bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of Intraoperative Computed Tomography–Based Navigation for Placement of Percutaneous Pedicle Screws
Authors: Eck Jason C. , Lange Jeffrey , Street John , Lapinsky Anthony , DiPaola Christian P.
Published: May 2013

MISS techniques have gained recent popularity. The proposed benefits of these techniques include reduced tissue trauma, reduced blood loss, less perioperative pain, and a quicker recovery and return to normal activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative computed tomography (CT)-based navigation for placement of percutaneous pedicle screws in a cadaveric model. Outcome measures included accuracy of screw placement. Two cadaveric specimens were utilized. CT images were obtained using an O-Arm (Medtronic, Memphis, Tennessee, United States) and were coupled to the Stealth navigation system (Medtronic). Computer navigation was used for placement of percutaneous pedicle screws. Screws were placed bilaterally from T5 to S1. Postinsertion CT scans were obtained. Pedicle breach was assessed and classified (I: none, II: < 2 mm, III: 2 to 4 mm, or IV: > 4 mm) with direction of breach. Thirty thoracic screws were placed with 3 (10%) medial breaches and 17 (56.7%) lateral breaches (grade III). Of 20 lumbar screws there were 0 medial breaches and 2 (10%) lateral breaches (1 grade III, 1 grade IV). Four sacral screws were placed without breaches. The real-time computer-aided navigation tool (“simulated screw”) was limited in identifying a breach. Manipulation of the surgeon's hand or driver could change the orientation of the navigation tool without changing the screw trajectory. CT-based navigation for percutaneous pedicle screw placement appears safe for the lumbar spine. Lateral thoracic breaches appeared commonly but were not felt to be clinically significant. The 10% rate of medial thoracic breach was concerning, but definitive conclusions could not be made due to the small sample size.
Respiratory medication use in an Australian developmental disability clinic population: messages for health care professionals
Authors: Davis Sharon R. , Durvasula Seeta , Merhi Diana , Young Paul M. , Traini Daniela , Bosnic-Anticevich Sinthia Z.
Published: May 2013

Australian data suggest up to 15% of people with intellectual disability (ID) have asthma. The inhaled route of administration is optimal for the management of obstructive airways diseases; however, correct inhaler use requires dexterity and particular breathing patterns and potentially represents a problem in this population due to physical and cognitive deficits. Understanding the nature and extent of inhaler use in persons with ID is important, as correct inhaler technique is imperative for optimal clinical outcomes; however, currently no evidence base exists to inform health professionals. This study describes respiratory medication use, reported prevalence of asthma, and asthma management practices undertaken in a clinic sample of Australian adults with ID. Results showed a prevalence of retrospectively reported asthma of 6%, with 86% of asthma patients prescribed inhaled medication. A review of patient records also indicated omission of some recommended asthma management strategies.
Multispot, label-free biodetection at a phantom plastic–water interface
Authors: Giavazzi Fabio , Salina Matteo , Cerbino Roberto , Bassi Mattia , Prosperi Davide , Ceccarello Erica , Damin Francesco , Sola Laura , Rusnati Marco , Chiari Marcella , Chini Bice , Bellini Tommaso , Buscaglia Marco
Published: May 2013

Recognizing and quantifying specific biomolecules in aqueous samples are constantly needed in research and diagnostic laboratories. As the typical detection procedures are rather lengthy and involve the use of labeled secondary antibodies or other agents to provide a signal, efforts have been made over the last 10 y to develop alternative label-free methods that enable direct detection. We propose and demonstrate an extremely simple, low-cost, label-free biodetector based on measuring the intensity of light reflected by the interface between a fluid sample and an amorphous fluoropolymer substrate having a refractive index very close to that of water and hosting various antibodies immobilized in spots. Under these index-matching conditions, the amount of light reflected by the interface allows straightforward quantification of the amount of antigen binding to each spot. Using antibodies targeting heterologous immunoglobulins and antigens commonly used as markers for diagnoses of hepatitis B and HIV, we demonstrate the limit of detection of a few picograms per square millimeter of surface-bound molecules. We also show that direct and real-time access to the amount of binding molecules allows the precise extrapolation of adhesion rates, from which the concentrations of antigens in solution can be estimated down to fractions of nanograms per milliliter.
Heat transport in bubbling turbulent convection
Authors: Lakkaraju Rajaram , Stevens Richard J. A. M. , Oresta Paolo , Verzicco Roberto , Lohse Detlef , Prosperetti Andrea
Published: May 2013

Boiling is an extremely effective way to promote heat transfer from a hot surface to a liquid due to numerous mechanisms, many of which are not understood in quantitative detail. An important component of the overall process is that the buoyancy of the bubble compounds with that of the liquid to give rise to a much-enhanced natural convection. In this article, we focus specifically on this enhancement and present a numerical study of the resulting two-phase Rayleigh–Bénard convection process in a cylindrical cell with a diameter equal to its height. We make no attempt to model other aspects of the boiling process such as bubble nucleation and detachment. The cell base and top are held at temperatures above and below the boiling point of the liquid, respectively. By keeping this difference constant, we study the effect of the liquid superheat in a Rayleigh number range that, in the absence of boiling, would be between 2 × 10
6
and 5 × 10
9
. We find a considerable enhancement of the heat transfer and study its dependence on the number of bubbles, the degree of superheat of the hot cell bottom, and the Rayleigh number. The increased buoyancy provided by the bubbles leads to more energetic hot plumes detaching from the cell bottom, and the strength of the circulation in the cell is significantly increased. Our results are in general agreement with recent experiments on boiling Rayleigh–Bénard convection.
The receptor for complement component C3a mediates protection from intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injuries by inhibiting neutrophil mobilization
Authors: Wu Mike C. L. , Brennan Faith H. , Lynch Jason P. L. , Mantovani Susanna , Phipps Simon , Wetsel Rick A. , Ruitenberg Marc J. , Taylor Stephen M. , Woodruff Trent M.
Published: May 2013

C3a is a key complement activation fragment, yet its neutrophil-expressed receptor (C3aR) still has no clearly defined role. In this study, we used a neutrophil-dependent mouse model of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury to explore the role of C3aR in acute tissue injuries. C3aR deficiency worsened intestinal injury, which corresponded with increased numbers of tissue-infiltrating neutrophils. Circulating neutrophils were significantly increased in C3aR
−/−
mice after intestinal ischemia, and C3aR
−/−
mice also mobilized more circulating neutrophils after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor infusion compared with WT mice, indicating a specific role for C3aR in constraining neutrophil mobilization in response to intestinal injury. In support of this role, C3aR
−/−
mice reconstituted with WT bone marrow reversed IR pathology back to WT levels. Complement C5a receptor (C5aR) antagonism in C3aR
−/−
mice also rectified the worsened pathology after intestinal IR injury but had no effect on circulating neutrophils, highlighting the opposing roles of C3a and C5a in disease pathogenesis. Finally, we found that using a potent C3a agonist to activate C3aR in vivo reduced neutrophil mobilization and ameliorated intestinal IR pathology in WT, but not C3aR
−/−
, mice. This study identifies a role for C3aR in regulating neutrophil mobilization after acute intestinal injury and highlights C3aR agonism as a potential treatment option for acute, neutrophil-driven pathologies.
Single-membrane–bounded peroxisome division revealed by isolation of dynamin-based machinery
Authors: Imoto Yuuta , Kuroiwa Haruko , Yoshida Yamato , Ohnuma Mio , Fujiwara Takayuki , Yoshida Masaki , Nishida Keiji , Yagisawa Fumi , Hirooka Shunsuke , Miyagishima Shin-ya , Misumi Osami , Kawano Shigeyuki , Kuroiwa Tsuneyoshi
Published: May 2013

Peroxisomes (microbodies) are ubiquitous single-membrane–bounded organelles and fulfill essential roles in the cellular metabolism. They are found in virtually all eukaryotic cells and basically multiply by division. However, the mechanochemical machinery involved in peroxisome division remains elusive. Here, we first identified the peroxisome-dividing (POD) machinery. We isolated the POD machinery from
Cyanidioschyzon merolae
, a unicellular red alga containing a single peroxisome. Peroxisomal division in
C. merolae
can be highly synchronized by light/dark cycles and the microtubule-disrupting agent oryzalin. By proteomic analysis based on the complete genome sequence of
C. merolae
, we identified a dynamin-related protein 3 (DRP3) ortholog, CmDnm1 (Dnm1), that predominantly accumulated with catalase in the dividing-peroxisome fraction. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that Dnm1 formed a ring at the division site of the peroxisome. The outlines of the isolated dynamin rings were dimly observed by phase-contrast microscopy and clearly stained for Dnm1. Electron microscopy revealed that the POD machinery was formed at the cytoplasmic side of the equator. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the POD machinery consisted of an outer dynamin-based ring and an inner filamentous ring. Down-regulation of Dnm1 impaired peroxisomal division. Surprisingly, the same Dnm1 serially controlled peroxisomal division after mitochondrial division. Because genetic deficiencies of Dnm1 orthologs in multiperoxisomal organisms inhibited both mitochondrial and peroxisomal proliferation, it is thought that peroxisomal division by contraction of a dynamin-based machinery is universal among eukaryotes. These findings are useful for understanding the fundamental systems in eukaryotic cells.
Physiological Changes in the Red Drum after Long‐Term Freshwater Acclimation
Authors: Gullian‐Klanian Mariel
Published: May 2013

The effect of long‐term freshwater acclimation on the blood and plasma ion composition of Red Drum Sciaenops ocellatus was investigated with the goal of elucidating the necessity of ion remediation. Four replicates (n = 50) of freshwater‐acclimated (FW) fish (1.6 ± 0.2 g) were raised in 25‐m3 tanks supported by 140,000 L of recirculating water. Four replicates (n = 50) of seawater (SW) fish groups were placed in 40‐m3 offshore cages at 32–35 psu. Blood was collected from 100 fish (FW = 578 ± 50 g; SW = 686 ± 45 g) of each group (FW, SW) after 8 months of rearing. During the grow‐out phase, the survival of FW and SW fish was 57.5% and 92.2%, respectively. The water ion composition (mainly the Ca2+/K+ [43%] and Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios [1%]) explained 56.6% of the plasmatic ion variability in the fish groups. Freshwater exposure produced significant reductions in osmolality and in several plasma indicators (Na+, Cl−, and Mg2+); the K+ levels from FW fish were the most compromised parameter. The water Ca2+/Na+ ratio had a greater influence (44%) on the plasma chemistry parameters, mainly glucose and creatinine. Freshwater‐acclimated fish had a higher percentage of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red blood cells than SW fish, but the water quality explained only 12.5% of the blood parameter variability between the FW and SW groups. The results support the conclusion that Red Drum tolerates salinity variations and can adopt a relatively stable condition for short periods; however, the data suggest that Red Drum have only a limited ability to withstand a hyposmotic environment for long periods due to their limited ability in maintaining K+ concentrations without external supplementation. Freshwater environments with high Ca2+/Na+, Ca2+/K+, and Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios appear to be a chronic stress factor that should be considered in future experiments.

Received June 11, 2012; accepted March 17, 2013
Achieving and Sustaining Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia–Free Time among Intensive Care Units (ICUs): Evidence from the Keystone ICU Quality Improvement Collaborative
Authors: Matar Dany S. , Pham Julius C. , Louis Thomas A. , Berenholtz Sean M.
Published: May 2013

Our retrospective analysis of the Michigan Keystone intensive care unit (ICU) collaborative demonstrated that adult ICUs could achieve and sustain a zero rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) for a considerable number of ventilator and calendar months. Moreover, the results highlight the importance of adjustment for ventilator-days before comparing VAP-free time among ICUs.
The Epidemiology of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in a Network of Community Hospitals: A Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Lee Mi Suk , Walker Vanessa , Chen Luke F. , Sexton Daniel J. , Anderson Deverick J.
Published: May 2013

Objective.

To describe the epidemiology of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in community hospitals.

Design and Setting.

Prospective study in 31 community hospitals from 2007 to 2011.

Methods.

VAP surveillance was performed by infection preventionists using the National Healthcare Safety Network protocol. VAP incidence was reported as number of events per 1,000 ventilator-days. We categorized hospitals into small (<30,000 patient-days/year), medium (30,000–60,000 patient-days/year), and large (>60,000 patient-days/year) groups and compared VAP incidence by hospital size.

Results.

The median VAP incidence was 1.4 (interquartile range, 0.4–2.4), and ventilator utilization ratio (VUR) was 0.33 (0.25–0.47). VAP incidence was higher in small hospitals (2.1) than medium (0.85) or large (0.69) hospitals (P = .03) despite a lower VUR in small hospitals (0.29 vs 0.31 vs 0.44, respectively; P = .01). The median age of 247 VAP cases was 64 (53-73); 136 (55.1%) were female; 142 (57.5%) were Caucasian; 170 (68.8%) were admitted from home. The length of stay and duration of ventilation were 26 (14–42) and 12 (4–21) days, respectively. The pre- and postinfection hospital stays were 8 (3–13) days and 14 (8–30) days, respectively. Data on outcomes were available in 214 cases (86.6%), and 75 (35.0%) cases died during hospitalization. The top 3 pathogens were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; n = 70, 27.9%), Pseudomonas species (n = 40, 16.3%), and Klebsiella species (n = 34, 13.3%).

Conclusions.

VAP incidence was inversely associated with size of hospital. VAP in community hospitals was frequently caused by MRSA. Importantly, predictors of VAP incidence in tertiary care hospitals such as VUR may not be predictive in community hospitals with few ventilated patients.
Impact of Electronic Surveillance on Isolation Practices
Authors: Larson Elaine , Behta Maryam , Cohen Bevin , Jia Haomiao , Furuya E. Yoko , Ross Barbara , Chaudhry Rohit , Vawdrey David K. , Ellingson Katherine
Published: May 2013

Objective.

To assess the impact of an electronic surveillance system on isolation practices and rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Design.

A pre-post test intervention.

Setting.

Inpatient units (except psychiatry and labor and delivery) in 4 New York City hospitals.

Patients.

All patients for whom isolation precautions were indicated, May 2009–December 2011.

Methods.

Trained observers assessed isolation sign postings, availability of isolation carts, and staff use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Infection rates were obtained from the infection control department. Regression analyses were used to examine the association between the surveillance system, infection prevention practices, and MRSA infection rates.

Results.

A total of 54,159 isolation days and 7,628 staff opportunities for donning PPE were observed over a 31-month period. Odds of having an appropriate sign posted were significantly higher after intervention than before intervention (odds ratio [OR], 1.10 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.01–1.20]). Relative to baseline, postintervention sign posting improved significantly for airborne and droplet precautions but not for contact precautions. Sign posting improved for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (OR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.23–1.86]; P = .0001), Clostridium difficile (OR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.27–2.02]; P = .00005), and Acinetobacter baumannii (OR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.21–1.64]; P = .00001) precautions but not for MRSA precautions (OR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.89–1.39]; P = .36). Staff and visitor adherence to PPE remained low throughout the study but improved from 29.1% to 37.0% after the intervention (OR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.01–1.29]). MRSA infection rates were not significantly different after the intervention.

Conclusions.

An electronic surveillance system resulted in small but statistically significant improvements in isolation practices but no reductions in infection rates over the short term. Such innovations likely require considerable uptake time.
Sustained Improvement in Hand Hygiene at a Children's Hospital
Authors: Crews Jonathan D. , Whaley Elaine , Syblik Dorothy , Starke Jeffrey
Published: May 2013

A quality improvement project was conducted to improve hand hygiene at a children's hospital. Interventions included education, performance feedback, an incentive program, and a marketing campaign. There were 9,322 observations performed over a 5-year period. Hospital-wide adherence increased from 39.9% to 97.9%. Adherence of 95% or greater was sustained for over 3 years.
NETAL: a new graph-based method for global alignment of protein–protein interaction networks
Authors: Neyshabur Behnam , Khadem Ahmadreza , Hashemifar Somaye , Arab Seyed Shahriar
Published: May 2013

Motivation: The interactions among proteins and the resulting networks of such interactions have a central role in cell biology. Aligning these networks gives us important information, such as conserved complexes and evolutionary relationships. Although there have been several publications on the global alignment of protein networks; however, none of proposed methods are able to produce a highly conserved and meaningful alignment. Moreover, time complexity of current algorithms makes them impossible to use for multiple alignment of several large networks together.

Results: We present a novel algorithm for the global alignment of protein–protein interaction networks. It uses a greedy method, based on the alignment scoring matrix, which is derived from both biological and topological information of input networks to find the best global network alignment. NETAL outperforms other global alignment methods in terms of several measurements, such as Edge Correctness, Largest Common Connected Subgraphs and the number of common Gene Ontology terms between aligned proteins. As the running time of NETAL is much less than other available methods, NETAL can be easily expanded to multiple alignment algorithm. Furthermore, NETAL overpowers all other existing algorithms in term of performance so that the short running time of NETAL allowed us to implement it as the first server for global alignment of protein–protein interaction networks.

Availability: Binaries supported on linux are freely available for download at http://www.bioinf.cs.ipm.ir/software/netal.

Contact:  sh.arab@modares.ac.ir

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Increased catabolic activity in adipose tissue of patients with chronic heart failure
Authors: Szabó Tibor , Postrach Elisa , Mähler Anja , Kung Thomas , Turhan Guelistan , von Haehling Stephan , Anker Stefan D. , Boschmann Michael , Doehner Wolfram
Published: May 2013

Aims

Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) have an increased catabolic state that affects both muscle and adipose tissue (AT), and may ultimately result in cardiac cachexia. Increased plasma levels of ANP might contribute to increased lipid mobilization and oxidation in CHF. We tested the hypothesis that increased plasma ANP levels are associated with an increased catabolic (lipolytic) state of white AT in patients with CHF.

Methods and results

After an overnight fast, AT metabolism was studied by microdialysis in patients with CHF and healthy controls of a similar age and body composition (both n = 8). AT glycolytic and lipolytic activities were assessed at rest (fasting) and after an oral glucose load (oGL). Fasting and post‐prandial profiles of serum glucose, insulin, and free fatty acids and of dialysate glucose did not differ significantly between patients and controls. In contrast, fasting dialysate lactate and glycerol levels were two‐fold higher in patients vs. controls (lactate, 0.51 ± 0.10 and 0.26 ± 0.06 mmol/L, P < 0.01; glycerol, 116 ± 18 and 50 ± 8 µmol/L, P < 0.001), indicating increased AT glycolytic and lipolytic rates in patients. After an oGL, dialysate lactate increased ∼2‐ and 2.5‐fold, whereas dialysate glycerol decreased by ∼60% and 50% in patients vs. controls, but metabolite levels were always significantly higher in patients vs. controls (all P < 0.05). Plasma ANP levels were increased in patients and significantly correlated with adipose tissue dialysate glycerol.

Conclusion

In patients wiuth CHF, there is a direct correlation between plasma ANP levels and increased AT catabolic (lipolytic) state. This might contribute to AT wasting and the development of cardiac cachexia in patients with CHF.
Circulating microRNAs as candidate markers to distinguish heart failure in breathless patients
Authors: Ellis Katrina L. , Cameron Vicky A. , Troughton Richard W. , Frampton Chris M. , Ellmers Leigh J. , Richards A. Mark
Published: May 2013

Aims

Since their identification in the circulation, microRNAs have received considerable interest as putative biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. We have investigated the diagnostic utility of microRNAs in differentiating between patients with heart failure (HF) and non‐HF‐related breathlessness, and between HF with reduced (HF‐REF) and preserved (HF‐PEF) EF.

Methods and results

MicroRNA profiling was performed on plasma from 32 HF and 15 COPD patients, as well as 14 healthy controls. Seventeen microRNAs were selected for validation in 44 HF, 32 COPD, 59 other breathless, and 15 controls. Cases of HF were split evenly between HF‐REF and HF‐PEF. Diagnostic utility was compared with NT‐proBNP and high sensitivity troponin T (hs‐troponin T). MiR‐103 [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.642, P = 0.007], miR‐142‐3p (AUC = 0.668, P = 0.002), miR‐199a‐3p (AUC = 0.668, P = 0.002), miR‐23a (AUC = 0.637, P = 0.010), miR‐27b (AUC = 0.642, P = 0.008), miR‐324‐5p (AUC = 0.621, P = 0.023), and miR‐342‐3p (AUC = 0.644, P = 0.007) were associated with HF diagnosis in regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. Individually, NT‐proBNP (AUC = 0.896, P = 9.68 × 10−14) and hs‐troponin T (AUC = 0.750, P = 2.50 × 10−6) exhibited greater sensitivity and specificity. However, combining significantly associated microRNAs with NT‐proBNP improved the AUC of NT‐proBNP by 4.6% (P = 0.013). Four microRNAs, miR‐103, miR‐142‐3p, miR‐30b, and miR‐342‐3p, were differentially expressed between HF and controls, COPD, and other breathless patients (P = 0.002–0.030). Eight microRNAs that distinguished between HF‐REF and HF‐PEF in screening (P = 0.017–0.049) were not replicated in the validation.

Conclusions

Four microRNAs distinguished between HF and exacerbation of COPD, other causes of dyspnoea, and controls. Seven were associated with HF diagnosis in regression and ROC analysis. Although individually NT‐proBNP was far superior in predicting HF, combining microRNA levels with NT‐proBNP may add diagnostic value.
First Report of Leaf Spot in Farfugium japonicum Caused by Alternaria tenuissima in Korea
Authors: Lee J. H. , Kim D. S. , Cho H. J. , Gang G.-H. , Kwak Y.-S.
Published: May 2013

Farfugium japonicum (L.) Kitam (common name: Leopard plant) is known as a medical herb and belongs to family Asteraceae (1). In June 2012, a leaf spot disease was observed on the leaf surface of F. japonicum at a forest research plot Jinju, Gyeongnam province, Korea. More than 95% of F. japonicum plants were infected and leaf spot symptom appeared in the regions under our investigation. Light brownish symptoms initially developed and the spot size gradually increased and turned dark brown with an irregular shape as the disease progressed (spot size 1 to 10 mm in diameter). At the late stage of disease, spots became hollow and completely dehydrated. The infected leaves were easily crumbled, possibly due to dryness. To isolate the causal agent, the infected leaves were surface disinfected and pieces of leaves were placed on water agar (WA). Nine isolates were isolated from 10 pieces of the infected leaves. Fungi mycelia from the WA were transferred on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28°C for 7 days. The colonies were purple navy to black and conidia spores developed on the media. The morphological characteristics of spores were multi-septate, dark brown, pyriform, and 6.7 to 12.8 × 22.2 to 38.4 μm. The spores had 1 to 4 transverse and 0 to 3 longitudinal septa. The morphological characteristics of the isolates showed considerably similar to well-known Alternaria tenuissima (2). The leaf spot disease caused by A. cinerariae of F. japonicum was reported from Japan (3). Spores of A. cinerariae are golden brown to brown with 3 to 9 transverse and 0 to 6 longitudinal septa and are 87.5 × 28.7 μm (avg.) (3). To verify pathogenicity of the isolate, the pure cultured fungi on the PDA medium was taken (4 mm in diameter) and placed on healthy leaves of Leopard plant. The artificially inoculated leaves were placed on wet filter paper in Petri dishes and incubated at 25°C and 80% humidity. At 7 days after inoculation, similar disease symptoms developed on 8 out of 10 infected Leopard plant leaves. The pathogen was reisolated from artificially infected leaves. To identify in molecular biology level, genomic DNA was extracted and the ITS-rDNA region was amplified using universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. The amplified PCR product was purified and sequenced (528 bp) with ITS1 and ITS4 primers for both directions and then deposited in GenBank (Accession No. KC415611.1). The BLAST search showed that it matched previously reported A. tenuissima with 100% identity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Leopard plant leaf spot disease in Korea.

References: (1) E. Y. Kim et al. J. Ethnopharmacol. 146:40, 2013. (2) E. G. Simmons. Page 1 in: Alternaria Biology, Plant Diseases and Metabolites. J. Chelchowski and A. Visconti, eds. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1992. (3) T. Sakoda et al. Res. Bull. Pl. Prot. Japan 46:73, 2010.
Disruption of Frontal–Parietal Communication by Ketamine, Propofol, and Sevoflurane
Authors: Lee UnCheol , Ku SeungWoo , Noh GyuJeong , Baek SeungHye , Choi ByungMoon , Mashour George A.
Published: May 2013

Introduction:

Directional connectivity from anterior to posterior brain regions (or “feedback” connectivity) has been shown to be inhibited by propofol and sevoflurane. In this study the authors tested the hypothesis that ketamine would also inhibit cortical feedback connectivity in frontoparietal networks.

Methods:

Surgical patients (n = 30) were recruited for induction of anesthesia with intravenous ketamine (2 mg/kg); electroencephalography of the frontal and parietal regions was acquired. The authors used normalized symbolic transfer entropy, a computational method based on information theory, to measure directional connectivity across frontal and parietal regions. Statistical analysis of transfer entropy measures was performed with the permutation test and the time-shift test to exclude false-positive connectivity. For comparison, the authors used normalized symbolic transfer entropy to reanalyze electroencephalographic data gathered from surgical patients receiving either propofol (n = 9) or sevoflurane (n = 9) for anesthetic induction.

Results:

Ketamine reduced alpha power and increased gamma power, in contrast to both propofol and sevoflurane. During administration of ketamine, feedback connectivity gradually diminished and was significantly inhibited after loss of consciousness (mean ± SD of baseline and anesthesia: 0.0074 ± 0.003 and 0.0055 ± 0.0027; F(5, 179) = 7.785, P < 0.0001). By contrast, feedforward connectivity was preserved during exposure to ketamine (mean ± SD of baseline and anesthesia: 0.0041 ± 0.0015 and 0.0046 ± 0.0018; F(5, 179) = 2.07; P = 0.072). Like ketamine, propofol and sevoflurane selectively inhibited feedback connectivity after anesthetic induction.

Conclusions:

Diverse anesthetics disrupt frontal–parietal communication, despite molecular and neurophysiologic differences. Analysis of directional connectivity in frontal–parietal networks could provide a common metric of general anesthesia and insight into the cognitive neuroscience of anesthetic-induced unconsciousness.
A novel hearing specialization in the New Zealand bigeye,Pempheris adspersa
Authors: Radford C. A. , Montgomery J. C. , Caiger P. , Johnston P. , Lu J. , Higgs D. M.
Published: May 2013

The New Zealand bigeye,Pempheris adspersa, is a nocturnal planktivore and has recently been found to be an active sound producer. The rostral end of the swim bladder lies adjacent to Baudelot's ligament which spans between the bulla and the cleithrum bone of the pectoral girdle. The aim of this study was to use the auditory evoked potential technique to physiologically test the possibility that this structure provides an enhanced sensitivity to sound pressure in the bigeye. At 100 Hz, bigeye had hearing sensitivity similar to that of goldfish (species with a mechanical connection between the swim bladder and the inner ear mediated by the Weberian ossicles) and were much more sensitive than other teleosts without ancillary hearing structures. Severing Baudelot's ligament bilaterally resulted in a marked decrease in hearing sensitivity, as did swim bladder puncture or lateral line blockage. These results show that bigeye have an enhanced sensitivity to sound pressure and provide experimental evidence that the functional basis of this sensitivity represents a novel hearing specialization in fish involving the swim bladder, Baudelot's ligament and the lateral line.
The incidental response to uniform natural selection
Authors: Bell Graham
Published: May 2013

When populations are exposed to novel conditions of growth, they often become adapted to a similar extent, and at the same time, evolve some degree of impairment in their original environment. They may also come to vary widely with respect to characters which are uncorrelated with fitness, as the result of chance genetic associations among the founders, when these are a small sample from a large and variable ancestral population. I report an experiment in which 240 replicate lines of the unicellular chlorophyteChlamydomonaswere derived from primarily photoautotrophic ancestors and cultured as heterotrophs in the dark. All adapted to the dark and were impaired in the light after several hundred generations of culture. They also displayed a wide range of colony morphologies that were uncorrelated with fitness. This incidental response to selection probably arose through random variation in the initial composition of the lines. The differences between closely related species or varieties may likewise arise, in similar circumstances, by sampling error rather than natural selection.
Integrating toxin gene expression, growth and fumonisin B
1
and B
2
production by a strain of
Fusarium verticillioides
under different environmental factors
Authors: Medina Angel , Schmidt-Heydt Markus , Cárdenas-Chávez Diana L. , Parra Roberto , Geisen Rolf , Magan Naresh
Published: May 2013

The objective of this study was to integrate data on the effect of water activity (
a
w
; 0.995–0.93) and temperature (20–35°C) on activation of the biosynthetic
FUM
genes, growth and the mycotoxins fumonisin (FB
1
, FB
2
) by
Fusarium verticillioides in vitro
. The relative expression of nine biosynthetic cluster genes (
FUM1
,
FUM7
,
FUM10
,
FUM11
,
FUM12
,
FUM13
,
FUM14
,
FUM16
and
FUM19
) in relation to the environmental factors was determined using a microarray analysis. The expression was related to growth and phenotypic FB
1
and FB
2
production. These data were used to develop a mixed-growth-associated product formation model and link this to a linear combination of the expression data for the nine genes. The model was then validated by examining datasets outside the model fitting conditions used (35°C). The relationship between the key gene (
FUM1
) and other genes in the cluster (
FUM11, FUM13, FUM9, FUM14
) were examined in relation to
a
w
, temperature, FB
1
and FB
2
production by developing ternary diagrams of relative expression. This model is important in developing an integrated systems approach to develop prevention strategies to control fumonisin biosynthesis in staple food commodities and could also be used to predict the potential impact that climate change factors may have on toxin production.
Joseph Lister and the performance of antiseptic surgery
Authors: Worboys Michael
Published: May 2013

This article highlights a neglected feature of Joseph Lister's work, namely how, in addition to promoting germ theories and the principles of the antiseptic system, he also devoted much time and effort to communicating the performative aspects of antisepsis and of the many other surgical innovations that he developed. Attention to ‘detail’ and striving for ‘improvement’ were crucial to Listerian practice, and he sought to convey his credo in three main ways: first, his publications aimed at ‘bringing the subject out in the same sort of way as it had been worked out by himself’; second, he set out strict protocols and information on materials and methods, yet also encouraged surgeons to improvise; and third, he made himself an exemplar of a new form of professionalism, which made constancy and vigilance in practice a moral duty for surgeons.
Faunal breaks and species composition of Indo-Pacific corals: the role of plate tectonics, environment and habitat distribution
Authors: Keith S. A. , Baird A. H. , Hughes T. P. , Madin J. S. , Connolly S. R.
Published: May 2013

Species richness gradients are ubiquitous in nature, but the mechanisms that generate and maintain these patterns at macroecological scales remain unresolved. We use a new approach that focuses on overlapping geographical ranges of species to reveal that Indo-Pacific corals are assembled within 11 distinct faunal provinces. Province limits are characterized by co-occurrence of multiple species range boundaries. Unexpectedly, these faunal breaks are poorly predicted by contemporary environmental conditions and the present-day distribution of habitat. Instead, faunal breaks show striking concordance with geological features (tectonic plates and mantle plume tracks). The depth range over which a species occurs, its larval development rate and genus age are important determinants of the likelihood that species will straddle faunal breaks. Our findings indicate that historical processes, habitat heterogeneity and species colonization ability account for more of the present-day biogeographical patterns of corals than explanations based on the contemporary distribution of reefs or environmental conditions.
Seeing is believing: information content and behavioural response to visual and chemical cues
Authors: Gonzálvez Francisco G. , Rodríguez-Gironés Miguel A.
Published: May 2013

Predator avoidance and foraging often pose conflicting demands. Animals can decrease mortality risk searching for predators, but searching decreases foraging time and hence intake. We used this principle to investigate how prey should use information to detect, assess and respond to predation risk from an optimal foraging perspective. A mathematical model showed that solitary bees should increase flower examination time in response to predator cues and that the rate of false alarms should be negatively correlated with the relative value of the flower explored. The predatory ant,Oecophylla smaragdina, and the harmless ant, Polyrhachis dives, differ in the profile of volatiles they emit and in their visual appearance. As predicted, the solitary beeNomia strigataspent more time examining virgin flowers in presence of predator cues than in their absence. Furthermore, the proportion of flowers rejected decreased from morning to noon, as the relative value of virgin flowers increased. In addition, bees responded differently to visual and chemical cues. While chemical cues induced bees to search around flowers, bees detecting visual cues hovered in front of them. These strategies may allow prey to identify the nature of visual cues and to locate the source of chemical cues.
The genome of the mustard leaf beetle encodes two active xylanases originally acquired from bacteria through horizontal gene transfer
Authors: Pauchet Yannick , Heckel David G.
Published: May 2013

The primary plant cell wall comprises the most abundant polysaccharides on the Earth and represents a rich source of energy for organisms which have evolved the ability to digest them. Enzymes able to degrade plant cell wall polysaccharides are widely distributed in micro-organisms but are generally absent in animals, although their presence in insects, especially phytophagous beetles from the superfamilies Chrysomeloidea and Curculionoidea, has recently begun to be appreciated. The observed patchy distribution of endogenous genes encoding these enzymes in animals has raised questions about their evolutionary origins. Recent evidence suggests that endogenous plant cell wall degrading enzymes-encoding genes have been acquired by animals through a mechanism known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT). HGT describes how genetic material is moved by means other than vertical inheritance from a parent to an offspring. Here, we provide evidence that the mustard leaf beetle,
Phaedon cochleariae
, possesses in its genome genes encoding active xylanases from the glycoside hydrolase family 11 (GH11). We also provide evidence that these genes were originally acquired by
P. cochleariae
from a species of gammaproteobacteria through HGT. This represents the first example of the presence of genes from the GH11 family in animals.
Dysregulated mTORC1 renders cells critically dependent on desaturated lipids for survival under tumor-like stress
Authors: Young Regina M. , Ackerman Daniel , Quinn Zachary L. , Mancuso Anthony , Gruber Michaela , Liu Liping , Giannoukos Dionysios N. , Bobrovnikova-Marjon Ekaterina , Diehl J. Alan , Keith Brian , Simon M. Celeste
Published: May 2013

Solid tumors exhibit heterogeneous microenvironments, often characterized by limiting concentrations of oxygen (O2), glucose, and other nutrients. How oncogenic mutations alter stress response pathways, metabolism, and cell survival in the face of these challenges is incompletely understood. Here we report that constitutive mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity renders hypoxic cells dependent on exogenous desaturated lipids, as levels of de novo synthesized unsaturated fatty acids are reduced under low O2. Specifically, we demonstrate that hypoxic Tsc2−/− (tuberous sclerosis complex 2−/−) cells deprived of serum lipids exhibit a magnified unfolded protein response (UPR) but fail to appropriately expand their endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to inositol-requiring protein-1 (IRE1)-dependent cell death that can be reversed by the addition of unsaturated lipids. UPR activation and apoptosis were also detected in Tsc2-deficient kidney tumors. Importantly, we observed this phenotype in multiple human cancer cell lines and suggest that cells committed to unregulated growth within ischemic tumor microenvironments are unable to balance lipid and protein synthesis due to a critical limitation in desaturated lipids.
Comparative genomics in Chlamydomonas and Plasmodium identifies an ancient nuclear envelope protein family essential for sexual reproduction in protists, fungi, plants, and vertebrates
Authors: Ning Jue , Otto Thomas D. , Pfander Claudia , Schwach Frank , Brochet Mathieu , Bushell Ellen , Goulding David , Sanders Mandy , Lefebvre Paul A. , Pei Jimin , Grishin Nick V. , Vanderlaan Gary , Billker Oliver , Snell William J.
Published: May 2013

Fertilization is a crucial yet poorly characterized event in eukaryotes. Our previous discovery that the broadly conserved protein HAP2 (GCS1) functioned in gamete membrane fusion in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas and the malaria pathogen Plasmodium led us to exploit the rare biological phenomenon of isogamy in Chlamydomonas in a comparative transcriptomics strategy to uncover additional conserved sexual reproduction genes. All previously identified Chlamydomonas fertilization-essential genes fell into related clusters based on their expression patterns. Out of several conserved genes in a minus gamete cluster, we focused on Cre06.g280600, an ortholog of the fertilization-related Arabidopsis GEX1. Gene disruption, cell biological, and immunolocalization studies show that CrGEX1 functions in nuclear fusion in Chlamydomonas. Moreover, CrGEX1 and its Plasmodium ortholog, PBANKA_113980, are essential for production of viable meiotic progeny in both organisms and thus for mosquito transmission of malaria. Remarkably, we discovered that the genes are members of a large, previously unrecognized family whose first-characterized member, KAR5, is essential for nuclear fusion during yeast sexual reproduction. Our comparative transcriptomics approach provides a new resource for studying sexual development and demonstrates that exploiting the data can lead to the discovery of novel biology that is conserved across distant taxa.
Mule/Huwe1/Arf-BP1 suppresses Ras-driven tumorigenesis by preventing c-Myc/Miz1-mediated down-regulation of p21 and p15
Authors: Inoue Satoshi , Hao Zhenyue , Elia Andrew J. , Cescon David , Zhou Lily , Silvester Jennifer , Snow Bryan , Harris Isaac S. , Sasaki Masato , Li Wanda Y. , Itsumi Momoe , Yamamoto Kazuo , Ueda Takeshi , Dominguez-Brauer Carmen , Gorrini Chiara , Chio Iok In Christine , Haight Jillian , You-Ten Annick , McCracken Susan , Wakeham Andrew , Ghazarian Danny , Penn Linda J.Z. , Melino Gerry , Mak Tak W.
Published: May 2013

Tumorigenesis results from dysregulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressors that influence cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and/or senescence. Many gene products involved in these processes are substrates of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Mule/Huwe1/Arf-BP1 (Mule), but whether Mule acts as an oncogene or tumor suppressor in vivo remains controversial. We generated K14Cre;Muleflox/flox(y) (Mule kKO) mice and subjected them to DMBA/PMA-induced skin carcinogenesis, which depends on oncogenic Ras signaling. Mule deficiency resulted in increased penetrance, number, and severity of skin tumors, which could be reversed by concomitant genetic knockout of c-Myc but not by knockout of p53 or p19Arf. Notably, in the absence of Mule, c-Myc/Miz1 transcriptional complexes accumulated, and levels of p21CDKN1A (p21) and p15INK4B (p15) were down-regulated. In vitro, Mule-deficient primary keratinocytes exhibited increased proliferation that could be reversed by Miz1 knockdown. Transfer of Mule-deficient transformed cells to nude mice resulted in enhanced tumor growth that again could be abrogated by Miz1 knockdown. Our data demonstrate in vivo that Mule suppresses Ras-mediated tumorigenesis by preventing an accumulation of c-Myc/Miz1 complexes that mediates p21 and p15 down-regulation.
The Arabidopsis RING E3 Ubiquitin Ligase AtAIRP3/LOG2 Participates in Positive Regulation of High-Salt and Drought Stress Responses
Authors: Kim Jong Hum , Kim Woo Taek
Published: May 2013

Really Interesting New Gene (RING) E3 ubiquitin ligases have been implicated in cellular responses to the stress hormone abscisic acid (ABA) as well as to environmental stresses in higher plants. Here, an ABA-insensitive RING protein3 (atairp3) loss-of-function mutant line in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) was isolated due to its hyposensitivity to ABA during its germination stage as compared with wild-type plants. AtAIRP3 contains a single C3HC4-type RING motif, a putative myristoylation site, and a domain associated with RING2 (DAR2) domain. Unexpectedly, AtAIRP3 was identified as LOSS OF GDU2 (LOG2), which was recently shown to participate in an amino acid export system via interaction with GLUTAMINE DUMPER1. Thus, AtAIRP3 was renamed as AtAIRP3/LOG2. Transcript levels of AtAIRP3/LOG2 were up-regulated by drought, high salinity, and ABA, suggesting a role for this factor in abiotic stress responses. The atairp3/log2-2 knockout mutant and 35S:AtAIRP3-RNAi knockdown transgenic plants displayed impaired ABA-mediated seed germination and stomata closure. Cosuppression and complementation studies further supported a positive role for AtAIRP3/LOG2 in ABA responses. Suppression of AtAIRP3/LOG2 resulted in marked hypersensitive phenotypes toward high salinity and water deficit relative to wild-type plants. These results suggest that Arabidopsis RING E3 AtAIRP3/LOG2 is a positive regulator of the ABA-mediated drought and salt stress tolerance mechanism. Using yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) two-hybrid, in vitro, and in vivo immunoprecipitation, cell-free protein degradation, and in vitro ubiquitination assays, RESPONSIVE TO DEHYDRATION21 was identified as a substrate protein of AtAIRP3/LOG2. Collectively, our data suggest that AtAIRP3/LOG2 plays dual functions in ABA-mediated drought stress responses and in an amino acid export pathway in Arabidopsis.
MicroRNA Superfamilies Descended from miR390 and Their Roles in Secondary Small Interfering RNA Biogenesis in Eudicots
Authors: Xia Rui , Meyers Blake C. , Liu Zhongchi , Beers Eric P. , Ye Songqing , Liu Zongrang
Published: May 2013

Trans-acting small interfering RNAs (tasiRNAs) are a major class of small RNAs performing essential biological functions in plants. The first reported tasiRNA pathway, that of miR173-TAS1/2, produces tasiRNAs regulating a set of pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) genes and has been characterized only in Arabidopsis thaliana to date. Here, we demonstrate that the microRNA (miRNA)-trans-acting small interfering RNA gene (TAS)-pentatricopeptide repeat-containing gene (PPR)-small interfering RNA pathway is a highly dynamic and widespread feature of eudicots. Nine eudicot plants, representing six different plant families, have evolved similar tasiRNA pathways to initiate phased small interfering RNA (phasiRNA) production from PPR genes. The PPR  phasiRNA production is triggered by different 22-nucleotide miRNAs, including miR7122, miR1509, and fve-PPRtri1/2, and through distinct mechanistic strategies exploiting miRNA direct targeting or indirect targeting through TAS-like genes (TASL), one-hit or two-hit, or even two layers of tasiRNA–TASL interactions. Intriguingly, although those miRNA triggers display high sequence divergence caused by the occurrence of frequent point mutations and splicing shifts, their corresponding MIRNA genes show pronounced identity to the Arabidopsis MIR173, implying a common origin of this group of miRNAs (super-miR7122). Further analyses reveal that super-miR7122 may have evolved from a newly defined miR4376 superfamily, which probably originated from the widely conserved miR390. The elucidation of this evolutionary path expands our understanding of the course of miRNA evolution, especially for relatively conserved miRNA families.