bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting the responsiveness of soil biodiversity to deforestation: a cross‐biome study
Authors: Crowther Thomas W. , Maynard Daniel S. , Leff Jonathan W. , Oldfield Emily E. , McCulley Rebecca L. , Fierer Noah , Bradford Mark A. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe consequences of deforestation for aboveground biodiversity have been a scientific and political concern for decades. In contrast, despite being a dominant component of biodiversity that is essential to the functioning of ecosystems, the responses of belowground biodiversity to forest removal have received less attention. Single‐site studies suggest that soil microbes can be highly responsive to forest removal, but responses are highly variable, with negligible effects in some regions. Using high throughput sequencing, we characterize the effects of deforestation on microbial communities across multiple biomes and explore what determines the vulnerability of microbial communities to this vegetative change. We reveal consistent directional trends in the microbial community response, yet the magnitude of this vegetation effect varied between sites, and was explained strongly by soil texture. In sandy sites, the difference in vegetation type caused shifts in a suite of edaphic characteristics, driving substantial differences in microbial community composition. In contrast, fine‐textured soil buffered microbes against these effects and there were minimal differences between communities in forest and grassland soil. These microbial community changes were associated with distinct changes in the microbial catabolic profile, placing community changes in an ecosystem functioning context. The universal nature of these patterns allows us to predict where deforestation will have the strongest effects on soil biodiversity, and how these effects could be mitigated.
Mast cells are activated by Staphylococcus aureus in vitro but do not influence the outcome of intraperitoneal S. aureus infection in vivo
Authors: Rönnberg Elin , Johnzon Carl‐Fredrik , Calounova Gabriela , Garcia Faroldi Gianni , Grujic Mirjana , Hartmann Karin , Roers Axel , Guss Bengt , Lundequist Anders , Pejler Gunnar 
Published: April 2014

SummaryStaphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen that can cause a broad spectrum of serious infections including skin infections, pneumonia and sepsis. Peritoneal mast cells have been implicated in the host response towards various bacterial insults and to provide mechanistic insight into the role of mast cells in intraperitoneal bacterial infection we here studied the global effects of S. aureus on mast cell gene expression. After co‐culture of peritoneal mast cells with live S. aureus we found by gene array analysis that they up‐regulate a number of genes. Many of these corresponded to pro‐inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin‐3, interleukin‐13 and tumour necrosis factor‐α. The cytokine induction in response to S. aureus was confirmed by ELISA. To study the role of peritoneal mast cells during in vivo infection with S. aureus we used newly developed Mcpt5‐Cre+ × R‐DTA mice in which mast cell deficiency is independent of c‐Kit. This is in contrast to previous studies in which an impact of mast cells on bacterial infection has been proposed based on the use of mice whose mast cell deficiency is a consequence of defective c‐Kit signalling. Staphylococcus aureus was injected intraperitoneally into mast‐cell‐deficient Mcpt5‐Cre+ × R‐DTA mice using littermate mast‐cell‐sufficient mice as controls. We did not observe any difference between mast‐cell‐deficient and control mice with regard to weight loss, bacterial clearance, inflammation or cytokine production. We conclude that, despite peritoneal mast cells being activated by S. aureus in vitro, they do not influence the in vivo manifestations of intraperitoneal S. aureus infection.
Dendritic cells treated with crude Plasmodium berghei extracts acquire immune‐modulatory properties and suppress the development of autoimmune neuroinflammation
Authors: Thomé Rodolfo , Issayama Luidy K. , Alves da Costa Thiago , Gangi Rosária D. , Ferreira Isadora T. , Rapôso Catarina , Lopes Stefanie C. P. , da Cruz Höfling Maria Alice , Costa Fábio T. M. , Verinaud Liana 
Published: April 2014

SummaryDendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen‐presenting cells specifically targeted during Plasmodium infection. Upon infection, DCs show impaired antigen presentation and T‐cell activation abilities. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether cellular extracts obtained from Plasmodium berghei‐infected erythrocytes (PbX) modulate DCs phenotypically and functionally and the potential therapeutic usage of PbX‐modulated DCs in the control of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE, the mouse model for human multiple sclerosis). We found that PbX‐treated DCs have impaired maturation and stimulated the generation of regulatory T cells when cultured with naive T lymphocytes in vitro. When adoptively transferred to C57BL/6 mice the EAE severity was reduced. Disease amelioration correlated with a diminished infiltration of cytokine‐producing T cells in the central nervous system as well as the suppression of encephalitogenic T cells. Our study shows that extracts obtained from P. berghei‐infected erythrocytes modulate DCs towards an immunosuppressive phenotype. In addition, the adoptive transfer of PbX‐modulated DCs was able to ameliorate EAE development through the suppression of specific cellular immune responses towards neuro‐antigens. To our knowledge, this is the first study to present evidence that DCs treated with P. berghei extracts are able to control autoimmune neuroinflammation.
Macmillan's children? Young workers and trade unions in the early 1960s
Authors: Williams Glynne , Quinn Martin 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe challenge facing unions in recruiting younger workers is a comparatively recent concern, prompted by years of decline. As such, there is very little comparable discussion prior to the 1980s. This article takes a longer view. Using previously unpublished survey data from the early 1960s, we show that patterns of membership and attitudes to unions were more complex than headline figures might suggest. Specifically, we highlight areas of weakness associated with organising strategy at the time, and suggest some implications with subsequent trends. More generally, the data presents a unique insight into the lives of young workers in the early 1960s and their relationship with their trade unions.
A Retrospective Study Comparing the Outcome of Horses Undergoing Small Intestinal Resection and Anastomosis With A Single Layer (Lembert) or Double Layer (Simple Continuous and Cushing) Technique
Authors: Close Kristyn , Epstein Kira L. , Sherlock Ceri E. 
Published: April 2014

ObjectivesTo (1) compare postoperative complications and survival in horses after small intestinal resection and anastomosis using 2 anastomosis techniques (single layer Lembert; double layer simple continuous oversewn with Cushing), and (2) to compare outcome by anastomosis type (jejunoileostomy; jejunojejunostomy).Study DesignRetrospective case series.AnimalsHorses (n = 53).MethodsMedical records (July 2006–July 2010) of all horses that had small intestinal resection and anastomosis. Horses were divided into groups based on technique and type of anastomosis. Comparisons of pre‐ and intraoperative findings (disease severity), postoperative complications, and survival rates were made between groups.ResultsThere were no differences in disease severity, postoperative complications, or survival between single layer (n = 23) or double layer (n = 31) anastomoses. There were no differences in disease severity or survival between jejunoileostomy (n = 16) or jejunojejunostomy (n = 38). There was a higher incidence of postoperative colic in hospital after jejunoileostomy (13/16) compared with jejunojejunostomy (18/38) (P = .0127).ConclusionsPostoperative complications and survival are comparable between horses undergoing single layer and double layer small intestinal end‐to‐end anastomoses. With the exception of increased postoperative colic in the hospital, postoperative complications and survival after jejunoileostomy and jejunojejunostomy are also comparable.
The Place of Africa, in Theory: Pan‐Africanism, Postcolonialism, Beyond
Authors: Tageldin Shaden M 
Published: April 2014

AbstractTwentieth‐century African theory translated two destructive diasporas – of peoples by the slave trade, of lands by empire – into a creative third: a pan‐Africanist philosophy of decolonization that recovered Africa's pluralism as a powerfully “diasporic” defiance of imperial taxonomies. Comparing a 1967 lecture given in Cairo by Senegalese poet‐president Léopold Sédar Senghor with a 1955 treatise on the philosophy of revolution by Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser (Jamal cAbd al‐Nasir), and both with Achille Mbembe's 2001 On the Postcolony, this essay shows how Senghor marshals race/culture hybridities, Nasser historical/geographic alignments, and Mbembe temporal entanglements to deconstruct monolithic constructions of “Arab”, “Black”, and “African” being, space, and time – and to pluralize and “world” a continent. It argues that the logics of trans‐territoriality and trans‐temporality that informed Third World solidarity in the 1950s–1970s represent a forgotten legacy of pan‐Africanism to postcolonialism and to global theory generally. Africa's place, in theory, decenters Eurocentrism.
2,6‐Dimethoxy‐1,4‐Benzoquinone Enhances Resistance Against the Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Ueno Makoto , Yoshikiyo Keisuke 
Published: April 2014

AbstractWe investigated the effect of 2,6‐dimethoxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone (DMBQ) on induced resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae in rice. DMBQ concentrations greater than 50 μg/ml inhibited spore germination and appressorium formation in M. oryzae. When rice leaves pretreated with 10 μg/ml DMBQ, which did not show antifungal activity against spore germination and appressorium formation of M. oryzae, were inoculated with M. oryzae spores 5 days after DMBQ pretreatment, blast lesion formation was inhibited compared with control leaves pretreated with distilled water. In addition, infection‐inhibiting activity against M. oryzae was significantly enhanced in rice leaf sheaths pretreated with 10 μg/ml DMBQ. H2O2 generation was observed in rice leaves pretreated with DMBQ, and PAL, POX, CHS and PR10a were significantly expressed in these leaves. These results suggested that DMBQ can protect rice from blast disease caused by M. oryzae.
Altitudinal variation in maternal investment and trade‐offs between egg size and clutch size in the Andrew's toad
Authors: Liao W. B. , Lu X. , Jehle R. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractEnvironmental variation along altitudinal gradients can promote life‐history trait differentiation in ectothermic animals. Life‐history theory predicts that increased environmental stress results in a shift in reproductive allocation from offspring quantity to quality and a stronger trade‐off between egg size and clutch size. To test this prediction, we investigated patterns of variation in life‐history traits (i.e. age, body size, clutch size and egg size) among four populations of Bufo andrewsi from Baoxing County, western China, at different altitudes. We found that body size, age, egg size and total reproductive output, but not clutch size, differed between populations. Clutch size and total reproductive output increased with female size and age. However, egg size decreased with female size and did not change with female age. The egg size and clutch size trade‐off was evident for all populations except at lowest altitude, and the strength of trade‐off between egg size and clutch size increased with altitude. Our findings suggest that environmental constraints at high altitude select for investment in larger eggs at a cost of offspring number.
The impact of translocations on neutral and functional genetic diversity within and among populations of the Seychelles warbler
Authors: Wright David J. , Spurgin Lewis G. , Collar Nigel J. , Komdeur Jan , Burke Terry , Richardson David S. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractTranslocations are an increasingly common tool in conservation. The maintenance of genetic diversity through translocation is critical for both the short‐ and long‐term persistence of populations and species. However, the relative spatio‐temporal impacts of translocations on neutral and functional genetic diversity, and how this affects genetic structure among the conserved populations overall, have received little investigation. We compared the impact of translocating different numbers of founders on both microsatellite and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I diversity over a 23‐year period in the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). We found low and stable microsatellite and MHC diversity in the source population and evidence for only a limited loss of either type of diversity in the four new populations. However, we found evidence of significant, but low to moderate, genetic differentiation between populations, with those populations established with fewer founders clustering separately. Stochastic genetic capture (as opposed to subsequent drift) was the main determinant of translocated population diversity. Furthermore, a strong correlation between microsatellite and MHC differentiation suggested that neutral processes outweighed selection in shaping MHC diversity in the new populations. These data provide important insights into how to optimize the use of translocation as a conservation tool.
Cryptic ecology among host generalist Campylobacter jejuni in domestic animals
Authors: Sheppard Samuel K. , Cheng Lu , Méric Guillaume , de Haan Caroline P. A. , Llarena Ann‐Katrin , Marttinen Pekka , Vidal Ana , Ridley Anne , Clifton‐Hadley Felicity , Connor Thomas R. , Strachan Norval J. C. , Forbes Ken , Colles Frances M. , Jolley Keith A. , Bentley Stephen D. , Maiden Martin C. J. , Hänninen Marja‐Liisa , Parkhill Julian , Hanage William P. , Corander Jukka 
Published: April 2014

AbstractHomologous recombination between bacterial strains is theoretically capable of preventing the separation of daughter clusters, and producing cohesive clouds of genotypes in sequence space. However, numerous barriers to recombination are known. Barriers may be essential such as adaptive incompatibility, or ecological, which is associated with the opportunities for recombination in the natural habitat. Campylobacter jejuni is a gut colonizer of numerous animal species and a major human enteric pathogen. We demonstrate that the two major generalist lineages of C. jejuni do not show evidence of recombination with each other in nature, despite having a high degree of host niche overlap and recombining extensively with specialist lineages. However, transformation experiments show that the generalist lineages readily recombine with one another in vitro. This suggests ecological rather than essential barriers to recombination, caused by a cryptic niche structure within the hosts.
Rich and cold: diversity, distribution and drivers of fungal communities in patterned‐ground ecosystems of the North American Arctic
Authors: Timling I. , Walker D. A. , Nusbaum C. , Lennon N. J. , Taylor D. L. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractFungi are abundant and functionally important in the Arctic, yet comprehensive studies of their diversity in relation to geography and environment are not available. We sampled soils in paired plots along the North American Arctic Transect (NAAT), which spans all five bioclimatic subzones of the Arctic. Each pair of plots contrasted relatively bare, cryoturbated patterned‐ground features (PGFs) and adjacent vegetated between patterned‐ground features (bPGFs). Fungal communities were analysed via sequencing of 7834 ITS‐LSU clones. We recorded 1834 OTUs – nearly half the fungal richness previously reported for the entire Arctic. These OTUs spanned eight phyla, 24 classes, 75 orders and 120 families, but were dominated by Ascomycota, with one‐fifth belonging to lichens. Species richness did not decline with increasing latitude, although there was a decline in mycorrhizal taxa that was offset by an increase in lichen taxa. The dominant OTUs were widespread even beyond the Arctic, demonstrating no dispersal limitation. Yet fungal communities were distinct in each subzone and were correlated with soil pH, climate and vegetation. Communities in subzone E were distinct from the other subzones, but similar to those of the boreal forest. Fungal communities on disturbed PGFs differed significantly from those of paired stable areas in bPGFs. Indicator species for PGFs included lichens and saprotrophic fungi, while bPGFs were characterized by ectomycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi. Our results suggest that the Arctic does not host a unique mycoflora, while Arctic fungi are highly sensitive to climate and vegetation, with potential to migrate rapidly as global change unfolds.
Dynamics of Microvascular Blood Flow and Oxygenation Measured Simultaneously in Human Skin
Authors: Kuliga Katarzyna Z. , McDonald Erin F. , Gush Rodney , Michel Charles , Chipperfield Andrew J. , Clough Geraldine F. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the dynamics of skin microvascular blood flow (BF) and tissue oxygenation parameters (OXY) measured simultaneously at the same site using a combined non‐invasive BF+OXY+temperature probe.MethodsSkin BF, oxygenated (oxyHb) and deoxygenated (deoxyHb) haemoglobin and mean oxygen saturation (SO2) were measured in 50 healthy volunteers at rest and during perturbation of local blood flow by post‐occlusive reactive hyperaemia, sympathetic nervous system‐mediated vasoconstriction (deep inspiratory breath‐hold) and local skin warming. Signals were analysed in time and frequency domains.ResultsThe relationship between BF and SO2 over the range of flows investigated was described by a non‐linear equation with an asymptote for SO2 of 84% at BF >50 PU. SO2 was independently associated with BF, skin temperature, BMI and age, which together identified 59% of the variance in SO2 (p<0.0001). Fourier analysis revealed periodic low frequency fluctuations in both BF and SO2, attributable to endothelial (~0.01 Hz), neurogenic (~0.04 Hz) and myogenic (~0.1Hz) flow motion activity. The frequency coherence between the BF and SO2 signals was greatest in the endothelial and neurogenic frequency bands.ConclusionsThe simultaneous evaluation of microvascular blood flow and oxygenation kinetics in healthy skin provides a platform from which to investigate microvascular impairment in the skin and more generally the pathogenesis of microvascular disease.
The movement protein (NSm) of Tomato spotted wilt virus is the avirulence determinant in the tomato Sw‐5 gene‐based resistance
Authors: Peiró Ana , Cañizares M. Carmen , Rubio Luis , López Carmelo , Moriones Enrique , Aramburu José , Sánchez‐Navarro Jesús 
Published: April 2014

SummaryThe avirulence determinant triggering the resistance conferred by the tomato gene Sw‐5 against Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is still unresolved. Sequence comparison showed two substitutions (C118Y and T120N) in the movement protein NSm present only in TSWV resistance‐breaking (RB) isolates. In this work, transient expression of NSm of three TSWV isolates [RB1 (T120N), RB2 (C118Y) and non‐resistance‐breaking (NRB)] in Nicotiana benthamiana expressing Sw‐5 showed a hypersensitive response (HR) only with NRB. Exchange of the movement protein of Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) with NSm supported cell‐to‐cell and systemic transport of the chimeric AMV RNAs into N. tabacum with or without Sw‐5, except for the constructs with NBR when Sw‐5 was expressed, although RB2 showed reduced cell‐to‐cell transport. Mutational analysis revealed that N120 was sufficient to avoid the HR, but the substitution V130I was required for systemic transport. Finally, co‐inoculation of RB and NRB AMV chimeric constructs showed different prevalence of RB or NBR depending on the presence or absence of Sw‐5. These results indicate that NSm is the avirulence determinant for Sw‐5 resistance, and mutations C118Y and T120N are responsible for resistance breakdown and have a fitness penalty in the context of the heterologous AMV system.
Ultrastructural changes of podocyte foot processes during the remission phase of minimal change disease of human kidney
Authors: Liu Xiao‐Jing , Zhang Yi‐Miao , Wang Su‐Xia , Liu Gang 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAimThe current study was designed to observe the ultrastructural changes of podocyte foot processes during the remission phase and its relationship with the amount of the proteinuria in patients with minimal change disease (MCD).MethodsElectron micrographs of glomerular capillaries were taken from 33 adult cases with MCD, including 12 cases with nephrotic syndrome, 15 cases in partial remission and six cases in complete remission. The foot processes were classified into three grades by the ratio of the height to basal width: 0.5–1, 1–2 and ≥2. The foot process width (FPW) and the number of foot processes in different grades per 10 μm of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) were measured. Normal renal tissues from 12 nephrectomies for renal carcinoma were selected as controls.ResultsThere were statistical differences (P = 0.001) in the mean FPW among the nephrotic group (1566.4 ± 429.4 nm), partial remission group (1007.8 ± 234.9 nm), complete remission group (949.8 ± 168.2 nm) and normal controls (471.9 ± 51.8 nm). For the height‐to‐width ratio ≥2, the number of foot process per 10 μm GBM was significantly greater in the normal group than that in the complete remission group (0.84 ± 0.24 vs. 3.84 ± 1.80, P = 0.016). Taking all three groups of patients together, the mean FPW showed correlation with the level of proteinuria (r = 0.506, P = 0.003).ConclusionThere may be no causal relationship between proteinuria and foot process effacement. In complete remission phase, both FPW and shape of foot process had not returned to normal while proteinuria disappeared.
Widespread anti‐sense transcription in apple is correlated with siRNA production and indicates a large potential for transcriptional and/or post‐transcriptional control
Authors: Celton Jean‐Marc , Gaillard Sylvain , Bruneau Maryline , Pelletier Sandra , Aubourg Sébastien , Martin‐Magniette Marie‐Laure , Navarro Lionel , Laurens François , Renou Jean‐Pierre 
Published: April 2014

Summary

Characterizing the transcriptome of eukaryotic organisms is essential for studying gene regulation and its impact on phenotype. The realization that anti‐sense (AS) and noncoding RNA transcription is pervasive in many genomes has emphasized our limited understanding of gene transcription and post‐transcriptional regulation. Numerous mechanisms including convergent transcription, anti‐correlated expression of sense and AS transcripts, and RNAi remain ill‐defined.

Here, we have combined microarray analysis and high‐throughput sequencing of small RNAs (sRNAs) to unravel the complexity of transcriptional and potential post‐transcriptional regulation in eight organs of apple (Malus × domestica).

The percentage of AS transcript expression is higher than that identified in annual plants such as rice and Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, we show that a majority of AS transcripts are transcribed beyond 3′UTR regions, and may cover a significant portion of the predicted sense transcripts. Finally we demonstrate at a genome‐wide scale that anti‐sense transcript expression is correlated with the presence of both short (21–23 nt) and long (> 30 nt) siRNAs, and that the sRNA coverage depth varies with the level of AS transcript expression.

Our study provides a new insight on the functional role of anti‐sense transcripts at the genome‐wide level, and a new basis for the understanding of sRNA biogenesis in plants.