bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Timing and Duration of Soil Saturation on Soilborne Pythium Diseases of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Authors: Li Yu Pin , You Ming Pei , Colmer Timothy D. , Barbetti Martin J.
Published: July 2014

Understanding combined abiotic (waterlogging) and biotic (Pythium spp.) stress resistance remains an important challenge to improving common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) productivity in disease-prone regions with irregular but intensive rainfall patterns. This study documented the effects of timing (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 days after sowing) and duration (3, 6, 12, and 24 h) of soil saturation (waterlogging) on damping-off, as well as hypocotyl and root diseases of common bean caused by Pythium irregulare. There were significant effects of timing of waterlogging as well as the presence or absence of the pathogen on emergence of the three bean varieties tested; namely, ‘Gourmet Delight’, ‘Brown Beauty’, and ‘Pioneer’. The interaction between time of waterlogging and variety was significant for both root and hypocotyl disease severities. In the presence of P. irregulare, waterlogging 1 day after sowing resulted in the least emergence (55.2 ± 5.6%), although plants that survived after 5 weeks had less hypocotyl and root disease (percent hypocotyl disease index [%HDI] ± standard deviation [SD] = 42.0 ± 2.1% and percent root disease index [%RDI] ± SD = 42.4 ± 2.1%, respectively) than nonwaterlogged plants (%HDI = 50.8 ± 2.1% and %RDI = 48.0 ± 2.1%, respectively). The most severe disease assessed 5 weeks after sowing occurred when plants were subjected to waterlogging 9 days after sowing (%HDI = 61.3 ± 2.1% and %RDI = 56.0 ± 2.1%). In general, both hypocotyl and root disease severity increased as the duration of waterlogging increased from 1 to 24 h, with %HDI increasing from 53.9 ± 3.2% to 70.9 ± 3.2%, while %RDI increased from 57.2 ± 1.5% to 73.7 ± 1.5%. Varieties responded differentially in terms of disease development after waterlogging, with the least hypocotyl and root disease on Gourmet Delight (%HDI = 51.4 ± 3.2 and %RDI = 60.1 ± 1.5, respectively) and greatest on Pioneer (%HDI = 66.2 ± 3.2 and %RDI = 64.9 ± 1.5, respectively). Despite being susceptible to hypocotyl and root disease, Pioneer had the greatest emergence and shoot dry weight overall among the three varieties, suggesting that this variety has a degree of tolerance to waterlogging, P. irregulare infection, and the combination of these two stresses. Although the resistance of Gourmet Delight could be exploited to breed bean varieties that exhibit less hypocotyl and root disease when waterlogging occurs, the tolerance to both P. irregulare infection and waterlogging observed for Pioneer could also be exploited to breed varieties that incur less damage from hypocotyl or root disease or waterlogging. Furthermore, this study demonstrated what appears to be independent resistance to hypocotyl versus root infection by P. irregulare, which offers an opportunity to combine resistance to both stresses to reduce the impact of damping-off and root rot in conditions conducive for P. irregulare.
Compressive Forces and Computed Tomography–derived Positive End-expiratory Pressure in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Cressoni Massimo , Chiumello Davide , Carlesso Eleonora , Chiurazzi Chiara , Amini Martina , Brioni Matteo , Cadringher Paolo , Quintel Michael , Gattinoni Luciano
Published: July 2014

Background:

It has been suggested that higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) should be used only in patients with higher lung recruitability. In this study, the authors investigated the relationship between the recruitability and the PEEP necessary to counteract the compressive forces leading to lung collapse.

Methods:

Fifty-one patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (7 mild, 33 moderate, and 11 severe) were enrolled. Patients underwent whole-lung computed tomography (CT) scan at 5 and 45 cm H2O. Recruitability was measured as the amount of nonaerated tissue regaining inflation from 5 to 45 cm H2O. The compressive forces (superimposed pressure) were computed as the density times the sternum-vertebral height of the lung. CT-derived PEEP was computed as the sum of the transpulmonary pressure needed to overcome the maximal superimposed pressure and the pleural pressure needed to lift up the chest wall.

Results:

Maximal superimposed pressure ranged from 6 to 18 cm H2O, whereas CT-derived PEEP ranged from 7 to 28 cm H2O. Median recruitability was 15% of lung parenchyma (interquartile range, 7 to 21%). Maximal superimposed pressure was weakly related with lung recruitability (r
2 = 0.11, P = 0.02), whereas CT-derived PEEP was unrelated with lung recruitability (r
2 = 0.0003, P = 0.91). The maximal superimposed pressure was 12 ± 3, 12 ± 2, and 13 ± 1 cm H2O in mild, moderate, and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, respectively, (P = 0.0533) with a corresponding CT-derived PEEP of 16 ± 5, 16 ± 5, and 18 ± 5 cm H2O (P = 0.48).

Conclusions:

Lung recruitability and CT scan–derived PEEP are unrelated. To overcome the compressive forces and to lift up the thoracic cage, a similar PEEP level is required in higher and lower recruiters (16.8 ± 4 vs. 16.6 ± 5.6, P = 1).
Pericentriolar material structure and dynamics
Authors: Woodruff Jeffrey B. , Wueseke Oliver , Hyman Anthony A.
Published: July 2014

A centrosome consists of two barrel-shaped centrioles embedded in a matrix of proteins known as the pericentriolar material (PCM). The PCM serves as a platform for protein complexes that regulate organelle trafficking, protein degradation and spindle assembly. Perhaps most important for cell division, the PCM concentrates tubulin and serves as the primary organizing centre for microtubules in metazoan somatic cells. Thus, similar to other well-described organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria, the cell has compartmentalized a multitude of vital biochemical reactions in the PCM. However, unlike these other organelles, the PCM is not membrane bound, but rather a dynamic collection of protein complexes and nucleic acids that constitute the organelle's interior and determine its boundary. How is the complex biochemical machinery necessary for the myriad centrosome functions concentrated and maintained in the PCM? Recent advances in proteomics and RNAi screening have unveiled most of the key PCM components and hinted at their molecular interactions (table 1). Now we must understand how the interactions between these molecules contribute to the mesoscale organization and the assembly of the centrosome. Among outstanding questions are the intrinsic mechanisms that determine PCM shape and size, and how it functions as a biochemical reaction hub.
How do cilia organize signalling cascades?
Authors: Nachury Maxence V.
Published: July 2014

Cilia and flagella are closely related centriole-nucleated protrusions of the cell with roles in motility and signal transduction. Two of the best-studied signalling pathways organized by cilia are the transduction cascade for the morphogen Hedgehog in vertebrates and the mating pathway that initiates gamete fusion in the unicellular green alga
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
. What is the role of cilia in these signalling transduction cascades? In both Hedgehog and mating pathways, all signalling intermediates have been found to localize to cilia, and, for some signalling factors, ciliary localization is regulated by pathway activation. Given a concentration factor of three orders of magnitude provided by translocating a protein into the cilium, the compartment model proposes that cilia act as miniaturized reaction tubes bringing signalling factors and processing enzymes in close proximity. On the other hand, the scaffolding model views the intraflagellar transport machinery, whose primary function is to build cilia and flagella, as a molecular scaffold for the mating transduction cascade at the flagellar membrane. While these models may coexist, it is hoped that a precise understanding of the mechanisms that govern signalling inside cilia will provide a satisfying answer to the question ‘how do cilia organize signalling?’. This review covers the evidence supporting each model of signalling and outlines future directions that may address which model applies in given biological settings.
When fate follows age: unequal centrosomes in asymmetric cell division
Authors: Reina Jose , Gonzalez Cayetano
Published: July 2014

A strong correlation between centrosome age and fate has been reported in some stem cells and progenitors that divide asymmetrically. In some cases, such stereotyped centrosome behaviour is essential to endow stemness to only one of the two daughters, whereas in other cases causality is still uncertain. Here, we present the different cell types in which correlated centrosome age and fate has been documented, review current knowledge on the underlying molecular mechanisms and discuss possible functional implications of this process.
Vulgatibacter incomptus gen. nov., sp. nov. and Labilithrix luteola gen. nov., sp. nov., two myxobacteria isolated from soil in Yakushima Island, and the description of Vulgatibacteraceae fam. nov., Labilitrichaceae fam. nov. and Anaeromyxobacteraceae fam. nov.
Authors: Yamamoto Eisaku , Muramatsu Hideyuki , Nagai Koji
Published: July 2014

Two myxobacterial strains (designated B00001T and B00002T) were isolated from forest soil samples collected from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains B00001T and B00002T respectively formed independent branches within the suborders

Cystobacterineae

and

Sorangiineae

and were most closely related to

Cystobacter armeniaca

DSM 14710T (90.4 % similarity) and

Byssovorax cruenta

DSM 14553T (91.3 %). Neither strain showed typical features of myxobacteria such as bacteriolytic action or fruiting body formation, but both had high DNA G+C contents (66.3–68.3 mol%). Swarming motility was observed in strain B00002T only. Cells of both strains were vegetative, chemoheterotrophic, mesophilic, strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, motile rods, and both strains exhibited esterase lipase (C8), leucine arylamidase, naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase and β-galactosidase activities. Strain B00001T contained MK-7 as the predominant respiratory quinone and the major fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0. In contrast, strain B00002T contained MK-8 as the major cellular quinone and the major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω5c and iso-C17 : 0. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic data presented, strains B00001T and B00002T represent novel genera and species, for which we propose the names Vulgatibacter incomptus gen. nov., sp. nov. and Labilithrix luteola gen. nov., sp. nov., respectively. The type strains of Vulgatibacter incomptus and Labilithrix luteola are B00001T ( = NBRC 109945T = DSM 27710T) and B00002T ( = NBRC 109946T = DSM 27648T), respectively. The new genera are assigned to the new families Vulgatibacteraceae fam. nov. and Labilitrichaceae fam. nov., respectively. In addition, Anaeromyxobacteraceae fam. nov., is proposed to accommodate the genus

Anaeromyxobacter

, which is related to the genus Vulgatibacter.
Description of Micrococcus
aloeverae sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from Aloe vera
Authors: Prakash Om , Nimonkar Yogesh , Munot Hitendra , Sharma Avinash , Vemuluri Venkata Ramana , Chavadar Mahesh S. , Shouche Yogesh S.
Published: July 2014

A yellow Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-endospore -forming, spherical endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain AE-6T, was isolated from the inner fleshy leaf tissues of Aloe barbadensis (Aloe vera) collected from Pune, Maharashtra, India. Strain AE-6T grew at high salt concentrations [10 % (w/v) NaCl], temperatures of 15–41 °C and a pH range of 5–12. It showed highest (99.7 %) 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with

Micrococcus yunnanensis

YIM 65004T followed by

Micrococcus luteus

NCTC 2665T (99.6 %) and

Micrococcus endophyticus

YIM 56238T (99.0 %). Ribosomal protein profiling by MALDI-TOF/MS also showed it was most closely related to

M. yunnanensis

YIM 65004T and

M. luteus

NCTC 2665T. Like other members of the genus

Micrococcus

, strain AE-6T had a high content of branched chain fatty acids (iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0). MK-8(H2) and MK-8 were the predominant isoprenoid quinones. Cell wall analysis showed an ‘A2 l-Lys-peptide subunit’ type of peptidoglycan and ribose to be the major cell wall sugar. The DNA G+C content was 70 mol%. Results of DNA–DNA hybridization of AE-6T with its closest relatives from the genus

Micrococcus

produced a value of less than 70%. Based on the results of this study, strain AE-6T could be clearly differentiated from other members of the genus

Micrococcus

.
We propose that it represents a novel species of the genus

Micrococcus

and suggest the name
Micrococcus

aloeverae sp. nov., with strain AE-6T ( = MCC 2184T = DSM 27472T) as the type strain of the species.
Non-respiratory functions ofSaccharomyces cerevisiaemitochondria are required for optimal attractiveness toDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Schiabor Kelly M. , Quan Allison S. , Eisen Michael B.
Published: July 2014

While screening a large collection of wild and laboratory yeast isolates for their ability to attractDrosophila melanogasteradults, we noticed a large difference in fly preference for two nearly isogenic strains ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae, BY4741 and BY4742. Using standard genetic analyses, we tracked the preference difference to the lack of functional mitochondria the stock of BY4742 used in the initial experiment. We used gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy to examine the volatile compounds produced by BY4741 and the mitochondria-deficient BY4742, and found they differed significantly. We found that several ethyl esters are present at much higher levels in strains with functional mitochondria, even in fermentative conditions. We confirmed the role of these ethyl esters in attraction by examining an EEB1Δ strain which reduces ethyl ester production. We found that nitrogen levels in the substrate affect the production of these compounds, and that they are produced at high levels by strains with functional mitochondria in the fermentation of natural substrates. Collectively these observations demonstrate the effect core metabolic processes have in mediating the interaction between yeasts and insect vectors, and highlight the importance of non-respirative mitochondrial functions in yeast ecology.
Hormonal mediation of a carry‐over effect in a wild cooperative mammal
Authors: Sanderson Jennifer L. , Young Andrew J. , Hodge Sarah J. , Kyabulima Solomon , Walker Susan L. , Cant Michael A.
Published: July 2014

Recent research has shown that parental investment in one breeding attempt often has a profound negative impact on the level of parental investment in subsequent breeding attempts. However, the mechanistic underpinnings that mediate such carry‐over effects are poorly understood.

Here, we hypothesise that carry‐over effects arise because energetic losses lead to elevated levels of glucocorticoid ‘stress’ hormones which inhibit future investment and thereby maintain energetic homeostasis. We investigate this hypothesis through a detailed investigation of a carry‐over effect of (allo‐) parental investment in the cooperatively breeding banded mongoose (Mungos mungo).

Using a combination of non‐invasive hormone monitoring and feeding experiments, we demonstrate (i) that high glucocorticoid concentrations prior to breeding predict reduced alloparental investment; (ii) that energetic losses associated with high alloparental investment lead to an increase in glucocorticoid concentrations during the breeding attempt; and (iii) that elevated glucocorticoid concentrations persist into a time period that is known to affect future investment, although high pup mortality meant that we could not measure effects on subsequent alloparental investment directly.

Together, our results provide strong evidence for the hypothesis that carry‐over effects on parental investment are mediated by circulating glucocorticoid concentrations. Since an individual's stress physiology is shaped by early‐life and social factors, our findings may help to explain how these factors contribute to individual variation in parental investment and lifetime reproductive success.
Canopy facilitates seaweed recruitment on subtidal temperate reefs
Authors: Bennett Scott , Wernberg Thomas
Published: July 2014

Facilitation through physical stress amelioration has been largely overlooked in subtidal marine ecosystems, where abiotic gradients are perceived to be benign. However, seemingly subtle changes in marine environmental conditions can alter community structure across vast areas, and therefore, the type of interactions and any refuge provided by marine foundation species. This could have substantial implications for community organization.

We measured net recruitment rates of subtidal seaweeds under experimentally modified canopy densities, across 1000 km of coastline, to examine the nature of interactions between seaweed canopies and recruits.

Contrary to expectations, facilitation, as evidenced by higher recruitment under canopies, was observed throughout all conditions for Scytothalia dorycarpa and under partial canopies at three of four locations for Sargassum spp., whilst competitive interactions remained prevalent for Sargassum under closed canopies.

Supply side dynamics were also of major importance to recruitment success for Scytothalia. For Sargassum, the interaction strength between recruits and the canopy became increasingly positive towards lower latitudes, suggesting the canopy environment was mitigating stress across the latitudinal climate gradient.

Synthesis. Positive interactions and stress amelioration play an important and previously unrecognized role in determining the recruitment success and viability of seaweeds in subtidal marine ecosystems. These results challenge long held paradigms about the general importance of canopy competition and force a rethink of how seaweed interactions affect habitat resilience to disturbances in subtidal ecosystems.
Glucagon‐like peptide 1 receptor agonist therapy is more efficacious than insulin glargine for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Fu‐peng , Dong Jian‐jun , Yang Qing , Xue Xian‐zhong , Ren Zhong‐fa , Gan Yi‐zhang , Liao Lin
Published: July 2014

Background

The aim of the present study was to compare the reported efficacy and safety of glucagon‐like peptide‐l receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) and insulin glargine (IGlar) for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov were carried out. References and cited papers of relevant articles were also checked.

Results

Seven trials met the inclusion criteria. GLP‐1RA showed equivalent or superior efficacy to IGlar for reducing hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), with a greater proportion of patients achieving HbAlc<7%. GLP‐1RA also favored decreased body weight, total cholesterol (TC), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Serious adverse events were uncommon and not significantly different. More patients taking GLP‐1RA experienced gastrointestinal complications: nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Severe hypoglycemia events were rare, and minor hypoglycemia was less common for GLP‐1RA.

Conclusions

GLP‐1RA showed greater efficacy compared to IGlar for type 2 diabetes, and it may also prove beneficial for other diabetes‐associated characteristics, including obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
Changing relative contribution of abdominal obesity and a family history of diabetes on prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Korean men and women aged 30–49 years from 2001 to 2010 从2001至2010年在韩国30–49岁年龄段的男性与女性中腹型肥胖以及糖尿病家族史对糖尿病患病率相对贡献度的变化
Authors: Koo Bo Kyung , Kim Sang Wan , Yi Ka Hee , Park Kyong Soo , Moon Min Kyong
Published: July 2014

Background

We investigated the change in the relative impact of a family history of diabetes (FH) and abdominal obesity on diabetes mellitus (DM) over a 10‐year period in Korea.

Methods

We analyzed data from the 2001, 2005, and 2010 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that were weighted to represent the entire Korean population in each year. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between DM and FH or abdominal obesity.

Results

In men aged 30–49 years, the association between FH and DM was stronger in 2010 than in 2001; the odds ratio (OR) was 1.508 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.814–2.792) in 2001, 3.351 (95% CI, 1.599–7.024) in 2005, and 7.302 (95% CI, 3.451–15.451) in 2010 (P for trend = 0.003). In contrast, the association between abdominal obesity and DM was weaker in 2010 (OR, 0.969 [95% CI, 0.465–2.018]) than in 2001 (OR, 2.532 [95% CI, 1.572–4.080]) (P for trend = 0.037). In women aged 30–49 years, there was no significant change in OR of FH or abdominal obesity during the same period. (P for trend = 0.367 and 0.401, respectively).

Conclusions

In Korean men aged 30–49 years, the association between FH and DM has been stronger from 2001 to 2010, whereas abdominal obesity was less important in 2010 compared to 2001.
Mouse double minute‐2 homolog (MDM2)‐rs2279744 polymorphism associated with lung cancer risk in a Northeastern Chinese population
Authors: Wang Xu , Jin Lina , Cui Jiuwei , Ma Kewei , Chen Xiao , Li Wei
Published: July 2014

Background

Altered expression or function of mouse double minute‐2 (MDM2) protein could contribute to lung carcinogenesis; thus, this study investigated MDM2‐rs2279744 polymorphism together with other epidemiologic factors for their association with lung cancer risk.

Methods

A total of 500 lung cancer patients and 500 age and gender‐matched healthy controls living in Northeastern China were recruited for genotyping of MDM2‐rs2279744. Clinicopathological data was collected and subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

In univariate analysis, the MDM2‐rs2279744 G/G genotype versus T/T + T/G genotypes showed a tendency toward a higher incidence of lung cancer in the recessive model (P = 0.043). However, there were no significant differences when it was analyzed by the dominant, additive, or multiplicative models. A significantly increased lung cancer risk was observed associated with lower education level, lower body mass index, cancer family history, prior diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia, exposure to pesticide or gasoline/diesel, tobacco smoking, and heavy cooking emissions when assessed by multivariate analyses. Moreover, MDM2‐rs2279744 was still a significant risk factor even after incorporating environmental and lifestyle factors. However, there was no association between MDM2‐rs2279744 and other factors.

Conclusions

The MDM2‐rs2279744 G/G genotype was associated with a higher lung cancer risk, even after incorporating other epidemiologic factors.
The attractiveness of flowering herbaceous plants to bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) and hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in agro‐ecosystems of Central Spain
Authors: Barbir Jelena , Badenes‐Pérez Francisco R. , Fernández‐Quintanilla César , Dorado José
Published: July 2014

Habitat management, with the aim of conserving pollinators in agro‐ecosystems, requires the selection of the most suitable floral species in terms of their attractiveness to pollinators and a simplicity of agronomic management.

A randomized block design including 12 herbaceous plants was used to study their attractiveness to pollinators (insect visitation), their attractiveness efficiency (a combination of duration of flowering and insect visitation), their response to two different agronomic management practices (growing in mixed versus mono‐specific stands; tillage versus no‐tillage) and their potential weediness.

The flowers of Borago officinalis, Echium plantagineum, Phacelia tanacetifolia and Diplotaxis tenuifolia were attractive to bees, whereas Calendula arvensis, Coriandrum sativum, D. tenuifolia and Lobularia maritima were attractive to hoverflies.

A floral mixture resulted in a lower attractiveness efficiency to pollinators than D. tenuifolia, but higher than when compared with most of the mono‐specific stands. On the other hand, although some of the most attractive plant species (P. tanacetifolia and C. arvensis) showed potential weediness, their self‐seeding was reduced by tillage treatment.

Diplotaxis tenuifolia was the only plant with a high attractiveness efficiency to pollinators and efficient self‐reproduction. Therefore, D. tenuifolia is highly recommended species for attracting bees and hoverflies in agro‐ecosystems of Central Spain.
Renoprotective Effects of Gamma‐Aminobutyric Acid on Cisplatin‐induced Acute Renal Injury in Rats
Authors: Ali Badreldin H. , Al–Salam Suhail , Al Za'abi Mohammed , Al Balushi Khalid A. , AlMahruqi Ahmed S. , Beegam Somyia , Al‐Lawatia Intisar , Waly Mostafa I. , Nemmar Abderrahim
Published: July 2014

To investigate the effect of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) on acute renal injury (ARI), we used here a rat model of acute tubular necrosis induced by the anticancer drug cisplatin (CP). GABA was given orally (100 or 500 mg/kg/day for ten consecutive days), and on the 6th day, some of the treated rats were also injected intraperitoneally with either saline or CP (6 mg/kg). Four days after CP treatment, urine was collected from all rats, which were then anaesthetized for blood pressure and renal blood flow monitoring. This was followed by intravenous injection of norepinephrine for the assessment of renal vasoconstrictor responses. Thereafter, blood and kidneys were collected for measurement of several functional, biochemical and structural parameters. GABA treatment (at 500 but not 100 mg/kg) significantly mitigated all the measured physiological and biochemical indices. Sections from saline‐ and GABA‐treated rats showed apparently normal proximal tubules. However, kidneys of CP‐treated rats had a moderate degree of necrosis. This was markedly lessened when CP was given simultaneously with GABA (500 mg/kg). The concentration of platinum in the cortical tissues was not significantly altered by GABA treatment. The results suggested that GABA can ameliorate CP nephrotoxicity in rats. Pending further pharmacological and toxicological studies, GABA may be considered a potentially useful nephroprotective agent in CP‐induced ARI.
Alteration of vascular reactivity in heart failure: role of phosphodiesterases 3 and 4
Authors: Hubert F , Belacel‐Ouari M , Manoury B , Zhai K , Domergue‐Dupont V , Mateo P , Joubert F , Fischmeister R , Leblais V
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose

This study examined the role of the main vascular cAMP‐hydrolysing phosphodiesterases (cAMP‐PDE) in the regulation of basal vascular tone and relaxation of rat aorta mediated by β‐adrenoceptors, following heart failure (HF).

Experimental Approach

Twenty‐two weeks after proximal aortic stenosis, to induce HF, or SHAM surgery in rats, we evaluated the expression, activity and function of cAMP‐PDE in the descending thoracic aorta.

Key Results

HF rat aortas exhibited signs of endothelial dysfunction, with alterations of the NO pathway, and alteration of PDE3 and PDE4 subtype expression, without changing total aortic cAMP‐hydrolytic activity and PDE1, PDE3 and PDE4 activities. Vascular reactivity experiments using PDE inhibitors showed that PDE3 and PDE4 controlled the level of PGF2α‐stimulated contraction in SHAM aorta. PDE3 function was partially inhibited by endothelial NO, whereas PDE4 function required a functional endothelium and was under the negative control of PDE3. In HF, PDE3 function was preserved, but its regulation by endothelial NO was altered. PDE4 function was abolished and restored by PDE3 inhibition. In PGF2α‐precontracted arteries, β‐adrenoceptor stimulation‐induced relaxation in SHAM aorta, which was abolished in the absence of functional endothelium, as well as in HF aortas, but restored after PDE3 inhibition in all unresponsive arteries.

Conclusions and Implications

Our study underlines the key role of the endothelium in controlling the contribution of smooth muscle PDE to contractile function. In HF, endothelial dysfunction had a major effect on PDE3 function and PDE3 inhibition restored a functional relaxation to β‐adrenoceptor stimulation.
Elevated receptor for activated C kinase 1 expression is involved in intracellular Ca2+ influx and potentially associated with compromised regulatory T cell function in patients with asthma
Authors: Negoro T. , Shimizu S. , Narushima M. , Banham A. H. , Wakabayashi H. , Takayanagi R. , Hagiwara T. , Roncador G. , Osabe T. , Yanai T. , Kin M. , Ikeda K. , Endo A. , Akiyama H. , Nakano Y.
Published: July 2014

Background

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are activated during anergy in response to T cell receptor (TCR) activation and functional immune suppression. Anergy of paediatric Tregs is partially dependent on intracellular calcium mobility; following TCR activation, Tregs do not exhibit increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i).

Objective

We determined whether [Ca2+]i in adult Tregs defined their anergy, if intracellular Ca2+ movement was linked to regulatory functions, whether [Ca2+]i was indicative of asthma pathology, and the potential molecular mechanism responsible for Ca2+ movement in Tregs.

Methods

Tregs were purified by the magnetic bead method, and their regulatory functions were assessed by monitoring carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester‐labelled responder T cell proliferation. The Ca2+ response of Fura‐2‐labelled cells was measured using a video image analysis system. To analyse the functions of Tregs at the molecular level, we generated Jurkat Tet‐On® clones with doxycycline (Dox)‐induced forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) protein expression.

Results

CD4+CD25+CD127−/low Tregs from participants without asthma did not elicit Ca2+ influx in response to TCR activation, exhibited little proliferation and suppressed proliferation of CD4+CD25− T cells. In contrast, under similar conditions, Tregs from patients with asthma exhibited increased [Ca2+]i and robust proliferation with partial loss of regulatory functions. FOXP3 protein levels in Tet‐On® clones were high after both 2‐ and 5‐day Dox treatment; however, 5‐day cells were comparable with Tregs from patients with asthma, whereas 2‐day cells were similar to Tregs from participants without asthma. Increasing [Ca2+]i induced a high level of receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) expression in 5‐day cells.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

We confirmed that Tregs in patients with asthma are functionally impaired and that the abnormal regulatory functions of these cells can be analysed by [Ca2+]i following TCR engagement. Furthermore, the impaired functioning of Tregs evident in patients with asthma may be due to a high level of RACK1.
Th17 response and its regulation in inflammatory upper airway diseases
Authors: Liu Y. , Zeng M. , Liu Z.
Published: July 2014

Allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are two widely prevalent inflammatory diseases in the upper airways. T cell immunity has been suggested to play an important pathogenic role in many chronic inflammatory diseases including inflammatory upper airway diseases. Inappropriate CD4+ T cell responses, especially the dysregulation of the Th1/Th2 balance leading to excessive Th1 or Th2 cell activation, have been associated with allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis. Nevertheless, recent studies suggest that IL‐17A and IL‐17A‐producing Th17 cell subset, a distinct pro‐inflammatory CD4+ T cell lineage, may also play an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory upper airway diseases. Th17 cells may promote both eosinophilic and neutrophilic inflammation in AR and CRS. In addition, a few, but accumulating evidence shows that the Th17 responses can be tightly regulated by endogenous and exogenous substances in the context of AR and CRS. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of the expression and function of the Th17 response and its regulation in inflammatory upper airway diseases, and the perspective for future investigation and clinical utility.
(In)Sufficient?: ethnicity and foster care in English local authorities
Authors: Kirton Derek
Published: July 2014

This paper examines the place of ethnicity in local authority foster care in the context of the sufficiency duty to secure adequate local placements for looked after children. The analysis draws on two main sources, namely Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED's) annual survey of fostering agencies and inspection reports for around half the local authority fostering services in England. Sufficiency is gauged in two main ways, comparing numbers of black and minority ethnic (BME) foster carers first with numbers of BME looked after children and second, with local adult (age 25–64) populations. Statistical analysis shows very wide variation on both measures and a significant minority of authorities that perform poorly in terms of the ethnic diversity of their foster carers. Inspection reports also vary widely in the degree and nature of attention given to issues of ethnicity with many offering limited (and sometimes no) challenge to poor performance. These findings are discussed within the broader context of recent trends towards de‐emphasizing the significance of ethnicity in child welfare.
Learning Hierarchical Task Models from Input Traces
Authors: Hogg Chad , Muñoz‐Avila Héctor , Kuter Ugur
Published: July 2014

We describe HTN‐MAKER, an algorithm for learning hierarchical planning knowledge in the form of task‐reduction methods for hierarchical task networks (HTNs). HTN‐MAKER takes as input a set of planning states from a classical planning domain and plans that are applicable to those states, as well as a set of semantically annotated tasks to be accomplished. The algorithm analyzes this semantic information to determine which portion of the input plans accomplishes a particular task and constructs task‐reduction methods based on those analyses.

We present theoretical results showing that HTN‐MAKER is sound and complete. Our experiments in five well‐known planning domains confirm the theoretical results and demonstrate convergence toward a set of HTN methods that can be used to solve any problem expressible as a classical planning problem in that domain, relative to a set of goal types for which tasks have been defined. In three of the five domains, HTN planning with the learned methods scales much better than a modern classical planner.
The effects of levosimendan on renal function early after heart transplantation: results from a pilot randomized trial
Authors: Knezevic Ivan , Poglajen Gregor , Hrovat Eva , Oman Anja , Pintar Tatjana , Wu Joseph C. , Vrtovec Bojan , Haddad François
Published: July 2014

Background

We evaluated the effects of a levosimendan (LS)‐based strategy compared with standard inotropic therapy on renal function in heart transplantation.

Methods and results

Using a randomized study design, 94 patients were assigned to LS‐based therapy or standard inotropic support. At the time of transplantation, the groups did not differ in age, gender, heart failure etiology, hemodynamic profile, LVEF, or comorbidities. While there were no differences in serum creatinine (sCr) or eGFR between groups at baseline, patients in the LS group had a greater increase in their relative eGFR (62% vs. 12%, p = 0.002) and a lower incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) (28% vs. 6%, p = 0.01) during the first post‐transplant week. On logistic regression analysis, correlates of AKI were randomization to LS therapy (OR = 0.21 [0.09–0.62], p = 0.01), baseline renal dysfunction (OR = 3.9 [1.1–13.6], p = 0.032), and diabetes mellitus (OR = 4.2 [1.1–16.5], p = 0.038). However, LS was associated with a greater need for additional norepinephrine therapy (40 [85%] vs. 15 [31%], p < 0.001) and a trend toward longer intensive care unit stay (9.5 ± 9.0 d vs. 7.0 ± 6.0 d, p = 0.13).

Conclusions

In patients undergoing heart transplantation, levosimendan‐based strategy may be associated with better renal function when compared to standard therapy.
Impacts of elevated CO2 on Bemisia tabaci infesting Bt cotton and its parasitoid Encarsia formosa
Authors: Wang Guo‐Hong , Wang Xue‐Xia , Sun Yu‐Cheng , Ge Feng
Published: July 2014

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is expected to rise in the coming decades. Rising atmospheric CO2 levels may alter plant‐insect‐parasitoid associations due to the indirect effects of CO2 enrichment on phytochemicals important for herbivore and parasitoid nutrition. Tritrophic effects of elevated CO2 on Bt cotton (GK‐12) and non‐transgenic (Simian‐3, or S3) cotton [Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae)], Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), and its parasitoid Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), were examined in open‐top chambers. Significantly, longer egg‐adult developmental duration and higher mortality of nymphs were observed under elevated CO2 concentrations on both cotton cultivars during three successive generations. However, no significant differences were found in adult longevity, offspring sex ratio, and the number of eggs laid per female adult of B. tabaci fed on transgenic (GK‐12) or non‐transgenic cotton (S3) grown under elevated CO2. Abundance of B. tabaci adults increased from 10 to 120 per plant and then decreased to 40 per plant through the growing season, but no significant differences in density occurred between CO2 treatments and between cultivar treatments. Similarly, no significant differences were found in the developmental duration, parasitization rate, and adult emergence rate of E. formosa after parasitizing B. tabaci for three successive generations. Our results showed that the effects of transgenic Bt cotton did not significantly affect the development, survivorship, life span, or fecundity of B. tabaci and its parasitoids. Moreover, interactions between B. tabaci and E. formosa were not significantly affected by elevated CO2. These results suggest that the biological control of B. tabaci by E. formosa would not be influenced by transgenic Bt cotton and/or elevated CO2, indicating that the current risk management strategy regarding B. tabaci outbreaks and biocontrol by E. formosa will remain effective if the atmospheric CO2 level continues to rise.
Contralateral dissociation between neural activity and cerebral blood volume during recurrent acute focal neocortical seizures
Authors: Harris Sam , Boorman Luke , Bruyns‐Haylett Michael , Kennerley Aneurin , Ma Hongtao , Zhao Mingrui , Overton Paul G. , Schwartz Theodore H. , Berwick Jason
Published: July 2014

Objective

Whether epileptic events disrupt normal neurovascular coupling mechanisms locally or remotely is unclear. We sought to investigate neurovascular coupling in an acute model of focal neocortical epilepsy, both within the seizure onset zone and in contralateral homotopic cortex.

Methods

Neurovascular coupling in both ipsilateral and contralateral vibrissal cortices of the urethane‐anesthetized rat were examined during recurrent 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP, 15 mm, 1 μl) induced focal seizures. Local field potential (LFP) and multiunit spiking activity (MUA) were recorded via two bilaterally implanted 16‐channel microelectrodes. Concurrent two‐dimensional optical imaging spectroscopy was used to produce spatiotemporal maps of cerebral blood volume (CBV).

Results

Recurrent acute seizures in right vibrissal cortex (RVC) produced robust ipsilateral increases in LFP and MUA activity, most prominently in layer 5, that were nonlinearly correlated to local increases in CBV. In contrast, contralateral left vibrissal cortex (LVC) exhibited relatively smaller nonlaminar specific increases in neural activity coupled with a decrease in CBV, suggestive of dissociation between neural and hemodynamic responses.

Significance

These findings provide insights into the impact of epileptic events on the neurovascular unit, and have important implications both for the interpretation of perfusion‐based imaging signals in the disorder and understanding the widespread effects of epilepsy.

A PowerPoint slide summarizing this article is available for download in the Supporting Information section here.
Multiple Lines of Egg Defense in a Neotropical Arachnid with Temporary Brood Desertion
Authors: Chelini Marie‐Claire , Machado Glauco
Published: July 2014

Egg predation is the one of the main costs of brood desertion in many ectothermic animals. When stressful environmental conditions constrain parental activities to only some periods of the day, the combination of physical or chemical defenses may attenuate the costs related to egg loss during periods of temporary parental absence. Females of the harvestman Neosadocus maximus periodically abandon their clutches to shelter or forage. They also cover their eggs with a hygroscopic mucus coat and seem to lose fewer eggs to predation than other syntopic harvestmen whose eggs lack the mucus coat. Using two species of N. maximus egg predators, we demonstrate that eggs whose mucus coat was experimentally removed suffered higher predation rate than eggs whose mucus coat was left intact. We argue that this mucus provides physical protection against egg predators, especially small arthropods. A similar mucus coat has independently evolved in other two clades of Neotropical harvestman in which males care for the eggs and typically leave their clutches unattended for several hours a day. We propose that the presence of multiple lines of egg defense may have evolved as a way of lowering the costs imposed by intra‐ and interspecific egg predation during periods of temporary brood desertion.
The ecology of rivers with contrasting flow regimes: identifying indicators for setting environmental flows
Authors: Warfe Danielle M. , Hardie Scott A. , Uytendaal Adam R. , Bobbi Chris J. , Barmuta Leon A.
Published: July 2014

The scientific basis for setting environmental flows is still hampered by our incomplete understanding of flow–ecology relationships and how river ecology varies with flow regime.

We conducted a study of six rivers in Tasmania (Australia), three perennial and three intermittent, measuring a range of abiotic, biotic and ecosystem process attributes over 2 years. Our intentions were to identify: (i) whether they had an ecology characteristic of their flow regime and (ii) whether certain ecological attributes were more responsive to flow regime than others, and therefore represented candidate indicators (for environmental flows or flow alteration) specific to each flow regime.

Only a few abiotic variables showed any relationship with flow regime: banks were higher, pools shallower and sediments finer in perennial rivers, and water temperature was generally lower in perennial rivers. Although rarely measured, we found that productivity and net ecosystem metabolism were strongly related to flow regime, whereas food chain length did not vary between perennial and intermittent rivers. Multivariate, rather than univariate, metrics of biotic assemblages were more effective at distinguishing perennial and intermittent flow regimes, and this was consistent among riparian and instream vegetation, biofilm and macroinvertebrate assemblages. In contrast to expectations from the literature, fish assemblages were not strong indicators of flow regime, largely due to the relatively low diversity and abundance of the Tasmanian fish fauna.

Our findings demonstrate that rivers with different flow regimes can support a distinctive ecology, and conventional metrics of ecological character may not be the most sensitive to flow regime. We provide a set of ecological attributes that can: (i) support extrapolation of flow–ecology relationships across rivers to regional scales, (ii) provide benchmarks for environmental flow and flow restoration objectives, (iii) indicate alterations to natural or existing flow regimes and (iv) be used to monitor and evaluate flow management actions.
Ecological tracers reveal resource convergence among prey fish species in a large lake ecosystem
Authors: Paterson Gord , Rush Scott A. , Arts Michael T. , Drouillard Ken G. , Haffner Gordon Doug , Johnson Tim B. , Lantry Brian F. , Hebert Craig E. , McGoldrick Daryl J. , Backus Sean M. , Fisk Aaron T.
Published: July 2014

We measured stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) and fatty acid profiles in Lake Ontario alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) collected from 1982 to 2008 to investigate how temporal variability in these ecological tracers can relate to ecosystem‐level changes associated with the establishment of highly invasive dreissenid mussels.

Prey fish δ15N values remained relatively constant, with only slimy sculpin exhibiting a temporal increase in δ15N. In contrast, δ13C values for alewife, rainbow smelt and, especially, slimy sculpin became less negative over time and were consistent with the benthification of the Lake Ontario food web associated with dreissenids.

Principal components analysis revealed higher contributions of 14:0 and 16:1n‐7 fatty acids and increasingly negative δ13C values in older samples in agreement with the greater historical importance of pelagic production for alewife, rainbow smelt and slimy sculpin.

Temporal declines in fatty acid unsaturation indices and Σn‐3/Σn‐6 ratios, and also increased 24:0/14:0 ratios for alewife, rainbow smelt and slimy sculpin, indicated the increasing importance of nearshore production pathways for more recently collected fish and resulted in values more similar to those for round goby.

These results indicate a temporal convergence of the food niche, whereas food partitioning has historically supported the coexistence of prey fish species in Lake Ontario. This convergence is consistent with changes in food‐web processes associated with the invasion of dreissenid mussels.
Modeling Coastal Salinity in Quasi 2D and 3D Using a DUALEM‐421 and Inversion Software
Authors: Davies Gareth , Huang Jingyi , Monteiro Santos Fernando Acacio , Triantafilis John
Published: July 2014

Rising sea levels, owing to climate change, are a threat to fresh water coastal aquifers. This is because saline intrusions are caused by increases and intensification of medium‐large scale influences including sea level rise, wave climate, tidal cycles, and shifts in beach morphology. Methods are therefore required to understand the dynamics of these interactions. While traditional borehole and galvanic contact resistivity (GCR) techniques have been successful they are time‐consuming. Alternatively, frequency‐domain electromagnetic (FEM) induction is potentially useful as physical contact with the ground is not required. A DUALEM‐421 and EM4Soil inversion software package are used to develop a quasi two‐ (2D) and quasi three‐dimensional (3D) electromagnetic conductivity images (EMCI) across Long Reef Beach located north of Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. The quasi 2D models discern: the dry sand (<10 mS/m) associated with the incipient dune; sand with fresh water (10 to 20 mS/m); mixing of fresh and saline water (20 to 500 mS/m), and; saline sand of varying moisture (more than 500 mS/m). The quasi 3D EMCIs generated for low and high tides suggest that daily tidal cycles do not have a significant effect on local groundwater salinity. Instead, the saline intrusion is most likely influenced by medium‐large scale drivers including local wave climate and morphology along this wave‐dominated beach. Further research is required to elucidate the influence of spring‐neap tidal cycles, contrasting beach morphological states and sea level rise.