bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shrimp polyculture: a potentially profitable, sustainable, but uncommon aquacultural practice
Authors: Martínez‐Porchas Marcel , Martínez‐Córdova Luis R. , Porchas‐Cornejo Marco A. , López‐Elías José A.
Published: May 2010

Shrimp polyculture is not yet a common practice among farmers; however, this activity represents an important alternative to solving and/or minimizing some of the problems that shrimp aquaculture has faced in the past two decades (environmental pollution, diseases and decreasing prices). In this context, many benefits have been achieved with some polyculture practices. Several species from diverse trophic levels have the potential to be co‐cultured with shrimps. A good knowledge of the species that are candidates for polyculture and an adequately designed culture system are the most important points to consider when co‐culturing shrimp with other species. The present paper is a review of the past, present and future of shrimp polyculture with other organisms.
The membrane protein MiRP3 regulates Kv4.2 channels in a KChIP‐dependent manner
Authors: Levy Daniel I. , Cepaitis Egle , Wanderling Sherry , Toth Peter T. , Archer Stephen L. , Goldstein Steve A. N.
Published: May 2010

MiRP3, the single‐span membrane protein encoded by KCNE4, is localized by immunofluorescence microscopy to the transverse tubules of murine cardiac myocytes. MiRP3 is found to co‐localize with Kv4.2 subunits that contribute to cardiac transient outward potassium currents (Ito). Whole‐cell, voltage‐clamp recordings of human MiRP3 and Kv4.2 expressed in a clonal cell line (tsA201) reveal MiRP3 to modulate Kv4.2 current activation, inactivation and recovery from inactivation. MiRP3 shifts the half‐maximal voltage for activation (V1/2) ∼20 mV and slows time to peak ∼100%. In addition, MiRP3 slows inactivation ∼100%, speeds recovery from inactivation ∼30%, and enhances restored currents so they ‘overshoot’ baseline levels. The cytoplasmic accessory subunit KChIP2 also assembles with Kv4.2 in tsA201 cells to increase peak current, shift V1/2∼5 mV, slow time to peak ∼10%, slow inactivation ∼100%, and speed recovery from inactivation ∼250% without overshoot. Simultaneous expression of all three subunits yields a biophysical profile unlike either accessory subunit alone, abolishes MiRP3‐induced overshoot, and allows biochemical isolation of the ternary complex. Thus, regional heterogeneity in cardiac expression of MiRP3, Kv4.2 and KChIP2 in health and disease may establish the local attributes and magnitude of cardiac Ito.
Submicron organic nanofiber devices with different anode-cathode materials: A simple approach
Authors: Henrichsen Henrik , Sturm Heinz , Bøggild Peter , Hansen Ole
Published: May 2010

The authors present a simple general method for simultaneously producing tens of submicron electrode gaps with different cathode and anode materials on top of nanofibers, nanowires, and nanotubes, with an optional gap size variation. Using this method, an ensemble of para-hexaphenylene (p6P) nanofiber devices of different length was fabricated with Sm and Au electrodes. The measured I-V characteristics are in agreement with a nonlinear hopping transport model, where domain barriers dominate the transport with an estimated domain size of 23±5 nm.
Origin and Dissemination across the Colombian Andes Mountain Range of Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine Resistance in
Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Corredor Vladimir , Murillo Claribel , Echeverry Diego F. , Benavides Julie , Pearce Richard J. , Roper Cally , Guerra Angela P. , Osorio Lyda
Published: May 2010

The therapeutic efficacy of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in treating uncomplicated
Plasmodium falciparum
malaria is unevenly distributed in Colombia. The Andes mountain range separates regions in the west where malaria is endemic from those in the east and constitutes a barrier against gene flow and the dispersal of parasite populations. The distribution of
dhfr
and
dhps
genotypes of 146
P. falciparum
samples from the eastern Amazon and Orinoco basins and Northwest and Southwest Pacific regions of Colombia was consistent with the documented levels of therapeutic efficacy of SP. The diversity of four
dhfr
- and
dhps
-linked microsatellites indicated that double- and triple-mutant alleles for both resistance loci have a single origin. Likewise, multilocus association genotypes, including two unlinked microsatellite loci, suggested that genetic exchanges between the eastern Orinoco and Northwest Pacific populations has taken place across the Andes, most probably via migration of infected people.
First Survey of Metallo-β-Lactamases in Clinical Isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
in a German University Hospital
Authors: Valenza Giuseppe , Joseph Biju , Elias Johannes , Claus Heike , Oesterlein Anett , Engelhardt Kathrin , Turnwald Doris , Frosch Matthias , Abele-Horn Marianne , Schoen Christoph
Published: May 2010

A total of 489 clinical isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was investigated for metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) production. Molecular analysis detected a
bla
VIM-1
gene in the chromosome of one isolate and a
bla
VIM-2
gene carried on the plasmid in seven isolates. Moreover, we showed that an initial screening by combined susceptibility testing of imipenem and ceftazidime followed by a confirmatory EDTA combination disk test represents a valid alternative to the molecular investigation of MBL genes, making MBL detection possible in routine diagnostic laboratories.
Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Replication by a Specific Inhibitor of Serine-Arginine-Rich Protein Kinase
Authors: Karakama Yuko , Sakamoto Naoya , Itsui Yasuhiro , Nakagawa Mina , Tasaka-Fujita Megumi , Nishimura-Sakurai Yuki , Kakinuma Sei , Oooka Masaya , Azuma Seishin , Tsuchiya Kiichiro , Onogi Hiroshi , Hagiwara Masatoshi , Watanabe Mamoru
Published: May 2010

Splicing of messenger RNAs is regulated by site-specific binding of members of the serine-arginine-rich (SR) protein family, and SR protein kinases (SRPK) 1 and 2 regulate overall activity of the SR proteins by phosphorylation of their RS domains. We have reported that specifically designed SRPK inhibitors suppressed effectively several DNA and RNA viruses
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Here, we show that an SRPK inhibitor, SRPIN340, suppressed in a dose-dependent fashion expression of a hepatitis C virus (HCV) subgenomic replicon and replication of the HCV-JFH1 clone
in vitro
. The inhibitory effects were not associated with antiproliferative or nonspecific cytotoxic effects on the host cells. Overexpression of SRPK1 or SRPK2 resulted in augmentation of HCV replication, while small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown of the SRPKs suppressed HCV replication significantly. Immunocytochemistry showed that SRPKs and the HCV core and NS5A proteins colocalized to some extent in the perinuclear area. Our results demonstrate that SRPKs are host factors essential for HCV replication and that functional inhibitors of these kinases may constitute a new class of antiviral agents against HCV infection.
In Vitro
System for Modeling Influenza A Virus Resistance under Drug Pressure
Authors: Brown Ashley N. , McSharry James J. , Weng Qingmei , Driebe Elizabeth M. , Engelthaler David M. , Sheff Kelly , Keim Paul S. , Nguyen Jack , Drusano George L.
Published: May 2010

One of the biggest challenges in the effort to treat and contain influenza A virus infections is the emergence of resistance during treatment. It is well documented that resistance to amantadine arises rapidly during the course of treatment due to mutations in the gene coding for the M2 protein. To address this problem, it is critical to develop experimental systems that can accurately model the selection of resistance under drug pressure as seen in humans. We used the hollow-fiber infection model (HFIM) system to examine the effect of amantadine on the replication of influenza virus, A/Albany/1/98 (H3N2), grown in MDCK cells. At 24 and 48 h postinfection, virus replication was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion. At 72 and 96 h postinfection, virus replication was no longer inhibited, suggesting the emergence of amantadine-resistant virus. Sequencing of the M2 gene revealed that mutations appeared at between 48 and 72 h of drug treatment and that the mutations were identical to those identified in the clinic for amantadine-resistant viruses (e.g., V27A, A30T, and S31N). Interestingly, we found that the type of mutation was strongly affected by the dose of the drug. The data suggest that the HFIM is a good model for influenza virus infection and resistance generation in humans. The HFIM has the advantage of being a highly controlled system where multiplicity parameters can be directly and accurately controlled and measured.
Berberine-INF55 (5-Nitro-2-Phenylindole) Hybrid Antimicrobials: Effects of Varying the Relative Orientation of the Berberine and INF55 Components
Authors: Tomkiewicz Danuta , Casadei Gabriele , Larkins-Ford Jonah , Moy Terence I. , Garner James , Bremner John B. , Ausubel Frederick M. , Lewis Kim , Kelso Michael J.
Published: May 2010

Hybrid antimicrobials containing an antibacterial linked to a multidrug resistance (MDR) pump inhibitor make up a promising new class of agents for countering efflux-mediated bacterial drug resistance. This study explores the effects of varying the relative orientation of the antibacterial and efflux pump inhibitor components in three isomeric hybrids (SS14, SS14-M, and SS14-P) which link the antibacterial alkaloid and known substrate for the NorA MDR pump berberine to different positions on INF55 (5-nitro-2-phenylindole), an inhibitor of NorA. The MICs for all three hybrids against wild-type, NorA-knockout, and NorA-overexpressing
Staphylococcus aureus
cells were found to be similar (9.4 to 40.2 μM), indicating that these compounds are not effectively effluxed by NorA. The three hybrids were also found to have similar curing effects in a
Caenorhabditis elegans
live infection model. Each hybrid was shown to accumulate in
S. aureus
cells to a greater extent than either berberine or berberine in the presence of INF55, and the uptake kinetics of SS14 were found to differ from those of SS14-M and SS14-P. The effects on the uptake and efflux of the NorA substrate ethidium bromide into
S. aureus
cells in the presence or absence of the hybrids were used to confirm MDR inhibition by the hybrids. MDR-inhibitory activity was confirmed for SS14-M and SS14-P but not for SS14. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that SS14 prefers to adopt a conformation that is not prevalent in either SS14-M or SS14-P, which may explain why some properties of SS14 diverge from those of its two isomers. In summary, subtle repositioning of the pump-blocking INF55 moiety in berberine-INF55 hybrids was found to have a minimal effect on their antibacterial activities but to significantly alter their effects on MDR pumps.
Human Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37 Induces MefE/Mel-Mediated Macrolide Resistance in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Zähner Dorothea , Zhou Xiaoliu , Chancey Scott T. , Pohl Jan , Shafer William M. , Stephens David S.
Published: May 2010

Macrolide resistance is a major concern in the treatment of
Streptococcus pneumoniae
. Inducible macrolide resistance in this pneumococcus is mediated by the efflux pump MefE/Mel. We show here that the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37 induces the
mefE
promoter and confers resistance to erythromycin and LL-37. Such induction may impact the efficacy of host defenses and of macrolide-based treatment of pneumococcal disease.
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Enteritidis
tatB
and
tatC
Mutants Are Impaired in Caco-2 Cell Invasion
In Vitro
and Show Reduced Systemic Spread in Chickens
Authors: Mickael Claudia Silva , Lam Po-King S. , Berberov Emil M. , Allan Brenda , Potter Andrew A. , Köster Wolfgang
Published: May 2010

Salmonella enterica
subsp.
enterica
serovar Enteritidis is a leading causative agent of gastroenteritis in humans. This pathogen also colonizes the intestinal tracts of poultry and can spread systemically in chickens. Transfer to humans usually occurs through undercooked or improperly handled poultry meat or eggs. The bacterial twin-arginine transport (Tat) pathway is responsible for the translocation of folded proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane. In order to study the role of the Tat system in the infection and colonization of chickens by
Salmonella
Enteritidis, we constructed chromosomal deletion mutants of the
tatB
and
tatC
genes, which are essential components of the Tat translocon. We observed that the
tat
mutations affected bacterial cell morphology, motility, and sensitivity to albomycin, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and EDTA. In addition, the mutant strains showed reduced invasion of polarized Caco-2 cells. The wild-type phenotype was restored in all our
Salmonella
Enteritidis
tat
mutants by introducing episomal copies of the
tatABC
genes. When tested in chickens by use of a
Salmonella
Enteritidis Δ
tatB
strain, the Tat system inactivation did not substantially affect cecal colonization, but it delayed systemic infection. Taken together, our data demonstrated that the Tat system plays a role in
Salmonella
Enteritidis pathogenesis.
Ail Binding to Fibronectin Facilitates
Yersinia pestis
Binding to Host Cells and Yop Delivery
Authors: Tsang Tiffany M. , Felek Suleyman , Krukonis Eric S.
Published: May 2010

Yersinia pestis
, the causative agent of plague, evades host immune responses and rapidly causes disease. The
Y. pestis
adhesin Ail mediates host cell binding and is critical for Yop delivery. To identify the Ail receptor(s), Ail was purified following overexpression in
Escherichia coli
. Ail bound specifically to fibronectin, an extracellular matrix protein with the potential to act as a bridge between Ail and host cells. Ail expressed by
E. coli
also mediated binding to purified fibronectin, and Ail-mediated
E. coli
adhesion to host cells was dependent on fibronectin. Ail expressed by
Y. pestis
bound purified fibronectin, as did the
Y. pestis
adhesin plasminogen activator (Pla). However, a KIM5 Δ
ail
mutant had decreased binding to host cells, while a KIM5 Δ
pla
mutant had no significant defect in adhesion. Furthermore, treatment with antifibronectin antibodies decreased Ail-mediated adhesion by KIM5 and the KIM5 Δ
pla
mutant, indicating that the Ail-fibronectin interaction was important for cell binding. Finally, antifibronectin antibodies inhibited the KIM5-mediated cytotoxicity of host cells in an Ail-dependent fashion. These data indicate that Ail is a key adhesin that mediates binding to host cells through interaction with fibronectin on the surface of host cells, and this interaction is important for Yop delivery by
Y. pestis
.
‘Acceptable rebellion’: marketing hipster aesthetics to sell Camel cigarettes in the US
Authors: Hendlin Yogi , Anderson Stacey J , Glantz Stanton A
Published: May 2010

Objective

The aim of the present work was to understand why and how RJ Reynolds and other tobacco companies have marketed tobacco products to young adult social trendsetting consumers (termed ‘hipsters’) to recruit trendsetters and average consumers to smoke.

Methods

Analysis of tobacco industry documents and industry marketing materials.

Results

Since 1995, RJ Reynolds developed its marketing campaigns to better suit the lifestyle, image identity and attitudes of hip trendsetters (so-called ‘hipsters’), and Camel's brand identity actively shifted to more closely convey the hipster persona. Camel emphasised in-venue events such as promotional music tours to link the brand and smoking to activities and symbols appealing to hipsters and their emulating masses.

Conclusions

To reach this targeted and socially valuable trend-setting population, public health advocates must tap into hipster psychology and expose to the targeted community the tobacco company's efforts to infiltrate the hipster community to turn hipsters into tobacco-using role models.
A RAPID QUANTITATIVE TEST FOR PHYTOTOXICITY AND ITS USE IN THE EXAMINATION OF A SERIES OF ALKYL-SUBSTITUTED CYCLOHEXENONES
Authors: Ludwig R. A. , White Robert W. , Unwin C. H.
Published: May 2010

Growth inhibition in 2,4-D stimulated barley coleoptile sections can be used as a measure of phytotoxicity. Reproducible linear regression lines, showing positions and slopes characteristic of the compounds under test, were obtained. A number of alkyl-substituted cyclohexenones (5-alkyl-1-carbethoxy-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ones and 5-alkyl-3-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ones) were examined and found to follow the pattern of behavior anticipated for such a homologous series. In these series phytotoxicity was of a much higher order than fungitoxicity.
STUDIES ON HATCHING STIMULATION IN THE BEET NEMATODE, HETERODERA SCHACHTII SCHMIDT
Authors: Winslow R. D. , Ludwig R. A.
Published: May 2010

Hatching of the beet nematode found in Ontario was stimulated by hatching factors in host: plant leachates. Sugar beets produced more active root leachate under 'short' day and moderate temperatures than under 'long' day and more extreme temperatures. When beet or rape roots or germinating rape seedlings came in contact with excess water, the hatching factor was evidently liberated into the water continuously but progressively more slowly. Increasing the concentration of rape seedlings in water increased correspondingly the potency of the resulting leachate, the maximum concentration giving activity at a dilution of 1 × 106. Stimulatory leachates were produced from various parts such as tops alone, roots alone, and various portions of the root of young rape seedlings.Sugar beet leachate was concentrated 20-to-40-fold, by vacuum distillation, without: obvious loss of activity, frequently with apparent gain. Further concentration caused precipitation of active material. Attempts to extract the factor from beet and rape root leachate with charcoal, phenol, 1-butanol, or ion exchange chromatography are described. The results show points of similarity and difference amongst nematode-hatching factors.
QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF VIABILITY OF POTATO RING ROT BACTERIA FOLLOWING STORAGE, HEAT, AND GAS TREATMENTS
Authors: Richardson Lloyd T.
Published: May 2010

A method for determining quantitatively the viability of Corynebacterium sepedonicum was developed for use in eradication studies on bacterial ring rot of potatoes. Drops of bacterial suspension dried on glass or jute fibers impregnated with the organism were used as test materials. The number of viable bacteria in a population was derived from the lag period in its time–growth curve based on turbidity development in a liquid medium. It was demonstrated that ring rot bacteria on dry jute can survive storage at: 0 °C. for 6 months with no loss in viability. Although viability decreases with time at higher temperatures, mortality is not complete after 6 months at 28 °C. The thermal death points of the organism for 10 minute exposures were found to be 55 °C. in liquid medium and 125 °C. in dry air for bacteria on glass and 150 °C. in dry air for bacteria on jute fibers. The minimum gas dosage found to achieve complete kill of ring rot bacteria on dry jute libers in 18 hours was 2% ethylene oxide by volume of air or 20% methyl bromide.
CHROMOSOME NUMBERS OF SOME SASKATCHEWAN LEGUMINOSAE WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ASTRAGALUS AND OXYTROPIS
Authors: Ledingham G. F.
Published: May 2010

Chromosome counts have; been obtained for 71 collections; seven tribes, 11 genera, and 39 species of the Leguminosae are represented. Pollen mother cells were collected in the field and examined in acetocarmine. Twenty of the species studied were in the tribe Galegeae: Astragalus 14 species, Oxytropis five species, and Glycyrrhiza one species. Twenty-nine of the counts have not been published before. Consideration is given to the phylogeny of Astragalus. Evidence suggests that Astragalus should be subdivided.
DEFINITIONS OF TERMS IN FOREST AND SHADE TREE DISEASES
Authors: Buckland D. C. , Redmond D. R. , Pomerleau R.
Published: May 2010

not available
CYTOTAXONOMY OF CAREX SECTION CAPILLARES
Authors: Löve Áskell , Löve Doris , Raymond Marcel
Published: May 2010

The small section Capillares of the genus Carex has been studied from the cytological and taxonomical points of view. It comprises nine distinct species, one of which (C. Boecheriana) is raised to specific status in this paper. Three species include two distinct subspecies each; two varieties and three formae are accepted for two species respectively. The chromosome numbers of the taxa involved are 2n = 18, 36, 38, 40, 54, 56, and 58. It is pointed out that the chromosomes of Carex have a polycentric or diffuse kinetochore and that this explains the aneuploid variations in number known to be typical of the genus. Karyotypic analysis of the chromosome complements of the section Capillares revealed that in the basic diploid set of 2n = 18 chromosomes four units are long, 10 are medium and about half the length of the long ones, while four are small and about half the length of the medium ones. This frequency of size classes is also met with in the plants with 2n = 36 and 54 chromosomes. Those taxa with 2n = 38, 40, 56, and 58 chromosomes show, however, such a deviation in the frequency of the size classes that it seems logical that these numbers have been produced by a secondary fragmentation of the chromosomes. On the basis of karyotypic analysis of this section and other groups of the genus it is concluded that the primary basic number for the genus Carex in particular and the family Cyperaceae in general must have been x = 5, all other numbers having been derived mainly by fragmentation of chromosomes with a polycentric or diffuse kinetochore. This phenomenon of partial agmatoploidy is widespread in Cyperaceae, whereas complete agmatoploidy is typical of the closely related Juncaceae.
FILAMENTOUS GROWTH IN BASSWOOD TISSUE CULTURES
Authors: Barker W. G.
Published: May 2010

Filamentous growths have been observed in various regions of many varieties of higher plants. They have been noted particularly in tissue cultures and in similar locations in vivo, i.e., where humidity was high and the nutrition appropriate. The reasons for this phenomenon have not been investigated completely although it had been proposed that this represented the initial stages of callus development.This present paper explores the possibility that the outgrowths termed filamentous are the result of two circumstances, a highly humid environment combined with the isolation of the initiating cells either spatially or through the favoring of one cell over its neighbor nutritionally or through other means that would cause a sharp differential in growth rate.
A STUDY OF SIZE DIFFERENCES IN TWO STRAINS OF CUCURBITA PEPO L.: II. HISTOLOGICAL AND CELLULAR SIZE DIFFERENCES
Authors: Maltzahn K. E. von
Published: May 2010

Size differences were studied on the cellular level in vegetative organs of two purebred strains of Cucurbita pepo L. which differ greatly in inherited size.Mature organ size has been analyzed for the two strains on the histological and cellular levels with particular emphasis on mature internode size. Differences between the strains in tissue and cell size were observed for the main tissue and cell types. Differences in internode length were determined both by differences in cell size and cell numbers. Cambial activity as expressed in numbers of radial immature derivatives and in number of divisions in the interfascicular regions was found to be much greater in CF than in SRC.No important differences were found between the large and small strain in the size of the meristematic and submeristematic regions. Early internode growth in terms of cell division and cell enlargement was also found to be similar in the two strains. It is concluded that the cellular differences found in the mature organ must be due to a longer duration of growth mainly in terms of cell enlargement but also in terms of cell, division. This conclusion is supported by the results obtained on internode growth described in a previous paper.Grafting experiments with apical buds of the two strains did not show any influence of the stock on the scion; mature organ size was determined only by the scion.
THE NATURE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF EUROPHIUM TRINACRIFORME WITH POLE BLIGHT LESIONS
Authors: Parker A. K.
Published: May 2010

Europhium trinacriforme Parker was isolated from 11% of the lesions on western white pine affected with pole blight in the Interior of British Columbia and from 84% of the lesions on white pine on the Coast. This fungus was the only organism isolated more than twice from pole blight lesions and found to be pathogenic to white pine. However, it was unable to cause the pole blight condition within a period of 4 years after inoculation into healthy white pine. When this fungus was placed in wounds on white pine, lesions resulted which were similar to pole blight lesions in shape and in ability to cause resin exudation, but were otherwise dissimilar. On the basis of radial growth analysis it was evident that lesions occur following a general reduction in radial increment, and at the same time, or shortly after, the first crown symptoms of pole blight appear. Radial growth beneath lesions was nearly always less than in other parts of the stem section, indicating that both the position and extent of lesions are determined before they occur. Examinations of the number and size of lesions on pole blighted trees and the results of inoculations, isolations, and histological studies indicated that E. trinacriforme most likely gains entrance to lesions that are already formed from other causes and extends them.
STUDIES OF WESTERN TREE RUSTS: III. MILESIA LAEVIUSCULA, A NEEDLE RUST OF GRAND FIR
Authors: Ziller G.
Published: May 2010

From observations in the field and the results of inoculation experiments it has been discovered that Milesia laeviuscula (Diet. & Holw.) Faull causes a needle rust on the current year's needles of grand fir (Abies grandis (Dougl.) Lindl.). The rust has been induced repeatedly to fruit on both alternate hosts, licorice fern (Polypodium vulgare L. var. occidentale Hook.) and grand fir, by inoculation, and its pycnial and aecial states are described for the first time. The life history of Milesia laeviuscula is presented. It is noteworthy because of the long period (4 to 5 months) required for maturation of the aecia, because primary infection of the fern takes place largely during late fall and early winter, and because the rust can survive on its fern host independent of its alternate host, grand fir.
MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE RELATIONS OF HEARTWOOD FUNGI IN SUBALPINE SPRUCE
Authors: Etheridge D. E.
Published: May 2010

The optimum moisture content for maximum development in wood was higher for butt-rotting fungi than for trunk-rotting fungi but the optimum and maximum temperature for growth on malt agar was about 5 °C. lower for the butt-rotting fungi. The fungi appeared to have the power of regulating to some extent the moisture content of the wood to a level more suitable for their development. There is evidence of a relationship between the maximum growth of the fungi on agar and their maximum development in wood. The possibility that adaptation to different host environmental conditions might explain differences in the moisture and temperature requirements of the fungi is discussed.
COSMIC CONSTRAINTS ON HOLOGRAPHIC DARK ENERGY IN BRANS–DICKE THEORY VIA MARKOV-CHAIN MONTE-CARLO METHOD
Authors: XU LIXIN , LIU ZHAOFEI , LU JIANBO , LI WENBO
Published: May 2010

In this paper, the holographic dark energy in Brans–Dicke theory is confronted by cosmic observations from SN Ia, BAO, OHD and CMB via Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo (MCMC) method. The best fit parameters are found in 1σ region: [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (equivalently ω = 2415.653 which is less than the solar system bound and consistent with other constraint results). With these best fit values of the parameters, it is found that the universe is undergoing accelerated expansion, and the current value of equation of state of holographic dark energy [Formula: see text] which is phantom like in Brans–Dicke theory. The effective Newton's constant decreases with the expansion of our universe for the negative value of model parameter α.
ENERGY DEPENDENCE OF AVERAGE TRANSVERSE MOMENTUM IN HADRON PRODUCTION DUE TO COLLECTIVE EFFECTS
Authors: TROSHIN S. M. , TYURIN N. E.
Published: May 2010

Motivated by the first measurements of the experiment CMS at the LHC at [Formula: see text] and 2.36 TeV, we discuss energy dependence of average transverse momentum of the secondary particles in hadron production in pp-collisions. We suggest a possible explanation of this dependence as a result of collective rotation of the transient state and associate its further possible decrease with flattening off at higher energies with transition to the genuine QGP state of matter.
A hybrid type system for lock-freedom of mobile processes
Authors: Kobayashi Naoki , Sangiorgi Davide
Published: May 2010

We propose a type system for lock-freedom in the π-calculus, which guarantees that certain communications will eventually succeed. Distinguishing features of our type system are: it can verify lock-freedom of concurrent programs that have sophisticated recursive communication structures; it can be fully automated; it is hybrid, in that it combines a type system for lock-freedom with local reasoning about deadlock-freedom, termination, and confluence analyses. Moreover, the type system is parameterized by deadlock-freedom/termination/confluence analyses, so that any methods (e.g. type systems and model checking) can be used for those analyses. A lock-freedom analysis tool has been implemented based on the proposed type system, and tested for nontrivial programs.
Execution suppression
Authors: Jeffrey Dennis , Nagarajan Vijay , Gupta Rajiv
Published: May 2010

By studying the behavior of several programs that crash due to memory errors, we observed that locating the errors can be challenging because significant propagation of corrupt memory values can occur prior to the point of the crash. In this article, we present an automated approach for locating memory errors in the presence of memory corruption propagation. Our approach leverages the information revealed by a program crash: when a crash occurs, this reveals a subset of the memory corruption that exists in the execution. By suppressing (nullifying) the effect of this known corruption during execution, the crash is avoided and any remaining (hidden) corruption may then be exposed by subsequent crashes. The newly exposed corruption can then be suppressed in turn. By iterating this process until no further crashes occur, the first point of memory corruption—and the likely root cause of the program failure—can be identified. However, this iterative approach may terminate prematurely, since programs may not crash even when memory corruption is present during execution. To address this, we show how crashes can be exposed in an execution by manipulating the relative ordering of particular variables within memory. By revealing crashes through this variable re-ordering, the effectiveness and applicability of the execution suppression approach can be improved. We describe a set of experiments illustrating the effectiveness of our approach in consistently and precisely identifying the first points of memory corruption in executions that fail due to memory errors. We also discuss a baseline software implementation of execution suppression that incurs an average overhead of 7.2x, and describe how to reduce this overhead to 1.8x through hardware support.
Personalization via friendsourcing
Authors: Bernstein Michael S. , Tan Desney , Smith Greg , Czerwinski Mary , Horvitz Eric
Published: May 2010

When information is known only to friends in a social network, traditional crowdsourcing mechanisms struggle to motivate a large enough user population and to ensure accuracy of the collected information. We thus introduce
friendsourcing,
a form of crowdsourcing aimed at collecting accurate information available only to a small, socially-connected group of individuals. Our approach to friendsourcing is to design socially enjoyable interactions that produce the desired information as a side effect.

We focus our analysis around Collabio, a novel social tagging game that we developed to encourage friends to tag one another within an online social network. Collabio encourages friends, family, and colleagues to generate useful information about each other. We describe the design space of incentives in social tagging games and evaluate our choices by a combination of usage log analysis and survey data. Data acquired via Collabio is typically accurate and augments tags that could have been found on Facebook or the Web. To complete the arc from data collection to application, we produce a trio of prototype applications to demonstrate how Collabio tags could be utilized: an aggregate tag cloud visualization, a personalized RSS feed, and a question and answer system. The social data powering these applications enables them to address needs previously difficult to support, such as question answering for topics comprehensible only to a few of a user's friends.
Foundations for designing and evaluating user interfaces based on the crossing paradigm
Authors: Apitz Georg , Guimbretière François , Zhai Shumin
Published: May 2010

Traditional graphical user interfaces have been designed with the desktop mouse in mind, a device well characterized by Fitts' law. Yet in recent years, hand-held devices and tablet personal computers using a pen (or fingers) as the primary mean of interaction have become more and more popular. These new interaction modalities have pushed the traditional focus on pointing to its limit. In this paper we explore whether a different paradigm—goal crossing-based on pen strokes—may substitute or complement pointing as another fundamental interaction method. First we describe a study in which we establish that goal crossing is dependent on an index of difficulty analogous to Fitts' law, and that in some settings, goal crossing completion time is shorter or comparable to pointing performance under the same index of difficulty. We then demonstrate the expressiveness of the crossing-based interaction paradigm by implementing CrossY, an application which only uses crossing for selecting commands. CrossY demonstrates that crossing-based interactions can be more expressive than the standard point and click approach. We also show how crossing-based interactions encourage the fluid composition of commands. Finally after observing that users' performance could be influenced by the general direction of travel, we report on the results of a study characterizing this effect. These latter results led us to propose a general guideline for dialog box interaction. Together, these results provide the foundation for the design of effective crossing-based interactions.
A Magma Accretion Model for the Formation of Oceanic Lithosphere: Implications for Global Heat Loss
Authors: Hamza Valiya M. , Cardoso Roberto R. , Alexandrino Carlos H.
Published: May 2010

A magma accretion model of oceanic lithosphere is proposed and its implications for understanding its thermal field examined. The new model (designated Variable Basal Accretion—VBA) assumes existence of lateral variations in magma accretion rates and temperatures at the boundary zone between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. However, unlike the previous thermal models of the lithosphere, the ratio of advection to conduction heat transfer is considered a space dependent variable. The results of VBA model simulations reveal that the thickness of the young lithosphere increases with distance from the ridge axis, at rates faster than those predicted by Half-Space Cooling models. Another noteworthy feature of the new model is its ability to account for the main features in the thermal behavior of oceanic lithosphere. The improved fits to bathymetry have been achieved for the entire age range and without the need to invoke the ad-hoc hypothesis of large-scale hydrothermal circulation. Also, use of VBA model does not lead to artificial discontinuities in the temperature field of the lithosphere, as is the case with GDH (Global Depth Heat Flow) reference models. The results suggest that estimates of global heat loss need to be downsized by at least 25%.
Mouse Homologue of the Schizophrenia Susceptibility GeneZNF804Aas a Target of Hoxc8
Authors: Chung Hyun Joo , Lee Ji-Yeon , Deocaris Custer C. , Min Hyehyun , Kim Sang Hoon , Kim Myoung Hee
Published: May 2010

Using a ChIP-cloning technique, we identified a Zinc finger protein 804a (Zfp804a) as one of the putative Hoxc8 downstream target genes. We confirmed binding of Hoxc8 to an intronic region ofZfp804aby ChIP-PCR in F9 cells as well as in mouse embryos. Hoxc8 upregulatedZfp804amRNA levels and augmented minimal promoter activity in vitro. In E11.5 mouse embryos,Zfp804aandHoxc8were coexpressed. Recent genome-wide studies identifiedZfp804a(orZNF804Ain humans) as a plausible marker for schizophrenia, leading us to hypothesize that this embryogenic regulatory control might also exert influence in development of complex traits such as psychosis.
Foraging Activity inPlebeia remota, a Stingless Bees Species, Is Influenced by the Reproductive State of a Colony
Authors: Nunes-Silva Patrícia , Hilário Sergio Dias , Santos Filho Pérsio de Souza , Imperatriz-Fonseca Vera Lucia
Published: May 2010

Colonies of the Brazilian stingless beePlebeia remotashow a reproductive diapause in autumn and winter. Therefore, they present two distinct reproductive states, during which colony needs are putatively different. Consequently, foraging should be adapted to the different needs. We recorded the foraging activity of two colonies for 30 days in both phases. Indeed, it presented different patterns during the two phases. In the reproductive diapause, the resource predominantly collected by the foragers was nectar. The majority of the bees were nectar foragers, and the peak of collecting activity occurred around noon. Instead, in the reproductive phase, the predominantly collected resource was pollen, and the peak of activity occurred around 10:00 am. Although the majority of the foragers were not specialized in this phase, there were a larger number of pollen foragers compared to the phase of reproductive diapause. The temperature and relative humidity also influenced the foraging activity.
Maintenance or Emergence of Chronic Phase Secondary Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses after Loss of Acute Phase Immunodominant Responses Does Not Protect SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques from Disease Progression
Authors: Keckler M. Shannon , Hodara Vida L. , Parodi Laura M. , Giavedoni Luis D.
Published: May 2010

The simian immunodeficiency virus- (SIV-) infected rhesus macaque is the preferred animal model for vaccine development, but the correlates of protection in this model are not completely understood. In this paper, we document the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to SIV and its effects on viral evolution in an effort to identify events associated with disease progression regardless of MHC allele expression. We observed the evolution of epitopes targeted by CTLs in a group of macaques that included long-term nonprogressing (LTNP), slowly progressing (SP), normally progressing (NP), and rapidly progressing (RP) animals. Collectively, our data (1) identify novel CTL epitopes from an SP animal that are not restricted by known protective alleles, (2) illustrate that, in this small study, RP and NP animals accrue more mutations in CTL epitopes than in SP or LTNP macaques, and (3) demonstrate that the loss of CTL responses to immunodominant epitopes is associated with viral replication increases, which are not controlled by secondary CTL responses. These findings provide further evidence for the critical role of the primary cell-mediated immune responses in the control of retroviral infections.
Tetramic and Tetronic Acids as Scaffolds in Bioinorganic and Bioorganic Chemistry
Authors: Athanasellis G. , Igglessi-Markopoulou O. , Markopoulos J.
Published: May 2010

Tetramic and tetronic acids are naturally occurring molecules with a variety of biological activities. In this review article, we present the general strategies for the synthesis of these compounds and we reveal the functionalized groups that are responsible for their properties. We also set out their coordinating modes with up‐to‐date bibliographical references.
Functional Food Targeting the Regulation of Obesity-Induced Inflammatory Responses and Pathologies
Authors: Hirai Shizuka , Takahashi Nobuyuki , Goto Tsuyoshi , Lin Shan , Uemura Taku , Yu Rina , Kawada Teruo
Published: May 2010

Obesity is associated with a low-grade systemic chronic inflammatory state, characterized by the abnormal production of pro- and anti-inflammatory adipocytokines. It has been found that immune cells such as macrophages can infiltrate adipose tissue and are responsible for the majority of inflammatory cytokine production. Obesity-induced inflammation is considered a potential mechanism linking obesity to its related pathologies, such as insulin resistance, cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, and some immune disorders. Therefore, targeting obesity-related inflammatory components may be a useful strategy to prevent or ameliorate the development of such obesity-related diseases. It has been shown that several food components can modulate inflammatory responses in adipose tissue via various mechanisms, some of which are dependent on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ), whereas others are independent on PPARγ, by attenuating signals of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and/or c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK). In this review, we introduce the beneficial effects of anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that can help prevent obesity-induced inflammatory responses and pathologies.
Hypothesis Designs for Three‐Hypothesis Test Problems
Authors: Li Yan , Pu Xiaolong
Published: May 2010

As a helpful guide for applications, the alternative hypotheses
of the three‐hypothesis test problems are designed under the required error probabilities and
average sample number in this paper. The asymptotic formulas and the proposed
numerical quadrature formulas are adopted, respectively, to obtain the hypothesis
designs and the corresponding sequential test schemes under the Koopman‐Darmois
distributions. The example of the normal mean test shows that our methods are
quite efficient and satisfactory for practical uses.
First‐Principles Studies on the Structural Transition of ZnO Nanowires at High Pressure
Authors: Gao Zhanjun , Gu Yousong , Zhang Yue
Published: May 2010

The structural transition of ZnO nanowires at high pressures from wurtzite to rocksalt structure has been studied by first‐principles density functional calculations using the SIESTA code. The size effect was studied by calculating a series of nanowires with different diameters, and the doping effect was studied by ion substitution. It is found that the critical pressure of structural transition for nanowires is lower than that of the bulk, and it decreases as the diameter of the nanowire decreases. It is also found that Mn doping can reduce the transition pressure. The size effect and doping effect are discussed in terms of the chemical bonding and energies of the nanowires.
Usefulness of a Flexible Port for Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery by the Transrectal and Transvaginal Routes
Authors: Ohdaira Takeshi , Ikeda Keiichi , Tajiri Hisao , Yasuda Yoshikazu , Hashizume Makoto
Published: May 2010

We developed a flexible port for NOTES which allows the use of conventional forceps for laparoscope-assisted surgery without change. The port is not affected by the location of the through hole in the gastrointestinal tract or vagina which elicits a problem in conventional NOTES, and its length can be adjusted during surgery by cutting the port itself. The port is made of polymer resin with a low friction coefficient. Furthermore, the port walls have a square wave structure which contributes to (1) the prevention of devices, for example, endoscope, from getting stuck at the time of insertion and retrieval, (2) the prevention of port slippage in the surgical opening for port insertion, (3) the prevention of unexpected port removal, (4) the prevention of port bore deformation, and (5) the improvement of port flexibility in the longitudinal direction. We validated the insertion and retrieval capacities of commercially available forceps for laparoscope-assisted surgery and power devices. Furthermore, we used the flexible port to conduct cholecystectomy and partial gastrectomy. We could confirm that the selection of the flexible port diameter according to the device type allowed the smooth insertion and retrieval of the device and that the port produced no air leakage. We affirmed that it is possible to conduct surgery by the cross or parallel method similarly to single port surgery. We considered that the flexible port has a potential of becoming a revolutionary port in NOTES.
The Effect of Mutual Coupling on a High Altitude Platform Diversity System Using Compact Antenna Arrays
Authors: Hult Tommy , Mohammed Abbas
Published: May 2010

We analyze the destructive effects of mutual coupling and spatial correlation between the separate antenna elements on a combined diversity system consisting of multiple HAPs (High-Altitude Platforms) employing various compact MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) antenna array configurations, in order to enhance the mutual information in HAP communication links. In addition, we assess the influence of the separation angle between HAPs on system performance, and determine the optimal separation angles that maximize the total mutual information of the system for various compact MIMO antennas. Simulation results show that although the mutual information is degraded by mutual coupling and spatial correlation, the proposed HAP diversity system still provides better performance compared to a nondiversity system for all tested scenarios.
Immunization with a Mixture of HIV Env DNA and VLP Vaccines Augments Induction of CD8 T Cell Responses
Authors: Ye Ling , Wen Zhiyuan , Dong Ke , Pan Lei , Bu Zhigao , Compans Richard W. , Zhang Huizhong , Yang Chinglai
Published: May 2010

The immune response induced by immunization with HIV Env DNA and virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines was investigated. Immunization with the HIV Env DNA vaccine induced a strong CD8 T cell response but relatively weak antibody response against the HIV Env whereas immunization with VLPs induced higher levels of antibody responses but little CD8 T cell response. Interestingly, immunization with a mixture the HIV Env DNA and VLP vaccines induced enhanced CD8 T cell and antibody responses. Further, it was observed that the mixing of DNA and VLP vaccines during immunization is necessary for augmenting induction of CD8 T cell responses and such augmentation of CD8 T cell responses was also observed by mixing the HIV Env DNA vaccine with control VLPs. These results show that immunization with a mixture of DNA and VLP vaccines combines advantages of both vaccine platforms for eliciting high levels of both antibody and CD8 T cell responses.
Synaptic Remodeling in the Dentate Gyrus, CA3, CA1, Subiculum, and Entorhinal Cortex of Mice: Effects of Deprived Rearing and Voluntary Running
Authors: Schaefers Andrea T. U. , Grafen Keren , Teuchert-Noodt Gertraud , Winter York
Published: May 2010

Hippocampal cell proliferation is strongly increased and synaptic turnover decreased after rearing under social and physical deprivation in gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). We examined if a similar epigenetic effect of rearing environment on adult neuroplastic responses can be found in mice (Mus musculus). We examined synaptic turnover rates in the dentate gyrus, CA3, CA1, subiculum, and entorhinal cortex. No direct effects of deprived rearing on rates of synaptic turnover were found in any of the studied regions. However, adult wheel running had the effect of leveling layer-specific differences in synaptic remodeling in the dentate gyrus, CA3, and CA1, but not in the entorhinal cortex and subiculum of animals of both rearing treatments. Epigenetic effects during juvenile development affected adult neural plasticity in mice, but seemed to be less pronounced than in gerbils.