bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective activation of FGFR4 by an FGF19 variant does not improve glucose metabolism in
ob/ob
mice
Authors: Wu Xinle , Ge Hongfei , Lemon Bryan , Weiszmann Jennifer , Gupte Jamila , Hawkins Nessa , Li Xiaofan , Tang Jie , Lindberg Richard , Li Yang
Published: August 2009

FGF19 is a hormone that regulates bile acid and glucose homeostasis. Progress has been made in identifying cofactors for receptor activation. However, several functions of FGF19 have not yet been fully defined, including the actions of FGF19 on target tissues, its FGF receptor specificity, and the contributions of other cofactors, such as heparin. Here, we explore the requirements for FGF19-FGFR/co-receptor interactions and signaling in detail. We show that βKlotho was essential for FGF19 interaction with FGFRs 1c, 2c, and 3c, but FGF19 was able to interact directly with FGFR4 in the absence of βKlotho in a heparin-dependent manner. Further, FGF19 activated FGFR4 signaling in the presence or absence of βKlotho, but activation of FGFRs 1c, 2c, or 3c was completely βKlotho dependent. We then generated an FGF19 molecule, FGF19dCTD, which has a deletion of the C-terminal region responsible for βKlotho interaction. We determined that βKlotho-dependent FGFR1c, 2c, and 3c interactions and activation were abolished, and βKlotho-independent FGFR4 activation was preserved; therefore, FGF19dCTD is an FGFR4-specific activator. This unique FGF19 molecule specifically activated FGFR4-dependent signaling in liver and suppressed CYP7A1 expression in vivo, but was unable to activate signaling in adipose where FGFR4 expression is very low. Interestingly, unlike FGF19, treatment of
ob/ob
mice with FGF19dCTD failed to improve glucose levels and insulin sensitivity. These results suggest that FGF19-regulated liver bile acid metabolism could be independent of its glucose-lowering effect, and direct FGFR activation in adipose tissue may play an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis.
Does tenaculum application to the cervix during intrauterine insemination affect pregnancy rates?
Authors: BALCI OSMAN , ACAR ALI , COLAKOGLU MEHMET CENGIZ
Published: August 2009

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) consists of sperm cell extraction from seminal plasma and artificial transfer into the uterine cavity. We investigated whether tenaculum application to the cervix during IUI affects pregnancy rates. A prospective study was done on 468 primary infertile women. Recombinant follicle stimulating hormone was used in ovulation induction. The women were divided randomly into Group 1 (n = 236) and Group 2 (n = 232) without and with tenaculum application to the cervix, respectively. After IUI, a five‐minute sagittal plane uterine ultrasound scan was done in all cases. Uterine contraction was recorded. The women were evaluated for pregnancy rates. Uterine contraction was significantly higher in Group 2 (p<0.001). In all, 24 patients in Group 1 (10.7%) and 38 in Group 2 (17.6%) achieved pregnancy (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.03–3.08; p = 0.038). Tenaculum application to the cervix increases immediate uterine contraction, but higher pregnancy rates may be obtained.
A possible association between maternal dyspepsia and congenital rectal/anal atresia/stenosis in their children: a population‐based case–control study
Authors: ÁCS NÁNDOR , BÁNHIDY FERENC , PUHÓ ERZSÉBET H. , CZEIZEL ANDREW E.
Published: August 2009

Objectives. To study the possible association of common dyspepsia including heartburn and gastro‐esophageal reflux disease and its related drug treatments in pregnant women with congenital anomalies (CAs) in their offspring. Design. Comparison of cases affected with different CAs and matched controls without defects in a ratio of 1:2 born to mothers affected with severe chronic dyspepsia in early pregnancy. Setting. Hungarian Case–Control Surveillance System of Congenital Abnormalities. Population. CAs were evaluated in informative offspring: live‐born infants, stillborn fetuses, and malformed fetuses after prenatal diagnosis followed by elective termination of pregnancy in the population‐based Hungarian material. Methods. Prospectively and medically recorded severe chronic dyspepsia recorded in the prenatal maternity logbook was compared among women who later delivered babies with different CAs (cases) and matched women who delivered newborns without any defect (controls). Main outcome measures. Different CAs, gestational age and birthweight, rates of preterm birth, and low birthweight newborns. Results. Of 22,843 cases with CAs, 148 (0.65%) had mothers with severe chronic dyspepsia, compared to 214 (0.56%) of 38,151 controls (adjusted OR with 95% CI = 1.2, 0.9–1.4). Specific groups of CAs assessed vs. controls showed that only isolated rectal/anal atresia/stenosis was associated with a higher risk of severe maternal dyspepsia in early pregnancy (adjusted OR with 95% CI: 4.3, 1.7–10.5). Conclusions. Severe chronic dyspepsia in early pregnancy and drug treatment for this was not associated with a higher risk of CAs, except possibly isolated rectal/anal atresia/stenosis.
Salmonella osteomyelitis in pregnancy
Authors: AGUSTSSON AGUST INGI , OLAFSSON KARL , THORISDOTTIR ANNA S.
Published: August 2009

Salmonella osteomyelitis is rare in the immunocompetent host, even though Salmonella is not an infrequent public health problem. Invasive salmonellosis has in general a poor outcome in pregnancy with regard to fetal survival. We report the case of a healthy woman who developed Salmonella osteomyelitis of the iliac bone four weeks after a febrile gastroenteritis in the first trimester of pregnancy. Diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging scanning of the iliac bone and a growth of Salmonella enteritidis in blood culture. The patient recovered fully after six weeks treatment with intravenous antibiotics and delivered a healthy infant at 40 weeks.
Correlation of triple repeats on the FMR1 (fragile X) gene to ovarian reserve: A new infertility test?
Authors: GLEICHER NORBERT , WEGHOFER ANDREA , OKTAY KUTLUK , BARAD DAVID H.
Published: August 2009

Objective. To determine to what degree the number of triple Cytosine/Guanine/Guanine (CGG) repeats on the FMR1 (fragile X) gene correlate with specific ovarian reserve parameters, and potentially facilitate infertility diagnosis. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Academically affiliated, private infertility center in New York City. Population. One hundred fifty‐eight consecutive women, presenting to an infertility center. Methods. Triple CGG repeat counts on the FMR1 gene were correlated with baseline follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH), and compared to the distribution reported in the literature for general populations. Main outcome measures. Distribution of CGG counts in infertile vs. general populations and correlation between CGG counts and ovarian reserve parameters. Results. Infertile women demonstrated in both FMR1 alleles a mild shift toward higher CGG counts. In the investigated range up to 55 CGG repeats, counts inversely correlated with AMH (R2 = 0.21; p<0.001), though not with FSH, attributable to women <38 years (R2 = 0.26; p<0.001). Up to age 40, women with <35 triple repeats demonstrated higher AMH levels than those with 35–50 repeats [F (1, 87) = 5.3, p = 0.025]. Counts between 35 and 50 repeats correlated inversely to AMH (R2 = 0.41; p<0.013). Conclusions. Premature ovarian senescence and infertility in ranges up to 55 triple CGG repeats are associated with increasing triple CGG numbers on the FMR1 gene. The number of CGG repeats on the FMR1 gene appears to represent a potentially useful new test in diagnosing risk toward diminished ovarian reserve and female infertility.
Term life birth after late abortion of the first twin
Authors: WOUTERS KARLIJN A. , GIANOTTEN JUDITH , BAYRAM NERIMAN , DOORNBOS JOHANNES P.R.
Published: August 2009

The incidence of multiple pregnancy has increased significantly in recent years as a result of assisted reproductive therapy. The most important complication of these pregnancies remains preterm delivery. We report an extraordinary case of delayed delivery after late abortion of the first twin. Tocolysis successfully prolonged the pregnancy for more than three months, and combined with antibiotics and corticosteroids resulted in a term delivery of a second healthy sibling. A total of 37 reports that describe 145 cases of intentional delayed delivery are available. Delay of delivery may offer significant improvement in survival and outcome for the remaining fetus. Delay of delivery beyond 37 weeks is uncommon with only eight reports. A protocol for the procedure of delayed delivery of the second twin is suggested.
Low molecular weight heparin stimulates myometrial contractility and cervical remodeling in vitro
Authors: EKMAN‐ORDEBERG GUNVOR , HELLGREN MARGARETA , ÅKERUD ANNA , ANDERSSON EVA , DUBICKE AURELIJA , SENNSTRÖM MARIA , BYSTRÖM BIRGITTA , TZORTZATOS GERASIMOS , GOMEZ MARIA F. , EDLUND MÅNS , LINDAHL ULF , MALMSTRÖM ANDERS
Published: August 2009

Objectives. The low molecular weight heparin, Dalteparin, shortens human labor time. The aim of this study was to investigate if the mechanism behind this effect involves myometrial contractility and cervical ripening and if the anticoagulative activity is necessary for its effect. Design. Experimental in vitro study. Setting. Lund University and Karolinska Institute, Sweden. Methods. The effect of low molecular weight heparins with or without anticoagulative properties on myometrial contractility was measured in vitro on smooth muscle strips from biopsies obtained at elective cesarean sections. The effects on cervical ripening were assessed in cervical fibroblasts cultured from explants of cervical biopsies obtained at delivery. Main outcome measures. Mean force and number of contractions in uterine smooth muscle strips and interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) secretion in cervical fibroblasts. Results. Myometrial smooth muscle strips pretreated with low molecular weight heparins showed increased contractile activity compared to untreated smooth muscle strips. Secretion of IL‐8 from cultured cervical fibroblasts was significantly increased after treatment with low molecular weight heparin. Both these effects were independent of anticoagulative activity of the low molecular weight heparin. Conclusions. A possible underlying mechanism for the shortened labor time after low molecular weight heparin treatment is enhanced myometrial contractility and an increased IL‐8 secretion in cervical fibroblast, mimicking the final cervical ripening in vivo. Our data support the notion that anticoagulant activity is not required to promote labor.
Endometriosis‐associated nerve fibers and pain
Authors: MEDINA MELISSA G. , LEBOVIC DAN I.
Published: August 2009

The assessment and diagnosis of endometriosis remain elusive targets. Patient and medical‐related factors add to delays in the detection and treatment. Recently, investigators have revealed specific nerve fibers present in endometriotic tissue, with existing parallels between density and pain severity. The aim of this review is to compile a comprehensive review of existing literature on endometriosis‐related nerve fiber detection, and the effects of medical therapy on these neural fibers. We performed a systematic literature‐based review using Medline and PubMed of nerve fibers detected in eutopic endometrium, endometriotic lesions, and the peritoneum. Various arrangements of significant medical terms and phrases consisting of endometriosis, pelvic pain, nerve fiber detection/density in endometriosis, and diagnoses methodology, including treatment and detection were applied in the search. Subsequent references used were cross‐matched with existing sources to compile all additional similar reports. Similar nerve fibers were detected within lesions, endometrium, and myometrium, though at varying degrees of density. Hormonal therapy is widely used to treat endometriosis and was shown to be related to a reduction in fiber density. A direct result of specific nerve fiber detection within eutopic endometrial layers points to the use of a minimally invasive endometrial biopsy technique in reducing delay in diagnosis and subsequent possible preservation of fertility.
Telephone Case Management Reduces Both Distress and Psychiatric Hospitalization
Authors: Andrews Gavin , Sunderland Matthew
Published: August 2009

Objective: The aim of the present study was to improve the health care of people repeatedly admitted to private hospitals.

Method: An open trial in which frequent utilizers were offered telephone case management over a 12 month period, was conducted.

Results: An average of 24 phone calls were made to the 99 who remained in the programme for the 12 months. Psychological distress declined significantly over the 12 months, and the number of days in hospital was reduced compared to the previous year. The cost benefit ratio was 1:8.4.

Conclusions: The changes in well-being and hospitalization over the 12 months were substantial and are unlikely to be due to regression to the mean. A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing telephone case management with treatment as usual is indicated.
Randomized Controlled Trial of Interventions for Young People at Ultra-High Risk of Psychosis: Study Design and Baseline Characteristics
Authors: Phillips Lisa J. , Nelson Barnaby , Yuen Hok Pan , Francey Shona M. , Simmons Magenta , Stanford Carrie , Ross Margaret , Kelly Daniel , Baker Kathryn , Conus Philippe , Amminger Paul , Trumpler Francois , Yun Yang , Lim Michelle , McNab Catharine , Yung Alison R. , McGorry Patrick D.
Published: August 2009

Objective: Intervention during the pre-psychotic period of illness holds the potential of delaying or even preventing the onset of a full-threshold disorder, or at least of reducing the impact of such a disorder if it does develop. The first step in realizing this aim was achieved more than 10 years ago with the development and validation of criteria for the identification of young people at ultra-high risk (UHR) of psychosis. Results of three clinical trials have been published that provide mixed support for the effectiveness of psychological and pharmacological interventions in preventing the onset of psychotic disorder.

Method: The present paper describes a fourth study that has now been undertaken in which young people who met UHR criteria were randomized to one of three treatment groups: cognitive therapy plus risperidone (CogTher + Risp: n = 43); cognitive therapy plus placebo (CogTher + Placebo: n = 44); and supportive counselling + placebo (Supp + Placebo; n = 28). A fourth group of young people who did not agree to randomization were also followed up (monitoring: n = 78). Baseline characteristics of participants are provided.

Results and conclusion: The present study improves on the previous studies because treatment was provided for 12 months and the independent contributions of psychological and pharmacological treatments in preventing transition to psychosis in the UHR cohort and on levels of psychopathology and functioning can be directly compared. Issues associated with recruitment and randomization are discussed.
Evaluation of factors relating to tumor recurrence and survival after resection of lung cancer
Authors: Kim Eun Soo , Lee In Jae , Bae Young-A , Lee Jae-Woong , Im Hyoung June , Jeon Yong Hwan
Published: August 2009

Background: Most patients whose lung cancers are resected have a local or distant recurrence, as determined postoperatively, or show residual or local disease at the time of autopsy. There are few reports that have described a relationship between tumor recurrence and variable factors such as stage, pathology, surgical method, and mode of recurrence.

Purpose: To determine factors associated with tumor recurrence after resection of lung cancer.

Material and Methods: A total of 124 patients who underwent surgical resection of lung cancer also underwent follow-up with computed tomography (CT) imaging (6, 12, and 24 months after surgery) for the surveillance of tumor recurrence. The CT images were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes, surgical margin, lung parenchyma, pleura, chest wall, and the presence of distant metastasis. The rate, mode, and time to recurrence after surgery were compared with the tumor stage, pathology, and operative method to identify factors associated with tumor recurrence. The correlation between survival and tumor stage was also evaluated.

Results: For 112 cases, a tumor recurred in 52 (41.0%) cases. The recurrence rate was lower for patients with stage IA ( n=5, 9.6%) as compared to patients with stage IB ( n=18, 34.6%), stage II ( n=11, 21.1%), or stage IIIA ( n=18, 34.6%). The differences in the recurrence rate between patients with stage IA and stage IB, stage IA and stage II, and stage IA and stage IIIA were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The mode of recurrence in the 52 cases was local recurrence ( n=31, 59.6%), distant metastasis ( n=17, 32.7%), and combined lesions ( n=4, 7.7%). The variations in survival rate were statistically significant between patients with stage IA and stage IB ( P<0.05) and between patients with stage IA and stage IIIA ( P<0.01). Other factors such as pathology and operative method did not correlate with tumor recurrence or patient survival.

Conclusion: The tumor stage was the only factor associated with tumor recurrence and survival after resection of lung cancer.
Effect of clinical experience of chest tomosynthesis on detection of pulmonary nodules
Authors: Zachrisson S. , Vikgren J. , Svalkvist A. , Johnsson Å. A. , Boijsen M. , Flinck A. , Månsson L. G. , Kheddache S. , Båth M.
Published: August 2009

Background: The new technique chest tomosynthesis refers to the principle of collecting low-dose projections of the chest at different angles and using these projections to reconstruct section images of the chest at a radiation dose comparable to that of chest radiography.

Purpose: To investigate if, for experienced thoracic radiologists, the detectability of pulmonary nodules obtained after only a short initial learning period of chest tomosynthesis improves with additional clinical experience of the new technique.

Material and Methods: Two readings of the same clinical chest tomosynthesis cases, the first performed after 6 months of clinical experience and the second after an additional period of 1 year, were conducted. Three senior thoracic radiologists, with more than 20 years of experience of chest radiography, acted as observers, with the task of detecting pulmonary nodules in a jackknife free-response receiver operating characteristics (JAFROC1) study. The image material consisted of 42 patients with and 47 patients without pulmonary nodules examined with chest tomosynthesis. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was used as a reference. The total number of nodules was 131. The JAFROC1 figure of merit (FOM) was used as the principal measure of detectability.

Results: The difference in the observer-averaged JAFROC1 FOM of the two readings was 0.004 (95% confidence interval: -0.11, 0.12; F-statistic: 0.01 on 1 and 2.65 df; P=0.91). Thus, no significant improvement in detectability was found after the additional clinical experience of tomosynthesis.

Conclusion: The study indicates that experienced thoracic radiologists already within the first months of clinical use of chest tomosynthesis are able to take advantage of the new technique in the task of detecting pulmonary nodules.
Uses of Diverted Methadone and Buprenorphine by Opioid‐Addicted Individuals in Baltimore, Maryland
Authors: Mitchell Shannon Gwin , Kelly Sharon M. , Brown Barry S. , Reisinger Heather Schacht , Peterson James A. , Ruhf Adrienne , Agar Michael H. , O'Grady Kevin E. , Schwartz Robert P.
Published: August 2009

This study examined the uses of diverted methadone and buprenorphine among opiate‐addicted individuals recruited from new admissions to methadone programs and from out‐of‐treatment individuals recruited from the streets. Self‐report data regarding diversion were obtained from surveys and semi‐structured qualitative interviews. Approximately 16% (n = 84) of the total sample (N = 515) reported using diverted (street) methadone two–three times per week for six months or more, and for an average of 7.8 days (SD = 10.3) within the past month. The group reporting lifetime use of diverted methadone as compared to the group that did not report such use was less likely to use heroin and cocaine in the 30 days prior to admission (ps < .01) and had lower ASI Drug Composite scores (p < .05). Participants in our qualitative sub‐sample (n = 22) indicated that street methadone was more widely used than street buprenorphine and that both drugs were largely used as self‐medication for detoxification and withdrawal symptoms. Participants reported using low dosages and no injection of either medication was reported.
The Ldb1 and Ldb2 Transcriptional Cofactors Interact with the Ste20-like Kinase SLK and Regulate Cell Migration
Authors: Storbeck Chris J. , Wagner Simona , O'Reilly Paul , McKay Marlene , Parks Robin J. , Westphal Heiner , Sabourin Luc A.
Published: August 2009

Cell migration involves a multitude of signals that converge on cytoskeletal reorganization, essential for development, immune responses, and tissue repair. Here, we show that the microtubule-associated Ste20 kinase SLK, required for cell migration, interacts with the LIM domain binding transcriptional cofactor proteins Ldb1/CLIM2 and Ldb2/CLIM1/NLI. We demonstrate that Ldb1 and 2 bind directly to the SLK carboxy-terminal AT1-46 homology domain in vitro and in vivo. We find that Ldb1 and -2 colocalize with SLK in migrating cells and that both knockdown and overexpression of either factor results in increased motility. Supporting this, knockdown of Ldb1 increases focal adhesion turnover and enhances migration in fibroblasts. We propose that Ldb1/2 function to maintain SLK in an inactive state before its activation. These findings highlight a novel function for Ldb1 and -2 and expand their role to include the control of cell migration.
PerM: efficient mapping of short sequencing reads with periodic full sensitive spaced seeds
Authors: Chen Yangho , Souaiaia Tade , Chen Ting
Published: August 2009

Motivation: The explosion of next-generation sequencing data has spawned the design of new algorithms and software tools to provide efficient mapping for different read lengths and sequencing technologies. In particular, ABI's sequencer (SOLiD system) poses a big computational challenge with its capacity to produce very large amounts of data, and its unique strategy of encoding sequence data into color signals.

Results: We present the mapping software, named PerM (Periodic Seed Mapping) that uses periodic spaced seeds to significantly improve mapping efficiency for large reference genomes when compared with state-of-the-art programs. The data structure in PerM requires only 4.5 bytes per base to index the human genome, allowing entire genomes to be loaded to memory, while multiple processors simultaneously map reads to the reference. Weight maximized periodic seeds offer full sensitivity for up to three mismatches and high sensitivity for four and five mismatches while minimizing the number random hits per query, significantly speeding up the running time. Such sensitivity makes PerM a valuable mapping tool for SOLiD and Solexa reads.

Availability:  http://code.google.com/p/perm/

Contact:  tingchen@usc.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Average seasonal changes in chlorophyll a in Icelandic waters
Authors: Guðmundsson Kristinn , Heath Mike R. , Clarke Elizabeth D.
Published: August 2009

Guðmundsson, K., Heath, M. R., and Clarke, E. D. 2009. Average seasonal changes in chlorophyll a in Icelandic waters. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 2133–2140. The standard algorithms used to derive sea surface chlorophyll a concentration from remotely sensed ocean colour data are based almost entirely on the measurements of surface water samples collected in open sea (case 1) waters which cover ∼60% of the worlds oceans, where strong correlations between reflectance and chlorophyll concentration have been found. However, satellite chlorophyll data for waters outside the defined case 1 areas, but derived using standard calibrations, are frequently used without reference to local in situ measurements and despite well-known factors likely to lead to inaccuracy. In Icelandic waters, multiannual averages of 8-d composites of SeaWiFS chlorophyll concentration accounted for just 20% of the variance in a multiannual dataset of in situ chlorophyll a measurements. Nevertheless, applying penalized regression spline methodology to model the spatial and temporal patterns of in situ measurements, using satellite chlorophyll as one of the predictor variables, improved the correlation considerably. Day number, representing seasonal variation, accounted for substantial deviation between SeaWiFS and in situ estimates of surface chlorophyll. The final model, using bottom depth and bearing to the sampling location as well as the two variables mentioned above, explained 49% of the variance in the fitting dataset.
Growth of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Gulf of Lions based on conventional tagging
Authors: Mellon-Duval Capucine , de Pontual Hélène , Métral Luisa , Quemener Loic
Published: August 2009

Mellon-Duval, C., de Pontual, H., Métral, L., and Quemener, L. 2010. Growth of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in the Gulf of Lions based on conventional tagging. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 62–70. Growth of European hake was estimated from the results of a conventional tagging study in the Gulf of Lions, the first tagging experiment to have been undertaken on the species in Mediterranean waters. In all, 4277 hake 15–40 cm long were tagged and released on the inshore fishing grounds during spring 2006. The overall recapture rate was 6.5% and times-at-liberty ranged from 1 to 717 d. Growth rate in hake varied with size and sex. The estimated growth parameter (von Bertalanffy k) was estimated as double previously published values based on size frequency distribution in the area. Compared with recent growth parameters derived from the tagging experiments in the Bay of Biscay, k was estimated to be slightly lower in the Gulf of Lions. With this faster growth, hake would mature earlier than previously thought: at age 2 for both sexes, instead of at age 3 or 4 as currently accepted for the Mediterranean. Growth rate by sex decreased to a similar level once fish had attained sexual maturity.
Predictive motor activation during action observation in human infants
Authors: Southgate Victoria , Johnson Mark H. , Osborne Tamsin , Csibra Gergely
Published: August 2009

Certain regions of the human brain are activated both during action execution and action observation. This so-called ‘mirror neuron system’ has been proposed to enable an observer to understand an action through a process of internal motor simulation. Although there has been much speculation about the existence of such a system from early in life, to date there is little direct evidence that young infants recruit brain areas involved in action production during action observation. To address this question, we identified the individual frequency range in which sensorimotor alpha-band activity was attenuated in nine-month-old infants' electroencephalographs (EEGs) during elicited reaching for objects, and measured whether activity in this frequency range was also modulated by observing others' actions. We found that observing a grasping action resulted in motor activation in the infant brain, but that this activity began prior to observation of the action, once it could be anticipated. These results demonstrate not only that infants, like adults, display overlapping neural activity during execution and observation of actions, but that this activation, rather than being directly induced by the visual input, is driven by infants' understanding of a forthcoming action. These results provide support for theories implicating the motor system in action prediction.
Merging ancient and modern DNA: extinct seabird taxon rediscovered in the North Tasman Sea
Authors: Steeves Tammy E. , Holdaway Richard N. , Hale Marie L. , McLay Emma , McAllan Ian A. W. , Christian Margaret , Hauber Mark E. , Bunce Michael
Published: August 2009

Ancient DNA has revolutionized the way in which evolutionary biologists research both extinct and extant taxa, from the inference of evolutionary history to the resolution of taxonomy. Here, we present, to our knowledge, the first study to report the rediscovery of an ‘extinct’ avian taxon, the Tasman booby (
Sula tasmani
), using classical palaeontological data combined with ancient and modern DNA data. Contrary to earlier work, we show an overlap in size between fossil and modern birds in the North Tasman Sea (classified currently as
S. tasmani
and
Sula dactylatra fullagari
, respectively). In addition, we show that Holocene fossil birds have mitochondrial control region sequences that are identical to those found in modern birds. These results indicate that the Tasman booby is not an extinct taxon:
S. dactylatra fullagari
O'Brien & Davies, 1990
is therefore a junior synonym of
Sula tasmani
van Tets, Meredith, Fullagar & Davidson, 1988
and all North Tasman Sea boobies should be known as
S. d. tasmani
. In addition to reporting the rediscovery of an extinct avian taxon, our study highlights the need for researchers to be cognizant of multidisciplinary approaches to understanding taxonomy and past biodiversity.
Crowded locusts produce hatchlings vulnerable to fungal attack
Authors: Miller Gabriel A. , Pell Judith K. , Simpson Stephen J.
Published: August 2009

Transgenerational effects of parental experience on offspring immunity are well documented in the vertebrate literature (where antibodies play an obligatory role), but have only recently been described in invertebrates. We have assessed the impact of parental rearing density upon offspring disease resistance by challenging day-old locust hatchlings (
Schistocerca gregaria
) from either crowd- or solitary-reared parents with the fungal pathogen
Metarhizium anisopliae
var.
acridum
. When immersed in standardized conidia suspensions, hatchlings from gregarious parents suffered greater pathogen-induced mortality than hatchlings from solitary-reared parents. This observation contradicts the basic theory of positive density-dependent prophylaxis and demonstrates that crowding has a transgenerational influence upon locust disease resistance.
Polyandry enhances offspring survival in an infanticidal species
Authors: Klemme Ines , Ylönen Hannu
Published: August 2009

The adaptive significance of polyandry is an intensely debated subject in sexual selection. For species with male infanticidal behaviour, it has been hypothesized that polyandry evolved as female counterstrategy to offspring loss: by mating with multiple males, females may conceal paternity and so prevent males from killing putative offspring. Here we present, to our knowledge, the first empirical test of this hypothesis in a combined laboratory and field study, and show that multiple mating seems to reduce the risk of infanticide in female bank voles
Myodes glareolus
. Our findings thus indicate that females of species with non-resource based mating systems, in which males provide nothing but sperm, but commit infanticide, can gain non-genetic fitness benefits from polyandry.
Probing aggressive motivation in a cichlid fish
Authors: Arnott Gareth , Elwood Robert
Published: August 2009

The duration of startles provides an inverse measure of motivation to resume the previous activity. Here, we use a novel method in which one convict cichlid fish (
Amatitlania nigrofasciata
) of a competing pair was startled independently of the opponent. Fish were given various opponents and the mean startle duration determined. This mean was negatively correlated with the mean use of highly escalated ‘frontal activities’ such as biting and frontal display, but not the less escalated lateral displays or tail beating. Thus the startle duration was a reliable surrogate measure of the most escalated components of aggressive interactions. That is, it provided a motivational probe for aggressiveness of individual fish. Fight motivation is often determined in terms of fight duration or physiological costs for losers, who reveal the costs they are prepared to pay. We discuss various potential advantages of the motivational probe over previous measures, particularly with respect to winners and losers and different times during the interactions.
Bitter taste perception in Neanderthals through the analysis of the
TAS2R38
gene
Authors: Lalueza-Fox Carles , Gigli Elena , de la Rasilla Marco , Fortea Javier , Rosas Antonio
Published: August 2009

The bitter taste perception (associated with the ability or inability to taste phenylthiocarbamide) is mediated by the
TAS2R38
gene. Most of the variation in this gene is explained by three common amino-acid polymorphisms at positions 49 (encoding proline or alanine), 262 (alanine or valine) and 296 (valine or isoleucine) that determine two common isoforms: proline–alanine–valine (PAV) and alanine–valine–isoleucine (AVI). PAV is the major taster haplotype (heterozygote and homozygote) and AVI is the major non-taster haplotype (homozygote). Amino acid 49 has the major effect on the distinction between tasters and non-tasters of all three variants. The sense of bitter taste protects us from ingesting toxic substances, present in some vegetables, that can affect the thyroid when ingested in large quantities. Balancing selection has been used to explain the current high non-taster frequency, by maintaining divergent
TAS2R38
alleles in humans. We have amplified and sequenced the
TAS2R38
amino acid 49 in the virtually uncontaminated Neanderthal sample of El Sidrón 1253 and have determined that it was heterozygous. Thus, this Neanderthal was a taster individual, although probably slightly less than a PAV homozygote. This indicates that variation in bitter taste perception pre-dates the divergence of the lineages leading to Neanderthals and modern humans.
Quorum sensing and social networking in the microbial world
Authors: Atkinson Steve , Williams Paul
Published: August 2009

For many years, bacterial cells were considered primarily as selfish individuals, but, in recent years, it has become evident that, far from operating in isolation, they coordinate collective behaviour in response to environmental challenges using sophisticated intercellular communication networks. Cell-to-cell communication between bacteria is mediated by small diffusible signal molecules that trigger changes in gene expression in response to fluctuations in population density. This process, generally referred to as quorum sensing (QS), controls diverse phenotypes in numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Recent advances have revealed that bacteria are not limited to communication within their own species but are capable of ‘listening in’ and ‘broadcasting to’ unrelated species to intercept messages and coerce cohabitants into behavioural modifications, either for the good of the population or for the benefit of one species over another. It is also evident that QS is not limited to the bacterial kingdom. The study of two-way intercellular signalling networks between bacteria and both uni- and multicellular eukaryotes as well as between eukaryotes is just beginning to unveil a rich diversity of communication pathways.
Suspension biomechanics of swimming microbes
Authors: Ishikawa Takuji
Published: August 2009

Micro-organisms play a vital role in many biological, medical and engineering phenomena. Some recent research efforts have demonstrated the importance of biomechanics in understanding certain aspects of micro-organism behaviours such as locomotion and collective motions of cells. In particular, spatio-temporal coherent structures found in a bacterial suspension have been the focus of many research studies over the last few years. Recent studies have shown that macroscopic properties of a suspension, such as rheology and diffusion, are strongly affected by meso-scale flow structures generated by swimming microbes. Since the meso-scale flow structures are strongly affected by the interactions between microbes, abottom-upstrategy, i.e. from a cellular level to a continuum suspension level, represents the natural approach to the study of a suspension of swimming microbes. In this paper, we first provide a summary of existing biomechanical research on interactions between a pair of swimming micro-organisms, as a two-body interaction is the simplest many-body interaction. We show that interactions between two nearby swimming micro-organisms are described well by existing mathematical models. Then, collective motions formed by a group of swimming micro-organisms are discussed. We show that some collective motions of micro-organisms, such as coherent structures of bacterial suspensions, are satisfactorily explained by fluid dynamics. Lastly, we discuss how macroscopic suspension properties are changed by the microscopic characteristics of the cell suspension. The fundamental knowledge we present will be useful in obtaining a better understanding of the behaviour of micro-organisms.
Estimating ocean wave directional spreading from an Eulerian surface elevation time history
Authors: Adcock T. A. A. , Taylor P. H.
Published: August 2009

The directional spreading of sea states is an important design parameter in offshore engineering. Wave directionality affects the resulting wave kinematics, which affects the forces exerted on offshore structures. In this paper, we develop a method for estimating the amount of spreading, when the only information available is the time history of free surface elevation at a single point in space.

We do this by predicting the second-order bound waves that occur at the difference in frequency of two freely propagating waves. The magnitude of these second-order bound waves is a function of the angle between the interacting waves. Thus, it is possible to infer some information about spreading from a single-point time history.

We demonstrate that this approach works for wave groups in a fully nonlinear numerical wave tank. We create a synthetic random sea state and introduce noise into the analysis and thus show that our approach is robust and insensitive to noise, even with a signal-to-noise ratio of unity in the difference waves. This approach is also applied to random waves in a physical wave tank where spreading was directly measured and also to a storm recorded in the North Sea. In all cases, we find our estimate of spreading is in good agreement with other measurements.
Asymptotics of linear initial boundary value problems with periodic boundary data on the half-line and finite intervals
Authors: Dujardin Guillaume Michel
Published: August 2009

This paper deals with the asymptotic behaviour of the solutions of linear initial boundary value problems with constant coefficients on the half-line and on finite intervals. We assume that the boundary data are periodic in time and we investigate whether the solution becomes time-periodic after sufficiently long time. Using Fokas’ transformation method, we show that, for the linear Schrödinger equation, the linear heat equation and the linearized KdV equation on the half-line, the solutions indeed become periodic for large time. However, for the same linear Schrödinger equation on a finite interval, we show that the solution, in general, is
not
asymptotically periodic; actually, the asymptotic behaviour of the solution depends on the commensurability of the time period
T
of the boundary data with the square of the length of the interval over
π
.
Wave scattering by platonic grating stacks
Authors: Movchan N. V. , McPhedran R. C. , Movchan A. B. , Poulton C. G.
Published: August 2009

We address the problem of scattering of flexural waves obeying the biharmonic equation by a stack of a finite number of gratings. We express the solution of the scattering problem for a single grating in terms of reflection and transmission matrices, incorporating the effects of both propagating and evanescent incident waves. The plane wave expansion coefficients above and below the grating are linked to multipole coefficients within the grating using the grating sums and the Rayleigh identities. We derive the recurrence procedure giving the reflection and transmission matrices of the stack in terms of those of individual layers. Trapped waves between a pair of gratings are investigated.
Shifting latitudinal clines in avian body size correlate with global warming in Australian passerines
Authors: Gardner Janet L. , Heinsohn Robert , Joseph Leo
Published: August 2009

Intraspecific latitudinal clines in the body size of terrestrial vertebrates, where members of the same species are larger at higher latitudes, are widely interpreted as evidence for natural selection and adaptation to local climate. These clines are predicted to shift in response to climate change. We used museum specimens to measure changes in the body size of eight passerine bird species from south-eastern Australia over approximately the last 100 years. Four species showed significant decreases in body size (1.8–3.6% of wing length) and a shift in latitudinal cline over that period, and a meta-analysis demonstrated a consistent trend across all eight species. Southern high-latitude populations now display the body sizes typical of more northern populations pre-1950, equivalent to a 7° shift in latitude. Using ptilochronology, we found no evidence that these morphological changes were a plastic response to changes in nutrition, a likely non-genetic mechanism for the pattern observed. Our results demonstrate a generalized response by eight avian species to some major environmental change over the last 100 years or so, probably global warming.
Seventy-five-million-year-old tropical tetra-like fish from Canada tracks Cretaceous global warming
Authors: Newbrey M. G. , Murray A. M. , Wilson M. V. H. , Brinkman D. B. , Neuman A. G.
Published: August 2009

Newly discovered fossil fish material from the Cretaceous Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada, documents the presence of a tropical fish in this northern area about 75 million years ago (Ma). The living relatives of this fossil fish, members of the Characiformes including the piranha and neon tetras, are restricted to tropical and subtropical regions, being limited in their distribution by colder temperatures. Although characiform fossils are known from Cretaceous through to Cenozoic deposits, none has been reported previously from North America. The modern distribution of characiforms in Mexico and southern Texas in the southernmost United States is believed to have been the result of a relatively recent colonization less than 12 Ma. The new Canadian fossils document the presence of these fish in North America in the Late Cretaceous, a time of significantly warmer global temperatures than now. Global cooling after this time apparently extirpated them from the northern areas and these fishes only survived in more southern climes. The lack of early Cenozoic characiform fossils in North America suggests that marine barriers prevented recolonization during warmer times, unlike in Europe where Eocene characiform fossils occur during times of global warmth.
Inferring population histories using cultural data
Authors: Rogers Deborah S. , Feldman Marcus W. , Ehrlich Paul R.
Published: August 2009

The question as to whether cultures evolve in a manner analogous to that of genetic evolution can be addressed by attempting to reconstruct population histories using cultural data. As others have argued, this can only succeed if cultures are isolated enough to maintain and pass on a central core of traditions that can be modified over time. In this study we used a set of cultural data (canoe design traits from Polynesia) to look for the kinds of patterns and relationships normally found in population genetic studies. After developing new techniques to accommodate the peculiarities of cultural data, we were able to infer an ancestral region (Fiji) and a sequence of cultural origins for these Polynesian societies. In addition, we found evidence of cultural exchange, migration and a serial founder effect. Results were stronger when analyses were based on functional traits (presumably subject to natural selection and convergence) rather than symbolic or stylistic traits (probably subject to cultural selection for rapid divergence). These patterns strongly suggest that cultural evolution, while clearly affected by cultural exchange, is also subject to some of the same processes and constraints as genetic evolution.
Whole genome sequence of Desulfovibrio magneticus strain RS-1 revealed common gene clusters in magnetotactic bacteria
Authors: Nakazawa Hidekazu , Arakaki Atsushi , Narita-Yamada Sachiko , Yashiro Isao , Jinno Koji , Aoki Natsuko , Tsuruyama Ai , Okamura Yoshiko , Tanikawa Satoshi , Fujita Nobuyuki , Takeyama Haruko , Matsunaga Tadashi
Published: August 2009

Magnetotactic bacteria are ubiquitous microorganisms that synthesize intracellular magnetite particles (magnetosomes) by accumulating Fe ions from aquatic environments. Recent molecular studies, including comprehensive proteomic, transcriptomic, and genomic analyses, have considerably improved our hypotheses of the magnetosome-formation mechanism. However, most of these studies have been conducted using pure-cultured bacterial strains of α-proteobacteria. Here, we report the whole-genome sequence of Desulfovibrio magneticus strain RS-1, the only isolate of magnetotactic microorganisms classified under δ-proteobacteria. Comparative genomics of the RS-1 and four α-proteobacterial strains revealed the presence of three separate gene regions (nuo and mamAB-like gene clusters, and gene region of a cryptic plasmid) conserved in all magnetotactic bacteria. The nuo gene cluster, encoding NADH dehydrogenase (complex I), was also common to the genomes of three iron-reducing bacteria exhibiting uncontrolled extracellular and/or intracellular magnetite synthesis. A cryptic plasmid, pDMC1, encodes three homologous genes that exhibit high similarities with those of other magnetotactic bacterial strains. In addition, the mamAB-like gene cluster, encoding the key components for magnetosome formation such as iron transport and magnetosome alignment, was conserved only in the genomes of magnetotactic bacteria as a similar genomic island-like structure. Our findings suggest the presence of core genetic components for magnetosome biosynthesis; these genes may have been acquired into the magnetotactic bacterial genomes by multiple gene-transfer events during proteobacterial evolution.
Unraveling the Evolution of Cytokinin Signaling
Authors: Pils Birgit , Heyl Alexander
Published: August 2009

The conquest of the land by plants required dramatic morphological and metabolic adaptations. Complex developmental programs under tight regulation evolved during this process. Key regulators of plant development are phytohormones, such as cytokinins. Cytokinins are adenine derivatives that affect various processes in plants. The cytokinin signal transduction system, which is mediated via a multistep variant of the bacterial two-component signaling system, is well characterized in the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). To understand the origin and evolutionary pattern of this signaling pathway, we surveyed the genomes of several sequenced key plant species ranging from unicellular algae, moss, and lycophytes, to higher land plants, including Arabidopsis and rice (Oryza sativa), for proteins involved in cytokinin signal transduction. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the hormone-binding receptor and a class of negative regulators first appeared in land plants. Other components of the signaling pathway were present in all species investigated. Furthermore, we found that the receptors evolved under different evolutionary constraints from the other components of the pathway: The number of receptors remained fairly constant, while the other protein families expanded.