bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of Caltha (Ranunculaceae) based on analyses of multiple nuclear and plastid sequences
Authors: CHENG Jin , XIE Lei 
Published: August 2013

AbstractCaltha is a widely distributed genus in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) showing interesting distribution patterns in both hemispheres. Evolutionary history of Caltha was examined by means of phylogenetic, molecular dating, and historical biogeographic analyses with a more comprehensive sampling than previous studies. The internal transcribed spacer from the nuclear genome and trnL‐F and atpB‐rbcL regions from the plastid genome were used and analyzed using parsimony and Bayesian methods. Divergence time was estimated using Bayesian dating analyses with multiple fossil calibrations. Historical biogeography was inferred using the Bayes‐DIVA method implemented in RASP. We obtained a well‐resolved and well‐supported phylogeny within the Caltha lineage. Caltha natans Pall. diverged first from the genus and the other species grouped into two clades. Our expanded sampling scheme revealed a complicated evolutionary pattern in the C. palustris complex. Caltha sinogracilis W. T. Wang was resolved to be a member of the C. palustris complex, rather than closely related to C. scaposa Hook. f. & Thomson. Caltha rubriflora B. L. Burtt & Lauener was also revealed to be not just a red‐flower form of C. sinogracilis. The diversification of the genus began at 50.5 mya (95% high posterior density: 37.1–63.9 mya), and its ancestral range was very probably in the Northern Hemisphere. The South American species may derive from western North American ancestors that dispersed along the western American Cordillera during the Cenozoic era. The vicariance model of the Southern Hemisphere species proposed by a previous study was rejected in this study.
Comparative Effect of Carperitide and Furosemide on Left Atrial Pressure in Dogs with Experimentally Induced Mitral Valve Regurgitation
Authors: Suzuki S. , Fukushima R. , Yamamoto Y. , Ishikawa T. , Hamabe L. , Kim S. , Yoshiyuki R. , Fukayama T. , Machida N. , Tanaka R. 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundThe effects of carperitide on left atrial pressure (LAP) in dogs with mitral valve disease (mitral regurgitation, MR) have not been documented.ObjectiveThe objective was to compare the short‐term effects of carperitide versus furosemide on LAP and neurohumoral factors in MR dogs.AnimalsSix healthy Beagle dogs weighing 9.8–12.6 kg (2 males and 4 females; aged 3 years) were used.MethodsExperimental, randomized, cross‐over, and interventional study. Carperitide 0.1 μg/kg/min or furosemide 0.17 mg/kg/h (1 mg/kg/6 h) was administered to dogs with surgically induced MR for 6 hours, and after a 14 day wash‐out period, the other drug was administered. LAP, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone, and echocardiographic variables were measured.ResultsLeft atrial pressure was decreased similarly after the administration of carperitide 0.1 μg/kg/min and furosemide 0.17 mg/kg/h (1 mg/kg/6 h) compared with baseline in dogs with MR (Baseline 14.75 ± 3.74 mmHg, carperitide 10.24 ± 4.97 mmHg, P < .01, furosemide 10.77 ± 5.06 mmHg, P < .05). Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone were significantly lower after the administration of carperitide than after the administration of furosemide (P < .05, respectively).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceCarperitide significantly decreased LAP in dogs with acute MR caused by experimental chordal rupture. Carperitide can have additional benefits from the viewpoint of minimal activation of neurohumoral factors in the treatment of dogs with MR. Additional studies in dogs with spontaneous disease are warranted.
Assessment of Coagulation and Potential Biochemical Markers for Hypercoagulability in Canine Hyperadrenocorticism
Authors: Pace S.L. , Creevy K.E. , Krimer P.M. , Brainard B.M. 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundAnecdotal accounts and limited research suggest that dogs with spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) are at risk of developing thromboembolic complications. Detailed description of coagulation status and identification of subsets of dogs at greatest risk would impact therapeutic recommendations for these patients.Hypothesis/ObjectivesHypothesis:A subset of dogs withHACwill have a hypercoagulable tendency as identified by increased procoagulant activity, decreased fibrinolysis, or both.Objective 1:To document the existence of this hypercoagulable tendency inHACdogs using assays of individual coagulation factors, fibrinolytic activity, and systemic coagulation.Objective 2:To evaluate clinical and biochemical markers inHACdogs to identify a subset ofHACpatients at increased risk of this hypercoagulable tendency.AnimalsSeventeen dogs newly diagnosed withHAC.MethodsProspective study. Medical history, physical examination findings, routine diagnostic tests, and comprehensive coagulation testing were performed at the time ofHACdiagnosis. Coagulation parameters were assessed individually and as panels for each dog. Historical and clinical variables were correlated with coagulation parameters to identify risk factors.ResultsThe majority (88.2%) ofHACdogs exhibited a hypercoagulable tendency. Abnormalities in 1 coagulation assay did not predict abnormalities in others. Duration of clinical signs ofHACdid not predict hypercoagulability. Comorbid conditions or abnormal clinicopathologic parameters that predicted hypercoagulability were not identified.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceAlthoughHACdogs may demonstrate a hypercoagulable tendency individually and as a group, comorbid conditions or biochemical variables that would predict more severe coagulation abnormalities were not identified.
Hypovitaminosis D in Dogs with Spirocercosis
Authors: Rosa C.T. , Schoeman J.P. , Berry J.L. , Mellanby R.J. , Dvir E. 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundSpirocercosis in dogs is characterized by esophageal nodules that can undergo neoplastic transformation. Hypovitaminosis D has been associated with neoplasia formation. We hypothesized hypovitaminosis D in neoplastic spirocercosis and that it could be a risk factor for neoplastic transformation.ObjectiveTo measure and compare vitamin D status, assessed by serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in non‐neoplastic (n = 25) and neoplastic (n = 26) spirocercosis client‐owned dogs and healthy dogs (n = 24).AnimalsTwenty‐five non‐neoplastic dogs, 26 neoplastic dogs, and 24 healthy dogs.MethodsFifty‐one dogs were randomly selected from 119 dogs diagnosed with spirocercosis presenting to our hospital, and further divided into non‐neoplastic or neoplastic groups. Exclusion criteria included dogs less than 1 year old, with concurrent diseases, received corticosteroids, or treated prophylactically for spirocercosis. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Spirocercosis dogs' appetites were graded and compared.ResultsSerum 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly different among all groups (P < .001). 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were significantly lower in neoplastic group (median 30.7 nmol/L [range 14.7–62.2]) compared to non‐neoplastic (median 52.7 nmol/L [range 19.1–129.7, P < .05]) and healthy groups (median 74.6 nmol/L [range 37.4–130.5, P < .005]). 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were significantly lower in non‐neoplastic spirocercosis dogs compared to healthy ones (P < .05). Neoplastic and non‐neoplastic spirocercosis dogs had similar appetite scores (P = 1.0). 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D concentrations were not significantly different between dogs with normal (P = .087) and abnormal (P = .125) appetites within neoplastic and non‐neoplastic spirocercosis groups.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceFurther studies are warranted to determine potential use of vitamin D treatment in spirocercosis and explore role of hypovitaminosis D in pathogenesis of malignant transformation.
Compound K modulates fatty acid‐induced lipid droplet formation and expression of proteins involved in lipid metabolism in hepatocytes
Authors: Kim Moon‐Sun , Lee Kyoung‐Tae , Iseli Tristan J. , Hoy Andrew J. , George Jacob , Grewal Thomas , Roufogalis Basil D. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackground & AimsA key factor in the development of type 2 diabetes and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is hepatic steatosis. Incubation of human hepatic cells with free fatty acids (FFAs) causes accumulation of neutral lipids in lipid droplets (LDs) and serves as a model for hepatic steatosis. Ginsenosides, active constituents of ginsengs, have demonstrated beneficial effects in various pharmacological areas, including diabetes, however their effect on lipid accumulation in hepatocytes remains unclear. Here, we examine the effect of compound K (ComK), an active metabolite of ginsenosides, on the regulation of LD formation and on the expression of proteins involved in lipid homeostasis in hepatocytes.MethodsHuH7 cells were pretreated with ComK, followed by lipid loading with FFA. LDs were visualized using Oil Red O staining and immunohistochemistry for the LD‐related protein PLIN2. Triglyceride levels were determined in isolated LDs. The expression of proteins involved in lipid homeostasis was examined by Western blotting.ResultsTreatment with ComK significantly decreased LD formation in FFA‐loaded HuH7 cells and increased phosphorylation levels of AMPK, and its substrate ACC. ComK also increased protein expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (PPAR‐α) and acyl‐CoA oxidase (ACOX1) together with elevated activity of a PPAR‐α response element reporter construct. These effects were inhibited by the PPAR‐α antagonist MK886.ConclusionsComK reduced LD formation and TG accumulation in FFA‐loaded hepatocytes, in part by up‐regulating AMPK activity and PPAR‐α related pathways. These results suggest that ComK may have efficacy for the treatment of hepatic steatosis and associated diseases.
Shaping development through mechanical strain: the transcriptional basis of diet‐induced phenotypic plasticity in a cichlid fish
Authors: Gunter Helen M. , Fan Shaohua , Xiong Fan , Franchini Paolo , Fruciano Carmelo , Meyer Axel 
Published: August 2013

AbstractAdaptive phenotypic plasticity, the ability of an organism to change its phenotype to match local environments, is increasingly recognized for its contribution to evolution. However, few empirical studies have explored the molecular basis of plastic traits. The East African cichlid fish Astatoreochromis alluaudi displays adaptive phenotypic plasticity in its pharyngeal jaw apparatus, a structure that is widely seen as an evolutionary key innovation that has contributed to the remarkable diversity of cichlid fishes. It has previously been shown that in response to different diets, the pharyngeal jaws change their size, shape and dentition: hard diets induce an adaptive robust molariform tooth phenotype with short jaws and strong internal bone structures, while soft diets induce a gracile papilliform tooth phenotype with elongated jaws and slender internal bone structures. To gain insight into the molecular underpinnings of these adaptations and enable future investigations of the role that phenotypic plasticity plays during the formation of adaptive radiations, the transcriptomes of the two divergent jaw phenotypes were examined. Our study identified a total of 187 genes whose expression differs in response to hard and soft diets, including immediate early genes, extracellular matrix genes and inflammatory factors. Transcriptome results are interpreted in light of expression of candidate genes—markers for tooth size and shape, bone cells and mechanically sensitive pathways. This study opens up new avenues of research at new levels of biological organization into the roles of phenotypic plasticity during speciation and radiation of cichlid fishes.
Mechanisms of macroevolution: polyphagous plasticity in butterfly larvae revealed by RNA‐Seq
Authors: de la Paz Celorio‐Mancera Maria , Wheat Christopher W. , Vogel Heiko , Söderlind Lina , Janz Niklas , Nylin Sören 
Published: August 2013

AbstractTranscriptome studies of insect herbivory are still rare, yet studies in model systems have uncovered patterns of transcript regulation that appear to provide insights into how insect herbivores attain polyphagy, such as a general increase in expression breadth and regulation of ribosomal, digestion‐ and detoxification‐related genes. We investigated the potential generality of these emerging patterns, in the Swedish comma, Polygonia c‐album, which is a polyphagous, widely‐distributed butterfly. Urtica dioica and Ribes uva‐crispa are hosts of P. c‐album, but Ribes represents a recent evolutionary shift onto a very divergent host. Utilizing the assembled transcriptome for read mapping, we assessed gene expression finding that caterpillar life‐history (i.e. 2nd vs. 4th‐instar regulation) had a limited influence on gene expression plasticity. In contrast, differential expression in response to host‐plant identified genes encoding serine‐type endopeptidases, membrane‐associated proteins and transporters. Differential regulation of genes involved in nucleic acid binding was also observed suggesting that polyphagy involves large scale transcriptional changes. Additionally, transcripts coding for structural constituents of the cuticle were differentially expressed in caterpillars in response to their diet indicating that the insect cuticle may be a target for plant defence. Our results state that emerging patterns of transcript regulation from model species appear relevant in species when placed in an evolutionary context.
Efficacy and safety of probiotics in the treatment of Candida‐associated stomatitis
Authors: Li Duo , Li Qingfu , Liu Chuanxia , Lin Mei , Li Xiaoying , Xiao Xiaoying , Zhu Zhu , Gong Qimei , Zhou Hongmei 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThis study aimed at evaluating the short‐term efficacy and safety of probiotics as an aid in the treatment of Candida‐associated stomatitis in a randomised controlled trial. A total of 65 patients were randomly assigned to receive oral local antifungal agents alone (gargle 2% sodium bicarbonate solution for 30 s, wait 10 min and then apply 2% nystatin paste) or these agents plus local probiotics (the mixture of Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) three times per day for 4 weeks. Parameters related to hyperaemia, visual analogue scale scores, culture of resting saliva and a lingual dorsum swab and adverse reactions were assessed or recorded in the beginning, middle and end of treatment. Although the baseline characteristics of the participants were similar, both groups showed a significant reduction in pain level and hyperaemia on the tongue mucosa (P = 0.000) after 4‐week application. However, despite the reduction in hyperaemia in the probiotic group, these improvements did not display statistically significant differences. The detection rate of Candida spp. was 100% before treatment and 8.21% in the experimental group and 34.6% in the control group after treatment. The detection rate of Candida spp. decreased (P = 0.000) in both groups and was significantly lower in the probiotic group than the control group (P = 0.038). Other analysed micro‐organisms, including the decreased detection rate for Lactobacillus spp. (P = 0.049) and the increased detection rate for Staphylococcus epidermidis (P = 0.019), did not display consistent change trends in the probiotics group. Compared with conventional antifungal therapies for oral candidiasis, the inclusion of locally administered probiotics helped improve certain clinical conditions and reduced the prevalence of Candida spp., although the impact of probiotics on oral bacterial species remains to be further studied.
Comparison of rectal balloon expulsion test in seated and left lateral positions
Authors: Ratuapli S. , Bharucha A. E. , Harvey D. , Zinsmeister A. R. 
Published: August 2013

AbstractBackgroundDefecatory disorders can be diagnosed by rectal balloon expulsion (BE) and anorectal manometry, which are traditionally evaluated in the seated and left lateral (LL) positions, respectively. The aims of this study were to compare BE in the LL and seated positions and to compare anorectal manometric parameters to BE performed in the seated and LL positions.Methods220 women [healthy (62), chronic constipation (158)] had anorectal high‐resolution manometry and BE, summarized by time required (seated position, normal ≤60 s) or external traction to facilitate expulsion (LL position, normal ≤100 g).Key ResultsBalloon expulsion results in both positions were either concordant [normal (141) or abnormal (32)] or discordant [only LL abnormal (30), only seated abnormal (17)]. There was modest agreement [κ = 0.44 (95% CI 0.30–0.57)] between seated and LL BE. Compared with subjects with normal BE in both positions, anal pressure during simulated evacuation (SE) was higher, and the rectoanal gradient (rectal‐anal pressure) during SE was more negative in the other 3 categories (i.e., abnormal LL only, abnormal seated only, and both abnormal). High anal pressure during SE (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.04) and high rectal sensory threshold for desire to defecate (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02) were associated with increased risk of abnormal BE in both positions, whereas high rectal pressure during SE (OR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.98) was associated with lower risk.Conclusions & InferencesThere is modest agreement between rectal BE in LL and seated positions. In addition to abnormal seated BE, which is considered indicative of pelvic floor dysfunction, high resolution manometry findings suggest that even some patients with abnormal BE in the LL position have pelvic floor dysfunction.
Synthesis and modeling perspectives of rhizosphere priming
Authors: Cheng Weixin , Parton William J. , Gonzalez‐Meler Miquel A. , Phillips Richard , Asao Shinichi , McNickle Gordon G. , Brzostek Edward , Jastrow Julie D. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThe rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) is a mechanism by which plants interact with soil functions. The large impact of the RPE on soil organic matter decomposition rates (from 50% reduction to 380% increase) warrants similar attention to that being paid to climatic controls on ecosystem functions. Furthermore, global increases in atmospheric CO2 concentration and surface temperature can significantly alter the RPE. Our analysis using a game theoretic model suggests that the RPE may have resulted from an evolutionarily stable mutualistic association between plants and rhizosphere microbes. Through model simulations based on microbial physiology, we demonstrate that a shift in microbial metabolic response to different substrate inputs from plants is a plausible mechanism leading to positive or negative RPEs. In a case study of the Duke Free‐Air CO2 Enrichment experiment, performance of the PhotoCent model was significantly improved by including an RPE‐induced 40% increase in soil organic matter decomposition rate for the elevated CO2 treatment – demonstrating the value of incorporating the RPE into future ecosystem models. Overall, the RPE is emerging as a crucial mechanism in terrestrial ecosystems, which awaits substantial research and model development.

Contents

Summary
31

I.
Introduction
31

II.
Magnitude and driving variables of the rhizosphere priming effect
32

III.
Will global environmental change alter the RPE?
34

IV.
A game theoretic model: is priming the result of evolutionarily stable strategies?
35

V.
A microbial physiology‐based model: simulating positive and negative RPEs
37

VI.
A case study: matching simulation results with observations at the Duke FACE
38

VII.
Research needs and future perspectives
39

Acknowledgements
41

References
41
On the importance of balancing selection in plants
Authors: Delph Lynda F. , Kelly John K. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryBalancing selection refers to a variety of selective regimes that maintain advantageous genetic diversity within populations. We review the history of the ideas regarding the types of selection that maintain such polymorphism in flowering plants, notably heterozygote advantage, negative frequency‐dependent selection, and spatial heterogeneity. One shared feature of these mechanisms is that whether an allele is beneficial or detrimental is conditional on its frequency in the population. We highlight examples of balancing selection on a variety of discrete traits. These include the well‐referenced case of self‐incompatibility and recent evidence from species with nuclear‐cytoplasmic gynodioecy, both of which exhibit trans‐specific polymorphism, a hallmark of balancing selection. We also discuss and give examples of how spatial heterogeneity in particular, which is often thought unlikely to allow protected polymorphism, can maintain genetic variation in plants (which are rooted in place) as a result of microhabitat selection. Lastly, we discuss limitations of the protected polymorphism concept for quantitative traits, where selection can inflate the genetic variance without maintaining specific alleles indefinitely. We conclude that while discrete‐morph variation provides the most unambiguous cases of protected polymorphism, they represent only a fraction of the balancing selection at work in plants.

Contents

Summary
45

I.
Introduction
46

II.
History
46

III.
Concepts and terminology
47

IV.
Balanced polymorphisms within plant species
48

V.
Other discrete‐trait polymorphisms
50

VI.
Spatial and temporal variation in selection
52

VII.
Selection and the maintenance of trait variation
53

VIII.
Conclusions
54

Acknowledgements
54

References
54
Metabolic engineering of the C16 homoterpene TMTT in Lotus japonicus through overexpression of (E,E)‐geranyllinalool synthase attracts generalist and specialist predators in different manners
Authors: Brillada Carla , Nishihara Masahiro , Shimoda Takeshi , Garms Stefan , Boland Wilhelm , Maffei Massimo E. , Arimura Gen‐ichiro 
Published: August 2013

Summary

Plant defenses against herbivores include the emission of specific blends of volatiles, which enable plants to attract natural enemies of herbivores.

We characterized a plastidial terpene synthase gene, PlTPS2, from lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus). The recombinant PlTPS2 protein was multifunctional, producing linalool, (E)‐nerolidol and (E,E)‐geranyllinalool, precursors of (E,E)‐4,8,12‐trimethyltrideca‐1,3,7,11‐tetraene [TMTT].

Transgenic Lotus japonicus and Nicotiana tabacum plants, expressing PlTPS2 or its homolog Medicago truncatula TPS3 (MtTPS3), were produced and used for bioassays with herbivorous and predatory mites. Transgenic L. japonicus plants expressing PlTPS2 produced (E,E)‐geranyllinalool and TMTT, whereas wild‐type plants and transgenic plants expressing MtTPS3 did not. Transgenic N. tabacum expressing PlTPS2 produced (E,E)‐geranyllinalool but not TMTT. Moreover, in olfactory assays, the generalist predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus but not the specialist Phytoseiulus persimilis was attracted to uninfested, transgenic L. japonicus plants expressing PlTPS2 over wild‐type plants. The specialist P. persimilis was more strongly attracted by the transgenic plants infested with spider mites than by infested wild‐type plants.

Predator responses to transgenic plant volatile TMTT depend on various background volatiles endogenously produced by the transgenic plants. Therefore, the manipulation of TMTT is an ideal platform for pest control via the attraction of generalist and specialist predators in different manners.