bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial activity of amazonian medicinal plants
Authors: Oliveira Amanda A , Segovia Jorge FO , Sousa Vespasiano YK , Mata Elida CG , Gonçalves Magda CA , Bezerra Roberto M , Junior Paulo OM , Kanzaki Luís IB 
Published: August 2013

Abstract

Objectives
The aqueous extracts of currently utilized Amazonian medicinal plants were assayed in vitro searching for antimicrobial activity against human and animal pathogenic microorganisms.

Methods
Medium resuspended lyophilized aqueous extracts of different organs of Amazonian medicinal plants were assayed by in vitro screening for antimicrobial activity. ATCC and standardized microorganisms obtained from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation/Brazil were individually and homogeneously grown in agar plate, and holes previously perforated in the gel were filled with diluted plant aqueous extracts. Inhibition halos were evaluated and controlled by the use of the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin.

Results
The Amazonian medicinal plants, Hymenelobium petraeum showed inhibitory activity over Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Acinetobacter baumannii and Candida albicans, while Vatairea guianensis and Symphonia globulifera presented inhibitory activity exclusively for Staphylococcus aureus. Also, Ptychopetalum olacoides and Pentaclethra macroloba inhibited the growth of Klebsiella ozaenae and Acinetobacter baumannii.

Conclusion
The aqueous botanic extracts that showed activity against microroganisms of ATTC and Osvaldo Cruz strains had at least 40% of antimicrobial activity when compared to halo inhibition produced by the commercial antibiotic ciprofloxacin utilized as a control. Of all plants extracts assayed, the Hymenelobium petraeum had the best performance, sometimes exhibiting higher activity than ciprofloxacin. It is not well-defined by the physicians the exact indication of the majority of medicinal plants in the Amazon area in Brazil. Natives utilize the plants according to their symptoms, based on the traditional knowledge transmitted orally from generation to generation, among Amerindians, Afrodescendents and ethnic mixed populations. A significant number of Amazonian medicinal plants are totally unknown related to their medicinal properties including mechanism of action and therapeutic effects, as very few information is reported in the scientific literature. A tiny amount of data is presented, as the preliminary antimicrobial properties of the medicinal plants here accessed, under the urgent necessity of new antibiotics in the market and in face of the increased resistance of infectious microorganisms to antimicrobials.
A high angiopoietin-2/angiopoietin-1 ratio is associated with a high risk of septic shock in patients with febrile neutropenia
Authors: Luz Fiusa Maiara Marx , Costa-Lima Carolina , de Souza Gleice Regina , Vigorito Afonso Celso , Penteado Aranha Francisco Jose , Lorand-Metze Irene , Annichino-Bizzacchi Joyce M , de Souza Carmino Antonio , De Paula Erich V 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Endothelial barrier breakdown is a hallmark of septic shock, and proteins that physiologically regulate endothelial barrier integrity are emerging as promising biomarkers of septic shock development. Patients with cancer and febrile neutropenia (FN) present a higher risk of sepsis complications, such as septic shock. Nonetheless, these patients are normally excluded or under-represented in sepsis biomarker studies. The aim of our study was to validate the measurement of a panel of microvascular permeability modulators as biomarkers of septic shock development in cancer patients with chemotherapy-associated FN.

Methods
This was a prospective study of diagnostic accuracy, performed in two distinct in-patient units of a university hospital. Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and angiopoietin (Ang) 1 and 2 were measured after the onset of neutropenic fever, in conditions designed to mimic the real-world use of a sepsis biomarker, based on our local practice. Patients were categorized based on the development of septic shock by 28 days as an outcome.

Results
A total of 99 consecutive patients were evaluated in the study, of which 20 developed septic shock and 79 were classified as non-complicated FN. VEGF-A and sFlt-1 levels were similar between both outcome groups. In contrast, Ang-2 concentrations were increased in patients with septic shock, whereas an inverse finding was observed for Ang-1, resulting in a higher Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio in patients with septic shock (5.29, range 0.58 to 57.14) compared to non-complicated FN (1.99, range 0.06 to 64.62; P = 0.01). After multivariate analysis, the Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio remained an independent factor for septic shock development and 28-day mortality.

Conclusions
A high Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio can predict the development of septic shock in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia.
Female Monasticism, Ecclesiastical Reform, and Regional Politics: The Northern Archdiocese of Reims, circa 1060-1120
Authors: Vanderputten Steven 
Published: August 2013

The evidence analyzed in this article shows that the common understanding of the development of female monasticism in the period between ca. 1060 and ca. 1120 is too reliant on the notion of a drastic transition from one model of monastic foundation and patronage to another. With reference to the northern archdiocese of Reims, I argue that “old” and “new” models of monastic patronage were not incompatible and that the continuing involvement of the highest secular and religious elites in female monasticism reflects their ability to make the best use of religious and social change. Thus this article shows that, contrary to what some scholars have suggested, nunneries in this region were hardly immune to the profound changes that affected Western society around the year 1100.
Les données analysées dans la présente étude permettent de mettre en question la perception communément admise à propos du développement du monachisme féminin au cours de la période qui s’étend de 1060 à 1120 environ. Cette perception s’avère en effet tributaire d’une vision trop drastique de la transition qui s’est opérée entre deux modèles successifs de fondation et de patronage monastiques. Dans le cas de l’archidiocèse Nord de Reims, je soutiens que les modèles dits « ancien » et « nouveau » de patronage monastique n’étaient nullement incompatibles, et que l’engagement persistant des élites séculières et religieuses dans le monachisme féminin reflète leur capacité à exploiter au mieux les transformations religieuses et sociales. Par conséquent, cet article permet de démontrer que, contrairement à ce que de nombreux chercheurs ont considéré jusqu’à présent, les couvents de religieuses dans cette région n’étaient guère maintenus à l’écart des changements profonds intervenus dans la société occidentale aux alentours de l’an 1100.
Versailles as a Family Enterprise: The Perraults, 1660-1700
Authors: Rabinovitch Oded 
Published: August 2013

Historians usually treat Versailles as a site of courtly interaction, or as a source for courtly “taste.” This article, however, examines processes that connected Versailles to the wider world, arguing for a model of Versailles’s role in the cultural politics of the monarchy, which stresses appropriations by men of letters and supplants “top-down” models of cultural absolutism. It explores the symbolic and material uses of Versailles in the social and intellectual ventures of the Perraults, a family of Parisian men of letters. While acting as authors, members of royal academies, or aides to Colbert, the Perraults used Versailles as a source of exotic animals for scientific dissection, a depository of manuscript texts, a weapon in literary struggles, and a site of sociability. As the Perraults appropriated Versailles, they used their access to the palace for their own devices, unrelated to the goals of a state-run propaganda machine; yet these appropriations brought Louis XIV’s grandeur to new publics.
Contrairement au traitement habituel de Versailles comme locus de sociabilité courtoise ou comme source de « goût classique », cet article met l’accent sur les médiations de Versailles et sur la construction de l’image de Versailles à travers des appropriations de la part des hommes de lettres. Ce travail propose un modèle du rôle de Versailles dans la politique culturelle de la monarchie louis-quatorzienne, qui va au-delà des notions d’absolutisme culturel. En étudiant les Perrault, une famille d’hommes de lettres parisiens, l’article montre comment les Perrault s’approprient Versailles comme source d’animaux exotiques pour des dissections scientifiques, comme dépôt de manuscrits, comme arme dans les conflits littéraires ou comme site de sociabilité mondaine. En s’appropriant Versailles pour leurs propres fins, les Perrault font rayonner la gloire de Louis XIV aux publics qui n’étaient pas forcément touchés auparavant par la machine de propagande étatique.
Soutenir la guerre et réformer la fiscalité: Silhouette et Forbonnais au Contrôle général des finances (1759)
Authors: Orain Arnaud 
Published: August 2013

Le bref ministère (mars-novembre 1759) d’Etienne de Silhouette et de son principal conseiller François Véron de Forbonnais est marqué du sceau des difficultés financières de la guerre de Sept Ans. Dans deux opérations distinctes, le contrôleur général et l’économiste vont ainsi tenter de trouver les fonds nécessaires à la poursuite du conflit et finalement échouer face à l’hostilité que leurs projets vont soulever. Souvent passé sous silence, ce ministère a été jugé sévèrement par les rares historiens qui y ont fait allusion. Pourtant, les tentatives de Silhouette et Forbonnais relèvent moins de l’improvisation que d’une volonté de mise en oeuvre des idées qu’ils ont préalablement développées au sein du cercle de Gournay. Dans une analyse à la fois intellectuelle et culturelle des projets des deux hommes, mais également des réactions de l’opinion, cet article tente d’en cerner le caractère d’ensemble et de porter un avis sur les causes de leur échec final.
The short ministry (from March to November 1759) of Etienne de Silhouette and his first adviser, François Véron de Forbonnais, took place during the great financial tribulations of the Seven Years’ War. The general controller and the economist tried to find money to pursue the war. In the end they failed due to the great hostilities generated by their different projects. Largely ignored, this ministry was severely judged by the very few historians who make reference to it. Nevertheless, the attempts of Silhouette and Forbonnais had less to do with improvisation than with the implementation of their ideas developed inside the Gournay circle. Through an intellectual and cultural analysis of the projects of the two men and of the public reaction, this article tries to capture the spirit of their attempts and to give a general appraisal of their final failure.
Regulation of Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase 1 by Spliceosome-associated protein 130 (SAP130)
Authors: Cordero-Espinoza Lucia , Hagen Thilo 
Published: August 2013

Summary
Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) mediate the ubiquitination of numerous protein substrates and target them for proteasomal degradation. The function of CRLs is under tight regulation by Cullin-binding proteins. It has been reported that the Spliceosome-associated protein 130 (SAP130/SF3b-3) binds to several Cullin proteins, yet it remains unknown whether SAP130 plays any role in regulating the function of CRLs. Here, we report that SAP130 overexpression reduces the binding of adaptor protein Skp1 and substrate receptor Skp2 to Cul1, whereas it has no effect on CAND1 binding to Cul1. Overexpression of SAP130 decreases the degradation rate of p27, a protein substrate of the SCFSkp2 ligase. Interestingly, silencing of SAP130 also inhibits the degradation of p27, suggesting a dual role for SAP130 in the regulation of SCF activity. We hypothesized that the regulatory role of SAP130 could extend to other CRLs; however, overexpression of SAP130 is unable to affect the protein stability of the Cul2 and Cul3 substrates, HIF-1 and NRF-2. SAP130 binds to Cul1, Cul2 and Cul4 with similar affinity, and it binds to Cul3 more strongly. SAP130 localizes in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Hence, the inability of SAP130 to regulate Cul2 and Cul3 CRLs cannot be explained by low binding affinity of SAP130 to these cullins or by subcellular sequestration of SAP130. We propose a novel role for SAP130 in the regulation of SCF, whereby SAP130 physically competes with the adaptor protein/F-box protein for Cul1 binding and interferes with the assembly of a functional SCF ligase.
Non-directional radial intercalation dominates deep cell behavior during zebrafish epiboly
Authors: Bensch Robert , Song Sungmin , Ronneberger Olaf , Driever Wolfgang 
Published: August 2013

Summary
Epiboly is the first coordinated cell movement in most vertebrates and marks the onset of gastrulation. During zebrafish epiboly, enveloping layer (EVL) and deep cells spread over the vegetal yolk mass with a concomitant thinning of the deep cell layer. A prevailing model suggests that deep cell radial intercalations directed towards the EVL would drive deep cell epiboly. To test this model, we have globally recorded 3D cell trajectories for zebrafish blastomeres between sphere and 50% epiboly stages, and developed an image analysis framework to determine intercalation events, intercalation directionality, and migration speed for cells at specific positions within the embryo. This framework uses Voronoi diagrams to compute cell-to-cell contact areas, defines a feature-based spatio-temporal model for intercalation events and fits an anatomical coordinate system to the recorded datasets. We further investigate whether epiboly defects in MZspg mutant embryos devoid of Pou5f1/Oct4 may be caused by changes in intercalation behavior. In wild-type and mutant embryos, intercalations orthogonal to the EVL occur with no directional bias towards or away from the EVL, suggesting that there are no directional cues that would direct intercalations towards the EVL. Further, we find that intercalation direction is independent of the previous intercalation history of individual deep cells, arguing against cues that would program specific intrinsic directed migration behaviors. Our data support a dynamic model in which deep cells during epiboly migrate into space opening between the EVL and the yolk syncytial layer. Genetic programs determining cell motility may control deep cell dynamic behavior and epiboly progress.
Hydrodynamic resistance and flow patterns in the gills of a tilapine fish
Authors: Strother James A. 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYThe gills of teleost fishes are often discussed as an archetypal counter-current exchange system, capable of supporting the relatively high metabolic rates of some fishes despite the low oxygen solubility of water. Despite an appreciation for the physiology of exchange at the gills, many questions remain regarding the hydrodynamical basis of ventilation in teleost fishes. In this study, the hydrodynamic resistance and flow fields around the isolated gills of a tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, were measured as a function of the applied pressure head. At ventilatory pressures typical of a fish at rest, the hydrodynamic resistance of the gills was nearly constant, the flow was laminar, shunting of water around the gills was essentially absent, and the distribution of water flow was relatively uniform. However, at the higher pressures typical of an active or stressed fish, some of these qualities were lost. In particular, at elevated pressures there was a decrease in the hydrodynamic resistance of the gills and substantial shunting of water around the gills. These effects suggest mechanical limits to maximum aerobic performance during activity or under adverse environmental conditions.
Cardiovascular design in fin whales: high-stiffness arteries protect against adverse pressure gradients at depth
Authors: Lillie M. A. , Piscitelli M. A. , Vogl A. W. , Gosline J. M. , Shadwick R. E. 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARYFin whales have an incompliant aorta, which, we hypothesize, represents an adaptation to large, depth-induced variations in arterial transmural pressures. We hypothesize these variations arise from a limited ability of tissues to respond to rapid changes in ambient ocean pressures during a dive. We tested this hypothesis by measuring arterial mechanics experimentally and modelling arterial transmural pressures mathematically. The mechanical properties of mammalian arteries reflect the physiological loads they experience, so we examined a wide range of fin whale arteries. All arteries had abundant adventitial collagen that was usually recruited at very low stretches and inflation pressures (2–3 kPa), making arterial diameter largely independent of transmural pressure. Arteries withstood significant negative transmural pressures (−7 to −50 kPa) before collapsing. Collapse was resisted by recruitment of adventitial collagen at very low stretches. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis of depth-induced variation of arterial transmural pressure. Because transmural pressures depend on thoracic pressures, we modelled the thorax of a diving fin whale to assess the likelihood of significant variation in transmural pressures. The model predicted that deformation of the thorax body wall and diaphragm could not always equalize thoracic and ambient pressures because of asymmetrical conditions on dive descent and ascent. Redistribution of blood could partially compensate for asymmetrical conditions, but inertial and viscoelastic lag necessarily limits tissue response rates. Without pressure equilibrium, particularly when ambient pressures change rapidly, internal pressure gradients will develop and expose arteries to transient pressure fluctuations, but with minimal hemodynamic consequence due to their low compliance.
The impact behaviour of silk cocoons
Authors: Chen Fujia , Hesselberg Thomas , Porter David , Vollrath Fritz 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARY
Silk cocoons, constructed by silkmoths (Lepidoptera), are protective structural composites. Some cocoons appear to have evolved towards structural and material optimisation in order to sustain impact strikes from predators and hinder parasite ingress. This study investigates the protective properties of silk cocoons with different morphologies by evaluating their impact resistance and damage tolerance. Finite element analysis was used to analyse empirical observations of the quasi-static impact response of the silk cocoons, and to evaluate the separate benefits of the structures and materials through the deformation and damage mechanism. We use design principles from composite engineering in order to understand the structure–property–function relationship of silkworm cocoons. Understanding the highly evolved survival strategies of the organisms building natural cocoons will hopefully lead to inspiration that in turn could lead to improved composite design.
Assessing the relative importance of environmental effects, carry-over effects and species differences in thermal stress resistance: a comparison of Drosophilids across field and laboratory generations
Authors: Schiffer Michele , Hangartner Sandra , Hoffmann Ary A. 
Published: August 2013

SummaryThere is increasing interest in comparing species of related organisms for their susceptibility to thermal extremes in order to evaluate potential vulnerability to climate change. Comparisons are typically undertaken on individuals collected from the field with or without a period of acclimation. However this approach does not allow the potential contributions of environmental and carry-over effects across generations to be separated from inherent species differences in susceptibility. To assess the importance of these different sources of variation, we here consider heat and cold resistance in Drosophilid species from tropical and temperate sites in the field and across two laboratory generations. Resistance in field-collected individuals tended to be lower when compared to F1 and F2 laboratory generations, and species differences in field flies were only weakly correlated to differences established under controlled rearing conditions, unlike in F1 - F2 comparisons. This reflected large environmental effects on resistance associated with different sites and conditions experienced within sites. For the cold recovery assay (after 8 h cold stress) there was no strong evidence of carry-over effects, whereas for the heat knockdown (heat) and cold recovery assays (after 2 h cold stress) there was some evidence for such effects. However for heat these were species-specific in direction. Variance components for inherent species differences were substantial for resistance to heat and 8 h cold stress, but small for 2 h cold stress, though this may be a reflection of the species being considered in the comparisons. These findings highlight that inherent differences among species are difficult to characterize accurately without controlling for environmental sources of variation and carry-over effects. Moreover they also emphasize the complex nature of carry-over effects that depend on the nature of stress traits and the species being evaluated.
A thermogenic secondary sexual character in male sea lamprey
Authors: Chung-Davidson Yu-Wen , Priess M. Cody , Yeh Chu-Yin , Brant Cory O. , Johnson Nicholas S. , Li Ke , Nanlohy Kaben G. , Bryan Mara B. , Brown C. Titus , Choi Jongeun , Li Weiming 
Published: August 2013

SUMMARY
Secondary sexual characters in animals are exaggerated ornaments or weapons for intrasexual competition. Unexpectedly, we found that a male secondary sexual character in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is a thermogenic adipose tissue that instantly increases its heat production during sexual encounters. This secondary sexual character, developed in front of the anterior dorsal fin of mature males, is a swollen dorsal ridge known as the ‘rope’ tissue. It contains nerve bundles, multivacuolar adipocytes and interstitial cells packed with small lipid droplets and mitochondria with dense and highly organized cristae. The fatty acid composition of the rope tissue is rich in unsaturated fatty acids. The cytochrome c oxidase activity is high but the ATP concentration is very low in the mitochondria of the rope tissue compared with those of the gill and muscle tissues. The rope tissue temperature immediately rose up to 0.3°C when the male encountered a conspecific. Mature males generated more heat in the rope and muscle tissues when presented with a mature female than when presented with a male (paired t-test, P&lt;0.05). On average, the rope generated 0.027±0.013 W cm−3 more heat than the muscle in 10 min. Transcriptome analyses revealed that genes involved in fat cell differentiation are upregulated whereas those involved in oxidative-phosphorylation-coupled ATP synthesis are downregulated in the rope tissue compared with the gill and muscle tissues. Sexually mature male sea lamprey possess the only known thermogenic secondary sexual character that shows differential heat generation toward individual conspecifics.