AtSNX1 defines an endosome for auxin-carrier trafficking in Arabidopsis

Polarized cellular distribution of the phytohormone auxin and its carriers is essential for normal plant growth and development. Polar auxin transport is maintained by a network of auxin influx (AUX) and efflux (PIN) carriers. Both auxin transport and PIN protein cycling between the plasma membrane and endosomes require the activity of the endosomal GNOM; however, intracellular routes taken by these carriers remain largely unknown. Here we show that Arabidopsis thaliana SORTING NEXIN 1 (AtSNX1) is involved in the auxin pathway and that PIN2, but not PIN1 or AUX1, is transported through AtSNX1-containing endosomes. We demonstrate that the snx1-null mutant exhibits multiple auxin-related defects and that loss of function of AtSNX1 severely enhances the phenotype of a weak gnom mutant. In root cells, we further show that AtSNX1 localizes to an endosomal compartment distinct from GNOM-containing endosomes, and that PIN2 accumulates in this compartment after treatment with the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase inhibitor wortmannin or after a gravity stimulus. Our data reveal the existence of a novel endosomal compartment involved in PIN2 endocytic sorting and plant development.     

Upper Palaeolithic infant burials

Decorations on the bodies of newborns indicate that they were probably important in their community. Several adult graves from the Stone Age (Upper Palaeolithic period) have been found but child burials seem to be rare, which has prompted discussion about whether this apparently different treatment of infants could be significant. Here we describe two recently discovered infant burials from this period at Krems-Wachtberg in Lower Austria, in which the bodies were covered with red ochre and decorated with ornaments and were therefore probably ritually buried. These findings indicate that even newborns were considered to be full members of these hunter-gatherer communities about 27,000 years ago.     

All together now: The circular organization in a University Hospital. Part I. Planning and design

During a period of significant change in health care, hospitals are being transformed. This article—part I—reports on one university hospital's experience with a project funded by a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Pew Charitable Trusts initiative. The article presents the history and conditions that led to a planning year during which participants defined external and internal conditions contributing to the needs for change. Along with the driving pressures, the article addresses the planning process and the basic design for organization change, Ackoff's idealized design and circular organization. This model had been used in industry, but not in a hospital. Key themes related to the design and start-up are offered. Part II addresses the implementation of the model, the process of change, supports and barriers, and progress to date.     

Pulse-train synchronous pair-stridulation by maleSigara striata (Heteroptera,Corixidae)

Summary Two by two, stridulating males ofSigara striata are able to synchronize the time structure of their calls (pulsetrain synchronous stridulation).Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 4 Regensburg.     

Instructions for authors

Instructions for authors     

Sensing the fuels: glucose and lipid signaling in the CNS controlling energy homeostasis

The central nervous system (CNS) is capable of gathering information on the body’s nutritional state and it implements appropriate behavioral and metabolic responses to changes in fuel availability. This feedback signaling of peripheral tissues ensures the maintenance of energy homeostasis. The hypothalamus is a primary site of convergence and integration for these nutrient-related feedback signals, which include central and peripheral neuronal inputs as well as hormonal signals. Increasing evidence indicates that glucose and lipids are detected by specialized fuel-sensing neurons that are integrated in these hypothalamic neuronal circuits. The purpose of this review is to outline the current understanding of fuel-sensing mechanisms in the hypothalamus, to integrate the recent findings in this field, and to address the potential role of dysregulation in these pathways in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein-1 is mutant in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4A/8q21.

We previously localized and fine-mapped Charcot Marie Tooth 4A (CMT4A), the autosomal recessive, demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, to chromosome 8. Through additional positional cloning, we have identified a good candidate gene, encoding ganglioside-induced differentiation-associated protein-1 (GDAP1). We found three different mutations in four different Tunisian families-two nonsense and one missense mutation. How mutations in GDAP1 lead to CMT4A remains to be understood.     

Towards a Feminist-Systems Theory

This paper provides the findings of a study to locate the similarity and/or differences between two epistemologies: critical systems thinking and cultural ecofeminism. Selected texts from authors in each field were coded and compared using the Constant comparative analysis, grounded theory method. The analysis revealed a multitude of similarities across a range of concepts, including systems thinking language; challenges to positivist science, reason and instrumentalism; ethics and morality and praxis. The analysis also revealed several emergent principles for working towards a feminist systems theory of practice.     

心脏多层CT数据中冠状动脉中轴的提取

提出一种冠状动脉跟踪算法,算法以局部血管模型为基础,采用三维几何矩、多尺度Hessian矩阵分析以及血管滤波算子,估计最优尺度下血管的中轴点坐标、尺寸及方向。算法采用跟踪策略以改进其效率,由初始种子点出发,依次提取冠状动脉血管的中轴点,最终构成冠状动脉血管树。分叉点检测算法能够有效地检测出可能的分叉点,并提取分支血管的种子点坐标。实验结果表明,算法能够有效地提取多层CT数据中的冠状动脉中轴线。结合估计的血管尺寸,三维模型能清楚地显示冠状动脉的解剖结构。同时算法有较高的计算效率,在普通的PC平台上,其运行时间能够控制在数分钟内。