bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insect colour preference compared to flower colours in the Australian Alps
Authors: Pickering Catherine Marina , Stock Michelle
Published: March 2008

An apparent predominance of plant taxa with pale flowers in the alpine floras of Australia and New Zealand may be due to the prevalence of insects, such as flies, that prefer pale colours and the absence of other types of potential pollinators that are attracted to bright colours such as social bees and birds. In this study, the diversity of flower colours, and the preference of insects for different colours were examined for the largest contiguous alpine area in Australia, around Mt Kosciuszko. Out of an alpine flora of 204 taxa, 127 species were found to have large showy flowers. The most common flower colour among these taxa was white (53.5%), then yellow (21.3%), followed by pink (6.3%), and cream (6.3%). Only a handful of taxa had red, blue, brown, green, orange or purple flowers. When the colour preference of insects was tested using five different coloured traps (white, yellow, orange, red and purple), the most successful traps were white then yellow, with these two colours accounting for 66% of all individual insects collected. Diptera were the most common insects caught (576 insects greater than 4 mm in length, 31 morphotaxa) showing an apparent preference for white and yellow coloured traps over others. Therefore, the results add some support to the proposition that the ‘white’ flora of the Australian Alps may be associated with the colour preference of flies, which have previously been found to be the most common type of pollinators in the Kosciuszko alpine zone.
Vestigial pit membrane remnants in perforation plates and helical thickenings in vessels of Ericaceae
Authors: Carlquist Sherwin , Schneider Edward L.
Published: March 2008

Perforation plates from 15 species of 10 genera with scalarifom perforation plates, representing three subfamilies of woody Ericaceae (Rhododendroideae, Arbutoideae, Vaccinioideae) were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In most of them, pit membrane remnants were present, but these remnants were less extensive than in the ericalean families Clethraceae, Cyrillaceae, and Sarraceniaceae. Pit membrane remnants in perforations of vessels of Ericaceae are characteristically found at lateral ends of the perforations and in perforations (which may alternatively be called pits) transitional to lateral wall pitting. Pit membrane remnants were most extensive in Enkianthus. Phylogenetic and physiological factors for vestigial membrane presence in the perforations are discussed. Helical thickenings on vessel walls as seen with SEM are figured and described for Leucothoe and Pieris, and their significance is assessed.
The pollination ecology of Gentiana cruciata (Gentianaceae) ‐specifics of a Bulgarian population in comparison to Dutch populations
Authors: Kozuharova Ekaterina K. , Anchev Mincho E. , Popov Petar
Published: March 2008

This study deals with the pollination ecology of a population Gentiana cruciata in the Vitosha Mts., SW Bulgaria. Fortyeigth % of flowers bagged at bud stage developed into fruits. Flowers in the investigated population was visited actively by insects. Halictus bees constituted 34.5% of all insect visits. Visits by bumblebees (mainly Bombus hortorum) constituted 18.9% of all insect visits. All open‐pollinated flowers set fruit capsules and their seed set was high. The pollination biology of this population (at the south‐westem part of the distributional range of the species) is compared to that of populations in The Netherlands (at the north‐western margin of the distribution range of the species).
The first record of Astragalus sect. Aegacantha (Fabaceae) in Iran
Authors: Karamian R. , Ranjbar M.
Published: March 2008

A new distinct population of Astragalus leiosemius. hitherto unknown to science, is reported for the first time from the eastern Alborz mountains in the Irano‐Turanian part of Iran, at an altitude of 2400 m, far disjunct (ca. 800 km) from the populations at the Asia media and Afghanistan. The new taxon is described and illustrated as Astragalus leiosemius subsp. sabzevarensis. This orophilous and tragachantic plant belongs to A. sect. Aegacantha. On the basis of some important data on morphology, ecology and chorology, the new taxon is reported and its affinities and differences with regard to close taxa are presented. A. sect Aegacantha is recorded for the first time from the eastern part Iran.
Floral vasculature in Alpinia hainanensis in relation to the nature of the labellum in gingers
Authors: Liao Jing‐Ping , Zou Pu , Tang Yuan‐Jiang , Song Juan‐Juan , Xie Zhong‐Yu , Wu Qi‐Gen , Wu Te‐Lin
Published: March 2008

Observations presented here on floral vasculature in Alpinia hainanensis indicate that the labellum incorporates elements of five androecial members rather than two or three, as suggested by previous authors for Zngiberaceae flowers. The pedicel contains an outer ring and a central region of vascular bundles. Three carpellary dorsal bundles (CDs) and three alternatively arranged parietal bundles (PBs) separate from the central region successively. The remaining bundles of the central region run upwards and become the placental bundles to supply ovules. The placental bundles terminate between the top of the locular region and the base of the prolongation. The three PBs divides into about five strands respectively. Of which the outer strand enters into the petal being its midrib and the remaining strands move into the stamen adaxially being the vasculature of the functional stamen and the labellum abaxially being the lateral strands of the labellum. The three CDs divide into about five traces, of which the outer strand becomes the midrib of each sepal and the inner strand runs into the style. The remaining traces re‐unite, re‐divide again in the course up and the two adaxial sets of carpellary dorsals finally enter into the labellum being the marginal traces of it while the abaxial single strand enters into the labellum being its midrib. The two antero‐lateral glands receive small traces without lignified tube elements from the vascular plexus, which fonn in prolongation from both PBs and CDs and a few small strands in the ovary wall. There are no subulate appendages differentiated in the flower of Alpinia hainanensis. Hereby, the median of the sepals, both the marginal portions and the median of labellum, and the style have the same origin in vasculature from the CDs and so do the stamen, the lateral portions of labellum and the median of the petals from PBs. The labellum is supposed to represent three members of the outer androecial whorl by its two marginal portions and the median and two members of the inner whorl by its two lateral parts except the median.
A morphometric study of the geographic variation in Pinus contorta (Pinaceae)
Authors: Christensen Knud Ib
Published: March 2008

This morphometric study of the geographic variation in Pinus contorta is based on 93 provenances cultivated in northern Jutland, Hjardemål Klitplantage, 57'04“08'48‘E (Arboretum trial no. F275). The numerical methods employed were common principal components analysis (CPCA), non‐metric multidimensional scaling (MDSCALE), minimum spanning trees (MST), and the neighbour‐joining method (NJOIN). Although it is not always possible to draw a very clear line between the coastal var. contorta and the inland var. latifolia of P. contorta subsp. contorta, these varieties are distinct in their extreme forms. Critical provenances of both varieties seem to originate from the transition zone between the two taxa. The Californian or Sierra Nevada provenances of f contorta subsp. murrayana are very distinct from the Oregon provenances. Apparently most of the inland Oregon provenances of P. contorta are more or less intermediate between var. latifolia and subsp. murmyana s.str. The NJOIN method of phylogenetic reconstruction supports the division of P. contorta into two major groups or subspecies: 1. subsp. contorta, divided into var. contorta and var. latifolia, and 2. subsp. murrayana.
Comparative leaf anatomical studies of Acinos species (Labiatae) from Wkey
Authors: Kaya Ayla , Koca Fehmýye
Published: March 2008

A comparative study was undertaken on the leaves of six Acinos taxa in order to assess anatomical variations which may be a useful feature to identify each one and to evaluate their significance for the taxonomy of the genus. All species have glandular and non‐glandular trichomes, diacytic stomata, and dorsiventral leaves.

The results of this survey show that trichomes not only are different in cell numbers within the species but also in density. When transverse sections are compared, some differences in their midrib shapes, the protruding midrib, the number of palisade and spongy layers and upper anticlinal epidermal wall may provide interesting starting points for the characterisation of the species.
Two new species of the genus Cousinia (Asteraceae) from Iran
Authors: Attar Farideh , Ghahreman Ahmad
Published: March 2008

Cousinia perspolitanus and C. khansaricus are described and illustrated. They are assigned to section Cynaroideae because of the appendiculate bracts and decurrent leaves. SEM of achene and pollen are presented.
A new species of Litsea (Lauraceae) from India
Authors: Mohanan N. , Kumar E. S. Santhosh
Published: March 2008

Litsea beei, a new species of Lauraceae from India is described and illustrated. The new species is allied to the Burmese‐Malayan species L. myristicaefolia.
Karyology and distribution of Sesleria tenuifolia complex (Poaceae) in the Italian Peninsula
Authors: Pietro Romeo Di , D'Amato Gianni , Trombetta Beniamino
Published: March 2008

Karyological analyses of wild populations of Sesleria tenuifolia complex collected from throughout the Italian peninsula was performed to check the stability of the chromosome number along both geographical and ecological gradients. The chromosome counts showed that the Italian populations of the Sesleria tenuifolia complex consist of octoploid plants (2n=8x=56) and dodecaploid plants (2n=12x=84). The discovery of a dodecaploid chromosome number is the first for the genus Sesleria. The distribution of octoploid and dodecaploid populations follows strictly geographical boundaries and seems to be uninfluenced by synecological or physical factors. No overlapping between octoploid and dodecaploid populations was found; in fact, octoploid populations occupy northern, central and part of Peninsular Italy, whereas dodecaploid ones are restricted to the Pollino massif and the Orsomarso range, which together form the southernmost limit of the distribution area of the Sesleria tenuifolia complex.
A revision of the genus Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) in Africa, excluding Madagascar
Authors: Jannerup Peter L.
Published: March 2008

23 species, one subspecies and three varieties have been described or named for the pan‐tropical genus Lasianthus Jack (Rubiaceae) in continental Africa. In the present revision thirteen species, five subspecies and one variety are recognized; additionally two hybrids are proposed. Of the previously named taxa, the subspecies is raised to species rank whereas two species are degraded to subspecies and variety status, respectively. Five species are synonymised including two varieties, and four are left with uncertain status, including one variety. The distribution of the genus in Africa consists of two distinct elements: one component is found in the Guineo‐Congolian regional centre of endemism and one in the eastern part of Afiomontane Archipelago‐like regional centre of endemism. A centre of species diversity is found in Eastern Arc Mts., where six endemic species occur together with L. laxinervis and the more widespread L. kilimandscharicus. Four of the species are strict endemics of the Uluguru Mts. In addition to the presentation of the new section: Lasianthus Sectio Membranacei, sect. nov., this revision contain two hybrids from Uluguru Mts.: L. macrocalyx × pedunculatus and L. cereifizorus × pedunculatus, and following new taxa and new combinations: L. africanus ssp. biokoensis, subsp. nov.; L. africanus ssp. mayumbensis, comb. et stat. nov.; L. kilimandscharicus ssp. glabrescens, ssp. nov.; L. kilimandscharicus ssp. glabrescens var. xanthospermus, comb. et stat. nov.; L. kilimandscharicus ssp. hirsutus, ssp. nov.; L. laxinervis, stat. nov.; L. pedunculatus ssp. angustisepalus, ssp. nov.
Proposal to transfer Astracantha dolinicola (Fabaceae) to Astragalus
Authors: Ghahremaninejad Farrokh
Published: March 2008

Astracantha dolinicola is transferred to Astragalus dolinicolus.
The Old World species of Pouzolzia (Urticaceae, tribus Boehmerieae). A taxonomic revision
Authors: Wilmot‐Dear C. M. , Friis I.
Published: March 2008

The Old World species of the genusPouzolziahave been revised and 24 species and 13 infraspecific taxa recognised. Worldwide, the genus now totals 36 species and 17 infraspecific taxa.Pouzolziasect.MemorialisBennett & Brown (including the generaGonostegiaTurcz. andHyrtanandraMiq.) is maintained here as a section ofPouzolzia.The characters used to separatePouzolziafromBoehmeriaare found to work worldwide. In the Old World, the genus ranges, west to east, from Senegal to Japan and the Solomon Islands, and, north to south, from China, the Himalayas and Yemen to South Africa, Madagascar, Australia and the Lord Howe, Norfolk and Kermadec Is. Some species are common and occur almost throughout tropical Indomalesia or are widespread in Africa; others are rare and with a narrow range, for example restricted to one or a few oceanic islands. Each of the taxa occurring in the Old World is described and illustrated, habitats and geographical ranges are indicated, conservation status is discussed on the basis of our impression of old and new collecting activity, and distributions are mapped. The following new taxa are described:P. tsaratananensisFriis & Wilmot Dear from Madagascar,P. herpetophytonFriis & Wilmot‐Dear from the Comoro Is., andP. zeylanicasubsp.calcicolaFriis & Wilmot‐Dear andP. thailandicaFriis & Wilmot‐Dear, both from southern Thailand. A new name,P. variifoliaFriis & Wilmot‐Dear, is proposed forP. heterophylla(Blume) Wedd., nom. illeg. The following new combinations are published here:P. australis(Endl.) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear,P. sanguinea(Blume) Merr. var.formosana(Li) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear,P. sanguinea(Blume) Merrill var.cinerascens(Blume) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear,P. mixtaSolms var.shirensis(Rendle) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear,P. hirta(Blume) Hasskarl var.parvifolia(Wight) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear,P. pentandra(Roxb.) Benn. & R. Br. subsp.wightii(Benn. & R. Br.) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear. and subsp.wightii(Benn. & R. Br.) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear var.gracilis(Miq.) Friis & Wilmot‐Dear. The following taxa are reduced to synonymy for the first time:Pouzolzia argenteonitidaW.‐T. Wang,P. bracteosaFriis,P. calophyllaW.‐T. Wang & C.‐J. Chen,P. guineensisBenth. var.seyrigiiLeandri,P. guineensisBenth. var.madagascariensisWedd.,P. baroniiLeandri, andP. auriculataWight.
Resurrection of the genus Selleophytum (Asteraceae: Coreopsideae)
Authors: Tadesse Mesfin , Crawford Daniel J.
Published: March 2008

After thorough morphological examination, a consideration of chromosome numbers and molecular studies, the genus Selleophytum is resurrected. A description of the only known species in the genus with an illustration is provided A neotype is selected.
Two new species of Acalypha (Euphorbiaceae) from Peru and Bolivia
Authors: Cardiel José Maria
Published: March 2008

Two new species of the genus Acalypha are described and illustrated, A. delicata, based on Peruvian material, and A. beckii, based on Bolivian material. Comments on the systematics of related species are included.
The planktonic diatom flora of a high arctic lake in East Greenland
Authors: Cremer Holger
Published: March 2008

The physico‐chemical characteristics and the planktonic diatom flora were studied in high arctic Loon Lake (Geographical Society Ø, East Greenland). Loon Lake is a cold, monomictic, alkaline, low conductive and likely oligotrophic lake with a maximum water depth of 11.70 m and a low diversity of planktonic diatoms. In summer 2003, the lake‐water diatom community consisted of three taxa: frustules belonging to the morphologically highly variableCyclotella ocellata‐polymorpharossii‐tripartita‐complexwere most abundant, and bothDiscostella pseudostelligeraandFragilaria tenerawere of minor importance. The morphological variability of the three diatom taxa is documented by light micrographs.
Manglietia rufisyncarpa, a new species of Magnoliaceae from Yunnan, China
Authors: Fa‐guo Wang , Ren‐zbang Zhou , Fu‐wu Xing , Hong‐feng Chen
Published: March 2008

Manglietia rufisyncarpa (Magnoliaceae) is described and illustrated. M. rufisyncarpa resembles M. insignis, but is distinguished by its smaller, glabrous leaves, three green outer tepals and 6 white inner ones and the red gynoecium.
Astragalus sect. Dissitiflori (Fabaceae) in Iran
Authors: Ranjbar M.
Published: March 2008

Two new species, Astragalus ghahremaninejadii and A. kharvanensis are described from Iran and illustrated. They belong to A. sect. Dissitiflori, which contains species with bifurcate hairs. The first is similar to A. pendulinus, A. baldschuanicus, A. kustanaicus and properly A. marguzaricus and only known from a single collection close to the Turkmenistan frontier. The second shows morphological similarities with A. dendroproselius especially A. viridis. Also A. dendroproselius is reported as a new record for the flora of Iran.
Enigmatic genus Haussknechtia (Umbelliferae): systematic relationships based on molecular and carpological data
Authors: Pimenov Michael G. , Valiejo‐Roman Carmen M. , Terentieva Elena I. , Samigullin Tagir H. , Mozaffarian Valliallah
Published: March 2008

After its description in 1872 on the basis of incomplete C. Haussknecht's collections without mature fruits the genus Haussknechtia remains a true botanical enigma in Iranian flora. As late as 1980s Iranian botanists repeated H. elymaitica gatherings in Zagros Mts and found some new localities. The new sheets have mature fruits and green leaves. This allowed to check the systematic position of Haussknechtia based both on morphological (carpological) and molecular (ITS sequences) data in comparison with all putatively related taxa. Both kinds of data showed a good correlation. Earlier hypotheses on Haussknechtia affinity with Oenanthe, Seseli, Dorema, Aethusa and Opopanax have been rejected. The Iranian endemic Demavendia and Irano‐Turanian endemic Zeravschania were found to be the closest relatives of Haussknechtia.
Multivariate analysis of morphological variation among closely related species Bromus japonicus, B. squarrosus and B. arvensis (Poaceae) in comparison with isozyme evidences
Authors: Oja Tatjana , Paal Jaanus
Published: March 2008

Morphological variation and taxonomic continuum of 110 specimens of Bromus arvensis, B. japonicus and B. squarrosus were analysed to assess the morphological variability of these close taxa. The importance of every morphological character was estimated by the GLM procedure. Stepwise discriminant analysis was used in order to find a set of morphological characters that maximises differences among the species. According to this, the most important characters appeared to be the length of anthers, width of lemma and lemma margin angle shape. The most important characters for the determination of Bromus arvensis was the length of anthers and for B. squarrosus width of lemma. According to the UPGMA cluster analysis, canonical discriminant, classificatory discriminant and principal component analyses, all specimens were separated into three moderately distinct groups which corresponded to the three traditional species. The study showed that qualitative characters were the best for the delimitation of the tax a by statistical analyses and demonstrated the incongruity between the pattern of morphological and genetic (allozyme) variation among the three Bromus species.
Association of cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen 4 gene polymorphisms with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis in Japanese
Authors: Umemura Takeji , Ota Masao , Yoshizawa Kaname , Katsuyama Yoshihiko , Ichijo Tetsuya , Tanaka Eiji , Kiyosawa Kendo
Published: March 2008

Aim:  Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an organ‐specific autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the liver. Although the HLA DR4 allele is associated with type 1 AIH in Japanese, the exact genetic etiology of AIH remains undefined. The cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) is an inhibitory receptor expressed by T‐cells that acts largely as a negative regulator of T‐cell responses, and polymorphisms of CTLA4 have been reported to be associated with susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases. Therefore, we sought to clarify whether CTLA4 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with disease susceptibility in Japanese patients with type 1 AIH.

Methods:  We genotyped 76 patients with AIH and 100 ethically matched controls for allelic determinants using TaqMan genotyping assays at four polymorphism sites: −1722 and −318 in the promoter; +49 in exon 1 and +6230 in the 3′ untranslated region.

Results:  We observed no difference in the distribution of the alleles, genotypes, or haplotypes between patients and controls. Compared with −1722 C/C patients, −1722 T/T patients were younger (56 vs. 63 years; P = 0.01) and had significantly lower serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (313 vs. 763 IU/L; P = 0.031) and bilirubin (1.1 vs. 8.6 mg/dL; P = 0.027). Analysis of allelic frequencies revealed no significant difference between patients with and without the HLA DR4 allele.

Conclusion:  These data suggest that the CTLA4 polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to type 1 AIH in the Japanese population.
Inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation following Yinchenhao decoction administration to dimethylnitrosamine‐treated rats
Authors: Liu Cheng , Sun Mingyu , Yan Xiaofeng , Han Lin , Zhang Yan , Liu Chenghai , El‐Nezami Hani , Liu Ping
Published: March 2008

Aim:  In an effort to investigate the mechanism by which Yinchenhao decoction (YCHD) acts on liver injury, we investigated the potential antifibrogenic effects of YCHD in an experimental liver fibrosis rat model, with special focus on the mechanisms inhibiting the activation and promoting apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSC).

Methods:  The rats were initially randomized into two groups: the control (n = 10) and dimethylnitrosamine‐treated (DMN; n = 30) groups. DMN (10 mg/kg body weight) was administered intraperitoneally to the DMN‐treated rats for three consecutive days each week. At the end of the second week, three rats from the control and six rats from the DMN‐treated groups were killed for the fibrosis development assessment. The remaining DMN rats were further randomized into two groups: the DMN–water group (n = 12) and the DMN–YCHD group (n = 12). Both groups continued to receive weekly DMN treatment for another 2 weeks in addition to daily administration of either water or YCHD, which were given intragastrically at a dose of 0.418 g/100 g body weight.

Results:  Hepatic hydroxyproline content decreased and had improved histopathology in the DMN–YCHD rats. Compared to the DMN group, α‐smooth muscle actin (SMA) and CD68 expression in the DMN–YCHD group was reduced significantly; however, α‐SMA‐positive HSC apoptosis was not observed by confocal microscopy; Fibrogenic proteins (tissue inhibitor matrix proteinases‐1 and 2 and matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]‐2/14) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor‐α and transforming growth factor‐β1) were decreased; MMP‐9 was significantly upregulated.

Conclusion:  Yinchenhao administration attenuates liver fibrosis at least in part by inhibiting HSC activation directly, rather than promoting cell apoptosis of activated HSC, and the suppressive activation of Kupffer cells.
Improving Film Cooling Performance Using Airfoil Contouring
Authors: Kohli Atul , Bogard David G.
Published: March 2008

In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based optimization process is used to change the contour of the airfoil near a suction-side cooling hole in order to improve its film effectiveness characteristics. An overview of the optimization process, which includes automated geometry, grid generation, and CFD analyses, is provided. From the results for the optimized geometry, it is clear that the detachment of the cooling jet is much reduced and the cooling jet spread in the spanwise direction is increased substantially. The new external contour was then tested in a low-speed wind tunnel to provide a direct measure of the predictive capability. Comparisons to verification test data indicate that good agreement was achieved for both pressure and film cooling effectiveness behavior. This study proves that despite its limitations, current Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) methodology can be used a viable design tool and lead to innovative concepts for improving film cooling effectiveness.
Profiled End Wall Design Using an Adjoint Navier–Stokes Solver
Authors: Corral Roque , Gisbert Fernando
Published: March 2008

A methodology to minimize blade secondary losses by modifying turbine end walls is presented. The optimization is addressed using a gradient-based method, where the computation of the gradient is performed using an adjoint code and the secondary kinetic energy is used as a cost function. The adjoint code is implemented on the basis of the discrete formulation of a parallel multigrid unstructured mesh Navier–Stokes solver. The results of the optimization of two end walls of a low-pressure turbine row are shown.
Evolution of Surface Deposits on a High-Pressure Turbine Blade—Part I: Physical Characteristics
Authors: Wammack James E. , Crosby Jared , Fletcher Daniel , Bons Jeffrey P. , Fletcher Thomas H.
Published: March 2008

Turbine blade coupons with three different surface treatments were exposed to deposition conditions in an accelerated deposition facility. The facility simulates the flow conditions at the inlet to a first stage high-pressure turbine (T=1150°C, M=0.31). The combustor exit flow is seeded with dust particulate that would typically be ingested by a large utility power plant. The three coupon surface treatments included: (1) bare polished metal; (2) polished thermal barrier coating with bondcoat; and (3) unpolished oxidation resistant bondcoat. Each coupon was subjected to four successive 2h deposition tests. The particulate loading was scaled to simulate 0.02 parts per million weight (ppmw) of particulate over 3months of continuous gas turbine operation for each 2h laboratory simulation (for a cumulative 1year of operation). Three-dimensional maps of the deposit-roughened surfaces were created between each test, representing a total of four measurements evenly spaced through the lifecycle of a turbine blade surface. From these measurements the surface topology and roughness statistics were determined. Despite the different surface treatments, all three surfaces exhibited similar nonmonotonic changes in roughness with repeated exposure. In each case, an initial buildup of isolated roughness peaks was followed by a period when valleys between peaks were filled with subsequent deposition. This trend is well documented using the average forward facing roughness angle in combination with the average roughness height as characteristic roughness metrics. Deposition-related mechanisms leading to spallation of the thermal barrier coated coupons are identified and documented.
Evolution of Surface Deposits on a High-Pressure Turbine Blade—Part II: Convective Heat Transfer
Authors: Bons Jeffrey P. , Wammack James E. , Crosby Jared , Fletcher Daniel , Fletcher Thomas H.
Published: March 2008

A thermal barrier coating (TBC)-coated turbine blade coupon was exposed to successive deposition in an accelerated deposition facility simulating flow conditions at the inlet to a first stage high pressure turbine (T=1150°C, M=0.31). The combustor exit flow was seeded with dust particulate that would typically be ingested by a large utility power plant. The turbine coupon was subjected to four successive 2h deposition tests. The particulate loading was scaled to simulate 0.02 parts per million weight (ppmw) of particulate over 3months of continuous gas turbine operation for each 2h laboratory simulation (for a cumulative 1year of operation). Three-dimensional maps of the deposit-roughened surfaces were created between each test, representing a total of four measurements evenly spaced through the lifecycle of a turbine blade surface. From these measurements, scaled models were produced for testing in a low-speed wind tunnel with a turbulent, zero pressure gradient boundary layer at Re=750,000. The average surface heat transfer coefficient was measured using a transient surface temperature measurement technique. Stanton number increases initially with deposition but then levels off as the surface becomes less peaked. Subsequent deposition exposure then produces a second increase in St. Surface maps of St highlight the local influence of deposit peaks with regard to heat transfer.
Polyclonal Population Structure of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Isolates in Spain Carrying
mef
and
mef
plus
erm
(B)
Authors: de la Pedrosa Elia Gómez G. , Morosini María-Isabel , van der Linden Mark , Ruiz-Garbajosa Patricia , Galán Juan Carlos , Baquero Fernando , Reinert Ralf René , Cantón Rafael
Published: March 2008

The population structure (serotypes, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE] types, and multilocus sequencing types) of 45
mef
-positive
Streptococcus pneumoniae
isolates [carrying
mef
alone (
n
= 17) or with the
erm
(B) gene
n
= 28)] were studied. They were selected from among all erythromycin-resistant isolates (
n
= 244) obtained from a collection of 712 isolates recovered from different Spanish geographic locations in the prevaccination period from 1999 to 2003. The overall rates of resistance (according to the criteria of the CLSI) among the 45
mef
-positive isolates were as follows: penicillin G, 82.2%; cefotaxime, 22.2%; clindamycin, 62.2%; and tetracycline, 68.8% [mainly in isolates carrying
erm
(B) plus
mef
(E);
P
< 0.001]. No levofloxacin or telithromycin resistance was found. Macrolide resistance phenotypes (as determined by the disk diffusion approximation test) were 37.7% for macrolide resistance [with all but one due to
mef
(E)] and 62.2% for constitutive macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance [cMLS
B
; with all due to
mef
(E) plus
erm
(B)]. Serotypes 14 (22.2%), 6B (17.7%), 19A (13.3%), and 19F (11.1%) were predominant. Twenty-five different DNA patterns (PFGE types) were observed. Our
mef
-positive isolates were grouped (by eBURST analysis) into four clonal complexes (
n
= 18) and 19 singleton clones (
n
= 27). With the exception of clone Spain
9V
-3, all clonal complexes (clonal complexes 6B, Spain
6B
-2, and Sweden
15A
-25) and 73.6% of singleton clones carried both the
erm
(B) and the
mef
(E) genes. The international multiresistant clones Spain
23F
-1 and Poland
6B
-20 were represented as singleton clones. A high proportion of
mef
-positive
S. pneumoniae
isolates presented the
erm
(B) gene, with all isolates expressing the cMLS
B
phenotype. A polyclonal population structure was demonstrated within our Spanish
mef
-positive
S. pneumoniae
isolates, with few clonal complexes overrepresented within this collection.
Immunization with a Single Dose of a Microencapsulated
Brucella melitensis
Mutant Enhances Protection against Wild-Type Challenge
Authors: Arenas-Gamboa Angela M. , Ficht Thomas A. , Kahl-McDonagh Melissa M. , Rice-Ficht Allison C.
Published: March 2008

The development of safe and efficacious immunization systems to prevent brucellosis is needed to overcome the disadvantages of the currently licensed vaccine strains that restrict their use in humans. Alginate microspheres coated with a protein of the parasite
Fasciola hepatica
(vitelline protein B [VpB]) and containing live
Brucella melitensis
attenuated mutant
vjbR
::Tn
5
(BMEII1116) were evaluated for vaccine efficacy and immunogenicity in mice. A single immunization dose in BALB/c mice with the encapsulated
vjbR
mutant improved protection against wild-type
B. melitensis
16M challenge compared to the nonencapsulated vaccine strain (
P
< 0.05). The encapsulated mutant was also shown to induce a sustained elevation of Immunoglobulin G levels. Cytokine secretion from spleen cells of mice vaccinated with the encapsulated
vjbR
::Tn
5
revealed elevated secretion of gamma interferon and interleukin-12, but no interleukin-4, suggesting an induction of a T helper 1 response reflecting the enhanced immunity associated with microencapsulation. Together, these results suggest that microencapsulation of live attenuated organisms offers the ability to increase the efficacy of vaccine candidates.
Induction of Guanylate Binding Protein 5 by Gamma Interferon Increases Susceptibility toSalmonella entericaSerovar Typhimurium-Induced Pyroptosis in RAW 264.7 Cells
Authors: Rupper Adam C. , Cardelli James A.
Published: March 2008

The regulation of caspase-1 activation in macrophages plays a central role in host defense against bacterial pathogens. The activation of caspase-1 by the detection of bacterial products through Nod-like receptors leads to the secretion of mature interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 and the induction of rapid host cell death (pyroptosis). Here, we report that pyroptosis induced bySalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium can be positively regulated by prior gamma interferon (IFN-γ) stimulation of RAW 264.7 cells. This increase in cell death is dependent on both caspase-1 activation and, in part,Salmonellapathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1) expression bySalmonella. Furthermore, the exogenous expression of the IFN-γ-induced protein guanylate binding protein 5 (GBP-5) is sufficient to induce a heightened susceptibility of RAW 264.7 cells toSalmonella-induced pyroptosis, and the endogenous expression of GBP-5 is important for this phenomenon. RAW 264.7 cells with decreased expression of GBP-5 mRNA (inhibited by short hairpin RNA against GBP-5) release twofold less lactate dehydrogenase (a marker of membrane permeability) upon infection by invasiveS. entericaserovar Typhimurium than do infected control cells. Importantly, 3× FLAG-tagged GBP-5 is localized to membrane ruffles, which contact invasiveSalmonella, and is found on the membranes of spacious phagosomes containingSalmonella(although it is also found in the cytoplasm and on other cellular membranes), placing 3× FLAG GBP-5 at the interface of secreted SPI-1 effectors and host protein machinery. The regulation of pyroptosis by the IFN-γ-induced protein GBP-5 may play an important role in the host defense againstSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium and perhaps other invasive bacterial pathogens.
Escherichia coliO157:H7 Colonization in Cattle following Systemic and Mucosal Immunization with Purified H7 Flagellin
Authors: McNeilly Tom N. , Naylor Stuart W. , Mahajan Arvind , Mitchell Mairi C. , McAteer Sean , Deane David , Smith David G. E. , Low J. Christopher , Gally David L. , Huntley John F.
Published: March 2008

Escherichia coliO157:H7 is an important pathogen of humans. Cattle are most frequently identified as the primary source of infection, and therefore, reduction inE. coliO157:H7 prevalence in cattle by vaccination represents an attractive strategy for reducing the incidence of human disease. H7 flagella have been implicated in intestinal-epithelial colonization ofE. coliO157:H7 and may represent a useful target for vaccination. In this study, calves were immunized either systemically with H7 flagellin by intramuscular injection or mucosally via the rectum with either H7 or H7 incorporated into poly(dl-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles (PLG:H7). Systemic immunization resulted in high levels of flagellin-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA in both serum and nasal secretions and detectable levels of both antibody isotypes in rectal secretions. Rectal administration of flagellin resulted in levels of rectal IgA similar to those by the intramuscular route but failed to induce any other antibody response, whereas rectal immunization with PLG:H7 failed to induce any H7-specific antibodies. Following subsequent oral challenge withE. coliO157:H7, reduced colonization rates and delayed peak bacterial shedding were observed in the intramuscularly immunized group compared to nonvaccinated calves, but no reduction in total bacterial shedding occurred. Rectal immunization with either H7 or PLG:H7 had no effect on subsequent bacterial colonization or shedding. Furthermore, purified H7-specific IgA and IgG from intramuscularly immunized calves were shown to reduce intestinal-epithelial binding in vitro. These results indicate that H7 flagellin may be a useful component in a systemic vaccine to reduceE. coliO157:H7 colonization in cattle.
Moraxella catarrhalis
Expresses an Unusual Hfq Protein
Authors: Attia Ahmed S. , Sedillo Jennifer L. , Wang Wei , Liu Wei , Brautigam Chad A. , Winkler Wade , Hansen Eric J.
Published: March 2008

The Hfq protein is recognized as a global regulatory molecule that facilitates certain RNA-RNA interactions in bacteria. BLAST analysis identified a 630-nucleotide open reading frame in the genome of
Moraxella catarrhalis
ATCC 43617 that was highly conserved among
M. catarrhalis
strains and which encoded a predicted protein with significant homology to the Hfq protein of
Escherichia coli.
This protein, containing 210 amino acids, was more than twice as large as the Hfq proteins previously described for other bacteria. The C-terminal half of the
M. catarrhalis
Hfq protein was very hydrophilic and contained two different types of amino acid repeats. A mutation in the
M. catarrhalis hfq
gene affected both the growth rate of this organism and its sensitivity to at least two different types of stress in vitro. Provision of the wild-type
M. catarrhalis hfq
gene in
trans
eliminated these phenotypic differences in the
hfq
mutant. This
M. catarrhalis hfq
mutant exhibited altered expression of some cell envelope proteins relative to the wild-type parent strain and also had a growth advantage in a continuous flow biofilm system. The presence of the wild-type
M. catarrhalis hfq
gene in trans in an
E. coli hfq
mutant fully reversed the modest growth deficiency of this
E. coli
mutant and partially reversed the stress sensitivity of this
E. coli
mutant to methyl viologen. The use of an electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that this
M. catarrhalis
Hfq protein could bind RNA derived from a gene whose expression was altered in the
M. catarrhalis hfq
mutant.
Heterotrimeric Gαprotein Pga1 ofPenicillium chrysogenumcontrols conidiation mainly by a cAMP-independent mechanism
Authors: García-Rico Ramón Ovidio , Fierro Francisco , Martín Juan Francisco
Published: March 2008

Fungal heterotrimeric G proteins regulate different processes related to development, such as colony growth and asexual sporulation, the main mechanism of propagation in filamentous fungi. To gain insight into the mechanisms controlling growth and differentiation in the industrial penicillin producer Penicillioum chrysogenum, we investigated the role of the heterotrimeric Gαsubunit Pga1 in conidiogenesis. A pga1 deleted strain (Δpga1) and transformants with constitutively activated (pga1G42R) and inactivated (pga1G203R) Pga1 alpha subunits were obtained. They showed phenotypes that clearly implicate Pga1 as an important negative regulator of conidiogenesis. Pga1 positively affected the level of intracellular cAMP, which acts as secondary messenger of Pga1-mediated signalling. Although cAMP has some inhibitory effect on conidiation, the regulation of asexual development by Pga1 is exerted mainly via cAMP-independent pathways. The regulation of conidiation by Pga1 is mediated by repression of the brlA and wetA genes. The Δpga1 strain and transformants with the constitutively inactive Pga1G203Rsubunit developed a sporulation microcycle in submerged cultures triggered by the expression of brlA and wetA genes, which are deregulated in the absence of active Pga1. Our results indicate that although basic mechanisms for regulating conidiation are similar in most filamentous fungi, there are differences in the degree of involvement of specific pathways, such as the cAMP-mediated pathway, in the regulation of this process.
Novel Kv3 glycoforms differentially expressed in adult mammalian brain contain sialylated N-glycans
Authors: Schwalbe Ruth A. , Corey Melissa J. , Cartwright Tara A.
Published: March 2008

The N-glycan pool of mammalian brain contains remarkably high levels of sialylated N-glycans. This study provides the first evidence that voltage-gated K+ channels Kv3.1, Kv3.3, and Kv3.4, possess distinct sialylated N-glycan structures throughout the central nervous system of the adult rat. Electrophoretic migration patterns of Kv3.1, Kv3.3, and Kv3.4 glycoproteins from spinal cord, hypothalamus, thalamus, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum membranes digested with glycosidases were used to identify the various glycoforms. Differences in the migration of Kv3 proteins were attributed to the desialylated N-glycans. Expression levels of the Kv3 proteins were highest in cerebellum, whereas those of Kv3.1 and Kv3.3 were much lower in the other 5 regions. The lowest level of Kv3.1 was expressed in the hypothalamus, whereas the lowest levels of Kv3.3 were expressed in both thalamus and hypothalamus. The other regions expressed intermediate levels of Kv3.3, with spinal cord expressing the highest. The expression level of Kv3.4 in the hippocampus was slightly lower than that in cerebellum, and was closely followed by the other 4 regions, with spinal cord expressing the lowest level. We suggest that novel Kv3 glycoforms may endow differences in channel function and expression among regions throughout the central nervous system.
Biochemical characterization of Yin Yang 1 – RNA complexes
Authors: Belak Zachery R. , Ficzycz Andrew , Ovsenek Nick
Published: March 2008

YY1 (Yin Yang 1) is present in the Xenopus oocyte cytoplasm as a constituent of messenger ribonucleoprotein complexes (mRNPs). Association of YY1 with mRNPs requires direct RNA-binding activity. Previously, we have shown YY1 has a high affinity for U-rich RNA; however, potential interactions with plausible in vivo targets have not been investigated. Here we report a biochemical characterization of the YY1–RNA interaction including an investigation of the stability, potential 5′-methylguanosine affinity, and specificity for target RNAs. The formation of YY1–RNA complexes in vitro was highly resistant to thermal, ionic, and detergent disruption. The endogenous oocyte YY1–mRNA interactions were also found to be highly stable. Specific YY1–RNA interactions were observed with selected mRNA and 5S RNA probes. The affinity of YY1 for these substrates was within an order of magnitude of that for its cognate DNA element. Experiments aimed at determining the potential role of the 7-methylguanosine cap on RNA-binding reveal no significant difference in the affinity of YY1 for capped or uncapped mRNA. Taken together, the results show that the YY1–RNA interaction is highly stable, and that YY1 possesses the ability to interact with structurally divergent RNA substrates. These data are the first to specifically document the interaction between YY1 and potential in vivo targets.
Mitochondrial monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase is elevated in the surviving population of H9c2 cardiac myoblast cells exposed to 2-deoxyglucose-induced apoptosis
Authors: Danos Maria , Taylor William A. , Hatch Grant M.
Published: March 2008

Cardiolipin (CL) is a major mitochondrial membrane phospholipid in the mammalian heart and the remodeling of CL is essential to maintain its unique unsaturated fatty acyl composition. We examined CL de novo biosynthesis and remodeling in the surviving population of H9c2 cardiac myoblast cells exposed to 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG). H9c2 cells were incubated in the absence or presence of 2-DG for 16 h with [1,3-3H]glycerol or [1-14C]linoleic acid (bound to albumin in a 1:1 molar ratio). Dead cells were removed and radioactivity was incorporated into CL. Its pool size, fatty acid composition, and the activities of the CL biosynthesis and remodeling enzymes were determined. The CL pool size, its fatty acid composition, and [1,3-3H]glycerol or [1-14C]linoleic acid incorporated into CL were unaltered in the surviving population of 2-DG-treated cells compared with controls. In addition, the activities of the CL de novo biosynthetic enzymes were unaltered. Cleaved caspase-3 and poly(ADP–ribose) polymerase were slightly elevated in the surviving population of 2-DG-treated cells compared with controls, indicating that apoptosis induction was occurring in these cells. Mitochondrial phospholipase A2and monolysocardiolipin acyltransferase (MLCL AT) activities increased 33% (p < 0.05) and 63% (p < 0.05), respectively, in 2-deoxyglucose-treated cells compared with controls. In contrast, the activity of ALCAT1, an endoplasmic reticulum MLCL AT, decreased 77% (p < 0.05), but this was not due to a reduction in ALCAT1 mRNA expression. The mRNA expression of the Barth syndrome gene TAZ, encoding a mitochondrial CL transacylase, was unaltered in 2-DG treated cells. The increase in mitochondrial MLCL AT activity was due to an elevated expression in MLCL AT protein. Thus, an increase in MLCL AT activity and expression occurs to maintain the CL pool in the surviving population of H9c2 cells as a compensatory mechanism for the elevated phospholipase A2activity seen in 2-DG-induced apoptosis. We hypothesize that increased mitochondrial MLCL AT activity and its expression, and hence, elevated CL resynthesis, may be a protective mechanism against monolysocardiolipin-mediated apoptosis.
INTEGRATING REMOTE INVOCATIONS WITH ASYNCHRONISM AND COOPERATIVE MULTITASKING
Authors: RODRIGUEZ NOEMI , ROSSETTO SILVANA
Published: March 2008

In this paper we argue that it is possible to couple the advantages of programming with the well-known abstraction of RPC with asynchronous programming models adequate for wide-area programming environments such as grids. We discuss how some programming language features can help create different programming abstractions over a basic asynchronous invocation primitive. The paper also discusses how coroutines (cooperative multitasking) can be used to allow computation to proceed while a client is waiting for the result of a remote invocation, avoiding the pitfalls of programming with threads.
AN ACCURATE LOW-ITERATION ALGORITHM FOR EFFECTIVE CAPACITANCE COMPUTATION
Authors: MEI SHIZHONG , ISMAIL YEHEA I.
Published: March 2008

This paper presents an efficient and accurate approach to calculate effective capacitances in the presence of RC interconnect loads. In the precharacterization process, the gate model is selected such that the output of the model matches both the delay and the shape of the real gate response. To determine the effective capacitance, a novel algorithm is developed to efficiently and accurately calculate the propagation delay from circuit elements. This algorithm requires at most two iterations to obtain effective capacitances that produce gate delays within 4% of HSPICE results. This is at most half the time required by the currently used method to calculate effective capacitances.
EFFICIENT MULTI-SHIFTED ARNOLDI PROJECTION USING WAVELET TRANSFORM
Authors: ALAM MEHBOOB , NIEUWOUDT ARTHUR , MASSOUD YEHIA
Published: March 2008

As process technology continues to scale into the nanoscale regime and the overall system complexity increases, the reduced order modeling of on-chip interconnect plays a crucial role in determining VLSI system performance. In this paper, we develop an adaptive wavelet interpolation method based on Krylov subspace techniques to generate reduced order interconnect models that are accurate across a wide-range of frequencies. We dynamically select interpolation points by applying an inexpensive Haar wavelet and performing irregular sampling in the frequency domain. The results indicate that our method provides greater accuracy than multi-shift Krylov subspace methods with uniform interpolation points.