Social Presence and the void in distant relationships: How do people use communication technologies to turn absence into fondness of the heart, rather than drifting out of mind?

In general terms, Social Presence is a feeling of togetherness regardless of spatial or temporal separation. It is a socioemotional attitude that reflexively centres on other people, via perceptions of their affective attitudes towards oneself. Communication technologies contribute to the maintenance of close personal relationships by facilitating welcome and timely socioemotional presence in the mind of an absent other. Presence of this kind may be ‘in the moment’ of communication and also persist over time, as it is ‘topped up’ through repeated interactions. In this paper, we consider how type of personal relationship and degree of physical separation might condition the Social Presence value of a range of media. We report ratings of Closeness and Social Presence that were gathered over 21 days by 64 participants about the close personal relationships that were meaningful to them. We contrast the communication media they chose to use across four relationship types and whether separations were in the same or in a different city. Our findings are used to discuss new ways of thinking about the connection between people who care about one another, and the meaning of the void that separates them, through the time course of Social Presence and Closeness experiences

Radio emission from Supernova Remnants

The explosion of a supernova releases almost instantaneously about 10^51 ergs of mechanic energy, changing irreversibly the physical and chemical properties of large regions in the galaxies. The stellar ejecta, the nebula resulting from the powerful shock waves, and sometimes a compact stellar remnant, constitute a supernova remnant (SNR). They can radiate their energy across the whole electromagnetic spectrum, but the great majority are radio sources. Almost 70 years after the first detection of radio emission coming from a SNR, great progress has been achieved in the comprehension of their physical characteristics and evolution. We review the present knowledge of different aspects of radio remnants, focusing on sources of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds, where the SNRs can be spatially resolved. We present a brief overview of theoretical background, analyze morphology and polarization properties, and review and critical discuss different methods applied to determine the radio spectrum and distances. The consequences of the interaction between the SNR shocks and the surrounding medium are examined, including the question of whether SNRs can trigger the formation of new stars. Cases of multispectral comparison are presented. A section is devoted to reviewing recent results of radio SNRs in the Magellanic Clouds, with particular emphasis on the radio properties of SN 1987A, an ideal laboratory to investigate dynamical evolution of an SNR in near real time. The review concludes with a summary of issues on radio SNRs that deserve further study, and analyzing the prospects for future research with the latest generation radio telescopes.Comment: Revised version. 48 pages, 15 figure

Acute WNT signalling activation perturbs differentiation within the adult stomach and rapidly leads to tumour formation

A role for WNT signalling in gastric carcinogenesis has been suggested due to two major observations. First, patients with germline mutations in adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) are susceptible to stomach polyps and second, in gastric cancer, WNT activation confers a poor prognosis. However, the functional significance of deregulated WNT signalling in gastric homoeostasis and cancer is still unclear. In this study we have addressed this by investigating the immediate effects of WNT signalling activation within the stomach epithelium. We have specifically activated the WNT signalling pathway within the mouse adult gastric epithelium via deletion of either glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) or APC or via expression of a constitutively active β-catenin protein. WNT pathway deregulation dramatically affects stomach homoeostasis at very short latencies. In the corpus, there is rapid loss of parietal cells with fundic gland polyp (FGP) formation and adenomatous change, which are similar to those observed in familial adenomatous polyposis. In the antrum, adenomas occur from 4 days post-WNT activation. Taken together, these data show a pivotal role for WNT signalling in gastric homoeostasis, FGP formation and adenomagenesis. Loss of the parietal cell population and corresponding FGP formation, an early event in gastric carcinogenesis, as well as antral adenoma formation are immediate effects of nuclear β-catenin translocation and WNT target gene expression. Furthermore, our inducible murine model will permit a better understanding of the molecular changes required to drive tumourigenesis in the stomach

Characterisation of barley resistance to rhynchosporium on chromosome 6HS

Key Message: Major resistance gene to rhynchosporium, Rrs18, maps close to the telomere on the short arm of chromosome 6H in barley. Rhynchosporium or barley scald caused by a fungal pathogen Rhynchosporium commune is one of the most destructive and economically important diseases of barley in the world. Testing of Steptoe × Morex and CIho 3515 × Alexis doubled haploid populations has revealed a large effect QTL for resistance to R. commune close to the telomere on the short arm of chromosome 6H, present in both populations. Mapping markers flanking the QTL from both populations onto the 2017 Morex genome assembly revealed a rhynchosporium resistance locus independent of Rrs13 that we named Rrs18. The causal gene was fine mapped to an interval of 660 Kb using Steptoe × Morex backcross 1 S₂ and S₃ lines with molecular markers developed from Steptoe exome capture variant calling. Sequencing RNA from CIho 3515 and Alexis revealed that only 4 genes within the Rrs18 interval were transcribed in leaf tissue with a serine/threonine protein kinase being the most likely candidate for Rrs18.Max Coulter, Bianca Büttner, Kerstin Hofmann, Micha Bayer, Luke Ramsay, Günther Schweizer, Robbie Waugh, Mark E. Looseley, Anna Avrov

Phase I trial of CYT997, a novel cytotoxic and vascular-disrupting agent

BACKGROUND: CYT997 is a novel microtubule inhibitor and vascular-disrupting agent with marked preclinical anti-tumour activity. METHODS: This phase I dose-escalation study assessed the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of CYT997 administered by continuous intravenous infusion over 24 h every 3 weeks to patients with advanced solid tumours

Human RNA Polymerase II-Association Factor 1 (hPaf1/PD2) Regulates Histone Methylation and Chromatin Remodeling in Pancreatic Cancer

Change in gene expression associated with pancreatic cancer could be attributed to the variation in histone posttranslational modifications leading to subsequent remodeling of the chromatin template during transcription. However, the interconnected network of molecules involved in regulating such processes remains elusive. hPaf1/PD2, a subunit of the human PAF-complex, involved in the regulation of transcriptional elongation has oncogenic potential. Our study explores the possibility that regulation of histone methylation by hPaf1 can contribute towards alteration in gene expression by nucleosomal rearrangement. Here, we show that knockdown of hPaf1/PD2 leads to decreased di- and tri-methylation at histone H3 lysine 4 residues in pancreatic cancer cells. Interestingly, hPaf1/PD2 colocalizes with MLL1 (Mixed Lineage Leukemia 1), a histone methyltransferase that methylates H3K4 residues. Also, a reduction in hPaf1 level resulted in reduced MLL1 expression and a corresponding decrease in the level of CHD1 (Chromohelicase DNA-binding protein 1), an ATPase dependent chromatin remodeling enzyme that specifically binds to H3K4 di and trimethyl marks. hPaf1/PD2 was also found to interact and colocalize with CHD1 in both cytoplasmic and nuclear extracts of pancreatic cancer cells. Further, reduced level of CHD1 localization in the nucleus in hPaf1/PD2 Knockdown cells could be rescued by ectopic expression of hPaf1/PD2. Micrococcal nuclease digestion showed an altered chromatin structure in hPaf1/PD2-KD cells. Overall, our results suggest that hPaf1/PD2 in association with MLL1 regulates methylation of H3K4 residues, as well as interacts and regulates nuclear shuttling of chromatin remodeling protein CHD1, facilitating its function in pancreatic cancer cells

Factors influencing citrus fruit scarring caused by Pezothrips kellyanus

[EN] Kelly s citrus thrips (KCT) Pezothrips kellyanus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a recently recorded cosmopolitan citrus pest, causing fruit scarring that results in downgrading of fruit. Due to the detrimental effects caused on fruits by KCT, we wanted to study some of the factors influencing fruit scarring. Specifically, the objectives were: (1) to determine the fruit development stage when citrus fruits are damaged by KCT and the population structure of KCT during this period, (2) to study the influence of temperature on intensity of damage, and finally, (3) to identify alternative host plants. KCT populations on flowers and fruitlets and alternate plant hosts were sampled in four citrus orchards from 2008 to 2010. The percentage of damaged fruits was also recorded. The exotic vine Araujia sericifera (Apocynaceae) was recorded as a new host for KCT. Thrips scarring started to increase at 350 650 degree-days (DD) above 10.2 C, coinciding with a peak abundance of the second instar larval stages over all 3 years of the study. The maximum percentage of larval stages of KCT was observed in the 3 years at about 500 DD, a period which corresponds to the end of May or early June. Variation in the severity of fruit scarring appeared to be related to air temperature. Temperature likely affects the synchronisation between the peak in abundance of KCT larvae, and the period when fruitlets are susceptible to thrips damage. Temperature can also influence the survival and development of KCT populations in citrus and other host plants in the citrus agro-ecosystem.The authors thank Alejandro Tena for his valuable suggestions and two anonymous referees for their careful review and helpful comments. We also extend our thanks to the owners of the commercial orchards for giving us permission to use their citrus orchards. The first author was awarded an FPI fellowship from the Polytechnic University of Valencia to obtain her PhD degree.Navarro Campos, C.; Pekas, A.; Aguilar Martí, MA.; Garcia Marí, F. (2013). Factors influencing citrus fruit scarring caused by Pezothrips kellyanus. Journal of Pest Science. (86):459-467. doi:10.1007/s10340-013-0489-7S45946786Baker GJ (2006) Kelly citrus thrips management. Fact sheet. Government of South Australia, primary industries and resources SA. http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/44875/kctfact_sheet.pdf . Accessed 16 July 2012Baker GJ, Jackman DJ, Keller M, MacGregor A, Purvis S (2002) Development of an integrated pest management system for thrips in Citrus. HAL Final Report CT97007. http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pestsdiseases/horticulture/horticultural_pests/kelly_citrus_thrips/research_report_1997-2000 . Accessed 16 July 2012Bedford ECG (1998) Thrips, wind and other blemishes. Citrus pests in the Republic of South Africa. In: Bedford ECG, van den Berg MA, de Villiers EA (eds) ARC-Institute for tropical and subtropical crops, Nelspruit, South Africa, pp 170–183Blank RH, Gill GSC (1997) Thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) on flowers and fruit of citrus in New Zealand. N Z J Crop Hortic Sci 25:319–332Chellemi D, Funderburk F, Hall D (1994) Seasonal abundance of flower-inhabiting Frankliniella species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on wild plant species. Environ Entomol 23:337–342Conti F, Tuminelli R, Amico C, Fisicaro R, Frittitta C, Perrotta G, Marullo R (2001) Monitoring Pezothrips kellyanus on citrus in eastern Sicily, Thrips and tospoviruses. In: Proceedings of the 7th international symposium on Thysanoptera, Reggio Calabria, 1–8 July 2001, Italy, pp 207–210Costa L, Mateus C, zurStrassen R, Franco JC (2006) Thrips (Thysanoptera) associated to lemon orchards in the Oeste region of Portugal. IOBC/WPRS Bull 29:285–291European Plant Protection Organisation Reporting Service [EPPO] (2006) Pezothrips kellyanus. http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/Pest_Risk_Analysis/PRAdocs_insects/06-12760%20DS%20PEZTKE.doc. Accessed 18 June 2012European Plant ProtectionOrganisation Reporting Service [EPPO] (2005) Scirtothrips aurantii, Scirtothrips citri, Scirtothrips dorsalis. EPPO Bull 35:353–356Franco JC, Garcia-Marí F, Ramos AP, Besri M (2006) Survey on the situation of citrus pest management in Mediterranean countries. IOBC/WPRS Bull 29:335–346Froud KJ, Stevens PS, Steven D (2001) Survey of alternative host plants for Kelly’s citrus thrips (Pezothrips kellyanus) in citrus growing regions. N Z Plant Prot 54:15–20Gomez-Clemente F (1952) Un tisanóptero causante de daños en las naranjas de algunas zonas de Levante. Boletín de Patología Vegetal y Entomología Agrícola 19:135–146Grout TG, Morse JG, O’Connell NV, Flaherty DL, Goodell PB, Freeman MW, Coviello RL (1986) Citrus thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) phenology and sampling in the San Joaquin Valley. J Econ Entomol 79:1516–1523Horton J (1918) The citrus thrips. US Dep Agric Bull 616:1–42Kirk WDJ (1987) A key to the larvae of some common Australian flower thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera), with a host-plant survey. Aust J Zool 35:173–185Lacasa A, Llorens JM, Sánchez JA (1996) Un Scirtothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) causa daños en los cítricos en España. Bol San Veg Plagas 22:79–95Lewis HC (1935) Factors influencing citrus thrips damage. J Econ Entomol 28:1011–1015Lewis T (1997) Distribution, abundance and population dynamics. In: Lewis T (ed) Thrips as crop pests. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 217–258Lovatt C, Streeter S, Minter T, O’connell N, Flaherty D, Freeman M, Goodell P (1984) Phenology of flowering in Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, cv. Washington navel orange. Proc Int Soc Citric 1:186–190Marullo R (1998) Pezothrips kellyanus, un nuovo tripide parassita delle colture meridionali. Informatore Fitopatologico 48:72–75Milne JR, Milne M, Walter GH (1997) A key to larval thrips (Thysanoptera) from Granite Belt stonefruit trees and a first description of Pseudanaphothrips achaetus (Bagnall) larvae. Aust J Entomol 36:319–326Mound LA, Jackman DJ (1998) Thrips in the economy and ecology of Australia, In: Zalucki MP, RAI Drew RAI, White GG (eds) Pest Management: future challenges, Proceedings of the sixth Australian applied entomological research conference, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, pp 472–478Mound LA, Marullo R (1996) The thrips of Central and South America (Insecta: Thysanoptera): an introduction. Mem Entomol Int 6:1–487Mound LA, Walker AK (1982) Terebrantia (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Fauna N Z 1:1–113Navarro-Campos C, Marzal C, Aguilar A, GarciaMarí F (2010) Presencia del microlepidóptero Anatrachyntisbadia en cítricos: descripción, comportamiento y daños al fruto. Levante Agrícola 402:270–276Navarro-Campos C, Aguilar A, Garcia-Marí F (2011) Population trend and fruit damage of Pezothrips kellyanus in citrus orchards in Valencia (Spain). IOBC/WPRS Bull 62: 285–292Navarro-Campos C, Aguilar A, Garcia-Marí F (2012) Aggregation pattern, sampling plan and intervention threshold for Pezothrips kellyanus in citrus groves. Entomol Exp Appl 142:130–139Northfield TD, Paini DR, Funderburk JE, Reitz SR (2008) Annual cycles of Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) thrips abundance on North Florida uncultivated reproductive hosts: predicting possible sources of pest outbreaks. Ann Entomol Soc Am 101:769–778Orphanides G (1997) Thrips on citrus. Annual Review for 1997. Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, CyprusPerrotta G, Conti F (2008) A threshold hypothesis for an integrated control of thrips infestation on citrus in South-Eastern Sicily. IOBC/WPRS Bull 38:204–209Reitz S, Yu-lin G, Zhong-ren L (2011) Thrips: pests of concern to China and the United States. Agric Sci China 10:867–892Rhodes AA, Morse JG (1989) Scirtothrips citri sampling and damage prediction on California navel oranges. Agric Ecosyst Environ 26:117–129Schellhorn NA, Glatz RV, Wood GM (2010) The risk of exotic and native plants as hosts for four pest thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripinae). Bull Entomol Res 100:501–510Schweizer H, Morse JG (1997) Estimating the level of fruit scarring by citrus thrips from temperature conditions prior to the end of bloom. Crop Prot 16:743–752Smith D, Beattie GAC, Broadley R (eds) (1997) Citrus pests and their natural enemies: integrated pest management in Australia. Information series Q197030. 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Characterization of a new simian immunodeficiency virus strain in a naturally infected Pan troglodytes troglodytes chimpanzee with AIDS related symptoms

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Data on the evolution of natural SIV infection in chimpanzees (SIVcpz) and on the impact of SIV on local ape populations are only available for Eastern African chimpanzee subspecies (<it>Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii</it>), and no data exist for Central chimpanzees (<it>Pan troglodytes troglodytes</it>), the natural reservoir of the ancestors of HIV-1 in humans. Here, we report a case of naturally-acquired SIVcpz infection in a <it>P.t.troglodytes </it>chimpanzee with clinical and biological data and analysis of viral evolution over the course of infection.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A male chimpanzee (Cam155), 1.5 years, was seized in southern Cameroon in November 2003 and screened SIV positive during quarantine. Clinical follow-up and biological analyses have been performed for 7 years and showed a significant decline of CD4 counts (1,380 cells/mm³in 2004 vs 287 in 2009), a severe thrombocytopenia (130,000 cells/mm³in 2004 vs 5,000 cells/mm³in 2009), a weight loss of 21.8% from August 2009 to January 2010 (16 to 12.5 kg) and frequent periods of infections with diverse pathogens.</p> <p>DNA from PBMC, leftover from clinical follow-up samples collected in 2004 and 2009, was used to amplify overlapping fragments and sequence two full-length SIVcpz<it>Ptt</it>-Cam155 genomes. SIVcpz<it>Ptt</it>-Cam155 was phylogenetically related to other SIVcpz<it>Ptt </it>from Cameroon (SIVcpz<it>Ptt</it>-Cam13) and Gabon (SIVcpz<it>Ptt</it>-Gab1). Ten molecular clones 5 years apart, spanning the V1V4 gp120 <it>env </it>region (1,100 bp), were obtained. Analyses of the <it>env </it>region showed positive selection (dN-dS >0), intra-host length variation and extensive amino acid diversity between clones, greater in 2009. Over 5 years, N-glycosylation site frequency significantly increased (p < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Here, we describe for the first time the clinical history and viral evolution of a naturally SIV infected <it>P.t.troglodytes </it>chimpanzee. The findings show an increasing viral diversity over time and suggest clinical progression to an AIDS-like disease, showing that SIVcpz can be pathogenic in its host, as previously described in <it>P.t.schweinfurthii</it>. Although studying the impact of SIV infection in wild apes is difficult, efforts should be made to better characterize the pathogenicity of the ancestors of HIV-1 in their natural host and to find out whether SIV infection also plays a role in ape population decline.</p

Genetic variation in insulin-like growth factor signaling genes and breast cancer risk among BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers

Abstract Introduction Women who carry mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have a substantially increased risk of developing breast cancer as compared with the general population. However, risk estimates range from 20 to 80%, suggesting the presence of genetic and/or environmental risk modifiers. Based on extensive in vivo and in vitro studies, one important pathway for breast cancer pathogenesis may be the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling pathway, which regulates both cellular proliferation and apoptosis. BRCA1 has been shown to directly interact with IGF signaling such that variants in this pathway may modify risk of cancer in women carrying BRCA mutations. In this study, we investigate the association of variants in genes involved in IGF signaling and risk of breast cancer in women who carry deleterious BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. Methods A cohort of 1,665 adult, female mutation carriers, including 1,122 BRCA1 carriers (433 cases) and 543 BRCA2 carriers (238 cases) were genotyped for SNPs in IGF1, IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), IGF1 binding protein (IGFBP1, IGFBP2, IGFBP5), and IGF receptor substrate 1 (IRS1). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model time from birth to diagnosis of breast cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers separately. For linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks with multiple SNPs, an additive genetic model was assumed; and for single SNP analyses, no additivity assumptions were made. Results Among BRCA1 carriers, significant associations were found between risk of breast cancer and LD blocks in IGF1R (global P = 0.011 for LD block 2 and global P = 0.012 for LD block 11). Among BRCA2 carriers, an LD block in IGFBP2 (global P = 0.0145) was found to be associated with the time to breast cancer diagnosis. No significant LD block associations were found for the other investigated genes among BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Conclusions This is the first study to investigate the role of genetic variation in IGF signaling and breast cancer risk in women carrying deleterious mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2. We identified significant associations in variants in IGF1R and IRS1 in BRCA1 carriers and in IGFBP2 in BRCA2 carriers. Although there is known to be interaction of BRCA1 and IGF signaling, further replication and identification of causal mechanisms are needed to better understand these associations

Digital Gene Expression Analysis Based on Integrated De Novo Transcriptome Assembly of Sweet Potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.]

Background: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L. [Lam.]) ranks among the top six most important food crops in the world. It is widely grown throughout the world with high and stable yield, strong adaptability, rich nutrient content, and multiple uses. However, little is known about the molecular biology of this important non-model organism due to lack of genomic resources. Hence, studies based on high-throughput sequencing technologies are needed to get a comprehensive and integrated genomic resource and better understanding of gene expression patterns in different tissues and at various developmental stages. Methodology/Principal Findings: Illumina paired-end (PE) RNA-Sequencing was performed, and generated 48.7 million of 75 bp PE reads. These reads were de novo assembled into 128,052 transcripts ($100 bp), which correspond to 41.1 million base pairs, by using a combined assembly strategy. Transcripts were annotated by Blast2GO and 51,763 transcripts got BLASTX hits, in which 39,677 transcripts have GO terms and 14,117 have ECs that are associated with 147 KEGG pathways. Furthermore, transcriptome differences of seven tissues were analyzed by using Illumina digital gene expression (DGE) tag profiling and numerous differentially and specifically expressed transcripts were identified. Moreover, the expression characteristics of genes involved in viral genomes, starch metabolism and potential stress tolerance and insect resistance were also identified