bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of different oils in diets for finishing pigs: performance, carcass traits and fatty acid profile of the meat
Authors: Sousa R. V. , Fialho E. T. , Lima J. A. F. , Alvarez-Leite J. I. , Cortez W. C. , Ferreira M. S. S.
Published: September 2010

An experiment was carried out in the Animal Science Department of Lavras University to determine the effects of different oils on the performance, carcass traits and fatty acid profile of meat from finishing pigs. In total, 80 Large White × Landrace animals, including 40 gilts and 40 barrows, with an average initial weight of 68.50 ± 1.45 kg, were used. Isoenergetic, isoprotein and isolysinic diets based on corn and soybean meal without the addition of oil or with 2% soybean oil, canola oil, linseed oil or PUFA commercial oil were tested. No significant (P > 0.05) effects were observed in the pigs’ performance. However, significant (P < 0.05) improvements were observed regarding the percentage of meat on the carcass and the loin area with the addition of linseed oil (2%) in the diets. The carcasses of the pigs fed diets containing linseed oil also had higher content of protein in the femoral biceps muscle compared with those from pigs fed soybean oil diets. The fatty acid composition of the intramuscular fat of the longissimus dorsi muscle reflected the composition of the oils added to the diets. In conclusion, linseed oil at 2.0% in the finishing pig diet improved lean tissue accretion (lean meat and loin area in the carcass). In addition, the fatty acid deposition in the muscles followed the dietary fatty acid profile.
Increasing amounts of crushed wheat fed with Persian clover herbage reduced ruminal pH and dietary fibre digestibility in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Leddin C. M. , Stockdale C. R. , Hill J. , Heard J. W. , Doyle P. T.
Published: September 2010

Sixteen cows in early lactation were individually fed diets consisting of fresh Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum)-dominant pasture, offered to all cows at 3.7 kg DM/100 kg liveweight (LW); either alone or supplemented with amounts of crushed wheat ranging from ~0.3 to 0.9 kg DM/100 kg LW (four treatments with four cows per treatment). Cows fed Persian clover alone consumed 19 kg DM/day and total DM intake increased (P < 0.001) in a linear manner as the amount of wheat consumed increased, with no significant effects on clover intake. As the proportion of wheat in the diet increased, dietary neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations declined from 28 to 24%, and in vivo NDF (P = 0.055) and acid detergent fibre (ADF; P = 0.015) digestibilities also declined. There were no significant effects of proportion of wheat in the diet on apparent digestibility of DM, organic matter or gross energy. The extent to which negative associative effects on NDF digestion was associated with the clover could not be determined as it was not possible to distinguish between the NDF derived from clover or wheat, but the decline in ADF digestibility suggested that most of the response lay with the clover since the wheat only contained relatively small amounts of ADF. Ruminal fluid pH was below 6.0 for more than 18 h/day in all cows. There was no effect of wheat in the diet on average ruminal fluid pH, but lowest values during the day were negatively related (P < 0.05) to the proportion of wheat in the diet. As the proportion of wheat in the diet increased, ruminal fluid ammonia-N concentration (P < 0.001) and the acetate + butyrate to propionate ratio (P < 0.001) decreased. The proportion of wheat in the diet did not affect nylon bag estimates of NDF degradation rates for grain or forage. Although most data indicated that effects of proportion of wheat in the diet on the utilisation of consumed nutrients were small, the marginal milk response to additional wheat averaged only 0.9 kg energy-corrected milk/kg DM wheat.
Impact of mycotoxins and of a mycotoxin deactivator on alpacas grazing perennial ryegrass infected with wild endophyte (Neotyphodium spp.)
Authors: Reed K. F. M. , Vaughan J. L. , Cummins L. J. , Moore D. D.
Published: September 2010

Liveweight gain, animal health and the effectiveness of a mycotoxin deactivator were studied on an old pasture that contained 61% perennial ryegrass. Sixty-seven percent of the ryegrass population was infected with endophyte (Neotyphodium spp.). The pasture was fenced into two halves and two groups of 28 alpaca male weaners were rotated between the two plots. Nine to 10 Suris and 18–19 Huacayas were allocated to each group. One group was fed a concentrate supplement (100 g/head per day) and the other was fed the same supplement to which was added the toxin deactivator, Mycofix® Plus (5 g/100 g). Mean liveweight gain on the low-quality pasture over late summer and early autumn was not significantly (P > 0.05) different between the groups. For the control group it was 41 g/day but individual rates of gain ranged from 67 to 0 g/day, depending on the severity of signs of perennial ryegrass toxicosis (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). Liveweight gain was independent of neurotoxic signs in the Mycofix® Plus treated group. Ergovaline concentration in perennial ryegrass varied from 0.43 to a peak in early autumn (March) of 1.05 mg/kg. Mean urine lysergol alkaloid concentration peaked in mid-summer (January) at 109 ng/mg creatinine (control group) and was consistently lower in the Mycofix® Plus group, although the difference approached significance (P = 0.06) only in March. Lolitrem B concentration in perennial ryegrass varied from 0.78 to 1.57 mg/kg. Neurotoxic signs in alpacas were observed throughout the study and peaked in early autumn, coinciding with peak lolitrem B concentration; at this time, 84% of alpacas exhibited neurotoxic signs. Over the 145-day study, the Mycofix® Plus treated group exhibited a lower mean rating of perennial ryegrass toxicosis signs (P < 0.05). Variation in liveweight gain and signs of toxicosis were not associated with significant differences in liver enzyme activity.
The power of myth: the (non) impact of invasive cane toads (Bufo marinus) on domestic chickens (Gallus gallus)
Authors: Beckmann Christa , Shine Richard
Published: September 2010

Myths about invasive species are widespread in the general community, even when contrary to scientific evidence. Public revulsion against invasive cane toads (Bufo marinus) in Australia has encouraged the belief that toads pose a significant risk to domestic poultry, by poisoning fowls that eat toads or that drink water contaminated by toads. Although discredited by scientists in 1938, within 2 years of the toads’ introduction to Australia, the myth continues to flourish. We conducted experimental trials to evaluate the vulnerability of chickens to toad-contaminated water, and to toad ingestion. No ill effects were seen, with one chicken consuming 45 small toads without falling ill. Thus, available evidence suggests that cane toads do not imperil domestic poultry.
Dispersal of fungal spores on a cooperatively generated wind
Authors: Roper Marcus , Seminara Agnese , Bandi M. M. , Cobb Ann , Dillard Helene R. , Pringle Anne
Published: September 2010

Because of their microscopic size, the forcibly ejected spores of ascomycete fungi are quickly brought to rest by drag. Nonetheless some apothecial species, including the pathogen
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
, disperse with astonishing rapidity between ephemeral habitats. Here we show that by synchronizing the ejection of thousands of spores, these fungi create a flow of air that carries spores through the nearly still air surrounding the apothecium, around intervening obstacles, and to atmospheric currents and new infection sites. High-speed imaging shows that synchronization is self-organized and likely triggered by mechanical stresses. Although many spores are sacrificed to produce the favorable airflow, creating the potential for conflict among spores, the geometry of the spore jet physically targets benefits of the airflow to spores that cooperate maximally in its production. The ability to manipulate a local fluid environment to enhance spore dispersal is a previously overlooked feature of the biology of fungal pathogens, and almost certainly shapes the virulence of species including
S. sclerotiorum
. Synchronous spore ejection may also provide a model for the evolution of stable, self-organized behaviors.
Nanocrystalline silicon film growth morphology control through RF waveform tailoring
Authors: Johnson Erik V , Verbeke Thomas , Vanel Jean-Charles , Booth Jean-Paul
Published: September 2010

We demonstrate the application of RF waveform tailoring to generate an electrical asymmetry in a capacitively coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition system, and its use to control the growth mode of hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin films deposited at low temperature (150 °C). A dramatic shift in the dc bias potential at the powered electrode is observed when simply inverting the voltage waveform from ‘peaks’ to ‘troughs’, indicating an asymmetric distribution of the sheath voltage. By enhancing or suppressing the ion bombardment energy at the substrate (situated on the grounded electrode), the growth of thin silicon films can be switched between amorphous and nanocrystalline modes, as observed using in situ spectroscopic ellipsometry. The effect is observed at pressures sufficiently low that the collisional reduction in average ion bombardment energy is not sufficient to allow nanocrystalline growth (<100 mTorr).
Magnetic and magnetoresistive properties related to microstructure in Cu75–Fe5–Ni20 alloys
Authors: Kang S , Takeda M , Hiroi Z , Kim G W , Lee C G , Koo B H
Published: September 2010

The electromagnetic properties and microstructures of a Cu75–Fe5–Ni20 alloy have been investigated on isothermal annealing at 1073 K, using a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer, quantum design, physical property measurement system and transmission electron microscopy. Nanoscale magnetic particles were formed randomly in the Cu-rich matrix after receiving a short annealing due to the phase decomposition in the alloy. With increasing isothermal annealing time, however, rod-type precipitates aligned along the ⟨1 0 0⟩ directions were observed in the matrix, on isothermal annealing at 1073 K. Although the size of the precipitates became larger (from ∼10 nm to >300 nm) after further annealing, no significant change (less than 2%) was detected in the MR value. The largest MR value (MR ∼16% at H = 7 T and T = 10 K) was attained, in particular, for the as-quenched specimen. This study revealed that several significant influences were introduced into the magnetic and magnetoresistive properties during the phase decomposition process in the Cu–Fe–Ni alloy.
Improving the performance of photomultiplier tubes
Authors: Harmer S W , Townsend P D
Published: September 2010

Photomultipliers are ubiquitous detectors of low level light signals, but their performance is limited by the complexity of photocathode technology. Two contributory problems are that light is lost both by surface reflection and by transmission through the photocathode layer. Knowledge of the dielectric constants has allowed predictive modelling of the reflectivity and absorption of the light as a function of angle of incidence, cathode thickness and polarization. The predictions have stimulated designs of extremely simple and very low cost retrofit approaches to improve the overall effectiveness of photomultipliers. One simple design presented here exploits signal that is normally lost by the surface reflection. A simple external conical torch reflector is clipped over the photomultiplier end face. The reflector raised the efficiency of an S20 multialkali photocathode by between 20% and 10% across the blue to red spectral range. An alternative semi-cylindrical glass coupler has improved the absorption efficiency by allowing the input signal to arrive at 60° incidence to the photocathode surface, rather than normal incidence as in the standard head-on geometry. Enhancements are from 30% to 500% across the spectral range. The greater gains are at long wavelengths, and so are particularly valuable as this is the region of lowest quantum efficiency. The latter high-incidence angle approach, when applied to a low-efficiency C grade tube, has raised the performance to greater than the best of the A grade tubes, as used in the normal head-on operation. Both methods are equally applicable to other cathode compositions.
High-speed dispersed photographing of an open-air argon plasma plume by a grating–ICCD camera system
Authors: Xiong Q , Nikiforov A Y , Lu X P , Leys C
Published: September 2010

In this paper, an open-air argon plasma plume is generated at atmospheric pressure by a two-electrode jet device with sub-microsecond voltage pulses at a repetitive frequency of 1 kHz. Optical emission spectroscopy measurements showed that spectral irradiance from OH and N2 bands, and Ar lines, characterized the spectrum of the open-air argon plasma plume. The rotational temperature estimation of UV OH band spectra indicated the gas temperature of the plasma plume to be as low as room temperature. A novel diagnostic method, based on two dispersion gratings and an ICCD camera, was designed for investigating the time- and space-resolved propagation behaviour of the excited radicals in the plasma plume. Based on the dispersion feature of gratings, a series of dispersed plasma optical emission volumes, which were formed by irradiance from different excited radiation emitters (excited species) in the plasma plume, were captured in the form of high-speed images by the ICCD camera. From the sequence of dispersed emission images, it is possible to observe the time- and space-resolved behaviour of different excited species in the plasma, and meanwhile, to understand the propagation dynamics of the open-air argon plasma plume. It is found that the OH bands' emission volume exhibited a propagation behaviour distinct from that of N2 and Ar emission volumes. The OH emissions decayed immediately as soon as the plasma travelled out from the nozzle, but were able to last for a longer duration time inside the nozzle than both N2 and Ar emissions. The N2 bands' emission volumes propagated to a far distance and formed the whole length of the argon plasma plume in the surrounding air. The Ar emissions decayed rapidly for the plasma inside and outside the nozzle due to the adverse effect of impurities, in particular the large concentration of diffused air in the open space. These distinct types of dynamic behaviour of the dispersed plasma emission volumes are attributed to the different generation and quenching mechanisms of their corresponding excited species and they shed light on the clear propagation dynamics of the argon plasma plume in open air.
Fluorinated cellular polypropylene films with time-invariant excellent surface electret properties by post-treatments
Authors: An Zhenlian , Mao Mingjun , Yao Junlan , Zhang Yewen , Xia Zhongfu
Published: September 2010

In this work, to improve the electret properties of cellular polypropylene films, they were fluorinated and post-treated with nitrous oxide and by isothermal crystallization. Surface electret properties of the samples were investigated by thermally stimulated discharge current measurements, and their compositions and structures were analysed by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy and wide angle x-ray diffraction, respectively. Time-dependent deterioration of surface electret properties was observed for the fluorinated samples without the nitrous oxide post-treatment. However, deterioration did not occur for the fluorinated samples post-treated with nitrous oxide, and time-invariant excellent surface electret properties or deep surface charge traps were obtained by the combined post-treatments of the fluorinated samples with nitrous oxide and by isothermal crystallization. Based on the analyses of composition and structure of the treated samples, the deterioration was clarified to be due to a trace of oxygen in the reactive mixture, which led to the formation of peroxy
radicals in the fluorinated surface layer. The time invariability of surface electret properties was owing to the rapid termination of the peroxy
radicals by nitrous oxide. And the deep surface charge traps resulted from the isothermal crystallization treatment which led to an increase in the efficient charging interface between the crystallite and amorphous region and its property change.
Precision deposition of a nanofibre by near-field electrospinning
Authors: Zheng Gaofeng , Li Wenwang , Wang Xiang , Wu Dezhi , Sun Daoheng , Lin Liwei
Published: September 2010

The deposition behaviour of an individual nanofibre on planar and patterned silicon substrates is studied using near-field electrospinning (NFES). A high-speed camera was utilized to investigate the formation and motion process of a liquid jet. Thanks to the shorter distance from the spinneret to the collector, bending instability and splitting of the charged jet in electrospinning were overcome. In NFES, a straight-line jet between the spinneret and the collector can be utilized to direct-write an orderly nanofibre. Perturbation stemming from residual charges on the collector caused the oscillation of the charged jet, and the deposition of the non-woven nanofibre on the planar substrate. With increasing collector speed, the impact of residual charges was weakened by the strong drag force from the collector and a straight-line nanofibre could be obtained. In addition, the nanofibre can be direct-written in a special pattern by controlling the motion track of the collector. Therefore, it can be concluded that a micro-strip pattern was a good guidance for nanofibre deposition, and the nanofibre deposition track followed well along the top surface of the micro-strip pattern. The position-controlled deposition of a single nanofibre provides a new aspect for applications of electrospinning.
Tritium beta-luminescence in ZnO nanowires
Authors: Liu B , Yan F , Philipose U , Kherani N P , Shmayda W , Ruda H , Chen K P
Published: September 2010

This paper reports on the observation of tritium-powered beta-luminescence (BL) in ZnO nanowires (NWs). The ZnO NWs, prepared using standard vapour–liquid–solid growth, were exposed to tritium betas emanating from a tritium gas source over a range of pressures and from a scandium tritide source. BL spectra were measured at room temperature, showing increasing signal strength with increasing tritium pressure and thus beta energy flux. Complementary photoluminescence studies with and without hydrogen impregnation indicate the quenching effect of hydrogen in ZnO NWs and thus reduced emission.
Highly Ordered Spatial Organization of the Structural Long Noncoding NEAT1 RNAs within Paraspeckle Nuclear Bodies
Authors: Souquere Sylvie , Beauclair Guillaume , Harper Francis , Fox Archa , Pierron Gérard
Published: September 2010

Paraspeckles (PSPs) are nuclear bodies associated with the retention in the nucleus of specific mRNAs. Two isoforms of a long noncoding RNA (NEAT1_v1/Menε and NEAT1_v2/Menβ) are required for the integrity of PSPs. Here, we analyzed the molecular organization of PSPs by immuno- and in situ hybridization electron microscopy. Detection of the paraspeckle markers PSPC1 and P54NRB/NONO confirm the identity between PSPs and the previously described interchromatin granule-associated zones (IGAZs). High-resolution in situ hybridization of NEAT1 transcripts revealed a highly ordered organization of IGAZ/PSPs. Although the 3.7-kb NEAT1_v1 and the identical 5′ end of the 22.7-kb NEAT1_v2 transcripts are confined to the periphery, central sequences of NEAT1_v2 are found within the electron-dense core of the bodies. Moreover, the 3′ end of NEAT1_v2 also localize to the periphery, indicating possible architectures for IGAZ/PSPs. These results further suggest that the organization of NEAT1 transcripts constrains the geometry of these bodies. Accordingly, we observed in HeLa and NIH 3T3 cells that IGAZ/PSPs are elongated structures with a well-defined diameter. Our results provide new insight on the ability of noncoding RNAs to form subcellular structures.
GLOOME: gain loss mapping engine
Authors: Cohen Ofir , Ashkenazy Haim , Belinky Frida , Huchon Dorothée , Pupko Tal
Published: September 2010

SUMMARY: The evolutionary analysis of presence and absence profiles (phyletic patterns) is widely used in biology. It is assumed that the observed phyletic pattern is the result of gain and loss dynamics along a phylogenetic tree. Examples of characters that are represented by phyletic patterns include restriction sites, gene families, introns and indels, to name a few. Here, we present a user-friendly web server that accurately infers branch-specific and site-specific gain and loss events. The novel inference methodology is based on a stochastic mapping approach utilizing models that reliably capture the underlying evolutionary processes. A variety of features are available including the ability to analyze the data with various evolutionary models, to infer gain and loss events using either stochastic mapping or maximum parsimony, and to estimate gain and loss rates for each character analyzed.

Availability: Freely available for use at http://gloome.tau.ac.il/

Contact:  talp@post.tau.ac.il
The Transcription Factor FgStuAp Influences Spore Development, Pathogenicity, and Secondary Metabolism in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Lysøe Erik , Pasquali Matias , Breakspear Andrew , Kistler H. Corby
Published: September 2010

Fusarium graminearum is an important plant-pathogenic fungus and the major cause of cereal head blight. Here, we report the functional analysis of FgStuA, the gene for a transcription factor with homology to key developmental regulators in fungi. The deletion mutant was greatly reduced in pathogenicity on wheat heads and in production of secondary metabolites. Spore production was significantly impaired in ΔFgStuA, which did not develop perithecia and sexual ascospores, and lacked conidiophores and phialides, leading to delayed production of aberrant macroconidia. FgStuAp appears to act as a global regulator that may affect many diverse aspects of the life cycle of F. graminearum. Transcriptome analysis shows that thousands of genes are differentially expressed in the mutant during asexual sporulation and infection of wheat heads and under conditions that induce secondary metabolites, including many that could account for the mutant phenotypes observed. The primary regulatory targets of FgStuAp are likely genes involved in cell-cycle control, and the predicted FgStuAp sequence has an APSES domain, with homology to helix-loop-helix proteins involved in cell-cycle regulation. The Aspergillus StuAp response element (A/TCGCGT/ANA/C) was found highly enriched in the promoter sequences of cell-cycle genes, which was upregulated in the ΔFgStuA deletion mutant.
First Report of Brown Ring Patch on Poa annua Caused by Waitea circinata var. circinata in West Virginia
Authors: McDonald S. J. , Averell R. M. , Glass M. E. , Young H. M. , Mysliwiec T. H. , Sanford D. L. , Fidanza M. A.
Published: September 2010

In mid-November 2009, thin, yellow, and irregular-shaped scalloped rings 10 to 25 cm in diameter were observed on 5 to 10% of a golf course putting green in Charles Town, WV. The 20-year-old USGA-specification sand-based green was mowed at 3.1-mm height and consisted of 60% annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) and 40% creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stoloniferous L. ‘Putter’). Minimum and maximum daily air temperature ranged from 2 to 22°C, respectively, with 38 mm of rainfall during the appearance of rings symptoms. Only affected annual bluegrass plants exhibited a peculiar yellow chlorosis of the upper and lower leaves. A single fungal isolate was obtained from active mycelium found within symptomatic annual bluegrass leaves and grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with chloramphenicol (0.1 g/liter). Fungal colony morphology (i.e., light yellow with irregular-shaped 2- to 4-mm-diameter sclerotia first appearing off-white but progressing to brown by 21 to 28 days in culture) and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 5.8S rDNA region with primers ITS1 and ITS4 confirmed the isolate as Waitea circinata var. circinata (Warcup & Talbot) with ≥99% sequence identity with GenBank Accession No. FJ755889 (1,2,4). To confirm pathogenicity, a 6-mm-diameter plug of the isolate was removed from the expanding edge of a 4-day-old culture grown on PDA and placed in contact with the lower leaves of 12-week-old annual bluegrass (0.001 g of surface-sterilized seed per cm2) grown in 5- × 5-cm plastic pots of autoclaved 85% sand and 15% potting soil. Six pots were inoculated with the isolate and six pots were inoculated with an isolate-free agar plug and then placed in a moist chamber at 28°C. Leaf chlorosis and aerial mycelium was observed in all six inoculated pots 8 to 10 days after inoculation, and symptoms were similar to those expressed in the field. All noninoculated plants remained healthy and asymptomatic. W. circinata var. circinata was reisolated from symptomatic leaves and again confirmed by colony traits and sequencing of the ITS-5.8S rDNA region and submitted as GenBank Accession No. HM807582. To our knowledge, this is the first report of brown ring patch in West Virginia and could be economically important because of intensive fungicide practices used to maintain high-quality putting greens on golf courses (3).

References: (1) C. Chen et al. Plant Dis. 91:1687, 2007. (2) K. de la Cerda et al. Plant Dis. 91:791, 2007. (3) J. Kaminski and F. Wong. Golf Course Manage. 75:98, 2007. (4) T. Toda et al. Plant Dis. 89:536, 2005.
Snake melon asteroid mosaic virus, a Tentative New Member of the GenusSobemovirusInfecting Cucurbits
Authors: Lecoq Hervé , Dafalla Gasim , Delécolle Brigitte , Wipf-Scheibel Catherine , Desbiez Cécile
Published: September 2010

A virus isolate (Su-95-67) was obtained from a snake melon (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus) plant presenting severe chlorotic spots, mosaic, stunting, and leaf deformations collected in Eastern Sudan in 1995. Su-95-67 was easily mechanically transmissible and had a host range limited to a few cucurbit species. Isometric virus particles approximately 30 nm in diameter were observed in leaf dip preparations. A cytopathological study did not reveal alterations specific for a virus genus or family. A polyclonal antiserum was obtained and used in double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA). Su-95-67 was transmitted by seed at a low rate, by the red melon beetle (Aulacophora foveicollis), but not by the melon aphid (Aphis gossypii). Because Su-95-67 shared several properties with sobemoviruses, generic Sobemovirus reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction primers were developed. They allowed amplification of a 384-bp fragment from extracts of plants infected by two sobemoviruses or by Su-95-67 but not from healthy plants extracts. Sequence comparison confirmed that Su-95-67 belongs to a new tentative Sobemovirus species for which we propose the name Snake melon asteroid mosaic virus (SMAMV). DAS-ELISA tests conducted on extracts of virus-infected cucurbit plants collected from 1992 to 2003 revealed the presence of SMAMV in 10.2% of 600 samples originating from different regions of Sudan.
Structure of an Ebf1:DNA complex reveals unusual DNA recognition and structural homology with Rel proteins
Authors: Treiber Nora , Treiber Thomas , Zocher Georg , Grosschedl Rudolf
Published: September 2010

Early B-cell factor 1 (Ebf1) is a key transcriptional determinant of B-lymphocyte differentiation whose DNA-binding domain has no sequence similarity to other transcription factor families. Here we report the crystal structure of an Ebf1 dimer bound to its palindromic recognition site. The DNA-binding domain adopts a pseudoimmunoglobulin-like fold with novel topology, but is structurally similar to the Rel homology domains of NFAT and NF-κB. Ebf1 contacts the DNA with two loop-based modules and a unique Zn coordination motif whereby each Ebf1 monomer interacts with both palindromic half-sites. This unusual mode of DNA recognition generates an extended contact area that may be crucial for the function of Ebf1 in chromatin.
Epigenetic Regulation of Repetitive Elements Is Attenuated by Prolonged Heat Stress in Arabidopsis
Authors: Pecinka Ales , Dinh Huy Q. , Baubec Tuncay , Rosa Marisa , Lettner Nicole , Scheid Ortrun Mittelsten
Published: September 2010

Epigenetic factors determine responses to internal and external stimuli in eukaryotic organisms. Whether and how environmental conditions feed back to the epigenetic landscape is more a matter of suggestion than of substantiation. Plants are suitable organisms with which to address this question due to their sessile lifestyle and diversification of epigenetic regulators. We show that several repetitive elements of Arabidopsis thaliana that are under epigenetic regulation by transcriptional gene silencing at ambient temperatures and upon short term heat exposure become activated by prolonged heat stress. Activation can occur without loss of DNA methylation and with only minor changes to histone modifications but is accompanied by loss of nucleosomes and by heterochromatin decondensation. Whereas decondensation persists, nucleosome loading and transcriptional silencing are restored upon recovery from heat stress but are delayed in mutants with impaired chromatin assembly functions. The results provide evidence that environmental conditions can override epigenetic regulation, at least transiently, which might open a window for more permanent epigenetic changes.
Evaluation of MSX2 mRNA in brush cytology specimens distinguished pancreatic carcinoma from chronic pancreatitis
Authors: Satoh Kennichi , Hamada Shin , Kanno Atsushi , Ishida Kazuyuki , Ito Hiromichi , Hirota Morihisa , Masamune Atsushi , Egawa Shinichi , Unno Michiaki , Shimosegawa Tooru
Published: September 2010

It is difficult to distinguish pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) from chronic pancreatitis (CP) when stricture is present in the pancreatic duct. Endoscopic brushing cytology is a convenient method for investigating strictures in the pancreatic duct, however, the diagnostic sensitivity of this method for PDAC is reported to be low (40–70%). Recently, we revealed that MSX2 is frequently expressed in PDAC cells but not in normal cultured pancreatic duct or stellate cells. Thus, we analyzed MSX2 expression levels in brushing samples to examine whether this would differentiate PDAC from CP. Cytologic brushing specimens were obtained from pancreatic duct strictures during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography in 82 patients. The brushing fluid was subjected to cytological diagnosis and RNA extraction. The expression level of MSX2 was evaluated by one‐step real‐time RT‐PCR. MSX2 expression levels were significantly higher in PDAC than in CP (P = 0.0000007), and the expression level was associated with positive cytology (P = 0.013). The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy for PDAC of cytology and MSX2 expression in ductal strictures were: 47.4%, 100%, and 63.4%, and 73.7%, 84.0%, and 79.3%, respectively. The sensitivity and accuracy of MSX2 expression levels for diagnosis were much higher than those of cytology. This suggests that the evaluation of MSX2 levels in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography brushing samples would be useful for distinguishing PDAC from CP. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 157–161)
The impact of pre‐endoscopy proton pump inhibitor use on the classification of non‐erosive reflux disease and erosive oesophagitis
Authors: Gaddam S. , Wani S. , Ahmed H. , Maddur P. , Hall S. B. , Gupta N. , Puli S. R. , Higbee A. , Rastogi A. , Bansal A. , Sharma P.
Published: September 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 1266–1274

Background  Factors associated with non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD) and erosive oesophagitis (EO) are incompletely understood and the overlap between the two entities is debated.

Aim  To compare clinical, demographic, and endoscopic findings in a large cohort of NERD and EO patients.

Methods  After they completed a validated GERD questionnaire, patients who presented for index endoscopy were enrolled and categorized as NERD or EO. Analysis was performed using Chi‐square, Mann–Whitney U‐test and multivariate logistic regression.

Results  A total of 696 GERD patients [455 (65.4%) NERD; 241 (34.6%) EO]; mean age 57 years; 92% men and 82% Caucasian were prospectively enrolled. Using logistic regression, patients on PPI were more likely to be classified as NERD (OR: 3.2; P < 0.001). NERD patients were older (OR: 1.50; P = 0.05), less likely to have nocturnal symptoms (OR: 0.63; P = 0.04) and hiatal hernia (OR: 0.32; P < 0.001). Compared with PPI‐naïve NERD patients, those on PPI were more likely to have nocturnal symptoms (69% vs. 29%, P = 0.048) and less likely to have mild‐moderate symptoms (63% vs. 79%, P < 0.001) – similar to the EO group.

Conclusions  Pre‐endoscopy PPI usage contributes significantly to the classification of GERD patients into the NERD‐phenotype. NERD patients on PPI therapy demonstrate some features that are significantly different from PPI‐naïve patients, but similar to EO patients. This observation supports the notion that some PPI NERD patients are actually healed EO patients, and that an overlap does exist between the GERD phenotypes.
Pilot study: alterations of intestinal microbiota in obese humans are not associated with colonic inflammation or disturbances of barrier function
Authors: Brignardello J. , Morales P. , Diaz E. , Romero J. , Brunser O. , Gotteland M.
Published: September 2010

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 1307–1314

Background  Obesity is associated with low‐grade inflammation contributing to insulin‐resistance. Gut barrier alterations, described in animal models of obesity, probably favour inflammation. This has not been hitherto described in obese humans.

Aim  To evaluate gut permeability in asymptomatic obese and its association with plasma (C‐reactive protein (CRP), arachidonate/eicosapentaenoate ratio) and faecal (calprotectin and leptin) markers of inflammation and microbiota alterations.

Methods  A total of 13 obese (age: 33.9 ± 11.5 years; BMI: 35.9 ± 5.0 kg/m2) and 11 control subjects (age: 30.3 ± 8.1 years; BMI: 23.5 ± 2.4 kg/m2) were recruited. Gut permeability was assessed by the lactulose‐mannitol‐sucralose test, plasma fatty acids by gas chromatography, faecal calprotectin and leptin by Elisa and faecal microbiota by G+C profiling.

Results  C‐reactive protein was increased in the obese subjects (P = 0.01), but neither the plasma arachidonate/eicosapentaenoate ratio, the faecal levels of calprotectin and leptin, nor the gut permeability were altered. The faecal microbiota was altered in the obese (P = 0.0002), with predominance of bacterial populations having a lower G+C content and decreased concentrations of high G+C populations.

Conclusions  Asymptomatic obese individuals with systemic low‐grade inflammation do not have evidence of colonic inflammation or gut barrier alteration; however, the biodiversity of their intestinal microbiota is affected.
Gastro‐Laryngeal Tube for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a preliminary report*
Authors: Gaitini L. A. , Lavi A. , Stermer E. , Mora P. Charco , Pott L. M. , Vaida S. J.
Published: September 2010

The Gastro‐Laryngeal Tube is a modification of the Laryngeal Tube that provides a dedicated channel for the insertion of a gastroscope. In this study of 30 patients undergoing general anaesthesia for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, we evaluated both the effectiveness of airway management with a Gastro Laryngeal Tube and the feasibility of performing it using the endoscopic channel. The Gastro Laryngeal Tube was inserted successfully in all patients, in 27 patients at the first attempt. The mean (SD) time to achieve an effective airway was 26 (6) s. Mean (SD) inspiratory and expiratory tidal volumes were 336 (57) ml and 312 (72) ml, respectively, and oropharyngeal leak pressure was 33.7 (2) cmH2O. These data suggest that the Gastro Laryngeal Tube is an effective and secure device for airway management and for use during performance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.
Pulse contour cardiac output derived from non‐invasive arterial pressure in cardiovascular disease
Authors: Bogert L. W. J. , Wesseling K. H. , Schraa O. , Van Lieshout E. J. , De Mol B. A. J. M. , Van Goudoever J. , Westerhof B. E. , Van Lieshout J. J.
Published: September 2010

Pulse contour methods determine cardiac output semi‐invasively using standard arterial access. This study assessed whether cardiac output can be determined non‐invasively by replacing the intra‐arterial pressure input with a non‐invasive finger arterial pressure input in two methods, Nexfin CO‐trek® and Modelflow®, in 25 awake patients after coronary artery bypass surgery. Pulmonary artery thermodilution cardiac output served as a reference. In the supine position, the mean (SD) differences between thermodilution cardiac output and Nexfin CO‐trek were 0.22 (0.77) and 0.44 (0.81) l.min−1, for intra‐arterial and non‐invasive pressures, respectively. For Modelflow, these differences were 0.70 (1.08) and 1.80 (1.59) l.min−1, respectively. Similarly, in the sitting position, differences between thermodilution cardiac output and Nexfin CO‐trek were 0.16 (0.78) and 0.34 (0.83), for intra‐arterial and non‐invasive arterial pressure, respectively. For Modelflow, these differences were 0.58 (1.11) and 1.52 (1.54) l.min−1, respectively. Thus, Nexfin CO‐trek readings were not different from thermodilution cardiac output, for both invasive and non‐invasive inputs. However, Modelflow readings differed greatly from thermodilution when using non‐invasive arterial pressure input.
Using primary care prescribing databases for pharmacovigilance
Authors: Naina Mohamed Isa , Helms Peter J. , Simpson Colin R. , Milne Robert M. , McLay James S.
Published: September 2010

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT

• The ‘Yellow Card Scheme’ is the main adverse drug reaction monitoring system in the UK.

• The Yellow Card Scheme, like other passive systems, suffers from under‐reporting, long lag time for signal detection and generation of appropriate warnings, no precise denominator and lack of reports for special patient groups, such as children and the elderly.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

• Routinely collected general practice prescribing data can be used to assess drug discontinuation rates/medication persistence in different patient populations.

• Routinely acquired prescribing data can be used to identify the specific reasons for patients discontinuing a chronic medication.

• Using the computerized practice team information prescribing database, the reasons for drug discontinuation were recorded for 20% of patients; however, reasons for discontinuation were recorded for 100% of patients in primary care medical records.

• Reasons for discontinuing prescriptions within 6 months from the index prescriptions can be used for pharmacovigilance and complement current adverse drug reaction monitoring systems.

AIMS In the UK, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are responsible for over 6.5% of all hospital admissions, representing a significant morbidity and cost burden to the health service. We aimed to develop an ADR monitoring system capable of identifying the reasons for patient discontinuation of drug therapy within 6 months of the index prescription.

METHODS Patients first prescribed amlodipine between 1 March 2004 and 28 February 2007 who discontinued their amlodipine medication within 6 months of the index prescription were identified from the practice team information (PTI) database. Once identified, reasons for amlodipine discontinuation were assessed by an electronic database search using relevant Readcodes and key words and by a direct approach to the primary care medical records.

RESULTS The PTI database identified 995 patients [61.4% females, mean age 65.9 years (SD 12.4 years)] who discontinued amlodipine within 6 months of an index prescription. An electronic search of the database, using Readcodes, identified that 19.4% (193) of patients who discontinued their medication had an ADR recorded in the database. Six (20%) of 30 participating primary care practices, contributing to the PTI database, agreed to be approached directly and supply the reasons for discontinuation for the 51 patients identified as having discontinued amlodipine in their practices. Completed data were returned for all 51 patients, 98% of whom discontinued amlodipine due to an ADR or adverse drug event.

CONCLUSIONS The results of this study confirm that primary care prescribing databases can be easily used to identify the frequency and nature of ADRs occurring in an ADR‐enriched population identified through medication discontinuation.
Late relapse in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Vose Julie M. , Weisenburger Dennis D. , Loberiza Fausto R. , Arevalo Alejandro , Bast Martin , Armitage Joel , Bierman Philip J. , Bociek Robert G. , Armitage James O.
Published: September 2010

The outcomes for 162 patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma treated with a CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone)‐like regimen who obtained a complete remission and who subsequently relapsed after ≥5 years of remission (late relapse, N = 30), or <5 years of remission (early relapse, N = 132), were compared. The late relapsing patients had better prognostic characteristics at diagnosis, such as stage I/II disease (73% vs. 49%, P = 0·04), a normal lactic dehydrogenase (77% vs. 48%, P = 0·01), and a Karnofsky performance score of ≥80 (100% vs. 86%, P = 0·01). The 3‐year survival after relapse was better in late relapsing patients (48% vs. 25%, P = 0·03), but the survival at 5 years (32% vs. 20%) and 10 years (13% vs. 14%) after relapse was not different. A multivariate analysis of factors predicting survival after relapse found age (P < 0·0001) and presence of B‐symptoms (P = 0·03) to predict survival, but not early versus late relapse. A small percentage of the late relapsing patients can have a prolonged second remission. However, the overall survival from the time of relapse was not different between early and late relapsing patients with most succumbing to lymphoma.
Functionally opposing effects of testosterone on two different types of parasite: implications for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis
Authors: Fuxjager Matthew J. , Foufopoulos Johannes , Diaz‐Uriarte Ramon , Marler Catherine A.
Published: September 2010

1. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) proposes that androgen‐dependent sexual traits are honest indicators of male quality because androgens are thought to suppress the immune system’s ability to combat parasitic infection. Yet, recent work suggests that the relationship between androgens and parasitism is more complex, as androgens may have different effects on the various types of parasites.

2. We explored this issue in free‐living mountain spiny lizards, Sceloporus jarrovi, by measuring the prevalence of four endoparasite species and one ectoparasite species in castrated, sham‐operated and testosterone (T)‐implanted males.

3. We found that effects of T manipulation accounted for the greatest amount of variability in the abundance of Trombiculid mites and two gastrointestinal nematodes (Physaloptera retusa and Spauligodon giganticus). Plasma T levels were positively associated with mite loads, negatively associated with P. retusa loads and not associated with S. giganticus load. We also found that T treatment had little effect on the abundances of two species of blood‐borne endoparasites (Plasmodium chiricahuae and an unidentified haemogregarine). Instead, the prevalence of these two parasites was mostly influenced by other physiological or seasonal factors, such as corticosterone levels, body condition, fat stores or time between capture events.

4. Our data illustrate that T can have functionally distinct and opposing effects on different parasite species. This finding supports the hypothesis that T does not depress the immune system in a way that causes an across‐the‐board increase in parasitism.

5. We speculate that T modifies select behavioural and physiological factors that govern parasite accumulation. Evolutionarily, our data also imply that the net ‘cost of T’ with respect to elevated ectoparasitism may be at least partially offset by concomitant reductions in helminth load.
Disease spread in small‐size directed trade networks: the role of hierarchical categories
Authors: Pautasso Marco , Xu Xiangming , Jeger Mike J. , Harwood Thomas D. , Moslonka‐Lefebvre Mathieu , Pellis Lorenzo
Published: September 2010

1. Small‐size, directed networks are relevant for many biological applications, from meta‐populations to food webs, from transport flows to evolutionary trees, from epidemics within households to outbreaks of emerging plant pathogens (e.g. Phytophthora ramorum). However, little attention has been paid to dynamic processes in these networks.

2. In the horticultural trade, structural change in hierarchical categories, i.e. the proportion of producers, wholesalers and retailers, can influence the likelihood that plant epidemics will take place in such systems, but it is unclear how.

3. We model disease spread and establishment in directed networks of 100 nodes at four connectance levels in six network structures [local, small‐world, random, and scale‐free (SF) networks with positive, no, and negative correlation between in‐ and out‐degree (number of incoming and outgoing links)], and study the role of hierarchical categories.

4. For non‐SF networks, the correlation coefficient between number of incoming and outgoing links is negatively correlated with the proportion of producers and retailers, and positively correlated with the proportion of wholesalers. Given the previously reported negative correlation between the in–out degree correlation coefficient and the epidemic threshold, adding producers/retailers and removing wholesalers can contribute to making epidemics more difficult in non‐SF networks. For SF networks these associations are not generally present, as in these structures epidemic development is driven by the presence of hubs, rather than the features of the majority of the nodes.

5. Synthesis and applications. despite the importance of trade movements of plants for plant epidemics and the emergence of new plant pathogens, little is known about the current contact structure of horticultural networks within and among nations, and about how this is changing. Such information is important for risk assessment and management in plant health regulation. This study thus calls for the long‐term collection of data on the number and degree distribution of plant producers, wholesalers and retailers. Our results suggest that plant disease management should focus on the middle‐tier of the nursery hierarchy. This result is likely to pertain also to other biological applications of small‐size directed networks.