bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoration of Breadmaking Properties to Frozen Dough by Addition of Sugar and Yeast and Subsequent Processing
Authors: Morimoto N. , Seguchi M.
Published: January 2011

We prepared bread dough A (a mixture of wheat flour, sugar, salt, and water), bread dough B (a mixture of bread dough A and yeast), and bread dough C (first‐proofed, molded, and second‐proofed bread dough B) and froze them at –20°C for six days. They were thawed at 4°C for 16 hr and subjected to their breadmaking processes. The results indicated that breadmaking properties (bread height [mm] and specific volume [cm3/g]) after bread dough A and B processes were the same as those of control bread dough (unfrozen dough). However, in the case of bread dough C, the resulting bread showed depression of the properties. The amount of centrifuged liquid from thawed bread dough C increased. Sugar was added to thawed bread dough C (bread dough C‐1), and then yeast was further added to bread dough C‐1 (bread dough C‐2), and they were subjected to the breadmaking process. The results showed that the breadmaking properties of bread dough C‐2 were the same as those of the control. It was further found that when the first proof step in the bread dough C‐2 process was omitted, the breadmaking properties were depressed. Frozen and thawed bread dough C was packed into a plastic tube, and extension of the dough was compared with that of control dough under reduced pressure. Bread dough C extended to 50 mm, compared with 70 mm for control dough. First proof, mold, and second proof steps of dough C‐2 caused it to extend to the same height as control dough. It was concluded that the increased amount of the separated liquid in thawed dough C caused depression of breadmaking properties resulting from lack of water in the appropriate places to provide the expected properties, but these properties could be restored to the levels of control bread dough by the addition of sugar and yeast following the first proof, mold, and second proof steps.
HrpG and HrpX Play Global Roles in Coordinating Different Virulence Traits ofXanthomonas axonopodispv.citri
Authors: Guo Yinping , Figueiredo Francisco , Jones Jeffery , Wang Nian
Published: January 2011

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri is the causal agent of citrus canker, which is one of the most serious diseases of citrus. To understand the virulence mechanisms of X. axonopodis pv. citri, we designed and conducted genome-wide microarray analyses to characterize the HrpG and HrpX regulons, which are critical for the pathogenicity of X. axonopodis pv. citri. Our analyses revealed that 232 and 181 genes belonged to the HrpG and HrpX regulons, respectively. In total, 123 genes were overlapped in the two regulons at any of the three selected timepoints representing three growth stages of X. axonopodis pv. citri in XVM2 medium. Our results showed that HrpG and HrpX regulated all 24 type III secretion system genes, 23 type III secretion system effector genes, and 29 type II secretion system substrate genes. Our data revealed that X. axonopodis pv. citri regulates multiple cellular activities responding to the host environment, such as amino acid biosynthesis; oxidative phosphorylation; pentose-phosphate pathway; transport of sugar, iron, and potassium; and phenolic catabolism, through HrpX and HrpG. We found that 124 and 90 unknown genes were controlled by HrpG and HrpX, respectively. Our results suggest that HrpG and HrpX interplay with a global signaling network and co-ordinate the expression of multiple virulence factors for modification and adaption of host environment during X. axonopodis pv. citri infection.
Activation of a Lotus japonicus Subtilase Gene During Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Is Dependent on the Common Symbiosis Genes and Two cis-Active Promoter Regions
Authors: Takeda Naoya , Haage Kristina , Sato Shusei , Tabata Satoshi , Parniske Martin
Published: January 2011

The subtilisin-like serine protease SbtM1 is strongly and specifically induced during arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis in Lotus japonicus. Another subtilase gene, SbtS, is induced during early stages of nodulation and AM. Transcript profiling in plant symbiosis mutants revealed that the AM-induced expression of SbtM1 and the gene family members SbtM3 and SbtM4 is dependent on the common symbiosis pathway, whereas an independent pathway contributes to the activation of SbtS. We used the specific spatial expression patterns of SbtM1 promoter β-d-glucuronidase (GUS) fusions to isolate cis elements that confer AM responsiveness. A promoter deletion and substitution analysis defined two cis regions (region I and II) in the SbtM1 promoter necessary for AM-induced GUS activity. 35S minimal promoter fusions revealed that either of the two regions is sufficient for AM responsiveness when tested in tandem repeat arrangement. Sequence-related regions were found in the promoters of AM-induced subtilase genes in Medicago truncatula and rice, consistent with an ancient origin of these elements predating the divergence of the angiosperms.
Loss of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A Affects Multiple Traits Important for Root Pathogenesis by Fusarium oxysporum
Authors: Kim Hye-Seon , Park Sook-Young , Lee Sangwoo , Adams Elizabeth L. , Czymmek Kirk , Kang Seogchan
Published: January 2011

The soilborne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum causes vascular wilt and root rot diseases in many plant species. We investigated the role of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A of F. oxysporum (FoCPKA) in growth, morphology, and root attachment, penetration, and pathogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Affinity of spore attachment to root surfaces of A. thaliana, observed microscopically and measured by atomic force microscopy, was reduced by a loss-of-function mutation in the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of FoCPKA. The resulting mutants also failed to penetrate into the vascular system of A. thaliana roots and lost virulence. Even when the mutants managed to enter the vascular system via physically wounded roots, the degree of vascular colonization was significantly lower than that of the corresponding wild-type strain O-685 and no noticeable disease symptoms were observed. The mutants also had reduced vegetative growth and spore production, and their hyphal growth patterns were distinct from those of O-685. Coinoculation of O-685 with an focpkA mutant or a strain nonpathogenic to A. thaliana significantly reduced disease severity and the degree of root colonization by O-685. Several experimental tools useful for studying mechanisms of fungal root pathogenesis are also introduced.
Characterizing Resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi in Soybean
Authors: Miles M. R. , Bonde M. R. , Nester S. E. , Berner D. K. , Frederick R. D. , Hartman G. L.
Published: January 2011

Resistance in soybean to Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the cause of soybean rust, is characterized by either reddish-brown (RB) lesions or an immune response. The RB type of resistance can be incomplete, as evidenced by the presence of sporulating uredinia within lesions. Susceptibility, on the other hand, is exemplified by tan-colored (TAN) lesions, and can be expressed in gradations of susceptibility or partial resistance that are less well defined. This study evaluated traits associated with incomplete or partial resistance to P. pachyrhizi in soybean by comparing 34 soybean accessions inoculated with four P. pachyrhizi isolates. Six accessions produced RB lesions to all four isolates, while 19 accessions produced TAN lesions, including plant introduction (PI) 200492 (Rpp1) and the susceptible check ‘Williams’. Williams had among the largest area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values and area under the sporulating uredinia progress curve (AUSUPC) values, while eight accessions had lower AUSUPC values. Of the known sources of single-gene resistance, only PI 230970 (Rpp2), PI 459025B (Rpp4), and PI 594538A (Rpp1b) had lower AUDPC and AUSUPC values than Williams. PI 594538A and PI 561356 had RB lesions and had the lowest AUDPC and AUSUPC values. Of the known sources of single-gene resistance, only PI 230970 (Rpp2) and PI 594538A (Rpp1b) produced fewer and smaller-diameter uredinia than Williams. This study characterized reactions to P. pachyrhizi in 34 accessions based on lesion type and sporulation, and defined incomplete resistance and partial resistance in the soybean–P. pachyrhizi interaction.
Cultivar Effects on the Expression of Induced Resistance in Spring Barley
Authors: Walters Dale R. , Havis Neil D. , Paterson Linda , Taylor Jeanette , Walsh David J.
Published: January 2011

The influence of host genotype on the expression of induced resistance was examined in several cultivars of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare). Induced resistance was activated using a combination of elicitors (acibenzolar- S-methyl, β-aminobutyric acid, and cis-jasmone) shown in previous work to induce resistance effectively in barley. The barley cultivars examined were Cellar, Chalice, Decanter, Oxbridge, Tipple, Troon, and Westminster, which differed in their genetic resistance to two major pathogens of barley, Rhynchosporium secalis and Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Controlled-environment studies showed that, although the elicitor combination reduced levels of R. secalis in all but one cultivar, the magnitude of the reduction differed among cultivars. Similar results were obtained in field experiments in 2007, 2008, and 2009, although there was inconsistency in cultivar effects between years, with the elicitor providing disease control in some cultivars in some years and not others. Use of the elicitor combination produced no significant effect on grain yield compared with untreated plants in most cases, although significant increases in grain yield were obtained with the elicitor treatment in two cultivars in 2007 and one cultivar in 2009. Analysis of the defense-related enzyme cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase in leaf samples from the field experiment in 2007 showed that activity of the enzyme was already high prior to elicitor application, although activity was increased further in one cultivar following elicitor treatment. It is possible, therefore, that these plants were already induced. Further work is required to confirm this and to determine whether prior induction has any bearing on the variable disease control obtained from elicitors in spring barley.
First Report of Target Spot of Tobacco Caused by Rhizoctonia solani (AG-3) in Massachusetts
Authors: LaMondia J. A. , Vossbrinck C. R.
Published: January 2011

In June 2010, shade-grown cigar wrapper tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants in Hampshire County, Massachusetts were observed with leaf lesion symptoms that ranged from small (2 to 3 mm) water-soaked spots to larger (2 to 3 cm) lesions. Lesions had a pattern of concentric rings, necrotic centers and tears in the centers, and margins that often resulted in a shot-hole appearance. Some lesions had chlorotic halos. Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (Thanatephorus cucumeris A.B. Frank) was isolated from lesions and identified on the basis of mycelial characteristics including multinucleate cells, septate hyphae wider than 7 μm and hyphal branches occurring at approximately right angles, and constricted at the base (3). Eight-week-old, potted tobacco plants were each inoculated either by spraying with a mycelial suspension (1 × 105 CFU) (five plants) or by placing colonized half-strength potato dextrose agar (PDA) plugs (0.2 cm) of an isolate of R. solani recovered from tobacco onto leaves (five plants) or with water or half-strength PDA plugs alone (five plants each). The plants were placed in plastic bags in a 24°C growth chamber and misted. After 2 days, the bags were removed and the potted plants were placed in trays filled with water to a depth of 1 cm in the growth chamber. After 8 days, the pathogen was reisolated from inoculated plants exhibiting water-soaked spots as disease symptoms. Leaves inoculated with water or half-strength PDA plugs alone were not diseased. DNA was extracted from the R. solani isolate and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. HQ241274). The ITS sequence confirmed our identification of this new isolate as R. solani anastomosis group (AG) 3. This disease had been previously reported on tobacco from South America, South Africa, the southern United States (1), and Canada (2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of this disease in cigar wrapper tobacco in New England. The humid environmental conditions under which shade tobacco is grown make this new disease a significant threat for the Massachusetts and Connecticut growing area.

References: (1) J. S. Johnk et al. Phytopathology 83:854, 1993 (2) R. D. Reeleder et al. Plant Dis. 80:712, 1996. (3) B. Sneh et al. Identification of Rhizoctonia species. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1991.
Effects of Virus Infection on Susceptibility of Soybean Plants to Phomopsis longicolla
Authors: Soto-Arias J. P. , Munkvold G. P.
Published: January 2011

Infection of soybean by Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) or Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) has been reported to increase susceptibility to seed infection by Phomopsis spp., but the mechanism is unclear. Effects of virus infection on susceptibility to Phomopsis longicolla were studied in greenhouse experiments. Three soybean cultivars were inoculated with BPMV at growth stage V2 to V3, and with P. longicolla at R3, R5, or R7. Inoculation with BPMV did not increase the incidence of stem infection by P. longicolla, but it increased susceptibility to seed infection of cultivars Spansoy 201 at R5, and Pioneer brand 92M02 at R3, R5, and R7. A delay in maturity was observed only in 92M02. Thus, BPMV predisposed soybean plants to seed infection by P. longicolla, but this predisposition was not due solely to prolonging maturation. In separate experiments, two soybean cultivars were inoculated with SMV (V2 to V3) and P. longicolla (R3 and R5). Inoculation with SMV did not increase the incidence of stem or seed infection by P. longicolla. The SMV–Phomopsis spp. relationship may be cultivar and strain dependent. Results suggest that the risk of soybean seed infection by P. longicolla may be higher when BPMV vector populations are high and BPMV infection is widespread.
First Report of Cane Blight on Blackberry Caused by Diaporthe eres in Croatia
Authors: Vrandecic K. , Jurkovic D. , Cosic J. , Postic J. , Riccioni L.
Published: January 2011

A cane disease of blackberry (Rubus sp.) cv. Thornfree was observed in May and June 2010 in two growing regions in the eastern part of Slavonia in Croatia. Symptoms consisted of bleached areas between and around cane nodes with some canes showing wilt symptoms. Infected areas were covered with numerous, black pycnidia immersed in the epidermal tissue. Disease occurrence in orchards growing cv. Thornfree ranged between 1 and 15%. Thirty disease samples were collected, disinfected (1 min in 70% ethanol and 2 min in 1% NaOCl), and placed in a moist chamber for 4 days. Fungal sporulating structures were then picked off and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fungal isolates obtained were identified as a Phomopsis sp., the conidial state of Diaporthe (3), on the basis of cultural and morphological characteristics. Alpha conidia were unicellular, hyaline, fusiform, sometimes tapering toward one or both ends, biguttulate (sometimes with several guttules), and 5.2 to 9.7 × 1.4 to 2.7 μm (average 6.5 × 2.1 μm). Beta conidia were hyaline, aseptate, filiform, hamate, and 16.6 to 28.2 × 0.5 to 1.5 μm (average 24.0 × 1.1 μm). The teleomorph was not observed. Biomolecular analysis was performed to identify the fungal species by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region spanning ITS 1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS 2 of two isolates (Phk1 and Phk2). The amplified product was sequenced (GenLab-Enea, Rome, Italy) and a BLAST search of the NCBI nucleotide database was performed. Sequences from Phk1 and Phk2 (GenBank Accession Nos. HQ533144 and HQ533143, respectively) were identical to authentic and vouchered Diaporthe eres Nitschke (GenBank DQ491514, BPI 748435, and CBS 109767) ITS sequences in GenBank. Fungal isolates for pathogenicity tests were grown on PDA at 25°C for 7 days (12 h light/dark regimen). Inoculations were made on 30 to 40 cm long green shoots of potted plants of the blackberry cv. Thornfree. One-centimeter long wounds were made with a sterile scalpel and mycelia of D. eres were placed in the wounds. Inoculation sites were covered with a piece of wet cotton wool and aluminum foil to retain moisture. Three replications of 10 plants each were inoculated and these plus 10 control plants (inoculated with plugs of PDA only) were maintained in a growth chamber at 25°C. After 25 days, lesions developed on all 30 inoculated plants that averaged 15 mm long and control plants remained symptomless. D. eres was reisolated from inoculated plants, thus completing Koch's postulates. Phomopsis spp. have previously been reported on blackberry canes in Serbia (1) and Yugoslavia (2,4), however, to our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of D. eres (anamorph P. oblonga) on blackberry in Croatia.

References: (1) M. Arsenijevic. Biljni Lekar 34:117, 2006. (2) M. Muntanola-Cvetkovic et al. Zast. Bilja 36:325, 1985. (3) B. C. Sutton. Page 569 in: The Coelomycetes. CMI, Kew, Surrey, UK, 1980. (4) M. Veselic et al. Zast. Bilja 49:76, 1998.
Morphological and Molecular Analysis of Fusarium lateritium, the Cause of Gray Necrosis of Hazelnut Fruit in Italy
Authors: Vitale S. , Santori A. , Wajnberg E. , Castagnone-Sereno P. , Luongo L. , Belisario A.
Published: January 2011

Fusarium lateritium is a globally distributed plant pathogen. It was recently reported as the causal agent of nut gray necrosis (NGN) on hazelnut. Isolate characterization within F. lateritium was undertaken to investigate how morphological and molecular diversity was associated with host and geographic origin. Morphological studies combined with inter-simple-sequence repeat (ISSR) analysis, and phylogenetic analyses using translation elongation factor 1α (TEF-1α), β-tubulin genes, and nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were conducted to resolve relationships among 32 F. lateritium isolates from NGN-affected hazelnut fruit, and 14 from other substrates or 8 from other hosts than hazelnut. Colonies of F. lateritium from hazelnut showed dark grayish-olive differing from the orange-yellow color of all other isolates from other hosts. Generally, isolates from NGN-affected fruit failed to produce sporodochia on carnation leaf agar. The influence of host and substrate on the genetic structure of F. lateritium was supported by ISSR and analyzed with principal coordinates analysis. A relationship between hazelnut and genetic variation was inferred. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS provided limited resolution while TEF-1α and β-tubulin analyses allowed a clear separation between the European and non-European F. lateritium isolates retrieved from GenBank, regardless of host. Though morphological traits of F. lateritium isolates from hazelnut were generally uniform in defining a typical morphogroup, they were not yet phylogenetically defined. In contrast, the typology related to slimy deep orange cultures, due to spore mass, grouped clearly separated from the other F. lateritium isolates and revealed a congruence between morphology and phylogeny.
Sphaerisporangium krabiense sp. nov., isolated from soil
Authors: Suriyachadkun Chanwit , Chunhametha Suwanee , Ngaemthao Wipaporn , Tamura Tomohiko , Kirtikara Kanyawim , Sanglier Jean-Jacques , Kitpreechavanich Vichien
Published: January 2011

A Gram-staining-positive, filamentous bacterial strain, designated A-T 0308T, was isolated from soil of a tropical mangrove forest in Thailand. Strain A-T 0308Tdeveloped spherical sporangia containing non-motile spores on aerial mycelium. The novel strain containedmeso-diaminopimelic acid,N-acetyl-type peptidoglycan and madurose, mannose, ribose, galactose and glucose as whole-cell sugars. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6); a small amount of MK-9(H2) and MK-9 was also detected. Mycolic acids were not detected. The diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and phosphoglycolipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0and 10-methylated C17 : 0. The G+C content of the DNA was 72 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses showed that the novel isolate had characteristics typical of members of the genusSphaerisporangium. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis also indicated that the strain belongs to the genusSphaerisporangiumand that it represents a clade distinct from other members of the genus with sequence similarities ranging from 96.3 to 97.8 % between the novel strain and its closest relatives. Based on the results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic studies, strain A-T 0308T( = BCC 21702T = NBRC 107571T) represents a novel species of the genusSphaerisporangium, for which the nameSphaerisporangium krabiensesp. nov. is proposed.
β-adrenergic receptor activation rescues theta frequency stimulation-induced LTP deficits in mice expressing C-terminally truncated NMDA receptor GluN2A subunits
Authors: Moody Teena D. , Watabe Ayako M. , Indersmitten Tim , Komiyama Noboru H. , Grant Seth G.N. , O'Dell Thomas J.
Published: January 2011

Through protein interactions mediated by their cytoplasmic C termini the GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) have a key role in the formation of NMDAR signaling complexes at excitatory synapses. Although these signaling complexes are thought to have a crucial role in NMDAR-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity such as long-term potentiation (LTP), the role of the C terminus of GluN2A in coupling NMDARs to LTP enhancing and/or suppressing signaling pathways is unclear. To address this issue we examined the induction of LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region in mice lacking the C terminus of endogenous GluN2A subunits (GluN2AΔC/ΔC). Our results show that truncation of GluN2A subunits produces robust, but highly frequency-dependent, deficits in LTP and a reduction in basal levels of extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) activation and phosphorylation of AMPA receptor GluA1 subunits at a protein kinase A site (serine 845). Consistent with the notion that these signaling deficits contribute to the deficits in LTP in GluN2AΔC/ΔCmice, activating ERK2 and increasing GluA1 S845 phosphorylation through activation of β-adrenergic receptors rescued the induction of LTP in these mutants. Together, our results indicate that the capacity of excitatory synapses to undergo plasticity in response to different patterns of activity is dependent on the coupling of specific signaling pathways to the intracellular domains of the NMDARs and that abnormal plasticity resulting from mutations in NMDARs can be reduced by activation of key neuromodulatory transmitter receptors that engage converging signaling pathways.
Interest rate sensitivity of US property/liability insurer stock returns
Authors: Park Jin , Paul Choi B.
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate interest rate sensitivity of the US property/liability (P/L) insurers stock returns using various return generating process models incorporating different interest rate changes such as actual interest rate changes, unexpected interest rate changes and orthogonalized market returns.

Design/methodology/approach

The study follows the 1974 two‐index model by Stone. In the two‐index model, three different interest rate indices are tested one at a time to examine if interest rate sensitivity of the insurers stock returns, if any, is vulnerable to an interest rate index used.

Findings

It is found that the US P/L insurers' stock returns are sensitivity to interest rate changes. The impact of actual interest rate changes on the stock returns is little different from that of unexpected interest rate changes, which is consistent with findings in the banking literature. When orthogonalized market returns are used in the models in lieu of actual market returns, the statistical significance on the estimated interest rate sensitivity of the returns improves. Consistent with extant studies of financial institution's interest rate sensitivity, the paper also reports that the interest rate sensitivity of insurer stock returns is time varying.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the data availability, the period studied is between 1992 and 2001. However, the sample period does not weaken the findings of the study. In addition, future research could incorporate the insurers' balance sheet items to investigate which balance sheet items (i.e. investment in bonds, stocks and other items on asset side and reserves and other items on liability side) explain most interest rate sensitivity.

Practical implications

Investors can adopt the findings of this study in creating or adjusting their portfolio with the US P/L insurers in it. The insurers stock returns are more sensitive to changes in long‐term interest rate when the underwriting profit increases and the stock returns are more sensitive to changes in short‐term interest rate when the underwriting profit decreases.

Social implications

Although generalization is difficult and the conclusion is not as convincing as it could be because only one underwriting cycle is sampled, it is still noteworthy to recognize that the insurers' interest rate sensitivity is closely related to the insurance industry's underwriting cycle or performance.

Originality/value

This is the first study reporting the association between the interest rate sensitivity of the US stock returns and the underwriting performance.
How much trust should risk managers place on “Brownian motions” of financial markets?
Authors: Borna Shaheen , Sharma Dheeraj
Published: January 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the recent global economic downturn. Particularly, the study explores the utilization of the concept of Brownian motion in financial risk management in organizations in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

The three assumptions, namely, independence, stationarity, and normal distribution that underlie the concept of Brownian motion are examined.

Findings

It is concluded that the widely used risk management strategies predicated on Brownian motion fail to provide a rational understanding of financial turmoil. Consequently, prescriptive insights are offered to aid the industry in developing an apposite mechanism for risk management.

Research limitations/implications

This paper offers new and improved risk management strategies that need to be undertaken to augment our understanding and prediction of financial scenarios.

Practical implications

The paper is useful for managers in all financial organizations, which employ computer models using Brownian motions. Specifically, this study contends that static models are unsuitable and dynamic models are more useful for risk assessment.

Originality/value

The paper reveals the weaknesses of the key assumptions of the risk management models used in financial organizations, namely, normal distribution of stock market price fluctuations, statistical stationarity, and efficient market assumption. Valuable guidelines are provided for financial managers who either do not have the inclination or time to sift through the voluminous literature related to the risk management models and computer software designed on these models.
A qualitative study of the relationship of personality type with career management and career choice preference in a group of bioscience postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers
Authors: Blackford Sarah
Published: January 2011

This study reports on the career management and career choice preferences of a sample of bioscience postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers according to their personality type as determined using the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Correlations can be found but other decision‐making processes come into play and are more influential regarding career choices. The aim of this study was to investigate whether personality (measured here as Psychological Type) has an influence on career management style and career preference. The study was conducted on a group of bioscience postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers who had previously attended a one‐day career development workshop. The qualitative survey analysis aimed to determine whether there is a relationship between a person’s preference for particular aspects of their career management such as skills development and everyday tasks (e.g.devising experiments, attending conferences, writing papers, analysing data) and their career preferences (e.g. on their preference for particular types of work).
How much difference can policy make to professional contract researchers?
Authors: Dear Denise V.
Published: January 2011

This article explores the role of the professional contract researcher in higher education. The factors which have led to the need for directed policy growth, the perceived consequences of these policies and the shortfalls of policy in practice. It begins by exploring the questions who are researchers, where do they work and what are their problems? It will then go on to describe the current policies targeting this cohort and highlight areas of policy which are expected to address some of the issues of concern and identifies areas where policy may continue to fall short in practice.
Near‐patient platelet function testing in patients undergoing coronary artery surgery: a pilot study*
Authors: Reece M. J. , Klein A. A. , Salviz E. A. , Hastings A. , Ashworth A. , Freeman C. , Luddington R. J. , Nair S. , Besser M. W.
Published: January 2011

Platelet dysfunction after cardiopulmonary bypass contributes to microvascular bleeding and is associated with blood transfusion and resternotomy. Platelet count can be readily performed, but currently there are no standardised, reproducible, rapidly available platelet function tests. We studied platelet function as measured by multiple electrode platelet aggregometery (multiplate) and light transmission aggregometry in 44 patients undergoing routine coronary artery surgery. Platelet aggregation as measured by multiplate was reduced during and after cardiopulmonary bypass compared with baseline with evidence of partial recovery by the time of transfer to ITU. In patients transfused blood, platelet aggregation measured by multiplate was reduced during chest closure with adenosine diphosphate (18 U vs 29 U, p = 0.01) and thrombin receptor agonist peptide‐6 agonist (65 U vs 88 U, p = 0.01) compared with patients not transfused. This suggests that multiplate, a new point of care analyser, can detect platelet dysfunction in this setting.
South‐east Asian ovalocytosis and the cryohydrocytosis form of hereditary stomatocytosis show virtually indistinguishable cation permeability defects
Authors: Guizouarn Hélène , Borgese Franck , Gabillat Nicole , Harrison Penny , Goede Jeroen S. , McMahon Corrina , Stewart Gordon W. , Bruce Lesley J.
Published: January 2011

The hereditary stomatocytoses are a group of dominantly inherited conditions in which the osmotic stability of the red cell is compromised by abnormally high cation permeability. This report demonstrates the very marked similarities between the cryohydrocytosis form of hereditary stomatocytosis and the common tropical condition south‐east Asian ovalocytosis (SAO). We report two patients, one showing a novel cryohydrocytosis variant (Ser762Arg in SLC4A1) and a case of SAO. Both cases showed a mild haemolytic state with some stomatocytes on the blood film, abnormal intracellular sodium and potassium levels which were made markedly abnormal by storage of blood at 0°C, increased cation ‘leak’ fluxes at 37°C and increased Na+K+ pump activity. In both cases, the anion exchange function of the mutant band 3 was destroyed. Extensive electrophysiological studies comparing the cation leak and conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the two mutant genes showed identical patterns of abnormality. These data are consistent with the cryohydrocytosis form of hereditary stomatocytosis and we conclude that the cation leak in SAO is indistinguishable from that in cryohydrocytosis, and that SAO should be considered to be an example of hereditary stomatocytosis.
Association between short sleep duration and the risk of sensitization to food and aero allergens in rural Chinese adolescents
Authors: Zhang S. , Liu X. , Kim J. S. , Ouyang F. , Wang B. , Li Z. , Tang G. , Liu X. , Xu X. , Pongracic J. A. , Wang X.
Published: January 2011

Cite this as: S. Zhang, X. Liu, J. S. Kim, F. Ouyang, B. Wang, Z. Li, G. Tang, X. Liu, X. Xu, J. A. Pongracic and X. Wang, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 547–555.

Background
Both long and short sleep duration have been associated with obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, there have been no previous studies investigating the potential relationship between altered sleep duration and allergen sensitization.

Objective
To explore the association between sleep duration and sensitization to food and aeroallergens.

Methods
This study includes 1534 rural Chinese adolescent twins aged 12–21 years who completed standard sleep questionnaires and skin prick tests (SPTs) to nine food and five aeroallergens. Total sleep time was defined as the interval from bedtime to wake‐up time minus sleep latency. Sensitization was defined as having at least one positive SPT.

Results
Compared with individuals with the highest (third) tertile of sleep duration, those who slept less were more likely to be sensitized to any food allergen with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.9 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–2.7] and 1.4 (95% CI: 1.0–1.9) for the first and second tertiles (trend test Ptrend=3 × 10−4), respectively. The corresponding ORs for sensitization to any aeroallergen were 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1–2.0) and 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0–1.7) (Ptrend=8 × 10−3). These associations were independent of percent body fat. In addition, we observed a significant dose–response association between the number of positive SPTs and percentage of shortest sleep duration (first tertile) (Ptrend=1 × 10−3).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
In this sample of relatively lean rural Chinese adolescents, we found that short sleep duration was associated with increasing risk of sensitization to food and aeroallergens, independent of percent body fat. Longitudinal studies are needed to further determine the temporal and causal relationships. If short sleep duration indeed is one of the risk factors for allergic sensitization, the global burden of allergic diseases could be dramatically reduced by providing appropriate guidance on sleep duration for youth.
The CC16 A38G polymorphism is associated with the development of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis
Authors: Ku M.‐S. , Sun H.‐L. , Lu K.‐H. , Sheu J.‐N. , Lee H.‐S. , Yang S.‐F. , Lue K.‐H.
Published: January 2011

Cite this as: M.‐S. Ku, H.‐L. Sun, K.‐H. Lu, J.‐N. Sheu, H.‐S. Lee, S.‐F. Yang and K.‐H. Lue, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 794–800.

Background
Although asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are considered to be one syndrome, many questions remain unanswered. Why do some AR patients develop asthma but others do not, and which factors play a role in the development of asthma that have so far not been clearly elucidated.

Objective
We hypothesize that children with AR who have the Clara cell secretory protein (CC16, secretoglobin 1A1) 38A/38A genotype (rs3741240) have an increased likelihood of developing asthma.

Methods
The study sample included 117 children, with AR, but no asthma diagnosed within the following 5 years, as the control group. Cases group (n=202) included age‐ and gender‐matched children with AR first, and asthma developed 3–5 years later, as the study group. The CC16 genotype was determined by PCR and Sau96I restriction digestion of PCR products. The serum CC16 levels were measured by ELISA. Total serum IgE, allergen specific IgE, eosinophil count and pulmonary function were also measured.

Results
In children with rhinitis who develop asthma, the frequencies of the AA genotype were significantly higher than those who did not develop asthma [odds ratio (OR)=2.527; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.571–4.065; P<0.01]. Serum CC16 levels in the children with rhinitis who develop asthma and carry the AA genotype were significantly lower than those who carry the non‐AA genotype and those who did not develop asthma.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
Results of this study suggest that CC16 38A/38A genotype plays a role in the development of early asthma in children with AR. Early identification of rhinitis children at risk may assist in designing preventative approach to asthma development.
Specific immunotherapy in asthma: efficacy and safety
Authors: Passalacqua G. , Canonica G. W.
Published: January 2011

The use of specific immunotherapy (SIT) to treat asthma has been, and still is, a matter of debate, and there are no clear or unequivocal indications in the official documents. This is partly due to the fact that there are few studies specifically designed to assess asthma, that none of such studies had a formal sample size calculation, and that objective parameters of pulmonary function have been assessed only sporadically. Nonetheless, there are good quality studies for both subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) where asthma symptoms were evaluated, and showing positive results. Moreover, several favourable meta‐analyses are available, although their validity is limited by the great heterogeneity of the trials included. The disease modifying effect of SIT, that is the capacity of preventing asthma onset should be also taken into account. Concerning the safety, fatalities seem to be an exceptional event and in Europe no fatality has been reported over the last two decades. Uncontrolled asthma is universally recognized as the most important risk factor for severe adverse events. In conclusion both SLIT and SCIT can be used in asthma associated with rhinitis (which is the most common condition), provided that asthma is adequately controlled by pharmacotherapy. In such case, a measurable clinical benefit on asthma symptoms can be expected. On the other hand, SIT cannot be presently recommended as single therapy when asthma is the unique manifestation of respiratory allergy.

Cite this as: G. Passalacqua and G. W. Canonica, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2011 (41) 1247–1255.
Glutathione S‐transferases as molecular markers of tumour progression and prognosis in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Searchfield Lydia , Price Sally A , Betton Graham , Jasani Bharat , Riccardi Daniela , Griffiths David F R
Published: January 2011

Searchfield L, Price S A, Betton G, Jasani B, Riccardi D & Griffiths D F R (2011) Histopathology58, 180–190 Glutathione S‐transferases as molecular markers of tumour progression and prognosis in renal cell carcinoma

Aims:  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) often recurs as distant metastasis; there is thus a need for new indicators to identify high‐risk patients. Glutathione S‐transferases (GST)‐α and ‐π are involved in the renal bioactivation of toxic metabolites. The aim was to investigate whether their expression is of diagnostic and prognostic value.

Methods and results:  Western blotting of microdissected normal kidney and immunostaining of histological RCC microarrays shows expression of GST‐α in proximal tubular cells, while GST‐π was found in the distal nephron. Of the primary 174 RCC cases examined, GST‐α immunoreactivity was restricted to conventional RCC (n = 76, 68% positive) and was not seen in any other RCC subtypes. The cross‐tabulation of the GST‐α scores with other prognostic indices demonstrated that GST‐α immunostaining was significantly more frequent in low‐grade tumours (χ2: P < 0.004), and that conventional GST‐α‐positive RCC patients had a mean disease‐free survival of 6.0 years (95% confidence interval 5.33–6.63), compared with 4.7 years (3.54–5.90) in GST‐α‐negative tumours (Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, P = 0.011, log‐rank test).

Conclusions:  GST‐α is a highly specific diagnostic marker for primary conventional RCC, where it is a prognostic marker if grade is omitted from the multivariate analysis.
An in vitro evaluation of two resin‐based sealers on proliferation and differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Maeda H. , Tomokiyo A. , Koori K. , Monnouchi S. , Fujii S. , Wada N. , Kono K. , Yamamoto N. , Saito T. , Akamine A.
Published: January 2011

Maeda H, Tomokiyo A, Koori K, Monnouchi S, Fujii S, Wada N, Kono K, Yamamoto N, Saito T, Akamine A. An in vitro evaluation of two resin‐based sealers on proliferation and differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells. International Endodontic Journal, 44, 425–431, 2011.

Aim  To evaluate the effects of a polymethyl methacrylate resin–based sealer [Superbond sealer (SB)] on the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs) in vitro, compared with a methacrylate resin–based sealer [Epiphany SE sealer (EP)].

Methodology  Human periodontal ligament cells were obtained from of healthy third molar teeth of two participants with informed consent. To determine the effects of the eluent from set resin sealers on HPDLCs, the 7‐day‐washed (washed) or non‐washed freshly prepared (fresh) set SB or EP discs were prepared. Cells cultured on these discs were evaluated by the WST‐1 proliferation assay and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The osteogenic differentiation of HPDLCs on washed SB discs was then evaluated by gene expression analysis of osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) by using quantitative RT‐PCR.

Results  Human periodontal ligament cells exhibited growth on washed SB discs, whereas fresh SB and EP discs and washed EP discs inhibited proliferation of HPDLCs. SEM observation revealed that HPDLCs tightly attached and spread on the surface of washed SB discs, whilst no HPDLCs were observed on the surface of fresh and washed EP discs. Furthermore, HPDLCs significantly upregulated gene expressions of OPN and OCN when cultured on washed SB discs in osteogenic differentiation medium for 2 weeks.

Conclusions  Although Superbond sealer initially exerted cytotoxic effects on HPDLCs, these effects were reduced during washing for 7 days compared to EP, which continued to be cytotoxic even though the specimens were washed for the same period of time. Washed Superbond allowed HPDLCs to differentiate into osteogenic cells.
Let your intuition be your guide? Individual differences in the evidence‐based practice attitudes of psychotherapists
Authors: Gaudiano Brandon A. , Brown Lily A. , Miller Ivan W.
Published: January 2011

Rationale, aims and objectives  Despite increasing dissemination efforts, many psychotherapists still do not use treatments that are supported by research. Some have claimed that psychotherapists rely more on their clinical intuition than scientific evidence when making treatment decisions, but there is a paucity of research on this topic. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between intuition and therapists' attitudes towards evidence‐based practices (EBPs).

Methods  Psychotherapists from diverse professional backgrounds completed an Internet‐based survey that assessed EBP attitudes, reliance on an intuitive thinking style, attitudes about alternative therapies and endorsement of erroneous health beliefs that are not supported by scientific evidence.

Results  Regression analyses showed that an intuitive thinking style was associated with several dimensions of EBP attitudes, including more negative attitudes towards research, less openness to research‐based treatments, and less willingness to use evidence‐based treatments if required to do so, even after controlling for background factors such as education level. Furthermore, a tendency to rely on intuition was associated with more positive attitudes towards alternative therapies and the endorsement of erroneous health beliefs.

Conclusions  Most dissemination efforts targeted at psychotherapists focus only on education about EBPs. However, results of this study suggest that dissemination efforts may need to more directly address the potential barriers to using EBPs (i.e. reliance on intuition) to be optimally effective in changing therapists' attitudes and behaviours.
Validation of a new outcome measure for orthopaedic trauma inpatients
Authors: Moghazy Ezzat , Louw Quinette
Published: January 2011

Background  Functional performance is the most relevant outcome for trauma patients. Currently, no functional outcome measure for trauma inpatients exists.

Objective  To report on reliability and validity testing of a new functional outcome measure for orthopaedic trauma inpatients.

Methodology  Descriptive study conducted to test selected psychometric properties of the new Functional Scale for Trauma Inpatients at Rashid Hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A total of 100 eligible male and female orthopaedic trauma inpatients aged 17 years and older were consecutively sampled. Physiotherapists administered the new scale to eligible patients. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Internal consistency was assessed by calculating Cronbach's α statistics. Sensitivity to change was assessed using one‐way analysis of variance.

Results  Eighty‐eight per cent of the 100 eligible subjects were male (mean age 34.75 ± 14.46 years). Sixty‐three per cent of the patients had trauma to the lower extremity. The Cronbach's α‐values were good (range 0.76–0.97). There was a significant difference in the mean scores over three administrations of ‘bed’, ‘out of bed’ and ‘activities of daily living (ADL)’ activity items of Functional Scale for Trauma Inpatients (P = 0.0000). Floor effects were noted at discharge for ‘bed activities’ and at discharge for ‘ADL activities’. The only ceiling effect was noted at admission for ‘out of bed activities’.

Conclusion  The psychometric tests indicated that the tool is reliable, has sound internal consistency and has the ability to detect changes in functional performance of trauma inpatients. The scale fills an important need for physiotherapists working in trauma inpatient wards. Psychometric properties of the new scale should be tested in other countries.
Identification of a biosynthesis gene cluster for flocculosin a cellobiose lipid produced by the biocontrol agent Pseudozyma flocculosa
Authors: Teichmann Beate , Labbé Caroline , Lefebvre François , Bölker Michael , Linne Uwe , Bélanger Richard R.
Published: January 2011

Flocculosin is an antifungal glycolipid produced by the biocontrol fungus Pseudozyma flocculosa. It consists of cellobiose, O‐glycosidically linked to 3,15,16‐trihydroxypalmitic acid. The sugar moiety is acylated with 2‐hydroxy‐octanoic acid and acetylated at two positions. Here we describe a gene cluster comprising 11 genes that are necessary for the biosynthesis of flocculosin. We compared the cluster with the biosynthesis gene cluster for the highly similar glycolipid ustilagic acid (UA) produced by the phytopathogenic fungus Ustilago maydis. In contrast to the cluster of U. maydis, the flocculosin biosynthesis cluster contains an additional gene encoding an acetyl‐transferase and is lacking a gene homologous to the α‐hydroxylase Ahd1 necessary for UA hydroxylation. The functions of three acyl/acetyl‐transferase genes (Fat1, Fat2 and Fat3) including the additional acetyl‐transferase were studied by complementing the corresponding U. maydis mutants. While P. flocculosa Fat1 and Fat3 are homologous to Uat1 in U. maydis, Fat2 shares 64% identity to Uat2, a protein involved in UA biosynthesis but with so far unknown function. By genetic and mass spectrometric analysis, we show that Uat2 and Fat2 are necessary for acetylation of the corresponding glycolipid. These results bring unique insights into the biocontrol properties of P. flocculosa and opportunities for enhancing its activity.