Con-specific neighbours may enhance compensation capacity in an invasive plant

Facilitation, both by inter- and intra-specific neighbours, is known to be an important process in structuring plant communities. However, only a small number of experiments have been reported on facilitation in plant invasions, especially between invasive con-specific individuals. Here, we focus on how con-specific neighbours of the invasive alien plant alligator weed affect the tolerance of alligator weed to herbivory by the introduced biological control agent, Agasicles hygrophila. We conducted greenhouse and garden experiments in which invasive plant density and herbivory intensity (artificial clipping and real herbivory) were manipulated. In the greenhouse experiment, artificial clipping significantly reduced plant biomass when plants were grown individually, but when con-specific neighbours were present in the same pot, biomass was not significantly different from control plants. Similarly, when compared to control plants, plants that were subjected to herbivory by A. hygrophila produced more biomass when grown with two con-specific neighbours than when grown alone. Real herbivory also resulted in an increased number of vegetative buds, and again when two con-specific neighbours were present this effect was increased (a 55.3% increase in buds when there was no neighbour, but a 111.6% increase in buds when two con-specific neighbours were present). In the garden experiment, in which plants were grown at high density (6 plants per pot), alligator weed fully recovered from defoliation caused by insects at levels from 20-30% to 100%. Our results indicate that the con-specific association may increase the compensatory ability to cope with intense damage in this invasive plant.

Femtosecond laser-drilling-induced HgCdTe photodiodes

Femtosecond-laser drilling may induce holes in HgCdTe with morphology similar to that induced by ion-milling in loophole technique. So-formed hole structures are proven to be pn junction diodes by the laser beam induced current characterization as well as the conductivity measurement. Transmission and photoluminescence spectral measurements on a n-type dominated hole-array structure give rise to different results from those of an ion-milled sample.

Evaluating the Importance of Stem Canker of Soybean in Iowa

The relative importance of stem canker of soybean in Iowa compared with other soybean diseases present in the state was assessed using data collected from over 3,400 soybean fields sampled in the Iowa Soybean Disease Survey that was conducted from 2005 to 2007. Symptomatic plant tissues from soybean plants with stem canker symptoms were cultured on acidified potato dextrose agar. The prevalence of stem canker on soybean in 2005 in Iowa was 2.6%; the disease was not detected in 2006 and 2007. In 2005, 63 isolates with Diaporthe/Phomopsis characteristics were collected. To identify isolates to fungal species and variety, single-spored isolates were subjected to polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Fourteen isolates were identified as D. phaseolorum var. caulivora (northern stem canker) and 49 as Phomopsis longicolla. To quantify and compare the aggressiveness of D. phaseolorum var. caulivora isolates collected in Iowa, nine isolates were arbitrarily selected for components analysis. Incubation period, rate of lesion expansion, final lesion length, and time to plant death for each isolate were quantified. Significant differences in components of aggressiveness were detected among the nine isolates. Results from this work suggest stem canker is a minor disease of soybean in Iowa.

Galanin, galanin receptors, and drug targets

Galanin, a neuropeptide widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in the endocrine system, has been shown to regulate numerous physiological and pathological processes through interactions with three G-protein-coupled receptors, GalR1 through GalR3. Over the past decade, some of the receptor subtype-specific effects have been elucidated through pharmacological studies using subtype selective ligands, as well as through molecular approaches involving knockout animals. In this chapter, we summarize the current data which constitute the basis of targeting GalR1, GalR2, and GalR3 for the treatment of various human diseases and pathological conditions, including seizure, Alzheimer's disease, mood disorders, anxiety, alcohol intake in addiction, metabolic diseases, pain and solid tumors.

Epidermal growth factor signalling and bone metastasis

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) signalling is well known for its multifaceted functions in development and tissue homoeostasis. The EGF family of ligands and receptors (ERBB family) have also been extensively investigated for their roles in promoting tumourigenesis and metastasis in a variety of cancer types. Recent findings indicate that EGF signalling is an important mediator of bone metastasis in breast, prostate and kidney cancers. The EGF signalling stimulates the growth of bone metastasis directly by increasing tumour cell proliferation and indirectly by engaging bone stromal cell in metastasis-promoting activities. Therefore, molecular targeting of ERBB receptors may benefit patients with bone metastasis and should be evaluated in clinical trials.

Synthetic analogs of FTY720 [2-amino-2-(2-[4-octylphenyl]ethyl)-1,3-propanediol] differentially regulate pulmonary vascular permeability in vivo and in vitro

Novel therapies are needed to address the vascular endothelial cell (EC) barrier disruption that occurs in inflammatory diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI). We previously demonstrated the potent barrier-enhancing effects of both sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and the structurally similar compound FTY720 [2-amino-2-(2-[4-octylphenyl]ethyl)-1,3-propanediol] in inflammatory lung injury. In this study, we examined the therapeutic potential of several novel FTY720 analogs to reduce vascular leak. Similar to S1P and FTY720, the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of FTY720 phosphonate and enephosphonate analogs produce sustained EC barrier enhancement in vitro, as seen by increases in transendothelial electrical resistance (TER). In contrast, the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of FTY720-regioisomeric analogs disrupt EC barrier integrity in a dose-dependent manner. Barrier-enhancing FTY720 analogs demonstrate a wider protective concentration range in vitro (1-50 microM) and greater potency than either S1P or FTY720. In contrast to FTY720-induced EC barrier enhancement, S1P and the FTY720 analogs dramatically increase TER within minutes in association with cortical actin ring formation. Unlike S1P, these FTY720 analogs exhibit differential phosphorylation effects without altering the intracellular calcium level. Inhibitor studies indicate that barrier enhancement by these analogs involves signaling via G(i)-coupled receptors, tyrosine kinases, and lipid rafts. Consistent with these in vitro responses, the (S)-phosphonate analog of FTY720 significantly reduces multiple indices of alveolar and vascular permeability in a lipopolysaccharide-mediated murine model of ALI (without significant alterations in leukocyte counts). These results demonstrate the capacity for FTY720 analogs to significantly decrease pulmonary vascular leakage and inflammation in vitro and in vivo.