First finding of a quarantine pest,Atherigona (Acritochaeta) orientalis Schiner (Diptera: Muscidae), in Korea

The invasive quarantine pest fly, Atherigona (Acritochaeta) orientalis Schiner, is observed for the first time in tomato greenhouses in Gyeongsangbuk‐do, Korea. The genus Atherigona Rondani is also newly added to Korean fauna. Allium tuberosum is listed as a new host crop for this species. Some morphological characteristics for accurate identification and host lists are given to provide plant quarantine information for pest management.     

Rediscovery of Ardisia gigantifolia and the reinstatement of A. kteniophylla (Primulaceae) – finding the correct name for the Chinese medicinal plant ’Zou Ma Tai’

With the rediscovery of Ardisia gigantifolia, the long‐standing confusion with A. pseudoverticillata, A. kteniophylla and A. dasyrhizomatica owing to the misinterpretation of the type of A. gigantifolia is clarified. It is shown that A. dasyrhizomatica is a later synonym of A. gigantifolia, while A. kteniophylla and A. pseudoverticillata are conspecific and represent another species for which A. kteniophylla is the earliest name available. Ardisia kteniophylla is the correct scientific name for the Chinese medicinal plant ’Zou Ma Tai’.     

Cumulative Damage Survival Models for the Randomized Complete Block Design

A continuous time discrete state cumulative damage process {X(t), t ≥ 0} is considered, based on a non‐homogeneous Poisson hit‐count process and discrete distribution of damage per hit, which can be negative binomial, Neyman type A, Polya‐Aeppli or Lagrangian Poisson. Intensity functions considered for the Poisson process comprise a flexible three‐parameter family. The survival function is S(t) = P(X(t) ≤ L) where L is fixed. Individual variation is accounted for within the construction for the initial damage distribution {P(X(0) = x) | x = 0, 1, …,}. This distribution has an essential cut‐off before x = L and the distribution of L – X(0) may be considered a tolerance distribution. A multivariate extension appropriate for the randomized complete block design is developed by constructing dependence in the initial damage distributions. Our multivariate model is applied (via maximum likelihood) to litter‐matched tumorigenesis data for rats. The litter effect accounts for 5.9 percent of the variance of the individual effect. Cumulative damage hazard functions are compared to nonparametric hazard functions and to hazard functions obtained from the PVF‐Weibull frailty model. The cumulative damage model has greater dimensionality for interpretation compared to other models, owing principally to the intensity function part of the model.     

Kinetic study on unzippering of polynucleotides and order-order transition in polypeptides

Solutions are presented for N + 1 sequential and reversible first-order reactions for which the magnitude of the reverse rate constant, k_b, for all steps except the last is identical. Also the magnitude of the forward rate constant, k_f, for all steps except the first and last is identical. The initial and final steps are nucleation reactions; therefore, the initial and final k_f are modified by the factors σ′ and γ respectively. The final k_b is modified by the factor γ σ. The ratio k_b/k_f is defined as s, which has the same meaning as s in the Zimm-Bragg theory. The mathematical model is intended to apply to polymeric molecules of N segments and allows the calculation of the mole fraction of molecules in state i at any time t, C_i(t). A molecule in state i has i unreacted segments and N – i reacted ones. Because the reactions are sequential, all reacted segments are contiguous. Our numerical results show that when σ′ is much less than unity and the forward reaction is favored, the relaxation curve is sigmoidal. If, however, the forward and reverse reactions are equally favored (i.e., s ? 1) the relaxation curve is a straight line. When s and σ′ are near unity, the curve is exponential for a considerably large fraction of the reaction. Further, in the exponential for a considerably large fraction of the reaction. Further, in the exponential phase of the reaction, the relaxation time is proportional to N² for highly cooperative systems (i.e., Nσ ? 1). As found by Pipkin and Gibbs, if N is sufficiently large and s is less than unity (e.g., N ? 50 and s ?0.9) the relaxation curve is largely linear with a slope inversely proportional to N. Applications are given for the unwinding of double-helical poly(A·U) and the order–order transition in poly-L -proline.     

Notes on Erysiphales (Ascomycetes) from Patagonia, Argentina

Fifteen Erysiphaceous taxa found on 20 host plant species in Patagonia are documented. A new species Oidium maculatae (type host: Viola maculata) is described. Berberis linearifolia, Buddleja globosa, Prosopis alpataco and Viola maculata, are new host plants for Erysiphales. Three new combinations on fungi and host plant species were founded: Erysiphe howeana – Fuchsia magellanica; E. patagoniaca – Nothofagus pumilio and N. antarctica. The genus Sawadaea and the species S. bicornis on Acer negundo and A. pseudoplatanus, are new records for South America. New host plants recorded for Argentina: Consolida ajacis, Galega officinalis and Plantago lanceolata. New host plants recorded for Patagonia: Galium aparine, Melilotus albus, Petunia × hybrida, Potentilla anserina, and Spiraea × bumalda. Oidium longipes is a new record for Argentina and Golovinomyces riedlianus is a new record for Patagonia.     

The Tipulidae (Diptera) of northern Morocco with a focus on the Rif region,including the description of a new species of Tipula (Lunatipula) and an updated checklist for Morocco

An overview of the Tipulidae known to occur in northern Morocco with an emphasis on the Rif mountains is given, incorporating new distribution data based on recently collected material in the area. Dolichopeza (Dolichopeza) hispanica, Tipula (Lunatipula) subpustulata, and Tipula (Yamatotipula) afriberia afriberia are recorded for the first time for the Rif. Tipula (L.) stimulosa Mannheims, 1973 and T. (Vestiplex) vaillanti vaillanti Theowald, 1977 are reported for the first time for the Rif and Morocco. Tipula (Lunatipula) pseudocinerascens Strobl, 1906 and Tipula (Savtshenkia) confusa van der Wulp, 1883 are recorded for the first time for the Rif, Morocco and North Africa. A new species of the subgenus Lunatipula, T. (L.) pjotri n. sp., is described and illustrated. Nephrotoma exastigma, previously reported for the Rif, seems to be absent in Morocco. Reports of Tipula (Emodotipula) obscuriventris Strobl, 1900 for Morocco actually refer to T. (E.) leo. This brings the number of Tipulidae for Morocco to 39 species and for the Rif to 28. An updated checklist of the Tipulidae of Morocco is provided.     

Notes on some poorly known species of the genus Neocheyletiella Baker, 1949 (Acari,Cheyletidae) with a key to the genus

Summary The genus Neocheyletiella Baker, 1949 is redefined and the following species are redescribed and figures given for the first time: N. media Fain, 1972; N. avicola Fain, 1972; N. amandavae Fain, 1972; N. pittae Fain, 1972; N. siva Fain, 1972. N. oudemansi Volgin, 1969 is placed in the synonymy of N. microrhynchus (Berlese & Trouessart, 1889). N. heteropalpus (Megnin, 1878) is presumed to belong to the genus Apodicheles Fain, 1979 although the type material of that species is probably lost. A new nomenclature for the idiosomal chaetotaxy is proposed for the males of Neocheyletiella spp. and of Cheyletus malaccensis Oudemans. A key is given to the females and males of the species of genus Neocheyletiella. ac]19800106     

The type species of Apiognomonia, A. veneta, with its Discula anamorph is distinct from A. errabunda

Species of Apiognomonia with their Discula anamorphic states in the Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales, are known throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere and cause diseases such as sycamore or plane tree anthracnose. The genus Apiognomonia was described based on A. veneta as the type species; however, there has been disagreement about whether or not A. veneta is a synonym of A. errabunda. Using morphological, ecological, and DNA sequence data we conclude that A. errabunda and A. veneta are different species, although very closely related; thus, A. veneta is the correct name for the type species of Apiognomonia. This conclusion is based on a combined analysis of sequences from the ITS regions of nuclear rDNA for 51 isolates from host plants of eight genera and intron regions from actin, calmodulin and translation elongation factor 1-alpha for over 25 isolates. The type species of the genus Discula is D. nervisequa, the earliest available epithet for D. platani, the lectotype of Discula. D. nervisequa is the anamorph of A. veneta. Based on an examination of the type specimen, we determined that the commonly used name for the anamorph of A. errabunda, D. umbrinella, refers to another species. A. veneta and A. errabunda including their anamorphs are described and illustrated. An account of all synonyms and excluded synonyms is presented.     

Polypores new to Japan 1. Species ofPolyporus,with a note onP. hartmanni

Polyporus admirabilis, P. dictyopus, P. guianensis, P. pseudobetulinus, P. tubaeformis andP. udus are reported for Japan for the first time.Polyporus tubaeformis had been confused withP. melanopus, but the Japanese collections were conspecific with Norwegian isolates ofP. tubaeformis. A key to allPolyporus species in Japan is provided.Polyporus hartmanni is reported for the first time outside the Australian continent. As the species has a bipolar heterothallism and produces brown rot, its taxonomic relationship withPolyporus s. str. is discussed.The Japanese Science and Technology Agency (STA) is thanked by the authors for financial support.     

A technique for measuring xylem hydraulic conductance under high negative pressures

A technique for measuring hydraulic conductances of excised xylem segments exposed to high negative pressures is described. A centrifugal force is used to generate negative pressures (P) in the sample and to create a positive hydrostatic pressure difference (ΔP) between its two ends. ΔP forces water through the sample at a flow rate (F) determined optically during centrifugation. The sample hydraulic conductance k is derived from F and ΔP. The sample vulnerability curve is given by the dependence of k on P. Results for Cedrus atlantica Manetti and Laurus nobilis L. shoots are given. The technique is appropriate for the analysis of xylem refilling under negative pressure.     

The Multivalent Adhesion Molecule SSO1327 plays a key role in Shigella sonnei pathogenesis

Shigella sonnei is a bacterial pathogen and causative agent of bacillary dysentery. It deploys a type III secretion system to inject effector proteins into host epithelial cells and macrophages, an essential step for tissue invasion and immune evasion. Although the arsenal of bacterial effectors and their cellular targets have been studied extensively, little is known about the prerequisites for deployment of type III secreted proteins during infection. Here, we describe a novel S. sonnei adhesin, SSO1327 which is a multivalent adhesion molecule (MAM) required for invasion of epithelial cells and macrophages and for infection in vivo. The S. sonnei MAM mediates intimate attachment to host cells, which is required for efficient translocation of type III effectors into host cells. SSO1327 is non‐redundant to IcsA; its activity is independent of type III secretion. In contrast to the up‐regulation of IcsA‐dependent and independent attachment and invasion by deoxycholate in Shigella flexneri, deoxycholate negatively regulates IcsA and MAM in S. sonnei resulting in reduction in attachment and invasion and virulence attenuation in vivo. A strain deficient for SSO1327 is avirulent in vivo, but still elicits a host immune response.     

Expression of the apoptosis inducer gene head involution defective in primordial germ cells of the Drosophila embryo requires eiger,p53, and loki function

Nanos (Nos) is an evolutionarily conserved protein essential for the maintenance of primordial germ cells (PGCs). In Drosophila, the PGCs or pole cells express head involution defective (hid), which is required for caspase activation, but its translation is repressed by maternal Nos. In the absence of Nos activity, translation of hid mRNA into protein induces apoptosis in pole cells. However, it remains unclear how hid mRNA is regulated in pole cells. Here, we report that hid expression requires eiger (egr), a tumor necrosis factor ligand (TNF) homologue, which is induced in pole cells by decapentaplegic (dpp). In addition, we demonstrate that p53 and loki (lok), a damage‐activated kinase known to be required for p53 phosphorylation, are both required for hid expression in pole cells. Since maternal lok mRNA is enriched in pole cells, it is possible that ubiquitously distributed p53 is activated in pole cells by maternal Lok. We propose that hid expression is activated in a pole cell‐specific manner by loki/p53 and dpp/egr during embryogenesis.     

A simple model for determining affinity from irreversible thermal shifts

Thermal denaturation (Tm) data are easy to obtain; it is a technique that is used by both small labs and large‐scale industrial organizations. The link between ligand affinity (K _D) and ΔTm is understood for reversible denaturation; however, there is a gap in our understanding of how to quantitatively interpret ΔTm for the many proteins that irreversibly denature. To better understand the origin, and extent of applicability, of a K _D to ΔTm correlate, we define equations relating K _D and ΔTm for irreversible protein unfolding, which we test with computational models and experimental data. These results suggest a general relationship exists between K _D and ΔTm for irreversible denaturation.     

The Exact Distribution of the Anderson-Kannemann Statistic

The Anderson-Kannemann test is a rank test for treatment effects in a randomized block design with K treatments and N blocks. In this paper, an algorithm for computing the exact distribution of the Anderson-Kannemann test statistic under the null hypothesis is deduced. Then, the exact distribution is compared with the asymptotic χ²-distribution, and it is shown that the exact distribution is approximated fairly well by the asymptotic distribution. Tables of the exact distribution are given for K = 3, N = 3(1)15; K = 4, N = 3(1)11; K = 5, N = 3(1)7; and K = 6, N = 3(1)5.     

Optimizing resolution in multidimensional NMR by three-way decomposition

Resolution depends on the number of points sampled in a FID; in indirectly detected dimensions it is an important determinant of the total experiment time. Based on the high redundancy present in NMR data, we propose the following timesaving scheme for three-dimensional spectra. An extensive grid of discrete t1- and t2-values is used, which increases resolution while preserving the spectral width. Total experiment time is reduced by avoiding the recording of t3-FIDs for selected pairs of t1 and t2; typically the recording is omitted for about 75% of the (t1,t2) combinations. These data sets are referred to as sparse, and post-experimental processing making optimal use of spectral redundancy provides the missing, non-recorded data. We have previously shown that three-way decomposition (TWD) within the MUNIN approach provides a practical way to process dense NMR data sets. Here, a novel TWD algorithm [Ibraghimov, (2002) Numer. Linear Algebra Appl. 9, 551–565] is used to complement a sparselyrecorded time-domain data set by providing the missing FIDs for all (t1,t2) combinations omitted in the experiment. A necessary condition is that for each t1-value at least a few FIDs are recorded, and similar for each t2-value. The method is demonstrated on non-uniformly sampled ¹⁵N-NOESY-HSQC data sets recorded for the 14 kD protein azurin. The spectra obtained by TWD, reconstruction and ordinary transform to frequency-domain are, in spite of the large number of signals and the high dynamic range typical for NOESYs, highly similar to a corresponding reference spectrum, for which all (t1,t2) combinations were recorded.     

A Simple Construction Procedure for Eesolvable Incomplete Block Designs for any Number of Treatments

A simple, straightforward procedure, which requires no special tables or generators, is presented for constructing resolvable incomplete block designs for v=pk, v=p²k, …, treatments, for k≥p, in incomplete blocks of size k. Also, it is shown, how to obtain incomplete block designs for any v in blocks of size k and k+1. The procedure allows construction of balanced incomplete block designs for p = k a prime number. For p = n not a prime number, incomplete block designs can be obtained by the procedure, but are not balanced. However, for p_s being the smallest prime factor of n, p_s + 1 for v = n², p_s²+ p_s + 1 for v = n³, …, arrangements can be obtained for which the occurrence of any treatment pair in the blocks is either zero or one. This is called a zero-one concurrence design. Procedures are described for obtaining additional zero-one concurrence arrangements. It is shown that the efficiency of these designs is maximum. Both intra-block and inter-block analyses are described.     

Approximate matching of regular expressions

Given a sequenceA and regular expressionR, theapproximate regular expression matching problem is to find a sequence matchingR whose optimal alignment withA is the highest scoring of all such sequences. This paper develops an algorithm to solve the problem in timeO(MN), whereM andN are the lengths ofA andR. Thus, the time requirement is asymptotically no worse than for the simpler problem of aligning two fixed sequences. Our method is superior to an earlier algorithm by Wagner and Seiferas in several ways. First, it treats real-valued costs, in addition to integer costs, with no loss of asymptotic efficiency. Second, it requires onlyO(N) space to deliver just the score of the best alignment. Finally, its structure permits implementation techniques that make it extremely fast in practice. We extend the method to accommodate gap penalties, as required for typical applications in molecular biology, and further refine it to search for substrings ofA that strongly align with a sequence inR, as required for typical data base searches. We also show how to deliver an optimal alignment betweenA andR in onlyO(N+logM) space usingO(MN logM) time. Finally, anO(MN(M+N)+N ²logN) time algorithm is presented for alignment scoring schemes where the cost of a gap is an arbitrary increasing function of its length.