Cloning and characterization of a 9-lipoxygenase gene induced by pathogen attack from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nicotiana benthamiana</Emphasis>for biotechnological application

Background  

Plant lipoxygenases (LOXs) have been proposed to form biologically active compounds both during normal developmental stages such as germination or growth as well as during responses to environmental stress such as wounding or pathogen attack. In our previous study, we found that enzyme activity of endogenous 9-LOX in Nicotiana benthamiana was highly induced by agroinfiltration using a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) based vector system.     

A wavelet-based ECG delineation algorithm for 32-bit integer online processing

Background  

Since the first well-known electrocardiogram (ECG) delineator based on Wavelet Transform (WT) presented by Li et al. in 1995, a significant research effort has been devoted to the exploitation of this promising method. Its ability to reliably delineate the major waveform components (mono- or bi-phasic P wave, QRS, and mono- or bi-phasic T wave) would make it a suitable candidate for efficient online processing of ambulatory ECG signals. Unfortunately, previous implementations of this method adopt non-linear operators such as root mean square (RMS) or floating point algebra, which are computationally demanding.     

Recovery of photosynthetic capacity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaccinium vitis</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">idaea</Emphasis> during mild spells in winter

Recent studies suggest that evergreen plants may maintain their photosynthetic capacity through the winter. Since mild winters are predicted to be more frequent in the future, the metabolic activity of plants is also likely to increase. The aim of the present study was to assess how various environmental factors, such as temperature, photoperiod and preceding frost, affect the recovery of photosynthesis during a mild spell in winter. The recovery of photosynthesis was studied in a series of growth chamber experiments where the overwintering of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) was interrupted by an intermittent warm spell of 1 week during different phases of winter. Rapid activation was observed in all the experiments during the first 3–4 days. No obvious effects of the phase of winter or photoperiod on the recovery of photosynthesis were observed, but a severe freezing treatment prior to the warm spell retarded the recovery significantly. Once recovered, however, lingonberry was able to maintain high rates of photosynthesis even at near-freezing temperatures, which prevail in their natural sub-nivean environment. The apparent quantum yield of photosynthesis remained high through the winter for lingonberry. This may prove advantageous for evergreen dwarf shrubs which overwinter in dim environments under snow.     

Previously Undescribed Fibrinolysis Inhibitor in Human Blood

HUMAN serum contains several protease inhibitors, one of which is identified as α₁-globulin (α₁-antitrypsin) and another as α₂-macroglobulin. Serum also contains inhibitors against the activation of plasminogen, which may differ from the protease inhibitors. Thus, inhibition of plasminogen activation by urokinase is selectively increased during the last trimester of pregnancy^1,2. Likewise, increased inhibition of streptokinase-activated human euglobulin or of a tissue plasminogen activator was noticed in some groups of patients with thrombotic disease^3,4. This observation is of particular interest because the tissue activator, which is present in venous endothelium⁵, is believed to assist in the removal of fibrinous deposits caused by tissue injury⁶.     

The impact of acquired brain damage in terms of epidemiology,economics and loss in quality of life

Background  

Patients with acquired brain damage (ABD) have suffered a brain lesion that interrupts vital development in the physical, psychological and social spheres. Stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are the two main causes. The objectives of this study were to estimate the incidence and prevalence of ABD in the population of the Basque Country and Navarre in 2008, to calculate the associated cost of the care required and finally to assess the loss in health-related quality of life.     

An open-label,multicenter study to evaluate the safe and effective use of the single-use autoinjector with an Avonex<Superscript>®</Superscript> prefilled syringe in multiple sclerosis subjects

Background  

The ability to self-inject in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with a reduced risk of missed injections and drug discontinuation, and a beneficial effect on patients' independence. However, injection anxiety, needle phobia and disease-related disability are major barriers to a patient's ability to self-administer treatment. Use of an autoinjector may improve patients' ability to self-inject. This study evaluated the safe and effective use of Avonex Pen™ (prefilled pen), a single use autoinjector, for intramuscular delivery of interferon beta-1a (IM IFNβ-1a, Avonex) in MS patients.     

Advertising acceptability: is mollusk olfaction important in seedling selection?

Although seedling herbivory is an important selective filter in many plant communities, how and why seedlings are selected is poorly understood. Here, we examined the putative role of herbivore olfaction in dictating seedling selection. Using a Y-tube olfactometer we compared snail (Helix aspersa) preference for pellets derived from 14-day-old macerated seedlings of nine European grassland (‘Test’) species against standard (‘Control’) pellets derived from lettuce. Snail movement towards ‘Test’ pellets was strongly correlated with seedling acceptability (Pearson’s r ² = 0.86, P > 0.01) and where snails exhibited a positive choice for the ‘Test’ species, the choice was made more quickly for highly acceptable species (r ² = 0.86, P > 0.01). In elucidating a link between seedling acceptability and olfactory response to macerated seedlings, our study suggests that even from an early ontogenetic stage plant selection by snails may be governed by olfactory cues. This finding highlights the need for research on the role of plant volatiles in plant–herbivore interactions to consider more fully interactions operating at the seedling stage.     

A gene’s eye view of Darwinian populations

Biologists and philosophers differ on whether selection should be analyzed at the level of the gene or of the individual. In Peter Godfrey-Smith’s book, Darwinian Populations and Natural Selection, he argues that individuals can be good members of Darwinian populations, whereas genes rarely can. I take issue with parts of this view, and suggest that Godfrey-Smith’s scheme for thinking about Darwinian populations is also applicable to populations of genes.