bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Decidua‐associated Protein 200 Neutralizes the Detrimental Effect of Serum Containing Antiphospholipid Antibodies on Fetal Survival in the Rat
Authors: Halperin Reuvit , Shinnar Nili , Kronfeld‐Schor Noga , Hadas Eran
Published: March 2006

Problem  We wanted to examine whether the detrimental effect of serum containing antiphospholipid (APL) antibodies on rat pregnancy outcome can be neutralized by addition of human decidua‐associated protein (hDP) 200, a kind of rheumatoid factor, extracted from decidual tissue.

Methods  Fifty microliters of pooled serum, obtained from women having anticardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant and presenting with APL antibody syndrome, added with 100 μL of immunoaffinity purified hDP200 was injected into unilateral uterine horn of each rat on day L5 of rat pregnancy. The contralateral uterine horn was used for injection of 50 μL APL positive serum added with physiologic saline as a control. The rats were killed on day L14, and the uterus of each rat was inspected for the presence of live and resorbed fetuses.

Results  The addition of hDP200 to APL positive serum before the intrauterine injection neutralized the detrimental effect of APL serum on fetal resorption rate. Although the neutralizing effect was demonstrated following the addition of hDP200 and immediate intrauterine injection (a decrease in fetal resorption rate, P = 0.004), still the effect was more impressive following the addition of hDP200 and incubation period of 24 hr before the injection, thus causing a significant increase in the number of normal embryos and a significant decrease in fetal resorption rate (P < 0.001).

Conclusion  Human decidua‐associated protein 200, extracted from human decidual tissue neutralizes the detrimental effect of serum containing APL antibodies in an experimental rat model. Further studies are needed to prove this finding.
Cytokine Production of In Vitro Stimulated Peripheral Lymphocytes During the Course of Pregnancy and Pseudopregnancy in the Rat
Authors: Faas M. M. , Eenling R. , Van Der Schaaf G. , Moes H. , Heineman M. J. , de Vos P.
Published: March 2006

Problem  Does maternal lymphocyte cytokine production after in vitro stimulation vary with the stage of pregnancy in the rat?

Method of study  Blood samples were taken during the estrus cycle in rats (n = 11). Thereafter, rats were rendered pregnant (n = 6) or pseudopregnant (n = 5) and blood samples were taken at days 4, 8, 11, 15, and 20 of pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. White blood cell (WBC) count was measured and whole blood was stimulated with phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate and calcium ionophore; interferon‐γ (IFNγ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) production as well as (sub)populations of lymphocytes were measured using flow cytometry.

Results  We observed an increase of WBC in the second week of pregnancy and a slowly decreasing percentage of lymphocytes during the course of pregnancy. The percentage IFNγ producing T‐lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation was increased during pregnancy (for Th‐lymphocytes only in the second week of pregnancy, for Tc‐lymphocytes at all days). This increased IFNγ production in pregnant T‐lymphocytes was accompanied by an increase during pseudopregnancy, and therefore may result from increased sex hormone concentrations. The percentage IFNγ producing natural killer (NK) cells after in vitro stimulation was decreased on day 20 of pregnancy. No effect of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy was seen on percentage IL‐4 producing lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation.

Conclusion  In the rat the IFNγ production after in vitro stimulation varies during pregnancy and is increased, rather than decreased, during pregnancy.
Horizontal root fractures: a case report
Authors: Ferrari Patricia Helena Pereira , Zaragoza Rocio Anahí , Ferreira Loreley Evangelista , Bombana Antonio Carlos
Published: March 2006

Abstract –  This case report describes the treatment of an upper right central incisor with an intra‐alveolar horizontal root fracture at the level of the middle third and an upper left central incisor with the horizontal root fracture in the cervical third. The root fractures were reduced and rigidly splinted for 4 months. The endodontic therapy was instituted in the upper left central incisor because there was no possibility of fracture repair due to the proximity of the fracture and the gingival sulcus. As soon as the diagnosis of pulp necrosis was established in the upper left lateral incisor, the endodontic treatment was performed. After 3 years and 9 months check‐up appointments showed healing in the middle root third of the upper right central incisor and it responded within normal limits to pulp testing. Thus, there is no need for endodontic therapy on this tooth.
Root fracture of immature permanent incisors – a case report
Authors: Chang Hsiao‐Hua , Wang Yin‐Lin , Chen Hong‐Jiun , Huang Guay‐Fen , Guo Ming‐Kuang
Published: March 2006

Abstract –  This 7‐year‐old girl experienced pain in her upper central incisors following a fall to the ground. Radiographic examination revealed immature upper central incisors with mid‐root oblique and horizontal root fractures. Splinting was performed. When at 3 months, an electric pulp test was positive for both injured teeth, and after 5 months, the fracture lines had disappeared on the radiographs, the splint removed. After 2 years, clinical examination showed normal tooth color and position, with a positive response to the pulp test. Radiographs demonstrated continuous root development, although root canal narrowing was noted at the healed fracture sites.
Severe trauma in the primary dentition – diagnosis and treatment of sequelae in permanent dentition
Authors: Arenas Marcela , Barbería Elena , Lucavechi Tania , Maroto Myriam
Published: March 2006

Abstract –  A 2‐year 6‐month male presented after an intrusive injury sustained at 15 months of age. Intra‐oral radiographs showed coronal dilaceration of the germ of the permanent central incisor and the presence of a calcified tissue mass in the area of the trauma which was identified after surgical removal as the permanent upper left lateral incisor. Immediate treatment and long‐term options are discussed.
Timeliness and effectiveness in the surgical management of persistent post‐treatment periapical pathosis
Authors: WU MIN‐KAI , WESSELINK PAUL R.
Published: March 2006

Common problems that cause persistent post‐treatment periapical pathosis include infection remaining in the apical inaccessible areas, extraradicular infection including apically extruded dentine debris with bacteria present in dentinal tubules, radicular true cysts, foreign body reactions, inadequate non‐surgical root canal treatment with or without iatrogenically altered root canal morphology, and vertical root fractures. Inadequate root canal treatment may be corrected non‐surgically, while more complex problems may require surgical intervention. The important factors that warrant a successful surgery include good quality of the orthograde root canal treatment, deep retrograde preparation of the apical canal, and carefully cleaning and filling of the exposed isthmuses and accessory canals. Ideally, apical surgery and orthograde retreatment are performed simultaneously. In a recent study, 97% of the lesions including large ones of >10 mm in diameter healed completely within 1 year after surgical intervention. Of the teeth that showed ‘complete healing’ at 4 years more than 85% already ‘completely healed’ at 2 years; thus, the endodontic post‐treatment disease might be treated surgically or non‐surgically within 2 years after the previous treatment.
Soft tissue management: flap design, incision, tissue elevation, and tissue retraction
Authors: VELVART PETER , PETERS CHRISTINE I. , PETERS OVE A.
Published: March 2006

The ultimate goal in surgical endodontics is not only the eradication of periapical pathosis but also preservation of periodontal conditions using suitable surgical techniques. Acceptable treatment outcomes are no longer possible without consideration of esthetic consequences for all involved dentoalveolar structures. During surgical endodontics the cortical bone is exposed by incising, elevating, and reflecting a full‐thickness tissue flap. Certain basic principles must be considered before deciding on the type of incision and flap design. Thorough knowledge of regional anatomical structures in conjunction, as well as prevailing periodontal conditions affect and must be considered when making the proper decision on how and where to reflect the mucoperiosteal tissues. Various modes of incision can be selected, including horizontal, sulcular, submarginal, and vertical releasing incisions. The variety of flaps reflects the number of variables to be considered before choosing an appropriate flap design. While many flap designs have been suggested over the years, some have become obsolete and new techniques have emerged. It is critical that incisions and tissue elevations and reflections are performed in a way that facilitates healing by primary intention. This can be obtained by complete and sharp incision avoiding severing or traumatizing the tissues during elevation; it is equally important to prevent drying of tissue remnants on the root surface and drying of the flap during the procedure. The introduction of microsurgery to surgical endodontics attempts to minimize trauma and to enhance surgical results. Because of the combination of magnification and more delicate instruments, improved and careful tissue handling has become possible. Additional improvements in flap design and soft tissue manipulation are considered key elements in enhanced biological and esthetic outcomes of marginal soft tissues.
Root‐end filling materials: rationale and tissue response
Authors: CHONG BUN SAN , PITT FORD THOMAS R.
Published: March 2006

The requirements of an ideal root‐end filling are reviewed, before the demise of amalgam is considered. The focus is on tissue response to newer alternative materials: zinc oxide–eugenol cements, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate, glass ionomer cements, composite resins, compomers, and Diaket. The conflicting findings of in vitro and in vivo studies are analysed, as well as whether a root‐end filling is necessary. The ‘apical seal’ is revisited with support for the concept of a ‘double seal’ that is physical and biological.
Soft tissue management: suturing and wound closure
Authors: VELVART PETER , PETERS CHRISTINE I. , PETERS OVE A.
Published: March 2006

The healing capacity of oral tissues is excellent. Flap design should allow maintenance of optimal and sufficient blood supply to all mobilized and immobilized portions of the soft tissues. With prolonged duration of the surgical procedure, especially when a high degree of hemostasis has been achieved, there is a risk of drying out of tissues. The surgical site must be kept moist to minimize shrinkage of the reflected tissue flap. In surgical endodontics, the marginal epithelium and connective tissue are not removed, but are left intact on the tooth surface subsequent to tissue incision, elevation, and reflection. The treatment is aimed at maintaining vitality and survival of these tissues in order to facilitate and expedite the healing process. Ideally, wound healing does not result in new attachment formation, but preferably in reattachment, or healing by primary intention. The re‐approximated tissue flap should rest passively in the desired place before suturing, reducing tension on the flap margins. In general, tissue trauma, such as stretching, tearing, or distortion should be avoided at all times. Gentle and careful manipulation with microsurgical instruments is helpful. As every placement of a suture poses additional injury to the wound margins, the smallest possible number of sutures should be used. Non‐absorbable suture materials in sizes 6‐0 to 8‐0 are preferred and absorbable material is only recommended in multilayered closure. Sutures must not act as ligatures and should exert minimal tension. Time required for the wound to heal is closely related to the gap between tissue wound margins. Therefore, perfect adaptation will allow earlier suture removal. Wound support is only needed until the healing process has progressed to such an extent that the tissue can withstand functional forces.
Benzo[a]pyrene impairs β‐adrenergic stimulation of adipose tissue lipolysis and causes weight gain in mice
Authors: Irigaray Philippe , Ogier Virginie , Jacquenet Sandrine , Notet Véronique , Sibille Pierre , Méjean Luc , Bihain Bernard E. , Yen Frances T.
Published: March 2006

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a common food pollutant that causes DNA adduct formation and is carcinogenic. The report of a positive correlation between human plasma B[a]P levels and body mass index, together with B[a]P's lipophilicity, led us to test for possible adverse effects of B[a]P on adipose tissue. In ex vivo experiments using primary murine adipocytes, B[a]P rapidly (within minutes) and directly inhibited epinephrine‐induced lipolysis (up to 75%) in a dose‐dependent manner. Half‐maximum inhibition was obtained with a B[a]P concentration of 0.9 mg·L−1 (3.5 µm). Lipolysis induced by β1‐, β2‐ and β3‐adrenoreceptor‐specific agonists, as well as ACTH, were also significantly inhibited by B[a]P, whereas forskolin‐induced lipolysis was not B[a]P‐sensitive. Similar inhibition of catecholamine‐induced lipolysis by B[a]P was also seen in isolated human adipocytes; half‐maximum inhibition of lipolysis was achieved with a B[a]P concentration of 0.02 mg·L−1 (0.08 µm). In vivo treatment of C57Bl/6J mice with 0.4 mg·kg−1 B[a]P inhibited epinephrine‐induced release of free fatty acids by 70%. Chronic exposure of mice to B[a]P (0.5 mg·kg−1 injected i.p. every 48 h) for 15 days also decreased lipolytic response to epinephrine and induced a 43% higher weight gain compared with controls (B[a]P: 2.23 ± 0.12 g versus control: 1.56 ± 0.18 g, P < 0.01) due to increased fat mass. The weight gain occurred consistently without detectable changes in food intake. These results reveal a novel molecular mechanism of toxicity for the environmental pollutant B[a]P and introduce the notion that chronic exposure of human population to B[a]P and possibly other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons could have an impact on metabolic disorders, such as obesity.
α‐Conotoxin GI benzoylphenylalanine derivatives
Authors: Kasheverov Igor E. , Chiara David C. , Zhmak Maxim N. , Maslennikov Innokenty V. , Pashkov Vladimir S. , Arseniev Alexander S. , Utkin Yuri N. , Cohen Jonathan B. , Tsetlin Victor I.
Published: March 2006

α‐Conotoxins are small peptides from cone snail venoms that function as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)‐competitive antagonists differentiating between nAChR subtypes. Current understanding about the mechanism of these selective interactions is based largely on mutational analyses, which identify amino acids in the toxin and nAChR that determine the energetics of ligand binding. To identify regions of the nAChR involved in α‐conotoxin binding by use of photoactivated cross‐linking, two benzoylphenylalanine (Bpa) analogs of α‐conotoxin GI, GI(Bpa12) and GI(Bpa4), were synthesized by replacing the respective residues with Bpa, and their 1H‐NMR structures were determined. Both analogs preserved the GI conformation, but only GI(Bpa12) displaced 125I‐labeled GI from the Torpedo californica nAChR. 125I‐labeled GI(Bpa12) bound to two sites on the receptor (Kd 13 and 1800 nm), and on UV irradiation specifically photolabeled the α, γ and δ subunits. Photolabeling sites were mapped by selective proteolysis and enzymatic deglycosylation, combined with SDS/PAGE, HPLC and Edman degradation. In the α subunit, cobratoxin‐inhibited incorporation was limited to the 22‐kDa fragment beginning at αSer173 and containing the agonist‐binding site segment C. In the γ subunit, radioactivity was localized to two distinct peptides containing agonist‐binding site segments F and D: nonglycosylated 24‐kDa and glycosylated 13‐kDa fragments starting at γAla167 and γAla49, respectively. The labeling of these fragments is discussed in terms of a model of GI(Bpa12) bound to the extracellular domain of the Torpedo nAChR homology model derived from the cryo‐electron microscopy structure of Torpedo marmorata nAChR and X‐ray crystal structures of snail acetylcholine‐binding protein complexes with agonists and antagonists.
Effects of sphingomyelin, cholesterol and zinc ions on the binding, insertion and aggregation of the amyloid Aβ1−40 peptide in solid‐supported lipid bilayers
Authors: Devanathan Savitha , Salamon Zdzislaw , Lindblom Göran , Gröbner Gerhard , Tollin Gordon
Published: March 2006

We utilized plasmon‐waveguide resonance (PWR) spectroscopy to follow the effects of sphingomyelin, cholesterol and zinc ions on the binding and aggregation of the amyloid β peptide1−40 in lipid bilayers. With a dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) bilayer, peptide binding was observed, but no aggregation occurred over a period of 15 h. In contrast, similar binding was found with a brain sphingomyelin (SM) bilayer, but in this case an exponential aggregation process was observed during the same time interval. When the SM bilayer included 35% cholesterol, an increase of ≈ 2.5‐fold occurred in the amount of peptide bound, with a similar increase in the extent of aggregation, the latter resulting in decreases in the bilayer packing density and displacement of lipid. Peptide association with a bilayer formed from equimolar amounts of DOPC, SM and cholesterol was followed using a high‐resolution PWR sensor that allowed microdomains to be observed. Biphasic binding to both domains occurred, but predominantly to the SM‐rich domain, initially to the surface and at higher peptide concentrations within the interior of the bilayer. Again, aggregation was observed and occurred within both microdomains, resulting in lipid displacement. We attribute the aggregation in the DOPC‐enriched domain to be a consequence of lipid mixing within these microdomains, resulting in the presence of small amounts of SM and cholesterol in the DOPC microdomain. When 1 mm zinc was present, an increase of approximately threefold in the amount of peptide association was observed, as well as large changes in mass and bilayer structure as a consequence of peptide aggregation, occurring without loss of bilayer integrity. A structural interpretation of peptide interaction with the bilayer is presented based on the results of simulation analysis of the PWR spectra.
Probing protein–chromophore interactions in Cph1 phytochrome by mutagenesis
Authors: Hahn Janina , Strauss Holger M. , Landgraf Frank T. , Gimenèz Hortensia Faus , Lochnit Günter , Schmieder Peter , Hughes Jon
Published: March 2006

We have investigated mutants of phytochrome Cph1 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC6803 in order to study chromophore–protein interactions. Cph1Δ2, the 514‐residue N‐terminal sensor module produced as a recombinant His6‐tagged apoprotein in Escherichia coli, autoassembles in vitro to form a holoprotein photochemically indistinguishable from the full‐length product. We generated 12 site‐directed mutants of Cph1Δ2, focusing on conserved residues which might be involved in chromophore–protein autoassembly and photoconversion. Folding, phycocyanobilin‐binding and Pr→Pfr photoconversion were analysed using CD and UV–visible spectroscopy. MALDI‐TOF‐MS confirmed C259 as the chromophore attachment site. C259L is unable to attach the chromophore covalently but still autoassembles to form a red‐shifted photochromic holoprotein. H260Q shows UV–visible properties similar to the wild‐type at pH 7.0 but both Pr and Pfr (reversibly) bleach at pH 9.0, indicating that the imidazole side chain buffers chromophore protonation. Mutations at E189 disturbed folding but the residue is not essential for chromophore–protein autoassembly. In D207A, whereas red irradiation of the ground state leads to bleaching of the red Pr band as in the wild‐type, a Pfr‐like peak does not arise, implicating D207 as a proton donor for a deprotonated intermediate prior to Pfr. UV‐Vis spectra of both H260Q under alkaline conditions and D207A point to a particular significance of protonation in the Pfr state, possibly implying proton migration (release and re‐uptake) during Pr→Pfr photoconversion. The findings are discussed in relation to the recently published 3D structure of a bacteriophytochrome fragment [Wagner JR, Brunzelle JS, Forest KT & Vierstra RD (2005) Nature438, 325–331].
Stratigraphic Control of Flow and Transport Characteristics
Authors: Edington Dwaine , Poeter Eileen
Published: March 2006

Ground water flow and travel time are dependent on stratigraphic architecture, which is governed by competing processes that control the spatial and temporal distribution of accommodation and sediment supply. Accommodation is the amount of space in which sediment may accumulate as defined by the difference between the energy gradient and the topographic surface. The temporal and spatial distribution of accommodation is affected by processes that change the distribution of energy (e.g., sea level or subsidence). Fluvial stratigraphic units, generated by FLUVSIM (a stratigraphic simulator based on accommodation and sediment supply), with varying magnitudes and causes of accommodation, were incorporated into a hydraulic regime using MODFLOW (a ground water flow simulator), and particles were tracked using MODPATH (a particle‐tracking algorithm). These experiments illustrate that the dominant type of accommodation process influences the degree of continuity of stratigraphic units and thus affects ground water flow and transport. When the hydraulic gradient is parallel to the axis of the fluvial system in the depositional environment, shorter travel times occur in low–total accommodation environments and longer travel times in high–total accommodation environments. Given the same total accommodation, travel times are longer when sea‐level change is the dominant process than those in systems dominated by subsidence.
Heterogeneities in Glaciofluvial Deposits Using an Example from New Hampshire
Authors: Sturgeon Gordon M. , Davis J. Matthew , Linder Ernst , Harter Robert D.
Published: March 2006

The strong influence of subsurface heterogeneity on contaminant migration and in situ remediation calls for an improved understanding of its origins and more efficient methods of characterization. Accordingly, an outcrop study of physical and chemical heterogeneity was conducted in a glaciofluvial deposit in Deerfield, New Hampshire, in order to uncover processes controlling the spatial variation of sediment properties and evaluate the extent to which geologic information can be used to characterize the observed variation. The results indicate that physical and chemical properties at the Deerfield site have distinctly different spatial correlation structures. Lithologic facies explain 31% to 60% of the variation in permeability, dithionite citrate (DC)–extractable manganese, and DC‐extractable aluminum. Lithofacies bounding surfaces do not separate regions of significantly different DC‐extractable iron; instead, 49% of its variation is explained by sediment color. Color also accounts for 34% of the variation in DC‐extractable aluminum and 60% of the variation in DC‐extractable manganese. Strong relationships with sediment facies and/or color enable detailed mapping of permeability, extractable iron, and extractable manganese. Differences in the geometries of iron and manganese enrichment, petrographic observations, and scanning electron microscope analyses indicate that (hydr)oxide grain coatings originated from the postdepositional weathering of biotite and garnet, coupled with local, redox‐driven redistribution of the liberated iron and manganese. The findings suggest that lithofacies and color information can aid the characterization and modeling of heterogeneity at similar carbon‐poor glaciofluvial sites.
Comparison of Local Grid Refinement Methods for MODFLOW
Authors: Mehl Steffen , Hill Mary C. , Leake Stanley A.
Published: March 2006

Many ground water modeling efforts use a finite‐difference method to solve the ground water flow equation, and many of these models require a relatively fine‐grid discretization to accurately represent the selected process in limited areas of interest. Use of a fine grid over the entire domain can be computationally prohibitive; using a variably spaced grid can lead to cells with a large aspect ratio and refinement in areas where detail is not needed. One solution is to use local‐grid refinement (LGR) whereby the grid is only refined in the area of interest. This work reviews some LGR methods and identifies advantages and drawbacks in test cases using MODFLOW‐2000. The first test case is two dimensional and heterogeneous; the second is three dimensional and includes interaction with a meandering river. Results include simulations using a uniform fine grid, a variably spaced grid, a traditional method of LGR without feedback, and a new shared node method with feedback. Discrepancies from the solution obtained with the uniform fine grid are investigated. For the models tested, the traditional one‐way coupled approaches produced discrepancies in head up to 6.8% and discrepancies in cell‐to‐cell fluxes up to 7.1%, while the new method has head and cell‐to‐cell flux discrepancies of 0.089% and 0.14%, respectively. Additional results highlight the accuracy, flexibility, and CPU time trade‐off of these methods and demonstrate how the new method can be successfully implemented to model surface water–ground water interactions.
Food and activity in out of school hours care in Victoria
Authors: THOMPSON Ernestine , COOPER Catherine , FLANAGAN Claire , CRAWFORD David , WORSLEY Anthony
Published: March 2006

Objective:  To describe characteristics of the Victorian out of school hours care (OSHC) sector to assess its potential role in promoting healthy lifestyles to children and their families.

Design:  Written questionnaires were sent to 1100 Victorian OSHC programs to collect information about the services, foods and activities offered to children, the training and resources utilised by staff and the type of information sent home to parents/guardians.

Subjects:  A total of 426 Victorian OSHC coordinators completed questionnaires in the present descriptive study (39% response rate).

Setting:  Out of school hours care provides care for 5–12 years olds before school, after school and/or during school holidays.

Results:  Over 80% of coordinators reported offering fruit, breads, cereals, and milk and dairy products. One‐third offer vegetables as part of meals or snacks. One‐third reported offering cakes, biscuits and/or slices, and chips and/or pastries. About 17% reported offering water, whereas 24% reported offering cordial/soft drinks and fruit juice. Cooking was offered as an after‐school activity by about half of those surveyed. Active games were common (62%) as were indoor active games and sports (36%). Sedentary activities were also commonplace (37–51%). Only about 30% of OSHC coordinators had participated in nutrition and/or physical activity training in the previous two years. Few OSHC programs sent home health information to parents/guardians.

Conclusion and application:  Opportunities exist to help Victorian OSHC programs with nutrition and physical activity information, resources and training. Although the findings of the present study are specific to Victoria, they highlight the potential role of the growing OSHC sector to help improve the health of Australian children.
Eating breakfast and its impact on children's daily diet
Authors: WILSON Noela C. , PARNELL Winsome R. , WOHLERS Mark , SHIRLEY Philippa M.
Published: March 2006

Objective:  To describe the impact of breakfast eating on the nutrient intakes of New Zealand children aged 5–14 years.

Design:  Secondary data analysis of a cross‐sectional national survey.

Subjects:  A total of 3275 children aged 5–14 years.

Setting:  Dietary data were collected primarily in the homes of the children.

Main outcome measures:  ‘Breakfast consumption’ was based on whether any food items were consumed between 6 and 9 a.m. from 24‐hour diet recall data. Nutrient intake was also based on 24‐hour diet recall.

Data analyses:  Demographic profile of breakfast eaters was determined. Difference in daily nutrient intakes between breakfast and non‐breakfast eaters was determined.

Results:  In total, 84% of New Zealand children reported eating breakfast. Younger children were more likely to eat breakfast than older children. Breakfast habits differed between Māori, Pacific and ‘New Zealand European & Others’ children. When intakes were adjusted for the demographic variables that significantly affected breakfast consumption patterns, daily nutrient intake of children who ate breakfast compared with those who did not, was significantly better. This was true for all ethnic groups. Cereal (including cold, ready‐to‐eat and cooked) was the most common breakfast food.

Conclusion:  Although the majority of New Zealand children consume breakfast, a significant improvement in daily nutrient intake could be achieved for children of all ethnic groups who currently do not consume breakfast.
Does tiger shark predation risk influence foraging habitat use by bottlenose dolphins at multiple spatial scales?
Authors: R. Heithaus Michael , M. Dill Lawrence
Published: March 2006

Prey availability and predation risk are important determinants of habitat use, but their importance may vary across spatial scales. In many marine systems, predator and prey distributions covary at large spatial scales, but do no coincide at small spatial scales. We investigated the influences of prey abundance and tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) predation risk on Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) habitat use across multiple spatial scales, in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Dolphins were distributed between deep and shallow habitats and across microhabitats within patches approximately proportional to prey density when shark abundance was low. When shark abundance was high, foraging dolphins greatly reduced their use of dangerous, but productive, shallow patches relative to safer deep ones. Also, dolphins reduced their use of interior portions of shallow patches relative to their edges, which have higher predator density but lower intrinsic risk (i.e. a higher probability of escape in an encounter situation). These results suggest that predation risk and prey availability influence dolphin habitat use at multiple spatial scales, but intrinsic habitat risk, and not just predator encounter rate, is important in shaping dolphin space use decisions. Therefore, studies of habitat use at multiple spatial scales can benefit from integrating data on prey availability and the subcomponents of predation risk.
Plastic and constant developmental traits contribute to adaptive differences in co‐occurringPolygonumspecies
Authors: M. Griffith Timothy , E. Sultan Sonia
Published: March 2006

Adaptive differences among species are often thought to result from developmentally constant trait differences that enhance fitness in alternative environments. Species differences in patterns of individual phenotypic plasticity can also have ecological consequences. Indeed, functionally related constant and plastic traits may interact to determine the phenotype's adaptive value in particular conditions. We compared juvenile shade avoidance traits (height and its components, internode length and node number) across two field density treatments inPolygonumpersicariaandP. hydropiper, annual plant species that co‐occur in pastures comprised of a mosaic of plant densities. We used selection analyses to test trait contributions to fitness in alternative density treatments. Seedlings of both species expressed plasticity for internode elongation in response to density;P. persicariaplants increased internode length and consequently height significantly more in high density than did those ofP. hydropiper. As predicted by the shade avoidance hypothesis, increased height was adaptive for both species in high density stands, soP. persicariaplants had higher fitness in this environment. By contrast, node numbers were relatively constant across density treatments in both species:P. hydropiperseedlings consistently produced more nodes than did those ofP. persicaria. This constant trait difference contributed toP. hydropiper'sgreater relative fitness at low density, where more nodes and hence leaves enable plants to better exploit available light. Differences between species in these juvenile shade‐avoidance traits did not result from the evolutionary constraints of lack of heritable variation or costs of plasticity. We discuss how these interspecific trait differences may have been generated by divergent selective histories resulting from differences in herbivore resistance. These results illustrate how adaptive differences in both plastic and constantly expressed traits may jointly contribute to ecological distribution, including coexistence in patchy habitats.
Decay of multiple species of seagrass detritus is dominated by species identity, with an important influence of mixing litters
Authors: Moore Tim N. , Fairweather Peter G.
Published: March 2006

No studies of seagrass decay have examined effects of the number of species contained within the detrital pool. Given the importance of decay for nutrient cycling and long‐term productivity, we tested how three seagrass species affected decay in litterbags. Experimental results clearly showed that species identity was the predominant driver of mass loss, with total loss not differing between bags containing one, two and three species. Furthermore, we show there were also non‐additive effects of mixing litter that were not predicted from single‐species decay rates. The nature of the non‐predictable mass loss varied both through time and with the number of species in the mixtures. This indicates that species richness indeed plays a role in this important ecosystem function but one that is of less importance than species identity. The concordance of these results with terrestrial studies suggests that mechanisms responsible for mixed‐species decay rates may be broadly applicable across ecosystems.
The role of predation for seasonal variability patterns among phytoplankton and ciliates
Authors: Huber Veronika , Gaedke Ursula
Published: March 2006

Investigating the mechanisms which underlie the biomass fluctuations of populations and communities is important to better understand the processes which buffer community biomass in a variable environment. Based on long‐term data of plankton biomass in Lake Constance (Bodensee), this study aims at explaining the different degree of synchrony among populations observed within two freshwater plankton groups, phytoplankton and ciliates. Established measures of temporal variability such as the variance ratio and cross‐correlation coefficients were combined with first‐order autoregressive models that allow estimating species interactions from time‐series data. We found that predation was an important driver of the observed seasonal variability patterns in phytoplankton and ciliates, and that competitive interactions only played a subordinate role. In Lake Constance copepods and cladocerans, two major invertebrate predator groups, focus their grazing pressure at different times of the season. Model results suggested that compensatory dynamics detected in phytoplankton originate from the differential vulnerability of species to either one of these two predator groups. For ciliates model results advocated that synchrony among species occurs because ciliates tend to be vulnerable to both predator groups. Our findings underline the necessity of extending studies of community variability to multiple trophic levels because accounting for predator‐prey interactions may often be more important than accounting for competitive interactions at one trophic level.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Sof1p Associates with 35S Pre-rRNA Independent from U3 snoRNA and Rrp5p
Authors: Bax Ralph , Vos Harmjan R. , Raué Hendrik A. , Vos Jan C.
Published: March 2006

Sof1p is a
trans
-acting protein that is essential for biogenesis of the 40S ribosomal subunits in the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
. Because of its involvement in the early cleavage steps of precursor rRNA, its interaction with Nop1p and its ability to coprecipitate U3 snoRNA, Sof1p has so far been regarded as a protein that is specific to the U3 snoRNP. To determine whether a site exists within U3 snoRNA with which Sof1p directly or indirectly associates, we studied the ability of ProtA-tagged Sof1p to coimmunoprecipitate mutant versions of U3 snoRNA. None of the tested mutations had a significant effect on the recovery of mutant U3 from cell extracts. Further coimmunoprecipitation experiments, using cells that could be genetically depleted for either Sof1p or U3 snoRNA demonstrated that the two factors associate independently of each other with the 35S precursor RNA. Indeed, association between Sof1p and U3 snoRNA was abolished in cells in which 35S pre-rRNA transcription was blocked. Finally, we found that an overall reduction in the levels of box C/D snoRNPs by genetic depletion of the common Nop58p protein did not affect coprecipitation of 35S pre-rRNA by Sof1p. From these data, we conclude that Sof1p does not assemble into the 90S preribosome as part of the U3, or any other box C/D, snoRNP. The early and independently assembling
trans-
acting factor Rrp5p also proved to be dispensable for assembly of Sof1p.
Fission Yeast Rho5p GTPase Is a Functional Paralogue of Rho1p That Plays a Role in Survival of Spores and Stationary-Phase Cells
Authors: Rincón Sergio A. , Santos Beatriz , Pérez Pilar
Published: March 2006

The Rho GTPase family and their effectors are key regulators involved in many eukaryotic cell functions related to actin organization and polarity establishment.
Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Rho1p is essential, directly activates the (1,3)-β-
d
-glucan synthase, and participates in regulation of cell wall growth and morphogenesis. Here we describe the characterization of the fission yeast Rho5p GTPase, highly homologous to Rho1p, sharing 86% identity and 95% similarity. Overexpression of the hyperactive allele
rho5-G15V
causes a morphological effect similar to that of
rho1-G15V
, but the penetrance is significantly lower, and overexpression of the dominant-negative allele
rho5-T20N
causes lysis like that of
rho1-T20N
. Importantly, overexpression of
rho5
+
but no other
rho
genes is able to rescue the lethality of
rho1
Δ cells. Shutoff experiments indicated that Rho5p can replace Rho1p, but it is not as effective in maintaining cell wall integrity or actin organization.
rho5
+
expression is hardly detected during log-phase growth but is induced under nutritional starvation conditions.
rho5
Δ cells are viable and do not display any defects during logarithmic growth. However, when
rho1
+
expression is repressed during stationary phase,
rho5
Δ cells display reduced viability. Ascospores lacking Rho5p are less resistant to heat or lytic enzymes than wild-type spores. Moreover, h
90
mutant strains carrying the hyperactive
rho5-G15V
or the dominant-negative
rho5-T20N
alleles display severe ascospore formation defects. These results suggest that Rho5p functions in a way similar to, but less efficient than, Rho1p, plays a nonessential role during stationary phase, and participates in the spore wall formation.
Transcriptional Regulation of
xyn1
, Encoding Xylanase I, in
Hypocrea jecorina
Authors: Rauscher Roman , Würleitner Elisabeth , Wacenovsky Christian , Aro Nina , Stricker Astrid R. , Zeilinger Susanne , Kubicek Christian P. , Penttilä Merja , Mach Robert L.
Published: March 2006

Two major xylanases (XYN I and XYN II) of the filamentous fungus
Hypocrea jecorina
(
Trichoderma reesei
) are simultaneously expressed during growth on xylan but respond differently to low-molecular-weight inducers. In vivo footprinting analysis of the xylanase1 (
xyn1
) promoter revealed three different nucleotide sequences (5′-

GGCTAA

ATGCGACATC

TTAGCC

-3′ [an inverted repeat of GGCTAA spaced by 10 bp], 5′-CCAAT-3′, and 5′-

GGGGTC

TA

GACCCC

-3′ [equivalent to a double Cre1 site]) used to bind proteins. Binding to the Cre1 site is only observed under repressed conditions, whereas binding to the two other motifs is constitutive. Applying heterologously expressed components of the
H. jecorina
cellulase regulators Ace1 and Ace2 and the xylanase regulator Xyr1 suggests that Ace1 and Xyr1 but not Ace2 contact both GGCTAA motifs.
H. jecorina
transformants containing mutated versions of the
xyn1
promoter, leading to elimination of protein binding to the left or the right GGCTAA box revealed either strongly reduced or completely eliminated induction of transcription. Elimination of Cre1 binding to its target released the basal transcriptional level from glucose repression but did not influence the inducibility of
xyn1
expression. Mutation of the CCAAT box prevents binding of the Hap2/3/5 complex in vitro and is partially compensating for the loss of transcription caused by the mutation of the right GGCTAA box. Finally, evidence for a competition of Ace1 and Xyr1 for the right GGCTAA box is given. These data prompted us to hypothesize that
xyn1
regulation is based on the interplay of Cre1 and Ace1 as a general and specific repressor with Xyr1 as transactivator.
Analysis of the Phosphoproteome of
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Provides New Insights into Various Cellular Pathways
Authors: Wagner Volker , Geßner Gunther , Heiland Ines , Kaminski Marc , Hawat Susan , Scheffler Kai , Mittag Maria
Published: March 2006

The unicellular flagellated green alga
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
has emerged as a model organism for the study of a variety of cellular processes. Posttranslational control via protein phosphorylation plays a key role in signal transduction, regulation of gene expression, and control of metabolism. Thus, analysis of the phosphoproteome of
C. reinhardtii
can significantly enhance our understanding of various regulatory pathways. In this study, we have grown
C. reinhardtii
cultures in the presence of an inhibitor of Ser/Thr phosphatases to increase the phosphoprotein pool. Phosphopeptides from these cells were enriched by immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography and analyzed by nano-liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (MS) with MS-MS as well as neutral-loss-triggered MS-MS-MS spectra. In this way, we were able to identify 360 phosphopeptides from 328 different phosphoproteins of
C. reinhardtii
, thus providing new insights into a variety of cellular processes, including metabolic and signaling pathways. Comparative analysis of the phosphoproteome also yielded new functional information on proteins controlled by redox regulation (thioredoxin target proteins) and proteins of the chloroplast 70S ribosome, the centriole, and especially the flagella, for which 32 phosphoproteins were identified. The high yield of phosphoproteins of the latter correlates well with the presence of several flagellar kinases and indicates that phosphorylation/dephosphorylation represents one of the key regulatory mechanisms of eukaryotic cilia. Our data also provide new insights into certain cilium-related mammalian diseases.
Regulation of Salt Tolerance byTorulaspora delbrueckiiCalcineurin Target Crz1p
Authors: Hernandez-Lopez Maria Jose , Panadero Joaquin , Prieto Jose Antonio , Randez-Gil Francisca
Published: March 2006

Recently, the academic interest in the yeastTorulaspora delbrueckiihas increased notably due to its high resistance to several types of stress, including salt and osmotic imbalance. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these unusual properties are poorly understood. InSaccharomyces cerevisiae, the high-salt response is mediated by calcineurin, a conserved Ca2+/calmodulin-modulated protein phosphatase that regulates the transcriptional factor Crz1p. Here, we cloned theT. delbrueckiiTdCRZ1gene, which encodes a putative zinc finger transcription factor homologue to Crz1p. Consistent with this, overexpression of TdCRZ1enhanced the salt tolerance ofS. cerevisiaewild-type cells and suppressed the sensitivity phenotype ofcnb1Δ andcrz1Δ mutants to monovalent and divalent cations. However,T. delbrueckiicells lacking TdCrz1p showed phenotypes distinct from those previously observed inS. cerevisiae crz1Δ mutants. Quite remarkably, Tdcrz1-null cells were insensitive to high Na+and were more Li+tolerant than wild-type cells. Clearly, TdCrz1p was not required for the salt-induced transcriptional activation of the TdENA1gene, encoding a putative P-type ATPase homologue to the mainS. cerevisiaeNa+pumpENA1. Furthermore,T. delbrueckiicells were insensitive to the immunosuppressive agents FK506 and cyclosporine A, both in the presence and in the absence of NaCl. Signaling through the calcineurin/Crz1 pathway appeared to be essential only on high-Ca2+/Mn2+media. Hence,T. delbrueckiiandS. cerevisiaediffer in the regulatory circuits and mechanisms that drive the adaptive response to salt stress.
Role of a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascade in Ion Flux-Mediated Turgor Regulation in Fungi
Authors: Lew Roger R. , Levina Natalia N. , Shabala Lana , Anderca Marinela I. , Shabala Sergey N.
Published: March 2006

Fungi normally maintain a high internal hydrostatic pressure (turgor) of about 500 kPa. In response to hyperosmotic shock, there are immediate electrical changes: a transient depolarization (1 to 2 min) followed by a sustained hyperpolarization (5 to 10 min) prior to turgor recovery (10 to 60 min). Using ion-selective vibrating probes, we established that the transient depolarization is due to Ca2+influx and the sustained hyperpolarization is due to H+efflux by activation of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. Protein synthesis is not required for H+-ATPase activation. Net K+and Cl−uptake occurs at the same time as turgor recovery. The magnitude of the ion uptake is more than sufficient to account for the osmotic gradients required for turgor to return to its original level. Two osmotic mutants,os-1andos-2, homologs of a two-component histidine kinase sensor and the yeast high osmotic glycerol mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, respectively, have lower turgor than the wild type and do not exhibit the sustained hyperpolarization after hyperosmotic treatment. Theos-1mutant does not exhibit all of the wild-type turgor-adaptive ion fluxes (Cl−uptake increases, but net K+flux barely changes and net H+efflux declines) (os-2was not examined). Bothosmutants are able to regulate turgor but at a lower level than the wild type. Our results demonstrate that a MAP kinase cascade regulates ion transport, activation of the H+-ATPase, and net K+and Cl−uptake during turgor regulation. Other pathways regulating turgor must also exist.