bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reassorted pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A virus discovered from pigs in Germany
Authors: Starick Elke , Lange Elke , Fereidouni Sasan , Bunzenthal Claudia , Höveler Robert , Kuczka Annette , grosse Beilage Elisabeth , Hamann Hans-Peter , Klingelhöfer Irene , Steinhauer Dirk , Vahlenkamp Thomas , Beer Martin , Harder Timm
Published: February 2011

A natural reassortant influenza A virus consisting of seven genome segments from pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus and a neuraminidase segment from a Eurasian porcine H1N1 influenza A virus was detected in a pig herd in Germany. The obvious reassortment compatibility between the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 and H1N1 viruses of porcine origin raises concern as to whether swine may become a reservoir for further reassortants of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 viruses with unknown implications for human health and swine production.
Endogenously expressed matrix protein M1 and nucleoprotein of influenza A are efficiently presented by class I and class II major histocompatibility complexes
Authors: Doucet Jean-Daniel , Forget Marie-Andrée , Grange Cécile , Rouxel Ronan Nicolas , Arbour Nathalie , von Messling Veronika , Lapointe Réjean
Published: February 2011

Current influenza vaccines containing primarily hypervariable haemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins must be prepared against frequent new antigenic variants. Therefore, there is an ongoing effort to develop influenza vaccines that also elicit strong and sustained cytotoxic responses against highly conserved determinants such as the matrix (M1) protein and nucleoprotein (NP). However, their antigenic presentation properties in humans are less defined. Accordingly, we analysed MHC class I and class II presentation of endogenously processed M1 and NP in human antigen presenting cells and observed expansion of both CD8+- and CD4+-specific effector T lymphocytes secreting gamma interferon and tumour necrosis factor. Further enhancement of basal MHC-II antigenic presentation did not improve CD4+or CD8+T-cell quality based on cytokine production upon challenge, suggesting that endogenous M1 and NP MHC-II presentation is sufficient. These new insights about T-lymphocyte expansion following endogenous M1 and NP MHC-I and -II presentation will be important to design complementary heterosubtypic vaccination strategies.
Distinct cavemoviruses interact synergistically with sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (genus Crinivirus) in cultivated sweet potato
Authors: Cuellar Wilmer J. , De Souza Joao , Barrantes Israel , Fuentes Segundo , Kreuze Jan F.
Published: February 2011

Two serologically unrelated sweet potato viruses causing symptoms of vein clearing in the indicator plant Ipomoea setosa were isolated and their genomes have been sequenced. They are associated with symptomless infections in sweet potato but distinct vein-clearing symptoms and higher virus titres were observed when these viruses co-infected with sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), a virus that is distributed worldwide and is a mediator of severe virus diseases in this crop. Molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis revealed an overall nucleotide identity of 47.6 % and an arrangement of the movement protein and coat protein domains characteristic of members of the genus Cavemovirus, in the family Caulimoviridae. We detected both cavemoviruses in cultivated sweet potato from East Africa, Central America and the Caribbean islands, but not in samples from South America. One of the viruses characterized showed a similar genome organization as, and formed a phylogenetic sublineage with, tobacco vein clearing virus (TVCV), giving further support to the previously suggested separation of TVCV, and related viral sequences, into a new caulimovirid genus. Given their geographical distribution and previous reports of similar but yet unidentified viruses, sweet potato cavemoviruses may co-occur with SPCSV more often than previously thought and they could therefore contribute to the extensive yield losses and cultivar decline caused by mixed viral infections in sweet potato.
Antisense Inhibition of the Iron-Sulphur Subunit of Succinate Dehydrogenase Enhances Photosynthesis and Growth in Tomato via an Organic Acid–Mediated Effect on Stomatal Aperture
Authors: Araújo Wagner L. , Nunes-Nesi Adriano , Osorio Sonia , Usadel Björn , Fuentes Daniela , Nagy Réka , Balbo Ilse , Lehmann Martin , Studart-Witkowski Claudia , Tohge Takayuki , Martinoia Enrico , Jordana Xavier , DaMatta Fábio M. , Fernie Alisdair R.
Published: February 2011

Transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants expressing a fragment of the Sl SDH2-2 gene encoding the iron sulfur subunit of the succinate dehydrogenase protein complex in the antisense orientation under the control of the 35S promoter exhibit an enhanced rate of photosynthesis. The rate of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle was reduced in these transformants, and there were changes in the levels of metabolites associated with the TCA cycle. Furthermore, in comparison to wild-type plants, carbon dioxide assimilation was enhanced by up to 25% in the transgenic plants under ambient conditions, and mature plants were characterized by an increased biomass. Analysis of additional photosynthetic parameters revealed that the rate of transpiration and stomatal conductance were markedly elevated in the transgenic plants. The transformants displayed a strongly enhanced assimilation rate under both ambient and suboptimal environmental conditions, as well as an elevated maximal stomatal aperture. By contrast, when the Sl SDH2-2 gene was repressed by antisense RNA in a guard cell–specific manner, changes in neither stomatal aperture nor photosynthesis were observed. The data obtained are discussed in the context of the role of TCA cycle intermediates both generally with respect to photosynthetic metabolism and specifically with respect to their role in the regulation of stomatal aperture.
RICE MORPHOLOGY DETERMINANTEncodes the Type II Formin FH5 and Regulates Rice Morphogenesis
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Zhang Yi , Tan Hexin , Wang Ying , Li Gang , Liang Wanqi , Yuan Zheng , Hu Jianping , Ren Haiyun , Zhang Dabing
Published: February 2011

Multicellular organisms contain a large number of formins; however, their physiological roles in plants remain poorly understood. Here, we reveal that formin homology 5 (FH5), a type II formin mutated in rice morphology determinant (rmd), plays a crucial role in determining rice (Oryza sativa) morphology. FH5/RMD encodes a formin-like protein consisting of an N-terminal phosphatase tensin (PTEN)-like domain, an FH1 domain, and an FH2 domain. The rmd mutants display a bending growth pattern in seedlings, are stunted as adult plants, and have aberrant inflorescence (panicle) and seed shape. Cytological analysis showed that rmd mutants have severe cell elongation defects and abnormal microtubule and microfilament arrays. FH5/RMD is ubiquitously expressed in rice tissues, and its protein localization to the chloroplast surface is mediated by the PTEN domain. Biochemical assays demonstrated that recombinant FH5 protein can nucleate actin polymerization from monomeric G-actin or actin/profilin complexes, cap the barbed end of actin filaments, and bundle actin filaments in vitro. Moreover, FH5 can directly bind to and bundle microtubules through its FH2 domain in vitro. Our findings suggest that the rice formin protein FH5 plays a critical role in determining plant morphology by regulating actin dynamics and proper spatial organization of microtubules and microfilaments.
Off-specular data representations in neutron reflectivity
Authors: Ott Frédéric , Kozhevnikov Sergey
Published: February 2011

The different methods of data acquisition and representation in neutron reflectometry measurements are discussed. The different representations of diffuse scattering are compared and the off-specular features that can be observed in neutron reflectivity are described. The representation of diffuse data in the `natural' reciprocal-space coordinates (Qx, Qz) leads to a loss of information for smallQzscattering vector. It is suggested that an intermediate representation (Qx/Qz, Qz) allows the unification of data measured on different types of spectrometers and permits a straightforward comparison and understanding while keeping all the interesting features of the off-specular scattering. The discussion is illustrated by diffuse scattering data measured on neutron waveguides obtained on both fixed-wavelength and time-of-flight spectrometers. A simple procedure allowing for dense remapping between different representations is described.
Effects of major depression on crack use and arrests among women in drug court
Authors: Johnson Jennifer E. , O'Leary Catina C. , Striley Catherine W. , Abdallah Arbi Ben , Bradford Susan , Cottler Linda B.
Published: February 2011

Aims  We examined whether a current major depressive episode (MDE) at baseline predicted crack use and arrests at follow‐up among women enrolled in drug court.

Design  Primary analyses used zero‐inflated Poisson (ZIP) and zero‐inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression analyses to predict both yes/no and number of (i) days of crack use and (ii) arrests at 4‐month follow‐up from current (30‐day) MDE at baseline. Secondary analyses addressed risk conferred by current versus past MDE at baseline.

Setting/Participants  Participants were 261 women in drug court.

Measurements  MDE was assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Days using crack and number of arrests were assessed using the Washington University Risk Behavior Assessment for Women.

Findings  Having a current MDE at baseline predicted likelihood of crack use at follow‐up, but not days of crack use among those who used. Current MDE at baseline did not predict presence or number of arrests at the 4‐month follow‐up. Women with current MDE at baseline were more likely to be using crack at follow‐up than were those with recent (31+ days to 12 months) but not current MDE (odds ratio = 5.71); past MDE at baseline did not increase risk of crack use.

Conclusions  Predictors of any versus no crack use or arrests appear to differ from predictors of frequency of these behaviors. Current major depression, but not past major depression, appears to be associated with increased risk of crack use among women attending drug court.
Overestimation of peer drinking: error of judgement or methodological artefact?
Authors: Melson Ambrose John , Davies John B. , Martinus Theresa
Published: February 2011

Aims  To examine whether inclusion of both self‐ and peer‐referent items in the context of a single social norms drinking questionnaire plays an active role in producing the much‐reported tendency for young people to overestimate the extent of peers' alcohol‐related behaviour and the permissiveness of their attitudes towards alcohol.

Design, setting, participants and measurements  In a between‐subjects design pupils attending two Scottish secondary schools (n = 1074; 12–18 years; 52.5% male) completed one of three questionnaires designed to measure a range of alcohol‐related behaviours, attitudes and perceptions: a paradigmatic multiple‐target questionnaire included self‐ and peer‐referent items while two single‐target questionnaires included self‐referent or peer‐referent items only.

Findings  Pupils' self‐reported drinking behaviours and attitudes were similar, regardless of whether multiple or single‐target versions of the questionnaire were used, as were perceptions of peers' frequencies of alcohol use and drunkenness. In contrast, by comparison with pupils who responded to a single‐target version that omitted self‐referent items, use of a multiple‐target questionnaire was significantly more likely to result in reports that peers would consume alcoholic drinks when with friends and hold more permissive or liberal attitudes towards alcohol.

Conclusions  Social norms research and related health promotion programmes that seek to reduce the extent of overestimation of peer drinking norms are heavily reliant upon multiple‐target drinking questionnaires. The use of such a questionnaire may lead to more distorted or extreme perceptions being reported by pupils compared to single‐target versions, which omit self‐referent drinking items. By implication, use of multiple‐target questionnaires may encourage young people to ‘over‐overestimate’ peer drinking norms.
Non‐suicidal self‐injury by intravenous application of nicotine in a patient with borderline personality disorder resulting in substance dependence
Authors: Gahr Maximilian , Freudenmann Roland , Schönfeldt‐Lecuona Carlos
Published: February 2011

Background  Non‐suicidal self‐injury in many different forms is a classic struggle for those diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Some common ways of NSSI are cutting, scratching and head‐banging.

Case description  A 23‐year old woman with BPD presented in our clinic with a 4‐month history of intravenous application of a liquid dosage form of nicotine that is generally used for nasal application. Accordingly, the patient developed nicotine dependency (ICD‐10 F17.25). Before her admission to our ward the daily intravenous nicotine application was around 33 mg. The in‐patient detoxification proceeded without a remarkable withdrawal syndrome.

Conclusion  A case of regular intravenous administration of nicotine has been observed, apparently resulting in nicotine dependence in a person with borderline personality disorder. The original intent appears to have been self‐harm.
Pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic relationships of central nervous system effects of scopolamine in healthy subjects
Authors: Liem‐Moolenaar Marieke , de Boer Peter , Timmers Maarten , Schoemaker Rik C. , van Hasselt J. G. Coen , Schmidt Stephan , van Gerven Joop M. A.
Published: February 2011

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• The cholinergic system is important for different central nervous system functions, including memory, learning and attention. Scopolamine, a centrally active muscarinic antagonist, has been used to model dementia and to demonstrate the pharmacological effects of cholinergic drugs, but for most effects the concentration–effect relationships are unknown.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• We determined the pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic relationships of scopolamine using a multidimensional central nervous system test battery in a large group of healthy volunteers. The results suggested there are various functional cholinergic systems with different pharmacological characteristics, which can be used to study the effects of drugs that directly or indirectly modify cholinergic systems. The design of such studies should take the different concentration–effect relationships into account.

AIM(S) Although scopolamine is a frequently used memory impairment model, the relationships between exposure and corresponding central nervous system (CNS) effects are mostly unknown. The aim of our study was to characterize these using pharmacokinetic–pharmacodynamic (PK–PD) modelling.

METHODS In two double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, four‐way crossover studies, 0.5‐mg scopolamine was administered i.v. to 90 healthy male subjects. PK and PD/safety measures were monitored pre‐dose and up to 8.5 h after administration. PK–PD relationships were modelled using non‐linear mixed‐effect modelling.

RESULTS Most PD responses following scopolamine administration in 85 subjects differed significantly from placebo. As PD measures lagged behind the plasma PK profile, PK–PD relationships were modelled using an effect compartment and arbitrarily categorized according to their equilibration half‐lives (t1/2keo; hysteresis measure). t1/2keo for heart rate was 17 min, saccadic eye movements and adaptive tracking 1–1.5 h, body sway, smooth pursuit, visual analogue scales alertness and psychedelic 2.5–3.5 h, pupil size, finger tapping and visual analogue scales feeling high more than 8 h.

CONCLUSIONS Scopolamine affected different CNS functions in a concentration‐dependent manner, which based on their distinct PK–PD characteristics seemed to reflect multiple distinct functional pathways of the cholinergic system. All PD effects showed considerable albeit variable delays compared with plasma concentrations. The t1/2keo of the central effects was longer than of the peripheral effects on heart rate, which at least partly reflects the long CNS retention of scopolamine, but possibly also the triggering of independent secondary mechanisms. PK–PD analysis can optimize scopolamine administration regimens for future research and give insight into the physiology and pharmacology of human cholinergic systems.
Nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of caring behaviours: quantitative systematic review of comparative studies
Authors: Papastavrou Evridiki , Efstathiou Georgios , Charalambous Andreas
Published: February 2011

papastavrou e., efstathiou g. & charalambous a. (2011) Nurses’ and patients’ perceptions of caring behaviours: quantitative systematic review of comparative studies. Journal of Advanced Nursing67(6), 1191–1205.

Aim.  This paper is a report of a systematic review conducted to test the hypothesis that nurses and patients perceive the concept of caring in nursing differently.

Background.  Caring is viewed as the central focus of nursing. However, despite its fundamental place in clinical practice, researchers and scholars have failed in reaching a common definition. This failure has led to eliciting for nebulous interpretations of the concept often leading to perplexity and opposing views between patients and nurses.

Data sources.  Extensive search was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL and EMBASE between March and May 2009 with no publishing time limit and the keywords ‘care’, ‘caring’, ‘nurse’, ‘nursing’, ‘behavio(u)rs’, ‘patient’, ‘perception’, ‘quantitative’ and ‘comparative’.

Review methods.  This quantitative systematic review of comparative studies followed the guidance of the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. A seven‐item ‘yes’ or ‘no’ checklist was developed and used for appraising the quality status of the selected literature. Narrative summary technique was used to report outcomes.

Results.  Evidence of incongruence of perceptions between patients and nurses is mainly supported by the literature. Few studies, however, report aspects of congruence.

Conclusion.  There is considerable evidence of the assertion that there is no congruence of perceptions between patients and nurses as regards to which behaviours are considered caring and intended caring is not always perceived as such by the patient. Further research is needed, however, to generate more knowledge on the relationship between caring behaviours, patient outcomes and health or nursing costs.
Online communities of practice as a communication resource for community health nurses working with homeless persons
Authors: Valaitis Ruta K. , Akhtar‐Danesh Noori , Brooks Fiona , Binks Sally , Semogas Dyanne
Published: February 2011

valaitis r.k., akhtar‐danesh n., brooks f., binks s. & semogas d. (2011) Online communities of practice as a communication resource for community health nurses working with homeless persons. Journal of Advanced Nursing67(6), 1273–1284.

Aims.  This study explored community health nurses’ viewpoints about a Canadian online community of practice to support their practice with homeless or under‐housed populations.

Background.  Community health nurses who specifically work with homeless and marginally housed populations often report feelings of isolation and stress in managing complex problems in resource constraints. To strengthen intra‐professional ties and enhance information access, an online community of practice was designed, implemented and evaluated by and for them.

Methods.  Q‐methodology was used. Sixty‐six statements about the community of practice were collected from an online survey and focus groups, refined and reduced to 44 statements. In 2009, sixteen participants completed the Q‐sort activity, rating each statement relative to the others. Scores for each participant were subjected to by‐person factor analysis.

Results.  Respondents fell into two groups –tacit knowledge warriors and tacit knowledge communicators. Warriors strongly believed that the community of practice could combat stigma associated with homelessness and promote awareness of homelessness issues, and valued its potential to validate and improve practice. Communicators would have used the community of practice more with increased discussion, facilitation and prompt responses. Generally, nurses viewed the community of practice as a place to share stories, validate practice and adapt best practices to their work context.

Conclusions.  Online communities of practice can be valuable to nurses in specialized fields with limited peer support and access to information resources. Tacit knowledge development is important to nurses working with homeless populations: this needs to be valued in conjunction with scientifically based knowledge.
A type III effector protease NleC from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli targets NF‐κB for degradation
Authors: Pearson Jaclyn S. , Riedmaier Patrice , Marchès Olivier , Frankel Gad , Hartland Elizabeth L.
Published: February 2011

Many bacterial pathogens utilize a type III secretion system (T3SS) to inject virulence effector proteins into host cells during infection. Previously, we found that enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) uses the type III effector, NleE, to block the inflammatory response by inhibiting IκB degradation and nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of NF‐κB. Here we screened further effectors with unknown function for their capacity to prevent p65 nuclear translocation. We observed that ectopic expression of GFP–NleC in HeLa cells led to the degradation of p65. Delivery of NleC by the T3SS of EPEC also induced degradation of p65 in infected cells as well as other NF‐κB components, c‐Rel and p50. Recombinant His6‐NleC induced p65 and p50 cleavage in HeLa cell lysates and mutation of a consensus zinc metalloprotease motif, HEIIH, abrogated NleC proteolytic activity. NleC inhibited IL‐8 production during prolonged EPEC infection of HeLa cells in a protease activity‐dependent manner. A double nleE/nleC mutant was further impaired for its ability to inhibit IL‐8 secretion than either a single nleE or a single nleC mutant. We conclude that NleC is a type III effector protease that degrades NF‐κB thereby contributing the arsenal of bacterial effectors that inhibit innate immune activation.
AlgW regulates multiple Pseudomonas syringae virulence strategies
Authors: Schreiber Karl J. , Desveaux Darrell
Published: February 2011

Gram‐negative bacterial pathogens have evolved a number of virulence‐promoting strategies including the production of extracellular polysaccharides such as alginate and the injection of effector proteins into host cells. The induction of these virulence mechanisms can be associated with concomitant downregulation of the abundance of proteins that trigger the host immune system, such as bacterial flagellin. In Pseudomonas syringae, we observed that bacterial motility and the abundance of flagellin were significantly reduced under conditions that induce the type III secretion system. To identify genes involved in this negative regulation, we conducted a forward genetic screen with P. syringae pv. maculicola ES4326 using motility as a screening phenotype. We identified the periplasmic protease AlgW as a key negative regulator of flagellin abundance that also positively regulates alginate biosynthesis and the type III secretion system. We also demonstrate that AlgW constitutes a major virulence determinant of P. syringae required to dampen plant immune responses. Our findings support the conclusion that P. syringae co‐ordinately regulates virulence strategies through AlgW in order to effectively suppress host immunity.
Heterochromatin formation in bistable chromatin domains controls the epigenetic repression of clonally variant Plasmodium falciparum genes linked to erythrocyte invasion
Authors: Crowley Valerie M. , Rovira‐Graells Núria , de Pouplana Lluís Ribas , Cortés Alfred
Published: February 2011

Clonally variant gene expression is a common survival strategy used by many pathogens, including the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Among the genes that show variant expression in this parasite are several members of small gene families linked to erythrocyte invasion, including the clag and eba families. The active or repressed state of these genes is clonally transmitted by epigenetic mechanisms. Here we characterized the promoters of clag3.1, clag3.2 and eba‐140, and compared nuclease accessibility and post‐translational histone modifications between their active and repressed states. Activity of these promoters in an episomal context is similar between parasite subclones characterized by different patterns of expression of the endogenous genes. Variant expression is controlled by the euchromatic or heterochromatic state of bistable chromatin domains. Repression is mediated by H3K9me3‐based heterochromatin, whereas the active state is characterized by H3K9ac. These marks are maintained throughout the asexual blood cycle to transmit the epigenetic memory. Furthermore, eba‐140 is organized in two distinct chromatin domains, probably separated by a barrier insulator located within its ORF. The 5′ chromatin domain controls expression of the gene, whereas the 3′ domain shares the chromatin conformation with the upstream region of the neighbouring phista family gene, which also shows variant expression.
Broad‐spectrum antimicrobial peptide resistance by MprF‐mediated aminoacylation and flipping of phospholipids
Authors: Ernst Christoph M. , Peschel Andreas
Published: February 2011

Bacteria are frequently exposed to cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) from eukaryotic hosts (host defence peptides) or from prokaryotic competitors (bacteriocins). However, many bacteria, among them most of the major human pathogens, achieve CAMP resistance by MprF, a unique enzyme that modifies anionic phospholipids with l‐lysine or l‐alanine thereby introducing positive charges into the membrane surface and reducing the affinity for CAMPs. The lysyl or alanyl groups are derived from aminoacyl tRNAs and are usually transferred to phosphatidylglycerol (PG). Recent studies with MprF from Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated that production of Lys‐PG only leads to CAMP resistance when an additional flippase domain of MprF is present that translocates Lys‐PG and exposes it at the outer leaflet of the membrane. Thus, MprF exerts two specific functions that have hardly been found in other bacterial proteins. MprF proteins are crucial virulence factors of many human pathogens, which recommends them as targets for new anti‐virulence drugs. Intriguingly, specific point mutations in mprF cause resistance to the CAMP‐like antibiotic daptomycin in a yet unclear way that may involve altered Lys‐PG synthesis and/or Lys‐PG flipping capacities. Thus, a thorough characterization of MprF domains and functions will help to unravel how bacteria maintain and protect their cytoplasmic membranes.
Dickeya species: an emerging problem for potato production in Europe
Authors: Toth I. K. , van der Wolf J. M. , Saddler G. , Lojkowska E. , Hélias V. , Pirhonen M. , Tsror (Lahkim) L. , Elphinstone J. G.
Published: February 2011

Dickeya species (formerly Erwinia chrysanthemi) cause diseases on numerous crop and ornamental plants world‐wide. Dickeya spp. (probably D. dianthicola) were first reported on potato in the Netherlands in the 1970s and have since been detected in many other European countries. However, since 2004–5 a new pathogen, with the proposed name ‘D. solani’, has been spreading across Europe via trade in seed tubers and is causing increasing economic losses. Although disease symptoms are often indistinguishable from those of the more established blackleg pathogen Pectobacterium spp., Dickeya spp. can initiate disease from lower inoculum levels, have a greater ability to spread through the plant’s vascular tissue, are considerably more aggressive, and have higher optimal temperatures for disease development (the latter potentially leading to increased disease problems as Europe’s climate warms). However, they also appear to be less hardy than Pectobacterium spp. in soil and other environments outside the plant. Scotland is currently the only country in Europe to enforce zero tolerance for Dickeya spp. in its potato crop in an attempt to keep its seed tuber industry free from disease. However, there are a number of other ways to control the disease, including seed tuber certification, on‐farm methods and the use of diagnostics. For diagnostics, new genomics‐based approaches are now being employed to develop D. dianthicola‐ and ‘D. solani’‐specific PCR‐based tests for rapid detection and identification. It is hoped that these diagnostics, together with other aspects of ongoing research, will provide invaluable tools and information for controlling this serious threat to potato production.
COMT and ALDH2 polymorphisms moderate associations of implicit drinking motives with alcohol use
Authors: Hendershot Christian S. , Lindgren Kristen P. , Liang Tiebing , Hutchison Kent E.
Published: February 2011

Dual process models of addiction emphasize the importance of implicit (automatic) cognitive processes in the development and maintenance of substance use behavior. Although genetic influences are presumed to be relevant for dual process models, few studies have evaluated this possibility. The current study examined two polymorphisms with functional significance for alcohol use behavior (COMT Val158Met and ALDH2*2) in relation to automatic alcohol cognitions and tested additive and interactive effects of genotype and implicit cognitions on drinking behavior. Participants were college students (n = 69) who completed Implicit Association Tasks (IATs) designed to assess two classes of automatic drinking motives (enhancement motives and coping motives). Genetic factors did not show direct associations with IAT measures; however, COMT and ALDH2 moderated associations of implicit coping motives with drinking outcomes. Interaction effects indicated that associations of implicit motives with drinking outcomes were strongest in the context of genetic variants associated with relatively higher risk for alcohol use (COMT Met and ALDH2*1). Associations of genotype with drinking behavior were observed for ALDH2 but not COMT. These findings are consistent with the possibility that genetic risk or protective factors could potentiate or mitigate the influence of reflexive cognitive processes on drinking behavior, providing support for the evaluation of genetic influences in the context of dual process models of addiction.
Quantitative genetic variation for thermal performance curves within and among natural populations ofDrosophila serrata
Authors: LATIMER C. A. L. , WILSON R. S. , CHENOWETH S. F.
Published: February 2011

Thermal performance curves (TPCs) provide a powerful framework for studying the evolution of continuous reaction norms and for testing hypotheses of thermal adaptation. Although featured heavily in comparative studies, the framework has been comparatively underutilized for quantitative genetic tests of thermal adaptation. We assayed the distribution of genetic (co)variance for TPC (locomotor activity) within and among three natural populations ofDrosophila serrataand performed replicated tests of two hypotheses of thermal adaptation – that ‘hotter is better’ and that a generalist‐specialist trade‐off underpins the evolution of thermal sensitivity. We detected significant genetic variance within, and divergence among, populations. The ‘hotter is better’ hypothesis was not supported as the genetic correlations between optimal temperature (Topt) and maximum performance (zmax) were consistently negative. A pattern of variation consistent with a generalist‐specialist trade‐off was detected within populations and divergence among populations indicated that performance curves were narrower and had higher optimal temperatures in the warmer, but less variable tropical population.
Testicular melanization has evolved in birds with high mtDNA mutation rates
Authors: GALVÁN I. , MØLLER A. P. , ERRITZØE J.
Published: February 2011

Melanin is mainly found in the integument of animals, but it also appears in several extracutaneous tissues. The presence of melanin in testes has been anecdotally reported in all vertebrate groups, but the causes and functions of this melanin remain unknown. Similar to other extracutaneous melanins, testicular melanin may protect male germ cells from oxidative stress. Given the high respiratory activity of spermatozoa, oxidative stress generated by mitochondrial dysfunction as a consequence of mtDNA mutations directly affects sperm viability. Thus, natural selection may favour testicular melanization in males of species with high historical mutation rates in the mitochondrial genome. Here, we tested this hypothesis using information on occurrence of testicular melanization and mutation accumulation as reflected by cytochromebmtDNA base pair substitution rates in a large set of 134 species of birds, controlling for the confounding effects of body mass, reproductive activity and phylogeny. We found that testicular melanization has evolved in species with high rates of accumulated mitochondrial mutations and propose that this is an adaptive response related to the protective capacity of melanin against oxidative stress. In support of this hypothesis, testicular melanization was more frequently observed during the breeding season of birds (i.e. when spermatogenesis is likely to occur) than during reproductive inactivity. In contrast to other extracutaneous melanins whose abundance seems to reflect skin and coat colour, we did not find a correlation between the proportion of plumage coloured by melanins and occurrence of testicular melanization. Whereas future experimental studies should test these hypotheses, our study highlights for the first time that melanization patterns in animals may evolve as a response to historical mutation rates.
Gene expression profiling of Arabidopsis meiocytes
Authors: Libeau P. , Durandet M. , Granier F. , Marquis C. , Berthomé R. , Renou J. P. , Taconnat‐Soubirou L. , Horlow C.
Published: February 2011

Meiosis is a special type of cell division present in all organisms that reproduce by sexual reproduction. It ensures the transition between the sporophytic and gametophytic state and allows gamete production through meiotic recombination and chromosome number reduction. In this paper, we describe a technique for the isolation of Arabidopsis thaliana male meiocytes. From this cellular material, it was then possible to develop large‐scale transcriptome studies using CATMA microarrays and thus to obtain an overview of genes expressed during Arabidopsis meiosis. The expression profiles were studied with either stringent statistical criteria or by performing clustering. Both methods resulted in gene clusters enriched in meiosis‐specific genes (from 14‐ to 55‐fold). Analysis of these data provided a unique set of genes that will be pivotal to further analysis aimed at understanding the meiotic process.
What Happened to the “Promised Land”? A Fanonian Perspective on Post‐Apartheid South Africa
Authors: Gibson Nigel C.
Published: February 2011

Abstract:  This paper reviews post‐apartheid South Africa through Fanon's critical analysis of decolonization. Since, for Fanon, apartheid represented the purest form of the Manichean politics of space that characterizes colonialism, a Fanonian perspective on South Africa asks to what extent has the geographical layout of apartheid been remapped? Addressing this question necessitates shifting the “geography of reason” from technical discourses of policy‐makers to the lived reality of the “damned of the earth”. From this perspective, Fanon's critique becomes relevant in two ways, first as a prism to understand the rise of xenophobic violence as a symptom of the degeneration of the idea of South Africa's “promised land” and second as a way to listen to a new grassroots shack dweller movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo, that is challenging both neoliberal and progressive assumptions by advocating a quite different geographic layout for a “truly democratic” society.
Illegality at Work: Deportability and the Productive New Era of Immigration Enforcement
Authors: Harrison Jill Lindsey , Lloyd Sarah E.
Published: February 2011

Abstract:  Our goal in this paper is to identify how recent escalations in immigration enforcement and changes in migration practices affect the ability of the state to continue to serve two of its key “productive” functions: protecting capital accumulation within industry and ensuring the state's own political legitimacy in the eyes of the public. We draw on our ethnographic research on Latino migrant dairy farm workers in Wisconsin to examine the ways in which a group of migrant workers experiences the process of being enforced as “illegal” bodies. We find that migrant dairy workers’ palpable sense of “deportability” articulates with the specific structure of dairy work in ways that make the economically and politically “ideal” migrant: compliant at work and invisible otherwise.
Forced to Concede: Permanent Restructuring and Labour's Place in the North American Auto Industry
Authors: Siemiatycki Elliot
Published: February 2011

Abstract:  The stunning decline of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler over the past decade has rendered the once “Big Three” US automakers a vulnerable “Detroit Three”. In their attempts to return to profitability, the Detroit Three have undertaken a series of “turnarounds” aimed at renewing their competitive edge. Through this corporate restructuring agenda, 250,000 assembly jobs in North America have been lost, upwards of 50 auto plants have been closed, wages and benefits for new hires have been cut substantially and once strong, independent auto unions have been thoroughly overwhelmed. Permanent restructuring, then, represents a crisis strategy on the part of the corporate elite to continually intensify the demands placed on labour in the hopes of creating new conditions for capital accumulation. Working within labour geography, this paper documents the “regional race to the bottom” in the North American auto industry while reminding labour geographers that capitalist restructuring is a powerful constraint on labour agency.
The Road to the Well: An Evaluation of the Customary Right to Water
Authors: Bates Rebecca
Published: February 2011

The unequal nature of water resource distribution threatens the physical and economic survival of over a billion people across the world. A number of international and domestic instruments have sought to address this need by providing for a right to water. However, there is no single instrument that can be said to establish categorically or define the right. This article examines the central documents that provide for the right to water and asks whether, in unison, these instruments establish a customary right to water. It will also explore the nature of the obligations imposed by such a right.
The Human Right to Water: Moving Towards Consensus in a Fragmented World
Authors: Gupta Joyeeta , Ahlers Rhodante , Ahmed Lawal
Published: February 2011

The problem of unmet water and sanitation service needs of one‐sixth to one‐third of humanity has been recognized by the UN General Assembly's 2010 Resolution on the human right to water and sanitation. However, this raises a number of questions. First, does the consensus within the General Assembly imply that all governance actors accept the right and the accompanying responsibilities and does it override other governance discourses dominant in the global arena? Second, why is a human rights discourse superior to other discourses used to address the above problem? Third, what are the challenges in implementing such a discourse and what are the potential solutions? This article argues that although there is growing consensus on the human right to water, the fragmentation of water governance implies that the impact of the consensus is limited. It argues further that there is a real and pressing need to discuss access issues in terms of human rights; but that given the implementation challenges, there is a more active need to move from public–private partnerships to public–non‐governmental organization partnerships.
Consumer complaint channel choice in online and offline purchases
Authors: Lee Seul , Cude Brenda J.
Published: February 2011

This research explored the influence of the purchase environment on the choice of complaint channel. The study was based on responses from 480 undergraduate students who participated in a 2 (purchase environment: offline vs. online) × 2 (the degree of dissatisfaction: weak vs. strong) online experiment. Consumers who purchased online were more likely to complain online than those who made their purchase offline. Online complaining among online purchasers increased with the degree of dissatisfaction. The research suggests that future researchers should include consumer complaint channel choices when examining consumer complaining behaviour.
Effect of near adds on the variability of accommodative response in myopic children
Authors: Sreenivasan Vidhyapriya , Irving Elizabeth L , Bobier William R
Published: February 2011

Citation information: Sreenivasan V, Irving EL & Bobier WR. Effect of near adds on the variability of accommodative response in myopic children. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2011, 31, 145–154. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2010.00818.x

Purpose:  Higher variability of accommodative response (VAR) has been reported in myopes and speculated to be a possible risk factor for the progression of myopia. We investigated whether near adds of +2D and −2D were capable of altering accommodative variability and also determined the influence of near phoria and viewing condition (binocular vs monocular) on the VAR in myopic and emmetropic children.

Methods:  Twenty‐seven myopic and 25 emmetropic children between 7 and 14 years were examined. All children were classified into ‘normophores’ (0 to 4 exo), exophores (>6 exo) or esophores (>2 eso) based on their near phoria. Binocular and monocular steady‐state measures of accommodation were obtained for 5 s using a PowerRefractor (Multichannel Co) while children fixated a high contrast target (33 cm) with distance correction, and then with +2D add and −2D add over the corrective lenses. The variation in accommodative responses (VAR) was defined as the standard deviation of the accommodative response during the 5 s period.

Results:  Myopic children showed higher VAR through their distance spectacle corrections compared to emmetropes (emmetropes = 0.23 ± 0.03D, myopes = 0.37 ± 0.07D, p < 0.001). Plus adds significantly reduced the VAR in myopic children to the level of emmetropes (emmetropes = 0.2 ± 0.03D, myopes = 0.19 ± 0.02D, p > 0.9). Introduction of a −2D add significantly increased the VAR in both refractive groups; however, myopes showed greater VAR compared to emmetropes (emmetropes = 0.39 ± 0.03D, myopes = 0.53 ± 0.07D, p < 0.001). Near phoria or binocular viewing did not alter the magnitude of fluctuations in either refractive group. VAR significantly correlated with the monocular accommodative error in both refractive groups (emmetropes r2 = 0.34; p < 0.0001; myopes: r2 = 0.35; p < 0.001). Pupil size, while varying with add type, did not confound the VAR.

Conclusions:  The near steady state accommodative response of young myopes shows greater variability than non‐myopes. This difference is maintained when accommodative responses are increased beyond the vergence plane using − 2D adds. However, accommodative fluctuations were reduced to emmetropic levels when the stimulus to accommodation is reduced using a +2D add. The resulting VAR through adds appear to follow that expected from variations in accommodative demands and hence properties of the accommodative controller. Vergence postures (eso and exo phoria) do not appear to influence the VAR with and without near adds.
Potential hazards of viewing 3‐D stereoscopic television, cinema and computer games: a review
Authors: Howarth Peter A
Published: February 2011

Citation information: Howarth PA. Potential hazards of viewing 3‐D stereoscopic television and cinema: a review. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2011, 31, 111–122. doi: 10.1111/j.1475‐1313.2011.00822.x

The visual stimulus provided by a 3‐D stereoscopic display differs from that of the real world because the image provided to each eye is produced on a flat surface. The distance from the screen to the eye remains fixed, providing a single focal distance, but the introduction of disparity between the images allows objects to be located geometrically in front of, or behind, the screen. Unlike in the real world, the stimulus to accommodation and the stimulus to convergence do not match. Although this mismatch is used positively in some forms of Orthoptic treatment, a number of authors have suggested that it could negatively lead to the development of asthenopic symptoms. From knowledge of the zone of clear, comfortable, single binocular vision one can predict that, for people with normal binocular vision, adverse symptoms will not be present if the discrepancy is small, but are likely if it is large, and that what constitutes ‘large’ and ‘small’ are idiosyncratic to the individual. The accommodation‐convergence mismatch is not, however, the only difference between the natural and the artificial stimuli. In the former case, an object located in front of, or behind, a fixated object will not only be perceived as double if the images fall outside Panum’s fusional areas, but it will also be defocused and blurred. In the latter case, however, it is usual for the producers of cinema, TV or computer game content to provide an image that is in focus over the whole of the display, and as a consequence diplopic images will be sharply in focus. The size of Panum’s fusional area is spatial frequency‐dependent, and because of this the high spatial frequencies present in the diplopic 3‐D image will provide a different stimulus to the fusion system from that found naturally.
T‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels as targets for the development of novel pain therapies
Authors: Todorovic Slobodan M , Jevtovic‐Todorovic Vesna
Published: February 2011

It is well recognized that voltage‐gated calcium (Ca2+) channels modulate the function of peripheral and central pain pathways by influencing fast synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability. In the past, attention focused on the modulation of different subtypes of high‐voltage‐activated‐type Ca2+ channels; more recently, the function of low‐voltage‐activated or transient (T)‐type Ca2+ channels (T‐channels) in nociception has been well documented. Currently, available pain therapies remain insufficient for certain forms of pain associated with chronic disorders (e.g. neuropathic pain) and often have serious side effects. Hence, the identification of selective and potent inhibitors and modulators of neuronal T‐channels may help greatly in the development of safer, more effective pain therapies. Here, we summarize the available information implicating peripheral and central T‐channels in nociception. We also discuss possible future developments aimed at selective modulation of function of these channels, which are highly expressed in nociceptors.