bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbon gain, allocation and storage in rhizomes in response to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and nutrient supply in a perennial C3 grass, Phalaris arundinacea
Authors: Kinmonth-Schultz Hannah , Kim Soo-Hyung
Published: September 2011

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) is a fast-growing, perennial, rhizomatous C3 grass considered as a model invasive species for its aggressive behaviour. The same traits make it a candidate for bioenergy feedstock. We tested the following hypotheses: (1) elevated atmospheric [CO2] and nutrient supply enhance photosynthetic carbon acquisition of this fructan-accumulating grass with little or no photosynthetic downregulation; (2) elevated [CO2] promotes carbon allocation to growth when nutrients are sufficient and to fructan storage in rhizomes when nutrients are low. Plants were grown at ambient or elevated (+320 μmol mol–1) [CO2], and fertilised using full or one-eighth strength modified Hoagland solution. We investigated leaf photosynthesis, whole-plant water use, biomass allocation, and nitrogen and carbon storage in rhizomes. Elevated [CO2] enhanced light-saturated net CO2 assimilation by 61%. It doubled whole-plant, stem and root biomass in summer. Plants grown in elevated [CO2] had a greater rate of CO2 assimilation at higher [CO2], indicating a shift in photosynthetic apparatus for enhanced carbon gain under elevated [CO2]. The majority of belowground biomass was allocated to rhizomes for storage rather than to roots in both seasons. In autumn, elevated [CO2] increased fructan concentration in rhizomes from 8.1 to 11.7% of biomass when nutrients were low (P = 0.023). Our results suggest that elevated [CO2] combined with sufficient nutrients is likely to enhance carbon gain and growth of P. arundinacea, and to increase its productivity and competitiveness in summer. Elevated [CO2] is likely to enhance long-term fructan storage in rhizomes, which may benefit overwintering and vegetative spread.
Beyond the ionic and osmotic response to salinity in Chenopodium quinoa: functional elements of successful halophytism
Authors: Orsini Francesco , Accorsi Mattia , Gianquinto Giorgio , Dinelli Giovanni , Antognoni Fabiana , Carrasco Karina B. Ruiz , Martinez Enrique A. , Alnayef Mohammad , Marotti Ilaria , Bosi Sara , Biondi Stefania
Published: September 2011

Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (quinoa) is a halophyte for which some parameters linked to salt tolerance have been investigated separately in different genotypes and under different growth conditions. In this study, several morphological and metabolic responses were analysed in parallel after exposure to salinity. In vitro seed germination was initially delayed by a 150 mM NaCl treatment but eventually reached the same level as the control (0 mM NaCl), whereas seedling root growth was enhanced; both parameters were moderately inhibited (~35–50%) by 300 mM NaCl. In pot grown plants, plant size was reduced by increasing salinity (0–750 mM NaCl). Transpiration and stomatal conductance were decreased at the highest salinity levels tested, consistent with reduced stomatal density and size. The density of epidermal bladder cells (EBCs) on the leaf surface remained unaffected up to 600 mM NaCl. Tissue contents of Na+ and Cl– increased dramatically with salt treatment, but resulted in only a 50% increase in Na+ from 150 to 750 mM NaCl. Internal K+ was unaffected up to 450 mM NaCl but increased at the highest salinity levels tested. Excretion through sequestration into EBCs was limited (generally ≤20%) for all ions. A modest dose-dependent proline accumulation, and concomitant reduction in total polyamines and putrescine efflux occurred in NaCl-treated plants. Results confirm the importance of inorganic ions for osmotic adjustment, the plant’s ability to maintain K+ levels and the involvement of putrescine efflux in maintaining ionic balance under high salinity conditions. Conversely, ion excretion and proline appear to play a minor role. Taken together these results indicate which parameters could be used for future comparison among different genotypes.
Prescribed burning: how can it work to conserve the things we value?
Authors: Penman T. D. , Christie F. J. , Andersen A. N. , Bradstock R. A. , Cary G. J. , Henderson M. K. , Price O. , Tran C. , Wardle G. M. , Williams R. J. , York A.
Published: September 2011

Prescribed burning is a commonly applied management tool, and there has been considerable debate over the efficacy of its application. We review data relating to the effectiveness of prescribed burning in Australia. Specifically, we address two questions: (1) to what extent can fuel reduction burning reduce the risk of loss of human life and economic assets posed from wildfires? (2) To what extent can prescribed burning be used to reduce the risk of biodiversity loss? Data suggest that prescribed burning can achieve a reduction in the extent of wildfires; however, at such levels, the result is an overall increase in the total area of the landscape burnt. Simulation modelling indicates that fuel reduction has less influence than weather on the extent of unplanned fire. The need to incorporate ecological values into prescribed burning programmes is becoming increasingly important. Insufficient data are available to determine if existing programs have been successful. There are numerous factors that prevent the implementation of better prescribed burning practices; most relate to a lack of clearly defined, measurable objectives. An adaptive risk management framework combined with enhanced partnerships between scientists and fire-management agencies is necessary to ensure that ecological and fuel reduction objectives are achieved.
The Histories of Herat
Authors: Paul Jürgen
Published: September 2011

The biographical dictionary is perhaps the best known and commonest type of local history at least for the pre-Mongol period of Iranian history. It is well known that for quite a few Iranian cities, just as for cities, towns, and regions in other parts of the Islamic world, dictionaries of this type were written from the third/ninth to the seventh/thirteenth century. Until the seventh/thirteenth century, the standard language for this literary genre was Arabic even in non-Arabic-speaking countries. Later, starting with the seventh/thirteenth century, some of the works were translated into Persian. But the translators did not limit themselves to a more or less truthful rendering of the original text, but took many liberties with it. Thus, because of the often important changes introduced by the translators, it seems more appropriate to speak of Persian versions or adaptations rather than translations.

In the first part of this article the books belonging to this genre known to be extant are presented, with a brief look at their translations.
The Histories of Isfahan: Mafarrukhi's Kitāb Maḥāsin Iṣfahān
Authors: Paul Jürgen
Published: September 2011

The history of Isfahan in the pre-Mongol period has not yet received its due measure of scholarly attention; the focus of research has tended to be on the seventeenth century, when Isfahan was the brilliant capital of the Safavid empire. Nonetheless, it is quite evident that the city was, in pre-Mongol times, no less brilliant a center of Islamic culture as articulated in both Arabic and Persian. No book-length study on the city's earlier history is known to me. This article does not aim to fill this gap, but to follow the theme of the present issue which is historiography rather than history. It focuses on the “history” of Isfahan written by Mufaddal b. Saᶜd b. al-Husayn al-Mafarrukhi al-Isfahani, Kitāb maḥāsin Iṣfahān.2 The work was written most probably between 1072 and 1092. Nothing is known about the author except that he came from a respected Isfahani family with many generations of learning and nobility behind it.
Local Historiography in Early Medieval Iran and theTārīkh-i Bayhaq
Authors: Pourshariati Parvaneh
Published: September 2011

During the medieval period iran produced one of the richest repertoires of local histories in the Islamic world. Ibn Funduq, the author of the local history of Bayhaq studied here, enumerates 15 local histories of Khurasan alone. These include three local histories of Marv by al-ᶜAbbas b. Musᶜab b. Bishr, Abu'l-Hasan Ahmad b. Sayyar (198-268/814-881), and Abu'l-ᶜAbbas b. Saᶜid al-Maᶜdani (d. 375/986). (al-Sakhawi calls Musᶜab b. Bishr's work a “history of (the city).“) To these Ibn Funduq adds two local histories of Herat by Abu Ishaq Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Yunis (?) al-Bazzaz and Abu Ishaq Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Saᶜid al-Haddad. (Sakhawi, apparently confused, attributes both histories to Abu Ishaq Muhammad b. Yasin al-Harawi al-Haddad); aTārīkh-i Bukhārā va Samarqandby Saᶜd b. Janah; two histories of Khwarazm by al-Sari b. Dalwiya and Abu ᶜAbdallah Muhammad b. Saᶜid respectively; a history of Balkh by Abu ᶜAbdallah Muhammad b. ᶜAqil al-Faqih;
Who is eligible for free school meals? Characterising free school meals as a measure of disadvantage in England
Authors: Gorard Stephen
Published: September 2011

This paper presents a description of the background characteristics and attainment profile of pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) in England, and of those missing a value for this variable. Free school meal eligibility is a measure of low parental income, widely used in social policy research as an individual indicator of potential disadvantage. It is routinely treated as context for judging both individual and school‐level attainment, as an indicator of school composition, and has been proposed as the basis for the pupil premium funding policy for schools. Knowledge of the quality, reach and limitations of FSM as an indicator is therefore fundamental to accurate decision‐making in a number of important areas. This paper uses a national dataset of all pupils (PLASC) for 2007. It looks at the relationship between different indicators of pupil background and attainment to help decide how useful FSM remains in relation to its suggested alternatives, and how to handle the crucial question of missing data and to describe more fully than previously the national picture of who is eligible for free school meals. The results show that, while the distinction between take‐up and eligibility has been eroded, FSM remains a useful and clear stratifying variable for pupil attainment patterns in school, linked to type of school attended, school mobility, living in care, special needs, first language and minority ethnic group. The pupils missing FSM values fall into two groups, based largely on their type of school and how long they have been there. One group attends fee‐paying schools and is most similar to non‐FSM pupils elsewhere and could be aggregated with them in future analyses that do not want to omit them. The remaining missing FSM pupils form a deprived and perhaps super‐deprived group. These should not be omitted, nor assumed to be like non‐FSM pupils, as currently happens in official school performance figures in England in a way that disadvantages schools with very deprived intakes. The proposal here is that missing FSM pupils in state‐funded institutions should be treated in future as a third distinct group. If these issues about missing data are resolved, and other limitations accepted, FSM remains a better indicator of low socioeconomic status than the current alternatives discussed in the paper.
Measuring students’ transition into university and its association with learning outcomes
Authors: Pampaka Maria , Williams Julian , Hutcheson Graeme
Published: September 2011

Previously we showed how we measured pedagogy and revealed its association with learning outcomes of sixth‐form college mathematics students. In this project we followed a similar approach to the study of university transition. We particularly sought to identify the students’ perceptions of the transitional experience, and measure the association with learning outcomes. We drew on longitudinal surveys of students entering different programmes in five universities. Following them into their first year or so, allowed us to track their ‘disposition to complete the course’ and their ‘disposition to study more mathematics’, inter alia. We developed and validated two ‘fit‐for‐purpose’ measures of students’ perception of their transition, one we call ‘perception of the transitional gap/jump’ and one we call ‘degree of positive feeling about the transition’. We report some statistically and educationally significant associations between these and the students’ developing dispositions, and discuss the prospects for this approach to studying transition.
When Inverted Faces are Recognized: The Role of Configural Information in Face Recognition
Authors: Leder Helmut , Bruce Vicki
Published: September 2011

The identification of upright faces seems to involve a special sensitivity to “configural” information, the processing of which is less effective when the face is inverted. However the precise meaning of “configural” remains unclear. Five experiments are presented, which showed that the disruption of the processing of relational, rather than holistic, information largely determines the occurrence as well as the size of the face-inversion effect. In Experiment 1, faces could be identified either by unique combinations of local information (e.g. a specific eye colour plus hair colour) or by unique relational information (e.g. nose-mouth distance). The former showed no inversion effect, whereas the latter did. A combination of local and relational information (Experiment 2) again produced an inversion effect, although this effect was smaller than that found when only relational information was used. The results were replicated in Experiment 3 when differences in the brightness of local features were used instead of specific colour combinations. Experiment 4 used different retrieval conditions to distinguish relational from holistic processing, and demonstrated again that spatial relations between single features appeared to provide crucial information for face recognition. In Experiment 5, the importance of relational information was confirmed using faces that also varied in the shapes of local features.
The Processing of Interlexical Homographs in Translation Recognition and Lexical Decision: Support for Non-Selective Access to Bilingual Memory
Authors: de Groot Annette M.B. , Delmaar Philip , Lupker Stephen J.
Published: September 2011

In three experiments we looked at the processing of interlexical homographs by Dutch-English bilinguals. In Experiment 1 we employed the translation recognition task, a task that forces the participants to activate both language systems simultaneously. In this task the processing of interlexical homographs was inhibited substantially compared to the processing of matched control words, especially when the homograph reading to be selected was the less frequent of the homograph's two readings. In Experiments 2 and 3 we used the lexical decision task: In one condition we asked the participants to categorize letter strings as words or nonwords in Dutch; in a second condition we asked them to do so in English. The makeup of the stimulus set in Experiment 2 permitted the participants to ignore the instructions and to instantiate the task in a language-neutral form—that is, to categorize the letter strings as words in either Dutch or English. Under these circumstances a small, frequency-dependent inhibitory effect for homographs was obtained, but only in condition Dutch. In Experiment 3 the participants were forced in a language-specific processing mode by the inclusion of “nonwords” that were in fact words in the non-target language. Large frequency-dependent inhibitory effects for homographs were now obtained in both language conditions. The combined results are interpreted as support for the view that bilingual lexical access is non-selective.
Manipulations of Irrelevant Information: Suffix Effects with Articulatory Suppression and Irrelevant Speech
Authors: Surprenant Aimee M. , LeCompte Denny C. , Neath Ian
Published: September 2011

Numerous studies have demonstrated impaired recall when the to-be-remembered information is accompanied or followed by irrelevant information. However, no current theory of immediate memory explains all three common methods of manipulating irrelevant information: requiring concurrent articulation, presenting irrelevant speech, and adding a stimulus suffix. Five experiments combined these manipulations to determine how they interact and which theoretical framework most accurately and completely accounts for the data. In Experiments 1 and 2, a list of auditory items was followed by an irrelevant speech sound (the suffix) while subjects engaged in articulatory suppression. Although articulatory suppression reduced overall recall compared to a control condition, comparable suffix effects were seen in both conditions. Experiments 3 and 4 found reliable suffix effects when list presentation was accompanied by irrelevant speech. Experiment 5 found a suffix effect even when the irrelevant speech was composed of a set of different items. Implications for working memory, pre-categorical acoustic store, the changing-state hypothesis, and the feature model are discussed.
The Rhyming Skills of Deaf Children Educated with Phonetically Augmented Speechreading
Authors: Charlier Brigitte L. , Leybaert Jacqueline
Published: September 2011

Two experiments investigated whether profoundly deaf children's rhyming ability was determined by the linguistic input that they were exposed to in their early childhood. Children educated with Cued Speech (CS) were compared to other deaf children, educated orally or with sign language. In CS, speechreading is combined with manual cues that disambiguate it. The central hypothesis is that CS allows deaf children to develop accurate phonological representations, which, in turn, assist in the emergence of accurate rhyming abilities. Experiment 1 showed that the deaf children educated early with CS performed better at rhyme judgement than did other deaf children. The performance of early CS-users was not influenced by word spelling. Experiment 2 confirmed this result in a rhyme generation task. Taken together, results support the hypothesis that rhyming ability depends on early exposure to a linguistic input specifying all phonological contrasts, independently of the modality (visual or auditory) in which this input is perceived.
The Acquisition of Odour Qualities
Authors: Stevenson Richard J.
Published: September 2011

Odours can evoke a large range of qualities. Some of these qualities (e.g., sweetness) appear to be acquired through simultaneously experiencing odours mixed with tastes. Acquisition might also occur when two odours are experienced as a mixture. In this case mixture components might acquire each other's qualities. This was tested in two experiments. In the first, subjects repeatedly sniffed two odour mixtures (either AX, BY or AY, BX). Odours mixed with A acquired A's properties and were judged more similar to A than to B. Odours mixed with B were not clearly discriminable. The second experiment used a similar approach except that Odour B was replaced. Subjects now smelled either AX, CY or AY, CX. All components were discriminable. Odours mixed with A acquired A's properties and were judged more similar to A than to C. Although odours mixed with C did not acquire C's qualities due to a confusion of quality terms, odours previously mixed with C were judged as more similar to C than to A. Evidence of other quality exchanges were also obtained. These results suggest that pure odour qualities can be learnt and lend support to William James's (1890) notion of the acquired equivalence/distinctiveness of cues.
Best Face Forward: Similarity Effects in Repetition Priming of Face Recognition
Authors: Johnston Robert A. , Barry Chris
Published: September 2011

Two experiments examined the graded similarity effect in the repetition priming of familiar face recognition. From the model of repetition priming proposed by Burton, Bruce, and Johnston (1990) it was predicted that similarity effects may be a confound of stimulus preparation. Experiment 1 was used to discount this hypothesis, but failed to replicate a pattern of graded priming related to the similarity of prime and target faces. Experiment 2 attempted a more extensive investigation using two different measures of prime-target similarity. The results replicated Ellis, Young, Flude, and Hay's (1987) finding that similar primes confer more priming than dissimilar ones, but found no correlation between amount of priming and the degree of prime-target resemblance for either similarity metric used. In view of these findings the mechanism of repetition priming in familiar face recognition is discussed.
Telomere length analysis in crustacean species: Metapenaeus macleayi, Sagmariasus verreauxi, and Jasus edwardsii
Authors: Godwin Rosamond M. , Frusher Stewart , Montgomery Steven S. , Ovenden Jennifer
Published: September 2011

Godwin, R. M., Frusher, S., Montgomery, S. S., and Ovenden, J. 2011. Telomere length analysis in crustacean species: Metapenaeus macleayi, Sagmariasus verreauxi, and Jasus edwardsii. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 2053–2058. Estimates of age and growth in crustaceans have been historically problematic and presented significant challenges to researchers. Current techniques of age determination provide valuable data, but also suffer from disadvantages. Telomeric DNA has been proposed as an age biomarker because it shortens with age in some species. In this study, the feasibility of using telomere length (TL) to estimate age was examined in the school prawn Metapenaeus macleayi and the spiny lobsters Sagmariasus verreauxi and Jasus edwardsii. Carapace length (CL) was used as a surrogate for age, and terminal restriction fragment assays were used to test the relationship between TL and size. Degradation of telomeric DNA with time during storage significantly influenced TL estimates, particularly for M. macleayi. TLs obtained from species in this study were 10–20 kb. No relationship between CL and TL was detected for any of the test species, and TL did not differ between male and female M. macleayi. TLs of J. edwardsii pueruli were unexpectedly shorter than those of J. edwardsii adults. The suitability of TL as an age biomarker in crustaceans may be limited, but further research is needed to elucidate telomere dynamics in these species with their different life histories and lifespans.
Vectors for improved Tet repressor-dependent gradual gene induction or silencing in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Helle Leonie , Kull Melanie , Mayer Sonja , Marincola Gabriella , Zelder Marc-Eric , Goerke Christiane , Wolz Christiane , Bertram Ralph
Published: September 2011

A set of vectors for improved tetracycline-dependent gene regulation inStaphylococcus aureusis presented. Plasmid pRAB11 was generated from pRMC2 by adding a secondtetoperator within the TetR-regulated promoter Pxyl/tet. Pronounced repression was observed in the absence of anhydrotetracycline (ATc) combined with high induction in the presence of the drug, as demonstrated for pRAB11 bearing staphylococcal nucleasenuc1,lacZorgfp. Also, in plasmid pCG261, the pRAB11tetR–Pxyl/tetregulatory architecture permitted tight repression and a stepwise increase in transcript amounts of the target generny(putative RNase) correlated with rising ATc concentrations. Additionally, pRAB11-derived vectors harbouring semi-rationally designed Pxyl/tet-like fragments, mutated at up to six defined positions, were constructed. Sixteen mutant sequences with single to quadruple exchanges were analysed for transcriptional strength and ATc-dependent inducibility. A set of promoters with gradually decreased activities and improved repression is presented. Finally, the implementation of reverse TetRrevtetR-r2, which exhibits three amino acid exchanges and binds totetOin the presence of ATc, yielded an efficiently co-repressible vector within the pRAB11 system. Intriguingly,revtetRwas found to contain a fourth mutation only after propagation inS. aureus. We predict that the described vectors constitute valuable tools for staphylococcal genetics.
Dorsal and ventral striatal protein synthesis inhibition affect reinforcer valuation but not the consolidation of instrumental learning
Authors: Jonkman Sietse , Everitt Barry J.
Published: September 2011

The evidence for a role of the striatum in the acquisition of uncued instrumental responding is ambiguous. It has been shown that post-session infusions of anisomycin into the core of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) impaired instrumental acquisition, but pre-training lesions of the NAcc suggest that it is not necessary. Recently, we demonstrated that the infusion of anisomycin into the anterior cingulate cortex impaired instrumental acquisition indirectly through a taste aversion. Thus, we hypothesized that post-session anisomycin infusions into the NAcc affected instrumental acquisition through an effect on reinforcer valuation. For the dorsal striatum, both post-session infusions of anisomycin and pre-training lesion studies suggest that neither the dorsolateral nor the dorsomedial striatum is necessary for the acquisition of instrumental responding. However, it has not been attempted to block plasticity in both regions concurrently, and we hypothesized that both regions independently contribute to acquisition through goal-directed and habitual learning. In the current experiments, we first replicated the effect of unprotected post-session anisomycin infusions into the NAcc on instrumental acquisition. Subsequently, we investigated the effect of protein synthesis inhibition in the NAcc and dorsomedial and dorsolateral striatum concurrently on instrumental acquisition, critically controlling for effects on reinforcer valuation. The anisomycin infusions induced an aversive state, but did not affect instrumental acquisition.
Targeted Enhancement of Glutamate-to-γ-Aminobutyrate Conversion in Arabidopsis Seeds Affects Carbon-Nitrogen Balance and Storage Reserves in a Development-Dependent Manner
Authors: Fait Aaron , Nesi Adriano Nunes , Angelovici Ruthie , Lehmann Martin , Pham Phuong Anh , Song Luhua , Haslam Richard P. , Napier Johnathan A. , Galili Gad , Fernie Alisdair R.
Published: September 2011

In seeds, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) operates at the metabolic nexus between carbon and nitrogen metabolism by catalyzing the unidirectional decarboxylation of glutamate to form γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). To elucidate the regulatory role of GAD in seed development, we generated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transgenic plants expressing a truncated GAD from Petunia hybrida missing the carboxyl-terminal regulatory Ca2+-calmodulin-binding domain under the transcriptional regulation of the seed maturation-specific phaseolin promoter. Dry seeds of the transgenic plants accumulated considerable amounts of GABA, and during desiccation the content of several amino acids increased, although not glutamate or proline. Dry transgenic seeds had higher protein content than wild-type seeds but lower amounts of the intermediates of glycolysis, glycerol and malate. The total fatty acid content of the transgenic seeds was 50% lower than in the wild type, while acyl-coenzyme A accumulated in the transgenic seeds. Labeling experiments revealed altered levels of respiration in the transgenic seeds, and fractionation studies indicated reduced incorporation of label in the sugar and lipid fractions extracted from transgenic seeds. Comparative transcript profiling of the dry seeds supported the metabolic data. Cellular processes up-regulated at the transcript level included the tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid elongation, the shikimate pathway, tryptophan metabolism, nitrogen-carbon remobilization, and programmed cell death. Genes involved in the regulation of germination were similarly up-regulated. Taken together, these results indicate that the GAD-mediated conversion of glutamate to GABA during seed development plays an important role in balancing carbon and nitrogen metabolism and in storage reserve accumulation.
Smoothness of chewing jaw movements in adults with mandibular prognathism
Authors: YASHIRO K. , TAKAGI M. , TAKADA K.
Published: September 2011

Summary  Indices such as smoothness, movement time, peak velocity, and symmetry of the velocity profile have been shown to be effective in explaining the degree of skilfulness of human saccadic eye, limb, and jaw motions. We investigated whether adult subjects with mandibular prognathism show impaired smoothness of the masticatory jaw movements. Forty‐nine adults with skeletal Class III malocclusions and 52 healthy adults with acceptably good occlusions were selected respectively as Test and Control subjects. Subjects of the Test Group were subdivided into two groups: Class IIIclosed showed full occlusal contact between the upper and lower teeth at the habitual intercuspal position, whereas Class IIIopen showed inability of occlusal contact between the upper and lower anterior teeth. Each subject was asked to chew a piece of chewing gum. The normalised jerk‐cost (NJC), movement duration, and tangential velocity profile during jaw‐closing movements were compared between groups. Test Groups showed greater NJC (P < 0·01) with longer movement duration (P < 0·01) and lower peak velocity (P < 0·01) than the Control Group did. Class IIIclosed showed greater NJC (P < 0·01) with longer movement duration (P < 0·01) and lower peak velocity (P < 0·01) than Class IIIopen did. Results show that the mandibular movements made by the Test Groups exhibit lower skilfulness than those made by the Control Group. The jaw movement skilfulness of the prognathic patients decreases most drastically with existence of malocclusal contact between upper and lower anterior teeth.
Late endosomal Rab7 regulates lysosomal trafficking of endocytic but not biosynthetic cargo in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Silverman Jason S. , Schwartz Kevin J. , Hajduk Stephen L. , Bangs James D.
Published: September 2011

We present the first functional analysis of the small GTPase, TbRab7, in Trypanosoma brucei. TbRab7 defines discrete late endosomes closely juxtaposed to the terminal p67+ lysosome. RNAi indicates that TbRab7 is essential in bloodstream trypanosomes. Initial rates of endocytosis were unaffected, but lysosomal delivery of cargo, including tomato lectin (TL) and trypanolytic factor (TLF) were blocked. These accumulate in a dispersed internal compartment of elevated pH, likely derived from the late endosome. Surface binding of TL but not TLF was reduced, suggesting that cellular distribution of flagellar pocket receptors is differentially regulated by TbRab7. TLF activity was reduced approximately threefold confirming that lysosomal delivery is critical for trypanotoxicity. Unexpectedly, delivery of endogenous proteins, p67 and TbCatL, were unaffected indicating that TbRab7 does not regulate biosynthetic lysosomal trafficking. Thus, unlike mammalian cells and yeast, lysosomal trafficking of endocytosed and endogenous proteins occur via different routes and/or are regulated differentially. TbRab7 silencing had no effect on a cryptic default pathway to the lysosome, suggesting that the default lysosomal reporters p67ΔTM, p67ΔCD and VSGΔGPI do not utilize the endocytic pathway as previously proposed. Surprisingly, conditional knockout indicates that TbRab7 may be non‐essential in procyclic insect form trypanosomes.
Greater antioxidant and respiratory metabolism in field‐grown soybean exposed to elevated O3under both ambient and elevated CO2
Authors: GILLESPIE KELLY M. , XU FANGXIU , RICHTER KATHERINE T. , MCGRATH JUSTIN M. , MARKELZ R. J. CODY , ORT DONALD R. , LEAKEY ANDREW D. B. , AINSWORTH ELIZABETH A.
Published: September 2011

Antioxidant metabolism is responsive to environmental conditions, and is proposed to be a key component of ozone (O3) tolerance in plants. Tropospheric O3concentration ([O3]) has doubled since the Industrial Revolution and will increase further if precursor emissions rise as expected over this century. Additionally, atmospheric CO2concentration ([CO2]) is increasing at an unprecedented rate and will surpass 550 ppm by 2050. This study investigated the molecular, biochemical and physiological changes in soybean exposed to elevated [O3] in a background of ambient [CO2] and elevated [CO2] in the field. Previously, it has been difficult to demonstrate any link between antioxidant defences and O3stress under field conditions. However, this study used principle components analysis to separate variability in [O3] from variability in other environmental conditions (temperature, light and relative humidity). Subsequent analysis of covariance determined that soybean antioxidant metabolism increased with increasing [O3], in both ambient and elevated [CO2]. The transcriptional response was dampened at elevated [CO2], consistent with lower stomatal conductance and lower O3flux into leaves. Energetically expensive increases in antioxidant metabolism and tetrapyrrole synthesis at elevated [O3] were associated with greater transcript levels of enzymes involved in respiratory metabolism.
Light‐harvesting antenna composition controls the macrostructure and dynamics of thylakoid membranes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Goral Tomasz K. , Johnson Matthew P. , Duffy Christopher D. P. , Brain Anthony P. R. , Ruban Alexander V. , Mullineaux Conrad W.
Published: September 2011

We characterized a set of Arabidopsis mutants deficient in specific light‐harvesting proteins, using freeze‐fracture electron microscopy to probe the organization of complexes in the membrane and confocal fluorescence recovery after photobleaching to probe the dynamics of thylakoid membranes within intact chloroplasts. The same methods were used to characterize mutants lacking or over‐expressing PsbS, a protein related to light‐harvesting complexes that appears to play a role in regulation of photosynthetic light harvesting. We found that changes in the complement of light‐harvesting complexes and PsbS have striking effects on the photosystem II macrostructure, and that these effects correlate with changes in the mobility of chlorophyll proteins within the thylakoid membrane. The mobility of chlorophyll proteins was found to correlate with the extent of photoprotective non‐photochemical quenching, consistent with the idea that non‐photochemical quenching involves extensive re‐organization of complexes in the membrane. We suggest that a key feature of the physiological function of PsbS is to decrease the formation of ordered semi‐crystalline arrays of photosystem II in the low‐light state. Thus the presence of PsbS leads to an increase in the fluidity of the membrane, accelerating the re‐organization of the photosystem II macrostructure that is necessary for induction of non‐photochemical quenching.
Estimation of base temperature for Sorghum halepense rhizome sprouting
Authors: LODDO D , MASIN R , OTTO S , ZANIN G
Published: September 2011

Loddo D, Masin R, Otto S & Zanin G (2011). Estimation of base temperature for Sorghum halepense rhizome sprouting. Weed Research 52, 42–49.

Sorghum halepense is a rhizomatous perennial summer weed. It spreads by seeds and rhizomes that form ramets. The development of predictive models for ramet emergence (RE) from rhizomes may provide important information about their seasonal dynamics and consequently for the timing of control operations. The aim of this work was to analyse the effect of temperature on S. halepense rhizome sprouting (RS) and to estimate its base temperature, which is the first step for creating mathematical models to predict RE. Rhizomes collected from two North Italian populations were incubated at several constant temperatures. The total number of ramets, sprouted rhizomes and their ratio (ramet/sprouted rhizome) were calculated. The influence of temperature on sprouting performances was analysed. Base temperature was calculated using two methods: the reciprocal time of 50% RS (method) and RE (method). Confidence limits (at 0.95 level) were defined for each estimated base temperature using a bootstrap method. Base temperatures were compared to verify whether there were differences between populations and methods. Results indicated a significant stimulating effect of temperature on S. halepense rhizome performances. Estimated base temperatures did not differ between populations, nor between methods within a population (Padova RS 9.7 ± 1.25°C (confidence limits), RE 10.0 ± 1.28°C, Mantova RS 8.0 ± 1.89°C and RE 9.7 ± 1.23°C). The same thresholds may consequently be adopted for thermal time models for the two populations. These results also suggest that both methods (RE and RS) can be used without distinction to estimate the rhizome base temperature.
Multiple extramedullary relapses without bone marrow involvement after second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Yoo Sang Woo , Chung Eun Jin , Kim Sun Young , Ko Jeong Hee , Baek Hey Sung , Lee Hyun Ju , Oh Sung Hee , Jeon Seok Cheol , Lee Woong Soo , Park Chan Kum , Lee Chul Hoon
Published: September 2011

Yoo SW, Chung EJ, Kim SY, Ko JH, Baek HS, Lee HJ, Oh SH, Jeon SC, Lee WS, Park CK, Lee CH. Multiple extramedullary relapses without bone marrow involvement after second allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia.

Abstract:  EMR without BM involvement after allogeneic HSCT is extremely rare, especially in children; only a few cases have been reported. A two‐yr‐old boy was diagnosed with AML (M4) and underwent allogeneic HSCT in first complete remission with BM from HLA‐matched unrelated donor without GVHD. Four yr later, he had a BM relapse and after induction and consolidation chemotherapy, he received a second HSCT from an unrelated donor using peripheral blood stem cells. His second post‐transplant course was complicated by extensive chronic GVHD involving the skin, oral cavity, and lungs, which was treated with tacrolimus and corticosteroid. Two yr later, he noticed a mild swelling in the right cheek area. The BM showed a complete remission marrow and a soft tissue biopsy was compatible with granulocytic sarcoma. PET‐CT showed multifocal bone involvements. He received chemotherapy, and the chloromas decreased in size. We report a case of diffuse EMR of AML without BM involvement after a second allogeneic HSCT.
Pediatric liver retransplantation from living donors can be considered as a therapeutic option for patients with irreversible living donor graft failure
Authors: Urahashi T. , Mizuta K. , Sanada Y , Wakiya T. , Umehara M. , Hishikawa S. , Hyodo M. , Sakuma Y. , Fujiwara T. , Yasuda Y. , Kawarasaki H.
Published: September 2011

Urahashi T, Mizuta K, Sanada Y, Wakiya T, Umehara M, Hishikawa S, Hyodo M, Sakuma Y, Fujiwara T, Yasuda Y, Kawarasaki H. Pediatric liver retransplantation from living donors can be considered as a therapeutic option for patients with irreversible living donor graft failure. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: 798–803. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  Liver retransplantation (re‐LT) is required in patients with irreversible graft failure, but it is a significant issue that remains medically, ethically, and economically controversial, especially in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome, morbidity, mortality, safety and prognostic factors to improve the outcome of pediatric living donor liver retransplantation (re‐LDLT). Six of 172 children that underwent LDLT between January 2001 and March 2010 received a re‐LDLT and one received a second re‐LDLT. The overall re‐LDLT rate was 3.5%. All candidates had re‐LDLT after the initial LDLT. The overall actuarial survival of these patients was 83.3% and 83.3% at one and five yr, respectively. These rates are significantly worse than the rates of pediatric first LDLT. Vascular complications occurred in four patients and were successfully treated by interventional radiologic therapy. There were no post‐operative biliary complications. One case expired because of hemophagocytic syndrome after re‐LDLT. Although pediatric re‐LDLT is medically, ethically, and economically controversial, it is a feasible option and should be offered to children with irreversible graft failure. Further investigations, including multicenter studies, are therefore essential to identify any prognostic factors that may improve the present poor outcome after re‐LDLT.
The 2‐week wait referral system does not improve 5‐year colorectal cancer survival
Authors: Zafar A. , Mak T. , Whinnie S. , Chapman M. A. S.
Published: September 2011

Aim  The aim of this study was to compare 5‐year survival rates in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who underwent potentially curative surgery before and after the introduction of the 2‐week wait (2WW) referral system.

Method  Data were collected retrospectively from a prospectively maintained cancer database for CRC patients who underwent surgery in 1999 (pre‐2WW group, n = 150) and 2002 (post‐2WW group, n = 126). Patients who presented as an emergency, those who died within 30 days of surgery and those who presented with incurable CRC were excluded. We used the Kaplan–Meier method to plot survival curves and the log rank test to compare survival rates between the two groups.

Results  The 5‐year survival rates in the pre‐2WW and post‐2WW groups did not differ significantly (71%vs 72%, respectively; P = 0.880). The number of CRC patients who presented via urgent pathways was higher in the post‐2WW group than in the pre‐2WW group (77%vs 38%, P < 0.001). Further, owing to this change in the referral pattern, the overall delay between referral and treatment was significantly lower in the post‐2WW group than in the pre‐2WW group (median 76 days vs 115, P = 0.009).

Conclusion  The 2WW referral system for patients with symptoms of CRC does not translate into improved survival. However, more patients with symptomatic CRC are being referred via urgent pathways.
Low rates of local recurrence after surgical resection of rectal cancer suggest a selective policy for preoperative radiotherapy
Authors: Senapati A. , O’Leary D. P. , Flashman K. G. , Parvaiz A. , Thompson M. R.
Published: September 2011

Aim  Preoperative short‐course radiotherapy (SCRT) is increasingly recommended to reduce local recurrence after surgery for rectal cancer. Its avoidance may be beneficial, however, if the risk of local recurrence is low. We report a single centre experience which suggests that selective rather than uniform use of SCRT may be the best approach.

Method  Analysis was carried out on a prospectively collected unselected series of 1606 patients with rectal cancer treated in one centre. Follow‐up was 97% complete. SCRT was performed selectively and all patients had a mesorectal excision.

Results  Among 940 patients undergoing a potentially curative major resection the operative mortality was 4.6%, the permanent stoma rate 23% and the crude 5‐year survival 61%. The local recurrence rate after curative anterior resection was 2.9% and 7.7% after abdominoperineal excision. The overall local recurrence rate after a potentially curative major resection was 4.0%.

Conclusion  The routine use of preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer is probably not justified where local recurrence after curative rectal resection is uncommon.
Porphyrins are not present in feline ocular tissues or corneal sequestra
Authors: Newkirk Kim M. , Hendrix Diane V. H. , Keller Rachel L.
Published: September 2011

Objective To determine if feline lacrimal glands, glands of the third eyelid, corneas, and corneal sequestra contain porphyrins, which could be responsible for the brown/amber discoloration of corneal sequestra and tears in affected cats.

Procedures Samples of grossly normal cornea, lacrimal gland, gland of the third eyelid, and sequestra obtained via keratectomy were collected. Porphyrin concentrations of the homogenate were determined by spectrofluorometry with protoporphyrin IX and coproporphyrin III dihydrochloride used as standards. A hamster harderian gland was used as a positive control.

Results Normal tissues were harvested from one eye each of 14 nonclient owned, adult, mixed‐breed, short‐hair cats euthanized for reasons not associated with this study. Eighteen sequestra were acquired from cats undergoing unilateral lamellar keratectomies. Breeds of the affected cats included eight Himalayan, five domestic shorthair, and one each of four other breeds. Only the positive control and standards contained levels of porphyrins above background. All feline samples examined were histologically normal with no evidence of porphyrins.

Conclusions Porphyrins are absent in normal feline lacrimal glands, corneas, and corneal sequestra. Porphyrins do not appear to be the cause of the brown/amber color of feline corneal sequestra.
Intracranial meningioma causing partial amaurosis in a cat
Authors: Goulle Frédéric , Meige Frédéric , Durieux Franck , Malet Christophe , Toulza Olivier , Isard Pierre‐François , Peiffer Robert L. , Dulaurent Thomas
Published: September 2011

Objective To describe a case of intracranial meningioma causing visual impairment in a cat, successfully treated by surgery.

Procedures An adult neutered male domestic cat was referred with a 10‐month history of progressive visual impairment and altered behavior. Investigations included physical, ophthalmologic and neurological examinations as well as hematology, serum biochemistry and CT scan of the head.

Results The menace response was absent in the left eye and decreased in the right eye. Electroretinograms were normal on both eyes, as was ophthalmic examination, ruling out an ocular cause and allowing a presumptive diagnosis of partial amaurosis due to a post‐retinal lesion. CT scan demonstrated a large sessile extra axial mass along the right parietal bone and thickening of the adjacent bone. Cerebrospinal fluid was not collected because high intracranial pressure represented a risk for brain herniation. A right rostrotentorial craniectomy was performed to remove the tumor. Ten days after surgery, vision was improved, neurological examination was normal and normal behavior was restored. Ten months after surgery, ophthalmological examination showed no visual deficit and CT scan did not reveal any sign of recurrence.

Conclusion Advanced imaging techniques allow veterinarians to detect early cerebral diseases and to provide specific treatment when it is possible. In cases of feline amaurosis due to intracranial meningioma, the vital prognosis is good while the visual prognosis is more uncertain, but recovery of normal vision and normal behavior is possible as demonstrated in the present case.
Successful treatment of distichiasis in a cat using transconjunctival electrocautery
Authors: Reinstein Shelby L. , Gross Stephen L. , Komáromy András M.
Published: September 2011

A 2‐year‐old male castrated Domestic Short‐haired cat presented to the Ophthalmology Service at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania for evaluation of chronic bilateral ocular discharge and blepharospasm. Initial ophthalmic examination revealed severe conjunctivitis and keratitis and the presence of upper eyelid distichiae bilaterally. Initial therapy for suspected feline herpesviral infection provided moderate, but not complete, resolution of the clinical signs. Over the subsequent year, the cat suffered from recurrent, severe, ulcerative keratitis in both eyes despite appropriate medical therapy. Approximately 13 months after the initial presentation, the distichiae were surgically removed using transconjunctival electrocautery, which resulted in complete resolution of the clinical signs. This report documents bilateral distichiasis in a cat, a condition that is considered rare in this species.