bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specificity of adaptation to a novel host plant by a seed beetle
Authors: Messina Frank J. , Johnson Danielle
Published: November 2014

Adaptation to one novel host plant may simultaneously improve an insect's performance on other unfamiliar hosts, as a kind of cross‐adaptation. In selection experiments using an Asian population of the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), larval survival in lentil seeds increased from about 1 to >90% in fewer than 30 generations, and acceptance of lentil by egg‐laying females increased two‐ to three‐fold. We examined whether rapid adaptation to lentil altered beetle performance on other grain legumes, including hosts more closely related to lentil than to the ancestral host, mung bean. Three replicate, lentil‐adapted lines were compared to the mung‐bean (control) line with respect to both host acceptance (oviposition under no‐choice conditions) and larval performance (survival to adult emergence, development time, and adult mass at emergence). In most experiments, females from the lentil lines laid more eggs on unfamiliar hosts than did females from the mung‐bean line. Greater oviposition on novel hosts could not be explained by variation in potential fecundity, and did not appear to depend on a host's relatedness to lentil. Although survival in lentil remained extremely divergent between the mung‐bean and lentil lines (0 vs. >90%), the lines did not differ in larval performance on two other novel hosts (pea and fava bean) that are much more closely related to lentil than to mung bean. Because larval performance is most likely the limiting factor in the potential colonization of a novel host by C. maculatus, our experiments did not provide strong evidence for cross‐adaptation. The results suggest that adaptation to even a highly marginal host need not lead to a general expansion of an insect's host range.
Bite or flight: the response of mosquitoes to disturbance while feeding on a defensive host
Authors: Reid Janine N. , Hoffmeister Thomas S. , Hoi Amber Gigi , Roitberg Bernard D.
Published: November 2014

Understanding the blood‐feeding behavior of Anopheles gambiae Giles sensu stricto (Diptera: Culicidae) is important to the control of this malaria vector. Whereas the mosquito's decision to initiate blood feeding under different physiological states is well‐studied, its decision to terminate a blood meal in the face of a defensive host has received little attention. In light of this, we assayed the response of females when disturbed during a blood meal, in a size‐energy state factorial experiment. We found that a mosquito's decision to abandon its host is dependent not only on its relative blood intake, but also on its size and energy state. In particular, mosquitoes are more likely to terminate feeding with increasing relative blood meal size, with the exception of small, high‐energy ones, on which they tend to continue feeding. Mosquitoes that have engaged in prediuresis also tend to abandon their host more readily than those that have not. We discuss our results with regards to the marginal returns in fitness (via fecundity) of continuing feeding for body size, energy state, and interactions.
Aphid behavioral responses to virus‐infected plants are similar despite divergent fitness effects
Authors: Wu Ying , Davis Thomas Seth , Eigenbrode Sanford D.
Published: November 2014

We compared the settling preferences and reproductive potential of an oligophagous herbivore, the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Hemiptera: Aphididae), in response to pea plants, Pisum sativum L. cv. ‘Aragorn’ (Fabaceae), infected with two persistently transmitted viruses, Pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) and Bean leaf roll virus (BLRV), that differ in their distribution within an infected plant. Aphids preferentially oriented toward and settled on plants infected with PEMV or BLRV in comparison with sham‐inoculated plants (plants exposed to herbivory by uninfected aphids), but aphids did not discriminate between plants infected with the two viruses. Analysis of plant volatiles indicated that plants inoculated with either virus had significantly higher green leaf volatile‐to‐monoterpene ratios. Time until reproductive maturity was marginally influenced by plant infection status, with a trend toward earlier nymph production on infected plants. There were consistent age‐specific effects of plant infection status on aphid fecundity: reproduction was significantly enhanced for aphids on BLRV‐infected plants across most time intervals, though mean aphid fecundity did not differ between sham and PEMV‐infected plants. There was no clear pattern of age‐specific survivorship; however, mean aphid lifespan was reduced on plants infected with PEMV. Our results are consistent with predictions of the host manipulation hypothesis, extended to include plant viruses: non‐viruliferous A. pisum preferentially orient to virus‐infected host plants, potentially facilitating pathogen transmission. These studies extend the scope of the host manipulation hypothesis by demonstrating that divergent fitness effects on vectors arise relative to the mode of virus transmission.
Convergent development of a parasitoid wasp on three host species with differing mass and growth potential
Authors: Harvey Jeffrey A. , Molina Almudena Canovas , Bezemer T. Martijn , Malcicka Miriama
Published: November 2014

Koinobiont parasitoids develop in hosts that continue feeding and growing during the course of parasitism. Here, we compared development of a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid, Meteorus pulchricornis Westmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), in second (L2) and fourth (L4) instars of three host species that are closely related (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) but which exhibit large variation in growth potential. Two hosts, Mamestra brassicae L. and Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval, may reach 1 g or more when the caterpillars are fully mature, whereas Spodoptera exigua Hübner is much smaller with mature caterpillars rarely exceeding 200 mg. Parasitoid survival (to pupation) in the two host instars was much higher on the larger hosts than on S. exigua. However, other fitness correlates in M. pulchricornis were very similar in the three host species. Development time was fairly uniform in L2 and L4 hosts of the three host species, whereas wasps were larger in L4 than in L2 hosts. However, M. pulchricornis developmentally arrested each of the hosts differently. The mass of dying L2 and L4 hosts after parasitoid larval egression (i.e., when they emerge from the dying caterpillar) varied significantly, with S. littoralis being by far the largest and S. exigua the smallest. These results reveal that M. pulchricornis is able to adjust its own development in response to species‐specific differences in host resources.
Indirect competitive effects of stemborers on a gall community
Authors: Stokes Keith , Stiling Peter
Published: November 2014

Interspecific competition between phytophagous insects using the same host plant occurs frequently and can strongly affect population densities of competing species. Competition between gallmakers and stemborers could be especially intense because both types of herbivore are unable to avoid competition by relocation during their immature stages. For apical meristem gallmakers the main result of competition is likely to be the interruption of resources to the gall by the stemborers' devouring of stem contents. The proximate effect of such competition could be to reduce gall size, thereby increasing the number of chambers per gall unit volume, and reducing the size and potential reproductive output of the gallformer. In addition, smaller galls may be more susceptible to attack from size‐limited parasitoids, resulting in a second indirect effect of competition. Using a community of galling and stemboring insects on the saltmarsh shrubIva frutescensL. (Asteraceae), we measured for indirect effects of competition. We examined the primary indirect effect of competition on gall midge crowding and the secondary effects on parasitism rates and parasitoid guild composition. Results indicated that galls co‐occurring with stemborers were smaller, crowding of gall inhabitants was 22% greater, and the composition of the parasitoid guild was altered relative to galls on unbored stems. The overall parasitism rate was not different between galls on bored vs. unbored stems. These results show that competition resulting from the presence of stemborers has the potential to affect the gall midgeAsphondylia borrichiaeRossi &Strong (Diptera:Cecidomyiidae) and secondarily to affect its guild of hymenopteran parasitoids.
The diagnostic accuracy of screening questionnaires for the identification of adults with epilepsy: A systematic review
Authors: Keezer Mark R. , Bouma Hanni K. , Wolfson Christina
Published: November 2014

Objective

To describe the diagnostic accuracy of screening questionnaires to identify epilepsy in adults, we performed a systematic review of diagnostic studies that assessed the sensitivity and specificity of such screening questionnaires as compared to a physician's clinical assessment.

Methods

We searched Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to present) and Ovid EMBASE (1947 to present) for studies that estimated the sensitivity and specificity of nonphysician administered screening questionnaires for adults with epilepsy. Both telephone and in‐person administered questionnaires were included, whether applied to population or hospital/clinic‐based cohorts. The risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Studies‐2 (QUADAS‐2) tool.

Results

Our initial search strategy resulted in 917 records. We found nine studies eligible for inclusion. The estimated sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires used to identify persons with a lifetime history of epilepsy ranged from 81.5% to 100% and 65.6% to 99.2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of these questionnaires in identifying persons with active epilepsy ranged from 48.6% to 100% and 73.9% to 99.9%, respectively. Overall we found a high risk of bias in patient selection and study flow in the majority of studies.

Significance

We identified nine validation studies of epilepsy screening questionnaires, summarized their study characteristics, presented their results, and performed a rigorous quality assessment. This review serves as a basis for future studies by providing a systematic review of existing work. Future research addressing previous limitations will ultimately allow us to more accurately estimate the burden and risk of epilepsy in the general population.
PI3K signalling is required for a TGFβ‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal‐like transition (EMT‐like) in human melanoma cells
Authors: Schlegel Natalie C. , von Planta Anina , Widmer Daniel S. , Dummer Reinhard , Christofori Gerhard
Published: November 2014

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a programme defined in epithelial cells and recognized as playing a critical role in cancer progression. Although melanoma is not a cancer of epithelial cells, hallmarks of EMT have been described to play a critical role in melanoma progression. Here, we demonstrate that long‐term TGFβ exposure can induce a dedifferentiated EMT‐like state resembling a previously described invasive phenotype (EMT‐like). TGFβ‐induced EMT‐like is marked by the downregulation of melanocyte differentiation markers, such as MITF, and the upregulation of mesenchymal markers, such as N‐cadherin, and an increase in melanoma cell migration and cell invasion. Pharmacological interference shows the dependency of TGFβ‐induced EMT‐like on the activation of the PDGF signalling pathway and the subsequent activation of PI3K in human melanoma cells. Together, the data provide novel insights into the transcriptional plasticity of melanoma cells that might contribute to tumor progression in patients and propose avenues to therapeutic interventions.
Inhibitor of differentiation‐4 (Id4) stimulates pigmentation in melanoma leading to histiocyte infiltration
Authors: DiVito Kyle A. , Trabosh Valerie A. , Chen You‐Shin , Simbulan‐Rosenthal Cynthia M. , Rosenthal Dean S.
Published: November 2014

TGF‐β and the inhibitors of differentiation (Id) are linked. Smad7 and other TGF‐β inhibitors can potently suppress melanomagenesis; however, little work examining Ids has been reported in melanoma, particularly for Id4. Here, we report that Id4, but not Id2 or Id3 expression, surprisingly, activated robust melanin production in xenografts of previously amelanotic (lacking pigment) 1205Lu/Smad7 (S7) cells. Fontana–Masson stain and de‐novo expression of MART‐1 and tyrosinase proteins confirmed melanin production. Additionally, pigment‐laden CD163+ mouse histiocytes with areas of extensive necrosis were found throughout S7/Id4 tumors, but not in parental 1205Lu, S7/Id2 or S7Id3‐derived tumors. Mechanistic investigation revealed increased nuclear M‐microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) and MART‐1 promoter activation following Id4 expression in 1205Lu and WM852 melanoma cells, suggesting broader implications for Id4 in melanin synthesis. In human tumors, melanin colocalized with Id4 expression establishing a correlation. Current chemotherapeutics for melanoma are only marginally effective. Immunotherapy provides the most promise, yet the role of innate immunity is poorly understood. Here, TGF‐β suppression followed by Id4 expression results in extensive melanin synthesis and robust histiocyte recruitment following tumorigenesis, a novel role for Id4. Our results suggest that TGF‐β suppression coupled with pigment overproduction triggers an innate immune response resulting in tumor necrosis.
Comparative analysis of BRAF,NRAS and c‐KIT mutation status between tumor tissues and autologous tumor cell‐lines of stage III/IV melanoma
Authors: Knol Anne‐Chantal , Pandolfino Marie‐Christine , Vallée Audrey , Nguyen Frédérique , Lella Virginie , Khammari Amir , Denis Marc , Puaux Anne‐Laure , Dréno Brigitte
Published: November 2014

In the last decade, advances in molecular biology have provided evidence of the genotypic heterogeneity of melanoma. We analysed BRAF, NRAS and c‐KIT alterations in tissue samples from 63 stage III/IV melanoma patients and autologous cell‐lines, using either allele‐specific or quantitative PCR. The expression of BRAF V600E protein was also investigated using an anti‐BRAF antibody in the same tissue samples. 81% of FFPE samples and tumor cell‐lines harboured a genetic alteration in either BRAF (54%) or NRAS (27%) oncogenes. There was a strong concordance (100%) between tissue samples and tumor cell‐lines. The BRAF V600E mutant‐specific antibody showed high sensitivity (96%) and specificity (100%) for detecting the presence of a BRAF V600E mutation. The correlation was of 98% between PCR and immunohistochemistry results for BRAF mutation. These results suggest that BRAF and NRAS mutation status of tumor cells is not affected by culture conditions.
NMRstructure of bitistatin – a missing piece in the evolutionary pathway of snake venom disintegrins
Authors: Carbajo Rodrigo J. , Sanz Libia , Perez Alicia , Calvete Juan J.
Published: November 2014

Extant disintegrins, as found in the venoms ofViperidaeandCrotalidaesnakes (vipers and rattlesnakes, represent a family of polypeptides that block the function of β1 and β3 integrin receptors, both potently and with a high degree of selectivity. This toxin family owes its origin to the neofunctionalization of the extracellular region of anADAM(a disintegrin and metalloprotease) molecule recruited into the snake venom gland proteome in the Jurassic. The evolutionary structural diversification of the disintegrin scaffold, from the ancestral long disintegrins to the more recently evolved medium‐sized, dimeric and short disintegrins, involved the stepwise loss of pairs of class‐specific disulfide linkages and the processing of the N‐terminal region.NMRand crystal structures of medium‐sized, dimeric and short disintegrins have been solved. However, the structure of a long disintegrin remained unknown. The present study reports theNMRsolution structures of two disulfide bond conformers of the long disintegrin bitistatin from the African puff adderBitis arietans. The findings provide insight into how a structural domain of the extracellular region of anADAMmolecule, recruited into and selectively expressed in the snake venom gland proteome as aPIIImetalloprotease in the Jurassic, has subsequently been tranformed into a family of integrin receptor antagonists.
Are there links between responses of soil microbes and ecosystem functioning to elevated CO2, N deposition and warming? A global perspective
Authors: García‐Palacios Pablo , Vandegehuchte Martijn L. , Shaw E. Ashley , Dam Marie , Post Keith H. , Ramirez Kelly S. , Sylvain Zachary A. , de Tomasel Cecilia Milano , Wall Diana H.
Published: November 2014

In recent years, there has been an increase in research to understand how global changes’ impacts on soil biota translate into altered ecosystem functioning. However, results vary between global change effects, soil taxa, and ecosystem processes studied, and a synthesis of relationships is lacking. Therefore, here we initiate such a synthesis to assess whether the effect size of global change drivers (elevated CO2, N deposition, and warming) on soil microbial abundance is related with the effect size of these drivers on ecosystem functioning (plant biomass, soil C cycle, and soil N cycle) using meta‐analysis and structural equation modeling. For N deposition and warming, the global change effect size on soil microbes was positively associated with the global change effect size on ecosystem functioning, and these relationships were consistent across taxa and ecosystem processes. However, for elevated CO2, such links were more taxon and ecosystem process specific. For example, fungal abundance responses to elevated CO2 were positively correlated with those of plant biomass but negatively with those of the N cycle. Our results go beyond previous assessments of the sensitivity of soil microbes and ecosystem processes to global change, and demonstrate the existence of general links between the responses of soil microbial abundance and ecosystem functioning. Further we identify critical areas for future research, specifically altered precipitation, soil fauna, soil community composition, and litter decomposition, that are need to better quantify the ecosystem consequences of global change impacts on soil biodiversity.
Sustained virological response to antiviral therapy improves survival rate in patients with recurrent hepatitis C virus infection after liver transplantation
Authors: Kawaoka Tomokazu , Takahashi Shoichi , Kawakami Yoshiiku , Tsuge Masataka , Hiramatsu Akira , Imamura Michio , Hyogo Hideyuki , Aikata Hiroshi , Ishiyama Kohei , Tashiro Hirotaka , Ohdan Hideki , Tanaka Junko , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: November 2014

Aim

Previous European and North American studies analyzed the relationship between survival rate and sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon (IFN) therapy in patients with recurrent hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection after liver transplantation (LT). The present study was designed to define the same relationship in Japanese patients who had undergone LT.

Methods

Forty‐seven patients (genotype 1, 40; genotype 2, 7) with recurrent HCV after LT were treated with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) or IFN/ribavirin (RBV). In possible, within 3 months after LT, patients started treatment with PEG IFN‐α‐2b or IFN‐α‐2b s.c. once weekly combined with RBV (200 mg/day).

Results

The SVR rate was 51% (24/47) for all patients, 42.5% (17/40) for genotype 1 and 100% (7/7) for genotype 2. The median follow‐up period was 71 months (range, 24–152). The survival rate of 24 patients who achieved SVR was 95% at 5 years and 92% at 10 years. These rates were significantly better than those of 23 patients who did not achieve SVR (82% at 5 years, 58% at 10 years) (P = 0.027). Two patients of the SVR group died during follow up (due to hepatocellular carcinoma in one and chronic rejection in one), while six non‐SVR patients died during the same period (three died due to liver failure by recurrent HCV).

Conclusion

SVR following IFN therapy contributes to improvement of survival rate in patients with recurrent post‐LT HCV infection.
Phase equilibria constraints on the melt fertility of crustal rocks: the effect of subsolidus water loss
Authors: Webb G. , Powell R. , McLaren S.
Published: November 2014

During regional prograde metamorphism, H2O generated by ongoing dehydration reactions is likely to be continuously lost from a rock by compaction. Classical melting experiments cannot easily simulate this phenomenon, because ideally, all run products are conserved within the experimental charge, although significant equilibration and H2O generation may occur during heating. Phase equilibria modelling is used to consider the effect of subsolidus water loss (SWL) on subsequent melting relationships of felsic lithologies (including metapelite, metagreywacke and metatonalite) in the suprasolidus. SWL drives the bulk composition towards the minimum saturation point on the boundary of the wet‐melting field and results in significantly reduced subsequent melt generation when compared to melting experiments involving conservation of subsolidus H2O. This effect is most significant at P–T conditions just above the solidus. For initially hydrated rocks, the reduction in melt production causes rheologically critical thresholds (e.g. melt connectivity threshold, melt escape threshold and the solid‐to‐liquid transition) to be intersected at temperatures generally more than 100 °C, higher than predicted by idealized experimental melting curves.
Alternative fire‐driven vegetation states
Authors: Pausas Juli G.
Published: November 2014

There is increasing evidence that alternative stable vegetation types exist for a given climate that are maintained by distinct fire regimes. Paritsis et al. (2014, this issue) provide an example in a temperate ecosystem. Here I briefly review cases of bi‐stability in various climates, and present a simple model for the transition between states in their system.
Stochastic processes and crop types shape weed community assembly in arable fields
Authors: Perronne Rémi , Le Corre Valérie , Bretagnolle Vincent , Gaba Sabrina
Published: November 2014

Aims

In agro‐ecosystems, crop types, i.e., the crop species and its associated agricultural practices, have been shown to influence the taxonomic as well as functional composition of weed communities. However, the processes underlying weed community assembly within a crop type are poorly understood, especially regarding the contributions of local factors and stochastic processes. In this study, we investigate the effects of the crop type in shaping local weed communities.

Location

LTER Zone Atelier Plaine et Val de Sèvre, an intensive cereal system in western France.

Methods

We selected 105 fields of five crop types and investigated the functional structure of weed communities for those traits that define the Leaf–Height–Seed (L‐H‐S) strategy as well as phenological traits. We compared the observed trait distribution to trait distributions expected under random assembly. The trait distributions were described by the range, the community‐weighted mean and the dispersion of each trait, and simulated communities were generated with a null model approach that randomizes the ‘species × traits’ matrix to maintain equiprobable the occurrence of each trait combination. The relationship between trait values and species abundance within each community was investigated using Kendall rank correlation tests.

Results

Our results showed that, in ca. 90% of the fields, the functional diversity of weed communities did not differ from what would be expected under random assembly. Departures from random expectations essentially resulted from shifts in weighted mean values for phenological traits. Weed communities of sunflower, maize and spring pea had later onsets of emergence and flowering than randomly expected. Communities of winter wheat had smaller species and earlier onset of flowering, and communities from oilseed rape had a larger duration of the emergence period and earlier onset of flowering. In addition, we found a positive significant relationship between species abundance and trait values for phenology for spring pea, sunflower and maize, suggesting that species with a later onset of emergence and flowering period have higher performance in these weed communities.

Conclusions

At landscape scale, weed communities generally showed patterns of functional diversity in accordance with those expected under random community assembly, except for phenological traits in spring and summer crops, where patterns were rather consistent with environmental filtering.
Intraspecific trait variability matters
Authors: Albert Cecile H.
Published: November 2014

Intraspecific trait variability (ITV) plays a central part in various ecological processes, though using mean trait values may be sufficient in some instances. Ecologists need thus to find under which circumstances. Carlucci et al. (2014, this issue) bring new evidence on the importance of ITV for community assembly across a strong gradient. Sampling design may affect ITV quantification across gradients.
Fatigue in primary sclerosing cholangitis is associated with sympathetic over‐activity and increased cardiac output
Authors: Dyson Jessica K. , Elsharkawy Ahmed M. , Lamb Christopher A. , Al‐Rifai Ahmad , Newton Julia L. , Jones David E. , Hudson Mark
Published: November 2014

Background & Aims

Patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) frequently highlight the impact of fatigue on their life quality. The study aims were to evaluate fatigue and its associations in PSC and investigate whether overt autonomic dysfunction contributes to the expression of fatigue.

Methods

All PSC patients under active follow‐up at a regional liver centre were sent disease‐ and symptom‐assessment tools. Three control groups were utilized; unselected community controls, patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) without PSC, and cholestatic controls with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). A representative subgroup of PSC patients and normal controls underwent formal autonomic assessment.

Results

Symptom‐assessment tools were returned by 40 non‐transplanted patients. PSC patients had significantly worse fatigue than population controls (P = 0.005). Fatigue was significant compared to population controls whether or not patients had accompanying IBD, although was more marked in those with both PSC and IBD. In patients with PSC and IBD, fatigue severity and autonomic symptoms were significantly increased in those with prior significant surgical intervention. Clinically significant autonomic dysfunction was seen in 22.5% of PSC patients, and of those, 78% had significant fatigue. Neurally mediated hypotension was found in 60% of PSC patients compared to 8% in the control group. The PSC group had increased sympathetic activity and reduced parasympathetic activity.

Conclusion

Fatigue is a significant problem in a minority of PSC patients and appears to be associated with autonomic dysfunction. Fatigued PSC patients should be screened for autonomic dysfunction and targeting such dysfunction represents a potential approach to treatment which warrants further exploration.
Effect of Selective Prostaglandin E2 EP2 Receptor Agonist CP‐533,536 on Voiding Efficiency in Rats with Midodrine‐Induced Functional Urethral Obstruction
Authors: KURIHARA Ryoko , IMAZUMI Katsunori , TAKAMATSU Hajime , ISHIZU Kenichiro , YOSHINO Taiji , MASUDA Noriyuki
Published: November 2014

Objectives

We investigated the effect of the selective prostaglandin E2 EP2 receptor agonist CP‐533,536 on voiding efficiency in rats with midodrine‐induced functional urethral obstruction.

Methods

The effect of CP‐533,536 (0.03–0.3 mg/kg, intravenous [i.v.]) on urethral perfusion pressure (UPP) was investigated in anesthetized rats pre‐treated with midodrine (1 mg/kg, i.v.), which forms an active metabolite that acts as an α1‐adrenoceptor agonist. The effect of CP‐533,536 (0.03–0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) on cystometric parameters was also investigated in anesthetized rats. In addition, the effect of CP‐533,536 (0.03–0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) on residual urine volume (RV) and voiding efficiency (VE) was investigated in conscious rats treated with midodrine (1 mg/kg, i.v.).

Results

CP‐533,536 dose‐dependently decreased UPP elevated by midodrine in anesthetized rats. In contrast, CP‐533,536 did not affect maximum voiding pressure, intercontraction interval, or intravesical threshold pressure. In conscious rats, midodrine (1 mg/kg, i.v.) markedly increased RV and reduced VE. CP‐533,536 dose‐dependently ameliorated increases in RV and decreases in VE induced by midodrine.

Conclusions

These results suggest that a selective EP2 receptor agonist could ameliorate the elevation of RV and improve the reduction of VE in rats with functional urethral obstruction caused by stimulation of α1‐adrenoceptors. The mechanism of action might be not potentiation of bladder contraction but rather preferential relief of urethral constriction.
Transition from Charge‐Transfer to Largely Locally Excited Exciplexes, from Structureless to Vibrationally Structured Emissions
Authors: Young Ralph H. , Feinberg Adam M. , Dinnocenzo Joseph P. , Farid Samir
Published: November 2014

Exciplexes of 9,10‐dicyanoanthracene (DCA) with alkylbenzene donors in cyclohexane show structureless emission spectra, typical of exciplexes with predominantly charge‐transfer (CT) character, when the donor has a relatively low oxidation potential (Eox), e.g. hexamethylbenzene (HMB). With increasing Eox and stronger mixing with a locally excited (LE) state, vibrational structure begins to appear with 1,2,3,5‐tetramethylbenzene and becomes prominent with p‐xylene (p‐Xy). A simple theoretical model reproduces the spectra and the radiative rate constants, and it reveals several surprises: Even in this nonpolar solvent, the fractional CT character of a highly mixed exciplex varies widely in response to fluctuations in the microscopic environment. Environments that favor the LE (or CT) state contribute more to the blue (or red) side of the overall spectrum. It is known that sparsely substituted benzene radical cations, e.g., p‐Xy•+, are stabilized more in acetonitrile than the heavily substituted HMB•+. Remarkably, ion pairing with DCA•– in cyclohexane leads to even larger differences in the stabilization of these radical cations. The spectra of the low‐Eox donors are almost identical except for displacements that approximately equal the differences in Eox, even though the exciplexes have varying degrees of CT character. These similarities result from compensation among several nonobvious, but quantified factors.
Enantiostylous types of Cassiinae species (Fabaceae‐Caesalpinioideae)
Authors: Almeida N. M. , Cotarelli V. M. , Souza D. P. , Novo R. R. , Siqueira Filho J. A. , Oliveira P. E. , Castro C. C.
Published: November 2014

Species of the subtribe Cassiinae present a wide diversity of floral types. Until recently it was considered that this diversity did not extend to their reproductive mechanisms. However, studies have recorded some variations in the enantiostylous pattern in this plant group. This study aims to investigate the morphological and functional variations of enantiostyly in species of the subtribe Cassiinae. Additionally, it proposes the recognition of enantiostylous types (ET) based on pollen deposition and capture mode. Morphological data were collected in fresh and fixed (alcohol 70%) buds and flowers, and also using photos and rehydrated material from herbarium sheets, for a total of 59 species. The parameters used to establish the ETs were pollination type, nature of pollen deposition on the pollinator body, deposition type, number of petals involved in pollen deposition, and pollen pathway. Morpho‐functional features allowed the recognition of seven enantiostylous types (Flexuosa, Cana, Macranthera, Martiana, Amiciella, Repens and Ramosa) that present several levels of complexity. The type Ramosa was the most common and the Cana type was the least common. The types Repens, Martiana and Flexuosa do not have reciprocal pollen deposition, thus species with these types may be considered atypical. The groups resulting from similarity analysis partially coincide with the clades proposed in phylogenetic studies of Cassiinae. The recognition of functional ETs is important for understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies of Cassiinae species, and indicates an interesting line of investigation of enantiostyly in other plant groups.
Developing smarter host mixtures to control plant disease
Authors: Mikaberidze A. , McDonald B. A. , Bonhoeffer S.
Published: November 2014

Adaptation of plant pathogens to disease control measures (both chemical and genetic) is facilitated by the genetic uniformity underlying modern agroecosystems. One path to sustainable disease control lies in increasing genetic diversity at the field scale by using genetically diverse host mixtures. In this study, a robust population dynamics approach was used to model how host mixtures could improve disease control. It was found that when pathogens exhibit host specialization, the overall disease severity decreases with the number of components in the mixture; this finding makes it possible to determine an optimal number of components to use. In a simple case, where two host varieties are exposed to two host‐specialized pathogen species or strains, quantitative criteria for optimal mixing ratios are determined. Using these model outcomes, ways to optimize the use of host mixtures to decrease disease in agroecosystems are proposed.
Genetic structure of Verticillium dahliae isolates infecting olive trees in Tunisia using AFLP, pathogenicity and PCR markers
Authors: Gharbi Y. , Triki M. A. , Trabelsi R. , Fendri I. , Daayf F. , Gdoura R.
Published: November 2014

Since 2006, verticillium wilt of olive induced by Verticillium dahliae has caused considerable economic losses in olive orchards in Tunisia. The genetic structure of V. dahliae isolates collected from different olive growing regions was investigated using virulence tests, vegetative compatibility grouping (VCG) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analyses. In total, 42 isolates of V. dahliae from diseased olive trees were tested. Cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis revealed that geographic origin was the main factor determining the genetic structure of V. dahliae populations and both methods indicated a genetic separation between the central and coastal isolates. Isolates were divided into two major groups: the AFLP‐I group included all isolates from Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan, Kasserine and Sfax (centre of the country) and the AFLP‐II group included isolates from Monastir, Zaghouane, Sousse, Mahdia (coastal region), and two isolates from Sfax. Analysis of the molecular variance (amova) indicated a significant level of genetic differentiation among (76%) and within (23%) the two populations. Analyses of both the defoliating (D) and non‐defoliating (ND) pathotypes and VCG markers indicated that most of the isolates belong to VCG 2A and 4B/ND pathotype. The disease severity was highly variable among the isolates tested (P < 0·05) with no evidence of association between aggressiveness and geographical origin of the isolates. Overall, results of this study revealed a clear association between the genetic diversity of the isolates and their geographic origin, but not between genetic diversity and virulence patterns.
Estimating the oxidative ratio of UK peats and agricultural soils
Authors: Clay G. D. , Worrall F.
Published: November 2014

Organic matter in the terrestrial biosphere has a fundamental role in moderating the exchange of CO2 between the atmosphere and the biosphere. One important property of organic matter is its oxidative ratio (OR); that is, the ratio of moles O2 released per mole CO2 sequestered through photosynthesis, that is, the lower the OR, less O2 is released per mole of CO2 fixed. In global assessments of CO2 partitioning, the failure to account for changes in OR could lead to an underestimate of terrestrial carbon sequestration. It is known that OR can vary between environments and management, but what other factors could be playing a role in controlling OR? This study measured the OR of a range of peat (Histosols) and mineral soils (Inceptisols) under similar management from across the United Kingdom to investigate how OR varies within and between material types. The study shows that OR values varied significantly between material types (median peat OR = 1.10, median vegetation OR = 1.03 and median mineral soil OR = 1.14), and they also varied between study sites. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in OR with peat depth. Given the results from this study, we can suggest that future sampling strategies should include sampling of the major carbon pools (i.e. vegetation, litter and soil) and that, as a first approximation, OR can be examined on the basis of these carbon pools alone. The values measured in the study give a new residence time‐weighted global OR estimate for the terrestrial biosphere () of 1.056 ± 0.02.
Collecting, kitsch and the intimate geographies of social memory: a story of archival autoethnography
Authors: DeLyser Dydia
Published: November 2014

This paper engages recent creative approaches to the archive in geography to explore an approach I term archival autoethnography: collecting and contributing to the archive ourselves, and critically engaging with those practices. I use my own collection of kitsch souvenirs of the 19th‐century southern California novelRamona– nearly all acquired aftereBay auctions transformed the geography of collectibles sale and acquisition – to show how collecting such objects transformed my research, lending insights into tourist experiences more than a century old and revealing how kitsch souvenirs help build intimate geographies of social memory. Publishing with illustrations from my collection drew public attention to the collection and eventually aided in the reinterpretation of two historic landmarks long linked to the novel. Contrary to prevailing interpretations of kitsch then, this paper reveals the cultural and political agency of kitsch souvenirs in shaping social memory. I show how moving derided objects into the realm of my scholarly research enabled me to build an alternative archive that shed new light on a historical topic, leading to the unexpected impact of my research in the broader community. I reveal how collecting and contributing to the archive ourselves, and analysing those practices in archival autoethnography, become valuable geographical research practices.
A classification of all 1-Salem graphs
Authors: Gumbrell Lee , McKee James
Published: November 2014

One way to study certain classes of polynomials is by considering examples that are attached to combinatorial objects. Any graph$G$has an associated reciprocal polynomial$R_{G}$, and with two particular classes of reciprocal polynomials in mind one can ask the questions: (a) when is$R_{G}$a product of cyclotomic polynomials (giving thecyclotomic graphs)? (b) when does$R_{G}$have the minimal polynomial of a Salem number as its only non-cyclotomic factor (the non-trivialSalem graphs)? Cyclotomic graphs were classified by Smith (Combinatorial structures and their applications, Proceedings of Calgary International Conference, Calgary, AB, 1969 (eds R. Guy, H. Hanani, H. Saver and J. Schönheim; Gordon and Breach, New York, 1970) 403–406); the maximal connected ones are known as Smith graphs. Salem graphs are ‘spectrally close’ to being cyclotomic, in that nearly all their eigenvalues are in the critical interval$[-2,2]$. On the other hand, Salem graphs do not need to be ‘combinatorially close’ to being cyclotomic: the largest cyclotomic induced subgraph might be comparatively tiny.

We define an$m$-Salem graph to be a connected Salem graph$G$for which$m$is minimal such that there exists an induced cyclotomic subgraph of$G$that has$m$fewer vertices than$G$. The$1$-Salem subgraphs are both spectrally close and combinatorially close to being cyclotomic. Moreover, every Salem graph contains a$1$-Salem graph as an induced subgraph, so these$1$-Salem graphs provide some necessary substructure of all Salem graphs. The main result of this paper is a complete combinatorial description of all$1$-Salem graphs: in the non-bipartite case there are$25$infinite families and$383$sporadic examples.
Slower lower limb blood pooling in young women with orthostatic intolerance
Authors: Lindenberger Marcus , Länne Toste
Published: November 2014

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Orthostatic stress is mostly caused by venous blood pooling in the lower limbs. Venous distension elicits sympathetic responses, and increased distension speed enhances the cardiovascular response. We examine whether lower limb blood pooling rate during lower body negative pressure is linked to orthostatic intolerance.

What is the main finding and its importance?

A similar amount of blood was pooled in the lower limb, but at a slower rate in women who developed signs of orthostatic intolerance. The difference in blood pooling rate increased with orthostatic stress and was most prominent at a presyncope‐inducing level of lower body negative pressure. The findings have implications for the pathophysiology as well as treatment of orthostatic intolerance.

Vasovagal syncope is common in young women, but its aetiology remains elusive. Orthostatic stress‐induced lower limb blood pooling is linked with central hypovolaemia and baroreceptor unloading. Venous distension in the arm elicits a sympathetic response, which is enhanced with more rapid distension. Our aim was to study both the amount and the speed of lower limb pooling during orthostatic stress and its effects on compensatory mechanisms to maintain cardiovascular homeostasis in women with orthostatic intolerance. Twenty‐seven healthy women, aged 20–27 years, were subjected to a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) of 11–44 mmHg. Five women developed symptoms of vasovagal syncope (orthostatic intolerant) and were compared with the remaining women, who tolerated LBNP well (orthostatic tolerant). Lower limb blood pooling, blood flow and compensatory mobilization of venous capacitance blood were measured. Lower body negative pressure induced equal lower limb blood pooling in both groups, but at a slower rate in orthostatic intolerant women (e.g. time to 50% of total blood pooling, orthostatic intolerant 44 ± 7 s and orthostatic tolerant 26 ± 2 s; P < 0.001). At presyncope‐inducing LBNP, the mobilization of venous capacitance blood was both reduced (P < 0.05) and much slower in orthostatic intolerant women (P = 0.0007). Orthostatic intolerant women elicited blunted arterial vasoconstriction at low‐grade LBNP, activating only cardiopulmonary baroreceptors, while orthostatic tolerant women responded with apparent vasoconstriction (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, slower lower limb blood pooling could contribute to orthostatic intolerance in women. Mobilization of venous capacitance blood from the peripheral to the central circulation was both slower and decreased; furthermore, reduced cardiopulmonary baroreceptor sensitivity was found in women who developed orthostatic intolerance. Further studies including women who experience syncope in daily life are needed.
New experimental setup for metallic clusters production based on hollow cylindrical magnetron sputtering
Authors: de Sá Artur Domingues Tavares , Abrao Oiko Vitor Toshiyuki , di Domenicantonio Giulia , Rodrigues Varlei
Published: November 2014

Nanoscale structures have been widely studied because their properties differ greatly from their bulk counterpart systems, raising both a fundamental and technological interest. Despite the great advances that have been made, the domain still presents great challenges. The development of dedicated instrumentation, in particular, is an essential issue since the well established techniques used for atomic size and for macroscopic systems are often not suited for the study of nanoaggregates. In this article, the authors present the development of a new cluster source aimed to produce pure or alloy metallic clusters ranging from two up to thousands atoms in a controllable way. The setup is based on the design of Haberland et al. [J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 12, 2925 (1994)] with the implementation of an hollow cylindrical sputtering as atoms source that enhances the control over the production of alloy clusters and also improves target usage.
Modulating Endoplasmic Reticulum-Golgi Cargo Receptors for Improving Secretion of Carrier-Fused Heterologous Proteins in the Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Hoang Huy-Dung , Maruyama Jun-ichi , Kitamoto Katsuhiko
Published: November 2014

Filamentous fungi are excellent hosts for industrial protein production due to their superior secretory capacity; however, the yield of heterologous eukaryotic proteins is generally lower than that of fungal or endogenous proteins. Although activating protein folding machinery in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) improves the yield, the importance of intracellular transport machinery for heterologous protein secretion is poorly understood. Here, using
Aspergillus oryzae
as a model filamentous fungus, we studied the involvement of two putative lectin-like cargo receptors,
A. oryzae
Vip36 (AoVip36) and AoEmp47, in the secretion of heterologous proteins expressed in fusion with the endogenous enzyme α-amylase as the carrier. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that mDsRed-tagged AoVip36 localized in the Golgi compartment, whereas AoEmp47 showed localization in both the ER and the Golgi compartment. Deletion of AoVip36 and AoEmp47 improved heterologous protein secretion, but only AoVip36 deletion had a negative effect on the secretion of α-amylase. Analysis of ER-enriched cell fractions revealed that AoVip36 and AoEmp47 were involved in the retention of heterologous proteins in the ER. However, the overexpression of each cargo receptor had a different effect on heterologous protein secretion: AoVip36 enhanced the secretion, whereas AoEmp47 promoted the intracellular retention. Taken together, our data suggest that AoVip36 and AoEmp47 hinder the secretion of heterologous proteins by promoting their retention in the ER but that AoVip36 also promotes the secretion of heterologous proteins. Moreover, we found that genetic deletion of these putative ER-Golgi cargo receptors significantly improves heterologous protein production. The present study is the first to propose that ER-Golgi transport is a bottleneck for heterologous protein production in filamentous fungi.