bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FIB milling of critical point-dried neurons for characterization of
cell-substrate interfaces
Authors: Bittermann A G , Burkhardt C , Lühmann T , Hall H
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
TEM Investigation on Bimetallic Gold/Palladium Catalysts: The Correlation
between Microstructure and Synergistic Effect
Authors: Wang D , Su D S , Villa A , Porta F , Prati L
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Fe Oxide and Fe Carbide Nanoparticles on CNTs and their Magnetic
Properties
Authors: Liu Fu , Jäger Wolfgang , Zhang X , Yi G , Cheng J
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Core-Shell Structures in PdCu Catalysts and their Influence on the
Prevention of Catalyst Deactivation by Altered Coke Deposition
Authors: Pohl M-M , Radnik J , Kalevaru V N , Martin A
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Advanced Electron Microscopy of SiC Added MgB2 Wires and Tapes
Authors: Birajdar B , Peranio N , Eibl O
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Concentration Measurement In Free-Standing InGaN Nano-Islands With
Transmission Electron Microscopy
Authors: Pretorius A , Müller K , Kröger R , Hommel D , Rosenauer A , Yamaguchi T
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Influence of InGaAs cap layers with different In-concentrations on the
structure and properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dot layers
Authors: Litvinov D , Gerthsen D , Vallaitis T , Passow T , Grau A , Hetterich M
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Energy Filtered TEM Applied to Mineralogical Issues
Authors: Golla-Schindler U , Pöml P , Putnis C , Putnis A , Hinrichs R
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Some Prospects of Transmission Electron Microscopy in Materials
Science
Authors: Kaiser U
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Electron Microscopy Studies of Sol-Gel Derived 8YSZ Thin Films for SOFC
Applications
Authors: Butz B , Störmer H , Gerthsen D , Peters C , Weber A , Ivers-Tiffée E
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Influence of Debye-Waller Factor and Structure Data in Quantitative
HAADF-STEM of Interfaces
Authors: Ceh M , Sturm S , Shiojiri M
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Texture and grain-boundary analyses in chalcopyrite-type thin-film solar
cells
Authors: Abou-Ras D , Nichterwitz M , Kaufmann C A , Schorr S , Gibmeier J , Schock H-W , Gholinia A , Konijnenberg P
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Oxidized Si-Nanowire - Analytical TEM Investigations
Authors: Berger A , Christiansen S , Stelzner T , Andrä G
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Axiotaxy of CrSi2 on Si(001); from the Micrometer- to the
Angstrom-Scale
Authors: Falke M , Schletter H , Filonenko O , Mogilatenko A , Beddies G , Schulze S , Hietschold M , Bleloch A , Keyser K De , Detavernier C
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Electron Magnetic Linear Dichroism (EMLD) and Electron Magnetic Circular
Dichroism (EMCD) in Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy
Authors: Aken P A van , Gu L , Goll D , Schütz G
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Analytical TEM Investigation of Size Effects in SnO2 Nanoparticles
Produced by Microwave Plasma Synthesis
Authors: Szabó D Vinga , Schlabach S , Ochs R
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
HAADF Imaging and LHe Cryo-Electron Diffraction of Nanostructured
Discotic Liquid Crystalline Material
Authors: Schaper A K , Kurata H , Ogawa T , Yoshioka T , Tsuji M
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Correlative ultrastructural analysis of biological and polymer materials
using complementary sets of AFM and TEM images
Authors: Matsko N B , Grogger W
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Unusual Polymer Particles from Catalytic Polymerisation
Authors: Krumova M , Mecking S , Göttker-Schnettmann I , Tong Q , Korthals B
Published: February 2008

Extended abstract of a paper presented at MC 2007, 33rd DGE Conference
in Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2 – September 7, 2007
Isolation and in vitro culture of intramuscular pre-adipocytes from Luxi adult Yellow cattle
Authors: Rong Wan , Jian Ding , Zhen-Ming Zhou , Li-Ping Ren , Qing-Xiang Meng
Published: February 2008

Three Luxi adult Yellow steers were used to isolate and culture intramuscular pre-adipocytes in vitro as well as to examine factors influencing their proliferation and differentiation. The intramuscular pre-adipocytes were taken from adipose tissues within muscles between the sixth and seventh rib and cultured after digestion with collagenase I. The results showed that the separated cell populations were highly homogeneous, proliferative and doubled within 62 h. When the confluent pre-adipocytes were treated with 10 μg/ml insulin and 0.25 μmol/l dexamethasone, small lipid droplets appeared on day 2 and the number of lipid droplets rapidly increased around the nuclei on day 6. Their dynamic morphological changes, growth curve, Oil Red O staining, and reaction to insulin and dexamethasone all verified their pre-adipocyte identity. Under controlled conditions, the intramuscular pre-adipocytes resumed proliferating and differentiating in vitro. Interestingly, the proportion of cultured diploid pre-adipocytes reached more than 90% after six repeated cultures. This study confirms the existence of functionally active pre-adipocytes within the muscles of Chinese adult local breed cattle. These cell strains are a potentially useful model for understanding further the mechanism of intramuscular adipose deposition in tissues, in order to improve beef quality based on Chinese local breed beef cattle.
Expression of H5N1Avian influenza virushaemagglutinin in a baculovirus expression system
Authors: Jifeng Dun , Juan Pu , Yingchun Zhou , Jinhua Liu
Published: February 2008

The haemagglutinin (HA) gene of H5N1Avian influenza virus(AIV) was amplified from the plasmid pGEM-HA and cloned into the baculovirus transfer plasmid pFastBacHT to construct the recombinant transfer vector pFastBacHT-HA. The pFastBacHT-HA was transformed into DH10Bac competent cells, transposed with a shuttle vector (Bacmid) and the transposition rBacmid-HA was constructed. The recombinant baculovirus was harvested from sf9 cells transfected with rBacmid-HA. The expressed HA protein was identified and analysed by SDS–PAGE, Western blot and haemadsorption assay. The 66 kDa protein could only react with chicken serum positive to H5 subtype AIV. The haemadsorption assay showed that the sf9 cells infected with rBacmid-HA baculovirus could absorb chicken red blood cells. These results indicated that the HA protein was successfully expressed in sf9 cells, with reaction specificity to H5 subtype antiserum.
Impact of storms and dense water cascading on shelf‐slope exchanges in the Gulf of Lion (NW Mediterranean)
Authors: Ulses C. , Estournel C. , Bonnin J. , Durrieu de Madron X. , Marsaleix P.
Published: February 2008

In situ observations of ocean temperature, salinity, density and current collected from November 2003 to May 2004 in the Gulf of Lion were combined with numerical modeling in order to better understand the mechanisms and forcing conditions that control shelf‐slope exchanges during autumn and winter times. Outputs from a 3‐D coastal circulation model revealed that marine storms (and related processes) and dense water cascading were the two major mechanisms controlling shelf‐slope exchanges. Marine storms induced accumulation of seawater along the coast, generated a strong cyclonic circulation on the shelf, and caused downwelling in submarine canyons that facilitated export of shelf water. During fall, because of strong water column stratification at that time, the depth of export remained shallow. In winter, the destratification together with the density increase of shelf water, due to the cooling effect of strong and cold northerly winds, enabled shelf water to plunge down the slope. The results of this study thus highlighted the importance of marine storms for shelf‐slope exchanges, particularly during winter mixed conditions when they reinforced the cascading of dense water.
Antarctic sea ice thickness and snow‐to‐ice conversion from atmospheric reanalysis and passive microwave snow depth
Authors: Maksym Ted , Markus Thorsten
Published: February 2008

Passive microwave snow depth, ice concentration, and ice motion estimates are combined with snowfall from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) reanalysis (ERA‐40) from 1979–2001 to estimate the prevalence of snow‐to‐ice conversion (snow‐ice formation) on level sea ice in the Antarctic for April–October. Snow ice is ubiquitous in all regions throughout the growth season. Calculated snow‐ice thicknesses fall within the range of estimates from ice core analysis for most regions. However, uncertainties in both this analysis and in situ data limit the usefulness of snow depth and snow‐ice production to evaluate the accuracy of ERA‐40 snowfall. The East Antarctic is an exception, where calculated snow‐ice production exceeds observed ice thickness over wide areas, suggesting that ERA‐40 precipitation is too high there. Snow‐ice thickness variability is strongly controlled not just by snow accumulation rates, but also by ice divergence. Surprisingly, snow‐ice production is largely independent of snow depth, indicating that the latter may be a poor indicator of total snow accumulation. Using the presence of snow‐ice formation as a proxy indicator for near‐zero freeboard, we examine the possibility of estimating level ice thickness from satellite snow depths. A best estimate for the mean level ice thickness in September is 53 cm, comparing well with 51 cm from ship‐based observations. The error is estimated to be 10–20 cm, which is similar to the observed interannual and regional variability. Nevertheless, this is comparable to expected errors for ice thickness determined by satellite altimeters. Improvement in satellite snow depth retrievals would benefit both of these methods.
Atmospheric Sb in the Arctic during the past 16,000 years: Responses to climate change and human impacts
Authors: Krachler Michael , Zheng Jiancheng , Fisher David , Shotyk William
Published: February 2008

Applying strict clean room procedures and sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) methods, concentrations of Sb and Sc were determined in 57 sections of a 170.6‐m‐long ice core drilled on Devon Island, Arctic Canada, in 1999, providing a record of atmospheric Sb extending back 15,800 years. Natural background concentrations of Sb and Sc established during the period between 1300 years BP and 10,590 years BP averaged 0.08 ± 0.03 pg/g (N = 18) and 0.44 ± 0.20 pg/g (N = 17), respectively. Scandium, a conservative reference element, was used as a surrogate for mineral dust inputs. The Sb/Sc ratio of 0.13 ± 0.07 in these ancient ice samples is comparable to the corresponding ratio of 0.09 ± 0.03 in peat samples from Switzerland from circa 6000 to 9000 years BP, indicating that this natural background ratio might have a much broader validity. The natural background flux of Sb (0.7 ± 0.5 ng/m2/a) in the Arctic was approximately 500 times lower than that established in central Europe using peat cores. For comparison with background values, modern Sb fluxes calculated using 45 samples from a 5‐m snow pit dug on Devon Island in 2004, reflecting 10 years of snow accumulation, yielded an average deposition rate of 340 ± 270 ng/m2/a (range: 20–1240 ng/m2/a) with pronounced accumulation of Sb during winter periods when air masses reaching the Arctic predominantly come from Eurasia. These data reveal that approximately 99.8% of the Sb deposited in the Arctic today originates from anthropogenic activities. Modern Sb enrichment factors averaged 25 (range: 8–121). The ice core provides evidence of Sb contamination dating from Phoenician/Greek, Roman, and medieval lead mining and smelting in Europe. Moreover, the ice core data indicate that anthropogenic sources of Sb have continuously dominated the atmospheric inputs to the Arctic for at least 700 years.
Water vapor and surface observations in northwestern Mexico during the 2004 NAME Enhanced Observing Period
Authors: Kursinski E. R. , Bennett R. A. , Gochis D. , Gutman S. I. , Holub K. L. , Mastaler R. , Minjarez Sosa C. , Minjarez Sosa I. , van Hove T.
Published: February 2008

We report on precipitable water vapor (PWV) from a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver and surface meteorological network during the 2004 North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME) in northwestern Mexico. The monsoon onset is evident as a large PWV increase over several days beginning July 1. Data in the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO) foothills reveal a dynamical transition in mid‐August from smaller, sub‐synoptic scale to larger, synoptic scale moisture structure. During the Sub‐synoptic phase in the SMO foothills, a positive feedback operates where near‐daily precipitation supplied moisture maintains 15% higher surface mixing ratios that lower the lifting condensation level facilitating initiation of moist convection. Along the western edge of the SMO, precipitation typically occurs hours after the local temperature maximum, triggered by westward propagating convective disturbances. Precipitation is typically preceded by a rapid rise in PWV and sharp decrease in surface temperature, implying models must include moist convective downdrafts in the NAM area.
First observation of the overshoot effect for polar mesosphere winter echoes during radiowave electron temperature modulation
Authors: Belova E. , Smirnova M. , Rietveld M. T. , Isham B. , Kirkwood S. , Sergienko T.
Published: February 2008

Polar mesosphere winter echoes (PMWE), observed with the EISCAT VHF radar located near Tromsø, Norway on October 24, 2006, were modulated using the EISCAT Heating facility. The heater was turned on for 20 s and then off for 160 s. The experiment confirmed previous results that when the heater was switched on, the PMWE power dropped significantly compared to the undisturbed level measured before heating. The experiment showed for the first time that, after the heater was switched off, the PMWE strength overshot the value that it had before heating. By using data from 6 heating cycles we find that the overshoot effect is about 50% of the pre‐heating value, which is rather weak compared to 3–5 times for PMSE. No, or little recovery of PMWE strength during heating periods was observed. This may indicate the presence of very small dust particles, such as meteoric smoke particles.
A new analysis of experimental data on olivine rheology
Authors: Korenaga Jun , Karato Shun‐Ichiro
Published: February 2008

We present a new statistical framework to analyze rock deformation data and determine a corresponding flow law and its uncertainty. All experimental uncertainties, including inter‐run bias, are taken into account in the new formalism. Our approach is based on Bayesian statistics and is implemented by a Markov chain Monte Carlo method. We apply this approach to published data on the subsolidus deformation of synthetic olivine aggregates and try to establish experimental constraints on the rheology of Earth's upper mantle. Deformation data are interpreted on the basis of a composite flow law, which includes diffusion and dislocation creep mechanisms under both dry and wet conditions. We show that olivine rheology under wet conditions suffers major uncertainties suggesting the influence of poorly characterized parameters such as water content during deformation. Also, the pressure dependence of creep is still poorly constrained because of the lack of high‐quality data under high pressures. However, our statistical analysis provides a solid framework to obtain a permissible range of flow laws constrained by the existing data, which will help geodynamic modeling with well‐defined statistical bounds.
Eocene silicoflagellate and ebridian paleoceanography in the central Arctic Ocean
Authors: Onodera Jonaotaro , Takahashi Kozo , Jordan Richard W.
Published: February 2008

The silicoflagellate and ebridian assemblages in early middle Eocene Arctic cores obtained by IODP Expedition 302 (ACEX) were studied in order to decipher the paleoceanography of the upper water column. The assemblages in Lithologic Unit 2 (49.7–45.1 Ma), one of the biosiliceous intervals, were usually endemic as compared to the assemblages that occurred outside of the Arctic Ocean. The presence of these endemic assemblages is probably due to a unique environmental setting, controlled by the degree of mixing between the low‐salinity Arctic waters and relatively high salinity waters supplied from outside the Arctic Ocean, such as the Atlantic and possibly the Western Siberian Sea. Using the basin‐to‐basin fractionation model, the early middle Eocene Arctic Ocean corresponds to an estuarine circulation type, which includes the modern‐day Black Sea. The abundant down‐core occurrence of ebridians strongly suggests the past presence of low‐salinity waters, and may indicate that low oxygen concentrations prevailed in the euphotic layer, on the basis of the ecology of the modern ebridian Hermesinum adriaticum.
Insights on the seismogenic layer thickness from the upper crust structure of the Umbria‐Marche Apennines (central Italy)
Authors: Mirabella F. , Barchi M. , Lupattelli A. , Stucchi E. , Ciaccio M. G.
Published: February 2008

We reconstruct the subsurface geology in a region of the northern Apennines (central Italy) where a protracted extensional sequence occurred in 1997–1998 with maximum magnitude M = 6.0. Our study is mainly based on the interpretation of three reprocessed seismic reflection profiles crossing the epicentral area, which constrain the subsurface geometry to a depth of about 12 km where most of the shallow seismicity occurs. Comparing the subsurface setting with accurately determined earthquake locations, we find that the seismicity is located entirely within the sedimentary cover and does not penetrate the underlying basement. This is explained by considering that the sedimentary cover is rather thick and composed of relatively strong lithologies (platform carbonates and evaporites), while the upper part of the basement consists of weak phyllites and siliciclastic rocks. This weak horizon is also evidenced by the low‐Vp values measured in deep wells of the region. Its effect is to decouple the sedimentary cover from the crystalline basement, where only microseismicity occurs. Our study indicates that local structure and stratigraphy can significantly influence the distribution of seismicity within the upper crust, particularly in complex geological environments such as thrust‐and‐fold belts.
Brain Redox Imaging Using Blood—Brain Barrier-Permeable Nitroxide MRI Contrast Agent
Authors: Hyodo Fuminori , Chuang Kai-Hsiang , Goloshevsky Artem G , Sulima Agnieszka , Griffiths Gary L , Mitchell James B , Koretsky Alan P , Krishna Murali C
Published: February 2008

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and compromised antioxidant defense may contribute to brain disorders such as stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, etc. Nitroxides are redox-sensitive paramagnetic contrast agents and antioxidants. The ability of a blood—brain barrier (BBB)-permeable nitroxide, methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl (MC-P), as a magnetic resonance-imaging (MRI) contrast agent for brain tissue redox imaging was tested. MC-P relaxation in rodent brain was quantified by MRI using a fast Look-Locker T1-mapping sequence. In the cerebral cortex and thalamus, the MRI signal intensity increased up to 50% after MC-P injection, but increased only by 2.7% when a BBB-impermeable nitroxide, 3CxP (3-carboxy-2,2,5,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl) was used. The maximum concentrations in the thalamus and cerebral cortex after MC-P injection were calculated to be 1.9±0.35 and 3.0±0.50 mmol/L, respectively. These values were consistent with the ex vivo data of brain tissue and blood concentration obtained by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Also, reduction rates of MC-P were significantly decreased after reperfusion following transient MCAO (middle cerebral artery occlusion), a condition associated with changes in redox status resulting from oxidative damage. These results show the use of BBB-permeable nitroxides as MRI contrast agents and antioxidants to evaluate the role of ROS in neurologic diseases.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Geological Storage of CO2
Authors: LaForce Tara
Published: February 2008

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the collection of carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial point sources such as power plants and its injection underground. Much of the technology necessary to capture and inject CO2 into the subsurface already exists and CCS will be an integral part of any strategy to combat anthropogenic climate change until we, as a society, are able to move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. There are three options for geological storage of CO2: deep saline aquifers, depleted oil reservoirs and unmineable coal beds. It is the purpose of this presentation to provide a general survey of each of these options. For each geological formation I review (1) The ways in which CO2 could escape into the atmosphere. (2) Current scientific knowledge and uncertainties about the behaviour of CO2 after it is underground -particularly the interactions of water, oil or gas initially present in the geological formation with injected CO2. (3) The overall advantages and disadvantages of each option in terms of technical challenges and cost.
Lupus erythematosus‐like features in patients with cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma
Authors: McBurney Elizabeth I. , Hickham Patricia Rice , Garry Robert F. , Reed Richard J.
Published: February 2008

Background The development of lupus erythematosus‐like (LE‐like) features in patients with cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) has not been reported previously in the literature. Both diseases, however, have been etiologically linked to retroviruses.

Objective Our purpose was to report four cases of patients with CTCL who developed LE‐like features during the course of their disease, and to evaluate for evidence of antibodies to retroviruses in the sera of these patients.

Patients Four patients with biopsy‐proven CTCL with clinical or histologic features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were evaluated for clinical and laboratory criteria for SLE. Only one patient demonstrated four American Rheumatism Association (ARA) criteria sufficient for the diagnosis of SLE. The remaining three patients demonstrated one or two criteria for SLE. In addition, the sera of these patients were examined by Western blot analysis for evidence of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV‐I), human T‐cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV‐I), or human intracisternal A‐type particle type I (HIAP‐I) retroviral proteins. Each patient demonstrated antibodies to some of the retroviral proteins examined. The sera of two patients reacted to proteins for HIAP‐I, and the sera of two patients reacted to p24 gag proteins of HIV‐I. No patient reacted to HTLV‐I proteins.

Conclusions Our report identifies four patients with CTCL who developed LE‐like features during the course of their disease. Although the etiology of CTCL and SLE has not been well established, each has been linked to retroviruses. Evidence of antibodies to retroviral proteins was identified in each of our patients by Western blot analysis. Although the clinical and laboratory findings in these cases do not resolve the etiologic role of retroviruses in CTCL or SLE, they suggest that retroviruses may have a role in the pathogenesis of the clinical phenomenon reported in these four patients.
PTEN regulates p300-dependent hypoxia-inducible factor 1 transcriptional activity through Forkhead transcription factor 3a (FOXO3a)
Authors: Emerling Brooke M. , Weinberg Frank , Liu Juinn-Lin , Mak Tak W. , Chandel Navdeep S.
Published: February 2008

The tumor suppressor PTEN is mutated or deleted in many tumors, causing the activation of the PI3K pathway. Here, we show that the loss of PTEN increases the transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) through the inactivation of Forkhead transcription factors (FOXO) in PTEN-null cells. Reintroduction of PTEN into the nucleus, overexpression of a nonphosphorylatable FOXO3a, which accumulates in the nucleus, or inhibition of nuclear export of FOXO3a by leptomycin B represses HIF-1 transcriptional activity in PTEN-null cells. HIF-1 transcriptional activity increases in PTEN-positive cells depleted of FOXO3a with siRNA. PTEN and FOXO3a regulate the transactivation domain of HIF-1α. Chromatin immunoprecipitation indicates that FOXO3a complexes with HIF-1α and p300 on the
Glut-1
promoter, a HIF-1 target gene. Overexpression of p300 reverses FOXO3a-mediated repression of HIF-1 transcriptional activity. Coimmunoprecipitation and GAL4-HIF-1α transactivation assays reveal that FOXO3a interferes with p300-dependent HIF-1 transcriptional activity. Thus, FOXO3a negatively regulates HIF-1 transcriptional activity.
Human regulatory T cells inhibit polarization of T helper cells toward antigen-presenting cells via a TGF-β-dependent mechanism
Authors: Esquerré Michael , Tauzin Baptiste , Guiraud Martine , Müller Sabina , Saoudi Abdelhadi , Valitutti Salvatore
Published: February 2008

The molecular mechanisms used by regulatory T cells (Treg) to inhibit the effector phase of adaptive immune responses are still elusive. In the present work, we investigated the possibility that Treg may interfere with a basic biological function of T helper cells (T
H
): polarization of secretory machinery for dedicated help delivery. To address this question, we visualized by confocal microscopy different parameters of activation in T
H
and Treg cells interacting simultaneously with individual antigen-presenting cells (APC). Our results show that, although productive TCR engagement in T
H
/APC conjugates was unaffected by the presence of adjacent Treg, the reorientation of T
H
secretory machinery toward APC was strongly inhibited. Blocking TGF-β completely reverted Treg induced inhibition of T
H
polarization. Our results identify a previously undescribed mechanism by which Treg inhibit effector T cells. TGF-β produced by adjacent Treg interferes with polarization of T
H
secretory machinery toward APC, thus affecting a crucial step of T
H
-mediated amplification of the immune response.
King penguin population threatened by Southern Ocean warming
Authors: Le Bohec Céline , Durant Joël M. , Gauthier-Clerc Michel , Stenseth Nils C. , Park Young-Hyang , Pradel Roger , Grémillet David , Gendner Jean-Paul , Le Maho Yvon
Published: February 2008

Seabirds are sensitive indicators of changes in marine ecosystems and might integrate and/or amplify the effects of climate forcing on lower levels in food chains. Current knowledge on the impact of climate changes on penguins is primarily based on Antarctic birds identified by using flipper bands. Although flipper bands have helped to answer many questions about penguin biology, they were shown in some penguin species to have a detrimental effect. Here, we present for a Subantarctic species, king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), reliable results on the effect of climate on survival and breeding based on unbanded birds but instead marked by subcutaneous electronic tags. We show that warm events negatively affect both breeding success and adult survival of this seabird. However, the observed effect is complex because it affects penguins at several spatio/temporal levels. Breeding reveals an immediate response to forcing during warm phases of El Niño Southern Oscillation affecting food availability close to the colony. Conversely, adult survival decreases with a remote sea-surface temperature forcing (i.e., a 2-year lag warming taking place at the northern boundary of pack ice, their winter foraging place). We suggest that this time lag may be explained by the delay between the recruitment and abundance of their prey, adjusted to the particular 1-year breeding cycle of the king penguin. The derived population dynamic model suggests a 9% decline in adult survival for a 0.26°C warming. Our findings suggest that king penguin populations are at heavy extinction risk under the current global warming predictions.
Transthyretin protects Alzheimer's mice from the behavioral and biochemical effects of Aβ toxicity
Authors: Buxbaum Joel N. , Ye Zhengyi , Reixach Natàlia , Friske Linsey , Levy Coree , Das Pritam , Golde Todd , Masliah Eliezer , Roberts Amanda R. , Bartfai Tamas
Published: February 2008

Cells that have evolved to produce large quantities of secreted proteins to serve the integrated functions of complex multicellular organisms are equipped to compensate for protein misfolding. Hepatocytes and plasma cells have well developed chaperone and proteasome systems to ensure that secreted proteins transit the cell efficiently. The number of neurodegenerative disorders associated with protein misfolding suggests that neurons are particularly sensitive to the pathogenic effects of aggregates of misfolded molecules because those systems are less well developed in this lineage. Aggregates of the amyloidogenic (Aβ
1–42
) peptide play a major role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the precise mechanism is unclear. In genetic studies examining protein–protein interactions that could constitute native mechanisms of neuroprotection
in vivo
, overexpression of a WT human transthyretin (TTR) transgene was ameliorative in the APP23 transgenic murine model of human AD. Targeted silencing of the endogenous TTR gene accelerated the development of the neuropathologic phenotype. Intraneuronal TTR was seen in the brains of normal humans and mice and in AD patients and APP23 mice. The APP23 brains showed colocalization of extracellular TTR with Aβ in plaques. Using surface plasmon resonance we obtained
in vitro
evidence of direct protein–protein interaction between TTR and Aβ aggregates. These findings suggest that TTR is protective because of its capacity to bind toxic or pretoxic Aβ aggregates in both the intracellular and extracellular environment in a chaperone-like manner. The interaction may represent a unique normal host defense mechanism, enhancement of which could be therapeutically useful.
Galanin decreases proliferation of PC12 cells and induces apoptosis via its subtype 2 receptor (GalR2)
Authors: Tofighi R. , Joseph B. , Xia S. , Xu Z.-Q. D. , Hamberger B. , Hökfelt T. , Ceccatelli S.
Published: February 2008

Galanin is a neuropeptide with a wide range of effects in the nervous and endocrine systems, mediated through three G protein-coupled receptor subtypes (GalR1–3). Interestingly, galanin and its receptors are also expressed in certain tumors. Here we studied the effects of galanin in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells stably transfected with GFP-tagged GalR2. Galanin at 100 nM inhibited cell proliferation in both nontransfected and transfected cells. Conversly, both galanin and the GalR2(R3)-agonist AR-M1896 induced caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death only in GalR2-transfected cells. Western-blot analyses of downstream mediators of the G
q/11
-type G protein showed down-regulation of pAkt and pBad in galanin-exposed transfected cells. Also, the specific PI3 kinase inhibitor LY-294002 increased the level of pBad and decreased activation of caspases. In addition, p21
cip1
levels were up-regulated in galanin-exposed PC12 cells and down-regulated in galanin-exposed GalR2-transfected cells. In agreement, FACS analyses of galanin exposed cells showed occurrence of cell cycle arrest in PC12 cells and cell death in transfected cells. Finally, as shown with real-time PCR, galanin and its receptors were expressed at very high levels in human pheochromocytoma tissues as compared with normal adrenal medulla. These findings point to GalR2 as a possible target for therapeuthic interventions in pheochromocytoma.
Regionalisation of Innovation Policies and New University–Industry Links in Japan: Policy Review and New Trends
Authors: Kitagawa Fumi , Woolgar Lee
Published: February 2008

This paper examines developments in the governance of science and innovation in Japan, with a particular focus on the recent ‘regionalisation’ of innovation policies and policy support for new university–industry linkages. The paper charts the emergence of national funding programmes, greater institutional autonomy and the promotion of regional diversity. The paper presents two case studies to show how different regions have responded to the policy initiatives. The research suggests that there has been some movement towards regional diversity and the emergence of nascent regional innovation systems. However, questions remain as to the development and potential of truly regional governance structures for science and technology and the role of universities.
The right to health of prisoners in international human
rights law
Authors: Lines Rick
Published: February 2008

This paper explores the health rights of prisoners as defined in international law, and the mechanisms that have been used to ensure the rights of persons in detention to realise the highest attainable standard of health. It examines this right as articulated within United Nations and regional human rights treaties, non‐binding or so‐called soft law instruments from international organisations and the jurisprudence of international human rights bodies. It explores the use of economic, social and cultural rights mechanisms, and those within civil and political rights, as they engage the right to health of prisoners, and identifies the minimum legal obligations of governments in order to remain compliant with human rights norms as defined within the international case law. In addressing these issues, this article adopts a holistic approach to the definition of the highest attainable standard of health. This includes a consideration of adequate standards of general medical care, including preventative health and mental health services. It also examines the question of environmental health, and those poor conditions of detention that may exacerbate health decline, disease transmission, mental illness or death. The paper examines the approach to prison health of the
United Nations human rights system and its various monitoring bodies, as well as the regional human rights systems in Europe, Africa and the Americas. Based upon this analysis, the paper draws conclusions on the current fulfilment of the right to health of prisoners on an international scale, and proposes expanded mechanisms under the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment to monitor and promote the health rights of prisoners at the international and domestic levels.
Ion binding in the Open HCN Pacemaker Channel Pore: Fast Mechanisms to Shape “Slow” Channels
Authors: Lyashchenko Alex K. , Tibbs Gareth R.
Published: February 2008

IH pacemaker channels carry a mixed monovalent cation current that, under physiological ion gradients, reverses at ∼−34 mV, reflecting a 4:1 selectivity for K over Na. However, IH channels display anomalous behavior with respect to permeant ions such that (a) open channels do not exhibit the outward rectification anticipated assuming independence; (b) gating and selectivity are sensitive to the identity and concentrations of externally presented permeant ions; (c) the channels' ability to carry an inward Na current requires the presence of external K even though K is a minor charge carrier at negative voltages. Here we show that open HCN channels (the hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide sensitive pore forming subunits of IH) undergo a fast, voltage-dependent block by intracellular Mg in a manner that suggests the ion binds close to, or within, the selectivity filter. Eliminating internal divalent ion block reveals that (a) the K dependence of conduction is mediated via K occupancy of site(s) within the pore and that asymmetrical occupancy and/or coupling of these sites to flux further shapes ion flow, and (b) the kinetics of equilibration between K-vacant and K-occupied states of the pore (10–20 μs or faster) is close to the ion transit time when the pore is occupied by K alone (∼0.5–3 μs), a finding that indicates that either ion:ion repulsion involving Na is adequate to support flux (albeit at a rate below our detection threshold) and/or the pore undergoes rapid, permeant ion-sensitive equilibration between nonconducting and conducting configurations. Biophysically, further exploration of the Mg site and of interactions of Na and K within the pore will tell us much about the architecture and operation of this unusual pore. Physiologically, these results suggest ways in which “slow” pacemaker channels may contribute dynamically to the shaping of fast processes such as Na-K or Ca action potentials.
Phytophthora Blight and Dieback in North Carolina Nurseries During a 2003 Survey
Authors: Warfield C. Y. , Hwang J. , Benson D. M.
Published: February 2008

A survey of 14 nurseries growing hybrid rhododendron, Pieris spp., or Viburnum spp. was conducted as part of the 2003 Sudden Oak Death Pilot National Survey to determine if Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of sudden oak death, had been introduced to nurseries in North Carolina. Over 220,000 hybrid rhododendrons, 1,700 plants of Pieris spp., and 2,800 plants of Viburnum spp. were surveyed. Across nurseries, blight and dieback incidence averaged 2.4% for Pieris spp. and 10% for rhododendron. P. ramorum was not recovered by isolation or detected by polymerase chain reaction in the 347 plant samples collected. Three species of Phytophthora were isolated from hybrid rhododendron and Pieris spp., but no Phytophthora isolates were recovered from Viburnum spp. P. citricola and P. cambivora were isolated most frequently (61 and 39 isolates, respectively), while 2 isolates of P. cactorum were recovered. Occasionally, two Phytophthora spp. were found in the same block of rhododendrons within a nursery, but only one species was recovered from an individual plant. Most cultivars of rhododendron surveyed, including ‘English Roseum,’ ‘Nova Zembla,’ and ‘Roseum Elegans,’ had less than 0.5% incidence of Phytophthora blight and dieback, whereas ‘Lee's Dark Purple’ had 3.8% disease incidence across all nurseries surveyed.
First Report of Sawadaea tulasnei Powdery Mildew of Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) in Wisconsin
Authors: Hudelson B. , Smith D. , Stanosz G. , Hanson M.
Published: February 2008

Leaves affected by powdery mildew were collected from a Norway maple tree in early October 2007 in Beaver Dam, WI (Dodge County). Diseased leaves were present throughout the crown of this tree, with white mycelium in irregular and often vein-associated spots and often covering as much as 50% of the upper surfaces of leaves. Examination of the lower surfaces revealed necrosis of the areas underlying mycelium. Blades of samaras also bore white mycelium. Chasmothecia were present singly or in groups on the mycelium. Morphology of chasmothecia, including simple and bifid appendages with uncinate to circinate apices, was sufficient to identify the pathogen to the genus Sawadaea (1). Data for nuclear rDNA ITS sequence (546 bp) obtained for a specimen (GenBank Accession No. EU247884) exactly matched sequences for Sawadea tulasnei (GenBank Accession Nos. AB 193363, 478 bp; AB193385, 490 bp; AB193390 and AB193391, 546 bp). This data was 96% similar (528 of 552 nucleotides) to that of another European powdery mildew pathogen, S. bicornis (GenBank Accession No. AB193380), which is also reported to occur on maples in Idaho, Washington, and Wisconsin (2,3). A further survey revealed the same fungus on several additional nearby Norway maples along streets and in yards (including varieties with both darkly colored and variegated leaves), but on these trees very few leaves were affected and usually less than 5% of the upper leaf surfaces bore mycelium. This pathogen was not observed on leaves of either red (A. rubrum) or silver maples (A. saccharinum) examined in the same area. S. tulasnei was previously known in North America only by collections in New York, Ohio, and Montreal, Canada (4), but our observation indicates that the geographic distribution of this pathogen is probably much broader and overlaps with that of S. bicornis. Specimens from Beaver Dam, WI have been deposited in the U.S. National Fungus Collections (BPI 878273).

References: (1) U. Braun. The Powdery Mildews (Erysiphales) of Europe. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena-Stuttgart, New York, 1995. (2) C. Nischwitz and G. Newcombe. Plant Dis. 87:451, 2003. (3) G. Stanosz et al. Plant Dis. 91:636, 2007. (4) J. Weiland and G. Stanosz. Plant Dis. 90:830, 2006.
Supervirulent pseudorecombination and asymmetric synergism between genomic components of two distinct species of begomovirus associated with severe tomato leaf curl disease in India
Authors: Chakraborty S. , Vanitharani R. , Chattopadhyay B. , Fauquet C. M.
Published: February 2008

Isolates of two distinct begomovirus species, the severe strain of the species Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus-[India:New Delhi:Severe:1992]; ToLCNDV-[IN:ND:Svr:92], bipartite) and the Varanasi strain of the species Tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus (tomato leaf curl Gujarat virus-[India:Varanasi:2001]; ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01], mono/bipartite) infect tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and cause severe yield losses in northern India. This study investigated the infectivity properties of genomic components of these two species. Both pseudorecombinants were infectious in Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum and L. esculentum. Enhanced pathogenicity was observed when DNA-A of ToLCNDV-[IN:ND:Svr:92] was trans-complemented with ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01] DNA-B, and was consistently associated with an increase in accumulation of ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01] DNA-B. Mixed infection of ToLCNDV-[IN:ND:Svr:92] and ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01] always showed extremely severe symptoms, suggesting a synergistic interaction between these two viruses. Southern blot analysis of viral DNAs from infected plants showed a significantly higher level of accumulation of both ToLCNDV components and DNA-B of ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01] with no alteration to levels of DNA-A of ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01]. Symptom development and/or higher infectivity of the supervirulent pseudorecombinants correlated with the increased levels of DNA-B accumulation. Protoplast replication assays revealed that enhanced infectivity by the pseudorecombinant occurred at the level of replication, as DNA-A of ToLCNDV-[IN:ND:Svr:92] enhanced ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01] DNA-B replication, whose accumulation was in turn increased by ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01] DNA-A. This is the first report demonstrating a virulent pseudorecombinant between two distinct species of begomoviruses that infect tomato, and is the second report on synergism between begomoviruses. The results revealed that ToLCGV-[IN:Var:01] DNA-B is capable of associating with different DNA-A components, despite having different iteron sequences.
West Nile 25A virus infection of B-cell-deficient (μMT) mice: characterization of neuroinvasiveness and pseudoreversion of the viral envelope protein
Authors: Chambers Thomas J. , Droll Deborah A. , Walton Andrew H. , Schwartz Julie , Wold William S. M. , Nickells Janice
Published: February 2008

The attenuated West Nile virus 25A strain (WN25A) was investigated for its neuroinvasive properties in B-cell-deficient (μMT) mice. After peripheral inoculation, WN25A caused fatal encephalitis in the majority of 6–8-week-old mice, characterized by a systemic infection with viraemia, moderate virus burdens in peripheral tissues and a high titre of brain-associated virus. Mice generally succumbed to infection within a few weeks of infection. However, others survived for as long as 10 weeks, and some for even longer. Normal age-matched C57BL/6 mice showed no signs of illness after inoculation with WN25A virus. Nucleotide sequencing of WN25A viruses recovered from the brains of B-cell-deficient mice revealed that the conservedN-linked glycosylation site in the viral envelope protein was abolished by substitution of a serine residue at position 155. This was found to be a pseudoreversion relative to the wild-type WN-Israel strain, based on virulence testing of one such brain-associated virus in both B-cell-deficient and normal C57BL/6 mice. This study provides further characterization of the mouse virulence properties of the attenuated WN25A virus in the context of B-cell deficiency. Replication in these mice does not involve rapid neuroadaptation or reversion of WN25A virus to a neuroinvasive phenotype. Molecular modelling studies suggest a difference in local structure of the E protein associated with either an asparagine or serine residue at position 155 compared with the tyrosine found in the virulent parental WN-Israel virus.
Suppression of tobacco mosaic virus-induced hypersensitive-type necrotization in tobacco at high temperature is associated with downregulation of NADPH oxidase and superoxide and stimulation of dehydroascorbate reductase
Authors: Király L. , Hafez Y. M. , Fodor J. , Király Z.
Published: February 2008

Tissue necroses and resistance during the hypersensitive response (HR) of tobacco to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) are overcome at temperatures above 28 °C and the virus multiplies to high levels in the originally resistantN-gene expressing plants. We have demonstrated that chemical compounds that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) or directly applied hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are able to induce HR-type necroses in TMV-inoculated Xanthi-nc tobacco even at high temperatures (e.g. 30 °C). The amount of superoxide (O2•−) decreased, while H2O2slightly increased in TMV- and mock-inoculated leaves at 30 °C, as compared with 20 °C. Activity of NADPH oxidase and mRNA levels of genes that encode NADPH oxidase and an alternative oxidase, respectively, were significantly lower, while activity of dehydroascorbate reductase was significantly higher at 30 °C, as compared with 20 °C. It was possible to reverse or suppress the chemically induced HR-type necrotization at 30 °C by the application of antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, demonstrating that the development of HR-type necroses indeed depends on a certain level of superoxide and other ROS. Importantly, high TMV levels at 30 °C were similar in infected plants, whether the HR-type necrotization developed or not. Suppression of virus multiplication in resistant, HR-producing tobacco at lower temperatures seems to be independent of the appearance of necroses but is associated with temperatures below 28 °C.