Immunogold Labeling of Terminal Cellulose-Synthesizing Complexes

Received 20 September 2001/ Accepted in revised form 10 October 2001     

Formation of a Tree having a Low Lignin Content

Received 30 September 2001/ Accepted in revised form 26 October 2001     

Role of water-soluble polysaccharides in bacterial cellulose production

Acetobacter xylinum BPR2001 produces water-insoluble bacterial cellulose (BC) and a water-soluble polysaccharide called acetan in corn steep liquor-fructose medium. Acetobacter xylinum EP1, which is incapable of acetan production was derived by disrupting the aceA gene of BPR2001. The BC production by EP1 (2.88 g/L) was lower than that by BPR2001 (4.6 g/L) in baffled-flask culture. When purified acetan or agar was added to the medium from the start of cultivation, the BC production by EP1 was enhanced and the final BC yield of EP1 was almost the same as that of BPR2001. A similar improvement of BC production by EP1 by the addition of agar was also confirmed by cultivation in a 50-L airlift reactor. From these results, the role of acetan in BC production is associated with the increase in the viscosity of the culture medium which may hinder coagulation of BC and cells in the culture, thereby accelerating the growth of BPR2001 and BC production by BPR2001.     

Control of Black Vine Weevil larvae Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) in grow bags outdoors with nematodes

Abstract 1 Outdoor trials were carried out during 2001–02 on strawberries grown in commercial growing bags naturally infested with black vine weevil larvae (BVW) Otiorhynchus sulcatus in Co. Wexford, Ireland. 2 The two nematode isolates used in these trials were Heterorhabditis megidis (UK211) and Heterorhabditis downesi (K122), both laboratory cultured. Growing bags received nematodes either once (May 2001), twice (May and October 2001) or three times (May, October 2001 and May 2002). Ten days after each application date, nine blocks (of the total 27) were randomly selected, destructively assessed and discarded. 3 The single application (May 2001) resulted in a mortality of black vine weevil larvae, of 93.4% with H. megidis and 51.3% with H. downesi, compared with the control treatment at that date. Respective figures after the double application (May 2001 and October 2001) were 78.9 and 77.6% and after the triple application (May 2001, October 2001 and May 2002) the figures were 93.7 and 88.1%. 4 Results from these trials clearly indicate that entomopathogenic nematodes are good alternatives to chemical control of the black vine weevil on strawberries grown in growing bags in Ireland.     

Molecular genetic characteristics of the Newcastle Sterna/Astrakhan/Z275/2001 virus isolated in Russia

The genome of the NDV strain Sterna/Astrakhan/2755/2001 isolated from a wild bird of the Volga River delta in 2001 was completely sequenced. The phylogenetic analysis of the strain investigated and other NDV strains clearly demonstrated that Sterna/Astrakhan/2755/ 2001 belonged to the lineage 5b. Comparative analysis of molecular genetic markers of pathogenicity of strain Sterna/Astrakhan/2755/ 2001 allows its velogenic character to be suggested.     

Effects of structural analogs of brassinosteroids on the recovery of growth inhibition by a specific brassinosteriod biosynthesis inhibitor

A brassinosteroid inhibitor (Brz2001) was used to block the growth of roots, hypocotyls, and epicotyls of soybean seedlings, producing a dwarf phenotype. The application of 24-epibrassinolide completely reversed the inhibitory effects of Brz2001. Two other growth-promoting brassinosteroid analogs, MH5 and BB6, partially overcame the Brz2001-induced growth defects. The growth inhibition of Brz2001-treated seedlings was more effectively reversed by MH5 than by BB6, which may be due to the structural differences between the two compounds. These results indicate that the studied analogs may show brassinosteroid-like activity and therefore may have some practical use instead of brassinolide or its analogues.     

A replacement name for Dayus Gerken, 2001 (Crustacea,Peracarida, Cumacea), preoccupied by Dayus Mahmood, 1967 (Insecta,Hemiptera, Cicadellidae)

A replacement name is proposed for genus Dayus Gerken, 2001 (Crustacea: Peracarida: Cumacea), preoccupied by Dayus Mahmood, 1967 (Insecta: Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). The following changes are proposed: Jennidayus new replacement name = Dayus Gerken, 2001 (nec Mahmood 1967); Jennidayus pharocheradus (Gerken, 2001), comb. n. = Dayus pharocheradus Gerken, 2001; Jennidayus acanthus (Gerken, 2001), comb. n. = Dayus acanthus Gerken, 2001; Jennidayus makrokolosus (Gerken, 2001), comb. n. = Dayus makrokolosus Gerken, 2001.     

Gifts of Pride and Love: The Cultural Significance of Kiowa and Comanche Lattice Cradles

Gifts of Pride and Love: The Cultural Significance of Kiowa and Comanche Lattice Cradles. Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, Bristol, RI, 1998; Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, December 4, 1999-February 2000; Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ, April 20-July 16, 2001; Fowler Museum of Cultural History, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, August 27, 2000-January 16, 2001; National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution, Gustav Heye Center, New York, NY, March-May 2001; Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, Norman, OK, June-September 2001; Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, Ledyard, CT, October 2001-January 2002.
Gifts of Pride and Love: Kiowa and Comanche Cradles. Barbara A. Hail. ed. Bristol, RI: Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University, 2000. 135 pp.     

The Effect of the Post 2001 Reforms on FMD Risks of the International Live Animal Trade

The 2001 UK foot and mouth disease (FMD) epidemic marked a change in global FMD management, focusing less on trade isolation than on biosecurity within countries where FMD is endemic. Post 2001 policy calls for the isolation of disease-free zones in FMD-endemic countries, while increasing the opportunities for trade. The impact of the change on disease risk has yet to be tested. In this paper, we estimate an empirical model of disease risk that tests for the impact of trade volumes before and after 2001, controlling for biosecurity measures. In the pre 2001 regime, we find that poor biosecurity was associated with the probability of reporting an outbreak. In the post 2001 regime, the risks changed, with trade being a much greater source of risk. We discuss the trade-off between trade restrictions and biosecurity measures in the management of FMD disease risks.     

Morphometric analyses reveal synonymy of two monotypic genera, Huangiella and Tumoris (Acari, Eriophyoidea, Eriophyidae)

Morphological variation of Huangiella lanyuensis (Huang, 2001) and Tumoris sanasaii Huang, 2001 from Taiwan was analyzed using multivariate statistical methods. We show that these species are the same and propose to use the name Tumoris sanasaii. No significant differences between populations from Lanyu and Green Island (type localities for Huangiella lanyuensis and Tumoris sanasaii, respectively) were found; however, mites from Yangmingshan (northern Taiwan) differed substantially from these two groups. Synonymy resulted from our study is as follows: Huangiella Kammerer, 2006 is a junior synonym of Tumoris Huang, 2001; Absentia lanyuensis Huang, 2001 is a junior synonym of Tumoris sanasaii Huang, 2001. We also study the sexual variation of populations from Green Island. The result showed the females significantly larger than the males at 17 variables.     

Comparison of two plethysmography systems in assessment of forearm blood flow.

Venous occlusion plethysmography is widely used to assess forearm blood flow (FBF). We compared the established Hokanson system (HEC4) with a newly developed Filtrass 2001 system (F2001). The HEC4 uses mercury-in-Silastic strain gauges, whereas F2001 detects volume changes with a nonmercury linear displacement device. The aim of this study was to evaluate the new F2001 against the HEC4 in terms of repeatability and systematic bias. Ten subjects were studied on 4 separate days in random order using either the HEC4 on both arms, the F2001 on both arms, the HEC4 on the right arm with the F2001 on the left, or the F2001 on the right arm and the HEC4 on the left. Stroop's colored word conflict test and postocclusive hyperemia were used to increase FBF, and lower body negative pressure was used to lower FBF. Stroop's colored word conflict test and lower body negative pressure increased (24.6 +/- 1.5%, n = 240, P < 0.0001) and decreased (18.7 +/- 0.8%, n = 240, P < 0.0001) FBF, respectively. Postocclusive hyperemia after occlusion times of 5, 8, and 13 min substantially increased FBF by 390 +/- 86, 756 +/- 217, and 851 +/- 132%, respectively. Repeatability was not different between the devices (0.10 +/- 2.37 vs. -0.47 +/- 1.92 l/min, n = 125, P > 0.05), and there was no systematic bias. The F2001 is a newly developed plethysmography system that does not utilize mercury and is suitable for assessing changes of FBF in physiological studies.     

A specific brassinosteroid biosynthesis inhibitor, Brz2001: evaluation of its effects on Arabidopsis, cress, tobacco, and rice

Brassinazole is the only known specific brassinosteroid (BR)-biosynthesis inhibitor, and it has been shown to be useful for elucidating the function of BRs. In the course of a structure-activity relationship study of brassinazole, we found a more specific BR-biosynthesis inhibitor, Brz2001. This new inhibitor induced similar morphological changes to those seen in brassinazole-treated plants, including Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., Nicotiana tabacum L., and Lepidium sativum L. These changes included dwarfism with altered leaf morphology, including downward curling and dark-green color, and the changes were reversed by brassinolide. Although the structure of Brz2001 is similar to that of uniconazole, a gibberellin-biosynthesis inhibitor, Brz2001-treated plants showed almost no recovery with the addition of gibberellic acid (GA3). Comparison of the responses of both brassinazole- and Brz2001-treated cress to brassinolide and GA3 suggested that Brz2001 is a more specific BR-biosynthesis inhibitor than brassinazole. Unlike the results just described, Brz2001-treated rice did not show any morphological changes. This suggests that the roles of BRs in rice may be different from those in the dicotyledonous plants examined in this study. Brz2001 can be used to clarify the function of BRs in dicots as a complement to BR-deficient mutants, and to elucidate the different roles of BRs in monocots and dicots.     

The miracle of microarray data analysis

A report on the tenth Annual Bioinformatics and Genome Research meeting of the Cambridge Healthtech Institute's Beyond Genome 2001 series, San Francisco, USA, 17-19 June 2001.     

Managament of peanut bud necrosis disease in groundnut by botanical pesticides

In the management of PBND in groundnut neem seed extract (10%), we recorded significantly lower PBND incidence, AUDPC, apparent infection rate (20.41, 19.5% PBND; 956, 756 AUDPC; 0.0026, 0.002 apparent infection rate) followed by neem cake extract 10% spray (2747, 23.36% PBND; 1275, 1316 AUDPC; 0.0034, 0.0025 apparent rate of infection in 2000–2001 and 2001–2002, respectively). Weekly spray of monocrotophos reduced the PBND (26.77%) and recorded significantly higher pod yields (2547, 2465 kg/ha) and lower AUDPC (861, 1373), and apparent infection rate (0.0021, 0.0019 in 2000–2001 and 2001–2002, respectively) compared to other treatments.     

A specific anti-Helicobacter pylori agent NE2001: synthesis and its effect on the growth of H. pylori

The synthesis and anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of a novel agent NE2001, 4-(4-methylbenzyl)-4'-[guanidinomethylbenzoyloxy] biphenyl-4-carboxylate hydrochloride, are described. NE2001 had a specific inhibitory effect on the growth of H. pylori preceded by the suppression DNA synthesis in the cell. The effects of NE2001 on RNA and protein syntheses in H. pylori were also examined.     

Increasing turbidity significantly alters the diet of brown trout: a multi‐year longitudinal study

The stomach contents of adult brown trout Salmo trutta from Lake Sorell, Tasmania, were analysed during 6 years of increasing turbidity to follow changes in the diet associated with dramatic changes in water clarity. Brown trout were sampled from 1996, when turbidity was 26 NTU, to 2001 when turbidity was 141 NTU. The mean relative volume of stomach contents decreased progressively to 2001, by which time it was only one sixth of that in 1996, and the mean diversity of prey in stomachs decreased from an average of more than six species per stomach in 1996 to one species in 2001. The species composition of stomach contents shifted from domination by the phreatoicid isopod Colubotelson sp., to the galaxiid fish Galaxias auratus and the amphipod Austrochiltonia australis , and then the cladoceran Daphnia carinata . To give an indication of diet changes over a typical yearly cycle in the current turbid state of the lake, a sample was taken from each season from December 2000 to September 2001. Two basic diets were found during the year; brown trout specialized on D. carinata in summer and autumn, and G. auratus in winter and spring. Mean diversity of prey was less than two species per stomach in all samples from 2000 to 2001, except for the sample from spring 2001 when it was 2·2 species per stomach, and the mean relative volume of stomach contents was more than three times greater in winter than any other season. The ways in which high turbidity may have influenced the changes in the brown trout diet observed since 1996 and the patterns evident during the seasons of 2000–2001 are discussed.     

Trematode metacercariae of fishes as sentinels for a changing limnological environment

Trematode metacercaria populations infecting cichlids in Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) were used as sentinels for the changing limnological environment. Parasitological data from 0+ cichlid fingerlings (Tilapia zillii, Oreochromis aureus, Sarotherodon galilaeus) were collected from the northwest shore of the lake during 1999 to 2001 and compared with data obtained from 1982 to 1984. The results show that the composition of the metacercarial populations changed significantly between the 2 samplings periods. The total number of metacercarial species found in the Kinneret cichlids was lower in 1999 to 2001 than in 1982 to 1984. Metacercariae transmitted by the snail Bulinus truncatus (Clinostomum tilapiae, Euclinostomum heterostomum, Bolbophorus levantinus and Neascus-type metacercariae--black spot and others) that were commonly found in 1982 to 1984 were absent from the fishes sampled during 1999 to 2001. The other trematode metacercariae (Centrocestus sp. and Haplorchis sp. transmitted by Melanoides tuberculata, Pygidiopsis genata transmitted by Melanopsis costata, as well as Phagicola longa, Strigeidae sp.1, an unidentified metacercaria typically found in the liver, and glochidia) increased in abundance in fishes sampled during 1999 to 2001. The calculated 'true' species richness of the habitat, extrapolated as a function of sampling effort, was significantly lower in the 1999 to 2001 versus 1982 to 1984 samples, while significantly fewer fishes needed to be sampled ('sampling effort') during 1999 to 2001 in order to reach the 'true' species richness. The higher calculated values of species richness and diversity for the 1999 to 2001 samples despite the overall decline in species number is explained by the overall increase in metacercariae prevalence.     

Rate of endometrial adenocarcinoma in women screened before and after implementation of the Bethesda 2001 reporting system

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the recommendation of the 2001 Bethesda System to report all benign-appearing endometrial cells seen in women aged > or = 40 years on the frequency with which endometrial carcinomas are potentially detected as a consequence of Pap test reports that mention endometrial cells. STUDY DESIGN: We identified all women diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma who also had a Pap test during the preceding 6 months. The search was performed for 3-year periods before and after the date of implementation of Bethesda 2001. RESULTS: Benign endometrial cells were reported for 589 women in the 3 years before Bethesda 2001 and for 3,810 women in the 3 following years. The number of endometrial malignancies found on follow-up in these women decreased from 8 in the 3 years before Bethesda 2001 to only 4 subsequently. The frequency of reporting atypical or malignant glandular cells, as well as the likelihood of finding endometrial malignancy on follow-up, did not significantly change. CONCLUSION: Despite a 6.5-fold rise in the frequency of reporting benign endometrial cells after Bethesda 2001, the frequency of subsequent diagnosis of endometrial malignancies did not in-crease.     

Breast fine needle aspiration cytology: a review of current practice in Australasia

M. C. Cummings, B. A. Waters and P. K. O’Rourke Breast fine needle aspiration cytology: a review of current practice in Australasia Aims: To investigate breast fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in Australasia, in terms of laboratory demographics, specimens received and quality control (QC). Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all laboratories enrolled in the FNA module of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Cytopathology Quality Assurance Program (QAP), requesting information about specimens received in a 3‐month period in 2001 and in 2008. Results: Responses were received from 81/180 laboratories in 2001 and from 94/200 in 2008. The mean number of cases per 3 months was 137 in 2001 and 141 in 2008 and for the 42 laboratories responding on both occasions, the mean number of cases declined from 191 to 149 (P = 0.001). The mean percentage of malignant cases was 11.7% in 2001 and 10.5% in 2008 and the mean percentages of unsatisfactory rates were 21.7% and 25.2%, respectively; 43.2% of laboratories in 2001 and 40.4% in 2008 reported fewer than 50 cases for the 3‐month period. The unsatisfactory rate was inversely proportional to the number of cases received. Most QC (69.1% in 2001, 71.3% in 2008) was carried out by correlation with any later histology. With no histology available, 35.8% of laboratories in 2001 and 48.9% in 2008 did no further follow‐up. Follow‐up of all diagnostic categories increased from 30.9% in 2001 to 44% in 2008. Conclusions: Breast FNA cytology is still actively undertaken in Australasia, but numbers have declined. Unsatisfactory rates have reached the Australian recommended upper limit and are inversely proportional to the total number of cases received. Overall QC measures are unchanged and consideration of a review of breast FNA guidelines is suggested.     

Characterization of the Biosynthetic Pathway of Cellulose from Glucose and Fructose in Acetobacter xylinum

For characterization of the biosynthetic pathway of cellulose in a cellulose-producing Acetobacter xylinum strain BPR2001, the activities of several enzymes were measured. The activity of phosphoglucose isomerase catalyzing the conversion of fructose-6- phosphate into glucose-6-phosphate was greatly increased by fructose in the medium. The UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase activity catalyzing the synthesis of UDP-glucose was very high in strain BPR2001, consistent with the idea that this is the key enzyme in cellulose biosynthesis. Strain BPR2001 was found to have a fructose-specific phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase system (PTS).