bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mating system modulates degree of seed dormancy inHypericum elodesL. (Hypericaceae)
Authors: Carta Angelino , Bedini Gianni , Giannotti Angela , Savio Laura , Peruzzi Lorenzo 
Published: July 2015

AbstractKnowledge of processes responsible for seed dormancy can improve our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of reproductive systems. We examined the influence of the breeding system on primary seed dormancy inHypericum elodes, an Atlantic–European softwater pools specialist plant that exhibits a mixed mating strategy (the ability to both self- and cross-pollinate) to set seeds. Seeds were obtained through hand pollination treatments performed in a natural population during three consecutive years. Primary dormancy of seeds recovered from each pollination treatment was measured by analysing the seed germination response at dispersal and after various periods of cold stratification. While all collected seeds exhibited physiological dormancy, the degree of primary dormancy was associated with the pollination treatments. Weak and rapid loss of primary dormancy characterized seeds recovered from self-pollinated flowers, while stronger dormancy was found in seeds obtained from cross-pollination. The association between pollination treatments and primary dormancy indicated that the mating system should be considered as a source of variation for dormancy degree, proportional to self- and cross-pollinations (selfing rate) within populations of this species. These results suggest that by shedding seeds with various degrees of dormancy, plants may distribute their offspring across time by means of polymorphism in germination response. We conclude that seed germination alone is not an appropriate fitness measure for inbreeding depression estimates, unless dormancy is removed.
Early development and allometric growth patterns of the grumatã (Prochilodus vimboidesKner, 1859)
Authors: Souza Guilherme , Melo Edésio J. T. , Caramaschi Erica P. , Andrade Dalcio R. , Monteiro Leandro R. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryThe objective of this study was to characterize the early development and allometric growth of the grumatã (Prochilodus vimboides). We describe a sample of 266 eggs and larvae obtained through induced spawning. The eggs were spherical (mean 3.7 mm diameter), exhibited a yellow yolk and were non-adhesive and pelagic after fertilization and hydration. The time elapsed between the early cleavage and post-flexion stages was considered short (328 hours, 8054 hour-degrees) in regard to the development times of other Neotropical rheophilic species, but time to hatching was considerably longer than in otherProchilodusspecies. The most notable anatomical changes were observed between the end of the yolk larval stage and the beginning of the pre-flexion stage, when the larvae displayed directed swimming and the digestive system became functional, enabling the transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding. After hatching, the larvae grew from 6.04 to 15.15 mm in total length average. Two growth phases were observed at this stage: a non-linear asymptotic curve in yolk-sac larvae, and a linear constant-rate growth phase after exogenous feeding started. Allometric growth related to standard length was positive for head length, negative for eye diameter, and switched between phases from negative to positive in body depth and head height. Morphological development and allometric growth in different larval phases impose drastic anatomical and physiological changes that are synchronic with habitat changes and the flood cycles during the reproductive period.
Knock-in fibroblasts and transgenic blastocysts for expression of human FGF2 in the bovine β-casein gene locus using CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease-mediated homologous recombination
Authors: Jeong Young-Hee , Kim Yeong Ji , Kim Eun Young , Kim Se Eun , Kim Jiwoo , Park Min Jee , Lee Hong-Gu , Park Se Pill , Kang Man-Jong 
Published: July 2015

SummaryMany transgenic domestic animals have been developed to produce therapeutic proteins in the mammary gland, and this approach is one of the most important methods for agricultural and biomedical applications. However, expression and secretion of a protein varies because transgenes are integrated at random sites in the genome. In addition, distal enhancers are very important for transcriptional gene regulation and tissue-specific gene expression. Development of a vector system regulated accurately in the genome is needed to improve production of therapeutic proteins. The objective of this study was to develop a knock-in system for expression of human fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in the bovine β-casein gene locus. The F2A sequence was fused to the human FGF2 gene and inserted into exon 3 of the β-casein gene. We detected expression of human FGF2 mRNA in the HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells by RT-PCR and human FGF2 protein in the culture media using western blot analysis when the knock-in vector was introduced. We transfected the knock-in vector into bovine ear fibroblasts and produced knock-in fibroblasts using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system. Moreover, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was more efficient than conventional methods. In addition, we produced knock-in blastocysts by somatic cell nuclear transfer using the knock-in fibroblasts. Our knock-in fibroblasts may help to create cloned embryos for development of transgenic dairy cattle expressing human FGF2 protein in the mammary gland via the expression system of the bovine β-casein gene.
Direct Sea Trade Between Early Islamic Iraq and Tang China: from the Exchange of Goods to the Transmission of Ideas
Authors: GEORGE ALAIN 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThis article is a historical study of maritime trade between Tang China and early Islamic Iraq, in the seventh to tenth centuries. While the existence, in this period, of merchant communities from the Arab-Persian Gulf in Chinese ports has been known for a long time, the present study seeks to contextualise their emergence, to articulate the socio-economic conditions of their trade, and to consider the extent to which these were conducive to transmissions of ideas. Building upon scholarly findings accumulated in different disciplines, it outlines patterns of exchange that, while limited in scope, were more systemic than has hitherto been assumed.
Overall and disease-free survival outcomes of patients receiving intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with PET-CT-based planning for cancers of the head and neck
Authors: Franc Benjamin L. , DeLemos Christi , Jones Christopher 
Published: July 2015

AbstractIntroductionCombined modality treatment regimens have provided modest gains in locoregional control rates of cancers of the head and neck (HNC), and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has gained widespread use. The methodology for determining contours of the gross tumour volume (GTV) in the radiation treatment plan is often based on combined anatomic and metabolic data from positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT). This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the overall survival and disease-free survival outcomes of patients with HNC who received definitive IMRT with or without chemotherapy, planned with PET-CT.Materials and MethodsA total of 1,200 patients underwent treatment for HNC during the study period, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2010. Of those, 261 cases had evaluable data that met the inclusion criteria for the study. The incidence and timing of locoregional recurrence, distant metastatic disease, new primary malignancies and death were evaluated retrospectively. Overall and disease-free survival (survival to time of first recurrence) were determined by the life table method. Incidence of distance metastatic disease and additional cancers were also studied.ResultsMedian follow-up from treatment initiation was 26·4 months (range 1·2–84·7 months). Overall survival and disease-free survival rates were 0·883 and 0·791, respectively, at 1 year; 0·793 and 0·688, respectively, at 2 years; and 0·732 and 0·619, respectively, at 3 years. The cumulative risk of recurrence was 22·6% at 3 years following definitive IMRT and the median time to recurrence was 345 days. There was an overall low incidence of distant metastatic disease (3·07%) and additional cancers (8·05%).ConclusionOverall and disease-free survival outcomes of a large cohort of HNC patients treated with definitive IMRT radiotherapy following treatment planning with PET-CT shows a similar high level of disease control and mortality rate as previously published outcome studies of shorter terms and/or smaller numbers of patients.
Preliminary absorbed dose evaluation of two novel 153Sm bone-seeking agents for radiotherapy of bone metastases: comparison with 153Sm-EDTMP
Authors: Yousefnia Hassan , Zolghadri Samaneh , Jalilian A. Reza , Naseri Zohreh 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAimThe amount of energy deposited on any organ by ionising radiation termedabsorbed dose, plays an important role in evaluating the risks associated with the administration of radiopharmaceuticals. In this research work, the absorbed dose received by human organs for153Sm-TTHMP and153Sm-PDTMP was evaluated based on biodistribution studies on the Syrian rats.Materials and methods153Sm-TTHMP and153Sm-PDTMP were successfully prepared with radiochemical purity of higher than 99%. The biodistribution of the complexes was investigated within the Syrian rats up to 48 hours post injection. The human absorbed dose of the complexes was estimated by the radiation dose assessment resource method.ResultsThe highest absorbed dose for153Sm-TTHMP and153Sm-PDTMP was observed in the trabecular bone with 1·085 and 1·826 mGy/MBq, respectively. The bone to other critical organ dose ratio for153Sm-PDTMP is significantly greater than153Sm-TTHMP. Also, the bone/red marrow dose ratio for these complexes is comparable with this ratio for153Sm-EDTMP, as the most clinically used Sm-153 bone pain palliative radiopharmaceutical.FindingsAccording to the considerable bone absorbed dose against the insignificant absorbed dose of non-target organs, these complexes can be used as potential bone pain palliative agents in clinical applications.
A CHURCH DIVIDED: ROMAN CATHOLICISM, AMERICANIZATION, AND THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
Authors: Wetzel Benjamin 
Published: July 2015

AbstractStandard accounts of American Catholic history generally note in passing that American Catholics supported the Spanish-American War but do not examine what reasons provoked them to do so. At the same time, recent literature on the war itself has described various factors that motivated American support, but few of these studies have noted the central role that religion played in Americans' interpretations of the conflict. This article brings these two historiographies together by showing the importance of the war for the Catholic Church in America as well as the significance of religious belief for how many Americans understood the conflict. In particular, providentialist interpretations of the war held by a large number of Catholics reveal a crucial moment in the church's process of Americanization. Yet more importantly, this article focuses on the significant number of Catholics who steadfastly opposed the war, demonstrating the contested nature of the Americanization process. Ultimately, this article maintains that skepticism concerning the righteousness of the American nation motivated antiwar Catholics' resistance to prevalent American attitudes. By integrating American Catholics into our understanding of the Spanish-American War, this article sheds new light on the development of fin de siècle American Catholicism and on the war itself.
TRANSFORMATION IN THE TABERNACLE: BILLY SUNDAY'S CONVERTS AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRESSIVE ERA
Authors: Young Jeremy C. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMillions of Americans watched the evangelist Billy Sunday preach during the years 1905–1935, and many were profoundly affected by the experience. Using letters, published and unpublished reminiscences, and other primary source documents, this article reconstructs the emotional experience of Sunday's converts and offers insights into the meaning of conversion and followership in Sunday's and other similar social movements. Through their emotional responses to the evangelist, followers recast socioeconomic problems and community pressures as personal, internal crises that could be resolved through adherence to Sunday's principles. The process of conversion was considered and volitional; it was also a long-lasting act of self-fashioning. Americans who converted in Sunday's tabernacles thoroughly reinvented themselves as followers of Sunday and then set out to remake society according to the evangelist's goals. Generalizing from these insights, the article argues that followership of inspirational leaders was a site of significant agency for Progressive Era Americans. It also identifies emotional experience as a way for historical figures to translate cultural trends into concrete social action. The article concludes by calling for additional research into how emotions shape and condition historical change.
Structures of FolT in substrate-bound and substrate-released conformations reveal a gating mechanism for ECF transporters
Authors: Zhao Qin , Wang Chengcheng , Wang Chengyuan , Guo Hui , Bao Zhihao , Zhang Minhua , Zhang Peng 
Published: July 2015

AbstractEnergy-coupling factor (ECF) transporters are a new family of ABC transporters that consist of four subunits, two cytoplasmic ATPases EcfA and EcfA' and two transmembrane proteins namely EcfS for substrate-specific binding and EcfT for energy coupling. Here, we report the 3.2-Å resolution crystal structure of the EcfS protein of a folate ECF transporter from Enterococcus faecalis-EfFolT, a close homologue of FolT from Lactobacillus brevis-LbFolT. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal the residues constituting the folate-binding pocket and determining the substrate-binding specificity. Structural comparison of the folate-bound EfFolT with the folate-free LbFolT contained in the holotransporter complex discloses significant conformational change at the L1 loop, and reveals a gating mechanism of ECF transporters in which the L1 loop of EcfS acts as a gate in the substrate binding and release.
Modulating protein activity using tethered ligands with mutually exclusive binding sites
Authors: Schena Alberto , Griss Rudolf , Johnsson Kai 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe possibility to design proteins whose activities can be switched on and off by unrelated effector molecules would enable applications in various research areas, ranging from biosensing to synthetic biology. We describe here a general method to modulate the activity of a protein in response to the concentration of a specific effector. The approach is based on synthetic ligands that possess two mutually exclusive binding sites, one for the protein of interest and one for the effector. Tethering such a ligand to the protein of interest results in an intramolecular ligand–protein interaction that can be disrupted through the presence of the effector. Specifically, we introduce a luciferase controlled by another protein, a human carbonic anhydrase whose activity can be controlled by proteins or small molecules in vitro and on living cells, and novel fluorescent and bioluminescent biosensors.
Association of matrix metalloproteinase family gene polymorphisms with lung cancer risk: logistic regression and generalized odds of published data
Authors: Li Hongxia , Liang Xiaoyan , Qin Xuebing , Cai Shaohua , Yu Senyang 
Published: July 2015

AbstractMany studies have reported the association between the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility, but the results were inconclusive. We conducted a meta-analysis, using a comprehensive strategy based on the logistic regression and a model-free approach, to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship between MMP1, MMP2, MMP9 and MMP13 polymorphisms with lung cancer risk. A total of 22 case-control studies including 8202 cases and 7578 controls were included in this meta-analysis. For MMP1-1607 1G/2G, increased lung cancer risk was found among Asians in additive model(OR = 1.34, 95%CI:1.18-1.53) and with model-free approach(ORG = 1.41, 95%CI:1.21-1.65). For MMP2-1306 C/T and -735 C/T, based on the model-free approach, a significantly reduced risk was found in Asians(MMP2-1306 C/T:ORG = 0.49,95%CI:0.42-0.57; MMP2-735 C/T: ORG = 0.71, 95%CI:0.61-0.84). For MMP9-1562 C/T, a significantly increased risk was found among Asians(OR = 2.73, 95%CI:1.74-4.27) with model-free approach. For MMP13-77A/G, there was no association between this polymorphism and lung cancer risk in the recessive model(OR = 1.02, 95%CI:0.83-1.26) and with the model-free approach(ORG = 0.95, 95%CI:0.76-1.17). Therefore, this meta-analysis suggests that the MMP1-1607 1G/2G, MMP2-1306 C/T, MMP2-735 C/T, MMP9 -1562 C/T polymorphisms were risk factors for lung cancer among Asians, while MMP13 -77A/G polymorphism was not associated with lung cancer risk.
Potential for DNA-based identification of Great Lakes fauna: match and mismatch between taxa inventories and DNA barcode libraries
Authors: Trebitz Anett S. , Hoffman Joel C. , Grant George W. , Billehus Tyler M. , Pilgrim Erik M. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractDNA-based identification of mixed-organism samples offers the potential to greatly reduce the need for resource-intensive morphological identification, which would be of value both to bioassessment and non-native species monitoring. The ability to assign species identities to DNA sequences found depends on the availability of comprehensive DNA reference libraries. Here, we compile inventories for aquatic metazoans extant in or threatening to invade the Laurentian Great Lakes and examine the availability of reference mitochondrial COI DNA sequences (barcodes) in the Barcode of Life Data System for them. We found barcode libraries largely complete for extant and threatening-to-invade vertebrates (100% of reptile, 99% of fish and 92% of amphibian species had barcodes). In contrast, barcode libraries remain poorly developed for precisely those organisms where morphological identification is most challenging; 46% of extant invertebrates lacked reference barcodes with rates especially high among rotifers, oligochaetes and mites. Lack of species-level identification for many aquatic invertebrates also is a barrier to matching DNA sequences with physical specimens. Attaining the potential for DNA-based identification of mixed-organism samples covering the breadth of aquatic fauna requires a concerted effort to build supporting barcode libraries and voucher collections.
Computational Prediction of One-Step Synthesis of Seven-membered Fused Rings by (5+2) Cycloaddition Utilising Cycloalkenes
Authors: Zhou Chen-Chen , Ke Xiao-Na , Xu Xiu-Fang 
Published: July 2015

AbstractThe (5+2) cycloaddition reaction utilising cycloalkenes is rare, although it is one of the most efficient methods of constructing seven-membered fused rings because of its high atom- and step-economy. In this study, we used quantum mechanical calculations to predict the plausibility of using the Rh-catalysed intermolecular (5+2) cycloaddition of 3-acyloxy-1,4-enynes and cycloalkenes to produce fused seven-membered carbocycles. The calculation results suggest a convenient, highly efficient and energetically practical approach. Strained cycloalkenes, such as cyclopropene, have been predicted to be active and the desired bicyclic product should be favoured, accompanied by the formation of byproducts from rearrangement reactions. The energy barriers of the alkene insertion step were analysed by the distortion/interaction model to disclose the origins of the different reactivities of cycloalkenes with different ring sizes.
Regional Contrasts of the Warming Rate over Land Significantly Depend on the Calculation Methods of Mean Air Temperature
Authors: Wang Kaicun , Zhou Chunlüe 
Published: July 2015

AbstractGlobal analyses of surface mean air temperature (Tm) are key datasets for climate change studies and provide fundamental evidences for global warming. However, the causes of regional contrasts in the warming rate revealed by such datasets, i.e., enhanced warming rates over the northern high latitudes and the “warming hole” over the central U.S., are still under debate. Here we show these regional contrasts depend on the calculation methods of Tm. Existing global analyses calculate Tm from daily minimum and maximum temperatures (T2). We found that T2 has a significant standard deviation error of 0.23 °C/decade in depicting the regional warming rate from 2000 to 2013 but can be reduced by two-thirds using Tm calculated from observations at four specific times (T4), which samples diurnal cycle of land surface air temperature more often. From 1973 to 1997, compared with T4, T2 significantly underestimated the warming rate over the central U.S. and overestimated the warming rate over the northern high latitudes. The ratio of the warming rate over China to that over the U.S. reduces from 2.3 by T2 to 1.4 by T4. This study shows that the studies of regional warming can be substantially improved by T4 instead of T2.
High-performance ultraviolet photodetectors based on solution-grown ZnS nanobelts sandwiched between graphene layers
Authors: Kim Yeonho , Kim Sang Jin , Cho Sung-Pyo , Hong Byung Hee , Jang Du-Jeon 
Published: July 2015

AbstractUltraviolet (UV) light photodetectors constructed from solely inorganic semiconductors still remain unsatisfactory because of their low electrical performances. To overcome this limitation, the hybridization is one of the key approaches that have been recently adopted to enhance the photocurrent. High-performance UV photodetectors showing stable on-off switching and excellent spectral selectivity have been fabricated based on the hybrid structure of solution-grown ZnS nanobelts and CVD-grown graphene. Sandwiched structures and multilayer stacking strategies have been applied to expand effective junction between graphene and photoactive ZnS nanobelts. A multiply sandwich-structured photodetector of graphene/ZnS has shown a photocurrent of 0.115 mA under illumination of 1.2 mWcm−2 in air at a bias of 1.0 V, which is higher 107 times than literature values. The multiple-sandwich structure of UV-light sensors with graphene having high conductivity, flexibility and impermeability is suggested to be beneficial for the facile fabrication of UV photodetectors with extremely efficient performances.
Effect of variation in ovine WFIKKN2 on growth traits appears to be gender-dependent
Authors: Wang Jiqing , Zhou Huitong , Fang Qian , Liu Xiu , Luo Yuzhu , Hickford Jon G. H. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractWFIKKN2 may play a role in the regulation of muscle growth and development, but to date there have been no reports on the effect of variation in WFIKKN2 on growth and carcass traits in livestock. In this study, the effect of variation in ovine WFIKKN2 was investigated in 800 New Zealand Romney lambs (395 male and 405 female), with five previously described variants (A to E) being identified. Variation in ovine WFIKKN2 was not found to affect various growth traits in the female lambs, but the presence of variant B was associated (P < 0.05) with decreased birth weight, tailing weight, weaning weight and pre-weaning growth rate; and increased post-weaning growth rate in male lambs. In male lambs, the presence of variant B was associated (P < 0.05) with an increased shoulder yield and proportion shoulder yield. No associations with growth or carcass traits were detected for the presence (or absence) of the other variants. These results suggest that variation in ovine WFIKKN2 may have a differential effect on growth in male and female lambs and hence that the gene may be expressed in, or act in, a gender-specific fashion.