bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of “model-friendly” turbulent non-premixed jet burners for C2+ hydrocarbon fuels
Authors: Zhang Jiayao , Shaddix Christopher R. , Schefer Robert W.
Published: July 2011

Experimental measurements in laboratory-scale turbulent burners with well-controlled boundary and flow configurations can provide valuable data for validating models of turbulence-chemistry interactions applicable to the design and analysis of practical combustors. This paper reports on the design of two canonical nonpremixed turbulent jet burners for use with undiluted gaseous and liquid hydrocarbon fuels, respectively. Previous burners of this type have only been developed for fuels composed of H2, CO, and/or methane, often with substantial dilution. While both new burners are composed of concentric tubes with annular pilot flames, the liquid-fuel burner has an additional fuel vaporization step and an electrically heated fuel vapor delivery system. The performance of these burners is demonstrated by interrogating four ethylene flames and one flame fueled by a simple JP-8 surrogate. Through visual observation, it is found that the visible flame lengths show good agreement with standard empirical correlations. Rayleigh line imaging demonstrates that the pilot flame provides a spatially homogeneous flow of hot products along the edge of the fuel jet. Planar imaging of OH laser-induced fluorescence reveals a lack of local flame extinction in the high-strain near-burner region for fuel jet Reynolds numbers (Re) less than 20 000, and increasingly common extinction events for higher jet velocities. Planar imaging of soot laser-induced incandescence shows that the soot layers in these flames are relatively thin and are entrained into vortical flow structures in fuel-rich regions inside of the flame sheet.
Drag force of a particle moving axisymmetrically in open or closed cavities
Authors: Chen Shing Bor
Published: July 2011

Hydrodynamic resistance to particle transport arising from the solid mass in porous media is of fundamental importance. We investigate an axisymmetric creeping flow caused by a spherical particle migrating in a spherical cavity or connected cavities of equal size by a boundary element method. Each cavity has either one or two circular apertures, through which a sufficiently small particle can pass. Drag force on the particle is calculated to determine the correction factor to the Stokes law. It is found that when passing through an aperture, the particle experiences a local maximum drag force larger than that located in the cavity center. This force is also greater than that for the particle near the closed end at the same smallest surface-to-surface distance. For connected cavities open to the exterior fluid, the drag force is smaller than that in the corresponding closed system.
Lyapunov stability of flowing magnetohydrodynamic plasmas surrounded by resistive walls
Authors: Tasso H. , Throumoulopoulos G. N.
Published: July 2011

A general stability condition for plasma-vacuum systems with resistive walls is derived by using the Frieman Rotenberg Lagrangian stability formulation [Rev. Mod. Phys. 32, 898 (1960)]. It is shown that the Lyapunov stability limit for external modes does not depend upon the gyroscopic term but upon the sign of the perturbed potential energy only. In the absence of dissipation in the plasma such as viscosity, it is expected that the flow cannot stabilize the system.
Surface versus bulk state in topological insulator Bi2Se3 under environmental disorder
Authors: Brahlek Matthew , Kim Yong Seung , Bansal Namrata , Edrey Eliav , Oh Seongshik
Published: July 2011

Topological insulators (TIs) are predicted to be composed of an insulating bulk state along with conducting channels on the boundary of the material. In Bi2Se3, however, the Fermi level naturally resides in the conduction band due to intrinsic doping by selenium vacancies, leading to metallic bulk states. In such non-ideal TIs, it is not well understood how the surface and bulk states behave under environmental disorder. In this letter, based on transport measurements of Bi2Se3 thin films, we show that the bulk states are sensitive to environmental disorder but the surface states remain robust.
Full-dimensional time-dependent wave packet dynamics of H2 + D2 reaction
Authors: Song Hongwei , Lu Yunpeng , Lee Soo-Y
Published: July 2011

Collision induced dissociation (CID), four center reaction (4C), and single exchange reaction (SE) in H2 (v1 = high) + D2 (v2 = low) were studied by means of time-dependent wave packet approach within a full-dimensional model. Initial state-selected total reaction probabilities for the three competitive processes have been computed on two realistic global potential energy surfaces of Aguado-Suárez-Paniagua and Boothroyd-Martin-Keogh-Peterson (BMKP) with the total angular momentum J = 0. The role of both vibrationally excited and rotationally excited reagents was examined by varying the initial vibrational and rotational states. The vibrational excitation of the hot diatom gives an enhancement effect on the CID process, while the vibrational excitation of the cold diatom gives an inhibition effect. The rotational excitation of both reagents has a significant effect on the reaction process. The 4C and SE probabilities are at least one order of magnitude smaller than the CID probabilities over the energy range considered. Isotope substitution effects were also studied by substituting the collider D2 by H2 and HD on the BMKP potential energy surfaces. The CID process is most efficient for the H2 + D2 combination and least efficient for the H2 + H2 combination and is different for the 4C and SE processes.
Discrete-time quadrature feedback cooling of a radio-frequency mechanical resonator
Authors: Poot M. , Etaki S. , Yamaguchi H. , van der Zant H. S. J.
Published: July 2011

We have employed a feedback cooling scheme, which combines high-frequency mixing with digital signal processing. The frequency and damping rate of a 2 MHz micromechanical resonator embedded in a dc SQUID are adjusted with the feedback, and active cooling to a temperature of 14.3 mK is demonstrated. This technique can be applied to GHz resonators and allows for flexible control strategies.
Dynamic heat flux experiments in Cu67.64Zn16.71Al15.65: Separating the time scales of fast and ultra-slow kinetic processes in martensitic transformations
Authors: Romero F. J. , Manchado J. , Martín-Olalla J. M. , Gallardo M. C. , Salje E. K. H.
Published: July 2011

Crackling noise and avalanches during the martensite phase transformation of Cu67.64Zn16.71Al15.65 were investigated. Heat flux measurements with extremely slow heating rates of 0.005 Kh−1 allowed sufficient separation between the continuous background and the avalanche jerks. The jerk enthalpy is below 3% of the total transformation enthalpy. The crackling noise follows power law behavior with an energy exponent near ɛ = 1.8. The jerks are almost uncorrelated with approximately a Poisson distribution of the waiting times between jerks. Quantitative analysis showed a scaling behavior with p(wt) ∼ wt(γ−1)exp(−wt/τ)n with γ = 0.7 and n ≈ 1.
Probing nanoscale conductance of monolayer graphene under pressure
Authors: Kwon Sangku , Choi Sunghyun , Chung H. J. , Yang Heejun , Seo Sunae , Jhi Seung-Hoon , Young Park Jeong
Published: July 2011

The correlation between charge transport and mechanical deformation of the single layer graphene layer was studied with conductive probe atomic force microscopy/friction force microscopy in ultra-high vacuum. By measuring the current and friction on a graphene layer that is under mechanical stress, we identify crossover of two regimes in the current density that depend on the applied pressure. We suggest that the difference in work function under mechanical deformation as well as a change in the density of state and formation of a dipole field are responsible for this crossover behavior.
Erratum to: Progress and perspectives for carotenoid accumulation in selected Triticeae species
Authors: Rodríguez-Suárez C. , Giménez M. J. , Atienza S. G.
Published: July 2011

Plant carotenoids are C40 isoprenoids with multiple biological roles. Breeding for carotenoid content in rice, maize and wheat is a relevant issue, both for their importance in human health and nutrition and for their influence in food colouration in products such as pasta from durum wheat. Regarding human health, vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is one of the major causes of malnutrition in the world. As many as 500�000 children become blind due to VAD each year with many of them dying from VAD-related illness within 1 year.
This review presents the main results in the improvement of endosperm carotenoid levels in rice, maize and wheat considering the methodology used, either transgenic or non-transgenic; the breeding target, such as provitamin A or total carotenoid content; the identification of new carotenogenic genes/alleles related to the available variation for this trait; and the development of new functional markers for marker-assisted selection. A comparative overview among these species and key areas for further improvement are also identified. Carotenoid enhancement in grasses would benefit from comparative studies among Triticeae species since they allow the understanding of the diversity basis. Therefore, the comparative overview given in this work will be relevant not only to rice, maize and wheat but also to other Triticeae species.
Expression of the DREB1A gene in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik. subsp. culinaris) transformed with the Agrobacterium system
Authors: Khatib Fateh , Makris Antonios , Yamaguchi-Shinozaki Kasuko , Kumar Shiv , Sarker Ashtuosh , Erskine William , Baum Michael
Published: July 2011

Until now three publications have reported the development of transgenic lentil plants through protocol optimisation using the gusA gene, but there are no reports of the introduction of a gene with agronomic importance. In the present study we report the introduction of the DREB1A gene into lentil to enhance drought and salinity tolerance. Decapitated embryos were immersed in Agrobacterium suspension and then co-cultivated for 4 days. Direct organogenesis was induced from the apical meristems and cotyledonary buds. Subsequently, the explants were subjected to selection in medium containing 10 mg/L phosphinothricin for nine rounds with 2-week intervals. The putative transgenic explants were micro-grafted onto non-transformed rootstocks to establish transgenic plants. The PCR results confirmed the insertion and stable inheritance of the gene of interest and bar marker gene in the plant genome. The Southern blot analysis revealed the integration of a single copy of the transgenes. T0 plants and progeny up to T2 generations showed complete resistance to the herbicide Basta. The DREB1A gene driven by the rd29A promoter was induced in transgenic plants by salt stress from sodium chloride solution. The total RNA was extracted and cDNA synthesised. The results showed that DREB1A mRNA was accumulated and thus the DREB1A transgene was expressed in the transgenic plants, whereas no expression was detected in the non-transformed parents.
C:N ratios and carbon distribution profile across rooting zones in oilseed and pulse crops
Authors: Gan Y. T. , Liang B. C. , Liu L. P. , Wang X. Y. , McDonald C. L.
Published: July 2011

Knowledge on the C : N ratio of crop residues is of great importance for modelling carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics of agricultural systems. This study determined (i) the C : N ratios in the seed, straw, and roots of selected broadleaf crops and (ii) the root C and N distribution in the 0–100 cm rooting zone. Three oilseed (Brassica napus canola, Brassica juncea mustard, Linum usitatissimum flax), three pulse crops (Cicer arietinum chickpea, Pisum sativum dry pea, Lens culinaris lentil), and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown under field conditions with low- (rainfall only) and high-water (rainfall plus irrigation) availability. Root C mass decreased substantially with rooting depth, with ~58% of root C mass in the top 20 cm of the soil, 78% in the top 40 cm, and 94% in the top 60 cm. Significant differences in root C mass between crop species occurred in the top 20 cm with canola, mustard, and wheat allocating 66% of their root C total, compared with 55% for dry pea, lentil, and flax, and 41% for chickpea. Root N mass followed a similar response to root C. Seed C : N ratios ranged between 6 and 17, whereas straw C : N ranged between 14 and 55, and root C : N between 17 and 75. Under low-water conditions, canola and mustard had a straw C : N of 33, lower than that of flax (38) and wheat (41). Under higher-water availability, however, mustard and wheat had straw C : N ratios at 55, greater than canola, mustard and flax (47). Three pulses had an average straw C : N ratio of 17, significantly lower than 41 for the oilseeds and 32 for wheat. On average, canola, mustard and wheat had greater root C : N ratios (44) than chickpea (33) and lentil (29), with dry pea having a smallest root C : N ratio (18). Root C : N ratios did not change with soil depth. These detailed measurements on the vertical distribution of root C and N as well as C : N ratios for various crops will assist in improving estimates of inputs for C and N cycling studies.
Climate change in south-west Australia and north-west China: challenges and opportunities for crop production
Authors: Turner Neil C. , Molyneux Nicholas , Yang Sen , Xiong You-Cai , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: July 2011

Predictions from climate simulation models suggest that by 2050 mean temperatures on the Loess Plateau of China will increase by 2.5 to 3.75°C, while those in the cropping region of south-west Australia will increase by 1.25 to 1.75°C. By 2050, rainfall is not expected to change on the Loess Plateau of China, while in south-west Australia rainfall is predicted to decrease by 20 to 60 mm. The frequency of heat waves and dry spells is predicted to increase in both regions. The implications of rising temperatures are an acceleration of crop phenology and a reduction in crop yields, greater risk of reproductive failure from extreme temperatures, and greater risk of crop failure. The reduction in yield from increased phenological development can be countered by selecting longer-season cultivars and taking advantage of warmer minimum temperatures and reduced frost risk to plant earlier than with current temperatures. Breeding for tolerance of extreme temperatures will be necessary to counter the increased frequency of extreme temperatures, while a greater emphasis on breeding for increased drought resistance and precipitation-use efficiency will lessen the impact of reduced rainfall. Management options likely to be adopted in south-west Australia include the introduction of drought-tolerant perennial fodder species and shifting cropping to higher-rainfall areas. On the Loess Plateau of China, food security is paramount so that an increased area of heat-tolerant and high-yielding maize, mulching with residues and plastic film, better weed and pest control and strategic use of supplemental irrigation to improve rainfall-use efficiency are likely to be adopted.
Wheat and white lupin differ in root proliferation and phosphorus use efficiency under heterogeneous soil P supply
Authors: Ma Qifu , Rengel Zed , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: July 2011

Heterogeneity of soil nutrients, particularly phosphorus (P), is widespread in modern agriculture due to increased adoption of no-till farming, but P-use efficiency and related physiological processes in plants grown in soils with variable distribution of nutrients are not well documented. In a glasshouse column experiment, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) were subjected to 50 mg P/kg at 7–10 cm depth (hotspot P) or 5 mg P/kg in the whole profile (uniform P), with both treatments receiving the same amount of P. Measurements were made of plant growth, gas exchange, P uptake, and root distribution. Plants with hotspot P supply had more biomass and P content than those with uniform P supply. The ratios of hotspot to uniform P supply for shoot parameters, but not for root parameters, were lower in L. albus than wheat, indicating that L. albus was better able than wheat to acquire and utilise P from low-P soil. Cluster roots in L. albus were enhanced by low shoot P concentration but suppressed by high shoot P concentration. Soil P supply decreased root thickness and the root-to-shoot ratio in wheat but had little effect on L. albus. The formation of cluster roots in low-P soil and greater proliferation and surface area of roots in the localised, P-enriched zone in L. albus than in wheat would increase plant P use in heterogeneous soils. L. albus also used proportionally less assimilated carbon than wheat for root growth in response to soil P deficiency. The comparative advantage of each strategy by wheat and L. albus for P-use efficiency under heterogeneous P supply may depend on the levels of P in the enriched v. low-P portions of the root-zone and other soil constraints such as water, nitrogen, or potassium supply.
Defining the quantitative limits of intravital two-photon lymphocyte tracking
Authors: Textor Johannes , Peixoto Antonio , Henrickson Sarah E. , Sinn Mathieu , von Andrian Ulrich H. , Westermann Jürgen
Published: July 2011

Two-photon microscopy has substantially advanced our understanding of cellular dynamics in the immune system. Cell migration can now be imaged in real time in the living animal. Strikingly, the migration of naive lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid tissue appears predominantly random. It is unclear, however, whether directed migration may escape detection in this random background. Using a combination of mathematical modeling and experimental data, we investigate the extent to which modern two-photon imaging can rule out biologically relevant directed migration. For naive T cells migrating in uninfected lymph nodes (LNs) at average 3D speeds of around 18 μm/min, we rule out uniform directed migration of more than 1.7 μm/min at the 95% confidence level, confirming that T cell migration is indeed mostly random on a timescale of minutes. To investigate whether this finding still holds for longer timescales, we use a 3D simulation of the naive T cell LN transit. A pure random walk predicts a transit time of around 16 h, which is in good agreement with experimental results. A directional bias of only 0.5 μm/min—less than 3% of the cell speed—would already accelerate the transit twofold. These results jointly strengthen the random walk analogy for naive T cell migration in LNs, but they also emphasize that very small deviations from random migration can still be important. Our methods are applicable to cells of any type and can be used to reanalyze existing datasets.
THE POSITIONING OF TRANSNATIONALLY MOBILE EUROPEANS IN THE GERMAN LABOUR MARKET
Authors: Verwiebe Roland , Eder Klaus
Published: July 2011

This article analyses the economic integration of transnationally mobile Europeans into the German labour market. The measure used for the degree of integration is their relative income. Specifically, the article attempts to answer the question, whether and to which degree the integration of transnationally mobile Europeans into the labour market depends on their national origins or on their social origins. Based on the concept of transnational social mobility which goes beyond classical migration research, we will point out the factors that position mobile Europeans in the labour market and the feedback effects on national class systems. The results show that it is not national origin but social-structural characteristics that explains the positioning of EU-transnationals. The empirical basis of this article is primary data on Berlin's labour market gathered in the beginning of 2002.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS: THE SINEWS OF EUROPEAN URBAN CITIZENSHIP?
Authors: Wickham James
Published: July 2011

Public transport is often given a key role in the reinvigoration of European cities. The paper explores the relationship between urban citizenship and urban transport through a study of four cities (Athens, Bologna, Dublin and Helsinki). Urban citizenship is considered to comprise both ‘social cohesion’, i.e., the participation in the public space of the city, and ‘social inclusion’, the right of all inhabitants to physical mobility within the city and hence to access employment and social facilities. Despite the claims of urban planners, there is only weak evidence that reducing car usage contributes to social cohesion, but there is however stronger evidence that reducing car dependency contributes to social inclusion.
Star configuration points and generic plane curves
Authors: Carlini Enrico , Van Tuyl Adam
Published: July 2011

Let

ℓ
1

,
…
,

ℓ
l

\ell _1,\ldots ,\ell _l

be

l
l

lines in

P

2

\mathbb {P}^2

such that no three lines meet in a point. Let

X

(
l
)

\mathbb {X}(l)

be the set of points

{

ℓ
i

∩

ℓ
j

 

|

 
1
≤
i
>
j
≤
l
}
⊆

P

2

\{\ell _i \cap \ell _j ~|~ 1 \leq i > j \leq l\} \subseteq \mathbb {P}^2

. We call

X

(
l
)

\mathbb {X}(l)

a star configuration. We describe all pairs

(
d
,
l
)

(d,l)

such that the generic degree

d
d

curve in

P

2

\mathbb {P}^2

contains an

X

(
l
)

\mathbb {X}(l)

. Our proof strategy uses both a theoretical and an explicit algorithmic approach. We also describe how one may extend our algorithmic approach to similar problems.
On the computability of some positive-depth supercuspidal characters near the identity
Authors: Cluckers Raf , Cunningham Clifton , Gordon Julia , Spice Loren
Published: July 2011

This paper is concerned with the values of Harish-Chandra characters of a class of positive-depth, toral, very supercuspidal representations of

p
p

-adic symplectic and special orthogonal groups, near the identity element. We declare two representations equivalent if their characters coincide on a specific neighbourhood of the identity (which is larger than the neighbourhood on which the Harish-Chandra local character expansion holds). We construct a parameter space

B
B

(that depends on the group and a real number

r
>
0

r>0

) for the set of equivalence classes of the representations of minimal depth

r
r

satisfying some additional assumptions. This parameter space is essentially a geometric object defined over

Q

\mathbb {Q}

. Given a non-Archimedean local field

K

\mathbb {K}

with sufficiently large residual characteristic, the part of the character table near the identity element for

G
(

K

)

G(\mathbb {K})

that comes from our class of representations is parameterized by the residue-field points of

B
B

. The character values themselves can be recovered by specialization from a constructible motivic exponential function, in the terminology of Cluckers and Loeser in a recent paper. The values of such functions are algorithmically computable. It is in this sense that we show that a large part of the character table of the group

G
(

K

)

G(\mathbb {K})

is computable.
Neural network detected in a presumed vestigial trait: ultrastructure of the salmonid adipose fin
Authors: Buckland-Nicks J. A. , Gillis M. , Reimchen T. E.
Published: July 2011

A wide variety of rudimentary and apparently non-functional traits have persisted over extended evolutionary time. Recent evidence has shown that some of these traits may be maintained as a result of developmental constraints or neutral energetic cost, but for others their true function was not recognized. The adipose fin is small, fleshy, non-rayed and located between the dorsal and caudal fins on eight orders of basal teleosts and has traditionally been regarded as vestigial without clear function. We describe here the ultrastructure of the adipose fin and for the first time, to our knowledge, present evidence of extensive nervous tissue, as well as an unusual subdermal complex of interconnected astrocyte-like cells equipped with primary cilia. The fin contains neither adipose tissue nor fin rays. Many fusiform actinotrichia, comprising dense striated macrofibrils, support the free edge and connect with collagen cables that link the two sides. These results are consistent with a recent hypothesis that the adipose fin may act as a precaudal flow sensor, where its removal can be detrimental to swimming efficiency in turbulent water. Our findings provide insight to the broader themes of function versus constraints in evolutionary biology and may have significance for fisheries science, as the adipose fin is routinely removed from millions of salmonids each year.
Cryptic AUG is important for 48S ribosomal assembly during internal initiation of translation of coxsackievirus B3 RNA
Authors: Verma Bhupendra , Ponnuswamy Anand , Gnanasundram Sivakumar Vadivel , Das Saumitra
Published: July 2011

We have investigated the possible role of a conserved cis-acting element, the cryptic AUG, present in the 5′ UTR of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3 ) RNA. CVB3 5′ UTR contains multiple AUG codons upstream of the initiator AUG, which are not used for the initiation of translation. The 48S ribosomal assembly takes place upstream of the cryptic AUG. We show here that mutation in the cryptic AUG results in reduced efficiency of translation mediated by the CVB3 IRES; mutation also reduces the interaction of mutant IRES with a well characterized IRES trans-acting factor, the human La protein. Furthermore, partial silencing of the La gene showed a decrease in IRES activity in the case of both the wild-type and mutant. We have demonstrated here that the interaction of the 48S ribosomal complex with mutant RNA was weaker compared with wild-type RNA by ribosome assembly analysis. We have also investigated by chemical and enzymic modifications the possible alteration in secondary structure in the mutant RNA. Results suggest that the secondary structure of mutant RNA was only marginally altered. Additionally, we have demonstrated by generating compensatory and non-specific mutations the specific function of the cryptic AUG in internal initiation. Results suggest that the effect of the cryptic AUG is specific and translation could not be rescued. However, a possibility of tertiary interaction of the cryptic AUG with other cis-acting elements cannot be ruled out. Taken together, it appears that the integrity of the cryptic AUG is important for efficient translation initiation by the CVB3 IRES RNA.
Determinants of attenuation in the envelope protein of the flavivirus Alfuy
Authors: Prow Natalie A. , May Fiona J. , Westlake Daniel J. , Hurrelbrink Robert J. , Biron Rebecca M. , Leung Jason Y. , McMinn Peter C. , Clark David C. , Mackenzie John S. , Lobigs Mario , Khromykh Alexander A. , Hall Roy A.
Published: July 2011

Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus endemic to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Most strains of MVEV cause potentially fatal cases of encephalitis in humans and horses, and have been shown to be highly neuroinvasive in weanling mice. In contrast, the naturally occurring subtype Alfuy virus (ALFV) has never been associated with human disease, nor is it neuroinvasive in weanling mice, even at high doses. To identify viral factors associated with ALFV attenuation, a chimeric infectious clone was constructed containing the structural genes premembrane (prM) and envelope (E) of ALFV swapped into the MVEV genome. The resulting virus (vMVEV/ALFVstr) was no longer neuroinvasive in mice, suggesting that motifs within prM–E of ALFV confer attenuation. To define these motifs further, mutants were constructed by targeting divergent sequences between the MVEV and ALFV E proteins that are known markers of virulence in other encephalitic flaviviruses. MVEV mutants containing a unique ALFV sequence in the flexible hinge region (residues 273–277) or lacking the conserved glycosylation site at position 154 were significantly less neuroinvasive in mice than wild-type MVEV, as determined by delayed time to death or increased LD50. Conversely, when the corresponding MVEV sequences were inserted into the vMVEV/ALFVstr chimera, the mutant containing the MVEV hinge sequence was more neuroinvasive than the parental chimera, though not to the same level as wild-type MVEV. These results identify the hinge region and E protein glycosylation as motifs that contribute to the attenuation of ALFV.
Abscisic Acid Plays an Important Role in the Regulation of Strawberry Fruit Ripening
Authors: Jia Hai-Feng , Chai Ye-Mao , Li Chun-Li , Lu Dong , Luo Jing-Jing , Qin Ling , Shen Yuan-Yue
Published: July 2011

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has been suggested to play a role in fruit development, but supporting genetic evidence has been lacking. Here, we report that ABA promotes strawberry (Fragaria ananassa) fruit ripening. Using a newly established Tobacco rattle virus-induced gene silencing technique in strawberry fruit, the expression of a 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase gene (FaNCED1), which is key to ABA biosynthesis, was down-regulated, resulting in a significant decrease in ABA levels and uncolored fruits. Interestingly, a similar uncolored phenotype was observed in the transgenic RNA interference (RNAi) fruits, in which the expression of a putative ABA receptor gene encoding the magnesium chelatase H subunit (FaCHLH/ABAR) was down-regulated by virus-induced gene silencing. More importantly, the uncolored phenotype of the FaNCED1-down-regulated RNAi fruits could be rescued by exogenous ABA, but the ABA treatment could not reverse the uncolored phenotype of the FaCHLH/ABAR-down-regulated RNAi fruits. We observed that down-regulation of the FaCHLH/ABAR gene in the RNAi fruit altered both ABA levels and sugar content as well as a set of ABA- and/or sugar-responsive genes. Additionally, we showed that exogenous sugars, particularly sucrose, can significantly promote ripening while stimulating ABA accumulation. These data provide evidence that ABA is a signal molecule that promotes strawberry ripening and that the putative ABA receptor, FaCHLH/ABAR, is a positive regulator of ripening in response to ABA.
Genetic polymorphisms in bovine transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2) and solute carrier family 40 (iron‐regulated transporter), member 1 (SLC40A1) genes and their association with beef iron content
Authors: Duan Q. , Tait Jr R. G. , Mayes M. S. , Garrick D. J. , Liu Q. , Van Eenennaam A. L. , Mateescu R. G. , Van Overbeke D. L. , Garmyn A. J. , Beitz D. C. , Reecy J. M.
Published: July 2011

Beef is considered to be an excellent source of dietary iron. However, little is known about the genetic control of beef iron content. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms in transferrin receptor 2 (TFR2) and solute carrier family 40 (iron‐regulated transporter), member 1 (SLC40A1) could influence skeletal muscle iron content. The objective of this study was to use Angus cattle to identify single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the exons and flanking regions of the bovine TFR2 and SLC40A1 genes and to evaluate the extent to which genetic variation in them was associated with bovine longissimus dorsi muscle iron content. Ten novel SNPs were identified in TFR2, of which one SNP tended to be associated (P < 0.013) with skeletal muscle iron content. Nine novel SNPs in SLC40A1, NC007300: rs133108154, rs137140497, rs135205621, rs136600836, rs134388440, rs136347850, rs134186279, rs134621419 and rs137555693, were identified, of which SNPs rs134388440, rs136347850 and rs137555693 were significantly associated (P < 0.007) with skeletal muscle iron content. High linkage disequilibrium was observed among SLC40A1 SNPs rs134388440, rs136347850 and rs137555693 (R2 > 0.99), from which two haplotypes, TGC and CAT, were defined. Beef from individuals that were homozygous for the TGC haplotype had significantly (P < 0.001) higher iron content than did beef from CAT homozygous or heterozygous individuals. The estimated size of effect of the identified haplotypes was 0.3% of the phenotypic variance. In conclusion, our study provides evidence for genetic control of beef iron concentration. Moreover, SNPs identified in SLC40A1, rs134388440, rs136347850 and rs137555693 might be useful markers for the selection of Angus cattle for altered iron content.
A phase I study of a combination of anti‐CD19 and anti‐CD22 immunotoxins (Combotox) in adult patients with refractory B‐lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Schindler John , Gajavelli Srikanth , Ravandi Farhad , Shen YuMin , Parekh Samir , Braunchweig Ira , Barta Stefan , Ghetie Victor , Vitetta Ellen , Verma Amit
Published: July 2011

Novel agents are needed for patients with refractory and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Combotox is a 1:1 mixture of two immunotoxins (ITs), prepared by coupling deglycosylated ricin A chain (dgRTA) to monoclonal antibodies directed against CD22 (RFB4‐dgRTA) and CD19 (HD37‐dgRTA). Pre‐clinical data demonstrated that Combotox was effective in killing both pre‐B‐ALL cell lines and cells from patients with pre‐B ALL. A clinical study of paediatric patients in which 3 of 17 patients with ALL experienced complete remission, supported the preclinical work and motivated this study. This study was a Phase I, dose‐escalation trial using Combotox in adults with refractory or relapsed B‐lineage‐ALL. A cycle consisted of three doses, with one dose given every other day. Dose levels were 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 mg/m2 per dose. Seventeen patients, aged 19–72 years, were enrolled in this multi‐institution study. The maximum tolerated dose was 7 mg/m2/dose (21 mg/m2/cycle) and vascular leak syndrome was the dose‐limiting toxicity. Two patients developed reversible grade 3 elevations in liver function tests. One patient achieved partial remission and proceeded to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. All patients with peripheral blasts experienced decreased blast counts following the administration of Combotox. Thus, Combotox can be safely administered to adults with refractory leukaemia.
Drug‐specific cyclodextrins with emphasis on sugammadex, the neuromuscular blocker rocuronium and perioperative anaphylaxis: implications for drug allergy
Authors: Baldo B. A. , McDonnell N. J. , Pham N. H.
Published: July 2011

Cyclodextrins, oligosaccharides linked in a circular arrangement around a central cavity, are used extensively in the pharmaceutical industry to improve drug delivery. Their usefulness depends on their capacity to form a drug inclusion, or host–guest, complex within the cavity. In an attempt to improve the delivery of the widely used neuromuscular blocking drug (NMBD) rocuronium, a rocuronium inclusion complex was formed with a chemically modified γ‐cyclodextrin. The high binding affinity and specificity of the modified carrier (named sugammadex) for rocuronium (and other aminosteroid NMBDs) led to its use in anaesthesia as an innovative and useful agent for rapid reversal of rocuronium‐induced neuromuscular block by sequestering the drug as an inclusion complex. This, in turn, led to the suggestion that sugammadex might be useful to remove the NMBD from the circulation of patients experiencing rocuronium‐induced anaphylaxis, a suggestion subsequently supported in case reports where traditional treatment had failed. Successful resuscitations suggested that sugammadex might be a valuable new treatment for such intractable cases but, given the inappropriateness of clinical trials, confirmation or refutation will have to await the slow accumulation of results of individual case reports. Important questions related to antibody accessibility of drug allergenic structures on the rocuronium–sugammadex inclusion complex, and the competition between sugammadex and IgE antibodies (both free and cell bound) for rocuronium, also remain and can be investigated in vitro. The sugammadex findings indicate that the use of carrier molecules such as the cyclodextrins to improve drug delivery will sometimes give rise to changed immunologic and allergenic behaviour of some drugs and this will have to be taken into account in preclinical drug safety assessments of drug–carrier complexes. The possibility of encapsulating and removing other allergenic drugs, e.g., penicillins and cephalosporins, in cases of difficult‐to‐reverse anaphylaxis to these drugs is discussed.

Cite this as: B. A. Baldo, N. J. McDonnell and N. H. Pham, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1663–1678.
In vitroandin vivoreactivity to fungal cell wall agents in sarcoidosis
Authors: Terčelj M , Stopinšek S , Ihan A , Salobir B , Simčič S , Wraber B , Rylander R
Published: July 2011

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease. Epidemiological and treatment studies suggest that fungi play a part in the pathogenesis. The aim of this work was to study the effect of fungal cell wall agents (FCWA) on the in vitro secretion of cytokines from peripheral blood monocytes from subjects with sarcoidosis and relate the results to fungal exposure at home and clinical findings. Subjects with sarcoidosis (n = 22) and controls (n = 20) participated. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with soluble or particulate β-glucan (S-glucan, P-glucan), chitin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), whereafter tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and IL-12 were measured. The severity of sarcoidosis was determined using a chest X-ray-based score. Serum cytokines (IL-2R, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12) were determined. To measure domestic fungal exposure, air in the bedrooms was sampled on filters. N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) on the filters was measured as a marker of fungal cell biomass. The induced secretion of cytokines was higher from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from subjects with sarcoidosis. P-glucan was more potent than S-glucan inducing a secretion. Chitin had a small effect. Among subjects with sarcoidosis there was a significant relation between the spontaneous PBMC production of IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 and the NAHA levels at home. The P-glucan induced secretion of IL-12 was related to the duration of symptoms at the time of diagnosis. Their X-ray scores were related to an increased secretion of cytokines after stimulation with LPS or P-glucan. Subjects with sarcoidosis have a higher reactivity to FCWA in vitro and to home exposure. The influence of FCWA on inflammatory cells and their interference with the inflammatory defense mechanisms in terms of cytokine secretion could be important factors for the development of sarcoidosis.
Ownership type and team climate in elderly care facilities: the moderating effect of stress factors
Authors: Heponiemi Tarja , Elovainio Marko , Kouvonen Anne , Noro Anja , Finne‐Soveri Harriet , Sinervo Timo
Published: July 2011

heponiemi t., elovainio m., kouvonen a., noro a., finne‐soveri h. & sinervo t. (2012) Ownership type and team climate in elderly care facilities: the moderating effect of stress factors. Journal of Advanced Nursing68(3), 647–657.

Aims.  This paper is a report of a study examining the association between ownership type and perceived team climate among older people care staff. In addition, we examined whether work stress factors (time pressure, resident‐related stress, role conflicts and role ambiguity) mediated or moderated the above mentioned association.

Background.  There has been a trend towards contracting out in older people care facilities in Finland and the number of private for‐profit firms has increased. Studies suggest that there may be differences in employee well‐being and quality of care according to the ownership type of older people care.

Methods.  Cross‐sectional survey data was collected during the autumn of 2007 from 1084 Finnish female older people care staff aged 18–69 years were used. Team Climate Inventory was used to measure team climate. Ownership type was divided into four categories: for‐profit sheltered homes, not‐for‐profit sheltered homes, public sheltered homes and not‐for‐profit nursing homes. Analyses of covariance were used to examine the associations.

Results.  Team climate dimensions participative safety, vision and support for innovation were higher in not‐for‐profit organizations (both sheltered homes and nursing homes) compared to for‐profit sheltered homes and public sheltered homes. Stress factors did not account for these associations but acted as moderators in a way that in terms of task orientation and participative safety employees working in for‐profit organizations seemed to be slightly more sensitive to work‐related stress than others.

Conclusion.  Our results suggest that for‐profit organizations and public organizations may have difficulties in maintaining their team climate. In consequence, these organizations should focus more effort on improving their team climate.
Self‐care agency and perceived health among people using advanced medical technology at home
Authors: Fex Angelika , Flensner Gullvi , Ek Anna‐Christina , Söderhamn Olle
Published: July 2011

fex a., flensner g., ek a.‐c. & söderhamn o. (2011) Self‐care agency and perceived health among people using advanced medical technology at home. Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(4), 806–815.

Aim.  This article reports a study of self‐care agency and perceived health in a group of people using advanced medical technology at home.

Background.  An increasing number of people are using medical technology for self‐care. Few studies describe daily life in this context at an overriding level, irrespective of the specific sort of technology. A connection between self‐care, perceived health and sense of coherence has previously been implied.

Methods.  A descriptive, comparative, cross‐sectional quantitative design was used. Data were collected from a questionnaire during the winter of 2009/2010. The questionnaire addressed perceived health and daily life with medical technology. Swedish versions of the Appraisal of Self‐care Agency scale and the 13‐item version of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence scale were included.

Results.  The questionnaire was answered by 180 adults performing self‐care at home involving long‐term oxygen, a ventilator, or peritoneal‐ or haemo‐dialysis. Health‐related and technology‐related variables in daily life were mostly highly satisfactory. Perceived health was rated significantly lower among participants using long‐term oxygen. Sufficient sense of coherence, knowledge of how to use technology, close contact with others and not feeling helpless contributed positively to self‐care agency. Positive contributing factors for perceived health were being satisfied with life, having an active life and not feeling helpless, whereas age was a negative factor.

Conclusion.  Daily life is manageable for people in this context. Long‐term oxygen treatment and advanced age can be regarded as risk factors for perceiving ill health.
Life experiences of security and insecurity among women with chronic heart failure
Authors: Burström Marianne , Brännström Margareta , Boman Kurt , Strandberg Gunilla
Published: July 2011

burström m., brännström m., boman k. & strandberg g. (2011) Life experiences of security and insecurity among women with chronic heart failure.Journal of Advanced Nursing68(4), 816–825.

Aim. This paper is a report of a study illuminating women’s experiences of living with chronic heart failure with a focus on feelings of security and insecurity.

Background. To be secure is a basic human need. Although feelings of being insecure has been found to be a common problem among people who live with chronic heart failure few qualitative studies, particularly among women, have been carried out in the field.

Method. Eight women took part in focus group interviews during 2006. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings. The women’s feelings of security include acceptance of the past, everyday life and the future, trusting the self and the body despite the disease, not having to deal with dependency alone, and faith in care and treatment. The women’s feelings of insecurity include feeling guilty for being sick and incapacitated, fear of living with a frail and failing body, anxiety about growing dependence on others, loneliness and death and lack of faith in care and treatment.

Conclusion. The outlook on the past, the present and the view about the future, can be fundamental for the quality of life, and the sense of security and insecurity among women living with chronic heart failure. To support a sense of security it seems essential that nursing staff attempt to understand the women’s outlook on life and their personal interpretations of living with chronic heart failure. This can be crucial for enhancing feelings of security in daily life for these women.
Individual and work environment characteristics associated with error occurrences in Korean public hospitals
Authors: Hwang Jee‐In , Hwang Eun‐Jeong
Published: July 2011

Aims.  To determine individual and work environment characteristics associated with the occurrence of errors in Korean public hospitals.

Background.  Medical errors are affected by individual and work environment characteristics. Few studies have examined the factors influencing medical errors, including perceptions of safety climate and individual and organisational characteristics.

Design.  A survey.

Methods.  A questionnaire was distributed to 2358 nurses in 33 public hospitals to collect information on the frequency of errors, perceptions of safety climate and general characteristics of the participants. Data on hospital characteristics were obtained from the Regional Public Hospital Profile. The response rate was 89·7%. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors influencing the occurrence of errors.

Results.  Of the participants, 19% reported having made at least one error in the previous year. Nurses with better perceptions of workgroup‐ (OR = 0·73) and organisation‐ (OR = 0·69) level safety climate were less likely to make errors. Nurses with less than 3 years of nursing experience (OR = 2·05) were more likely to make errors than those with ten years or more. Nurses working at Red Cross hospitals (OR = 1·63) and in rural areas (OR = 2·04) were more likely to make errors than those at Regional Medical Centres and in urban areas, respectively.

Conclusion.  The factors associated with the occurrence of errors were perceived safety climate, years of nursing experience and hospitals’ ownership and location.

Relevance to clinical practice.  Public hospital executives and nurse managers should be actively involved in creating a strong safety climate. Furthermore, training programmes and managerial support focussed on improving patient safety and directed at less experienced nurses, especially those working at Red Cross hospitals in rural areas, need to be emphasised to prevent errors.