bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The expression of a germin‐like protein with superoxide dismutase activity in the halophyte Atriplex lentiformis is differentially regulated by wounding and abscisic acid
Authors: Tabuchi Tomoki , Kumon Takao , Azuma Tetsushi , Nanmori Takashi , Yasuda Takeshi
Published: July 2003

The cDNA clone encoding a putative germin‐like protein (GLP) was isolated from the halophyte Atriplex lentiformis (Torr.) Wats. The deduced amino acid sequence of the protein showed high homology to those of various plant germins or germin‐like proteins. The protein was designated as AlGLP (A. lentiformis germin‐like protein). It was found that AlGLP has superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) activity by in‐gel SOD assays after immunoprecipitation, and that it is a glycosylated oligomer in native form. The AlGLP was strongly expressed in calli and weakly in roots, but not in stems or leaves. Interestingly, the transcript level in roots was decreased by salt or abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. We present evidence that the accumulation level of AlGLP mRNA in leaves is increased by methyl jasmonate treatment or wounding, and that the induction is suppressed by ABA treatment. These results suggest that AlGLP expression is increased to fulfil H2O2 supply to modify the structure of cell wall in response to wounding.
Functional genomics of phosphate antiport systems of plastids
Authors: Flügge Ulf‐Ingo , Häusler Rainer E. , Ludewig Frank , Fischer Karsten
Published: July 2003

Plant cells require a co‐ordination of metabolism between their major compartments, the plastids and the cytosol, in particular as certain metabolic pathways are confined to either compartments. The inner envelope membrane of the plastids forms the major barrier for metabolite exchange and is the site for numerous transport proteins, which selectively catalyse metabolite exchanges characteristic for green and/or non‐green tissues. This report is focused on the molecular biology, evolution and physiological function of the family of phosphate translocators (PT) from plastids. Until now, four distinct subfamilies have been identified and characterized, which all share inorganic phosphate as common substrate, but have different spectra of counter exchange substrates to fulfil the metabolic needs of individual cells and tissues. The PTs are named after their main transported substrate, triose phosphate (TPT), phosphoenolpyruvate (PPT), glucose 6‐phosphate (GPT) and xylulose 5‐P (XPT). All PTs belong to the TPT/nucleotide sugar transporter (NST) superfamily, which includes yet uncharacterized PT homologues from plants and other eukaryotes. Transgenic plants or mutants with altered transport activity of some of the PTs have been generated or isolated. The analysis of these plant lines revealed new insights in the co‐ordination and flexibility of plant metabolism.
Purification and characterization of a subtilisin‐like serine protease induced during the senescence of wheat leaves
Authors: Roberts Irma N. , Murray Pedro Fernández , Caputo Carla P. , Passeron Susana , Barneix Atilio J.
Published: July 2003

A senescence‐specific protease accounting for almost 70% of the total peptide hydrolytic activity of protein extracts, was isolated from detached wheat leaves induced to senescence by incubation in the dark for 72 h. Purification to apparent homogeneity was performed by ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The enzymatic activity was followed by its ability to hydrolyse the synthetic peptide Suc‐AAPF‐pNA. SDS/PAGE and gel filtration analysis indicated that the enzyme was a dimer composed of two identical subunits of 59 kDa. The apparent Km and Vmax for the peptide were 1.18 mm and 2.27 mmol pNA mg−1 h−1, respectively. The enzyme was active at pH values above 8.0 and remained active after heat treatment at 60°C for 10 min. It was inhibited by chymostatin, indicating that the enzyme possesses a chymotrypsin‐like activity. Rubisco was readily hydrolysed by the purified protease. A sequenced internal fragment of 17 amino acids showed a high level of similarity (65–75% identity) with a highly conserved region of several plant subtilisin‐like serine proteases. The absence of this enzymatic activity in fractionated extracts from non‐senescent tissues suggests that it might play a role in the senescing process.
Robotized time‐lapse imaging to assess in‐planta uptake of phenylurea herbicides and their microbial degradation
Authors: Chaerle Laury , Hulsen Kris , Hermans Christian , Strasser Reto J. , Valcke Roland , Höfte Monica , Van Der Straeten Dominique
Published: July 2003

Two key physiological parameters of plant leaves, photosynthesis and transpiration, can be continuously monitored by, respectively, chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging and thermography. These non‐contact techniques immediately visualize any local stress or treatment affecting either photosynthetic efficiency or water status. Photosystem II‐inhibiting herbicides, including the phenylurea derivatives diuron and linuron, cause a marked increase in chlorophyll a fluorescence several days before appearance of chlorosis. Here, bioprotection through microbial degradation of linuron in the feeding solution of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was monitored by the absence of an increase in chlorophyll a fluorescence in primary leaves. The different treatments and repeats were imaged sequentially at 2 h intervals using a robotized system with thermal, fluorescence and video cameras. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging visualized the effect of linuron transported by the transpiration stream earlier than thermography. In addition, local effects and transport after topical application of diuron were recorded presymptomatically in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Thermal imaging clearly monitored localized stomatal closure, coinciding with the first increase in chlorophyll fluorescence, at the sites of diuron treatment. In conclusion, the robotized chlorophyll a fluorescence set‐up permits fully reliable, early high‐contrast visualization for bioremediation purposes.
Disease stress‐inducible genes of tobacco: expression profile of elicitor‐responsive genes isolated by subtractive hybridization
Authors: Takemoto Daigo , Yoshioka Hirofumi , Doke Noriyuki , Kawakita Kazuhito
Published: July 2003

In order to investigate the change in mRNA profile during tobacco disease response, a subtractive hybridization procedure was used to generate a cDNA library for genes induced in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun NN) treated with oomycete elicitor. Database searches with the randomly isolated genes revealed that this cDNA library was enriched for reported disease stress‐responsive genes such as pathogenesis‐related proteins and cell wall protein genes. The expressions of eight newly isolated genes were induced by inoculation with the non‐pathogenic bacteria, Pseudomonas syringae pv. glycinea. The NtEIGs (N.tabacumelicitor‐inducible genes) showed similarity to genes for stellacyanin‐like protein (NtEIG‐A1), glutathione peroxidase (NtEIG‐C08), extensin‐like protein (NtEIG‐C29), WRKY transcription factor (NtEIG‐D48), glycine rich protein (NtEIG‐E17), β‐1, 3‐glucanase‐like protein (NtEIG‐E76), photoassimilate‐responsive protein‐1 (NtEIG‐E80) and wound‐induced protein (NtEIG‐D10). The expression patterns of NtEIGs in tobacco leaf in response to P. syringae pv. glycinea, salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and wound stress were analysed. The individual expression patterns of NtEIGs indicate that the transcriptional activation of NtEIGs is regulated by various signals and the products of NtEIGs are involved in different processes at different stages of the plant defence responses.
Epidermal transpiration, ultrastructural characteristics and net photosynthesis of white spruce somatic seedlings in response to in vitro acclimatization
Authors: Lamhamedi Mohammed S. , Chamberland Hélène , Tremblay Francine M.
Published: July 2003

Mortality of transplanted somatic seedlings at the stage of acclimatization is often high and likely due to rapid change in environmental conditions. To investigate the potential of in vitro acclimatization of somatic seedlings before soil transfer, somatic seedlings of white spruce (Picea glauca[Moench] Voss) were germinated on a liquid medium supplemented with sucrose. After 6 weeks in germination, sucrose was omitted from the medium for a supplementary 6 weeks at which time somatic seedlings were acclimatized in vitro in their germination tubes before transfer to soil. In vitro acclimatization of somatic seedlings was realized by transferring the test tubes containing the germinated somatic seedlings to the greenhouse for 9 days. During this period, the culture tube lids of acclimatized somatic seedlings were lifted progressively increasing air exchange between the tube and the greenhouse whereas, for non‐acclimatized somatic seedlings the culture tubes were maintained closed during in vitro acclimatization. In vitro acclimatized somatic seedlings had higher asymptotic net photosynthesis (Pn) at light saturation than non‐acclimatized seedlings (6 versus 4.5 µmol m−2 s−1). At the end of the in vitro acclimatization period, a lower rate of epidermal transpiration was also observed for acclimatized somatic seedlings (3.85 versus 4.75% h−1). Microscopic observations showed that starch granules were more abundant in needles of acclimatized somatic seedlings than in non‐acclimatized somatic seedlings, probably as a result of their greater photosynthetic capacity. Needles from acclimatized somatic seedlings also showed more epicuticular wax projections than needles from non‐acclimatized somatic seedlings. These structural changes may help somatic seedlings to restrict epidermal water loss and stomatal aperture.
Pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotide metabolism during maturation and germination of white spruce (Picea glauca) somatic embryos: metabolic fate of C‐labelled cytidine, deoxycytidine and thymidine
Authors: Stasolla Claudio , Loukanina Natalia , Ashihara Hiroshi , Yeung Edward C. , Thorpe Trevor A.
Published: July 2003

Pyrimidine deoxyribonucleotide metabolism was investigated during maturation and germination of white spruce somatic embryos by following the metabolic fate of [2‐14C]cytidine, [2‐14C]deoxycytidine and [2‐14C]thymidine. The de‐novo pathway of deoxyribonucleotides was estimated indirectly, by the ability of the tissue to incorporate cytidine into DNA after conversion to dCTP. The salvage pathway was estimated by the utilization of labelled cytidine, deoxycytidine and thymidine for synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides and nucleic acids. Utilization of cytidine for DNA synthesis, via the de novo pathway, was always lower than that observed for RNA throughout the course of the experiment. Incorporation of cytidine into RNA was found to occur either directly, after conversion to CTP, mediated by the enzymes cytidine kinase, nucleoside monophosphate kinase and nucleoside diphosphate kinase, or indirectly, after conversion to UTP via uridine and UMP. Active incorporation of uridine into RNA of white spruce‐cultured cells was demonstrated previously. Salvage of deoxycytidine and thymidine was operative in maturing and germinating white spruce somatic embryos, as label from both compounds was recovered in nucleotides and DNA. However, the utilization of these precursors by the cells was different. Salvage of deoxycytidine was always higher than that observed for thymidine, which was extensively catabolized to CO2 at all stages of embryo development.
Granular lymphocyte proliferative disorder after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
Authors: Kawakubo K. , Endo T. , Koizumi K. , Nishio M. , Fujimoto K. , Sakai T. , Sawada K. , Koike T.
Published: July 2003

Abstract: A 57‐yr‐old woman with multiple myeloma underwent tandem autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). Fever, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, followed by the proliferation of granular lymphocytes in the peripheral blood occurred, after a second APBSCT. Clonal rearrangement of the T‐cell receptor was detected using Southern blot analysis of peripheral blood samples. Granular lymphocyte proliferative disorders (GLPD) were diagnosed. After steroid therapy, the symptoms resolved. Lymphocytosis did not recur after the discontinuation of steroids. There have been a few reports of GLPD after solid organ and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantations. We report a first case of GLPD after APBSCT.
Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Authors: Lee Jae‐Lyun , Lee Je‐Hwan , Lee Jung‐Hee , Choi Seong‐Jun , Kim Shin , Seol Miee , Lee Young‐Shin , Chi Hyun‐Sook , Park Chan‐Jeoung , Kim Woo‐Kun , Lee Jung‐Shin , Lee Kyoo‐Hyung
Published: July 2003

Background: Although allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has a potential to cure patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), appropriate indication and conditioning regimen for HCT have not been established.

Patients and Methods: Between July 1999 and December 2001, five patients with PNH underwent allogeneic HCT: three for refractory hemolysis and two for aggravating cytopenia. Four patients with hypercellular marrow received Bu‐Fludara‐ATG (busulfan 4 mg/kg/d for 2 d, fludarabine 30 mg/m2/d for 6 d, and ATG 20 mg/kg/d for 4 d) for conditioning therapy and one patient with hypocellular marrow was conditioned with Cy‐ATG (cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg/d for 4 d and ATG 30 mg/kg/d for 3 d). Three patients received stem cell graft from matched sibling donor and two patients from 1‐antigen mismatched unrelated donor.

Results: One patient who was conditioned with Bu‐Fludara‐ATG failed to engraft and died at post‐transplant day 62. The other four patients showed three lineage engraftment and normal expression of CD55 and CD59 antigens by flow cytometric analysis. They are alive with stable engraftment and full donor chimerism between post‐transplant day 510 and 1116. Acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD) of grade II or more occurred in two patients and extensive chronic GVHD in four.

Conclusion: HCT using related or unrelated donor could eradicate PNH clones and may cure patients with the disease. Further studies are needed to establish the role of allogeneic HCT, especially with reduced intensity conditioning therapy, in the treatment of PNH.
Aplastic anaemia associated with a Philadelphia chromosome and monosomy 7 during immunosuppressive therapy
Authors: Satoh Atsushi , Miwa Hiroshi , Daimaru Osami , Imai Norikazu , Hiramatsu Akihito , Yamamoto Hidesuke , Shikami Masato , Imamura Akira , Mihara Hidetsugu , Nitta Masakazu
Published: July 2003

Abstract: We describe a patient who presented with aplastic anaemia associated with the Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome during immunosuppressive therapy and who subsequently developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with monosomy 7. Initially the patient had hypocellular fatty marrow without leukaemic blasts or dysplastic features. Chromosome analysis showed 46, XY, t(9;22)(q34;q11) during immunosuppressive therapy, but no leukaemic transformation was detected. The patient showed gradual haematologic improvement and became transfusion independent. Thereafter, bone marrow dysplasia with monosomy 7 progressed following transfusion independence. These findings indicate that multiple cytogenetic evolutions occur in aplastic anaemia during immunosuppressive therapy, and that Ph1 chromosome may play a role in bone marrow suppression rather than development of leukaemia.
Expression levels of hsc70 and hsp60 are developmentally regulated during B‐cell maturation and not associated to childhood c‐ALL at presentation or relapse
Authors: Wehner Peder Skov , Nielsen Bendt , Hokland Marianne
Published: July 2003

Abstract: Heat shock proteins are potent regulators of apoptosis, and so they may also be involved in normal cellular differentiation and cancerogenesis. We used quantitative two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis for determining whether either the constitutive chaperonic heat shock cognate protein 70 (hsc70) or heat shock protein 60 (hsp60) contribute to B‐cell differentiation and leukemogenesis. We compared the expression of these hsps in normal peripheral blood (PB) CD19+ B‐cells, in pediatric bone marrow (BM) CD19+ CD10+ B‐cell precursors (BCPs) from normal donors, and in BCPs from common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (c‐ALL) patients at diagnosis and at relapse.

We found that the mean levels of hsc70 in c‐ALL BCPs at initial presentation and at relapse failed to differ significantly. Likewise, they failed to differ significantly from the level in high‐expressing normal BM BCPs or from that in low‐expressing PB B‐cells. Mean levels of hsp60 expression in c‐ALL BCPs at initial presentation and at relapse were similar and not distinguishable from that in normal BM BCPs, however, elevated (by a factor of 2–3) compared with that in PB B‐cells. Hsc70 and Hsp60 expressions were increased (by a factor of 2 of mean levels) in populations of normal BM BCPs as compared with populations of PB B‐cells.

Thus, no abnormal levels of hsc70 and hsp60 were detectable in populations of pediatric c‐ALL BCPs neither at diagnosis nor at relapse. In contrast, our data were in support of developmentally regulated levels of hsc70 and hsp60 expression during B‐cell ontogenesis.
The effect of brood size and age on partial filial cannibalism in the scissortail sergeant
Authors: Manica A.
Published: July 2003

Within the size range found in the field for the scissortail sergeantAbudefduf sexfasciatus, there was no correlation between the number of cannibalized eggs and total brood size. Very small broods were fully cannibalized. In a manipulation experiment, males were provided with broods of one of three standardized sizes: at the two extremes and in the middle of the range of naturally occurring broods. Brood size had no effect on partial filial cannibalism, but parental effort increased with increasing brood size. Field correlates and the manipulation experiment showed that the cost of cannibalism in terms of current reproductive success decreased significantly with increasing brood size. Contrary to expectations, there was no relationship between male size and the incidence of cannibalism. No preference for younger eggs was found either from field correlates or from a manipulative experiment in which males were provided with an equal number of young and old eggs at the beginning of the parental phase.
Reproductive biology and recruitment of the white sea bream in the Azores
Authors: Morato T. , Afonso P. , Lourinho P. , Nash R. D. M. , Santos R. S.
Published: July 2003

The life history of the white sea bream Diplodus sargus in the Azores showed a pattern consistent with digynic hermaphroditism achieving sexual maturity during the second year of life, at 16·7 cm LT. Spawning occurred from March to June at temperatures between 15 and 17° C and the onset and duration of spawning season in the sea bream appeared to be influenced by sea water temperatures. As latitude decreased, both in the northern and southern hemispheres, the spawning season of D. sargus populations started earlier and extended longer, highlighting the potential importance of temperature to the onset and duration of reproduction in this species. Settlement took place from late May to July, and settlers remained in the nursery area for c. 2·5 months. Emigration from the nursery area to join shoals of juveniles occurred from late July to September.
Relative potency of the forms of GnRH and their analogs on LH release in sea bass
Authors: Forniés M. A. , Carrillo M. , Mañanós E. , Sorbera L. A. , Zohar Y. , Zanuy S.
Published: July 2003

The in vivo and in vitro potency of native and modified forms of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) to release luteotropic hormone (LH) was studied in sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax in particular the hypothalamic fish‐specific sea bream GnRH form (sbGnRH) and the general mesoencephalic form chicken GnRH‐II (cGnRH‐II). The potencies of the natives and their analogs (GnRHas) were referred to that of [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐mGnRHa (LHRHa) at equivalent doses. Analogs of the native peptides [D‐Arg6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II, [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II, [D‐Trp6, Pro9Net]‐sbGnRH and [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐sbGnRH were effective in inducing in vivo LH release (at 15 µg kg−1 body mass), exhibiting longer lasting activity than their corresponding native forms. Injection of sbGnRH and cGnRH‐II provoked a small but significant peak of circulating LH at 1·5 h after treatment (a.t.) decreasing down to basal levels at 4 h a.t. [D‐Arg6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II, [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II and [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐mGnRHa evoked a higher and a more sustained elevation of LH, peaking at 12 h a.t. and returning to basal levels between 48 and 72 h a.t. [D‐Trp6, Pro9Net]‐sbGnRH and [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐sbGnRH also induced a significant surge of LH in plasma at 4 h a.t. turning to the basal levels at 24 h a.t. These rises, however, were of less amplitude and duration than the observed after treatment with cGnRH‐II analogs and [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐mGnRHa. The in vitro stimulation of dispersed pituitary cells with the different native and modified forms of GnRH resulted in a dose‐dependent increase in the quantity of LH released at 24 h a.t. [D‐Arg6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II and [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II induced the highest response of LH in vitro release followed by salmon GnRH (sGnRH), [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐mGnRHa and [D‐Trp6, Pro9Net]‐sbGnRH. The lowest activity was exhibited by sbGnRH. Collectively, the in vitro biological activity (compared by their EC50) can be ordered as follows: [D‐Arg6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II > [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐cGnRH‐II > sGnRH > [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐mGnRHa > [D‐Trp6, Pro9Net]‐sbGnRH > [D‐Ala6, Pro9Net]‐sbGnRH > cGnRH‐II > sbGnRH.
Parasites of Argentine anchovy in the south‐west Atlantic: latitudinal patterns and their use for discrimination of host populations
Authors: Timi J. T.
Published: July 2003

Four stocks of Argentine anchovy Engraulis anchoita in the south‐west Atlantic, south of 34°S were identified by the use of parasites as biological tags. A total of 671 fish were examined for parasites and 19 parasite species were found in 664 Argentine anchovies. The parasite populations and both infra‐ and component communities showed marked latitudinal gradients. Cluster analyses allowed the identification of four groups, one composed of autumn samples (35–37°S) and three of spring ones. Among the latter, a Patagonian group (43–46°S) was clearly separated from a Bonaerense group, which was divided into two groups: North Bonaerense (34–40°S) and South Bonaerense (40–43°S). Autumn samples were characterized by low values of prevalence for most parasite species. Among spring samples Pseudanthocotyloides heterocotyle, Lecithochirium microstomum, Parahemiurus merus, Scolex polymorphus and Corynosoma australe were characteristic of the northern region, whereas Cardiocephaloides sp., Anisakis simplex, Contracaecum sp. and Hysterothylacium aduncum were more prevalent in southern waters. Latitudinal environmental gradients and their influence on the distribution of both zooplankton and definitive hosts, could be determinants of the clines observed.
Hypertension in Pagothenia borchgrevinki caused by X‐cell disease
Authors: Davison W. , Franklin C. E.
Published: July 2003

Approximately 15% of a population of the cryopelagic nototheniid fish Pagothenia borchgrevinki, found constantly swimming immediately beneath the annual fast ice, in McMudro Sound, Ross Sea, Antarctica, was affected by X‐cell gill disease. This disease affected blood flow through the gill lamellae, and this in turn affected oxygen uptake. Exercise caused increases in heart rate and ventral aortic blood pressure. Heart rate increased from 15·1 ± 1·55 to 23·1 ± 0·93 beats min−1 in healthy fish, with a similar increase (to 24·6 ± 0·26 beats min−1) in X‐cell‐affected animals. In healthy fish, pressures rose with exercise (from 2·72 ± 0·11 to 3·75 ± 0·19 kPa) and then rapidly returned to resting levels during recovery. In X‐cell fish pressures rose during exercise, but then continued to rise, to reach a high of 4·18 ± 0·13 kPa, close to the predicted maximum pressure able to be generated by these hearts. Recovery was rapid in healthy fish, but was prolonged in diseased animals. As they are constantly swimming, there is the potential that X‐cell‐affected fish suffer from chronic hypertension.
Effect of elevated summer temperatures on gonadal steroid production, vitellogenesis and egg quality in female Atlantic salmon
Authors: King H. R. , Pankhurst N. W. , Watts M. , Pankhurst P. M.
Published: July 2003

Groups of Tasmanian female Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. were maintained at 14, 18 and 22° C for 3 months from mid‐summer (January). Blood plasma levels of 17β‐oestradiol (E2), testosterone (T), cortisol and vitellogenin (Vtg) were measured at regular intervals, and in autumn (April) temperatures were reduced to 8° C to facilitate spawning and egg incubation. Maintenance at 22° C during vitellogenesis was associated with a general reduction in plasma E2 levels and an early reduction in plasma Vtg levels relative to those observed in fish held at 14 and 18° C. Significantly reduced oocyte diameters in ova from fish held at 22° C (5·4 mm cf. 5·7 mm) confirmed reduced maternal investment, and an increase in the incidence of previously undescribed chorion damage suggested that zonagenesis may also have been impaired. As a result, the fertility and survival of ova from fish exposed to 22° C (69 and 42%, respectively) were significantly reduced relative to those of ova from fish maintained at 14° C (93 and 86%) and 18° C (86 and 84%).
Regulation of post‐larval development in the European eel: thyroid hormone level, progress of pigmentation and changes in behaviour
Authors: Jegstrup I. M. , Rosenkilde P.
Published: July 2003

Based on thyroid hormone concentrations and histological criteria, glass eels of Anguilla anguilla caught in the French Atlantic coast in January and November were found to be late metamorphic. The pigmentation of the glass eels was demonstrated to be regulated by thyroid hormones, and evidence is given that together, the end of the progression of pigmentation, a fully developed gut and a change in behaviour marked the end of metamorphosis.
Seasonal growth and year class strength variations of perch near the northern limits of its distribution range
Authors: Tolonen A. , Lappalainen J. , Pulliainen E.
Published: July 2003

The effects of temperature on seasonal growth and year class strength of perch Perca fluviatilis were studied in a subarctic lake in northern Finland. Two growth models, power and von Bertalanffy, were used to estimate the growth of perch during the growing season from 1988 to 1990. Air temperature, estimated as degree‐days >10° C, significantly improved both model fits. The sum of degree‐days also correlated positively with the year class strength of perch. The strongest year class was born in a warm summer 1988, while the 1987 year class was totally absent, which was due to the very cold summer of that year. The backcalculation of lengths of fish caught in 1990 showed that the overall growth of perch was slow in the cold summer of 1987 and relatively rapid in the warm summer of 1988. The subsequent growth of the abundant 1988 year class was rapid, even though the summers of 1991 and 1992 were relatively cool. The improved growth could be due to the lack of competition with previous weak year classes of 1986 and 1987. This observation suggests that density‐dependent factors might affect growth even near the northern limits of the distribution range of perch.
Low activity and seasonal change in population size structure of grenadiers in the oligotrophic abyssal central North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Priede I. G. , Deary A. R. , Bailey D. M. , Smith K. L.
Published: July 2003

Analysis of video recordings of swimming in abyssal grenadiersCoryphaenoidesspp. revealed site differences in tail‐beat frequencies. At the highly oligotrophic deep central North Pacific (CNP; 5800 m depth) station fishes had significantly lower tail‐beat frequencies (0·73 ± 0·02 Hz, mean ± s.e.) than fishes of similar size at the shallower ‘Station F’ (Sta. F; 4400 m depth) beneath the more productive waters of the California Current Upwelling (1·06 ± 0·04 Hz). These behavioural differences may be evidence for the proposed physiological adaptations ofCoryphaenoides armatusandCoryphaenoides yaquinae, to different depths and food supply levels. At CNP, smaller fishes (38·9 cm meanLT) were present in autumn than in summer (59·4 cmLT) suggesting large‐scale migrations across the abyssal ocean floor despite the observed slow swimming speeds.
Is fish condition correlated with water conductivity?
Authors: Copp G. H.
Published: July 2003

There were no correlations between fish condition (K) and water conductivity in 14 species of 0+ year fishes in the River Great Ouse, U.K., catchment. Values of K increased with increasing distance from river source in dace Leuciscus leuciscus and roach Rutilus rutilus.
Natural hybridization between endangered and introduced species of Pseudorasbora, with their genetic relationships and characteristics inferred from allozyme analyses
Authors: Konishi M. , Hosoya K. , Takata K.
Published: July 2003

From 25 populations of Pseudorasbora in Japan, polymorphism at 22 allozyme loci indicated that the level of genetic differentiation between Pseudorasbora parva and Pseudorasbora pumila (D = 0·421–0·517) was greater than that between the two subspecies of P. pumila, P. pumila pumila and P. pumila subsp. (D = 0·164), consistent with morphological differences. While P. parva displayed genetic variation (H = 0·003–0·100) similar to other freshwater fishes, P. pumila pumila and P. pumila subsp. populations showed no genetic variation. In five of the 15 populations collected from the contact zone between P. parva and P. pumila pumila, hybrids were detected by allozyme analyses. All hybrids were presumed to represent the F1 generation, because they were heterozygous at all 12 loci diagnostic between P. parva and P. pumila pumila. Although four populations were characterized by high frequencies of F1 hybrids (c. 40%), only one of the parental species was observed in each case. The results indicated that the two species have hybridized easily under natural conditions, but cannot coexist in the long‐term. It is suggested that continued invasion of P. parva would hasten the extinction of P. pumila pumila.
Alteration of rodlet cells in chub caused by the herbicide Stam® M‐4 (Propanil)
Authors: Dezfuli B. S. , Giari L. , Simoni E. , Palazzi D. , Manera M.
Published: July 2003

Handling stress and exposure to the herbicide Stam® M‐4 (Propanil) were associated with an exponential depletion of the rodlet cells (RC) in the bulbus arteriosus of chub Leuciscus cephalus. Structural changes of the RC in herbicide‐exposed fish were encountered, including the occurrence of myeloid bodies in the cytoplasm of the RC of the intestine, various degrees of rodlet degeneration and high vacuolization in the cytoplasm of RC in almost all examined organs of exposed chub.
Melanocortin 1‐receptor (MC1R) mutations are associated with plumage colour in chicken
Authors: Kerje S. , Lind J. , Schütz K. , Jensen P. , Andersson L.
Published: July 2003

The co‐segregation of plumage colour and sequence polymorphism in the melanocortin 1‐receptor gene (MC1R) was investigated using an intercross between the red junglefowl and White Leghorn chickens. The results provided compelling evidence that the Extended black (E) locus controlling plumage colour is equivalent to MC1R. E/MC1R was assigned to chromosome 11 with overwhelming statistical support. Sequence analysis indicated that the E92K substitution, causing a constitutively active receptor in the sombre mouse, is the most likely causative mutation for the Extended black allele carried by the White Leghorn founders in this intercross. The MC1R sequence associated with the recessive buttercup (ebc) allele indicated that this allele evolved from a dominant Extended black allele as it shared the E92K and M71T substitutions with some E alleles. It also carried a third missense mutation H215P which thus may interfere with the constitutive activation of the receptor caused by E92K (and possibly M71T).
Characterization and mapping of bovine dopamine receptors 1 and 5
Authors: Haegeman A. , Williams J. L. , Law A. , Van Zeveren A. , Peelman L. J.
Published: July 2003

A cDNA encoding the bovine dopamine receptor 1 (DRD1) was isolated from a bovine cDNA library, cloned and completely sequenced. The coding region showed 93 and 91% sequence identity on DNA level and 96 and 94% on protein level with its respective porcine and human orthologs. The bovine DRD1 and dopamine receptor 5 (DRD5) were mapped, respectively, to BTA10 and 6 by radiation hybrid mapping. One SNP was found in DRD1 and four in DRD5. Using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism, 11 different European cattle breeds were screened for the presence of the DRD1 and DRD5 substitutions. Allele frequencies for DRD1 and DRD5 alleles were very similar across all the breeds examined. Allele frequency discrepancies were found between Belgian Blue beef breed and the other breeds.
The twofold difference in adult size between the red junglefowl and White Leghorn chickens is largely explained by a limited number of QTLs
Authors: Kerje S. , Carlborg Ö. , Jacobsson L. , Schütz K. , Hartmann C. , Jensen P. , Andersson L.
Published: July 2003

A large intercross between the domestic White Leghorn chicken and the wild ancestor, the red junglefowl, has been used in a Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) study of growth and egg production. The linkage map based on 105 marker loci was in good agreement with the chicken consensus map. The growth of the 851 F2 individuals was lower than both parental lines prior to 46 days of age and intermediate to the two parental lines thereafter. The QTL analysis of growth traits revealed 13 loci that showed genome‐wide significance. The four major growth QTLs explained 50 and 80% of the difference in adult body weight between the founder populations for females and males, respectively. A major QTL for growth, located on chromosome 1 appears to have pleiotropic effects on feed consumption, egg production and behaviour. There was a strong positive correlation between adult body weight and average egg weight. However, three QTLs affecting average egg weight but not body weight were identified. An interesting observation was that the estimated effects for the four major growth QTLs all indicated a codominant inheritance.
A double‐screening method to identify reliable candidate non‐synonymous SNPs from chicken EST data
Authors: Kim H. , Schmidt C. J. , Decker K. S. , Emara M. G.
Published: July 2003

Discovery of non‐synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNP), which cause amino acid substitutions, is important because they are more likely to alter protein function than synonymous SNPs (sSNP) or those SNPs that do not result in amino acid changes. By changing the coding sequences, nsSNP may play a role in heritable differences between individual organisms. In the chicken and many other vertebrates, the main obstacle for identifying nsSNP is that there is insufficient protein and mRNA sequence information for self‐species referencing and thus, determination of the correct reading frame for expressed sequence tags (ESTs) is difficult. Therefore, in order to estimate the correct reading frame at nsSNP in chicken ESTs, a double‐screening approach was designed using self‐ or cross‐species protein referencing, in addition to the ESTScan coding region estimation programme. Starting with 23 427 chicken ESTs, 1210 potential SNPs were discovered using a phred/phrap/polyphred/consed pipeline process and among these, 108 candidate nsSNP were identified with the double screening method. A searchable SNP database (chicksnps) for the candidate chicken SNPs, including both nsSNPs and sSNPs is available at http://chicksnps.afs.udel.edu. The chicken SNP data described in this paper have been submitted to the data base SNP under National Center for Biotechnology Information assay ID ss4387050‐ss4388259.
Individual assignment using microsatellite DNA reveals unambiguous breed identification in the domestic dog
Authors: Koskinen M. T.
Published: July 2003

Modern individual clustering methods utilising hypervariable nuclear microsatellite DNA polymorphisms are being increasingly applied in the field of population genetics. This study explores the efficiency of the clustering methods in identifying the breeds of origin of 250 domestic dog (Canis familiaris) individuals based on 10 microsatellite loci. An allele sharing distance (DAS) matrix and the corresponding neighbour‐joining tree of individuals revealed monophyletic assemblages that corresponded perfectly with the breeds of origin of the dogs. Individual assignment tests using a Bayesian statistical approach, an allele frequency based method, and a DCE genetic distance based method were all extremely powerful. Most strikingly, the Bayesian method provided 100% assignment success of individuals into their correct breeds of origin and 100% exclusion success of individuals from all alternate reference populations with a high level of statistical confidence (P < 0.0001). A Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo clustering approach revealed clear distinction of individuals into groups according to their breeds of origin, with a near‐zero level of ‘genetic admixture’ among breeds. The results demonstrate that an FST of 0.18, mean expected gene diversity of 0.6 across 10 loci, and approximately 50 individuals per reference population suffice to provide maximum individual assignment success in C. familiaris. This refutes the traditional view that DNA based dog breed identification is not feasible at the individual level of resolution.
Analysis of polymorphic microsatellites within the bovine and ovine prion protein (PRNP) genes
Authors: Geldermann H. , Preuss S. , Eckert J. , Han Y. , Ollesch K.
Published: July 2003

Twenty‐four microsatellite sites with at least three repeats were found in the bovine prion protein gene (PRNP) and 23 in the ovine PRNP gene. Eight microsatellite sites were polymorphic in cattle and six in sheep with up to 10 alleles per site. In many cases allelic DNA fragments had variants in microsatellite sites and in flanking regions. Distances between microsatellite sites in eight genes from cattle and sheep occurred on average every 0.9 kb. The numerous polymorphic microsatellite sites will improve analysis of phylogenetic origin of different PRNP alleles and trait association studies for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and scrapie.
Fine needle aspiration cytology of follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid
Authors: Powari M. , Dey P. , Saikia U. N.
Published: July 2003

In this retrospective study, we tried to ascertain the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) features of six histopathologically proven cases of the follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid (FVPCT). These proven cases were diagnosed from 1998–2000. May–Grunwald–Giemsa and haematoxylin & eosin stained FNAC smears were studied independently by two observers (MP and PD) for detailed cytological features. A comparison of the cytological features was undertaken with those reported in the literature. There were six cases of which only one case was diagnosed as FVPCT while the other five cases were diagnosed as follicular neoplasm (four cases) and neoplasm unclassifiable (one case) on FNAC smears. All these cases showed abundant cellularity with a prominent follicular pattern. No papillae were identified in any of the cases. Syncytial clusters (five cases), nuclear grooves (six cases), nuclear inclusions (one case) and chewing gum colloid (three cases) were noted in variable proportions. We suggest that a differential diagnosis of FVPCT should be considered if the cytology smears show abundant cellularity, syncytial clusters and follicular arrangement along with thick colloid.
Fine needle aspiration cytology in non‐neoplastic non‐toxic recurrent nodular goitre
Authors: Słowińska‐Klencka D. , Klencki M. , Sporny S. , Lewiński A.
Published: July 2003

The aim of the study was to examine whether evaluation of anisokaryosis is helpful in the cytological diagnosis of focal lesions in non‐toxic recurrent goitre (NRG) after thyroidectomy for non‐malignant goitre. Karyometric analysis was performed in routine cytological smears obtained from 80 females: 40 with focal lesions in non‐toxic primary goitre (NPG) and 40 with NRG (postoperative histopathological examination revealed nodular goitre in both groups in all cases). We found that the level of anisokaryosis was significantly (P < 0.005) higher in NRG than in NPG. There were no significant differences between the two lesions, in cellular composition or thyroid follicular cell arrangement. Thus, isolated anisokaryosis, a feature of malignancy in patients without a prior thyroidectomy, has limited diagnostic value in recurrent goitre.
Immunocytochemistry versus molecular fingerprinting of metastases
Authors: Salto‐Tellez M. , Zhang D. , Chiu L. L. , Wang S. C. , Nilsson B. , Koay E. S. C.
Published: July 2003

Examination of cytological samples of cancer to suggest a possible primary site of origin is one of the commonest and most difficult tasks of diagnostic cytopathologists. Currently, both cytomorphology and immunocytochemistry are the main approaches to this diagnostic dilemma. We report the application of microsatellite analysis in cytological samples in a patient with a primary colonic tumour and two subsequent lung nodules, which were suspected on CT scans of the chest, and compared the findings with those obtained with conventional immunocytochemistry. The molecular results were in agreement with the radiological impression and conflicted with the immunocytochemistry. We conclude that immunocytochemical and molecular biology approaches to the diagnosis of tumours may give rise to contradictory results.
What am I meant to be doing? Putting practice into theory and back again in new nursing roles
Authors: Titchen Angle , Binnie Alison
Published: July 2003

This two‐part paper is based on some of the findings from an action research study of the development of patient‐centred nursing in an acute medical unit In the first part, Angie Titchen presents findings from a case study of a ward undergoing the initial changes from traditional nursing to primary nursing She documents and reflects upon the complexity of establishing new nursing roles, the devolution of authority and the shift in power relationships within the ward team, and the confusion and pain caused by role ambiguity In the second part, we show how we addressed these problems through the action research
Hardiness, self‐care practices and perceived health status in older adults
Authors: Nicholas Patrice Kenneally
Published: July 2003

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among hardiness, self‐care practices and perceived health status in older adults A random sample of older adults (n= 72) was selected from the population of a small north‐eastern town in the United States Self‐report data were obtained on the Health‐Related Hardiness Scale as a measure of hardness, the Personal Lifestyle Questionnaire as a measure of self‐care practices and the Visual Analogue Scale as a measure of perceived health status It was hypothesized that older adults who had higher levels of hardness and self‐care practices would have a higher perceived health status and that hardness and self‐care practices combined would explain more of the variance in perceived health status than either variable taken individually Statistical analyses supported the three hypotheses The obtained significant correlation between hardness and perceived health status was –068(P<0 001) (hardiness negatively scored) For self‐care practices and perceived health status, the correlation was 0 46 (P< 0 001) The illness index, income and living circumstance accounted for 46% of the variance in perceived health status scores Hardness and self‐care practices accounted for an additional 10% of the variance in perceived health status once these demographic and illness variables were controlled Implications for nursing practice, education and research are discussed Recommendations included replication of the study with a larger, more heterogeneous population Suggestions for further investigation of the relationship between resistance resources such as hardness and self‐care practices and health status are presented
Benevolence, a central moral concept derived from a grounded theory study of nursing decision making in psychiatric settings
Authors: Lutzén Kirn , Nordin Conny
Published: July 2003

Fourteen experienced nurses participated in an explorative study aimed at describing the experiential aspects of moral decision making in psychiatric nursing practice In‐depth interviews were conducted according to the grounded theory method These were transcribed, coded and categorized in order to generate conceptual categories The concept of benevolence was identified as a central motivating factor in the nurses’ own accounts of situations in which decisions were made on behalf of the patient This seems to conceptualize the nurses’ expressed aim to do that which is ‘good’ for the patient in responding to his or her vulnerability This study indicates the need for further research into the subjective, experiential aspect of ethical decision making from a contextual perspective
Nurses’ attitudes toward patients with AIDS
Authors: Cole Frank L , Slocumb Elaine M
Published: July 2003

To determine whether nurses possess differing attitudes toward AIDS patients depending‐on how the person acquired the virus, four semantic differential scales, each containing a different mode of acquiring the virus, were developed for this project All possible combinations of two different scales were created and resulted in six forms that were randomly distributed to currently employed nurses from two south‐eastern New England community hospitals in the USA A total of 357 (39 1%) responded to the questionnaire Pairedt‐test was used to examine the two means generated by each form Bonferronitprocedure was applied to correct for multiple comparisons For each form, significant differences were found in nurses’ attitudes toward AIDS patients according to the mode of acquiring the virus
Inappropriate attendance at accident and emergency departments: a literature review
Authors: Liggins Kim
Published: July 2003

This literature review was written as part of a pilot study into staff perceptions of inappropriate attendance at accident and emergency (A&E) departments The pilot study was earned out m the final year of the BSc Nursing Studies course at Birmingham Polytechnic The literature under review looks at various aspects of inappropriate attendance at A&E, including what actually constitutes inappropriate attendance, who is responsible for misuse of A&E and why A&E is so often abused Suggestions are offered that the role of A&E is more diverse than simply a receiving station for sudden injury or illness and that there are quite pertinent reasons why people choose to attend A&E rather than their own GFs surgery The review covers quite a span of years, the oldest piece of literature under review dating back to 1849 Some 143 years show that indeed this particular problem is not necessarily a modern one but one that has its origins in another century