bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
017 Evaluation of the ‘NASA’ garment for children with xeroderma pigmentosum
Authors: Sayre R.M. , Dowdy J.C. , Stanfield J. , Menter J.M. , Hatch K.L.
Published: December 2004

In the early 1990s NASA scientists developed a UV protective garment resembling a space suit for children afflicted with xeroderma pigmentosum. This garment together with gloves and face shield is able to protect the child allowing outdoor activities.

We have examined all components of the garment within the framework of testing procedures developed for UV protective clothes and fabrics. The result is the garment developed more than 10 years ago meets today's standards for UV protective garments.

Since photosensitive individuals, in general, may be affected by non‐erythemogenic wavelengths, clothing for these patients require strategies not obvious for sunburn protection of normal individuals. These needs will be examined and recommendations made.
A questionnaire survey of attitudes to and usage of sunscreens in northwest England
Authors: Ling T.‐C. , Faulkner C. , Rhodes L. E.
Published: December 2004

Background/Purpose: Sunscreens are employed with the aim of reducing the deleterious effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR), but little is known about their use in the UK.

Methods: This questionnaire survey assessed attitudes to and usage of sunscreens in northwest England in 2000. Subjects (186 females and 102 males) were recruited from the waiting rooms of four general practices, with a high response rate of 97%.

Results: Females were more frequent users of sunscreens than males, but only 35% females and 8% males reported their regular use. Twenty‐two per cent of the study population did not use sunscreens at all, whereas 66% of subjects bought a sunscreen product once a year or less. Thirty‐four per cent subjects reported experiencing sunburn in the last 2 years. Interestingly, more (60%) sunburns were found to occur at home in the UK than on holidays abroad, and these frequently occurred during outdoor activities other than deliberate sunbathing.

Conclusion: There remains much scope for sunscreen education in the British public.
The impact of bleaching on the metabolic contribution of dinoflagellate symbionts to their giant clam host
Authors: LEGGAT W. , BUCK B. H. , GRICE A. , YELLOWLEES D.
Published: December 2004

Bleaching (loss of symbiotic dinoflagellates) is known to significantly decrease the fitness of symbiotic marine invertebrates resulting in reduced growth, fecundity and survival. This report is the first to quantify the effects of bleaching on inorganic carbon (Ci) and ammonium flux, fixation and export of photosynthate to the host, in this case the giant clam Tridacna gigas. The 1998 bleaching event was found to decrease the zooxanthellae population 30‐fold when comparing bleached to non‐bleached clams. This resulted in significant increases in haemolymph Ci and decreases in haemolymph pH and glucose concentration, the predominant photosynthate exported from zooxanthellae in this symbiosis. There was also a decrease in the expression levels of host carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme involved in Ci transport to the zooxanthellae, and although host glutamine synthase levels were unaffected, the clams ability to assimilate ammonium was eliminated in bleached individuals, suggesting that photosynthate from the zooxanthellae is required for ammonium assimilation. In an artificial bleaching experiment haemolymph Ci (r2 = 0.97), pH (r2 = 0.94) and glucose levels (r2 = 0.95) were correlated to zooxanthellae numbers during both bleaching and recovery. Recovery of the zooxanthellae population, was enhanced four‐fold by the addition of organic and inorganic nutrients, as were related haemolymph characteristics. These results highlight the profound physiological changes that occur in symbiotic organisms during and after a bleaching event.
Genetic diversity among populations and breeding lines from recurrent selection in Brassica napus as revealed by RAPD markers
Authors: Yuan M. , Zhou Y. , Liu D.
Published: December 2004

Recurrent selection facilitated by dominant male sterility has been conducted to broaden the genetic basis for cultivar development in Brassica napus. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic variation in four base populations (C0‐C3) and breeding lines from two of the populations produced during recurrent selection by random amplified polymorphic DNA (Rapd) markers. Genetic variation in four populations declined gradually with the advance of selection cycles as measured by expected genetic heterozygosity (from 0.2058 in C0 to 0.1536 in C3) but the decline was not statistically significant. When compared with the average genetic distances for 21 germplasm collections with wide geographical and genetic origins (0.4712) and seven breeding lines from pedigree selection (0.2059), seven breeding lines selected from the C1 population and 11 from the C3 population had a larger average genetic distance (0.5339 and 0.5486, respectively). Clustering analysis indicated that the lines from recurrent selection had a much lower genetic similarity than lines from pedigree selection. Our results suggest that base populations derived from recurrent selection could provide a wider genetic variation for selection of breeding lines with more broad genetic bases.
Identification of RAPD markers linked to recessive genes conferring siliqua shatter resistance in Brassica rapa
Authors: Mongkolporn O. , Kadkol G. P. , Pang E. C. K. , Taylor P. W. J.
Published: December 2004

Shattering of siliquae causes significant seed loss in canola (Brassica napus) production worldwide. There is little genetic variation for resistance to shatter in canola and, hence, the trait has been studied in B. rapa. Previous studies have shown two randomly segregating recessive genes to be responsible for shatter resistance. Three random amplified polymorphic DNA markers were identified as being linked to shatter resistance using bulked segregant analysis in a F3B. rapa population. The population was derived from a cross between a shatter‐susceptible Canadian cultivar and a shatter‐resistant Indian line. Of the three markers, RAC‐3900 and RX‐71000 were linked to recessive sh1 and sh2 alleles, and SAC‐201300 was linked to both dominant Sh1 and Sh2 alleles. The common marker for the dominant wild‐type allele for the two loci was explained to have resulted from duplication of an original locus and the associated markers through chromosome duplication and rearrangements in the process of evolution of the modern B. rapa from its progenitor that had a lower number of chromosomes. Segregation data from double heterozygous F3 families, although limited, indicated the markers were not linked to each other and provided further evidence for the duplication hypothesis.
Variability and early selection on the seedling stage for agronomic traits in progenies from olive crosses
Authors: León L. , Rallo L. , Del Rio C. , Martin L. M.
Published: December 2004

Yield per tree, ripening date and oil content components (fruit fresh weight, flesh moisture, flesh/stone ratio both on fresh and dry weight basis, flesh and fruit oil content on dry weight basis) have been studied during 3 years in seedlings from crosses among the olive cultivars ‘Arbequina’, ‘Frantoio’ and ‘Picual’. Genetic and environmental variances and year‐to‐year consistency of data were estimated. Most of the traits evaluated showed a range of variability as large or even larger than either the range observed in a random sample of cultivars from the World Olive Germplasm Bank of Cordoba or the range reported in the evaluation of olive cultivars collections. Between‐years correlation coefficients showed that for a character such as oil content the values obtained in the first year could be reliable indicators of the values obtained in following years. Observations over 2 years may be required for characters such as fruit weight or flesh/stone ratio on a fresh weight basis and even more than 2 years may be required to estimate yield per tree.
Achieving Clarity in Evaluation of Community/Public Health Nurse Generalist Competencies through Development of a Clinical Performance Evaluation Tool
Authors: Kaiser Katherine L. , Rudolph Elizabeth J.
Published: December 2004

Abstract  Community/public health nursing practice is complex and based on interventions targeted at individuals, families, populations, and communities. Evaluating clinical practice involves a comparison of predetermined standards, such as those developed by American Nurses Association (ANA), against competencies associated with the practice of the specialty. In this study, 301 performance evaluation records from a locally developed clinical performance evaluation tool were examined for construct validity and reliability based on the ANA Standards for Community and Public Health Nursing.
What is the optimal occlusion time for the atopy patch test in the diagnosis of food allergies in children with atopic dermatitis?
Authors: Rancé Fabienne
Published: December 2004

The atopy patch test (APT) is a valuable additional tool in the diagnosis of food allergies in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). Nevertheless, this technique needs to be standardized, and this is particularly true for the occlusion time. We compared the results obtained after a 24‐h occlusion period with those obtained after a 48‐h occlusion period, the usual occlusion time used in contact allergy. We performed 64 open oral food challenges in 48 children (30 boys and 18 girls), aged between 3 and 29 months (median 14 months). The sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were all better for the 48‐h occlusion time than for the 24‐h occlusion time. Therefore, the recommended occlusion time for the APT with foods should be 48 h, as for contact allergens.
Ixodid tick species recovered from domestic dogs in Japan
Authors: Shimada Y. , Beppu T. , Inokuma H. , Okuda M. , Onishi T.
Published: December 2004

The species of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) recovered from domestic dogs in Japan between September to November 2000 and April to June 2001 were identified. A total of 4122 ticks, including 1624 larvae, 1200 nymphs, 1016 females and 282 males were removed from 1221 dogs during these periods. Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann) was the most frequently found (40.3% of dogs), followed by H. flava (Neumann) (16.1% of dogs), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (4.8% of dogs) and Ixodes ovatus (Neumann) (4.1% of dogs). Small numbers of H. hystricis (Supino), H. campanulata (Warburton), H. japonica (Warburton), H. ias (Nakamura and Yajima), I. persulcatus (Schulze), I. nipponensis (Kitaoka and Saito) and Amblyomma testudinarium (Koch) were also recovered. In the spring sample, a total of 1408 ticks (78 larvae, 411 nymphs, 792 adult females and 127 adult males) were recovered from 570 dogs. The autumn sample included a larger proportion of larval stage and fewer adult ticks (1546 larvae, 789 nymphs, 224 adult females and 155 adult males). Haemaphysalis longicornis, H. flava and I. ovatus showed a wide geographical distribution from northern to southern Japan, whereas R. sanguineus were mainly distributed in the subtropical Okinawa prefecture with a few exceptions. Dogs in rural areas more frequently carried H. longicornis, H. flava and I. ovatus than dogs in urban or suburban areas, whereas R. sanguineus was more associated with the dogs in urban/suburban areas. Exposure to a garden was significantly associated with R. sanguineus and exposure to woodland was significantly associated with H. flava and I. ovatus. This is the first systematic survey of canine ticks in Japan.
Collection of wind‐borne haematophagous insects in the Torres Strait, Australia
Authors: Johansen C. A. , Farrow R. A. , Morrisen A. , Foley P. , Bellis G. , Van Den Hurk A. F. , Montgomery B. , Mackenzie J. S. , Ritchie S. A.
Published: December 2004

Circumstantial evidence has implicated wind‐borne mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the introduction of Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus into Australia from the New Guinea mainland. A study was initiated on Saibai Island in the northern Torres Strait, during January and February 2000, to identify the potential source of insects collected in aerial (kytoon) and surface‐level traps. Wind speed and direction were recorded to determine wind profiles during insect sampling. Northerly winds capable of carrying insects from New Guinea to Saibai Island were only present on three out of 18 nights sampled. Only three male mosquitoes, comprising two Verrallina funerea (Theobald) and one Ochlerotatus vigilax (Skuse), were collected in aerial samples, and were most likely of local origin. Culicoides midges were also collected in aerial nets and included gravid/parous C. bundyensis Lee and Reye, and one parous C. histrio Johannsen. Highest densities of arthropods (up to 1562/million m3) were on 30 January 2000 when NW winds, sustained for six hours, probably introduced midges from the New Guinea mainland. Adult mosquitoes (including three female Ve. funerea and a single female Ficalbia) and Culicoides (including two gravid C. bundyensis and one parous C. cordiger Macfie) were also collected in 2 m high mast nets during northerly surface winds. Although the results do not provide evidence that wind‐blown mosquitoes introduced JE from New Guinea into Australia, they do not preclude that strong N winds associated with low pressure systems SW of the Torres Strait could have done so. However, results suggest that Culicoides were more likely than mosquitoes to reach high altitude and travel long distances during the light N winds experienced during the study.
The epidemiology of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
Authors: Schechter Robert , Torfs Claudine P. , Bateson Thomas F.
Published: December 2004

Infants with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) born from 1983 to 1988 and recorded in the California Birth Defects Monitoring Program (CBDMP) database were compared with their birth cohort by demographic characteristics and selected associated birth defects. We identified 1963 cases of IHPS for a cumulative incidence of 1.9 per 1000 livebirths. The cumulative incidence per 1000 livebirths was 2.4 in White, 1.8 in Hispanic, 0.7 in Black, and 0.6 in Asian infants. Between weeks 3–12 after birth, 1871 (95%) IHPS cases were diagnosed. Premature infants were diagnosed with IHPS later than term or post‐term infants. The incidence of IHPS declined for those born to maternal age groups of  25 years and, independently, for successive birth ranks. The probandwise concordance rate for IHPS in monozygous twins was less than unity (0.25–0.44), although higher than the concordance for dizygous twins (0.05–0.10). The incidence of Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome (SLO) diagnosed in infants with IHPS (3 of 1963) was 157‐fold higher than the incidence of SLO diagnosed in the CBDMP population.IHPS occurs in all of the largest racial and ethnic groups in California, most frequently in White and Hispanic infants. Pyloric stenosis presents only within a brief phase of development, which may be delayed in premature infants. A predominant discordance of disease state in monozygous twins implies an aetiological role for undetermined environmental factors. The association between SLO, caused by deficient cholesterol synthesis, and IHPS deserves additional study. Infants with suspected SLO require close observation for the onset of IHPS.
Does maternal smoking during pregnancy cause childhood overweight?
Authors: Widerøe Marius , Vik Torstein , Jacobsen Geir , Bakketeig Leiv S.
Published: December 2004

The objective of this study was to examine a possible association between maternal smoking in pregnancy and childhood overweight. From a population‐based cohort of 5722 women from Trondheim, Bergen (Norway) and Uppsala (Sweden) enrolled in early pregnancy during 1986–92, a random sample of 482 women was selected for participation. They were followed up throughout pregnancy, and their children from birth until 5 years of age. Data on maternal smoking and diet, socio‐economic determinants and breast feeding were recorded prospectively. During pregnancy and childhood, anthropometric measures were also recorded. Maternal smoking status was based on reported number of cigarettes smoked in week 17 of pregnancy. Child overweight was defined by body mass index (BMI) and sum of skinfold thickness (SFT) ≥ 85th percentile at 5 years of age.

Children of mothers who smoked in pregnancy had increased risk of overweight at 5 years of age (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.5, 4.2 for BMI; and RR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1, 3.0 for SFT). Adjusting for maternal diet, breast feeding, maternal obesity and socio‐economic status did not suggest confounding. However, adjustment for birthweight increased the observed risk. A linear increase in BMI and SFT was observed with increasing number of cigarettes smoked. In conclusion, smoking during pregnancy may be a risk factor for development of childhood overweight. This study may support the hypothesis of ‘fetal origin of adult disease’, but the risk of overweight associated with smoking during pregnancy was independent of intrauterine growth retardation, and may thus be attributed to specific effects of cigarette smoke.
Reliability of maternal recall and reporting of child births and deaths in rural Egypt
Authors: Rao Malla R. , Levine Richard J. , Wasif Nader K. , Clemens John D.
Published: December 2004

Demographic indicators such as fertility rates and infant mortality rates are often measured in census surveys by interviewing mothers to obtain their pregnancy histories and child deaths. The validity of such surveys depends upon accurate recall of histories, truthful reporting of events and understanding of the questions posed. To measure the reliability of maternal reporting, two census surveys conducted in a rural Egyptian population were compared. Women between 15 and 55 years of age residing in 20 villages were asked their histories of live births, stillbirths and child deaths. An identical set of questions was posed 2 years later. Twice‐monthly home visits were conducted in the intervening 2‐year interval to identify accurately any new births, stillbirths and deaths occurring in the population. The maternal reports from the first census were combined with the prospectively identified births, stillbirths and deaths and compared with the maternal reports from the second census. For 1502 women, the discrepancies in the total number of births, stillbirths and child deaths reported between the two surveys were 0.6%, 4% and 0.6% respectively. However, when the consistency of responses was analysed, the proportion of women with discordant responses was 10%, 6% and 7% for the same measures. These results suggest that, despite the large number of births and deaths that women may experience in developing countries, maternal interviews provide reliable responses that can be used to estimate mortality and fertility rates in settings where vital records are incomplete or unreliable.
Prediction of adult height and risk of overweight in females born small‐for‐gestational‐age
Authors: Lundgren E. M. , Cnattingius S. , Jonsson B. , Tuvemo T.
Published: December 2004

The risk of short adult stature in women born small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) was estimated in this prospective cohort study of 43 872 singleton females, born between 1973 and 1983, who gave birth to a child between 1989 and 1999. The risk of overweight in females born SGA, with and without short adult stature, was also studied. All data on birth characteristics and adult height and weight were obtained from the Swedish Birth Register. SGA‐born females were divided into being born short only for gestational age [birth length < −2 standard deviation scores (SDS)], born light for gestational age (birthweight < −2 SDS) or being born both short and light for gestational age. Short adult stature was defined as adult height below −2 SDS.

Among females, being born SGA (<−2 SDS in birth length or birthweight) was associated with increased risk of short adult stature, compared with being born appropriate for gestational age. The risk varied substantially within different subgroups of females born SGA: being born short for gestational age was associated with an almost fivefold increased risk [odds ratio (OR) 4.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.70, 6.47] of short adult stature, whereas being born light for gestational age was associated with an almost twofold increased risk [OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.43, 2.65].

Overall, females born SGA did not have increased risk of overweight compared with females with appropriate size at birth. However, among females born short for gestational age, short adult stature was associated with an increased risk of overweight in adulthood [OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.01, 3.12].

In conclusion, among females born SGA, of the birth characteristics, short birth length is associated with the highest increased risk of short adult stature. Spontaneous growth in height to normal adult stature reduced the risk of overweight in females born short for gestational age.
Prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes around hazardous industrial sites in Cumbria, north‐west England, 1950–93
Authors: Dummer Trevor J. B. , Dickinson Heather O. , Parker Louise
Published: December 2004

The objective of this study was to investigate the risk of stillbirth, neonatal death and lethal congenital anomaly in relation to proximity to hazardous industrial facilities at the time of birth in Cumbria, 1950–93. A retrospective cohort study was carried out using all 4325 stillbirths, 3430 neonatal deaths and 1569 deaths from congenital anomaly among the 287  993 births to mothers living in Cumbria between 1950 and 1993. Logistic regression was used to investigate the risk of each outcome in relation to proximity at birth to hazardous industrial sites, stratifying the analysis by time period and adjusting for social class, year of birth, birth order and multiple births. Continuous odds ratios for trend with proximity to sites were estimated. No significantly increased risk was found for stillbirth, lethal congenital anomaly or neonatal deaths in relation to proximity to hazardous industrial facilities, except for deaths from congenital heart defects in 1983–93. Overall, there was no evidence to suggest an increased risk of adverse lethal pregnancy outcome among babies whose mothers lived closer to hazardous industrial sites. The significantly increased risk of lethal congenital heart defects with proximity to these sites was likely to be a chance finding, given the large number of outcome groups and time periods analysed. However, effective environmental monitoring of industrial processes is required to enable studies to investigate the potential health risks of industrial pollution.
P38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase influence on the production of IL‐10 in human schistosomiasis mansoni
Authors: Carneiro‐Santos Patricia , Alves‐Oliveira Lucia F. , Correa‐Oliveira Rodrigo , Hagan Paul
Published: December 2004

Schistosomiasis mansoni remains a significant public health problem in many parts of the tropics and subtropics. Clinical manifestations range from the asymptomatic intestinal form through to the hepatosplenic form of the disease, a potentially lethal clinical condition in a subsection of the exposed population. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which interleukin (IL)‐10 production could be differentially controlled in patients with the intestinal and hepatosplenic forms of the disease, as IL‐10 may play a fundamental role in the development of the hepatosplenic disease state. It is reported that p38 mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase signalling, and in particular p38 MAPK activation, is central to IL‐10 production of cells from patients with schistosomiasis. Furthermore, the difference in the levels of activated p38 MAPK and the activation transcription factor (ATF‐2), may explain the difference in the amount of IL‐10 produced by cells from intestinal and hepatosplenic patients. We suggest that the type of immune response triggered in patients with hepatosplenomegaly could be influenced by the levels of phosphorylated p38 MAPK.
Neutropenia augments experimentally induced Schistosoma japonicum egg granuloma formation in CBA mice, but not in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Hirata Mizuki , Hara Tatsuru , Kage Masayoshi , Fukuma Toshihide , Sendo Fujiro
Published: December 2004

The present study was designed to investigate the role of neutrophils during the development of Schistosoma japonicum egg granulomas, in C57BL/6 and CBA mice. Laid eggs were implanted into the liver and monoclonal antibody, RB6‐8C5, was used to eliminate neutrophils. After daily antibody treatment between days 9 and 13 of egg implantation, both strains of mice showed a marked decrease in neutrophil infiltration and coagulative hepatocyte necrosis at 2 weeks. At 4 weeks, after antibody administration every other day between days 16 and 26, granuloma formation in C57BL/6 mice was not affected by the treatment, whereas CBA mice exhibited a significant increase of reactions. Neutropenia augmented the Th2 cytokine response (IL‐4, IL‐13 and IL‐5), but not for IFN‐γ at any time point examined and in either strain of mice. Higher levels of IL‐4 and IL‐13 were noted in CBA mice at early and late stages of granuloma formation, compared to C57BL/6 mice. There was also a striking difference in IL‐13 production between the two strains. Our results indicate that neutropenia is associated with a significant augmentation of S. japonicum egg‐induced granuloma formation in CBA mice, probably through increase in Th2 cytokines, however, the effects differ between early and late stages and between high and low responders.
The endocrine control of phase transition: some new aspects
Authors: Breuer Michael , Hoste Bruno , De Loof Arnold
Published: December 2004

Abstract. The present article summarizes some recent findings relating to the underlying mechanism of phase transition in locusts, from the nonswarming solitarious phase to the swarming gregarious phase. These phases differ in many traits, such as colouration, morphometrics and behaviour. The most comprehensive theory at present to explain the switch from the nonswarming to the swarming form is that the locusts are brought together by the heterogeneity of the environment. They gather at preferential structures and food plants and physical contact then stimulates individuals to gregarize. Phase change can also be transferred across generations by maternal pheromones. The endocrine regulation of phase polymorphism is still not fully understood. The role of ecdysteroids has been studied, so far with no final conclusion. It is remarkable that the prothoracic glands persist longer in isolated‐reared adults, which implies that these glands continue to play a role, although they no longer release important amounts of ecdysteroids. Juvenile Hormone, without any doubt, induces certain solitarious characteristics, such as green colouration, but is not the primary causal factor. A real breakthrough was the discovery of [His7]‐corazonin, made possible by using a novel assay system, the Okinawa albino mutant of Locusta migratoria, which was known to be deficient in this hormone. This peptide, which is produced in the brain and is most likely released via the corpora cardiaca, promotes the gregarious black pigmentation. It also plays a role in morphometrical phase change as well as in behavioural alterations. Corazonin is apparently quite an important peptide not only in locusts, but also in insects in general.
Proton pumping by tomato roots. Effect of Fe deficiency and hormones on the activity and distribution of plasma membrane H+‐ATPase in rhizodermal cells
Authors: SCHMIDT W. , MICHALKE W. , SCHIKORA A.
Published: December 2004

The immunocytochemical localization of the plasma membrane H+‐ATPase in epidermal cells of tomato roots was studied using a monoclonal antibody raised against purified maize P‐type H+‐ATPase. Plants subjected to iron starvation exhibited increased proton extrusion that was confined to the root elongation zones. Immunogold labelling of the H+‐ATPase on the plasma membrane was considerably higher in rhizodermal cells within zones with intense proton extrusion than in non‐acidifying areas of the roots. Transfer cells were formed in rhizodermal cells of Fe‐deficient plants. Quantitative determination of immunolabelling revealed that the density of PM H+‐ATPase in transfer cells was about twice that of ordinary epidermal cells. In transfer cells, H+‐ATPase was most abundant on the plasma membrane lining the labyrinthine invaginations of the peripheral cell wall. While the number of immunologically detectable ATPase molecules in transfer cells was not spatially correlated with proton extrusion activity, the frequency of transfer cells was considerably higher in acidifying root areas relative to non‐active segments. Split‐root experiments indicated that both the steady‐state level of plasma membrane H+‐ATPase and proton extrusion activity are systemically regulated, indicating inter‐organ regulation of rhizosphere acidification. Exogenous application of the auxin analog 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and the ethylene precursor 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxlic acid caused the formation of transfer cells at a frequency similar to that observed in Fe‐deficient roots. However, the number of proton pumps was not affected by the hormone treatment, suggesting that both responses are regulated independently. It is concluded that transfer cells in the rhizodermis may be important but not crucial for rhizosphere acidification.
Assembly of a cytosolic pine glutamine synthetase holoenzyme in leaves of transgenic poplar leads to enhanced vegetative growth in young plants
Authors: FU J. , SAMPALO R. , GALLARDO F. , CÁNOVAS F. M. , KIRBY E. G.
Published: December 2004

Over‐expression of glutamine synthetase (GS, EC 6.3.1.2), a key enzyme in nitrogen assimilation, may be a reasonable approach to enhance plant nitrogen use efficiency. In this work phenotypic and biochemical characterizations of young transgenic poplars showing ectopic expression of a pine cytosolic GS transgene in photosynthetic tissue (Gallardo et al., Planta 210, 19–26, 1999) are presented. Analysis of 22 independent transgenic lines in a 6 month greenhouse study indicated that expression of the pine GS transgene affects early vegetative growth and leaf morphology. In comparison with non‐transgenic controls, transgenic trees exhibited significantly greater numbers of nodes and leaves (12%), and higher average leaf length and width resulting in an increase in leaf area (25%). Leaf shape was not altered. Transgenic poplars also exhibited increased GS activity (66%), chlorophyll content (33%) and protein content (21%). Plant height was correlated with GS content in young leaves, suggesting that GS can be considered a marker for vegetative growth. Molecular and kinetic characterization of GS isoforms in leaves indicated that poplar GS isoforms are similar to their counterparts in herbaceous plants. A new GS isoenzyme that displayed molecular and kinetic characteristics corresponding to the octomeric pine cytosolic GS1 was identified in the photosynthetic tissues of transgenic poplar leaves. These results indicate that enhanced growth and alterations in biochemistry during early growth are the consequence of transgene expression and assembly of pine GS1 subunits into a new functional holoenzyme in the cytosol of photosynthetic cells.
Induction of tolerance to oxidative stress in the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, by abscisic acid
Authors: YOSHIDA K. , IGARASHI E. , MUKAI M. , HIRATA K. , MIYAMOTO K.
Published: December 2004

The effect of abscisic acid (ABA) on the tolerance to oxidative stress in a freshwater green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, was investigated. Exogenously added ABA enhanced the growth of this alga, which was observed under continuous illumination but not in the dark. The cells treated with ABA for 24 h showed tolerance to oxidative stress caused by exposure to paraquat or hydrogen peroxide. In the ABA‐treated cells, the activities of two antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), were significantly higher than those in the untreated control. The result suggests that ABA plays a role in the enhancement of tolerance to oxidative stress by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes.
The effect of gravity on surface temperatures of plant leaves
Authors: KITAYA Y. , KAWAI M. , TSURUYAMA J. , TAKAHASHI H. , TANI A. , GOTO E. , SAITO T. , KIYOTA M.
Published: December 2004

A fundamental study was conducted to develop a facility having an adequate air circulation system for growing healthy plants over a long‐term under microgravity conditions in space. To clarify the effects of gravity on heat exchange between plant leaves and the ambient air, surface temperatures of sweet potato and barley leaves and replica leaves made of wet paper and copper were evaluated at gravity levels of 0.01, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 g for 20 s each during parabolic aeroplane flights. Thermal images were captured using infrared thermography at an air temperature of 26 °C, a relative humidity of 18% and an irradiance of 260 W  m−2. Mean leaf temperatures increased by 0.9–1.0 °C with decreasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 0.01 g and decreased by 0.5 °C with increasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 2.0 g. The increase in leaf temperatures was at most 1.9 °C for sweet potato leaves over 20 s as gravity decreased from 1.0 to 0.01 g. The boundary layer conductance to sensible heat exchange decreased by 5% when the gravity decreased from 1.0 to 0.01 g at the air velocity of 0.2 m s−1. The decrease in the boundary layer conductance with decrease in the gravity levels was more significant in a lower air velocity. Heat exchange between leaves and the ambient air was more retarded at lower gravity levels because of less sensible and latent heat transfers with less heat convection.
Identification of genes that are up‐regulated in concert during sugar depletion in Arabidopsis
Authors: LEE E.‐J. , KOIZUMI N. , SANO H.
Published: December 2004

In order to identify sugar‐responsive genes, Arabidopsis cDNA macro‐arrays were hybridized with probes prepared from seedlings cultured in the presence or absence of sucrose. Initial screening identified 36 cDNAs that were affected, among which 11 were finally selected as being up‐regulated under sugar‐depleted conditions. Eight of them were novel in terms of known sugar responses. Based on the properties of encoded proteins, they were classified into three groups involved in amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and unidentified nature. Subsequently, correlations between their expression profiles and sugar levels were analysed using intact plants. When detached leaves were subjected to sucrose depletion for 12 h, a marked decrease in glucose and sucrose occurred, and concomitantly all 11 genes were up‐regulated. However, their transcripts rapidly diminished within 7 h when samples were re‐supplied with sucrose. A similar pattern of up‐ and down‐regulation was observed upon dark treatment of whole plants but not during natural senescence of mature leaves. Inhibition analyses with glucose analogues indicated that eight of these genes might be associated with the hexokinase signalling pathway. The present observations suggest that plants activate a set of genes involved in recycling of materials during sugar depletion, and that these genes are simultaneously and concertedly regulated despite functional diversity.
Comparison of mitochondrial ascorbate peroxidase in the cultivated tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, and its wild, salt‐tolerant relative, L. pennellii– a role for matrix isoforms in protection against oxidative damage
Authors: MITTOVA V. , THEODOULOU F. L. , KIDDLE G. , VOLOKITA M. , TAL M. , FOYER C. H. , GUY M.
Published: December 2004

Mitochondria require robust antioxidant defences to prevent lipid peroxidation and to protect tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes from oxidative damage. Mitochondria from wild, salt‐tolerant tomato, Lycopersicon pennellii (Lpa) did not exhibit lipid peroxidation in response to high salinity (100 mm NaCl), whereas those isolated from cultivated tomato, L. esculentum (Lem), accumulated malondialdehyde. The activity, intraorganellar distribution and salt response of mitochondrial ascorbate peroxidase (mAPX) differed dramatically in the two species. In Lem mitochondria, the majority (84%) of mAPX was associated with membranes, being located either on the inner membrane, facing the intermembrane space, or on the outer membrane. Total mAPX activity did not increase substantially in response to salt, although the proportion of matrix APX increased. In contrast, 61% of Lpa mAPX activity was soluble in the matrix, the remainder being bound to the matrix face of the inner membrane. Salt treatment increased the activity of all mAPX isoforms in Lpa, without altering their intramitochondrial distribution. The membrane‐bound isoforms were detected in mitochondria of both species by western blotting and found to be induced by salt in Lpa. These observations suggest that matrix‐associated APX isoforms could act in concert with other mitochondrial antioxidants to protect against salt‐induced oxidative stress.
Effect of leaf surface wetness and wettability on photosynthesis in bean and pea
Authors: HANBA Y. T. , MORIYA A. , KIMURA K.
Published: December 2004

Leaf surface wetness that occurs frequently in natural environments has a significant impact on leaf photosynthesis. However, the physiological mechanisms for the photosynthetic responses to wetness are not well understood. The responses of leaf CO2 assimilation rate (A) to 72 h of artificial mist of a wettable (bean; Phaseolus vulgaris) and a non‐wettable species (pea; Pisum sativum) were compared. Stomatal and non‐stomatal limitations to A were investigated. A 28% inhibition of A was observed in the bean leaves as a result of a 16% decrease in stomatal conductance and a 55% reduction in the amount of Rubisco. The decrease of Rubisco was mainly due to its partial degradation. In contrast to the bean leaves, a 22% stimulation of A was obtained in the 72 h mist‐treated pea leaves. Mist treatment increased stomatal conductance by 12.5% and had no effect on the amount of Rubisco. These results indicated that a positive photosynthetic response to wetness occurred only in non‐wettable species and is due to the change in stomatal regulation.
A rapid laboratory method for assessing the biological control potential of Penicillium oxalicum against Fusarium wilt of tomato
Authors: DE CAL A. , PASCUAL S. , MELGAREJO P.
Published: December 2004

A rapid, simple and reliable procedure was developed to evaluate biological control of Fusarium wilt of tomato by Penicillium oxalicum. The method consists in growing tomato plants in flasks with nutrient solution in a growth chamber. Plants were previously treated in the seedbed with a conidial suspension (107 conidia mL−1) of P. oxalicum 7 days before transplanting. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (race 2) was added to the Hoagland solution just before transplanting. Different concentrations and several isolates of F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici were tested. Using this method, plants showed typical symptoms of the disease and the effect of the biocontrol agent was clear. Consumption of nutrient solution was reduced in diseased plants, and this reduction was diminished by treatment with P.oxalicum. Consumption of nutrient solution was correlated with other disease‐related parameters (AUDPC, weight of aerial parts, stunting) and was an easy and objective parameter to measure.
Pear decline in Spain
Authors: AVINENT L. , LLÁCER G. , ALMACELLAS J. , TORÁ R.
Published: December 2004

Pear decline in Spain, associated with the presence of phytoplasmas in sieve tubes, was studied. Samples of healthy and diseased pear trees were tested to confirm the presence of the pathogen. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used, with universal and specific primers. Specimens of Cacopsylla pyri were also analysed by PCR. Phytoplasmas were detected in 79% of trees with premature reddening, in 67% of trees with weakness and necrotic spots (cv. Limonera) and in 20% of trees without symptoms. The pathogen was also detected in the psyllids, indicating that C. pyri could be the vector of the disease in Spain.
Distribution and fungicide sensitivity of Colletotrichum coccodes in French potato‐producing areas
Authors: ANDRIVON D. , RAMAGE K. , GUÉRIN C. , LUCAS J. M. , JOUAN B.
Published: December 2004

Black dot, caused by Colletotrichum coccodes, is of potential concern to potato production in France as part of the tuber‐blemishing disease complex. The lack of information about the actual distribution of the pathogen in potato‐producing areas led to a survey of the occurrence of the disease. Black dot symptoms were observed on roots, stems and/or tubers of the 82 potato cultivars examined in 1994. A baiting bioassay, using cuttings of potato cultivars Bintje and Urgenta, revealed the presence of the pathogen in all 37 soil samples tested, which had been collected throughout the main French potato growing areas. In vitro, growth of five C. coccodes isolates recovered from diseased potatoes grown in western and southern France was severely affected by imazalil, tolchlofos‐methyl and, to a lesser extent, mancozeb and thiabendazole. Conversely, iprodione, flutolanil and pencycuron were ineffective in reducing the growth of these isolates. These data indicate that C. coccodes is widespread in French potato cropping areas, that currently popular cultivars are susceptible to the disease, and that at least some of the fungicides commonly applied to seed tubers are ineffective against the pathogen. A better diagnosis of the disease, but also the insensitivity of the pathogen to several chemicals frequently used on seed tubers for controlling black or silver scurfs, might thus provide explanations for the apparent increase in black dot occurrence in recent years.
Extraction of oospores of Peronospora viciae from soil
Authors: VAN DER GAAG D. J. , FRINKING H. D.
Published: December 2004

A method for the extraction of oospores of Peronospora viciae from soil is described. Approximately 75% of the oospores added to silty clay loam and loamy sand soil samples were recovered. Percentage recovery was independent of oospore density. This extraction method did not affect viability as determined by the tetrazolium bromide test and a germination assay and may therefore be used to study survival of oospores. Numbers of oospores extracted from soil samples taken from seven fields naturally infested with oospores of P. viciae f.sp. pisi ranged from 2 to 21 oospores per g soil. Oospore density was not significantly correlated with disease incidence as determined by a bioassay.
Epidemiology of Verticillium dahliae on olive (cv. Picual) and its effect on yield under saline conditions
Authors: Levin A. G. , Lavee S. , Tsror (Lahkim) L.
Published: December 2004

The epidemiology of Verticillium dahliae and its effect on yield was studied for 3 years in three plots of olive cv. Picual, planted in soil previously cropped with highly susceptible V. dahliae host plants and irrigated with saline water. Disease incidence increased 2·2‐, 2·6‐ and 1·5‐fold in plots 3A, 9A and 9C, respectively, within 39, 25 and 15 months of the first record taken. The highest severities were recorded in spring 2001 (4·0, 5·3 and 5·4 on a scale of 2–10, respectively). Disease incidence and severity increased during winter–spring and decreased during summer. Seasonal changes were also observed in the isolation of V. dahliae; the highest isolation rates in diseased trees were in winter (34%) and spring (45%), and the lowest were in autumn and summer (19–20%). Verticillium dahliae was isolated on an average of 27, 28 and 19% from the bottom, middle and top of the tree canopy, respectively, and was isolated from trees with and without symptoms. The fruit yield from diseased trees was reduced by an average of 75% in comparison with symptomless trees in plot 3A each year. A similar yield reduction (89%) was recorded in plot 9A in 2000. The severe expression of the disease and its effect on yield in the present study could be due to the fact that the orchard was planted in infested soil, and that saline irrigation probably exacerbates the problem.
Nonparametric Methods for Deconvolving Multiperiodic Functions
Authors: Hall Peter , Yin Jiying
Published: December 2004

Multiperiodic functions, or functions that can be represented as finite additive mixtures of periodic functions, arise in problems related to stellar radiation. There they represent the overall variation in radiation intensity with time. The individual periodic components generally correspond to different sources of radiation and have intrinsic physical meaning provided that they can be ‘deconvolved’ from the mixture. We suggest a combination of kernel and orthogonal series methods for performing the deconvolution, and we show how to estimate both the sequence of periods and the periodic functions themselves. We pay particular attention to the issue of identifiability, in a nonparametric sense, of the components. This aspect of the problem is shown to exhibit particularly unusual features, and to have connections to number theory. The matter of rates of convergence of estimators also has links there, although we show that the rate-of-convergence problem can be treated from a relatively conventional viewpoint by considering an appropriate prior distribution for the periods.
An in vitro skin explant assay as a predictive assay for graft‐versus‐host disease in a cohort of pediatric transplants
Authors: Hromadnikova I. , Sedlacek P. , Stary J. , Cermakova M. , Vavrinec J. , Stechova K. , Dolezalova L. , Sviland L. , Dickinson A. M.
Published: December 2004

Abstract: Severe acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) remains a serious complication of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. An in vitro skin explant assay was used to predict the occurence and severity of acute GvHD in a cohort of 30 pediatric patients undergoing human leucocyte antigen (HLA)‐matched sibling transplants (20 patients) and matched or one antigen mismatched unrelated donor transplants (10 patients). In the cohort of HLA‐matched sibling transplants, the result appeared to reflect the degree of GvHD prophylaxis. The skin explant assay correlated with GvHD outcome in 12 of 20 children, but this did not reach statistical significance (chi‐square 0.95, d.f.=1, p=0.32). These results support previous observations. In this present cohort, patients were treated either with cyclosporin A (CsA) monotherapy (n=7) or with CsA plus additional methotrexate (MTX) (n=13). We have previously demonstrated that the skin explant assay was not as predictive in patients receiving CsA plus additional MTX compared to cohorts treated with CsA alone. In the group of patients treated with CsA alone, four of five patients (80%) predicted to develop GvHD developed acute GvHD of grade II or above; of two patients predicted to develop only grade 0–I GvHD, one patient developed no GvHD and the other grade II GvHD. In the CsA plus MTX group, nine patients were predicted to develop GvHD. Five of nine (55%) developed acute GvHD of grade II or above, while three of four with grade 0 or I skin explant assay results developed only grade 0–I GvHD. In a cohort of 10 patients who received unrelated donor transplants, the skin explant assay correlated with GvHD outcome in all 10 patients (Fisher's exact test p=0.008). Hence, the skin explant assay is a pretransplant in vitro GvHD predictive test that predicts the occurence and severity of acute GvHD in pediatric unrelated donor transplants and to varying degrees, depending on the GvHD prophylaxis protocols, in HLA‐matched sibling cohorts.