bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic analysis of falling number in three bi‐parental common winter wheat populations
Authors: Mohler Volker , Albrecht Theresa , Mrva Kolumbina , Schweizer Günther , Hartl Lorenz 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to analyse the genetic basis of falling number in three winter wheat populations. Samples for falling number determination for each population originated from at least three test environments that were free from the occurrence of preharvest sprouting at harvest time. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis employing falling number values from single environments identified eight, five and three QTL in the populations Dream/Lynx, Bussard/W332‐84 and BAUB469511/Format, respectively. A major QTL common to all three populations and consistently detected in each environment mapped to the long arm of chromosome 7B. The QTL was located to a similar genomic region as the previously described major QTL for high‐isoelectric point α‐amylase content. The T1BL.1RS wheat‐rye translocation and the dwarfing gene Rht‐D1 segregating in Dream/Lynx and BAUB469511/Format were found to be important factors of falling number variation. In both populations, the presence of Rht‐D1b or the absence of T1BL.1RS increased falling number. The results indicate that late maturity α‐amylase, responsible for low falling numbers, has now been documented in German wheat germplasm.
Life Is All about Timing: An Examination of Differences in Treatment Quality for Trauma Patients Based on Hospital Arrival Time
Authors: Anderson David , Gao Guodong (Gordon) , Golden Bruce 
Published: March 2014

In health care, most quality transparency and improvement programs focus on the quality variation across hospitals, while we know much less about within‐hospital quality variation. This study examines one important factor that is associated with the fluctuation of quality of care in the same hospital—the timing of patient arrival. We analyze data from the National Trauma Data Bank and find that patients arriving at the hospital during off‐hours (6 PM–6 AM) receive significantly lower quality care than those who arrive during the daytime, as reflected in higher mortality rates, among other measures. More importantly, we try to uncover the mechanism for the quality variation. Interestingly, we find consistent evidence that the inferior care received during off‐hours is not likely due to unobserved heterogeneity, disruptions in circadian rhythms, or delays in receiving treatment. Instead, it is more likely due to the limited availability of high‐quality resources. This leads to a higher surgical complication rate, a higher likelihood of multiple surgeries, and longer patient length of stay in the intensive care unit. These findings have important implications for optimal resource allocation in hospitals to improve the quality‐of‐care delivery.
Effects of donepezil dose escalation in Parkinson's patients with dementia receiving long‐term donepezil treatment: an exploratory study
Authors: Ishikawa Kei‐Ichi , Motoi Yumiko , Mizuno Yoshikuni , Kubo Shin‐Ichiro , Hattori Nobutaka 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe benefits of escalating the dose of donepezil in patients who are already receiving long‐term treatment with it have not been well evaluated. Therefore, an exploratory study to assess the effects of donepezil dose escalation in patients with Parkinson's disease with dementia, and specifically on patients receiving long‐term treatment with donepezil, was performed.MethodsPatients treated with 5‐mg/day donepezil for at least 3 months and having a Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score between 10 and 26 were included in this study. Donepezil dosage was then increased to 10 mg/day for 12 weeks. The outcome measures were a modified form of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) with an extra domain for additional evaluation of fluctuation in cognitive functions (NPI‐11) and the MMSE.ResultsOf the nine patients enrolled, two withdrew because of nausea and inability to be assessed on the predetermined date; this left seven participants (four men and three women) with a mean age of 74.6 ± 6.9 years, a mean period of Parkinson's disease of 11.7 ± 7.5 years, and median donepezil use of 7 months (range: 3–56 months). At baseline, the mean total NPI‐11 and mean MMSE scores were 18.3 ± 5.6 points and 21.3 ± 5.3 points, respectively. At week 12, they improved by 8.3 points (P < 0.01) and 3.0 points (P = 0.08), respectively, from the baseline. The NPI symptom domains that improved by 1 or more points were hallucination (1.3 points), depression (1.0 points), anxiety (1.6 points), and aberrant motor behaviour (1.7 points). None of the patients withdrew because of worsening of parkinsonism.ConclusionsThe present results suggest that treatment with dose escalation of donepezil from 5 mg/day to 10 mg/day may be therapeutically useful for patients with Parkinson's disease with dementia who have taken donepezil 5 mg/day in the long term.
Diversification and Re‐feminisation of Norwegian Farm Properties
Authors: Heggem Reidun 
Published: March 2014

AbstractFemale potential successors of farm properties are increasingly choosing not to take over the farm, with the result that rural areas are becoming masculinised. The question asked in this article is, how will the current shift in European and Norwegian agriculture towards increased diversification affect the recruitment of young women to rural areas? This study employs quantitative methods to answer this question. The findings are a significant and positive relationship between the potential recruitment of women, a higher level of education among farm property owners, and farm property owners’ involvement in farm diversification associated with farm tourism and Green Care. The article concludes that there are more options for a farm‐based life than there used to be, and that this increases the probability that daughters are wanted as successors of their parents’ farm properties. This outcome is of importance for recruitment of women to rural areas and for rural viability.
Effect of the regional environment on the skin properties and the early wrinkles in young Chinese women
Authors: Kim E. J. , Han J. Y. , Lee H. K. , He Q. Q. , Cho J. C. , Wei L. , Wang X. , Li L. , Wei L. , Liang H. , Gao X. , Kim B. J. , Nam G. W. 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundThere are ethnic differences in the skin characteristics, also the skin is susceptible to be influenced by the external environment such as UV radiation and the climates. It can be shown that the skin in same race or twins varies by the environment.ObjectivesThis study was designed to investigate the skin characteristics and the early wrinkles of young Chinese women from four different regions, and to identify the correlation among the wrinkles, the other skin characteristics, and environmental conditions.MethodsA total of 441 healthy Chinese women aged between 20 and 35 years participated in the study: 110 from Beijing, 110 from Shanghai, 111 from Wuhan, and 110 from Guangzhou. The skin hydration, sebum contents, TEWL, pH, elasticity, and wrinkles were measured on the crow's feet area.ResultsThere were regional differences in the skin characteristics and the wrinkles. Beijing women had dry skin and more wrinkles, but Guangzhou women had high sebum contents, low pH, and less wrinkles (P < 0.01). Shanghai women's TEWL and Wuhan's women's skin elasticity were higher compared with that of women from other regions. The wrinkles' form (area, depth, and length) was different from region to region. Beijing women's wrinkles were deep and large, but Guangzhou women's wrinkles were shallow and small. The skin physical parameters that influenced the wrinkles were low sebum content and hydration, high TEWL, and pH (P < 0.05).ConclusionIn the Chinese women aged 20–35 years, the skin was influenced by the climates, so they had regionally a different skin. The skin hydration, sebum contents, TEWL, and pH can affect the early wrinkle formation than skin elasticity.
Lotus japonicus SUNERGOS1 encodes a predicted subunit A of a DNA topoisomerase VI that is required for nodule differentiation and accommodation of rhizobial infection
Authors: Yoon Hwi Joong , Hossain Md Shakhawat , Held Mark , Hou Hongwei , Kehl Marilyn , Tromas Alexandre , Sato Shusei , Tabata Satoshi , Andersen Stig Uggerhøj , Stougaard Jens , Ross Loretta , Szczyglowski Krzysztof 
Published: March 2014

SummaryA symbiotic mutant of Lotus japonicus, called sunergos1‐1 (suner1‐1), originated from a har1‐1 suppressor screen. suner1‐1 supports epidermal infection by Mesorhizobium loti and initiates cell divisions for organogenesis of nodule primordia. However, these processes appear to be temporarily stalled early during symbiotic interaction, leading to a low nodule number phenotype. This defect is ephemeral and near wild‐type nodule numbers are reached by suner1‐1 at a later point after infection. Using an approach that combined map‐based cloning and next‐generation sequencing we have identified the causative mutation and show that the suner1‐1 phenotype is determined by a weak recessive allele, with the corresponding wild‐type SUNER1 locus encoding a predicted subunit A of a DNA topoisomerase VI. Our data suggest that at least one function of SUNER1 during symbiosis is to participate in endoreduplication, which is an essential step during normal differentiation of functional, nitrogen‐fixing nodules.
The efficacy of the ultraviolet C pathogen inactivation system in the reduction of Babesia divergens in pooled buffy coat platelets
Authors: Castro Emma , González Luis Miguel , Rubio Jose Miguel , Ramiro Raquel , Gironés Núria , Montero Estrella 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundBabesia spp. is an intraerythrocytic parasite that causes human babesiosis and its transmission by transfusion has been extensively demonstrated. The aim of this study was to ascertain the efficacy of an ultraviolet C (UVC)‐based pathogen inactivation system in the reduction of Babesia divergens–infected platelet (PLT) concentrates and to determine the parasite's ability to survive in PLT concentrates stored under blood bank conditions.Study Design and MethodsThis study was conducted using in vitro cultures of B. divergens. The detection limit of the culture assay was established and, subsequently, 15 buffy coat–derived PLT concentrates (BC‐PCs) were inoculated with 107 B. divergens–infected red blood cells. Infected BC‐PCs were irradiated with 0.2 J/cm2 UVC light using the THERAFLEX UV‐Platelets method (Macopharma). Viability and parasite growth were evaluated before and after inactivation. Culture growth kinetics were monitored by DNA incorporation of [3H]thymidine. The ability of B. divergens to survive in PLT concentrates was also analyzed.ResultsThe limit of detection in cultures was established at 0.1 × 10−6% parasites. The THERAFLEX UV‐Platelets system inactivated B. divergens to below the limit of detection in 12 of 15 BC‐PCs (log reduction, >6.0) and to the limit of detection (log reduction, 5.0) in three of 15. It was also demonstrated that B. divergens remains viable in BC‐PCs stored up to 7 days.ConclusionSince B. divergens can survive in PLT concentrates and given the performance of UVC, this system could be considered as an alternative to prevent B. divergens and other Babesia species from being transmitted through PLT transfusions.
Whither Islamic Banking?
Authors: Ariff Mohamed 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIslamic banking is visibly on the rise across the globe, supported by a growing clientele, both Muslim and non‐Muslim, although it has yet to demonstrate that it is a viable alternative to conventional banking. Islamic banking is still under the shadow of conventional banking, not only with products that are strikingly similar to those offered by conventional banks, but also with conventional banks having a strong presence as stakeholders in the Islamic banking industry. Islamic banking is still in the early phase of a presumably long evolutionary process, apparently stuck in the initial phase of product differentiation. Islamic banks are competing with conventional banks rather than among themselves, which does not augur well for innovations and creativity, as it tends to keep them preoccupied with modifications of conventional products with Shari'ah compliance. Islamic banks have arrived at a new crossroads. They could either continue on the same path of what may be termed as ‘head‐on competition’ with conventional banks or change their direction in favour of a ‘niche market’ strategy.
Agonists binding nicotinic receptors elicit specific channel‐opening patterns at αγ and αδ sites
Authors: Stock Patrick , Ljaschenko Dmitrij , Heckmann Manfred , Dudel Josef 
Published: March 2014

Key points
High‐resolution patch clamp currents evoked by epibatidine (Ebd), carbamylcholine (CCh) and acetylcholine (ACh) were compared. Ebd binds with 75‐fold higher affinity at αγ than at αδ sites, whereas CCh and ACh prefer αδ sites of nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) channels.
Similar short (τO1), intermediate (τO2) and long (τO3) types of opening were observed. τO2 openings were maximally prevalent at low Ebd concentrations, binding at αγ sites, whereas τO1 openings appear to be generated at αδ sites.
Short (∼0.75 ms) bursts of openings (τB1) arise from the αγ site, and long (>10 ms) bursts (τB2) arise from double liganded receptors. The duration of bursts and of openings within bursts depended on the agonist.
Limited by the temporal resolution, the closings within bursts were invariant at 3 μs.
Blocking αδ sites with α‐conotoxin M1 (CTx) eliminated both τO1 and τB2 and left only τO2 and the short τB1 bursts, as expected.
Abstract‘Embryonic’ muscle‐type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channels (nAChRs) bind ligands at interfaces of α‐ and γ‐ or δ‐subunits. αγ and αδ sites differ in affinity, but their contributions to opening the channel have remained elusive. We compared high‐resolution patch clamp currents evoked by epibatidine (Ebd), carbamylcholine (CCh) and acetylcholine (ACh). Ebd binds with 75‐fold higher affinity at αγ than at αδ sites, whereas CCh and ACh prefer αδ sites. Similar short (τO1), intermediate (τO2) and long (τO3) types of opening were observed with all three agonists. τO2 openings were maximally prevalent at low Ebd concentrations, binding at αγ sites. By contrast, τO1 openings appear to be generated at αδ sites. In addition, two types of burst appeared: short bursts of an average of 0.75 ms (τB1) that should arise from the αγ site, and long bursts of 12–25 ms (τB2) in duration arising from double liganded receptors. Limited by the temporal resolution, the closings within bursts were invariant at 3 μs. Corrected for missed closings, in the case of ACh the openings within long bursts lasted 170 μs and those in short bursts about 30 μs. Blocking αδ sites with α‐conotoxin M1 (CTx) eliminated both τO1 and τB2 and left only τO2 and the short τB1 bursts, as expected. Furthermore we found desensitization when the receptors bound ACh only at the αγ site. When CTx was applied to ‘embryonic’ mouse endplates, monoquantal current rise times were increased, and amplitude and decay time constants were reduced, as expected. Thus the αγ and αδ sites of nAChRs elicit specific channel‐opening patterns.
Nucleus accumbens neuronal maturation differences in young rats bred for low versus high voluntary running behaviour
Authors: Roberts Michael D. , Toedebusch Ryan G. , Wells Kevin D. , Company Joseph M. , Brown Jacob D. , Cruthirds Clayton L. , Heese Alexander J. , Zhu Conan , Rottinghaus George E. , Childs Thomas E. , Booth Frank W. 
Published: March 2014

Key points
Selective breeding experiments with laboratory rodents have demonstrated the heritability of voluntary exercise.
We performed RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses of the reward and pleasure hub in the brain – the nucleus accumbens – in rats selectively bred for low voluntary running (LVR) versus high voluntary running (HVR).
The discovery of unique genes and ‘cell cycle’‐related gene pathways between lines guided our hypothesis that neuron maturation may be lower in LVR rats.
Testing of this hypothesis revealed that the LVR line inherently possessed fewer mature medium spiny neurons and fewer immature neurons than their HVR counterparts. However, minimal running in LVR rats appeared to rescue and/or reverse these effects.
Neuron maturation in the nucleus accumbens is related to low running voluntary behaviour in our model; this allows researchers to understand the potential neural mechanisms that underlie the motivations for low physical activity behaviour.
AbstractWe compared the nucleus accumbens (NAc) transcriptomes of generation 8 (G8), 34‐day‐old rats selectively bred for low (LVR) versus high voluntary running (HVR) behaviours in rats that never ran (LVRnon‐run and HVRnon‐run), as well as in rats after 6 days of voluntary wheel running (LVRrun and HVRrun). In addition, the NAc transcriptome of wild‐type Wistar rats was compared. The purpose of this transcriptomics approach was to generate testable hypotheses as to possible NAc features that may be contributing to running motivation differences between lines. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and Gene Ontology analyses suggested that ‘cell cycle’‐related transcripts and the running‐induced plasticity of dopamine‐related transcripts were lower in LVR versus HVR rats. From these data, a hypothesis was generated that LVR rats might have less NAc neuron maturation than HVR rats. Follow‐up immunohistochemistry in G9–10 LVRnon‐run rats suggested that the LVR line inherently possessed fewer mature medium spiny (Darpp‐32‐positive) neurons (P < 0.001) and fewer immature (Dcx‐positive) neurons (P < 0.001) than their G9–10 HVR counterparts. However, voluntary running wheel access in our G9–10 LVRs uniquely increased their Darpp‐32‐positive and Dcx‐positive neuron densities. In summary, NAc cellularity differences and/or the lack of running‐induced plasticity in dopamine signalling‐related transcripts may contribute to low voluntary running motivation in LVR rats.
Interval Training Intensity Affects Energy Intake Compensation in Obese Men
Authors: Alkahtani Shaea A. , Byrne Nuala M. , Hills Andrew P. , King Neil A. 
Published: March 2014

Purpose:Compensatory responses may attenuate the effectiveness of exercise training in weight management. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of moderate- and high-intensity interval training on eating behavior compensation.Methods:Using a crossover design, 10 overweight and obese men participated in 4-week moderate (MIIT) and high (HIIT) intensity interval training. MIIT consisted of 5-min cycling stages at ±20% of mechanical work at 45%VO2peak, and HIIT consisted of alternate 30-s work at 90%VO2peak and 30-s rests, for 30 to 45 min. Assessments included a constant-load exercise test at 45%VO2peak for 45 min followed by 60-min recovery. Appetite sensations were measured during the exercise test using a Visual Analog Scale. Food preferences (liking and wanting) were assessed using a computer-based paradigm, and this paradigm uses 20 photographic food stimuli varying along two dimensions, fat (high or low) and taste (sweet or nonsweet). An ad libitum test meal was provided after the constant-load exercise test.Results:Exerciseinduced hunger and desire to eat decreased after HIIT, and the difference between MIIT and HIIT in desire to eat approached significance (p = .07). Exercise-induced liking for high-fat nonsweet food tended to increase after MIIT and decreased after HIIT (p = .09). Fat intake decreased by 16% after HIIT, and increased by 38% after MIIT, with the difference between MIIT and HIIT approaching significance (p = .07).Conclusions:This study provides evidence that energy intake compensation differs between MIIT and HIIT.
DrsG from Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis Inhibits the Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37
Authors: Smyth Danielle , Cameron Ainslie , Davies Mark R. , McNeilly Celia , Hafner Louise , Sriprakash Kadaba S. , McMillan David J. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

SIC and DRS are related proteins present in only 4 of the >200
Streptococcus pyogenes
emm types. These proteins inhibit complement-mediated lysis and/or the activity of certain antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). A gene encoding a homologue of these proteins, herein called DrsG, has been identified in the related bacterium
Streptococcus dysgalactiae
subsp.
equisimilis
. Here we show that geographically dispersed isolates representing 14 of 50 emm types examined possess variants of
drsG
. However, not all isolates within the
drsG
-positive emm types possess the gene. Sequence comparisons also revealed a high degree of conservation in different
S. dysgalactiae
subsp.
equisimilis
emm types. To examine the biological activity of DrsG, recombinant versions of two major DrsG variants, DrsGS and DrsGL, were expressed and purified. Western blot analysis using antisera raised to these proteins demonstrated both variants to be expressed and secreted into culture supernatants. Unlike SIC, but similar to DRS, DrsG does not inhibit complement-mediated lysis. However, like both SIC and DRS, DrsG is a ligand of the cathelicidin LL-37 and is inhibitory to its bactericidal activity in
in vitro
assays. Conservation of prolines in the C-terminal region also suggests that these residues are important in the biology of this family of proteins. This is the first report demonstrating the activity of an AMP-inhibitory protein in
S. dysgalactiae
subsp.
equisimilis
and suggests that inhibition of AMP activity is the primary function of this family of proteins. The acquisition of the complement-inhibitory activity of SIC may reflect its continuing evolution.
Modulation of Vacuolar pH Is Required for Replication of Edwardsiella ictaluri in Channel Catfish Macrophages
Authors: Baumgartner Wes A. , Dubytska Lidiya , Rogge Matthew L. , Mottram Peter J. , Thune Ronald L. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Previous
in vitro
work demonstrated that
Edwardsiella ictaluri
produces an acid-activated urease that can modulate environmental pH through the production of ammonia from urea. Additional work revealed that expression of the
E. ictaluri
type III secretion system (T3SS) is upregulated by acidic pH. Both the urease and the T3SS were previously shown to be essential to intracellular replication. In this work, fluorescence microscopy with LysoTracker Red DND-99 (LTR) indicated that
E. ictaluri
-containing vacuoles (ECV) became acidified following ingestion by head kidney-derived macrophages (HKDM).
In vivo
ratiometric imaging demonstrated a lowered ECV pH, which fell to as low as pH 4 but subsequently increased to pH 6 or greater. Inhibition of vacuolar H
+
-ATPases by use of the specific inhibitor bafilomycin A
1
abrogated both ECV acidification and intracellular replication in HKDM. Failure of an
E. ictaluri
urease knockout mutant to increase the ECV pH in the
in vivo
ratiometric assay suggests that ammonia produced by the urease reaction mediates the pH increase. Additionally, when the specific arginase inhibitor
l
-norvaline was used to treat
E. ictaluri
-infected HKDM, the ECV failed to neutralize and
E. ictaluri
was unable to replicate. This indicates that the HKDM-encoded arginase enzyme produces the urea used by the
E. ictaluri
urease enzyme. Failure of the ECV to acidify would prevent both upregulation of the T3SS and activation of the urease enzyme, either of which would prevent
E. ictaluri
from replicating in HKDM. Failure of the ECV to neutralize would result in a vacuolar pH too low to support
E. ictaluri
replication.