bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distribution and Basic Biology of Black Cherry-Infesting Rhagoletis (Diptera: Tephritidae) in México
Authors: Rull Juan , Aluja Martin , Feder Jeffrey L
Published: March 2011

To better understand the phylogeography of Rhagoletis flies in the cingulata species group, we conducted a seven year host plant survey in México, behavioral observations, and studies on the basic biology of these tephritids. The survey revealed the existence of two geographically isolated Rhagoletis cingulata (Loew) populations in México. The first population was found to be restricted to Prunus serotina ssp. capuli (Cav.) McVaugh in an area within the central dry Altiplano spanning from Tlaxcala to México City and neighboring parts of the States of México, Puebla, and Hidalgo. The second population was found to infest Prunus serotina ssp. virens (Wooton & Standl.) McVaugh in high elevation areas of northeastern México between San Luis Potosí and Coahuila along the Sierra Madre Oriental. Both populations were hosts to the parasitoid Diachasmimorpha mellea (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with percentage parasitism varying across sites. Collections of P. s. ssp. capuli and Prunus serotina Ehrh. ssp. serotina across the Eje Volcanico Trans Mexicano, the Sierra Madre del Sur, the Sierra de los Altos de Chiapas and mesic areas of the Sierra Madre Oriental between Veracruz and Queretaro failed to yield any pupae. Sites where pupae were recovered were significantly dryer than sites where R. cingulata was not found. Recovered flies were found to be univoltine and to overwinter as pupae. Adults in the field in Tlaxcala (Central Altiplano) were mainly sighted guarding, mating, and ovipositing in green fruit. Larval yield of fruit collected outside the natural area of distribution, and exposed to flies in the laboratory, was significantly lower than that of fruit collected within the natural range of R. cingulata. We compare distribution patterns with those of other species in the genus and discuss hypotheses to explain the outcome.
First Record of a Gynandromorph Orchid Bee,Euglossa iopoecila(Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini)
Authors: Giangarelli D C , Sofia S H
Published: March 2011

This is a first description of a gynandromorph of an orchid bee, Euglossa iopoecila Dressier (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Euglossini). The specimen was collected at a chemical bait (eugenol) in an Atlantic Forest remnant in southern Brazil and shows a partial, bilateral asymmetry, with the right and left halves of the head displaying predominantly female and male characteristics, respectively. Except for the three left legs that show male morphology and a tuft of hairs detected only in the left side of second metasomal sternum (S2), the mesosoma and the metasoma exhibit female characteristics. The gynandromorph described here belongs to the mosaic or mixed category, because male and female characteristics are distributed patchily throughout the body of this individual. The main external morphological characteristics of the gynander are left and right antennae with 12 articles (like females), a mesosoma presenting a scutellar tuft (absent in males of this species), and a metasoma with six terga and six sterna that tapers to a point. Bilateral asymmetry in both metatibia is also noticeable: a normal corbicula is present in the right hind tibia, whereas the left hindleg brings a conspicuous deformation next to the tibial slit.
Two Cryptic Species in Brontispa longissima (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): Evidence from Mitochondrial DNA Analysis and Crosses between the Two Nominal Species
Authors: Takano Shun-Ichiro , Mochizuki Atsushi , Konishi Kazuhiko , Takasu Keiji , Alouw Jelfina C , Pandin Donata S , Nakamura Satoshi
Published: March 2011

The beetle Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a serious invasive pest of the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera I., in Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. Genetic analysis is essential to ecological and evolutionary study of such invasive species. We therefore conducted molecular analyses by using partial sequences (1044 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes of B. longissima collected from several locations. We found two monophyletic groups: one distributed over a limited area (Australia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Sumba Island; referred to as the Pacific group) and the other collected from a wide area of Asia and the Pacific region (referred to as the Asian group). We compared the biological and morphological traits of the two groups. We found that insects in the Pacific group had a shorter developmental time from hatching to adult emergence, produced fewer eggs, and had a larger adult body size than insects in the Asian group. Elytral color patterns did not differ between the two groups. Our interpopulation crosses produced significantly fewer progeny than intrapopulation crosses, suggesting that B. longissima represents two cryptic species.
Analysis of Mitotic and Polytene Chromosomes and Photographic Polytene Chromosome Maps inBactrocera cucurbitae(Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Zacharopoulou A , Sayed WAA , Augustinos A A , Yesmin F , Robinson A S , Franz G
Published: March 2011

We report here a cytogenetic analysis of the melon fly, Bactrocera Cucurbitae, Coquillett (Diptera: Tephritidae), a species of significant agricultural importance. The mitotic karyotype and detailed photographic maps of the larval salivary gland polytene chromosomes of the species are presented. The mitotic karyotype consists of six pairs of chromosomes including one pair of heteromorphic sex (XX/XY) chromosomes. The heterogametic sex is ascribed to the male. The analysis of polytene chromosomes has shown a total number of five long polytene elements (10 polytene arms) that correspond to the five autosomes. The characteristic features and the most prominent landmarks of each polytene chromosome are presented. The proposed chromosomal homology between B. Cucurbitae and Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), was determined by comparing chromosome banding patterns. The detection of heterozygous chromosome inversions in two strains is shown and discussed. The current study provides workable polytene chromosome maps of the species and compares our results with previous reports. We show that these maps can be used for cytogenetic studies in the species and for comparative studies among the tephritid species. They also can support the development of control methods and clarify the taxonomic status of B. cucurbitae.
Morphology and Development of a Termite Endoparasitoid Misotermes mindeni (Diptera: Phoridae)
Authors: Foo Foong-Kuan , Othman Ahmad Sofiman , Lee Chow-Yang
Published: March 2011

The morphology and developmental stages of Misotermes mindeni Disney & Neoh (Diptera: Phoridae), a newly described endoparasitoid of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen) (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae) were studied, and biometric descriptors of eggs, larvae, and pupae were recorded. The larvae of M. mindeni exhibit three larval stages. Larvae complete their first instar development in fourth larval instars and major presoldiers, whereas the second and third instars develop entirely in major soldiers' head capsule and abdomen, respectively. The second instar can be readily differentiated from the first by the presence of a posterior spiracular base and more defined body segments, and the third instar can be discriminated from the second by the presence of respiratory horns and a well-developed posterior spiracular base. Differentiation of the larval instars is further supported by morphometric measurements. The first instar moves freely within the host's body cavity and head capsule, whereas the last two instars remain in the host's head capsule and abdomen, respectively. Termite developmental stages were used as a model to determine the developmental time of M. mindeni larvae. Duration between the first and second instars was 19.00 ± 2.28 d and between second and third instars was 36.88 ± 5.17 d. It took the third instar, 0.53 ± 0.08 d to reach pupation. The pupal stage lasted for an average of 13.51 ± 0.74 d. Mean adult longevity was 1.47 ± 0.57 d and 3.00 ± 0.98 d for females and males, respectively. Longevity of males was significantly longer than that of females.
Murgantia thomasi, a New Species of Stink Bug from the Dominican Republic (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: McPherson J E , Ahmad Imtiaz
Published: March 2011

We describe a new species of stink bug, Murgantia thomasi (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), from the Dominican Republic. Diagnostic characters include both external anatomy and the male and female genitalia.
Surface Activity of the Xylophagous CockroachCryptocercus punctulatus(Dictyoptera: Cryptocercidae) Based on Collections from Pitfall Traps
Authors: Nalepa C A , Grayson K L
Published: March 2011

Little information is available on the extra-log movement patterns of Cryptocercus punctulatus Scudder (Dictyoptera: Cryptocercidae), despite its key taxonomic position as a member of the xylophagous cockroach family that is sister group to termites. We conducted a field study in which individuals of C. punctulatus were collected from pitfall traps checked daily for 7 mo on the grounds of Mountain Lake Biological Station, VA. In total, 50 large nymphs, subadults, and adults of both sexes were captured, with adult activity strongest from midsummer through autumn. Surface activity seems unrelated to rainfall. The female-to-male sex ratio of trapped cockroaches was 2:1 overall and 1.5:1 in adults. Nymphs do not begin exploring outside of natal logs until they are at least half grown and significantly pigmented and sclerotized. Dissections of adult females indicated that more than half captured outside of logs (56%) had sperm in the spermatheca, and one female was carrying a spermatophore. These results suggest that sexual exclusivity cannot be assumed between paired individuals of this species.
Reproductive Biology of Three Cosmopolitan Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) Species, Pseudococcus longispinus, Pseudococcus viburni, and Planococcus ficus
Authors: Waterworth Rebeccah A , Wright Ian M , Millar Jocelyn G
Published: March 2011

Experiments confirmed that female Pseudococcus longispinus (Targioni Tozzetti), Pseudococcus viburni (Signoret), and Planococcus ficus Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) must mate to produce viable offspring. Females of all three species were capable of mating multiple times on the same day and on sequential days (range, 1–8 times). Female reproductive output was not increased by multiple copulations. Male P. longispinus, P. viburni, and P. ficus also mated multiple times during their lifetimes (maximum of 9, 11, and 19 times, respectively). Male P. ficus had the highest mean number of copulations (9.6 ± 0.6), followed by P. longispinus and P. viburni. More than half of the P. ficus males survived their first day of copulations and remated the next day when presented with unmated females. P.viburni males also readily mated with unmated females on the day subsequent to their first copulations. Median times between copulations were short for males of all species (<2 min). Constant exposure to pheromone had no detectable effect on the activity levels of male P. ficus and P.longispinus, whereas P.viburni males exposed to pheromone emerged significantly earlier from their cocoons than control males without pheromone exposure. Constant exposure to pheromone had no effect on the longevity of males of any species compared with controls. The implications of the results of these experiments for pheromone-based methods of managing mealybugs are discussed.
The oldest Tenebrionoidea (Coleoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of China
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhang Haichun
Published: March 2011

The Tenebrionoidea is among the most diverse group of beetles, but its fossil record is rare. A definitive oldest tenebrionoid beetle,Wuhua jurassicanew genus new species, is described from the Middle Jurassic of Daohugou, China. It is tentatively placed as Familyincertae sedis, and distinguished from others of Tenebrionoidea by the unusual combination of following characters: body convex; head strongly deflexed, not received into prothorax; antennae filiform; pygidium absent; tarsi simple and tarsal claws pectinate. This discovery extends the time of origin of Tenebrionoidea to the Middle Jurassic. Furthermore, the record of Mesozoic tenebrionoid beetles are summarized and discussed.
Revision of the family Gastrodoridae (Crustacea, Decapoda), by description of the first species from the Cretaceous
Authors: Klompmaker Adiël A. , Artal Pedro , Fraaije René H. B. , Jagt John W. M.
Published: March 2011

Representatives of the family Gastrodoridae were exclusively known from Jurassic deposits in central Europe. Here, the first Cretaceous species,Gastrodorus cretahispanicusn. sp., is recorded from reefal strata of the Eguino Formation (Albeniz Unit) of Albian-Cenomanian age, in western Navarra (northern Spain). Not only does the occurrence of the new species extend the stratigraphic range of the family upward for approximately 45 million years into the mid-Cretaceous, it also constitutes the first record of gastrodorids from southern Europe. For over a century, the taxonomic position of the genusGastrodorushas been debated. It is revised here and the family Gastrodoridae is given a full superfamily status within the Anomura. The genusEogastrodorusis also redefined. Gastrodorids underwent a remarkable size reduction from the Middle to Upper Jurassic, which may be explained by their migration into reef environments.
Dikelocephalid trilobites from theEosaukiafauna (Upper Furongian) of the Taebaek Group, Korea
Authors: Lee Seung-Bae , Choi Duck K.
Published: March 2011

TheEosaukiafauna is proposed for the upper Furongian trilobite assemblage from the interval spanning from the upper part of the Hwajeol Formation to the lowermost part of the Dongjeom Formation in the Taebaek Group, Taebaeksan Basin, Korea. It is characterized by the dominance of dikelocephalid trilobites comprisingEosaukia micropora, E. bella, E. acuta, Mictosaukiacf.M. globosa, andTaebaeksaukia spinatan. gen. n. sp. Taxonomic reappraisal of the genusMictosaukiathat has been employed as an upper Cambrian index taxon in eastern Gondwana reveals that more than half of the species ofMictosaukiabelong inEosaukia.This study clarifies the generic concept ofEosaukia, which provides a more reliable biostratigraphic correlation for the upper Furongian strata in eastern Gondwanan regions. TheEosaukiafauna is correlated with the“Mictosaukia”faunas from the upper Fengshanian of North China, upper Taoyuanian of South China, and upper Payntonian of Australia.
The GenusStrombus(Mollusca: Caenogastropoda: Strombidae) in the Neogene of the Bocas Del Toro Area, Panama, by the description of three new species
Authors: Landau Bernard , Kronenberg Gijs C. , Herbert Gregory S. , Da Silva Carlos M.
Published: March 2011

In contrast to the immense effort that has been put into the geological survey and stratigraphic study of the Neogene of Bocas del Toro region (Panama), little research has been done on the systematics of this region's rich gastropod assemblages. This is the first paper dealing primarily with the Bocas Neogene gastropod assemblages (Strombidae) since the pioneer work of Olsson (1922). Neogene strombid assemblages of the Dominican Republic have recently been reviewed and updated, and, therefore, the Strombidae are a suitable starting point for the revision of the gastropod assemblages from the Neogene of Bocas del Toro. Six species ofStrombusare described, three of them new:S. acanthospiran. sp.,S. pugiloides, S. gatunensis, S. elegantissimusn. sp.,S. vermeijin. sp. andS.cf.floridanus.
Paleoecology of suspension-feeding echinoderm assemblages from the Upper Ordovician (Katian, Shermanian) Walcott-Rust Quarry of New York
Authors: Brower James C.
Published: March 2011

The Walcott-Rust Quarry echinoderm fauna lived at the base of a carbonate ramp in moderately deep water (Benthic Assemblage 5 of Boucot and others) below wave base for all or most storms but within the photic zone. The inhabitants of the soft substrate were buried rapidly by distal carbonate turbidity currents or mudflows. Because of the episodic sedimentation, the organisms were opportunistic. The suspension-feeding echinoderms include nine crinoids, a rhombiferan, and a paracrinoid. They occur with a variety of filter-feeding bryozoan colonies, a few brachiopods, and numerous trilobites. Most suspension-feeding echinoderms were attached by small holdfasts to hard shelly substrates. Some of these substrates lay on the seafloor, whereas others may have been elevated when the larvae settled. Other types of holdfasts are distal stems that are tightly and permanently coiled around crinoid stems, open distal stem coils that lay on the substrate or were wrapped around soft objects, and recumbent stems running along the seafloor. The echinoderms occupied levels from the seafloor to almost a meter above it, whereas the bryozoans and brachiopods ranged from the seabed to a maximum height of about 10 cm. The sizes of the echinoderm food grooves and comparisons with their modern analogues along with filtration theory indicate that they ate food particles that were mostly larger than those taken by bryozoans. In general, the different taxa of suspension-feeding echinoderms living at the same elevation above the seafloor collected food particles of different maximum sizes and different mean sizes; however, they overlapped greatly with respect to smaller food items. The various crinoid species were able to feed at different ranges of ambient current velocities, which also tended to separate them ecologically. Crinoids having narrow food grooves were restricted to feeding on small food particles but they caught food items over a wide range of current velocities; the converse is also true, which suggests an evolutionary or behavioral tradeoff. As in most Ordovician crinoid communities, predation was comparatively low. Regenerated arms in crinoids reflect predation on about 1.8% of the individuals in the fauna and the most likely fossilized culprits are trilobites and straight nautiloids. Competition for space and attachment sites within and between species of the Walcott-Rust Quarry crinoid and rhombiferan assemblages does not seem to have been significant in regulating their ecological structure. Comparison with shallow-water crinoid assemblages of roughly the same age demonstrates that the Walcott-Rust Quarry faunas were less diverse and less complex. This could be caused by one or more of the following conditions that affected the Walcott-Rust fauna: lower average current velocities, the episodic sedimentological disturbances, higher suspended sediment content in the water, and softer substrates.
Revision of lyracystid eocrinoids from the Middle Cambrian of South China and Western Laurentia
Authors: Sprinkle James , Parsley Ronald L. , Zhao Yuanlong , Peng Jin
Published: March 2011

The Middle Cambrian eocrinoid generaLyracystisSprinkle and Collins, 2006, from western Laurentia andBalangicystisParsley and Zhao, 2006, from South China, described in the same year, have turned out to be closely related genera assigned to the Family Lyracystidae. Both have erect, lyre-shaped, arm-like, brachiolebearing, feeding appendages, here termed exothecal ambulacra, that are not homologous to crinoid arms. They also have a long, multiplated stalk to elevate the theca and feeding appendages well above the sea floor, making them among the highest tiered echinoderm suspension feeders known from the Middle Cambrian. The long stalk was either inserted a short distance into the muddy sediment, or attached to rare skeletal fragments lying on the sea floor. Both genera seem well adapted to quiet-water or slow-current conditions in deeper water (150-200 m) on the outer shelf or upper slope of their respective continents.
An occurrence of the protocetid whale“Eocetus” wardiiin the middle Eocene Piney Point Formation of Virginia
Authors: Weems Robert E. , Edwards Lucy E. , Osborne Jason E. , Alford Aaron A.
Published: March 2011

Two protocetid whale vertebrae, here referred to“Eocetus” wardii, have been recovered from the riverbed of the Pamunkey River in east-central Virginia. Neither bone was found in situ, but both were found with lumps of lithified matrix cemented to their surfaces. Most of this matrix was removed and processed for microfossils. Specimens of dinoflagellates were successfully recovered and this flora clearly demonstrates that both vertebrae came from the middle Eocene Piney Point Formation, which crops out above and below river level in the area where the bones were discovered. These vertebrae are the oldest whale remains reported from Virginia and are as old as any cetacean remains known from the western hemisphere.
Longzhua loculatan. gen. n. sp., one of the most completely documented Pennsylvanian Archaeorthoptera (Insecta; Ningxia, China)
Authors: Gu Jun-Jie , Béthoux Olivier , Ren Dong
Published: March 2011

Longzhua loculatan. gen. n. sp., a new Pennsylvanian Archaeorthoptera (i.e., stem-Orthoptera), is described from the Tupo Formation based on 64 specimens, including an individual with parts of body and legs preserved. The range of intra-specific variation in forewing venation pattern is documented in detail. Well-preserved isolated hind wings are associated with forewings based on more complete material. The combination of character states exhibited by the new species indicates relationships with the extinct order Cnemidolestodea. Mandibular and prothoracic morphology suggest thatLongzhua loculatan. gen. n. sp. had carnivorous and predatory habits.
Validation of the species Stephanomys progressus, a murid (Rodentia) from the early Pleistocene of Spain
Authors: Minwer-Barakat Raef , García-Alix Antonio , Suárez Elvira Martín
Published: March 2011

The genus Stephanomys (Muridae, Rodentia) is one of the most common elements in the late Miocene to Early Pleistocene mammal faunas from the Ibero-Occitan region. Its geographic distribution is limited to this area with only two mentions in the late Miocene of Italy (de Giuli, 1989) and Algeria (Coiffait et al., 1985). The genus has been subject of numerous studies, some of them suggesting different interpretations on the phylogenetic relationships between the various described species (Gmelig-Meyling and Michaux, 1973; Cordy, 1978; Adrover, 1986; Bachelet and Castillo-Ruiz, 1990; Aguilar et al., 1993). The most extensive and significant study of the genus is the Ph.D. dissertation of Cordy (1976), who studied in detail several samples of Stephanomys, analyzed the changes observed in successive populations and defined four species (S. medius, S. michauxi, S. thaleri and S. progressus), which are considered as nomina nuda because this work was never published. Only one of these species, S. thaleri from the French locality of Seynes, was validated later by López-Martinez et al. (1998).
Gold Nanostructures as a Platform for Combinational Therapy in Future Cancer Therapeutics
Authors: Jelveh Salomeh , Chithrani Devika B.
Published: March 2011

The field of nanotechnology is currently undergoing explosive development on many fronts. The technology is expected to generate innovations and play a critical role in cancer therapeutics. Among other nanoparticle (NP) systems, there has been tremendous progress made in the use of spherical gold NPs (GNPs), gold nanorods (GNRs), gold nanoshells (GNSs) and gold nanocages (GNCs) in cancer therapeutics. In treating cancer, radiation therapy and chemotherapy remain the most widely used treatment options and recent developments in cancer research show that the incorporation of gold nanostructures into these protocols has enhanced tumor cell killing. These nanostructures further provide strategies for better loading, targeting, and controlling the release of drugs to minimize the side effects of highly toxic anticancer drugs used in chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. In addition, the heat generation capability of gold nanostructures upon exposure to UV or near infrared light is being used to damage tumor cells locally in photothermal therapy. Hence, gold nanostructures provide a versatile platform to integrate many therapeutic options leading to effective combinational therapy in the fight against cancer. In this review article, the recent progress in the development of gold-based NPs towards improved therapeutics will be discussed. A multifunctional platform based on gold nanostructures with targeting ligands, therapeutic molecules, and imaging contrast agents, holds an array of promising directions for cancer research.
Nucleotide Diversities and Genetic Relationship in the Three Japanese Pine Species; Pinus thunbergii, Pinus densiflora, and Pinus luchuensis
Authors: Suharyanto  , Shiraishi Susumu
Published: March 2011

The nucleotide diversities and genetic relationship in the three Japanese pine species, P. thunbergii, P. densiflora, and P. luchuensis, were measured using low-copy anchor loci in Pinaceae. The average nucleotide diversity among these three Japanese pines revealed that P. thunbergii was the highest (6.05 × 10−3), followed by P. densiflora (5.27 × 10−3) and P. luchuensis (5.02 × 10−3). In comparison to other conifer species, it was concluded that the pines possessed an intermediate level of nucleotide diversity. The Heat shock protein (HSP) gene in P. thunbergii, Phenylalanine tRNA synthetase, RuBP carboxylase, and Disease resistance response protein 206 genes in P. densiflora were significantly deviated from standard neutral models. Some of these genes were related to stress or pathogen/defense response. As the samples used in this study were collected from natural populations that showed specific characteristics of being resistant to pine wilt nematode, it was hypothesized that the initial selection was an important factor in discriminating the deviation from neutrality models. Phylogenetic reconstruction revealed that the three Japanese pines were split into two lineages corresponding to P. densiflora and P. thunbergii–P. luchuensis. The latter lineage was differentiated further into two clades; P. thunbergii and P. luchuensis. The result concludes that the three Japanese pines are closely related and P. thunbergii is genetically closer to P. luchuensis, than P. densiflora.
Evolution of the Converged NGN Service Platforms Towards Future Networks
Authors: Mikóczy Eugen , Kotuliak Ivan , Deventer Oskar van
Published: March 2011

This article presents a comparison of main characteristics of the Next Generation Networks (NGN) and Future Generation Internet (FGI). The aim is to discuss and compare two approaches to Future Networks (FN) and services: the evolution of NGN, and the revolutionary approach of a new FGI. We present both frameworks from the services point of view as they are delivered to the end-user, as well as from the architectural point of view. We compare selected properties of both approaches to explain commonalities and differences. Their challenges are similar: managing the quality of experience, mobility, security, scalability and providing openness to applications. Based on this comparison, we evaluate possible areas for future convergence in the approach of the two architectures to the Future Network concept. Our analysis shows that despite their different backgrounds, the internet’s FGI and telco’s NGN are not that different after all. The convergence of the two approaches therefore seems the only logical way forward.
The Role of Alpha-Dystrobrevin in Striated Muscle
Authors: Nakamori Masayuki , Takahashi Masanori P.
Published: March 2011

Muscular dystrophies are a group of diseases that primarily affect striated muscle and are characterized by the progressive loss of muscle strength and integrity. Major forms of muscular dystrophies are caused by the abnormalities of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) that plays crucial roles as a structural unit and scaffolds for signaling molecules at the sarcolemma. α-Dystrobrevin is a component of the DGC and directly associates with dystrophin. α-Dystrobrevin also binds to intermediate filaments as well as syntrophin, a modular adaptor protein thought to be involved in signaling. Although no muscular dystrophy has been associated within mutations of the α-dystrobrevin gene, emerging findings suggest potential significance of α-dystrobrevin in striated muscle. This review addresses the functional role of α-dystrobrevin in muscle as well as its possible implication for muscular dystrophy.
Preliminary Study of Conformation and Drug Release Mechanism of Doxorubicin-Conjugated Glycol Chitosan, via cis-Aconityl Linkage, by Molecular Modeling
Authors: Srinophakun Thongchai , Boonmee Jirapat
Published: March 2011

An investigation of the structure and drug release mechanism of a drug delivery system is proposed on the basis of semi-empirical and ab initio computations in vacuum stage. Cis-aconityl linkage is used to improve the interaction between an anti-cancer agent, doxorubicin, and a glycol chitosan biopolymer. It has been found that the doxorubicin-conjugated glycol chitosan carrier has more stability. The stability is increased when the lengths of the polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains in the glycol chitosan biopolymer are increased. Cis-aconityl can release doxorubicin under appropriate environmental conditions. Relative energies of this mechanism in an acid condition, as determined by B3LYP/6-31G//PM3, are 122.41, 119.27, 160.18 and 222.22 kcal/mol, and by the B3LYP/6-31G//HF/6-31G method are 54.23, 109.28, 219.98 and 980.49 kcal/mol, with mono-, di-, tri-, and quanta-ethylene glycol, respectively. In a normal condition, the relative energies are above 300 kcal/mol for all reactions. Therefore, cis-aconityl will release doxorubicin in an acid solution but not in a normal condition. The glycol chitosan polymer can be degraded in an acid solution as well. Long PEG chains influence the release mechanism of doxorubicin. The proposed length of the PEG chain is di-ethylene glycol. These simulation results agree well with various reported experimental data.
An Emergency-Adaptive Routing Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks for Building Fire Hazard Monitoring
Authors: Zeng Yuanyuan , Sreenan Cormac J. , Sitanayah Lanny , Xiong Naixue , Park Jong Hyuk , Zheng Guilin
Published: March 2011

Fire hazard monitoring and evacuation for building environments is a novel application area for the deployment of wireless sensor networks. In this context, adaptive routing is essential in order to ensure safe and timely data delivery in building evacuation and fire fighting resource applications. Existing routing mechanisms for wireless sensor networks are not well suited for building fires, especially as they do not consider critical and dynamic network scenarios. In this paper, an emergency-adaptive, real-time and robust routing protocol is presented for emergency situations such as building fire hazard applications. The protocol adapts to handle dynamic emergency scenarios and works well with the routing hole problem. Theoretical analysis and simulation results indicate that our protocol provides a real-time routing mechanism that is well suited for dynamic emergency scenarios in building fires when compared with other related work.
ECS: Efficient Communication Scheduling for Underwater Sensor Networks
Authors: Hong Lu , Hong Feng , Guo Zhongwen , Li Zhengbao
Published: March 2011

TDMA protocols have attracted a lot of attention for underwater acoustic sensor networks (UWSNs), because of the unique characteristics of acoustic signal propagation such as great energy consumption in transmission, long propagation delay and long communication range. Previous TDMA protocols all allocated transmission time to nodes based on discrete time slots. This paper proposes an efficient continuous time scheduling TDMA protocol (ECS) for UWSNs, including the continuous time based and sender oriented conflict analysis model, the transmission moment allocation algorithm and the distributed topology maintenance algorithm. Simulation results confirm that ECS improves network throughput by 20% on average, compared to existing MAC protocols.
Driving down the Detection Limit in Microstructured Fiber‑Based Chemical Dip Sensors
Authors: Schartner Erik P. , Ebendorff-Heidepriem Heike , Warren-Smith Stephen C. , White Richard T. , Monro Tanya M.
Published: March 2011

We present improvements to fluorescence sensing in soft-glass microstructured optical fibers that result in significantly improved sensitivity relative to previously published results. Concentrations of CdSe quantum dots down to 10 pM levels have been demonstrated. We show that the primary limitation to the sensitivity of these systems is the intrinsic fluorescence of the glass itself.
Screen-Printed Carbon Electrodes Modified by Rhodium Dioxide and Glucose Dehydrogenase
Authors: Polan Vojtěch , Soukup Jan , Vytřas Karel
Published: March 2011

The described glucose biosensor is based on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified by rhodium dioxide, which functions as a mediator. The electrode is further modified by the enzyme glucose dehydrogenase, which is immobilized on the electrode's surface through electropolymerization with m-phenylenediamine. The enzyme biosensor was optimized and tested in model glucose samples. The biosensor showed a linear range of 500–5000 mg L−1 of glucose with a detection limit of 210 mg L−1 (established as 3σ) and response time of 39 s. When compared with similar glucose biosensors based on glucose oxidase, the main advantage is that neither ascorbic and uric acids nor paracetamol interfere measurements with this biosensor at selected potentials.
Cryptolepine-Induced Cell Death ofLeishmania donovaniPromastigotes Is Augmented by Inhibition of Autophagy
Authors: Sengupta Souvik , Chowdhury Sayan , BoseDasgupta Somdeb , Wright Colin W. , Majumder Hemanta K.
Published: March 2011

Leishmania donovaniare the causative agents of visceral leishmaniasis worldwide. Lack of vaccines and emergence of drug resistance warrants the need for improved drug therapy and newer therapeutic intervention strategies against leishmaniasis. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of the natural indoloquinoline alkaloid cryptolepine onL. donovaniAG83 promastigotes. Our results show that cryptolepine induces cellular dysfunction inL. donovanipromastigotes, which leads to the death of this unicellular parasite. Interestingly, our study suggest that cryptolepine-induced cell death ofL. donovaniis counteracted by initial autophagic features elicited by the cells. For the first time, we show that autophagy serves as a survival mechanism in response to cryptolepine treatment inL. donovanipromastigotes and inhibition of autophagy causes an early increase in the amount of cell death. This study can be exploited for designing better drugs and better therapeutic strategies against leishmaniasis in future.
Current Ablation Strategies for Persistent and Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Letsas Konstantinos P. , Efremidis Michael , Charalampous Charalampos , Tsikrikas Spyros , Sideris Antonios
Published: March 2011

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of cardiac and overall mortality. Restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm is of paramount importance if it can be accomplished without the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. Catheter ablation has evolved into a well-established treatment option for patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory AF. Ablation strategies which target the pulmonary veins are the cornerstone of AF ablation procedures, irrespective of the AF type. Ablation strategies in the setting of persistent and long-standing persistent AF are more complex. Many centers follow a stepwise ablation approach including pulmonary vein antral isolation as the initial step, electrogram-based ablation at sites exhibiting complex fractionated atrial electrograms, and linear lesions. Up to now, no single strategy is uniformly effective in patients with persistent and long-standing persistent AF. The present study reviewed the efficacy of the current ablation strategies for persistent and long-standing persistent AF.
Effects of Moderate-to-Severe Impairment of the Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and of Proteinuria on the Central Hemodynamics and Arterial Stiffness in Middle-Aged Healthy Japanese Men
Authors: Tomiyama Hirofumi , Odaira Mari , Matsumoto Chisa , Yamada Jiko , Yoshida Masanobu , Shiina Kazuki , Yamashina Akira
Published: March 2011

We evaluated the effects of moderate-to-severe impairment of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR: 15 to 59 mL/min per 1.73 m2) and of proteinuria on the central hemodynamics and the pulse wave velocity (PWV) in 2244 middle-aged healthy Japanese men who were not receiving any medications for cardiovascular diseases or cardiovascular risk factors. The adjusted value of the radial augmentation index was higher in the subjects with proteinuria than in those without proteinuria. On the other hand, this value was similar between the subjects with and without moderate-to-severe impairment of the eGFR. Not only proteinuria but also moderate-to-severe impairment of the eGFR was associated with increase in the adjusted value of the brachial-ankle PWV. Thus, proteinuria was found to be an independent risk factor for abnormal central hemodynamics and increased stiffness of the large- to middle-sized arteries, while moderate-to-severe impairment of the eGFR was associated with an increase of the arterial stiffness, but not with abnormality of the central hemodynamics.
Parallel Evolution and Horizontal Gene Transfer of the pst Operon in Firmicutes from Oligotrophic Environments
Authors: Moreno-Letelier Alejandra , Olmedo Gabriela , Eguiarte Luis E. , Martinez-Castilla Leon , Souza Valeria
Published: March 2011

The high affinity phosphate transport system (pst) is crucial for phosphate uptake in oligotrophic environments. Cuatro Cienegas Basin (CCB) has extremely low P levels and its endemic Bacillus are closely related to oligotrophic marine Firmicutes. Thus, we expected the pst operon of CCB to share the same evolutionary history and protein similarity to marine Firmicutes. Orthologs of the pst operon were searched in 55 genomes of Firmicutes and 13 outgroups. Phylogenetic reconstructions were performed for the pst operon and 14 concatenated housekeeping genes using maximum likelihood methods. Conserved domains and 3D structures of the phosphate-binding protein (PstS) were also analyzed. The pst operon of Firmicutes shows two highly divergent clades with no correlation to the type of habitat nor a phylogenetic congruence, suggesting horizontal gene transfer. Despite sequence divergence, the PstS protein had a similar 3D structure, which could be due to parallel evolution after horizontal gene transfer events.
Therapeutic Approaches to Delay the Onset of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Kumar Raj , Atamna Hani
Published: March 2011

The key cytopathologies in the brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients include mitochondrial dysfunction and energy hypometabolism, which are likely caused by the accumulation of small aggregates of amyloid-β(Aβ) peptides. Thus, targeting these two abnormalities of the AD brain may hold promising therapeutic value for delaying the onset of AD. In his paper, we discuss two potential approaches to delay the onset of AD. The first is the use of low dose of diaminophenothiazins (redox active agents) to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction and to attenuate energy hypometabolism. Diaminophenothiazines enhance mitochondrial metabolic activity and heme synthesis, both key factors in intermediary metabolism of the AD brain.The second is to use the naturally occurring osmolytes to prevent the formation of toxic forms of Aβand prevent oxidative stress. Scientific evidence suggests that both approaches may change course of the basic mechanism of neurodegeneration in AD. Osmolytes are brain metabolites which accumulate in tissues at relatively high concentrations following stress conditions. Osmolytes enhance thermodynamic stability of proteins by stabilizing natively-folded protein conformation, thus preventing aggregation without perturbing other cellular processes. Osmolytes may inhibit the formation of Aβoligomersin vivo, thus preventing the formation of soluble oligomers. The potential significance of combining diaminophenothiazins and osmolytes to treat AD is discussed.
Applicability of Three Alternative Instruments for Food Authenticity Analysis:GMO Identification
Authors: Burrell A. , Foy C. , Burns M.
Published: March 2011

Ensuring foods are correctly labelled for ingredients derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is an issue facing manufacturers, retailers, and enforcement agencies. DNA approaches for the determination of food authenticitys often use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and PCR products can be detected using capillary or gel electrophoresis. This study examines the fitness for purpose of the application of three laboratory electrophoresis instruments (Agilent Bioanalyzer 2100, Lab901 TapeStation, and Shimadzu MCE-202 MultiNA) for the detection of GMOs using PCR based on a previously validated protocol. Whilst minor differences in the performance characteristics of bias and precision were observed, all three instruments demonstrated their applicability in using this protocol for screening of GMO ingredients.
The rank gradient from a combinatorial viewpoint
Authors: Abért Miklós , Jaikin-Zapirain Andrei , Nikolov Nikolay
Published: March 2011

This paper investigates the asymptotic behaviour of the minimal number of generators of finite index subgroups in residually finite groups. We analyze three natural classes of groups: amenable groups, groups possessing an infinite soluble normal subgroup and virtually free groups. As a tool for the amenable case we generalize Lackenby's trichotomy theorem on finitely presented groups.
Random pro-$p$ groups, braid groups, and random tame Galois groups
Authors: Boston Nigel , Ellenberg Jordan S.
Published: March 2011

We introduce a heuristic prediction for the distribution of the isomorphism class of the Galois group of the maximal pro-

p

extension of

\mathbb{Q}

unramified outside a “random” set of primes. This is guided by reasoning similar to that governing the Cohen–Lenstra conjectures. We conclude by describing theoretical and experimental evidence for our heuristic.
Mod-$p$ cohomology growth in $p$-adic analytic towers of 3-manifolds
Authors: Calegari Frank , Emerton Matthew
Published: March 2011

Let

M

be a compact 3-manifold with infinite fundamental group

\Gamma

. Given a homomorphism from

\Gamma

to a

p

-adic analytic group

G

with dense image, we describe the possible mod-

p

homology growth of covers

M_n

of

M

determined by the congruence subgroups

G_n

. If

d

= dim(

G

) > 3, this growth is always non-trivial, growing at least as fast as Vol(

M_n

)

^{(d-1)/d}

.
Subspace arrangements and property T
Authors: Kassabov Martin
Published: March 2011

We reformulate and extend the geometric method for proving the Kazhdan property T developed by Dymara and Januszkiewicz and used by Ershov and Jaikin. The main result says that a group

G

generated by finite subgroups

G_i

has property T if the group generated by each pair of subgroups has property T and sufficiently large Kazhdan constant. Essentially, the same result was proven by Dymara and Januszkiewicz; however our bound for “sufficiently large” is significantly better.

As an application of this result, we give exact bounds for the Kazhdan constants and the spectral gaps of the random walks on any finite Coxeter group with respect to the standard generating set, which generalizes a result of Bacher and de la Harpe.
Grothendieck’s problem for 3-manifold groups
Authors: Long Darren D. , Reid Alan W.
Published: March 2011

The following problem was posed by Grothendieck:

Let

u \colon H\rightarrow G

be a homomorphism of finitely presented residually finite groups for which the extension

\hat{u}\colon \widehat{H}\rightarrow \widehat{G}

is an isomorphism. Is

u

an isomorphism?

The problem was solved in the negative by Bridson and Grunewald who produced many examples of groups

G

and proper subgroups

u\colon H\hookrightarrow G

for which

\hat{u}

is an isomorphism, but

u

is not.

This paper addresses Grothendieck’s problem in the context of 3-manifold groups.
Geodesic manifolds with a transitive subset of smooth biLipschitz maps
Authors: Le Donne Enrico
Published: March 2011

This paper is connected with the problem of describing path metric spaces that are homeomorphic to manifolds and biLipschitz homogeneous, i.e., whose biLipschitz homeomorphism group acts transitively.

Our main result is the following. Let

X = G/H

be a homogeneous manifold of a Lie group

G

and let

d

be a geodesic distance on

X

inducing the same topology. Suppose that there exists a subgroup

G_S

of

G

that acts transitively on

X

such that each element

g \in G_S

induces a locally biLipschitz homeomorphism of the metric space

(X,d)

. Then the metric is locally biLipschitz equivalent to a sub-Riemannian metric. Any such metric is defined by a bracket generating

G_S

-invariant sub-bundle of the tangent bundle.

The result is a consequence of a more general fact that requires a transitive family of uniformly biLipschitz diffeomorphisms with a control on their differentials. It will be relevant that the group acting transitively on the space is a Lie group and so it is locally compact, since, in general, the whole group of biLipschitz maps, unlikely the isometry group, is not locally compact.

Our method also gives an elementary proof of the following fact. Given a Lipschitz sub-bundle of the tangent bundle of a Finsler manifold, both the class of piecewise differentiable curves tangent to the sub-bundle and the class of Lipschitz curves almost everywhere tangent to the sub-bundle give rise to the same Finsler–Carnot–Carathéodory metric, under the condition that the topologies induced by these distances coincide with the manifold topology.
Denseness of ergodicity for a class of volume-preserving flows
Authors: Bessa Mário , Rocha Jorge
Published: March 2011

We consider the class of

C^1

partially hyperbolic volume-preserving flows with one-dimensional central direction endowed with the

C^1

-Whitney topology. We prove that, within this class, any flow can be approximated by an ergodic

C^2

volume-preserving flow and so, as a consequence, ergodicity is dense.
Global existence for two regularized MHD models in three space-dimension
Authors: Catania Davide , Secchi Paolo
Published: March 2011

The global existence of solutions for the 3D incompressible Euler equations is a major open problem. For the 3D
inviscid
MHD system, the global existence is an open problem as well. Our main concern in this paper is to understand which kind of regularization, of the form of

\alpha

-regularization or partial viscous regularization, is capable to provide the global in time solvability for the 3D
inviscid
MHD system of equations. We consider two different regularized magnetohydrodynamic models for an incompressible fluid. In both cases, we provide a global existence result for the solution of the system.
On the porosity of the free boundary in the $p(x)$-obstacle problem
Authors: Challal Samia , Lyaghfouri Abdeslem
Published: March 2011

In this paper we consider the obstacle problem for the

p(x)

-Laplace operator. Assuming that

p

is locally Lipschitz continuous, we establish the growth rate of the solution near the free boundary from which we deduce its porosity.