The effects of long-standing limb loss on anatomical reorganization of the somatosensory afferents in the brainstem and spinal cord

We examined the terminations of sensory afferents in the brainstem and spinal cord of squirrel monkeys and prosimian galagos 4-8 years after a therapeutic forelimb or hindlimb amputation within 2 months of birth. In each animal, the distributions of labeled sensory afferent terminations from remaining body parts proximal to the limb stump were much more extensive than in normal animals. These sprouted afferents extended into the portions of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord as well as the cuneate and external cuneate nuclei of the brainstem (forelimb amputees) or spinal Clarke's column (hindlimb amputee) related to the amputated limb. Such reorganization in sensory afferents along with reorganization of the motor efferents to muscles (Wu and Kaas, J Neurosci 19 : 7679-7697, 1999, Neuron 28 : 967-978, 2000) may provide a basis for mislocated phantom sensations of missing forelimb movements accompanying actual shoulder movements during cortical stimulation or movement imagery in patients with amputations.     

A preliminary assessment of congruence between biodiversity patterns in Afrotropical forest birds and forest mammals

Burgess, N., de Klerk, H., Fjeldsá, J., Crowe, T. & Rahbek, R. 2000. A preliminary assessment of congruence between biodiversity patterns in Afrotropical forest birds and forest mammals. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 286–291.

Databases compiled for forest birds and forest mammals in the Afrotropics were tested for congruence of overall patterns and hotspots of species richness and endemism. We also looked at how well a near-minimum set of priority areas for one taxon catered for the second taxon. Overall species richness and richness hotspots of forest birds were significantly correlated with those of forest mammals, as was the case for overall endemism. Endemism hotspots for forest birds and mammals were not significantly correlated. The near-minimum set for forest birds represented 136 (76.5%) forest mammal species. The near-minimum set for forest mammals represented 350 (93.62%) forest bird species. However, to represent all forest mammals three times each, 51 grids were needed in addition to the 78 chosen as a near-minimum set for forest birds, and to represent all forest birds three times each, 43 more grids were needed in addition to the 80 selected for forest mammals. There is some congruence between the patterns of richness, endemism and near-minimum sets for forest birds and mammals in the Afrotropics, but the one taxon does not provide the ideal conservation solution for the other. Further refinement of the databases used in this paper would allow for more rigorous testing of congruence between these two groups.     

The uses of racism: whitewashing new Europeans in the UK

In many respects, recent East European migrants in the UK look like past migrants to the UK: they left poorer parts of the world in search of work and the better life in the UK. But in other respects, they look different: they are white. Their putative whiteness, however, has not exempted them from the effects of racism. But while there is growing evidence of how they have been targets of racism, less attention has been focused on how they are also perpetrators of racism. The purpose of this paper is to compare the ways Hungarians and Romanians wield ‘race’ to assert and defend the relatively privileged position their putative whiteness affords them in the UK's segmented labour market. I argue that these migrants mark, evaluate and rank difference in racialized ways to secure both social-psychological and material benefits.     

FTIR Spectroscopic Study of Biogenic Mn-Oxide Formation by Pseudomonas putida GB-1

Biomineralization in heterogeneous aqueous systems results from a complex association between pre-existing surfaces, bacterial cells, extracellular biomacromolecules, and neoformed precipitates. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used in several complementary sample introduction modes (attenuated total reflectance [ATR], diffuse reflectance [DRIFT], and transmission) to investigate the processes of cell adhesion, biofilm growth, and biological Mn-oxidation by Pseudomonas putida strain GB-1. Distinct differences in the adhesive properties of GB-1 were observed upon Mn oxidation. No adhesion to the ZnSe crystal surface was observed for planktonic GB-1 cells coated with biogenic MnO _x , whereas cell adhesion was extensive and a GB-1 biofilm was readily grown on ZnSe, CdTe, and Ge crystals prior to Mn-oxidation. IR peak intensity ratios reveal changes in biomolecular (carbohydrate, phosphate, and protein) composition during biologically catalyzed Mn-oxidation. In situ monitoring via ATR-FTIR of an active GB-1 biofilm and DRIFT data revealed an increase in extracellular protein (amide I and II) during Mn(II) oxidation, whereas transmission mode measurements suggest an overall increase in carbohydrate and phosphate moieties. The FTIR spectrum of biogenic Mn oxide comprises Mn-O stretching vibrations characteristic of various known Mn oxides (e.g., “acid” birnessite, romanechite, todorokite), but it is not identical to known synthetic solids, possibly because of solid-phase incorporation of biomolecular constituents. The results suggest that, when biogenic MnO _x accumulates on the surfaces of planktonic cells, adhesion of the bacteria to other negatively charged surfaces is hindered via blocking of surficial proteins.     

A Novel p53 Mutant Found in Iatrogenic Urothelial Cancers Is Dysfunctional and Can Be Rescued by a Second-site Global Suppressor Mutation

Exposure to herbal remedies containing the carcinogen aristolochic acid (AA) has been widespread in some regions of the world. Rare A→T TP53 mutations were recently discovered in AA-associated urothelial cancers. The near absence of these mutations among all other sequenced human tumors suggests that they could be biologically silent. There are no cell banks with established lines derived from human tumors with which to explore the influence of the novel mutants on p53 function and cellular behavior. To investigate their impact, we generated isogenic mutant clones by integrase-mediated cassette exchange at the p53 locus of platform (null) murine embryonic fibroblasts and kidney epithelial cells. Common tumor mutants (R248W, R273C) were compared with the AA-associated mutants N131Y, R249W, and Q104L. Assays of cell proliferation, migration, growth in soft agar, apoptosis, senescence, and gene expression revealed contrasting outcomes on cellular behavior following introduction of N131Y or Q104L. The N131Y mutant demonstrated a phenotype akin to common tumor mutants, whereas Q104L clone behavior resembled that of cells with wild-type p53. Wild-type p53 responses were restored in double-mutant cells harboring N131Y and N239Y, a second-site rescue mutation, suggesting that pharmaceutical reactivation of p53 function in tumors expressing N131Y could have therapeutic benefit. N131Y is likely to contribute directly to tumor phenotype and is a promising candidate biomarker of AA exposure and disease. Rare mutations thus do not necessarily point to sites where amino acid exchanges are phenotypically neutral. Encounter with mutagenic insults targeting cryptic sites can reveal specific signature hotspots.     

Genomewide predictions from maize single-cross data

Maize (Zea mays L.) breeders evaluate many single-cross hybrids each year in multiple environments. Our objective was to determine the usefulness of genomewide predictions, based on marker effects from maize single-cross data, for identifying the best untested single crosses and the best inbreds within a biparental cross. We considered 479 experimental maize single crosses between 59 Iowa Stiff Stalk Synthetic (BSSS) inbreds and 44 non-BSSS inbreds. The single crosses were evaluated in multilocation experiments from 2001 to 2009 and the BSSS and non-BSSS inbreds had genotypic data for 669 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Single-cross performance was predicted by a previous best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) approach that utilized marker-based relatedness and information on relatives, and from genomewide marker effects calculated by ridge-regression BLUP (RR-BLUP). With BLUP, the mean prediction accuracy (r _MG) of single-cross performance was 0.87 for grain yield, 0.90 for grain moisture, 0.69 for stalk lodging, and 0.84 for root lodging. The BLUP and RR-BLUP models did not lead to r _MG values that differed significantly. We then used the RR-BLUP model, developed from single-cross data, to predict the performance of testcrosses within 14 biparental populations. The r _MG values within each testcross population were generally low and were often negative. These results were obtained despite the above-average level of linkage disequilibrium, i.e., r ² between adjacent markers of 0.35 in the BSSS inbreds and 0.26 in the non-BSSS inbreds. Overall, our results suggested that genomewide marker effects estimated from maize single crosses are not advantageous (compared with BLUP) for predicting single-cross performance and have erratic usefulness for predicting testcross performance within a biparental cross.     

The nostalgic construction of community: Memory and social identity in Urban Malta

This paper examines local people's memories of a Maltese urban community that was demolished in the 1970s. The memories create an idealised, nostalgic picture of community harmony and solidarity prior to the demolition, but also apportion blame for its subsequent destruction. The paper argues that in such situations of physical displacement and/or social dislocation, this nostalgic process serves as a strategic resource that not only produces order and identity, but also creates legitimate moral claims against the state. The paper thereby contributes to ongoing debates about the relationship between local identity and wider political and economic processes.