Asymmetry Revisited

Interest in the developmental basis of symmetry and asymmetry,as old as experimental embryology itself, has recently becomereactivated. A brief survey is made of recent or current activitiesin the following areas: (i) development of asymmetry in thechick limb bud, as related to the so-called zone of polarizingactivity (Saunders et al.); (ii) situs inversus viscerum inamphibians, as induced by transplantation and defect experiments,radiation, and chemical treatment (von Woellwarth, von Kraft,Wehrmaker); (iii) situs inversus viscerum in mammals as relatedto (a) twinning (Cockayne, Torgerson, Baker-Cohen); (b) genetics(Feldman, Cockayne, Torgerson for man, Tihen et al., Hummeland Chapman for mouse); and (c) teratogens (Layton and associates);(iv) ultrastructure in snails (Morrill and Perkins); (v) asymmetrydeveloping as a result of changes in chemical instability inhomogeneous systems (Ortoleva and Ross); (vi) asymmetrical mentality(Sperry and associates). No general conclusions are attempted.     

Mental well-being in settings of 'complex emergency': an overview

The mental state of people affected by war and other disasters has been a subject of special interest to academic researchers and practitioners in humanitarian assistance and public health for over two decades. The last decade in particular has seen a rise in the number of papers published in scholarly journals around the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) debate. Anthropologists have rarely engaged in this debate. Nevertheless, some of the most illuminating contributions have come from socio-medical anthropology (Last, 2000). This volume brings together a wide range of disciplines in the human sciences to address some of the key questions that bear upon the mental health and well-being of populations affected by war and displacement, with contributions from applied biosocial and medical anthropology (Almedom; Lewando-Hundt et al.); applied psychology/public health and social psychiatry (Carballo et al.; Snider et al.; Fullilove et al.); social work (Ahearn & Noble); and political sciences (Pupavac). The four themes that run through this set of papers (outlined below) remain topical areas of contention in contemporary humanitarianism. Scholars and practitioners in the biosocial sciences may wish to engage in the empirical study of human (if not humanitarian) responses to disaster focusing on questions as yet unanswered.     

Association of maternal and index child’s diet with subsequent leukemia risk: A systematic review and meta analysis

BackgroundExploring the effect of maternal and/or childhood diet on offspring leukemogenesis is challenging, given differences in food group categories, their potentially variable impact depending on time window of exposure and the multiple leukemia subtypes. We opted to quantitatively synthesize published data on the association of maternal/child diet with leukemia risk.MethodsMedline was searched until June 30th, 2016 for eligible articles on the association of childhood leukemia with consumption of (i) food groups, excluding alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and (ii) specific dietary supplements before/during index pregnancy and childhood.ResultsEighteen studies of case-control design (N = 11,720 cases/18,721 controls) were included, of which nine assessed maternal dietary components, five index child’s and four both, mainly focusing on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Statistically significant inverse estimates for ALL were found (2 studies, 413 cases, 490 controls) for fruit (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.99); vegetables (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.28, 0.94); legumes (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62, 0.94); fish (OR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.53, among the 0–4 year old; 2 studies 215 cases, 215 controls); preconception folic acid supplementation (OR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.50–0.95; published meta analysis plus 2 studies, 3511 cases, 6816 controls); and use of vitamins during pregnancy (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.74–0.88; published meta analysis plus one study, 5967 cases, 8876 controls). The associations (2 studies) of the remaining food groups and maternal dietary supplements consumption during pregnancy as well as of childhood diet and supplements intake (2–4 studies) were non significant.ConclusionsMaternal consumption of specific food groups comprising“healthy” items of the Mediterranean diet, preconception use of folic acid and intake of vitamins during pregnancy were associated with decreased ALL risk. Further research is needed, however preferably with homogeneous dietary information and data on immunophenotypic/cytogenetic subtypes to also explore the interaction of specific macro- and micronutrients intake with gene polymorphisms.     

Ubiquitin Binding in Endocytosis – How Tight Should It Be and Where Does It Happen?

Ubiquitin is an important tag in membrane transport. From studies in yeast, monoubiquitin has been considered sufficient to elicit uptake of cell surface transporters and receptors into endosomes. Two articles in the current issue of Traffic (Hawryluk et al. and Barriere et al.) indicate that stronger binding is required to retain and concentrate cargo in endocytic microdomains of the plasma membrane. High avidity interactions can be obtained by tandemly arrayed ubiquitin interaction motifs (UIM), in proteins such as the endocytic adaptors epsin and Eps15, interacting with polyubiquitin or by UIM-containing proteins binding several ubiquitins brought together through oligomerization of receptors. A controversial issue has been where such interactions take place. One view is that the association of epsin with ubiquitinated cargo is negatively regulated by its interaction with clathrin (Chen H and De Camilli P. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2005;102:2766-2771). This contention is now challenged by the articles of Hawryluk et al. and Barriere et al. Hawryluk et al. demonstrate that epsin and Eps15 consistently co-localize with clathrin but never with caveolin.     

Cover Picture: Biotechnology Journal 2/2010

Cover illustration Focus: Transgenic Crops. This issue of BTJ highlights two articles about transgenic crops. Erlendsson et al. show for the first time that barley can be used as a green factory for growth factors (pp. 163–171); Herman et al. use a transclinic medicine model to access the safety of transgenic crops (pp. 172–182); Image © PhotoDisc/Getty Images. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biot.200900111 ; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/biot.200900217 .     

植物病原菌物学—不能抛弃的形态分类与不能拒绝的分子分析

本期菌物学报“植物病原菌物学专刊”刊登了22篇文章,其中关于菌物种类调查、鉴定及形态描述的文章11篇,关于植物病原菌生理和遗传分化的文章5篇,关于植物病原菌侵染结构和组织学的文章2篇,关于植物病原菌致病基因克隆及功能基因分析的文章4篇。作者作了简要的启发式总结。     

The rise of high throughput

The realization that gene, protein, and metabolite space is vast has led to the development of novel high-throughput methodologies aimed directly at interrogating biomolecules and their interactions at previously impossible depths. In this special focus section, the editors of BioTechniques explore the development of high-throughput applications in five areas of life science (page 27), while a primary research article by Kapetis et al. details an enhanced software platform capable of automated cross-platform microarray data analysis (page 33). It is our hope that through the articles in this section, readers will obtain a deeper understanding of high-throughput methodologies and their evolution.     

New Phytologist 140 (1998), 363–383

In the November 1998 issue of New Phytologist , we published the Tansley review 'Gibberellins: regulating genes and germination' by Sian Ritchie and Simon Gilroy ( New Phytol. (1998) 140 , 363–383). Since its publication, it has come to our attention that text associated with Fig. 4 was omitted during production. The correct figure is reprinted here in full.
We apologise to the author and to our readers for this mistake.
Figure 4. Promoter sequences of various genes expressed in the cereal aleurone and shown to be regulated by GA. The position of each sequence is indicated relative to the start codon. Regions identified as being involved in regulation of the genes are highlighted, as are similar regions in other genes. Sites at which protein has been shown to bind are also indicated. ( a ) Barley Amy 32b (Sutcliff et al ., 1993; Whittier et al ., 1987); wheat Amy 2/54 (Huttley et al ., 1992; Rushton et al ., 1992; Rushton et al ., 1995); barley Amy 46 (Khursheed & Rogers, 1988); barley Amy 2/p155 (Knox et al ., 1987); barley aleurain (Whittier et al ., 1987); barley β-glucanase II (Wolf, 1992); wheat cathepsin B-like (Cejudo et al ., 1992); rice ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (Chen et al ., 1995). ( b ). Wheat Amy 1/18 (Rushton et al ., 1992); barley Amy pHV 19 (Jacobsen & Close, 1991; Gubler & Jacobsen, 1992)/ Amy 1 / 6-4 (Khursheed & Rogers, 1988; Rogers, Lanahan & Rogers 1994); rice OSamy-a / Amy 3c (Ou-Lee et al ., 1988; Sutcliff et al ., 1991; Yu et al ., 1992; Goldman et al ., 1994); rice Amy 3B (Sutcliffe et al ., 1991); rice OSamy-c (Kim et al ., 1992; Kim & Wu, 1992; Tanida et al ., 1994); rice Amy 1A (Huang et al ., 1990; Itoh et al ., 1995).
Figure 4 ( b ). For legend see facing page.     

A Cross-Sectional Survey on Dietary Supplements Consumption among Italian Teen-Agers

Introduction

In the last decades, dietary supplements consumption has increased in the Western world for all age groups. The long-term potentially dangerous effects related to an indiscriminate consumption of dietary supplements are still unknown and are becoming a matter of public health concern. Therefore, the aims of the present study were: to explore the contribution of dietary supplements to micronutrient daily intake, and to evaluate awareness and knowledge about dietary supplements.

Methods

Participants (age ranging from 14 to 18 years) were recruited among students attending 8 high schools in the province of Frosinone (Italy). An anonymous questionnaire, composed of 12 multiple-choice items, was administered to all the participants. T-test and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to describe differences between means of the groups, while the chi-square test was used to compare observed and expected frequencies. The logistic regression model, aimed at identifying the characteristics of potential consumers of dietary supplements,

Results

A total of 686 teenagers (288 males and 398 females, average age: 17,89±0,91 years) participated in the study. The 83,6% of participants affirmed to be aware of dietary supplements. 239 participants consumed dietary supplements: 118 males and 121 females. 49,1% of females consumed dietary supplements less than twice a week, whereas 43,6% of males consumed dietary supplements from 2 to 5 times per week. Statistically significant differences emerged between the genders with respect to the source of information regarding dietary supplements, the perceived indications for their use, and the choice of the store/place to purchase them.

Discussion

Findings in the present study provide insight into the consumption of dietary supplements among young Italians, highlighting the need to foster further awareness among adolescents about the correct use of dietary supplements, especially in terms of indications and contraindications.     

Dietary supplement use among adolescent athletes in central Nebraska and their sources of information

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of dietary supplement use among adolescent athletes. The project was also directed at identifying the sources these student-athletes used for acquiring information about dietary supplements. One hundred thirty nine high school athletes (99 males; 34 females; mean age = 15.8 +/- 1.19 years) volunteered to participate in this study. A 16-question anonymous survey instrument examined use of dietary supplements, reasons for use, type of sport participation, and sources of information regarding dietary supplements. Of the participants in this study, 22.3% (N = 31) reported currently taking dietary supplements. There was no relationship found between dietary supplement use and age. There were a significantly higher number of males reporting current dietary supplement use. Of those who reported to be currently taking dietary supplements, sports performance (N = 25) was the most reported reason for use. There were no significant differences found in reported dietary supplement use between any of the sports. Of the participants, 38.1% (N = 53) listed their coach as their best source of information on dietary supplements. The results of this study offer the current literature some additional insight into trends in supplement use among high school student athletes. Practical implications suggest that it may be necessary to ensure coaches have sufficient knowledge about dietary supplements so that adolescent athletes are receiving accurate information.     

Dietary supplement Standard Reference Materials

A new category of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) based on dietary supplements is under development by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), with certified values for organic constituents and selected trace elements. These materials are provided primarily for use in method development and as control materials. The SRMs will assist manufacturers of dietary supplements in characterizing raw materials for potency, authenticity, and contamination or adulteration. In addition, the SRMs will assist in assessment of consistency and quality in finished products. The goal of this ongoing effort is to provide tools to the dietary supplement industry and measurement communities that will lead to improved quality of dietary supplements, and ultimately reduce public health risks that could potentially be associated with these products.     

中国东北晚侏罗世虻类化石(昆虫纲:双翅目)

本文论述了辽宁西部上侏罗统虻类６个科的化石,包括１新科,１０个新属和１５个新种。其中Ｐａｌａｅｐａｎｇｏｎｉｕｓ ｅｕｐｔｅｒｕｓ ｇｅｎ．ｅｔ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．,Ｅｌｐａｎｇｏｎｉｕｓ ｐｌｅｔｕｓ ｇｅｎ,ｅｔ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．和Ａｌｌｏｍｙｉａ ｒｕｄｅｒａｌｉｓ ｇｅｎ．ｅｔ ｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．均属于虻科（Ｔａｂａｎｉｄａｅ）;Ｏｒｓｏｂｒａｃｈｙｃｅｒｏｎ ｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓ ｇｅｎ．ｅｔ ｓｐ     

The centrosome opens the way to mitosis

During mitosis, the interaction between chromosomes and microtubules requires nuclear envelope disassembly in prophase. Two articles in this issue of Developmental Cell show that centrosomes have a role in promoting nuclear envelope breakdown (Hachet et al., 2007; Portier et al., 2007). Surprisingly, the role of the centrosome in this process is independent of its role as a microtubule nucleation organelle. Instead, the centrosome seems to act as a spatial regulator for the activation of the Aurora A kinase.     

Adulteration of Ginkgo biloba products and a simple method to improve its detection

Extracts of ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) leaf are widely available worldwide in herbal medicinal products, dietary supplements, botanicals and complementary medicines, and several pharmacopoeias contain monographs for ginkgo leaf, leaf extract and finished products. Being a high-value botanical commodity, ginkgo extracts may be the subject of economically motivated adulteration. We analysed eight ginkgo leaf retail products purchased in Australia and Denmark and found compelling evidence of adulteration with flavonol aglycones in three of these. The same three products also contained genistein, an isoflavone that does not occur in ginkgo leaf.Although the United States Pharmacopeia – National Formulary (USP-NF) and the British and European Pharmacopoeias stipulate a required range for flavonol glycosides in ginkgo extract, the prescribed assays quantify flavonol aglycones. This means that these pharmacopoeial methods are not capable of detecting adulteration of ginkgo extract with free flavonol aglycones.We propose a simple modification of the USP-NF method that addresses this problem: by assaying for flavonol aglycones pre and post hydrolysis the content of flavonol glycosides can be accurately estimated via a simple calculation. We also recommend a maximum limit be set for free flavonol aglycones in ginkgo extract.     

抗污损海洋天然产物的开发及其作用机理研究进展

首先对近年发表在学术期刊Biofouling上的一篇关于抗污损化合物的综述做一简短总结。其次,突出介绍了对无脊椎污损生物附着和变态分子水平的调控机制的研究近来的进展。旨在给那些从事生物污损和抗污损技术研究的科研人员提供一定的帮助。