bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deficiency of the RIIβ subunit of PKA affects locomotor activity and energy homeostasis in distinct neuronal populations
Authors: Zheng Ruimao , Yang Linghai , Sikorski Maria A. , Enns Linda C. , Czyzyk Traci A. , Ladiges Warren C. , McKnight G. Stanley 
Published: April 2013

Significance
Genetic mutations in mice and humans have dramatic effects on the overall ability of the organism to regulate body weight and maintain a homeostatic balance between energy expenditure and calorie intake. We are studying mice with a null mutation in the RIIβ subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase system that renders them lean and resistant to diet-induced obesity. These mice also exhibit greatly increased physical activity. Our studies show that the brain regulates all of these phenotypes, but, surprisingly, the specific neurons that determine the phenotypes are distinct and the increased physical activity is not required for the lean phenotype.
Differential protein partitioning within the herpesvirus tegument and envelope underlies a complex and variable virion architecture
Authors: Bohannon Kevin Patrick , Jun Yonggun , Gross Steven P. , Smith Gregory Allan 
Published: April 2013

SignificanceNeuroinvasive herpesviruses cause diseases in humans ranging from cold sores to central nervous system infections. Unlike most icosahedral viruses, herpesvirus capsids are surrounded by protein layers that lack polyhedral architecture. The outer layers are critical for herpesvirus infectivity. Although the disorganized layers are visible by electron microscopy, the protein topography of these layers remains unclear. We fused fluorophores to virus proteins and pinpointed their positions within virions at nanometer resolution. The findings reveal a complex and variable asymmetric architecture, shed light on herpesvirus assembly, and provide a foundation for visualizing viral particle dynamics during herpesvirus infection.
Characterizing the Thermal Suitability of Instream Habitat for Salmonids: A Cautionary Example from the Rocky Mountains
Authors: Al‐Chokhachy Robert , Wenger Seth J. , Isaak Daniel J. , Kershner Jeffrey L. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractUnderstanding a species’ thermal niche is becoming increasingly important for management and conservation within the context of global climate change, yet there have been surprisingly few efforts to compare assessments of a species’ thermal niche across methods. To address this uncertainty, we evaluated the differences in model performance and interpretations of a species’ thermal niche when using different measures of stream temperature and surrogates for stream temperature. Specifically, we used a logistic regression modeling framework with three different indicators of stream thermal conditions (elevation, air temperature, and stream temperature) referenced to a common set of Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis distribution data from the Boise River basin, Idaho. We hypothesized that stream temperature predictions that were contemporaneous with fish distribution data would have stronger predictive performance than composite measures of stream temperature or any surrogates for stream temperature. Across the different indicators of thermal conditions, the highest measure of accuracy was found for the model based on stream temperature predictions that were contemporaneous with fish distribution data (percent correctly classified = 71%). We found considerable differences in inferences across models, with up to 43% disagreement in the amount of stream habitat that was predicted to be suitable. The differences in performance between models support the growing efforts in many areas to develop accurate stream temperature models for investigations of species’ thermal niches.
Decontamination of Targeted Pathogens from Patient Rooms Using an Automated Ultraviolet-C-Emitting Device
Authors: Anderson Deverick J. , Gergen Maria F. , Smathers Emily , Sexton Daniel J. , Chen Luke F. , Weber David J. , Rutala William A. 
Published: April 2013

Objective.To determine the effectiveness of an automated ultraviolet-C (UV-C) emitter against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE),Clostridium difficile, andAcinetobacterspp. in patient rooms.Design.Prospective cohort study.Setting.Two tertiary care hospitals.Participants.Convenience sample of 39 patient rooms from which a patient infected or colonized with 1 of the 3 targeted pathogens had been discharged.Intervention.Environmental sites were cultured before and after use of an automated UV-C-emitting device in targeted rooms but before standard terminal room disinfection by environmental services.Results.In total, 142 samples were obtained from 27 rooms of patients who were colonized or infected with VRE, 77 samples were obtained from 10 rooms of patients withC. difficileinfection, and 10 samples were obtained from 2 rooms of patients with infections due toAcinetobacter. Use of an automated UV-C-emitting device led to a significant decrease in the total number of colony-forming units (CFUs) of any type of organism (1.07 log10reduction;P< .0001), CFUs of target pathogens (1.35 log10reduction;P< .0001), VRE CFUs (1.68 log10reduction;P< .0001), and C.difficileCFUs (1.16 log10reduction;P< .0001). CFUs ofAcinetobacteralso decreased (1.71 log10reduction), but the trend was not statistically significantP= .25). CFUs were reduced at all 9 of the environmental sites tested. Reductions similarly occurred in direct and indirect line of sight.Conclusions.Our data confirm that automated UV-C-emitting devices can decrease the bioburden of important pathogens in real-world settings such as hospital rooms.
Probiotic Administration Reduces Mortality and Improves Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis in Experimental Sepsis
Authors: Khailova Ludmila , Frank Daniel N. , Dominguez Jessica A. , Wischmeyer Paul E. 
Published: April 2013

Abstract

Background:
Recent clinical trials indicate that probiotic administration in critical illness has potential to reduce nosocomial infections and improve clinical outcome. However, the mechanism(s) of probiotic-mediated protection against infection and sepsis remain elusive. The authors evaluated the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Bifidobacterium longum (BL) on mortality, bacterial translocation, intestinal epithelial homeostasis, and inflammatory response in experimental model of septic peritonitis.

Methods:
Cecal ligation and puncture (n = 14 per group) or sham laparotomy (n = 8 per group) were performed on 3-week-old FVB/N weanling mice treated concomitantly with LGG, BL, or vehicle (orally gavaged). At 24 h, blood and colonic tissue were collected. In survival studies, mice were given probiotics every 24 h for 7 days (LGG, n = 14; BL, n = 10; or vehicle, n = 13; shams, n = 3 per group).

Results:
Probiotics significantly improved mortality after sepsis (92 vs. 57% mortality for LGG and 92 vs. 50% mortality for BL; P = 0.003). Bacteremia was markedly reduced in septic mice treated with either probiotic compared with vehicle treatment (4.39 ± 0.56 vs. 1.07 ± 1.54; P = 0.0001 for LGG; vs. 2.70 ± 1.89; P = 0.016 for BL; data are expressed as mean ± SD). Sepsis in untreated mice increased colonic apoptosis and reduced colonic proliferation. Probiotics significantly reduced markers of colonic apoptosis and returned colonic proliferation to sham levels. Probiotics led to significant reductions in systemic and colonic inflammatory cytokine expression versus septic animals. Our data suggest that involvement of the protein kinase B pathway (via AKT) and down-regulation of Toll-like receptor 2/Toll-like receptor 4 via MyD88 in the colon may play mechanistic roles in the observed probiotic benefits.

Conclusions:
Our data demonstrate that probiotic administration at initiation of sepsis can improve survival in pediatric experimental sepsis. The mechanism of this protection involves prevention of systemic bacteremia, perhaps via improved intestinal epithelial homeostasis, and attenuation of the local and systemic inflammatory responses.
Healing Study of Porcine Heart Transapical Wounds Closed Using a Remote Automated Suturing Technology
Authors: Wilshire Candice L. , Kaufer James W. , Gorea Heather R. , Sauer Jude S. , Knight Peter A. 
Published: April 2013

Objective A safe and reliable direct percutaneous approach for transapical access to the left ventricle would be a significant advance toward decreasing the invasiveness of intracardiac interventions. This report presents results from a surviving porcine beating heart model in which transapical access sites were closed using an automated suturing technique ultimately intended for percutaneous use. Methods Through an approved protocol including general anesthesia, the cardiac apex in 10 beating pig hearts was surgically exposed, permitting transapical passage of a 0.035-in guidewire and a 5.5F, 0.9-mL Fogarty balloon catheter. An automated suturing device was passed over the guidewire and the Fogarty onto the transapical access site. Two pledgeted horizontal mattress sutures were simultaneously placed concentrically around the apical access site with a single squeeze of the device's lever. A 25F dilator was passed into the left ventricle over the guidewire and subsequently removed. The sutures were then secured using pledgeted titanium knots. Chest wall and skin incisions were closed. The animals were recovered from anesthesia and resumed a normal diet. Results Under general anesthesia, the transapical access site of each animal was re-exposed, five at 1-week and five at 2-week intervals. Hemostasis was complete, and all wounds healed well. Conclusions The evaluation of transapical wound closures in this surviving porcine heart model demonstrates complete hemostasis and excellent healing through the use of this automated remote suturing technology.
Sutureless Aortic Valve Implantation through an Upper V-Type Ministernotomy: An Innovative Approach in High-Risk Patients
Authors: Concistrè Giovanni , Miceli Antonio , Chiaramonti Francesca , Farneti Pierandrea , Bevilacqua Stefano , Varone Egidio , Solinas Marco , Glauber Mattia 
Published: April 2013

Objective Aortic valve replacement in minimally invasive approach has shown to improve clinical outcomes even with a prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp (ACC) time. Sutureless aortic valve implantation may ideally shorten operative time. We describe our initial experience with the sutureless 3f Enable (Medtronic, Inc, ATS Medical, Minneapolis, MN USA) aortic bioprosthesis implanted in minimally invasive approach in high-risk patients. Methods Between May 2010 and May 2011, thirteen patients with severe aortic stenosis underwent aortic valve replacement with the 3f Enable bioprosthesis through an upper V-type ministernotomy interrupted at the second intercostal space. The mean ± SD age was 77 ± 3.9 years (range, 72–83 years), 10 patients were women, and the mean ± SD logistic EuroSCORE was 15% ± 13.5%. Echocardiography was performed preoperatively, at postoperative day 1, at discharge, and at follow-up. Clinical data, adverse events, and patient outcomes were recorded retrospectively. The median follow-up time was 4 months (interquartile range, 2–10 months). Results Most of the implanted valves were 21 mm in diameter (19–25 mm). The CPB and ACC times were 100.2 ± 25.3 and 66.4 ± 18.6 minutes. At short-term follow-up, the mean ± SD pressure gradient was 14 ± 4.9 mm Hg; one patient showed trivial paravalvular leakage. No patients died during hospital stay or at follow-up. Conclusions The 3f Enable sutureless bioprosthesis implanted in minimally invasive approach through an upper V-type ministernotomy is a feasible, safe, and reproducible procedure. Hemodynamic and clinical data are promising. This innovative approach might be considered as an alternative in high-risk patients. Reduction of CPB and ACC time is possible with increasing of experience and sutureless evolution of actual technology.
Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery in Patients with an Ejection Fraction of 35% or Less
Authors: Santana Orlando , Reyna Javier , Pineda Andres M. , Mihos Christos G. , Elkayam Lior U. , Lamas Gervasio A. , Lamelas Joseph 
Published: April 2013

Objective We evaluated the outcomes of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery via a right anterior thoracotomy approach in patients with isolated severe mitral regurgitation and severely reduced left ventricular systolic function. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all minimally invasive mitral valve surgeries for mitral regurgitation in patients with an ejection fraction of 35% or less performed at our institution between December 2008 and June 2011. The operative times, lengths of stay, postoperative complications, and mortality were analyzed. Results We identified a total of 71 patients with severe mitral regurgitation and an ejection fraction of 35% or less who underwent minimally invasive mitral valve surgery. The mean ± SD age was 67 ± 10 years, and 44 of the patients were men (62%). The mean ± SD left ventricular ejection fraction was 27% ± 6%, and 28 patients (39%) had previous heart surgery. The median aortic cross-clamp and cardiopulmonary bypass times were 62 [interquartile range (IQR), 50–80) and 98 minutes (IQR, 92–124), respectively. There was no mitral regurgitation noted in any patient on postoperative transesophageal echocardiogram. The median intensive care unit length of stay was 51 hours (IQR, 42–86), and the median postoperative length of stay was 6 days (IQR, 5–9). Conclusions Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery for severe functional mitral regurgitation in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction can be performed with a low morbidity and mortality.
An ActiveAc/DsTransposon System for Activation Tagging in Tomato Cultivar M82 Using Clonal Propagation
Authors: Carter Jared D. , Pereira Andy , Dickerman Allan W. , Veilleux Richard E. 
Published: April 2013

AbstractTomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a model organism for Solanaceae in both molecular and agronomic research. This project utilized Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation and the transposon-tagging construct Activator (Ac)/Dissociator (Ds)-ATag-Bar_gosGFP to produce activation-tagged and knockout mutants in the processing tomato cultivar M82. The construct carried hygromycin resistance (hyg), green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the transposase (TPase) of maize (Zea mays) Activator major transcript X054214.1 on the stable Ac element, along with a 35S enhancer tetramer and glufosinate herbicide resistance (BAR) on the mobile Ds-ATag element. An in vitro propagation strategy was used to produce a population of 25 T0 plants from a single transformed plant regenerated in tissue culture. A T1 population of 11,000 selfed and cv M82 backcrossed progeny was produced from the functional T0 line. This population was screened using glufosinate herbicide, hygromycin leaf painting, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Insertion sites of transposed Ds-ATag elements were identified through thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR, and resulting product sequences were aligned to the recently published tomato genome. A population of 509 independent, Ds-only transposant lines spanning all 12 tomato chromosomes has been developed. Insertion site analysis demonstrated that more than 80% of these lines harbored Ds insertions conducive to activation tagging. The capacity of the Ds-ATag element to alter transcription was verified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR in two mutant lines. The transposon-tagged lines have been immortalized in seed stocks and can be accessed through an online database, providing a unique resource for tomato breeding and analysis of gene function in the background of a commercial tomato cultivar.
Posttranslational Influence of NADPH-Dependent Thioredoxin Reductase C on Enzymes in Tetrapyrrole Synthesis
Authors: Richter Andreas S. , Peter Enrico , Rothbart Maxi , Schlicke Hagen , Toivola Jouni , Rintamäki Eevi , Grimm Bernhard 
Published: April 2013

Abstract
The NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase C (NTRC) is involved in redox-related regulatory processes in chloroplasts and nonphotosynthetic active plastids. Together with 2-cysteine peroxiredoxin, it forms a two-component peroxide-detoxifying system that acts as a reductant under stress conditions. NTRC stimulates in vitro activity of magnesium protoporphyrin IX monomethylester (MgPMME) cyclase, most likely by scavenging peroxides. Reexamination of tetrapyrrole intermediate levels of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) knockout ntrc reveals lower magnesium protoporphyrin IX (MgP) and MgPMME steady-state levels, the substrate and the product of MgP methyltransferase (CHLM) preceding MgPMME cyclase, while MgP strongly accumulates in mutant leaves after 5-aminolevulinic acid feeding. The ntrc mutant has a reduced capacity to synthesize 5-aminolevulinic acid and reduced CHLM activity compared with the wild type. Although transcript levels of genes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis are not significantly altered in 2-week-old ntrc seedlings, the contents of glutamyl-transfer RNA reductase1 (GluTR1) and CHLM are reduced. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay confirms a physical interaction of NTRC with GluTR1 and CHLM. While ntrc contains partly oxidized CHLM, the wild type has only reduced CHLM. As NTRC also stimulates CHLM activity in vitro, it is proposed that NTRC has a regulatory impact on the redox status of conserved cysteine residues of CHLM. It is hypothesized that a deficiency of NTRC leads to a lower capacity to reduce cysteine residues of GluTR1 and CHLM, affecting the stability and, thereby, altering the activity in the entire tetrapyrrole synthesis pathway.
Matrix modelling of prescribed burning in Calluna vulgaris‐dominated moorland: short burning rotations minimize carbon loss at increased wildfire frequencies
Authors: Allen Katherine A. , Harris Michael P. K. , Marrs Rob H. 
Published: April 2013

Summary

Moorlands store large amounts of carbon providing a valuable ecosystem service. In the UK, prescribed burning is often used to manage moorlands, which can produce both positive (biodiversity enhancement and wildfire prevention) and negative impacts (carbon release and reduction in some ecosystem services provision). This issue is pertinent, as wildfire incidence may increase under climate warming, increasing damage to both conservation value and ecosystem services. To better manage these fire‐prone ecosystems, an understanding of the effects of prescribed‐burning regimes and wildfire on moorland fuel loads is required. As a first approximation of the relative impacts of prescribed burning and wildfire, we have modelled above‐ground fuel‐load accumulation and carbon release under varying wildfire return intervals at a study site in the Peak District, UK.

Above‐ground fuel‐load accumulation following prescribed burning was assessed using a chronosequence study and combined with carbon loss measurements from prescribed‐burning experiments. The stable age structure of vegetation under varying prescribed‐burning rotations was then predicted using an age‐structured matrix model and moorland above‐ground fuel load calculated using a boot‐strapping approach. Finally, long‐term carbon losses were predicted under varying wildfire return intervals. Delayed vegetation regeneration was also modelled. The model does not consider below‐ground carbon or the effect of prescribed fire on wildfire probability.

There was a clear interaction between prescribed‐burning rotation interval and wildfire return interval. At 50‐ and 100‐year wildfire return intervals, carbon losses were minimized by short prescribed‐burning rotations. However, under a 200‐year wildfire return interval, carbon loss was minimized by long rotation intervals where delayed regeneration was modelled.

Under a 50‐year wildfire return interval, 8‐year prescribed‐burning rotation intervals could reduce carbon loss by 22% or 34% compared with 25‐ and 50‐year rotations, respectively.

Synthesis and applications. The modelling approach outlined here provides a first approximation to the above‐ground carbon balance between prescribed burning and wildfire frequency at a single site. This may be useful in other dwarf‐shrub‐dominated ecosystems if prescribed burning is to be used to mitigate the effects of wildfire. At our study site, long prescribed‐burning rotations may minimize carbon loss at low wildfire return intervals. However, if wildfire incidence increases, more frequent prescribed burning is likely to minimize overall carbon loss. Well‐informed prescribed burning on a short rotation may produce smaller carbon losses than longer rotations under future climate conditions.
Core sediment bacteria drive community response to anthropogenic contamination over multiple environmental gradients
Authors: Sun Melanie Y. , Dafforn Katherine A. , Johnston Emma L. , Brown Mark V. 
Published: April 2013

SummaryIn this study, 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was used to investigate sediment bacterial community response to contaminant disturbance across six estuaries with differing levels of ‘modification’. We observed a significant influence of metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contaminants in shaping bacterial community composition, structure and diversity, with metals being the more influential contaminant. An abundant and pervasive ‘core’ set of bacteria found in every sample were largely responsible for mediating community response to contamination. These 13 core operational taxonomic units were mostly comprised of Gamma‐, Delta‐, Alphaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria. Sediment silt and metals together explained the most variation in bacterial community composition (19.7%). Following this strong contaminant signature, salinity and temperature represented important environmental variables predicting 10.9% of community variation. While overall network connectivity measures supported the idea of an inherently diverse soil microbiome with some degree of functional redundancy, lower values observed in contaminated sediments indicate potential structural perturbations in the community from fracturing or loss of bacterial associations. The large number of unclassified sequences obtained in this study contribute to improving our understanding of environmentally relevant strains in relation to anthropogenic contamination, which have been overlooked in laboratory studies.
DNA barcoding reveals cryptic diversity in the peanut worm Sipunculus nudus
Authors: Hsu Te‐Hua , Ning Yue , Gwo Jin‐Chywan , Zeng Zhi‐Nan 
Published: April 2013

AbstractPeanut worm (Sipunculus nudus) is a cosmopolitan species mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences among S. nudus from GenBank revealed high genetic variation (p‐distance, 0.115–0.235; k2p, 0.128–0.297) and paraphyletic relationships. These indicated misidentification and/or cryptic diversity may be present in the genus Sipunculus. To understand the genetic diversity and to manage the recourse of S. nudus, we collected specimens from coastal waters of southern China and Taiwan. In the phylogenetic topology, specimens can be separated into four distinct clades; three of these clades (clade A, B and C) were only represented from this region (southern China and Taiwan), but the clade D grouped with individuals from Central America (Atlantic coast). Furthermore, individuals of clades A and D were collected at the same location, which does not support the hypothesis that this genetic break reflects contemporary geographical isolation. The four distinct clades observed among coastal waters of southern China and Taiwan indicated underestimated diversity. It is noteworthy that the cryptic diversity is vulnerable under high pressure of human activity.