bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Zinc finger nuclease‐mediated precision genome editing of an endogenous gene in hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) using a DNA repair template
Authors: Ran Yidong , Patron Nicola , Kay Pippa , Wong Debbie , Buchanan Margaret , Cao Ying‐Ying , Sawbridge Tim , Davies John P. , Mason John , Webb Steven R. , Spangenberg German , Ainley William M. , Walsh Terence A. , Hayden Matthew J. 
Published: May 2018

SummarySequence‐specific nucleases have been used to engineer targeted genome modifications in various plants. While targeted gene knockouts resulting in loss of function have been reported with relatively high rates of success, targeted gene editing using an exogenously supplied DNA repair template and site‐specific transgene integration has been more challenging. Here, we report the first application of zinc finger nuclease (ZFN)‐mediated, nonhomologous end‐joining (NHEJ)‐directed editing of a native gene in allohexaploid bread wheat to introduce, via a supplied DNA repair template, a specific single amino acid change into the coding sequence of acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) to confer resistance to imidazolinone herbicides. We recovered edited wheat plants having the targeted amino acid modification in one or more AHAS homoalleles via direct selection for resistance to imazamox, an AHAS‐inhibiting imidazolinone herbicide. Using a cotransformation strategy based on chemical selection for an exogenous marker, we achieved a 1.2% recovery rate of edited plants having the desired amino acid change and a 2.9% recovery of plants with targeted mutations at the AHAS locus resulting in a loss‐of‐function gene knockout. The latter results demonstrate a broadly applicable approach to introduce targeted modifications into native genes for nonselectable traits. All ZFN‐mediated changes were faithfully transmitted to the next generation.
Targeting intracellular transport combined with efficient uptake and storage significantly increases grain iron and zinc levels in rice
Authors: Wu Ting‐Ying , Gruissem Wilhelm , Bhullar Navreet K. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryRice, a staple food for more than half of the world population, is an important target for iron and zinc biofortification. Current strategies mainly focus on the expression of genes for efficient uptake, long‐distance transport and storage. Targeting intracellular iron mobilization to increase grain iron levels has not been reported. Vacuole is an important cell compartment for iron storage and the NATURAL RESISTANCE ASSOCIATED MACROPHAGE PROTEIN (NRAMP) family of transporters export iron from vacuoles to cytosol when needed. We developed transgenic Nipponbare rice lines expressing AtNRAMP3 under the control of the UBIQUITIN or rice embryo/aleurone‐specific 18‐kDa Oleosin (Ole18) promoter together with NICOTIANAMINE SYNTHASE (AtNAS1) and FERRITIN (PvFER), or expressing only AtNRAMP3 and PvFER together. Iron and zinc were increased close to recommended levels in polished grains of the transformed lines, with maximum levels when AtNRAMP3, AtNAS1 and PvFER were expressed together (12.67 μg/g DW iron and 45.60 μg/g DW zinc in polished grains of line NFON16). Similar high iron and zinc levels were obtained in transgenic Indica IR64 lines expressing the AtNRAMP3, AtNAS1 and PvFER cassette (13.65 μg/g DW iron and 48.18 μg/g DW zinc in polished grains of line IR64_1), equalling more than 90% of the recommended iron increase in rice endosperm. Our results demonstrate that targeting intracellular iron stores in combination with iron and zinc transport and endosperm storage is an effective strategy for iron biofortification. The increases achieved in polished IR64 grains are of dietary relevance for human health and a valuable nutrition trait for breeding programmes.
Epistemic approaches to deliberative democracy
Authors: Min John B. , Wong James K. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis article offers a comprehensive review of the major theoretical issues and findings of the epistemic approaches to deliberative democracy. Section 2 surveys the norms and ideals of deliberative democracy in relation to deliberation's ability to “track the truth.” Section 3 examines the conditions under which deliberative mini‐publics can “track the truth.” Section 4 discusses how “truth‐tracking” deliberative democracy is possible through the division of epistemic labor in a deliberative system.
Significant in vitro antagonism of the laurel wilt pathogen by endophytic fungi from the xylem of avocado does not predict their ability to control the disease
Authors: Pérez‐Martínez J. , Ploetz R. C. , Konkol J. L. 
Published: May 2018

The ascomycete Raffaelea lauricola causes laurel wilt, a lethal vascular disease of avocado, Persea americana, and other members of the Lauraceae plant family. Few effective control measures for laurel wilt exist and new measures are needed. In this study, biological control of the disease with endophytic fungi from avocado was examined. Thirty‐two endophytes (24 operational taxonomic units or OTUs) isolated from the xylem of healthy trees (the infection court of R. lauricola) were evaluated against R. lauricola with in vitro dual‐culture assays. Nine OTUs that showed strong in vitro antagonism of the pathogen were tested in planta against laurel wilt. In three greenhouse experiments, grafted avocado plants of Simmonds or Russell cultivars, which are both susceptible to laurel wilt, were inoculated with endophytes and, after 10–16 days, inoculated with the same isolate of R. lauricola that was used in the in vitro assays. Within 14 days of inoculation with R. lauricola, laurel wilt developed in plants that were not treated with endophytes (positive controls) but also developed in endophyte‐treated plants to the extent observed in the positive controls (P = 0.05). The pathogen colonized plants rapidly and systemically, but endophytes generally did not colonize xylem more than 2 cm above the point at which plants were inoculated. Although the tested endophytes strongly antagonized the pathogen in vitro, this did not translate to an ability to reduce development of laurel wilt. The management of laurel wilt and other plant diseases with fungal endophytes is discussed.
Reanalyzing language expectations: Native language knowledge modulates the sensitivity to intervening cues during anticipatory processing
Authors: Giannelli Francesco , Molinaro Nicola 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe investigated how native language experience shapes anticipatory language processing. Two groups of bilinguals (either Spanish or Basque natives) performed a word matching task (WordMT) and a picture matching task (PictureMT). They indicated whether the stimuli they visually perceived matched with the noun they heard. Spanish noun endings were either diagnostic of the gender (transparent) or ambiguous (opaque). ERPs were time‐locked to an intervening gender‐marked determiner preceding the predicted noun. The determiner always gender agreed with the following noun but could also introduce a mismatching noun, so that it was not fully task diagnostic. Evoked brain activity time‐locked to the determiner was considered as reflecting updating/reanalysis of the task‐relevant preactivated representation. We focused on the timing of this effect by estimating the comparison between a gender‐congruent and a gender‐incongruent determiner. In the WordMT, both groups showed a late N400 effect. Crucially, only Basque natives displayed an earlier P200 effect for determiners preceding transparent nouns. In the PictureMT, both groups showed an early P200 effect for determiners preceding opaque nouns. The determiners of transparent nouns triggered a negative effect at ∼430 ms in Spanish natives, but at ∼550 ms in Basque natives. This pattern of results supports a “retracing hypothesis” according to which the neurocognitive system navigates through the intermediate (sublexical and lexical) linguistic representations available from previous processing to evaluate the need of an update in the linguistic expectation concerning a target lexical item.
Neural activation and memory for natural scenes: Explicit and spontaneous retrieval
Authors: Weymar Mathias , Bradley Margaret M. , Sege Christopher T. , Lang Peter J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractStimulus repetition elicits either enhancement or suppression in neural activity, and a recent fMRI meta‐analysis of repetition effects for visual stimuli (Kim, 2017) reported cross‐stimulus repetition enhancement in medial and lateral parietal cortex, as well as regions of prefrontal, temporal, and posterior cingulate cortex. Repetition enhancement was assessed here for repeated and novel scenes presented in the context of either an explicit episodic recognition task or an implicit judgment task, in order to study the role of spontaneous retrieval of episodic memories. Regardless of whether episodic memory was explicitly probed or not, repetition enhancement was found in medial posterior parietal (precuneus/cuneus), lateral parietal cortex (angular gyrus), as well as in medial prefrontal cortex (frontopolar), which did not differ by task. Enhancement effects in the posterior cingulate cortex were significantly larger during explicit compared to implicit task, primarily due to a lack of functional activity for new scenes. Taken together, the data are consistent with an interpretation that medial and (ventral) lateral parietal cortex are associated with spontaneous episodic retrieval, whereas posterior cingulate cortical regions may reflect task or decision processes.
Influence of organic phosphorus on reproductive performance and metabolic profiles of anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics at the end of breeding season
Authors: Senosy W , Kassab AY , Hamdon HA , Mohammed AA 
Published: May 2018

ContentsThe effect of organic phosphorus on metabolic, haematological and hormonal status, restoration of ovarian functions and conception rate in anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics were evaluated. Anoestrous Farafra ewes (n = 24; 34.72 ± 0.52 kg body weight) were allocated into two equal groups: control and phosphorus groups. The ewes of phosphorus group were treated with sodium 4‐dimethylamino‐2‐methyl‐phenyl‐phosphonate as an organic bound phosphorous twice a week for successive 3 weeks. Ovarian follicle development and corpora lutea were checked three times a week till occurrence of oestrus using ultrasonography while pregnancy was confirmed at 30 days post‐service. Plasma metabolites, reproductive hormones, thyroid hormones and minerals were detected at weeks −2, −1, 0 (mating day) and + 4 weeks post‐oestrus. Phosphorus group had significantly (p < .05) short interval to oestrous resumption if compared to control ewes (2.1 ± 0.8 weeks vs. 4.6 ± 1.1 weeks). In addition, phosphorous supplementation significantly (p < .05) increased the number of antral follicles (developed and their sizes in addition to sizes of corpora lutea (8.72 ± 0.3 mm vs. 7.46 ± 0.9 mm) as well. Number of services per conception (2.6 vs. 1.4; p < .01) was higher in control group than that of phosphorus group. Pregnancy rate (80 vs. 50%) was significantly (p < .01) higher in phosphorus group when compared to control. White blood cells in treated ewes (10.8 ± 0.44; p < .05) and monocytes (2.93 ± 0.13; p < .01) were higher than that of control group (white blood cells; 9.53 ± 0.50 and monocytes; 2.24 ± 0.14). Metabolic parameters did not differ between phosphorus and control groups during different times of treatment. It could be concluded that phosphorous administration to anoestrous Farafra ewes in subtropics could improve reproductive performance and restore ovarian activity at the end of spring and early summer.
m‐carboxycinnamic acid bishydroxamide improves developmental competence, reduces apoptosis and alters epigenetic status and gene expression pattern in cloned buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) embryos
Authors: Agrawal H , Selokar NL , Saini M , Singh MK , Chauhan MS , Palta P , Singla SK , Manik RS 
Published: May 2018

ContentsIncomplete or aberrant reprogramming of nuclear genome is one of the major problems in somatic cell nuclear transfer. In this study, we studied the effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor m‐carboxycinnamic acid bishydroxamide (CBHA) on in vitro development of buffalo embryos produced by Hand‐made cloning. Cloned embryos were treated with CBHA (0, 5, 10, 20 or 50 μM) for 10 hr from the start of reconstruction till activation. At 10 μM, but not at other concentrations examined, CBHA increased (p < .05) the blastocyst rate (63.77 ± 3.97% vs 48.63 ± 3.55%) and reduced (p < .05) the apoptotic index of the cloned blastocysts (8.91 ± 1.94 vs 4.36 ± 1.08) compared to untreated controls, to levels similar to those in IVF blastocysts (4.78 ± 0.74). CBHA treatment, at all the concentrations examined, increased (p < .05) the global level of H3K9ac in cloned blastocysts than in untreated controls to that observed in IVF blastocysts. Treatment with CBHA (10 μM) decreased (p < .05) the global level of H3K27me3 in cloned blastocysts than in untreated controls but it was still higher (p < .05) than in IVF blastocysts. CBHA (10 μM) treatment increased (p < .05) the relative expression level of pluripotency‐related genes OCT‐4 and NANOG, and anti‐apoptotic gene BCL‐XL, and decreased (p < .05) that of pro‐apoptotic gene BAX than in untreated controls but did not affect the relative expression level of apoptosis‐related genes p53 and CASPASE3 and epigenetics‐related genes DNMT1, DNMT3a and HDAC1. These results suggest that treatment of cloned embryos with 10 μM CBHA improves the blastocyst rate, reduces the level of apoptosis and alters the epigenetic status and gene expression pattern.
Screening and treatment of obesity in school health care – the gap between clinical guidelines and reality
Authors: Häkkänen Paula , Ketola Eeva , Laatikainen Tiina 
Published: May 2018

AimsSchool health care offers a natural setting for childhood obesity interventions. Earlier studies reveal inadequate screening and treatment in primary care. However, longitudinal studies in unselected populations are lacking. We aimed to examine how school nurses and physicians identified obesity, diagnosed it and offered interventions over primary school. We compared the results with Finnish recommendations.MethodsFrom our cohort of 2000 primary school sixth graders (aged 12–14), 172 were obese at least once during primary school. We manually collected retrospective electronic health record (EHR) data of these ‘ever‐obese’ children.ResultsOf the ever‐obese children, 96% attended annual nurse assessments more than twice. School physicians met 53% of the ever‐obese children at health checks at first grade and 93% at fifth grade. Of overweight‐related extra visits to school nurses, 94% took place without parents. Parents were present in 48% of extra school physician visits.Only 29% of the 157 who became obese during the first five school grades received an obesity diagnosis. However, school physicians mentioned weight problems in EHR for 90% of the children and, similarly, school nurses for 99%. The majority received a treatment plan at least once. For 78%, at least one plan was made with the parents. Still, 28% missed nutrition plans, 31% exercise plans and 90% lacked recorded weight development targets.ConclusionsThe gap between clinical guidelines and reality in school health care could be narrowed by improving diagnosing and parent collaboration. Obstacles in parent involvement and work methods in school health care need further study.
How turbidity current frequency and character varies down a fjord‐delta system: Combining direct monitoring, deposits and seismic data
Authors: Stacey Cooper D. , Hill Philip R. , Talling Peter J. , Enkin Randolph J. , Hughes Clarke John , Lintern D. Gwyn 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSubmarine turbidity currents are one of the most important processes for moving sediment across our planet; they are hazardous to offshore infrastructure, deposit petroleum reservoirs worldwide, and may record tsunamigenic landslides. However, there are few studies that have monitored these submarine flows in action, and even fewer studies that have combined direct monitoring with longer‐term records from core and seismic data of deposits. This article provides one of the most complete studies yet of a turbidity current system. The aim here is to understand what controls changes in flow frequency and character along the turbidite system. The study area is a 12 km long delta‐fed fjord (Howe Sound) in British Columbia, Canada. Over 100 often powerful (up to 2 to 3 m sec−1) events occur each year in the highly‐active proximal channels, which extend for 1 to 2 km from the delta lip. About half of these events reach the lobes at the channel mouths. However, flow frequency decreases rapidly once these initially sand‐rich flows become unconfined, and only one to five flows run out across the mid‐slope each year. Many of these sand‐rich, channelized, delta‐sourced flows therefore dissipated over a few hundred metres, once unconfined, rather than eroding and igniting. Upflow migrating bedforms indicate that supercritical flow dominated in the proximal channels and lobes, and also across the unconfined mid‐slope. These supercritical flows deposited thick sand beds in proximal channels and lobes, but thinner and finer beds on the unconfined mid‐slope. The distal flat basin records far larger volume and more hazardous events that have a recurrence interval of ca 100 years. This study shows how sand‐rich delta‐fed flows dissipate rapidly once they become unconfined, that supercritical flows dominate in both confined and unconfined settings, and how a second type of more hazardous, and much less frequent event is linked to a different scale of margin failure.
Sediment distribution and depositional processes along the fluvial to marine transition zone of the Mekong River delta, Vietnam
Authors: Gugliotta Marcello , Saito Yoshiki , Nguyen Van Lap , Ta Thi Kim Oanh , Tamura Toru 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe area of coastal rivers with a combination of fluvial, tidal and wave processes is defined as the fluvial to marine transition zone and can extend up to several hundreds of kilometres upstream of the river mouth. The aim of this study is to improve the understanding of sediment distribution and depositional processes along the fluvial to marine transition zone using a comprehensive dataset of channel bed sediment samples collected from the Mekong River delta. Six sediment types were identified and were interpreted to reflect the combined action of fluvial and marine processes. Based on sediment‐type associations, the Mekong fluvial to marine transition zone could be subdivided into an upstream tract and a downstream tract; the boundary between these two tracts is identified 80 to 100 km upstream of the river mouth. The upstream tract is characterized by gravelly sand and sand and occasional heterolithic rhythmites, suggesting bed‐load supply and deposition mainly controlled by fluvial processes with subordinate tidal influence. The downstream tract is characterized by heterolithic rhythmites with subordinate sand and mud, suggesting suspended‐load supply and deposition mainly controlled by tidal processes with subordinate fluvial influence. Sediment distributions during wet and dry seasons suggest significant seasonal changes in sediment dynamic and depositional processes along the fluvial to marine transition zone. The upstream tract shows strong fluvial depositional processes with subordinate tidal influence during the wet season and no deposition with weak fluvial and tidal processes during the dry season. The downstream tract shows strong coexisting fluvial and tidal depositional processes during the wet season and strong tidal depositional processes with negligible fluvial influence during the dry season. Turbidity maxima are present along the downstream tract of the fluvial to marine transition zone during both wet and dry seasons and are driven by a combination of fluvial, tidal and wave processes.
Quantity, quality, and functionality of peripheral blood cells derived from residual blood of different apheresis kits
Authors: Knörck Arne , Marx Stefanie , Friedmann Kim S. , Zöphel Sylvia , Lieblang Lisa , Hässig Carmen , Müller Isabelle , Pilch Jan , Sester Urban , Hoth Markus , Eichler Hermann , Sester Martina , Schwarz Eva C. 
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUNDResearch with primary human white blood cell (WBC) subpopulations requires high quantity, quality, and functionality of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as a source to further characterize cellular subpopulations such as T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, or natural killer cells. Apart from buffy coats derived from whole blood, residual blood from preparative hemapheresis kits are used as a source for PBMCs, but knowledge on the yield and functionality of cells from different devices is limited.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSWe evaluated quantity and quality of PBMCs isolated from apheresis kits of two apheresis devices (AMICUS, Fenwal; and Trima Accel, Terumo BCT), the latter being our standard source for many years. PBMCs derived from Trima or AMICUS were tested for yield and subtype composition by flow cytometry. Functionality was assessed by cytokine induction of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and by degranulation. Moreover, cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells was quantified by a real‐time killing assay.RESULTSMean numbers of isolated cells were 5.5 ± 2.4 × 108 for AMICUS, and 10.3 ± 6.4 × 108 for Trima Accel, respectively. The proportion of WBC subtypes corresponded to well‐known numbers from whole blood, with minor differences between the two apheresis systems. Likewise, minor differences in cytokine induction were found in stimulated CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Finally, PBMCs derived from the two systems showed comparable cytotoxic activity.CONCLUSIONPBMC derived from residual blood of the AMICUS and Trima Accel apheresis devices serve as an economic and easily accessible source for functional PBMCs with comparable quantity and quality to PBMCs derived from whole blood.
Irradiation and prolonged storage of red cells are associated with increased adverse events
Authors: Chen J. , Biller E. , Losos M. , Li J. , Hamad D. , Blower L. , Grevenow M. , Oakley J. 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundRed blood cell (RBC) transfusion is associated with the most transfusion‐related adverse events (AE). Recent clinical studies showed no significant difference in transfusion‐associated mortality between fresh and older RBCs. However, the impact of storage duration as well as irradiation on nonfatal yet much more common complications has not been fully investigated.Materials/methodsIn this retrospective study of RBC transfusion‐associated AEs, a total of 188,562 units of leucocyte‐reduced RBCs were transfused in approximately 5·5 years. After excluding washed, deglycerolized, autologous or directed RBCs and RBCs transfused during a massive transfusion protocol, 149,052 units were analysed. Attributes of RBCs including storage time, collection method, CMV serological status and gamma irradiation, as well as the recipient's gender, were analysed. A total of 358 RBC transfusion AEs were categorized into allergic and non‐allergic reactions and analysed.ResultsUnivariate and multivariate logistic analyses showed that irradiated RBCs were associated with a significantly increased frequency of non‐allergic reactions (OR (95% CI): 1·89 (1·52, 2·35); P < 0·001). There was a significant association between the frequency of non‐allergic reactions and the storage time of irradiated RBCs (OR (95% CI): 1·024 (1·001, 1·048); P = 0·042). In contrast, there was no association between the frequency of allergic reactions and the storage time of irradiated RBCs or between the age of non‐irradiated RBCs and the frequency of non‐allergic reactions.ConclusionsProlonged storage of irradiated RBCs was associated with a significant increase in non‐allergic transfusion reactions. Overall, the irradiated RBCs appeared to cause more non‐allergic reactions compared with non‐irradiated RBCs.