bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Different combinations of morpho‐physiological traits are responsible for tolerance to drought in wild tomatoes Solanum chilense and Solanum peruvianum
Authors: Tapia G. , Méndez J. , Inostroza L. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractHerbaceous species can modify leaf structure during the growing season in response to drought stress and water loss. Evolution can select combinations of traits in plants for efficient water use in restricted environments. We investigated plant traits that mediate adaptation and acclimation to water stress in two herbaceous drought‐tolerant species. Anatomical, morphological and physiological traits related to stems and leaves were examined under optimal watering (OW) and a long period of restricted watering (RW) in 11 accessions from three Solanaceae species (Solanum chilense, S. peruvianum and S. lycopersicum). The relationships between these traits were tested using linear regression and PCA. There were significant differences in anatomical traits between the species under both OW and RW, where leaf area correlated with stem diameter. Proline and total carbohydrates accumulated highly in S. chilense and S. peruvianum, respectively, and these osmolytes were strongly correlated with increased osmotic potential. Stomatal density varied between species but not between acclimation treatments, while stomatal rate was significantly higher in wild tomatoes. There was a strong positive relationship between stem growth rate and a group of traits together expressed as total stomatal number. Total stomata is described by integration of leaf area, stomatal density, height and internode length. It is proposed that constitutive adaptations and modifications through acclimation that mediate RW play an important role in tolerance to drought stress in herbaceous plants. The capacity for growth under drought stress was not associated with any single combination of traits in wild tomatoes, since the two species differed in relative levels of expression of various phenotypic traits.
A Spatial Data Infrastructure Approach for the Characterization of New Zealand's Groundwater Systems
Authors: Kmoch Alexander , Klug Hermann , Ritchie Alistair B. H. , Schmidt Jochen , White Paul A. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe future information needs of stakeholders for hydrogeological and hydro‐climate data management and assessment in New Zealand may be met with an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standards‐compliant publicly accessible web services framework which aims to provide integrated use of groundwater information and environmental observation data in general. The stages of the framework development described in this article are search and discovery as well as data collection and access with (meta)data services, which are developed in a community process. The concept and prototype implementation of OGC‐compliant web services for groundwater and hydro‐climate data include demonstration data services that present multiple distributed datasets of environmental observations. The results also iterate over the stakeholder community process and the refined profile of OGC services for environmental observation data sharing within the New Zealand Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) landscape, including datasets from the National Groundwater Monitoring Program and the New Zealand Climate Database along with datasets from affiliated regional councils at regional‐ and sub‐regional scales. With the definition of the New Zealand observation data profile we show that current state‐of‐the‐art standards do not necessarily need to be improved, but that the community has to agree upon how to use these standards in an iterative process.
Inhibitory respiratory responses to progesterone and allopregnanolone in newborn rats chronically treated with caffeine
Authors: Uppari NagaPraveena , Joseph Vincent , Bairam Aida 
Published: October 2015

Key points
In premature newborns, recurrent apnoea is systematically treated with caffeine to prevent long‐term neurocognitive disorders, but a substantial percentage of apnoea persists particularly in neonates born before 28 weeks of gestation.
Progesterone has been proposed as a respiratory stimulant potentially suitable for the treatment of newborn apnoea persistent to caffeine. Accordingly we asked whether acute progesterone administration reduces apnoea frequency in newborn rats treated with caffeine.
Surprisingly our results show that in newborn rats treated with caffeine, administration of progesterone inhibits breathing and increases apnoea frequency.
Additional experiments showed an enhanced GABAergic inhibitory drive on breathing after caffeine treatment, and that progesterone is converted to allopregnanolone (an allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors) to inhibit breathing.
We conclude that combining progesterone and chronic caffeine is not an option in preterm neonates, unless the effects of allopregnanolone can be counteracted.
AbstractCaffeine is the main treatment for apnoea in preterm neonates, but its interactions with other respiratory stimulants like progesterone are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that the addition of progesterone to caffeine treatments further stimulates ventilation. Newborn rats were treated with water (control) or caffeine (15 mg kg−1) by daily gavage between postnatal day (P)3 and P12. At P4 and P12, we measured apnoea frequency, ventilatory responses and metabolic parameters under both normoxia and hypoxia (12% O2, 20 min) following an acute administration of either saline or progesterone (4 mg kg−1; i.p.). Progesterone injection increased the serum levels of both progesterone and its neuroactive metabolite allopregnanolone. Progesterone had no effect on ventilation in control rats under normoxia. Progesterone depressed ventilation in P12 caffeine‐treated rats under normoxia and hypoxia and increased apnoea frequency in both P4 and P12 rats. Because allopregnanolone is an allosteric modulator of GABAA receptors and caffeine may enhance GABAergic inhibition in newborns, we studied the effects of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline at 0, 1, 2 and 3 mg kg−1 doses and allopregnanolone (10 mg kg−1 dose) in P12 rats. In caffeine‐treated rats, bicuculline enhanced ventilation, while allopregnanolone decreased ventilation and increased total apnoea time. Progesterone had no effect on ventilation and apnoea frequency in caffeine‐treated rats injected with finasteride, which blocks the conversion of progesterone to allopregnanolone. We conclude that combining progesterone and chronic caffeine therapy is not an option for the treatment of persistent apnoea in preterm neonates, unless the effects of allopregnanolone can be counteracted.
Identification and Resolution of Microdiversity through Metagenomic Sequencing of Parallel Consortia
Authors: Nelson William C. , Maezato Yukari , Wu Yu-Wei , Romine Margaret F. , Lindemann Stephen R. 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

To gain a predictive understanding of the interspecies interactions within microbial communities that govern community function, the genomic complement of every member population must be determined. Although metagenomic sequencing has enabled the
de novo
reconstruction of some microbial genomes from environmental communities, microdiversity confounds current genome reconstruction techniques. To overcome this issue, we performed short-read metagenomic sequencing on parallel consortia, defined as consortia cultivated under the same conditions from the same natural community with overlapping species composition. The differences in species abundance between the two consortia allowed reconstruction of near-complete (at an estimated >85% of gene complement) genome sequences for 17 of the 20 detected member species. Two
Halomonas
spp. indistinguishable by amplicon analysis were found to be present within the community. In addition, comparison of metagenomic reads against the consensus scaffolds revealed within-species variation for one of the
Halomonas
populations, one of the
Rhodobacteraceae
populations, and the
Rhizobiales
population. Genomic comparison of these representative instances of inter- and intraspecies microdiversity suggests differences in functional potential that may result in the expression of distinct roles in the community. In addition, isolation and complete genome sequence determination of six member species allowed an investigation into the sensitivity and specificity of genome reconstruction processes, demonstrating robustness across a wide range of sequence coverage (9× to 2,700×) within the metagenomic data set.
A Dual Microscopy-Based Assay To Assess Listeria monocytogenes Cellular Entry and Vacuolar Escape
Authors: Quereda Juan J. , Pizarro-Cerdá Javier , Balestrino Damien , Bobard Alexandre , Danckaert Anne , Aulner Nathalie , Shorte Spencer , Enninga Jost , Cossart Pascale 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Listeria monocytogenes
is a Gram-positive bacterium and a facultative intracellular pathogen that invades mammalian cells, disrupts its internalization vacuole, and proliferates in the host cell cytoplasm. Here, we describe a novel image-based microscopy assay that allows discrimination between cellular entry and vacuolar escape, enabling high-content screening to identify factors specifically involved in these two steps. We first generated
L. monocytogenes
and
Listeria innocua
strains expressing a β-lactamase covalently attached to the bacterial cell wall. These strains were then incubated with HeLa cells containing the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probe CCF4 in their cytoplasm. The CCF4 probe was cleaved by the bacterial surface β-lactamase only in cells inoculated with
L. monocytogenes
but not those inoculated with
L. innocua
, thereby demonstrating bacterial access to the host cytoplasm. Subsequently, we performed differential immunofluorescence staining to distinguish extracellular versus total bacterial populations in samples that were also analyzed by the FRET-based assay. With this two-step analysis, bacterial entry can be distinguished from vacuolar rupture in a single experiment. Our novel approach represents a powerful tool for identifying factors that determine the intracellular niche of
L. monocytogenes
.
Sporulation Temperature Reveals a Requirement for CotE in the Assembly of both the Coat and Exosporium Layers of Bacillus cereus Spores
Authors: Bressuire-Isoard Christelle , Bornard Isabelle , Henriques Adriano O. , Carlin Frédéric , Broussolle Véronique 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

The
Bacillus cereus
spore surface layers consist of a coat surrounded by an exosporium. We investigated the interplay between the sporulation temperature and the CotE morphogenetic protein in the assembly of the surface layers of
B. cereus
ATCC 14579 spores and on the resulting spore properties. The
cotE
deletion affects the coat and exosporium composition of the spores formed both at the suboptimal temperature of 20°C and at the optimal growth temperature of 37°C. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that Δ
cotE
spores had a fragmented and detached exosporium when formed at 37°C. However, when produced at 20°C, Δ
cotE
spores showed defects in both coat and exosporium attachment and were susceptible to lysozyme and mutanolysin. Thus, CotE has a role in the assembly of both the coat and exosporium, which is more important during sporulation at 20°C. CotE was more represented in extracts from spores formed at 20°C than at 37°C, suggesting that increased synthesis of the protein is required to maintain proper assembly of spore surface layers at the former temperature. Δ
cotE
spores formed at either sporulation temperature were impaired in inosine-triggered germination and resistance to UV-C and H
2
O
2
and were less hydrophobic than wild-type (WT) spores but had a higher resistance to wet heat. While underscoring the role of CotE in the assembly of
B. cereus
spore surface layers, our study also suggests a contribution of the protein to functional properties of additional spore structures. Moreover, it also suggests a complex relationship between the function of a spore morphogenetic protein and environmental factors such as the temperature during spore formation.
Solar Disinfection of Viruses in Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottles
Authors: Carratalà Anna , Dionisio Calado Alex , Mattle Michael J. , Meierhofer Regula , Luzi Samuel , Kohn Tamar 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Solar disinfection (SODIS) of drinking water in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles is a simple, efficient point-of-use technique for the inactivation of many bacterial pathogens. In contrast, the efficiency of SODIS against viruses is not well known. In this work, we studied the inactivation of bacteriophages (MS2 and ϕX174) and human viruses (echovirus 11 and adenovirus type 2) by SODIS. We conducted experiments in PET bottles exposed to (simulated) sunlight at different temperatures (15, 22, 26, and 40°C) and in water sources of diverse compositions and origins (India and Switzerland). Good inactivation of MS2 (>6-log inactivation after exposure to a total fluence of 1.34 kJ/cm
2
) was achieved in Swiss tap water at 22°C, while less-efficient inactivation was observed in Indian waters and for echovirus (1.5-log inactivation at the same fluence). The DNA viruses studied, ϕX174 and adenovirus, were resistant to SODIS, and the inactivation observed was equivalent to that occurring in the dark. High temperatures enhanced MS2 inactivation substantially; at 40°C, 3-log inactivation was achieved in Swiss tap water after exposure to a fluence of only 0.18 kJ/cm
2
. Overall, our findings demonstrate that SODIS may reduce the load of single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) viruses, such as echoviruses, particularly at high temperatures and in photoreactive matrices. In contrast, complementary measures may be needed to ensure efficient inactivation during SODIS of DNA viruses resistant to oxidation.
Bacillus cereus NVH 0500/00 Can Adhere to Mucin but Cannot Produce Enterotoxins during Gastrointestinal Simulation
Authors: Tsilia Varvara , Kerckhof Frederiek-Maarten , Rajkovic Andreja , Heyndrickx Marc , Van de Wiele Tom 
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

Adhesion to the intestinal epithelium could constitute an essential mechanism of
Bacillus cereus
pathogenesis. However, the enterocytes are protected by mucus, a secretion composed mainly of mucin glycoproteins. These may serve as nutrients and sites of adhesion for intestinal bacteria. In this study, the food poisoning bacterium
B. cereus
NVH 0500/00 was exposed
in vitro
to gastrointestinal hurdles prior to evaluation of its attachment to mucin microcosms and its ability to produce nonhemolytic enterotoxin (Nhe). The persistence of mucin-adherent
B. cereus
after simulated gut emptying was determined using a mucin adhesion assay. The stability of Nhe toward bile and pancreatin (intestinal components) in the presence of mucin agar was also investigated.
B. cereus
could grow and simultaneously adhere to mucin during
in vitro
ileal incubation, despite the adverse effect of prior exposure to a low pH or intestinal components. The final concentration of
B. cereus
in the simulated lumen at 8 h of incubation was 6.62 ± 0.87 log CFU ml
−1
. At that point, the percentage of adhesion was approximately 6%. No enterotoxin was detected in the ileum, due to either insufficient bacterial concentrations or Nhe degradation. Nevertheless, mucin appears to retain
B. cereus
and to supply it to the small intestine after simulated gut emptying. Additionally, mucin may play a role in the protection of enterotoxins from degradation by intestinal components.
Development and validation of the Comprehensive Quality of Life Outcome (CoQoLo) inventory for patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Miyashita Mitsunori , Wada Makoto , Morita Tatsuya , Ishida Mayumi , Onishi Hideki , Tsuneto Satoru , Shima Yasuo 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to develop a scale capable of measuring comprehensive quality of life (QOL) outcomes based on the concept of a good death for patients with advanced cancer.MethodsWe conducted an anonymous cross-sectional questionnaire survey on inpatients being treated at the Oncology Clinic in Saitama Medical University International Medical Center and seven palliative units throughout Japan.ResultsA total of 405 patients with cancer participated in this study. Factor analysis of scores on the Comprehensive Quality of Life Outcome (CoQoLo) inventory revealed 28 items and the following 10 subscales: physical and psychological comfort; staying in a favourite place; maintaining hope and pleasure; good relationships with medical staff; not being a burden to others; good relationships with family; independence; environmental comfort; being respected as an individual; and having a fulfilling life. The total CoQoLo score was moderately correlated with satisfaction (r=0.34) and overall QOL (r=0.34), and moderately correlated with feelings of support and security regarding cancer care (r=0.44). Cronbach's α and the intraclass correlation coefficient of the total score were 0.90 and 0.79, respectively. No significant correlation was found between the total CoQoLo score and self-reported Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (r=−0.01).ConclusionsThese results suggest that the CoQoLo has sufficient reliability and validity and therefore provides an accurate measure of QOL outcomes independent of the general physical condition of the patient.
FrequentBRAFmutation in early-onset colorectal cancer in Taiwan: association with distinct clinicopathological and molecular features and poor clinical outcome
Authors: Tsai Jia-Huei , Liau Jau-Yu , Lin Yu-Lin , Tseng Li-Hui , Lin Liang-In , Yeh Kun-Huei , Jeng Yung-Ming 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundOccurrence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) under the age of 30 is very rare and the molecular characteristics are poorly understood. A lowBRAFmutation rate has been noted in several studies of EOCRC from Western countries.AimsTo determine the clinicopathological and molecular features of EOCRCs in Taiwan.MethodsKRAS/BRAFgene mutation, mismatch repair protein immunohistochemistry, microsatellite instability and CpG island methylation phenotype analyses were examined to determine the molecular characteristics of EOCRC.ResultsSixty-six patients with EOCRC at our hospital between 2000 and 2012 were studied.BRAFmutation was detected in 11 of the 59 tumours analysed (19%) and the rate was significantly higher than the overallBRAFmutation rate of colorectal cancer in patients older than 30 years (p<0.001). Clinically, 9 of 11 patients withBRAF-mutated tumours presented with advanced-stage diseases and they presented significantly more frequently with stage IV disease than those withBRAFwild-type tumours (p=0.042). Histologically,BRAFmutation was associated with a poorly differentiated histology, a serrated precursor polyp and focal signet ring cell differentiation (p=0.042, 0.008 and 0.008, respectively). None of theBRAF-mutated tumours was mismatch repair protein-deficient and/or microsatellite instability-high. Overall survival of patients withBRAF-mutated tumours was significantly worse than that of patients withBRAFwild-type tumours, despite adjustment for the disease stages and tumour differentiation.ConclusionsBRAFmutation was frequent in EOCRCs in Taiwan and was associated with distinct clinicopathological and molecular features.
Examining the link between women's exposure to stressful life events prior to conception and infant and toddler health: the role of birth weight
Authors: Cheng Erika R , Park Hyojun , Wisk Lauren E , Mandell Kara C , Wakeel Fathima , Litzelman Kristin , Chatterjee Debanjana , Witt Whitney P 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundThe life course perspective suggests a pathway may exist among maternal exposure to stressful life events prior to conception (PSLEs), infant birth weight and subsequent offspring health, whereby PSLEs are part of a ‘chains-of-risk’ that set children on a certain health pathway. No prior study has examined the link between PSLEs and offspring health in a nationally representative sample of US mothers and their children. We used longitudinal, nationally representative data to evaluate the relation between maternal exposure to PSLEs and subsequent measures of infant and toddler health, taking both maternal and obstetric characteristics into account.MethodsWe examined 6900 mother-child dyads participating in 2 waves of the nationally representativeEarly Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort(n=6900). Infant and toddler health outcomes assessed at 9 and 24 months included overall health status, special healthcare needs and severe health conditions. Adjusted path analyses examined associations between PSLEs, birth weight and child health outcomes.ResultsIn adjusted analyses, PSLEs increased the risk for very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g), which, in turn, predicted poor health at both 9 and 24 months of age. Path analyses demonstrated that PSLEs had small indirect effects on children's subsequent health that operated through VLBW.ConclusionsOur analysis suggests a chains-of-risk model in which women's exposure to PSLEs increases the risk for giving birth to a VLBW infant, which, in turn, adversely affects infant and toddler health. Addressing women's preconception health may have important downstream benefits for their children, although more research is needed to replicate these findings.
IL1 Receptor Antagonist Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Growth by Abrogating NF-κB Activation
Authors: Zhuang Zhuonan , Ju Huai-Qiang , Aguilar Mitzi , Gocho Takashi , Li Hao , Iida Tomonori , Lee Harold , Fan Xiaoqiang , Zhou Haijun , Ling Jianhua , Li Zhongkui , Fu Jie , Wu Min , Li Min , Melisi Davide , Iwakura Yoichiro , Xu Kesen , Fleming Jason B. , Chiao Paul J. 
Published: October 2015

Abstract
Purpose: Constitutive NF-κB activation is identified in about 70% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases and is required for oncogenic KRAS-induced PDAC development in mouse models. We sought to determine whether targeting IL-1α pathway would inhibit NF-κB activity and thus suppress PDAC cell growth.
Experimental Design: We determined whether anakinra, a human IL-1 receptor (rhIL-1R) antagonist, inhibited NF-κB activation. Assays for cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were performed with rhIL-1R antagonist using the human PDAC cell lines AsPc1, Colo357, MiaPaCa-2, and HPNE/K-rasG12V/p16sh. In vivo NF-κB activation–dependent tumorigenesis was assayed using an orthotopic nude mouse model (n = 20, 5 per group) treated with a combination of gemcitabine and rhIL-1RA.
Results: rhIL-1R antagonist treatment led to a significant decrease in NF-κB activity. PDAC cells treated with rhIL-1R antagonist plus gemcitabine reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion as compared with single gemcitabine treatment. In nude mice, rhIL-1R antagonist plus gemcitabine significantly reduced the tumor burden (gemcitabine plus rhIL-1RA vs. control, P = 0.014).
Conclusions: We found that anakinra, an FDA-approved drug that inhibits IL-1 receptor (IL-1R), when given with or without gemcitabine, can reduce tumor growth by inhibiting IL1α-induced NF-κB activity; this result suggests that it is a useful therapeutic approach for PDAC. Clin Cancer Res; 22(6); 1432–44. ©2015 AACR.