR-4 signaling and ceramide synthesis in vivo
Authors: Galbo Thomas , Perry Rachel J. , Jurczak Michael J. , Camporez‎ João-Paulo G. , Alves Tiago C. , Kahn Mario , Guigni Blas A. , Serr Julie , Zhang Dongyan , Bhanot Sanjay , Samuel Varman T. , Shulman Gerald I.
Published: July 2013

Hepatic insulin resistance is a principal component of type 2 diabetes, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for its pathogenesis remain unknown. Recent studies have suggested that saturated fatty acids induce hepatic insulin resistance through activation of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) receptor in the liver, which in turn transcriptionally activates hepatic ceramide synthesis leading to inhibition of insulin signaling. In this study, we demonstrate that TLR-4 receptor signaling is not directly required for saturated or unsaturated fat-induced hepatic insulin resistance in both TLR-4 antisense oligonucleotide treated and TLR-4 knockout mice, and that ceramide accumulation is not dependent on TLR-4 signaling or a primary event in hepatic steatosis and impairment of insulin signaling. Further, we show that both saturated and unsaturated fats lead to hepatic accumulation of diacylglycerols, activation of PKCε, and impairment of insulin-stimulated IRS-2 signaling. These data demonstrate that saturated fat-induced insulin resistance is independent of TLR-4 activation and ceramides.
Localization in quiver moduli spaces
Authors: Weist Thorsten
Published: July 2013

Torus fixed points of quiver moduli spaces are given by stable representations of the universal (abelian) covering quiver. As far as the Kronecker quiver is concerned they can be described by stable representations of certain bipartite quivers coming along with a stable colouring. By use of the glueing method it is possible to construct a huge class of such quivers implying a lower bound for the Euler characteristic. For certain roots it is even possible to construct all torus fixed points.
n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic heart failure: the GISSI‐HF trial
Authors: Aleksova Aneta , Masson Serge , Maggioni Aldo P. , Lucci Donata , Fabbri Gianna , Beretta Luciano , Mos Lucio , Paino Anna Maria , Nicolosi Gian Luigi , Marchioli Roberto , Tognoni Gianni , Tavazzi Luigi , Sinagra Gianfranco , Latini Roberto ,   on behalf of the GISSI‐Heart Failure (GISSI‐HF) Investigators
Published: July 2013

Aims

In the last few years, n‐3 polyunsaturated acids (PUFAs) have been extensively studied for the prevention of AF, mostly in patients without heart failure (HF) or LV dysfunction. This post‐hoc analysis of the GISSI‐HF trial assessed the effect of n‐3 PUFAs on AF in patients with chronic HF without AF at study entry over a median follow‐up of 3.9 years.

Methods and results

In the GISSI‐HF trial, 6975 patients with chronic HF were randomized to 1 g daily of n‐3 PUFAs or placebo on top of recommended therapy for HF. Of these, 1140 (16.3%) had AF at baseline ECG and were excluded from the present analysis. AF during the trial was defined as the presence of AF on the ECGs done at each visit during the trial or AF as a cause of worsening HF or hospital admission or as an event during hospitalization. Dietary fish consumption and the circulating levels of n‐3 PUFAs (the latter in a subset of 1203 patients) were also available. Among the 5835 patients without AF at study entry, 444 randomized to n‐3 PUFAs (15.2%) and 408 to placebo (14.0%) developed AF (unadjusted hazard 1.10, P = 0.19). Lower circulating n‐3 PUFA levels were independently associated with higher AF prevalence at study entry, but not with its new occurrence.

Conclusions

Despite an inverse relationship between plasma n‐3 PUFA levels and prevalent AF, this study found no evidence that 1 g daily n‐3 PUFA supplementation in patients with chronic HF reduces incident AF.
First Report of Soybean vein necrosis virus in Soybean Fields of Oklahoma
Authors: Ali A. , Abdalla O. A.
Published: July 2013

Soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV) causes a new emerging disease of soybean that has been recorded in more than 10 states (1,2,3,4) of the United States, but so far no information is available about its presence in soybean crops of Oklahoma. Surveys of commercial soybean fields were conducted for soybean viruses during summer of 2012. A total of 327 samples were randomly collected from soybean fields in 11 counties. Symptoms typical of SVNV infections including leaf chlorosis and leaf-vein necrosis were observed on some soybean plants in the field (4). All soybean leaf samples were tested against SVNV polyclonal antisera obtained from AC Diagnostics, Inc. (Fayetteville, AR) by dot-immunobinding assay (DIBA) (1). Fifty-three samples reacted positively with SVNV antisera. Total RNA was extracted from three DIBA-positive samples collected from soybean plants in Choctaw County and tested by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using SVNV-specific primers (forward primer 5′-ATGTTCTCTCTATAATAGCCA and reverse primer 5′-ACCCATAACAATTGATCAAGA-3′) that were designed from the available sequence in the GenBank (Accession No. GU722317.1) to amplify a fragment from RNA1. A band of the expected size of 344 bp was observed on a 1% agarose gel in all three samples. The PCR products were purified using QIAquick PCR Purification Kit (QIAGEN, Valencia, CA), cloned (pGEM-T Easy Vector, Promega, Madison, WI) and sequenced in both directions. The consensus sequence of the 344-bp fragment was 99% identical with the corresponding region of RNA 1 of SVNV isolate ‘Milan_TN’ (Accession No. GU722317.1). These results confirmed the presence of SVNV in soybean fields, which are mostly located in Criage, Choctaw, Hughes, LeFlore, Mayes, Muskogee, McCurtain, Okmulgee, Ottawa, Rogers, and Sequoyah counties of Oklahoma. None of the samples collected from north central or western parts of the state were positive against SVNV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of SVNV in soybean crops in Oklahoma. Soybean is one of the major oil seed crops cultivated on approximately 200,000 hectares annually in Oklahoma and the presence of SVNV could pose a potential threat to the production of soybean in the future.

References: (1) J. L. Jacobs and M. I. Chilvers. Plant Dis. 97:1387, 2013. (2) J. Han et al. Plant Dis. 97:693, 2013. (3) D. L. Smith et al. Plant Dis. 97:693, 2013. (4) J. Zhou et al. Virus Genes 43:289, 2011.
Loss of sphingosine kinase 1 predisposes to the onset of diabetes via promoting pancreatic β‐cell death in diet‐induced obese mice
Authors: Qi Yanfei , Chen Jinbiao , Lay Angelina , Don Anthony , Vadas Mathew , Xia Pu
Published: July 2013

Lipotoxic stress‐induced β‐cell death (lipotoxicity) is recognized as a key contributor to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The current study reports a critical role of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) in β‐cell survival under lipotoxic conditions. In an attempt to investigate the role of SphK1 in lipotoxicity in vivo, we fed Sphk1–/– and wild‐type (WT) mice with a high‐fat diet (HFD) or normal chow diet. Remarkably, while HFD‐fed WT mice developed glucose intolerance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia, all HFD‐fed Sphk1–/– mice manifested evident diabetes, accompanied by a nearly 3‐fold reduction in insulin levels compared with the WT mice. Pancreatic β‐cell mass was increased by 140% in HFD‐fed WT mice but decreased to 50% in HFD‐fed Sphk1–/– mice, in comparison with the chow diet control groups, respectively. Accordingly, by blocking the enzyme activity, expression of a dominant negative form of SphK1 markedly promoted palmitate‐induced cell death in MIN6 and INS‐1 β‐cell lines. Moreover, primary islets isolated from Sphk1–/– mice exhibited higher susceptibility to lipotoxicity than WT controls. Of note, sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) profoundly abrogated lipotoxicity in β cells or the cells lacking SphK1 activity and Sphk1–/– islets, highlighting a pivotal role of S1P in β‐cell survival under lipotoxic conditions. These findings could suggest a new therapeutic strategy for preventing β‐cell death and thus the onset of T2DM.—Qi, Y., Chen, J., Lay, A., Don, A., Vadas, M., Xia, P., Loss of sphingosine kinase 1 predisposes to the onset of diabetes via promoting pancreatic β‐cell death in diet‐induced obese mice. FASEB J. 27, 4294–4304 (2013). www.fasebj.org
Hepatitis B subvirus particles display both a fluid bilayer membrane and a strong resistance to freeze drying: a study by solid‐state NMR, light scattering, and cryo‐electron microscopy/tomography
Authors: Grélard Axelle , Guichard Paul , Bonnafous Pierre , Marco Sergio , Lambert Olivier , Manin Catherine , Ronzon Frédéric , Dufourc Erick J.
Published: July 2013

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) subvirus particles produced from yeast share immunological determinants with mature viruses, which enable the use of HBsAg as a potent antigen for human vaccination. Because the intimate structure of such pseudoviral particles is still a matter of debate, we investigated the robustness of the external barrier and its structure and dynamics using the noninvasive solid‐state NMR technique. This barrier is made of 60% proteins and 40% lipids. Phospholipids represent 83% of all lipids, and chain unsaturation is of 72%. Dynamics was reported by embedding small amounts of deuterium chain‐labeled unsaturated phospholipid into the external barrier of entire subviral particles, while controlling particle integrity by cryoelectron microscopy, tomography, and light scattering. Variable preparation modes were used, from mild incubation of small unilamellar vesicles to very stringent incorporation with freeze‐drying. A lipid bilayer structure of 4‐ to 5‐nm thickness was evidenced with a higher rigidity than that of synthetic phospholipid vesicles, but nonetheless reflecting a fluid membrane (50–52% of maximum rigidity) in agreement with the elevated unsaturation content. The HBsAg particles of 20‐ to 24‐nm diameter were surprisingly found resistant to lyophilization, in such a way that trapped water inside particles could not be removed. These dual properties bring more insight into the mode of action of native subviral particles and their recombinant counterparts used in vaccines.—Grélard, A., Guichard, P., Bonnafous, P., Marco, S., Lambert, O., Manin, C., Ronzon, F., and Dufourc, E. J., Hepatitis B subvirus particles display both a fluid bilayer membrane and a strong resistance to freeze drying: a study by solid‐state NMR, light scattering, and cryo‐electron microscopy/tomography. FASEB J. 27, 4316–4326 (2013). www.fasebj.org
Increased co‐first authorships in biomedical and clinical publications: a call for recognition
Authors: Conte Marisa L. , Maat Stacy L. , Omary M. Bishr
Published: July 2013

There has been a dramatic increase in the number and percentage of publications in biomedical and clinical journals in which two or more coauthors claim first authorship, with a change in some journals from no joint first authorship in 1990 to co‐first authorship of >30% of all research publications in 2012. As biomedical and clinical research become increasingly complex and team‐driven, and given the importance attributed to first authorship by grant reviewers and promotion and tenure committees, the time is ripe for journals, bibliographic databases, and authors to highlight equal first author contributions of published original research.—Conte, M. L., Maat, S. L., Omary, M. B., Increased co‐first authorships in biomedical and clinical publications: a call for recognition. FASEB J. 27, 3902–3904 (2013). www.fasebj.org
Playing to an audience: the social environment influences aggression and victory displays
Authors: Fitzsimmons Lauren P. , Bertram Susan M.
Published: July 2013

Animal behaviour studies have begun to incorporate the influence of the social environment, providing new opportunities for studying signal strategies and evolution. We examined how the presence and sex of an audience influenced aggression and victory display behaviour in field-captured and laboratory-reared field crickets (
Gryllus veletis
). Audience type, rearing environment and their interaction were important predictors in all model sets. Thus, audience type may impose different costs and benefits for competing males depending on whether they are socially experienced or not. Our results suggest that field-captured winners, in particular, dynamically adjust their contest behaviour to potentially gain a reproductive benefit via female eavesdropping and may deter future aggression from rivals by advertising their aggressiveness and victories.
The available power from tidal stream turbines in the Pentland Firth
Authors: Adcock Thomas A. A. , Draper Scott , Houlsby Guy T. , Borthwick Alistair G. L. , Serhadlıoğlu Sena
Published: July 2013

This paper assesses an upper bound for the tidal stream power resource of the Pentland Firth. A depth-averaged numerical model of the tidal dynamics in the region is set-up and validated against field measurements. Actuator disc theory is used to model the effect of turbines on the flow, and to estimate the power available for generation after accounting for losses owing to mixing downstream of the turbines. It is found that three rows of turbines extending across the entire width of the Pentland Firth and blocking a large fraction of the channel can theoretically generate 1.9 GW, averaged over the spring–neap cycle. However, generation of significantly more power than this is unlikely to be feasible as the available power per additional swept area of turbine is too small to be viable. Our results differ from those obtained using simplified tidal channel models of the type used commonly in the literature. We also use our numerical model to investigate the available power from rows of turbines placed across various subchannels within the Pentland Firth, together with practical considerations such as the variation in power over the spring–neap tidal cycle and the changes to natural tidal flows which result from power extraction.
Azimuthal instabilities in annular combustors: standing and spinning modes
Authors: Ghirardo Giulio , Juniper Matthew P.
Published: July 2013

This theoretical study investigates spinning and standing modes in azimuthally symmetric annular combustion chambers. Both modes are observed in experiments and simulations, and an existing model predicts that spinning modes are the only stable state of the system. We extend this model to take into account the effect that the acoustic azimuthal velocity,
u
, has on the flames, and propose a phenomenological model based on experiments performed on transversely forced flames. This model contains a parameter,
δ
, that quantifies the influence that the transversal excitation has on the fluctuating heat release. For small values of
δ
, spinning modes are the only stable state of the system. In an intermediate range of
δ
, both spinning and standing modes are stable states. For large values of
δ
, standing modes are the only stable state. This study shows that a flame’s response to azimuthal velocity fluctuations plays an important role in determining the type of thermoacoustic oscillations found in annular combustors.
Sequential decoding of a general classical-quantum channel
Authors: Wilde Mark M.
Published: July 2013

Because a quantum measurement generally disturbs the state of a quantum system, one might think that it should not be possible for a sender and receiver to communicate reliably when the receiver performs a large number of sequential measurements to determine the message of the sender. We show here that this intuition is not true, by demonstrating that a sequential decoding strategy works well even in the most general ‘one-shot’ regime, where we are given a single instance of a channel and wish to determine the maximal number of bits that can be communicated up to a small failure probability. This result follows by generalizing a non-commutative union bound to apply for a sequence of general measurements. We also demonstrate two ways in which a receiver can recover a state close to the original state after it has been decoded by a sequence of measurements that each succeed with high probability. The second of these methods will be useful in realizing an efficient decoder for fully quantum polar codes, should a method ever be found to realize an efficient decoder for classical-quantum polar codes.
The value of oviposition timing, queen presence and kinship in a social insect
Authors: Ozan Martina , Helanterä Heikki , Sundström Liselotte
Published: July 2013

Reproductive cooperation confers benefits, but simultaneously creates conflicts among cooperators. Queens in multi-queen colonies of ants share a nest and its resources, but reproductive competition among queens often results in unequal reproduction. Two mutually non-exclusive factors may produce such inequality in reproduction: worker intervention or queen traits. Workers may intervene by favouring some queens over others, owing to either kinship or queen signals. Queens may differ in their intrinsic fecundity at the onset of oviposition or in their timing of the onset of oviposition, leading to their unequal representation in the brood. Here, we test the role of queen kin value (relatedness) to workers, timing of the onset of oviposition and signals of presence by queens in determining the maternity of offspring. We show that queens of the antFormica fuscagained a significantly higher proportion of sexuals in the brood when ovipositing early, and that the presence of a caged queen resulted in a significant increase in both her share of sexual brood and her overall reproductive share. Moreover, the lower the kin value of the queen, the more the workers invested in their own reproduction by producing males. Our results show that both kinship and breeding phenology influence the outcome of reproductive conflicts, and the balance of direct and indirect fitness benefits in the multi-queen colonies ofF. fusca.
Competition both drives and impedes diversification in a model adaptive radiation
Authors: Bailey Susan F. , Dettman Jeremy R. , Rainey Paul B. , Kassen Rees
Published: July 2013

Competitors are known to be important in governing the outcome of evolutionary diversification during an adaptive radiation, but the precise mechanisms by which they exert their effects remain elusive. Using the model adaptive radiation ofPseudomonas fluorescens, we show experimentally that the effect of competition on diversification of a focal lineage depends on both the strength of competition and the ability of the competitors to diversify. We provide evidence that the extent of diversification in the absence of interspecific competitors depends on the strength of resource competition. We also show that the presence of competitors can actually increase diversity by increasing interspecific resource competition. Competitors that themselves are able to diversify prevent diversification of the focal lineage by removing otherwise available ecological opportunities. These results suggest that the progress of an adaptive radiation depends ultimately on the strength of resource competition, an effect that can be exaggerated or impeded by the presence of competitors.
Ferrimonas gelatinilytica sp. nov., isolated from tidal flat sediment
Authors: Rahman Mohammad Mizanur , Cha Chang-Jun
Published: July 2013

A novel beige-pigmented, Gram-staining-negative, coccoid, motile and facultatively anaerobic bacteria, designated strain CJ24T, was isolated from the tidal flat sediment of the Yellow Sea in South Korea. Characterization of this strain was performed on the basis of polyphasic taxonomic methods. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA and gyrB genes revealed that strain CJ24T belongs to the genus

Ferrimonas

, sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.9 % with

Ferrimonas marina

DSM 16917T. Strain CJ24T was able to grow optimally at 30 °C, at pH 6.0 and in the presence of 2 % NaCl (w/v). As an isoprenoid quinone, menaquinone (MK-7) was predominantly identified from this strain, while ubiquinone (Q-7) was also present as a minor component. The DNA G+C content of strain CJ24T was 60.2 mol%. The most abundant cellular fatty acids were C15 : 0 iso, C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0 and C17 : 0 iso. Therefore, strain CJ24T represents a novel species in the genus

Ferrimonas

for which the name Ferrimonas gelatinilytica sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is CJ24T ( = KACC 17065T = JCM 18720T).
Humibacter

antri sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a natural cave, and emended description of the genus

Humibacter
Authors: Lee Soon Dong
Published: July 2013

A novel high DNA G+C content bacterium, designated strain D7-27T, was isolated from clay soils collected inside a natural cave in Jeju, Republic of Korea. The cells of the organism were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile rods; its colonies were white, circular and entire in margin. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that strain D7-27T formed a coherent cluster with

Humibacter albus

of the family

Microbacteriaceae

(97.6 % sequence similarity). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained ornithine and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid as the diagnostic diamino acids. The major menaquinones were MK-12 and MK-11, with MK-10 as a minor component. The polar lipids consisted mainly of phosphatidylglycerol and an unknown glycolipid. Mycolic acids were not present. The predominant fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0 and cyclohexyl-C17 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 66.3 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain D7-27T and

H. albus

DSM 18994T was 28.6 % (17.6 % in a reciprocal test). On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain D7-27T ( = KCTC 33009T = DSM 25738T) is considered as the type strain of a novel species of the genus

Humibacter

, for which the name

Humibacter

antri sp. nov. is proposed. An emended description of the genus

Humibacter

is also provided.
Molecular and Physiological Analysis of Al3+ and H+ Rhizotoxicities at Moderately Acidic Conditions
Authors: Kobayashi Yasufumi , Kobayashi Yuriko , Watanabe Toshihiro , Shaff Jon E. , Ohta Hiroyuki , Kochian Leon V. , Wagatsuma Tadao , Kinraide Thomas B. , Koyama Hiroyuki
Published: July 2013

Al3+ and H+ toxicities predicted to occur at moderately acidic conditions (pH [water] = 5–5.5) in low-Ca soils were characterized by the combined approaches of computational modeling of electrostatic interactions of ions at the root plasma membrane (PM) surface and molecular/physiological analyses in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Root growth inhibition in known hypersensitive mutants was correlated with computed {Al3+} at the PM surface ({Al3+}PM); inhibition was alleviated by increased Ca, which also reduced {Al3+}PM and correlated with cellular Al responses based on expression analysis of genes that are markers for Al stress. The Al-inducible Al tolerance genes ALUMINUM-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER1 and ALUMINUM SENSITIVE3 were induced by levels of {Al3+}PM too low to inhibit root growth in tolerant genotypes, indicating that protective responses are triggered when {Al3+}PM was below levels that can initiate injury. Modeling of the H+ sensitivity of the SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY1 knockout mutant identified a Ca alleviation mechanism of H+ rhizotoxicity, possibly involving stabilization of the cell wall. The phosphatidate phosphohydrolase1 (pah1) pah2 double mutant showed enhanced Al susceptibility under low-P conditions, where greater levels of negatively charged phospholipids in the PM occur, which increases {Al3+}PM through increased PM surface negativity compared with wild-type plants. Finally, we found that the nonalkalinizing Ca fertilizer gypsum improved the tolerance of the sensitive genotypes in moderately acidic soils. These findings fit our modeling predictions that root toxicity to Al3+ and H+ in moderately acidic soils involves interactions between both toxic ions in relation to Ca alleviation.
Multi‐tissue stable isotope analysis and acoustic telemetry reveal seasonal variability in the trophic interactions of juvenile bull sharks in a coastal estuary
Authors: Matich Philip , Heithaus Michael R.
Published: July 2013

Understanding how natural and anthropogenic drivers affect extant food webs is critical to predicting the impacts of climate change and habitat alterations on ecosystem dynamics.

In the Florida Everglades, seasonal reductions in freshwater flow and precipitation lead to annual migrations of aquatic taxa from marsh habitats to deep‐water refugia in estuaries. The timing and intensity of freshwater reductions, however, will be modified by ongoing ecosystem restoration and predicted climate change.

Understanding the importance of seasonally pulsed resources to predators is critical to predicting the impacts of management and climate change on their populations. As with many large predators, however, it is difficult to determine to what extent predators like bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in the coastal Everglades make use of prey pulses currently.

We used passive acoustic telemetry to determine whether shark movements responded to the pulse of marsh prey. To investigate the possibility that sharks fed on marsh prey, we modelled the predicted dynamics of stable isotope values in bull shark blood and plasma under different assumptions of temporal variability in shark diets and physiological dynamics of tissue turnover and isotopic discrimination.

Bull sharks increased their use of upstream channels during the late dry season, and although our previous work shows long‐term specialization in the diets of sharks, stable isotope values suggested that some individuals adjusted their diets to take advantage of prey entering the system from the marsh, and as such this may be an important resource for the nursery.

Restoration efforts are predicted to increase hydroperiods and marsh water levels, likely shifting the timing, duration and intensity of prey pulses, which could have negative consequences for the bull shark population and/or induce shifts in behaviour.

Understanding the factors influencing the propensity to specialize or adopt more flexible trophic interactions will be an important step in fully understanding the ecological role of predators and how ecological roles may vary with environmental and anthropogenic changes.
Macroeconomic and Welfare Effects of the 2010 Changes to Mandatory Superannuation
Authors: Kudrna George , Woodland Alan D.
Published: July 2013

This study examines the macroeconomic and welfare effects of the reform to mandatory superannuation announced by the Australian government in 2010, which includes gradual increases in mandatory contributions and the effective removal of the contribution tax for low‐income workers. We find significantly larger superannuation assets and lower age pension expenditures. The reform has positive impacts on households’ long‐run welfare, with higher‐income households benefiting from the increased contributions and lower‐income households gaining from the contribution tax removal. The reform yields an aggregate efficiency gain of $11,753 per capita in initial resources for each future generation.
eNOS Overexpressing Bone Marrow Cells are Safe and Effective in a Porcine Model of Myocardial Regeneration Following Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Ward Michael R. , Connelly Kim A. , Vijayaraghavan Ram , Vaags Andrea K. , Graham John J. , Foltz Warren , Hough Margaret R. , Stewart Duncan J. , Dick Alexander
Published: July 2013

Aim

Cell therapy has been shown to be effective in improving LV function postmyocardial infarction (MI). We hypothesized that eNOS‐transfected bone marrow cells (BMCs) are safe in a swine model of myocardial infarction (MI). We also hypothesized that endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) transfection would enhance cell function, as assessed by myocardial functional recovery post‐MI.

Methods

Fifteen female Yorkshire pigs underwent bone marrow aspiration and creation of MI. Bone marrow cells were cultured for 7 days, and each pig received either autologous BMCs transiently transfected with eNOS plasmid (eNOS‐BMC, n = 5), nontransfected BMCs (nt‐BMC, n = 4), or phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) control (n = 6). Cardiac MRI was performed at baseline (1 week post‐MI) and 6 weeks post‐MI.

Results

There was no difference in safety outcomes between groups. Absolute left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at 6 weeks showed a trend toward improvement in both cell therapy groups compared with baseline but worsened in the PBS control group. The absolute improvement in LVEF was significantly greater in both cell therapy groups compared with PBS control. Infarct mass was significantly lower in the eNOS‐BMC group between baseline and 6 weeks, but the absolute change in infarct mass was not different between groups. Finally, there was a trend toward reduced LV mass in the eNOS‐BMC group.

Conclusions

Bone marrow cell delivery, with and without eNOS overexpression, is safe and leads to improvement in LVEF when administered in the coronary circulation 7 days following acute MI in swine. Transfection of healthy BMCs with eNOS resulted in some improvement in left ventricular remodeling. Further study is warranted in a preclinical model that approximates the impact of cardiovascular risk factors on BMC function.
A categorization of recent network approaches to analyse trophic interactions
Authors: Miranda María , Parrini Francesca , Dalerum Fredrik
Published: July 2013

Network analysis, a branch of discrete mathematics that quantifies the structure of links between a set of nodes, is emerging as a powerful methodology to approach complex ecological interactions.

There has been a rapidly increasing body of research targeting the topological description of trophic interactions. Here we categorize studies applying a topological approach to empirical trophic networks, with the aim of identifying recent trends and deficiencies in this approach to analyse trophic interactions.

There were biases in the taxonomic groups addressed and in the methodological approaches used for data collection and analyses. Studies on antagonistic interactions were generally focused on a single kind of bipartite interaction, and most studies compared network attributes across time, ecosystems or treatments.

We encourage a broader use of both interlinked and unipartite networks that would allow for describing indirect effects of trophic interactions, as well as time series of networks across seasons and phenological states of organisms. We also noted shortages of studies identifying interaction structures across levels of organization, on the correspondence between network structure and function, and particularly of studies on the behaviour of trophic networks in the face of environmental perturbations, which could provide guidance for preserving ecological interactions.
Molecular mechanisms underlying genotype‐dependent responses to dietary restriction
Authors: Schleit Jennifer , Johnson Simon C. , Bennett Christopher F. , Simko Marissa , Trongtham Natalie , Castanza Anthony , Hsieh Edward J. , Moller Richard M. , Wasko Brian M. , Delaney Joe R. , Sutphin George L. , Carr Daniel , Murakami Christopher J. , Tocchi Autumn , Xian Bo , Chen Weiyang , Yu Tao , Goswami Sarani , Higgins Sean , Jeong Ki‐Soo , Kim Jin R. , Klum Shannon , Liao Eric , Lin Michael S. , Lo Winston , Miller Hillary , Olsen Brady , Peng Zhao J. , Pollard Tom , Pradeep Prarthana , Pruett Dillon , Rai Dilreet , Ros Vanessa , Singh Minnie , Spector Benjamin L. , Wende Helen Vander , An Elroy H. , Fletcher Marissa , Jelic Monika , Rabinovitch Peter S. , MacCoss Michael J. , Han Jing‐Dong J. , Kennedy Brian K. , Kaeberlein Matt
Published: July 2013

Dietary restriction (DR) increases lifespan and attenuates age‐related phenotypes in many organisms; however, the effect of DR on longevity of individuals in genetically heterogeneous populations is not well characterized. Here, we describe a large‐scale effort to define molecular mechanisms that underlie genotype‐specific responses to DR. The effect of DR on lifespan was determined for 166 single gene deletion strains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Resulting changes in mean lifespan ranged from a reduction of 79% to an increase of 103%. Vacuolar pH homeostasis, superoxide dismutase activity, and mitochondrial proteostasis were found to be strong determinants of the response to DR. Proteomic analysis of cells deficient in prohibitins revealed induction of a mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR), which has not previously been described in yeast. Mitochondrial proteotoxic stress in prohibitin mutants was suppressed by DR via reduced cytoplasmic mRNA translation. A similar relationship between prohibitins, the mtUPR, and longevity was also observed in Caenorhabditis elegans. These observations define conserved molecular processes that underlie genotype‐dependent effects of DR that may be important modulators of DR in higher organisms.
Genetic factors controlling wool shedding in a composite Easycare sheep flock
Authors: Matika O. , Bishop S. C. , Pong‐Wong R. , Riggio V. , Headon D. J.
Published: July 2013

Historically, sheep have been selectively bred for desirable traits including wool characteristics. However, recent moves towards extensive farming and reduced farm labour have seen a renewed interest in Easycare breeds. The aim of this study was to quantify the underlying genetic architecture of wool shedding in an Easycare flock. Wool shedding scores were collected from 565 pedigreed commercial Easycare sheep from 2002 to 2010. The wool scoring system was based on a 10‐point (0–9) scale, with score 0 for animals retaining full fleece and 9 for those completely shedding. DNA was sampled from 200 animals of which 48 with extreme phenotypes were genotyped using a 50‐k SNP chip. Three genetic analyses were performed: heritability analysis, complex segregation analysis to test for a major gene hypothesis and a genome‐wide association study to map regions in the genome affecting the trait. Phenotypes were treated as a continuous or binary variable and categories. High estimates of heritability (0.80 when treated as a continuous, 0.65–0.75 as binary and 0.75 as categories) for shedding were obtained from linear mixed model analyses. Complex segregation analysis gave similar estimates (0.80 ± 0.06) to those above with additional evidence for a major gene with dominance effects. Mixed model association analyses identified four significant (P < 0.05) SNPs. Further analyses of these four SNPs in all 200 animals revealed that one of the SNPs displayed dominance effects similar to those obtained from the complex segregation analyses. In summary, we found strong genetic control for wool shedding, demonstrated the possibility of a single putative dominant gene controlling this trait and identified four SNPs that may be in partial linkage disequilibrium with gene(s) controlling shedding.
Multilevel, cross‐sectional study on social capital with psychogeriatric health among olderJapanese people dwelling in rural areas
Authors: Yuasa Motoyuki , Ukawa Shigekazu , Ikeno Tamiko , Kawabata Tomoko
Published: July 2013

Aim

There has been increasing interest in the effect of social capital (SC) on health over the last decade both inJapan and internationally. This study elucidated whether components ofSCare linked to the psychogeriatric health of older Japanese individuals.

Method

Data for 169 eligible older people living in three rural areas were collected. Multilevel analyses were performed to examine associations between general trust, informal social interaction and formal group participation with self‐rated health, mini‐mental state examination (MMSE), self‐rated depression scale (SDS) and general self‐efficacy scale (GSES).

Results

Our study revealed thatMMSE,SDSandGSESwere significantly associated with informal social interaction and formal group participation after adjusting for area‐levelSC. However, we observed no relationship between general trust and health outcomes.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the strategic enhancement of social cohesion and social networks for older people may promote their health and quality of later life.