bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increase of feather quality during moult: a possible implication of feather deformities in the evolution of partial moult in the great titParus major
Authors: Pap Péter L. , Barta Zoltán , Tökölyi Jácint , Vágási István Csongor.
Published: November 2007

Here we investigate the change in feather quality during partial post‐juvenile and complete post‐breeding moult in great titParus majorby measuring the change in the number of fault bars and feather holes on wing and tail feathers. Feathers grown during ontogeny usually are of lower quality than feathers grown following subsequent moults at independence. This is reflected by higher number of fault bars and feather holes on juveniles compared to adults. Fault bars are significantly more common on tail and proximal wing feathers than on the distal remiges, indicating a mechanism of adaptive allocation of stress induced abnormalities during ontogeny into the aerodynamically less important flight feathers. On the contrary, feather holes produced probably by chewing lice have a more uniform distribution on wing and tail feathers, which may reflect the inability of birds to control their distribution, or the weak natural selection imposed by them. The adaptive value of the differential allocation of fault bar between groups of feathers seems to be supported by the significantly higher recapture probability of those juvenile great tits which have fewer fault bars at fledging on the aerodynamically most important primaries, but not on other groups of flight feathers. The selection imposed by feather holes seems to be smaller, since except for the positive association between hatching date, brood size and the number of feather holes at fledging, great tits' survival was not affected by the number of feather holes. During post‐juvenile moult, the intensity of fault bars drops significantly through the replacement of tail feathers and tertials, resulting in disproportional reduction of the total number of fault bars on flight feathers related to the number of feathers replaced. The reduction in the number of fault bars during post‐juvenile moult associated with their adaptive allocation to proximal wing feathers and rectrices may explain the evolution of partial post‐juvenile moult in the great tit, since the quality of flight feathers can be increased significantly at a relatively small cost. Our results may explain the widespread phenomenon of partial post‐juvenile moult of flight feathers among Palearctic passerines. During the next complete post‐breeding moult, the total number of fault bars on flight feathers has remained unchanged, indicating the effectiveness of partial post‐juvenile moult in reducing the number of adaptively allocated fault bars. The number of feather holes has also decreased on groups of feathers replaced during partial post‐juvenile moult, but the reduction is proportional with the number of feathers moulted. In line with this observation, the number of feather holes is further reduced during post‐breeding moult on primaries and secondaries, resulting in an increase in feather quality of adult great tits.
Cross‐presentation of NY‐ESO‐1 cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope fused to human heat shock cognate protein 70 by dendritic cells
Authors: Susumu Seiya , Nagata Yasuhiro , Ito Shinichiro , Matsuo Mitsutoshi , Valmori Danila , Yui Katsuyuki , Udono Heiichiro , Kanematsu Takashi
Published: November 2007

The cancer–testis antigen NY‐ESO‐1 has been implicated as one of the most attractive candidates for a cancer vaccine. However, a protein vaccine generally meets inefficient antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells, which could be overcome by combination with an appropriate adjuvant. Heat shock protein is a natural adjuvant and activates the antigen‐presenting cells to channel exogenous antigens into the classical major histocompatibility complex class I antigen‐processing pathway (cross‐presentation). Therefore, we genetically fused a minigene encompassing the NY‐ESO‐1 cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope 157‐165 (ESO p157‐165) to the human heat shock cognate protein 70 (hsc70) and expressed the resulting fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. By using a human leukocyte antigen‐A*0201‐restricted NY‐ESO‐1‐specific CTL clone, the cross‐presentation of ESO p157‐165 by monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (mo‐DC) pulsed with the fusion protein was evaluated. The fusion protein‐pulsed mo‐DC activates the CTL clone much more efficiently than the free NY‐ESO‐1 protein‐pulsed mo‐DC. Moreover, the magnitude of the CTL activity was comparable between ESO p157‐165 and the fusion protein of hsc70 and ESO p157‐165 (hsc70–ESO p157‐165 fusion protein). In addition, the CTL activation induced by the fusion protein, but not by the epitope, was inhibited by paraformaldehyde fixation of the mo‐DC and by treatment with lactacystin, a specific inhibitor for the proteasome. Finally, the hsc70–ESO p157‐165 fusion protein‐pulsed DC was able to induce an antigen‐specific T‐cell response. These results suggest that the hsc70–ESO p157‐165 fusion protein is therefore considered to be a promising candidate as a cancer vaccine. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 107–112)
Novel 5α‐steroid reductase (SRD5A3, type‐3) is overexpressed in hormone‐refractory prostate cancer
Authors: Uemura Motohide , Tamura Kenji , Chung Suyoun , Honma Seijiro , Okuyama Akihiko , Nakamura Yusuke , Nakagawa Hidewaki
Published: November 2007

Prostate cancer often relapses during androgen‐depletion therapy, even under conditions in which a drastic reduction of circulating androgens is observed. There is some evidence that androgens remain present in the tissues of hormone‐refractory prostate cancers (HRPC), and enzymes involved in the androgen and steroid metabolic pathway are likely to be active in HRPC cells. We previously carried out a genome‐wide gene expression profile analysis of clinical HRPC cells by means of cDNA microarrays in combination with microdissection of cancer cells and found dozens of transactivated genes. Among them, we here report the identification of a novel gene, SRD5A2L, encoding a putative 5α‐steroid reductase that produces the most potent androgen, 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (DHT), from testosterone. Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry analysis following an in vitro 5α‐steroid reductase reaction validated its ability to produce DHT from testosterone, similar to type 1 5α‐steroid reductase. Because two types of 5α‐steroid reductase were previously reported, we termed this novel 5α‐steroid reductase ‘type 3 5α‐steroid reductase’ (SRD5A3). Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and northern blot analyses confirmed its overexpression in HRPC cells, and indicated no or little expression in normal adult organs. Knockdown of SRD5A3 expression by small interfering RNA in prostate cancer cells resulted in a significant decrease in DHT production and a drastic reduction in cell viability. These findings indicate that a novel type 3 5α‐steroid reductase, SRD5A3, is associated with DHT production and maintenance of androgen–androgen receptor‐pathway activation in HRPC cells, and that this enzymatic activity should be a promising molecular target for prostate cancer therapy. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 81–86)
Phase II study of a salvage regimen using cyclophosphamide, high‐dose cytarabine, dexamethasone, etoposide, and rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Oki Yasuhiro , Ogura Michinori , Kato Harumi , Kikuchi Ako , Taji Hirofumi , Kagami Yoshitoyo , Oshiro Aya , Tsujimura Akane , Yamamoto Kazuhito , Morishima Yasuo
Published: November 2007

The management of relapsed or refractory B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (B‐NHL) remains challenging. We investigated the efficacy and safety of salvage chemoimmunotherapy (CHASER) in patients with relapsed or refractory B‐NHL who had radiographically measurable disease and adequate major organ function. The CHASER treatment consisted of: rituximab 375 mg/m2, day 1; cyclophosphamide 1200 mg/m2, day 3; cytarabine 2 g/m2, days 4 and 5; etoposide 100 mg/m2, days 3–5; and dexamethasone 40 mg, days 3–5. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks up to a total of four courses in the absence of disease progression. Thirty‐two patients were enrolled and received a median of four courses of treatment (range 1–4 courses) per patient. Twenty patients (63%) were previously treated with rituximab‐containing regimens. The median age was 54 years (range 28–67 years). The treatment was generally well tolerated, with major toxicities being grade 4 neutropenia (n = 32), thrombocytopenia requiring transfusion (n = 28), and grade 3 transaminase elevation (n = 2). Overall response rates in the entire group, and in patients with indolent (n = 17) and aggressive (n = 15) diseases were 84%, 100% and 67%, respectively. Responses were observed similarly in patients with (n = 20) and without (n = 12) previous rituximab exposure (85% and 83%, respectively). Stem cell harvest was successful in 19 of 22 patients. The median time to treatment failure for the entire group was 24.5 months. This promising result of high activity and favorable toxicity profile warrants further investigation in large‐scale multicenter trials. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 179–184)
A randomised comparison of the single use LMA Flexible™ with the reusable LMA Flexible™ in paediatric dental day‐case patients
Authors: Flynn P. , Ahmed F. B. , Mitchell V. , Patel A. , Clarke S.
Published: November 2007

In this study we compared the performance of the single use flexible laryngeal mask airway (LMA Flexible™) with the original reusable LMA Flexible™ in paediatric dento‐alveolar day‐case surgery. The aim of the study was to determine whether these two supraglottic airway devices were clinically equivalent when used for simple dental extractions in children under general anaesthesia. This randomised comparative trial in 100 healthy children used first attempt airway insertion success as its primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included the adequacy of ventilation, incidence of airway obstruction and the requirement for device manipulation and the incidence of adverse airway outcomes during recovery from anaesthesia. No difference was found between the devices in first attempt insertion success rate (94% with reusable LMA Flexible and 90% with single use LMA Flexible, p = 0.358), and ease of insertion was also similar (p = 0.5). Both devices performed equally well during surgery, with no significant differences in episodes of intra‐operative airway compromise (p = 0.387), and both the single use and reusable LMA Flexible displayed excellent recovery characteristics, with no occurrences of emergence airway obstruction. No blood was discovered within the inner LMA tube shaft in either device, implying that both protected against tracheobronchial soiling. We conclude therefore that the single use LMA Flexible is an acceptable alternative to the reusable LMA Flexible.
Comparison of the incidence and severity of cough induced by sufentanil and fentanyl: a prospective, randomised, double‐blind study
Authors: Agarwal A. , Gautam S. , Nath S. S. , Gupta D. , Singh U.
Published: November 2007

We compared the incidence and severity of cough following a bolus of sufentanil with that following fentanyl in 510 patients, randomly allocated to receive sufentanil 0.3 μg.kg−1, fentanyl 3 μg.kg−1 or 5 ml sterile water intravenously over 5 s. Coughing was graded depending on the number of coughs as mild (1–2), moderate (3–5) and severe (> 5). The incidence of coughing was higher after sufentanil (26/165; 15%) and fentanyl (54/169; 32%) than in the control group (0/168; p < 0.001). Sufentanil was also associated with a lesser severity (p = 0.039) of coughing compared with fentanyl. We conclude that equipotent boluses of sufentanil and fentanyl increase the incidence of cough, although the incidence and severity of coughing with sufentanil are less than those with fentanyl.
M‐Entropy guidance vs standard practice during propofol‐remifentanil anaesthesia: a randomised controlled trial*
Authors: Gruenewald M. , Zhou J. , Schloemerkemper N. , Meybohm P. , Weiler N. , Tonner P. H. , Scholz J. , Bein B.
Published: November 2007

Seventy‐two patients undergoing routine surgical procedures under propofol‐remifentanil anaesthesia were randomly assigned to receive either standard clinical practice (n = 35) or standard practice plus monitoring of depth of anaesthesia with M‐Entropy (n = 37). Patients in the standard practice group received more propofol than the entropy group (mean (SD) 95 (14) vs 81 (22) μg.kg−1.min−1, respectively; p < 0.01), and less remifentanil (0.39 (0.08) vs 0.46 (0.08) μg.kg−1.min−1, respectively; p < 0.001). Loss of consciousness was best predicted by BIS (prediction probability (PK) 0.96) and response entropy (PK 0.93), whereas emergence was best predicted by response entropy (PK 0.94). The frequency of unwanted patient responses was higher in the standard practice group than in the entropy group (47 vs 27 total events, respectively; p < 0.01). Both regimens resulted in fast recovery with no clinical advantage for either one. There were no significant differences in haemodynamic parameters, postoperative nausea and vomiting or satisfaction with the procedure.
The use of patient‐controlled epidural fentanyl in elderly patients*
Authors: Ishiyama T. , Iijima T. , Sugawara T. , Shibuya K. , Sato H. , Terada Y. , Ichikawa M. , Sessler D. I. , Matsukawa T.
Published: November 2007

We studied whether delivering postoperative analgesia, using a patient‐controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) device was effective and safe in elderly patients. We enrolled 40 patients aged > 65 years (elderly group) and 40 patients aged 20–64 years (young group) scheduled for elective major abdominal surgery. PCEA infusion was started following completion of surgery. Mean (SD) fentanyl consumption (10.7 (3.7) compared with 10.5 (2.7) μg.kg−1, p = 0.76) and number of times patients pressed the bolus switch (32 (36) compared with 44 (38), p = 0.16) during the first 24 h postoperatively were similar in the two groups. Pain scores, which were similar in both groups at rest, were significantly lower in the elderly on coughing (at 24 h, p < 0.05). In addition, average pain scores were similar at the time of PCEA bolus demands in the two groups. Elderly and young adult patients therefore required similar amounts of patient‐controlled epidural fentanyl to produce satisfactory pain relief.
Field evaluation of the efficacy of tolfenamic acid administered in one single preoperative injection for the prevention of postoperative pain in the dog
Authors: GRANDEMANGE E. , FOURNEL S. , BOISRAMÉ B.
Published: November 2007

In this randomized, placebo‐controlled, blinded field trial, 62 dogs (of which four were excluded) taken to a veterinary practice for orthopaedic surgery with a postoperative painful component were enrolled to assess the efficacy of a preoperative intramuscular injection of tolfenamic acid (TA) at a dose of 4 mg/kg in preventing postoperative pain. The animals were clinically examined at T1 + 1H, T1 + 4H, T1 + 24H (T1 = extubation). The efficacy results showed a statistical effect of TA in preventing postoperative pain with the evolution in the pain statistically in favour of TA treatment (Visual Analogue Scale). This was confirmed by the sum of the scores calculated at T1 + 24H that was statistically higher in the placebo group, and by the evolution in the respiratory rate, which was statistically lower in the TA‐treated animals after surgery. TA treatment was very well tolerated as no clinical sign (except one isolated case of vomiting and diarrhoea, i.e. 3.5%) or change in biochemical and haematological values was observed and as no interaction with the anaesthetic drugs and with marbofloxacin was reported.
Effect of halofuginone lactate on treatment and prevention of lamb cryptosporidiosis: an extensive field trial
Authors: GIADINIS N. D. , PAPADOPOULOS E. , PANOUSIS N. , PAPAZAHARIADOU M. , LAFI S. Q. , KARATZIAS H.
Published: November 2007

This study aimed to investigate the effects of halofuginone lactate (100 μg/kg BW) on treatment and prevention of cryptosporidiosis in lambs. It consisted of three field trials. The first trial was designed to assess the efficacy of halofuginone in treating lamb diarrhoea caused by cryptosporidiosis, and in preventing the disease, using two schemes; halofuginone given for seven and for three consecutive days respectively. Halofuginone was effective in the treatment of diarrhoea caused by cryptosporidiosis (P < 0.01). In addition, halofuginone administered as a 7‐day treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) more effective than a 3‐day treatment in preventing diarrhoea in the infected flocks. The second trial was designed to evaluate the preventive effect of halofuginone, which was administered for 7 days in lambs infected with cryptosporidiosis, on diarrhoea incidence, oocyst shedding and body weight gain. Halofuginone significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the diarrhoea incidence, the time of oocyst shedding and the mean intensity of shedding, but did not affect body weight gain. The third trial was designed to examine the ability of halofuginone to reduce the death rate in flocks with cryptosporidiosis. Halofuginone treatment was effective in preventing and in reducing the death rate of cryptosporidiosis in these flocks.
Pharmacokinetics of tilmicosin in equine tissues and plasma
Authors: CLARK C. , DOWLING P. M. , ROSS S. , WOODBURY M. , BOISON J. O.
Published: November 2007

The macrolide antibiotic tilmicosin has potential for treating bacterial respiratory tract infections in horses. A pharmacokinetic study evaluated the disposition of tilmicosin in the horse after oral (4 mg/kg) or subcutaneous (s.c.) (10 mg/kg) administration. Tilmicosin was not detected in equine plasma or tissues after oral administration at this dose. With s.c. injection, tilmicosin concentrations reached a maximum concentration of approximately 200 ng/mL in the plasma of the horses. Tilmicosin concentrations in plasma persisted with a mean residence time (MRT) of 19 h. Maximum tissue residue concentrations (Cmax) of tilmicosin measured in equine lung, kidney, liver and muscle tissues after s.c. administration were 2784, 4877, 1398, and 881 ng/g, respectively. TheMRTof tilmicosin in these tissues was approximately 27 h. Subcutaneous administration of tilmicosin resulted in severe reactions at the injection sites.
Lesional accumulation of RhoA+ cells in brains of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis
Authors: Zhang Z. , Schittenhelm J. , Meyermann R. , Schluesener H. J.
Published: November 2007

Aim: Infiltration of autoantigen‐specific T cells and monocytes into the central nervous system is essential for the development of both experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and multiple sclerosis (MS). RhoA is one of the best‐known members of Rho GTPases, and inhibition of RhoA has been shown to attenuate the progression of EAE. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of RhoA in brains of EAE rats and MS tissue. Methods: EAE was induced by immunization with the synthetic peptide gpMBP68‐84 in rats, and clinical severity was scored. RhoA expression pattern was investigated in brains of EAE rats at different time points and in different lesions of brain tissue specimens from six MS brains and five neuropathologically unaffected controls by immunohistochemistry. Methods: In EAE rat brains, accumulation of RhoA+ cells reached maximal levels around Day 13, correlating to the clinical severity of EAE, and up‐regulation lasted until the recovery stage of the disease. Double‐labelling experiments showed that the major cellular sources of RhoA were reactive macrophages/microglia. While RhoA+ cells in normal human brain parenchyma were rarely observed, RhoA expression was found to be spatially associated with MS lesions, showing a marked decrease from active lesions via chronic stages to its near absence in normal‐appearing white matter. In addition, major RhoA+ cells in brain parenchyma of MS were identified to be activated macrophages/microglia. Conclusion: Our present data indicated that RhoA may play an important role during the effector phase of EAE and MS. Therefore, RhoA inhibitors might be a therapeutic option for MS patients.
Tenascin‐C expression relates to clinicopathological features in pilocytic and diffuse astrocytomas
Authors: Maris C. , Rorive S. , Sandras F. , D'Haene N. , Sadeghi N. , Bièche I. , Vidaud M. , Decaestecker C. , Salmon I.
Published: November 2007

Aims: Tenascin‐C (TN‐C) is an extracellular matrix brain glycoprotein for which conflicting in vitro and in vivo results are reported in the literature dealing with its involvement in astrocytoma aggressiveness, in particular astrocytoma invasion. In view of these conflicting results and the lack of data available on low‐grade astrocytomas, the present study focuses on pilocytic World Health Organization (WHO) grade I, and diffuse WHO grade II astrocytomas, that is, two histological entities associated with very different invasive abilities. Methods: Using real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, we analysed the TN‐C expression in normal brain tissue as well as in a series of 54 pilocytic and 53 grade II astrocytomas. Conclusions: Our data on normal brain showed that while TN‐C is largely expressed in supratentorial white matter, it was largely absent in infratentorial white matter. Paralleling these observations, we showed that TN‐C expression in low‐grade astrocytomas similarly varies according to tumour site. Cox regression analysis evidenced that TN‐C provided an independent prognostic value which is enhanced in the case of grade II astrocytomas for which positive TN‐C expression is associated with a higher risk of recurrence. We also analysed TN‐C expression specifically in vascular areas of low‐grade astrocytomas without demonstrating any prognostic value for this additional feature. Results: Similarly to normal brain, low‐grade astrocytomas exhibit variations in TN‐C expression with site, and this expression is associated with an independent prognostic value in terms of recurrence.
Proposed neuropathological criteria for the post mortem diagnosis of multiple system atrophy
Authors: Trojanowski J. Q. , Revesz T. ,   the Neuropathology Working Group on MSA
Published: November 2007

This report summarizes the recommendations of the multiple system atrophy (MSA) Working Group on Diagnostic Neuropathology Criteria for MSA that was part of an international MSA Workshop held on 26 and 27 April 2007 in Boston, MA. The workshop was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke that was intended to convene a group of international experts to revise and update criteria for the clinical and neuropathological diagnosis of MSA. The MSA Workshop recognized the glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) composed of filamentous alpha‐synuclein as a defining morphological feature of MSA, and it recommends that widespread GCIs should be a criterion for the definite neuropathological diagnosis of MSA. The deliberations and recommendations of the Working Group on Diagnostic Neuropathology Criteria for MSA are summarized in this report.
The associations between birthweight and adult markers of liver damage and function
Authors: Fraser Abigail , Ebrahim Shah , Davey Smith George , Lawlor Debbie A.
Published: November 2007

Evidence suggesting an effect of fetal growth on liver development and function stems from both animal and human studies. The association of birthweight with adult markers of liver damage and function was examined in a random sample of 2101 British women aged 60–79 years. Age‐adjusted natural logged levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) decreased linearly across increasing thirds of birthweight. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were higher in women of the lowest third of the birthweight distribution compared with other women. No evidence was found for associations of birthweight with aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin and albumin. After full adjustment for social class, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption, an increase in one standard deviation of birthweight (691 g) was associated with a 2% ([95% CI 0%, 4%],P = 0.021) decrease in the geometric mean of ALT, a 4% decrease in GGT ([95% CI 1%, 6%],P = 0.008) and a 2% decrease in ALP ([95% CI 0%, 3%],P = 0.001). Associations of birthweight with ALT and GGT, but not with ALP, were attenuated when adjusting for components of the metabolic syndrome. These findings suggest that factors affecting intrauterine growth may increase the propensity for adult liver damage. The attenuation of associations with adjustment for components of the metabolic syndrome is in line with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, indicated by elevated ALT and GGT, being the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, and of the influence of perinatal factors on this syndrome.
Antibody Response to Long‐term and High‐dose Mould‐exposed Sawmill Workers
Authors: Rydjord B. , Eduard W. , Stensby B. , Sandven P. , Michaelsen T. E. , Wiker H. G.
Published: November 2007

Exposure to moulds is thought to cause adverse health effects ranging from vague subjective symptoms to allergy and respiratory diseases. Until now, most studies have been emphasizing low levels of exposure. In Norwegian sawmills during the 1980s, extensively high spore counts up to 107 spores/m3 air were reported. By using serum samples obtained from sawmill workers during that period, in addition to control sera, we studied the antibody response of all classes and IgG subclasses to Rhizopus microsporus at different levels of exposure. Antigen specificity was further studied by Western blotting. Exposure to R. microsporus was accompanied by R. microsporus‐specific antibody production against a wide range of antigenic components most likely of both protein and carbohydrate nature. Increasing levels of mould‐specific IgG1, IgG2, IgG4 and IgA antibodies were associated with increased exposure, while the highest levels of exposure were associated with a somewhat reduced level of mould‐specific IgE antibodies. In conclusion, the present study strongly suggests that high mould exposure can induce a strong IgG and IgA response in a dose‐dependent manner.
Anatomy of a submarine pyroclastic flow and associated turbidity current: July 2003 dome collapse, Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, West Indies
Authors: TROFIMOVS JESSICA , SPARKS R. STEPHEN JOHN , TALLING PETER J.
Published: November 2007

The 12 to 13 July 2003 andesite lava dome collapse at the Soufrière Hills volcano, Montserrat, provides the first opportunity to document comprehensively both the sub‐aerial and submarine sequence of events for an eruption. Numerous pyroclastic flows entered the ocean during the collapse, depositing approximately 90% of the total material into the submarine environment. During peak collapse conditions, as the main flow penetrated the air–ocean interface, phreatic explosions were observed and a surge cloud decoupled from the main flow body to travel 2 to 3 km over the ocean surface before settling. The bulk of the flow was submerged and rapidly mixed with sea water forming a water‐saturated mass flow. Efficient sorting and physical differentiation occurred within the flow before initial deposition at 500 m water depth. The coarsest components (∼60% of the total volume) were deposited proximally from a dense granular flow, while the finer components (∼40%) were efficiently elutriated into the overlying part of the flow, which evolved into a far‐reaching turbidity current.
Molecular basis of multiple resistance to ACCase‐inhibiting and ALS‐inhibiting herbicides in Lolium rigidum
Authors: TAN M‐K , PRESTON C , WANG G‐X
Published: November 2007

Herbicide resistance in Lolium rigidum is widespread across much of the agricultural land in Australia. As the incidence of herbicide resistance has increased, so has the incidence of multiple herbicide resistance. This reduces the herbicide options available for control of this weed. This study reports on the successful amplification and sequencing of the acetolactate synthase (ALS) gene of L. rigidum using primers designed from sequence information of related taxa. This enables, for the first time, the successful determination of a mutation in the ALS gene of this species that provides resistance to ALS‐inhibiting herbicides. This mutation causes amino acid substitution at Trp574 (numbering standardised to Arabidopsis thaliana) to Leu which had been reported to confer a high level of resistance against all classes of ALS inhibitor herbicides. In addition, multiple resistance to ALS‐inhibiting and acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase‐inhibiting herbicides is acquired through the independent accumulation of mutant alleles for the target sites. This may thus explain some of the irregular, mosaic resistance patterns that occur in this predominantly outcrossing species.
Comparison of three methodologies for efficient seed extraction in studies of soil weed seedbanks
Authors: MESGARAN M B , MASHHADI H R , ZAND E , ALIZADEH H M
Published: November 2007

Determination of weed seeds in the soil is tedious and time consuming. To evaluate the different seed extraction methods to improve seedbank estimations, three extraction methods (sieving, cloth bag and flotation) were compared, based on their accuracy and time needed for separation processes and enumeration. Seeds of Datura stramonium,Amaranthus retroflexus,Portulaca oleracea and Plantago major were used to artificially infest soil samples of four textures, namely clay, clay loam, loam and sandy loam containing 19%, 27%, 38% and 65.5% sand respectively. Soil textures had a significant effect on counting time in all extraction methods. In flotation, four submethods involving different solutions and centrifuge rotation speed were examined, but showed no differences, so data were pooled. Counting time in flotation, cloth bag and sieving methods was 9, 16 and 30 min respectively. However, when the time needed for other processes was taken into consideration, flotation and bag methods did not differ significantly. Species‐wise seed recovery was not affected by soil texture in the bag method, suggesting an advantage for this approach as its accuracy is not soil texture‐dependent. Total seed recovery for flotation, sieving and bag methods was 61%, 67% and 75%, respectively, and was not significantly different. Considering the efficiency of methods, the cloth bag technique could be recommended, because it was as time consuming as the flotation method, but required the same minimum equipments and costs as the sieving method.
Frequency and distribution of herbicide resistance in Raphanus raphanistrum populations randomly collected across the Western Australian wheatbelt
Authors: WALSH M J , OWEN M J , POWLES S B
Published: November 2007

In 2003, a random survey was conducted across the Western Australian wheatbelt to establish the extent and frequency of herbicide resistance in Raphanus raphanistrum populations infesting crop fields. Five hundred cropping fields were visited, with 90 R. raphanistrum populations collected, representative of populations present in crop fields throughout the Western Australian wheatbelt. Collected populations were screened with four herbicides of various modes of action that are commonly used for the control of this weed. The majority of Western Australian R. raphanistrum populations were found to contain plants resistant to the acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐inhibiting herbicide chlorsulfuron (54%) and auxin analogue herbicide, 2,4‐D amine (60%). This survey also determined that over half (58%) of these populations were multiple resistant across at least two of the four herbicide modes of action used in the screening. Only 17% of R. raphanistrum populations have retained their initial status of susceptibility to all four herbicides. The distribution patterns of the herbicide‐resistant populations identified that there were higher frequencies of resistant and developing resistance populations occurring in the intensively cropped northern regions of the wheatbelt. These results clearly indicate that the reliance on herbicidal weed control in cropping systems based on reduced tillage and stubble retention will lead to higher frequencies of herbicide‐resistant weed populations. Therefore, within intensive crop production systems, there is a need to diversify weed management strategies and not rely entirely on too few herbicide control options.
Modelling the correlation between plant phenology and weed emergence for improving weed control
Authors: OTTO S , MASIN R , CHISTÈ G , ZANIN G
Published: November 2007

The efficiency of weed control practices could be improved if their timing is linked to weed emergence dynamics. A study was conducted in a pre‐alpine valley in northern Italy to evaluate whether the phenological phases of some perennial plants could serve as reliable indicators of time of weed emergence and thus be an alternative to bioclimatic models for supporting management decisions. Weed emergence was observed from 2003 to 2004 in five sites at different altitudes. The emergence dynamics of the main weeds were modelled with a Gompertz model. The phenology of 10 common shrubs and a tree was monitored by visual assessment. The flowering and fruit‐ripening phases of the most useful shrubs were modelled with a lognormal model. Correlation analysis between the two functions was used to study the correspondence between plant phenology and weed emergence. Flowering and fruit‐ripening phases of the shrubs were well described by the lognormal model. The correlation analysis between the lognormal model and Gompertz model showed correspondences between the phenological phases and emergence dynamics of the main weeds. The proposed method can be used to examine shrub phenology–weed emergence correlations and consequently for supporting weed management, under certain conditions.
A European biotype of Amaranthus retroflexus cross‐resistant to ALS inhibitors and response to alternative herbicides
Authors: SCARABEL L , VAROTTO S , SATTIN M
Published: November 2007

An acetolactate synthase (ALS)‐resistant Amaranthus retroflexus biotype was collected in a soyabean crop after repeated exposure to imazethapyr and thifensulfuron‐methyl in north‐eastern Italy. Studies were conducted to characterise the resistance status and determine alternative post‐emergence herbicides for controlling this biotype. Whole‐plant bioassay revealed that the GR50 values were 1898‐ and 293‐fold higher than those observed for the biotype susceptible to imazethapyr and imazamox respectively. The biotype also displayed high cross‐resistance to sulfonylureas. Molecular analysis demonstrated that a single nucleotide substitution had occurred in domain B (TGG to TTG at position 574), conferring a change from the amino acid tryptophan to leucine in the resistant biotype. However, herbicides with other modes of action (PSII, 4‐HPPD and PPO inhibitors) provided excellent control. The GR50 ratios for metribuzin, terbuthylazine and mesotrione were close to 1 and treatments with fomesafen gave 100% control of both susceptible and resistant biotypes at the recommended field dose. This study documents the first case of an imidazolinone and ALS‐resistant biotype in European crops and identifies the post‐emergence herbicide options available for managing this troublesome weed in soyabean crops. Alternative management strategies are also discussed.
Evaluation of the vaccination status in pediatric renal transplant recipients
Authors: Chaves T. S. S. , Pereira L. M. , Santos S. De S. , David‐Neto E. , Lopes M. H.
Published: November 2007

Abstract:  To assess the immunization status of pediatric renal transplant patients followed at a single center in Brazil, vaccination charts of all patients aged between one and 18 yr were analyzed both pre‐ and post‐transplantation. Appropriate immunization was defined according to the National Immunization Program (routine vaccines) – for all Brazilian children – and the Special Immunobiological Agents Program that also includes special vaccines for immunodeficient or other high‐risk children. A total of 46 patients was evaluated (mean age 13.7 yr; range 4–17 yr). Vaccination charts were found to be up to date in only two patients (4.3%) pretransplant and in two (4.3%) post‐transplant. Although 37 patients (80.4%) in the pretransplant phase and 24 (52.1%) in the post‐transplant phase had been vaccinated according to the National Immunization Program, they had not received the special vaccines indicated for their immunocompromised condition. Therefore, despite being followed at a referral center, almost all patients presented an incomplete immunization status pre‐ and post‐transplant. This probably reflects missed opportunities and medical/parental apprehension related to vaccination of patients with chronic renal insufficiency, dialysis or kidney transplantation. Efforts should be made to ensure adequate vaccination in children with kidney diseases, especially before kidney transplantation.
Structure of Thymic Cysts in Congenital Lymph Nodes‐lacking Mice
Authors: Nakamura Y. , Qu N. , Terayama H. , Naito M. , Yi S.‐Q. , Moriyama H. , Itoh M.
Published: November 2007

The ALY (aly/aly) mouse, a mutant of the C57BL/6j strain, has a severe immunodeficiency because of immature development of the immune organs. Both lymph nodes and Peyer’s patches are lacking and both the thymus and spleen are small. Previous microscopical observation of their thymus glands revealed the presence of an indistinct border between the cortex and medulla, the absence of Hassal’s corpuscles and the reduction of the medullary epithelial cell population. However, other microscopical findings for these glands have not yet been reported. In the present study, we performed light and electron microscopical observation of the thymus and found the consistent presence of extremely irregular shaped cystic cavities lined by microvilli‐bearing epithelium in the medulla. The cysts comprised ceca and did not open into adjacent capillaries, although they contained some lymphocytes and macrophages in their lumens. In the thymus glands of normal C57BL/6j mice, only some small cysts oval in shape could be inconspicuously found in the medulla. Therefore, the thymic cysts may normally regress during thymic development, however, in ALY mice, the cysts may remain because of the organ immaturity.
Study of the Morphology of the Olfactory Organ of African Ostrich Chick
Authors: Jin E. H. , Peng K. M. , Wang J. AX. , Du A. N. , Tang L. , Wei L. , Wang Y. , Li S. H. , Song H.
Published: November 2007

The anatomy and histology of the olfactory organ of African ostrich chick were carefully observed by gross anatomy observation, paraffin sectioning and haematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining. The results showed that there were no keratotic nose lids at the entrance of the external naris, and that the nasal cavity was separated into two imperforate compartments by the nasal septum. The posterior conchae were connected with the middle conchae without cohering to nasal walls, and appeared to be part of a palinal elongation of the middle conchae. Olfactory cells were distributed in the mucosal epithelium of middle and posterior conchae. Nasal glands were shaped like irregular rectangles, and their connective tissue extended to the parenchyma, which was divided into many glandular lobules. The layers of the olfactory bulb were indistinct, the globular structure was inconspicuous and the granular cells were scattered relatively in the lamina granularis externa.
New frontiers in understanding drip loss in pork: recent insights on the role of postmortem muscle biochemistry
Authors: Huff‐Lonergan E. , Lonergan S. M.
Published: November 2007

The aim of this review was to summarize some of the most important and novel hypotheses regarding the development of water‐holding capacity in pork. Among the key factors that determine water‐holding capacity are rate and extent of pH decline and the structure of the muscle and the muscle cell itself. However, there have been numerous reviews on the importance of pH yet relatively few on the concept of how muscle cell structure influences the ability of the postmortem cell to maintain water/moisture. Recent advances in the ability of scientists to monitor the movement of water within the cell and within the muscle and to monitor protein degradation have led to new hypotheses regarding the development of drip or purge from fresh meat. One of the more novel and promising hypotheses that has surfaced recently is that alterations in the architecture of the cell may govern the retention/loss of moisture from the muscle cell and ultimately the muscle. The degradation of cytoskeletal and intermediate filament proteins (like desmin) early postmortem may release constraints within the cell that limit the space available for water/fluid that has been forced from the myofibril during rigour. Conversely, degradation of some membrane proteins (like integrin) could actually contribute to the formation of drip channels and thus might actually improve the ability of moisture to ‘escape’ from the muscle cell. Thus, water‐holding capacity in fresh meat is associated with specific changes that occur in early postmortem muscle.
Structural and functional genomics to elucidate the genetic background of microstructural and biophysical muscle properties in the pig
Authors: Wimmers K. , Murani E. , Ngu N. T. , Schellander K. , Ponsuksili S.
Published: November 2007

Linkage analyses enable identifying genomic regions that exhibit quantitative trait loci (QTL) without prior hypothesis on the physiology of a trait. Function‐oriented expression analyses are a complementary approach to derive hypothesis on the genetic background of phenotypic variation. Muscle fibre types and size affect body composition and meat quality traits. The number and proportion of muscle fibres are to a large extent determined during the prenatal development. Consequently, QTL for muscle fibre, meat quality and carcass traits were detected in a porcine experimental population based on Duroc and Berlin Miniature Pig. Regions with either significant QTL for muscle fibre traits or significant QTL for meat quality and muscularity or both were detected on SSC1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15 and 16. Here, effects on the complex traits of muscularity and meat quality might be the result of genetic variation primarily affecting fibre type distribution traits. To complement the QTL study expression profiling of prenatal muscle tissue of Duroc and Pietrain was conducted that revealed a list of functional candidate genes for meat quality and carcass traits of various physiological networks. Assignments of these genes to QTL regions highlight them as positional functional candidates. Exemplarily, five genes were analysed further and shown to be associated with meat quality and carcass traits. Further, the relative MYH isotype transcript abundance was found to be associated with muscularity. Relative MYH isotype transcript abundance is proposed as a new phenotype to unravel the genetic background of variation in traits related to muscle and meat properties.
NMR and the water‐holding issue of pork
Authors: Bertram H. C. , Andersen H. J.
Published: November 2007

Consumers’ awareness of food quality has never been more pronounced. Meat forms a substantial part of the food consumption, and accordingly techniques to control the quality of meat are needed. In addition, a better understanding of how basic biochemical and biophysical factors influence the final meat quality is also required for optimization of the quality. Water‐holding capacity (WHC) is a major quality attribute of fresh meat. However, the exact mechanisms determining the WHC of meat are not fully understood. Especially, characteristics about proposed water populations in the meat and how they are interrelated with drip loss need to be studied further. Moreover, the distribution and mobility of water in muscle during its conversion to meat and how they are affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors are poorly elucidated. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has during recent years gained increasing use within different areas of muscle physiology and meat science. NMR1H relaxation methodologies enable detection of the mobility of protons in heterogeneous materials and thereby provide possibilities for a characterization of the properties of water. The objective of this presentation is to give an overview of the use of NMR relaxation measurements to characterize the proposed water populations in meat and investigate how the distribution and mobility of the water changes postmortem. In addition, applications of NMR spectroscopy in metabolic studies will be considered.
Interaction of Intact Porcine Spermatozoa with Epithelial Cells and Neutrophilic Granulocytes during Uterine Passage
Authors: Taylor U , Rath D , Zerbe H , Schuberth H‐J
Published: November 2007

Content

New insemination techniques allow a tremendous sperm reduction for successful artificial insemination (AI) if highly diluted semen is deposited in the tip of the uterine horn and close to the utero‐tubal junction. High sperm losses are known to occur during uterine passage and it was the general question whether specific binding mechanisms are involved. Upon arrival in the uterus, spermatozoa are confronted with mainly two different cell types: uterine epithelial cells (UEC) and neutrophilic granulocytes (polymorphonuclear neutrophil, PMN). As cell–sperm interactions can hardly be observed in vivo, an ex vivo system was established to study the interaction between spermatozoa and the UEC. Uterine segments (10 cm) from freshly slaughtered synchronized juvenile gilts were inseminated for 60 min at 38°C. Thereafter spermatozoa were recovered, counted flow cytometrically and examined for changes in viability and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Significantly less spermatozoa with a functioning MMP and intact plasma membranes could be retrieved (55 ± 7%), while the number of damaged spermatozoa hardly changed (93 ± 12%), indicating retention of viable sperm cells in the uterine lumen. The interactions between porcine PMN and spermatozoa (motile, immotile, membrane‐damaged) were studied in coincubation assays in vitro. The binding of membrane‐damaged sperm cells to PMN was virtually non‐existent (3 ± 2%). Viable and motile spermatozoa attached to PMN without being phagocytosed within 60 min (45 ± 3%), whereas binding to sodium fluoride (NaF)‐immobilized spermatozoa was reduced to 20 ± 2%. The binding of viable sperm to PMN is most likely not lectin‐dependent; although both viable cell types were shown to express a broad range of different lectin‐binding sugar residues, none of the lectins tested was able to selectively block PMN‐sperm binding significantly. The results of the study suggest that viable spermatozoa are already subject to selective processes within the uterus before further selection is initiated at the utero‐tubal junction and in the oviductal isthmus.