Identification and characterization of a new soybean promoter induced by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, the causal agent of Asian soybean rust.

BACKGROUND: Phakopsora pachyrhizi is a biotrophic fungal pathogen responsible for the Asian soybean rust disease causing important yield losses in tropical and subtropical soybean-producing countries. P. pachyrhizi triggers important transcriptional changes in soybean plants during infection, with several hundreds of genes being either up- or downregulated. RESULTS: Based on published transcriptomic data, we identified a predicted chitinase gene, referred to as GmCHIT1, that was upregulated in the first hours of infection. We first confirmed this early induction and showed that this gene was expressed as early as 8 h after P. pachyrhizi inoculation. To investigate the promoter of GmCHIT1, transgenic soybean plants expressing the green fluorescence protein (GFP) under the control of the GmCHIT1 promoter were generated. Following inoculation of these transgenic plants with P. pachyrhizi, GFP fluorescence was detected in a limited area located around appressoria, the fungal penetration structures. Fluorescence was also observed after mechanical wounding whereas no variation in fluorescence of pGmCHIT1:GFP transgenic plants was detected after a treatment with an ethylene precursor or a methyl jasmonate analogue. CONCLUSION: We identified a soybean chitinase promoter exhibiting an early induction by P. pachyrhizi located in the first infected soybean leaf cells. Our results on the induction of GmCHIT1 promoter by P. pachyrhizi contribute to the identification of a new pathogen inducible promoter in soybean and beyond to the development of a strategy for the Asian soybean rust disease control using biotechnological approaches.

Bio-functionalization of silicon carbide nanostructures for SiC nanowire-based sensors realization.

The bio-functionalization process consisting in grafting desoxyribo nucleic acid via aminopropyl-triethoxysilane is performed on several kinds of silicon carbide nanostructures. Prior, the organic layer is characterized on planar surface with fluorescence microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, the functionalization is performed on two kinds of nanopillar arrays. One is composed of top-down SiC nanopillars with a wide pitch of 5 microm while the other one is a dense array (pitch: 200 nm) of core-shell Si-SiC nanowires obtained by carburization of silicon nanowires. Depending on both the pillar morphology and the pitch, different results in term of DNA surface coverages are obtained, as seen from fluorescence microscopy images. Particularly, in the case of the wide pitch array, it has been shown that the DNA molecules are located all along the nanopillars. To achieve a DNA sensor based on a nanowire-field effect transistor, the functionalization must be conducted on a single SiC nanowire or nanopillar that constitutes the channel of the field effect transistor. The localization of the functionalization in a small area around the nanostructures guarantees high performances to the sensor. In this aim, the functionalization process is combined with common microelectronics techniques of lithography and lift-off. The DNA immobilization is investigated by fluorescence microscopy and atomic force microscopy.

Alternative solutions to the problem of selection bias in an analysis of federal residential drug treatment programs.

In an evaluation of prison-based residential drug treatment programs, the authors use three different regression-based approaches to estimating treatment effects. Two of the approaches, the instrumental variable and the Heckman approach, attempt to minimize selection bias as an explanation for treatment outcomes. Estimates from these approaches are compared with estimates from a regression in which treatment is represented by a dummy variable. The article discusses the advantage of using more than one method to increase confidence in findings when possible selection bias is a concern. Three-year outcome data for 2,315 federal inmates are used in analyses where the authors separately examine criminal recidivism and relapse to drug use for men and women. Statistical tests lead the authors to conclude that treatment reduces criminal recidivism and relapse to drug use. The treatment effect was largest when the inference was based on the Heckman approach, somewhat smaller when based on the instrumental variable approach, and smallest when based on the traditional dummy variable approach. Treatment effects for females were not statistically significant.

A comparative analysis of periapical health based on historic and current data.

AIM: To compare periapical health using samples from prehistoric and historic periods until the present day, and to emphasize the major risk indicators for apical periodontitis (AP). METHODOLOGY: A comparative survey to assess periapical health was performed on five samples (525 individuals) drawn from different periods of history within the time frame 2000 BC to 2000 AD. Twenty-one binary risk indicators for AP were retained for a logistic regression model. The probability of a diseased tooth was defined from a two-level response variable based on the periapical index (PAI). An individual regression model was computed with partial least squares (PLS) regression model, based on the individual mean values of the nine retained risk indicators. RESULTS: Condensing osteitis, tooth wear, caries, root fillings and the presence of inadequate root fillings were associated with the PAI levels. The maxillary molars and recent time periods (contemporaneous and seventeenth century) were also risk indicators for the pathological condition. The PLS regression for individuals demonstrated correlations between risk factors. This multidimensional analysis indicated that the mean PAI was correlated mainly with caries and condensing osteitis. Condensing osteitis was more frequent in the mandibular than in the maxillary bone (P=0.001), and correlated with tooth wear in ancient periods. CONCLUSIONS: This comparative analysis demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of AP in the contemporary period. The most important risk indicators for that period were the presence of inadequate root fillings, carious lesions and condensing osteitis.

Coronal and apical lesions, environmental factors: study in a modern and an archeological population.

Apical periodontitis (AP) are frequent findings in contemporary dental practice in association with dental pathology or dental care. They have also been studied from an anthropological background. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of apical and dental lesions in an archeological Middle Ages sample and a modern population, and to evaluate the influence of environmental factors. Both the archaeological sample group and dental practice subjects were from southern France. The study included full mouth surveys of 252 individuals (2,780 teeth) from a historic necropolis and 223 subjects (5,678 teeth) randomly selected from the Gard area. Tooth wear, caries, and AP were accounted for clinically and radiographically according to specific indexes. Significant differences were found between period and age in the archeological sample as regards the main risk factors for AP. Antemortem teeth loss and dental wear had been reduced, whereas caries rates and AP had increased between archaeological and modern population. The AP ratio was associated with the level of dental care in the modern population. Although significant variations could be observed between archaeological periods, the rupture in E3 (sixteenth and seventeenth centuries) leads to consider the associated population as a premodern. However, it was found that although cultural and alimentary factors seemed to be the main risk factors in an archeological population, dental care seemed to have a strong influence on AP ratio in modern ones.

Generation and analysis of soybean plastid transformants expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab protoxin.

We describe the generation of fertile and homoplasmic soybean plastid transformants, expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal protoxin Cry1Ab. Transgenes were targeted in the intergenic region of Glycine max plastome, between the rps12/7 and trnV genes and selection was carried out using the aadA gene encoding spectinomycin resistance. Molecular analysis confirmed the integration of the cry1Ab and aadA expression cassettes at the expected location in the soybean plastome, and the transmission of the transgenes to the next generation. Western blot analyses showed that the Cry1Ab protoxin is highly expressed in leaves, stems and seeds, but not in roots. Its expression confers strong insecticidal activity to the generated transgenic soybean, as exemplified with velvetbean caterpillar (Anticarsia gemmatalis).

Gender differences among prisoners in drug treatment.

PURPOSE: Nearly all prison-based substance abuse treatment programs have been designed with male prisoners in mind. Administering these male-oriented programs to women prisoners has been the standard correctional practice. Recently, this practice has received considerable criticism. Critics argue that female prisoners have special needs that are not met by programs originally designed for male prisoners. However, most of the empirical support for the existence of such special needs rely on two inappropriate samples: prisoners who are not in treatment and treatment participants who are not incarcerated. Findings from these two different groups may not be generalizable to the population of prisoners in treatment. METHODS: This paper directly addresses this generalizability problem with an examination of gender differences among 1,326 male and 318 female federal prisoners who were enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program. RESULTS: Women used drugs more frequently, used harder drugs, and used them for different reasons than men. Women also confronted more difficulties than men in areas linked to substance abuse such as educational background, childhood family environment, adult social environment, mental health, and physical health. CONCLUSION: We find support for the argument that substance abuse treatment programs which were originally designed for men may be inappropriate for the treatment of women.

Transient and stable electrotransformations of intact black Mexican sweet maize cells are obtained after preplasmolysis.

When interested in plant cell transformation, the cell wall is often considered as a barrier to DNA transfer, which is only overcome by wounding or wall degrading enzymes. In this work, we demonstrate that cell plasmolysis before electropulsation is an efficient approach to DNA delivery into intact plant cells. Using such a method, transient expression (ß-glucuronidase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) and stable expression (phosphinotricin acetyltransferase) of exogenous genes are obtained in intact black Mexican sweet maize cells.

Electropermeabilization of intact maize cells induces an oxidative stress.

By applying electric field pulses through cell suspensions, cell membranes can be permeabilized transiently, giving free access to the cytosol. Electropulsation is now routinely used in cell biology when introducing various molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids into the cell. But the molecular and cellular bases of cell electropermeabilization are still unclear. In the present study, we observed that electropermeabilization of intact black Mexican sweet (BMS) maize cells induces a generation of oxygen species (oxidative jump). Using the chemiluminescent probe lucigenin, we have shown that the electro-induced chemiluminescent response depends on the level of the stress factor as shown by its dependence on the electric parameters (electric field intensity, duration, and number of pulses). While the electroinduced cell permeabilization has a short life, the oxidative jump that is triggered by this electropermeabilization is a much longer-lived response. The electroinduced loss in viability is linearly correlated to permeabilization. However, there is no correlation between the oxidative jump and the loss in viability. The modulation of oxygen species electroinduction by antioxidant products (dimethylsulfoxide, sodium L-ascorbate, and glutathione) does not lead to an increase in cell viability. Such results are different to those observed with mammalian cells and indicate that even if the same phenomenon is observed with mammalian cells and indicate that even if the same phenomenon is observed when pulsing mammalian or intact plant cells, the associated metabolic response is not the same.

[A technic of tubal sterilization by vaginal route: vesico-uterine interposition of the Fallopian tubes]. / Une technique de stérilisation tubaire par voie vaginale: l'interposition vésico-utérine des trompes.

PIP: 6 tubal sterilizations by the vaginal route were performed between October 1968 and April 1969 using the Rosenzweig technique. The principal steps of this technique are 1) anterior colpotomy, 2) dissection of the utero-vesical membrane, 3) opening of the vesico-uterine cul-de-sac, 4) moving the uterus aside, 5) sectioning of the tube at the isthmo-ampullary junction, and 6) fixing the free extremities to the anterior surfact of the isthmus. Advantages of the method are its safety, effectiveness, and the possibility of simultaneously correcting a genital prolapse.^ieng

Antisocial personality and depression among incarcerated drug treatment participants.

PURPOSE: The co-occurrence of antisocial personality (ASP) and depression among drug-dependent individuals was examined in a sample of federal inmates participating in residential or outpatient drug and alcohol treatment to increase our understanding of the co-occurrence of these disorders. METHODS: We examined drug dependence patterns both by the number of drugs of dependence as well as by type of drug, and separately studied men and women. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was used to obtain DSM-III-R diagnostic information on a sample of 609 men and women participating in a multi-site drug treatment evaluation project. Logistic regression results are reported that compared lifetime rates of ASP and major depression by number of drugs of dependency for men and women. ASP and major depression diagnostic rates were also examined by type of drug dependency pattern among men. RESULTS: We found that both the number of drugs as well as the type of drug(s) are related to prevalence patterns for both diagnoses. The high rates of ASP and major depression among specific subgroups of drug-dependent inmates highlight the need for thorough psychiatric assessment and the tailoring of treatment programs to the issues associated with these diagnoses. IMPLICATIONS: Our results suggest that although there are similarities in co-morbidity between men and women, the differences point to the need to study men and women separately.

Production of isolated somatic embryos from sunflower thin cell layers.

We describe here a two step procedure which allows the easy isolation of somatic embryos from Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hypocotyl tissues. Thin cell layers composed of the epidermis plus 3 to 6 parenchyma cell layers were incubated for 5 days in a basal Murashige and Skoog medium using an auxin to cytokinin weight ratio of 1/1. The epidermis layers were then transferred to a Gamborg medium containing a high level of sucrose. After one week of incubation in this medium, many somatic embryos started to be released from the parental epidermal tissue. Even though the germination of these embryos is difficult, we have been able to induce secondary embryos and regenerate fertile plants.

A Raman spectroscopic investigation of dentin and enamel structures modified by lactic acid.

Confocal Raman microspectrometry allows a thorough molecular analysis of mineralised dental tissues. The output information is provided in the form of curves representing the intensity of the signal according to the frequency, and its mathematical exploitation permits all sorts of comparative and quantitative analyses. By this process, we investigated the in vitro action of lactic acid on enamel and dentin from human permanent teeth. Modifications due to the acidic attack essentially concern phosphate grouping PO(4)(3-), which represents the mineral phase in enamel and dentin (hydroxyapatite): on Raman spectra, changes in intensity of the PO(4)(3-) band are linked to the type of dentin, to its anatomical location, and to the age of the subject. The variability of the dentinal chemical structure was confirmed by a quantitative statistical analysis, revealing a significant spectral difference between coronal and root dentin.

Callus and embryoid formation from protoplasts of Helianthus annuus.

Sunflower hypocotyl protoplasts have been isolated and cultured. Optimum plating density for cell division and colony formation was in the range of 5 to 7×10(4) cells/mi in an agarose medium supplemented with BAP (1 mg/l) and NAA (1 mg/l). Plating efficiency was 60% after 21 days of culture. In the resultant culture a mixed population of calli and embryoids was observed. Thirty seven percent of the cell clusters exhibited a developmental pattern similar to an embryoid. Many stages of embryogenesis were observed in the same cultures.

Federal prison residential drug treatment reduces substance use and arrests after release.

OBJECTIVE: The effectiveness of federal prison-based residential drug and alcohol treatment programs was evaluated using event history procedures that addressed the problem of selection bias and included a wide range of control variables. METHODS: The sample comprised 760 treatment subjects and 809 comparison subjects. Treatment subjects were from 20 different prisons of medium, low, and minimum security levels. Comparison subjects were drawn from over 30 prisons. RESULTS: The results indicated that individuals who entered and completed in-prison residential treatment were less likely to experience the critical postrelease outcomes of new arrests and substance use during the first 6 months following release. CONCLUSIONS: Without controlling for selection bias, the effects of treatment would most likely have been attenuated. The results have greater generalizability than other studies of prison-based treatment. This study occurred within a multisite context of 20 programs serving both male and female inmates and operating within different security levels and different geographic regions.