bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
JANAF thermochemical tables, 1978 supplement
Authors: Chase M. W. , Curnutt J. L. , McDonald R. A. , Syverud A. N.
Published: June 2010

The thermodynamic tabulations previously published in NSRDS–NBS 37, the 1974 Supplement (J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 3, 311 (1974), and the 1975 Supplement (J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 4, 1 (1975) are extended by 131 new and revised tables. The JANAF Thermochemical Tables cover the thermodynamic properties over a wide temperature range with single phase tables for the crystal, liquid, and ideal gas state. The properties given are heat capacity, entropy, Gibbs energy function, enthalpy, enthalpy of formation, Gibbls energy of formation, and the logarithm of the equilibrium constant for formation of each compound from the elements in their standard reference states. Each tabulation lists all pertinent input data and contains a critical evaluation of the literature upon which these values are based. Literature references are given.
Review of vibrational data and force field constants for polyethylene
Authors: Barnes John , Fanconi Bruno
Published: June 2010

The results of a critical review of vibrational data, their assignments, and force field constants of polyethylene and the related homologous series of n-alkanes are presented. The vibrational frequencies derived from Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and neutron inelastic scattering were collected from the literature. We have reviewed the vibrational band assignments starting from the comprehensive treatment of the n-alkanes by Schachtschneider and Snyder [1,2]1 and including subsequent reassignments. Theoretical calculations of the vibrational frequencies were reviewed with emphasis on the various models used for molecular structure and force fields. Lattice dynamical calculations of polyethylene were performed using a valence force field for intramolecular interactions and a force field derived from a nonbonded atom-atom potential function for intermolecular interactions. The molecular and lattice structural parameters were taken from x-ray and neutron diffraction studies of polyethylene and selected n-alkanes. A refinement procedure was carried out by the method of least squares on intramolecular force field constants and on parameters of a phenomenological nonbonded atom-atom potential energy function. The resulting force field constants and associated standard deviations are presented.
Energy levels of aluminum, Al I through Al XIII
Authors: Martin W. C. , Zalubas Romuald
Published: June 2010

Energy level data are given for the atom and all positive ions of aluminum (z=13). These data have been critically compiled, mainly from published material on measurements and analyses of the optical spectra. We have derived or recalculated the levels for a number of the ions. In addition to the level value in cm−1 and the parity, the J value and the configuration and term assignments are listed if known. Leading percentages from the calculated eigenvectors are tabulated wherever available. Ionization energies are given for all spectra.
Evaluated kinetic and photochemical data for atmospheric chemistry
Authors: Baulch D. L. , Cox R. A. , Hampson R. F. , Kerr J. A. , Troe J. , Watson R. T.
Published: June 2010

This paper contains a critical evaluation of the kinetics and photochemistry of gas phase chemical reactions of neutral species involved in middle atmosphere chemistry (10–55 km altitude). The work has been carried out by the authors under the auspices of the CODATA Task Group on Chemical Kinetics. Data sheets have been prepared for 148 thermal and photochemical reactions, containing summaries of the available experimental data with notes giving details of the experimental procedures. For each reaction a preferred value of the rate coefficient at 298 K is given together with a temperature dependency where possible. The selection of the preferred value is discussed, and estimates of the accuracies of the rate coefficients and temperature coefficients have been made for each reaction. The data sheets are intended to provide the basic physical chemical data needed as input for calculations which model atmospheric chemistry. A table summarizing the preferred rate data is provided, together with an Appendix listing the available data on enthalpies of formation of the reactant and product species.
Tables of Molecular Vibrational Frequencies Part 10
Authors: Shimanouchi Takehiko , Matsuura Hiroatsu , Ogawa Yoshiki , Harada Issei
Published: June 2010

Fundamental vibrational frequencies of 94 molecular forms of 23 polyatomic chain molecules of halogenoalkanes and halogenoalkyl ethers consisting of the CH3, CH2, O, F, Cl, Br, and I groups are given as an extension of tables of molecular vibrational frequencies published in the NSRDS-NBS publication series and in this journal. On preparing the tables in this part, an approach, similar to that in Part 9 but different from that in earlier parts, based on the calculations of normal vibration frequencies was adopted. A set of force constants which explains all the frequencies of small molecules for which the assignments had been established was obtained and then the frequencies of larger molecules were calculated and compared with the frequencies observed in the infrared and Raman spectra. The tables provide a convenient source of information for those who require vibrational energy levels and related properties in molecular spectroscopy, thermodynamics, analytical chemistry, and other fields of physics and chemistry.
Dissociation of duration-based and beat-based auditory timing in cerebellar degeneration
Authors: Grube Manon , Cooper Freya E. , Chinnery Patrick F. , Griffiths Timothy D.
Published: June 2010

This work tests the hypothesis that the cerebellum is critical to the perception of the timing of sensory events. Auditory tasks were used to assess two types of timing in a group of patients with a stereotyped specific degeneration of the cerebellum: the analysis of single time intervals requiring absolute measurements of time, and the holistic analysis of rhythmic patterns based on relative measures of time using an underlying regular beat. The data support a specific role for the cerebellum only in the absolute timing of single subsecond intervals but not in the relative timing of rhythmic sequences with a regular beat. The findings support the existence of a stopwatch-like cerebellar timing mechanism for absolute intervals that is distinct from mechanisms for entrainment with a regular beat.
Sudan's uncivil war: the global–historical constitution of political violence
Authors: Ayers Alison
                      J.
Published: June 2010

It is commonplace to characterise political violence and war in Africa as ‘internal’, encapsulated in the apparently neutral term ‘civil war’. As such, accounts of political violence tend to focus narrowly on the combatants or insurrectionary forces, failing to recognise or address the extent to which political violence is historically and globally constituted. The article addresses this problematic core assumption through examination of the case of Sudan, seeking to contribute to a rethinking of protracted political violence and social crisis in post-colonial Africa. The article interjects in such debates through the use and detailed exposition of a distinct methodological and analytical approach. It interrogates three related dimensions of explanation which are ignored by orthodox framings of ‘civil war’: (1) the technologies of colonial rule which (re)produced and politicised multiple fractures in social relations, bequeathing a fissiparous legacy of racial, religious and ethnic ‘identities’ that have been mobilised in the context of post-colonial struggles over power and resources; (2) the major role of geopolitics in fuelling and exacerbating conflicts within Sudan and the region, particularly through the cold war and the ‘war on terror’; and (3) Sudan's terms of incorporation within the capitalist global economy, which have given rise to a specific character and dynamics of accumulation, based on primitive accumulation and dependent primary commodity production. The article concludes that political violence and crisis are neither new nor extraordinary nor internal, but rather, crucial and constitutive dimensions of Sudan's neo-colonial condition. As such, to claim that political violence in Sudan is ‘civil’ is to countenance the triumph of ideology over history.
Local violence and international intervention in Sudan
Authors: Sørbø Gunnar
                      M.
Published: June 2010

The efforts of the international community to build peace in Sudan have been frustrated by the failure to stop the violence in Darfur, continuous setbacks in the implementation of the 2005 peace agreement, and a failure to remain sufficiently engaged with processes at the root of the violence. This applies particularly to local conflicts and the ways in which they interlock with national and regional conflicts. This paper highlights the role that land issues have played both in poverty generation and in driving and sustaining protracted conflict. The challenge is to take the current complexity into account, not by perceiving local conflict dynamics as merely a manifestation of macro-political cleavages, but as being motivated by both top-down and bottom-up agendas. As Sudan is drifting towards increasing fragmentation, an approach to peace-building is required that can address multiple arenas and sources of conflict in a much more integrated way than has been the case so far.
Formation, confirmation and application of Li : Al alloy as an electron injection layer with Li3N as the precursor
Authors: Xie Kai , Duan Lian , Zhang Deqiang , Qiao Juan , Dong Guifang , Wang Liduo , Qiu Yong
Published: June 2010

In this work, Li : Al alloy was fabricated by co-evaporation of Li3N and Al and was confirmed by x-ray diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. An optimized green organic light-emitting diode with the Li : Al alloy as the electron injection layer shows about 20% higher efficiency compared with the control device using a LiF/Al cathode. Furthermore, the photovoltaic measurement shows that the Li : Al/Al cathode has a lower electron injection barrier than the LiF/Al cathode.
Electrical and electrochemical properties of magnesium ion conducting composite gel polymer electrolytes
Authors: Pandey G P , Agrawal R C , Hashmi S A
Published: June 2010

The effect of micro- and nano-sized MgO and nano-sized SiO2 dispersion on the electrical and electrochemical properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene) (PVdF-HFP) based Mg2+ ion conducting gel polymer electrolyte has been investigated. The gel electrolytes have been characterized using electrical conductivity, cationic transport number (t
+) measurements and cyclic voltammetry. A two-maxima feature has been observed in the ‘conductivity versus composition’ curve at ∼3 wt% and 10–15 wt% of the filler contents. The highest conductivity has been obtained for the SiO2 dispersed gel electrolyte of ∼1 × 10−2 S cm−1 for 3 wt% and ∼9 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 15 wt% content. The value of ‘t
+’ is found to be enhanced substantially with increasing amount of MgO (both micro- and nanoparticles), whereas in the case of SiO2 dispersion the value does not increase substantially. The highest ‘t
+’ value of ∼0.44 has been obtained for the addition of 10 wt% MgO nanoparticles. The enhancement in ‘t
+’ is explained on the basis of the formation of space-charge regions due to the presence of MgO : Mg2+-like species, which supports Mg2+ ion motion. A substantial increase in the amount of anodic and cathodic peak currents is observed due to the addition of nano-sized MgO particles in the gel polymer electrolyte, whereas in the cases of micrometre-sized MgO and nano-sized SiO2 the enhancement is not significant. The enhancement in conductivity in SiO2 dispersed nanocomposite gel electrolyte is predominantly due to anionic motion.
Hydrogenic retention in irradiated tungsten exposed to high-flux plasma
Authors: Wright G.M. , Mayer M. , Ertl K. , de Saint-Aubin G. , Rapp J.
Published: June 2010

Two sets of identical tungsten (W) targets are irradiated at 300 K with 12.3 MeV W4+ ions to peak damage levels ranging from 0.5 to 10 displacements per atom (dpa). This results in a damage profile that is peaked at ∼0.8 µm and extends to a depth of ∼1.5 µm. Both sets of targets are exposed to high-density (n
e,center = 3 × 1020 m−3), low-temperature (T
e,center = 1.6 eV) deuterium (D) plasma in Pilot-PSI. One set of irradiated targets is exposed at high surface temperatures (T
W = 950–680 K) and the other at low surface temperatures (T
W = 480–340 K). The surface temperature is determined by the local plasma conditions. Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) is used to determine the D depth profiles at specific radial locations, thus giving a surface temperature scan of the D retention in the damaged W. Global retention is determined by thermal desorption spectroscopy, which yields total D retained in the target and also gives information of the different types of lattice defects that are trapping the D in the W lattice. The main results are that there is no measurable difference between the different dpa levels, implying a saturation of the retention enhancement at a level ⩽0.5 dpa. For both irradiated and unirradiated tungsten, a peak in the retention is seen at T
W = 480 K; however, the W4+ irradiation clearly enhances the retention. This enhancement is also temperature dependent and increases with increasing surface temperature up to an enhancement by a factor of 15–23 at T
W = 950 K. At the lowest surface temperatures, a fluence dependence appears since the implanted deuterium is diffusion limited to only a small fraction of the irradiated zone. TDS spectra show an enhancement of both low-energy trap sites and high-energy trap sites. For these conditions, diffusion-limited, low fill fraction trapping determines the hydrogenic retention of the W.
Ameliorate Effects of Li‐Fu Formula on IL‐6‐Mediated Cardiac Hypertrophy in Hamsters Fed with a Hyper‐Cholesterol Diet
Authors: Cheng Yi-Chang , Wu Chieh-His , Kuo Wei-Wen , Lin James A. , Wang Hsueh-Fang , Tsai Fuu-Jen , Tsai Chang-Hai , Huang Chih-Yang , Hsu Tsai-Ching , Tzang Bor-Show
Published: June 2010

Hypercholesterolemia diets are considered as major sources to cause cardiac hypertrophy. This study intends to evaluate the effects of Li‐Fu formula on cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypercholesterolemia diet. Twenty‐four male Golden Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into control, cholesterol and Li‐Fu formula groups and fed with different experimental diets for 2 months. Histopathological analysis and western blotting were performed to measure the myocardial architecture, and various cardiac hypertrophy‐associated molecules in the excised left ventricle from hamsters. The ratios of whole heart weight/body weight (BW) and left ventricle weight/BW were significantly higher in the cholesterol group but significantly lower in the Li‐Fu formula group. The protein levels of both atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide were significantly increased in the cholesterol group but significantly reduced in the Li‐Fu formula group. Additionally, significantly increased interleukin‐6, STAT3, MEK5, p‐ERK5 and non‐cardiomyocyte proliferate signal molecules such as p‐MEK and p‐ERK, were detected in the cholesterol group but significantly reduced in the Li‐Fu formula group. Notably, no significant variations of inflammatory signaling molecules, including p‐P38 and p‐JNK, were detected in all groups. Our experimental results demonstrated the significant reductions of cardiac hypertrophy and related eccentric hypertrophy signaling, non‐cardiomyocyte proliferate signaling in the excised left ventricle of hamsters from the Li‐Fu formula. We suggested the protective effects of Li‐Fu formula on cardiac hypertrophy that may be useful in prevention or treatment of hypertrophy‐associated cardiovascular diseases.
Novel Ha Locus, Pina‐D1c/Pinb‐D1h, Affects Soft White Spring Wheat Milling and Baking
Authors: Reynolds Nicholas P. , Martin John M. , Giroux Michael J.
Published: June 2010

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain hardness is controlled by the Hardness locus on chromosome 5D which consists of the linked genes Puroindoline a and b (Pina and Pinb, respectively). The Ha locus haplotype, Pina‐D1a/Pinb‐D1a, is found in all soft hexaploid wheats. While Pin diversity is low among soft wheats, several novel Ha haplotypes were reported among synthetic hexaploid wheats created using the D genome donor, Aegilops tauschii. One haplotype, Pina‐D1c/Pinb‐D1h, confers a soft phenotype with increased grain hardness over Pina‐D1a/Pinb‐D1a wheats. Here, the Pina‐D1c/Pinb‐D1h haplotype was backcrossed into the soft white spring wheat cultivars ‘Vanna’ and ‘Alpowa’. Then the effect of the two haplotypes on soft wheat milling and baking quality was compared. The effects of the Pina‐D1c/Pinb‐D1h Ha locus haplotype were similar in both the Vanna and Alpowa backgrounds. The Pina‐D1c/Pinb‐D1h lines had significantly more large and fewer small flour particles in both backgrounds and 1.51% higher flour yield in the Alpowa background. The Pina‐D1c/Pinb‐D1h haplotype group was not associated with any consistent differences in solvent retention capacities or sugar snap cookie quality parameters. The results indicate that the Pina‐D1c/Pinb‐D1h haplotype could be used to modify soft wheat milling properties without substantial effects on baking quality.
Comment on Makarieva
et al
. ‘A critique of some modern applications of the Carnot heat engine concept: the dissipative heat engine cannot exist’
Authors: Bister Marja , Renno Nilton , Pauluis Olivier , Emanuel Kerry
Published: June 2010

Makarieva
et al
. (2010) assert that a dissipative heat engine is impossible and criticize earlier published work that they claim violates the laws of thermodynamics. Here we show that the earlier work does not violate fundamental physical laws and suggest that Makarieva
et al
. (2010) were misinterpreting expressions for wind speed as ones for work done on external objects. Moreover, we dispute their assertion that dissipative heating is necessarily compensated by a reduction of external heating.
The TOR Pathway Modulates the Structure of Cell Walls inArabidopsis
Authors: Leiber Ruth-Maria , John Florian , Verhertbruggen Yves , Diet Anouck , Knox J. Paul , Ringli Christoph
Published: June 2010

Plant cell growth is limited by the extension of cell walls, which requires both the synthesis and rearrangement of cell wall components in a controlled fashion. The target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway is a major regulator of cell growth in eukaryotes, and inhibition of this pathway by rapamycin reduces cell growth. Here, we show that in plants, the TOR pathway affects cell wall structures. LRR-extensin1 (LRX1) of Arabidopsis thaliana is an extracellular protein involved in cell wall formation in root hairs, and lrx1 mutants develop aberrant root hairs. rol5 (for repressor of lrx1) was identified as a suppressor of lrx1. The functionally similar ROL5 homolog in yeast, Ncs6p (needs Cla4 to survive 6), was previously found to affect TOR signaling. Inhibition of TOR signaling by rapamycin led to suppression of the lrx1 mutant phenotype and caused specific changes to galactan/rhamnogalacturonan-I and arabinogalactan protein components of cell walls that were similar to those observed in the rol5 mutant. The ROL5 protein accumulates in mitochondria, a target of the TOR pathway and major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and rol5 mutants show an altered response to ROS. This suggests that ROL5 might function as a mitochondrial component of the TOR pathway that influences the plant's response to ROS.
Harmonizing recreational fisheries and conservation objectives for aquatic biodiversity in inland waters
Authors: Cowx I. G. , Arlinghaus R. , Cooke S. J.
Published: June 2010

The importance of recreational fisheries to local and national economies, and as a generator of immense social welfare throughout the developed world, is well established. Development in the sector and its interaction with non‐fishery‐related nature conservation objectives for aquatic biodiversity, however, have the potential to generate conflict. This article reviews the intersection between recreational fisheries and nature conservation goals for aquatic biodiversity with specific reference to inland waters in industrialized countries, and the principal management activities and constraints that can lead to conflicts. A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis was used to review the issues facing sectoral development and identify options for future advancement of recreational fisheries to ameliorate potential conflicts with nature conservation goals. It is concluded that reconciliation of recreational fisheries and modern conservation perspectives is both possible and desirable, because many conservation problems also benefit fisheries quality. Angler buy‐in to conservation is probable if (1) management scales are small, (2) threats to conservation originate from outside the fisheries sectors and (3) ecological awareness for the conservation problem is high. If these aspects are not present, reconciliation of recreational fisheries and nature conservation goals is less likely, risking both the aquatic biodiversity and the future of angling. To address these issues, enforcement of legislation and continued communication with angler communities is necessary, as well as development of integrated management policies that build on the instrumental values of aquatic biodiversity for recreational fisheries, while curtailing the more insidious threats to such biodiversity that originate directly from the recreational fisheries sector.
Prognostic significance of Notch 3 gene expression in ovarian serous carcinoma
Authors: Jung Sang G. , Kwon Young D. , Song Ji A. , Back Min J. , Lee Sun Y. , Lee Chan , Hwang Yoon Y. , An Hee J.
Published: June 2010

The Notch signaling pathway is an important cell signaling system, which regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, and is aberrantly activated in a wide range of cancer, including ovarian cancers. However, it remains unclear as to whether Notch signaling plays a role in the progression and prognosis of ovarian cancer. We examined the mRNA and protein expression of Notch 3, Jagged 1, and Jagged 2 in 98 ovarian epithelial tumors via real‐time PCR and in 175 tumors with immunohistochemical analysis, and then correlated their expression levels with clinicopathological parameters and patient survival. In this study, we detected high levels of Notch3 mRNA and protein expression especially in serous ovarian carcinomas compared to their benign counterparts, accompanied by a positive correlation with the expressions of Jagged 1 and Jagged 2. High levels of Notch 3 mRNA expression (>2‐fold than that of benign tumor) were noted in 63% of the serous carcinomas (mean level: 17‐fold, P = 0.032). Additionally, Notch 3 protein overexpression was significantly associated with advanced stage (P = 0.0008), lymph node (P = 0.001), and distant metastasis (P = 0.003). Notably, high Notch 3 mRNA and protein expressions were correlated with chemoresistance (P = 0.033) and poor overall survival (P = 0.027, P = 0.042) in these patients. Our results indicate that the Notch 3 signaling pathway is involved in the tumor progression of ovarian serous carcinoma, and higher Notch 3 expression may be an independent poor prognostic factor in this subset of tumors. (Cancer Sci 2010)
Antibiotic use in early life and development of allergic diseases: respiratory infection as the explanation
Authors: Mai X.‐M. , Kull I. , Wickman M. , Bergström A.
Published: June 2010

Background
Early antibiotic use has been postulated to increase the development of allergic disease. Antibiotic use results from infection. Early infection may play a confounding role in the relationship between antibiotic use and allergic disease.

Objective
We aimed to investigate the relationship between antibiotic use during the first year of life and the development of allergic diseases in a birth cohort study, and also to carefully address the confounding effect of early respiratory infection.

Methods
Three thousand three hundred and six children were included in this study who participated in investigations at all occasions of 2 months, 1, 4 and 8 years of age. Data on antibiotic use and respiratory infections were collected at the age of 1 year. Diagnoses of allergic diseases at 4 and 8 years of age were derived from the follow‐up questionnaires.

Results
During the first year of life, 43% (n=1420) of the children received antibiotics and 32% (n=1046) of the children had at least one type of respiratory infection among pneumonia, bronchitis and otitis. In univariate logistic regression analysis and after adjustment for early life factors, antibiotic use during the first year of life was associated with wheeze, asthma, eczema and food hypersensitivity at 4 years of age. After adjustment for the above respiratory infections during the first year of life, only the associations with wheeze and asthma at age 4 years remained statistically significant. These associations became non‐significant in a subgroup analysis in children without early allergic signs. At age 8 years, antibiotic use during the first year of life was significantly associated with wheeze and eczema after adjustment for early life factors. The significant associations at age 8 years faded away following further adjustment for the respiratory infections.

Conclusion
Our study indicated that the association between early antibiotic use and later allergic disease could at least partially be explained by early respiratory infection.

Cite this as: X.‐M. Mai, I. Kull, M. Wickman and A. Bergström, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1230–1237.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Assessment of cardiac valve dysfunction in patients receiving cabergoline treatment for hyperprolactinaemia
Authors: Tan Tricia , Cabrita Ines Z. , Hensman Davina , Grogono Joanna , Dhillo Waljit S. , Baynes Kevin C. , Eliahoo Joseph , Meeran Karim , Robinson Stephen , Nihoyannopoulos Petros , Martin Niamh M.
Published: June 2010

Objective  Cabergoline is a highly effective medical treatment for patients with hyperprolactinaemia. There is an increased risk of valvular heart disease in patients receiving cabergoline for Parkinson’s disease. This study examined whether cabergoline treatment of hyperprolactinaemia is associated with a greater prevalence of valvulopathy.

Design  Cross‐sectional, two‐dimensional echocardiographic study performed by a single echocardiographer.

Patients  Seventy‐two patients (median age 36 years, 19 men) receiving cabergoline for hyperprolactinaemia, and 72 controls prospectively matched for age, sex and cardiovascular risk factors.

Measurements  Assessment of valvular mobility, regurgitation and morphology.

Results  Median cumulative dose exposure for cabergoline was 126 (58–258) mg, and patients had received cabergoline for 53 (26–96) months. The frequency of mild mitral regurgitation was identical (5/72, 7%) in patient and control groups. Mild aortic regurgitation was not significantly different between groups (4/72 [controls] vs 2/72 [patients], P = 0·681). There was only one case of tricuspid regurgitation, which was mild and observed in a cabergoline‐treated patient. Nodular thickening of the right coronary cusp, noncoronary cusp or left coronary cusp of the aortic valve was observed at a similar frequency in both groups. There were no cases of extensive thickening of any valvular leaflet.

Conclusion  Our data demonstrates that there is no association between cabergoline treatment for hyperprolactinaemia and valvulopathy. This study therefore supports continued use of low‐dose cabergoline for patients with hyperprolactinaemia.
Relationships between dimethylarginine and the presence of vertebral fractures in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kanazawa Ippei , Yano Shozo , Yamaguchi Toru , Notsu Yoshitomo , Nabika Toru , Sugimoto Toshitsugu
Published: June 2010

Objective  Although previous studies suggested that nitric oxide (NO) could affect bone metabolism, little is known about whether asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of NO synthase, is associated with the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

Methods  A cross‐sectional study was carried out to examine the associations of serum dimethylarginines with bone mineral density (BMD), bone turnover markers, and the presence of vertebral fractures in 226 men and 152 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes.

Results  In subjects with vertebral fractures, there was significantly higher serum ADMA in men (0·61 ± 0·20 [mean ± SD] vs 0·55 ± 0·19 μm, P = 0·030) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in postmenopausal women (0·72 ± 0·37 vs 0·56 ± 0·16 μm, P < 0·001) than in those without fractures. In men with vertebral fractures, serum ADMA was negatively correlated with Z‐score at one‐third radius (multiple regression β = −0·28, p = 0·016), and SDMA was positively correlated with serum osteocalcin (β = 0·38, P = 0·044) and urinary N‐terminal cross‐linked telopeptide of type‐I collagen (β = 0·40, P = 0·027). In addition, serum ADMA in men and SDMA in postmenopausal women were positively associated with the presence of vertebral fractures after adjusting for age, duration of diabetes, and lumbar BMD (multiple logistic regression odds ratio [OR] = 1·36, P = 0·044 and OR = 1·78, P = 0 .006, respectively).

Conclusions  We report, for the first time, that serum dimethylarginines may be independent risk factors for prevalent vertebral fractures in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Fasting concentrations of nesfatin‐1 are negatively correlated with body mass index in non‐obese males
Authors: Tsuchiya Takafumi , Shimizu Hiroyuki , Yamada Masanobu , Osaki Aya , Oh‐I Shinsuke , Ariyama Yasuyo , Takahashi Hiroki , Okada Shuichi , Hashimoto Koshi , Satoh Tetsurou , Kojima Masaaki , Mori Masatomo
Published: June 2010

Background  We recently identified a novel anorexigenic protein, nesfatin‐1, which is processed from nesfatin/nucleobindin‐2 (NUCB2). However, the clinical importance of this protein has not been determined.

Objective  To investigate its clinical significance in humans, we have established a new specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for human nesfatin‐1 in peripheral blood and measured its circulating concentration in healthy subjects.

Design  The new sandwich‐type ELISA method was validated and then used to measure nesfatin‐1 levels in plasma samples, under overnight fasting conditions, followed by oral glucose tolerance and meal tests.

Patients and measurements  A total of 43 nonobese males (age: 24·5 ± 0·6 , body mass index (BMI); 21·1 ± 0·3 kg/m2) were recruited to the study for evaluating fasting concentrations of nesfatin‐1. In those, fifteen subjects underwent a 75‐ g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and another 15 underwent a meal test. In addition, fasting concentrations of nesfatin‐1 were measured in nine males with high BMI (age: 32·4 ± 3·7 , BMI; 37·3 ± 3·8 kg/m2).

Results  Peripheral concentrations of nesfatin‐1 showed a significant negative correlation with BMI, percentage body fat, body fat weight and blood glucose (P < 0·05). Nesfatin‐1 concentrations were not significantly changed during OGTT and meal tests. Fasting nesfatin‐1 levels were significantly lower in subjects with high BMI compared to nonobese subjects (P < 0·05).

Conclusions  A new specific and sensitive ELISA for nesfatin‐1 was established. Further accumulation of clinical observations is necessary to clarify the role of circulating nesfatin‐1 in various metabolic disorders.
Maternal effects in an insect herbivore as a mechanism to adapt to host plant phenology
Authors: van Asch Margriet , Julkunen‐Tiito Riita , Visser Marcel E.
Published: June 2010

1. Maternal effects may play an important role in shaping the life history of organisms. Using an insect herbivore, the winter moth (Operophtera brumata) feeding on oak (Quercus robur), we show that maternal effects can affect seasonal timing of egg hatching in an herbivore in an adaptive way.

2. Winter moth egg‐hatching needs to coincide with oak bud opening, as only freshly emerged leaves are suitable as food for the caterpillars. However, there is spatial variation in the timing of bud opening among oaks to which the winter moth needs to adapt.

3. We show experimentally that the generation time between the mother’s and her offsprings’ hatching dates was shorter for mothers who hatched late relative to bud opening of the tree they had to feed on (and hence had to feed on older leaves) than for mothers’ who hatched on time. Maternal feeding conditions affected both the larval and the pupal development time of the mother as well as the egg development time of her offspring: at all three stages developmental time was shorter for the mistimed treatment.

4. We thus show that adaptation to spatial variation may be achieved via maternal effects. While this is a mechanism selected to adapt to spatial variation, it may now also play a role in adaptation to climate change induced shifts in host phenology, and allow insect herbivores to adapt to changes in the seasonal timing of their food availability without the need for genetic change.
Social ‘meltdown’ in the demise of an island endemic: Allee effects and the Vancouver Island marmot
Authors: Brashares Justin S. , Werner Jeffery R. , Sinclair A. R. E.
Published: June 2010

1. More than 75 years have passed since W.C. Allee proposed that breakdowns in sociality may shift animal populations to inverse density dependence at small sizes and thereby hasten spirals to extinction. Despite decades of attention, empirical evidence of this ‘Allee effect’ in wild populations remains scarce.

2. Here, we report on findings from a multi‐year study of the population ecology and behaviour of the critically endangered Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) and present quantitative evidence of an Allee effect and highlight the mechanisms that drive it.

3. The V.I. marmot is a large, social rodent endemic to Vancouver Island, Canada, and its population has declined by 80–90% since the 1980s. The species currently is represented in the wild by roughly 200 individuals.

4. This study compared characteristics of contemporary V.I. marmots (2002–2005) with (i) animals in the same population at an earlier time period (1973–1975) and (ii) congeners. Specifically, data on time allocation, social activity and ranging behaviour of animals in colonies in the late stages of decline were compared with historical data collected from colonies under more stable demographic conditions.

5. We found that contemporary V.I. marmots had home ranges that were 10–60× larger than historic animals and congeners, interacted with conspecifics at 10% of the historic rate, devoted 10× more time to anti‐predator vigilance, and abandoned the bi‐modal activity patterns previously described for this and other marmot species. Contemporary marmots also showed an 86% decline in feeding rate, and entered hibernation on average 20 days later than animals in historic populations.

6. Combined with results showing reducedper capitasurvival and reproduction in contemporary marmots, these findings suggest a strong role for Allee effects in the current plight of the Vancouver Island marmot. A positive link between aspects of fitness and population size emphasizes the need to identify threshold colony sizes and densities necessary to promote recovery. We discuss this and other implications of this species’ social ‘meltdown’.
Habitat degradation and the decline of the threatened musselMargaritifera margaritifera: influence of turbidity and sedimentation on the mussel and its host
Authors: Österling Martin E. , Arvidsson Björn L. , Greenberg Larry A.
Published: June 2010

1. Habitat degradation is a major reason for species extinctions. For parasite–host interactions, the decline of a parasite may not only be related to the parasite’s tolerance to habitat degradation but also indirectly through the host’s tolerance to the same disturbance.

2. Our objective was to explore the cause of population declines of the freshwater pearl musselMargaritifera margaritiferaby relating the age distribution, density and growth of the mussels with turbidity, sedimentation rates and density of the mussel’s host, troutSalmo trutta, in 26 Swedish streams.

3. An analysis of the age structure of nine mussel populations showed that maximum age differed by 60 years, with five populations having low proportions of juvenile mussels. Adult mussel density was higher at sites where juvenile mussels occurred than at sites lacking juvenile mussels.

4. Growth of adult mussels during the past 10 years was lower in the five streams lacking recent recruitment than in the four streams with recent recruitment, indicating that some environmental factor may be negatively impacting these populations.

5. A comparison among 24 populations indicated that turbidity and sedimentation may be responsible for recruitment failure in 58% of the populations. The age of the youngest mussel was positively related to turbidity and sedimentation, and juvenile mussel density was negatively related to turbidity and sedimentation. In contrast, trout density was not related to recruitment of mussels or sedimentation, but was positively related to turbidity in all streams, both with and without recent mussel recruitment.

6. Synthesis and applications. Recruitment failure ofM. margaritiferaappears to be related to its own vulnerability to turbidity and sedimentation rather than to its host’s response to this type of habitat degradation. The results from our study suggest that managers might be able to evaluate the potential viability of mussel populations by measuring stream turbidity. Restoration activities to improve the mussels’ environment should focus on reducing fine material transport into streams.
Persistence and expansion of ponderosa pine woodlands in the west‐central Great Plains during the past two centuries
Authors: Kaye Margot W. , Woodhouse Connie A. , Jackson Stephen T.
Published: June 2010

Aim Woody plant expansion and infilling in grasslands and savannas are occurring across a broad range of ecosystems around the globe and are commonly attributed to fire suppression, livestock grazing, nutrient enrichment and/or climate variability. In the western Great Plains, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) woodlands are expanding across broad geographical and environmental gradients. The objective of this study was to reconstruct the establishment of ponderosa pine in woodlands in the west‐central Great Plains and to identify whether it was mediated by climate variability.

Location Our study took place in a 400‐km wide region from the base of the Front Range Mountains (c. 105° W) to the central Great Plains (c. 100° W) and from Nebraska (43° N) to northern New Mexico (36° N), USA.

Methods Dates for establishment of ponderosa pine were reconstructed with tree rings in 11 woodland sites distributed across the longitudinal and latitudinal gradients of the study area. Temporal trends in decadal pine establishment were compared with summer Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI). Annual trends in pine establishment from 1985 to 2005 were compared with seasonal PDSI, temperature and moisture availability.

Results Establishment of ponderosa pine occurred in the study area in all but one decade (1770s) between the 1750s and the early 2000s, with over 35% of establishment in the region occurring after 1980. Pine establishment was highly variable among sites. Across the region, decadal pine establishment was persistently low from 1940 to 1960, when PDSI was below average. Annual pine establishment from 1985 to 2005 was positively correlated with summer PDSI and inversely correlated with minimum spring temperatures.

Main conclusions Most ponderosa pine woodlands pre‐date widespread Euro‐American settlement of the region aroundc. ad1860 and currently have stable tree populations. High variability in the timing of establishment of pine among sites highlights the multiplicity of factors that can drive woodland dynamics, including land use, fire history, CO2enrichment, tree population dynamics and climate. Since the 1840s, the influence of climate was most notable across the study area during the mid‐20th century, when the establishment of pine was suppressed by two significant droughts. The past sensitivity of establishment of ponderosa pine to drought suggests that woodland expansion will be negatively affected by predicted increases in temperature and drought in the Great Plains.
Unphosphorylated CsgD controls biofilm formation in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Zakikhany Katherina , Harrington Carl R. , Nimtz Manfred , Hinton Jay C. D. , Römling Ute
Published: June 2010

The transcriptional regulator CsgD of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a major regulator of biofilm formation required for the expression of csgBA, which encodes curli fimbriae, and adrA, coding for a diguanylate cyclase. CsgD is a response regulator with an N‐terminal receiver domain with a conserved aspartate (D59) as a putative target site for phosphorylation and a C‐terminal LuxR‐like helix–turn–helix DNA binding motif, but the mechanisms of target gene activation remained unclear. To study the DNA‐binding properties of CsgD we used electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNase I footprint analysis to show that unphosphorylated CsgD‐His6 binds specifically to the csgBA and adrA promoter regions. In vitro transcription analysis revealed that CsgD‐His6 is crucial for the expression of csgBA and adrA. CsgD‐His6 is phosphorylated by acetyl phosphate in vitro, which decreases its DNA‐binding properties. The functional impact of D59 in vivo was demonstrated as S. Typhimurium strains expressing modified CsgD protein (D59E and D59N) were dramatically reduced in biofilm formation due to decreased protein stability and DNA‐binding properties in the case of D59E. In summary, our findings suggest that the response regulator CsgD functions in its unphosphorylated form under the conditions of biofilm formation investigated in this study.
Trehalose 6‐phosphate phosphatase is required for cell wall integrity and fungal virulence but not trehalose biosynthesis in the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Puttikamonkul Srisombat , Willger Sven D. , Grahl Nora , Perfect John R. , Movahed Navid , Bothner Brian , Park Steven , Paderu Padmaja , Perlin David S. , Cramer Jr Robert A.
Published: June 2010

The trehalose biosynthesis pathway is critical for virulence in human and plant fungal pathogens. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that trehalose 6‐phosphate phosphatase (T6PP) is required for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence. A mutant of the A. fumigatus T6PP, OrlA, displayed severe morphological defects related to asexual reproduction when grown on glucose (1%) minimal media. These defects could be rescued by addition of osmotic stabilizers, reduction in incubation temperature or increase in glucose levels (> 4%). Subsequent examination of the mutant with cell wall perturbing agents revealed a link between cell wall biosynthesis and trehalose 6‐phosphate (T6P) levels. As expected, high levels of T6P accumulated in the absence of OrlA resulting in depletion of free inorganic phosphate and inhibition of hexokinase activity. Surprisingly, trehalose production persisted in the absence of OrlA. Further analyses revealed that A. fumigatus contains two trehalose phosphorylases that may be responsible for trehalose production in the absence of OrlA. Despite a normal growth rate under in vitro growth conditions, the orlA mutant was virtually avirulent in two distinct murine models of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Our results suggest that further study of this pathway will lead to new insights into regulation of fungal cell wall biosynthesis and virulence.
The VQ motif protein IKU1 regulates endosperm growth and seed size in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wang Aihua , Garcia Damien , Zhang Hongyu , Feng Ke , Chaudhury Abed , Berger Fred , Peacock William James , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Luo Ming
Published: June 2010

Arabidopsis seed size is regulated by the IKU pathway that includes IKU2 (a leucine‐rich repeat kinase) and MINI3 (a WRKY transcription factor). We report the cloning of the IKU1 (At2g35230) gene. iku1 mutants cause reduced endosperm growth and the production of small seeds. IKU1 encodes a protein containing a VQ motif, which is a motif specific to plants. IKU1 is expressed in the early endosperm and its progenitor, the central cell. Restoration of IKU1 function in the endosperm is sufficient to rescue seed size. A genomic construct carrying mutations in the VQ motif failed to complement the iku1 mutation, suggesting an essential role for the VQ motif. IKU1 interacts with MINI3 in the yeast two‐hybrid system, consistent with an IKU1 function in the IKU‐MINI pathway. Our data support the proposition that endosperm development is an important determinant of seed size.
Exploring plant endomembrane dynamics using the photoconvertible protein Kaede
Authors: Brown Spencer C. , Bolte Susanne , Gaudin Marie , Pereira Claudia , Marion Jessica , Soler Marie‐Noëlle , Satiat‐Jeunemaitre Béatrice
Published: June 2010

Photoactivatable and photoconvertible fluorescent proteins capable of pronounced light‐induced spectral changes are a powerful addition to the fluorescent protein toolbox of the cell biologist. They permit specific tracking of one subcellular structure (organelle or cell subdomain) within a differentially labelled population. They also enable pulse–chase analysis of protein traffic. The Kaede gene codes for a tetrameric protein found in the stony coralTrachyphyllia geoffroyi, which emits green fluorescence that irreversibly shifts to red following radiation with UV or violet light. We report here the use of Kaede to explore the plant secretory pathway. Kaede versions of the Golgi marker sialyl‐transferase (ST‐Kaede) and of the vacuolar pathway marker cardosin A (cardA‐Kaede) were engineered. Several optical devices enabling photoconversion and observation of Kaede using these two constructs were assessed to optimize Kaede‐based imaging protocols. Photoconverted ST‐Kaede red‐labelled organelles can be followed within neighbouring populations of non‐converted green Golgi stacks, by their gradual development of orange/yellow coloration fromde novosynthesis of Golgi proteins (green). Results highlight some aspects on the dynamics of the plant Golgi. For plant bio‐imaging, the photoconvertible Kaede offers a powerful tool to track the dynamic behaviour of designated subpopulations of Golgi within living cells, while visualizing thede novoformation of proteins and structures, such as a Golgi stack.