bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patterns in marine hydrozoan richness and biogeography around southern Africa: implications of life cycle strategy
Authors: Gibbons Mark J. , Buecher Emmanuel , Thibault‐Botha Delphine , Helm Rebecca R.
Published: November 2009

Aim  To examine patterns of marine hydrozoan richness around southern Africa and to test the hypothesis that patterns of biogeography become weaker with increasing dispersal ability.

Location  The coastline of southern Africa from 21° S, 14° E to 28° S, 33° E, extending from the intertidal zone seawards a distance of 200 nautical miles.

Methods  Published and unpublished information on the distribution of marine Hydrozoa was entered as presence/absence data onto a gridded coastline of the region. A similarity matrix between the species composition of grid squares was constructed using the Bray–Curtis index and visualized using non‐metric multidimensional scaling ordinations. Separate analyses were conducted, and compared, on the three major life cycle groupings: holoplanktic, meroplanktic and benthic.

Results  Over 450 species of marine Hydrozoa have been reported from the region, and species richness increases eastwards, in a manner at odds with the distribution of sampling effort. There was a significant correlation between the geographic structures of the resemblance matrices generated for the three life cycle groupings. In other words, all three groups showed similar patterns of biogeography around the region, and these were broadly similar to those reported by others. However, there were differences between them that reflect the resolution at which the data were examined. At a level of 40% similarity, there was no biogeographic structure to the holoplanktic fauna, the meroplanktic taxa were simply sub‐divided into cool‐ and warm‐temperate/subtropical elements, and in the case of benthic taxa, the cool‐water fauna was further split into a southern Namaqua and a depauperate northern Namib component. Even at a resolution of 70% similarity, the holopelagic taxa could be separated only into cool‐temperate and warm‐temperate/subtropical faunas.

Main conclusions  Holoplanktic taxa show comparatively less biogeographic structure than meroplanktic taxa, which in turn show less clearly defined biogeographic structure than benthic taxa. It is suggested that this is related to the interaction between oceanography and dispersive‐stage duration. The role that the Agulhas Current plays in influencing the Benguela Current fauna is highlighted. This study has implications for conservation planning exercises based on protecting representative biotopes in different biogeographic regions.
Characterizing voltage contrast in photoelectron emission microscopy
Authors: SANGWAN V.K. , BALLAROTTO V.W. , SIEGRIST K. , WILLIAMS E.D.
Published: November 2009

A non‐destructive technique for obtaining voltage contrast information with photoelectron emission microscopy is described. Samples consisting of electrically isolated metal lines were used to quantify voltage contrast in photoelectron emission microscopy. The voltage contrast behaviour is characterized by comparing measured voltage contrast with calculated voltage contrast from two electrostatic models. Measured voltage contrast was found to agree closely with the calculated voltage contrast, demonstrating that voltage contrast in photoelectron emission microscopy can be used to probe local voltage information in microelectronic devices in a non‐intrusive fashion.
Phylogeography and ecological niche modelling implicate coastal refugia and trans‐alpine dispersal of a New Zealand fungus beetle
Authors: MARSKE KATHARINE A. , LESCHEN RICHARD A. B. , BARKER GARY M. , BUCKLEY THOMAS R.
Published: November 2009

The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) severely restricted forest ecosystems on New Zealand’s South Island, but the extent of LGM distribution for forest species is still poorly understood. We used mitochondrial DNA phylogeography (COI) and ecological niche modelling (ENM) to identify LGM refugia for the mycophagous beetle Agyrtodes labralis (Leiodidae), a forest edge species widely distributed in the South Island. Both the phylogenetic analyses and the ENM indicate that A. labralis refuged in Kaikoura, Nelson, and along much of the South Island’s west coast. Phylogeography of this species indicates that recolonization of the largely deforested east and southeast South Island occurred in a west–east direction, with populations moving through the Southern Alps, and that the northern refugia participated little in interglacial population expansion. This contradicts published studies of other New Zealand species, in which recolonization occurs in a north–south fashion from many of the same refugia.
Early molecular responses of coral larvae to hyperthermal stress
Authors: RODRIGUEZ‐LANETTY MAURICIO , HARII SAKI , HOEGH‐GULDBERG OVE
Published: November 2009

Most of the work on the impact of elevated temperature and light onSymbiodinium‐invertebrate symbioses have focused primarily on how the photosynthetic (algal) partner is impacted. Understanding how the same stresses affect the invertebrate host, however, is in its infancy. In this study, we re‐examined the direct effect of elevated temperatures on the invertebrate host exploring the early transcriptional response of aposymbiotic (without algal symbionts) coral larvae. The temperatures tested in the experimental design were 24 °C (ambient seawater temperature), 28 °C and 31 °C; and the sampling points were 3 and 10 h after temperature exposure. We explored relative changes in transcription using a cDNA microarray constructed for the scleractinian coral,Acropora millepora, and containing 18 142 expressed sequence tag (EST) clones/8386 unigenes. Our study identified 29 genes that were significantly up‐ and down‐regulated whenA. milleporacoral larvae were exposed to elevated temperatures. Down‐regulation of several key components of DNA/RNA metabolism was detected implying inhibition of general cellular processes. The down‐regulation of protein synthesis, however, was not simple and random, which suggested that the stress response was a more complicated adjustment of cellular metabolism. We identified four significant outcomes during the very early hours of the transcriptional response to hyperthermal stress in coral larvae. First, the expression of heat‐shock proteins increased rapidly (within 3 h) in response to hyperthermal stress. Second, a fluorescent protein homologue, DsRed‐type FP, decreased its expression in response to elevated temperature reinforcing a potential role as a molecular marker for monitoring hyperthermal stress in nature. Third, the down‐regulation of a coral mannose‐binding C‐type lectin under elevated temperature suggests that heat stress might compromise some components of the coral immune defence and therefore might bring about susceptibility to pathogenic diseases. And last, genes involved in protecting cells against oxidative stress showed little response at the early hours to heat stress, supporting the proposal that up‐regulation of cnidarian host oxidative stress genes may require reactive oxygen species generated by stressed algal symbionts.
Contrasting genetic structures of two parasitic nematodes, determined on the basis of neutral microsatellite markers and selected anthelmintic resistance markers
Authors: SILVESTRE A. , SAUVE C. , CORTET J. , CABARET J.
Published: November 2009

For the first time, the neutral genetic relatedness of natural populations of Trichostrongylid nematodes was investigated in relation to polymorphism of the β‐tubulin gene, which is selected for anthelminthic treatments. The aim of the study was to assess the contribution of several evolutionary processes: migration and genetic drift by neutral genetic markers and selection by anthelminthic treatments on the presence of resistance alleles at β‐tubulin. We studied two nematode species (Teladorsagia circumcinctaandHaemonchus contortus) common in temperate climatic zones; these species are characterized by contrasting life history traits. We studied 10 isolated populations of goat nematode parasites: no infected adult goat had been exchanged after the herds were established. Beta‐tubulin polymorphism was similar in these two species. One and two β‐tubulin alleles fromT. circumcinctaandH. contortusrespectively were shared by several populations. Most of the β‐tubulin alleles were ‘private’ alleles. No recombination between alleles was detected in BZ‐resistant alleles fromT. circumcinctaandH. contortus. TheT. circumcinctapopulations have not diverged much since their isolation (FST<0.08), whereasH. contortusdisplayed marked local genetic differentiation (FSTranging from 0.08 to 0.18). These findings suggest that there are severe bottlenecks in theH. contortuspopulations, possibly because of their reduced abundance during unfavourable periods and their high reproductive rate, which allows the species to persist even after severe population reduction. Overall, the data reported contradict the hypothesis of the origin of β‐tubulin resistance alleles in these populations from a single mutational event, but two other hypotheses (recurrent mutation generating new alleles in isolated populations and the introduction of existing alleles) emerge as equally likely.
Experimental and numerical assessment of fracture toughness of dual‐phase austempered ductile iron
Authors: BASSO A. , MARTÍNEZ R. , CISILINO A. P. , SIKORA J.
Published: November 2009

The effects of the microstructure topology on the fracture toughness of dual‐phase austempered ductile iron are studied in this paper by means of finite element modelling and experimental testing. To this end, specimens with matrix microstructures ranging from fully ferrite to fully ausferrite were studied and the preferential zones and phases for crack propagation were identified in every case. The effectiveness of the ausferrite phase as a reinforcement of the ferritic matrix via the encapsulation of the brittle and weak last‐to‐freeze (LTF) zones was confirmed. The toughening mechanism is consequence of the increment in the crack path longitude as it avoids the encapsulated LTF zones. Besides, the presence of small pools of allotriomorphic ferrite increase the crack propagation resistance of the ausferrite‐ferrite matrices.
What Makes a Paper Influential and Frequently Cited?
Authors: Starbuck William H.
Published: November 2009

abstract

Social trends that raised the value of esoteric expertise, stimulated the creation of knowledge‐intensive firms and so created an opportunity to study some organizations that academics had overlooked. A lack of presuppositions, a useful research method, and thoughtful experts in these firms helped to uncover some surprising behaviours. The resulting paper attracted citations and may have stimulated research about knowledge as a business resource and a managerial challenge. However, the topic continues to pose questions for further research.
FICTION'S ONTOLOGICAL COMMITMENTS1
Authors: MOLE CHRISTOPHER
Published: November 2009

This article examines one way in which a fiction can carry ontological commitments. The ontological commitments that the article examines arise in cases where there are norms governing discourse about items in a fiction that cannot be accounted for by reference to the contents of the sentences that constitute a canonical telling of that fiction. In such cases, a fiction may depend for its contents on the real‐world properties of real‐world items, and the fiction may, in that sense, be ontologically committed. Having outlined a way of gauging the ontological commitments of a fiction, the article concludes by illustrating the way in which these considerations can be put to work in assessing the prospects of using fictionalism as a tactic for understanding the metaphysics of modality without incurring a commitment to the real existence of merely possible worlds.
Reward Counteracts Conflict Adaptation
Authors: Steenbergen Henk van , Band Guido P.H. , Hommel Bernhard
Published: November 2009

The conflict-adaptation effect has been observed in several executive-control tasks and is thought to reflect an increase in control, driven by experienced conflict. We hypothesized that if this adaptation originates from the aversive quality of conflict, it would be canceled out by a positive, rewarding event. Subjects performed an arrow flanker task with monetary gain or loss as arbitrary feedback between trials. As predicted, we found a reduction in conflict adaptation for trials in which conflict was followed by monetary gain. The strength of this gain-induced modulation was found to depend on subjects' motivation to pursue reward, as measured by the Behavioral Activation System Drive scale. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that the conflict-adaptation effect can be strongly reduced by reward contexts, suggesting that reward and conflict can compensate for each other's effects, probably via changes in dopamine levels.
Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortical Activity and Behavioral Inhibition
Authors: Shackman Alexander J. , McMenamin Brenton W. , Maxwell Jeffrey S. , Greischar Lawrence L. , Davidson Richard J.
Published: November 2009

Individuals show marked variation in their responses to threat. Such individual differences in behavioral inhibition play a profound role in mental and physical well-being. Behavioral inhibition is thought to reflect variation in the sensitivity of a distributed neural system responsible for generating anxiety and organizing defensive responses to threat and punishment. Although progress has been made in identifying the key constituents of this behavioral inhibition system in humans, the involvement of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) remains unclear. Here, we acquired self-reported Behavioral Inhibition System Sensitivity scores and high-resolution electroencephalography from a large sample (n = 51). Using the enhanced spatial resolution afforded by source modeling techniques, we show that individuals with greater tonic (resting) activity in right-posterior DLPFC rate themselves as more behaviorally inhibited. This observation provides novel support for recent conceptualizations of behavioral inhibition and clues to the mechanisms that might underlie variation in threat-induced negative affect.
The “Name-Ease” Effect and Its Dual Impact on Importance Judgments
Authors: Labroo Aparna A. , Lambotte Soraya , Zhang Yan
Published: November 2009

We demonstrate that merely naming a research finding elicits feelings of ease (a “name-ease” effect). These feelings of ease can reduce or enhance the finding's perceived importance depending on whether people are making inferences about how understandable or how memorable the finding is. When people assess their understanding of a finding, feelings of ease reduce the finding's perceived importance. This is because people usually invest effort to understand important information but also mistakenly infer the reverse—namely, that information that requires effort to be understood is important. In contrast, when people assess the memorability of a finding, feelings of ease increase the finding's perceived importance. Because people usually recall important information easily, in this case they equate ease with importance. Psychological effects, economic principles, math theorems, jury cases, and decisions to fund medical research can all show these effects.
Differentiating Social and Personal Power: Opposite Effects on Stereotyping, but Parallel Effects on Behavioral Approach Tendencies
Authors: Lammers Joris , Stoker Janka I. , Stapel Diederik A.
Published: November 2009

How does power affect behavior? We posit that this depends on the type of power. We distinguish between social power (power over other people) and personal power (freedom from other people) and argue that these two types of power have opposite associations with independence and interdependence. We propose that when the distinction between independence and interdependence is relevant, social power and personal power will have opposite effects; however, they will have parallel effects when the distinction is irrelevant. In two studies (an experimental study and a large field study), we demonstrate this by showing that social power and personal power have opposite effects on stereotyping, but parallel effects on behavioral approach.
PARTIAL PRIVATIZATION, TECHNOLOGY SPILLOVERS, AND FOREIGN OWNERSHIP RESTRICTION
Authors: Han Lihua , Ogawa Hikaru
Published: November 2009

Using a mixed oligopoly model with foreign ownership, this paper examines the interaction between two market‐opening policies: the relaxation of foreign ownership restriction and the privatization of domestic public firms. It particularly focuses on technology spillovers, which could be one of the most prominent motivations for introducing foreign investment into a domestic market. The first result demonstrates that the optimal level of privatization is affected by technology spillovers from foreign investment and is negatively related with the magnitude of technology spillovers. The second result shows that the optimal level of privatization is lower when foreign ownership restriction is abolished than that when foreign ownership is not fully allowed. The third result indicates that the government relaxes regulations on foreign ownership of domestic firms only if the magnitude of technology spillovers is significant.
BRAZILIAN POVERTY BETWEEN AND WITHIN GROUPS: DECOMPOSITION BY GEOGRAPHICAL, GROUP‐SPECIFIC POVERTY LINES
Authors: Salardi Paola
Published: November 2009

This study investigates Brazilian poverty by exploiting geographical differences in the cost of living. We apply the reformulation of the FGT class of poverty measures proposed byChiappero and Civardi (2006). This decomposition aims to compute poverty within groups, using group‐specific poverty lines, and poverty between groups by adopting a community‐wide poverty line. Our findings suggest that the analysis of poverty between and within groups is more exhaustive than the standard methodology when differentiated poverty lines are exploited.
The evolution of anatomical illustration and wax modelling in Italy from the 16th to early 19th centuries
Authors: Riva Alessandro , Conti Gabriele , Solinas Paola , Loy Francesco
Published: November 2009

Although the contribution to anatomical illustration by Vesalius and his followers has received much attention, less credit has been given to Veslingius and particularly Fabricius. By 1600, Fabricius had amassed more than 300 paintings that together made the Tabulae Pictae, a great atlas of anatomy that was highly admired by his contemporaries. Many of his new observations were incorporated into subsequent books, including those by Casserius, Spighelius, Harvey and Veslingius. Also of importance were the Tabulae by Eustachius (1552), which, although only published in 1714, greatly influenced anatomical wax modelling. In 1742, Pope Benedict XIV established a Museum of Anatomy in Bologna, entrusting to Ercole Lelli the creation of several anatomical preparations in wax. Felice Fontana realised that the production of a large number of models by the casting method would make cadaveric specimens superfluous for anatomical teaching and in 1771 he asked the Grand Duke to fund a wax‐modelling workshop in Florence as part of the Natural History Museum, later known as La Specola. Fontana engaged Giuseppe Ferrini as his first modeller and then the 19‐year‐old Clemente Susini who, by his death in 1814, had superintended the production of, or personally made, more than 2000 models. In 1780, the Austrian Emperor Joseph II visited La Specola and ordered a great number of models for his Josephinum museum; these were made by Fontana with the help of Clemente Susini and supervised by the anatomist Paolo Mascagni. It is, however, in Cagliari that some of Susini’s greatest waxes are to be found. These were made when he was free of Fontana’s influence and were based on dissections made by Francesco Antonio Boi (University of Cagliari). Their distinctive anatomical features include the emphasis given to nerves and the absence of lymphatics in the brain, a mistake made on earlier waxes. The refined technical perfection of the anatomical details demonstrates the closeness of the cooperation between Susini and Boi, whereas the expressiveness of the faces and the harmony of colours make the models of Cagliari masterpieces of figurative art.
The evolution of human artistic creativity
Authors: Morriss‐Kay Gillian M.
Published: November 2009

Creating visual art is one of the defining characteristics of the human species, but the paucity of archaeological evidence means that we have limited information on the origin and evolution of this aspect of human culture. The components of art include colour, pattern and the reproduction of visual likeness. The 2D and 3D art forms that were created by Upper Palaeolithic Europeans at least 30 000 years ago are conceptually equivalent to those created in recent centuries, indicating that human cognition and symbolling activity, as well as anatomy, were fully modern by that time. The origins of art are therefore much more ancient and lie within Africa, before worldwide human dispersal. The earliest known evidence of ‘artistic behaviour’ is of human body decoration, including skin colouring with ochre and the use of beads, although both may have had functional origins. Zig‐zag and criss‐cross patterns, nested curves and parallel lines are the earliest known patterns to have been created separately from the body; their similarity to entopic phenomena (involuntary products of the visual system) suggests a physiological origin. 3D art may have begun with human likeness recognition in natural objects, which were modified to enhance that likeness; some 2D art has also clearly been influenced by suggestive features of an uneven surface. The creation of images from the imagination, or ‘the mind’s eye’, required a seminal evolutionary change in the neural structures underpinning perception; this change would have had a survival advantage in both tool‐making and hunting. Analysis of early tool‐making techniques suggests that creating 3D objects (sculptures and reliefs) involves their cognitive deconstruction into a series of surfaces, a principle that could have been applied to early sculpture. The cognitive ability to create art separate from the body must have originated in Africa but the practice may have begun at different times in genetically and culturally distinct groups both within Africa and during global dispersal, leading to the regional variety seen in both ancient and recent art. At all stages in the evolution of artistic creativity, stylistic change must have been due to rare, highly gifted individuals.
Dynamic expression of Six family genes in the dental mesenchyme and the epithelial ameloblast stem/progenitor cells during murine tooth development
Authors: Nonomura Koji , Takahashi Masanori , Wakamatsu Yoshio , Takano‐Yamamoto Teruko , Osumi Noriko
Published: November 2009

Six family transcription factor genes play multiple and crucial roles in the development of the vertebrate sensory system including the eye, olfactory epithelium and otic vesicle, and these genes are highly expressed in the neural crest‐derived cranial mesenchymal cells in the mouse embryo. However, expression patterns have yet to be determined for the Six family genes in the developing tooth germ. In this study, we examined expression of six members of the Six family genes in the dental mesenchyme and the dental epithelium of the developing tooth germs in mice by in situ hybridization. We found dynamic expression patterns for Six1, Six2, Six4 and Six5 in the oral epithelium and mesenchymal cells with distinct expression patterns at the early stage before invagination of the dental epithelium. In addition, expression of Six1 and Six4 was observed in the inner enamel epithelium of the incisor and molar tooth germs at the cap stage. Expression of Six5 was maintained in the bell stage tooth germs, and intense expression of Six1 and Six4 was detected not only in the mesenchyme‐derived dental follicle but also in the proliferating inner enamel epithelium of the labial cervical loop of the incisor tooth germ. Taken together, our results suggest that dynamic expression of Six family genes represents specific stages of the developing tooth germ. This dynamic expression is embodied in changes in both space and over time, and these changes in expression suggest that Six family genes may participate in tooth germ morphogenesis and the proliferation and/or differentiation of the incisor ameloblast stem/progenitor cells.
TRANSFUSION COMPLICATIONS: A fatal case of transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis in the State of Delaware
Authors: Zhao Yong , Love Kenneth R. , Hall Scott W. , Beardell Frank V.
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Most cases of human babesiosis in North America are caused by Babesia microti, which is endemic in the northeastern and upper midwestern United States. Although the disease is usually transmitted by a tick bite, there has been an increase in the number of transfusion‐transmitted cases reported. We describe a fatal case of transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis in a nonendemic state, Delaware.

CASE REPORT: The patient was a 43‐year‐old Caucasian woman with history of transfusion‐dependent Diamond‐Blackfan syndrome, hepatitis C, and splenectomy. She was admitted initially for presumptive pneumonia. The next day, a routine examination of the peripheral blood smears revealed numerous intraerythrocytic ring forms, consistent with Babesia. The parasitemia was approximately 5% to 6%. The diagnosis was confirmed by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for B. microti DNA and high titer of antibody to B. microti (1:2048). Despite aggressive therapy including clindamycin and quinine antibiotics, the patient expired 3 days after admission. Subsequently, 13 blood donors were tested for B. microti. All tested donors were negative by PCR. However, one donor living in New Jersey had a significant elevated B. microti antibody titer (1:1024).

CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this is the first reported case of transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis in Delaware, a nonendemic state. Our case illustrates that clinicians should consider babesiosis in the differential diagnosis of immunocompromised patients who have fever and recent transfusion history, even in areas where babesiosis is not endemic. It also demonstrates the need for better preventive strategies including more sensitive, specific, and rapid blood donor screening tests to prevent transfusion‐transmitted babesiosis.
BLOOD DONORS AND BLOOD COLLECTION: Testing blood donors for Chagas disease in the Paris area, France: first results after 18 months of screening
Authors: El Ghouzzi Marie‐Hélène , Boiret Elisabeth , Wind Françoise , Brochard Claudine , Fittere Sébastien , Paris Luc , Mazier Dominique , Sansonetti Nicole , Bierling Philippe
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease is endemic in Latin America (LA). Currently 10 million people are infected despite World Health Organization efforts aimed at preventing domestic transmission. However, with the migration of infected asymptomatic individuals to nonendemic countries, transmission of Chagas disease by transfusion may become a worldwide problem. The observation that the number of cases of Chagas disease has increased over the past 10 years in French Guiana, together with the results of a previous hospital‐based study in the Paris area, confirms the transmission of Chagas disease from patients coming from LA. For these reasons, the French authorities stopped the collection of blood in French Guiana in 2005 and began screening blood donors in the French Caribbean islands and, in 2007, in continental France.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Data on birth place, mother's birth place, and travel in LA were recorded for at‐risk donors. These subjects were tested using two enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

RESULTS: Of the 312,458 individuals who gave blood in the Paris area during an 18‐month period, 30,837 were tested. Of these, 972 were born in LA, three of whom were positive for the two ELISAs and immunofluorescence tests. The prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi–positive donors was 9.7 in 100,000 tested donors, but 0.31% among donors born in LA. Serology tests gave discrepant results in 1.02% of the samples.

CONCLUSION: The efficiency of blood donor screening programs could be improved by screening only blood donors who were born in LA or who have traveled in LA for extended periods, using a single enzyme immunoassay.
TRANSFUSION COMPLICATIONS: Improvement of an ultrasensitive human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 real‐time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction targeting the long terminal repeat region
Authors: Edelmann Anke , Kalus Ulrich , Oltmann Anke , Stein Angela , Unbehaun Anett , Drosten Christian , Krüger Detlev H. , Hofmann Jörg
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV‐1) assays applying nucleic acid testing (NAT) rely on HIV‐1 sequence‐specific primers and probes. Their hybridization can be limited or abolished by genetic polymorphisms occurring in the target sequence.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Blood donations are routinely tested for HIV‐1/2 antibodies and for HIV‐1 RNA in our blood transfusion unit. Recently, HIV‐1 RNA was undetectable with an established in‐house real‐time long terminal repeat (LTR) reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in two cases, whereas serologic assays were positive. The reason for this discrepancy was elucidated by sequencing of the NAT target region in the respective single donations. An improved primer was designed and tested on HIV‐1 reference panels and blood donations to ensure reliable detection of HIV‐1 RNA.

RESULTS: Direct sequencing of the target region, isolated from samples of two unrelated HIV‐positive blood donors, revealed one and four mismatches in the hybridization domain of the forward primer, respectively. Both viruses belong to HIV‐1 Subtype B. LTR RT‐PCR with an additional forward primer was suitable for all strains of HIV‐1 tested with high sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONS: Surveillance of HIV‐1 genetic diversity is essentially required to continually evaluate its impact on performance of diagnostic and patient monitoring assays.
Identification of microRNA profiles in docetaxel‐resistant human non‐small cell lung carcinoma cells (SPC‐A1)
Authors: Rui Wang , Bing Feng , Hai‐Zhu Song , Wei De , Long‐Bang Chen
Published: November 2009

Docetaxel has been used as first‐line chemotherapy in advanced non‐small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), but further extensive and effective application is prevented by drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been identified as important posttranscriptional regulators, which are involved in various biological processes. The aim of this study was to identify microRNA expression profiles involved in the development of docetaxel resistance in NSCLC. Here, microarray chip technology was employed to identify miRNA expression profiles in docetaxel‐resistant human NSCLC cell line (SPC‐A1/docetaxel). Then, the changes of miRNAs expression (>2‐fold compared with control SPC‐A1 cell line) were testified by quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) assay. Furthermore, the potential target genes regulated by selected miRNAs were analysed by various target prediction tools. The expression of a total of 52 miRNAs showed significant difference between SPC‐A1/docetaxel cells and control SPC‐A1 cells (P < 0.01). Six miRNAs (miR‐192, 200b, 194, 424, 98 and 212) exhibited more than 2‐fold changes in their expression levels, which were validated by qRT‐PCR. The expression of three miRNAs (miR‐200b, 194 and 212) was significantly down‐regulated in SPC‐A1/docetaxel cells, while the expression of other three miRNAs (miR‐192, 424 and 98) was significantly up‐regulated in SPC‐A1/docetaxel cells (P < 0.01). Potential target genes controlled by six selected miRNAs were divided into four groups according to various functions: apoptosis and proliferation (71 genes), cell cycle (68 genes), DNA damage (26 genes) and DNA repair (59 genes). The expression of a few target genes in SPC‐A1/docetaxel and SPC‐A1 cells were further confirmed by qRT‐PCR and Western blot. Taken together, the identification of microRNA expression profiles in docetaxel‐resistant NSCLC cells could provide a better understanding of mechanisms involved in drug sensitivity or resistance, which would be helpful to develop novel strategies for targeted therapies in chemorefractive NSCLC patients.
Extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus mimicking cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: report of a case
Authors: Suchak Ravi , Verdolini Roberto , Robson Alistair , Stefanato Catherine M.
Published: November 2009

Early lesions of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus (LSA) may present as a mild lichenoid tissue reaction, occasionally together with basilar epidermotropism, mimicking early cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, mycosis fungoides (MF) variant. We report a case of extragenital LSA in which both histological patterns were present in the same clinically homogenous and stable lesion. A 27‐year‐old man presented with a history of white atrophic plaques on the trunk. A biopsy of an abdominal lesion revealed epidermal thinning, a superficial perivascular lymphoid cell infiltrate with focal epidermotropism, mild nuclear atypia and perinuclear halos. Immunophenotyping showed decreased CD5 and CD7, with a slight predominance of CD8‐positive T‐lymphocytes. All these changes were suggestive of MF. However, a repeat biopsy 3 months later from the same stable plaque revealed features diagnostic of LSA. LSA mimicking early MF histologically has been reported in genital skin. Conversely, MF may clinically and histopathologically resemble LSA. With gene rearrangement studies, clonal proliferation may not be detected in early MF but has been reported to occur in LSA. Awareness of the histopathologic spectrum of LSA within a stable plaque is important to avoid a potential diagnostic pitfall, and should prompt a repeat biopsy.

Suchak R, Verdolini R, Robson A and Stefanato CM. Extragenital lichen sclerosus et atrophicus mimicking cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma: report of a case.
Palisaded neutrophilic granulomatous dermatitis with leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient without any underlying systemic disease detected to date
Authors: Misago Noriyuki , Shinoda Yohsuke , Tago Masaki , Narisawa Yutaka
Published: November 2009

Palisaded neutrophilic granulomatous dermatitis (PNGD) is a rare dermatologic condition which shows various clinical and histopathological features. Although the PNGD lesions have been suggested to begin as leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), there is still insufficient clinicopathological information in the reported cases of PNGD in acute stage with LCV. The relationship between PNGD and interstitial granumatous dermatis (IGD) also remains unclear. This report presents the case of a 60‐year‐old female patient with multiple erythematous nodules on the extremities. She had no underlying systemic disease detected to date, although transient, abnormal liver function tests were seen. The histopathological examination of an erythematous nodule revealed the features of PNGD in the acute stage. The patient presented the characteristic features of LCV including palisaded granulomatous pattern, and the interstitial granulomatous pattern was seen together, suggesting that PNGD with LCV can show an interstitial granulomatous pattern. The present case also suggested that PNGD in the acute stage with LCV tends to clinically manifest as erythematous nodules on the extremities and histopathologically shows a remarkable papillary edema and an extensive fibrin deposition in and around the vessel wall. PNGD may be associated with transient liver dysfunction.

Misago N, Shinoda Y, Tago M, Narisawa Y. Palisaded neutrophilic granulomatous dermatitis with leukocytoclastic vasculitis in a patient without any underlying systemic disease detected to date.
Chimpanzees in hepatitis C virus research: 1998–2007
Authors: Bettauer R.H.
Published: November 2009

Background  Chimpanzees have been widely used in hepatitis C virus (HCV) research, but their endangered status and high financial and ethical costs have prompted a closer review.

Methods  One hundred and nine articles published in 1998–2007 were analyzed for the number of chimpanzees involved, experimental procedures, objectives and other relevant issues.

Results  The articles described the use of 852 chimpanzees, but accounting for likely multiple uses, the number of individual chimpanzees involved here is estimated to be approximately 500. Most articles addressed immunology and inoculation studies. A significant portion of studies lasted for several months or years. Approximately one half of the individual chimpanzees were each used in 2–10 studies.

Conclusions  Significant financial and scientific resources have been expended in these chimpanzee HCV studies. Discussion addresses troublesome questions presented by some of the reviewed articles, including statistical validity, repeatability, and biological relevance of this model. These concerns merit attention as future approaches to HCV research and research priorities are considered.
Construction and Application of Efficient Ac‐Ds Transposon Tagging Vectors in Rice
Authors: Qu Shaohong , Jeon Jong‐Seong , Ouwerkerk Pieter B.F. , Bellizzi Maria , Leach Jan , Ronald Pamela , Wang Guo‐Liang
Published: November 2009

Transposons are effective mutagens alternative to T‐DNA for the generation of insertional mutants in many plant species including those whose transformation is inefficient. The current strategies of transposon tagging are usually slow and labor‐intensive and yield low frequency of tagged lines. We have constructed a series of transposon tagging vectors based on three approaches: (i) AcTPase controlled by glucocorticoid binding domain/VP16 acidic activation domain/Gal4 DNA‐binding domain (GVG) chemical‐inducible expression system; (ii) deletion of AcTPase via Cre‐lox site‐specific recombination that was initially triggered by Ds excision; and (iii) suppression of early transposition events in transformed rice callus through a dual‐functional hygromycin resistance gene in a novel Ds element (HPT‐Ds). We tested these vectors in transgenic rice and characterized the transposition events. Our results showed that these vectors are useful resources for functional genomics of rice and other crop plants. The vectors are freely available for the community.
Water Supply Changes N and P Conservation in a Perennial Grass Leymus chinensis
Authors: Huang Ju‐Ying , Yu Hai‐Long , Li Ling‐Hao , Yuan Zhi‐You , Bartels Samuel
Published: November 2009

Changes in precipitation can influence soil water and nutrient availability, and thus affect plant nutrient conservation strategies. Better understanding of how nutrient conservation changes with variations in water availability is crucial for predicting the potential influence of global climate change on plant nutrient‐use strategy. Here, green‐leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, N‐ and P‐resorption proficiency (the terminal N and P concentration in senescent leaves, NRP and PRP, respectively), and N‐ and P‐resorption efficiency (the proportional N and P withdrawn from senescent leaves prior to abscission, NRE and PRE, respectively) of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a typical perennial grass species in northern China, were examined along a water supply gradient to explore how plant nutrient conservation responds to water change. Increasing water supply at low levels (< 9000 mL/year) increased NRP, PRP and PRE, but decreased green‐leaf N concentration. It did not significantly affect green‐leaf P concentration or NRE. By contrast, all N and P conservation indicators were not significantly influenced at high water supply levels (> 9000 mL/year). These results indicated that changes in water availability at low levels could affect leaf‐level nutrient characteristics, especially for the species in semiarid ecosystems. Therefore, global changes in precipitation may pose effects on plant nutrient economy, and thus on nutrient cycling in the plant‐soil systems.
Substrate Selectivity of Glycerol‐3‐phosphate Acyl Transferase in Rice
Authors: Zhu Su‐Qin , Zhao Hua , Zhou Rong , Ji Ben‐Hua , Dan Xiao‐Yan
Published: November 2009

Substrate selectivity of glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase (EC 2. 3. 1. 15) of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was explored in a comparative study of acyltransferases from seven plant species. In vitro labeling of acyl carrier protein (ACP) with 14C or 3H showed that acyltransferase from chill‐sensitive plants, such as rice that uses either oleic (18:1) or palmitic acid (16:0) as acyl donor at comparable rates, displays lower selectivity than the enzyme from chill‐resistant plants, such as spinach, which preferentially uses oleic acid (18:1) rather than palmitic acid (16:0) as an acyl donor. This may be a result of the size and character of the substrate‐binding pocket of acyltransferase. Homology modeling and protein structure‐based sequence alignment of acyltransferases revealed that proteins from either chill‐sensitive or chill‐tolerant plants shared a highly conserved domain containing the proposed substrate‐binding pocket. However, the aligned residues surrounding the substrate‐binding pocket are highly heterogeneous and may have an influence mainly on the size of the substrate binding pockets of acyltransferases. The substrate selectivity of acyltransferase of rice can be improved by enlarging the substrate‐binding pocket using molecular biological methods.
Analysis of Ingredient Functionality and Formulation Optimization of an Instant Peanut Beverage Mix
Authors: Howard Brandy M. , Hung Yen‐Con , McWatters S. Kay
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  Powder for an instant shake‐style beverage was created using partially defatted peanut flour (12% fat), granulated sugar, and nonfat dry milk (NFDM). The 3 main components, along with constant amounts of stabilizing gums and anti‐caking silica, were mixed together and finely milled in a Super Wing Mill to further reduce the particle sizes. Drinks from each formula variation were prepared and analyzed for viscosity (digital viscometer), color (colorimeter), and separation rate. Each beverage was also analyzed by consumers to determine acceptability of flavor, mouth‐feel, and color. Physical test results show that viscosity increased with increasing proportion of peanut flour in the formula, and viscosity decreased with increasing levels of sugar and NFDM. For each formula, the samples at refrigerated temperature (4 °C) were less viscous than those at ambient temperatures (23 to 25 °C). Color values show that the beverage powder color was mostly influenced by peanut flour percentage, becoming darker with increasing levels of peanut flour. Prepared beverage color was influenced by both NFDM and peanut flour percentage; lightness increased with increasing NFDM percentage and decreased with increasing peanut flour percentage. Separation rates were most affected by the proportion of NFDM in the formula; higher levels decreased the rate of separation. Refrigeration slowed the rate of separation in all samples. Response surface analysis of consumer test data showed that the most acceptable formulation for the peanut beverage included approximately equal amounts of peanut flour, sugar, and NFDM.
Effect of Milk Pretreatment on the Whey Composition and Whey Powder Functionality
Authors: Outinen M. , Rantamäki P. , Heino A.
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  Changes in cheese production processes may have a significant effect on subsequent whey composition and functionality. To control these changes is important since whey is commonly processed into ingredients used in numerous applications in the food industry. In this study, the characteristics of 4 demineralized whey powders (DWPs) were studied. DWPs were produced from partially high‐temperature heat‐treated (HH), ultrafiltered (UF), or ultrafiltered high‐temperature heat‐treated (UFHH) milk. DWP produced from pasteurized milk was used as a reference (REF). All experiments were carried out on industrial scale. The quantity of nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) in total protein (TP) was elevated by HH, and reduced by UF treatment. Whey protein content of whey was significantly elevated by UF, but reduced when HH treatment was applied. The volume and total solids of UFHH whey were significantly reduced compared to REF and HH wheys, but the chemical composition was comparable. There were no significant differences in the degree of denaturation, viscosity, water‐binding capacity, emulsifying capacity, or emulsion stability of the DWPs, but heat stability was significantly elevated by UF treatment.
Antioxidant Properties of Edible Basidiomycete Phellinus igniarius in Submerged Cultures
Authors: Lung Ming Yeou , Tsai Jie Chung , Huang Ping Chang
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  Dried mycelia and mycelia‐free broths produced by submerged cultures of Phellinus igniarius under optimal culture conditions were extracted using methanol and hot water and investigated for antioxidant properties. Methanolic extracts from dried mycelia (MEM) and mycelia‐free broth (MEB) showed significant antioxidant properties for all EC50 values less than 10 mg/mL except for MEB in scavenging effects on DPPH radicals. Hot water extracts from dried mycelia (HWEM) were evidenced by their low EC50 values (<10 mg/mL) to be effective in reducing power, chelating effect on ferrous ions, and scavenging effect on superoxide anions. α‐tocopherol was mainly found in MEM and γ‐tocopherol in MEB. Ascorbic acid and total flavonoids were abundant in methanolic extracts (MEM + MEB), whereas total phenols were rich in HWEM. An excellent correlation between contents of total phenols and EC50 values was accomplished for antioxidant activity (R2= 0.996) and chelating ferrous ions ability (R2= 0.922).

Practical Application: In our paper, the products by submerged culture of Phellinus igniarius exhibited powerful antioxidant properties. Results told that extracts from fermenting products by P. igniarius might be good sources for antioxidant‐related functional foods and pharmaceutical industries.
Effect of Season on the Sensory Quality of Sea Urchin (Evechinus chloroticus) Roe
Authors: Phillips Kylie , Hamid Nazimah , Silcock Patrick , Delahunty Conor , Barker Mike , Bremer Phil
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT:  The influence of season, gender, and reproductive maturity on the sensory properties (appearance, odor, taste, flavor, texture/mouthfeel, and aftertaste) of roe from sea urchins (Evechinus chloroticus) was investigated. A trained sensory panel applied descriptive analysis, with a comprehensive sensory vocabulary of 35 descriptors to analyze sea urchin roe obtained from samples collected during the austral autumn, winter, summer, and spring, over a 2‐y period. Sensory differences between genders were less pronounced in autumn (March to May) and winter (June to August) when more nutritive cells were present in the roe, and more pronounced over spring (September to November) and summer (December to February) months as the gametogenic cells matured. Roe from female sea urchins were commonly associated with sulfur odor, bitter taste, and metallic flavor, while roe from the male sea urchins were associated with sweet taste. During autumn, female roe were closest in sensory quality to male roe (least bitter and most sweet compared to other seasons), while there were little differences in sweetness and bitterness of male roe over the 4 seasons. Despite the relative size of the roe being lowest in autumn, it appeared to be the optimum season to harvest E. chloroticus sea urchins to obtain high‐quality roe.