Plague bacteria target immune cells during infection

The plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Plague bacteria are thought to inject effector Yop proteins into host cells via the type III pathway. The identity of the host cells targeted for injection during plague infection is unknown. We found, using Yop beta-lactamase hybrids and fluorescent staining of live cells from plague-infected animals, that Y. pestis selected immune cells for injection. In vivo, dendritic cells, macrophages, and neutrophils were injected most frequently, whereas B and T lymphocytes were rarely selected. Thus, it appears that Y. pestis disables these cell populations to annihilate host immune responses during plague.     

Review of rice in Korea: current status,future prospects,and comparisons with rice in other countries

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Rice has been grown as a staple food in South Korea for several millennia. However, its status has not stayed constant as a result of changes in South...     

Preliminary study of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during low- and high-dose radiation therapy of dogs with spontaneous tumors

High plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) concentrations are associated with radiation resistance and poor prognosis. After an exposure to ionizing radiation in cell culture an early phase and a late phase of increased VEGF have been documented. The activation was dependent on the radiation dose. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to measure baseline plasma VEGF and changes in VEGF over the course of fractionated radiation therapy in dogs with spontaneous tumors. Dogs with tumors had a significantly higher pretreatment plasma VEGF than did dogs without tumors. Immediately after irradiation no increased plasma VEGF was observed. Over the course of radiation therapy there was an increased plasma VEGF in dogs treated with low doses per fraction/high total dose, whereas plasma VEGF remained stable in dogs irradiated with high doses per fraction/low total dose. The regulatory mechanisms are very complex, and therefore the value of plasma VEGF measurements as an indirect marker of angiogenesis induced by radiotherapy is limited.     

Incorporating parameter uncertainty into prediction intervals for spatial data modeled via a parametric variogram

In spatial predictions, researchers usually treat the estimated theoretical variogram parameters as known without error and ignore the variability of the parameter estimators. Although the prediction is still unbiased, the prediction error is usually underestimated. Therefore, the coverage probability of the prediction interval usually is lower than the nominal probability. A simulation study is performed to show how the coverage probability for prediction relates to the true range and sill of an exponential variogram. This article proposes two parametric bootstrap methods to incorporate the variability of the corresponding parameter estimators. A simulation study is performed to evaluate the coverage probability of these proposed methods. Finally, we apply the parametric bootstrap methods to a real dataset and compare the results with those from naive (i.e., treating estimated parameters as known) and Bayesian methods.     

A method for linking in situ activities of hydrolytic enzymes to associated organisms in forest soils

A root window-based, enzyme-imprinted, membrane system has been modified to enable visualization of the activities of hydrolytic enzymes (acid phosphatase, aminopeptidase, chitinase, and β-glucosidase) in situ in forest soils. The approach can be used to correlate the distribution of enzyme activity with visible features such as roots, mycorrhizas, or mycelial mats. In addition, it enables accurate spatial soil sampling for analysis of microbial communities associated with enzyme activities. The substrates are colorimetric conjugates of napthol, where color develops instantly in the field, or fluorimetric conjugates of 4-methylumbelliferone, whose fluorescent products are detected by a gel-documenting system. The method will allow important questions about the relationship between taxonomic and functional diversity of soil microorganisms to be addressed and identification of enzyme activity hot-spots in soil.     

Genetic Analysis of Black Spruce (Picea mariana) Populations from Dry and Wet Areas of a Metal-Contaminated Region in Ontario (Canada)

Genetic variation and genetic structure of black spruce (Picea mariana L.) populations growing in wet land (lowlands) and dry lands (uplands) with different levels of metal contaminations were analyzed using ISSR. Polymorphic loci (P%) ranged from 65% to 90% with a mean of 75%. Nei??s gene diversity (h) varied from 0.264 to 0.359 with a mean of 0.310, and Shannon??s index (I) ranged from 0.381 to 0.524 with a mean of 0.449. The level of genetic variation was higher in populations from wet lands than those from dry lands. Variation within populations accounts for most of total genetic variation. The genetic distance among the black spruce (P. mariana) populations ranged from 0.171 to 0.351. The present study indicates that genetic variation and long-term exposure to metals (more than 30 years) are not associated. Cytological analysis of black spruce seeds from metal-contaminated and -uncontaminated areas showed normal mitotic behavior during prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.     

Towards a Pan‐European Assessment of Land Susceptibility to Wind Erosion

Understanding spatial and temporal patterns in land susceptibility to wind erosion is essential to design effective management strategies to control land degradation. The knowledge about the land surface susceptible to wind erosion in European contexts shows significant gaps. The lack of researches, particularly at the landscape to regional scales, prevents national and European institutions from taking actions aimed at an effective mitigating of land degradation. This study provides a preliminary pan‐European assessment that delineates the spatial patterns of land susceptibility to wind erosion and lays the groundwork for future modelling activities. An Index of Land Susceptibility to Wind Erosion (ILSWE) was created by combining spatiotemporal variations of the most influential wind erosion factors (i.e. climatic erosivity, soil erodibility, vegetation cover and landscape roughness). The sensitivity of each input factor was ranked according to fuzzy logic techniques. State‐of‐the‐art findings within the literature on soil erodibility and land susceptibility were used to evaluate the outcomes of the proposed modelling activity. Results show that the approach is suitable for integrating wind erosion information and environmental factors. Within the 34 European countries under investigation, moderate and high levels of land susceptibility to wind erosion were predicted, ranging from 25·8 to 13·0 M ha, respectively (corresponding to 5·3 and 2·9% of total area). New insights into the geography of wind erosion susceptibility in Europe were obtained and provide a solid basis for further investigations into the spatial variability and susceptibility of land to wind erosion across Europe. © 2014 The Authors. Land Degradation and Development published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Traditional Whedo Aquaculture System in Northern Benin

The traditional whedo system involves the digging of large ditch-like ponds that fill seasonally with flood water, trapping fish which are subsequently harvested during the dry season. Although whedos are well described in the South of Benin, basic information necessary for their management in the North is lacking. Since 1998, the commune of Malanville has experienced a kind of ‘blue revolution’ because up to now, approximately 500 whedos (known locally as tschifi dais) have been constructed covering a total surface area of 9.3 ha, thus reflecting the high acceptance of the practice among the local population. Despite the fast development this system has received little attention from national development planners and international agencies, but in view of the disastrous state of the river Niger's fishery, sustainable aquaculture, fully relying on local species should be supported to release pressure on natural fish stocks. Instead of focussing all efforts on the introduction of modern aquaculture, it is important to enhance the existing system because of the knowledge and acceptance by the local population.

This paper characterizes the current management and the technical as well as economical features of the tschifi dais in the commune of Malanville, northern Benin.