On the recursive sequence Xn = axn-1+bxn-2/c+dxn-1xn-2

In this Paper, we study the invariant intervals, the global attractivity of the equilibrium points, and the asymptotic behavior of the solutions of the difference equation x(n) = ax(n-1) + bx(n-2) / c + dx(n-1)x(n-2), n =1, 2, ..., where a greater than or equal to 0, b, c, d > 0. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

On the system of rational difference equations x(n) = A+(1)over-bar y(n-p), y(n) = A+(gamma(n-1))over-bar x(n-r)y(n-5)

In this paper, we study the behavior of the positive solutions of the system of two difference equations [GRAPHICS] where p >= 1, r >= 1, s >= 1, A >= 0, and x(1-r), x(2-r),..., x(0), y(1-max) {p.s},..., y(0) are positive real numbers. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mining gene networks with application to GAW15 problem 1

The genetic analysis workshop 15 (GAW15) problem 1 contained baseline expression levels of 8793 genes in immortalised B cells from 194 individuals in 14 Centre d’Etude du Polymorphisme Humane (CEPH) Utah pedigrees. Previous analysis of the data showed linkage and association and evidence of substantial individual variations. In particular, correlation was examined on expression levels of 31 genes and 25 target genes corresponding to two master regulatory regions. In this analysis, we apply Bayesian network analysis to gain further insight into these findings. We identify strong dependences and therefore provide additional insight into the underlying relationships between the genes involved. More generally, the approach is expected to be applicable for integrated analysis of genes on biological pathways.

Confocal imaging of pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola colony development in bean reveals reduced multiplication of strains containing the genomic island PPHGI-1.

Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola is the seed borne causative agent of halo blight in the common bean Phaseolus vulgaris. Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola race 4 strain 1302A contains the avirulence gene hopAR1 (located on a 106-kb genomic island, PPHGI-1, and earlier named avrPphB), which matches resistance gene R3 in P. vulgaris cultivar Tendergreen (TG) and causes a rapid hypersensitive reaction (HR). Here, we have fluorescently labeled selected Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola 1302A and 1448A strains (with and without PPHGI-1) to enable confocal imaging of in-planta colony formation within the apoplast of resistant (TG) and susceptible (Canadian Wonder [CW]) P. vulgaris leaves. Temporal quantification of fluorescent Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola colony development correlated with in-planta bacterial multiplication (measured as CFU/ml) and is, therefore, an effective means of monitoring Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola endophytic colonization and survival in P. vulgaris. We present advances in the application of confocal microscopy for in-planta visualization of Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola colony development in the leaf mesophyll to show how the HR defense response greatly affects colony morphology and bacterial survival. Unexpectedly, the presence of PPHGI-1 was found to cause a reduction of colony development in susceptible P. vulgaris CW leaf tissue. We discuss the evolutionary consequences that the acquisition and retention of PPHGI-1 brings to Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola in planta.

Induction of aquaporin 1 but not aquaporin 4 messenger RNA in rat primary brain microvessel endothelial cells in culture

Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of proteins that mediate water transport across cells, but the extent to which they are involved in water transport across endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier is not clear. Expression of AQP1 and AQP4 in rat brain microvessel endothelial cells was investigated in order to determine whether these isoforms were present and, in particular, to examine the hypothesis that brain endothelial expression of AQPs is dynamic and regulated by astrocytic influences. Reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry showed that AQP1 mRNA and protein are present at very low levels in primary rat brain microvessel endothelial cells, and are up-regulated in passaged cells. Upon passage, endothelial cell expression of mdr1a mRNA is decreased, indicating loss of blood-brain barrier phenotype. In passage 4 endothelial cells, AQP1 mRNA levels are reduced by coculture above rat astrocytes, demonstrating that astrocytic influences are important in maintaining the low levels of AQP1 characteristic of the blood-brain barrier endothelium. Reverse-transcriptase-PCR revealed very low levels of AQP1 mRNA present in the RBE4 rat brain microvessel endothelial cell line, with no expression detected in primary cultures of rat astrocytes or in the C6 rat glioma cell line. In contrast, AQP4 mRNA is strongly expressed in astrocytes, but no expression is found in primary or passaged brain microvessel endothelial cells, or in RBE4 or C6 cells. Our results support the concept that expression of AQP1, which is seen in many non-brain endothelia, is suppressed in the specialized endothelium of the blood-brain barrier.

The 'glial' glutamate transporter, EAAT2 (Glt-1) accounts for high affinity glutamate uptake into adult rodent nerve endings

The excitatory amino acid transporters (EAAT) removes neurotransmitters glutamate and aspartate from the synaptic cleft. Most CNS glutamate uptake is mediated by EAAT2 into glia, though nerve terminals show evidence for uptake, through an unknown transporter. Reverse-transcriptase PCR identified the expression of EAAT1, EAAT2, EAAT3 and EAAT4 mRNAs in primary cultures of mouse cortical or striatal neurones. We have used synaptosomes and glial plasmalemmal vesicles (GPV) from adult mouse and rat CNS to identify the nerve terminal transporter. Western blotting showed detectable levels of the transporters EAAT1 (GLAST) and EAAT2 (Glt-1) in both synaptosomes and GPVs. Uptake of [3H]D-aspartate or [3H]L-glutamate into these preparations revealed sodium-dependent uptake in GPV and synaptosomes which was inhibited by a range of EAAT blockers: dihydrokainate, serine-o-sulfate, l-trans-2,4-pyrrolidine dicarboxylate (PDC) (+/-)-threo-3-methylglutamate and (2S,4R )-4-methylglutamate. The IC50 values found for these compounds suggested functional expression of the 'glial, transporter, EAAT2 in nerve terminals. Additionally blockade of the majority EAAT2 uptake sites with 100 micro m dihydrokainate, failed to unmask any functional non-EAAT2 uptake sites. The data presented in this study indicate that EAAT2 is the predominant nerve terminal glutamate transporter in the adult rodent CNS.

Arterial disease and thrombosis in the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS): A pathogenic role for endothelin-1 (ET-1)

Objective To explore a possible correlation between endothelin 1 (ET-1), the most potent endothelium-derived contracting factor that modulates vascular smooth muscle tone, and arterial disease in patients with the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Methods Plasma levels of ET-1 were measured in APS patients with (n = 16) and without (n = 11) arterial thrombosis and in non-APS patients with arterial thrombosis (n = 9). In addition, steady-state prepro-ET-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were determined in endothelial cells treated with a range of human monoclonal anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) (as anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies) by semiquantitative 32P-dCTP-labeled reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results Compared with healthy controls, markedly increased plasma levels of ET-1 were found in APS patients with arterial thrombosis (2.00 ± 0.87 versus 0.96 ± 0.37 pg/ml; P = 0.0001) but not in other groups. Three human monoclonal aCL induced prepro-ET-1 mRNA levels significantly more than did control monoclonal antibody lacking aCL activity. Conclusion Plasma ET-1 levels correlated significantly with a history of arterial thrombosis in patients with APS. Prepro-ET-1 mRNA was induced by human monoclonal aCL in the in vitro experimental system. The induction of ET-1 by antiphospholipid antibodies might contribute to increased arterial tone, leading to vasospasm and, ultimately, to arterial occlusion.

Differential protein expression and subcellular distribution of TGFβ1, β2 and β3 in cardiomyocytes during pressure overload-induced hypertrophy

The transforming growth factorβ(TGFβ) superfamily plays an important role in the myocardial response to hypertrophy. We have investigated the protein expression of TGFβ1,β2andβ3in left ventricular tissue, and determined their subcellular distribution in myocytes by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry during the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), using isoform specific antibodies to TGFβ1,β2andβ3. LVH was produced in rats by aortic constriction (AC) and LV tissue was obtained at days (d)0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 42 following operation. Compared with age matched sham-operated controls (SH), TGFβ1levels in LV tissue of AC rats increased significantly from d1–d14 (P<0.03) concomitant with the adaptive growth of LV tissue. In contrast, TGFβ3levels decreased in LV tissue of AC rats from d3 post-operation (significant from d14–d42,P<0.03). No significant difference in TGFβ2levels were observed from SH and AC rats after operation. Antibodies to TGFβ1stained intercalated disks, sarcolemmal membranes and cytoplasm, but not nuclei, of cardiomyocytes on LV sections from untreated and SH rats. However, a trans-localisation of TGFβ1to the nuclei of cardiomyocytes was observed in AC hearts. Antibodies to TGFβ3stained T tubules, cytoplasm and the nuclei of cardiomyocytes from untreated and SH rats. However, by d7 post-AC operation, TGFβ3expression was lost rapidly from nuclei of cardiomyocytes followed by a reduction in total TGFβ3immunofluorescence in myocytes. Antibodies to TGFβ2stained sarcolemmal membranes of cardiomyocytes from both SH and AC rats without significant difference between groups. Thus, the differential pattern of protein expression and subcellular distribution of TGFβ1,β2andβ3in myocytes during the development of LVH suggests that these molecules play different roles in the response of cardiomyocytes to LVH.

Interaction of 6,6′′-bis(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-yl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (CyMe4-BTTP) with some trivalent ions such as lanthanide(iii) ions and americium(iii)

The new ligand 6,6 ''-bis(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-benzotriazin-3-yl)2,2':6 ',2 ''-terpyridine (CyMe4-BTTP) has been synthesized in 4 steps from 2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine. Detailed NMR and mass spectrometry studies indicate that the ligand forms 1 : 2 complexes with lanthanide(III) perchlorates where the aliphatic rings are conformationally constrained whereas 1 : 1 complexes are formed with lanthanide(III) nitrates where the rings are conformationally mobile. An optimized structure of the 1 : 2 solution complex with Yb(III) was obtained from the relative magnitude of the induced paramagnetic shifts. X-Ray crystallographic structures of the ligand and of its 1 : 1 complex with Y(III) were also obtained. The NMR and mass spectra of [Pd(CyMe4-BTTP)](n)(2n+) are consistent with a dinuclear double helical structure (n = 2). In the absence of a phase-modifier, CyMe4-BTTP in n-octanol showed a maximum distribution coefficient of Am(III) of 0.039 (+/-20%) and a maximum separation factor of Am(III) over Eu(III) of 12.0 from nitric acid. The metal(III) cations are extracted as the 1 : 1 complex from nitric acid. The generally low distribution coefficients observed compared with the BTBPs arise because the 1 : 1 complex of CyMe4-BTTP is considerably less hydrophobic than the 1 : 2 complexes formed by the BTBPs. In M(BTTP)(3+) complexes, there is a competition between the nitrate ions and the ligand for the complexation of the metal.

Comment on: Fruit and seed biomineralization and its effect on preservation by E. Messager et al.; in: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2010) 2:25–34. DOI 10.1007/s12520-010-0024-1

This article provides a brief critique of a recent article on biomineralisation and preservation. It gives a summary of the difference between biomineralisation and mineral replacement, and addresses problems with the interpretation of FT-IR data. The lack of contextual information for the samples studied is another problem which is highlighted.

Highly asymmetric phase diagram of a poly(1,2-octylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer system comprising a brush-like poly(1,2-octylene oxide) block

The phase diagram of a series of poly(1,2-octylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (POO-PEO) diblock copolymers is determined by small-angle X-ray scattering. The Flory-Huggins interaction parameter was measured by small-angle neutron scattering. The phase diagram is highly asymmetric due to large conformational asymmetry that results from the hexyl side chains in the POO block. Non-lamellar phases (hexagonal and gyroid) are observed near f(PEO) = 0.5, and the lamellar phase is observed for f(PEO) >= 0.5.