bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Provitamin A biofortification of cassava enhances shelf life but reduces dry matter content of storage roots due to altered carbon partitioning into starch
Authors: Beyene Getu , Solomon Felix R. , Chauhan Raj D. , Gaitán‐Solis Eliana , Narayanan Narayanan , Gehan Jackson , Siritunga Dimuth , Stevens Robyn L. , Jifon John , Van Eck Joyce , Linsler Edward , Gehan Malia , Ilyas Muhammad , Fregene Martin , Sayre Richard T. , Anderson Paul , Taylor Nigel J. , Cahoon Edgar B. 
Published: November 2017

SummaryStorage roots of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz), a major subsistence crop of sub‐Saharan Africa, are calorie rich but deficient in essential micronutrients, including provitamin A β‐carotene. In this study, β‐carotene concentrations in cassava storage roots were enhanced by co‐expression of transgenes for deoxy‐d‐xylulose‐5‐phosphate synthase (DXS) and bacterial phytoene synthase (crtB), mediated by the patatin‐type 1 promoter. Storage roots harvested from field‐grown plants accumulated carotenoids to ≤50 μg/g DW, 15‐ to 20‐fold increases relative to roots from nontransgenic plants. Approximately 85%–90% of these carotenoids accumulated as all‐trans‐β‐carotene, the most nutritionally efficacious carotenoid. β‐Carotene‐accumulating storage roots displayed delayed onset of postharvest physiological deterioration, a major constraint limiting utilization of cassava products. Large metabolite changes were detected in β‐carotene‐enhanced storage roots. Most significantly, an inverse correlation was observed between β‐carotene and dry matter content, with reductions of 50%–60% of dry matter content in the highest carotenoid‐accumulating storage roots of different cultivars. Further analysis confirmed a concomitant reduction in starch content and increased levels of total fatty acids, triacylglycerols, soluble sugars and abscisic acid. Potato engineered to co‐express DXS and crtB displayed a similar correlation between β‐carotene accumulation, reduced dry matter and starch content and elevated oil and soluble sugars in tubers. Transcriptome analyses revealed a reduced expression of genes involved in starch biosynthesis including ADP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase genes in transgenic, carotene‐accumulating cassava roots relative to nontransgenic roots. These findings highlight unintended metabolic consequences of provitamin A biofortification of starch‐rich organs and point to strategies for redirecting metabolic flux to restore starch production.
Genome‐wide discovery of tissue‐specific miRNAs in clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) indicates their association with galactomannan biosynthesis
Authors: Tyagi Anshika , Nigam Deepti , S. V. Amitha Mithra , Solanke Amolkumar U. , Singh Nagendra K. , Sharma Tilak R. , Gaikwad Kishor 
Published: November 2017

SummaryOwing to the presence of 80% soluble dietary fibre, high protein content and high value gum, clusterbean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) has recently emerged as an economically important legume. The developing clusterbean seeds accumulate 90% galactomannans in the endosperm and, therefore, can be used as a model crop to understand galactomannan biosynthesis and its regulation. miRNAs are tiny master regulators of their corresponding target genes, resulting in variations in the amounts of their metabolic end products. To understand the role of these regulators in galactomannan biosynthesis regulation, small RNA libraries were prepared and sequenced from five tissues of clusterbean genotype RGC‐936, and miRanalyzer and DSAP programs were used to identify conserved miRNAs and novel small RNAs. A total of 187 known and 171 novel miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed, of which 10 miRNAs were validated. A complicated network topology and 35% sharing of the target mRNAs between known and novel miRNAs suggest random evolution of novel miRNAs. The gene ontology (GO) annotation of potential target genes revealed the genes coding for signalling and carbohydrate metabolism (50.10%), kinases and other enzymes (20.75%), transcription factors (10.20%), transporters (8.35%) and other targets (10.6%). Two novel unigenes were annotated as ManS (mannosyltransferase/mannan synthase) and UGE (UDP‐ D‐glucose 4‐epimerase) and validated as targets for three novel miRNAs, that is Ct‐miR3130, Ct‐miR3135 and Ct‐miR3157. Our findings reveal that these novel miRNAs could play an important role in the regulation of the galactomannan pathway in C. tetragonoloba and possibly other galactomannan‐producing species.
Spatially Representing Vulnerability to Extreme Rain Events Using Midwestern Farmers’ Objective and Perceived Attributes of Adaptive Capacity
Authors: Gardezi Maaz , Arbuckle J. Gordon 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPotential climate‐change‐related impacts to agriculture in the upper Midwest pose serious economic and ecological risks to the U.S. and the global economy. On a local level, farmers are at the forefront of responding to the impacts of climate change. Hence, it is important to understand how farmers and their farm operations may be more or less vulnerable to changes in the climate. A vulnerability index is a tool commonly used by researchers and practitioners to represent the geographical distribution of vulnerability in response to global change. Most vulnerability assessments measure objective adaptive capacity using secondary data collected by governmental agencies. However, other scholarship on human behavior has noted that sociocultural and cognitive factors, such as risk perceptions and perceived capacity, are consequential for modulating people's actual vulnerability. Thus, traditional assessments can potentially overlook people's subjective perceptions of changes in climate and extreme weather events and the extent to which people feel prepared to take necessary steps to cope with and respond to the negative effects of climate change. This article addresses this knowledge gap by: (1) incorporating perceived adaptive capacity into a vulnerability assessment; (2) using spatial smoothing to aggregate individual‐level vulnerabilities to the county level; and (3) evaluating the relationships among different dimensions of adaptive capacity to examine whether perceived capacity should be integrated into vulnerability assessments. The result suggests that vulnerability assessments that rely only on objective measures might miss important sociocognitive dimensions of capacity. Vulnerability indices and maps presented in this article can inform engagement strategies for improving environmental sustainability in the region.
Signalling Profiles of Blood Leucocytes in Sepsis and in Acute Pancreatitis in Relation to Disease Severity
Authors: Kuuliala K. , Penttilä A. K. , Kaukonen K.‐M. , Mustonen H. , Kuuliala A. , Oiva J. , Hämäläinen M. , Moilanen E. , Pettilä V. , Puolakkainen P. , Kylänpää L. , Repo H. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractIntracellular signalling in blood leucocytes shows multiple aberrations in acute pancreatitis (AP) complicated by organ dysfunction (OD). We studied whether the aberrations associate with severity of AP and occur in sepsis complicated by OD. The study comprises 14 sepsis patients (11 with shock), 18 AP patients (nine mild; six moderately severe; three severe) and 28 healthy volunteers. Within 48 h after admission to hospital, phosphorylation of nuclear factor‐ĸB (NF‐ĸB), signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) 1,3, and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1/2 were measured from stimulated or non‐stimulated leucocytes using phosphospecific whole blood flow cytometry. In sepsis, as compared with healthy subjects, phosphorylated NF‐ĸB levels of monocytes promoted by bacterial lipopolysaccharides, tumour necrosis factor or Escherichia coli cells were lower (P < 0.001 for all), pSTAT1 levels of monocytes promoted by IL‐6 were lower (P < 0.05 for all), and STAT3 was constitutively phosphorylated in monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes (P < 0.001 for all). In AP, severity was associated with proportions of pSTAT1‐positive monocytes and lymphocytes promoted by IL‐6 (P < 0.01 for both), constitutive STAT3 phosphorylation in neutrophils (P < 0.05), but not with any of the pNF‐ĸB levels. Monocyte pSTAT3 fluorescence intensity, promoted by IL‐6, was lower in sepsis and AP patients with OD than in AP patients without OD (P < 0.001). Collectively, signalling aberrations in sepsis with OD mimic those described previously in AP with OD. Possibility that aberrations in STAT1 and STAT3 pathways provide novel markers predicting evolution of OD warrants studies including patients presenting without OD but developing it during follow‐up.
Influence of population size, density, and proximity to talent clubs on the likelihood of becoming elite youth athlete
Authors: Rossing N. N. , Stentoft D. , Flattum A. , Côté J. , Karbing D. S. 
Published: November 2017

Previous studies have found significant differences in the likelihood of becoming an elite athlete depending on community population sizes and densities, an effect known as the place of early development, or birthplace effect. However, the results have not been consistent between sports or European countries. As both professional and voluntary clubs are vital to the talent development systems in Europe, the proximity of an athlete's place of early development to the location of talent clubs may be an important predictor of the likelihood of becoming an elite athlete. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the place of early development effect and the effect of proximity to talent clubs. The samples included elite youth league athletes (579 football and 311 handball) and national youth athletes (85 football and 80 handball) and a comparison group of 147 221 football and 26 290 handball youth athletes. Odds ratios showed variations in the optimal community size and density across sports. Geospatial analyses of proximity to talent clubs highlighted a trend indicating that most national and elite youth league athletes in both sports had their place of early development in their sport near a talent club. The results suggest that proximity is an important predictor in the development of expertise across sports, but future studies need to clarify if proximity is important in other countries and sports.
Minimally invasive lag screw fixation of sacroiliac luxation/fracture using a dedicated novel instrument system: Apparatus and technique description
Authors: Déjardin Loïc M. , Fauron Albane H. , Guiot Laurent P. , Guillou Reunan P. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo describe a novel Sacroiliac Luxation Instrument System (SILIS™) and its application in minimally invasive osteosynthesis (MIO) of sacroiliac luxations/fractures (SIL/F). The SILIS was designed to provide stable SIL/F reduction and accurate sacral screw placement while reducing personnel exposure to ionizing radiation during intraoperative fluoroscopy.Study designDescriptive, proof of concept cadaveric study.MethodsA right SIL and a left SIL/F were created on a Labrador Retriever that had died of natural causes. Bilateral sacroiliac lag screw fixation was performed under fluoroscopic guidance with the SILIS, which consists of dedicated reduction and fixation instruments rigidly linked to table‐bound 6‐axis arms.ResultsThroughout surgery, the SILIS facilitated and maintained stable reduction and allowed accurate placement of a custom designed drill guide over the sacral body without the surgeon's manual holding of any reduction or fixation instruments. The surgical team was therefore able to step away from the C‐arm when acquiring fluoroscopic images, thus reducing exposure to radiation. Dorsoventral and craniocaudal screw deviation from an ideal trajectory ranged from 0.9° to 3.8°. Both screws were fully located within the sacral body.ConclusionThe SILIS addresses limitations associated with MIO of SIL/F, including maintenance of reduction throughout surgery along with reliable and accurate sacral screw placement. Distance from the X‐ray source is the most effective protection against radiation. Use of the SILIS allows the surgical team to move away from the C‐arm during fluoroscopy, thereby reducing personnel exposure to dangerous direct and back‐scattered ionizing radiation.
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Willianms Ellery 
Published: November 2017

Business and Management Studies (BMS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether BMS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 3, Number 4 Abdul-Kahar Adam, University of Education,Winneba, GhanaAndrzej Niemiec, Poznań University of Economics and Business, PolandAshford Chea, Benedict College, USAChrister Thörnqvist, University of Skövde, SwedenDaiane Miranda Freitas, FACISA/Univicosa, BrazilDalia Susniene, Kaunas University of Technology, LithuaniaFlorin Peci, University of Peja, KosovoGabriela O. Chiciudean, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaIulia Cristina Muresan, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaKenichi Shimizu, Technical University of Braunschweig, GermanyLucie Andreisová, University of Economics in Prague, CzechMarica Ion Dumitrasco, Academy of Sciences of Moldova, MoldovaMike Rayner, University of Portsmouth, UKMythili Kolluru, College of Banking and Financial Studies, OmanRashedul Hasan, International Islamic University Malaysia, MalaysiaRegina Lenart-Gansiniec, Jagiellonian University, PolandRocsana Tonis, Spiru Haret University, RomaniaSammy Kimunguyi , Office of The Auditor-General, KenyaTetiana Paientko, Kyiv National Economic Univercity, UkraineYanzhe Zhang, University of Canberra, AustraliaZeki Atıl Bulut, Dokuz Eylul University, TurkeyZoran Mastilo, University of East Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Ellery WillianmsEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Business and Management StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAURL: http://bms.redfame.com
Reviewer Acknowledgements
Authors: Young James 
Published: November 2017

International Journal of Social Science Studies (IJSSS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether IJSSS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 5, Number 12 Agboola O. Paul, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, MalaysiaAmanda ElBassiouny, Spring Hill College, USAAmany Albert, Beni-Suef University, EgyptAriela Francesca Pagani, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, ItalyE.Ozan Aksoz, Anadolu University, TurkeyFroilan Mobo, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, PhilippinesJadranka Svarc, Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, CroatiaJoan Garcia Garriga, Institut de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES) / Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), SpainJulia M. Mack, Gannon University, USAK.O. Aramide, The Polytechnic Ibadan, NigeriaMaría Cecilia Pallo, National Scientific and Technical Research Council, ArgentinaMickey Langlais, University of Nebraska – Kearney, USAMiriam Parise, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, ItalySandro Serpa, University of the Azores, PortugalXiaojie Zhang, Northeastern University, China
Resurgent sodium current promotes action potential firing in the avian auditory brainstem
Authors: Hong Hui , Lu Ting , Wang Xiaoyu , Wang Yuan , Sanchez Jason Tait 
Published: November 2017

Key points
Auditory brainstem neurons of all vertebrates fire phase‐locked action potentials (APs) at high rates with remarkable fidelity, a process controlled by specialized anatomical and biophysical properties.
This is especially true in the avian nucleus magnocellularis (NM) – the analogue of the mammalian anteroventral cochlear nucleus.
In addition to high voltage‐activated potassium (KHVA) channels, we report, using whole cell physiology and modelling, that resurgent sodium current (INaR) of sodium channels (NaV) is equally important and operates synergistically with KHVA channels to enable rapid AP firing in NM.
Anatomically, we detected strong NaV1.6 expression near hearing maturation, which was less distinct during hearing development despite functional evidence of INaR, suggesting that multiple NaV channel subtypes may contribute to INaR.
We conclude that INaR plays an important role in regulating rapid AP firing for NM neurons, a property that may be evolutionarily conserved for functions related to similar avian and mammalian hearing.
AbstractAuditory brainstem neurons are functionally primed to fire action potentials (APs) at markedly high rates in order to rapidly encode the acoustic information of sound. This specialization is critical for survival and the comprehension of behaviourally relevant communication functions, including sound localization and distinguishing speech from noise. Here, we investigated underlying ion channel mechanisms essential for high‐rate AP firing in neurons of the chicken nucleus magnocellularis (NM) – the avian analogue of bushy cells of the mammalian anteroventral cochlear nucleus. In addition to the established function of high voltage‐activated potassium channels, we found that resurgent sodium current (INaR) plays a role in regulating rapid firing activity of late‐developing (embryonic (E) days 19–21) NM neurons. INaR of late‐developing NM neurons showed similar properties to mammalian neurons in that its unique mechanism of an ‘open channel block state’ facilitated the recovery and increased the availability of sodium (NaV) channels after depolarization. Using a computational model of NM neurons, we demonstrated that removal of INaR reduced high‐rate AP firing. We found weak INaR during a prehearing period (E11–12), which transformed to resemble late‐developing INaR properties around hearing onset (E14–16). Anatomically, we detected strong NaV1.6 expression near maturation, which became increasingly less distinct at hearing onset and prehearing periods, suggesting that multiple NaV channel subtypes may contribute to INaR during development. We conclude that INaR plays an important role in regulating rapid AP firing for NM neurons, a property that may be evolutionarily conserved for functions related to similar avian and mammalian hearing.
Identification of Fitness Determinants during Energy-Limited Growth Arrest in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Basta David W. , Bergkessel Megan , Newman Dianne K. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

Microbial growth arrest can be triggered by diverse factors, one of which is energy limitation due to scarcity of electron donors or acceptors. Genes that govern fitness during energy-limited growth arrest and the extent to which they overlap between different types of energy limitation are poorly defined. In this study, we exploited the fact that
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
can remain viable over several weeks when limited for organic carbon (pyruvate) as an electron donor or oxygen as an electron acceptor. ATP values were reduced under both types of limitation, yet more severely in the absence of oxygen. Using transposon-insertion sequencing (Tn-seq), we identified fitness determinants in these two energy-limited states. Multiple genes encoding general functions like transcriptional regulation and energy generation were required for fitness during carbon or oxygen limitation, yet many specific genes, and thus specific activities, differed in their relevance between these states. For instance, the global regulator RpoS was required during both types of energy limitation, while other global regulators such as DksA and LasR were required only during carbon or oxygen limitation, respectively. Similarly, certain ribosomal and tRNA modifications were specifically required during oxygen limitation. We validated fitness defects during energy limitation using independently generated mutants of genes detected in our screen. Mutants in distinct functional categories exhibited different fitness dynamics: regulatory genes generally manifested a phenotype early, whereas genes involved in cell wall metabolism were required later. Together, these results provide a new window into how
P. aeruginosa
survives growth arrest.

IMPORTANCE
Growth-arrested bacteria are ubiquitous in nature and disease yet understudied at the molecular level. For example, growth-arrested cells constitute a major subpopulation of mature biofilms, serving as an antibiotic-tolerant reservoir in chronic infections. Identification of the genes required for survival of growth arrest (encompassing entry, maintenance, and exit) is an important first step toward understanding the physiology of bacteria in this state. Using Tn-seq, we identified and validated genes required for fitness of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
when energy limited for organic carbon or oxygen, which represent two common causes of growth arrest for
P. aeruginosa
in diverse habitats. This unbiased, genome-wide survey is the first to reveal essential activities for a pathogen experiencing different types of energy limitation, finding both shared and divergent activities that are relevant at different survival stages. Future efforts can now be directed toward understanding how the biomolecules responsible for these activities contribute to fitness under these conditions.
Molecular Basis of Bacterial Longevity
Authors: Pechter Kieran B. , Yin Liang , Oda Yasuhiro , Gallagher Larry , Yang Jianming , Manoil Colin , Harwood Caroline S. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

It is well known that many bacteria can survive in a growth-arrested state for long periods of time, on the order of months or even years, without forming dormant structures like spores or cysts. How is such longevity possible? What is the molecular basis of such longevity? Here we used the Gram-negative phototrophic alphaproteobacterium
Rhodopseudomonas palustris
to identify molecular determinants of bacterial longevity.
R. palustris
maintained viability for over a month after growth arrest due to nutrient depletion when it was provided with light as a source of energy. In transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) experiments, we identified 117 genes that were required for long-term viability of nongrowing
R. palustris
cells. Genes in this longevity gene set are annotated to play roles in a number of cellular processes, including DNA repair, tRNA modification, and the fidelity of protein synthesis. These genes are critically important only when cells are not growing. Three genes annotated to affect translation or posttranslational modifications were validated as
bona fide
longevity genes by mutagenesis and complementation experiments. These genes and others in the longevity gene set are broadly conserved in bacteria. This raises the possibility that it will be possible to define a core set of longevity genes common to many bacterial species.

IMPORTANCE
Bacteria in nature and during infections often exist in a nongrowing quiescent state. However, it has been difficult to define experimentally the molecular characteristics of this crucial element of the bacterial life cycle because bacteria that are not growing tend to die under laboratory conditions. Here we present and validate the phototrophic bacterium
Rhodopseudomonas palustris
as a model system for identification of genes required for the longevity of nongrowing bacteria. Growth-arrested
R. palustris
maintained almost full viability for weeks using light as an energy source. Such cells were subjected to large-scale mutagenesis to identify genes required for this striking longevity trait. The results define conserved determinants of survival under nongrowing conditions and create a foundation for more extensive studies to elucidate general molecular mechanisms of bacterial longevity.