bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The pulse of the tree is under genetic control: eucalyptus as a case study
Authors: Bartholomé Jérôme , Mabiala André , Burlett Régis , Bert Didier , Leplé Jean‐Charles , Plomion Christophe , Gion Jean‐Marc 
Published: March 2020

SummaryThe pulse of the tree (diurnal cycle of stem radius fluctuations) has been widely studied as a way of analyzing tree responses to the environment, including the phenotypic plasticity of tree–water relationships in particular. However, the genetic basis of this daily phenotype and its interplay with the environment remain largely unexplored. We characterized the genetic and environmental determinants of this response, by monitoring daily stem radius fluctuation (dSRF) on 210 trees from a Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis full‐sib family over 2 years. The dSRF signal was broken down into hydraulic capacitance, assessed as the daily amplitude of shrinkage (DA), and net growth, estimated as the change in maximum radius between two consecutive days (ΔR). The environmental determinants of these two traits were clearly different: DA was positively correlated with atmospheric variables relating to water demand, while ΔR was associated with soil water content. The heritability for these two traits ranged from low to moderate over time, revealing a time‐dependent or environment‐dependent complex genetic determinism. We identified 686 and 384 daily quantitative trait loci (QTL) representing 32 and 31 QTL regions for DA and ΔR, respectively. The identification of gene networks underlying the 27 major genomics regions for both traits generated additional hypotheses concerning the biological mechanisms involved in response to water demand and supply. This study highlights that environmentally induced changes in daily stem radius fluctuation are genetically controlled in trees and suggests that these daily responses integrated over time shape the genetic architecture of mature traits.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Willianms Ellery 
Published: March 2020

Business and Management Studies (BMS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether BMS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue. Reviewers for Volume 6, Number 1 Ashford Chea, Benedict College, USABahram Abediniangerabi, University of Texas, USADalia Susniene, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaFlorin Peci, University of Peja, KosovoGabriela O. Chiciudean, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaHung-Che Wu, Nanfang College of Sun Yat-sen University, ChinaJulia Stefanova, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BulgariaMichael Okoche, University of South Africa, UgandaMike Rayner, University of Portsmouth, UKSandeep Kumar, Tecnia Institute of Advanced Studies, Affiliated to GGSIP University Delgi, IndiaTetiana Paientko, Kyiv National Economic Univercity, UkraineZoran Mastilo, University of East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Ellery WillianmsEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Business and Management StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://bms.redfame.com
Measurement of the Natural Convection Heat Transfer in a Magnesium Oxide Electrolytic Cell Concept
Authors: Venstrom Luke J. , Yager Jacob , Vervynckt Todd , Ogland-Hand Jonathan D. , Nudehi Shahin S. 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
The rate of heat transfer by natural convection between the wall and electrolyte of an electrolytic cell that produces magnesium (Mg) from magnesium oxide (MgO) at temperatures near 1000 °C in a molten fluoride salt electrolyte is presented. An experimental model of the cell was developed that enabled measurements of the heat transfer in the absence of electrolysis and at temperatures less than 100 °C over ranges of Rayleigh numbers from 1 × 10−7 to 7 × 10−8 and Prandtl numbers from 2 to 6200, ranges that include those anticipated in the operation of the MgO electrolytic cell. The model avoids the substantial experimental challenges associated with the high-temperature, corrosive molten salt to enable a conservative estimate of the heat transfer at a lower cost and greater accuracy than would otherwise be possible. The results are correlated by the expression Nu = 0.412Ra0.23Pr0.15 with Nusselt numbers spanning 30–80. The application of the correlation shows that the heat transfer between the cell wall and the molten fluoride electrolyte at ≈1000 °C is characterized by convection coefficients between 100 and 600 W/m2-K and is fast enough to enable heat fluxes up to 10 W/cm2 without compromising the structural integrity of the steel cell wall.
Heating Analysis of a Water Droplet in Between Multi-Wall Hydrophobic Surfaces
Authors: Al-Sharafi Abdullah , Yilbas Bekir S. , Sahin Ahmet Z. , Al-Qahtani Hussain 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Droplet heat transfer in between parallelly located superhydrophobic plates is examined. The thermal field inside the droplet is predicted by adopting the experimental conditions. The influence of plates spacing (heights) on the thermal response of the droplet fluid is investigated. Particle injection velocimetry (PIV) is used to validate the velocity predictions. We demonstrated that predictions of flow velocity are in agreement with those of the PIV results. The heating of the droplet in the absence of the top plate gives four circulation cells in the droplet. Once the top superhydrophobic plate is introduced, the flow structure alters, and the number of the circulating structures reduces to two. Lowering the height of the plates increases the droplet Laplace pressure while modifying the fluid flow and thermal behavior. The Bond number is lower than one for all the cases considered; hence, demonstrating that the Marangoni force affects the formation of the circulation cells. The cells redistribute the heated fluid in the droplet interior, which is clearly apparent for the plates with small heights. Temperature enhancement in the droplet bottom section is attributed to the flow current formed due to heat diffusion. The Nusselt number corresponding to the bottom plate increases as the plate heights reduces; however, the opposite is true for that corresponding to the top plate.
Decreased Resistance to Primary IntravenousCryptococcus neoformansInfection in Aged Mice despite Adequate Resistance to Intravenous Rechallenge
Authors: Aguirre Karen M. , Gibson George W. , Johnson Lawrence L. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTIt is often stated that impaired immune functions in the aged underlie their greater susceptibility to infections. Indeed, in many experimental settings, T-cell responses in aged mice have been shown to be deficient compared with those from young adults. Nonetheless, there are very few examples where a greater susceptibility to infection in aged mice has been demonstrated to result from impaired T-cell function. The clinical importance of understanding the basis for increased susceptibility to infection that accompanies advanced age dictates a need for experimental models with which to study the effect that aging has on immunological resistance to infection. This study was undertaken to investigate whether aged mice were less resistant than young adult control mice to infection with the fungusCryptococcus neoformans. After a primary intravenous challenge with yeast, aged mice died sooner and developed higher organ burdens of yeast than did young adults. Deficient in vitro responses were observed in T cells from aged mice; however, greater susceptibility to intravenous infection appeared not to result from less effective T-cell-dependent resistance in vivo. In fact, T-cell-replete aged mice were more susceptible to intravenous cryptococcal infection than were T-cell-depleted young adults. Furthermore, aged mice were as resistant to primary pulmonary challenge withCryptococcusas were young adults. Similarly, vaccinated aged mice were as resistant to rechallenge as were young adult counterparts. Therefore, despite demonstrably deficient in vitro responses of T cells from aged mice, their T-cell-dependent resistance toC. neoformansis as effective as that of young adults.
Characterization of an Acidic-pH-Inducible Stress Protein (hsp70), a Putative Sulfatide Binding Adhesin, fromHelicobacter pylori
Authors: Huesca Mario , Goodwin Avery , Bhagwansingh Arianna , Hoffman Paul , Lingwood Clifford A. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTThe in vitro glycolipid binding specificity of the gastric pathogenHelicobacter pyloriis altered to include sulfated glycolipids (sulfatides) following brief exposure of the organism to acid pH typical of the stomach. This change is prevented by anti-hsp70 antibodies, suggesting that hsp70 may be a stress-induced surface adhesin, mediating sulfatide recognition. To facilitate investigation of the role of hsp70 in attachment, we have cloned and sequenced theH. pylori hsp70gene (dnaK). Thehsp70gene was identified by probing a cosmid DNA library made fromH. pylori439 with a PCR amplicon generated with oligonucleotides synthesized to highly conserved regions ofdnaK. The 1.9-kbH. pylori hsp70gene encodes a product of 616 amino acids. Primer extension analysis revealed a single transcription start site, while Northern blot analysis established thathsp70was preferentially induced by low pH rather than by heat shock. The ability ofH. pylorito alter its glycolipid binding specificity following exposure to low pH by upregulatinghsp70and by expressing hsp70 on the bacterial surface may provide a survival advantage during periods of high acid stress.
The Dominant Epitope ofBorrelia gariniiOuter Surface Protein C Recognized by Sera from Patients with Neuroborreliosis Has a Surface-Exposed Conserved Structural Motif
Authors: Mathiesen Marianne J. , Holm Arne , Christiansen Michael , Blom Jens , Hansen Klaus , Østergaard Søren , Theisen Michael 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTEpitope mapping of outer surface protein C (OspC) by using sera from patients with neuroborreliosis led to the identification of one single major immunodominant epitope within the C-terminal 10 amino acid residues. Peptide binding studies and alanine replacement scanning of the C-terminal decapeptide, PVVAESPKKP, revealed a critical role for the PKKP sequence and its terminal carboxyl group for the binding of immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies from patients with Lyme borreliosis. Electron microscopy of antibody-labeled spirochetes indicated that the C-terminal region is exposed on the surface of the spirochete. Based on homology to proteins of known function, this region most probably adopts a polyproline II-like helix, which is found in surface-exposed structures involved in protein-protein interactions. This structural motif is highly conserved inBorreliaspecies causing Lyme borreliosis and subjected to purifying selection. We suggest that the abundance of the C-terminal region of OspC on the surface ofB. burgdorferiallows a multimeric high-avidity interaction between the spirochete and surface Igs on B cells. The resulting cross-linking of surface Igs on B cells may induce a T-cell-independent B-cell activation without IgM-to-IgG switching, thus explaining the lack of IgG antibodies to OspC in neuroborreliosis.
Low Endotoxic Potential ofLegionella pneumophilaLipopolysaccharide due to Failure of Interaction with the Monocyte Lipopolysaccharide Receptor CD14
Authors: Neumeister B. , Faigle M. , Sommer M. , Zähringer U. , Stelter F. , Menzel R. , Schütt C. , Northoff H. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTLegionella pneumophila, a gram-negative bacterium causing Legionnaires’ disease and Pontiac fever, was shown to be highly reactive in in vitro gelation ofLimuluslysate but not able to induce fever and the local Shwartzman reaction in rabbits and mice. We analyzed the capacity of purifiedL. pneumophilalipopolysaccharide (LPS-Lp) to induce activation of the human monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6, as revealed by secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and desensitization to subsequent LPS stimulation. We showed that despite normal reactivity of LPS-Lp in theLimulusamoebocyte lysate assay, induction of cytokine secretion in Mono Mac 6 cells and desensitization to an endotoxin challenge required LPS-Lp concentrations 1,000 times higher than for LPS ofSalmonella entericaserovar Minnesota. Therefore, we examined the interaction of LPS-Lp with the LPS receptor CD14. We demonstrated that LPS-Lp did not bind to membrane-bound CD14 expressed on transfected CHO cells, nor did it react with soluble CD14. Our results suggest that the low endotoxic potential of LPS-Lp is due to a failure of interaction with the LPS receptor CD14.
Ferrous Iron Uptake in
Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Jacobson Eric S. , Goodner Asha Prasad , Nyhus Karin J. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have implicated ferric reduction in the iron uptake pathway of the opportunistic pathogen
Cryptococcus neoformans
. Here we studied iron uptake directly, using
55
Fe in the presence of reductants. Uptake was linear with respect to time and number of yeast cells. The plot of uptake versus concentration exhibited a steep rise up to about 1 μM, a plateau between 1 and 25 μM, and a second steep rise above 25 μM, consistent with high- and low-affinity uptake systems. A

K
m

for high-affinity uptake was estimated to be 0.6 μM Fe(II); 1 μM was used for standardized uptake assays. At this concentration, the uptake rate was 110 ± 3 pmol/10
6
cells/h. Iron repletion (15 μM) and copper starvation drastically decreased high-affinity iron uptake. Incubation at 0°C or in the presence of 2 mM KCN abolished high-affinity iron uptake, suggesting that uptake requires metabolic energy. When exogenous reducing agents were not supplied and the culture was washed free of secreted reductants, uptake was reduced by 46%; the remaining uptake activity presumably was dependent upon the cell membrane ferric reductase. Further decreases in free Fe(II) levels achieved by trapping with bathophenanthroline disulfonate or reoxidizing with potassium nitrosodisulfonate reduced iron uptake very drastically, suggesting that it is the Fe(II) species which is transported by the high-affinity transporter. The uptake of Fe was stimulated two- to threefold by deferoxamine, but this increment could be abolished by copper starvation or inhibition of the ferric reductase by Pt, indicating that Fe solubilized by this molecule also entered the reductive iron uptake pathway.
Targeted Disruption of theGRA2Locus inToxoplasma gondiiDecreases Acute Virulence in Mice
Authors: Mercier Corinne , Howe Daniel K. , Mordue Dana , Lingnau Maren , Sibley L. David 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTFollowing invasion into the host cell, the protozoanToxoplasma gondiisecretes a variety of proteins that modify the parasitophorous vacuole. Within the vacuole, the 28-kDa dense granule protein known as GRA2 is specifically targeted to the tubulovesicular network which forms connections with the vacuolar membrane. To investigate the importance of GRA2, we derived from strain RH a mutantT. gondiiline in whichGRA2was disrupted by replacement with the marker Ble (selecting for phleomycin resistance). The Δgra2mutant invaded and grew normally in both fibroblasts and macrophages in vitro; however, it was less virulent during acute infection in mice. The survival rate of mice inoculated with Δgra2was significantly higher; some infected mice survived the acute infection, whereas all mice infected with the wild-type strain RH succumbed to early death. Chronic infection by Δgra2was detected by positive serology, immunohistochemical detection of parasites and cysts in the brain, and reisolation of parasites by bioassay at 6 weeks postinfection. Thus, absence of GRA2 partially attenuates the virulence ofT. gondiiduring the acute phase of infection and allows for establishment of chronic infection by the otherwise highly virulent RH strain. These results establish that GRA2 plays an important role during in vivo infection and provide a potential model for examining acute pathogenesis byT. gondii.
Molecular Cloning, Expression, and Immunogenicity of MTB12, a Novel Low-Molecular-Weight Antigen Secreted by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Webb John R. , Vedvick Thomas S. , Alderson Mark R. , Guderian Jeffrey A. , Jen Shyian S. , Ovendale Pamela J. , Johnson Stephen M. , Reed Steven G. , Skeiky Yasir A. W. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT

Proteins secreted into the culture medium by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
are thought to play an important role in the development of protective immune responses. In this report, we describe the molecular cloning of a novel, low-molecular-weight antigen (MTB12) secreted by
M. tuberculosis
. Sequence analysis of the MTB12 gene indicates that the protein is initially synthesized as a 16.6-kDa precursor protein containing a 48-amino-acid hydrophobic leader sequence. The mature, fully processed form of MTB12 protein found in culture filtrates has a molecular mass of 12.5 kDa. MTB12 protein constitutes a major component of the
M. tuberculosis
culture supernatant and appears to be at least as abundant as several other well-characterized culture filtrate proteins, including members of the 85B complex. MTB12 is encoded by a single-copy gene which is present in both virulent and avirulent strains of the
M. tuberculosis
complex, the BCG strain of
M. bovis
, and
M. leprae
. Recombinant MTB12 containing an N-terminal six-histidine tag was expressed in
Escherichia coli
and purified by affinity chromatography. Recombinant MTB12 protein elicited in vitro proliferative responses from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a number of purified protein derivative-positive (PPD
+
) human donors but not from PPD
−
donors.
Characterization of Major Surface Glycoprotein Genes of HumanPneumocystis cariniiand High-Level Expression of a Conserved Region
Authors: Mei Qin , Turner Ross E. , Sorial Vivian , Klivington Diane , Angus C. William , Kovacs Joseph A. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTTo facilitate studies ofPneumocystis cariniiinfection in humans, we undertook to better characterize and to express the major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of humanP. carinii, an important protein in host-pathogen interactions. Seven MSG genes were cloned from a single isolate by PCR or genomic library screening and were sequenced. The predicted proteins, like rat MSGs, were closely related but unique variants, with a high level of conservation among cysteine residues. A conserved immunodominant region (of approximately 100 amino acids) near the carboxy terminus was expressed at high levels inEscherichia coliand used in Western blot studies. All 49 of the serum samples, which were taken from healthy controls as well as from patients with and withoutP. cariniipneumonia, were reactive with this peptide by Western blotting, supporting the hypothesis that most adult humans have been infected withP. cariniiat some point. This recombinant MSG fragment, which is the first humanP. cariniiantigen available in large quantities, may be a useful reagent for investigating the epidemiology ofP. cariniiinfection in humans.
Comparison of Sample Sequences of the
Salmonella typhi
Genome to the Sequence of the Complete
Escherichia coli
K-12 Genome
Authors: McClelland Michael , Wilson Richard K. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACT

Raw sequence data representing the majority of a bacterial genome can be obtained at a tiny fraction of the cost of a completed sequence. To demonstrate the utility of such a resource, 870 single-stranded M13 clones were sequenced from a shotgun library of the
Salmonella typhi
Ty2 genome. The sequence reads averaged over 400 bases and sampled the genome with an average spacing of once every 5,000 bases. A total of 339,243 bases of unique sequence was generated (approximately 7% representation). The sample of 870 sequences was compared to the complete
Escherichia coli
K-12 genome and to the rest of the GenBank database, which can also be considered a collection of sampled sequences. Despite the incomplete
S. typhi
data set, interesting categories could easily be discerned. Sixteen percent of the sequences determined from
S. typhi
had close homologs among known
Salmonella
sequences (
P
< 1
e
−40
in BlastX or BlastN), reflecting the proportion of these genomes that have been sequenced previously; 277 sequences (32%) had no apparent orthologs in the complete
E. coli
K-12 genome (
P
> 1
e
−20
), of which 155 sequences (18%) had no close similarities to any sequence in the database (
P
> 1
e
−5
). Eight of the 277 sequences had similarities to genes in other strains of
E. coli
or plasmids, and six sequences showed evidence of novel phage lysogens or sequence remnants of phage integrations, including a member of the lambda family (
P
< 1
e
−15
). Twenty-three sample sequences had a significantly closer similarity a sequence in the database from organisms other than the
E. coli/Salmonella
clade (which includes
Shigella
and
Citrobacter
). These sequences are new candidate lateral transfer events to the
S. typhi
lineage or deletions on the
E. coli
K-12 lineage. Eleven putative junctions of insertion/deletion events greater than 100 bp were observed in the sample, indicating that well over 150 such events may distinguish
S. typhi
from
E. coli
K-12. The need for automatic methods to more effectively exploit sample sequences is discussed.
Partially Protective Vaccination Permits the Development of Latency in a Normally Virulent Strain ofToxoplasma gondii
Authors: Yap George S. , Scharton-Kersten Tanya , Ferguson David J. P. , Howe Dan , Suzuki Yasuhiro , Sher Alan 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTThe virulent RH strain ofToxoplasma gondiiis acutely lethal in mice and fails to establish chronic infection. Vaccination of BALB/c mice with a soluble tachyzoite antigen preparation, STAg, in combination with the immunostimulatory cytokine interleukin-12 results in partial protection against RH lethal challenge. Nevertheless, brain tissue obtained from surviving, vaccinated mice as late as 1 year after RH infection contained latent parasite forms as demonstrated by subinoculation into naive recipients. The tachyzoites arising in the subinoculated animals were genetically indistinguishable from the original RH inoculum. Microscopic examination revealed that the persistent parasite forms present in the brains of vaccinated and challenged mice have a tissue cyst-like morphology and express the bradyzoite antigen BAG-1 but not the tachyzoite-specific antigen SAG-2 but are different from the cysts formed by avirulentT. gondiistrains in that the internal parasite stages display ultrastructural features intermediate between tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Moreover, the zoites within the RH tissue cysts are clearly distinct from conventional bradyzoites in their sensitivity to pepsin-HCl digestion. In contrast to the observations made with partially resistant STAg/interleukin-12-vaccinated animals, no latent forms could be detected in brain tissue after RH challenge of mice immunized with a live attenuated tachyzoite vaccine which confers total protection against this parasite isolate. The above findings demonstrate the potential of a virulentT. gondiistrain to generate latent parasite stages, a process which may be promoted under conditions of incomplete vaccination.