bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SEXUAL PROCESSES IN THE LIFE CYCLE OFGYRODINIUM UNCATENUM(DINOPHYCEAE): A MORPHOGENETIC OVERVIEW1
Authors: Coats D. Wayne , Tyler Mary A. , Anderson Donald M.
Published: November 2004

Sexual processes in the life cycle of the dinoflagellateGyrodinium uncatenumHulburt were investigated in isolated field populations. Morphological and morphogenetic aspects of gamete production, planozygote formation, encystment, excystment, and planomeiocyte division are described from observations of living specimens, Protargol silver impregnated material and scanning electron microscope preparations. The sexual cycle was initiated by gamete formation which involved two asexual divisions of the vegetative organism. Gametes were fully differentiated following the second division and immediately capable of forming pairs. Either isogamous or anisogamous pairs were formed by the mid‐ventral union of gametes. Gametes invariably joined with flagellar bases in close juxtaposition. Complete fusion of gametes required ca. 1 h, involved plasmogamy followed by karyogamy and resulted in a quadriflagellated planozygote. Planozygotes encysted in 24–48 h to yield a hypnozygote capable of overwintering in estuarine sediments. Hypnozygotes collected from sediment in late winter readily excysted upon exposure to temperatures above 15°C. A single quadriflagellated planomeiocyte emerged from the cyst and under culture conditions divided one to two days later. The four flagella were not evenly distributed at the first division and both bi‐ and tri‐flagellated daughter cells were formed.
LIFE HISTORIES OFBLIDINGIA MINIMA(CHLOROPHYCEAE), ESPECIALLY SEXUAL REPRODUCTION1
Authors: Tatewaki Masakazu , Lima Masafumi
Published: November 2004

Blidingia minima(Näg. ex Kütz.) Kylin from Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan, has been shown to exhibit four patterns of life history in culture. Sexual reproduction, reported fully for the first time in the genus, occurs in two of them. I. An isomorphic‐heteromorphic complex in which erect, tubular sporophytes alternate with dioecious gametophytes of the same forms, with the irregular production by both phases of discoid or pulvinate (pincushion‐like) microthalli capable of both sexual and asexual reproduction. II. An alternation of heteromorphic phases in which an erect, tubular sporophyte alternated irregularly with a gametophytic microthallus. III. An asexual alternation of heteromorphic phases in which an erect, tubular frond alternates irregularly with a microthallus by means of quadriflagellate zoospores. IV. An asexual, monophasic life cycle in which erect, tubular fronds are perpetuated by quadriflagellate zoospores. The first pattern occurred in spring populations from one of three sites. The second occurred in populations from two sites. The third and fourth occurred in all populations tested. The life history ofBlidingia minimafrom Muroran is similar to that ofKornmannia zostericolafrom Muroran.
VARIABILITY OF CELL WALL STRUCTURE AND HYDROCARBON TYPE IN DIFFERENT STRAINS OF BOTRYOCOCCUS BRAUNII1
Authors: Berkaloff Claire , Rousseau Bernard , Couté Alain , Casadevall Eliette , Metzger Pierre , Chirac Christian
Published: November 2004

Different samples of Botryococcus braunii Kütz., freshly collected from nature or laboratory‐grown from culture collection strains, were studied by electron microscopy and their hydrocarbon content analyzed. Although the general internal structure of the cells was rather constant, the organization of the outer walls forming the hydrocarbon‐rich matrix of the colonies differed greatly from one sample to another. In the majority of cultivated strains, the colonies were rather small, the different successive external walls remained distinct and all strains contained dienic or trienic hydrocarbons. In contrast, most of the collected samples possessed large colonies with a rather compact matrix formed by the hydrocarbon‐rich part of the successive closely appressed external wall layers. These samples contained polyunsaturated hydrocarbons, i.e. botryococcenes. Well defined cell caps which sheared off the cells were observed only in those strains with a compact matrix. The Austin strain and some collected samples, however, were intermediate with rather small colonies, dense matrix, definite cell caps and dienic hydrocarbons. Thus, the hydrocarbon composition did not correlate directly with the variations in wall structure; however, the occurence of dienic and botryococcene‐like hydrocarbons together in one strain was never observed, although analyzed at various stages of growth. Thus, the existence of distinct strains of Botryococcus braunii, some synthesizing dienes, others botryococcenes, appears highly probable.
PHOSPHORUS AND THE GROWTH OF JUVENILE MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA (PHAEOPHYTA) SPOROPHYTES1
Authors: Manley Steven L. , North Wheeler J.
Published: November 2004

The effect of phosphate (Pi) supply on growth rate and tissue phosphorus content of juvenile Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. sporophytes was examined. Sporophytes were batch cultured in aquaria with flowing recirculated seawater enriched by 30 μM nitrate. Each aquarium was supplemented with a different seawater Pi concentration, 0, 0.3, 1, 2, 3, and 6 μM. Sporophyte mean specific growth rates declined with time in all cultures presumably due to the normal developmental decrease in the proportion of meristematic tissue of each plant. Growth rate declines were more pronounced in cultures that were nutrient limited. Sporophyte growth was P‐limited after two‐week exposure to Pi less than 1 μM, corresponding to a tissue P concentration of less than 0.20% dry weight. Plants cultured at 6 μM Pi contained tissue P levels of 0.53% dry weight after three weeks. Luxury consumption and storage of P occurred.
INTERSPECIFIC VARIATION IN DARK NITROGEN UPTAKE BY DINOFLAGELLATES1
Authors: Paasche Eystein , Bryceson Ian , Tangen Karl
Published: November 2004

Seven species of marine dinoflagellates were grown in nitrogen‐sufficient media under a 12:12 h L:D cycle, and then tested for their ability to take up nitrate and ammonium in the light and in the dark in short‐term experiments with 15N‐labelled substrate. The effect of the N substrate chosen, and the effect of sampling time in the L:D cycle, on the relative nitrogen content (the C:N ratio) was investigated at the same time. The physiological extremes in the material were represented by Prorocentrum minimum (Pav.) J. Schiller, which took up and presumably assimilated nitrate equally fast in the light and in the dark, and Gyrodinium aureolum Hulburt, which did not take up nitrate in the dark when in a state of nitrogen sufficiency. A strong coupling between nitrate assimilation and photosynthetic carbon assimilation in the latter species was suggested by the close similarity of the light saturation curves of 15NO3− and 14CO2 incorporation, and by a complete blocking of 15NO3− incorporation by 3‐(3,4‐dichlorophenyl)‐1,1‐dimethylurea (DCMU). Nitrogen starvation for 24 h induced a capacity in G. aureolum for taking up nitrate in the dark, or in the light in the presence of DCMU, a phenomenon that might be useful for identifying nitrogen limitation in this species in the field. Our study emphasizes the variability of dinoflagellate nitrogen nutrition and illustrates the difficulty of associating mass occurrences of dinoflagellates in nature with any particular nutritional mode.
REPRODUCTION AND LIFE HISTORY OF THE RED ALGA GALAXAURA OBLONGATA (NEMALIALES, GALAXAURACEAE)1
Authors: Magruder William H.
Published: November 2004

Culture and morphological studies showed that Galaxaura oblongata (Ellis et Solander) Lamouroux has a triphasic life history with conspicuous gametophytes and small filamentous tetrasporophytes. Development of male and female reproductive structures is very similar and both begin with the enlargement of a terminal cell of a filament branch occupying a normal vegetative position within the apical pit of a thallus branch. In male thalli this modified branch forms a conceptacle in which spermatangia are produced. In female thalli, this modified branch forms a three‐celled carpogonial branch consisting of a carpogonium, hypogynous cell and basal cell. Filament branches from the basal cell form a pericarp and the gonimoblast develops directly from the carpogonium. Carposporangia are produced in conceptacles which resemble the male conceptacles. About the time the first carposporangia are produced, the carpogonium, hypogynous cell and basal cell form a large fusion cell. Released carpospores germinate in a unipolar or bipolar manner and form small filamentous thalli. Under short day conditions, cruciate tetrasporangia are produced in small clusters. Tetraspores germinate similarly to carpospores and also form small filamentous thalli. Under low nutrient conditions, small cylindrical thalli develop on the filaments and these appear similar to gametophytes collected in nature.
SEXUALITY AND CYST FORMATION IN THE DINOFLAGELLATEGONYAULAX TAMARENSIS:CYST YIELD IN BATCH CULTURES1
Authors: Anderson Donald M. , Kulis David M. , Binder Brian J.
Published: November 2004

Encystment of the toxic dinoflagellateGonyaulax tamarensisLebour (var.excavata) was monitored in batch cultures exposed to a variety of nutritional and environmental treatments. Limitation by nitrogen (as ammonium or nitrate) or phosphorus (as phosphate) resulted in cyst formation. When the initial concentration of limiting nutrient was varied, total cyst yield (mL−1) was directly proportional to the cell yield at all but the highest nutrient concentrations (where encystment was minimal). Encystment efficiency was relatively constant (0.1–0.2 cysts · cell−1) over a 5‐fold range of cell densities, indicating that 20 to 40% of the vegetative populations successfully encysted. Cyst formation was negligible in nutrient‐replete medium, even with a significant reduction in growth rate due to non‐optimal light, temperature, or to high batch culture cell densities. Low light levels did decrease cyst yield once encystment was initiated by nutrient limitation, but this was probably linked to smaller motile cell yield and not to a specific inhibition of encystment. In contrast, encystment was more sensitive to temperature than was growth rate: optimal cyst production occurred over a relatively narrow temperature range and no cysts were formed at [Page missing]
DIURNAL MOVEMENTS OF METALIMNETIC PHYTOPLANKTON1
Authors: Pick F. R. , Lean D. R. S.
Published: November 2004

A metalimnetic population of the colonial chysophyteChrysosphaerella longispinaLauterborn was observed using in vivo fluorometry to undergo a 1.5 m diurnal migration through a 5° C temperature gradient over four summers in a mesotrophic lake on the edge of the Canadian Shield. The population was highest in the water column at midday and early afternoon. The minimum depth reached during the day by the population was best correlated with the mean irradiance of the day of the observation plus that for the previous day. Rarely did the population cross the thermocline. Estimates of the migrational velocity determined by in vivo fluorometry were higher (maximum rate of 10.8 m·d−1) than estimates obtained with in situ settling chambers (maximum rate of 0.43 m·d−1); however the pattern of migration obtained by both methods was similar. The migratory ability of this alga appeared to provide little advantage in nutrient uptake.Oscillatoria agardhiiGomont, which comprised only 5% of the total algal biomass in the metalimnion, did not undergo pronounced diurnal migrations in the chambers and was positively buoyant over 24 h.
ALGAE FROM CABO FRIO UPWELLING AREA. 2. GELIDIOCOLAX PUSTULATA (GELIDIACEAE, RHODOPHYTA): AN UNUSUAL NEW PUTATIVE PARASITIC SPECIES1
Authors: Yoneshigue Yocie , de Oliveira Eurico C.
Published: November 2004

A new species of Gelidiocolax Gardner, G. pustulata Oliveira and Yoneshigue, is described in the tropical western Atlantic from Brazil. The species usually grows on the basal portion of the main axis of Pterocladia capillacea (Gmelin) Bornet et Thuret. Abundant material was collected mainly from November to March at Cabo Frio Island, in the northeast part of the State of Rio de Janeiro, a marine area well known for its upwelling. Infection by the putative parasite seems to damage the host tissue, stimulating the development of a “gall‐like” structure that leads to the outgrowth of adventitious branches. The new species has the vegetative features and reproductive structures of the genus Gelidiocolax. It can be distinguished from the other Gelidiocolax species mainly on the basis of its position on the host, size of pustula, the tetrasporangia and the development of spermatangia. Studies of this new taxon support the placement of Gelidiocolax in the Gelidiaceae and not the Choreocolacaceae, as has been suggested in the literature.
MITOSIS AND CELL DIVISION IN HYDRURUS FOETIDUS (CHRYSOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Vesk Maret , Hoffman Larry R. , Pickett‐Heaps Jeremy D.
Published: November 2004

Mitosis and cell division have been examined ultrastructurally in the vegetative cells of Hydrurus foetidus (Vill) Trev. and found to resemble that of Ochromonas in two important aspects. First, the rhizoplast acts as the spindle organizing body and second, the spindle elongates considerably during anaphase. It differs from Ochromonas in that there is no movement of the basal bodies and flagella towards the poles. Moreover, the nuclear envelope remains relatively intact throughout early stages of mitosis, with gaps developing at the poles during prophase to permit entry of spindle microtubules. Disruption of the nuclear envelope does not occur in the equatorial plane until late anaphase. The spindle persists into telophase and is bent towards the posterior of the cell by the ingrowing edge of the cleavage furrow. Persistence of the spindle and lack of Ochromoms‐type cell elongation may be related to the constricting presence of the sheath during cell division—a completely different strategy to that adopted by the green algae under conditions of similar constraint.
CRITICAL IRRADIANCE LEVELS AND THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF QUANTUM IRRADIANCE AND DOSE ON GAMETOGENESIS IN THE GIANT KELP, MACROCYSTIS PYRIFERA1
Authors: Deysher Lawrence E. , Dean Thomas A.
Published: November 2004

Gametophytes of Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C. Ag. were cultured under a series of quantum irradiances in three photoperiod regimes. The quantum irradiances in each photoperiod were adjusted to provide equal daily irradiation dosages between photoperiods which allowed a critical examination of the interactions between quantum irradiance and quantum dose in determining gametophyte fertility. The lowest quantum irradiance which stimulated gametogenesis in more than 50% of the female gametophytes was 5 μE·m−2·s−1. The saturating irradiance was ca. 10 μE·m−2·s−1 at photoperiods of 12 h or greater. In terms of daily quantum dose, the lowest dose at which greater than 50% gametogenesis occurred was 0.2 E·m−2·d−1. However, this critical quantum dose was higher (0.4 E·m−2·d−1) when instantaneous irradiances were less than 5 μE·m−2·s−1. The saturation quantum dose was also affected by the rate at which the quantum dose was received and varied from 0.4 to 0.8 E·m−2·d−1. Gametophytes in all three photoperiods reached 100% fertility at quantum irradiances above 5 μE·m−2·s−1. Photoperiod effects were small and could be accounted for by quantum dosage effects.
PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF THE MUCUS OFEUGLENA GRACILIS(EUGLENOPHYCEAE)1
Authors: Cogburn J. Nita , Schiff Jerome A.
Published: November 2004

Anionic groups were demonstrated in the mucus ofEuglena gracilisKlebs var.bacillarisCori by histochemical staining with alcian blue or diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride and were quantified during the growth cycle with an alcian blue dye‐binding assay. Mucus in the culture increased during growth and became high when the culture entered the stationary phase. Cultures were grown under conditions which uniformly labeled all sulfur containing compounds with35S. A purification scheme was devised using 0.15 M NaCl and 0.10 M EDTA at pH 8 (Marmur's solution) to separate the mucus from the cells without cell breakage. The isolated purified mucus was fractionated with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at 100° C into soluble and insoluble components. The soluble fraction was separated by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into 18 polypeptide bands ranging from 22 to 320 kdaltons that stained with Coomassie blue; 16 of these bands also stained for carbohydrates using periodic acid‐Schiffs reagent, indicating their glycoprotein nature. On hydrolysis, the SDS soluble fraction yielded xylose, fucose, rhamnose, and hexose. The SDS insoluble fraction contained no35S label, and, therefore, presumably no protein or bound sulfate; this gelatinous material does not contain the same sugar residues as the glycoproteins in the SDS soluble fraction. Its staining properties with alcian blue and its resistance to hydrolysis suggested the presence of uronic acids. Comparison with otherEuglenafractions showed that bands comigrating with the mucus glycoproteins were not detectable in the fractions containing the whole cells or the culture medium. Although the mucus ofEuglenayielded appreciable sulfate during mild acid treatment, most if not all of this sulfate appears to have come from the oxidation of reduced sulfur rather than from the hydrolysis of covalently bound sulfate. An infrared spectrum of the mucus showed only minor peaks in the correct regions for the S‐O linkage. Thus, the mucus ofEuglenais composed of glycoproteins and polysaccharides which contain little or no ester sulfate.
GROWTH AND POLYSACCHARIDE PRODUCTION BY THE GREEN ALGACHLAMYDOMONAS MEXICANA(CHLOROPHYCEAE) ON SOIL1
Authors: Kroen William K.
Published: November 2004

The polysaccharide producing soil algaChlamydomonas mexicanaLewin was grown on soil surfaces in a growth chamber, with cell number and total polysaccharide measured weekly. Cell growth was pronounced, reaching an excess of 107cells · cm−2within one week. Polysaccharide production was also pronounced, with similar amounts of polysaccharide synthesized whether or not the cells were continuously given nutrients. Polysaccharide synthesis increased once the cells slowed in their growth, as in previous work with the cells in liquid medium.
A SIMPLE METHOD FOR THE ISOLATION AND ENUMERATION OF SPARSE POPULATIONS OF CYANOBACTERIA IN ESTUARINE WATERS1
Authors: Huber Ann L.
Published: November 2004

A simple, sensitive assay method for the isolation and enumeration of sparse populations of cyanobacteria in an estuarine system is described. The method, based on the standard membrane‐filter plate count technique, differentiates between viable and nonviable cells. It was found that an estuarine water‐based agar medium was the most suitable medium for isolation of cyanobacteria. Because of the restricted nature of colony development, isolation of individual species is easily accomplished.
Methodological Analysis of Diagnostic Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography Studies
Authors: Krenning Boudewijn J. , Geleijnse Marcel L. , Poldermans Don , Roelandt Jos R. T. C.
Published: November 2004

Background: Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is an accepted test for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD), despite its wide diagnostic accuracy. Aim: Which factors cause test variability of DSE for the diagnosis of CAD. Methods: In a retrospective analysis of 46 studies in 5,353 patients, the potential causes of diagnostic variability were systematically analyzed, including patient selection, definition of CAD, chest pain characteristics, confounding factors for DSE (left ventricular hypertrophy, left bundle branch block, female gender), work‐up bias (present when patient's chance to undergo coronary angiography is influenced by the result of DSE), review bias (present when DSE is interpreted in relation to CAG), DSE protocol and definition of a positive DSE. Results: Diagnostic variability was related to definition of a positive test, but not related to the definition of CAD or DSE protocol. However, only three of eight methodological standards for research design found general compliance. Differences in the selection of the study population (quality of echocardiographic window, angina pectoris), handling of confounding factors and analysis of disease in individual coronary arteries were observed. Lack of data on analysis of relevant chest pain syndromes and handling of nondiagnostic test results hampered further evaluation of these standards. Conclusion: Methodological problems may explain the wide range in diagnostic variability of DSE. An improvement of clinical relevance of DSE testing is possible by stronger adherence to common and new methodological standards.
Separable Neural Components in the Processing of Black and White Faces
Authors: Cunningham William A. , Johnson Marcia K. , Raye Carol L. , Gatenby J. Chris , Gore John C. , Banaji Mahzarin R.
Published: November 2004

In a study of the neural components of automatic and controlled social evaluation, White participants viewed Black and White faces during event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging. When the faces were presented for 30 ms, activation in the amygdala—a brain region associated with emotion—was greater for Black than for White faces. When the faces were presented for 525 ms, this difference was significantly reduced, and regions of frontal cortex associated with control and regulation showed greater activation for Black than White faces. Furthermore, greater race bias on an indirect behavioral measure was correlated with greater difference in amygdala activation between Black and White faces, and frontal activity predicted a reduction in Black-White differences in amygdala activity from the 30-ms to the 525-ms condition. These results provide evidence for neural distinctions between automatic and more controlled processing of social groups, and suggest that controlled processes may modulate automatic evaluation.
Automatic Semantic Activation Is No Myth
Authors: Heil Martin , Rolke Bettina , Pecchinenda Anna
Published: November 2004

The claim that semantic activation is an automatic process was recently called a myth, on the basis of the finding that if letter search is performed on a prime word, semantic priming effects on response time are eliminated, whereas repetition effects are preserved. The absence of semantic activation, however, cannot be validly inferred from the lack of response time effects, and converging evidence is needed. To this end, we examined the event-related potential correlate of priming, the N400 amplitude modulation, in a letter-search priming paradigm. Our experiment replicated the response time effects and demonstrated that the N400 amplitude successfully differentiates cross-case repetition priming, semantic priming, and neutral conditions. The results clearly indicate that the meaning of the prime word was processed and that semantic activation indeed was present in the letter-search task. The notion that semantic activation is an automatic process should not be abandoned prematurely.
Object Updating and the Flash-Lag Effect
Authors: Moore Cathleen M. , Enns James T.
Published: November 2004

Flash lag is a misperception of spatial relations between a moving object and a briefly flashed stationary one. This study began with the observation that the illusion occurs when the moving object continues following the flash, but is eliminated if the object's motion path ends with the flash. The data show that disrupting the continuity of the moving object, via a transient change in size or color, also eliminates the illusion. We propose that this is because a large feature change leads to the formation of a second object representation. Direct evidence for this proposal is provided by the results for a corollary perceptual feature of the disruption in object continuity: the perception of two objects, rather than only one, on the motion path.
A transmembrane protein–tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C (CD45) exon A point mutation (77 C to G) is not associated with the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus in a German population
Authors: Thude H. , Rosenhahn S. , Hunger‐Dathe W. , Müller U.‐A. , Barz D.
Published: November 2004

To investigate whether a C to G transversion at position 77 in exon A of the CD45 gene is associated with the development of diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1D), we studied 165 patients and 220 control individuals. The frequency of the 77G allele in the control group was 1.1%, which was not significantly different from the 1.2% found in the patient group (P = 0.922). The C to G transversion does not seem to be associated with susceptibility for T1D.
Plant‐mediated methane emission from an Indian mangrove
Authors: Purvaja Ramachandran , Ramesh Ramachandran , Frenzel Peter
Published: November 2004

Mangroves have been considered for a long time to be a minor methane source, but recent reports have shown that polluted mangroves may emit substantial amounts of methane. In an unpolluted Indian mangrove, we measured annual methane emission rates of 10 g CH4 yr−1 from the stands of Avicennia marina. This rate is of the same order of magnitude as rates from Northern wetlands. Methane emission from a freshwater‐influenced area was higher, but was lower from a stunted mangrove growing on a hypersaline soil. Methane emission was mediated by the pneumatophores of Avicennia. This was consistent with the methane concentration in the aerenchyma, which decreased on average from 350 ppmv in the cable roots to 10 ppmv in the emergent part of the pneumatophores. However, the number of pneumatophores varied seasonally. The minimum number occurred during the monsoon season, which reduced methane emissions largely. Ebullition from unvegetated areas may also be important, at least during monsoon season when measured bubble fluxes were occasionally about five times as high as pneumatophore‐mediated emissions.
Soil acidification induced by elevated atmospheric CO2
Authors: Oh Neung‐Hwan , Richter Daniel D.
Published: November 2004

Soil acidification is a very important process in the functioning of earth's ecosystems. A major source of soil acidity is CO2, derived from the respiration of plant roots and microbes, which forms carbonic acid in soil waters. Because elevated atmospheric CO2often stimulates respiration of soil biota in experiments that test ecosystem effects of elevated atmospheric CO2, we hypothesize that rising atmospheric CO2(which has increased from ∼200 ppm since the interglacial and may exceed 550 ppm by the end of the 21st century) is significantly increasing acid inputs to soils. Here, using column‐leaching experiments with contrasting soils, we demonstrate that soil CO2is a much more potent agent of soil acidification than is generally appreciated, capable of displacing almost all exchangeable base cations in soils, and even elevating Al(III) concentrations in H2CO3‐acidified soil waters. The potent soil acidifying potential of soil H2CO3is attributed to the low pKa,1of molecular H2CO3(3.76 at 25°C), which contrasts greatly with that of(a convention that combines CO2(aq) and molecular H2CO3, the pKa,1of which is 6.36 at 25°C). This distinction is significant for soil systems because of soil's greatly elevated CO2, their variety of sinks for H+, and the wide range of contact times between soil solids, water, and gas. Modelling suggests that a doubling of atmospheric CO2may increase acid inputs from carbonic acid leaching by up to 50%. Combined with the results of CO2studies in whole ecosystems, this implies that increases in atmospheric CO2since the interglacial have gradually acidified soils, especially poorly buffered soils, throughout the world.
Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4‐CT60 polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Orozco G. , Torres B. , Núñez‐Roldán A. , González‐Escribano M.F. , Martín J.
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4) is a functional candidate gene with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this work was to investigate the possible influence of the recently described CT60A/G dimorphism of the CTLA‐4 gene in the susceptibility to RA in Spanish patients. A total of 433 RA patients and 398 control subjects were included in the study. Genotyping of CTLA‐4 CT60 was performed using two different methods: polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism system using an amplification‐created restriction site and a TaqMan 5′‐allelic discrimination assay. In order to validate results obtained by different methods, a quality‐control exercise was performed. No significant deviation in the distribution of the alleles or genotypes of the CT60 was found when we compared RA patient and control groups. In addition, no differences in CTLA‐4 CT60 genotypic distribution was found when RA patients and controls were stratified by the presence or absence of the shared epitope. In conclusion, our results do not support an association between CT60A/G polymorphism and susceptibility to RA in the Spanish population, although the contribution of other positions located within the 3′ region of the CTLA‐4 gene to RA susceptibility cannot be discarded.
Immunogenetics of HLA null alleles: implications for blood stem cell transplantation
Authors: Elsner H.‐A. , Blasczyk R.
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  The transplantation of haematopoietic stem cells is a potentially curative therapy for a variety of haematological and non‐haematological diseases. Matching of donor and recipient for human leucocyte antigens (HLA) is pivotal for the success of blood stem cell transplantation. HLA null alleles are characterized by the lack of a serologically detectable product. Because serological HLA diagnostics are increasingly replaced by DNA‐based typing methods considering only small regions of the genes, null alleles may be misdiagnosed as normally expressed variants. The failure to identify an HLA null allele as a non‐expressed variant in the stem cell transplantation setting may result in an HLA mismatch that is highly likely to stimulate allogeneic T cells and to trigger graft‐vs‐host disease. For some HLA null alleles, the translation into a truncated polypeptide chain seems possible, which thus might act as minor histocompatibility antigens. Because the prevalence of HLA null alleles may be around 0.3% or even higher, a screening strategy for HLA null alleles should, therefore, be implemented in the clinical laboratory. It may consist of the combination of serology and standard molecular typing techniques. As the standard molecular techniques are sometimes troublesome especially for characterizing the cytosine island at the 5′ end of HLA class I exon 4 and need continuously be updated, an alternative approach may consist of sequencing all samples from genomic DNA for exons 2–3 or 4 (class I) or exon 2 (class II), including the adjacent intron splicing sites. This approach will detect 36/40 so far known non‐expressed variants and has the potential to easily uncover novel variants, thus essentially minimizing the risk of overlooking these challenging variants.
Identification of an epitope from the epithelial cell adhesion molecule eliciting HLA‐A*2402‐restricted cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte responses
Authors: Tajima K. , Demachi A. , Ito Y. , Nishida K. , Akatsuka Y. , Tsujimura K. , Kuwano H. , Mitsudomi T. , Takahashi T. , Kuzushima K.
Published: November 2004

Abstract:  Because the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (Ep‐CAM) is expressed in almost all carcinomas and human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐A*2402 is the most common allele in many ethnic groups, including Japanese, the identification of peptide sequences, which elicit HLA‐A*2402‐restricted Ep‐CAM‐specific cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte (CTL) responses, would facilitate specific immunotherapy for various histological types of carcinomas. An epitope was identified through the following steps: (i) computer‐based epitope prediction from the amino acid sequence of Ep‐CAM, (ii) major histocompatibility complex (MHC) stabilization assay to determine the affinity of the predicted peptide with HLA‐A*2402 molecules, (iii) stimulation of CD8+ T cells with peptide‐pulsed dendritic cells and (iv) testing the CTL specificity by means of enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays, CTL assays and MHC/peptide‐tetramer staining. Peripheral CD8+ T cells of four of five healthy donors after three rounds of stimulation with the peptide Ep‐CAM173−181 (RYQLDPKFI) secreted interferon‐γ in ELISPOT assays when exposed to the peptide. A CTL clone specific to the peptide efficiently lysed Ep‐CAM‐expressing cancer cell lines in an HLA‐A*2402‐restricted fashion. Endogenous processing and presentation of the peptide in a lung cancer cell line were confirmed by means of cold target inhibition assays. The CTL clone was also lytic to normal bronchial epithelial cells but to a lesser extent at low effector: target ratios. All these data suggest that the peptide‐specific CTL responses may play some roles both in anti‐cancer and autoimmune reactions. The peptide should prove useful to study anti‐Ep‐CAM CTL responses among population possessing HLA‐A*2402.
Relationships between Grain Yield, Flag Leaf Morphology, Carbon Isotope Discrimination and Ash Content in Irrigated Wheat
Authors: Monneveux P. , Reynolds M. P. , González‐Santoyo H. , Peña R. J. , Mayr L. , Zapata F.
Published: November 2004

The purpose of this study was to examine how differences in leaf angle, leaf rolling (LR) and glaucousness (GL) can modify yield components and leaf physiological traits in wheat. A set of 167 lines derived from a cross between two high‐yielding bread wheat cultivars differing for these traits was grown under flood irrigation and high evaporative demand in the north‐west of Mexico. Area, mass per unit area and chlorophyll content of the flag leaf were assessed. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) and ash content (ma) were also measured. A significant correlation was found between grain yield (GY) and both Δ and ma suggesting that, despite well‐watered conditions, leaf stomatal conductance was the main yield‐limiting factor. Leaf posture and LR did not significantly affect yield, Δ and ma. Higher grain weight was noted, however, in lines with droopy flag leaves. Erect leaves had higher mass per unit area. GL was associated with a significant increase in GY and grain weight. Glaucous lines also had higher Δ and ma, suggesting higher transpiration rate and lower transpiration efficiency. The study confirms that Δ and ma represent promising criteria for GY in wheat and provides evidence that GL can contribute to higher yield, even under irrigated conditions.
Anti‐corporate Campaigning and Corporate “Social” Responsibility: Towards Alternative Spaces of Citizenship?1
Authors: Sadler David
Published: November 2004

This paper seeks to bring together debates on anti‐corporate protest with discussions on the nature of corporate responsibility. It does so in order to examine the implications of this interaction between conflicting social forces for the constitution of citizenship on the one hand, and for an understanding of the corporation on the other. I first identify the significance of anti‐corporate activism within the current anti‐globalisation movement. The proclaimed emergence of an era of corporate citizenship is then examined. The spaces of engagement between anti‐corporate activism and corporate social responsibility are constructed through a variety of means, including ethical trading initiatives and corporate codes of conduct. In interpreting these engagements, I identify three contrasting perspectives on the spaces of citizenship that might result. These stress in turn the turbulence of a global civil society, the re‐definition of the national state, and the spatial discontinuities of democracy. I also situate corporate social responsibility practices as part of the discursive narrative of the corporate form, enabling a consideration of the extent to which it is potentially possible to de‐centre the corporation.
Creating Spaces of Resistance: Development NGOs and their Clients in Ghana, India and Mexico
Authors: Townsend Janet G , Porter Gina , Mawdsley Emma
Published: November 2004

Development NGOs have been accused by some of being new instruments of control, domesticated by the neoliberal project. For others, they elaborate and pursue alternative dreams. In this paper, we argue that, although the majority of NGOs have been co‐opted to serve hegemonic development agendas, they nevertheless present a fluid, contradictory web of relations, within which a significant minority seeks to make spaces of resistance, and where even the most neoliberal NGOs are used by some clients to create new associational spaces. Drawing on work with NGOs in Ghana, India, Mexico and Europe, we explore various strategies deployed by this minority of “independent thinking NGOs”. We argue that there is an important production of Melucci's submerged networks or latent social movements, however limited their political impact to date.
Geographical Imaginations and Spaces of Political Engagement: Examples from the Indian Alliance
Authors: McFarlane Colin
Published: November 2004

This paper is concerned with the various ways in which geographical imaginations are inflected in politics. It draws on examples from a three‐way partnership of civil society organisations based in Mumbai, India. This movement seeks to reconfigure the governance of anti‐poverty strategies by placing “poor people” at the centre of its activities. The partnership, which refers to itself as the Alliance, is involved in the mobilisation and creation of a range of alternative geographical imaginations that are inflected in the production of new spaces of political engagement. By exploring two of the Alliance's strategies—enumerations and exhibitions—I will illustrate some of the ways in which these alternative geographical imaginations feature in the creation of spaces of political engagement. These strategies involve the practical demonstration of the capacities of the poor to donors and states, and reflect a particular conception of the poor and social change.

The spaces of political engagement formed in part through the Alliance's work depend significantly on a commitment to non‐party alignment, an approach that has received criticism from NGOs and commentators involved with urban poverty. I will argue that the Alliance represents a broad development alternative—rather than a form of alternative development—which nonetheless is making substantial progress in the politics of citizenship in Mumbai.
Focused on the Family? Religious Traditions, Family Discourse, and Pastoral Practice
Authors: WILCOX W. BRADFORD , CHAVES MARK , FRANZ DAVID
Published: November 2004

The relationship between religion and the family has recently reemerged as an important object of sociological inquiry. However, research has largely overlooked the ways in which the family discourse produced by specific religious traditions is connected to family‐focused pastoral practices of congregations. Using data from the National Congregations Study, we find that family discourse and pastoral practice are only “loosely coupled” to one another. Ideological differences among mainline Protestant, conservative Protestant, and Roman Catholic congregations do not translate directly into differences in family ministry offerings. These findings help explain why research often finds that religion exercises uniform effects on family life, insofar as most congregations offer a similar package of ministries even though their family discourse is markedly different.
Specifying the Impact of Conservative Protestantism on Educational Attainment
Authors: BEYERLEIN KRAIG
Published: November 2004

Recent studies have demonstrated that conservative Protestantism negatively affects educational advancement. However, these studies have treated conservative Protestantism as a monolithic religious bloc that uniformly constrains achieving higher education. Disaggregating conservative Protestantism into fundamentalists, Pentecostals, and evangelicals reveals that the relationship between conservative Protestantism and educational attainment is more complex than recently shown. Findings from a nationally representative sample of Americans show that fundamentalists and Pentecostals are generally less likely to be college educated relative to other religious groups and nonreligious affiliates. The findings also show that not only are evangelicals more likely to be college educated than fundamentalists and Pentecostals, but with the exception of Jews, they are as likely or more likely than other religious groups and nonreligious affiliates to be college educated. This article suggests that different cultural traditions explain the variation in educational attainment among conservative Protestants.
Responses of Clergy to 9/11: Posttraumatic Stress, Coping, and Religious Outcomes
Authors: MEISENHELDER JANICE BELL , MARCUM JOHN P.
Published: November 2004

This study examines posttraumatic stress, religious coping, and nonreligious coping in relation to positive religious outcomes following the tragedies of 9/11. In November 2001, a mailed survey of 814 active, ordained ministers in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) measured posttraumatic stress, perceived threat, coping activities, positive and negative religious coping, positive religious outcomes, and perceived congregational responses. A majority of the respondents (75 percent) experienced some posttraumatic stress symptoms, with 63 percent feeling threatened for their personal safety. Nonreligious coping behaviors included contributing money (60 percent) and displaying the flag (56 percent). Looking to God for strength, support, and guidance was the most frequently used strategy; increased prayer was second. High stress was associated with higher frequency of coping strategies, both religious and nonreligious. More frequent positive religious coping was related to less severe stress symptoms of numbness and avoidance, and higher positive religious outcomes. Although religion failed to provide protection against stress in a population of religiously dedicated individuals, it provided a pathway for positive and effective coping strategies that resulted in positive religious outcomes.
Isolation and characterization of polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite loci in the Fire salamander Salamandra salamandra (Amphibia: Caudata)
Authors: STEINFARTZ SEBASTIAN , KÜSTERS DANIEL , TAUTZ DIETHARD
Published: November 2004

Ten tetranucleotide and one dinucleotide polymorphic microsatellite loci were cloned and characterized for the Fire salamander (Salamandra salamandra) from 34 populations in Germany. A high genetic diversity (5–22 alleles per locus) and heterozygosity (40.6–95.2%) were observed for these markers. Chord distances for population comparisons of the western evolutionary recolonization lineage in the area near Cologne ranged from 0.139 to 0.366, whereas population comparisons between the western and eastern lineage ranged from 0.541 to 0.670. When compared with classical isolation methods, a sufficient number of polymorphic microsatellites can be obtained for the Fire salamander only from specially enriched sublibraries.
Isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris)
Authors: HUTCHISON DELBERT W. , STRASBURG JARED L. , BRISSON JENNIFER A. , CUMMINGS SHAWN
Published: November 2004

We identified 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci in collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris). Polymorphism assessment in 512 individuals from 52 populations sampled across much of the species distribution revealed a fairly high degree of genetic diversity (six to 20 alleles per locus) and a wide range of average expected heterozygosity values (0.143–0.530). We found no evidence for linkage, very few deviations from HW expectation (two of 572 possible population/locus analyses) and thus no evidence for null alleles. There was a tendency for reduced polymorphism towards the northern periphery.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae)
Authors: PATT A. , MISOF B. , WAGNER Th. , NAUMANN C. M.
Published: November 2004

Nine polymorphic microsatellite markers of Monolepta vincta Gerstaecker, 1871 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) have been characterized. An analysis of 140 individuals demonstrated the high degree of polymorphism for these loci with a mean number of 10.6 alleles per locus. Primer sets were also tested in M. usambarica Weise, 1903, M. vilis Weise, 1924 and an as yet undescribed Monolepta sp. Some primer sets yielded amplification products in these closely related species with a detectable degree of polymorphism. The markers will be used for a population genetic study of M. vincta populations in the Kakamega Forest, Kenya.
Novel microsatellite markers for Bactris gasipaes (Palmae)
Authors: RODRIGUES D. P. , VINSON C. , CIAMPI A. Y. , FARIAS I. P. , LEMES M. R. , ASTOLFI‐FILHO S. , CLEMENT C. R.
Published: November 2004

Ten new polymorphic microsatellites were isolated and characterized in Bactris gasipaes using a microsatellite enrichment protocol and selective hybridization with oligonucleotide probes. The loci are highly polymorphic, with a mean of 14.6 alleles per locus and a mean expected heterozygosity of 0.83 among 62 individuals of the Pampa Hermosa landrace. These microsatellites will be useful for population genetic analysis and germplasm characterization for heart‐of‐palm breeding.
Development of Microsatellite Loci in Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus)
Authors: KAUKINEN K. H. , SUPERNAULT K. J. , MILLER K. M.
Published: November 2004

The decline of eulachon spawning runs over the past decade has enhanced the need for management units that reflect the genetic structure of the species. We report the development of 14 novel, highly polymorphic di‐ and tetranucleotide loci for use in population studies. In a survey of over 200 individuals from two rivers from the Pacific NW, observed heterozygosities of the loci ranged from 0.54 to 0.95 and an average of 23 alleles per locus were resolved. All 14 microsatellite markers were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.
Mitochondrial DNA structure and organization of the control region of South American camelids
Authors: MATÉ M. L. , DI ROCCO F. , ZAMBELLI A. , VIDAL‐RIOJA L.
Published: November 2004

This work presents the mitochondrial DNA molecular organization of the control region (CR) of South American camelids. Sequencing of five individuals each of guanaco, llama, alpaca and vicuna species showed that this region spans 1060 bp including three conserved sequence blocks (CSB I–III) adjacent to the tRNAPhe gene, a conserved central domain and one extended termination‐associated sequence in the 3′ domain of the CR close to the tRNAPro gene. A repeated array formed by three units of 26 bp was detected between CSB I and II. Alignment of the CR sequences from the four species shows a 337‐bp segment that includes most of the nucleotide variability with 10 polymorphic sites. We suggest the use of this segment as a molecular marker to infer data on camelid genetic relationships and population diversity studies.
Isolation and characterization of eight dinucleotide microsatellite loci from two closely related clupeid species (Alosa alosa and A. fallax)
Authors: FARIA R. , WALLNER B. , WEISS S. , ALEXANDRINO P.
Published: November 2004

Eight dinucleotide microsatellite loci were developed through an enrichment protocol for allis shad (Alosa alosa) and twaite shad (A. fallax). Cross‐species amplification was successful for all loci isolated. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to nine for A. alosa and from two to seven for A. fallax, while the observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.267 to 0.926 and from 0.240 to 0.727, respectively. These markers will constitute useful tools for studies of population structure and gene flow between two closely related hybridizing species.