bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Life cycle and host range of Phycita sp. rejected for biological control of prickly acacia in Australia
Authors: Dhileepan K. , Lockett C. J. , Balu A. , Murugesan S. , Perovic D. J. , Taylor D. B. J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractPrickly acacia (Vachellia nilotica subsp. indica), a native of the Indian subcontinent, is a serious weed of the grazing areas of northern Australia and is a target for classical biological control. Native range surveys in India identified a leaf webber, Phycita sp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a prospective biological control agent for prickly acacia. In this study, we report the life cycle and host‐specificity test results Phycita sp. and highlight the contradictory results between the no‐choice tests in India and Australia and the field host range in India. In no‐choice tests in India and Australia, Phycita sp. completed development on two of 11 and 16 of 27 non‐target test plant species, respectively. Although Phycita sp. fed and completed development on two non‐target test plant species (Vachellia planifrons and V. leucophloea) in no‐choice tests in India, there was no evidence of the insect on the two non‐target test plant species in the field. Our contention is that oviposition behaviour could be the key mechanism in host selection of Phycita sp., resulting in its incidence only on prickly acacia in India. This is supported by paired oviposition choice tests involving three test plant species (Acacia baileyana, A. mearnsii and A. deanei) in quarantine in Australia, where eggs were laid only on prickly acacia. However, in paired oviposition choice trials, only few eggs were laid, making the results unreliable. Although oviposition choice tests suggest that prickly acacia is the most preferred and natural host, difficulties in conducting choice oviposition tests with fully grown trees under quarantine conditions in Australia and the logistic difficulties of conducting open‐field tests with fully grown native Australian plants in India have led to rejection of Phycita sp. as a potential biological control agent for prickly acacia in Australia.
How do people live life successfully with Parkinson's disease?
Authors: Kang Mi‐Young , Ellis‐Hill Caroline 
Published: May 2015

Aims and objectivesThe aim of this paper is to explore how people live life successfully with Parkinson's disease and what contributed to the level of success.ObjectivesTo examine the level of success as defined by people with Parkinson's disease. To find what contributed to the level of success.BackgroundSelf‐care support has gained importance for supporting people with their chronic diseases including Parkinson's disease. Although self‐care and life adjustments can improve patients’ general well‐being, it is unclear which approaches best facilitate positive adjustments to illness.DesignSemi‐structured interviews with participants with Parkinson's disease.MethodsEight participants living with Parkinson's disease for 2–16 years were recruited from a Parkinson's disease voluntary group in the UK. Interviews covered their perceived level of success and the factors which they perceived led to that success. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.ResultsParticipants rated a high level of success in living with Parkinson's disease with an average personal rating 75/100 despite facing difficulties. Successful living was perceived to have taken place when people were either (1) able to return to their usual state of health or (2) considered themselves to be stable within a new/readjusted state of health. Aspects which were perceived to support positive psychosocial adjustment included a positive mindset, determination, acceptance of new challenges and family support.ConclusionMaintaining usual life and physical ability is the major concern among the people with Parkinson's disease. It would be helpful for health care professionals to identify what constitutes a ‘usual’ life for that person and to support them to develop a positive mindset and acceptance of new challenges, drawing on the determination of the person as well as any available family support.Relevance to clinical practiceIn supporting self‐care, it is helpful to gain information about the subjective experience of living with Parkinson's disease including their perceived level of success at the time and what led to that perceived success for that person.
Installing and thereafter removing an aberrant prosthesis elicited opposite remodelling responses in growing mouse temporomandibular joints
Authors: Zhang H.‐Y. , Liu Y.‐D. , Yang H.‐X. , Zhang M. , Liao L.‐F. , Wan X.‐H. , Wang M.‐Q. 
Published: May 2015

SummaryTemporomandibular joint (TMJ) displays a high remodelling capability. The current purpose was to investigate the differences between mandibular condylar remodelling responses of growing mice to installation and removal of unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) prosthesis. Twenty‐four mice were divided into one mock control group and two UAC groups. Unilateral anterior crossbite was created by installing a pair of prosthesis to left‐side maxillary and mandibular incisors. Unilateral anterior crossbite was removed in removal group at 3 weeks but remained in UAC group. Temporomandibular joints were sampled at 7 weeks. Changes in condylar cartilage and subchondral bone were assessed by histology and in vivo micro‐CT. Real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate expression changes in ADAMTS‐5, MMP‐3, MMP‐9, MMP‐13, IL‐1, TNF‐α, OPG and RANKL. Statistical analysis was performed at α = 0·05. Temporomandibular joint cartilage degradation was induced by UAC as previously reported but was reversed by removal of UAC. The dropped cartilage thickness, chondrocyte number and collagen II‐positive area, the increased expression levels of Adamts‐5, Mmp3, 9, 13, Tnf‐α and Il‐1β in cartilage, the decreased ratio of OPG/RANKL in both condylar cartilage and subchondral bone, the loss of TMJ subchondral bone and the increase in the TRAP‐positive cells in subchondral bone were all reversed in the removal group (P < 0·05). The growing mouse TMJ condyle displays a high remodelling capability which can be degenerative and rehabilitative, respectively, in response to placement and thereafter removal of the aberrant prosthesis. Eliminating aberrant prosthesis is helpful to promote the degraded condyle to recover.
Airway compromise in children with anterior neck burns: Beware the scalded child
Authors: Hyland Ela J , Harvey John G , Martin Andrew JP , Holland Andrew JA 
Published: May 2015

AimThe aim of the study was to describe characteristics of children with anterior neck burns admitted to our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and to highlight potential airway complications associated with these injuries, especially in children with scalds.MethodsRetrospective review of children with anterior neck burns requiring admission to PICU January 2004–December 2013.ResultsFifty‐two children with anterior neck burns were admitted; average age 6.6 years. Thirty sustained flame/explosion injuries; 22 scalds. Seventy‐nine per cent were male. Mean total body surface area (TBSA) burn 21%. Forty‐seven were intubated. Some primary reasons for intubation included unconsciousness, inhalational/ingestion/direct airway injury and large TBSA. Majority, however, required intubation for airway complications secondary to subcutaneous/soft tissue anterior neck oedema not associated with airway injury/ingestion/inhalational burns. The scalds subgroup mean age was 2.3 years. Eighty‐two per cent were male. Mean TBSA 18%. There were no inhalational/ingestion/airway injuries. Nineteen children were intubated; average 9.3 h post‐injury. Majority (63%) were intubated post‐arrival in the Burn Unit, compared with flame/explosion group (32%). Primary reasons for intubation included large burns, although majority (74%) required intubation for airway complications secondary to subcutaneous and soft tissue anterior neck oedema. For the flame/explosion group this was the case in only 46%, with other primary reasons such as unconsciousness or inhalational injury being the immediate precedent.ConclusionThese results demonstrate that subcutaneous and soft tissue oedema secondary to anterior neck burns may contribute to airway narrowing and compromise requiring intubation. When assessing children's airways, evolving oedema should be recognised and higher observation or early intubation considered regardless of the mechanism of injury.
Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections Associated with Transitional Cell Carcinoma in Dogs
Authors: Budreckis D.M. , Byrne B.A. , Pollard R.E. , Rebhun R.B. , Rodriguez C.O. , Skorupski K.A. 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundUrinary tract infections (UTI) are believed to be common in dogs with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), but incidence and contributing factors have not been reported.ObjectivesTo determine the frequency and bacterial agents associated withUTIin dogs withTCCand define contributing factors.AnimalsEighty‐five dogs with a history of urogenitalTCCundergoing treatment with chemotherapy that had at least 1 urine culture performed.MethodsMedical records and culture results were retrospectively reviewed and ultrasound images were reviewed when available. Clinical factors were evaluated statistically for association with positive culture.ResultsFifty‐five percent (47/85) of dogs had at least 1 positive culture during the course of treatment. Female dogs (80%, 40/50) were more likely than male dogs (29%, 10/35) to have at least 1 positive culture. Ultrasound examination determined that female dogs were more likely to have urethral (74%, 31/42) or trigonal tumor involvement (71%, 30/42) compared to male dogs (32%, 9/28 and 43%, 12/28, respectively). The most commonly isolated organisms wereStaphylococcusspp. (23.9%, 29/121) andEscherichia coli(19.8%, 24/121). Dogs with urethral involvement ofTCCwere significantly more likely to have at least 1 positive culture than dogs without urethral involvement (75%, 30/40 versus 30%, 9/30).ConclusionsUrinary tract infectionis common in dogs withTCChighlighting the importance of regular monitoring for bacterial cystitis in dogs withTCC. In addition, clinical factors such as tumor location and sex may be predictive of positive culture and can help clinicians assess the risk ofUTI.
Survival benefit with IMRT following narrow‐margin hepatectomy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma close to major vessels
Authors: Wang Wei‐Hu , Wang Zhi , Wu Jian‐Xiong , Zhang Tao , Rong Wei‐Qi , Wang Li‐Ming , Jin Jing , Wang Shu‐Lian , Song Yong‐Wen , Liu Yue‐Ping , Ren Hua , Fang Hui , Wang Wen‐Qing , Liu Xin‐Fan , Yu Zi‐Hao , Li Ye‐Xiong 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsTo investigate the role of post‐operative intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in patients receiving narrow‐margin hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) located close to the major vessels.MethodsThis exploratory study involved 181 HCC patients. Of them, 116 were treated with narrow‐margin (<1.0 cm) hepatectomy. Thirty‐three of the 116 underwent postoperative IMRT (Group A), while 83 did not receive radiotherapy (Group B). The remaining 65 patients underwent wide‐margin (≥1.0 cm) hepatectomy (Group C). Prognosis and patterns of recurrence were assessed in the three groups.ResultsThe 3‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates were 89.1 and 64.2% in Group A, 67.7 and 52.2% in Group B and 86.0 and 60.1% in Group C respectively. The OS and DFS of Group A and Group C patients surpassed those of Group B patients (Group A vs. B, P = 0.009 and P = 0.038; and Group C vs. B, P = 0.002 and P = 0.010). Patients in Groups A and C experienced significantly fewer early recurrences than did patients in Group B (P = 0.002). Furthermore, patients in Groups A and C experienced substantially fewer intrahepatic marginal (P = 0.048) and diffuse recurrences (P = 0.018) and extrahepatic metastases (P = 0.038) than did patients in Group B. No patient developed radiation‐induced liver disease.ConclusionsPost‐operative IMRT following narrow‐margin hepatectomy may be a favourable therapy for both its safety profile and clinical benefit in patients with HCC located close to the major vessels.
Ischaemia‐modified albumin: a marker of bacterial infection in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis
Authors: Giannone Ferdinando A. , Domenicali Marco , Baldassarre Maurizio , Bartoletti Michele , Naldi Marina , Laggetta Maristella , Bertucci Carlo , Colecchia Antonio , Viale Pierluigi , Bernardi Mauro , Caraceni Paolo 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackground & AimsPatients with cirrhosis present structural changes of human serum albumin (HSA) affecting non‐oncotic functions. Ischaemia‐modified albumin (IMA), which reflects the capacity to bind cobalt, has been associated to patient mortality during acute‐on‐chronic liver failure. This study aimed to assess whether circulating IMA is elevated in advanced cirrhosis and its relationship with severity of cirrhosis and specific complications.MethodsA total of 127 cirrhotic patients hospitalized for an acute complication of the disease and 44 healthy controls were enrolled. Plasma IMA and IMA to albumin ratio (IMAr) were measured with a cobalt‐binding assay. HSA isoforms carrying post‐transcriptional molecular changes were assessed with HPLC‐ESI‐MS. The effect of endotoxemia on IMA was evaluated in rats with CCl4‐cirrhosis.ResultsIMA/IMAr is significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in controls, but no correlations were found with prognostic scores. IMA did not correlate with the altered HSA isoforms. Ascites, renal impairment and hepatic encephalopathy did not influence IMA/IMAr levels. In contrast, IMA/IMAr is significantly higher in infected than non‐infected patients. ROC curves showed that IMA/IMAr had similar discriminating performances for bacterial infection as C‐reactive protein (CRP). Moreover, CRP and IMA were independently associated with bacterial infection. Consistently, endotoxin injection significantly increased IMA in cirrhotic, but not in healthy rats.ConclusionsIMA is elevated in patients with advanced cirrhosis. The IMA level does not correlate with disease severity scores, but it is specifically associated to bacterial infection, showing a discriminating performance similar to CRP. Further investigations to assess IMA as a novel diagnostic test for bacterial infection are advocated.
Sorting out cirrhosis: mechanisms of non‐response to hepatitis C therapy
Authors: Al Marzooqi Saeed H. , Feld Jordan J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractAlthough cirrhosis has long been recognized as an important negative predictor of treatment response for hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy, the mechanisms underlying this association remain relatively poorly understood. Treatment has progressed rapidly with the introduction of highly effective all‐oral therapies, with promising outcomes even in patients with advanced cirrhosis. However, even with the new therapies, it is clear that patients with cirrhosis require special attention. Efficacy continues to be somewhat reduced compared to non‐cirrhotic patients and safety is an important concern. In this review, we explore the reasons for treatment non‐response in patients with cirrhosis. We focus on how cirrhosis impacts on four important areas including drug delivery, drug uptake and metabolism, immune responses and drug toxicity with examples from the clinical and basic literature. Fortunately, as treatment continues to progress, many of the challenges of treating patients with cirrhosis will become less and less problematic.
Major histocompatibility complex similarity and sexual selection: different does not always mean attractive
Authors: Gasparini Clelia , Congiu Leonardo , Pilastro Andrea 
Published: May 2015

AbstractFemales that mate multiply have the possibility to exert postcopulatory choice and select more compatible sperm to fertilize eggs. Prior work suggests that dissimilarity in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays an important role in determining genetic compatibility between partners. Favouring a partner with dissimilar MHC alleles would result in offspring with high MHC diversity and therefore with enhanced survival thanks to increased resistance to pathogens and parasites. The high variability of MHC genes may further allow discrimination against the sperm from related males, reducing offspring homozygosity and inbreeding risk. Despite the large body of work conducted at precopulatory level, the role of MHC similarity between partners at postcopulatory level has been rarely investigated. We used an internal fertilizing fish with high level of multiple matings (Poecilia reticulata) to study whether MHC similarity plays a role in determining the outcome of fertilization when sperm from two males compete for the same set of eggs. We also controlled for genomewide similarity by determining similarity at 10 microsatellite loci. Contrary to prediction, we found that the more MHC‐similar male sired more offspring while similarity at the microsatellite loci did not predict the outcome of sperm competition. Our results suggest that MHC discrimination may be involved in avoidance of hybridization or outbreeding rather than inbreeding avoidance. This, coupled with similar findings in salmon, suggests that the preference for MHC‐dissimilar mates is far from being unanimous and that pre‐ and postcopulatory episodes of sexual selection can indeed act in opposite directions.
FROM HARVESTING TO NONHARVESTING UTILITY: AN OPTIMAL CONTROL APPROACH TO SPECIES CONSERVATION
Authors: VASILIEVA* OLGA 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to retrace the evolution of mathematical models focused on relation and interaction between economic growth, sustainable development, and natural environment conservation. First, generic defensive expenditures are introduced into a common‐property harvesting model in order to favor the species growth. Second, a transition model comprising both harvesting and nonharvesting values of wildlife biological species emerges. The latter gives rise to a group of purely nonharvesting models where anthropic activities and economic growth may have positive or negative impact on the natural evolution of wildlife species. Several scholars have proved that optimal strategies that are relatively good for harvesting purposes are not simply “transferrable” to the context of conservation of wildlife biological species with no harvesting value. In addition, the existence of optimal policies for long‐term conservation of all biological species (with or without harvesting value) cannot be guaranteed without having relatively large species populations at the initial time. Therefore, all such strategies are incapable of enhancing the scarce populations of endangered species and, therefore, cannot save these species from eventual (local) extinction. As an alternative, policymakers may soon be compelled to design and implement short‐term defensive actions aimed at recovery and enhancement of endangered wildlife species.
A direct assessment of realized seed and pollen flow within and between two isolated populations of the food‐deceptive orchid Orchis mascula
Authors: Helsen K. , Meekers T. , Vranckx G. , Roldán‐Ruiz I. , Vandepitte K. , Honnay O. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractGene flow can counteract the loss of genetic diversity caused by genetic drift in small populations. For this reason, clearly understanding gene flow patterns is of the highest importance across fragmented landscapes. However, gene flow patterns are not only dependent upon the degree of spatial isolation of fragmented populations, but are also dependent upon the life‐history traits of the species. Indeed, habitat fragmentation effects appear especially unpredictable for food‐deceptive orchid species, because of their highly specialised seed and pollen dispersal mechanisms. In this study we used amplified fragment length polymorphism markers and subsequent parentage and spatial autocorrelation analysis to quantify the extent and the patterns of realized gene flow within and between two adjacent fragmented populations of the food‐deceptive Orchis mascula. We observed considerable gene flow between both populations, occurring mainly through pollen dispersal. Seed dispersal, on the other hand, was mainly limited to the first few meters from the mother plant in both populations, although at least one among‐population seed dispersal event was observed. This, in turn, resulted in a significant spatial genetic structure for both populations. Although genetic diversity was high in both populations and mainly outcrossing occurred, reproductive output was strongly skewed toward a limited number of successful adult plants. These observed patterns are likely due to the different pollinator behaviour associated with food‐deceptive plants. We conclude that these populations can be considered viable under their current fragmented state.
A stable Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli GFP‐tagged strain reveals a new colonization niche in sugarcane tissues
Authors: Quecine M. C. , Silva T. M. , Carvalho G. , Saito S. , Mondin M. , Teixeira‐Silva N. S. , Camargo L. E. A. , Monteiro‐Vitorello C. B. 
Published: May 2015

Ratoon stunting disease (RSD), caused by the bacterium Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx), is one of the most economically important diseases of sugarcane worldwide. Because knowledge on the interaction of Lxx with its host at the microscopic level is limited, the development of tools to monitor Lxx during the colonization process could shed new light on the processes that control disease development. In this investigation, a transformation protocol was optimized and a mutant Lxx strain engineered that stably expressed the gfp gene in sugarcane tissues. In vitro, the growth of the mutant did not differ from that of the wild type. Also, plants inoculated with both strains showed comparable growth and development when analysed 180 days after inoculation (dai). Fluorescence microscopy of roots, stalks, meristems and leaf tissues of Lxx‐GFP‐inoculated plants was performed at 180 dai. In the leaves, Lxx‐tagged cells were observed within the xylem vessels as has been described before but, in addition, they were found in a new niche within the host tissues, in the mesophyll and in the bundle sheath cells surrounding the vascular system. This finding indicates that Lxx is able to move from the xylem to the parenchyma of the leaf cells. This first report of an Lxx mutant expressing a heterologous gene revealed that colonization of sugarcane by this pathogen is not limited to the xylem vessels as commonly reported.
Elucidating steroid alkaloid biosynthesis in Veratrum californicum: production of verazine in Sf9 cells
Authors: Augustin Megan M. , Ruzicka Dan R. , Shukla Ashutosh K. , Augustin Jörg M. , Starks Courtney M. , O'Neil‐Johnson Mark , McKain Michael R. , Evans Bradley S. , Barrett Matt D. , Smithson Ann , Wong Gane Ka‐Shu , Deyholos Michael K. , Edger Patrick P. , Pires J. Chris , Leebens‐Mack James H. , Mann David A. , Kutchan Toni M. 
Published: May 2015

SummarySteroid alkaloids have been shown to elicit a wide range of pharmacological effects that include anticancer and antifungal activities. Understanding the biosynthesis of these molecules is essential to bioengineering for sustainable production. Herein, we investigate the biosynthetic pathway to cyclopamine, a steroid alkaloid that shows promising antineoplastic activities. Supply of cyclopamine is limited, as the current source is solely derived from wild collection of the plant Veratrum californicum. To elucidate the early stages of the pathway to cyclopamine, we interrogated a V. californicum RNA‐seq dataset using the cyclopamine accumulation profile as a predefined model for gene expression with the pattern‐matching algorithm Haystack. Refactoring candidate genes in Sf9 insect cells led to discovery of four enzymes that catalyze the first six steps in steroid alkaloid biosynthesis to produce verazine, a predicted precursor to cyclopamine. Three of the enzymes are cytochromes P450 while the fourth is a γ‐aminobutyrate transaminase; together they produce verazine from cholesterol.