PAM: Particle automata model in simulation of Fusarium graminearum pathogen expansion.

The multi-scale nature and inherent complexity of biological systems are a great challenge for computer modeling and classical modeling paradigms. We present a novel particle automata modeling metaphor in the context of developing a 3D model of Fusarium graminearum infection in wheat. The system consisting of the host plant and Fusarium pathogen cells can be represented by an ensemble of discrete particles defined by a set of attributes.

Tapetal oleosins play an essential role in tapetosome formation and protein relocation to the pollen coat.

The Arabidopsis pollen grain is covered by a lipidic pollen coat representing select constituents released upon the programmed cell death of the anther secretory tapetum. These constituents originate primarily from two specialized tapetal organelles, elaioplasts and tapetosomes. Tapetosomes are distinctive Brassicaceae organelles derived from the endoplasmic reticulum that store triacylglycerols, flavonoids, alkanes, and proteins.

Introduction of soft X-ray spectromicroscopy as an advanced technique for plant biopolymers research.

Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy coupled with nano-scale microscopy has been widely used in material science, environmental science, and physical sciences. In this work, the advantages of soft X-ray absorption spectromicroscopy for plant biopolymer research were demonstrated by determining the chemical sensitivity of the technique to identify common plant biopolymers and to map the distributions of biopolymers in plant samples. The chemical sensitivity of soft X-ray spectroscopy to study biopolymers was determined by recording the spectra of common plant biopolymers using soft X-ray and Fourier Transform mid Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques.

Metabolism of n-C10:0 and n-C11:0 fatty acids by Trichoderma koningii, Penicillium janthinellum and their mixed culture: I. Biomass and CO2 production, and allocation of intracellular lipids.

The capacity of two soil fungi, Trichoderma koningii and Penicillium janthinellum, to oxidize n-C10:0 and n-C11:0 fatty acids to CO2 and store intracellular lipids during growth is unknown. This article reports for the first time the metabolism of decanoic acid (DA, C10:0), undecanoic acid (UDA, n-C11:0), a mixture of the acids (UDA+DA) and a mixture of UDA+ potato dextrose broth (PDB) by T. koningii and P.

Processing affects the physicochemical properties of beta-glucan in oat bran cereal.

The tendency of mixed linkage oat beta-glucan to form viscous solutions is generally assumed to be related to its ability to lower serum cholesterol levels in humans. However, the association has not been clearly demonstrated. To conduct a clinical trial showing the relationship between LDL-cholesterol levels and viscosity, a series of extruded oat bran cereals were prepared in which the beta-glucan had a range of molecular weights and modified solubility.

Age-related hearing loss, methylmalonic acid, and vitamin B12 status in older adults.

Hearing loss has been associated with poor vitamin B12 status in some, but not all studies. This study examined a possible relationship between age-related hearing loss and poor B12 status in 93 older adults using different indices of B12 status. Hearing loss was defined as pure-tone average threshold > 25 decibel hearing level.

Auditory evoked potentials in the detection of interaural intensity differences in children and adults.

Objective: The goal of the current study was to identify neurophysiological indices of binaural processing in children with no history of hearing loss or listening problems. The results will guide our efforts to diagnose children for whom impaired binaural processing may contribute to difficulty understanding speech in adverse listening environments. Our main aim was to document the cortical auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in response to interaural intensity differences (IIDs) in children.

Diverted secondary metabolism and improved resistance to European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) in maize (Zea mays L.) transformed with wheat oxalate oxidase.

An alteration in the secondary metabolism of maize (Zea mays L.) genetically modified with the wheat oxalate oxidase (OxO) gene was observed using HPLC and fluorescence microscopy. Phenolic concentrations in the OxO lines were significantly increased, but DIMBOA synthesis was reduced due to a diversion in the shikimate pathway leading to phenolic and hydroxamic acids.

Microchemical structure of soybean seeds revealed in situ by ultraspatially resolved synchrotron Fourier transformed infrared microspectroscopy.

The distribution of water in soybean seeds during imbibition varies with the chemical composition of the tissue. To understand the dynamics of imbibition, the proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates of the cotyledons and hilum region in mature soybean seeds were mapped using synchrotron Fourier transformed infrared microspectroscopy, based on characteristic peaks for each component: amide I at 1650 cm(-1) and amide II at 1550 cm(-1) for protein, lipid ester stretch at 1545 cm(-1), and the region from 1200 to 900 cm(-1) for carbohydrates. The amount and configuration of the proteins varied across the cotyledon, as well as the amount of lipid and carbohydrate.

Perception of auditory movement in children with poor listening skills: an ERP study.

Long-latency ERP components were examined for scalp activation differences in children with poor and good listening skills in response to auditory movement created by IIDs. Eighteen children were grouped based on a parent questionnaire (CHAPS; Smoski et al, 1998) and clinical evaluation by a licensed audiologist. Obligatory cortical responses were recorded to an auditory movement and an auditory control task.

Evidence that the hexose-to-sucrose ratio does not control the switch to storage product accumulation in oilseeds: analysis of tobacco seed development and effects of overexpressing apoplastic invertase.

Wild-type tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) seed development was characterized with respect to architecture and carbohydrate metabolism. Tobacco seeds accumulate oil and protein in the embryo, cellular endosperm and inner layer of the seed coat.

Seton Hall university doctor of science degree program: clinical doctorate in audiology.

This article provides an overview of the clinical doctoral program in audiology at Seton Hall University. It is a full-time, 4-year program that includes academic course work, clinical practica, and research experience. In concert with the university mission, the program is designed to enable students to develop the skills they need to be leaders in the field of audiology, providing assessment and intervention to individuals with hearing problems and enhancing the knowledge base of the profession.

Non-voluntary and voluntary processing of emotional prosody: an event-related potentials study.

The present study investigated whether event-related potentials (ERPs) reflect non-voluntary vs voluntary processing of emotional prosody. ERPs were obtained while participants processed emotional information non-voluntarily (i.e.

Long chain alkanes in silk extracts of maize genotypes with varying resistance to Fusarium graminearum.

The alkane content of the silks of nine maize genotypes was analyzed to investigate the role of silk wax in resistance to Fusarium graminearum. Silk samples were collected 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after silk emergence and divided into three sections: exposed silk, silk channel silk, and silk that is under the husk and overlying the kernels. Four major unbranched alkanes (C(25), C(27), C(29), and C(31)) and three isoalkanes (C(27i), C(29i), and C(31i)) were identified.

SCB1, a BURP-domain protein gene, from developing soybean seed coats.

We describe a gene, SCB1 (Seed Coat BURP-domain protein 1), that is expressed specifically within the soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) seed coat early in its development. Northern blot analysis and mRNA in situ hybridization revealed novel patterns of gene expression during seed development.