bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rice OsPAD4 functions differently from Arabidopsis AtPAD4 in host‐pathogen interactions
Authors: Ke Yinggen , Liu Hongbo , Li Xianghua , Xiao Jinghua , Wang Shiping 
Published: March 2014

SummaryThe extensively studied Arabidopsis phytoalexin deficient 4 (AtPAD4) gene plays an important role in Arabidopsis disease resistance; however, the function of its sequence ortholog in rice is unknown. Here, we show that rice OsPAD4 appears not to be the functional ortholog of AtPAD4 in host‐pathogen interactions, and that the OsPAD4 encodes a plasma membrane protein but that AtPAD4 encodes a cytoplasmic and nuclear protein. Suppression of OsPAD4 by RNA interference (RNAi) increased rice susceptibility to the biotrophic pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), which causes bacteria blight disease in local tissue. OsPAD4‐RNAi plants also show compromised wound‐induced systemic resistance to Xoo. The increased susceptibility to Xoo was associated with reduced accumulation of jasmonic acid (JA) and phytoalexin momilactone A (MOA). Exogenous application of JA complemented the phenotype of OsPAD4‐RNAi plants in response to Xoo. The following results suggest that OsPAD4 functions differently than AtPAD4 in response to pathogen infection. First, OsPAD4 plays an important role in wound‐induced systemic resistance, whereas AtPAD4 mediates systemic acquired resistance. Second, OsPAD4‐involved defense signaling against Xoo is JA‐dependent, but AtPAD4‐involved defense signaling against biotrophic pathogens is salicylic acid‐dependent. Finally, OsPAD4 is required for the accumulation of terpenoid‐type phytoalexin MOA in rice‐bacterium interactions, but AtPAD4‐mediated resistance is associated with the accumulation of indole‐type phytoalexin camalexin.
Decreased capacity for sodium export out of Arabidopsis chloroplasts impairs salt tolerance, photosynthesis and plant performance
Authors: Müller Maria , Kunz Hans‐Henning , Schroeder Julian I. , Kemp Grant , Young Howard S. , Neuhaus H. Ekkehard 
Published: March 2014

SummarySalt stress is a widespread phenomenon, limiting plant performance in large areas around the world. Although various types of plant sodium/proton antiporters have been characterized, the physiological function of NHD1 from Arabidopsis thaliana has not been elucidated in detail so far. Here we report that the NHD1–GFP fusion protein localizes to the chloroplast envelope. Heterologous expression of AtNHD1 was sufficient to complement a salt‐sensitive Escherichia coli mutant lacking its endogenous sodium/proton exchangers. Transport competence of NHD1 was confirmed using recombinant, highly purified carrier protein reconstituted into proteoliposomes, proving Na+/H+ antiport. In planta NHD1 expression was found to be highest in mature and senescent leaves but was not induced by sodium chloride application. When compared to wild‐type controls, nhd1 T–DNA insertion mutants showed decreased biomasses and lower chlorophyll levels after sodium feeding. Interestingly, if grown on sand and supplemented with high sodium chloride, nhd1 mutants exhibited leaf tissue Na+ levels similar to those of wild‐type plants, but the Na+ content of chloroplasts increased significantly. These high sodium levels in mutant chloroplasts resulted in markedly impaired photosynthetic performance as revealed by a lower quantum yield of photosystem II and increased non‐photochemical quenching. Moreover, high Na+ levels might hamper activity of the plastidic bile acid/sodium symporter family protein 2 (BASS2). The resulting pyruvate deficiency might cause the observed decreased phenylalanine levels in the nhd1 mutants due to lack of precursors.
Globalisation and Corruption, Revisited
Authors: Badinger Harald , Nindl Elisabeth 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis paper presents new empirical evidence on the determinants of corruption, focussing on the role of globalisation and inequality. The estimates for a panel of 102 countries over the period 1995–2005 point to three main results: (i) Detection technologies, reflected in a high level of development, human capital and political rights reduce corruption, whereas natural resource rents increase corruption; (ii) Globalisation (in terms of both trade and financial openness) has a negative effect on corruption, which is more pronounced in developing countries; (iii) Inequality increases corruption, and once the role of inequality is accounted for, the impact of globalisation on corruption is halved. In line with recent theory, this suggests that globalisation – besides reducing corruption through enhanced competition – affects corruption also by reducing inequality.
Quantitative Relationship between Strain and Acoustic Emission Response in Monitoring Fatigue Damage
Authors: Mohammad M. , Abdullah S. , Jamaludin N. , Innayatullah O. 
Published: March 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the strain and acoustic emission (AE) signals, thus, to confirm the capability of AE technique to monitor the fatigue failure mechanism of a steel component. To achieve this goal, strain and AE signals were captured on the steel specimen during the cyclic fatigue test. Both signals were collected using specific data acquisition system by attaching the strain gauge and AE piezoelectric transducer simultaneously at the specimen during the test. The stress loading used for the test was set at 600 MPa, and the specimens were fabricated using the SAE 1045 carbon steel. The related parameters for both signals were determined at every 2000 seconds until the specimen failed. It was found that a meaningful correlation of all parameters, i.e. amplitude, kurtosis and energy, was established. Finally, all AE parameters are correlated with the damage values, which have been estimated using the Coffin-Manson model. Hence, it was suggested that the AE technique can be used as a monitoring tool for fatigue failure mechanism in a steel component.
Short‐term sustained hypoxia induces changes in the coupling of sympathetic and respiratory activities in rats
Authors: Moraes Davi J. A. , Bonagamba Leni G. H. , Costa Kauê M. , Costa‐Silva João H. , Zoccal Daniel B. , Machado Benedito H. 
Published: March 2014

Key points
Hypoxia activates peripheral chemoreceptors producing an increase in breathing and arterial pressure.
In conditions of sustained hypoxia, an increase in ventilation and arterial blood pressure is observed that persists after the return to normoxia.
We show in rats that sustained hypoxia for 24 h produces glutamate‐dependent changes in the activity of expiratory and sympathetic neurones of the rostral ventrolateral medulla, which are essential for the control of respiratory and sympathetic activities.
These neuronal changes induced by sustained hypoxia are critical for the emergence of coupled active expiration and augmented sympathetic activity.
These findings contribute to a better understanding of cardiorespiratory adjustments associated with sustained hypoxia in individuals experiencing high altitudes.
AbstractIndividuals experiencing sustained hypoxia (SH) exhibit adjustments in the respiratory and autonomic functions by neural mechanisms not yet elucidated. In the present study we evaluated the central mechanisms underpinning the SH‐induced changes in the respiratory pattern and their impact on the sympathetic outflow. Using a decerebrated arterially perfused in situ preparation, we verified that juvenile rats exposed to SH (10% O2) for 24 h presented an active expiratory pattern, with increased abdominal, hypoglossal and vagal activities during late‐expiration (late‐E). SH also enhanced the activity of augmenting‐expiratory neurones and depressed the activity of post‐inspiratory neurones of the Bötzinger complex (BötC) by mechanisms not related to changes in their intrinsic electrophysiological properties. SH rats exhibited high thoracic sympathetic activity and arterial pressure levels associated with an augmented firing frequency of pre‐sympathetic neurones of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) during the late‐E phase. The antagonism of ionotropic glutamatergic receptors in the BötC/RVLM abolished the late‐E bursts in expiratory and sympathetic outputs of SH rats, indicating that glutamatergic inputs to the BötC/RVLM are essential for the changes in the expiratory and sympathetic coupling observed in SH rats. We also observed that the usually silent late‐E neurones of the retrotrapezoid nucleus/parafacial respiratory group became active in SH rats, suggesting that this neuronal population may provide the excitatory drive essential to the emergence of active expiration and sympathetic overactivity. We conclude that short‐term SH induces the activation of medullary expiratory neurones, which affects the pattern of expiratory motor activity and its coupling with sympathetic activity.
Greater excitability and firing irregularity of tufted cells underlies distinct afferent‐evoked activity of olfactory bulb mitral and tufted cells
Authors: Burton Shawn D. , Urban Nathaniel N. 
Published: March 2014

Key points
The two classes of principal neurons in the mammalian main olfactory bulb, mitral and tufted cells, respond with different firing latencies and rates to afferent‐evoked input; how these differences in activity arise is incompletely understood.
Tufted cells receive stronger afferent‐evoked excitation than mitral cells, but this difference alone is insufficient to account for the greater afferent‐evoked firing in tufted versus mitral cells.
Mitral and tufted cells exhibit significant intrinsic functional differences; compared to mitral cells, tufted cells fire action potentials with shorter durations and faster afterhyperpolarizations and exhibit twofold greater firing rate–current curve gains and peak rates.
Tufted cells exhibit diverse firing modes, including tonic firing and irregular stuttering, and on average fire more irregularly than mitral cells.
Collectively, stronger afferent excitation, greater intrinsic excitability and more irregular firing in tufted cells combine to drive distinct responses of mitral and tufted cells to sensory input.
AbstractMitral and tufted cells, the two classes of principal neurons in the mammalian main olfactory bulb, exhibit morphological differences but remain widely viewed as functionally equivalent. Results from several recent studies, however, suggest that these two cell classes may encode complementary olfactory information in their distinct patterns of afferent‐evoked activity. To understand how these differences in activity arise, we have performed the first systematic comparison of synaptic and intrinsic properties between mitral and tufted cells. Consistent with previous studies, we found that tufted cells fire with higher probability and rates and shorter latencies than mitral cells in response to physiological afferent stimulation. This stronger response of tufted cells could be partially attributed to synaptic differences, as tufted cells received stronger afferent‐evoked excitation than mitral cells. However, differences in intrinsic excitability also contributed to the differences between mitral and tufted cell activity. Compared to mitral cells, tufted cells exhibited twofold greater excitability and peak instantaneous firing rates. These differences in excitability probably arise from differential expression of voltage‐gated potassium currents, as tufted cells exhibited faster action potential repolarization and afterhyperpolarizations than mitral cells. Surprisingly, mitral and tufted cells also showed firing mode differences. While both cell classes exhibited regular firing and irregular stuttering of action potential clusters, tufted cells demonstrated a greater propensity to stutter than mitral cells. Collectively, stronger afferent‐evoked excitation, greater intrinsic excitability and more irregular firing in tufted cells can combine to drive distinct responses of mitral and tufted cells to afferent‐evoked input.
Neuro‐humoral signalling by bile acids and the TGR5 receptor in the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Bunnett Nigel W. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractIn addition to their role in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats, bile acids (BAs) are tightly regulated signalling molecules. Their levels in the intestinal lumen, circulation and tissues fluctuate after feeding and fasting, and as a result of certain diseases and therapies. BAs regulate many cell types in the gut wall and beyond by activating nuclear and plasma membrane receptors. Of these, the G protein‐coupled receptor TGR5 has emerged as a key mediator of the non‐genomic actions of BAs. TGR5 is a cell‐surface receptor that couples to Gαs, formation of cAMP, activation of protein kinase A and extracellular signal‐regulated kinases, and inhibition of inflammatory signalling pathways. TGR5 has been implicated in mediating the actions of BAs on secretion of glucagon‐like peptide 1 and glucose homeostasis, gastrointestinal motility and transit, electrolyte and fluid transport in the colon, bile formation and secretion, sensory transduction and inflammation. TGR5 agonists have been developed as treatments for metabolic, inflammatory and digestive disorders, and emerging evidence suggests that TGR5 mutations are associated with inflammatory diseases. Thus, TGR5 plays an important role in the normal processes of digestion and is a new therapeutic target for important digestive diseases.
A Comparison of Capillary, Venous, and Salivary Cortisol Sampling after Intense Exercise
Authors: Fryer Simon , Dickson Tabitha , Hillier Stephen , Stoner Lee , Scarrott Carl , Draper Nick 
Published: March 2014

Venipuncture is expensive, invasive, and impractical for many sport-science and clinical-based settings. Salivary free cortisol is often cited as a noninvasive practical alternative. However, when cortisol concentrations exceed the corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) point of 500 nmol/L, a lack of agreement between salivary and venous blood cortisol has been found. Alternatively, capillary blood may present a minimally invasive, cost-effective, and practical surrogate for determining cortisol concentration.Purpose:The aim of this study was to determine whether cortisol concentrations sampled from capillary blood and saliva accurately reflect those found in venous blood across a large range of concentrations after intense exercise.Methods:Eleven healthy aerobically trained male subjects were recruited. Capillary, salivary, and venous blood samples were collected before and after (immediately and 5, 10, 15, and 20 min after) a treadmill VO2 maxtest.Results:Capillary and venous concentrations increased at a similar rate after exercise (Cohend.14–.33), increasing up to 15 min postexercise before a decline was seen. Salivary cortisol values increased at a slower rate than venous and capillary cortisol but continued to increase 15 min postexercise (Cohend.19–.47 and .09–.72, respectively).Conclusions:Capillary cortisol accurately reflects concentrations assayed from venous blood across a range of values below and above the CBG binding point. Capillary sampling provides a minimally invasive, cost-effective, practical surrogate for assessment of hypothalamic-pituitary-gland function.
The Effect of Short-Term Interval Training during the Competitive Season on Physical Fitness and Signs of Fatigue: A Crossover Trial in High-Level Youth Football Players
Authors: Faude Oliver , Steffen Anke , Kellmann Michael , Meyer Tim 
Published: March 2014

Purpose:To analyze performance and fatigue effects of small-sided games (SSG) vs high-intensity interval training (HIIT) performed during a 4-wk in-season period in high-level youth football.Methods:Nineteen players from 4 youth teams (16.5 [SD 0.8] y, 1.79 [0.06] m, 70.7 [5.6] kg) of the 2 highest German divisions completed the study. Teams were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 training sequences (2 endurance sessions per wk): One training group started with SSG, whereas the other group conducted HIIT during the first half of the competitive season. After the winter break, training programs were changed between groups. Before and after the training periods the following tests were completed: the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes, creatine kinase and urea concentrations, vertical-jump height (countermovement jump [CMJ], drop jump), straight sprint, agility, and an incremental field test to determine individual anaerobic threshold (IAT).Results:Significant time effects were observed for IAT (+1.3%, ηp2 = .31), peak heart rate (–1.8%, ηp2 = .45), and CMJ (–2.3%, ηp2 = .27), with no significant interaction between groups (P > .30). Players with low baseline IAT values (+4.3%) showed greater improvements than those with high initial values (±0.0%). A significant decrease was found for total recovery (–5.0%, ηp2 = .29), and an increase was found for urea concentration (+9.2%, ηp2 = .44).Conclusion:Four weeks of in-season endurance training can lead to relevant improvements in endurance capacity. The decreases in CMJ height and total-recovery score together with the increase in urea concentration might be interpreted as early signs of fatigue. Thus, the danger of overtaxing players should be considered.
MIV-150-Containing Intravaginal Rings Protect Macaque Vaginal Explants against SHIV-RT Infection
Authors: Ouattara Louise A. , Barnable Patrick , Mawson Paul , Seidor Samantha , Zydowsky Thomas M. , Kizima Larisa , Rodriguez Aixa , Fernández-Romero José A. , Cooney Michael L. , Roberts Kevin D. , Gettie Agegnehu , Blanchard James , Robbiani Melissa , Teleshova Natalia 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Recent studies demonstrated that intravaginal rings (IVRs) containing 100 mg of the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) MIV-150 significantly protect macaques against a chimeric simian-human immunodeficiency virus that expresses the HIV-1 HxB2 reverse transcriptase (SHIV-RT) when present before and after vaginal challenge. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the pharmacodynamics (PD) of MIV-150 in vaginal fluids (VF) and in ectocervical and vaginal tissues following 100-mg MIV-150 IVR exposure and to (ii) gain more insight whether pharmacokinetics (PK) of MIV-150 can predict PD. MIV-150 in VF collected at 1 day and 14 days post-MIV-150 IVR insertion inhibited
ex vivo
SHIV-RT infection in vaginal biopsy specimens from untreated animals (not carrying IVRs) in a dose-dependent manner. Previous PK studies demonstrated a significant increase of ectocervical and vaginal tissue MIV-150 concentrations 14 days versus 1 day post-IVR insertion, with the highest increase in vaginal tissue. Therefore, we tested PD of MIV-150 in tissues 14 days post-MIV-150 IVR insertion.
Ex vivo
SHIV-RT infection of vaginal, but not ectocervical, tissues collected 14 days post-MIV-150 IVR insertion was significantly inhibited compared to infection at the baseline (prior to MIV-150 IVR exposure). No changes in vaginal and ectocervical tissue infection were observed after placebo IVR exposure. Overall, these data underscore the use of the
ex vivo
macaque explant challenge models to evaluate tissue and VF PK/PD of candidate microbicides before
in vivo
animal efficacy studies. The data support further development of MIV-150-containing IVRs.
Pharmacodynamics of Cefquinome in a Neutropenic Mouse Thigh Model of Staphylococcus aureus Infection
Authors: Wang Jing , Shan Qi , Ding Huanzhong , Liang Chaoping , Zeng Zhenling 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Cefquinome is a cephalosporin with broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, including activity against
Staphylococcus aureus
. The objective of our study was to examine the
in vivo
activity of cefquinome against
S. aureus
strains by using a neutropenic mouse thigh infection model. Cefquinome kinetics and protein binding in infected neutropenic mice were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
In vivo
postantibiotic effects (PAEs) were determined after a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight in mice infected with
S. aureus
strain ATCC 29213. The animals were treated by subcutaneous injection of cefquinome at doses of 2.5 to 320 mg/kg of body weight per day divided into 1, 2, 3, 6, or 12 doses over 24 h. Cefquinome exhibited time-dependent killing and produced
in vivo
PAEs at 2.9 h. The percentage of time that serum concentrations were above the MIC (%
T
>MIC
) was the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) index that best described the efficacy of cefquinome. Subsequently, we employed a similar dosing strategy by using increasing total cefquinome doses that increased 4-fold and were administered every 4 h to treat animals infected with six additional
S. aureus
isolates. A sigmoid maximum effect (
E
max
) model was used to estimate the magnitudes of the ratios of the %
T
that the free-drug serum concentration exceeded the MIC (%
T

>
f
MIC

) associated with net bacterial stasis, a 0.5-log
10
CFU reduction from baseline, and a 1-log
10
CFU reduction from baseline; the respective values were 30.28 to 36.84%, 34.38 to 46.70%, and 43.50 to 54.01%. The clear PAEs and potent bactericidal activity make cefquinome an attractive option for the treatment of infections caused by
S. aureus
.
Energy Metabolism and Drug Efflux in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Black Philippa A. , Warren Robin M. , Louw Gail E. , van Helden Paul D. , Victor Thomas C. , Kana Bavesh D. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTThe inherent drug susceptibility of microorganisms is determined by multiple factors, including growth state, the rate of drug diffusion into and out of the cell, and the intrinsic vulnerability of drug targets with regard to the corresponding antimicrobial agent.Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), remains a significant source of global morbidity and mortality, further exacerbated by its ability to readily evolve drug resistance. It is well accepted that drug resistance inM. tuberculosisis driven by the acquisition of chromosomal mutations in genes encoding drug targets/promoter regions; however, a comprehensive description of the molecular mechanisms that fuel drug resistance in the clinical setting is currently lacking. In this context, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that active extrusion of drugs from the cell is critical for drug tolerance.M. tuberculosisencodes representatives of a diverse range of multidrug transporters, many of which are dependent on the proton motive force (PMF) or the availability of ATP. This suggests that energy metabolism and ATP production through the PMF, which is established by the electron transport chain (ETC), are critical in determining the drug susceptibility ofM. tuberculosis. In this review, we detail advances in the study of the mycobacterial ETC and highlight drugs that target various components of the ETC. We provide an overview of some of the efflux pumps present inM. tuberculosisand their association, if any, with drug transport and concomitant effects on drug resistance. The implications of inhibiting drug extrusion, through the use of efflux pump inhibitors, are also discussed.