bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Climate influences parasite-mediated competitive release
Authors: LARSEN MARTIN H. , JENSEN K. THOMAS , MOURITSEN KIM N.
Published: August 2011

Parasitism is believed to play an important role in maintaining species diversity, for instance by facilitating coexistence between competing host species. However, the possibility that environmental factors may govern the outcome of parasite-mediated competition has rarely been considered. The closely related amphipodsCorophium volutatorandCorophium arenariumboth serve as second intermediate host for detrimental trematodes.Corophium volutatoris the superior competitor of the two, but also suffers from higher mortality when exposed to infective trematode stages. Here, we report parasite-mediated competitive release ofC. arenariumin an intertidal habitat, in part triggered by unusually high temperatures linked to the North Atlantic climate oscillation (NAO). The elevated temperatures accelerated the transmission of cercariae from sympatric first intermediate hosts (mud snails) to amphipods, causing a local collapse of the parasite-sensitiveC. volutatorpopulation and concordant increase in the abundance of the competitively inferiorC. arenarium.
Gwyn Thomas's Sap and Theatre Workshop's Oh What a Lovely War
Authors: Edwards Gwynne
Published: August 2011

In the autumn of 1962 Gwyn Thomas, author of The Keep and Jackie the Jumper, two plays already staged at the Royal Court, delivered to the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, his script of Sap, a play with songs about the First World War. In March 1963, Joan Littlewood premiered at the Theatre Royal Oh What a Lovely War. Subsequently, Thomas felt that his ideas and research had been stolen, and because of the success of Oh What a Lovely War, Sap was not staged for another eleven years. In this article Gwynne Edwards discusses the circumstances surrounding these events and outlines the similarities and differences between the two plays. Gwynne Edwards has written extensively on Spanish theatre, in particular on the plays of Lorca, which he has also translated. More recently he has written plays based on the lives and work of Dylan Thomas, Gwyn Thomas, and Richard Burton. Burton was staged in Hollywood in 2010.
Scenography as ‘Visual Bridge’ in Prague
Authors: Herbert Ian
Published: August 2011

Report on the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space, 2011.
Partitioning of Physiological Noise Signals in the Brain with Concurrent Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and fMRI
Authors: Tong Yunjie , Lindsey Kimberly P , deB Frederick Blaise
Published: August 2011

The blood–oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are contaminated with noise from various physiological processes, such as spontaneous low-frequency oscillations (LFOs), respiration, and cardiac pulsation. These processes are coupled to the BOLD signal by different mechanisms, and represent variations with very different frequency content; however, because of the low sampling rate of fMRI, these signals are generally not separable by frequency, as the cardiac and respiratory waveforms alias into the LFO band. In this study, we investigated the spatial and temporal characteristics of the individual noise processes by conducting concurrent near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and fMRI studies on six subjects during a resting state acquisition. Three time series corresponding to LFO, respiration, and cardiac pulsation were extracted by frequency from the NIRS signal (which has sufficient temporal resolution to critically sample the cardiac waveform) and used as regressors in a BOLD fMRI analysis. Our results suggest that LFO and cardiac signals modulate the BOLD signal independently through the circulatory system. The spatiotemporal evolution of the LFO signal in the BOLD data correlates with the global cerebral blood flow. Near-infrared spectroscopy can be used to partition these contributing factors and independently determine their contribution to the BOLD signal.
The P2′ residue is a key determinant of mesotrypsin specificity: engineering a high-affinity inhibitor with anticancer activity
Authors: Salameh Moh'd A. , Soares Alexei S. , Hockla Alexandra , Radisky Derek C. , Radisky Evette S.
Published: August 2011

PRSS3/mesotrypsin is an atypical isoform of trypsin, the up-regulation of which has been implicated in promoting tumour progression. Mesotrypsin inhibitors could potentially provide valuable research tools and novel therapeutics, but small-molecule trypsin inhibitors have low affinity and little selectivity, whereas protein trypsin inhibitors bind poorly and are rapidly degraded by mesotrypsin. In the present study, we use mutagenesis of a mesotrypsin substrate, APPI (amyloid precursor protein Kunitz protease inhibitor domain), and of a poor mesotrypsin inhibitor, BPTI (bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor), to dissect mesotrypsin specificity at the key P2′ position. We find that bulky and charged residues strongly disfavour binding, whereas acidic residues facilitate catalysis. Crystal structures of mesotrypsin complexes with BPTI variants provide structural insights into mesotrypsin specificity and inhibition. Through optimization of the P1 and P2′ residues of BPTI, we generate a stable high-affinity mesotrypsin inhibitor with an equilibrium binding constant Ki of 5.9 nM, a >2000-fold improvement in affinity over native BPTI. Using this engineered inhibitor, we demonstrate the efficacy of pharmacological inhibition of mesotrypsin in assays of breast cancer cell malignant growth and pancreatic cancer cell invasion. Although further improvements in inhibitor selectivity will be important before clinical potential can be realized, the results of the present study support the feasibility of engineering protein protease inhibitors of mesotrypsin and highlight their therapeutic potential.
Being in Myth and Community: Resistance, Lived Existence, and Democracy in a North England Mill Town
Authors: Bond Sophie
Published: August 2011

‘Community’ has long been critiqued in academic circles as a social construct with the potential to subsume and exclude individuals under a determination of collectivity. In contrast, community continues to be posed as an ideal in urban policy, particularly in the United Kingdom. In this paper I employ Jean-Luc Nancy's thinking of community as myth and as existential being to interrogate the thorny issue of how community is constructed and the effects of those constructions on being and living in a place. I explore the constitution of collectivities and their interruption by lived existence in an urban regeneration project in north England, where a proposal to demolish and renew housing was contested by local residents. I argue that a Nancian lens provides a nuanced view of how myth and being are entangled and requires one another to ensure a vibrant democratic politics rested on an openness to alterity.
A role for the hippocampus in encoding simulations of future events
Authors: Martin Victoria C. , Schacter Daniel L. , Corballis Michael C. , Addis Donna Rose
Published: August 2011

The role of the hippocampus in imagining the future has been of considerable interest. Preferential right hippocampal engagement is observed for imagined future events relative to remembered past events, and patients with hippocampal damage are impaired when imagining detailed future events. However, some patients with hippocampal damage are not impaired at imagining, suggesting that there are conditions in which the hippocampus may not be necessary for episodic simulation. Given the known hippocampal role in memory encoding, the hippocampal activity associated with imagining may reflect the encoding of simulations rather than event construction per se. The present functional (f)MRI study investigated this possibility. Participants imagined future events in response to person, place, and object cues. A postscan cued-recall test probing memory for detail sets classified future events as either successfully encoded or not. A contrast of successfully versus unsuccessfully encoded events revealed anterior and posterior right hippocampal clusters. When imagined events were successfully encoded, both anterior and posterior hippocampus showed common functional connectivity to a network including parahippocampal gyrus, medial parietal and cingulate cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex. However, when encoding was unsuccessful, only the anterior hippocampus, and not the posterior, exhibited this pattern of connectivity. These findings demonstrate that right hippocampal activity observed during future simulation may reflect the encoding of the simulations into memory. This function is not essential for constructing coherent scenarios and may explain why some patients with hippocampal damage are still able to imagine the future.
Post-liberation cleavage of signal peptides is catalyzed by the site-2 protease (S2P) in bacteria
Authors: Saito Akira , Hizukuri Yohei , Matsuo Ei-ichi , Chiba Shinobu , Mori Hiroyuki , Nishimura Osamu , Ito Koreaki , Akiyama Yoshinori
Published: August 2011

A signal peptide (SP) is cleaved off from presecretory proteins by signal peptidase during or immediately after insertion into the membrane. In metazoan cells, the cleaved SP then receives proteolysis by signal peptide peptidase, an intramembrane-cleaving protease (I-CLiP). However, bacteria lack any signal peptide peptidase member I-CLiP, and little is known about the metabolic fate of bacterial SPs. Here we show that
Escherichia coli
RseP, an site-2 protease (S2P) family I-CLiP, introduces a cleavage into SPs after their signal peptidase-mediated liberation from preproteins. A
Bacillus subtilis
S2P protease, RasP, is also shown to be involved in SP cleavage. These results uncover a physiological role of bacterial S2P proteases and update the basic knowledge about the fate of signal peptides in bacterial cells.
GaAs-based long-wavelength InAs quantum dots on multi-step-graded InGaAs metamorphic buffer grown by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Ji-Fang He , Hai-Li Wang , Xiang-Jun Shang , Mi-Feng Li , Yan Zhu , Li-Juan Wang , Ying Yu , Hai-Qiao Ni , Ying-Qiang Xu , Zhi-Chuan Niu
Published: August 2011

Molecular beam epitaxy growth of GaAs-based long-wavelength metamorphic InAs/InGaAs quantum dots (QDs) is investigated. With optimized multi-step-graded InGaAs metamorphic buffer layers and growth conditions, room temperature 1.46 µm emission from InAs/In0.15Ga0.85As QDs is realized, and broad-area laser diodes are fabricated with a very low etch pit defect density of less than 5.0 × 103 cm−2. The lasers operate under pulsed operation mode at room temperature with a low threshold current density of 146.7 A cm−2.
Experimental and numerical study of the propagation of a discharge in a capillary tube in air at atmospheric pressure
Authors: Jánský Jaroslav , Le Delliou Pierre , Tholin Fabien , Tardiveau Pierre , Bourdon Anne , Pasquiers Stéphane
Published: August 2011

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of a pulsed air plasma discharge at atmospheric pressure propagating in a capillary glass tube. In this work, we have compared the discharge structures and the axial propagation velocities of discharges. First, we have studied a needle-to-plane configuration without tube. For applied voltages in the range 7–18 kV, we have observed in experiments and in simulations that a plasma ball starts to develop around the needle tip. Then, for applied voltages less than 14 kV, in experiments, the discharge rapidly splits into several streamer channels with a main axial streamer. In simulations, we have computed only the main axial discharge. For applied voltages higher than 14 kV, in experiments and in simulations, we have observed that the discharge propagates with a cone shape in the gap. For all studied voltages, a good experiment/modelling agreement is obtained on the axial propagation velocity of the discharge, which increases with the applied voltage. Then, we have studied the propagation of discharges inside capillary tubes with radii in the range 37.5–300 µm. In experiments and simulations, we have observed that for small tube radius, the discharge front is quite homogeneous inside the tube and becomes tubular when the tube radius increases. Experimentally, we have observed that the velocity of the discharge reaches a maximum for a tube radius slightly less than 100 µm. We have noted that for a tube radius of 100 µm, the discharge velocity is three to four times higher than the velocity obtained without tube. This clearly shows the influence of the confinement by a capillary tube on the discharge dynamics. In this work, we have only simulated discharges for tube radii in the range 100–300 µm. We have noted that both in experiments and in simulations, the velocity of the discharge in tubes increases linearly with the applied voltage. As the radius of the tube decreases, the discharge velocity derived from the simulations slightly increases but is less than the experimental one. We have noted that the discrepancy on the discharge velocity between experiments and simulations increases as the voltage increases.
Dislocation structures in nanoindented ductile metals—a transmission electron microscopy direct observation
Authors: Graça S , Carvalho P A , Colaço R
Published: August 2011

Several attempts have been made over recent years to understand indentation size effect (ISE). The theoretical models, based essentially on strain gradient plasticity theories, such as the Nix–Gao model, predict that ISE is caused by an increase in the density of dislocations as the indentation size decreases. Molecular dynamics simulation results tend to confirm this fact, but the truth is that very few experimental studies exist on the direct observation of how dislocations are generated and accommodated in the vicinity of nanoindentations. In this study, using a Ni transmission electron microscopy thin foil as model material, we show that when the material is submitted to atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation a high dislocation density zone is generated at the centre of the indented region, and that prismatic loop and helical dislocations are emitted sidewards from the central region of the nanoindentation along the ⟨1 1 0⟩ directions. Moreover, we show that the dislocation array formed during the nanoindentation process is far from the ideal model proposed by Nix and Gao, based on load axi-centred dislocation loops. With this study we aim at contributing to a better comprehension of ISE mechanisms in ductile metals.
Evaluation of length-scale effects for mechanical behaviour of micro- and nanocantilevers: II. Experimental verification of deflection models using atomic force microscopy
Authors: Tang Chenzhi , Alici Gursel
Published: August 2011

This paper is the second of two parts that reports on evaluating the length-scale effects for micro- and nano-sized silicon cantilevers using experimental data provided by atomic force microscopy. The tip deflections estimated with the conventional tip deflection model and the modified deflection model incorporating the length-scale factor are determined and compared with the experimental data. These comparative data demonstrate that the length-scale factor should be considered in accurately estimating the tip deflection of the micro- and nano-sized cantilevers. We also present the effect of the length-scale factor on the stiffness of the cantilevers, which also indicate that the classical models derived for macro-sized cantilevers cannot be used to accurately estimate the bending stiffness of the micro- and nano-sized cantilevers. The implications of accurately estimating the tip deflection and stiffness for micro- and nanocantilever sensors are discussed and it is concluded that when these sensors are used in the static mode, the modified deflection model should be used in estimating the mass of the species of interest binding (analyte) on the surface of the cantilevers.
Inhomogeneity effects in cosmology
Authors: Ellis George F R
Published: August 2011

This paper looks at how inhomogeneous spacetime models may be significant for cosmology. First it addresses how the averaging process may affect large-scale dynamics, with backreaction effects leading to effective contributions to the averaged energy–momentum tensor. Second, it considers how local inhomogeneities may affect cosmological observations in cosmology, possibly significantly affecting the concordance model parameters. Third, it presents the possibility that the universe is spatially inhomogeneous on Hubble scales, with a violation of the Copernican principle leading to an apparent acceleration of the universe. This could perhaps even remove the need for the postulate of dark energy.
SEED: efficient clustering of next-generation sequences
Authors: Bao Ergude , Jiang Tao , Kaloshian Isgouhi , Girke Thomas
Published: August 2011

Motivation: Similarity clustering of next-generation sequences (NGS) is an important computational problem to study the population sizes of DNA/RNA molecules and to reduce the redundancies in NGS data. Currently, most sequence clustering algorithms are limited by their speed and scalability, and thus cannot handle data with tens of millions of reads.

Results: Here, we introduce SEED—an efficient algorithm for clustering very large NGS sets. It joins sequences into clusters that can differ by up to three mismatches and three overhanging residues from their virtual center. It is based on a modified spaced seed method, called block spaced seeds. Its clustering component operates on the hash tables by first identifying virtual center sequences and then finding all their neighboring sequences that meet the similarity parameters. SEED can cluster 100 million short read sequences in <4 h with a linear time and memory performance. When using SEED as a preprocessing tool on genome/transcriptome assembly data, it was able to reduce the time and memory requirements of the Velvet/Oasis assembler for the datasets used in this study by 60–85% and 21–41%, respectively. In addition, the assemblies contained longer contigs than non-preprocessed data as indicated by 12–27% larger N50 values. Compared with other clustering tools, SEED showed the best performance in generating clusters of NGS data similar to true cluster results with a 2- to 10-fold better time performance. While most of SEED's utilities fall into the preprocessing area of NGS data, our tests also demonstrate its efficiency as stand-alone tool for discovering clusters of small RNA sequences in NGS data from unsequenced organisms.

Availability: The SEED software can be downloaded for free from this site: http://manuals.bioinformatics.ucr.edu/home/seed.

Contact:  thomas.girke@ucr.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online
Evaluation of Phosphonate Treatments for Control of Phytophthora Crown Rot of Walnut
Authors: Browne G. T. , Prichard T. L. , Schmidt L. S. , Krueger W. H.
Published: August 2011

Preventive foliar and soil (chemigation) applications of phosphonate were evaluated in a factorial manner for control of cankers caused by Phytophthora citricola in a Persian walnut orchard, cultivar Chandler. In each of two experiments, a foliar treatment was applied once in the second week of September, and a soil chemigation treatment was applied three times at weekly intervals from the last week of August to the second week of September; the treatments were applied separately and in combination to the walnut trees. At 1 and at 7 months after completion of the treatments, the trees were wound inoculated with P. citricola. Treatment efficacy was assessed by measuring the area of resulting trunk cankers. Trees that had received a foliar spray with phosphonate consistently developed less necrotic bark area than trees that had not received the treatment. This effect was evident following the inoculations made 1 and 7 months after phosphonate treatments. Chemigation with phosphonate contributed to canker suppression only following inoculations made 1 month after treatment in experiment 1; the suppression was not evident in experiment 2. The results suggest that a late-summer foliar spray treatment with phosphonate, but not necessarily short-term chemigation treatments, may help to reduce losses caused by P. citricola in Persian walnut.

Accepted for publication 4 March 2011. Published 1 June 2011.
First Report of Stem Dieback and Leaf Spot of Leucothoe caused by Cylindrocladium colhounii in North Carolina
Authors: Benson D. M. , Parker K. C. , Ivors K. L.
Published: August 2011

Leucothoe fontanesiana (L. catesbaei) and L. axillaris are common in the nursery trade for landscape use in USDA Zones 5 to 8. This is the first report of C. colhounii attacking L. axillaris and L. fontanesiana in North Carolina.

Accepted for publication 14 April 2011. Published 28 June 2011.
Thousand Cankers Disease is Widespread in Black Walnut in the Western United States
Authors: Tisserat Ned , Cranshaw Whitney , Putnam Melodie L. , Pscheidt Jay , Leslie Charles A. , Murray Marion , Hoffman James , Barkley Yvonne , Alexander Kathleen , Seybold Steven J.
Published: August 2011

Thousand cankers disease of black walnut is caused by aggressive feeding by the walnut twig beetle and subsequent canker development around beetle galleries caused the fungus Geosmithia morbida. The authors We confirmed the presence of G. morbida from symptomatic black walnut or hybrids in California, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Thousand cankers disease continues to cause extensive mortality to black walnut over a wide geographic region and is intensifying in the western United States.

Accepted for publication 2 June 2011. Published 30 June 2011.
Expansion of Groundnut ringspot virus Host and Geographic Ranges in Solanaceous Vegetables in Peninsular Florida
Authors: Webster Craig G. , Turechek William W. , Mellinger H. Charles , Frantz Galen , Roe Nancy , Yonce Henry , Vallad Gary E. , Adkins Scott
Published: August 2011

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of GRSV infecting tomatillo and eggplant, and it is the first report of GRSV infecting pepper in the United States. This first identification of GRSV-infected crop plants in commercial fields in Palm Beach and Manatee Counties demonstrates the continuing geographic spread of the virus into additional vegetable production areas of Florida. This information indicates that a wide range of solanaceous plants is likely to be infected by this emerging viral pathogen in Florida and beyond.

Accepted for publication 27 June 2011. Published 25 July 2011.
Variable individual consistency in timing and destination of winter migrating fish
Authors: Brodersen Jakob , Nilsson P. Anders , Chapman Ben B. , Skov Christian , Hansson Lars-Anders , Brönmark Christer
Published: August 2011

Migration is an important event in the life history of many animals, but there is considerable variation within populations in the timing and final destination. Such differential migration at the population level can be strongly determined by individuals showing different consistencies in migratory traits. By tagging individual cyprinid fish with uniquely coded electronic tags, and recording their winter migrations from lakes to streams for 6 consecutive years, we obtained highly detailed long-term information on the differential migration patterns of individuals. We found that individual migrants showed consistent site fidelities for over-wintering streams over multiple migratory seasons and that they were also consistent in their seasonal timing of migration. Our data also suggest that consistency itself can be considered as an individual trait, with migrants that exhibit consistent site fidelity also showing consistency in migratory timing. The finding of a mixture of both consistent and inconsistent individuals within a population furthers our understanding of intrapopulation variability in migration strategies, and we hypothesize that environmental variation can maintain such different strategies.
Small-angle light scattering to detect strain-directed collagen degradation in native tissue
Authors: Robitaille Michael C. , Zareian Ramin , DiMarzio Charles A. , Wan Kai-Tak , Ruberti Jeffrey W.
Published: August 2011

It has been demonstrated that there is a mechanochemical relationship between collagen and collagenolytic enzymes such that increased tensile mechanical strain reduces the enzymatic cutting rate. This mechanochemical relationship has the potential to permit directed remodelling of tissue-engineered constructs
in vitro
and to shed light on the generation of load-adapted collagen-based connective tissue. In this investigation, we demonstrate that small-angle light scattering (SALS) has the sensitivity to dynamically detect the preferential enzymatic degradation of a subset of unloaded collagen fibrils within differentially loaded native tissue. Detection of the difference in the relative degradation rate of unloaded fibrils versus loaded fibrils was manifested through changes in the spatial distribution of the SALS signal. Specifically, we found a linear increase in the eccentricity of the SALS data that was consistent with preferential retention of the collagen fibrils aligned with the applied tensile strain. We conclude that SALS is simple, inexpensive and may provide a useful optical screening method permitting real-time monitoring of strain-controlled tissue and construct remodelling.
On approximations to a class of Jaeger integrals
Authors: Phillips W. R. C. , Mahon P. J.
Published: August 2011

The object of this paper is to revisit a family of improper integrals first investigated by Jaeger (Jaeger 1942
Proc. R. Soc. Edinb., A
61
, 223–228). Of particular interest is a sub-class related to axisymmetric diffusion as it occurs in contemporary electrochemistry, specifically chronopotentiometry and chronoamperometry; applications that demand precision well beyond what can be achieved by simple interpolation of the tabulated solutions given by Jaeger and coworkers. To that end, the paper first outlines the less known numerical techniques necessary to solve such integrals and then employs them to obtain numerical solutions over a broad range of the temporal parameter
τ
, which includes the asymptotic approximations for small and large
τ
. Computed also are time integrals not previously calculated. More useful to practitioners, however, are approximations to the integrals that are easy to evaluate and sufficiently simple to be manipulated analytically, and the remainder of the work is devoted to such approximants. Each is constructed from a base function which captures the precise asymptotic behaviour at small and large
τ
plus a correction function, which is fitted either by a half-range Fourier sine series or an inverse power series in
τ
. Inclusion of sufficiently many terms in each series allows the approximants to realize an accuracy concordant with that of the numerical solutions. The approximants may also be integrated with respect to
τ
to obtain appropriate time integrals for use in convolution algorithms.
A poisonous surprise under the coat of the African crested rat
Authors: Kingdon Jonathan , Agwanda Bernard , Kinnaird Margaret , O'Brien Timothy , Holland Christopher , Gheysens Thomas , Boulet-Audet Maxime , Vollrath Fritz
Published: August 2011

Plant toxins are sequestered by many animals and the toxicity is frequently advertised by aposematic displays to deter potential predators. Such ‘unpalatability by appropriation’ is common in many invertebrate groups and also found in a few vertebrate groups. However, potentially lethal toxicity by acquisition has so far never been reported for a placental mammal. Here, we describe complex morphological structures and behaviours whereby the African crested rat,Lophiomys imhausi, acquires, dispenses and advertises deterrent toxin. Roots and bark ofAcokanthera schimperi(Apocynaceae) trees are gnawed, masticated and slavered onto highly specialized hairs that wick up the compound, to be delivered whenever the animal is bitten or mouthed by a predator. The poison is a cardenolide, closely resembling ouabain, one of the active components in a traditional African arrow poison long celebrated for its power to kill elephants.
Evolution of theS-Locus Region in Arabidopsis Relatives
Authors: Guo Ya-Long , Zhao Xuan , Lanz Christa , Weigel Detlef
Published: August 2011

The S locus, a single polymorphic locus, is responsible for self-incompatibility (SI) in the Brassicaceae family and many related plant families. Despite its importance, our knowledge of S-locus evolution is largely restricted to the causal genes encoding the S-locus receptor kinase (SRK) receptor and S-locus cysteine-rich protein (SCR) ligand of the SI system. Here, we present high-quality sequences of the genomic region of six S-locus haplotypes: Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; one haplotype), Arabidopsis lyrata (four haplotypes), and Capsella rubella (one haplotype). We compared these with reference S-locus haplotypes of the self-compatible Arabidopsis and its SI congener A. lyrata. We subsequently reconstructed the likely genomic organization of the S locus in the most recent common ancestor of Arabidopsis and Capsella. As previously reported, the two SI-determining genes, SCR and SRK, showed a pattern of coevolution. In addition, consistent with previous studies, we found that duplication, gene conversion, and positive selection have been important factors in the evolution of these two genes and appear to contribute to the generation of new recognition specificities. Intriguingly, the inactive pseudo-S-locus haplotype in the self-compatible species C. rubella is likely to be an old S-locus haplotype that only very recently became fixed when C. rubella split off from its SI ancestor, Capsella grandiflora.
Functional Analysis of All AGAMOUS Subfamily Members in Rice Reveals Their Roles in Reproductive Organ Identity Determination and Meristem Determinacy
Authors: Dreni Ludovico , Pilatone Alessandro , Yun Dapeng , Erreni Stefano , Pajoro Alice , Caporali Elisabetta , Zhang Dabing , Kater Martin M.
Published: August 2011

Reproductive organ development is one of the most important steps in the life cycle of plants. Studies using core eudicot species like thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) have shown that MADS domain transcription factors belonging to the AGAMOUS (AG) subfamily regulate the identity of stamens, carpels, and ovules and that they are important for floral meristem determinacy. Here, we investigate the genetic interactions between the four rice (Oryza sativa) AG subfamily members, MADS3, MADS13, MADS21, and MADS58. Our data show that, in contrast with previous reports, MADS3 and MADS58 determine stamen and carpel identity and, together with MADS13, are important for floral meristem determinacy. In the mads3 mads58 double mutant, we observed a complete loss of reproductive organ identity and massive accumulation of lodicules in the third and fourth floral whorls. MADS21 is an AGL11 lineage gene whose expression is not restricted to ovules. Instead, its expression profile is similar to those of class C genes. However, our genetic analysis shows that MADS21 has no function in stamen, carpel, or ovule identity determination.
Roles of CUB domain‐containing protein 1 signaling in cancer invasion and metastasis
Authors: Uekita Takamasa , Sakai Ryuichi
Published: August 2011

Tumor metastasis is a complex multistep process by which cells from the primary tumor invade tissues, move through the vasculature, settle at distant sites and eventually grow to form secondary tumors. Altered tyrosine phosphorylation signals in cancer cells contribute to a number of aberrant characteristics involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. CUB domain‐containing protein 1 (CDCP1) is a substrate of Src family kinases and has been shown to regulate anoikis resistance, migration and matrix degradation during tumor invasion and metastasis in a tyrosine phosphorylation‐dependent manner. Knockdown of CDCP1 blocks tumor metastasis or peritoneal dissemination in vivo, without significantly affecting cell proliferation. Moreover, expression levels of CDCP1 are of prognostic value in several cancers. Here, we summarize the studies on CDCP1, focusing on structure and signal transduction, to gain insight into its role in cancer progression. Understanding the signaling pathways regulated by CDCP1 could help establish novel therapeutic strategies against the progression of cancer. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 1943–1948)
Differences in both prevalence and titre of specific immunoglobulin E among children with asthma in affluent and poor communities within a large town in Ghana
Authors: Stevens W. , Addo‐Yobo E. , Roper J. , Woodcock A. , James H. , Platts‐Mills T. , Custovic A.
Published: August 2011

Background Reports from several African countries have noted an increasing prevalence of asthma in areas of extensive urbanization.

Objective To investigate the relevance of allergen‐specific sensitization and body mass index (BMI) to asthma/wheezing and exercise‐induced bronchospasm (EIB) among children from affluent and poorer communities within a large town in Ghana.

Methods Children with physician‐diagnosed asthma and/or current wheezing aged 9–16 years (n=99; cases) from three schools with differing socio‐economic backgrounds [urban affluent (UA), urban poor (UP) or suburban/rural (SR)] were recruited from a cross‐sectional study (n=1848) in Kumasi, Ghana, and matched according to age, sex and area of residence with non‐asthmatic/non‐wheezy controls. We assayed sera for IgE antibodies to mite, cat, dog, cockroach, Ascaris and galactose‐α‐1,3‐galactose.

Results Children from the UA school had the lowest total serum IgE. However, cases from the UA school had a higher prevalence and mean titre of sIgE to mite (71.4%, 21.2 IU/mL) when compared with controls (14.3%, 0.8 IU/mL) or cases from UP (30%, 0.8 IU/mL) and SR community (47.8%, 1.6 IU/mL). While similar findings were observed with EIB in the whole population, among cases there was no difference in IgE antibody prevalence or titre between children with or without EIB. BMI was higher among UA children with and without asthma; in UP and SR communities, children with EIB (n=14) had a significantly higher BMI compared with children with asthma/wheezing without EIB (n=38) (18.2 vs. 16.4, respectively, P<0.01).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance In the relatively affluent school, asthma/wheezing and EIB were associated with high titre IgE antibodies to mite, decreased total IgE, and increased BMI. This contrasted with children in the urban poor school and suggests that changes relevant to a Western model of childhood asthma can occur within a short geographical distance within a large city in Africa.

Cite this as: W. Stevens, E. Addo‐Yobo, J. Roper, A. Woodcock, H. James, T. Platts‐Mills and A. Custovic, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1587–1594.
Lymphangioma of the pancreas: a multimodal approach to pre‐operative diagnosis
Authors: Fonseca R. , Pitman M. B.
Published: August 2011

Background:  Lymphangioma of the pancreas is an extremely rare benign tumour of lymphatic origin, with only four cases diagnosed by EUS‐FNA reported to date.

Methods and materials:  Five cases of either cytologically or histologically diagnosed pancreatic lymphangioma with pre‐operative cytological analysis by EUS‐FNAC were reviewed.

Results:  All patients were female, with a mean age of 56.4 years. By imaging, the cystic lesions ranged in size from 2 to 7 cm (mean 4.5 cm) and were mainly located in the head of the pancreas. All cysts had thin walls and no cyst demonstrated a mural nodule. Diagnosis based on imaging features was benign in all cases due to the absence of high‐risk features. Four samples were sent for biochemical analysis, which showed low CEA levels (range, <0.5–19.4 ng/ml; mean, 5.45 ng/ml) and CA 19.9 and CA 72.4 levels within normal range. All cyst fluids showed numerous small lymphocytes with no atypia; no epithelial cells were present, including no gastrointestinal contamination. Flow cytometry in two cases showed T lymphocytes with a mature phenotype. Surgical resection in two patients confirmed the cytological diagnosis. Benign clinical follow‐up was available in three patients at 2, 3 and 3.5 years.

Conclusion:  A multimodal approach to cytological diagnosis (combining clinical, radiological and cyst fluid gross, biochemical and cytological characteristics) can lead to the diagnosis of this cystic neoplasm and distinguish it from other more common cysts in the pancreas, potentially avoiding the need for unnecessary surgery.
Effects of soil moisture on the temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration vary seasonally in an old‐field climate change experiment
Authors: Suseela Vidya , Conant Richard T. , Wallenstein Matthew D. , Dukes Jeffrey S.
Published: August 2011

Microbial decomposition of soil organic matter produces a major flux of CO2 from terrestrial ecosystems and can act as a feedback to climate change. Although climate‐carbon models suggest that warming will accelerate the release of CO2 from soils, the magnitude of this feedback is uncertain, mostly due to uncertainty in the temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition. We examined how warming and altered precipitation affected the rate and temperature sensitivity of heterotrophic respiration (Rh) at the Boston‐Area Climate Experiment, in Massachusetts, USA. We measured Rh inside deep collars that excluded plant roots and litter inputs. In this mesic ecosystem, Rh responded strongly to precipitation. Drought reduced Rh, both annually and during the growing season. Warming increased Rh only in early spring. During the summer, when Rh was highest, we found evidence of threshold, hysteretic responses to soil moisture: Rh decreased sharply when volumetric soil moisture dropped below ~15% or exceeded ~26%, but Rh increased more gradually when soil moisture rose from the lower threshold. The effect of climate treatments on the temperature sensitivity of Rh depended on the season. Apparent Q10 decreased with high warming (~3.5 °C) in spring and fall. Presumably due to limiting soil moisture, warming and precipitation treatments did not affect apparent Q10 in summer. Drought decreased apparent Q10 in fall compared to ambient and wet precipitation treatments. To our knowledge, this is the first field study to examine the response of Rh and its temperature sensitivity to the combined effects of warming and altered precipitation. Our results highlight the complex responses of Rh to soil moisture, and to our knowledge identify for the first time the seasonal variation in the temperature sensitivity of microbial respiration in the field. We emphasize the importance of adequately simulating responses such as these when modeling trajectories of soil carbon stocks under climate change scenarios.
Cellular Immune Responses in Mice Induced by M. tuberculosis PE35‐DNA Vaccine Construct
Authors: Hanif S. N. M. , Al‐Attiyah R. , Mustafa A. S.
Published: August 2011

The PE35 (Rv3872) gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is present in the region of difference (RD) one that is deleted in all vaccine strains of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guerin. The aim of this study was to clone PE35 DNA into a DNA vaccine plasmid with CMV promoter and interleukin‐2 secretory signal and evaluate the recombinant plasmid for induction of antigen‐specific cellular responses in mice. DNA corresponding to PE35 was PCR amplified from the genomic DNA of M. tuberculosis H37Rv, cloned into pGEMT‐Easy vector and sub‐cloned into the DNA vaccine vector pUMVC6. BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant pUMVC6/PE35 and spleen cells were tested for T‐helper (Th)1‐type (antigen‐induced proliferation and secretion of IFN‐γ) and Th2‐type (IL‐5), and anti‐inflammatory (IL‐10) cytokine responses to pure recombinant PE35 protein and its synthetic peptides. Mice immunized with the recombinant plasmid DNA (pUMVC6/PE35) showed positive Th1‐type cellular responses to pure PE35, but not to an irrelevant antigen, i.e. PPE68 (Rv3873). However, the vaccine construct did not induce antigen‐specific Th2‐type (IL‐5) or anti‐inflammatory (IL‐10) reactivity to PE35. Testing with synthetic peptides showed that Th1‐type cells recognizing various epitopes of PE35 were induced in mice immunized with pUMVC6/PE35 DNA. These results suggest that pUMVC6/PE35 may be useful as a safer vaccine candidate against TB.
Classical biological control of Fallopia japonica in the United Kingdom – lessons for Europe
Authors: SHAW R H , TANNER R , DJEDDOUR D , CORTAT G
Published: August 2011

Shaw RH, Tanner R, Djeddour D & Cortat G (2011). Classical biological control of Fallopia japonica in the United Kingdom – lessons for Europe. Weed Research51, 552–558.

The programme for the biological control of Fallopia japonica in the United Kingdom has provided some valuable insights into the practicalities of delivering a classical biological control programme against a weed in the European Union. In the absence of tailored legislation, the licensing process was complex but not prohibitive. It involved the production of a pest risk analysis (PRA; based on the EPPO template), an application through national legislation (the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act), the production of peer‐reviewed publications, expert committee consideration, further commissioned peer review and public consultations prior to final Ministerial judgement, which was granted in March 2010. Although there is room for some streamlining in the process, this approach has proved to be effective and robust and should be applicable to similar programmes in Europe. This is important, because classical biological control has considerable potential for the management of F. japonica and other weed targets throughout Europe, especially those impacting habitats where chemical use is all but impossible. The lessons learned from the knotweed biocontrol programme are discussed, and current weed biocontrol activities in Europe are briefly summarised. A classical biocontrol programme needs to deliver more than just pure science, because effective communication and negotiations in the public and political arena can provide more challenges than the traditional scientific ones.
Fibre analysis and fibre digestibility in pet foods – a comparison of total dietary fibre, neutral and acid detergent fibre and crude fibre*
Authors: de‐Oliveira L. D. , Takakura F. S. , Kienzle E. , Brunetto M. A. , Teshima E. , Pereira G. T. , Vasconcellos R. S. , Carciofi A. C.
Published: August 2011

Six dry dog foods and six dry cat foods with different carbohydrate sources were investigated in digestion trials. Food and faecal samples were analysed for CF, TDF and starch. In dogs, also neutral detergent fibre (aNDFom) and acid detergent fibre (ADFom) were analysed. N‐free extract (NfE) was calculated for CF, and similarly for all other fibre analyses. Linear regressions were calculated between fibre intake and faecal fibre excretion. True digestibility was calculated from the regression coefficients [true digestibility in % = (1 − regression coefficient)*100], with the intercept of the equation representing excretion of material of non‐food origin. Crude fibre analyses gave the lowest values, and TDF the highest, while ADFom and aNDFom were in between. Variation between diets was lowest in CF and highest in TDF. Total dietary fibre, aNDFom and ADFom in food were positively correlated. Crude fibre in food did not correlate with any other method. The NfE analogue for TDF was closest to the starch content. Methods of fibre analyses in faeces did not agree very well with each other. Crude fibre had the lowest apparent digestibility, followed by ADFom, TDF and aNDFom. For all fibre analyses, there was a significant correlation between fibre intake and faecal fibre excretion. True digestibility was close to zero for CF, with a high uniformity in both species. In dogs, true digestibility of aNDFom was 53%, of ADFom 26% and of TDF 37%; in cats, true digestibility of TDF was 31%. Except for CF, the intercept of the regression equations suggest that faecal excretion of some material of non‐food origin is analysed as fibre. A combination of TDF and CF analyses might give good information on the content of total (TDF), unfermentable (CF) and partially fermentable fibre (TDF‐CF) in pet foods.
Singaporean nurses' provision of guidance to parents on non‐pharmacological postoperative pain‐relief methods: An educational intervention study
Authors: He Hong‐Gu , Jahja Riawati , Sinnappan Rajammal , Ang Emily Neo Kim , Lee Tat‐Leang , Chan Moon Fai , Vehviläinen‐Julkunen Katri
Published: August 2011

This study examined the impact of an educational intervention (booklet distribution and lectures) on Singaporean nurses' provision of guidance to parents on the use of non‐pharmacological methods of pain relief for their child's postoperative pain. Using a quasi‐experimental one‐group pre‐ and post‐test study design, 134 and 112 registered nurses completed the questionnaires pre‐ and post‐test, respectively. More than 75% of the nurses “always” guided parents to use breathing techniques, relaxation, positioning, comforting/reassurance, helping with activities of daily living, and creating a comfortable environment in the pretest and touch, presence, and distraction in addition to the aforementioned methods in the post‐test. The nurses' provision of guidance to parents on all non‐pharmacological methods increased, but statistically significant increases only were found in relation to massage and positive reinforcement. The results suggested that the educational intervention had some impact on nurses' provision of guidance to parents on the use of non‐pharmacological methods of pain relief for children's postoperative pain. Continuing education in pain management should be provided to nurses in order to equip them with the knowledge to improve their practice.
The therapeutic potential of manipulating gut microbiota in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kootte R. S. , Vrieze A. , Holleman F. , Dallinga‐Thie G. M. , Zoetendal E. G. , de Vos W. M. , Groen A. K. , Hoekstra J. B. L. , Stroes E. S. , Nieuwdorp M.
Published: August 2011

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are attributed to a combination of genetic susceptibility and lifestyle factors. Their increasing prevalence necessitates further studies on modifiable causative factors and novel treatment options. The gut microbiota has emerged as an important contributor to the obesity—and T2DM—epidemic proposed to act by increasing energy harvest from the diet. Although obesity is associated with substantial changes in the composition and metabolic function of the gut microbiota, the pathophysiological processes remain only partly understood. In this review we will describe the development of the adult human microbiome and discuss how the composition of the gut microbiota changes in response to modulating factors. The influence of short‐chain fatty acids, bile acids, prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics and microbial transplantation is discussed from studies using animal and human models. Ultimately, we aim to translate these findings into therapeutic pathways for obesity and T2DM in humans.
Standoffish Perhaps, but Successful as Well: Evidence That Avoidant Attachment Can Be Beneficial in Professional Tennis and Computer Science
Authors: Ein‐Dor Tsachi , Reizer Abira , Shaver Phillip R. , Dotan Eyal
Published: August 2011

Attachment‐related avoidance and anxiety have repeatedly been associated with poorer adjustment in various social, emotional, and behavioral domains. We examined 2 domains in which avoidant individuals might be better equipped than their less avoidant peers to succeed and be satisfied—professional singles tennis and computer science. These fields may reward self‐reliance, independence, and the ability to work without proximal social support from loved ones. In Study 1, we followed 58 professional singles tennis players for 16 months and found that scores on attachment‐related avoidance predicted a higher ranking, above and beyond the contributions of training and coping resources. In Study 2, we sampled 100 students and found that those who scored higher on avoidance were happier with their choice of computer science as a career than those who scored lower on avoidance. Results are discussed in relation to the possible adaptive functions of certain personality characteristics often viewed as undesirable.