bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The interplay between ovule number, pollination and resources as determinants of seed set in a modular plant
Authors: Strelin Marina M. , Aizen Marcelo A. 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundA classical dichotomous perspective proposes that either pollination or plant resources limit seed production. However, ovule number could also be limiting when pollination results in complete ovule fertilization and there are more plant resources available than needed to develop seeds. Moreover, this dichotomous view assumes that all flowers of a plant have equal access to a shared pool of resources, although these are frequently compartmentalized within plant modules, for example, inflorescences. How ovule number, pollination and resources affect seed production in physiologically-compartmentalized rather than physiologically-integrated plants has yet to be explored. We used raspberry (Rubus idaeus) to address this question.MethodsWe first assessed if ovule number affected the fraction of ovules that develop into seed (i.e., seed set) and whether this effect related to the extent of physiological integration among flowers within plants. This was achieved by statistically testing predictions on the sign and level of plant organization (i.e., among flowers within inflorescences, among inflorescences within ramets, and among ramets) of the relation between ovule number and seed set given different degrees of physiological integration. We then explored whether the relation between ovule number and seed set was affected by plant age (used here as a surrogate of resource availability) and pollination intensity (open-pollination vs. exclusion).ResultsWithin inflorescences, flowers with more ovules set a larger fraction of seeds. On the other hand, seed set at the inflorescence level was negatively related to the average number of ovules per flower. Seed set increased with ovule number and open-pollination, and decreased with ramet age. However, ovule number explained more variation in seed set than ramet age and pollination treatment. Ramet age affected the strength of the relation of seed set to ovule number, which was stronger in old than young ramets. Pollination did not alter the strength of this relation to any significant extent.DiscussionResults reveal the importance of ovule number as an overriding factor affecting seed set. Within inflorescences, resources appear to be differentially allocated to developing fruits from flowers with many ovules. This is consistent with the fact that in the raspberry a large proportion of the carbon invested in fruit development is fixed by the inflorescence subtending leaf. Differential resource allocation to flowers with many ovules is not affected by pollinator exclusion, being stronger in resource-exhausted ramets. This suggests that the effects of pollen limitation and resource allocation are compartmentalized at the inflorescence level. Consequently, modular plants can be viewed as reproductive mosaics where either ovule number, pollination or resources limit the number of seeds set by different flowers, so that improvements in any of them could increase plant seed production.
KIO3‐Catalyzed C(sp2)‐H Bond Selenylation/Sulfenylation of (Hetero)arenes: Synthesis of Chalcogenated (Hetero)arenes and their Evaluation for Anti‐Alzheimer Activity
Authors: Rodrigues Janh , Saba Sumbal , Joussef Antônio C. , Rafique Jamal , Braga Antonio L. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHighly efficient KIO3‐catalyzed chalcogenations (S and Se) of (hetero)arenes, with easily accessible and odorless dichalcogenides, were obtained through direct C(sp2)‐H bond chalcogenation. Using this benign, atom‐economic protocol, the desired products were obtained regioselectively in good to excellent yields in the presence of ethylene glycol (4 equiv.) and KIO3 (20 mol %) as a non‐toxic and easily handled catalyst. This metal‐ and solvent‐free approach is scalable, and it is applicable to different types of (hetero)arenes. Furthermore, several of these chalcogenated (hetero)arenes exhibited a significantly high percentage of AChE inhibition, revealing their potential anti‐Alzheimer activity.
Hepta‐thienoacenes with Internal Carbazole: Synthesis, Regioselectivities and Organic Field‐Effect Transistor Applications
Authors: Hu Yueming , Wang Hao , Liu Shuli , Zhang Jing , Zhao Baomin , Fu Nina , Yi Mingdong , Huang Wei 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAcenes/heteroacenes, the most widely studied small‐molecule organic semiconductors, always possess linear structures. In this work, three stable, soluble and angular π‐extended hepta‐thienoacenes with an internal carbazole, that is, thienobenzo‐fused carbazole (DTBCz) were synthesized via a four‐step tandem method. The tandem synthesis starting from carbazole derivatives led to interesting isomeric effects. The synthetic regioselectivity was discussed in detail. Their physical properties and electron density distributions were studied by UV/Vis absorption, photoluminescence, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements, and theoretical calculations. Their potentials as semiconducting materials were evaluated by fabricating the solution‐processed organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs). The more angular shaped isomer of DTB[32,34]Cz displayed the best performance with hole mobility up to 0.0044 cm2 V−1 s−1 in devices with a thickness of ca. 115 nm. Particularly, the performance of DTB[32,34]Cz‐based devices showed less dependence on the thickness of their active layer.
New π‐Extended Naphthalene Diimides for High‐Performance n‐Type Organic Semiconductors with NIR Absorption Properties
Authors: Wu Wenting , Zhao Zheng , Li Jing , Chen Ming , Gao Xike 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThree π‐extended naphthalene diimide (NDI) derivatives, where the conjugated scaffold, NDI core fused with 2‐(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐ylidene) acetonitrile moieties was laterally extended by using bicyclic aromatics, namely benzo [b] thiophen‐2‐yl group, naphthalen‐2‐yl group, and azulen‐2‐yl group, were explored to acquire high‐performance near‐infrared (NIR) organic semiconductors. It is because of such an extended conjugation that these compounds display remarkable absorption bands even extending to the NIR region with the absorption cutoffs of up to 920 nm. Pure electron‐transporting characteristics of these diimides are characterized by the fabrication of their organic thin film transistor (OTFT) devices. The high electron mobilities of up to 0.37 cm2 V−1 s−1 coupled with NIR‐absorbing properties make them promising n‐type organic semiconductors.
Productivity changes following medical and surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis by symptom domain
Authors: Beswick Daniel M. , Mace Jess C. , Rudmik Luke , Soler Zachary M. , DeConde Adam S. , Smith Timothy L. 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is associated with substantial productivity losses. Prior cross‐sectional study has identified risk factors and symptom subdomains contributing to baseline productivity loss. This study evaluates correlations between posttreatment changes in symptom subdomain and productivity loss.MethodsA total of 202 adult patients with refractory CRS were prospectively enrolled into an observational, multi‐institutional cohort study between August 2012 and June 2015. Respondents provided pretreatment and posttreatment 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22) scores. Productivity losses were monetized using measures of absenteeism, presenteeism, lost leisure time, and U.S. government–estimated wage and labor rates.ResultsA total of 39 (19%) participants elected continued appropriate medical therapy (CAMT) and 163 (81%) elected endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). CAMT patients experienced improvement in SNOT‐22 total and rhinologic subdomain scores (both p ≤ 0.039). ESS patients reported improvement in SNOT‐22 total scores and all subdomains (all p < 0.001). Mean monetized productivity losses were nearly unchanged following CAMT (−$200, p = 0.887) but significantly reduced following ESS (−$5,015, p < 0.001). Mean productivity losses were reported in CAMT patients reporting worse mean posttreatment extra‐rhinologic, psychological, and sleep symptom severity scores; however, no statistically significant linear correlations (r ≤ 0.249; p ≥ 0.126) were reported.ConclusionTreatment modalities associate with different posttreatment productivity changes. Patients electing ESS experienced postoperative improvement in productivity distributed across all SNOT‐22 symptom domains, suggesting productivity improvement correlates with multiple symptom domains. Patients electing CAMT had better baseline productivity compared to patients electing ESS, and this productivity level was maintained through treatment. Greater productivity loss occurred in patients with worse SNOT‐22 scores in the extra‐rhinologic, psychological, and sleep subdomains.
Effects of decongestant addition to intranasal corticosteroid for chronic rhinitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Khattiyawittayakun Likhit , Seresirikachorn Kachorn , Chitsuthipakorn Wirach , Kanjanawasee Dichapong , Snidvongs Kornkiat 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundIntranasal corticosteroid (INCS) is the most efficacious medicine for treating chronic rhinitis. A decongestant and INCS combination (INCS‐D) is considered for nasal congestion that is not improved by INCS. This study aimed to investigate the effects of INCS‐D on chronic rhinitis.MethodsLiterature searches were performed using MEDLINE and EMBASE. Randomized controlled trials studying the effects of INCS‐D vs INCS alone for treating chronic rhinitis were included. Data were pooled for meta‐analysis. Outcomes were nasal symptoms, disease‐specific quality of life, objective tests for nasal patency, and adverse events.ResultsSix studies (1071 patients) met the inclusion criteria. There were no differences between INCS‐D and INCS on total nasal symptom scores (standardized mean difference [SMD] −0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.09 to 0.40; p = 0.18), nasal congestion scores (SMD −0.13; 95% CI, −0.46 to 0.20; p = 0.43), and the Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score (SMD −0.12; 95% CI, −0.66 to 0.42; p = 0.66). After 1 week, there were no differences on objective tests for nasal patency (acoustic rhinometry: SMD 0.04; 95% CI, −0.68 to 0.76, p = 0.91; and peak nasal inspiratory flow: SMD 0.08; 95% CI, −0.16 to 0.32; p = 0.52). Adverse events were not different between INCS‐D and INCS (risk ratio 1.09; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.62).ConclusionMeta‐analyses did not show benefits of topical decongestants addition to INCS. Adverse events of INCS‐D were comparable with INCS.
Preliminary survey on animal research statistics in Sri Lanka from 2010 onwards
Authors: Ishak Sahabdeen Chedliya , Gunatilake Mangala 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundAnimal research is conducted in many countries across the world. However, concepts of recording and reporting the numbers of animals used vary. In the context of animal studies, inadequate reporting raises both ethical and scientific concerns. Sri Lanka has yet to publish data on animal research statistics.MethodsThe objective of this survey was to present the number and types of vertebrate animals used for research and establish the species used for different types of research studies. All facilities/personnel engaged in animal research were invited to participate and a web‐based survey was performed.ResultsBased on the data collected, rats and mice were the most widely used animals in Sri Lankan laboratories. Of these, the most reported model were rats of the Wistar strain (42%) and mice of the BALB/c strain (15%). The highest number of animals used in laboratory research occurred in 2011, with a 12% decrease observed in 2012.
Effect of flight transport stress on blood parameters in beagles and the anti‐stress effect of dangshen
Authors: Liang Wang , Zeng Ling‐Yu , Yu Chuan‐Xin , Gao Xiu‐Xiu , Fu Lu‐Di , Wang Xiao 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundThis study investigated the effect of flight transport stress on beagles' routine blood indexes and biochemical parameters and evaluated the anti‐stress effect of dangshen (Codonopsis pilosula).MethodsWe selected 12 beagles and divided them into two groups. One group was treated with dangshen decoction two hours before the flight, and the other group was untreated. Their routine blood indexes and clinical biochemical parameters were tested and analyzed before transport, after unloading and after adaptation for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 days after administering dangshen.ResultsWe found that flight transportation stress adversely influenced many of the beagles' routine blood indexes. These recovered during adaptation, with dangshen administration assisting recovery of most indexes. Flight transport stress also adversely influenced biochemical indexes in the beagles. Again these recovered during adaptation, and dangshen aided in the recovery.ConclusionThus, we found that flight transport adversely affected the beagles' blood indexes, and dangshen reversed the damage from transport stress.
Choosing the right animal model for infectious disease research
Authors: Swearengen James R. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA complex biological system is often required to study the myriad of host‐pathogen interactions associated with infectious diseases, especially since the current basis of biology has reached the molecular level. The use of animal models is important for understanding the very complex temporal relationships that occur in infectious disease involving the body, its neuroendocrine and immune systems and the infectious organism. Because of these complex interactions, the choice of animal model must be a thoughtful and clearly defined process in order to provide relevant, translatable scientific data and to ensure the most beneficial use of the animals. While many animals respond similarly to humans from physiological, pathological, and therapeutic perspectives, there are also significant species‐by‐species differences. A well‐designed animal model requires a thorough understanding of similarities and differences in the responses between humans and animals and incorporates that knowledge into the goals of the study. Determining the intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with the disease and creating a biological information matrix to compare the animal model and human disease courses is a useful tool to help choose the appropriate animal model. Confidence in the correlation of results from a model to the human disease can be achieved only if the relationship of the model to the human disease is well understood.
Ablation of NTPDase2+ cells inhibits the formation of filiform papillae in tongue tip
Authors: Li Feng , Niu Bo‐Wen , Zhu Meng‐Min 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroundLingual epithelia in the tongue tip are among the most rapidly regenerating tissues, but the mechanism of cell genesis in this tissue is still unknown. Previous study has suggested the existence of multiple stem cell pools in lingual epithelia and papillae. Like K14+ and Sox2+ cells, NTPDase2+ cells have characteristics of stem cells.MethodsWe employed a system using doxycycline to conditionally ablate NTPDase2+ cells in lingual epithelia and papillae by regulated expression of the diphtheria toxin A (DTA) gene. Transgenic lines, which expressed the rtTA gene in NTPDase2+ cells, were produced by pronuclear injection of zygotes from C57BL/6 mice using the BAC clone RP23‐47P18. The NTPDase2‐rtTA transgenic mice were crossed with the TetO‐DTA transgenic animals. The double transgenic mice were treated with doxycycline. Doxycycline (Dox) was diluted in 5% sucrose in water to a final concentration of 0.3‐0.5 mg/mL and supplied as drinking water.ResultsAfter 15 days of Dox induction, the expression of NTPDase2, Sox2 and K14 was ablated from lingual epithelia. DTA expression in NTPDase2+ cells did not inhibit the turnover of GNAT3+ or PLCβ2+ cells in taste buds, nor the expression of S100β beneath lingual epithelia and papillae. After 35 days ablation of NTPDase2+ cells, the basic structure of lingual epithelia and papillae remained intact. However, the ratio of cell to total tissue area was decreased in lingual epithelia and circumvallate (CV) papillae. DTA expression also inhibited the regeneration of filiform papillae on the dorsal surface of the tongue tip.ConclusionsThese studies provide important insights into the understanding of dynamic equilibrium among the multiple stem cell populations present in the lingual epithelia and papillae.
The role of the gut microbiota on animal model reproducibility
Authors: Turner Patricia V. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe gut microbiota is composed of approximately 1010‐1014 cells, including fungi, bacteria, archaea, protozoa, viruses, and bacteriophages; their genes and their various metabolites were found throughout the gastrointestinal tract. It has co‐evolved with each species to assist with day to day bodily functions, such as digestion, metabolism of xenobiotics, development of mucosal immunity and immunomodulation, and protection against invading pathogens. Because of the significant beneficial impact that gut microbiota may have, there is interest in learning more about it and translating these findings into clinical therapies. Results from recent studies characterizing the gut microbiota of various species have demonstrated the range of influences that may affect gut microbiota diversity, including animal strain, obesity, types of enrichment used, bedding and housing methods, treatment with antimicrobials, vendor source, specific animal housing, diet, and intercurrent disease. Relatively little is known about the functional consequences of alterations of the gut microbiota and exactly how changes in richness and diversity of the microbiota translate into changes in health and susceptibility to disease. Furthermore, questions have been raised as to whether germ‐free or even ultraclean, barrier‐raised mice are relevant models of human disease, given their significantly reduced gut microbiota diversity and complexity compared with conventionally housed mice. In addition, evidence suggests that the specific anatomical location selected for assessing the gut microbiota has a highly significant effect on study outcomes, in that bacterial phyla change significantly along the gastrointestinal tract. This paper will explore animal model reproducibility in light of this information about the gut microbiota.
Regeneration of islet β‐cells in tree shrews and rats
Authors: Zhao Yu‐Qiong , Liu Ya‐Qian , Yuan Ji‐Fang , Dai Xin , Niu Miao‐Miao , Sun Xiao‐Mei , Kuang De‐Xuan , Wang Wen‐Guang , Tong Pin‐Fen , Li Na , Xiang Lei , Jia Yun‐Xiao , Dai Jie‐Jie , Chen Hua 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBackgroudCurrent understanding of injury and regeneration of islet β‐cells in diabetes is mainly based on rodent studies. The tree shrew is now generally accepted as being among the closest living relatives of primates, and has been widely used in animal experimentation. However, there are few reports on islet cell composition and regeneration of β‐cells in tree shrews.MethodsIn this study, we examined the changes in islet cell composition and regeneration of β‐cells after streptozotocin (STZ) treatment in tree shrews compared with Sprague‐Dawley rats. Injury and regeneration of islet β‐cells were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemical staining for insulin, glucagon, somatostatin and PDX‐1.ResultsOur data showed that in rats islet injury was most obvious on day 3 after injection, and islet morphologies were significantly restored by day 21. Regeneration of islet β‐cells was very pronounced in rats, and mainly involved regeneration of centro‐acinar cells and transformation of extra‐islet ductal cells. In tree shrews, the regeneration of islet β‐cells was not as significant. On days 3 and 7, only scattered regenerated cells were observed in the remaining islets. Further, no regeneration of centro‐acinar cells was observed.ConclusionThe results suggest that the repair mechanism of islet β‐cells in tree shrews is similar to that of humans.
Vibration in mice: A review of comparative effects and use in translational research
Authors: Reynolds Randall P. , Li Yao , Garner Angela , Norton John N. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSound pressure waves surround individuals in everyday life and are perceived by animals and humans primarily through sound or vibration. When sound pressure waves traverse through a solid medium, vibration will result. Vibration has long been considered an unwanted variable in animal research and may confound scientific endeavors using animals. Understanding the characteristics of vibration is required to determine whether effects in animals are likely to be therapeutic or result in adverse biological effects. The eighth edition of the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” highlights the importance of considering vibration and its effects on animals in the research setting, but knowledge of the level of vibration for eliciting these effects was unknown. The literature provides information regarding therapeutic use of vibration in humans, but the range of conditions to be of therapeutic benefit is varied and without clarity. Understanding the characteristics of vibration (eg, frequency and magnitude) necessary to cause various effects will ultimately assist in the evaluation of this environmental factor and its role on a number of potential therapeutic regimens for use in humans. This paper will review the principles of vibration, sources within a research setting, comparative physiological effects in various species, and the relative potential use of vibration in the mouse as a translational research model.
Chemie der Positronenemissionstomographie: Aktuelle Fortschritte bei 11C‐, 18F‐, 13N‐ und 15O‐Markierungsreaktionen
Authors: Deng Xiaoyun , Rong Jian , Wang Lu , Vasdev Neil , Zhang Lei , Josephson Lee , Liang Steven H. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractDie Positronenemissionstomographie (PET) ist ein molekulares bildgebendes Verfahren, das in vivo quantitative Informationen über Funktion und Metabolismus bei biologischen Prozessen für die Diagnose von Krankheiten und die Therapiebewertung liefert. Die breiten Anwendungsmöglichkeiten und die schnellen Fortschritte bei der PET haben zu einem ansteigenden Bedarf an neuen radiochemischen Methoden zur Synthese hochspezifischer Moleküle mit positronenemittierenden Radionukliden geführt. Dieser Aufsatz gibt einen Überblick über die gängige verwendete Markierungschemie in Bezug auf Beispiele klinisch relevanter PET‐Tracer und zeigt die jüngsten Entwicklungen und bahnbrechenden Erfolge im letzten Jahrzehnt, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf 11C, 18F, 13N und 15O liegt.
Inversion of Optical Activity in the Synthesis of Mercury Sulfide Nanoparticles: Role of Ligand Coordination
Authors: Kuno Jumpei , Imamura Yutaka , Katouda Michio , Tashiro Motomichi , Kawai Tsuyoshi , Nakashima Takuya 
Published: July 2018

AbstractOptical activity in inorganic colloidal materials was controlled through interactions of chiral molecules with the nanoparticle (NP) surface. An inversion of optical activity in the synthesis of mercury sulfide (HgS) NPs was demonstrated with an intrinsically chiral crystalline system in the presence of an identical chiral capping ligand. A continuous decrease in the positive first Cotton effect and an eventual reversal of CD profile were observed upon heating the aqueous solution of HgS NPs capped with N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine (Ac‐l‐Cys) at 80 °C. Ac‐l‐Cys afforded two bidentate coordination configurations with an almost mirror image of each other using the thiolate and either of carboxylate or acetyl–carbonyl groups on the HgS core. Experiment and calculation suggest that a shift in the distribution of the NP formation with energy in response to the combinations of ligand coordination structure and chiral crystalline surface is responsible for the inversion of optical activity.