bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Flash Spark Plasma Sintering (FSPS) of Pure ZrB2
Authors: Grasso Salvatore , Saunders Theo , Porwal Harshit , Cedillos‐Barraza Omar , Jayaseelan Daniel Doni , Lee William E. , Reece Mike John 
Published: July 2014

Pure ZrB2 powder was Flash sintered in an SPS furnace (FSPS). The samples were densified up to 95.0% in 35 s under an applied pressure of 16 MPa. Compared to Conventional SPS (CSPS), the newly developed FSPS technique resulted in an unprecedented energy and time savings of about 95% and 98% respectively. ZrB2 monoliths obtained by CSPS and FSPS were compared with respect to microstructures, densification behavior, and grain growth. The developed methodology might find application to a wide range of highly conductive ceramics as such refractory borides and carbides.
Alpha‐7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist treatment reduces neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and brain injury in mice with ischemic stroke and bone fracture
Authors: Han Zhenying , Li Li , Wang Liang , Degos Vincent , Maze Mervyn , Su Hua 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBone fracture at the acute stage of stroke exacerbates stroke injury by increasing neuroinflammation. We hypothesize that activation of α‐7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α‐7 nAchR) attenuates neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and reduces brain injury in mice with bone fracture and stroke. Permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) was performed in C57BL/6J mice followed by tibia fracture 1 day later. Mice were treated with 0.8 mg/kg PHA 568487 (PHA, α‐7 nAchR‐specific agonist), 6 mg/kg methyllycaconitine (α‐7 nAchR antagonist), or saline 1 and 2 days after pMCAO. Behavior was tested 3 days after pMCAO. Neuronal injury, CD68+, M1 (pro‐inflammatory) and M2 (anti‐inflammatory) microglia/macrophages, phosphorylated p65 component of nuclear factor kappa b in microglia/macrophages, oxidative and anti‐oxidant gene expression were quantified. Compared to saline‐treated mice, PHA‐treated mice performed better in behavioral tests, had fewer apoptotic neurons (NeuN+TUNEL+), fewer CD68+ and M1 macrophages, and more M2 macrophages. PHA increased anti‐oxidant gene expression and decreased oxidative stress and phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa b p65. Methyllycaconitine had the opposite effects. Our data indicate that α‐7 nAchR agonist treatment reduces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, which are associated with reduced brain injury in mice with ischemic stroke plus tibia fracture.
imageBone fracture at the acute stage of stroke exacerbates neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and brain injury, and our study has shown that the α‐7 nAchR agonist, PHA (PHA 568487), attenuates neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and brain injury in mice with stroke and bone fracture. Hence, PHA could provide an opportunity to develop a new strategy to reduce brain injury in patients suffering from stroke and bone fracture.
How is paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis diagnosed and managed by paediatricians? An Australian Paediatric Research Network Study
Authors: Knight Sarah , Harvey Adrienne , Towns Susan , Payne Donald , Lubitz Lionel , Rowe Kathy , Reveley Colette , Hennel Sabine , Hiscock Harriet , Scheinberg Adam 
Published: July 2014

AimThe diagnosis and management of paediatric chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encepnalomyelitis (CFS/ME) represent ongoing challenges for paediatricians. A better understanding of current approaches at a national level is important in informing where research and education could improve treatment outcomes. We aimed to examine current diagnosis and management practices for CFS/ME by Australian paediatricians.MethodAn online survey was sent to members of the Australian Paediatric Research Network. The primary outcomes of interest included diagnostic criteria used, medical investigations and management practices in paediatric CFS/ME.ResultsOne hundred seventy‐eight (41%) of 430 eligible paediatricians responded, with 70 of the 178 (39%) reporting that they diagnose and manage CFS/ME as part of their practice. Medical investigations used for diagnosis were variable. Conditions that more than half of the paediatricians reported as commonly co‐occurring (i.e. present in >50% of cases) included somatisation disorders, anxiety, depression and fibromyalgia. There was wide variation in behavioural and pharmacological management strategies but most paediatricians commonly engaged a school teacher, physiotherapist and/or psychologist as part of their management.ConclusionThe diagnostic and management practices of paediatricians for CFS/ME within Australia vary widely. This likely reflects a paucity of paediatric‐specific guidelines, together with limited evidence to guide best practice and limited training in this area. There is a need for guidance and education for the diagnosis and management of paediatric CFS/ME in Australia.
The ameliorative effects of exogenous melatonin on grape cuttings under water‐deficient stress: antioxidant metabolites, leaf anatomy, and chloroplast morphology
Authors: Meng Jiang‐Fei , Xu Teng‐Fei , Wang Zhi‐Zhen , Fang Yu‐Lin , Xi Zhu‐Mei , Zhang Zhen‐Wen 
Published: July 2014

AbstractGrapes are an important economic crop and are widely cultivated around the world. Most grapes are grown in arid or semi‐arid regions, and droughts take a heavy toll in grape and wine production areas. Developing effective drought‐resistant cultivation measures is a priority for viticulture. Melatonin, an indoleamine, mediates many physiological processes in plants. Herein, we examined whether exogenously applied melatonin could improve the resistance of wine grape seedlings grown from cuttings to polyethylene glycol‐induced water‐deficient stress. The application of 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG) markedly inhibited the growth of cuttings, caused oxidative stress and damage from H2O2 and , and reduced the potential efficiency of Photosystem II and the amount of chlorophyll. Application of melatonin partially alleviated the oxidative injury to cuttings, slowed the decline in the potential efficiency of Photosystem II, and limited the effects on leaf thickness, spongy tissue, and stoma size after application of PEG. Melatonin treatment also helped preserve the internal lamellar system of chloroplasts and alleviated the ultrastructural damage induced by drought stress. This ameliorating effect may be ascribed to the enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes, increased levels of nonenzymatic antioxidants, and increased amount of osmoprotectants (free proline). We conclude that the application of melatonin to wine grapes is effective in reducing drought stress.
Inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers of disease severity in dogs with parvoviral enteritis
Authors: Kocaturk M. , Tvarijonaviciute A. , Martinez‐Subiela S. , Tecles F. , Eralp O. , Yilmaz Z. , Ceron J. J. 
Published: July 2014

OBJECTIVESTo study changes in serum C‐reactive protein, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and albumin concentration, total anti‐oxidant capacity and paraoxonase‐1 and butyrylcholinesterase activity in dogs with parvoviral enteritis of different degrees of clinical severity.METHODSProspective study of 9 healthy and 43 dogs with parvoviral enteritis that were classified into mildly, moderately and affected groups.RESULTSDogs with parvoviral enteritis had a significant increase in C‐reactive protein compared with healthy dogs, with an increase of higher magnitude in animals with more severe clinical signs. All dogs with parvoviral enteritis had a significant increase in haptoglobin concentration compared with healthy dogs, but with no difference according to disease severity. There was a decrease in paraoxonase‐1 activity in parvoviral enteritis.CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCEMajor increases of C‐reactive protein concentrations in dogs with parvoviral enteritis are a marker of disease severity. In addition, higher values for anti‐oxidants in severe cases compared with mild and moderate cases suggest a possible compensatory anti‐oxidant mechanism.
The role of lipocalin‐2 in liver regeneration
Authors: Kienzl‐Wagner Katrin , Moschen Alexander R. , Geiger Sabine , Bichler Alexandra , Aigner Felix , Brandacher Gerald , Pratschke Johann , Tilg Herbert 
Published: July 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsVarious immune mediators such as interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) have been implicated in the process of liver regeneration. Lipocalin‐2 (LCN2) has been recently characterized as a prototypic immune mediator produced by various cell types being involved mainly in host defence. In addition, numerous studies have demonstrated its clinical value as a biomarker. This study aimed at defining the role of LCN2 in liver regeneration.MethodsWe studied LCN2 expression in wild‐type mice in a model of partial hepatectomy (PH). Furthermore, we evaluated liver regeneration after PH in LCN‐deficient mice compared to littermate controls. Serum levels of LCN2 were assessed in a small group of patients undergoing hepatic resection.ResultsLCN2 is dramatically induced in livers and sera of wild‐type mice after PH, whereas liver LCN2‐receptor expression was decreased. Sham operations did not affect hepatic and serum LCN2 expression. Although LCN2‐deficient mice exhibited increased baseline liver expression indices, LCN2‐deficient mice did not differ from wild‐type mice with respect to hepatic proliferation suggesting that this molecule is not involved in hepatic repair. Only serum IL‐1β levels were slightly lower in LCN−/− mice, whereas IL‐6 serum levels did not differ between various tested animal groups. In humans undergoing hepatic resection, LCN2 levels increased significantly within 24 h following surgery.ConclusionsLCN2, although massively induced in mice after PH, is not relevant in murine hepatic regeneration. Further, human studies have to define whether LCN2 could evolve as biomarker after liver surgery.
Flagellar biosynthesis exerts temporal regulation of secretion of specific Campylobacter jejuni colonization and virulence determinants
Authors: Barrero‐Tobon Angelica M. , Hendrixson David R. 
Published: July 2014

SummaryThe Campylobacter jejuni flagellum exports both proteins that form the flagellar organelle for swimming motility and colonization and virulence factors that promote commensal colonization of the avian intestinal tract or invasion of human intestinal cells respectively. We explored how the C. jejuni flagellum is a versatile secretory organelle by examining molecular determinants that allow colonization and virulence factors to exploit the flagellum for their own secretion. Flagellar biogenesis was observed to exert temporal control of secretion of these proteins, indicating that a bolus of secretion of colonization and virulence factors occurs during hook biogenesis with filament polymerization itself reducing secretion of these factors. Furthermore, we found that intramolecular and intermolecular requirements for flagellar‐dependent secretion of these proteins were most reminiscent to those for flagellin secretion. Importantly, we discovered that secretion of one colonization and virulence factor, CiaI, was not required for invasion of human colonic cells, which counters previous hypotheses for how this protein functions during invasion. Instead, secretion of CiaI was essential for C. jejuni to facilitate commensal colonization of the natural avian host. Our work provides insight into the versatility of the bacterial flagellum as a secretory machine that can export proteins promoting diverse biological processes.
A novel Arabidopsis CHITIN ELICITOR RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (CERK1) mutant with enhanced pathogen‐induced cell death and altered receptor processing
Authors: Petutschnig Elena K. , Stolze Marnie , Lipka Ulrike , Kopischke Michaela , Horlacher Juliane , Valerius Oliver , Rozhon Wilfried , Gust Andrea A. , Kemmerling Birgit , Poppenberger Brigitte , Braus Gerhard H. , Nürnberger Thorsten , Lipka Volker 
Published: July 2014

Summary

Plants detect pathogens by sensing microbe‐associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) through pattern recognition receptors. Pattern recognition receptor complexes also have roles in cell death control, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we report isolation of cerk1‐4, a novel mutant allele of the Arabidopsis chitin receptor CERK1 with enhanced defense responses.

We identified cerk1‐4 in a forward genetic screen with barley powdery mildew and consequently characterized it by pathogen assays, mutant crosses and analysis of defense pathways. CERK1 and CERK1‐4 proteins were analyzed biochemically.

The cerk1‐4 mutation causes an amino acid exchange in the CERK1 ectodomain. Mutant plants maintain chitin signaling capacity but exhibit hyper‐inducible salicylic acid concentrations and deregulated cell death upon pathogen challenge. In contrast to chitin signaling, the cerk1‐4 phenotype does not require kinase activity and is conferred by the N‐terminal part of the receptor. CERK1 undergoes ectodomain shedding, a well‐known process in animal cell surface proteins. Wild‐type plants contain the full‐length CERK1 receptor protein as well as a soluble form of the CERK1 ectodomain, whereas cerk1‐4 plants lack the N‐terminal shedding product.

Our work suggests that CERK1 may have a chitin‐independent role in cell death control and is the first report of ectodomain shedding in plants.
The cytidine deaminase signature HxE(x)nCxxC of DYW1 binds zinc and is necessary for RNA editing of ndhD‐1
Authors: Boussardon Clément , Avon Alexandra , Kindgren Peter , Bond Charles S. , Challenor Michael , Lurin Claire , Small Ian 
Published: July 2014

Summary

In flowering plants, RNA editing involves deamination of specific cytidines to uridines in both mitochondrial and chloroplast transcripts. Pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins and multiple organellar RNA editing factor (MORF) proteins have been shown to be involved in RNA editing but none have been shown to possess cytidine deaminase activity.

The DYW domain of some PPR proteins contains a highly conserved signature resembling the zinc‐binding active site motif of known nucleotide deaminases. We modified these highly conserved amino acids in the DYW motif of DYW1, an editing factor required for editing of the ndhD‐1 site in Arabidopsis chloroplasts.

We demonstrate that several amino acids of this signature motif are required for RNA editing in vivo and for zinc binding in vitro.

We conclude that the DYW domain of DYW1 has features in common with cytidine deaminases, reinforcing the hypothesis that this domain forms part of the active enzyme that carries out RNA editing in plants.
Plant root exudates mediate neighbour recognition and trigger complex behavioural changes
Authors: Semchenko Marina , Saar Sirgi , Lepik Anu 
Published: July 2014

Summary

Some plant species are able to distinguish between neighbours of different genetic identity and attempt to pre‐empt resources through root proliferation in the presence of unrelated competitors, but avoid competition with kin. However, studies on neighbour recognition have met with some scepticism because the mechanisms by which plants identify their neighbours have remained unclear.

In order to test whether root exudates could mediate neighbour recognition in plants, we performed a glasshouse experiment in which plants of Deschampsia caespitosa were subjected to root exudates collected from potential neighbours of different genetic identities, including siblings and individuals belonging to the same or a different population or species.

Our results show that root exudates can carry specific information about the genetic relatedness, population origin and species identity of neighbours, and trigger different responses at the whole root system level and at the level of individual roots in direct contact with locally applied exudates. Increased root density was mainly achieved through changes in morphology rather than biomass allocation, suggesting that plants are able to limit the energetic cost of selfish behaviour.

This study reveals a new level of complexity in the ability of plants to interpret and react to their surroundings.
Non‐native plant species benefit from disturbance: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Jauni Miia , Gripenberg Sofia , Ramula Satu 
Published: July 2014

Disturbances, such as fire and grazing, are often claimed to facilitate plant species richness and plant invasions in particular, although empirical evidence is contradictory. We conducted a meta‐analysis to synthesize the literature on how non‐native plant species are affected by disturbances. We explored whether the observed impact of disturbance on non‐native plant communities is related to its type and frequency, to habitat type, study approach (observational or experimental), and to the temporal and spatial scales of the study. To put the results in a broader context, we also conducted a set of parallel analyses on a data set involving native plant species. The diversity and abundance of non‐native plant species were significantly higher at disturbed sites than at undisturbed sites, while the diversity and abundance of native plant species did not differ between the two types of sites. The effect of disturbance on non‐native plant species depended on the measure used to evaluate the impact (species diversity or abundance) and on disturbance type, with grazing and anthropogenic disturbances leading to higher diversity and abundance of non‐native plant species than other disturbance types examined. The impact of disturbance on non‐natives was also associated with study approach, habitat type and temporal scale, but these factors covaried with disturbance type, complicating the interpretation of the results. Overall, our results indicate that disturbance has a positive impact particularly on non‐native plant species (at least when they are already present in the community), and that the strength of this impact depends primarily on the disturbance type.SynthesisEmpirical evidence of the effect of disturbances on plant species richness is contradictory. Here we use a meta‐analysis to synthesize the published literature on how different types of disturbances influence the diversity and abundance of plant species, focusing in particular on non‐native plants. Our study supports the hypothesis that disturbances generally facilitate the diversity and abundance of non‐native plant species, although the strength of this facilitation depends primarily on the disturbance type.
Effects of the 2004 postgraduate training program on the interprefectural distribution of psychiatrists in Japan
Authors: Sugawara Norio , Tanaka Osamu , Yasui‐Furukori Norio 
Published: July 2014

AimsAfter a new postgraduate training program was launched by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare in 2004, concern regarding the maldistribution of physicians has increased in Japan. This study aimed to assess the interprefectural distribution of psychiatrists in Japan before and after the start of the new postgraduate training program.MethodsOur data included nine time points: 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2012. The Gini coefficient (GC) was calculated using prefectures as the study unit to assess whether the interprefectural distribution of psychiatrists significantly changed in relation to the population and area of prefectures. The effect of the new postgraduate training program on the GC of psychiatrist distribution was assessed by estimating the interaction between year and period (before or after the postgraduate training program) using a general linear model analysis.ResultsThe total number of psychiatrists increased from 10 093 to 14 733 over the observed period. The general linear model showed a significant interaction between the year and the period for the GC based on the number of psychiatrists per 100 km2, whereas no interaction was found for the GC based on the number of psychiatrists per 100 000 population.ConclusionsThe interprefectural distribution of psychiatrists per 100 km2 worsened after the launch of the new training program; this result may reflect the adverse impact of the training program. Further observation is needed to explore how this difference in the interprefectural distribution of psychiatrists affects the mental health status of the population.
National strategy for suicide prevention in Japan: Impact of a national fund on progress of developing systems for suicide prevention and implementing initiatives among local authorities
Authors: Nakanishi Miharu , Yamauchi Takashi , Takeshima Tadashi 
Published: July 2014

AimIn Japan, the Cabinet Office released the ‘General Principles of Suicide Prevention Policy’ in 2007 and suggested nine initiatives. In 2009, a national fund was launched to help prefectures (the administrative divisions of Japan) and local authorities implement five categories of suicide‐prevention programs. This paper examines the impact of the national fund on the establishment of the systems for suicide prevention and the implementation of these initiatives among local authorities.MethodsThe present study included 1385 local authorities (79.5%) from all 47 prefectures that responded to the cross‐sectional questionnaire survey.ResultsImproved suicide‐prevention systems and the implementation of nine initiatives in April 2013 were observed among 265 local authorities (19.1%) that implemented ‘Training of community service providers’ and ‘Public awareness campaigns’; 178 local authorities (12.9%) that implemented ‘Face‐to‐face counseling’, ‘Training of community service providers’ and ‘Public awareness campaigns’; and 324 local authorities (23.4%) that implemented ‘Trauma‐informed policies and practices’. There was no significant difference in suicide‐prevention systems and the implementation of nine initiatives between 203 local authorities (14.7%) that implemented only ‘Public awareness campaigns’ and 231 local authorities (16.7%) that did not implement any suicide‐prevention programs.ConclusionThe results of our study suggest that the national fund promoted the establishment of community systems for suicide prevention and helped implement initiatives among local authorities. The national suicide‐prevention strategy in Japan should explore a standard package of programs to guide community suicide‐prevention efforts with a sustained workforce among local authorities.
Manipulating duckweed through genome duplication
Authors: Vunsh R. , Heinig U. , Malitsky S. , Aharoni A. , Avidov A. , Lerner A. , Edelman M. 
Published: July 2014

AbstractSignificant inter‐ and intraspecific genetic variation exists in duckweed, thus the potential for genome plasticity and manipulation is high. Polyploidy is recognised as a major mechanism of adaptation and speciation in plants. We produced several genome‐duplicated lines of Landoltia punctata (Spirodela oligorrhiza) from both whole plants and regenerating explants using a colchicine‐based cocktail. These lines stably maintained an enlarged frond and root morphology. DNA ploidy levels determined by florescence‐activated cell sorting indicated genome duplication. Line A4 was analysed after 75 biomass doublings. Frond area, fresh and dry weights, rhizoid number and length were significantly increased versus wild type, while the growth rate was unchanged. This resulted in accumulation of biomass 17–20% faster in the A4 plants. We sought to determine if specific differences in gene products are found in the genome duplicated lines. Non‐targeted ultra performance LC‐quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry was employed to compare some of the lines and the wild type to seek identification of up‐regulated metabolites. We putatively identified differential metabolites in Line A65 as caffeoyl hexoses. The combination of directed genome duplication and metabolic profiling might offer a path for producing stable gene expression, leading to altered production of secondary metabolites.