bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of bacterial catalase in tomato leaf chloroplasts enhances photo‐oxidative stress tolerance
Authors: MOHAMED E.‐A. , IWAKI T. , MUNIR I. , TAMOI M. , SHIGEOKA S. , WADANO A. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACTThe Escherichia coli gene katE, which is driven by the promoter of the Rubisco small subunit gene of tomato, rbcS3C, was introduced into a tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens‐mediated transformation. Catalase activity in progeny from transgenic plants was approximately three‐fold higher than that in wild‐type plants. Leaf discs from transgenic plants remained green at 24 h after treatment with 1 µm paraquat under moderate light intensity, whereas leaf discs from wild‐type plants showed severe bleaching after the same treatment. Moreover, ion leakage from transgenic leaf discs was significantly less than that from wild‐type leaf discs at 24 h after treatment with 1 µm paraquat and 10 mm H2O2, respectively, under moderate light intensity. To evaluate the efficiency of the E. coli catalase to protect the whole transgenic plant from the oxidative stress, transgenic and wild‐type plants were sprayed with 100 µm paraquat and exposed to high light illumination (800 µmol m−2 s−1). After 24 h, the leaves of the transgenic plants were less damaged than the leaves of the wild‐type plants. The catalase activity and the photosynthesis activity (indicated by the Fv/Fm ratio) were less affected by paraquat treatment in leaves of transgenic plants, whereas the activities of the chloroplastic ascorbate peroxidase isoenzymes and the ascorbate content decreased in both lines. In addition, the transgenic plants showed increased tolerance to the oxidative damage (decrease of the CO2 fixation and photosystem II activity and increase of the lipid peroxidation) caused by drought stress or chilling stress (4 °C) under high light intensity (1000 µmol m−2 s−1). These results indicate that the expression of the catalase in chloroplasts has a positive effect on the protection of the transgenic plants from the photo‐oxidative stress invoked by paraquat treatment, drought stress and chilling stress.
The plastidic Arabidopsis protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase gene, with or without the transit sequence, confers resistance to the diphenyl ether herbicide in rice
Authors: HA S. B. , LEE S. B. , LEE Y. , YANG K. , LEE N. , JANG S. M. , CHUNG J. S. , JUNG S. , KIM Y. S. , WI S. G. , BACK K. 
Published: December 2004

ABSTRACT Agrobacterium‐mediated gene transformation was used to introduce plastidic protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (Protox) genes from Arabidopsis, with and without the transit sequence, into the rice genome. They were placed under the control of the constitutive and ubiquitous maize ubiquitin promoter, and their abilities to confer resistance to the diphenyl ether‐type herbicide, oxyfluorfen were compared. The integration and expression of the transgene in the T1 generation was examined by Southern, northern and western blot analyses. Surprisingly, as judged by an in vivo seed germination assay and an in vitro cellular leakage assay, both lines were similarly resistant to oxyfluorfen. The tolerance to cellular damage (lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage) was higher in transgenic plants than in wild‐type plants. In transgenic plants, the degree of herbicide resistance varied directly with the absolute amount of Protox protein expression. Both the intact protein and the protein with the transit sequence deleted were accumulated in plastids.
Studying guard cells in the intact plant: modulation of stomatal movement by apoplastic factors
Authors: Roelfsema M. Rob G. , Hedrich Rainer 
Published: December 2004

SummaryHere, we discuss why guard cells in intact plants respond to environmental signals in a different way than guard cells in epidermal strips, or protoplasts thereof. In intact leaves stomatal opening is counteracted by epidermal cells that press against the guard cells. Changes in the turgor of epidermal cells therefore can alter the stomatal aperture. In addition, stomatal opening may be modulated by the solute composition of the guard cell wall. Changes in apoplastic K+, Cl− and Ca2+ occur after light–dark transitions, but not in such a way that it would support stomatal opening. Organic anions may play a role, since they enhance the open probability of anion channels in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, studies with auxin‐resistant and abscisic acid‐insensitive mutants show that light‐induced stomatal opening is modulated by these hormones. Using the newly developed method in which guard cells in the intact plant are impaled with double‐barreled electrodes, the role of these apoplastic factors now can be studied on single guard cells that are still in their natural environment.
The guard cell chloroplast: a perspective for the twenty‐first century
Authors: Zeiger Eduardo , Talbott Lawrence D. , Frechilla Silvia , Srivastava Alaka , Zhu Jianxin 
Published: December 2004

SummaryThe guard cell chloroplast is the site of perception of blue light and of photosynthetically active radiation, and of at least one of the mechanisms sensing CO2 in the guard cell. The guard cell chloroplast has been the focus of intense controversy over its capacity for light sensing and photosynthetic carbon fixation, and the osmoregulatory mechanisms mediating stomatal movements. It is argued here that a primary reason behind these long‐lived controversies is the remarkable plasticity of the guard cell, which has resulted in responses being generalized as basic properties when opposite responses appear to be the norm under different environmental or experimental conditions. Examples of guard cell plasticity are described, including variation of chlorophyll fluorescence transients over a daily course, acclimation of the guard cell responses to blue light and CO2, the shift from potassium to sucrose in daily courses of osmoregulation and the transduction of red light into different osmoregulatory pathways. Recent findings on the properties of the guard cell chloroplast are also presented, including the role of the chloroplastic carotenoid, zeaxanthin, in blue light photoreception, the blue‐green reversibility of stomatal movements, and the involvement of phytochrome in the stomatal response to light in the orchid, Paphiopedilum.
Kaiser filter for antialiasing in digital photogrammetry
Authors: Khoshelham Kourosh , Azizi Ali 
Published: December 2004

AbstractImage aliasing is a problem appearing as artefacts in digitally resampled images, which degrades the quality of the image. In digital rectification and texture mapping, pixels from an input image are transformed to pixels of an output image. The discrete nature of a digital image causes aliasing in the transformed image. In this paper the source of aliasing and the theory of antialiasing are described. The necessity of a precise filter design in antialiasing is discussed and a filter based on a Kaiser adjustable window is designed. Different practical antialiasing methods are described as well as interpolation methods, which are conventional in photogrammetry. Selected antialiasing methods are implemented and applied to a close range image. An objective analysis is carried out by applying inverse transformations to rectified images and deriving some measures to estimate the information loss for each method by comparing original and reconstructed images. Results indicate that interpolation methods are not capable of removing or reducing aliasing in highly decimating transformations. The output images of interpolation methods therefore suffer from edge corruption and interfusion of small features. Applying a Kaiser filter with a precise antialiasing method results in the least information loss and considerably reduces aliasing at the expense of higher computation load.
Mathematical modelling of historical reconnaissance CORONA KH‐4B Imagery
Authors: Sohn Hong‐Gyoo , Kim Gi‐Hong , Yom Jae‐Hong 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThis paper describes three mathematical modelling methods for high‐resolution declassified CORONA KH‐4B images. Since CORONA images are collected with a panoramic camera, several types of geometric distortions are involved. Two methods use the modified collinearity equations, and the third involves the terrain‐dependent rational function model (RFM) which is considered to be a generic sensor model. Comparative analysis of the three mathematical modelling methods is undertaken. The results show that a ± 1·5 pixels level of horizontal and vertical accuracy can be obtained. A digital elevation model (DEM) of a test site is also created.
Genetic control over grain damage in a spring barley mapping population
Authors: Rajasekaran P. , Thomas W. T. B. , Wilson A. , Lawrence P. , Young G. , Ellis R. P. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA genetic map was constructed using DNA‐based markers in a barley mapping population derived from the cross ‘Tankard’×‘Livet’, that was developed to explore the genetic control over grain damage in spring barley cultivars. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) were located for husk skinning, gape between the lemma and palea and splitting of the fused pericarp/testa/aleurone tissues. The QTL accounted for 70% of the genetic variation in Split and 60% of the genetic variation in Gape and Skinning. The QTL were clustered on chromosomes 1H, 4H, 5H, 6H and 7H. QTL analysis indicates the possibility of transgressive segregation for grain splitting and so the breeding of lines with more extreme splitting. This is of concern to the malting industry as, without extensive phenotypic assessment, such lines could be commercialized, as was the case of Landlord, and put malting barley supplies at risk. These findings are discussed in relation to the genetic control over traits including grain length and width.
Possibility of exploiting the Yd2 resistance to BYDV in spring barley breeding
Authors: Š Ip V. , Chrpová J. , Vacke J. , Ovesná J. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe effects of the Yd2 gene on tolerance to barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and other agronomically important characters in spring barley were evaluated in a set of randomly selected doubled haploid (DH) lines of an‘Igri’/‘Atlas 68’ cross and three crosses between CIMMYT Yd2 materials and the Czech malting barley ‘Akcent’. The cleaved amplified polymorphic site (CAPS) diagnostic marker Yd2 was used for identification of the Yd2 gene and this analysis showed high agreement with the results of field infection tests. Yd2 lines exhibited significantly lower symptom scores and lower reductions of some grain yield characters, but their resistance level was not consistent over the years. The presence of secondary stresses (high temperature/drought) in 2000 led to relatively higher sensitivity to BYDV infection, strengthened by the long life cycle of genotypes. In cases where secondary stresses were mild (in 2002), the longer life cycle significantly increased sensitivity to BYDV infection only in the absence of the Yd2 gene (in susceptible genotypes). The examination of different vegetative, grain yield and malting quality characters separately for groups of Yd2 and non‐ Yd2 lines did not show any evidence of adverse effect of the Yd2 gene on any character.
Inheritance of Karnal bunt‐free trait in bread wheat
Authors: Sharma I. , Bains N. S. , Nanda G. S. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractA Karnal bunt (KB)‐free wheat stock (‘KBRL22’) obtained from a cross of two resistant lines (‘HD29’ and ‘W485’) was used as a donor to introgress the KB‐free trait into ‘PBW343’(an ‘Attila’ sib), the most widely grown wheat cultivar in India. The number of KB‐free and KB‐affected plants in BC 1, BC2, BC3 and BC4 as well the F2 was recorded after artificial inoculations. The segregation pattern in these generations clearly indicated two independently segregating, dominant genes which jointly confer the KB‐free attribute. The importance of the KB‐free line generated in this experiment is discussed.
Utility of AFLP markers for the assessment of genetic diversity within Brassica nigra germplasm
Authors: Negi M. S. , Sabharwal V. , Bhat S. R. , Lakshmikumaran M. 
Published: December 2004

AbstractGenetic diversity of 18 Brassica nigra accessions was estimated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker technology. Two B. rapa and two B. juncea accessions were selected as outliers in the study. Eight AFLP primer combinations generated a total of 426 bands, of which 79% were polymorphic. The UPGMA method was employed to construct a dendrogram based on the Jaccard's similarity coefficient. The accessions of B. rapa separated from those of B. nigra at a genetic similarity coefficient of 0.27 while those of B. juncea did so at 0.5. The genetic similarity coefficients within the B. nigra accessions ranged from 0.58 to 0.86. Based on these coefficients it was concluded that the B. nigra accessions show high levels of genetic variation. These results have significant implications in the crop improvement programmes for the agronomically important crop B. juncea, an amphidiploid of B. nigra and B. rapa. Two incorrectly labelled B. nigra accessions were also identified. These accessions were found to cluster with those of B. juncea accessions. This result demonstrates the great value of AFLP markers in the management of genebanks.
A Hazard Model of the Probability of Medical School Drop-Out in the UK
Authors: Arulampalam Wiji , Naylor Robin A. , Smith Jeremy P. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryFrom individual level longitudinal data for two entire cohorts of medical students in UK universities, we use multilevel models to analyse the probability that an individual student will drop out of medical school. We find that academic preparedness—both in terms of previous subjects studied and levels of attainment therein—is the major influence on withdrawal by medical students. Additionally, males and more mature students are more likely to withdraw than females or younger students respectively. We find evidence that the factors influencing the decision to transfer course differ from those affecting the decision to drop out for other reasons.
The Impact of Denial‐of‐Service Attack Announcements on the Market Value of Firms
Authors: Hovav Anat , D'Arcy John 
Published: December 2004

AbstractThe increase in security breaches in the last few years and the need to insure information assets has created an intensified interest in information risk within organizations and for insurance companies. Risk assessment is an important component in the establishment of security policies. However, very little is known of the financial impact and the risk associated with security breaches. This article reports the impact of Denial‐of‐Service (DOS) attack announcements on the market over a period of 4.5 years. The study was conducted using event study methodology. The results show that in general the market does not penalize companies that experience such an attack. However, there is an indication that the market penalizes “Internet‐specific” companies more than other companies. Our results indicate that large companies who are not “Internet‐specific” might be overreacting to the media hype and may be investing resources to prevent a problem that has marginal impact on their shareholder value.
The Value of Personal Contact in Marketing Insurance: Client Judgments of Representativeness and Mental Availability
Authors: Theil Michael 
Published: December 2004

AbstractMuch previous research in decision analyses has focused on the processes of simplification that the decision maker applies in order to obtain a reduced set of alternatives. In the present work, we show how the principles of judgment by representativeness and mental availability can be applied to insurance decisions. We extend this view by considering interaction between these two heuristics and by analyzing the effect of the longer time horizon typical for insurance problems. The results of such simplification are shown to be inherently unstable. Nevertheless, it is possible to explain on the basis of our analysis why certain marketing practices dominate insurance markets.
Ectoparasite ticks and chewing lice of red‐legged partridge,Alectoris rufa, in Spain
Authors: Calvete C. , Estrada R. , Lucientes J. , Estrada A. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.During the 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 shooting seasons, 212 wild red‐legged partridge,Alectoris rufa(Galliformes: Phaisanide) were captured in 18 Spanish provinces and examined for chewing lice and ticks. Three tick species and six species of chewing lice were found. Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)Haemaphysalis punctataCanestrini & Fanzago,Hyalomma lusitanicumKoch andIxodes frontalisPanzer were found at the lowest prevalence (1.4% overall tick prevalence). The louse (Mallophaga) species,Goniodes disparBurmeister (Goniodidae) (52.8%) andCuclotogaster obscuriorHopkins (Philopteridae) (28.8%) were the most prevalent, whileGoniocotes obscurusGiebel (Philopteridae) (10.8%),Menopon pallensClay (Menoponidae) (7.5%) andMenacanthus lyaliRodriguezet al. (Menoponidae) (3.3%) were found at medium to low prevalence.Columbicola columbae columbaeLinnaeus (Philopteridae) was found at the lowest prevalence (0.5%). The intensity ofC. obscuriorand overall intensity of all lice species were directly related to the environmental mean temperature and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), whereas intensity ofG. disparwas directly related to NDVI only. The intensity ofG. dispar,C. obscurior, all louse intensity, and louse species richness were higher in male than female birds. Intensity of each louse species, all louse intensity and louse species richness were inversely associated with the nutritional index. No relationship was observed between bird age and louse intensity or species richness.
Presence in the Balearic Islands (Spain) of the midges Culicoides imicola and Culicoides obsoletus group
Authors: Miranda M. A. , Borràs D. , Rincón C. , Alemany A. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.An outbreak of the livestock viral disease bluetongue (BT) was detected during September and October 2000 in the Balearic Islands, Spain. Due to the lack of information about the species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) reported in the affected area, six farms in Majorca, four in Minorca and one in Ibiza were selected to carry out surveillance of Culicoides adults using light traps. Here, for the first time, we report the presence in the Balearic Islands of Culicoides imicola Keiffer, the main vector of BT, and the Culicoides obsoletus Meigen group.
Cannibalism and predation among larvae of the Anopheles gambiae complex
Authors: Koenraadt C. J. M. , Takken W. 
Published: December 2004

Abstract.Among the aquatic developmental stages of the Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera: Culicidae), both inter‐ and intra‐specific interactions influence the resulting densities of adult mosquito populations. For three members of the complex, An. arabiensis Patton, An. quadriannulatus (Theobald) and An. gambiae Giles sensu stricto, we investigated some aspects of this competition under laboratory conditions. First‐instar larvae were consumed by fourth‐instar larvae of the same species (cannibalism) and by fourth‐instar larvae of other sibling species (predation). Even when larvae were not consumed, the presence of one fourth‐instar larva caused a significant reduction in development rate of first‐instar larvae. Possible implications of these effects for population dynamics of these malaria vector mosquitoes are discussed.
Excessive volume expansion and neonatal death in preterm infants born at 27–28 weeks gestation
Authors: Ewer Andrew K. , Tyler Wendy , Francis Andre , Drinkall Donna , Gardosi Jason O. 
Published: December 2004

SummaryVolume expansion is used commonly in preterm infants to treat presumed hypovolaemia. However, the amount that should be given is uncertain. We present data that were obtained from anonymised regional case notes of Project 27/28, a national case–controlled study run by the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy. Various clinical parameters were analysed, including the volume expansion administered during the first 48 h of life. All deaths in the first year of the study in the West Midlands (cases, n = 22) and matched regional controls (survivors, n = 29) were included. The primary outcome was death within 28 days. Sixteen of the 22 deaths were considered ‘not inevitable’ on the basis of the neonates’ condition at birth. These newborns received on average more than twice the volume expansion compared with controls in the first 48 h of life (38.2 vs. 18.2 mL/kg, P = 0.007). There were no significant differences between the groups in lowest blood pressure or base deficit within the first 12 h of life. Newborns who received ≥ 30 mL/kg volume expansion in the first 48 h of life were more likely to die than those who received < 30 mL/kg (OR 4.5 [95% CI 1.2, 17.2]). Our data suggest that administration of ≥ 30 mL/kg volume expansion is associated with increased mortality in neonates of 27–28 weeks’ gestation. Unless there is clear evidence of hypovolaemia, clinicians should exercise caution when prescribing volume expansion.
Talipes equinovarus in Western Australia
Authors: Carey Mary , Bower Caroline , Mylvaganam Arul , Rouse Ian 
Published: December 2004

SummaryIn Western Australia (WA), talipes equinovarus is a notifiable birth defect and, since 1980, has been ascertained by the population‐based Birth Defects Registry (BDR). Talipes equinovarus deformities were classified as two distinct and distinguishable types, viz. isolated talipes equinovarus (no other birth defects present) and associated talipes equinovarus (other birth defects present). The birth prevalence of associated talipes in WA between 1980 and 1994 was 0.90 per 1000 births, and of isolated talipes was 1.25 per 1000 births. The rate of the isolated deformity was higher in Aboriginal infants (3.49 per 1000 births) than in Caucasian infants (1.11 per 1000 births) and non‐Aboriginal non‐Caucasian infants (0.73 per 1000 births). The sex differential in the rate of the isolated deformity was greatest among Aboriginal infants, with the rate in males being almost four times that in females. The birth prevalence of both types of the deformity remained stable over the 15‐year study period. The rate of caesarean and breech deliveries and the proportion of bilaterally affected feet was greater among infants with associated talipes equinovarus deformity. An accurate and complete identification of cases of isolated talipes equinovarus in the 1980–94 WA birth cohort provides a basis for furthering the understanding of the epidemiology and hence the aetiology of the deformity.
Plasma levels of interleukin‐18 and interleukin‐12 in Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Authors: Malaguarnera Lucia , Pignatelli Salvatore , Musumeci Maria , Simporè Jacques , Musumeci Salvatore 
Published: December 2004

SUMMARY Interleukin (IL)‐18 produced primarily by mononuclear phagocytes synergizes with IL‐12 for interferon‐γ production from T, B and natural killer cells. It has been also demonstrated that, in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, IL‐18 could have an immunoregulatory function. The aim of this study was to detect the plasma levels of IL‐12 and IL‐18, using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, in 105 African children affected by mild and severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria to correlate the production of these cytokines with the severity of the disease. The levels of IL‐18 and IL‐12 were higher (25·7 ± 7·6 pg/ml and 17·1 ± 7·8 pg/ml, respectively) in children with mild malaria than in children with a severe form of the disease (21·5 ± 10 pg/ml and 13·2 ± 5·5 pg/ml, respectively). A positive correlation was observed between IL‐18 and IL‐12. This finding suggests that the production of these two cytokines (IL‐18 and IL 12) may be coregulated and both have an immunoregulatory effect on the immune response in Plasmodium falciparum infection.