bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiple Time‐Intensity Analysis and Temporal Dominance of Sensations of Chocolate Dairy Dessert Using Prebiotic and Different High‐Intensity Sweeteners
Authors: Morais E.C. , Pinheiro A.C.M. , Nunes C.A. , Bolini H.M.A. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThis paper presents a novel concept for producing chocolate dairy desserts using prebiotic and sucrose substitutes. The quality of chocolate dairy desserts was analyzed by the multiple time‐intensity analysis and temporal dominance of sensations (TDS). Time‐intensity analysis showed that the sample developed with neotame had a higher intensity of sweetness; the samples with neotame and stevia had a higher intensity of bitterness; and the samples with sucrose, sucralose, aspartame and the integral one had a higher intensity of chocolate flavor. Sucralose and aspartame provided a temporal profile with parameter curves closer to the one sweetened with sucrose, as well as the addition of prebiotics. TheTDSanalysis also showed a similar profile between the integral sample and the prebiotic light samples with sucralose and aspartame, in relation to the attributes of sweetness, bitterness, milk chocolate flavor, bittersweet chocolate flavor, milk powder, cream and off‐flavor. In this context, the addition of prebiotic and replacement of sucrose by sweeteners opens up new opportunities in product development, especially in chocolate formulation for dietetic and functional purposes.Practical ApplicationsTemporal dominance of sensations (TDS) has led to improve a better understanding of temporality behavior of dairy desserts' taste and flavor. In this study, the time‐intensity analysis allowed the verification of changes in the perception of a product's attribute over time whileTDSprovided how the flavor behavior is for consumers during the dairy dessert ingestion and obtained the temporal profile of all attributes related to flavor. These methodologies are complementary and they are very useful for dairy dessert processors and people who work in the functional and sweetener industry.
Melatonin enhances the human mesenchymal stem cells motility via melatonin receptor 2 coupling with Gαq in skin wound healing
Authors: Lee Sei‐Jung , Jung Young Hyun , Oh Sang Yub , Yun Seung Pil , Han Ho Jae 
Published: September 2014

AbstractMelatonin, a circadian rhythm–promoting molecule, has a variety of biological functions, but the functional role of melatonin in the motility of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has yet to be studied. In a mouse skin excisional wound model, we found that transplantation of umbilical cord blood (UCB)‐MSCs pretreated with melatonin enhanced wound closure, granulation, and re‐epithelialization at mouse skin wound sites, where relatively more UCB‐MSCs which were engrafted onto the wound site were detected. Thus, we identified the signaling pathway of melatonin, which affects the motility of UCB‐MSCs. Melatonin (1 μm) significantly increased the motility of UCB‐MSCs, which had been inhibited by the knockdown of melatonin receptor 2 (MT2). We found that Gαq coupled with MT2 and that the binding of Gαq to MT2 uniquely stimulated an atypical PKC isoform, PKCζ. Melatonin induced the phosphorylation of FAK and paxillin, which were concurrently downregulated by blocking of the PKC activity. Melatonin increased the levels of active Cdc42 and Arp2/3, and it has the ability to stimulate cytoskeletal reorganization‐related proteins such as profilin‐1, cofilin‐1, and F‐actin in UCB‐MSCs. Finally, a lack of MT2 expression in UCB‐MSCs during a mouse skin transplantation experiment resulted in impaired wound healing and less engraftment of stem cells at the wound site. These results demonstrate that melatonin signaling via MT2 triggers FAK/paxillin phosphorylation to stimulate reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, which is responsible for Cdc42/Arp2/3 activation to promote UCB‐MSCs motility.
Overexpression of MzASMT improves melatonin production and enhances drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants
Authors: Zuo Bixiao , Zheng Xiaodong , He Pingli , Wang Lin , Lei Qiong , Feng Chao , Zhou Jingzhe , Li Qingtian , Han Zhenhai , Kong Jin 
Published: September 2014

AbstractMelatonin is a potent naturally occurring reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) scavenger in plants. Melatonin protects plants from oxidative stress and, therefore, it improves their tolerance against a variety of environmental abiotic stressors. N‐acetylserotonin‐O‐methyltransferase (ASMT) is a specific enzyme required for melatonin synthesis. In this report, an ASMT gene was cloned from apple rootstock (Malus zumi Mats) and designated as MzASMT1 (KJ123721). The MzASMT1 expression was induced by drought stress in apple leaves. The upregulation of MzASMT1 in the apple leaf positively relates to melatonin production over a 24‐hr dark/light cycle. Purified MzASMT1 protein expressed in E. coli converted its substrates to melatonin with an activity of approximately 5.5 pmol/min/mg protein. The transient transformation in tobacco identified that MzASMT1 is located in cytoplasm of the cell. When MzASMT1 gene driven by 35S promoter was transferred to Arabidopsis, melatonin levels in transgenic Arabidopsis plants were 2–4 times higher than those in the wild type. The transgenic Arabidopsis plants had significantly lower intrinsic ROS than the wild type and therefore these plants exhibited greater tolerance to drought stress than that of wild type. This is, at least partially, attributed to the elevated melatonin levels resulting from the overexpression of MzASMT1. The results elucidated the important role that membrane‐located melatonin synthase plays in drought tolerance. These findings have significant implications in agriculture.
Melatonin attenuates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting the inflammation and the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells
Authors: Jin Haifeng , Wang Yueyue , Zhou Lei , Liu Lu , Zhang Peng , Deng Wuguo , Yuan Yuhui 
Published: September 2014

AbstractHypoxia‐induced inflammation and excessive proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) play important roles in the pathological process of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH). Melatonin possesses anti‐inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. However, the effect of melatonin on HPH remains unclear. In this study, adult Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to intermittent chronic hypoxia for 4 wk to mimic a severe HPH condition. Hemodynamic and pulmonary pathomorphology data showed that chronic hypoxia significantly increased right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP), weight of the right ventricle/left ventricle plus septum (RV/LV+S) ratio, and median width of pulmonary arterioles. Melatonin attenuated the elevation of RVSP, RV/LV+S, and mitigated the pulmonary vascular structure remodeling. Melatonin also suppressed the hypoxia‐induced high expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α), and nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB). In vitro, melatonin concentration‐dependently inhibited the proliferation of PASMCs and the levels of phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases1/2 (ERK1/2) caused by hypoxia. These results suggested that melatonin might potentially prevent HPH via anti‐inflammatory and antiproliferative mechanisms.
Protective effect of melatonin on cigarette smoke‐induced restenosis in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury
Authors: Yang Gen‐Huan , Li Yan‐Chuan , Wang Zhan‐Qi , Liu Bao , Ye Wei , Ni Leng , Zeng Rong , Miao Shi‐Ying , Wang Lin‐Fang , Liu Chang‐Wei 
Published: September 2014

AbstractVascular restenosis after the interventional angioplasty remains the main obstacle to a favorable long‐term patency. Many researches suggest cigarette smoking is one of the most important causes of restenosis. This study was designed to investigate whether melatonin could protect against the cigarette smoke‐induced restenosis in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury. Three groups of male rats (normal condition, cigarette smoke exposed, cigarette smoke exposed, and melatonin injected) were used in this study. An established balloon‐induced carotid artery injury was performed, and the carotid arteries were harvested from these three groups 14 days later. The ratio of intima to media, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, the expression of inflammatory cytokines (NF‐κB, IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α, MCP‐1), adhesion molecules (ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1), and eNOS were measured. The results showed that cigarette smoke exposure aggravated the stenosis of the lumen, promoted the infiltration of inflammatory cells and induced the expression of the inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules after the balloon‐induced carotid artery injury. Moreover, cigarette smoke exposure can inhibit the expression of eNOS. Particularly, we surprised that melatonin could minimize this effect caused by cigarette smoke. These results suggested that melatonin could prevent the cigarette smoke‐induced restenosis in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury and the mechanism of its protective effect may be the inhibition of the inflammatory reaction. This also implies melatonin has the potential therapeutic applicability in prevention of restenosis after the vascular angioplasty in smokers.
Selective pressure on synonymous codon usage in mammalian protein‐encoding genes
Authors: ZHANG Xin‐Bo , MA Xiang‐Ming , WANG Bai‐Yun , MA Xiang‐Hui , WANG Zhi‐Wen 
Published: September 2014

AbstractThe evolutionary suppression of synonymous codon sites is a controversial topic. Although some studies have indicated that synonymous substitution is under positive selection, most of these studies relied on comparison of homologous genes and/or a limited number of sequences. In the present work, we compared the selection strength at synonymous sites for two types of protein‐encoding genes: genes encoding enzymes and protein genes encoding non‐enzymes. Our method does not require assumptions concerning, for example, evolutionary equilibrium or population size. We compared ∼70 000 genes from the fully sequenced mammalian Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Mus musculus, and Rattus norvegicus genomes and found that the percentage of C and G in the third position of a codon positively correlates with the percentage of the G/C content within ± 20 000 nucleotides of the gene. More interestingly, we found that synonymous sites in mammalian genes encoding enzymes have undergone stronger selection than did such sites in genes encoding proteins that are not enzymes.
Clinical, Pathologic, and Immunohistochemical Prognostic Factors in Dogs with Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Campos M. , Ducatelle R. , Rutteman G. , Kooistra H.S. , Duchateau L. , de Rooster H. , Peremans K. , Daminet S. 
Published: September 2014

BackgroundPrognostic markers for dogs with thyroid tumors are limited.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo identify clinical, pathologic, and immunohistochemical prognostic factors for dogs with thyroid tumors.AnimalsSeventy dogs with thyroid neoplasia.MethodsRetrospective study. Dogs with thyroid neoplasia were included when follow‐up information and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tumor samples were available. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed for thyroglobulin, calcitonin, Ki‐67, and E‐cadherin. Correlation of tumor variables (diameter, volume, localization, scintigraphic uptake, thyroid function,IHC) with local invasiveness and metastatic disease was performed on all tumor samples. Forty‐four dogs treated by thyroidectomy were included in a survival analysis.ResultsFifty dogs (71%) had differentiated follicular cell thyroid carcinoma (dFTC) and 20 (29%) had medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). At diagnosis, tumor diameter (P = .007;P = .038), tumor volume (P = .020), tumor fixation (P = .002), ectopic location (P = .002), follicular cell origin (P = .044), and Ki‐67 (P = .038) were positively associated with local invasiveness; tumor diameter (P = .002), tumor volume (P = .023), and bilateral location (P = .012) were positively associated with presence of distant metastases. Forty‐four dogs (28dFTC, 16 MTC; stage I–III) underwent thyroidectomy. Outcome was comparable between dogs withdFTCandMTC. Macroscopic (P = .007) and histologic (P = .046) vascular invasion were independent negative predictors for disease‐free survival. Although time to presentation, histologic vascular invasion and Ki‐67 were negatively associated with time to metastases, and time to presentation was negatively associated with time to recurrence, no independent predictors were found. E‐cadherin expression was not associated with outcome.Conclusions and Clinical ImportancePrognostic factors have been identified that provide relevant information for owners and clinicians.
Risk Factors for Survival in a University Hospital Population of Dogs with Epilepsy
Authors: Fredsø N. , Koch B.C. , Toft N. , Berendt M. 
Published: September 2014

BackgroundAlthough a common neurological disorder in dogs, long‐term outcome of epilepsy is sparsely documented.ObjectivesTo investigate risk factors for survival and duration of survival in a population of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy or epilepsy associated with a known intracranial cause.AnimalsOne hundred and two client owned dogs; 78 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy and 24 dogs with epilepsy associated with a known intracranial cause.MethodsA retrospective hospital based study with follow‐up. Dogs diagnosed with epilepsy between 2002 and 2008 were enrolled in the study. Owners were interviewed by telephone using a structured questionnaire addressing epilepsy status, treatment, death/alive, and cause of death.ResultsMedian life span was 7.6 years, 9.2 years, and 5.8 years for all dogs, and dogs with idiopathic epilepsy or dogs with epilepsy associated with a known intracranial cause (P < .001), respectively. Survival time for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy was significantly (P = .0030) decreased for dogs euthanized because of epilepsy (median: 35 months) compared to dogs euthanized for other reasons (median: 67.5 months). Neutered male dogs with idiopathic epilepsy had a significant (P = .031) shorter survival (median: 38.5 months) after index seizure compared to intact male dogs (median: 71 months). Treatment with two antiepileptic drugs (AED′s) did not negatively influence survival (P = .056).Conclusion and Clinical ImportanceDogs with idiopathic epilepsy can in many cases expect a life span close to what is reported for dogs in general. In dogs where mono‐therapy is not sufficient, the need for treatment with two AED′s is not linked to a poor prognosis.
Hierarchical population structure and habitat differences in a highly mobile marine species: the Atlantic spotted dolphin
Authors: Viricel Amélia , Rosel Patricia E. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractRecent molecular studies have shown that highly mobile species with continuous distributions can exhibit fine‐scale population structure. In this context, we assessed genetic structure within a marine species with high dispersal potential, the Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis). Using 19 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial control region sequences, population structure was investigated in the western North Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Azores Islands. Analyses of the microsatellite data identified four distinct genetic clusters, which were supported by the control region sequences. The highest level of divergence was seen between two clusters corresponding to previously described morphotypes that inhabit oceanic and shelf waters. The combined morphological and genetic evidence suggests these two lineages are on distinct evolutionary trajectories and could be considered distinct subspecies despite their parapatry. Further analysis of the continental shelf cluster resulted in three groups: animals inhabiting shelf waters in the western North Atlantic, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the western Gulf of Mexico. Analyses of environmental data indicate the four genetic clusters inhabit distinct habitats in terms of depth and sea surface temperature. Contemporary dispersal rate estimates suggest all of these populations should be considered as distinct management units. Conversely, no significant genetic differentiation was observed between S. frontalis from offshore waters of the western North Atlantic and the Azores, which are separated by approximately 4500 km. Overall, the hierarchical structure observed within the Atlantic spotted dolphin shows that the biogeography of the species is complex because it is not shaped solely by geographic distance.
The transcriptional repressor EUO regulates both subsets of Chlamydia late genes
Authors: Rosario Christopher J. , Hanson Brett R. , Tan Ming 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe pathogenic bacterium Chlamydia replicates in a eukaryotic host cell via a developmental cycle marked by temporal waves of gene expression. We have previously shown that late genes transcribed by the major chlamydial RNA polymerase, σ66 RNA polymerase, are regulated by a transcriptional repressor EUO. We now report that EUO also represses promoters for a second subset of late genes that are transcribed by an alternative polymerase called σ28 RNA polymerase. EUO bound in the vicinity of six σ28‐dependent promoters and inhibited transcription of each promoter. We used a mutational analysis to demonstrate that the EUO binding site functions as an operator that is necessary and sufficient for EUO‐mediated repression of σ28‐dependent transcription. We also verified specific binding of EUO to σ66‐dependent and σ28‐dependent promoters with a DNA immunoprecipitation assay. These findings support a model in which EUO represses expression of both σ66‐dependent and σ28‐dependent late genes. We thus propose that EUO is the master regulator of late gene expression in the chlamydial developmental cycle.
Bifidobacteria exert strain‐specific effects on stress‐related behavior and physiology in BALB/c mice
Authors: Savignac H. M. , Kiely B. , Dinan T. G. , Cryan J. F. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundAccumulating evidence suggests that commensal bacteria consumption has the potential to have a positive impact on stress‐related psychiatric disorders. However, the specific bacteria influencing behaviors related to anxiety and depression remain unclear. To this end, we compared the effects of two different Bifidobacteria on anxiety and depression‐like behavior; an antidepressant was also used as a comparator.MethodsInnately anxious BALB/c mice received daily Bifidobacterium longum (B.) 1714, B. breve 1205, the antidepressant escitalopram or vehicle treatment for 6 weeks. Behavior was assessed in stress‐induced hyperthermia test, marble burying, elevated plus maze, open field, tail suspension test, and forced swim test. Physiological responses to acute stress were also assessed.Key ResultsBoth Bifidobacteria and escitalopram reduced anxiety in the marble burying test; however, only B. longum 1714 decreased stress‐induced hyperthermia. B. breve 1205 induced lower anxiety in the elevated plus maze whereas B. longum 1714 induced antidepressant‐like behavior in the tail suspension test. However, there was no difference in corticosterone levels between groups.Conclusions & InferencesThese data show that these two Bifidobacteria strains reduced anxiety in an anxious mouse strain. These results also suggest that each bacterial strain has intrinsic effects and may be beneficially specific for a given disorder. These findings strengthen the role of gut microbiota supplementation as psychobiotic‐based strategies for stress‐related brain‐gut axis disorders, opening new avenues in the field of neurogastroenterology.
The Eucalyptus grandis R2R3‐MYB transcription factor family: evidence for woody growth‐related evolution and function
Authors: Soler Marçal , Camargo Eduardo Leal Oliveira , Carocha Victor , Cassan‐Wang Hua , San Clemente Hélène , Savelli Bruno , Hefer Charles A. , Paiva Jorge A. Pinto , Myburg Alexander A. , Grima‐Pettenati Jacqueline 
Published: September 2014

Summary

The R2R3‐MYB family, one of the largest transcription factor families in higher plants, controls a wide variety of plant‐specific processes including, notably, phenylpropanoid metabolism and secondary cell wall formation. We performed a genome‐wide analysis of this superfamily in Eucalyptus, one of the most planted hardwood trees world‐wide.

A total of 141 predicted R2R3‐MYB sequences identified in the Eucalyptus grandis genome sequence were subjected to comparative phylogenetic analyses with Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Populus trichocarpa and Vitis vinifera. We analysed features such as gene structure, conserved motifs and genome location. Transcript abundance patterns were assessed by RNAseq and validated by high‐throughput quantitative PCR.

We found some R2R3‐MYB subgroups with expanded membership in E. grandis, V. vinifera and P. trichocarpa, and others preferentially found in woody species, suggesting diversification of specific functions in woody plants. By contrast, subgroups containing key genes regulating lignin biosynthesis and secondary cell wall formation are more conserved across all of the species analysed.

In Eucalyptus, R2R3‐MYB tandem gene duplications seem to disproportionately affect woody‐preferential and woody‐expanded subgroups. Interestingly, some of the genes belonging to woody‐preferential subgroups show higher expression in the cambial region, suggesting a putative role in the regulation of secondary growth.
Genome engineering via TALENs and CRISPR/Cas9 systems: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Mahfouz Magdy M. , Piatek Agnieszka , Stewart Charles Neal 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe ability to precisely modify genome sequence and regulate gene expression patterns in a site‐specific manner holds much promise in plant biotechnology. Genome‐engineering technologies that enable such highly specific and efficient modification are advancing with unprecedented pace. Transcription activator‐like effectors (TALEs) provide customizable DNA‐binding modules designed to bind to any sequence of interest. Thus, TALEs have been used as a DNA targeting module fused to functional domains for a variety of targeted genomic and epigenomic modifications. TALE nucleases (TALENs) have been used with much success across eukaryotic species to edit genomes. Recently, clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) that are used as guide RNAs for Cas9 nuclease‐specific digestion has been introduced as a highly efficient DNA‐targeting platform for genome editing and regulation. Here, we review the discovery, development and limitations of TALENs and CRIPSR/Cas9 systems as genome‐engineering platforms in plants. We discuss the current questions, potential improvements and the development of the next‐generation genome‐editing platforms with an emphasis on producing designer plants to address the needs of agriculture and basic plant biology.
Munc13‐4 deficiency with CD5 downregulation on activated CD8+ T cells
Authors: Wada Taizo , Yasumi Takahiro , Toma Tomoko , Hori Masayuki , Maeda Sayaka , Umeda Katsutsugu , Heike Toshio , Adachi Souichi , Usami Ikuya , Yachie Akihiro 
Published: September 2014

AbstractFamilial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is characterized by uncontrolled activation of T cells and macrophages and hypercytokinemia. We have recently described a significant increase in a subpopulation of CD8+ T cells with downregulation of CD5 during the acute phase of FHL type2 (FHL2; perforin deficiency), which declines after successful treatment, with a concomitant reduction in serum cytokine level. This unusual subset of CD8+ T cells, however, has not been characterized in patients with other subtypes of FHL. Herein, we describe a patient with FHL3 (Munc13‐4 deficiency) carrying compound heterozygous mutations in the UNC13D gene. He had high serum levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and significantly increased activated CD8+ T cells with downregulation of CD5 during the acute phase, similar to that found in FHL2. This immunophenotypic feature may serve as a useful marker of immune dysregulation in FHL3 in addition to FHL2.