bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Report of a Root and Crown Disease Caused by Rhizoctonia solani on Centaurea stoebe in Russia
Authors: Caesar A. J. , Lartey R. T. , Caesar-TonThat T.
Published: November 2009

Spotted knapweed (SKW), Centaurea stoebe L., is a nonindigenous species that is invasive over large areas in the United States, especially in the west. It has been estimated that infestations of SKW cause $42 million in direct and indirect economic losses annually (2), and the weed could potentially invade 13.6 million ha of rangeland in Montana alone. Extensive efforts toward the control of SKW have included the release of 12 insects for biological control, four of which attack the crowns and roots of this short-lived perennial. To focus efforts to select potential soilborne pathogens, which could be applied in combination with insects, we conducted a survey for plant pathogens in the native range of SKW associated with damage caused by any root-attacking insects. Stunted and chlorotic SKW plants, which were colonized by larvae of Cyphocleonus spp., were found in June 1994 near the Novomar'evskaya Botanical Sanctuary (45°08′49.87″N, 41°51′02.05″E) in the Caucasus Region of Russia. A nonsporulating multinucleate fungus was isolated from the lower stem, crown, and upper root tissue of one such plant. Colonies growing on potato dextrose agar and Ko and Hora media were examined microscopically and identified as Rhizoctonia solani by the occurrence of robust, thick-walled, golden hyphae with right-angled branching and constrictions at the branch points. The anastomosis grouping of the one isolate was determined to be AG 2-2 IIIB after pairing it on water agar with 11 AG tester isolates representing all subgroups of AG 1 to AG 5. The hyphal diameter at the obvious point of anastomosis was reduced and cell death of adjacent cells was observed. In 2007, pathogenicity was determined by planting 12-week-old seedlings of SKW, one per pot, into 20 15-cm-diameter pots of a steamed greenhouse soil mix composed of sphagnum peat, sand, and Bozeman silt loam (1:1:1, vol/vol), pH 6.6, infested with R. solani-colonized barley grain that had been dried and milled. An inoculum level of 8 CFU/g of air-dried soil was determined by most probable number calculations from fourfold dilutions of infested soil. Controls were planted into noninfested soil. In both greenhouse tests, the isolate caused either mortality or a 93% mean fresh weight reduction of surviving plants, relative to the controls, after 8 months. R. solani was reisolated from necrotic root and crown tissue of dead and stunted plants but not from the controls. To our knowledge, this is the first report of R. solani occurring on SKW in Europe. The characterization and pathogenicity of Fusarium spp. isolated from insect-colonized roots of SKW in Europe was reported previously (1).

References: (1) A. J. Caesar et al. BioControl 47:217. (2) S. A. Hirsch and J. A. Leitch, North Dakota Agricultural Economics Report No. 355. NDSU, Fargo. 1996.
First Report of Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne hispanica Infecting Grapevines in Southern Spain
Authors: Castillo P. , Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez C. , Palomares-Rius J. E. , Cantalapiedra Navarrete C. , Landa B. B.
Published: November 2009

Some commercial vineyards producing the ‘Condado de Huelva’ wine denomination of origin in Almonte, Bonares, and Rociana (Huelva Province), southern Spain, showed general decline in sandy soils in 2009. Disease surveys revealed severe infections of grapevine rootstock Richter 110 feeder roots and heavy soil infestations by a root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne sp.). Infected plants showed a general decline as the only visible aboveground symptom, but when roots were inspected, moderate to small galls on secondary feeder roots were detected. The Meloidogyne sp. population was extracted and quantified from soil and root samples as previously described (1) and identified by the female perineal pattern, esterase (Est) and malate dehydrogenase (Mdh) phenotypes, and sequencing and maximum parsimony (MP) analysis of the ribosomal DNA region D2-D3 of 28S (2,4). Morphology of the perineal patterns and measurements of the second-stage juveniles (J2s) matched those of the original description of Meloidogyne hispanica (3). Enzyme analysis revealed two slow and a medium Est bands, a strong band, and two additional weaker bands coincident with the S2-M1 and N3 Mdh M. hispanica phenotypes (2,4). D2-D3 sequences of all three populations sampled were 100% homologous (GenBank Accession No. GQ375158). Phylogenetic analyses with MP of those sequences placed the Meloidogyne sp. in a clade (100% support) that included all M. hispanica sequences available from the GenBank database (4). M. hispanica was first found in Seville Province, southern Spain, infecting rootstocks of Prunus spp. Its distribution has been confirmed worldwide on different agricultural crops. Thus, M. hispanica has been reported to be infecting grapevines in South Africa and Australia (4); however, to our knowledge, this is the first report of M. hispanica infecting grapevines in Europe. Our data suggest that M. hispanica may pose a threat for vineyard production in southern Spain since M. hispanica was found in 52.63 and 47.36% of soil and root samples, respectively, from 19 fields in ‘Condado de Huelva’, with nematode population densities ranging from 2.4 to 129.6 eggs and J2s per 100 cm3 of soil and 1 to 1,797 eggs and J2s per gram of fresh roots. Furthermore, genes that confer resistance to other common root-knot nematodes reported on grapevine in Europe may not protect against M. hispanica.

References: (1) K. R. Barker. Nematode extraction and bioassays. Page 19 in: An Advanced Treatise on Meloidogyne. Vol. II, Methodology. K. R. Barker et al., eds. North Carolina State University Graphics, Raleigh, 1985. (2) P. R. Esbenshade and A. C. Triantaphyllou. J. Nematol. 22:10, 1990. (3) H. Hirschmann. J. Nematol. 18:520, 1986. (4) B. B. Landa et al. Plant Dis. 92:1104, 2008.
First Report on Tobacco mild green mosaic virus in Calibrachoa Plants (Calibrachoa × hybrida) in Mississippi
Authors: Sabanadzovic S. , Henn A. , Abou Ghanem-Sabanadzovic N. , Lawrence A.
Published: November 2009

Six calibrachoa plants displaying reduced growth, general chlorosis, and blistering on the foliage were purchased from a retail store in Starkville, MS in 2007 and tested for possible virus infections. Transmission electron microscope observations of leaf-dip preparations revealed the presence of rigid rod virions reminiscent of tobamoviruses in all samples. The virus was easily mechanically transmissible and induced systemic mosaic/mottling/necrosis symptoms in inoculated Nicotiana benthamiana, N. tabacum cvs. Xanthi and Turkish, N. rustica, N. clevelandii, and N. glutinosa plants as well as in pepper (Capsicum annuum cv. Sweet banana). In double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA tests, the virus reacted slightly with antibodies to Tobacco mosaic virus and Tomato mosaic virus (Agdia Inc, Elkhart, IN) indicating a serological relationship with these two viruses. Final identification of the virus was done by cloning and sequencing a 450-bp-long portion of the viral genome spanning the carboxy terminus of the viral coat protein and 3′ noncoding region from one of the original sources. Analyses showed that the virus in diseased calibrachoas is an isolate of Tobacco mild green mosaic virus (TMGMV) and shared 96 to 97% nucleotide identity with sequences of TMGMVCPR-18 (1) (Accession No. AF132908) and several other isolates of this virus available in GenBank. Furthermore, TMGMV was ascertained in all six calibrachoa in reverse transcription-PCR tests using virus-specific primers designed on the generated genomic region. To our knowledge, TMGMV has not been previously reported from calibrachoa plants or from Mississippi in general. In addition, our results stress the importance of the retail industry in the dissemination of viruses on the regional/national scale.

Reference: (1) S. Bodaghi et al. J. Gen. Virol. 81:577, 2000.
Biological nano-functionalization of titanium-based biomaterial surfaces: a flexible toolbox
Authors: Beutner René , Michael Jan , Schwenzer Bernd , Scharnweber Dieter
Published: November 2009

Surface functionalization with bioactive molecules (BAMs) on a nanometre scale is a main field in current biomaterial research. The immobilization of a vast number of substances and molecules, ranging from inorganic calcium phosphate phases up to peptides and proteins, has been investigated throughout recent decades. However,
in vitro
and
in vivo
results are heterogeneous. This may be at least partially attributed to the limits of the applied immobilization methods. Therefore, this paper highlights, in the first part, advantages and limits of the currently applied methods for the biological nano-functionalization of titanium-based biomaterial surfaces. The second part describes a new immobilization system recently developed in our groups. It uses the nanomechanical fixation of at least partially single-stranded nucleic acids (NAs) into an anodic titanium oxide layer as an immobilization principle and their hybridization ability for the functionalization of the surface with BAMs conjugated to the respective complementary NA strands.
Fractals in elastic-hardening plastic materials
Authors: Li J. , Ostoja-Starzewski M.
Published: November 2009

Plastic grains are found to form fractal patterns in elastic-hardening plastic materials in two dimensions, made of locally isotropic grains with random fluctuations in plastic limits or elastic/plastic moduli. The spatial assignment of randomness follows a strict-white-noise random field on a square lattice aggregate of square-shaped grains, whereby the flow rule of each grain follows associated plasticity. Square-shaped domains (comprising 256×256 grains) are loaded through either one of three macroscopically uniform boundary conditions admitted by the Hill–Mandel condition. Following an evolution of a set of grains that have become plastic, we find that it is monotonically plane filling with an increasing macroscopic load. The set’s fractal dimension increases from 0 to 2, with the response under kinematic loading being stiffer than that under mixed-orthogonal loading, which, in turn, is stiffer than the traction controlled one. All these responses display smooth transitions but, as the randomness decreases to zero, they turn into the sharp response of an idealized homogeneous material. The randomness in yield limits has a stronger effect than that in elastic/plastic moduli. On the practical side, the curves of fractal dimension versus applied stress—which indeed display a universal character for a range of different materials—offer a simple method of assessing the inelastic state of the material. A qualitative explanation of the morphogenesis of fractal patterns is given from the standpoint of a correlated percolation on a Markov field on a graph network of grains.
Inhospitable sweetness: nectar filtering of pollinator-borne inocula leads to impoverished, phylogenetically clustered yeast communities
Authors: Herrera Carlos M. , Canto Azucena , Pozo María I. , Bazaga Pilar
Published: November 2009

Identifying the rules and mechanisms that determine the composition and diversity of naturally co-occurring species assemblages is a central topic in community ecology. Although micro-organisms represent the ‘unseen majority’ of species, individuals and biomass in many ecosystems and play pivotal roles in community development and function, the study of the factors influencing the assembly of microbial communities has lagged behind that of plant and animal communities. In this paper, we investigate experimentally the mechanisms accounting for the low species richness of yeast communities inhabiting the nectar of the bumble-bee-pollinated
Helleborus foetidus
(Ranunculaceae), and explore the relationships between community assembly rules and phylogenetic relatedness. By comparing yeast communities on the glossae of foraging bumble-bees (the potential species pool) with those eventually establishing in virgin nectar probed with bee glossae (the realized community), we address the questions: (i) does nectar filter yeast inocula, so that the communities eventually established there are not random subsamples of species on bumble-bee glossae? and (ii) do yeast communities establishing in
H. foetidus
nectar exhibit some phylogenetic bias relative to the species pool on bumble-bee glossae? Results show that nectar filtering leads to species-poor, phylogenetically clustered yeast communities that are a predictable subset of pollinator-borne inocula. Such strong habitat filtering is probably due to
H. foetidus
nectar representing a harsh environment for most yeasts, where only a few phylogenetically related nectar specialists physiologically endowed to tolerate a combination of high osmotic pressure and fungicidal compounds are able to develop.
Mutational neighbourhood and mutation supply rate constrain adaptation inPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Hall Alex R. , Griffiths Victoria F. , MacLean R. Craig , Colegrave Nick
Published: November 2009

Understanding adaptation by natural selection requires understanding the genetic factors that determine which beneficial mutations are available for selection. Here, using experimental evolution of rifampicin-resistantPseudomonas aeruginosa, we show that different genotypes vary in their capacity for adaptation to the cost of antibiotic resistance. We then use sequence data to show that the beneficial mutations associated with fitness recovery were specific to particular genetic backgrounds, suggesting that genotypes had access to different sets of beneficial mutations. When we manipulated the supply rate of beneficial mutations, by altering effective population size during evolution, we found that it constrained adaptation in some selection lines by restricting access to rare beneficial mutations, but that the effect varied among the genotypes in our experiment. These results suggest that mutational neighbourhood varies even among genotypes that differ by a single amino acid change, and this determines their capacity for adaptation as well as the influence of population biology processes that alter mutation supply rate.
Multiple speciation events in an arthropod with divergent evolution in sexual morphology
Authors: Sota Teiji , Tanabe Tsutomu
Published: November 2009

Sexual selection can facilitate divergent evolution of traits related to mating and consequently promote speciation. Theoretically, independent operation of sexual selection in different populations can lead to divergence of sexual traits among populations and result in allopatric speciation. Here, we show that divergent evolution in sexual morphology affecting mating compatibility (body size and genital morphologies) and speciation have occurred in a lineage of millipedes, theParafontaria tonomineaspecies complex. In this millipede group, male and female body and genital sizes exhibit marked, correlated divergence among populations, and the diverged morphologies result in mechanical reproductive isolation between sympatric species. The morphological divergence occurred among populations independently and without any correlation with climatic variables, although matching between sexes has been maintained, suggesting that morphological divergence was not a by-product of climatic adaptation. The diverged populations underwent restricted dispersal and secondary contact without hybridization. The extent of morphological difference between sympatric species is variable, as is diversity among allopatric populations; consequently, the species complex appears to contain many species. This millipede case suggests that sexual selection does contribute to species richness via morphological diversification when a lineage of organisms consists of highly divided populations owing to limited dispersal.
A Role for Differential Glycoconjugation in the Emission of Phenylpropanoid Volatiles from Tomato Fruit Discovered Using a Metabolic Data Fusion Approach
Authors: Tikunov Yury M. , de Vos Ric C.H. , Gonzaݩlez Paramaݩs Ana M. , Hall Robert D. , Bovy Arnaud G.
Published: November 2009

A role for differential glycoconjugation in the emission of phenylpropanoid volatiles from ripening tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum) upon fruit tissue disruption has been discovered in this study. Application of a multiinstrumental analytical platform for metabolic profiling of fruits from a diverse collection of tomato cultivars revealed that emission of three discriminatory phenylpropanoid volatiles, namely methyl salicylate, guaiacol, and eugenol, took place upon disruption of fruit tissue through cleavage of the corresponding glycoconjugates, identified putatively as hexose-pentosides. However, in certain genotypes, phenylpropanoid volatile emission was arrested due to the corresponding hexose-pentoside precursors having been converted into glycoconjugate species of a higher complexity: dihexose-pentosides and malonyl-dihexose-pentosides. This glycoside conversion was established to occur in tomato fruit during the later phases of fruit ripening and has consequently led to the inability of red fruits of these genotypes to emit key phenylpropanoid volatiles upon fruit tissue disruption. This principle of volatile emission regulation can pave the way to new strategies for controlling tomato fruit flavor and taste.
Probing Allosteric Binding Sites of the Maize Endosperm ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase
Authors: Boehlein Susan K. , Shaw Janine R. , Hannah L. Curtis , Stewart Jon D.
Published: November 2009

Maize (Zea mays) endosperm ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) is a highly regulated enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in starch biosynthesis. Although the structure of the heterotetrameric maize endosperm AGPase remains unsolved, structures of a nonnative, low-activity form of the potato tuber (Solanum tuberosum) AGPase (small subunit homotetramer) reported previously by others revealed that several sulfate ions bind to each enzyme. These sites are also believed to interact with allosteric regulators such as inorganic phosphate and 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA). Several arginine (Arg) side chains contact the bound sulfate ions in the potato structure and likely play important roles in allosteric effector binding. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis was applied to the corresponding Arg residues in both the small and large subunits of maize endosperm AGPase to determine their roles in allosteric regulation and thermal stability. Steady-state kinetic and regulatory parameters were measured for each mutant. All of the Arg mutants examined—in both the small and large subunits—bound 3-PGA more weakly than the wild type (A  50 increased by 3.5- to 20-fold). By contrast, the binding of two other maize AGPase allosteric activators (fructose-6-phosphate and glucose-6-phosphate) did not always mimic the changes observed for 3-PGA. In fact, compared to 3-PGA, fructose-6-phosphate is a more efficient activator in two of the Arg mutants. Phosphate binding was also affected by Arg substitutions. The combined data support a model for the binding interactions associated with 3-PGA in which allosteric activators and inorganic phosphate compete directly.
Syringe exchange, injecting and intranasal drug use
Authors: Des Jarlais Don C. , Arasteh Kamyar , McKnight Courtney , Ringer Martin , Friedman Samuel R.
Published: November 2009

Objective  To assess trends in injecting and non‐injecting drug use after implementation of large‐scale syringe exchange in New York City. The belief that implementation of syringe exchange will lead to increased drug injecting has been a persistent argument against syringe exchange.

Methods  Administrative data on route of administration for primary drug of abuse among patients entering the Beth Israel methadone maintenance program from 1995 to 2007. Approximately 2000 patients enter the program each year.

Results  During and after the period of large‐scale implementation of syringe exchange, the numbers of methadone program entrants reporting injecting drug use decreased while the numbers of entrants reporting intranasal drug use increased (P < 0.001).

Conclusion  While assessing the possible effects of syringe exchange on trends in injecting drug use is inherently difficult, these may be the strongest data collected to date showing a lack of increase in drug injecting following implementation of syringe exchange.
Differential effects of β‐adrenoreceptor antagonists on central and peripheral blood pressure at rest and during exercise
Authors: Cockburn James A. , Brett Sally E. , Guilcher Antoine , Ferro Albert , Ritter James M. , Chowienczyk Philip J.
Published: November 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• At rest, β‐adrenoreceptor antagonists lower peripheral systolic blood pressure (SBP) but have less effect on central SBP.

• Effects of β‐adrenoreceptor antagonists on central and peripheral blood pressure during exercise are unknown.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This study shows that acute β‐blockade in healthy normotensive subjects markedly reduces peripheral SBP by ∼ 20 mmHg during moderate exercise but has no significant effect on central SBP.

• The differential effect of β‐blockade on central and systolic blood pressure is not completely explained by reduction in heart rate. Beta‐blockade may blunt dilation of muscular arteries, influencing peripheral amplification during exercise.

BACKGROUND Differential effects of β‐adrenoreceptor antagonists (β‐ARB) on central and peripheral blood pressure may relate to change in heart rate and/or vasodilator tone and thus be exaggerated during exercise.

AIMS To examine acute effects of selective and nonselective β‐ARB on central and peripheral blood pressure, cardiac output and peripheral vascular resistance during exercise.

METHODS Healthy volunteers (n= 20, 18 men, 19–54 years) received propranolol 80 mg, bisoprolol 20 mg, and placebo 1 h before bicycle ergometry (50, 75 and 100 W each for 3 min) in a randomized, cross‐over study. Cardiac output was determined by pulmonary uptake of soluble and inert gas tracers (InnoCor, Innovision). Central systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined from the late systolic shoulder of the digital artery pressure waveform (Finometer, Finopres).

RESULTS At rest, both β‐ARB reduced brachial but not central SBP (compared with placebo). During exercise, β‐ARB reduced brachial SBP (reductions of 19.9 ± 4.3 mmHg and 23.2 ± 2.7 mmHg for propranolol and bisoprolol, respectively, at 100 W, each P < 0.0001) but not central SBP. The difference between peripheral and central SBP was reduced, relative to that during placebo, by 21.5 mmHg (95% confidence interval 8.8, 34.1) and 26.4 mmHg (18.1, 34.8) for propranolol and bisoprolol, respectively, at 100 W (each P < 0.01). There was no significant effect of β‐ARB on diastolic blood pressure or peripheral vascular resistance.

CONCLUSIONS Despite reducing brachial blood pressure, acute β‐adrenoreceptor blockade in man at rest and during exercise does not reduce central blood pressure.
Superior palatability of crushed lercanidipine compared with amlodipine among children
Authors: Milani Gregorio , Ragazzi Monica , Simonetti Giacomo D. , Ramelli Gian P. , Rizzi Mattia , Bianchetti Mario G. , Fossali Emilio F.
Published: November 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Among children, medication palatability is crucial for adherence to therapeutic regimen.

• Since there is a lack of appropriate formulations for children prescribed drugs originally designed for adults, parents crush available tablets and administer the medication mixed with solid food or a palatable drink.

• Crushed amlodipine, a very popular calcium channel blocker, is bitter and unpalatable.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• From the perspective of the child with arterial hypertension, the taste of pulverized lercanidipine is superior to that of pulverized amlodipine.

AIMS

To compare the taste of equivalent doses of pulverized amlodipine and lercanidipine, two calcium channel blockers, among children with kidney disease.

METHODS

Each child received a test dose of 1 mg of amlodipine besylate and 2 mg of lercanidipine in a single‐blinded fashion. Children indicated their preference by pointing to the appropriate face on a visual analogue scale (VAS) that depicts five degrees of pleasure.

RESULTS

The VAS palatability score assigned to lercanidipine was higher than that assigned to amlodipine both in nine children 4–7 years of age (P < 0.005) and in 10 children 8–11 years of age (P < 0.005). The preference for lercanidipine was statistically significant in both girls (P < 0.02) and boys (P < 0.001) and in both children initially presented amlodipine (P < 0.005) and children initially presented lercanidipine (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a lack of appropriate formulations for children prescribed drugs originally designed for adults, such as calcium channel blockers. Parents therefore crush available tablets and administer the medication mixed with solid food or a palatable drink. From the perspective of the child, the taste of pulverized lercanidipine is superior to that of pulverized amlodipine.
Development of learning outcomes for an undergraduate prescribing curriculum (British Pharmacological Society prescribing initiative)
Authors: Ross Sarah , Loke Yoon K.
Published: November 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• Tomorrow's Doctors provides overarching outcomes for undergraduate medical students on prescribing skills; however, detailed learning outcomes are not available.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• This study provides additional guidance for medical schools and teachers by setting out detailed learning outcomes for prescribing.

• The outcomes reflect the recent emphasis on teamwork and communication, as well as the need to minimize medication errors.

• This is a further step towards defining practical prescribing competence.

AIMS

The question of whether new medical graduates are adequately prepared for the challenge of prescribing has been raised. Although broad outcomes for prescribing competency have been agreed, clarity is needed on the detailed outcomes expected of new graduates. This study aimed to create a consensus on the required competencies for new graduates in the area of prescribing.

METHODS

We used a modified Delphi approach based on the findings of a systematic review of educational interventions for improved prescribing. Panellists were asked to rank the importance of a list of 53 possible learning outcomes and to add any additional outcomes felt to be missing.

RESULTS

Of the 48 experts who were invited to participate, 28 agreed (58%). Forty‐five learning outcomes were included from the original list of 53. A further nine outcomes were suggested by panellists, of which five were included. The wording of three outcomes was changed in line with suggestions from the panellists. Many of the agreed outcomes relate to improving patient safety through medication review, checking appropriateness of the drug for the patient, recognizing the prescriber's limitations and seeking advice when needed. Enhanced communication with the patient and healthcare team, better documentation in the notes and discharge letters were key areas featured in this Delphi exercise.

DISCUSSION

This study has identified 50 learning outcomes for teaching prescribing. These build on the existing British Pharmacological Society document by focusing specifically on prescribing, with greater emphasis on avoiding medication errors and better communication.
Effect of long‐term combined nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application on 13C CPMAS NMR spectra of humin in a Typic Hapludoll of northeast China
Authors: Zhang J. J. , Dou S. , Song X. Y.
Published: November 2009

Because of its insolubility, heterogeneity and structural complexity, humin is the least understood among the three fractions of soil humic substances. This research aimed to evaluate the long‐term effect of combined nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) fertilizer addition on the chemical structure of humin under maize (Zea mays L.) monoculture in a Typic Hapludoll of northeast China. Soil samples were collected 12 and 25 years after the initiation of the fertilizer treatment. Soil humin was isolated using NaOH‐Na4P2O7 extraction to remove humic and fulvic acids, which was followed by HF‐HCl treatment to remove most of the inorganic minerals. Solid‐state 13C cross‐polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CPMAS NMR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the chemical structure of the humin isolates. Results showed that the organic carbon (C) content of humin increased after NP fertilizer addition, compared with a no‐fertilizer (CK) treatment. 13C CPMAS NMR indicated that O‐alkyl C and aromatic C of humin decreased, while alkyl C and the ratios of alkyl C/O‐alkyl C, aliphatic C/aromatic C and hydrophobic C/hydrophilic C all increased in the NP fertilizer treatment. The long‐term application of NP fertilizer changed the molecular structure of soil humin to be more alkyl and hydrophobic, and was thus beneficial to the sequestration and stability of organic C in soil.
Evaluation of 1H NMR relaxometry for the assessment of pore‐size distribution in soil samples
Authors: Jaeger F. , Bowe S. , Van As H. , Schaumann G. E.
Published: November 2009

1H NMR relaxometry is used in earth science as a non‐destructive and time‐saving method to determine pore size distributions (PSD) in porous media with pore sizes ranging from nm to mm. This is a broader range than generally reported for results from X‐ray computed tomography (X‐ray CT) scanning, which is a slower method. For successful application of 1H NMR relaxometry in soil science, it is necessary to compare PSD results with those determined from conventional methods. The PSD of six disturbed soil samples with various textures and soil organic matter (SOM) content were determined by conventional soil water retention at matric potentials between −3 and −390 kPa (pF 1.5–3.6). These PSD were compared with those estimated from transverse relaxation time (T2) distributions of water in soil samples at pF 1.5 using two different approaches. In the first, pore sizes were estimated using a mean surface relaxivity of each soil sample determined from the specific surface area. In the second and new approach, two surface relaxivities for each soil sample, determined from the T2 distributions of the soil samples at different matric potentials, were used. The T2 distributions of water in the samples changed with increasing soil matric potential and consisted of two peaks at pF 1.5 and one at pF 3.6. The shape of the T2 distributions at pF 1.5 was strongly affected by soil texture and SOM content (R2 = 0.51 − 0.95). The second approach (R2 = 0.98) resulted in good consistency between PSD, determined by soil water retention, and 1H NMR relaxometry, whereas the first approach resulted in poor consistency. Pore sizes calculated from the NMR data ranged from 100 μm to 10 nm. Therefore, the new approach allows 1H NMR relaxometry to be applied for the determination of PSD in soil samples and for studying swelling of SOM and clay and its effects on pore size in a fast and non‐destructive way. This is not, or only partly, possible by conventional soil water retention or X‐ray CT.
Review of vibroseis data acquisition and processing for better amplitudes: adjusting the sweep and deconvolving for the time‐derivative of the true groundforce
Authors: Ziolkowski Anton
Published: November 2009

The goal of vibroseis data acquisition and processing is to produce seismic reflection data with a known spatially‐invariant wavelet, preferably zero phase, such that any variations in the data can be attributed to variations in geology. In current practice the vibrator control system is designed to make the estimated groundforce equal to the sweep and the resulting particle velocity data are cross‐correlated with the sweep. Since the downgoing far‐field particle velocity signal is proportional to the time‐derivative of the groundforce, it makes more sense to cross‐correlate with the time‐derivative of the sweep. It also follows that the ideal amplitude spectrum of the groundforce should be inversely proportional to frequency. Because of non‐linearities in the vibrator, bending of the baseplate and variable coupling of the baseplate to the ground, the true groundforce is not equal to the pre‐determined sweep and varies not only from vibrator point to vibrator point but also from sweep to sweep at each vibrator point. To achieve the goal of a spatially‐invariant wavelet, these variations should be removed by signature deconvolution, converting the wavelet to a much shorter zero‐phase wavelet but with the same bandwidth and signal‐to‐noise ratio as the original data. This can be done only if the true groundforce is known. The principle may be applied to an array of vibrators by employing pulse coding techniques and separating responses to individual vibrators in the frequency domain. Various approaches to improve the estimate of the true groundforce have been proposed or are under development; current methods are at best approximate.
Stability values of titanium dioxide‐blasted dental implants in edentulous maxillas: a 3‐year pilot study
Authors: VELTRI M. , FERRARI M. , BALLERI P.
Published: November 2009

Summary  The purpose of this follow‐up study was to measure the resonance frequency of Astra Tech TiO2 blasted implants at second surgery, at one and 3 years of loading. Secondly, it was investigated whether resonance frequency at second surgery could discriminate between successful implants and those that will fail over a 3‐year period. Fifty titanium dioxide‐blasted implants in eight consecutive patients with edentulous maxillas seeking fixed rehabilitations, were included in the study at abutment connection after 6 months of healing. Resonance frequency, clinical and radiographic records were obtained at abutment connection and after one and 3 years of loading. The cumulative survival rate after 3 years was 100%. The mean resonance frequencies were 65 ± 4·8 implant stability quotient (ISQ) at second surgery (range 50–78 ISQ), 66 ± 3·4 ISQ after 1 year of loading (range 53–76 ISQ) and 64 ± 3·8 ISQ after 3 years of loading (range 53–77 ISQ). No significant differences resulted between these three time points. The marginal bone level decrease of 0·6 mm between the second surgery and the 3‐year follow‐up was observed. One limitation of the study is that no late failures were encountered in this relatively small sample. Consequently, it was not possible to establish a cut‐off ISQ for implants that, after abutment connection, would maintain their stability over a 3‐year period. Nevertheless, it might be concluded that following the first year of loading the range of 53–76 ISQ describes the stability of osseointegrated Astra Tech TiO2 blasted implants.
Antimony in plasma and skin of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis – relationship with side effects after treatment with meglumine antimoniate
Authors: Da Justa Neves Diana Brito , Caldas Eloisa Dutra , Sampaio Raimunda Nonato Ribeiro
Published: November 2009

Objective  To evaluate the levels of antimony in plasma and skin of patients being treated with pentavalent antimonials (Glucantime®) and their relationship with side effects.

Methods  We evaluated 19 patients treated endovenously at the conventional dose (20 mg Sbv/kg/day), two at a smaller dose (5 mg Sbv/kg/day) and three treated intralesionally (up to 4.0 ml/week). During treatment, patients underwent periodic blood exams and were interviewed weekly about the incidence of adverse symptoms. The levels of antimony in plasma and skin samples were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma with Mass Spectrometry (ICP‐MS).

Results  The patients under conventional treatment presented a mean initial antimony plasma concentration of 3.39 μg/l; at the end of treatment, these levels were 0.21 before Glucantime® application and 125.8 mg after Glucantime® application. The mean antimony level in their skin at the end of the treatment was 9.24 μg/g. The main adverse symptoms were arthralgia and myalgia; laboratory results showed mainly lymphocytosis and eosinophilia.

Conclusions  We found some significant correlations between antimony concentrations, adverse symptoms and laboratory alterations, strengthening the hypothesis of a dose–dependent relationship between antimony concentration in plasma and skin and side effects.
Confocal endomicroscopy for phenotypic diagnosis of gastric cancer
Authors: Banno Kakunori , Niwa Yasumasa , Miyahara Ryoji , Nakamura Masanao , Nagaya Toshihiko , Nagasaka Tetsuro , Watanabe Osamu , Ando Takafumi , Kawashima Hiroki , Ohmiya Naoki , Itoh Akihiro , Hirooka Yoshiki , Goto Hidemi
Published: November 2009

Background and Aim:  Relationships between mucin phenotype and malignant potential in gastric cancers have attracted attention. We attempted to assess the possibility of obtaining phenotypic diagnoses by confocal endomicroscopy.

Methods:  Confocal images of target lesions were obtained in 29 of 40 patients with gastric cancer. Appearances of the brush border, goblet cells, and gastric foveolar epithelium were investigated with immunohistochemical staining using CD10, MUC2, and human gastric mucin to evaluate phenotypic expression in gastric carcinomas. Confocal images were compared with immunohistochemical findings for goblet cells and brush borders.

Results:  Both the endoscopists and the pathologist obtained high accuracy rates for differential diagnosis. Sensitivity and specificity for goblet cells were 85.7% and 92.3% (Endoscopist A), and 85.7% and 88.5% (Endoscopist B). The κ‐value for correspondence between two endoscopists for the diagnosis of goblet cells in confocal images was 0.73. Sensitivity and specificity for the brush border were 93.8% and 91.7% (Endoscopist A), and 81.3% and 91.7% (Endoscopist B). The κ‐value for correspondence between two endoscopists for diagnosis of the brush border in confocal images was 0.79. Intestinal phenotypic gastric cancers show a brush border, goblet cells, or both. Sensitivity and specificity for the intestinal phenotype in confocal endomicroscopy were 90.9% and 77.8% (Endoscopist A), and 86.4% and 83.3% (Endoscopist B).

Conclusion:  The confocal endomicroscopic diagnosis of the mucin phenotype in gastric cancers was limited to intestinal and mixed phenotypes, but may be useful for the diagnosis of mucin phenotype and differential diagnosis.
Optimal sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopy: Review and recommendations
Authors: Thomson Andrew , Andrew Gabrielle , Jones D Brian
Published: November 2009

Sedation practices for endoscopy vary widely. The present review focuses on the commonly used regimens in endoscopic sedation and the associated risks and benefits together with the appropriate safety measures and monitoring practices. In addition, alternatives and additions to intravenous sedation are discussed. Personnel requirements for endoscopic sedation are reviewed; there is evidence presented to indicate that non‐anesthetists can administer sedative drugs, including propofol, safely and efficaciously in selected cases. The development of endoscopic sedation as a multi‐disciplinary field is highlighted with the formation of the Australian Tripartite Endoscopy Sedation Committee. This comprises representatives of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, the Gastroenterological Society of Australia and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Possible future directions in this area are also briefly summarized.
RISK ATTITUDES AND THE DEMAND FOR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE: THE IMPORTANCE OF ‘CAPTIVE PREFERENCES’
Authors: Costa‐Font Joan , García‐Villar Jaume
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT**:  Captivity to a mainstream public insurer, is hypothesized to constrain the choice of purchasing private health insurance, by influencing risk attitudes. Namely, risk averse individuals are more likely to stay captive to the National Health System (NHS). To empirically test this hypothesis we use a small scale database from Catalonia to explore the determinants of private health insurance (PHI) purchase under different forms of captivity along with a measure of risk attitudes. Our results confirm that the captivity corrections are significant and can potentially bias the estimates of the demand for PHI. Risk aversion increases the probability of an individual being captive to the NHS. The latter suggests a potential behavioural (or cultural) mechanism to isolate the influence of risk attitudes on the demand for PHI in publicly financed health systems.
WHEN IS A SERVICE AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICE?
Authors: Van De Walle Steven
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT**: Citizens consider certain public (and private) services as essential services and therefore to be shielded from the full extent of market forces. Little is known about why some services are considered essential public services while other sometimes very similar services are not. In this article, we analyze public opinion using Eurobarometer data to test models exploring what factors determine whether citizens in 15 EU countries consider certain services as essential services and therefore to be provided to all. Despite the variety in public opinion, political orientations and geographic factors do little to explain why citizens have different opinions about the provision of public services. The article ends by outlining a research agenda for the further analysis of this underexplored research topic.
CONTRAINTES ET CHOIX ORGANISATIONNELS DANS LES DISPOSITIFS DE MONNAIES SOCIALES
Authors: Blanc Jérôme
Published: November 2009

RESUME**:  Ce texte interroge les choix organisationnels relatifs aux dispositifs de monnaies sociales (comme les LETS, clubs de trueque argentins, etc.) en présentant un ensemble de possibilités et leurs implications. La question centrale est celle de la viabilité des dispositifs, avec l’idée selon laquelle des objectifs différents requièrent des choix organisationnels appropriés. Deux grands domaines sont explorés : d’abord, la taille des dispositifs et les catégories de personnes et d’échange; ensuite, les conditions de l’émission, de la circulation et de la convertibilité des monnaies. De chacune des options possibles découle un ensemble de contraintes. Les combinaisons de ces contraintes conduisent à identifier cinq modèles de monnaies sociales qui semblent cohérents relativement à leurs objectifs.
BANKING MARKET STRUCTURE, CREATION AND ACTIVITY OF FIRMS: EARLY EVIDENCE FOR COOPERATIVES IN THE ITALIAN CASE
Authors: Gagliardi Francesca
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT**:  This paper investigates whether local differences in banking competition impact on the creation and activity of firms, with a special focus on cooperatives. The empirical analysis, implemented on a sample of Italian firms, reveals non‐monotonic effects of bank market power on firm creation and activity. In regard to the former, a bell‐shaped relationship is found for both cooperative and non‐cooperative firms, suggesting that a moderately concentrated banking market favours firms’ creation. A less homogeneous pattern characterizes firms’ activity: a bell‐shaped parabola is still found for non‐cooperative firms, while a U‐shaped relationship emerges for cooperatives, showing that active coops benefit from relatively more intense banking competition.
Parathyroid hormone 2 receptor is a functional marker of nociceptive myelinated fibers responsible for neuropathic pain
Authors: Matsumoto Misaki , Kondo Saori , Usdin Ted B. , Ueda Hiroshi
Published: November 2009

We have previously demonstrated that parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2) receptors are expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and that its endogenous agonist tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues (TIP39) causes nociceptive paw flexor responses after intraplantar administration. Here we found that the PTH2 receptor is selectively localized on myelinated A‐, but not unmyelinated C‐fibers using immunohistochemical labeling, based on PTH2 receptor expression on antibody N52‐positive medium/large‐sized DRG neurons, but not on TRPV1, substance P, P2X3receptor or isolectin B4‐binding protein‐positive small‐sized DRG neurons. Pharmacological studies showed that TIP39‐induced nociceptive responses were mediated by activation of Gsand cAMP‐dependent protein kinase. We also found that nociceptive responses induced by TIP39‐ or the cAMP analog 8‐bromo‐cAMP were significantly greater following partial sciatic nerve injury induced neuropathic pain, without changes in PTH2 receptor expression. Together these data suggest that activation of PTH2 receptors stimulates nociceptive A‐fiber through Gs‐cAMP‐dependent protein kinase signaling, and this pathway has elevated sensitization following nerve injury.
Multi‐targeted neuroprotection by the HSV‐2 gene ICP10PK includes robust bystander activity through PI3‐K/Akt and/or MEK/ERK‐dependent neuronal release of vascular endothelial growth factor and fractalkine
Authors: Laing Jennifer M. , Smith Cynthia C. , Aurelian Laure
Published: November 2009

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 662–676.

Hippocampal cultures infected with the ΔRR vector for the HSV‐2 anti‐apoptotic gene ICP10PK survive cell death triggered by a wide variety of insults. Survival includes robust protection of uninfected neurons, but the mechanism of this bystander activity is still unclear. Here we report that ICP10PK+ neurons release soluble factors that protect uninfected neurons from NMDA and MPP+‐induced apoptosis. Release depends on ICP10PK‐mediated activation of the Ras signaling pathways MEK/ERK and PI3‐K/Akt, and it was not seen for cultures infected with the ICP10PK negative vector ΔPK. The released neuroprotective factors include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fractalkine, the levels of which were significantly higher in conditioned media from hippocampal cultures infected with ΔRR (NCMΔRR) than ΔPK or phosphate‐buffered saline (mock infection). VEGF neutralization inhibited the neuroprotective activity of NCMΔRR, indicating that the VEGF protective function is through neuron‐neuron cross‐talk. NCMΔRR also stimulated microglia to release increased levels of IL‐10 and decreased levels of TNF‐α that were protective for uninfected neurons. These release patterns were not seen for microglia given NCMΔRR in which fractalkine was neutralized, indicating that the fractalkine protective function is through bidirectional neuron‐microglia communication. Collectively, the data indicate that ΔRR is a multiple target strategy to rescue neurons from excitotoxic injury.
Indolent CD8‐positive lymphoid proliferation on the face: part of the spectrum of primary cutaneous small‐/medium‐sized pleomorphic T‐cell lymphoma or a distinct entity?
Authors: Suchak Ravi , O'Connor Simon , McNamara Christopher , Robson Alistair
Published: November 2009

We report two cases of a CD8‐positive lymphoid proliferation presenting as solitary lesions on the ear and nose, respectively. Histopathologically, both cases were characterized by a diffuse non‐epidermotropic dermal proliferation of clonal medium‐sized CD8‐positive T‐lymphocytes with a lymphoblast‐like appearance, having cells with large folded nuclei, prominent nucleoli and ample amphophilic or pale eosinophilic cytoplasm. Staging procedures excluded systemic involvement, and both lesions were successfully treated with localised radiotherapy without evidence of recurrence after 12 and 24 months' follow up, respectively. Previously reported cases on the ear had similar clinicopathological and immunophenotypical features, and together raise the possibility of a distinct entity, an indolent CD8‐positive lymphoid proliferation.

Suchak R, O'ConnorS, McNamara C, Robson A. Indolent CD8‐positive lymphoid proliferation on the face: part of the spectrum of primary cutaneous small‐/medium‐sized pleomorphic T‐cell lymphoma or a distinct entity?