bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First Report of Rust Disease Caused by Puccinia sparganioides on Spartina alterniflora in Louisiana
Authors: Kaur R. , Knott C. , Aime M. C. 
Published: April 2010

Spartina alterniflora Loisel. (smooth cordgrass) is the dominant plant species of intertidal salt marshes in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions of the United States. It is a perennial deciduous grass that can reduce and reverse coastal erosion by buffering wave energy and storm surges and by accumulating suspended solids from intertidal waters. Therefore, smooth cordgrass is utilized extensively in coastal restoration projects in Louisiana. In July 2009, smooth cordgrass leaf samples with signs and symptoms of a rust disease were collected from plant material grown at the Aquaculture Research Station near Baton Rouge, LA. Numerous hypophyllous, narrow, linear lesions were observed in which the uredinia were pale orange, erumpent, and arranged seriately. Urediniospores were yellowish to orange, obovoid to oblong, echinulate with a thickened apical wall and obscure germ pores, and measured 27.5 to 44.9 (–48.3) × 17.3 to 27.6 (–31.05) μm. Telia and teliospores were not observed. The pathogen was identified as Puccinia sparganioides Ellis & Tracy based on the DNA sequence of nuclear ribosomal large subunit (28S) and internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS-2) amplified with rust-specific primers (1). The sequence (deposited in GenBank as No. GU327649) was found to share 99.8% identity (1,077/1,079 bp) with sequence No. GU058027 of P. sparganioides from S. patens (Aiton) Muhl. and did not match any other species of Puccinia in GenBank. P. sparganioides has previously been reported on S. alterniflora in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia (2). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of P. sparganioides on S. alterniflora from Louisiana. Efforts to screen for rust-resistant lines for use in coastal restoration projects are underway to prevent land loss that could occur due to smooth cordgrass stress from infection. Voucher material (LSU00121657) has been deposited in the Bernard Lowy Mycological Herbarium (LSUM). References: (1) M. C. Aime. Mycoscience 47:112, 2006. (2) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, Online publication. ARS, USDA, October, 2009.
First Report from Turkey of European Plum Line Pattern Caused by Apple mosaic virus
Authors: Akbaş B. , Değirmenci K. 
Published: April 2010

European plum line pattern was first described in Bulgaria (1) and can now be found nearly worldwide. Characteristic symptoms in infected plum (Prunus domestica) include line and oak leaf patterns with chlorotic lines and rings in leaves. The causal agent of this economically damaging plum disease is Apple mosaic virus (ApMV). ApMV has been reported to naturally infect a number of hosts in the Rosaceae, including Rosa, Malus, and Rubus spp. as well as Humulus, Betula, and Corylus spp. in other plant families (3), but has not been reported to naturally infect plum in Turkey. In this study, disease symptoms were observed in only one local cultivar (Süt eriği) during the growing season of 2008–2009 in Amasya and Tokat provinces, situated between the Black Sea and inner Anatolia regions. Leaf samples were collected from 22 plum trees and tested by serological and molecular methods. In serological tests, double-antibody sandwich-ELISA was used with antisera to ApMV and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) according to the manufacturer's (Agdia, Inc., Elkhart, IN) protocol. While none of the samples reacted positively to PNRSV antisera, 19 samples reacted positively to ApMV antisera. The presence of ApMV in symptomatic plum trees was confirmed by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR. RT-PCR was conducted with ApMV-specific primers (Forward 5′-ATCCGAGTGAACAGTCTATCCTCTAA-3′; reverse 5′-GTAACTCACTCGTTATCACGTACAA-3′) as previously described (4) to specifically amplify a 262-bp product from viral sequences. Total RNA was extracted from plum leaf samples with a modified protocol based on silica-capture (2). Using serological and RT-PCR tests, ApMV was detected in all 19 samples that showed virus symptoms, but not from symptomless plants. To our knowledge, this is the first record of the presence of European plum line pattern in Turkey and provides a starting point for investigation of the incidence of ApMV in plum orchards of Turkey. References: (1) D. Atanasoff et al. Phytopathol. Z. 8:197, 1935. (2) X. Foissac et al. Acta Hortic. 550:37, 2001. (3) R. W. Fulton. CMI/AAB Descriptions of Plant Viruses. No. 83. 1972. (4) W. Menzel et al. J. Virol. Methods 99:81, 2002.
First Report of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus in Hawaii
Authors: Melzer M. J. , Ogata D. Y. , Fukuda S. K. , Shimabuku R. , Borth W. B. , Sether D. M. , Hu J. S. 
Published: April 2010

Tomato yellow leaf curl disease, caused by the begomovirus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV; family Geminiviridae), is an economically important disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) that can be very destructive in tropical and subtropical regions (1). In October 2009, tomato plants showing stunted new growth, interveinal chlorosis, and upward curling of leaf margins were reported by a residential gardener in Wailuku, on the island of Maui. Similar symptoms were observed in approximately 200 tomato plants at a University of Hawaii research farm in Poamoho, on the island of Oahu in November 2009. The similarity between these symptoms and those of tomato yellow leaf curl disease and the presence of whiteflies (Bemisia spp.), the vector of TYLCV, suggested the causal agent was a geminivirus such as TYLCV. Total nucleic acids were extracted from a tomato plant sample from Wailuku and Poamoho and used in a PCR assay with degenerate primers PAR1c715 and PAL1v1978 for geminivirus detection (4). The ~1.5-kbp amplicon expected to be produced from a geminivirus template was generated from the symptomatic tomato plant samples but not from a greenhouse-grown control tomato plant. The amplicons were cloned by the pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega, Madison, WI). Three clones from each sample were sequenced, revealing 97 to 99% nucleotide identity to TYLCV sequences in GenBank and a 98.9% nucleotide identity between the Wailuku (Accession No. GU322424) and Poamoho (Accession No. GU322423) isolates. A multiplex PCR assay for the detection and discrimination between the IL and Mld clades of TYLCV was also performed on these isolates (2). A ~0.8-kbp amplicon was generated from both isolates confirming the presence of TYLCV and their inclusion into the TYLCV-IL clade (2). Seven symptomatic and three asymptomatic tomato plant samples from Poamoho were tested for TYLCV using a squash-blot hybridization assay (3) utilizing a digoxigenin-labeled probe derived from the ~1.5-kbp PCR amplicon. All symptomatic tomato plants and one asymptomatic tomato plant were found to be infected with TYLCV. How the virus entered Hawaii and how long it has been present is unknown. The most plausible route is through infected plant material such as an asymptomatic alternative host rather than viruliferous whiteflies. It appears TYLCV is not a recent introduction into Hawaii since the Wailuku gardener observed similar disease symptoms for a few years before submitting samples for testing. In January 2010, TYLCV was also detected in two commercial tomato farms on Oahu, posing a serious threat to the state's $10 million annual tomato crop. References: (1) H. Czosnek and H. Laterrot. Arch. Virol. 142:1392, 1997. (2) P. Lefeuvre et al. J. Virol. Methods 144:165, 2007. (3) N. Navot et al. Phytopathology 79:562, 1989. (4) M. R. Rojas et al. Plant Dis. 77:340, 1993.
Validity of the Spanish 8-item Short-form Generic Health-related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire in Surgical Patients
Authors: Vallès Jordi , Guilera Magda , Briones Zahara , Gomar Carmen , Canet Jaume , Alonso Jordi 
Published: April 2010

Background
Health-related quality of life is usually reported for specific rather than heterogeneous populations such as those treated in routine anesthesia practice. The 8-item short-form generic health-related quality-of-life questionnaire (SF-8) is a candidate instrument for this setting. The authors evaluated the feasibility, reliability, validity, and responsiveness to change of the Spanish version of SF-8 in a population-based surgical cohort.

Methods
Recruiting patients from a large population-based study of risk factors for pulmonary complications, before surgery, the authors administered the 1-week recall SF-8 to 2,991 patients undergoing nonobstetric elective or emergency surgery in 59 hospitals, each of which collected data on seven randomly assigned days in 2006. The SF-8 was administered again 3 months later. Reliability was evaluated using the Cronbach alpha coefficient and validity by comparing physical and mental component summary SF-8 scores with clinical variables. Responsiveness after surgery was evaluated using the standardized response mean.

Results
Cronbach alpha for the overall test was 0.92. Physical and mental component summary scores and all individual scores were lower (worse quality of life) in women (P < 0. 01) and decreased with age (P < 0.01). Preoperative scores were lower for those in worse clinical condition (higher body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status class, or surgical risk scores), with preoperative respiratory symptoms, and in emergency situations (P < 0.01). The standardized response mean ranged from 0.1 to 0.5.

Conclusions
The SF-8 is a feasible, reliable, valid, and responsive instrument for assessing health-related quality of life in a broad-spectrum surgical population.
Internet in the development of future road‐traffic control systems
Authors: Barrero Federico , Toral Sergio , Vargas Manuel , Cortés Francisco , Manuel Milla Jose 
Published: April 2010

PurposeIntelligent transportation systems (ITS) are defined as new infrastructures that combine people, roads and vehicles over the basis of modern embedded systems with enhanced digital connectivity. ITS is fast becoming a reality, favored in their development by the use of the internet. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the feasibility of road‐traffic management systems, using the internet as the communication link.Design/methodology/approachA literature review is presented to give a background in the progressive role that ITS and road safety and control applications play in society. The combination of internet and the ITS architecture is covered, and an electronic prototype providing web services for road‐traffic management is designed as an example. The scope of road traffic security research is extensive, and the use of artificial vision systems in road‐traffic analysis (technology which is on the basis of the developed prototype) is also discussed. The hardware and software characteristics of the prototype are defined.FindingsThe paper provides new insights into the use of the internet for road‐traffic management applications.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to one particular road‐traffic management system. Results could be extended if more real equipments were analyzed. Also, end‐users' perception and their acceptance of the new technology could be examined using an information system theory like the technology acceptance model.Originality/valueThe paper shows the utility of the internet in the development of novel ITS.
Analysis of neonatal health in South Asia
Authors: Haider Muhiuddin , Mukherjee Avinandan 
Published: April 2010

PurposeNeonatal healthcare is a critical issue in public health management. The purpose of this paper is to analyze neonatal health in South Asia. This paper specifically examines the neonatal period of an infant's development, the time from birth to the first 28 days, and the importance of providing each newborn with the necessary vaccines, treatments, and care they may require. In addition to examining neonatal health and those diseases/problems that afflict children without proper care, a closer look will be taken at Southern Asia, where research shows nearly 75 percent of the neonatal deaths that take place in the world, occur.Design/methodology/approachAn extensive literature review using recently published works, government documents, and organizational reports is employed. The research is based on case studies of six South Asian countries and several international participating agencies and non‐governmental organizations working on the improvement of neonatal health.FindingsThe research shows that the majority of the countries in this region lack the funds necessary to provide aide, health services, and other preventative care to their populations. Without the global attention, intervention, and resources provided by these organizations, any progress made in the area of neonatal health in these regions will continue to be hampered. A social marketing framework designed to address this critical public health challenge is presented.Originality/valueIn the modern world, much advancement has been made in terms of neonatal and maternal health and well‐being. As the years have passed, the world has seen many improvements on clinical procedures, health policies and regulations, the quality of training for doctors, nurses, and related specialists, and the various pieces of medical equipment used throughout those hospitals and clinics located within the developing world. Unfortunately, data provided by various research efforts have shown that neonatal mortality continues to occur at high rates throughout countries in South Asia. Individuals in these countries lack access to health care, health education, and other essential components that influence a mother's ability to produce a healthy child and keep that child safe and illness/issue free throughout this fragile period.
Exploring Muslim consumers' information sources for fatwa rulings on products and behaviors
Authors: Muhamad Hashim Nazlida , Mizerski Dick 
Published: April 2010

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the nature of fatwa and the dissemination of fatwa rulings among Muslim consumers using two studies. Results from these studies show that contemporary fatwa often extend beyond Muslims' religious beliefs and practices. By advising Muslims on the brands and product categories that are permissible and prohibited for consumption, fatwa rulings can cause boycotts and bans of products or brands.Design/methodology/approachContent analyses are performed in Study 1 to explore the types of fatwa rulings that are declared by the Malaysian fatwa authorities. In Study 2, a survey instrument is used to collect responses from Muslims regarding their sources of fatwa ruling for two products, their religious motivation and gender. Cluster analysis and an independent χ2‐test are used to test the study's predictions.FindingsFatwa rulings in the area of social issues and economics have a known tendency to affect Muslim consumers' marketplace behavior. Muslim consumers tend to acquire information on more controversial fatwa rulings through less formal sources, compared to less controversial fatwa rulings. Several clusters of Muslim consumers were found to have their sources of fatwa associated with the product category, gender of respondent, and religious orientation.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are limited to Malaysian Muslim University students and Malaysia's fatwa system. This use of young Malaysian Muslims probably restricts the findings to this cohort, rather than the general population of Malaysian Muslims.Practical implicationsThe paper offers insights into how fatwa rulings affect marketplace behaviors and how information sources are accessed and fatwa information is disseminated among Muslim consumers. The findings lead to suggestions on how marketers can manage fatwa rulings concerning their products.Originality/valueThe paper provides an understanding of the nature and types of fatwa rulings circulating in the Muslim world, and identifies factors related to Muslims' knowledge of fatwa rulings.
Diversity and aboveground biomass in three tropical forest types in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, Cameroon
Authors: Djuikouo Marie Noël K. , Doucet Jean‐Louis , Nguembou Charlemagne K. , Lewis Simon L. , Sonké Bonaventure 
Published: April 2010

AbstractWe present tree community diversity, species composition, basal area and aboveground biomass of three forest types in the Dja Biosphere Reserve, in South‐East Cameroon, part of the contiguous tropical forest of the Congo Basin. A total of fourteen, 1 ha, plots were established in heterogeneousterra firmeforests (TFF),Gilbertiodendron dewevreiforests (GDF) and periodically flooded forests (PFF). A total of 281 tree species with diameter ≥10 cm were recorded. The Shannon diversity index was significantly higher in TFF (5.7 ± 0.28) and PFF (5.6 ± 0.23) than in GDF (2.29 ± 0.48) (ANOVA, F2,11 = 139.75,P < 0.001). While tree density did not differ between forest types (F2,11 = 3.50,P = 0.06), basal area differed significantly (F2,11 = 7.38,P = 0.009), as did aboveground biomass (F2,11 = 17.95,P < 0.001). Mean AGB values were respectively, 596.1 ± 62.24, 401.67 ± 58.06 and 383.14 ± 61.91 Mg ha−1in GDF, TFF and PFF. Variation in the abundance of trees with large diameter was the main reason for these differences. Few dominant species made the greatest contribution to the AGB.G. dewevrei, accounted for 83% of AGB in GDF,Penthaclethra macrophyllafor 9.9% in TFF andUapaca heudolotiifor 10.6% in PFF. The importance of preservingG. dewevreiforest in the context of ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation’ (REDD) policies is discussed.
Livestock predation in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia
Authors: Atickem Anagaw , Williams Stuart , Bekele Afework , Thirgood Simon 
Published: April 2010

AbstractIn the Web Valley of the Bale Mountains National Park, the pastoral people suffer from livestock predation by wild carnivores. A total of 704 livestock were reported to be killed by wild carnivores over a 3‐year period, causing a loss of potential revenue of 12 USD per year per household. Reported annual predation rates equated to 1.4% of the livestock population of the study area. Spotted hyaenas were responsible for most livestock predation (57%), followed by leopards (18%), common jackals (16%) and servals (9%). Hyaenas killed all livestock types (horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, goats and sheep) whilst leopards, common jackals and servals killed mostly goats and sheep. A survey of 362 households revealed that the pastoral people keep dogs to protect livestock from carnivores. During 250 nights of observation in the ten settlements, pastoralists were alerted to the presence of hyaenas on 80 occasions by the barking of their dogs. Such tradition of keeping dogs presents a threat to the persistence of the endangered Ethiopian wolf through diseases transmission. Given the frequency of carnivore attacks on livestock, it is desirable to develop alternative livestock protection methods that both minimize livestock losses and reduce the risk of disease transmission to Ethiopian wolves.
Age and the timing of breeding in a long‐lived bird: a role for stress hormones?
Authors: Goutte Aurélie , Antoine Élodie , Weimerskirch Henri , Chastel Olivier 
Published: April 2010

Summary 1. Young birds often reproduce later in the season than older ones, with poorer breeding success, but the proximate mechanisms involved in such a pattern remain poorly studied, especially in long‐lived species. One possible mechanism is the endocrine stress response which is accompanied by the release of corticosterone. Elevated corticosterone levels can trigger physiological and behavioural responses that may delay or even suppress reproduction. 2. We tested the hypothesis that the delayed timing of breeding of young birds may be related to a greater susceptibility to stress compared with older ones during the pre‐laying period of the breeding season. For this purpose, known‐age (7–44 years old) pre‐laying snow petrels, Pagodroma nivea, were monitored for baseline and acute stress‐induced corticosterone levels. We examined whether baseline and stress‐induced corticosterone levels were related to age, and whether they could influence the decision to breed and egg‐laying date. 3. Young snow petrels were more likely to skip the breeding season and to breed later than middle‐aged birds. In addition, the oldest birds bred later than middle‐aged ones, suggesting a possible senescence on laying dates. Baseline corticosterone levels were independent of age but young and very old birds were more sensitive to stress than middle‐aged ones. However, there was no effect of stress‐induced corticosterone levels on breeding decision and egg‐laying date. Elevated baseline corticosterone levels during the pre‐laying period were associated with a higher probability of skipping breeding in females and a delayed timing of egg‐laying in both sexes. 4. These results suggest that the greater susceptibility of young breeders to stress was not the functional mechanism explaining their delayed timing of breeding. Baseline corticosterone levels, although independent of age, appear to be a more likely mediator of breeding decision and egg‐laying date. In long‐lived birds, the relationship between age and timing of breeding may be rather indirect, as other age‐related factors such as breeding experience or foraging skills may have a deeper impact on baseline corticosterone than age per se.
Cdc6/Orc1 from Pyrococcus furiosus may act as the origin recognition protein and Mcm helicase recruiter
Authors: Akita Masaki , Adachi Akinori , Takemura Kie , Yamagami Takeshi , Matsunaga Fujihiko , Ishino Yoshizumi 
Published: April 2010

Archaea have one or more Cdc6/Orc1 proteins, which share sequence similarities with eukaryotic Cdc6 and Orc1. These proteins are involved in the initiation process of DNA replication, although their specific function has not been elucidated, except for origin recognition and binding. We showed that the Cdc6/Orc1 protein from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus specifically binds to the oriC region in the whole genome. However, it remains unclear how this initiator protein specifically recognizes the oriC region and how the Mcm helicase is recruited to oriC. In the current study, we characterized the biochemical properties of Cdc6/Orc1 in P. furiosus. The ATPase activity of the Cdc6/Orc1 protein was completely suppressed by binding to DNA containing the origin recognition box (ORB). Limited proteolysis and DNase I‐footprint experiments suggested that the Cdc6/Orc1 protein changes its conformation on the ORB sequence in the presence of ATP. This conformational change may have an unknown, important function in the initiation process. Results from an in vitro recruiting assay indicated that Mcm is recruited onto the oriC region in a Cdc6/Orc1‐dependent, but not ATP‐dependent, manner. However, some other function is required for the functional loading of this helicase to start the unwinding of the replication fork DNA.