bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inadvertent gene silencing of argininosuccinate synthase (bcass1) in Botrytis cinerea by the pLOB1 vector system
Authors: PATEL RISHA M. , VAN KAN JAN A. L. , BAILEY ANDY M. , FOSTER GARY D. 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARYFor several years, researchers working on the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea and a number of other related fungi have routinely used the pLOB1 vector system, based on hygromycin resistance, under the control of the Aspergillus nidulans oliC promoter and what was reported to be the β‐tubulin (tubA) terminator. Recently, it has been demonstrated that this vector contains a 446‐bp portion of the B. cinerea argininosuccinate synthase gene (bcass1) rather than the tubA terminator. As argininosuccinate synthase is essential for the production of l‐arginine, inadvertent gene silencing of bcass1 may result in partial l‐arginine auxotrophy and, indeed, may lead to altered phenotypes in planta. In this article, we report our findings relating to possible problems arising from this incorrect plasmid construction. As an absolute baseline, gene disruption of bcass1 was carried out and generated a strict auxotroph, unable to grow without exogenous arginine supplementation. The knockout displayed an alteration in host range in planta, showing a reduction in pathogenicity on strawberries, French bean leaves and tomatoes, but maintained wild‐type growth on grape, which is in accordance with the reported arginine availability in such tissues. Deliberate gene silencing of bcass1 mirrored these effects, with strongly silenced lines showing reduced virulence. The degree of silencing as seen by partial auxotrophy was correlated with an observed reduction in virulence. We also showed that inadvertent silencing of bcass1 is possible when using the pLOB1 vector or derivatives thereof. Partial arginine auxotrophy and concomitant reductions in virulence were triggered in approximately 6% of transformants obtained when expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein, luciferase, monomeric red fluorescent protein or β‐glucuronidase using the pLOB1‐based expression system, which inadvertently contains 446 bp of the bcass1 coding sequence. We recommend the testing of transformants obtained using this vector system for arginine auxotrophy in order to provide assurance that any observed effects on the development or virulence are a result of the desired genetic alteration rather than accidental bcass1 silencing.
Agrobacterium‐produced and exogenous cytokinin‐modulated Agrobacterium‐mediated plant transformation
Authors: HWANG HAU‐HSUAN , WANG MING‐HSUAN , LEE YING‐LING , TSAI YUN‐LONG , LI YI‐HO , YANG FONG‐JHIH , LIAO YU‐CHEN , LIN SHAO‐KAI , LAI ERH‐MIN 
Published: May 2010

SUMMARY Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogenic bacterium that causes neoplastic growths, called ‘crown gall’, via the transfer and integration of transferred DNA (T‐DNA) from the bacterium into the plant genome. We characterized an acetosyringone (AS)‐induced tumour‐inducing (Ti) plasmid gene, tzs (trans‐zeatin synthesizing), that is responsible for the synthesis of the plant hormone cytokinin in nopaline‐type A. tumefaciens strains. The loss of Tzs protein expression and trans‐zeatin secretions by the tzs frameshift (tzs‐fs) mutant is associated with reduced tumorigenesis efficiency on white radish stems and reduced transformation efficiencies on Arabidopsis roots. Complementation of the tzs‐fs mutant with a wild‐type tzs gene restored wild‐type levels of trans‐zeatin secretions and transformation efficiencies. Exogenous application of cytokinin during infection increased the transient transformation efficiency of Arabidopsis roots infected by strains lacking Tzs, which suggests that the lower transformation efficiency resulted from the lack of Agrobacterium‐produced cytokinin. Interestingly, although the tzs‐fs mutant displayed reduced tumorigenesis efficiency on several tested plants, the loss of Tzs enhanced tumorigenesis efficiencies on green pepper and cowpea. These data strongly suggest that Tzs, by synthesizing trans‐zeatin at early stage(s) of the infection process, modulates plant transformation efficiency by A. tumefaciens.
Growth and movement patterns of early juvenile European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) in the Bay of Biscay based on otolith microstructure and chemistry
Authors: ALDANONDO NAROA , COTANO UNAI , TIEPOLO MASSIMO , BOYRA GUILLERMO , IRIGOIEN XABIER 
Published: May 2010

AbstractVarious hypotheses have been put forward to explain the mechanisms in the Bay of Biscay that result in a good recruitment of European anchovy. Anchovy larvae from the spawning area in the Gironde River plume are advected towards off‐shelf waters, where juveniles are commonly observed. Otolith microstructural and chemical analysis were combined to assess the importance of this off‐shelf transport and to determine the relative contribution of these areas for anchovy survival. Chemical analysis of otoliths showed that anchovy juveniles in the Bay of Biscay can be divided into two groups: a group that drifts towards off‐shelf waters early in their life and returns later, and a group that remains in the low salinity waters of the coastal area. The first group presents significantly faster growth rates (0.88 mm day−1) than those remaining in the coastal waters (0.32 mm day−1). This may be due to off‐shelf waters being warmer in spring/summer, and to the fact that the lower food concentration is compensated for by higher prey visibility. Furthermore, the group of juveniles that drifted off the spawning area and had faster growth rates represents 99% of the juvenile population. These findings support the hypothesis that anchovy in the Bay of Biscay may use off‐shelf waters as a spatio‐temporal loophole, suggesting that transport off the shelf may be favourable for recruitment.
Growth‐dependent survival mechanisms during the early life of a temperate seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus): field test of the ‘growth–mortality’ hypothesis
Authors: ISLAM MD. SHAHIDUL , UENO MASAHIRO , YAMASHITA YOH 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThree concepts based on size, time and growth rate are contained in the functional mechanisms of the ‘growth–mortality’ hypothesis, and are known as the ‘bigger is better’, ‘stage duration’ and ‘growth‐selective predation’ hypotheses, respectively. Although it is sufficiently documented in fishes that faster growing and bigger larvae selectively survive, synergistic operation of the three components of the ‘growth–mortality’ hypothesis within a species have received little attention. In this study, we have tested the components of the ‘growth–mortality’ hypothesis based on the growth characteristics of original population (OP) and survivors (SV) of Japanese seabass (JSB) Lateolabrax japonicus. Larval and juvenile JSB were repeatedly sampled from the Tango Sea in 2007 and 2008. Otoliths from larvae and juveniles were analyzed to produce back‐calculated daily records of size‐at‐age and growth rate, and were compared between OP and SV. Selective survival for fast‐growing and bigger larvae was evident, and our results strongly support the ‘bigger is better’ hypothesis as well as the ‘growth‐selective predation’ hypothesis. Growth rates of the individuals that metamorphosed into juveniles had significantly faster growth rates than non‐metamorphosing larvae older than 48 days, the minimum age for metamorphosis, suggesting a clear relationship between growth rates and the timing of metamorphosis. On average, SV completed the larval stage ∼13 days earlier than those of OP, supporting the ‘stage duration’ hypothesis. Thus, SV of JSB exhibited traits consistent with all aspects of the ‘growth–mortality’ hypothesis: faster growth, bigger size‐at‐age, and shorter larval stage duration (LSD), i.e., larvae with faster growth, bigger size‐at‐age and a shorter LSD selectively survived the larval period. Although maternal influence on growth and survival was evident, factors that regulate growth–mortality mechanisms remain to be explored for JSB.
Current aspects of invasive candidiasis and aspergillosis in adult intensive care patients
Authors: Glöckner A. , Karthaus M. 
Published: May 2010

SummarySepsis is a leading cause of death in the intensive care unit (ICU), with Candida spp. in the forefront among the important pathogens. As recent studies have shown, survival outcome is strongly influenced by adequate antifungal therapy at an early stage that is often delayed by the time lag associated with microbiological diagnosis. Risk factor‐based prediction models have a high negative predictive value, but positive prediction of candidaemia in the individual patient remains elusive. New antigen‐ or DNA‐based methods for early diagnosis still await clinical validation. Their routine use is hampered by methodological issues. Species distribution of invasive Candida isolates in the ICU appears to be influenced primarily by age, previous hospitalisation and colonising species. In the context of the importance of adequate first‐line treatment, recent guidelines favour the use of echinocandins in critically ill patients with symptoms evoking high suspicion of invasive candidiasis. This is supported by robust clinical trial data, a few interactions and low toxicity. Fluconazole is characterised by reduced activity against some important Candida species, elevated rates of persistent infection seen in comparative trials. Amphotericin B deoxycholate should be considered obsolete in ICU patients because of its high toxicity. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a rare devastating infection in the general ICU population, but some centres have reported elevated incidences and underdiagnosis as determined in autopsy‐controlled studies. Treatment with mould‐active agents such as voriconazole must be initiated early in patients with suspected IA.
Brief PANSS to assess and monitor the overall severity of schizophrenia
Authors: Yamamoto Nobutomo , Inada Toshiya , Shimodera Shinji , Morokuma Ippei , Furukawa Toshiaki A. 
Published: May 2010

Aims:  The aim of the present study was to develop a subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) that would be brief and sensitive to changes in the clinical features of schizophrenia (i.e. the Brief PANSS, or bPANSS).Methods:  The PANSS before and after treatment, and the Clinical Global Impression–Change (CGI‐C) was rated for 714 schizophrenia patients. Of these, Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI‐S) was also evaluated in 30 of these patients. The bPANSS items were extracted from full PANSS items based on the following aims: (i) to develop a brief scale; (ii) to develop a scale sensitive to changes resulting from antipsychotic treatment; and (iii) to reflect the broad spectrum of schizophrenia symptoms.Results:  The following six items were extracted to serve as the bPANSS: delusion, suspiciousness, emotional withdrawal, passive/apathetic social withdrawal, tension, and unusual thought content. The coefficients of correlation between the bPANSS and full PANSS before and after treatment were 0.86 and 0.92, respectively (both P < 0.001). The coefficient of correlation between the degrees of change in the scores for the bPANSS and the full PANSS was 0.93 (P < 0.001), and that between delta bPANSS and CGI‐C was 0.73 (P < 0.001).Conclusions:  bPANSS is able to capture the overall clinical features of schizophrenia within a short assessment period.
Polysomnography in patients with post‐traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Yetkin Sinan , Aydin Hamdullah , Özgen Fuat 
Published: May 2010

Aims:  The purpose of the present study was to investigate sleep structure in post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients with and without any psychiatric comorbidities. The relationship between sleep variables and measurements of clinical symptom severity were also investigated.Methods:  Sleep patterns of 24 non‐medicated male PTSD patients and 16 age‐ and sex‐matched normal controls were investigated on polysomnography on two consecutive nights. Six PTSD‐only patients and 15 PTSD patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) were also compared to normal controls. Sleep variables were correlated with PTSD symptoms.Results:  Compared to the normal controls, the PTSD patients with MDD had difficulty initiating sleep, poor sleep efficiency, decreased total sleep time, decreased slow wave sleep (SWS), and a reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency. The PTSD patients without any comorbid psychiatric disorders had moderately significant disturbances of sleep continuity, and decreased SWS, but no abnormalities of REM sleep. REM sleep latency was inversely proportional to the severity of startle response. SWS was found to be inversely correlated with the severity of psychogenic amnesia.Conclusions:  PTSD patients have disturbance of sleep continuity, and SWS deficit, without the impact of comorbid depression on sleep. The relationship between SWS and the inability to recall an important aspect of trauma may indicate the role of sleep in the consolidation of traumatic memories. The relationship between the severity of the startle response and REM latency may suggest that REM sleep physiology shares common substrates with the symptoms of PTSD.
A three‐year follow‐up study of the psychosocial predictors of delayed and unresolved post‐traumatic stress disorder in Taiwan Chi‐Chi earthquake survivors
Authors: Su Chao‐Yueh , Tsai Kuan‐Yi , Chou Frank H‐C. , Ho Wen‐Wei , Liu Renyi , Lin Wen‐Kuo 
Published: May 2010

Aims:  To predict the longitudinal course of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in survivors three years following a catastrophic earthquake using multivariate data presented six months after the earthquake.Methods:  Trained assistants and psychiatrists used the Disaster‐related Psychological Screening Test (DRPST) to interview earthquake survivors 16 years and older and to assess current and incidental psychopathology. A total of 1756 respondents were surveyed over the three‐year follow‐up period.Results:  A total of 38 (9.1%) of the original 418 PTSD subjects and 40 of the original 1338 (3.0%) non‐PTSD subjects were identified as having PTSD at the 3‐year post‐earthquake follow up. Younger age, significant financial loss, and memory/attention impairment were predictive factors of unresolved PTSD and delayed PTSD.Conclusions:  The longitudinal course of PTSD three years after the earthquake could be predicted as early as six months after the earthquake on the basis of demographic data, PTSD‐related factors, and putative factors for PTSD.
Correlations between alexithymia and pain severity, depression, and anxiety among patients with chronic and episodic migraine
Authors: Yalug Irem , Selekler Macit , Erdogan Ayten , Kutlu Ayse , Dundar Gulmine , Ankaralı Handan , Aker Tamer 
Published: May 2010

Aims:  Some studies have found elevated alexithymia among patients with chronic pain, but the correlations between alexithymia and the severity of pain, depression, and anxiety among migraine patients are unclear. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether individuals suffering from episodic migraine (EM) differ from those with chronic migraine (CM) in regards to depression, anxiety, and alexithymia measures and to investigate the association of alexithymia with the results of depression and anxiety test inventories and illness characteristics.Methods:  A total of 165 subjects with EM and 135 subjects with CM were studied. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS) were administered to all subjects. The correlation between alexithymia and sociodemographic variables, family history of migraine and illness characteristics (pain severity, frequency of episode, duration of illness) were evaluated.Results:  Compared with EM patients, the CM patients had significantly higher scores on measures of depression but not alexithymia and anxiety. There was a positive correlation between TAS scores and age and education in both migraine groups, but there was no correlation between TAS scores and other demographic variables. Depression and anxiety were significantly correlated with alexithymia in both migraine groups.Conclusion:  Our results indicate that CM patients are considerably more depressive than EM patients. In this study, depression and anxiety were significantly correlated with alexithymia in both migraine groups. Our results demonstrate a positive association between depression, anxiety, and alexithymia in migraine patients.
Impact of marker dye on adult eclosion and flight ability of mass produced Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae)
Authors: Dominiak Bernard C , Sundaralingam Selliah , Jiang Laura , Jessup Andrew J , Barchia Idris M 
Published: May 2010

AbstractSterile Queensland fruit flies Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) are commonly marked with fluorescent dye to assist with subsequent identification after release and recapture. The impact of dye on adult eclosion and flight ability was tested using eight concentrations of dye (Swada, Fiesta Astral Pink) from 0 to 4.5 g/L of pupae. There was no significant difference in eclosion rates between undyed pupae (control) and pupae dyed at a concentration of 1.0 g/L. For dye concentrations of 1.5–4.5 g/L, adult eclosion rates declined from 85.7% to 77.4% and were significantly different from the control. Flight ability indices ranged from 92.1% to 83.3%. There was no significant difference in flight ability between control pupae and those dyed at 1.0 g/L and 3.5 g/L pupae, but other pupae from other dye concentrations were significantly different from the control. Pupal weight ranged from 8.3 to 10.2 mg and there was no significant relationship between pupal weight and adult eclosion or flight ability.
Bocathrips okajimai gen. et sp. n. (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae), an Australian fungus‐feeding thrips
Authors: Goldarazena Arturo 
Published: May 2010

AbstractA new genus and species of Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae, Bocathrips okajimai, is described from dead branches in the Australian Capital Territory, Australia. This thrips is unusual in having a remarkably long‐mouth cone but very short maxillary stylets. The species presumably feeds on fungal hyphae growing on dead branches.
Evaluation of existing and new insecticides including spirotetramat and pyridalyl to control Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on peppers in Queensland
Authors: Kay Iain R , Herron Grant A 
Published: May 2010

AbstractInsecticides are used by growers to control Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrips) in Australian vegetable crops. However, limited information was available on the efficacy of some insecticides used against F. occidentalis and data on new insecticides that could be included in a resistance management program were required. The efficacy of 16 insecticides in controlling F. occidentalis was tested in four small plot trials in chillies and capsicums. Spinosad, fipronil and methamidophos were effective against adults and larvae. Spirotetramat had no efficacy against adults but was very effective against larvae. Pyridalyl was moderately effective against larvae. Methidathion showed limited effectiveness. Abamectin, amorphous silica, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, dimethoate, emamectin benzoate, endosulfan, imidacloprid, methomyl and insecticidal soap were not effective. Laboratory bioassays on F. occidentalis collected from the field trials showed resistance to bifenthrin but not to the other insecticides tested. The trials demonstrated that some insecticides permitted for use against F. occidentalis are not effective and identified a number of insecticides, including the new ones spirotetramat and pyridalyl, that are effective and that could be used to manage the pest within a resistance management program.
Minimum Wages and Trainers' Dilemma
Authors: Eguchi Kyota 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThis paper examines how a minimum wage, viewed as an incentive to trainers, would affect the informal help provided through on‐the‐job training. In the work environment, experienced employees play a significant role in training new employees. However, the more help they provide to trainees, the less likely that the trainers themselves will be promoted. This is the trainer's dilemma: help trainees or work for promotion. We show that a minimum wage alleviates the trainer's dilemma, as it increases the earnings of non‐promoted workers and reduces the net benefit of promotion for experienced employees. Hence, minimum wage regulation encourages informal help and enhances welfare, although it reduces the firm's profit.
How do infants utilize radial optic flow for their motor actions?: A review of behavioral and neural studies
Authors: SHIRAI NOBU , YAMAGUCHI MASAMI K. 
Published: May 2010

AbstractRadial optic flow is one of the crucial cues for the perception of motion‐in‐depth and contributes to our daily adaptive actions such as locomotion or postural control. Although many researchers have examined the development of radial motion perception and that of adaptive motor actions, no valid developmental model for visuo‐motor coordination has been proposed. In the present study, we tried to propose a developmental framework for the interactive process between visual radial motion perception and the adaptive motor actions in infancy, with a brief review of the previous psychophysical, psychophysiological, and neurophysiological studies. The effect of the functional development of the posterior parietal cortex, which might be induced by the experiences of ego motion in particular developmental periods, on visuo‐motor coordination was discussed.
Brain mechanisms of visuomotor transformation based on deficits in tracing and copying
Authors: OGAWA KENJI , NAGAI CHIYOKO , INUI TOSHIO 
Published: May 2010

AbstractThe neural mechanisms underlying visuomotor transformation are examined based on deficits in tracing and copying, as well as functional neuroimaging studies. The developmental process of copying and tracing, as well as lesion studies with adults showing disability in drawing, are reviewed, then two experiments are introduced. In Experiment 1, a behavioral analysis of copying and tracing by individuals with Williams Syndrome (WS) was presented. In Experiment 2, the brain activity involved in copying and tracing was measured in normal adults using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Based on these findings, we propose a model of visuomotor transformation to explain the neural basis of tracing and copying, as well as to provide a possible neural mechanism underlying the copying deficits and closing‐in phenomenon observed in WS.
Generalization in motor adaptation: A computational perspective on recent developments
Authors: TANAKA HIROKAZU 
Published: May 2010

AbstractEvery day offers a series of new events that have never been encountered, and one must face those by utilizing or generalizing skills acquired through past experiences. This article surveys recent developments in computational studies of how a motor skill acquired in one context or workspace generalizes to that in another during and after motor adaptation. Experiments on motor adaptation have examined various aspects of human motor control, so conventional modeling efforts have correspondingly taken diverse approaches that are specifically designed for individual experiments. Contrastingly, in the last few years, more principled and systematic computational approaches have begun to explain a variety of experimental findings in a unified and coherent way. These approaches are based on statistical approaches such as Bayesian inference and optimal feedback control, taking into consideration the fact that states of body and environments are not static but inherently stochastic. The present status and some future outlooks of the field will be argued.