Vegetation productivity patterns at high northern latitudes: a multi‐sensor satellite data assessment

Satellite‐derived indices of photosynthetic activity are the primary data source used to study changes in global vegetation productivity over recent decades. Creating coherent, long‐term records of vegetation activity from legacy satellite data sets requires addressing many factors that introduce uncertainties into vegetation index time series. We compared long‐term changes in vegetation productivity at high northern latitudes (>50°N), estimated as trends in growing season NDVI derived from the most widely used global NDVI data sets. The comparison included the AVHRR‐based GIMMS‐NDVI version G (GIMMS_g) series, and its recent successor version 3g (GIMMS_3g), as well as the shorter NDVI records generated from the more modern sensors, SeaWiFS, SPOT‐VGT, and MODIS. The data sets from the latter two sensors were provided in a form that reduces the effects of surface reflectance associated with solar and view angles. Our analysis revealed large geographic areas, totaling 40% of the study area, where all data sets indicated similar changes in vegetation productivity over their common temporal record, as well as areas where data sets showed conflicting patterns. The newer, GIMMS_3g data set showed statistically significant (α = 0.05) increases in vegetation productivity (greening) in over 15% of the study area, not seen in its predecessor (GIMMS_g), whereas the reverse was rare (<3%). The latter has implications for earlier reports on changes in vegetation activity based on GIMMS_g, particularly in Eurasia where greening is especially pronounced in the GIMMS_3g data. Our findings highlight both critical uncertainties and areas of confidence in the assessment of ecosystem‐response to climate change using satellite‐derived indices of photosynthetic activity. Broader efforts are required to evaluate NDVI time series against field measurements of vegetation growth, primary productivity, recruitment, mortality, and other biological processes in order to better understand ecosystem responses to environmental change over large areas.     

Comparison of two pollen counting methods of slides from a hirst type volumetric trap

Two of the most frequently used methods of pollen counting on slides from Hirst type traps are evaluated in this paper: the transverse traverse method and the longitudinal traverse method. The study was carried out during June–July 1996 and 1997 on slides from a trap at Worcester, UK. Three pollen types were selected for this purpose: Poaceae, Urticaceae and Quercus. The statistical results show that the daily concentrations followed similar trends (p < 0.01, R-values between 0.78–0.96) with both methods during the two years, although the counts were slightly higher using the longitudinal traverses method. Significant differences were observed, however, when the distribution of the concentrations during 24 hour sampling periods was considered. For more detailed analysis, the daily counts obtained with both methods were correlated with the total number of pollen grains for the taxon over the whole slide, in two different situations: high and low concentrations of pollen in the atmosphere. In the case of high concentrations, the counts for all three taxa with both methods are significantly correlated with the total pollen count. In the samples with low concentrations, the Poaceae and Urticaceae counts with both methods are significantly correlated with the total counts, but none of Quercus counts are. Consideration of the results indicates that both methods give a reasonable approximation to the count derived from the slide as a whole. More studies need be done to explore the comparability of counting methods in order to work towards a Universal Methodology in Aeropalynology. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Relationship Between Lesion Size and Load to Failure After Stabilization of Simulated Metastatic Lesions of the Proximal Femur

BackgroundAs overall cancer survival continues to improve, the incidence of metastatic lesions to the bone continues to increase. The subsequent skeletal related events that can occur with osseous metastasis can be debilitating. Complete and impending pathologic femur fractures are common with patients often requiring operative fixation. However, the efficacy of an intramedullary nail construct, on providing stability, continue to be debated. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to utilize a synthetic femur model to determine 1) how proximal femur defect size and cortical breach impact femur load to failure (strength) and stiffness, and 2) and how the utilization of an IMN, in a prophylactic fashion, subsequently alters the overall strength and stiffness of the proximal femur.MethodsA total of 21 synthetic femur models were divided into four groups: 1) intact (no defect), 2) 2 cm defect, 3) 2.5 cm defect, and 4) 4 cm defect. An IMN was inserted in half of the femur specimens that had a defect present. This procedure was performed using standard antegrade technique. Specimens were mechanically tested in offset torsion. Force-displacement curves were utilized to determine each constructs load to failure and overall torsional stiffness. The ultimate load to failure and construct stiffness of the synthetic femurs with defects were compared to the intact synthetic femur, while the femurs with the placement of the IMN were directly compared to the synthetic femurs with matching defect size.ResultsThe size of the defect invertedly correlated with the load the failure and overall stiffness. There was no difference in load to failure or overall stiffness when comparing intact models with no defect and the 2 cm defect group (p=0.98, p=0.43). The 2.5 cm, and 4.5 cm defect groups demonstrated significant difference in both load to failure and overall stiffness when compared to intact models with results demonstrating 1313 N (95% CI: 874-1752 N; p<0.001) and 104 N/mm (95% CI: 98-110 N/mm; p=0.03) in the 2.5 cm defect models, and 512 N (95% CI: 390-634 N, p<0.001) and 21 N/mm (95% CI: 9-33 N/mm, p<0.001) in the models with a 4 cm defect. Compared to the groups with defects, the placement an IMN increased overall stiffness in the 2.5 cm defect group (125 N/mm; 95% CI:114-136 N/mm; p=0.003), but not load to failure (p=0.91). In the 4 cm defect group, there was a significant increase in load to failure (1067 N; 95% CI: 835-1300 N; p=0.002) and overall stiffness (57 N/mm; 95% CI:46-69 N/mm; p=0.001).ConclusionProphylactic IMN fixation significantly improved failure load and overall stiffness in the group with the largest cortical defects, but still demonstrated a failure loads less than 50% of the intact model. This investigation suggests that a cortical breach causes a loss of strength that is not completely restored by intramedullary fixation. Level of Evidence: II     

Reporter system for the detection of in vivo gene conversion

We have devised a system for the study of in vivo gene correction based on the detection of color variants of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria. The intensity and spectra of the fluorescence emitted by the blue (BFP) and red-shifted (EGFP) variants of GFP differ from each other. We modified one nucleotide from an EGFP expression vector that we predicted would yield a blue variant (TAC-CAC, Tyr⁶⁶-His⁶⁶). Cells that were either transiently or stably transfected with the reporter system were used to test the functionality and feasibility of the detection of in vivo gene correction. A thio-protected single-stranded oligonucleotide designed to convert the genotype of the blue variant to that of the EGFP variant by the correction of a single base pair was delivered to the reported cells using a variety of methodologies and strategies. Conversion events were easily observed using fluorescent microscopy because of the enhanced emission intensity and different spectra of the EGFP variant.     

In vivo preclinical low field MRI monitoring of tumor growth following a suicide gene therapy in an orthotopic mice model of human glioblastoma

Purpose

The aim of this study was to monitor in vivo with low field MRI growth of a murine orthotopic glioma model following a suicide gene therapy.

Methods

The gene therapy consisted in the stereotactic injection in the mice brain of a modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector encoding for a suicide gene (FCU1) that transforms a non toxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to its highly cytotoxic derivatives 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and 5’-fluorouridine-5’monophosphate (5’-FUMP). Using a warmed-up imaging cell, sequential 3D T1 and T2 0.1T MRI brain examinations were performed on 16 Swiss female nu/nu mice bearing orthotopic human glioblastoma (U87-MG cells). The 6-week in vivo MRI follow-up consisted in a weekly measurement of the intracerebral tumor volume leading to a total of 65 examinations. Mice were divided in four groups: sham group (n = 4), sham group treated with 5-FC only (n = 4), sham group with injection of MVA-FCU1 vector only (n = 4), therapy group administered with MVA-FCU1 vector and 5-FC (n = 4). Measurements of tumor volumes were obtained after manual segmentation of T1- and T2-weighted images.

Results

Intra-observer and inter-observer tumor volume measurements show no significant differences. No differences were found between T1 and T2 volume tumor doubling times between the three sham groups. A significant statistical difference (p < 0.05) in T1 and T2 volume tumor doubling times between the three sham groups and the animals treated with the intratumoral injection of MVA-FCU1 vector in combination with 2 weeks per os 5-FC administration was demonstrated.

Conclusion

Preclinical low field MRI was able to monitor efficacy of suicide gene therapy in delaying the tumor growth in an in vivo mouse model of orthotopic glioblastoma.     

Capillary gas chromatographic analysis of human skin surface lipids after microsampling on ground-glass platelets

Small amounts of human skin surface lipids, in the 1–20 μg range, sampled on ground-glass platelets are investigated using capillary gas chromatography.

A first system allows the separation of the neutral lipids, up to the triglyceride fraction. A second system reveals the distribution of the free fatty acids or of the free + glyceride fatty acids, after a methylation or transesterification step.

Examination of samples from nine subjects shows that the unsaturation of the free fatty acids increases during a four-day period of accumulation. Comparison of the free fatty acid fraction and the free + glyceride fatty acid fraction shows that the free fraction is more saturated than the latter. It is concluded that the bacterial lipases which cleave the fatty acids from the ester bond favor the liberation of straight-chain saturated fatty acids from sebum triglycerides.

This result is confirmed by comparison of the free fatty acid fraction with the glyceride fatty acid fraction separated from bulk samples of skin surface lipds from hair and scalp.     

Local expression of the ipt gene in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. SR1) axillary buds establishes a role for cytokinins in tuberization and sink formation

The developmental characteristics of a transgenic tobacco line (BIK62) expressing the ipt cytokinin-biosynthetic gene under the control of a tagged promoter were analysed. In situ hybridization and cytokinin immunocytochemistry revealed that the ipt gene was mainly expressed in the axillary buds after the floral transition. The ipt-expressing axillary buds presented morphological alterations such as short and narrow scale-leaflets, and swollen internodes filled with starch grains, giving rise to short and tuberized lateral branches. In addition, the modification of the endogenous cytokinin balance in the axillary meristems resulted in a fast rate of leaf initiation and cytokinins accumulated mostly in the lateral zones of the reactivated axillary meristems, suggesting a role in leaf organogenesis. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the reactivated axillary meristems were characterized by predominant S+G2 nuclei. Terminal internodes displayed low levels of hexose and sucrose concomitant with starch accumulation. Extracellular invertases (EC 3.1.26) were also present in higher amounts in the tuberizing internodes compared to the axillary buds of wild-type tobacco. These results underline the role of cytokinins in cell cycle regulation and in the creation of a sink--source effect. They also provide new information about cytokinin involvement in the process of tuberization and their overproduction in axillary buds giving rise to tuberized lateral branches in a naturally non-tuberizing species.     

Molecular insights into the klotho-dependent, endocrine mode of action of fibroblast growth factor 19 subfamily members

Unique among fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), FGF19, -21, and -23 act in an endocrine fashion to regulate energy, bile acid, glucose, lipid, phosphate, and vitamin D homeostasis. These FGFs require the presence of Klotho/betaKlotho in their target tissues. Here, we present the crystal structures of FGF19 alone and FGF23 in complex with sucrose octasulfate, a disaccharide chemically related to heparin. The conformation of the heparin-binding region between beta strands 10 and 12 in FGF19 and FGF23 diverges completely from the common conformation adopted by paracrine-acting FGFs. A cleft between this region and the beta1-beta2 loop, the other heparin-binding region, precludes direct interaction between heparin/heparan sulfate and backbone atoms of FGF19/23. This reduces the heparin-binding affinity of these ligands and confers endocrine function. Klotho/betaKlotho have evolved as a compensatory mechanism for the poor ability of heparin/heparan sulfate to promote binding of FGF19, -21, and -23 to their cognate receptors.     

The effect of thioridazine on haloperidol induced behavioral hypersensitivity

Behavioral Hypersensitivity (BH) to dopamine agonists occurs following chronic treatment with most neuroleptics including haloperidol. In the present study we observed that the concurrent administration of thioridazine and haloperidol prevented the development of BH. In contrast, another neuroleptic, fluphenazine, coadministered with haloperidol, potentiated the degree of BH relative to animals treated with haloperidol only. In rats already made hypersensitive by chronic treatment with haloperidol, a 4 week subsequent treatment with normal saline, thioridazine alone of thioridazine in combination with haloperidol, produced normal behavioral responsiveness. These results suggest that thioridazine prevents the development of BH and can reverse the expression of haloperidol-induced BH.