bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nuclear polyhedrosis virus‐induced proteomic changes in Antheraea mylitta
Authors: Nallabothula Triveni , Hulikal Shivashankar Santosh Kumar , Vootla Shyam Kumar 
Published: February 2021

AbstractInnate immunity, the evolutionarily conserved defence system, has been extensively explored in insect models like Drosophila and mosquito species for their immune responses towards diverse pathogens. Viruses being obligate parasites take over cellular macromolecular machinery and routinely control intracellular signalling pathways through the direct or indirect control of kinases and phosphatases. Domestic silkworm, Bombyx mori is an economically important insect. Wild silkworm Antheraea mylitta produces a unique variety of silk in terms of its colour, lustre and strength called as Tasar silk. Both the silkworms vary in their immune response to nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV). NPV causes 80% of crop losses in B. mori, interestingly there are no documented reports of NPV infection in A. mylitta. To investigate the mechanism of A. mylitta's immune response to NPV infection, we analysed viral induced proteins through proteomic approach (SDS‐PAGE and LC–MS/MS). We report the expression of a myotubularin‐related protein (MTMR6) of 23 kDa at 72 h post infection (hpi) indicating its role in host immunity as a phosphatase enzyme. And also, a differentially expressed serpin‐like protein of 67 kDa was upregulated in a significant way from 72 hpi further strengthening the immune response by suppressing the viral replication through serine protease inhibitory activity. This observation was further confirmed through qPCR studies on virus proliferation using lef‐1 gene which clearly indicated a reduction in viral load from 72 hpi onwards in A. mylitta silkworms.
Deciphering fruit sugar transport and metabolism from tolerant and sensitive tomato plants subjected to simulated field conditions
Authors: Lopez‐Delacalle Maria , Camejo Daymi , Garcia‐Marti Maria , Lopez‐Ramal Maria Jose , Nortes Pedro A. , Martinez Vicente , Rivero Rosa M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the current state of climate change, we must assume that abiotic stresses act together under natural field conditions, these will increase in the coming years. Therefore, in this report we investigated how sugar metabolism was affected under simulated field conditions, where plants faced high ambient temperatures and a low‐quality water irrigation. Our studies were carried out on fruits of two tomato recombinant lines, a tolerant and a sensitive one exposed to the combination of heat and salinity. Two ripening stages (mature green and red ripe fruits) were used in our analyzes, where the gene expression levels of the main biosynthetic genes and transporters, enzymatic activities and compounds related to the synthesis, accumulation, and degradation of sugars in plants were analyzed. The tolerant line showed highly significant differences in red ripe fruits in comparison to the sensitive one under the simulated field conditions (35°C + 60 mM NaCl), with an overexpression of the genes SlFBP, SlSPS, SlSUS3, and SlNi. These expression patterns correlated with a higher activity of the enzymes FBP, SPS, SUS3, AI, and G6PDH, which resulted in the accumulation of fructose, glucose and UDP‐glucose. Our results showed the advantage of using tomato recombinant lines for rescuing important traits, such as the resistance to some abiotic stresses, and for the identification of important molecular and metabolic markers that could be used to determine fruit quality in green or red maturity stages under detrimental environmental field conditions.
A novel insight into transcriptional and epigenetic regulation underlying sex expression and flower development in melon (Cucumis melo L.)
Authors: Aamir Mohd , Karmakar Pradip , Singh Vinay Kumar , Kashyap Sarvesh Pratap , Pandey Sudhakar , Singh Binod Kumar , Singh Prabhakar Mohan , Singh Jagdish 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMelon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important cucurbit and has been considered as a model plant for studying sex determination. The four most common sexual morphotypes in melon are monoecious (A‐G‐M), gynoecious (−‐ggM‐), andromonoecious (A‐G‐mm), and hermaphrodite (‐‐ggmm). Sex expression in melons is complex, as the genes and associated networks that govern the sex expression are not fully explored. Recently, RNA‐seq transcriptomic profiling, ChIP‐qPCR analysis integrated with gene ontology annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways predicted the differentially expressed genes including sex‐specific ACS and ACO genes, in regulating the sex‐expression, phytohormonal cross‐talk, signal transduction, and secondary metabolism in melons. Integration of transcriptional control through genetic interaction in between the ACS7, ACS11, and WIP1 in epistatic or hypostatic manner, along with the recruitment of H3K9ac and H3K27me3, epigenetically, overall determine sex expression. Alignment of protein sequences for establishing phylogenetic evolution, motif comparison, and protein–protein interaction supported the structural conservation while presence of the conserved hydrophilic and charged residues across the diverged evolutionary group predicted the functional conservation of the ACS protein. Presence of the putative cis‐binding elements or DNA motifs, and its further comparison with DAP‐seq‐based cistrome and epicistrome of Arabidopsis, unraveled strong ancestry of melons with Arabidopsis. Motif comparison analysis also characterized putative genes and transcription factors involved in ethylene biosynthesis, signal transduction, and hormonal cross‐talk related to sex expression. Overall, we have comprehensively reviewed research findings for a deeper insight into transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of sex expression and flower development in melons.
Seed inoculation of desert‐plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria induce biochemical alterations and develop resistance against water stress in wheat
Authors: Zia Rabisa , Nawaz Muhammad Shoib , Yousaf Sumaira , Amin Imran , Hakim Sughra , Mirza Muhammad Sajjad , Imran Asma 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWater shortage limits agricultural productivity, so strategies to get higher yields in dry agricultural systems is vital to circumvent the effect of climate change and land‐shortage. The plant rhizosphere harbors beneficial bacteria able to confer biotic/abiotic tolerance along with a positive impact on plant growth. Herein, three bacterial strains, Proteus mirabilis R2, Pseudomonas balearica RF‐2 and Cronobacter sakazakii RF‐4 (accessions: LS975374, LS975373, LS975370, respectively) isolated from native desert‐weeds were investigated for their response to improve wheat growth under drought stress. The bacteria showed drought tolerance up to 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG; −0.6 MPa), and salt (65–97 g l−1), 1‐aminocyclopropane‐1‐carboxylate (ACC)‐deaminase activity, P/Zn/K‐solubilization, calcite degradation, IAA, and siderophore production. The plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were evaluated on wheat under water stress. The P. balearica strain RF‐2 primed seeds showed a maximum promptness index and germination index under PEG‐stress, that is, 68% and 100%, respectively. Inoculation significantly improved plant growth, leaf area, and biomass under water stress. P. mirabilis R2 inoculated plant leaves showed the highest water contents as compared to the plants inoculated with other strains. C. sakazakii RF‐4 inoculated plants showed minimum cell injury, electrolyte leakage, and maximum cell membrane stability at PEG stress. After 13 days exposure to drought, C. sakazakii RF‐4 treated plants showed an overall higher expression of cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (cAPX) and ribulose‐bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) genes. The activity of stress‐induced catalase and polyphenol oxidase was reduced, while that of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase increased after inoculation but the response was temporal. Taken together, this data explains that different PGPR (especially C. sakazakii RF‐4) modulate differential responses in wheat that eventually leads towards drought tolerance, hence, it has the potential to enhance crop production in arid regions.
Autonomic reactivity to emotion: A marker of sub‐clinical anxiety and depression symptoms?
Authors: De Zorzi Lucas , Ranfaing Stéphane , Honoré Jacques , Sequeira Henrique 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAnxiety and depression are both characterized by dysregulated autonomic reactivity to emotion. However, most experiments until now have focused on autonomic reactivity to stimuli presented in central vision (CV) even if affective saliency is also observed in peripheral vision (PV). We compared autonomic reactivity to CV and PV emotional stimulation in 58 participants with high anxious (HA) or low anxious (LA) and high depressive (HD) or low depressive (LD) symptomatology, based on STAI‐B and BDI scores, respectively. Unpleasant (U), pleasant (P), and neutral (N) pictures from IAPS were presented at three eccentricities (0°: CV; −12 and 12°: PV). Skin conductance (SC), skin temperature, pupillary diameter, and heart rate (HR) were recorded. First, HA participants showed greater pupil dilation to emotional than to neutral stimuli in PV than in CV. Second, in contrast to HD, the valence effect indexed by SC and emotional arousal effect indexed by skin temperature were observed in LD. Third, both anxiety and depression lead to a valence effect indexed by pupillary light reflex and heart rate. These results suggest a hyperreactivity to emotion and hypervigilance to PV in anxiety. Depression is associated with an attenuation of positive effect and a global blunted autonomic reactivity to emotion. Moreover, anxiety mostly modulates the early processes of autonomic reactivity whereas depression mainly affects the later processes. The differential impact of emotional information over the visual field suggests the use of new stimulation strategies in order to attenuate anxious and depressive symptoms.
Lytic regulated cell death in aquaculture fish
Authors: Xia Xiaojing , He Bin , Zhang Xiulin , Cheng Zhe , Liu Mingcheng , Wei Xiaobing , Jiang Jinqing , Hu Jianhe 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCell death is an important physiological and pathological phenomenon in multicellular animals and occurs widely in various body’s systems. In recent years, researchers have gained a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of necrosis and apoptosis in mammals. In addition, many new forms of lytic regulated cell death (RCD), such as pyroptosis, necroptosis and ferroptosis, have been discovered, thus enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of programmed cell death (PCD) and the associated signalling pathways as well as their relationship with diseases. However, our understanding of lytic RCD in fish is limited. Recently, some progress has been made regarding the induction conditions, expression of related genes and regulation of lytic RCD in fish. Furthermore, research on the roles of lytic RCD in tissue development, against pathogenic microorganism, inflammatory disease and neurological disease, has also been advanced. Understanding lytic RCD in fish will enable the regulation of its occurrence through human intervention to inhibit disease processes, improve fish health and explore possible countermeasures based on these basic theoretical studies.
INSL‐3 protein expression in normal and cryptorchid testes of Ziwuling black goats
Authors: Yuan Ligang , Wang Hua , Wang Qianmei , Li Chengye , Yang Dapeng 
Published: February 2021

AbstractZiwuling black goats are typically found in loess plateaus regions and the Ziwuling Nature Reserve. Cryptorchidism is a common disease in this inbred goat, and its pathogenesis has been linked with the expression of insulin‐like factor 3 (INSL‐3). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate anatomical alterations caused by cryptorchism and the expression and distribution of INSL‐3 in normal and cryptorchid testicular tissues. The testicular tissues of 6‐month‐old Ziwuling black goats were collected for microscopic analyses using histochemical, immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence and biometrical methods, as well as Western blotting to compare the expression and distribution of INSL‐3. A lower expression of INSL‐3 was observed in cryptorchid compared with normal testicular tissues (p < .01). Cryptorchidism caused a significant reduction in layers of spermatogenic epithelium and tubule areas in Ziwuling black goat (p < .01). The interstitial to seminiferous tubule area ratio was larger in cryptorchid than in normal group. Periodic Acid‐Schiff (PAS) staining revealed pronounced positive bands in the interstitial tissue, while positive Alcian blue (AB) staining was not clear, and AB‐PAS staining revealed a positive red band in the basement membrane of cryptorchid group. Immunofluorescence revealed a strong signal of INSL‐3 expression in Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells, and moderate signal in Leydig and spermatogenic cells in the normal group. However, in cryptorchid testicular tissues, the signal of INSL‐3 expression was strong in primary spermatocytes, occasional in Sertoli cells, limited in Leydig cells and absent in peritubular myoid cells. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed that INSL‐3 expression was higher in normal testes compared with cryptorchid testicular tissues (p < .05), especially in primary spermatocytes and Sertoli cells. Collectively, our results indicate that cryptorchidism is closely related to the disorder of acid glycoprotein metabolism and the reduction in release of INSL‐3 from Leydig cells. Moreover, Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells are crucial for INSL signalling and could underpin further research on the mechanism of cryptorchidism in animal.
Integration of Evidence on Community Cancer Risks from Elongate Mineral Particles in Silver Bay, Minnesota
Authors: Dell Linda D. , Gallagher Alexa E. , Yost Lisa J. , Mundt Kenneth A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe potential for cancer‐related risks to community members from ambient exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMPs) in taconite processing has not been formally evaluated. We evaluated 926 ambient air samples including 12,928 EMPs (particle structures with length‐to‐width ratio ≥3:1) collected over 26 years near a taconite processing facility in Silver Bay, Minnesota. Eighty‐two percent of EMPs were ≤3 μm in length and 97% of EMPs had an average aspect ratio <20:1. A total of 935 (7.3%) EMPs had length >5 μm and AR ≥3:1. Average ambient concentration of NIOSH countable amphibole EMPs over all years was 0.000387 EMPs per cubic centimeter (EMP/cm3). Of 12,765 nonchrysotile EMPs, the number of amphiboles with length and width dimensions that correlate best with asbestos‐related carcinogenicity ranged from four (0.03%) to 13 (0.1%) and the associated ambient amphibole air concentrations ranged from 0.000003 to 0.000007 EMP/cm3. After 65 years of taconite processing in Silver Bay, evidence of an increased risk of mesothelioma and lung cancer in community members who did not work in the taconite industry is lacking. The absence of an increased risk of asbestos‐related cancer in the Silver Bay community is coherent with supporting evidence from epidemiological and toxicological studies, as well as ambient exposure data and lake sediment data collected in Minnesota Iron Range communities. Collectively, the data provide consistent evidence that nonasbestiform amphibole minerals lack the carcinogenic potential exhibited by amphibole asbestos.
A Nonmechanistic Parametric Modeling Approach for Benchmark Dose Estimation of Event‐Time Data
Authors: Jensen Signe M. , Cedergreen Nina , Kluxen Felix M. , Ritz Christian 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe propose benchmark dose estimation for event‐time data, using a two‐step approach. This approach avoids estimation of complex models and has been previously shown to give robust results for summarizing relevant parameters for risk assessment. In the first step, the probability of the event of interest to occur (in a certain time interval) is described as a function of time, resulting in an event‐time model; such a model is fitted allowing an individual curve for each dose, and relevant estimates are extracted. In the second step, a dose–response model is fitted to the estimates of t50 obtained from the event‐time model in the first step. Given a predefined benchmark response, the benchmark dose is then estimated from the resulting model. This novel approach is demonstrated in two examples. Our application of the time‐to‐event model showed a gain in power compared to the traditional analysis of end‐of‐study summary data.
Does Conservation Ethic Include Intergenerational Bequest? A Random Utility Model Analysis of Conservation Easements and Agricultural Landowners*
Authors: Keske Catherine M. H. , Arnold Parker , Cross Jennifer E. , Bastian Christopher T. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAs the average age of agricultural producers continues to rise, farm succession planning and the large number of anticipated land transfers are expected to transform rural American agricultural production and landscapes. Policy tools like conservation easements (CEs) can facilitate agricultural land preservation through “dead hand control” by restricting the development through binding legal contracts that can be transferred across generations. We examine whether agricultural landowners seek CE agreements to keep the land in agriculture for intergenerational bequest, rather than selling the land for financial gains that could be enjoyed immediately or passed to heirs. We assess whether this may be influenced by landowner conservation ethic or perceived threat to sense of place. We analyze the survey data collected from 2,270 agricultural landowners in Colorado and Wyoming utilizing a random utility model estimation. We find that landowners are less likely to reject a CE agreement when there is a desire to bequest agricultural land to the next generation or a perceived threat to sense of place; however, conservation ethic mitigates intergenerational bequest effects. This indicates that conservation ethic encompasses a desire to pass land to the next generation. Our findings contribute to the conservation literature by advocating for the regenerative approach to land conservation rather than the theory of planned behavior.
Hyper‐Securitization, Everyday Security Practice and Technification: Cyber‐Security Logics in Switzerland
Authors: Dunn Cavelty Myriam , Egloff Florian J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis contribution to the SPSR debate about technology and security in Switzerland looks at how and by whom cyber‐security is constructed in Swiss security politics. Using three securitization logics as developed by reflexive Security Studies – hyper‐securitization, everyday security practices, and technification – it illustrates how Swiss actors have sorted out roles and responsibilities over the years. The article suggests that all three logics are present in the political process, but that ‘technification’ – a way to construct the issue as reliant upon technical knowledge and the supposition that this serves a political and normatively neutral agenda – is currently the dominant one. For democratic politics, technification is a big challenge. Assigning an issue to the technical realm has a depoliticizing influence and makes contestation from those with less technical expertise very hard.
Municipal Insurance Pools and Disenfranchisement in Indian Country
Authors: Dietrich Joseph , Schroedel Jean , Mazareas Kara , Lake Joseph 
Published: February 2021

ObjectiveOur objective is to establish the impact of a litigation pattern used by defendants in voting rights cases in Indian Country which relies on municipal insurance pools and the barring of fee recovery.MethodsWe use history and case studies from four states to demonstrate the argument.ResultsCourt is the only option for challenging disenfranchisement of voters, but cases require financial resources often unavailable to Native American plaintiffs. Defendants, typically state and local governments, do not face similar resource constraints as they participate in municipal insurance pools. Defendants, therefore, attempt to raise litigation costs to pressure plaintiffs to dispose of cases. If defendants think they will lose, they settle, preventing plaintiffs from recovering litigation costs or setting a precedent. This form of voting rights infringement discourages others from filing lawsuits as the financial impact can be devastating.ConclusionWe conclude that the states provide a new arena to litigate voting rights cases.
Cutaneous cytomegalovirus – A case of disseminated cytomegalovirus presenting with extensive ulcerative skin lesions in a renal transplant recipient
Authors: Ferguson Jessica , Mooney Kelly , Saleem Atif , Stevens Bryan A. , Pinsky Benjamin A. , Centkowski Sierra , Zaba Lisa C. , Ho Dora Y. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation is common in organ transplant recipients and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Cutaneous CMV findings are rarely reported in the literature and diagnosis can be delayed if not clinically recognized. We describe a case of a female patient 20 years post renal transplant who presented with extensive ulcerative skin lesions and diarrhea. She rapidly deteriorated and died on day 5 of hospitalization. Autopsy noted extensive CMV involvement of skin and gastrointestinal (GI) tract by CMV‐specific immunohistochemistry. These findings, along with high‐grade CMV viremia, led to the final postmortem diagnosis of disseminated CMV infection. This case focuses on the cutaneous findings of disseminated CMV as recognition of CMV skin lesions can lead to earlier initiation of appropriate therapy in transplant recipients.
SPL14/17 act downstream of strigolactone signalling to modulate rice root elongation in response to nitrate supply
Authors: Sun Huwei , Guo Xiaoli , Qi Xuejiao , Feng Fan , Xie Xiaonan , Zhang Yali , Zhao Quanzhi 
Published: February 2021

SUMMARYNitrogen (N) is an essential major nutrient for food crops. Although ammonium (NH4+) is the primary N source of rice (Oryza sativa), nitrate (NO3−) can also be absorbed and utilized. Rice responds to NO3− application by altering its root morphology, such as root elongation. Strigolactones (SLs) are important modulators of root length. However, the roles of SLs and their downstream genes in NO3−‐induced root elongation remain unclear. Here, the levels of total N and SL (4‐deoxyorobanchol) and the responses of seminal root (SR) lengths to NH4+ and NO3− were investigated in rice plants. NO3− promoted SR elongation, possibly due to short‐term signal perception and long‐term nutrient function. Compared with NH4+ conditions, higher SL signalling/levels and less D53 protein were recorded in roots of NO3−‐treated rice plants. In contrast to wild‐type plants, SR lengths of d mutants were less responsive to NO3− conditions, and application of rac‐GR24 (SL analogue) restored SR length in d10 (SL biosynthesis mutant) but not in d3, d14, and d53 (SL‐responsive mutants), suggesting that higher SL signalling/levels participate in NO3−‐induced root elongation. D53 interacted with SPL17 and inhibited SPL17‐mediated transactivation from the PIN1b promoter. Mutation of SPL14/17 and PIN1b caused insensitivity of the root elongation response to NO3− and rac‐GR24 applications. Therefore, we conclude that perception of SLs by D14 leads to degradation of D53 via the proteasome system, which releases the suppression of SPL14/17‐modulated transcription of PIN1b, resulting in root elongation under NO3− supply.