Fourth Row Research Articles

Erratum: Evasion of intracellular host defence by hepatitis C virus

Nature 436, 939–945 (2005) In Table 1 of this Review Article, some reference citations are incorrect. Those in the fourth row from the top (IRF-1 regulation) should be 89,90 (and not 93,94); in the second-to-last row from top (regulation of RIG-I signalling), reference 94 should be included (to read 21,94).

Four rows of pharyngeal teeth in an aberrant specimen of the small African barb Barbus paludinosus(Cyprinidae): novelty or atavistic alteration?

An extra fourth row of pharyngeal teeth was found on both pharyngeal arches in a specmen of the small African barb, Barbus paludinosus, a species normally exhibiting three rows of pharyngeal teeth. Possible phylogenetic significance of this alteration is discussed in connection with occurrence of extra fourth rows of pharyngeal teeth in other cyprinid lineages.

BAC-MP4 Predictions of Thermochemistry for Gas-Phase Tin Compounds in the Sn−H−C−Cl System

In this work, the BAC-MP4 method is extended for the first time to compounds in the fourth row of the periodic table, resulting in a self-consistent set of thermochemical data for 56 tin-containing molecules in the Sn-H-C-Cl system. The BAC-MP4 method combines ab initio electronic structure calculations with empirical corrections to obtain accurate heats of formation. To obtain electronic energies for tin-containing species, the standard 6-31G(d,p) basis set used in BAC-MP4 calculations is augmented with a relativistic effective core potential to describe the electronic structure of the tin atom. Both stable compounds and radical species are included in this study. Trends within homologous series and calculated bond dissociation energies are consistent with previous BAC-MP4 predictions for group 14 compounds and the limited data available from the literature, indicating that the method is performing well for these compounds.

Successive reduction of the last instar larva of Loricifera, as evidenced by two new species of Pliciloricus from the Great Meteor Seamount (Atlantic Ocean)

Two new species of the genus Pliciloricus Higgins & Kristensen, 1986, are described from coarse sand at the plateau of the Great Meteor Seamount. Together with other species of the genus, Pliciloricus corvus sp. n. and Pliciloricus senicirrus sp. n., demonstrate that the last or seventh instar Higgins-larva can be more and more reduced. Additionally, in the life cycle of P. corvus sp. n. a simplified adult is discovered which has a simplified body with persisting neck region and a sack-like trunk. The adult of P. corvus sp. n. is characterized, e.g., by 15 broad cross-walls in the clavoscalids, midventral spinoscalids of the second row transformed into a new type of double-organ, a secondary double-organ in the third row of scalids, type B spinoscalids of the fourth row ending in a grappling hook, a crescent-shaped ornamentation of the lorica margin with rounded gaps and protrusions, and a pair of longitudinal cuticular protrusions on the end cone. Distinguishing features of the first to sixth instar Higgins-larvae of P. corvus sp. n. are, e.g., setae of moderate length and long end spines of toes with double bulges. The seventh instar Higgins-larva of P. corvus sp. n. is not fully developed, e.g., the abdominal region is indistinct; the scalids, toes, and all five pairs of setae are clearly shorter than in the preceding instars of Higgins-larvae. The adult of P. senicirrus sp. n. is characterized, e.g., by clavoscalids with many fine transversal striae, claw-like type B spinoscalids of the fourth row ventrally winged and with seven embedded needle-like teeth, edge of the lorica with 24 small protrusions, and 20 papillate flosculi at caudal end. The Higgins-larva of P. senicirrus sp. n. is characterized, e.g., by the wide and frill-like first section of the mouth cone, the second segment of spinoscalids with ventral serration and double tip, long anterosetae with strong spinules, and by the toes being nearly as long as the short lorica, to name a few. The most obvious feature is the extreme length of the three pairs of posterosetae. The posteroterminal setae are nearly as long as the whole body. The seventh instar Higgins-larva of P. senicirrus sp. n. is not reduced as in the case of P. corvus sp. n.

Ultrastructure of the normal human organ of Corti. New anatomical findings in surgical specimens

ConclusionA thorough scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation of immediately fixed human adult cochleae obtained during surgery for petro-clival meningiomas conveyed new information about morphology.ObjectiveTo investigate the ultrastructure of human adult cochleae using SEM.Material and methodsTwo human cochleae were decalcified, fixed with glutaraldehyde and osmium and prepared for SEM.ResultsThe excellently preserved morphology showed the pathways of nerve fibres through the organ of Corti. Undulating lateral cell membranes of Hensen and Claudius cells created an enlarged surface that may be important for homoeostasis. The distal attachment of the tectorial membrane to the reticular lamina was present in the shape of a marginal net, which was extended through marginal pillars. Stereocilia imprints extended as far as the distal end of the marginal pillars. The presence of an irregularly distributed fourth row of outer hair cells attached to the marginal pillars raises questions about differences in the excitation of the last row of outer hair cells as a result of differences in the composition of the tectorial membrane.

Panicle Blast and Canopy Moisture in Rice Cultivar Mixtures

ABSTRACT Glutinous rice cultivars were sown after every fourth row of a nonglutinous, hybrid cultivar in an additive design. The glutinous cultivars were 35 to 40 cm taller and substantially more susceptible to blast than was the nonglutinous cultivar. Interplanting of glutinous and nonglutinous rice reduced the incidence and severity of panicle blast on the glutinous cultivars by >90%, and on the nonglutinous cultivar by 30 to 40%. Mixing increased the per unit area yield of glutinous rice by 80 to 90% relative to pure stand, whereas yield of the nonglutinous cultivar was essentially unaffected by mixing. To determine whether the different plant heights and canopy structures may contribute to a microclimate that is less favorable to blast infection, we monitored the moisture status of the glutinous cultivars in pure stand and mixture at 0800 h by measuring relative humidity at the height of the glutinous panicles using a swing psychrometer and by visually estimating the percentage of leaf area covered by dew. Averaged over the two seasons, the number of days of 100% humidity at 0800 h was 20.0 and 2.2 for pure stands and mixtures, respectively. The mean percentage of glutinous leaf area covered by dewwas 84 and 36% for the pure stands and mixtures, respectively. Although other mechanisms also were operative, reduced leaf wetness was likely a substantial contributor to panicle blast control in the mixtures.

Mice lacking Dfna5 show a diverging number of cochlear fourth row outer hair cells

A complex mutation in DFNA5, resulting in exon 8 skipping, causes autosomal dominant hearing impairment, which starts in the high frequencies between 5 and 15 years of age and progressively affects all frequencies. To study its function in vivo, Dfna5 knockout mice were generated through the deletion of exon 8, simultaneously mimicking the human mutation. To test the hearing impairment, frequency-specific Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) measurements were performed at different ages in two genetic backgrounds (C57Bl/6J and CBA/Ca), but no differences between Dfna5-/- and Dfna5+/+ mice could be demonstrated. Morphological studies demonstrated significant differences in the number of fourth row outer hair cells between Dfna5-/- mice and their wild-type littermates. These results were obtained in both genetic backgrounds, albeit with opposite effects. In contrast to the results obtained in Dfna5-/- zebrafish, we did not observe different UDP-glucose dehydrogenase and hyaluronic acid levels in Dfna5-/- mice when compared to Dfna5+/+ mice.

Resource capture and tree-crop interaction in Albizia procera -based agroforestry system

A field experiment was conducted in a randomized block design at the National Research Centre for Agroforestry, Jhansi (UP) during two consecutive years (2000–01 and 2001–02). The experiment comprised eight treatments: T1– trees allowed to grow normally + crop, T2 – pruning of trees up to 70% plant height + crop, T3 – trees allowed to grow normally + soil barrier + crop, T4 – pruning of trees up to 70% plant height + soil barrier + crop, T5 – T1 + irrigation as per requirement of crop, T6 – pruning of trees up to 70% plant height + irrigation as treatment 5, T7– pure trees, and T8– pure crops (control). Blackgram (Phaseolus mungo Roxb.)/Mustard (Brassica juncia Coss.) crop sequence was included as an intercrop in the tree-crop system. Germination, plant height and branching of intercrops (blackgram and mustard) in the first row from the tree base was less compared to the second, third and fourth rows from tree base during both years. The competitive effect of trees on yield attributes and yield of blackgram and mustard was only observed in the first row of crop from tree base during the first year and this difference was wider during the second year. The light intercepted by under storey crops (blackgram and mustard) was more when the trees were pruned up to 70% plant height than when the trees were allowed to grow normally. However the value of light intercepted by crops was less in the tree-crop system than in the open field. The soil barrier was fully able to restrict the movement of root systems.

A parthenogenetic, simplified adult in the life cycle of Pliciloricus pedicularis sp. n. (Loricifera) from the deep sea of the Angola Basin (Atlantic)

A new species, Pliciloricus pedicularis (Pliciloricidae, Loricifera), is described inhabiting fine-grained clayish sediments in the deep sea of the Angola Basin. This is the first report of a Pliciloricus-species with a simplified parthenogenetic adult in its life cycle. The simplified adult is a non-free-living stage differing morphologically considerably from the free-living bisexual adults. It has a sack-like body without an introvert but with a persisting neck region covered with hooks or spiny pads. The sack-like body contains mainly the mature ovary. Large eggs are released into a shelter formed by the exuvium of the last or seventh instar Higgins-larva. Both types of adults, the parthenogenetic as well as the bisexual ones, are surrounded during metamorphosis by two exuviae: a simple inner one as rest of the postlarval stage and an outer one belonging to the seventh instar Higgins-larva. The bisexual adult of the new species is characterized by type B spinoscalids in the fourth row basally equipped with a ventral row of minute denticles; long rigid trichoscalids basally with numerous strong cross walls; small cuticular bars directly above the well-defined edge of the lorica, and a lorica consisting of 44 primary plicae. Distinguishing features of the Higgins-larva of the new species are: very long toes, and clavoscalids with a dorsal row of spinules and an additional fourth segment. The most conspicuous feature of the Higgins-larva is the stem-like basal part of the anterior setae called pedicels. Especially the enlarged pedicels of the posterolateral setae enable the larva to be determined even when the introvert is retracted. The study revealed new information about embryology and development, which have never been observed in any Loricifera-species so far. The great abundance of the new species in samples from the Angola Basin allows the identification of most life history stages and developmental instars.

High resolution scanning electron microscopy of the human organ of Corti.A study using freshly fixed surgical specimens

Scanning electron microscopy on immediately fixed human cochleae obtained during surgery for life-threatening petro-clival meningioma showed excellently preserved morphology. We compared the morphological findings with those from transmission electron microscopic sections of well preserved human and animal tissue. The characteristics of neural innervation, the pathways of the nerves through the organ of Corti and the intimate relation of nerves to supporting cells along their route could be studied in detail. The lateral membranes of Hensen and Claudius cells were folded creating a surface enlargement. Marginal pillars extended the distal end of the tectorial membrane and correspond to the marginal net or “randfasernetz” described earlier. Stereocilia imprints at the undersurface of the tectorial membrane go as far as to the distal end of the marginal pillars. The presence of an irregularly distributed fourth row of outer hair cell, attached to the marginal pillars, raises questions about differences in the excitation of the last row of outer hair cells. The complex nature of many supporting cells, stria vascularis and Reissner’s membrane, intracellular complexities as well as surface features are described. Supernumerary inner hair cells were observed and the different arrangement of outer spiral fibres in contrast to findings in animals and variations of nerve fibres within the organ of Corti between apex and base are discussed.

High resolution scanning electron microscopy of the human organ of Corti.: A study using freshly fixed surgical specimens

Scanning electron microscopy on immediately fixed human cochleae obtained during surgery for life-threatening petro-clival meningioma showed excellently preserved morphology. We compared the morphological findings with those from transmission electron microscopic sections of well preserved human and animal tissue. The characteristics of neural innervation, the pathways of the nerves through the organ of Corti and the intimate relation of nerves to supporting cells along their route could be studied in detail. The lateral membranes of Hensen and Claudius cells were folded creating a surface enlargement. Marginal pillars extended the distal end of the tectorial membrane and correspond to the marginal net or “randfasernetz” described earlier. Stereocilia imprints at the undersurface of the tectorial membrane go as far as to the distal end of the marginal pillars. The presence of an irregularly distributed fourth row of outer hair cell, attached to the marginal pillars, raises questions about differences in the excitation of the last row of outer hair cells. The complex nature of many supporting cells, stria vascularis and Reissner’s membrane, intracellular complexities as well as surface features are described. Supernumerary inner hair cells were observed and the different arrangement of outer spiral fibres in contrast to findings in animals and variations of nerve fibres within the organ of Corti between apex and base are discussed.

The principles and technique of resection of soft parts for sarcoma. 1958.

The principles and technique of resection of soft parts for sarcoma. 1958.

29/28, 30/28Silicon, 34/32sulfur and 80/77selenium isotope-induced fluorine chemical shifts through two bonds.

Isotope effects on fluorine chemical shifts induced by heteroatoms bonded covalently to a carbon atom bearing fluorine atoms were studied. For each compound, the isotope-induced chemical shifts 2delta19F(X) through two bonds were measured for the heteroatom (X = 29/28Si, 30/28Si, 34/32S and 80/77Se). The 1delta19F(13/12C) values for the carbon bonded to the fluorine atoms were also recorded. Examination of the 19F NMR data showed homogeneity of the isotope-induced chemical shifts along the rows of the periodic table and regularity down the columns (from 10 to 15 ppb per mass unit for the second row to 0.4 ppb for the fourth row). It became negligible for atoms of the fifth row.

Power flattening in the fuel bundle of a CANDU reactor

The strong non-uniformity of the fission power production density in the CANDU fuel bundle could have been mitigated to a great degree. A satisfactory power flattening has been achieved through an appropriately evaluated method by varying the composition of the LWR spent fuel/ThO 2 mixture in a CANDU fuel bundle in radial direction and keeping fuel rod dimensions unchanged. This will help also to greatly simplify fuel rod fabrication and allow a higher degree of quality assurance standardization. Three different bundle fuel charges are investigated: (1) the reference case, uniformly fueled with natural UO 2, (2) a bundle uniformly fueled with LWR spent fuel, and (3) a bundle fueled with variable mixed fuel composition in radial direction leading to a flat power profile (100% LWR spent fuel in the central rod, 80% LWR + 20% ThO 2 in the second row, 60% LWR + 40% ThO 2 in the third row and finally 40% LWR + 60% ThO 2 in the peripheral fourth row). Burn-up grades for these three different bundle types are calculated as ∼7700, ∼27,300, and 10,000 MW.D/MT until reaching a lowest bundle criticality limit of k ∞ = 1.06. The corresponding plant operation periods are 170, 660, and 240 days, respectively.

Asymmetric distribution of the apical plasma membrane during neurogenic divisions of mammalian neuroepithelial cells.

At the onset of neurogenesis in the mammalian central nervous system, neuroepithelial cells switch from symmetric, proliferative to asymmetric, neurogenic divisions. In analogy to the asymmetric division of Drosophila neuroblasts, this switch of mammalian neuroepithelial cells is thought to involve a change in cleavage plane orientation from perpendicular (vertical cleavage) to parallel (horizontal cleavage) relative to the apical surface of the neuroepithelium. Here, we report, using TIS21-GFP knock-in mouse embryos to identify neurogenic neuroepithelial cells, that at the onset as well as advanced stages of neurogenesis the vast majority of neurogenic divisions, like proliferative divisions, show vertical cleavage planes. Remarkably, however, neurogenic divisions of neuroepithelial cells, but not proliferative ones, involve an asymmetric distribution to the daughter cells of the apical plasma membrane, which constitutes only a minute fraction (1-2%) of the entire neuroepithelial cell plasma membrane. Our results support a novel concept for the cell biological basis of asymmetric, neurogenic divisions of neuroepithelial cells in the mammalian central nervous system.

A New Species of Tantilla (Serpentes; Colubridae) of the Taeniata Group from Southern Belize

—A new snake of the genus Tantilla is described from southern Belize. This species, a member of the taeniata group, is characterized by a dark gray-brown, almost black ground color; a narrow pale middorsal stripe confined to the vertebral scale row; a narrow pale lateral stripe on adjacent thirds of the third and fourth scale rows; a broad pale nape band that is complete medially; dark mottling on the lateral edges of the ventrals; and 153 ventrals 64 subcaudals in the single known specimen, a female. It is most similar to Tantilla impensa of southern Chiapas, the central Guatemalan ranges and western Honduras but differs from this species in its darker overall color pattern, the presence of dark mottling on the lateral edges of the ventrals, and in having a lower number of ventrals.

Feeding Laying Hens Seal Blubber Oil: Effects on Egg Yolk Incorporation, Stereospecific Distribution of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Sensory Aspects

Seventy-two 26-wk-old Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens were randomly assigned to 36 cages (2 per cage) in a 3-orthogonal 4 × 4 latin square, with the fourth row suppressed, to assess the effect of feeding refined seal blubber oil (SBO, containing 22.2% omega-3 fatty acids) on the fatty acid composition and position in the egg yolk lipids. The experiment was conducted over a period of 9 wk. Eggs were collected and numbered, and the weights were recorded for each week and cage. Eggs collected at wk 5 and 9 were used for total lipid, lipid class, fatty acid, and positional analyses. Sensory evaluation was carried out on eggs collected at wk 6 and 7. Feeding SBO at 1.25% led to an increase (P < 0.0001) in the long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFA) and a concomitant decrease (P < 0.0001) in arachidonic acid (ARA) in the egg yolk lipids. Yet this amount of SBO in the diet had no effect (P > 0.1) on the sensory attributes of the egg and on production parameters such as egg weight, number of eggs laid, and feed intake (P > 0.05). When feeding SBO in amounts higher than 1.25% proportionately, a plateau effect of the LCn3PUFA content of the eggs was observed. This appears to be because the PUFA content in the sn-2 position of the phospholipids cannot exceed a certain amount. When this amount is reached, the LCn3PUFA will be increasingly stored in triglycerides. The results presented here clearly indicate how eggs can be produced with optimized composition of LCn3PUFA without affecting (P > 0.1) the sensory properties of the eggs. The procedures elaborated herein provide directly applicable consequences for the food industry.

Molecular structure, spectroscopy and matrix photochemistry of fluorocarbonyl iodide, FC(O)I.

The molecular structure of FC(O)I has been determined by gas electron diffraction. High-level ab initio methods, including coupled-cluster and the new correlation-consistent basis sets for fourth row elements, have been used to calculate the structure of FC(O)I. A comprehensive vibrational spectroscopic study (both IR and Raman) complemented by high-level calculations has also been performed. Furthermore, UV, mass, and NMR spectra have been recorded for FC(O)I. The matrix photochemistry of FC(O)I has been studied with a low-pressure mercury lamp and with a high-pressure xenon lamp in combination with interference and cut-off filters. UV photolysis revealed the formation of the OC. IF and OC.FI complexes and further photolysis of these complexes at lambda>320 nm resulted in a re-formation of FC(O)I. The structural conformation of the complexes has been characterized by comparing shifts in their CO and IF vibrational modes with respect to those of the free species. The structures, vibrational properties, and stability of the complexes were analyzed with the aid of coupled-cluster ab initio calculations.

Erratum: Corrigendum: Dendritic cell–induced autoimmune heart failure requires cooperation between adaptive and innate immunity

Nat. Med. 9, 1484–1490 (2003) The median severity grade in the fourth row of Table 1 was incorrect. That entry should read, “1.5 (0, 0, 0, 3, 3, 3).”

The French Language Today: A Linguistic Introduction (review)

Reviewed by: The French language today: A linguistic introductionby Adrian Battye, Marie-Anne Hintze, and Paul Rowlett Gladys E. Saunders The French language today: A linguistic introduction. 2nd edn. By Adrian Battye, Marie-Anne Hintze, and Paul Rowlett. London: Routledge, 2000. Pp. xiv, 345. ISBN: 0415198380. $27.99. This textbook originally appeared in 1992, under the title The French language today(no subtitle). The second edition was actually prepared by only Hintze and Rowlett, as Battye, the first-named author died in 1993. The goals of this second edition are basically the same as those of its predecessor: to provide undergraduate students with a comprehensive description of the linguistic structure of Modern French and to place this description within both a historical and a social context (x). Rather than presenting a catalogue of facts in the style of a reference or teaching grammar, the authors have aimed to highlight patterns, generalizations, and explanations in a more marked way than was the case in the first edition (x). A number of changes in the presentation of the material have been made, but the basic structure of the book remains unaltered: five chapters, each covering a different topic, viz., the historical development of Standard French (Ch.1), the sound system (Ch. 2), word-formation (Ch. 3), sentence patterns (Ch. 4), and geographical and stylistic varieties (Ch. 5). The authors have taken great pains to make the book more ‘user-friendly’, especially in response to comments from readers of the first edition. They have added several new features including a glossary of linguistic terms (313–25), a subject index (339–45), a slightly differently formatted and expanded bibliography (326–38), and a ‘Further reading’ guide at the end of each chapter. The table of contents has been improved upon as well and now contains not only the main chapter headings, but also subsection headings. The subtitle, ‘A linguistic introduction’ adds specificity to the main title and makes clearer the authors’ vision of their book: as a ‘text on the linguistics of French’ and not ‘a potted grammar or an introduction to linguistics with exemplification from French’ (x). The new edition contains subtler changes as well: the authors’ style is far lighter and more engaging; some materials have been unobtrusively rearranged within the chapters; and the statistical information, particularly in Ch. 1, has been updated. In spite of their splendid efforts, the authors have not produced an error-free volume. Ch. 2, for example, contains a number of infelicities: Table 2.18 (91), a new feature, intended to summarize the distribution of [o]/[ɔ] in open and closed syllables, is incomplete, confused, or inexact. The fourth row of the table fails to show that [ɔ] may occur also in nonfinalclosed syllables (as in docteur[dɔk.tœr]). Still on the same page, and just beneath the table, [o] is mistakenly called a mid-lowvowel. Novice students of French linguistics are likely to be confused by the authors’ unexplained and inconsistent use of ‘E’, for e-muet[ə] (e.g. rEvenir‘to return’ (85): why have they used ‘E’only in the first syllable?). In the discussion on vowel harmony (93), the mid-low vowel [œ] is mistakenly referred to as mid-high: ‘the front rounded mid-high vowel [œ] tends to close to [ø] if it precedes [ø]’ (93). Putting aside minor problems such as these, the second edition is clearly an improvement on what was already an informative and well thought-out textbook. Those interested in making the study of French linguistics more appealing or wishing to have under one cover a comprehensive introduction to the [End Page 645]French language, from the perspective of modern linguistics, will do well to consider this fine volume. Gladys E. Saunders University of Virginia Copyright © 2003 Linguistic Society of America