bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chestnut Breeding in the United States for Disease and Insect Resistance
Authors: Anagnostakis Sandra L.
Published: June 2012

The genus Castanea (family Fagaceae) is found in north temperate climates around the world, and is highly prized in many different cultures for its nutritious nuts and valuable timber. Selection for larger, better-tasting nuts has been ongoing in Asia and Europe for centuries. Early trade routes moved European chestnut trees (C. sativa) west of their native range (in the Caucasus mountains), and the Romans then moved them across their empire to provide support posts for grapevines, as well as for the nuts. Cultivar selection in Turkey, Italy, Spain, and Portugal has been extensive, and regional favorites developed. The many uses of the wood of American chestnut made this “all purpose” tree extremely valuable in its native range in North America. Nut production was important as a food source for rural families and many species of birds and animals. The other American species in the genus Castanea are classed as chinquapins, and may be divided into several or lumped as a single species. The small nuts from these trees and bushes serve primarily as mast for wildlife. Two serious diseases of chestnut trees changed the direction of chestnut research in the United States. Ink disease, caused by the root pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi, was discovered to be the cause of widespread death of chestnuts and chinquapins in the southern United States, which had been observed since about 1850. This imported pathogen probably came into the southern United States before 1824. The second chestnut disaster was the introduction of chestnut blight disease, which was first found in the United States in 1904. The pathogen causing the lethal cankers is an Ascomycete now known as Cryphonectria parasitica. The longest continuing chestnut breeding program in the United States is in Connecticut.
TOPICAL STEROIDAL AND NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS FOR THE TREATMENT OF CYSTOID MACULAR EDEMA IN RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA
Authors: Park Soo , Lim Lik T. , Gavin Michael P.
Published: June 2012

Purpose:

Oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors have been the treatment of choice for managing cystoid macular edema (CMO) in retinitis pigmentosa. We report a case illustrating the effectiveness of topical steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in managing CMO in a patient with retinitis pigmentosa, who is unable to take oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor because of chronic renal impairment.

Methods:

An 85-year-old woman with retinitis pigmentosa–related CMO in the left eye was prospectively followed up after treatment with a 4 times daily regimen consisting of a topical steroid (prednisolone acetate 1%) and an NSAID (ketorolac trometamol 0.5%). The right eye showed no evidence of CMO. Oral acetazolamide was avoided as the patient had chronic renal impairment.

Results:

Three months after treatment, best-corrected visual acuity in the left eye improved from 20/200 to 20/60, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed complete resolution of CMO. Topical steroid and NSAID were therefore stopped. However, 6 months later, left best-corrected visual acuity was reduced to 20/120 and spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed recurrence of CMO. This was managed with the same treatment regimen of topical steroid and NSAID, which resulted in complete resolution of CMO with best-corrected visual acuity in the left eye improving to 20/80 after 3 months.

Conclusion:

To our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates the effectiveness of topical steroids or NSAIDs in managing CMO in a retinitis pigmentosa patient with chronic renal impairment who is unable to take a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor because of chronic renal impairment.
Emasculation: gloves-off strategy enhances eunuch spider endurance
Authors: Lee Qi Qi , Oh Joelyn , Kralj-Fišer Simona , Kuntner Matjaž , Li Daiqin
Published: June 2012

Males of sexually cannibalistic spiders commonly mutilate parts of their paired genitals (palps) during copulation, which may result in complete emasculation or the ‘eunuch phenomenon’. In an orb-web nephilid spider,
Nephilengys malabarensis
, about 75 per cent of males fall victim to sexual cannibalism, and the surviving males become half-eunuchs (one palp emasculated) or full-eunuchs (both palps emasculated). While it has been shown that surviving eunuchs are better fighters compared with intact males when guarding the females with which they have mated, mechanisms behind eunuchs’ superior fighting abilities are unknown. The previously proposed ‘gloves-off’ hypothesis, attributing eunuchs’ enhanced locomotor endurance to the reduction in total body weight caused by genital mutilation, is plausible but has remained untested. Here, we tested the gloves-off hypothesis in
N. malabarensis
by comparing the time until exhaustion (i.e. endurance) of intact males with half- and full-eunuchs created experimentally. We found that by reducing body weight up to 4 per cent in half-eunuchs and 9 per cent in full-eunuchs through emasculation, endurance increases significantly in half-eunuchs (32%) and particularly strongly in full-eunuchs (80%). Our results corroborate the gloves-off hypothesis and further point towards the adaptive significance of male emasculation.
Massive, solidified bone in the wing of a volant courting bird
Authors: Bostwick Kimberly S. , Riccio Mark L. , Humphries Julian M.
Published: June 2012

One pervasive morphological feature of tetrapods is the pipe-like, often marrow-filled, structure of the limb or long bones. This ‘hollow’ form maximizes flexural strength and stiffness with the minimum amount of bony material, and is exemplified by truly hollow (air-filled), or pneumatic, humeri in many modern birds. High-resolution microCT scans of the wings of two male club-winged manakins (
Machaeropterus deliciosus
) uncovered a notable exception to the hollow-tube rule in terrestrial vertebrates; males exhibited solidified ulnae more than three times the volume of birds of comparable body size, with significantly higher tissue mineral densities. The humeri exhibited similar (but less extreme) modifications. Each of the observed osteological modifications increases the overall mass of the bone, running counter to pervasive weight-reducing optimizations for flight in birds. The club-winged manakin is named for a pair of unique wing feathers found in adult males; these enlarged feathers attach directly to the ulna and resonate to produce a distinctive sound used in courtship displays. Given that the observed modifications probably assist in sound production, the club-winged manakin represents a case in which sexual selection by female choice has generated an ecologically ‘costly’ forelimb morphology, unique in being specialized for sound production at a presumed cost in flight efficiency.
The effect of altered macroclimate on N-fixation by boreal feather mosses
Authors: Gundale Michael J. , Wardle David A. , Nilsson Marie-Charlotte
Published: June 2012

Plant productivity is predicted to increase in boreal forests owing to climate change, but this may depend on whether N inputs from biological N-fixation also increases. We evaluated how alteration of climatic factors affects N input from a widespread boreal N-fixer, i.e. cyanobacteria associated with the feather moss
Pleurozium schreberi
. In each of 10 forest stands in northern Sweden, we established climate-change plots, including a control (ambient climate) plot and three plots experiencing a +2°C temperature increase, an approximately threefold reduction in precipitation frequency, and either 0.07, 0.29 or 1.16 times normal summer precipitation. We monitored N-fixation in these plots five times between 2007 and 2009, and three times in 2010 after climate treatments ended to assess their recovery. Warmer temperatures combined with less frequent precipitation reduced feather moss moisture content and N-fixation rates regardless of total precipitation. After climate treatments ended, recovery of N-fixation rates occurred on the scale of weeks to months, suggesting resilience of N-fixation to changes in climatic conditions. These results suggest that modelling of biological N-inputs in boreal forests should emphasize precipitation frequency and evaporative water loss in conjunction with elevated temperature rather than absolute changes in mean precipitation.
A biomechanical model of rock drilling in the piddockBarnea candida(Bivalvia; Mollusca)
Authors: Nederlof Ralf , Muller Mees
Published: June 2012

The bivalveBarnea candida(Pholadacea) makes its burrow in clay, soft rock and peat.Barneahas developed a number of adaptations to accommodate this lifestyle. Four muscles enable burrowing. These are situated around a dorsal pivot in such a way that the piddock is able to rotate the shells around two approximate orthogonal axes. The anterior adductor muscle anterior (AAM-A) and the posterior adductor muscle rotate the shells around a dorso-ventral axis; the anterior adductor muscle posterior (AAM-P) and the ventral adductor muscle rotate the shells around an antero-posterior axis. The AAM-A and the AAM-P have evolved from a single anterior adductor muscle and are attached to a piece of the shell that is folded inside out, the umbonal reflection. At the dorsal side of the piddock, the shell margins are reduced. This prevents collision of these margins during movement. Electrical stimulation experiments revealed that the opening of the antero-ventral side of the piddock is faster than its closure. These results were incorporated into a computer model that could simulate shell movements. The computer model allowed predictions about the shapes of burrows and scrape marks. As in Nature, simulated burrows had a long droplet shape with straight scrape marks.
Nonlinear analysis of an actuated seafloor-mounted carpet for a high-performance wave energy extraction
Authors: Alam Mohammad-Reza
Published: June 2012

It is known that muddy seafloors can extract significant energy from overpassing surface waves via engaging them in strong interaction processes. If a
synthetic seabed
can respond to the action of surface gravity waves similar to the mud response, then it too can take out a lot of energy from surface waves. Analysis of the performance of a mud-resembling seabed carpet in harvesting ocean wave energy is the subject of this article. Specifically, and on the basis of the field measurements and observations of properties/responses of seafloor mud, we focus our attention on an artificial viscoelastic seabed carpet composed of (vertically acting) linear springs and generators. We show that the system of sea/synthetic-carpet admits two propagating wave solutions: the surface mode and the bottom mode. The damping of a surface-mode wave is proportional to its wavelength and hence is classic. However, the damping of a bottom-mode wave is larger for shorter waves, and is in general stronger than that of the surface-mode wave. To address the effect of (high-order) nonlinear interactions as well as to investigate the performance of our proposed carpet of wave energy conversion (CWEC) against a spectrum of waves, we formulate a direct simulation scheme based on a high-order spectral method. We show, by taking high-order nonlinear interactions into account, that the CWEC efficiency can be significantly higher for steeper waves. We further show that the bandwidth of high performance of the CWEC is broad, it yields minimal wave reflections and its theoretical efficiency asymptotically approaches unity within a finite and (relatively) short extent of deployment.
Advantages of the division of labour for the long-term population dynamics of cyanobacteria at different latitudes
Authors: Rossetti Valentina , Bagheri Homayoun C.
Published: June 2012

A fundamental advancement in the evolution of complexity is division of labour. This implies a partition of tasks among cells, either spatially through cellular differentiation, or temporally via a circadian rhythm. Cyanobacteria often employ either spatial differentiation or a circadian rhythm in order to separate the chemically incompatible processes of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis. We present a theoretical framework to assess the advantages in terms of biomass production and population size for three species types: terminally differentiated (heterocystous), circadian, and an idealized species in which nitrogen and carbon fixation occur without biochemical constraints. On the basis of real solar irradiance data at different latitudes, we simulate population dynamics in isolation and in competition for light over a period of 40 years. Our results show that in isolation and regardless of latitude, the biomass of heterocystous cyanobacteria that optimally invest resources is comparable to that of the idealized unconstrained species. Hence, spatial division of labour overcomes biochemical constraints and enhances biomass production. In the circadian case, the strict temporal task separation modelled here hinders high biomass production in comparison with the heterocystous species. However, circadian species are found to be successful in competition for light whenever their resource investment prevents a waste of fixed nitrogen more effectively than do heterocystous species. In addition, we show the existence of a trade-off between population size and biomass accumulation, whereby each species can optimally invest resources to be proficient in biomass production or population growth, but not necessarily both. Finally, the model produces chaotic dynamics for population size, which is relevant to the study of cyanobacterial blooms.
Preference suppression caused by misattribution of task-irrelevant subliminal motion
Authors: Shibata Kazuhisa , Watanabe Takeo
Published: June 2012

It is well known that subjects tend to misattribute task-irrelevant signals, incorporating them into the information on which a decision is made. Such misattribution has been reported to originate only from a social or a cognitive stage of information processing. However, we provide the initial evidence that misattribution also originates at a lower, visuomotor stage. This type of misattribution occurs only when subjects do not notice a visuomotor conflict. Misattribution at a social or a cognitive stage facilitates decision-making if the misattributed information is consistent with the decision and impedes decision-making if the information is in conflict with the decision. However, misattribution originating at a visuomotor stage only impedes decision-making, suggesting a fundamental difference between the mechanisms for the two types of misattribution. Furthermore, misattribution effects that originate in a visuomotor interaction stage also affect subjective preference ratings, suggesting that the misattribution exerts an influence on global brain processing.
Exploiting intraspecific competitive mechanisms to control invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina)
Authors: Crossland Michael R. , Haramura Takashi , Salim Angela A. , Capon Robert J. , Shine Richard
Published: June 2012

If invasive species use chemical weapons to suppress the viability of conspecifics, we may be able to exploit those species-specific chemical cues for selective control of the invader. Cane toads (Rhinella marina) are spreading through tropical Australia, with negative effects on native species. The tadpoles of cane toads eliminate intraspecific competitors by locating and consuming newly laid eggs. Our laboratory trials show that tadpoles find those eggs by searching for the powerful bufadienolide toxins (especially, bufogenins) that toads use to deter predators. Using those toxins as bait, funnel-traps placed in natural waterbodies achieved near-complete eradication of cane toad tadpoles with minimal collateral damage (because most native (non-target) species are repelled by the toads' toxins). More generally, communication systems that have evolved for intraspecific conflict provide novel opportunities for invasive-species control.
Saccharomycopsis fodiens sp. nov., a rare predacious yeast from three distant localities
Authors: Lachance Marc-André , Rosa Carlos A. , Carvajal Enrique Javier , Freitas Larissa F. D. , Bowles Jane M.
Published: June 2012

Three strains representing a novel yeast species were recovered as part of independent collections from flower-associated nitidulid beetles in Australia, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Analysis of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene indicated that the species belongs to the genus Saccharomycopsis, although the formation of ascospores was not observed. The yeast is capable of necrotrophic parasitism by means of infection pegs when mixed with other yeasts or filamentous fungi. Of particular interest is the fact that despite the large distances separating the isolation sites of the three strains, other strains of the species have not been recovered in other samples of flower-associated nitidulids even though these habitats have been sampled extensively. It is suggested that the dispersal of the yeast may be linked to human historical factors. The name Saccharomycopsis fodiens sp. nov. is proposed for the yeast. The type strain is UWOPS 95-697.4T ( = CBS 8332T = NRRL Y-48786T).
Start-up Procedure and Switching Loss Reduction for a Single-Phase Flying Capacitor Active Rectifier
Authors: Sepahvand Hossein , Khazraei Mostafa , Corzine Keith , Ferdowsi Mehdi
Published: June 2012

This paper describes a research conducted on a single-phase flying capacitor active rectifier. An online process that reduces the total number of switching events, which leads to a reduction of switching losses in the converter, is introduced. This method is based on redundant state selection, which is used to regulate the voltage of flying capacitors. The proposed approach is general and can be applied to flying capacitor converters with any number of levels. Furthermore, in order to control the inrush current at the start of operation and avoid extra voltage and current stress for active switches and capacitors, a start-up procedure that precharges the flying capacitors is proposed. With this precharge procedure, no additional hardware is needed. Simulation and laboratory results demonstrate these new concepts.
A Global Analysis of Orientation, Coordination, and Flexibility in Supply Chains
Authors: Omar Ayman , Davis‐Sramek Beth , Myers Matthew B. , Mentzer John T.
Published: June 2012

Global supply chains are growing rapidly, and the ability to manage cross border logistics operations has become a necessity to maintain a competitive advantage in a dynamic environment. This research addresses current gaps in the literature by investigating the buyer–supplier integration dynamics in a global context with a focus on the antecedents and outcomes involved in the process. Empirical data from 320 U.S. based manufacturing companies that source from overseas was collected and used to test the framework. In addition to providing empirical evidence for the importance of orientation on collaboration, operational coordination, and integration this research explains how manufacturing companies can enhance the flexibility of their global suppliers and how that impact their logistics as well as overall firm performance. Managerial and research implications are provided as well as areas for future research.
Treatment of new‐onset ulcerative colitis and ulcerative proctitis: a retrospective study
Authors: Richter J. M. , Kushkuley S. , Barrett J. A. , Oster G.
Published: June 2012

Background

Although guidelines recommend use of oral 5‐aminosalicylates (5‐ASAs) as first‐line therapy in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) and ulcerative proctitis (UP) and steroids with or without 5‐ASAs in those more severely ill, little is known about how UC and UP are actually treated.

Aim

To document treatment of new‐onset UC and UP in routine clinical practice.

Methods

Using a large US health insurance database, we identified all persons with new‐onset UC or UP between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2007, based on: (i) initial receipt of an oral 5–ASA, mesalazine (mesalamine) suppository, 5‐ASA enema, steroid, antimetabolite, budesonide or TNF inhibitor; (ii) sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy in prior 30 days resulting in a new diagnosis of UC or UP and (iii) no prior encounters for Crohn's disease. We examined patterns of pharmacotherapy over 1 year.

Results

We identified 1516 UC patients and 636 UP patients who met study entry criteria. In UC, initial therapies most frequently used were oral 5‐ASAs (53% of patients), oral 5‐ASAs and systemic steroids (12%), systemic steroids (8%) and mesalazine suppositories (6%); in UP, mesalazine suppositories (42%) and oral 5‐ASAs (19%) were most often used, followed by combination therapy (14%), mesalazine enema (11%) and rectal steroids (10%). Few patients received maintenance therapy, and there was limited use of antimetabolites and biological agents.

Conclusions

Oral 5‐ASAs and systemic steroids are the mainstay of treatment in patients with new‐onset ulcerative colitis; in those with new‐onset ulcerative proctitis, it is mesalazine suppositories. Care of these patients appears consistent with treatment guidelines.
Uncovering QTL for resistance and survival time to Philasterides dicentrarchi in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Authors: Rodríguez‐Ramilo S. T. , Fernández J. , Toro M. A. , Bouza C. , Hermida M. , Fernández C. , Pardo B. G. , Cabaleiro S. , Martínez P.
Published: June 2012

Disease resistance‐related traits have received increasing importance in aquaculture breeding programs worldwide. Currently, genomic information offers new possibilities in breeding to address the improvement of this kind of traits. The turbot is one of the most promising European aquaculture species, and Philasterides dicentrarchi is a scuticociliate parasite causing fatal disease in farmed turbot. An appealing approach to fight against disease is to achieve a more robust broodstock, which could prevent or diminish the devastating effects of scuticociliatosis on farmed individuals. In the present study, a genome scan for quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting resistance and survival time to P. dicentrarchi in four turbot families was carried out. The objectives were to identify QTL using different statistical approaches [linear regression (LR) and maximum likelihood (ML)] and to locate significantly associated markers for their application in genetic breeding strategies. Several genomic regions controlling resistance and survival time to P. dicentrarchi were detected. When analyzing each family separately, significant QTL for resistance were identified by the LR method in two linkage groups (LG1 and LG9) and for survival time in LG1, while the ML methodology identified QTL for resistance in LG9 and LG23 and for survival time in LG6 and LG23. The analysis of the total data set identified an additional significant QTL for resistance and survival time in LG3 with the LR method. Significant association between disease resistance‐related traits and genotypes was detected for several markers, a single one explaining up to 22% of the phenotypic variance. Obtained results will be essential to identify candidate genes for resistance and to apply them in marker‐assisted selection programs to improve turbot production.
Platelet gel supernatant as a potential tool to repopulate acellular heart valves
Authors: Somers P. , Robyns L. , Nollet E. , De Somer F. , Cornelissen M. , Thierens H. , Van Nooten G.
Published: June 2012

Objective

The aim of this study was to repopulate decellularized heart valve matrices with ovine mesenchymal stem cells (oMSCs) by the use of platelet gel (PG) supernatant, a storage vehicle for growth factors.

Methods

oMSCs were exposed to different concentrations of PG‐released supernatant and cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTS assay. oMSC motility and invasiveness were assayed using a Boyden chamber. A quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay was used to examine amounts of bFGF and TGF‐β1 in the PG supernatant. Repopulation of acellular heart valve matrices was stimulated by seeding matrices with oMSCs supplemented with the PG supernatant.

Results

The most significant increase in proliferation induced by PG supernatant appeared at 1 × 105 plts/ml concentration. Higher concentrations evoked reduction of the stimulatory process. oMSC motility was most significantly stimulated at 1 × 106 plts/ml. Stimulating invasiveness of oMSCs needed the much higher concentration of 2 × 106 plts/ml. Immunoassays revealed that sheep PG supernatant contains 184.8 pg/ml bFGF and 60.5 ng/ml TGF‐β1. Moreover, repopulation of acellular heart valve matrices was significantly enhanced by PG supernatant addition and resulted in upregulation of the myofibroblast marker alpha‐smooth muscle actin.

Conclusions

Growth factors released from platelets had the potential to induce cell repopulation in a heart valve tissue engineering procedure, through stimulation of mesenchymal stem‐cell migration and invasion.
Kinship care in the UK: using census data to estimate the extent of formal and informal care by relatives
Authors: Selwyn Julie , Nandy Shailen
Published: June 2012

Until recently, little was known about kinship care in the UK. Research has begun to illuminate the circumstances which lead to children being cared for by relatives, and the stresses and strains experienced by carers. However, most UK research has only considered ‘looked‐after’ children placed with formal approved kinship foster carers, although this group forms the smallest proportion of children in kinship arrangements. In this paper, we use microdata from the 2001 UK Population Census to examine the characteristics of kinship carers and children, and demonstrate that most children in kinship care are growing up in informal unregulated arrangements. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
Thymic neuroendocrine tumour in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: female patients are not rare exceptions
Authors: Sakurai Akihiro , Imai Tsuneo , Kikumori Toyone , Horiuchi Kiyomi , Okamoto Takahiro , Uchino Shinya , Kosugi Shinji , Suzuki Shinichi , Suyama Keiko , Yamazaki Masanori , Sato Ai ,   MEN Consortium of Japan
Published: June 2012

Objective

Thymic neuroendocrine tumour (Th‐NET) occurs in 2–5% of patients with MEN1 and has high malignant potency accompanying recurrence and distant metastasis. While Th‐NET is recognized to develop predominantly in men and heavy smokers, a number of female patients have been reported in the literature. The objective of this study is to clarify the clinical features of MEN1 patients with Th‐NET using database analysis.

Design/Patients

Clinical data of patients with Th‐NET were extracted and analysed from a recently constructed database of Japanese MEN1 patients.

Results

Among 560 registered cases, Th‐NET was seen in 28 (5·0%) patients. Of note, 36% of patients (10/28) were women; only one patient among those was a smoker and another six patients were non‐smokers. Age at diagnosis of Th‐NET and MEN1, tumour size, prevalence of other MEN1‐related tumours did not differ between male and female patients, and 10‐year survival probability was 0·271 ± 0·106.

Conclusions

Although the prevalence of Th‐NET in women (3·2%) is significantly lower than that in men (7·6%), a considerable proportion of female patients develop Th‐NET. Given that Th‐NET is a major determinant of life expectancy of patients, our results alert clinicians who treat patients with MEN1 that surveillance of Th‐NET is essential even for female patients without a smoking habit.
Hypertriglyceridemic waist, cytokines and hyperglycaemia in Chinese
Authors: Yu Zhijie , Sun Liang , Qi Qibin , Wu Hongyu , Lu Ling , Liu Chen , Li Huaixing , Lin Xu
Published: June 2012

Eur J Clin Invest 2012; 42 (10): 1100–1111

Background  Abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridemia confer high risk for cardiometabolic disease. Few studies have investigated the associations of hypertriglyceridemic waist with cytokines and hyperglycaemia in Chinese.

Methods  Anthropometric indexes, fasting plasma concentrations of glucose, glycohemoglobin, insulin, lipid profile, inflammatory factors and adipokines were measured among 3289 Chinese men and women 50–70 years of age.

Results  An increment of every 2 cm of waist circumference was associated with increased levels of high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin 6 and RBP 4 by 0·033 mg/L, 0·018 ng/L and 0·556 mg/L and reduced levels of adiponectin by 0·269 mg/L (all P < 0·05), respectively, with controlling for potential confounders. For triglycerides, each an increment of 20 mg/dL was associated with increased levels of hsCRP, RBP4, and decreased levels of adiponectin by 0·021 mg/L, 0·655 mg/L, and 0·371 mg/L (all P < 0·05), respectively. Individuals with hypertriglyceridemic waist had increased risks of having hyperglycaemia (OR: 1·48; 95% CI: 1·09, 2·00) and diabetes mellitus (OR: 2·12; 95% CI: 1·47, 3·04) compared with those with neither of the phenotypes.

Conclusions  Hypertriglyceridemic waist is associated with a worse profile of inflammatory factors and adipokines as well as with an increased risk of having hyperglycaemia among Chinese.
Apoptotic cells and clonally expanded cytotoxic T cells in bone marrow trephines of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Pülhorn Heinke , Herrmann Martin , Harms Harry , Jung Andreas , Baumann Irith
Published: June 2012

Pülhorn H, Herrmann M, Harms H, Jung A & Baumann I  (2012) Histopathology 61, 200–211

Apoptotic cells and clonally expanded cytotoxic T cells in bone marrow trephines of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome

Aims:  There is increasing evidence that autoimmunity is involved in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We examined the number of apoptotic cells, and analysed the T cells and the T cell receptor gene rearrangements in bone marrow trephines of patients with low‐grade MDS [refractory anaemia (RA), refractory anaemia with ringed sideroblasts (RAS) and refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD)] to investigate the correlation between T cells and apoptosis.

Methods and results:  Bone marrow trephines from 30 patients with RA, seven patients with RCMD, four patients with RAS and 11 normal bone marrow donors were stained for CD3 and for apoptotic cells using immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase 2′‐deoxyuridine, 5′‐triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labelling (TUNEL) technique, respectively. The positive cells were quantified by computer‐assisted image analysis. In addition, CD 8 and T cell‐restricted intracellular antigen‐1 (TIA‐1)‐positive cells were analysed by single staining and evaluated semiquantitatively by light microscopy. Junctional diversity of the T cell receptor (TCR) α‐, β‐ and γ‐chains were analysed in 24 cases of RA and RCMD by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). In all cases of RA, RCMD and RAS an increase of apoptotic cells was accompanied by an increase of T cells, when compared to normal donors (P < 0.001). Expression of TIA‐1 was found in 33 of 41 patients with low‐grade MDS. In contrast, normal controls showed either no or only very weak expression. Furthermore, 14 of 24 cases with low‐grade MDS showed clonal TCR gene rearrangement.

Conclusion:  These findings provide evidence that increased apoptosis in low‐grade MDS correlates with increased numbers of cytotoxic T cells. A considerable proportion of the MDS cases showed clonal TCR rearrangement suggesting an antigen‐driven selection of the T cells. We therefore speculate that cases of MDS can be accompanied by a presumably autoreactive T cell‐mediated apoptosis induction in bone marrow cells.
Fire persistence traits can be used to predict vegetation response to changing fire regimes at expansive landscape scales – an Australian example
Authors: Russell‐Smith Jeremy , Gardener Mark R. , Brock Chris , Brennan Kym , Yates Cameron P. , Grace Blair
Published: June 2012

Aim  Building on a substantial literature addressing the fire responses of woody plants, particularly under mediterranean climates, we assess the extent to which fire persistence traits can be used to predict vegetation responses to fire regime changes in fire‐prone arid and savanna landscape settings.

Location  Australia, applying data from arid central to monsoonal northern regions (11–26° S, 129–138° E).

Methods  With reference to a substantial sub‐continental floristics dataset, we first assigned the fire response (obligate seeder, resprouter) and seedbank persistence (transient, dormant) of rapid and longer‐maturing (> 3 years) woody taxa. Using logistic regression, we then modelled the proportions of taxa possessing these traits as a function of mean annual rainfall (highly correlated with fire frequency) and terrain roughness (a measure of topographic variability) in 0.25° × 0.25° and 1° × 1° grid cells. Separate assessments were undertaken with datasets for 1264 sclerophyll and 236 rain forest taxa.

Results  This woody flora is characterized by taxa exhibiting mostly resprouting and dormant seedbank traits that promote site persistence. While numbers of obligate seeder and resprouter taxa were related positively to both rainfall and roughness, the relative abundance of both sclerophyll and rain forest obligate seeders decreased significantly with rainfall. The relative abundance of sclerophyll (especially long‐lived) obligate seeders alone increased with topographic roughness. The proportion of taxa with transient seedbanks increased with rainfall in resprouters generally, and in rain forest obligate seeders alone.

Main conclusions  We find that resprouters are favoured on more productive, fire‐prone sites, and obligate seeders are favoured in less productive, more fire‐protected settings. Seedbank persistence responses are more variable. These findings concur generally with theoretical constructs, and support comparable assessments in Australian and other fire‐prone systems ranging from mediterranean to boreal environments. Our observations illustrate that resprouting and obligate seeding syndromes, but not necessarily seedbank persistence, are useful predictors of vegetation responses to changing fire regime conditions at large landscape scales.
Serious games as new educational tools: how effective are they? A meta‐analysis of recent studies
Authors: Girard C. , Ecalle J. , Magnan A.
Published: June 2012

Computer‐assisted learning is known to be an effective tool for improving learning in both adults and children. Recent years have seen the emergence of the so‐called ‘serious games (SGs)’ that are flooding the educational games market. In this paper, the term ‘serious games’ is used to refer to video games (VGs) intended to serve a useful purpose. The objective was to review the results of experimental studies designed to examine the effectiveness of VGs and SGs on players' learning and engagement. After pointing out the varied nature of the obtained results and the impossibility of reaching any reliable conclusion concerning the effectiveness of VGs and SGs in learning, we stress the limitations of the existing literature and make a number of suggestions for future studies.
Hospital patients' reports of medical errors and undesirable events in their health care
Authors: Davis Rachel E. , Sevdalis Nick , Neale Graham , Massey Rachel , Vincent Charles A.
Published: June 2012

Objective  To investigate hospital patients' reports of undesirable events in their health care.

Design  Cross‐sectional mixed methods design.

Participants  A total of 80 medical and surgical patients (mean age 58, 56 male).

Intervention  Patients were interviewed post‐discharge using a survey to assess patient reports of errors or problems in their care. Patients' medical records and notes were also reviewed.

Main outcome measures  Frequency of health care process problems, medical complications and interpersonal problems, and patient willingness to report an undesirable event in their care.

Results  In total, 258 undesirable events were reported (rate of 3.2 per person), including 136 interpersonal problems, 90 medical complications and 32 health care process problems. Patients identified a number of events that were reported in the medical records (30 out of 36). In addition, patients reported events that were not recorded in the medical records. Patients were more willing (P < 0.05) to report undesirable events to a researcher (as in the present case) than to a local or national reporting system.

Conclusion  Patients appear able to report undesirable events that occur in their health care management over and above those that are recorded in their medical records. However, patients appear more willing to report these incidents for the purpose of a study rather than to an established incident reporting system. Interventions aimed at educating and encouraging patients about incident reporting systems need to be developed in order to enhance this important contribution patients could make to improving patient safety.
Effects of linseeds on the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome: a pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Cockerell K. M. , Watkins A. S. M. , Reeves L. B. , Goddard L. , Lomer M. C. E.
Published: June 2012

Background:  Manipulation of dietary fibre intake represents a longstanding treatment for patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), particularly for those with constipation. Linseeds are often recommended by both clinicians and dietitians as a source of dietary fibre to alleviate symptoms. Recent guidance on the management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) advises that linseeds may reduce wind and bloating, although there is limited clinical evidence to support this recommendation. The present pilot study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of: (i) whole linseeds versus ground linseeds; (ii) whole linseeds versus no linseeds; and (iii) ground linseeds versus no linseeds in the management of IBS symptoms.

Methods:  In an open randomised controlled trial, subjects with IBS (n = 40) were allocated to one of three intervention groups: two tablespoons of whole linseeds per day (n = 14), two tablespoons of ground linseeds per day (n = 13) and no linseeds as controls (n = 13). Symptom severity (primary outcome) and bowel habit were assessed before and after a 4‐week intervention and statistical differences between the groups were compared.

Results:  Thirty‐one subjects completed the present study. Between‐group analysis comparing the improvement in symptom severity did not reach statistical significance for whole linseeds (n = 11) versus ground linseeds (n = 11; P = 0.62), whole linseeds versus controls (n = 9; P = 0.12) and ground linseeds versus controls (P = 0.10). There were no significant changes in stool frequency or stool consistency for any of the groups.

Conclusions:  Linseeds may be useful in relief of IBS symptoms. Further research is needed to detect clear differences between the effects of whole and ground linseeds.
Recurrent gene deletions and the evolution of adaptive cyanogenesis polymorphisms in white clover (Trifolium repens L.)
Authors: OLSEN KENNETH M. , KOOYERS NICHOLAS J. , SMALL LINDA L.
Published: June 2012

Understanding the molecular evolution of genes that underlie intraspecific polymorphisms can provide insights into the process of adaptive evolution. For adaptive polymorphisms characterized by gene presence/absence (P/A) variation, underlying loci commonly show signatures of long‐term balancing selection, with gene‐presence and gene‐absence alleles maintained as two divergent lineages. We examined the molecular evolution of two unlinked P/A polymorphisms that underlie a well‐documented adaptive polymorphism for cyanogenesis (hydrogen cyanide release with tissue damage) in white clover. Both cyanogenic and acyanogenic plants occur in this species, and the ecological forces that maintain this chemical defence polymorphism have been studied for several decades. Using a sample of 65 plants, we investigated the molecular evolution of sequences flanking the two underlying cyanogenesis genes: Ac/ac (controlling the presence/absence of cyanogenic glucosides) and Li/li (controlling the presence/absence of their hydrolysing enzyme, linamarase). A combination of genome walking, PCR assays, DNA sequence analysis and Southern blotting was used to test whether these adaptive P/A polymorphisms show evidence of long‐term balancing selection, or whether gene‐absence alleles have evolved repeatedly through independent deletion events. For both loci, we detect no signatures of balancing selection in the closest flanking genomic sequences. Instead, we find evidence for variation in the size of the deletions characterizing gene‐absence alleles. These observations strongly suggest that both of these polymorphisms have been evolving through recurrent gene deletions over time. We discuss the genetic mechanisms that could account for this surprising pattern and the implications of these findings for mechanisms of rapid adaptive evolution in white clover.
The structure of the NasR transcription antiterminator reveals a one‐component system with a NIT nitrate receptor coupled to an ANTAR RNA‐binding effector
Authors: Boudes Marion , Lazar Noureddine , Graille Marc , Durand Dominique , Gaidenko Tatiana A. , Stewart Valley , van Tilbeurgh Herman
Published: June 2012

The nitrate‐ and nitrite‐sensing NIT domain is present in diverse signal‐transduction proteins across a wide range of bacterial species. NIT domain function was established through analysis of the Klebsiella oxytoca NasR protein, which controls expression of the nasF operon encoding enzymes for nitrite and nitrate assimilation. In the presence of nitrate or nitrite, the NasR protein inhibits transcription termination at the factor‐independent terminator site in the nasF operon transcribed leader region. We present here the crystal structure of the intact NasR protein in the apo state. The dimeric all‐helical protein contains a large amino‐terminal NIT domain that associates two four‐helix bundles, and a carboxyl‐terminal ANTAR (AmiR and NasR transcription antitermination regulator) domain. The analysis reveals unexpectedly that the NIT domain is structurally similar to the periplasmic input domain of the NarX two‐component sensor that regulates nitrate and nitrite respiration. This similarity suggests that the NIT domain binds nitrate and nitrite between two invariant arginyl residues located on adjacent alpha helices, and results from site‐specific mutagenesis showed that these residues are critical for NasR function. The resulting structural movements in the NIT domain would provoke an active configuration of the ANTAR domains necessary for specific leader mRNA binding.
Identification of two small regulatory RNAs linked to virulence in Brucella abortus 2308
Authors: Caswell Clayton C. , Gaines Jennifer M. , Ciborowski Pawel , Smith Derek , Borchers Christoph H. , Roux Christelle M. , Sayood Khalid , Dunman Paul M. , Roop II R. Martin
Published: June 2012

Hfq is an RNA‐binding protein that functions in post‐transcriptional gene regulation by mediating interactions between mRNAs and small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs). Two proteins encoded by BAB1_1794 and BAB2_0612 are highly over‐produced in a Brucella abortus hfq mutant compared with the parental strain, and recently, expression of orthologues of these proteins in Agrobacterium tumefaciens was shown to be regulated by two sRNAs, called AbcR1 and AbcR2. Orthologous sRNAs (likewise designated AbcR1 and AbcR2) have been identified in B. abortus 2308. In Brucella, abcR1 and abcR2 single mutants are not defective in their ability to survive in cultured murine macrophages, but an abcR1 abcR2 double mutant exhibits significant attenuation in macrophages. Additionally, the abcR1 abcR2 double mutant displays significant attenuation in a mouse model of chronic Brucella infection. Quantitative proteomics and microarray analyses revealed that the AbcR sRNAs predominantly regulate genes predicted to be involved in amino acid and polyamine transport and metabolism, and Northern blot analyses indicate that the AbcR sRNAs accelerate the degradation of the target mRNAs. In an Escherichia coli two‐plasmid reporter system, overexpression of either AbcR1 or AbcR2 was sufficient for regulation of target mRNAs, indicating that the AbcR sRNAs from B. abortus 2308 perform redundant regulatory functions.
Aberrant temporal growth pattern and morphology of root and shoot caused by a defective circadian clock in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Ruts Tom , Matsubara Shizue , Wiese‐Klinkenberg Anika , Walter Achim
Published: June 2012

Circadian clocks synchronized with the environment allow plants to anticipate recurring daily changes and give a fitness advantage. Here, we mapped the dynamic growth phenotype of leaves and roots in two lines of Arabidopsis thaliana with a disrupted circadian clock: the CCA1 over‐expressing line (CCA1ox) and the prr9 prr7 prr5 (prr975) mutant. We demonstrate leaf growth defects due to a disrupted circadian clock over a 24 h time scale. Both lines showed enhanced leaf growth compared with the wild‐type during the diurnal period, suggesting increased partitioning of photosynthates for leaf growth. Nocturnal leaf growth was reduced and growth inhibition occurred by dawn, which may be explained by ineffective starch degradation in the leaves of the mutants. However, this growth inhibition was not caused by starch exhaustion. Overall, these results are consistent with the notion that the defective clock affects carbon and energy allocation, thereby reducing growth capacity during the night. Furthermore, rosette morphology and size as well as root architecture were strikingly altered by the defective clock control. Separate analysis of the primary root and lateral roots revealed strong suppression of lateral root formation in both CCA1ox and prr975, accompanied by unusual changes in lateral root growth direction under light–dark cycles and increased lateral extension of the root system. We conclude that growth of the whole plant is severely affected by improper clock regulation in A. thaliana, resulting not only in altered timing and capacity for growth but also aberrant development of shoot and root architecture.
OsNPR1 negatively regulates herbivore‐induced JA and ethylene signaling and plant resistance to a chewing herbivore in rice
Authors: Li Ran , Afsheen Sumera , Xin Zhaojun , Han Xiu , Lou Yonggen
Published: June 2012

NPR1 (a non‐expressor of pathogenesis‐related genes1) has been reported to play an important role in plant defense by regulating signaling pathways. However, little to nothing is known about its function in herbivore‐induced defense in monocot plants. Here, using suppressive substrate hybridization, we identified a NPR1 gene from rice, OsNPR1, and found that its expression levels were upregulated in response to infestation by the rice striped stem borer (SSB) Chilo suppressalis and rice leaf folder (LF) Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, and to mechanical wounding and treatment with jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Moreover, mechanical wounding induced the expression of OsNPR1 quickly, whereas herbivore infestation induced the gene more slowly. The antisense expression of OsNPR1 (as‐npr1), which reduced the expression of the gene by 50%, increased elicited levels of JA and ethylene (ET) as well as of expression of a lipoxygenase gene OsHI‐LOX and an ACC synthase gene OsACS2. The enhanced JA and ET signaling in as‐npr1 plants increased the levels of herbivore‐induced trypsin proteinase inhibitors (TrypPIs) and volatiles, and reduced the performance of SSB. Our results suggest that OsNPR1 is an early responding gene in herbivore‐induced defense and that plants can use it to activate a specific and appropriate defense response against invaders by modulating signaling pathways.