bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reproductive isolation between Salvia elegans and S. fulgens, two hummingbird‐pollinated sympatric sages
Authors: Cuevas E. , Espino J. , Marques I. 
Published: July 2018

Abstract

The integrity of species in sympatric contact sites is dependent on the existence of reproductive isolating mechanisms, which restrict gene flow between them. However, we know little about the mechanisms that enable the coexistence of species with similar floral morphologies. Here, we evaluated several reproductive isolation barriers between Salvia elegans and S. fulgens, two sympatric sages with a similar ornithophilous floral syndrome, offering nectar as the main reward.

Over 3 years, we evaluated broad‐scale geographic isolation, floral phenologies and floral visitors as pre‐pollination barriers, and fruit set, seed number and seed germination as post‐pollination barriers.

We found considerable geographic isolation and significant altitudinal differences between the two sages. The flowering period of both sages always overlapped extensively during the 3 years of this study, but hummingbirds were highly specific, visiting one or the other Salvia species and showing aggressive territorial behaviour. Interspecific experimental crosses revealed that hybrid seeds might be formed although strong asymmetric barriers were found depending on the species acting as the maternal donor.

Despite the low level of flowering asynchrony, reproductive isolation was remarkably high in the two sages. Geographic isolation and pollinator fidelity were the main factors responsible for maintaining species integrity. Despite an extensive review, we found very few studies quantifying the efficiency of isolation barriers in Neotropical plants or even the importance of hummingbirds as pollinators.
Whole‐plant reddening in Silene germana is due to anthocyanin accumulation in response to visible light
Authors: Narbona E. , Jaca J. , del Valle J. C. , Valladares F. , Buide M. L. 
Published: July 2018

Abstract

The phenology of anthocyanin accumulation in leaves has been widely studied in perennial plants; several hypotheses have been proposed to explain their adaptive significance. Here, we explored the photoprotection hypothesis in Silene germana, a Mediterranean annual plant with late‐spring/summer flowering.

We analysed the temporal patterns of anthocyanin accumulation in photosynthetic calyces, leaves and stems and throughout the reproductive season, and their relationship with flower abortion, florivory and plant mortality due to drought. In addition, the flavonoid production and the photoinhibitory response were measured in a shading experiment.

The whole plant becomes red at the end of the flowering and remains red until fruiting and senescence. Calyces were redder on the side with more sun exposition. Aborted flowers showed redder calyces than those of fruiting flowers. No effect of plant redness on florivory or plant mortality was found. The shading experiment showed a positive relationship between anthocyanin accumulation and intensity of solar radiation, but plants growing in absence of UV showed similar redness than full sunlight plants. Plants growing in natural shade lack anthocyanins but produced the same amount of non‐anthocyanin flavonoids. Anthocyanic and non‐anthocyanic plants showed similar photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) after sun exposition, but in early morning, the former showed lower Fv/Fm values. Plants growing in full sunlight produced more fruits than those of natural shade plants.

Whole‐plant reddening during fruiting and senescence appears to be a property of S. germana. Our results suggest that anthocyanin accumulation depends on sunlight intensity, but non‐anthocyanin flavonoids are produced constitutively.
Towards an assessment of perceived COPD exacerbation triggers: Initial development and validation of a questionnaire
Authors: Werchan Chelsey A. , Steele Ashton M. , Janssens Thomas , Millard Mark W. , Ritz Thomas 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTBackground and objectivePrevention of exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important to decrease overall declines in functioning and improve quality of life. The present study sought to develop a psychometrically valid measure of perceived triggers of exacerbations in COPD patients, the COPD Exacerbation Trigger Inventory (CETI).MethodsParticipants (n = 192) were recruited through local clinics and online to complete surveys of the CETI, demographic information, disease‐specific information and the COPD Assessment Test (CAT). The CETI included a free response section on patients’ individual top triggers, combined with ratings of their controllability.ResultsExploratory principal component analyses identified a stable 5‐factor structure (33 items), from which trigger subscales for weather/climate, air pollution/irritants, exercise, infection/illness and psychological factors were formed (internal consistency Cronbach's α = 0.90–0.94). Trigger factors were associated with COPD functional status, exacerbation frequency and healthcare utilization. Participants found personal triggers related to dust, air pollution, smoking and physical activity to be the most easily controlled, whereas those related to psychological factors, climate, infection, respiratory symptoms and sleep to be more difficult to control. Greater perceived controllability of triggers was associated with lower CAT scores, indicating better health status and less impact of the disease on functioning.ConclusionThe CETI is a psychometrically valid measure of perceived exacerbation triggers in patients with COPD. Perceived triggers are associated with clinical outcomes. Assessment of trigger classes and their controllability may prove useful in both research and clinical settings with COPD patients and to further our knowledge in prevention and disease management.
Natural variation in GmGBP1 promoter affects photoperiod control of flowering time and maturity in soybean
Authors: Zhao Lin , Li Minmin , Xu Chongjing , Yang Xue , Li Dongmei , Zhao Xue , Wang Kuo , Li Yinghua , Zhang Xiaoming , Liu Lixue , Ding Fuquan , Du Hailong , Wang Chunsheng , Sun Jingzhe , Li Wenbin 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThe present study screened for polymorphisms in coding and non‐coding regions of the GmGBP1 gene in 278 soybean accessions with variable maturity and growth habit characteristics under natural field conditions in three different latitudes in China. The results showed that the promoter region was highly diversified compared with the coding sequence of GmGBP1. Five polymorphisms and four haplotypes were closely related to soybean flowering time and maturity through association and linkage disequilibrium analyses. Varieties with the polymorphisms SNP_‐796G, SNP_‐770G, SNP_‐307T, InDel_‐242normal, SNP_353A, or haplotypes Hap‐3 and Hap‐4 showed earlier flowering time and maturity in different environments. The shorter growth period might be largely due to higher GmGBP1 expression levels in soybean that were caused by the TCT‐motif with SNP_‐796G in the promoter. In contrast, the lower expression level of GmGBP1 in soybean caused by RNAi interference of GmGBP1 resulted in a longer growth period under different day lengths. Furthermore, the gene interference of GmGBP1 also caused a reduction in photoperiod response sensitivity (PRS) before flowering in soybean. RNA‐seq analysis on GmGBP1 underexpression in soybean showed that 94 and 30 predicted genes were significantly upregulated and downregulated, respectively. Of these, the diurnal photoperiod‐specific expression pattern of three significant flowering time genes GmFT2a, GmFT5a, and GmFULc also showed constantly lower mRNA levels in GmGBP1‐i soybean than in wild type, especially under short day conditions. Together, the results showed that GmGBP1 functioned as a positive regulator upstream of GmFT2a and GmFT5a to activate the expression of GmFULc to promote flowering on short days.
The multistress‐induced Translocator protein (TSPO) differentially modulates storage lipids metabolism in seeds and seedlings
Authors: Jurkiewicz Pawel , Melser Su , Maucourt Mickaël , Ayeb Haitham , Veljanovski Vasko , Maneta‐Peyret Lilly , Hooks Mark , Rolin Dominique , Moreau Patrick , Batoko Henri 
Published: July 2018

SummaryTranslocator proteins (TSPO) are conserved membrane proteins extensively studied in mammals, but their function is still unclear. Angiosperm TSPO are transiently induced by abiotic stresses in vegetative tissues. We showed previously that constitutive expression of the Arabidopsis TSPO (AtTSPO) could be detrimental to the cell. Degradation of AtTSPO requires an active autophagy pathway. We show here that genetic modifications of TSPO expression in plant and yeast cells reduce the levels of cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LD). Transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings overexpressing AtTSPO contain less LD as compared with wild type (WT). LD levels were increased in Arabidopsis AtTSPO knockout (KO) seedlings. Deletion of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe TSPO resulted in an increase in LD level in the cell. As compared with the WT, the mutant strain was more sensitive to cerulenin, an inhibitor of fatty acids and sterol biosynthesis. We found that in contrast with seedlings, overexpression of AtTSPO (OE) resulted in an up to 50% increase in seeds fatty acids as compared with WT. A time course experiment revealed that after 4 days of seed imbibition, the levels of triacylglycerol (TAG) was still higher in the OE seeds as compared with WT or KO seeds. However, the de novo synthesis of phospholipids and TAG after 24 h of imbibition was substantially reduced in OE seeds as compared with WT or KO seeds. Our findings support a plant TSPO role in energy homeostasis in a tissue‐specific manner, enhancing fatty acids and LD accumulation in mature seeds and limiting LD levels in seedlings.
Diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 is activated by phosphatidate and inhibited by SnRK1‐catalyzed phosphorylation
Authors: Caldo Kristian Mark P. , Shen Wei , Xu Yang , Hanley‐Bowdoin Linda , Chen Guanqun , Weselake Randall J. , Lemieux M. Joanne 
Published: July 2018

SummaryDiacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) catalyzes the final and committed step in the Kennedy pathway for triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis and, as such, elucidating its mode of regulation is critical to understand the fundamental aspects of carbon metabolism in oleaginous crops. In this study, purified Brassica napus diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (BnaDGAT1) in n‐dodecyl‐β‐d‐maltopyranoside micelles was lipidated to form mixed micelles and subjected to detailed biochemical analysis. The degree of mixed micelle fluidity appeared to influence acyltransferase activity. BnaDGAT1 exhibited a sigmoidal response and eventual substrate inhibition with respect to increasing concentrations of oleoyl‐CoA. Phosphatidate (PA) was identified as a feed‐forward activator of BnaDGAT1, enabling the final enzyme in the Kennedy pathway to adjust to the incoming flow of carbon leading to TAG. In the presence of PA, the oleoyl‐CoA saturation plot became more hyperbolic and desensitized to substrate inhibition indicating that PA facilitates the transition of the enzyme into the more active state. PA may also relieve possible autoinhibition of BnaDGAT1 brought about by the N‐terminal regulatory domain, which was shown to interact with PA. Indeed, PA is a key effector modulating lipid homeostasis, in addition to its well recognized role in lipid signaling. BnaDGAT1 was also shown to be a substrate of the sucrose non‐fermenting‐1‐related kinase 1 (SnRK1), which catalyzed phosphorylation of the enzyme and converted it to a less active form. Thus, this known regulator of carbon metabolism directly influences TAG biosynthesis.
Comparative efficacy of three antiseptics as surgical skin preparations in dogs
Authors: Boucher Charles , Henton Maryke M. , Becker Piet J. , Kirberger Robert M. , Hartman Marthinus J. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the antimicrobial efficacy of a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 70% ethanol solution (CG+A) with that of F10 Skin Prep Solution (F10) and electrochemically activated water (EAW) when used as a surgical preparation in canine patients.Study designProspective randomized clinical study.Sample populationOne hundred sixteen dogs presented for ovariohysterectomy.MethodsDogs were randomly divided into 1 of the 3 antiseptic groups (CG+A, F10, EAW). Skin samples with replicating organism detection and counting plates were taken at 4 different perioperative sites and time intervals (postskin preparation, postskin antisepsis, 2 hours after the second sample, and at the end of surgery) during ovariohysterectomies performed by students. The colony forming unit (CFU) counts from each sample were quantified according to the level of bacterial contamination. Zero CFU was defined as no contamination, 1‐12 CFU was defined as low contamination, and greater than 12 CFU was defined as high contamination. The 3 antiseptics were compared with respect to the level of contamination.ResultsThere was no difference in the level of colonization between the antiseptics at the first sampling time (P = .454). However, the level of contamination for CG+A was lower compared with F10 and EAW at the second, third, and fourth sampling times (P = .001,P = .01,P = .02, respectively).ConclusionCG+A was more effective at achieving a zero CFU count and low levels of contamination compared with F10 and EAW for surgical preparation in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.Clinical significanceThis study does not provide evidence to support the use of F10 and EAW instead of CG+A for the surgical skin preparation of dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
Arthroscopic approach and intra‐articular anatomy of the equine atlanto‐occipital joint
Authors: Wright Linda , Puchalski Sarah M. , Kristoffersen Mads , Lindegaard Casper 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo develop arthroscopic approaches to the atlanto‐occipital (A‐O) and describe associated arthroscopic anatomy.Study designExperimental ex vivo study and clinical case report.AnimalsTen equine cadaver joints and 1 clinical case.MethodsCT arthrograms of 8 A‐O joints were performed to determine the placement of an arthroscopic portal. Arthroscopy was performed via dorsal and/or ventral approaches (dorsal or ventral to the longissimus capitis tendon) in 10 cadaveric A‐O joints and the A‐O joint of a 2‐week‐old foal with septic arthritis. Accessible cartilage was debrided in 3 cadaver joints. Accessibility and risks were assessed by review of arthroscopic images, postoperative necropsy, and computed tomography (CT).ResultsDorsal and ventral outpouchings of the A‐O joint were identified with CT. Arthroscopy of the dorsal pouch provided access to 50% of the dorsocranial occipital condyle and 15% of the dorsocranial atlas articular surfaces. Joint distension caused displacement of the dura. Dura perforation occurred with a blind dorsal approach in 2 of 5 joints. Dura perforation did not occur after ultrasonography‐guided approaches. Arthroscopic debridement of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis was successful in 1 clinical case.ConclusionApproaches to the A‐O joint were determined from CT examinations. The cranial aspect of the dorsal pouch of the A‐O joint was accessed via arthroscopic triangulation in all horses of this study. Ultrasound‐guided joint access prevented perforation of vital structures, including the spinal canal.Clinical significanceAdvanced imaging improves the diagnosis of A‐O joint pathology. Descriptions of arthroscopic anatomy and accessibility provide important information for surgical intervention.
Central sensitization of the spino‐parabrachial‐amygdala pathway that outlasts a brief nociceptive stimulus
Authors: Kissiwaa Sarah A , Bagley Elena E 
Published: July 2018

Key points
Chronic pain is disabling because sufferers form negative associations between pain and activities, such as work, leading to the sufferer limiting these activities. Pain information arriving in the amygdala is responsible for forming these associations and contributes to us feeling bad when we are in pain.
Ongoing injuries enhance the delivery of pain information to the amygdala. If we want to understand why chronic pain can continue without ongoing injury, it is important to know whether this facilitation continues once the injury has healed.
In the present study, we show that a 2 min noxious heat stimulus, without ongoing injury, is able to enhance delivery of pain information to the amygdala for 3 days. If the noxious heat stimulus is repeated, this enhancement persists even longer.
These changes may prime this information pathway so that subsequent injuries may feel even worse and the associative learning that results in pain‐related avoidance may be promoted.
AbstractPain is an important defence against dangers in our environment; however, some clinical conditions produce pain that outlasts this useful role and persists even after the injury has healed. The experience of pain consists of somatosensory elements of intensity and location, negative emotional/aversive feelings and subsequent restrictions on lifestyle as a result of a learned association between certain activities and pain. The amygdala contributes negative emotional value to nociceptive sensory information and forms the association between an aversive response and the environment in which it occurs. It is able to form this association because it receives nociceptive information via the spino‐parabrachio‐amygdaloid pathway and polymodal sensory information via cortical and thalamic inputs. Synaptic plasticity occurs at the parabrachial‐amygdala synapse and other brain regions in chronic pain conditions with ongoing injury; however, very little is known about how plasticity occurs in conditions with no ongoing injury. Using immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology and behavioural assays, we show that a brief nociceptive stimulus with no ongoing injury is able to produce long‐lasting synaptic plasticity at the rat parabrachial‐amygdala synapse. We show that this plasticity is caused by an increase in postsynaptic AMPA receptors with a transient change in the AMPA receptor subunit, similar to long‐term potentiation. Furthermore, this synaptic potentiation primes the synapse so that a subsequent noxious stimulus causes prolonged potentiation of the nociceptive information flow into the amygdala. As a result, a second injury could have an increased negative emotional value and promote associative learning that results in pain‐related avoidance.
Monitoring Antimicrobial Drug Usage in Animals: Methods and Applications
Authors: Werner Nicole , McEwen Scott , Kreienbrock Lothar 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTMonitoring antimicrobial drug usage in animals at the national and international levels is important for identification and tracking if and how often quantities are used. This information can be used for many purposes, including raising awareness, comparing use patterns across countries, identifying trends over time, integrating with antimicrobial resistance data, conducting risk assessment, and evaluating the effectiveness of measures to manage antimicrobial usage. The goal of this article is to describe how monitoring systems for antimicrobial drug usage in animals are set up and conducted, using examples from specific countries as well as international efforts. Several key figures and variables are used to describe and evaluate antimicrobial consumption in animals, including the amount in kilograms of active ingredient, standardized units (e.g., number of defined daily dose animals, DDDAs) and number of treatments (e.g., number of used daily doses, UDDA). Data can be collected from a variety of sources including pharmaceutical sales, pharmacy dispensing, veterinary prescriptions, and farm records. In many countries, data analysis and reporting at the national level provide statistics on overall quantities used in animals, in some cases by animal species. Antimicrobial consumption data should be contrasted to the respective animal population, for example, the weight of different categories of livestock and slaughtered animals. Several countries have established antimicrobial usage monitoring systems. Most report overall sales data, but some provide usage data to the levels of animal species and production type. At the international level, several organizations (e.g., European Union, World Organization for Animal Health, World Health Organization) have initiatives to support the development of antimicrobial consumption data collection and reporting. However, these initiatives are ongoing and so far lack harmonization, which will be the biggest challenge for the future.
Antimicrobial Resistance inEscherichia coli
Authors: Poirel Laurent , Madec Jean-Yves , Lupo Agnese , Schink Anne-Kathrin , Kieffer Nicolas , Nordmann Patrice , Schwarz Stefan 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTMultidrug resistance inEscherichia colihas become a worrying issue that is increasingly observed in human but also in veterinary medicine worldwide.E. coliis intrinsically susceptible to almost all clinically relevant antimicrobial agents, but this bacterial species has a great capacity to accumulate resistance genes, mostly through horizontal gene transfer. The most problematic mechanisms inE. colicorrespond to the acquisition of genes coding for extended-spectrum β-lactamases (conferring resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins), carbapenemases (conferring resistance to carbapenems), 16S rRNA methylases (conferring pan-resistance to aminoglycosides), plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes (conferring resistance to [fluoro]quinolones), andmcrgenes (conferring resistance to polymyxins). Although the spread of carbapenemase genes has been mainly recognized in the human sector but poorly recognized in animals, colistin resistance inE. coliseems rather to be related to the use of colistin in veterinary medicine on a global scale. For the other resistance traits, their cross-transfer between the human and animal sectors still remains controversial even though genomic investigations indicate that extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers encountered in animals are distinct from those affecting humans. In addition,E. coliof animal origin often also show resistances to other—mostly older—antimicrobial agents, including tetracyclines, phenicols, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, and fosfomycin. Plasmids, especially multiresistance plasmids, but also other mobile genetic elements, such as transposons and gene cassettes in class 1 and class 2 integrons, seem to play a major role in the dissemination of resistance genes. Of note, coselection and persistence of resistances to critically important antimicrobial agents in human medicine also occurs through the massive use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine, such as tetracyclines or sulfonamides, as long as all those determinants are located on the same genetic elements.