bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melatonin receptor‐mediated protection against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury: role of its anti‐adrenergic actions
Authors: Genade Sonia , Genis Amanda , Ytrehus Kirsti , Huisamen Barbara , Lochner Amanda
Published: August 2008

Abstract:  Melatonin has potent cardioprotective properties. These actions have been attributed to its free radical scavenging and anti‐oxidant actions, but may also be receptor mediated. Melatonin also exerts powerful anti‐adrenergic actions based on its effects on contractility of isolated papillary muscles. The aims of this study were to determine whether melatonin also has anti‐adrenergic effects on the isolated perfused rat heart, to determine the mechanism thereof and to establish whether these actions contribute to protection of the heart during ischaemia/reperfusion. The results showed that melatonin (50 μm) caused a significant reduction in both isoproterenol (10−7 m) and forskolin (10−6 m) induced cAMP production and that both these responses were melatonin receptor dependent, since the blocker, luzindole (5 × 10−6 m) abolished this effect. Nitric oxide (NO), as well as guanylyl cyclase are involved, as l‐NAME (50 μm), an NO synthase inhibitor and ODQ (20 μm), a guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, significantly counteracted the effects of melatonin. Protein kinase C (PKC), as indicated by the use of the inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (50 μm), also play a role in melatonin’s anti‐adrenergic actions. These actions of melatonin are involved in its cardioprotection: simultaneous administration of l‐NAME or ODQ with melatonin, before and after 35 min regional ischaemia, completely abolished its cardioprotection. PKC, on the other hand, had no effect on the melatonin‐induced reduction in infarct size. Cardioprotection by melatonin was associated with a significant activation of PKB/Akt and attenuated activation of the pro‐apoptotic kinase, p38MAPK during early reperfusion. In summary, the results show that melatonin‐induced cardioprotection may be receptor dependent, and that its anti‐adrenergic actions, mediated by NOS and guanylyl cyclase activation, are important contributors.
Novel bromomelatonin derivatives as potentially effective drugs to treat bone diseases
Authors: Suzuki Nobuo , Somei Masanori , Seki Azusa , Reiter Russel J. , Hattori Atsuhiko
Published: August 2008

Abstract:  Several reports indicate that melatonin is involved in the regulation of bone metabolism. To examine the direct effect of melatonin on osteoclasts and osteoblasts, we developed an in vitro assay using fish scales that contain osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and bone matrix, all of which are similar to those found in mammalian membrane bone. Using the assay, we demonstrated that melatonin suppressed osteoclastic and osteoblastic activities. These findings are in agreement with the reports from in vivo studies in mice and rats. In an attempt to develop molecules that increase bone mass, novel bromomelatonin derivatives were synthesized, and the effects of these chemicals on osteoclasts and osteoblasts using the scale assay were examined. As a result, novel bromomelatonin derivatives with the ability to possibly increase bone formation were identified. In scale osteoclasts, particularly, 1‐benzyl‐2,4,6‐tribromomelatonin had a more potent activity than melatonin. In reference to osteoblasts, this agent (10−9–10−6 m) significantly activated osteoblasts. The effect of 1‐benzyl‐2,4,6‐tribromomelatonin on bone formation was confirmed in ovariectomized rats. Thus, the oral administration of 1‐benzyl‐2,4,6‐tribromomelatonin augmented the total bone mineral density of the femoral metaphysis of ovariectomized rats. The stress–strain index of the diaphysis in 1‐benzyl‐2,4,6‐tribromomelatonin‐treated rats significantly increased in comparison with that in ovariectomized rats. In rats fed a low‐calcium diet, the total bone mineral density of the femoral metaphysis significantly increased following the oral administration of 1‐benzyl‐2,4,6‐tribromomelatonin. These studies identified a melatonin derivative that may have potential use in the treatment of bone diseases, such as osteoporosis.
Arabidopsis has Two Functional Orthologs of the Yeast V‐ATPase Assembly Factor Vma21p
Authors: Neubert Christoph , Graham Laurie A. , Black‐Maier Eric W. , Coonrod Emily M. , Liu Tzu‐Yin , Stierhof York‐Dieter , Seidel Thorsten , Stevens Tom H. , Schumacher Karin
Published: August 2008

How individual protein subunits assemble into the higher order structure of a protein complex is not well understood. Four proteins dedicated to the assembly of the V0 subcomplex of the V‐adenosine triphosphatase (V‐ATPase) in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) have been identified in yeast, but their precise mode of molecular action remains to be identified. In contrast to the highly conserved subunits of the V‐ATPase, orthologs of the yeast assembly factors are not easily identified based on sequence similarity. We show in this study that two ER‐localized Arabidopsis proteins that share only 25% sequence identity with Vma21p can functionally replace this yeast assembly factor. Loss of AtVMA21a function in RNA interference seedlings caused impaired cell expansion and changes in Golgi morphology characteristic for plants with reduced V‐ATPase activity, and we therefore conclude that AtVMA21a is the first V‐ATPase assembly factor identified in a multicellular eukaryote. Moreover, VMA21p acts as a dedicated ER escort chaperone, a class of substrate‐specific accessory proteins so far not identified in higher plants.
Mucopolysaccharidoses in the Scandinavian countries: incidence and prevalence
Authors: Malm Gunilla , Lund Allan M. , Månsson Jan‐Eric , Heiberg Arvid
Published: August 2008

Aim: The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS disorders) in Scandinavia.

Methods: The retrospective period used for the incidence study covered the period from 1975 to 2004 in Sweden and Denmark and from 1979 to 2004 in Norway. Prevalence was derived from the number of MPS patients alive as of December 31, 2007.

Results: The incidence of all MPS disorders was 1.75 cases in Sweden, 3.08 cases in Norway and 1.77 cases in Denmark per 100 000 newborns. The incidence of MPS I was the most common in all three countries, with 0.67, 1.85 and 0.54 cases per 100 000 newborns, respectively; for MPS II, numbers were 0.27, 0.13 and 0.27, respectively. For patients with other MPS disorders the incidence varied widely. The prevalence for all MPS disorders was 4.24, 7.06 and 6.03 per 1 000 000 inhabitants in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, respectively.

Conclusion: From three Scandinavian countries the incidence of MPS disorders is retrospectively evaluated for 25 years in Norway and 30 years in Sweden and Denmark. Incidence and prevalence studies of lysosomal disorders are prerequisites for cost benefit calculations in the face of newly developed and expensive therapies in the future.
The Evidence‐Based Practice Beliefs and Implementation Scales: Psychometric Properties of Two New Instruments
Authors: Melnyk Bernadette Mazurek , Fineout‐Overholt Ellen , Mays Mary Z.
Published: August 2008

Background: Implementation of evidence‐based practice (EBP) by health professionals is a key strategy for improving health care quality and patient outcomes as well as increasing professional role satisfaction. However, it is estimated that only a small percentage of nurses and other health care providers are consistently using this approach to clinical practice.

Aim: The aim of this study was to report on the development and psychometric properties of two new scales: (1) the 16‐item EBP Beliefs Scale that allows measurement of a person's beliefs about the value of EBP and the ability to implement it, and (2) the 18‐item EBP Implementation Scale that allows measurement of the extent to which EBP is implemented.

Methods: Nurses (N= 394) attending continuing education workshops volunteered to complete the scales. Data were analysed to evaluate reliability and validity of both instruments.

Results
: Cronbach's alpha was > .90 for each scale. Principal components analysis indicated that each scale allowed measurement of a unidimensional construct. Strength of EBP beliefs and the extent of EBP implementation increased as educational level increased (p < .001) and as responsibility in the workplace increased (p < .001).

Conclusion: In this study, initial evidence was provided to support the reliability and validity of the EBP Beliefs and Implementation Scales in a heterogeneous sample of practicing nurses.

Evidence to Action: Use of the scales in future research could generate evidence to guide EBP implementation strategies in practice and education. Results could establish the extent to which EBP is being implemented and its effect on clinician satisfaction and patient outcomes.
Fragment Propagation and Colonization Ability Enhanced and Varied at Node Level after Escaping from Apical Dominance in Submerged Macrophytes
Authors: Jiang Jinhui , An Shuqing , Zhou Changfang , Guan Baohua , Sun Zhiyi , Cai Ying , Liu Fude
Published: August 2008

Aquatic plants develop strong fragment propagation and colonization ability to endure the natural disturbances. However, detailed research of ability to endure the natural disturbances has been lacking to date. Therefore, reproduction (shoot) and colonization (root) of shoot fragments ofPotamogeton crispusL. with or without apices were investigated for the effect of apical dominance, and the growth of decapitated shoot fragments at three lengths (2, 4, 6 cm) was compared. Meanwhile, fragment propagation at levels of bud position was studied for bud position effect after escaping from apical dominance. The results showed significant increases occurred in the outgrowth of lateral branches on fragments decapitated compared with the fragments with apices, implying that apical dominance exists. Different lengths of fragments showed little difference in biomass allocations, but significant differences were noted in their propagation. Meanwhile, the effect of bud position was verified, due to the significant difference of average reproduction per node among the three length groups. Thus, the present study has made progress in the current understanding of aquatic plant dispersion among natural systems and contributes to improve methods ofin vitropropagation for re‐implantation purposes.
THE IMPACT OF HOMOGENIZATION AND MICROFILTRATION ON RENNET‐INDUCED GEL FORMATION
Authors: THOMANN STEPHAN , SCHENKEL PHILIPP , HINRICHS JÖRG
Published: August 2008

The effects of the independent variables, milk homogenization pressure (p1), concentration factor of milk microfiltration (i) and pH on the rheological properties of rennet milk gels were studied. Nondestructive oscillatory rheometry was used to determine rennet coagulation time (RCT), curd firming rate (CFR) and cutting time (CT). A central composite design, comprising two levels of i (1 and 2), pH (6.4 and 6.6) and p1 (0 and 8 MPa), was applied. Second‐order polynomial models successfully described (R2 > 0.92) the relationship between processing parameters and rheological properties of the gels. pH had the most important influence on RCT, while CFR and CT were strongly influenced by i, pH and the interaction of i and pH. In contradiction to studies on active filler interactions for acid milk gels, a discrepancy was observed between results obtained by compression test and rheometry. Rennet gel firmness strongly decreased with a rise in p1 when measured using the compression test, whereby CFR increased with an increase in p1 when measured using rheometry. The latter result corresponds to higher storage modulus values after a certain time indicating higher gel stiffness. This effect was stronger for concentrated milk than for unconcentrated milk.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The use of microfiltration (MF) and homogenization may reduce raw material and processing time in conventional cheese manufacture. However, MF markedly influences milk composition, and homogenization alters the particle size distribution of fat globules. Hence, both technologies may influence rennet‐induced gel formation, syneresis, cheese composition and quality. Curd firmness of homogenized milk is often too weak to resist the extensive curd treatment applied in semi‐hard cheese manufacture which causes loss of curd fines during the syneresis process and finally decreases cheese yield. MF leads to high curd firmness if cutting is not performed at the appropriate time, which unnecessarily extends processing time. The study of the effect of the individual treatments, as well as of the combination of both on rennet‐induced gel formation, is the first important step to evaluate their impact on further processing steps in cheese making. The combination of both technologies may overcome the antagonistic effect of the individual technology as low curd firmness due to homogenization can be compensated by MF that increases curd firmness and vice versa.
RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF CONCENTRATED INULIN SOLUTION: INFLUENCE OF SOLUBLE SOLIDS CONCENTRATION AND TEMPERATURE
Authors: TONELI JULIANA TÓFANO DE CAMPOS LEITE , PARK KIL JIN , MURR FERNANDA ELIZABETH XIDIEH , MARTINELLI PAULA OLIVEIRA
Published: August 2008

Inulin is a storage polysaccharide present in more than 30,000 vegetable products, including chicory roots, that are considered suitable for industrial application. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of temperature and the soluble solids concentration on the rheological behavior of a concentrated inulin solution obtained from a centrifugation process from chicory roots, after freezing at −24C. For all the evaluated soluble solids concentrations, inulin solutions showed a rheological behavior of a highly pseudoplastic fluid, with high resistance to flow at low strain rates followed by a breakdown of the structure when the shear rate increased. The effect of temperature on the apparent viscosity of inulin solutions can be represented by the Arrhenius equation. The rheological behavior of inulin solutions can be represented by the Herschel–Bulkley, Casson, Cross and Power Law equations, where the consistency index increases as temperature rises and the soluble solids concentration as well.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The main objective of this work was to analyze the rheological behavior of a concentrated inulin solution obtained from chicory roots, to check the possibility of its application to obtain powder inulin.

The concentrated inulin solution was obtained by diffusion in hot water, followed by concentration by evaporation and phase separation conducted by lowering the temperature (−24C) and centrifugation at a velocity of 10,000 rpm for a time interval of 15 min. However, this solution is still going to be processed. Therefore, it is important to know its rheological behavior.

The influence of temperature and the soluble solids concentration on the rheological behavior of the concentrated inulin solution was also studied.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL, TEXTURAL AND NOODLE‐MAKING PROPERTIES OF WHEAT DOUGH CONTAINING ALGINATE
Authors: LEE SUYONG , BAE IN YOUNG , JUNG JU‐HEE , JANG KEUM‐IL , KIM YOO WON , LEE HYEON GYU
Published: August 2008

The effects of the addition of alginate on the physicochemical, rheological and noodle‐making properties of wheat flour were studied. The hydration properties (water absorption index, water solubility and swelling power) of wheat flour increased with increasing levels of alginate due to its high affinity to water. The addition of alginate caused increased water absorption and dough development time in the farinogram while the tolerance of dough to mixing was reduced. Also, the syneresis of the wheat flour gel was significantly reduced during freeze‐thaw treatments when prepared with alginate. With the addition of alginate, the noodles exhibited an increase in the cooked weight and a decrease in the cooking loss. Moreover, the addition of alginate led to significant increases in the cutting and tensile forces of the noodles. In addition, the noodles containing more alginate exhibited lower lightness and redness, while yellowness was increased.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The purposes of this study are to examine the effects of alginate on the physicochemical and rheological properties of wheat flour dough and to evaluate its performance in noodle‐making.

This study demonstrates that alginate can be used as a food additive to control and modify the rheology and texture of wheat flour products.
BULK MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF COMMERCIAL PARTICLE FOOD FOAMS
Authors: SANDOVAL ALEIDA J. , CHAUNIER LAURENT , COURCOUX PHILIPPE , VALLE GUY DELLA
Published: August 2008

The texture of 10 commercial cereal foam products, of different composition and shape, has been evaluated through the measurement of its bulk mechanical properties using a Kramer shear cell. Force–displacement curves led to repeatable measurements, characterized by low standard deviations. Discrimination among samples and relevant mechanical variables were determined by the PCA of these curves. Most of the variability in the force–displacement curves (97%) and mechanical variables (93%) were contained in the two PC1s, and the mechanical behavior of this large variety of cereal foams texture could be explained by two variables: the energy needed for crushing (area under the force–displacement curve) and the slope ratio of the curve. These variables were then respectively related to bulk density, which increased with sugar content, and to the shape factor, evaluated through geometric approximation.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The contribution of this work to the characterization of cereal foam product texture is first, to extend the validation of the Kramer shear cell for assessing the bulk behavior of real products of irregular shape. Low standard deviation and product differentiation among 10 commercial samples shows that this method is reliable enough for quality control of cereal particle foams. Then, by its ability to determine the two most relevant variables from the texture profiles, it allows a deeper look on the relationships between mechanical properties and multi‐scale structure, as shown by the relation with apparent bulk density and particle shape, and the role of sugar content. Finally, the relation with former works on cornflakes also suggests the use of these variables for assessing sample crispness.
The Changing Value of Australian Tropical Rivers
Authors: JACKSON SUE , STOECKL NATALIE , STRATON ANNA , STANLEY OWEN
Published: August 2008

Until recently the objectives of tropical river management were narrowly construed: the development imperative drove resource policy. During recent decades, community attitudes to river and water management have changed considerably and the national program of water reform, the National Water Initiative, is accelerating alterations to the way that water is used, managed and priced. A broader range of values and imperatives is now influencing water resource management policy. Not least is the concern over the ecological impacts and economic inefficiencies of the large‐scale hydrological schemes that once excited the public's imagination. This paper reports on a recent study of social and economic values of tropical rivers conducted by the authors for an Australian statutory research and development corporation. The study shows that the values associated with tropical rivers have changed and diversified over time with growing societal awareness of the contribution made by unregulated, healthy river systems to human wellbeing and cultural identity. As a consequence of substantial social change, tropical river management must now contend with a more complex array of societal values and water management objectives.
Cultural Capital and Place: Coles Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania
Authors: PATTERSON CAROL
Published: August 2008

This paper poses the question: what is the role of cultural capital at the interface of environment, economy and society, and what other factors affect this role? A review of Pierre Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital and later developments of this concept by ecological economists serves to establish the values that comprise cultural capital, and its relationship to natural capital and economic capital. These relationships are investigated through a case study of a small coastal community, Coles Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula, in Tasmania. Three study groups are identified which comprise the communities associated with this place; long‐term residents, repeat visitors and tourists making a single visit. The complexity of the relationships of people with place are revealed through an examination of the different forms of capital (social, cultural and economic) relating to the different study groups. The dynamics of the social, economic and environmental realities of Coles Bay and the Freycinet Peninsula are seen to be complex and interlinked, with the potential to provide a model for action in communities of similar character and location.
Do transgenic plants affect rhizobacteria populations?
Authors: Filion Martin
Published: August 2008

Plant genetic manipulation has led to the development of genetically modified plants (GMPs) expressing various traits. Since their first commercial use in 1996, GMPs have been increasingly used, reaching a global cultivating production area of 114.3 million hectares in 2007. The rapid development of agricultural biotechnology and release of GMPs have provided many agronomic and economic benefits, but has also raised concerns over the potential impact these plants might have on the environment. Among these environmental concerns, the unintentional impact that GMPs might have on soil‐associated microbes, especially rhizosphere‐inhabiting bacteria or rhizobacteria, represents one of the least studied and understood areas. As rhizobacteria are responsible for numerous key functions including nutrient cycling and decomposition, they have been defined as good indicator organisms to assess the general impact that GMPs might have on the soil environment. This minireview summarizes the results of various experiments that have been conducted to date on the impact of GMPs on rhizobacteria. Both biological and technical parameters are discussed and an attempt is made to determine if specific rhizobacterial responses exist for the different categories of GMPs developed to date.
Identification of furfural as a key toxin in lignocellulosic hydrolysates and evolution of a tolerant yeast strain
Authors: Heer Dominik , Sauer Uwe
Published: August 2008

The production of fuel ethanol from low‐cost lignocellulosic biomass currently suffers from several limitations. One of them is the presence of inhibitors in lignocellulosic hydrolysates that are released during pre‐treatment. These compounds inhibit growth and hamper the production of ethanol, thereby affecting process economics. To delineate the effects of such complex mixtures, we conducted a chemical analysis of four different real‐world lignocellulosic hydrolysates and determined their toxicological effect on yeast. By correlating the potential inhibitor abundance to the growth‐inhibiting properties of the corresponding hydrolysates, we identified furfural as an important contributor to hydrolysate toxicity for yeast. Subsequently, we conducted a targeted evolution experiment to improve growth behaviour of the half industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain TMB3400 in the hydrolysates. After about 300 generations, representative clones from these evolved populations exhibited significantly reduced lag phases in medium containing the single inhibitor furfural, but also in hydrolysate‐supplemented medium. Furthermore, these strains were able to grow at concentrations of hydrolysates that effectively killed the parental strain and exhibited significantly improved bioconversion characteristics under industrially relevant conditions. The improved resistance of our evolved strains was based on their capacity to remain viable in a toxic environment during the prolonged, furfural induced lag phase.
Development of an oligonucleotide microarray method for Salmonella serotyping
Authors: Tankouo‐Sandjong B. , Sessitsch A. , Stralis‐Pavese N. , Liebana E. , Kornschober C. , Allerberger F. , Hächler H. , Bodrossy L.
Published: August 2008

Adequate identification of Salmonella enterica serovars is a prerequisite for any epidemiological investigation. This is traditionally obtained via a combination of biochemical and serological typing. However, primary strain isolation and traditional serotyping is time‐consuming and faster methods would be desirable. A microarray, based on two housekeeping and two virulence marker genes (atpD, gyrB, fliC and fljB), has been developed for the detection and identification of the two species of Salmonella (S. enterica and S. bongori), the five subspecies of S. enterica (II, IIIa, IIIb, IV, VI) and 43 S. enterica ssp. enterica serovars (covering the most prevalent ones in Austria and the UK). A comprehensive set of probes (n = 240), forming 119 probe units, was developed based on the corresponding sequences of 148 Salmonella strains, successfully validated with 57 Salmonella strains and subsequently evaluated with 35 blind samples including isolated serotypes and mixtures of different serotypes. Results demonstrated a strong discriminatory ability of the microarray among Salmonella serovars. Threshold for detection was 1 colony forming unit per 25 g of food sample following overnight (14 h) enrichment.
Geometry Relaxations After Inner-Shell Excitations and Ionizations
Authors: Ehara Masahiro , Nakatsuji Hiroshi
Published: August 2008

The geometry relaxations due to the inner-shell excitations and ionizations have been studied by the SAC-CI method. The characteristic molecular geometry changes were predicted for the core-hole states of CH4, NH3, H2O and HF: the calculated CH bond length change agrees well with the result simulated by the observed spectrum. The C1s excitation spectrum of CH4 was also investigated for the Rydberg states of the principal quantum numbers n = 3, 4 and 5. The potential energy curves of the dipole-allowed excited states were calculated for the totally symmetric stretching mode. The vibrational structure and Franck-Condon factors for the C1s excitation spectrum were well reproduced, which shows that the equilibrium geometries of the excited states were accurately evaluated. The geometries of the inner-shell π* excited states of N2O and CO2 were also examined. The calculated geometries of these states qualitatively agreed with the experimental values of the corresponding equivalent-core molecules.
Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in relation toBRCA1status, basal-like markers and prognosis in breast cancer
Authors: Arnes J B , Bégin L R , Stefansson I , Brunet J-S , Nielsen T O , Foulkes W D , Akslen L A
Published: August 2008

Aims:

BRCA1-related breast cancer is associated with a basal-like phenotype, and is frequently oestrogen receptor (ER) and HER2 negative. The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been considered to be one component of the basal-like phenotype, but no standard criteria exist. This study investigates the relationship between EGFR expression,BRCA1status and basal markers with respect to clinicopathological associations and prognosis, in addition to evaluating different criteria for EGFR assessment by immunohistochemistry.

Methods:

A tissue microarray comprising 230 available cases, from a series of primary invasive breast cancer diagnosed in Ashkenazi Jewish women during 1980–1995, was stained for EGFR using the Dako PharmDX kit, and evaluated by Webslide virtual microscopy.

Results:

EGFR was positive in 9–19% according to different criteria. Expression was associated withBRCA1carrier status and basal-like markers as negative ER, positive cytokeratin 5/6 and positive P-cadherin staining. EGFR was prognostically significant by univariate and multivariate analysis within the group carrying germ-lineBRCA1mutations. Histological grade, axillary lymph node status and P-cadherin status had significant independent value in the final multivariate model including all cases, whereas EGFR was not significant in this model. All five scoring systems gave comparable results concerning clinicopathological associations and patient outcome, although the most restrictive criteria (EGFR-HI) tended to be most sensitive in predictingBRCA1status, a basal phenotype, and patient prognosis.

Conclusions:

EGFR expression, being present in 9–19% of the cases, was prognostically significant amongBRCA1mutated cases only. In multivariate survival analysis of all cases, no independent effect was seen. However, EGFR immunostaining might be relevant to predict the response to targeted therapy, and this should be studied further.
Soil bacteria: principal component analysis of descriptions of named cultures
Authors: Skyring G. W. , Quadling C.
Published: August 2008

Binary-encoded descriptions of 85 named cultures (mostly of soil origin) and of 15 unnamed soil isolates were analyzed by a two-stage principal component procedure including the condensation of the data in terms of grouping of tests and of cultures. This procedure also allowed an evaluation of the discriminative importance of the tests used. Nine clusters of cultures were found by use of a centroid clustering procedure in the space defined by the five leading principal component (P.C.) vectors, which collectively accounted for 54% of original variance. The clusters of item-points representing the cultures were plotted in the dimensions defined by the first and second P.C. vectors providing a geometrical model by which their relationships could be visualized. These P.C. vectors could be interpreted in terms of 31 important discriminative tests (many of which were concerned with the utilization of carbon compounds) from the total of 98 tests used. Fifteen clusters of tests were found as a result of Adansonian R analysis, and 37 clusters of cultures found by means of Adansonian Q analysis. The groupings of the isolates by the Q analysis and the P.C. analysis were compatible although there was some geometrical distortion. To supplement personal decisions on the acceptability of automatically derived clusterings, additional analyses were performed to investigate the homogeneity, relative sizes, and spatial relationships of the clusters of organisms found. In general, results of taxonomic interest were concordant with those of other workers, especially in respect of the genera Arthrobacter, Rhizobium, and Pseudomonas. It was concluded that the bacteriological and the numerical methods used would be appropriate for comparative study of heterotrophic bacterial populations from rhizosphere and corresponding soil environments.
Properties of the in vitro soluble RNA methylase activity of hamster tumors induced by adenovirus-12
Authors: McFarlane E. Sandra
Published: August 2008

Certain properties of the tRNA methylases from hamster tumor tissue induced by adenovirus-12, hamster liver, and hamster connective tissue are described. The three enzyme extracts are shown to possess different substrate specificities, different responses to the presence of ammonia ions, different pH optima, and different stabilities on storage.Evidence indicates that the increased tRNA methylase in tumor extracts is not related to the T-antigen found in tumors induced by adenovirus-12.
Production of valinomycin
Authors: MacDonald J. C.
Published: August 2008

Simplified procedures are described in detail for the production and isolation of valinomycin. Mycelium of Streptomyces sp. PRL 1642, grown in stationary culture, was extracted with methanol and the extract was chromatographed on a column of aluminum oxide. Valinomycin was recovered from the eluate and purified by washing and crystallization.
Gluconeogenesis in teleost fishes
Authors: Suarez Raul K. , Mommsen Thomas P.
Published: August 2008

The literature on the substrates, enzymes, pathway, regulation, and physiological function of gluconeogenesis in teleost fishes is reviewed. The information presently available reveals considerable gaps in our knowledge, as well as greater diversity in enyzme (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase) compartmentation, substrate preference, and hormonal regulation than perhaps previously appreciated. The need for in-depth studies using a variety of teleost species and an integrated approach at different levels of organization (i.e., isolated enzyme to whole organism) is suggested. These analyses are required, first, to address fundamental biochemical problems traditionally studied almost exclusively with rats, second, to allow mechanistic explanations at the biochemical level for events occurring in whole organisms, and third, to provide insights into gluconeogenesis and its regulation in the context of short-term and evolutionary adaptation. It is suggested that the third task can be achieved only through the study of "real animals" in "real environments".
Nasicola hogansi n.sp. (Monogenea: Capsalidae) from bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Osteichthyes: Scombridae), in the northwest Atlantic
Authors: Wheeler Terry A. , Beverley-Burton Mary
Published: August 2008

Nasicola hogansi n.sp. is proposed for material from bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) taken in the Gulf of St. Lawrence off Prince Edward Island, Canada, and is distinguished from Nasicola klawei (Stunkard, 1962), the type and only other known species in the genus, by the smaller total body length, a haptoral diameter of approximately 40% of the total length (as compared with 20–30%), a greater number of small dorsomarginal spines, fewer large dorsomarginal spines, and a greater number of testes. An emended generic diagnosis for Nasicola Yamaguti, 1968 is provided. Four genera are recognized within the Capsalinae: Capsala Bosc, 1811; Tristoma Cuvier, 1817; Capsaloides Price, 1938; and Nasicola Yamaguti, 1968. Reference is made to the taxonomic confusion regarding generic definitions within the subfamily; it is suggested that taxonomic revision of the Capsalinae would result in major systematic changes at the generic level.
Labyrinthuloides haliotidis n.sp. (Protozoa: Labyrinthomorpha), a pathogenic parasite of small juvenile abalone in a British Columbia mariculture facility
Authors: Bower Susan M.
Published: August 2008

Labyrinthuloides haliotidis n.sp. is an achlorophyllous eucaryotic protist that is pathogenic to juvenile abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana and Haliotis rufescens) less than 190 days of age (postsetting). Within the muscle and nervous tissue of the head and foot of susceptible abalone and in axenic nutrient culture media at 10 °C, vegetative stages of L. haliotidis proliferated by binary fission and produced ectoplasmic nets from sagenogenetosomes located on the cell periphery. When the abalone died and the parasites were released from the decaying tissue or when culture forms were washed free of nutrient medium and placed in sea water, internal multiple fission (sporulation) occurred within some cells, producing zoosporoblasts. After 24 to 72 h of incubation at 10 °C, the zoosporoblasts ruptured to release from 3 to about 10 infective biflagellated zoospores. After about 24 h of active swimming, or on contact with a glass surface, the zoospores shed their flagella. Ultrastructure of vegetative stages and zoospores related this species more closely to the thraustochytrids than to the labyrinthulids. Confusion still prevails concerning the higher taxonomic affinities of this group of organisms. In keeping with recent publications on the taxonomy of the kingdom Protozoa, L. haliotidis was considered to be a protozoan of the phylum Labyrinthomorpha and not allied with the fungi.
Artificial culture of Labyrinthuloides haliotidis (Protozoa: Labyrinthomorpha), a pathogenic parasite of abalone
Authors: Bower Susan M.
Published: August 2008

Labyrinthuloides haliotidis was isolated from infected abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) and successfully cultured in minimum essential medium with 10% fetal calf serum at 10 °C for at least 1 year. On transfer to sea water, some subcultures produced numerous motile biflagellate zoospores while zoospore production of other subcultures was poor. On return to minimum essential medium, zoospores transformed into rapidly dividing vegetative forms. Labyrinthuloides haliotidis was not fastidious in its nutrient requirements and vegetative forms grew well in several different liquid media, on agar containing 10% bovine serum, and on pine pollen (Pinus contorta) in sea water. The mean diameter of the round vegetative forms often varied significantly (Student's t-test, P < 0.05) but the overall range in diameter (3.1 to 16.2 μm) observed in the various media was similar. Best growth occurred at 10 °C and in media made up with 30‰ sea water. No growth occurred at 28 °C or above, or in thioglycollate culture medium at 10 °C. Although L. haliotidis grew on pine pollen in sea water, zoosporoblasts and zoospores were not produced. The disappearance of precipitated proteins in agar medium around colonies of L. haliotidis and the destruction of host tissue around the parasite in infected abalone suggest that extracellular digestion occurs with this organism.
Cardiac frequency: a potential predictor of blood cortisol levels during acute and chronic stress exposure in Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis)
Authors: Harlow Henry J. , Thorne E. Tom , Williams Elizabeth S. , Belden E. Lee , Gern William A.
Published: August 2008

It was the purpose of this study to investigate methods of assessing responses to stress by free-ranging bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis). The adrenal response test on wild-caught bighorn sheep maintained in captivity did not demonstrate either adrenal exhaustion or hypersensitivity during chronic stress. To study physiological responses to acute stress, hand-reared bighorn sheep were habituated to living in stalls and fitted with electrocardiogram leads and jugular cannulas for remote monitoring of cardiac frequency and blood cortisol changes. A radioimmunoassay was validated on bighorn sheep plasma which was a modification of the procedure used for domestic sheep. A linear relationship between heart rate and blood cortisol was obtained for individual animals suggesting that remote monitoring of cardiac frequency can be used as a predictor of adrenal function and, therefore, the potential immunologic condition of an animal during stress.
Littoral invertebrate abundance in bluegill spawning colonies and undisturbed areas of a small pond
Authors: Pierce Clay L. , Musgrove Karen Ann , Ritterpusch Jean , Carl Nancy E.
Published: August 2008

Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) spawning activity creates benthic disturbances in the littoral zone of ponds and lakes. We assessed invertebrate densities and biomass in bluegill spawning colonies and nearby undisturbed areas before and after the onset of nest construction in a small pond. Juvenile fish abundance and prespawning sediment particle size distributions were also quantified. These data were used to evaluate whether bluegill spawning activity affects the abundance of benthic invertebrates. Densities and biomass of most macroinvertebrate taxa were similar before and just after nest construction. Insects tended to be more abundant in undisturbed areas 6 weeks after nest construction, while oligochaetes were more abundant in spawning areas. Total macroinvertebrate densities and biomass did not differ significantly on any sampling date. Micro-invertebrates (principally cladocerans and copepods) were much more abundant in undisturbed areas before spawning. Copepods and ostracods were more abundant in spawning areas after nest construction. Juvenile fish abundances were similar before spawning, but were significantly greater in undisturbed areas after spawning began. Macrophyte inhibition, reduced invertebrate colonization, differential predation pressure from juvenile fish, and other potential effects of spawning activity may account for some of these patterns.
Repetitive rates of harp seal underwater vocalizations
Authors: Terhune J. M. , MacGowan G. , Underhill L. , Ronald K.
Published: August 2008

Underwater recordings of harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) vocalizations, obtained within the breeding herd during March, were examined with respect to calling rate and repetition of calls. Vocalizations typically overlapped one another. Calling rates ranged from 32 to 88 calls/min. Repetition rates averaged between 1.9 and 4.7 sound pulses/call (maximum repetition 24 times). Approximately 30% of the calls were not repeated and 40% were repeated twice. We found no significant relationships between calling rates and repetition rates. There were no variations in these factors throughout the day or month. An automatic level control on the recorder and the overlapping of the calls may have compromised the counts by altering the effective sampling area. The use of vocalization indexes in association with population estimations may be possible only when calls do not overlap.
ON INEQUALITIES BETWEEN SUBWORD HISTORIES
Authors: FAZEKAS SZILÁRD ZSOLT
Published: August 2008

In this paper we study subword inequalities, that is, inequalities between the number of occurrences of certain scattered subwords in a word. The problem of deciding whether a subword inequality holds for all words was proposed in [5]. We provide partial results describing a few cases in which the subword inequalities hold. Whether a subword inequality falls in these categories is decidable. However, the general question remains open.
ON-LINE HEALTH MONITORING AND DAMAGE DETECTION OF STRUCTURES BASED ON THE WAVELET TRANSFORM
Authors: ZHU B. , LEUNG A. Y. T. , WONG C. K. , LU W. Z.
Published: August 2008

Presented herein is an experiment that aims to investigate the applicability of the wavelet transform to damage detection of a beam–spring structure. By burning out the string that is connected to the cantilever beam, high-frequency oscillations are excited in the beam–spring system, and there results an abrupt change or impulse in the discrete-wavelet-transformed signal. In this way, the discrete wavelet transform can be used to recognize the damage at the moment it occurs. In the second stage of damage detection, the shift of frequencies and damping ratios is identified by the continuous wavelet transform so as to ensure that the abrupt change or impulse in the signal from the discrete wavelet transform is a result of the damage and not the noise. For the random forced vibration, the random decrement technique is used on the original signal to obtain the free decaying responses, and then the continuous wavelet transform is applied to identify the system parameters. Some developed p version elements are used for the parametric studies on the first stage of health monitoring and to find the damage location. The results show that the two-stage method is successful in damage detection. Since the method is simple and computationally efficient, it is a good candidate for on-line health monitoring and damage detection of structures.
SEISMIC FRAGILITY ANALYSIS OF FRAME STRUCTURES
Authors: LIN J. H.
Published: August 2008

A seismic fragility analysis of structures is essential to prediction of the building behavior that is likely to occur during earthquakes. Normally, the probability of failure of a structure over a specified period of time is obtained through a convolution of the fragility curve with the seismic hazard curve for the structure site. The fragility models and damage states probabilities serve as a basis for improving the structural codes and performance-based design. Thus, there is a need for relatively simple procedures for evaluating fragility data for decision-making. In this study, the peak story drifts of a building structure during earthquakes are used as an indicator of structural demands. An analytical solution for evaluating the statistical characteristics of peak story drifts of frame structures during earthquakes is proposed. Based on it, an approximate approach to constructing the seismic fragility curves for various states of damage for frame structures is developed.
HAMILTONIAN SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC BUCKLING OF TRANSVERSELY ISOTROPIC CYLINDRICAL SHELLS SUBJECTED TO AN AXIAL IMPACT
Authors: XU XINSHENG , CHU HONGJIE , LIM C. W.
Published: August 2008

This paper investigates the prebuckling dynamics of transversely isotropic thin cylinder shells in the context of propagation and reflection of axial stress waves. By constructing the Hamiltonian system of the governing equation, the symplectic eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are obtained directly and rationally without the need for any trial shape functions, such as the classical semi-inverse method. The critical loads and buckling models are reduced to the problem of eigenvalues and eigensolutions, in which zero-eigenvalue solutions and nonzero-eigenvalue solutions correspond to axisymmetric buckling and nonaxisymmetric buckling, respectively. Numerical results reveal that energy is concentrated at the unconstrained free ends of the shell and the buckling modes have bigger bell-mouthed shapes at these positions.
Gonadal Ecdysteroidogenesis in Arthropoda: Occurrence and Regulation
Authors: Brown Mark R. , Sieglaff Douglas H. , Rees Huw H.
Published: August 2008

Ecdysteroids are multifunctional hormones in male and female arthropods and are stored in oocytes for use during embryogenesis. Ecdysteroid biosynthesis and its hormonal regulation are demonstrated for insect gonads, but not for the gonads of other arthropods. The Y-organ in the cephalothorax of crustaceans and the integument of ticks are sources of secreted ecdysteroids in adults, as in earlier stages, but the tissue source is not known for adults in many arthropod groups. Ecdysteroid metabolism occurs in several tissues of adult arthropods. This review summarizes the evidence for ecdysteroid biosynthesis by gonads and its metabolism in adult arthropods and considers the apparent uniqueness of ecdysteroid hormones in arthropods, given the predominance of vertebrate-type steroids in sister invertebrate groups and vertebrates.
Morphodynamics of Tidal Inlet Systems
Authors: de Swart H.E. , Zimmerman J.T.F.
Published: August 2008

In this review we discuss the morphodynamics of tidal inlet systems that are typical of barrier coasts formed during a period of continuous sea-level rise during the Holocene. The morphodynamics concerns feedbacks between three major components: the hydrodynamics of tidal currents and wind waves; the erosion, deposition, and transport of sediment under the action of the former hydrodynamic agencies; and the morphology proper, which results from the divergence of the sediment transport. We discuss the morphodynamics of the different units that characterize a tidal inlet system: the overall system, the ebb-tidal delta, the tidal channels, channel networks, tidal bars and meanders, and finally the intertidal zone of tidal flats and salt marshes. In most of these units, stability analysis is a major guide to the establishment of equilibrium structures.
The Powdery Mildews: A Review of the World's Most Familiar (Yet Poorly Known) Plant Pathogens
Authors: Glawe Dean A.
Published: August 2008

The past decade has seen fundamental changes in our understanding of powdery mildews (Erysiphales). Research on molecular phylogeny demonstrated that Erysiphales are Leotiomycetes (inoperculate discomycetes) rather than Pyrenomycetes or Plectomycetes. Life cycles are surprisingly variable, including both sexual and asexual states, or only sexual states, or only asexual states. At least one species produces dematiaceous conidia. Analyses of rDNA sequences indicate that major lineages are more closely correlated with anamorphic features such as conidial ontogeny and morphology than with teleomorph features. Development of molecular clock models is enabling researchers to reconstruct patterns of coevolution and host-jumping, as well as ancient migration patterns. Geographic distributions of some species appear to be increasing rapidly but little is known about species diversity in many large areas, including North America. Powdery mildews may already be responding to climate change, suggesting they may be useful models for studying effects of climate change on plant diseases.