bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electromechanical behavior of [001]-textured Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 ceramics
Authors: Yan Yongke , Wang Yu. U. , Priya Shashank
Published: May 2012

[001]-textured Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) ceramics were synthesized by using templated grain growth method. Significantly high [001] texture degree corresponding to 0.98 Lotgering factor was achieved at 1 vol. % BaTiO3 template. Electromechanical properties for [001]-textured PMN-PT ceramics with 1 vol. % BaTiO3 were found to be d33 = 1000 pC/N, d31 = 371 pC/N, ɛr = 2591, and tanδ = ∼0.6%. Elastoelectric composite based modeling results showed that higher volume fraction of template reduces the overall dielectric constant and thus has adverse effect on the piezoelectric response. Clamping effect was modeled by deriving the changes in free energy as a function of applied electric field and microstructural boundary condition.
Flexible thin-film InAs/GaAs quantum dot solar cells
Authors: Tanabe Katsuaki , Watanabe Katsuyuki , Arakawa Yasuhiko
Published: May 2012

Thin-film InAs/GaAs quantum dot (QD) solar cells on mechanically flexible plastic films are fabricated. A 4.1-μm-thick compound semiconductor photovoltaic layer grown on a GaAs substrate is transferred onto a plastic film through a low-temperature bonding technique. We also fabricate thin-film InAs/GaAs quantum dot solar cells on Si substrates, as alternative low-cost, lightweight, robust substrates. The open-circuit voltages of the thin-film cells on plastic and Si substrates are equal to that of the as-grown bulk cell on a GaAs substrate, indicating that no material degradation occurs during our bond-and-transfer process.
Antiferromagnetic domain wall engineering in chromium films
Authors: Logan J. M. , Kim H. C. , Rosenmann D. , Cai Z. , Divan R. , Shpyrko O. G. , Isaacs E. D.
Published: May 2012

We have engineered an antiferromagnetic domain wall by utilizing a magnetic frustration effect of a thin iron cap layer deposited on a chromium film. Through lithography and wet etching, we selectively remove areas of the Fe cap layer to form a patterned ferromagnetic mask over the Cr film. Removing the Fe locally removes magnetic frustration in user-defined regions of the Cr film. We present x-ray microdiffraction microscopy results confirming the formation of a 90° spin-density wave propagation domain wall in Cr. This domain wall nucleates at the boundary defined by our Fe mask.
Response of large area avalanche photodiodes to low energy x rays
Authors: Gentile T. R. , Bales M. , Arp U. , Dong B. , Farrell R.
Published: May 2012

For an experiment to study neutron radiative beta-decay, we operated large area avalanche photodiodes (APDs) near liquid nitrogen temperature to detect x rays with energies between 0.2 keV and 20 keV. Whereas there are numerous reports of x ray spectrometry using APDs at energies above 1 keV, operation near liquid nitrogen temperature allowed us to reach a nominal threshold of 0.1 keV. However, due to the short penetration depth of x rays below 1 keV, the pulse height spectrum of the APD become complex. We studied the response using monochromatic x ray beams and employed phenomenological fits of the pulse height spectrum to model the measurement of a continuum spectrum from a synchrotron. In addition, the measured pulse height spectrum was modelled using a profile for the variation in efficiency of collection of photoelectrons with depth into the APD. The best results are obtained with the collection efficiency model.
Enhanced three-photon near-infrared quantum splitting in β-NaYF4:Ho3+ by codoping Yb3+
Authors: Yu D. C. , Ye S. , Huang X. Y. , Zhang Q. Y.
Published: May 2012

An efficient three-step sequential three-photon near-infrared (NIR) quantum splitting (QS), involving the emission of three NIR photons from an absorbed ultraviolet (UV) photon in β-NaYF4:Ho3+, has been demonstrated. Codoping Yb3+ can increase the NIR emissions significantly through the first- and second-step cross-relaxation. The involved mechanisms of three-step NIR QS in Ho3+-Yb3+ have been well demonstrated by the static and dynamic photoluminescence, monitored excitation and time-resolved fluorescence spectra. An internal quantum yield (QY) of 246% for the Yb3+ codoped β-NaYF4:Ho3+ is estimated on the basis of experimental data and theoretical considerations, which is much more than the total QY of 124% for the β-NaYF4:Ho3+ three-photon NIR QS. This research may open up promising new perspectives for designing efficient photonic devices.
Reconstructing the origin and spread of horse domestication in the Eurasian steppe
Authors: Warmuth Vera , Eriksson Anders , Bower Mim Ann , Barker Graeme , Barrett Elizabeth , Hanks Bryan Kent , Li Shuicheng , Lomitashvili David , Ochir-Goryaeva Maria , Sizonov Grigory V. , Soyonov Vasiliy , Manica Andrea
Published: May 2012

Despite decades of research across multiple disciplines, the early history of horse domestication remains poorly understood. On the basis of current evidence from archaeology, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosomal sequencing, a number of different domestication scenarios have been proposed, ranging from the spread of domestic horses out of a restricted primary area of domestication to the domestication of numerous distinct wild horse populations. In this paper, we reconstruct both the population genetic structure of the extinct wild progenitor of domestic horses,
Equus ferus
, and the origin and spread of horse domestication in the Eurasian steppes by fitting a spatially explicit stepping-stone model to genotype data from >300 horses sampled across northern Eurasia. We find strong evidence for an expansion of
E. ferus
out of eastern Eurasia about 160 kya, likely reflecting the colonization of Eurasia by this species. Our best-fitting scenario further suggests that horse domestication originated in the western part of the Eurasian steppe and that domestic herds were repeatedly restocked with local wild horses as they spread out of this area. By showing that horse domestication was initiated in the western Eurasian steppe and that the spread of domestic herds across Eurasia involved extensive introgression from the wild, the scenario of horse domestication proposed here unites evidence from archaeology, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosomal DNA.
Genome-wide association and functional studies identify theDOT1Lgene to be involved in cartilage thickness and hip osteoarthritis
Authors: Castaño Betancourt Martha C. , Cailotto Frederic , Kerkhof Hanneke J. , Cornelis Frederique M. F. , Doherty Sally A. , Hart Deborah J. , Hofman Albert , Luyten Frank P. , Maciewicz Rose A. , Mangino Massimo , Metrustry Sarah , Muir Kenneth , Peters Marjolein J. , Rivadeneira Fernando , Wheeler Maggie , Zhang Weiya , Arden Nigel , Spector Tim D. , Uitterlinden Andre G. , Doherty Michael , Lories Rik J. U. , Valdes Ana M. , Meurs Joyce B. J. van
Published: May 2012

Hip osteoarthritis (HOA) is one of the most disabling and common joint disorders with a large genetic component that is, however, still ill-defined. To date, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in osteoarthritis (OA) and specifically in HOA have yielded only few loci, which is partly explained by heterogeneity in the OA definition. Therefore, we here focused on radiographically measured joint-space width (JSW), a proxy for cartilage thickness and an important underlying intermediate trait for HOA. In a GWAS of 6,523 individuals on hip-JSW, we identified the G allele of rs12982744 on chromosome 19p13.3 to be associated with a 5% larger JSW (P= 4.8 × 10−10). The association was replicated in 4,442 individuals from three United Kingdom cohorts with an overall meta-analysisPvalue of 1.1 × 10−11. The SNP was also strongly associated with a 12% reduced risk for HOA (P= 1 × 10−4). The SNP is located in theDOT1Lgene, which is an evolutionarily conserved histone methyltransferase, recently identified as a potentially dedicated enzyme for Wnt target-gene activation in leukemia. Immunohistochemical staining of the DOT1L protein in mouse limbs supports a role for DOT1L in chondrogenic differentiation and adult articular cartilage.DOT1Lis also expressed in OA articular chondrocytes. Silencing ofDot1linhibited chondrogenesis in vitro.Dot1lknockdown reduces proteoglycan and collagen content, and mineralization during chondrogenesis. In the ATDC5 chondrogenesis model system, DOT1L interacts with TCF and Wnt signaling. These data are a further step to better understand the role of Wnt-signaling during chondrogenesis and cartilage homeostasis. DOT1L may represent a therapeutic target for OA.
Evolution of oligomeric state through geometric coupling of protein interfaces
Authors: Perica Tina , Chothia Cyrus , Teichmann Sarah A.
Published: May 2012

Oligomerization plays an important role in the function of many proteins. Thus, understanding, predicting, and, ultimately, engineering oligomerization presents a long-standing interest. From the perspective of structural biology, protein–protein interactions have mainly been analyzed in terms of the biophysical nature and evolution of protein interfaces. Here, our aim is to quantify the importance of the larger structural context of protein interfaces in protein interaction evolution. Specifically, we ask to what extent intersubunit geometry affects oligomerization state. We define a set of structural parameters describing the overall geometry and relative positions of interfaces of homomeric complexes with different oligomeric states. This allows us to quantify the contribution of direct sequence changes in interfaces versus indirect changes outside the interface that affect intersubunit geometry. We find that such indirect, or allosteric mutations affecting intersubunit geometry via indirect mechanisms are as important as interface sequence changes for evolution of oligomeric states.
Kepler constraints on planets near hot Jupiters
Authors: Steffen Jason H. , Ragozzine Darin , Fabrycky Daniel C. , Carter Joshua A. , Ford Eric B. , Holman Matthew J. , Rowe Jason F. , Welsh William F. , Borucki William J. , Boss Alan P. , Ciardi David R. , Quinn Samuel N.
Published: May 2012

We present the results of a search for planetary companions orbiting near hot Jupiter planet candidates (Jupiter-size candidates with orbital periods near 3 d) identified in the
Kepler
data through its sixth quarter of science operations. Special emphasis is given to companions between the 2∶1 interior and exterior mean-motion resonances. A photometric transit search excludes companions with sizes ranging from roughly two-thirds to five times the size of the Earth, depending upon the noise properties of the target star. A search for dynamically induced deviations from a constant period (transit timing variations) also shows no significant signals. In contrast, comparison studies of warm Jupiters (with slightly larger orbits) and hot Neptune-size candidates do exhibit signatures of additional companions with these same tests. These differences between hot Jupiters and other planetary systems denote a distinctly different formation or dynamical history.
Near-field manipulation of spectroscopic selection rules on the nanoscale
Authors: Jain Prashant K. , Ghosh Debraj , Baer Roi , Rabani Eran , Alivisatos A. Paul
Published: May 2012

In conventional spectroscopy, transitions between electronic levels are governed by the electric dipole selection rule because electric quadrupole, magnetic dipole, and coupled electric dipole-magnetic dipole transitions are forbidden in a far field. We demonstrated that by using nanostructured electromagnetic fields, the selection rules of absorption spectroscopy could be fundamentally manipulated. We also show that forbidden transitions between discrete quantum levels in a semiconductor nanorod structure are allowed within the near-field of a noble metal nanoparticle. Atomistic simulations analyzed by an effective mass model reveal the breakdown of the dipolar selection rules where quadrupole and octupole transitions are allowed. Our demonstration could be generalized to the use of nanostructured near-fields for enhancing light-matter interactions that are typically weak or forbidden.
Myofibroblasts revert to an inactive phenotype during regression of liver fibrosis
Authors: Kisseleva Tatiana , Cong Min , Paik YongHan , Scholten David , Jiang Chunyan , Benner Chris , Iwaisako Keiko , Moore-Morris Thomas , Scott Brian , Tsukamoto Hidekazu , Evans Sylvia M. , Dillmann Wolfgang , Glass Christopher K. , Brenner David A.
Published: May 2012

Myofibroblasts produce the fibrous scar in hepatic fibrosis. In the carbon tetrachloride (CCl
4
) model of liver fibrosis, quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are activated to become myofibroblasts. When the underlying etiological agent is removed, clinical and experimental fibrosis undergoes a remarkable regression with complete disappearance of these myofibroblasts. Although some myofibroblasts apoptose, it is unknown whether other myofibroblasts may revert to an inactive phenotype during regression of fibrosis. We elucidated the fate of HSCs/myofibroblasts during recovery from CCl
4
- and alcohol-induced liver fibrosis using Cre-LoxP–based genetic labeling of myofibroblasts. Here we demonstrate that half of the myofibroblasts escape apoptosis during regression of liver fibrosis, down-regulate fibrogenic genes, and acquire a phenotype similar to, but distinct from, quiescent HSCs in their ability to more rapidly reactivate into myofibroblasts in response to fibrogenic stimuli and strongly contribute to liver fibrosis. Inactivation of HSCs was associated with up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic genes Hspa1a/b, which participate in the survival of HSCs in culture and in vivo.
APPL1 potentiates insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells by enhancing protein kinase Akt-dependent expression of SNARE proteins in mice
Authors: Cheng Kenneth K. Y. , Lam Karen S. L. , Wu Donghai , Wang Yu , Sweeney Gary , Hoo Ruby L. C. , Zhang Jialiang , Xu Aimin
Published: May 2012

Insulin resistance and defective insulin secretion are the two major features of type 2 diabetes. The adapter protein APPL1 is an obligatory molecule in regulating peripheral insulin sensitivity, but its role in insulin secretion remains elusive. Here, we show that APPL1 expression in pancreatic β cells is markedly decreased in several mouse models of obesity and diabetes. APPL1 knockout mice exhibit glucose intolerance and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), whereas transgenic expression of APPL1 prevents high-fat diet (HFD)-induced glucose intolerance partly by enhancing GSIS. In both pancreatic islets and rat β cells, APPL1 deficiency causes a marked reduction in expression of the exocytotic machinery SNARE proteins (syntaxin-1, synaptosomal-associated protein 25, and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2) and an obvious decrease in the number of exocytotic events. Such changes are accompanied by diminished insulin-stimulated Akt activation. Furthermore, the defective GSIS and reduced expression of SNARE proteins in APPL1-deficient β cells can be rescued by adenovirus-mediated expression of APPL1 or constitutively active Akt. These findings demonstrate that APPL1 couples insulin-stimulated Akt activation to GSIS by promoting the expression of the core exocytotic machinery involved in exocytosis and also suggest that reduced APPL1 expression in pancreatic islets may serve as a pathological link that couples insulin resistance to β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.
Detecting activity-evoked pH changes in human brain
Authors: Magnotta Vincent A. , Heo Hye-Young , Dlouhy Brian J. , Dahdaleh Nader S. , Follmer Robin L. , Thedens Daniel R. , Welsh Michael J. , Wemmie John A.
Published: May 2012

Localized pH changes have been suggested to occur in the brain during normal function. However, the existence of such pH changes has also been questioned. Lack of methods for noninvasively measuring pH with high spatial and temporal resolution has limited insight into this issue. Here we report that a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) strategy, T
1
relaxation in the rotating frame (T
1
ρ), is sufficiently sensitive to detect widespread pH changes in the mouse and human brain evoked by systemically manipulating carbon dioxide or bicarbonate. Moreover, T
1
ρ detected a localized acidosis in the human visual cortex induced by a flashing checkerboard. Lactate measurements and pH-sensitive
31
P spectroscopy at the same site also identified a localized acidosis. Consistent with the established role for pH in blood flow recruitment, T
1
ρ correlated with blood oxygenation level-dependent contrast commonly used in functional MRI. However, T
1
ρ was not directly sensitive to blood oxygen content. These observations indicate that localized pH fluctuations occur in the human brain during normal function. Furthermore, they suggest a unique functional imaging strategy based on pH that is independent of traditional functional MRI contrast mechanisms.
Self‐report measures, facial feedback, and personality differences (BEES) in cooperative vs. noncooperative situations: Contribution of the mimic system to the sense of empathy
Authors: Balconi Michela , Bortolotti Adriana , Crivelli Davide
Published: May 2012

The present study integrated three different measures of emotional empathic behavior in a social context: verbal self‐report measures (empathic response, emotional involvement, emotional significance, and valence), facial mimicry (activity of corrugator and zygomaticus muscles), and personal response to the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES). Participants were presented with different interpersonal scene types (cooperation, noncooperation, conflict, indifference). Firstly, self‐rating on empathy, emotional involvement, and valence varied as a function of interpersonal context. Secondly, corrugator activity increased in response to conflictual and noncooperative situations; zygomatic activity increased in response to cooperative situations. Third, high‐ and low‐BEES subjects showed different empathic behavior: High‐empathic subjects were more responsive to empathy‐related situations than low‐empathic subjects. The convergence and divergence of these multidimensional measures was discussed.
miR-34s keep osteoblasts bone idle
Authors: Short Ben
Published: May 2012

An in vivo study reveals how an miRNA family inhibits osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.
Mitochondrial division ensures the survival of postmitotic neurons by suppressing oxidative damage
Authors: Kageyama Yusuke , Zhang Zhongyan , Roda Ricardo , Fukaya Masahiro , Wakabayashi Junko , Wakabayashi Nobunao , Kensler Thomas W. , Reddy P. Hemachandra , Iijima Miho , Sesaki Hiromi
Published: May 2012

Mitochondria divide and fuse continuously, and the balance between these two processes regulates mitochondrial shape. Alterations in mitochondrial dynamics are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Here we investigate the physiological and cellular functions of mitochondrial division in postmitotic neurons using in vivo and in vitro gene knockout for the mitochondrial division protein Drp1. When mouse Drp1 was deleted in postmitotic Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, mitochondrial tubules elongated due to excess fusion, became large spheres due to oxidative damage, accumulated ubiquitin and mitophagy markers, and lost respiratory function, leading to neurodegeneration. Ubiquitination of mitochondria was independent of the E3 ubiquitin ligase parkin in Purkinje cells lacking Drp1. Treatment with antioxidants rescued mitochondrial swelling and cell death in Drp1KO Purkinje cells. Moreover, hydrogen peroxide converted elongated tubules into large spheres in Drp1KO fibroblasts. Our findings suggest that mitochondrial division serves as a quality control mechanism to suppress oxidative damage and thus promote neuronal survival.
Adult Langerhans cells derive predominantly from embryonic fetal liver monocytes with a minor contribution of yolk sac–derived macrophages
Authors: Hoeffel Guillaume , Wang Yilin , Greter Melanie , See Peter , Teo Pearline , Malleret Benoit , Leboeuf Marylène , Low Donovan , Oller Guillaume , Almeida Francisca , Choy Sharon H.Y. , Grisotto Marcos , Renia Laurent , Conway Simon J. , Stanley E. Richard , Chan Jerry K.Y. , Ng Lai Guan , Samokhvalov Igor M. , Merad Miriam , Ginhoux Florent
Published: May 2012

Langerhans cells (LCs) are the dendritic cells (DCs) of the epidermis, forming one of the first hematopoietic lines of defense against skin pathogens. In contrast to other DCs, LCs arise from hematopoietic precursors that seed the skin before birth. However, the origin of these embryonic precursors remains unclear. Using in vivo lineage tracing, we identify a first wave of yolk sac (YS)–derived primitive myeloid progenitors that seed the skin before the onset of fetal liver hematopoiesis. YS progenitors migrate to the embryo proper, including the prospective skin, where they give rise to LC precursors, and the brain rudiment, where they give rise to microglial cells. However, in contrast to microglia, which remain of YS origin throughout life, YS-derived LC precursors are largely replaced by fetal liver monocytes during late embryogenesis. Consequently, adult LCs derive predominantly from fetal liver monocyte-derived cells with a minor contribution of YS-derived cells. Altogether, we establish that adult LCs have a dual origin, bridging early embryonic and late fetal myeloid development.
First Report of Pepper mottle virus Infecting Tomato in Hawaii
Authors: Melzer M. J. , Sugano J. S. , Cabanas D. , Dey K. K. , Kandouh B. , Mauro D. , Rushanaedy I. , Srivastava S. , Watanabe S. , Borth W. B. , Tripathi S. , Matsumoto T. , Keith L. , Gonsalves D. , Hu J. S.
Published: May 2012

In August 2011, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit from a University of Hawaii field trial displayed mottling symptoms similar to that caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) or other tospoviruses. The foliage from affected plants, however, appeared symptomless. Fruit and leaf tissue from affected plants were negative for TSWV analyzed by double antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA and/or TSWV ImmunoStrips (Agdia, Elkhart, IN) when performed following the manufacturer's instructions. Total RNA from a symptomatic and an asymptomatic plant was isolated using an RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) and reverse transcribed using Invitrogen SuperScript III reverse transcriptase (Life Technologies, Grand Island, NY) and primer 900 (5′- CACTCCCTATTATCCAGG(T)16-3′) following the enzyme manufacturer's instructions. The cDNA was then used as template in a universal potyvirus PCR assay using primers 900 and Sprimer, which amplify sequences encoding the partial inclusion body protein (NIb), coat protein, and 3′ untranslated region of potyviruses (1). A ~1,700-bp product was amplified from the cDNA of the symptomatic plant but not the asymptomatic plant. This product was cloned using pGEM-T Easy (Promega, Madison, WI) and three clones were sequenced at the University of Hawaii's Advanced Studies in Genomics, Proteomics, and Bioinformatics laboratory. The 1,747-bp consensus sequence of the three clones was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. JQ429788) and, following primer sequence trimming, found to be 97% identical to positions 7,934 through 9,640 of Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV; family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus) accessions from Korea (isolate ‘217’ from tomato; EU586126) and California (isolate ‘C’ from pepper; M96425). To determine the incidence of PepMoV in the field trial, all 292 plants representing 14 tomato cultivars were assayed for the virus 17 weeks after planting using a PepMoV-specific DAS-ELISA (Agdia) following the manufacturer's directions. Plants were considered positive if their mean absorbance at 405 nm was greater than the mean absorbance + 3 standard deviations + 10% of the negative control samples. The virus incidence ranged from 4.8 to 47.6% for the different varieties, with an overall incidence of 19.9%. Although plant growth was not noticeably impaired by PepMoV infection, the majority of fruit from infected plants was unsaleable, making PepMoV a considerable threat to tomato production in Hawaii. PepMoV has been reported to naturally infect tomato in Guatemala (3) and South Korea (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of this virus in Hawaii and the first report of this virus naturally infecting tomato in the United States.

References: (1) J. Chen et al. Arch. Virol. 146:757, 2001. (2) M.-K. Kim et al. Plant Pathol. J. 24:152, 2008. (3) J. Th. J. Verhoeven et al. Plant Dis. 86:186, 2002.
First Report of Leaf Blight of Basella alba Caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG 1-IB in India
Authors: Baiswar P. , Chandra S. , Kumar R. , Ngachan S. V.
Published: May 2012

Thick succulent leaves of Malabar spinach (Basella alba L.) are used for human consumption in India. Symptoms of leaf blight were observed on this plant in October 2010 at Umiam, Meghalaya, India. Symptoms started from the lower leaves and spread to the upper part. Water-soaked lesions covered the whole leaf and gradually the leaves shredded and got detached from the plants. Whole plants were seen defoliated due to severe infection. Lesions were visible on the stem also. The pathogen was isolated on potato dextrose agar amended with streptomycin (100 ppm). Fungus isolated from infected plants had typical characters associated with Rhizoctonia solani J. G. Kühn [teleomorph Thanatephorus cucumeris (A.B. Frank) Donk], i.e., hyphal ramification angles of ~90°, basal constriction, and a septum next to the lateral hyphae (2). Nuclear staining with DAPI (2-(4-amidinophenyl)-1H-indole-6-carboxamidine) confirmed that hyphal cells were multinucleate (1). Molecular analysis was conducted using sequence data (JQ675535) containing ITS1 and 5.8S and ITS 2 of nrDNA, which was obtained after amplification using universal primers ITS1 and 4. BLAST search revealed 99 to 100% similarity with AG 1-IB (GU585667, GU270581). Living culture has been deposited in Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, India (NFCCI No. 2601). Phylogenetic analysis was also conducted using MEGA 5. It also placed the isolate in AG 1-IB clade with 99% bootstrap support in MP (maximum parsimony) analysis. Three healthy plants were inoculated using colonized PDA bits from actively growing culture. Sterilized PDA bits were kept on control plants. Plants were sprayed with water and covered with cheesecloth for 3 days. Inoculated plants developed symptoms after 5 days whereas control plants remained healthy. Inoculations were also done on detached leaves kept in a moisture chamber using colonized PDA bits. In this case, symptoms developed within 3 days. Detached leaves with sterilized PDA bits remained healthy. R. solani was also reisolated from inoculated plants. To our knowledge, this is the first record of AG 1-IB based on molecular evidence on B. alba from India. This new host may accelerate the spread of this pathogen to other crops.

References: (1) M. M. Kulik and P. D. Dery. Biotech. Histochem. 70:95, 1995. (2) B. Sneh et al. Identification of Rhizoctonia species. APS Press, St Paul, MN, 1991.
First Report of Pestalotiopsis clavispora Causing Dieback on Blueberry in Uruguay
Authors: González P. , Alaniz S. , Montelongo M. J. , Rauduviniche L. , Rebellato J. , Silvera-Pérez E. , Mondino P.
Published: May 2012

During the last 10 years, blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) production in Uruguay has increased to more than 850 ha. From 2005, symptoms of dieback characterized by the death of twigs and branches have been frequently observed in blueberry plants cv. O'Neal in orchards located in Uruguay. Symptomatic 4-year-old plants (cv. O'Neal) were collected and small pieces of necrotic tissues were surface disinfected and plated onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) with 0.2 g liter–1 of streptomycin sulfate. Plates were incubated at 25°C in the dark. All affected tissues consistently developed colonies with white and cottony mycelium, turning slightly yellow after 7 to 10 days. Black acervuli distributed in concentric circles were observed after 10 days. Conidia were fusiform, straight, and had five cells. Basal and apical cells were colorless while the three median cells were dark brown. Conidia (n = 50) had an average of 22.1 (16.5 to 28.2) × 6.6 (5.6 to 7.7) μm. All conidia had one basal appendage of 6.1 (3.9 to 14.3) μm and two to four (usually three) apical appendages of 22.8 (17.4 to 42.9) μm. According to colony and conidia morphology, the isolates were initially identified as Pestalotiopsis clavispora (G.F. Atk.) Steyaert (1). To identify, the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) region of rDNA of a representative isolate (Ara-1) was amplified with ITS1/ITS4 primers (4), sequenced, and compared with those deposited in GenBank. The isolate Ara-1 (Accession No. JQ008944) had 100% sequence identity with P. clavispora (Accession Nos. FJ517545 and EU342214). To confirm pathogenicity, isolate Ara-1 was inoculated onto asymptomatic 1-year-old blueberry plants (cv. O'Neal). Mycelial plugs (4 mm in diameter) from an actively growing colony on PDA were applied to same-size bark wounds made with a cork borer in the center of the stems previously disinfected with 70% ethanol and covered with Parafilm. Control plants were inoculated with sterile PDA plugs. Inoculated plants (five per treatment) were randomly distributed in a greenhouse and watered as needed. After 2 weeks, all stems inoculated with P. clavispora showed brown necrotic lesions 2 to 3 cm in length and 1 to 2 mm deep. White mycelium was observed over lesions. Control plants remained symptomless. The pathogen was reisolated from all necrotic lesions, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. P. clavispora has been reported as associated with blueberry in Hawaii (3) and Chile (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. clavispora causing dieback disease on blueberry in Uruguay.

References: (1) E. F. Guba, Monograph of Pestalotia and Monocheatia. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1961. (2) J. G. Espinoza et al. Plant Dis. 92:1407, 2008. (3) L. M. Keith et al. Plant Dis. 90:16, 2006. (4) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, San Diego, 1990.
A Universal Microarray Detection Method for Identification of MultiplePhytophthoraspp. Using Padlock Probes
Authors: Sikora Katarzyna , Verstappen Els , Mendes Odette , Schoen Cor , Ristaino Jean , Bonants Peter
Published: May 2012

The genus Phytophthora consists of many species that cause important diseases in ornamental, agronomic, and forest ecosystems worldwide. Molecular methods have been developed for detection and identification of one or several species of Phytophthora in single or multiplex reactions. In this article, we describe a padlock probe (PLP)-based multiplex method of detection and identification for many Phytophthora spp. simultaneously. A generic TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assay, which detects all known Phytophthora spp., is conducted first, followed by a species-specific PLP ligation. A 96-well-based microarray platform with colorimetric readout is used to detect and identify the different Phytophthora spp. PLPs are long oligonucleotides containing target complementary sequence regions at both their 5′ and 3′ ends which can be ligated on the target into a circular molecule. The ligation is point mutation specific; therefore, closely related sequences can be differentiated. This circular molecule can then be detected on a microarray. We developed 23 PLPs to economically important Phytophthora spp. based upon internal transcribed spacer-1 sequence differences between individual Phytophthora spp. Tests on genomic DNA of many Phytophthora isolates and DNA from environmental samples showed the specificity and utility of PLPs for Phytophthora diagnostics.
Distinct Cell-Specific Expression of Homospermidine Synthase Involved in Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Biosynthesis in Three Species of the Boraginales
Authors: Niemüller Daniel , Reimann Andreas , Ober Dietrich
Published: May 2012

Homospermidine synthase (HSS) is the first specific enzyme in pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) biosynthesis, a pathway involved in the plant’s chemical defense. HSS has been shown to be recruited repeatedly by duplication of a gene involved in primary metabolism. Within the lineage of the Boraginales, only one gene duplication event gave rise to HSS. Here, we demonstrate that the tissue-specific expression of HSS in three boraginaceous species, Heliotropium indicum, Symphytum officinale, and Cynoglossum officinale, is unique with respect to plant organ, tissue, and cell type. Within H. indicum, HSS is expressed exclusively in nonspecialized cells of the lower epidermis of young leaves and shoots. In S. officinale, HSS expression has been detected in the cells of the root endodermis and in leaves directly underneath developing inflorescences. In young roots of C. officinale, HSS is detected only in cells of the endodermis, but in a later developmental stage, additionally in the pericycle. The individual expression patterns are compared with those within the Senecioneae lineage (Asteraceae), where HSS expression is reproducibly found in specific cells of the endodermis and the adjacent cortex parenchyma of the roots. The individual expression patterns within the Boraginales species are discussed as being a requirement for the successful recruitment of HSS after gene duplication. The diversity of HSS expression within this lineage adds a further facet to the already diverse patterns of expression that have been observed for HSS in other PA-producing plant lineages, making this PA-specific enzyme one of the most diverse expressed proteins described in the literature.
Thomas Trotter's ‘Essay on Drunkenness’ appraised
Authors: Edwards Griffith
Published: May 2012

Background In 1804 Thomas Trotter, a recently retired Physician to the Fleet, published his ‘Essay on Drunkenness’. This was the first ever book‐length consideration of the phenomenon of alcohol dependence and its treatment.

Aims The aim of this paper is to explore the impact of that treatise on the evolution of relevant ideas over the years that have followed.

Methods A factual analysis of the content of the Essay is the starting‐point, followed by an examination of sequential published appraisals on the significance, or lack of significance, of this work.

Findings and Conclusions To the modern reader, Trotter is likely to be seen as prescient, with his assertion that ‘the habit of drunkenness is a disease of the mind’, setting the scene for two centuries of debate. The literature, however, seems to suggest that Trotter did not, in fact, achieve much impact either on professional opinion or on the emergent temperance movement. It was Benjamin Rush's 1785 pamphlet on ‘Ardent Spirits’ which achieved iconic status. Rush and Trotter, although in some ways overlapping in their ideas, differed in other respects.
Fish oil supplementation in early infancy modulates developing infant immune responses
Authors: D'Vaz N. , Meldrum S. J. , Dunstan J. A. , Lee‐Pullen T. F. , Metcalfe J. , Holt B. J. , Serralha M. , Tulic M. K. , Mori T. A. , Prescott S. L.
Published: May 2012

Background

Maternal fish oil supplementation during pregnancy has been associated with altered infant immune responses and a reduced risk of infant sensitization and eczema.

Objective

To examine the effect of early postnatal fish oil supplementation on infant cellular immune function at 6 months of age in the context of allergic disease.

Methods

In a double‐blind randomized controlled trial (ACTRN12606000281594), 420 infants of high atopic risk received fish oil [containing 280 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and 110 mg eicosapentanoic acid (EPA)] or control oil daily from birth to 6 months. One hundred and twenty infants had blood collected at 6 months of age. Fatty acid levels, induced cytokine responses, T cell subsets and monocyte HLA‐DR expression were assessed at 6 months of age. Infant allergies were assessed at 6 and 12 months of age.

Results

DHA and EPA levels were significantly higher in the fish oil group and erythrocyte arachidonic acid (AA) levels were lower (all P < 0.05). Infants in the fish oil group had significantly lower IL‐13 responses (P = 0.036) to house dust mite (HDM) and higher IFNγ (P = 0.035) and TNF (P = 0.017) responses to phytohaemaglutinin (PHA). Infants with relatively high DHA levels had lower Th2 responses to allergens including lower IL‐13 to β‐lactoglobulin (BLG) (P = 0.020), and lower IL‐5 to BLG (P = 0.045).

Conclusions and clinical relevance

Postnatal fish oil supplementation increased infant n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels and associated with lowered allergen‐specific Th2 responses and elevated polyclonal Th1 responses. Our results add to existing evidence of n‐3 PUFA having immunomodulatory properties that are potentially allergy‐protective.
Cyclin‐dependent kinase‐dependent phosphorylation of Lif1 and Sae2 controls imprecise nonhomologous end joining accompanied by double‐strand break resection
Authors: Matsuzaki Kenichiro , Terasawa Masahiro , Iwasaki Daichi , Higashide Mika , Shinohara Miki
Published: May 2012

DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) are repaired by two distinct pathways, homologous recombination (HR) and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). NHEJ includes two pathways, that is, precise and imprecise end joining. We found that Lif1, a component of the DNA ligase IV complex in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was phosphorylated by cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) at Ser261 during the S to G2 phase but not during G1 phase. This phosphorylation was required for efficient NHEJ in G2/M cells, rather than in G1 cells. It also promotes the stable binding of Lif1 protein to DSBs, specifically in G2/M‐arrested cells, which shows the resection of DSB ends. Thus, Lif1 phosphorylation plays a critical role in a certain type of imprecise NHEJ accompanied by DSB end resection and micro‐homology. Lif1 phosphorylation at Ser261 is probably involved in micro‐homology‐dependent end joining associated with producing single‐stranded DSB ends that are formed by Sae2 as early intermediates in the HR pathway. CDK‐dependent modification of the NHEJ pathway might make DSB ends compatible for NHEJ and thus prevent competition between HR and NHEJ in hierarchy on the choice of DSB repair pathways.
Cohesin controls planar cell polarity by regulating the level of the seven‐pass transmembrane cadherin Flamingo
Authors: Mouri Kousuke , Horiuchi Shin‐ya , Uemura Tadashi
Published: May 2012

Planar cell polarity (PCP) refers to the coordination of global organ axes and individual cell polarity in vertebrate and invertebrate epithelia. Mechanisms of PCP have been best studied in the Drosophila wing, in which each epidermal cell produces a single wing hair at the distal cell edge, and this spatial specification is mediated by redistribution of the core group proteins, including the seven‐pass transmembrane cadherin Flamingo/Starry night (Fmi/Stan), to selective plasma membrane domains. Through genetic screening, we found that a mutation of the SMC3 gene caused dramatic misspecification of wing hair positions. SMC3 protein is one subunit of the cohesin complex, which regulates sister chromatid cohesion and also plays a role in transcriptional control of gene expression. In the SMC3 mutant cells, Fmi appeared to be upregulated by a posttranscriptional mechanism(s), and this elevation of Fmi was at least one cause of the PCP defect. In addition to the PCP phenotype, the loss of the cohesin function affected wing morphogenesis at multiple levels: one malformation was loss of the wing margin, and this was most likely a result of downregulation of the homeodomain protein Cut. At the cellular level, apical cell size and hexagonal packing were affected in the mutant wing. Dysfunction of cohesin in humans results in Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS), which is characterized by various developmental abnormalities and mental retardation. Our analysis of cohesin in epithelia may provide new insight into cellular and molecular mechanisms of CdLS.
The UK Haemophilia Doctors Organisation triennial audit of UK Comprehensive Care Haemophilia Centres
Authors: WILDE J. T.
Published: May 2012

Summary.  Under the auspices of the United Kingdom Haemophilia Doctors Organisation (UKHCDO) the UK Comprehensive Care Haemophilia Centres (CCCs) have undergone a three yearly formal audit assessment since 1993. This report describes the evolution of the audit process and details the findings of the most recent audit round, the sixth since inception. The audit reports from the 2009 audit round were reviewed by the audit organizing group and a structured analysis of the data was compiled. CCCs in the UK offer a high standard of comprehensive care services. The main areas of concern were the state of the premises (seven centres), lack of dental services (seven centres), physiotherapy (seven centres) and social work support (11 centres). Major concerns were identified at eight centres requiring a formal letter from the chairman of UKHCDO to the chief executive of the host trust. Since inception of the triennial audit process centre report recommendations have resulted in major improvements in the services available at UK CCCs. The audit process is considered to be a highly effective means of improving the quality of care for patients with bleeding disorders and can be used as a model for the introduction of a similar process in other countries.
Impact of several variables on the microwave extraction of Chenopodium Quinoa willd saponins
Authors: Gianna Vicente , Montes Juan Manuel , Calandri Edgardo Luis , Guzmán Carlos Alberto
Published: May 2012

Despite their possible applications in diverse fields, saponins are still considered to be industrial waste. The use of saponins, however, would make seed processing more profitable and reduce the pollution of watercourses. In this work, the microwave extraction method of Chenopodium quinoa Willd saponins was investigated. The effects of variables such as temperature, time of microwave application, solvent composition and solvent/mass seed ratio were investigated. Solvent mixtures (ethanol–water and isopropanol–water) were used for the extraction. The Taguchi design methodology was employed to determine the number of experiments and the optimal conditions for different extractions. The efficiency of each assay was determined and the results agreed with the best conditions provided by the Taguchi experimental design for both solvent mixtures. The isopropanol–water mixture efficiency was 91.8% in one extraction step, and for ethanol–water mixture, it was 57.1%, clearly showing the advantage of the first one.
The role of coping strategies in predicting change in parenting efficacy and depressive symptoms among mothers of adolescents with developmental disabilities
Authors: Woodman A. C. , Hauser‐Cram P.
Published: May 2012

Background  Parents of children with developmental disabilities (DD) face greater caregiving demands than parents of children without DD. There is considerable variability in parents' adjustment to raising a child with DD, however. In line with a strengths‐based approach, this study explores coping strategies as potential mechanisms of resilience among mothers of adolescents with DD. This study examines the frequency with which mothers use various coping strategies and the extent to which those strategies moderate the relationship between adolescent behaviour problems and aspects of maternal well‐being. Both positive and negative dimensions of well‐being are explored, with maternal depressive symptoms and perceived parenting efficacy examined as outcomes cross‐sectionally and longitudinally.

Methods  The present study focuses on 92 mothers and their adolescents with DD. The adolescents had a wide range of diagnoses, all with continuing special needs. Data were collected from mothers through interviews and self‐administered questionnaires when their adolescents were aged 15 and aged 18. A structured assessment of the adolescent was completed during home visits at age 15.

Results  Mothers reported frequently using strategies of denial and planning but rarely using strategies of mental and behavioural disengagement to cope with recent stressful situations. Adolescent behaviour problems were found to contribute to greater symptoms of depression and lower feelings of parenting efficacy as well as increases in depressive symptoms over time. Mothers of sons, but not daughters, reported increases in parenting efficacy across their child's adolescent period. Above and beyond adolescent factors, several coping strategies emerged as significant predictors of mothers' symptoms of depression and perceived parenting efficacy. Moreover, use of Active Coping/Planning, Positive Reinterpretation/Growth, and Behavioural/Mental Disengagement as coping strategies moderated the impact of adolescent behaviour problems on maternal depressive symptoms.

Conclusions  This study extends previous findings by focusing on both positive and negative dimensions of parent well‐being during their child's adolescent period. Adolescence can be a stressful time for parents, with typical developmental tasks entailing additional strains for parents of adolescents with DD. The present findings point to several coping strategies that may reduce the impact of challenging behaviours during this period on mothers' symptoms of depression and feelings of parenting efficacy. Certain coping strategies were found to exert a greater impact on maternal well‐being for parents of adolescents with higher levels of behaviour problems, suggesting that interventions may benefit from an increased focus on this group of mothers with heightened caregiving demands.
Role of pectin methylesterases in cellular calcium distribution and blossom‐end rot development in tomato fruit
Authors: de Freitas Sergio T. , Handa Avtar K. , Wu Qingyu , Park Sunghun , Mitcham Elizabeth J.
Published: May 2012

Blossom‐end rot (BER) in tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum) is believed to be a calcium (Ca2+) deficiency disorder, but the mechanisms involved in its development are poorly understood. Our hypothesis is that high expression of pectin methylesterases (PMEs) increases Ca2+ bound to the cell wall, subsequently decreasing Ca2+ available for other cellular functions and thereby increasing fruit susceptibility to BER. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of PME expression, and amount of esterified pectins and Ca2+ bound to the cell wall on BER development in tomato fruit. Wild‐type and PME‐silenced tomato plants were grown in a greenhouse. At full bloom, flowers were pollinated and Ca2+ was no longer provided to the plants to induce BER. Our results show that suppressing expression of PMEs in tomato fruit reduced the amount of Ca2+ bound to the cell wall, and also reduced fruit susceptibility to BER. Both the wild‐type and PME‐silenced fruit had similar total tissue, cytosolic and vacuolar Ca2+ concentrations, but wild‐type fruit had lower water‐soluble apoplastic Ca2+ content and higher membrane leakage, one of the first symptoms of BER. Our results suggest that apoplastic water‐soluble Ca2+ concentration influences fruit susceptibility to Ca2+ deficiency disorders.
The fragile X‐associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) in Indonesia
Authors: Winarni T I , Mundhofir F E P , Ediati A , Belladona M , Nillesen W M , Yntema H G , Hamel B C J , Faradz S M H , Hagerman R J
Published: May 2012

Fragile X‐associated disorders caused by the premutation of the FMR1 gene, includes the fragile X‐associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). FXTAS affects more than 40% of premutation males over the age of 50 and 75% over the age of 80. FMR1 molecular analysis was done using PCR and confirmed by Southern Blot. Three premutation males were diagnosed FXTAS using quantification based on the standard neurological examination. Cognitive impairment was assessed using Raven and WAIS‐R test. MRI was done to identify the middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) sign, white matter disease and/or cerebral atrophy. Three cases of FXTAS are identified, of five individuals older than 50 years in one family tree two met criteria for definite FXTAS and the third with sub‐clinical symptoms, although cognitive and radiological criteria are met. These cases are the first identified FXTAS cases in rural Indonesia. In addition with lack of routine medical follow‐up, complications of FXTAS, such as hypertension may go unrecognized and untreated, which may further exacerbate the central nervous system (CNS) findings of FXTAS.