bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Limitations of the linear and the projection approximations in three‐dimensional transmission electron microscopy of fully hydrated proteins
Authors: KOECK P.J.B. , KARSHIKOFF A. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryWe establish expressions for the linear and quadratic terms in the series expansion of the phase and the phase and amplitude object description of imaging thin specimens by transmission electron microscopy. Based on these expressions we simulate the corresponding contributions to images of unstained protein complexes of varying thickness and arrive at an estimate for how much each term contributes to the contrast of the image. From this we can estimate a maximum specimen thickness for which the weak phase and the weak amplitude and phase object approximation (and therefore linear imaging) is still reasonably accurate.When discussing thick specimens it is also necessary to consider limitations due to describing the image as a filtered projection of the specimen, since the different layers of the specimen are not imaged with the same defocus value. We therefore compared simulations based on the projection approximation with the more accurate multislice model of image formation. However, we find that the errors due to nonlinear image contributions are greater than those due to the defocus gradient for the defocus values chosen for the simulations.Finally, we study how the discussed nonlinear image contributions and the defocus gradient affect the quality of three‐dimensional reconstructions. We find that three‐dimensional reconstructions reach high resolution when at the same time exhibiting localized systematic structural errors.
Identification of precursor microRNAs within distal axons of sensory neuron
Authors: Kim Hak Hee , Kim Paul , Phay Monichan , Yoo Soonmoon 
Published: April 2015

AbstractA set of specific precursor microRNAs (pre‐miRNAs) are reported to localize into neuronal dendrites, where they could be processed locally to control synaptic protein synthesis and plasticity. However, it is not clear whether specific pre‐miRNAs are also transported into distal axons to autonomously regulate intra‐axonal protein synthesis. Here, we show that a subset of pre‐miRNAs, whose mature miRNAs are enriched in axonal compartment of sympathetic neurons, are present in axons of neurons both in vivo and in vitro by quantitative PCR and by in situ hybridization. Some pre‐miRNAs (let 7c‐a and pre‐miRs‐16, 23a, 25, 125b‐1, 433, and 541) showed elevated axonal levels, while others (pre‐miRs‐138‐2, 185, and 221) were decreased in axonal levels following injury. Dicer and KSRP proteins are also present in distal axons, but Drosha is found restricted to the cell body. These findings suggest that specific pre‐miRNAs are selected for localization into distal axons of sensory neurons and are presumably processed to mature miRNAs in response to extracellular stimuli. This study supports the notion that local miRNA biogenesis effectively provides another level of temporal control for local protein synthesis in axons.
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We showed that a subset of specific precursor miRNAs are transported into distal axons of sensory neurons and that the levels of these precursor miRNAs change in response to injury. We proposed that injury could invoke a change in axonal miRNA levels, effectively providing a means to turn translation of specific mRNAs on or off within the spatial confines of the distal axon.
Taming Wicked Problems: The Role of Framing in the Construction of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Reinecke Juliane , Ansari Shaz 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTWhile scholars have explained how business has increasingly taken on regulatory roles to address social and environmental challenges, less attention has been given to the process of how business is made responsible for wicked problems. Drawing on a study of ‘conflict minerals’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we examine the process through which companies became responsible for a humanitarian crisis. We contribute by: (1) bridging insights from contentious performance and deliberative approaches – to present a model of corporate political responsibilization for a wicked problem that explains how a ‘field frame’ of responsibility can emerge; (2) explaining shifting boundaries between public and private responsibilities and the changing role of the state as catalytic rather than coercive; and (3) showing how responsibility can be attributed to a target by framing an issue and its root cause in ways that allow such an attribution, and how the attribution can diffuse and solidify.
Precise Disease Severity Assessment for False Smut Disease of Rice
Authors: Dhua Urmila , Dhua Sudhi R. , Sahu Rabindra K. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractFalse smut is a disease of rice inflorescence. The existing systems of disease severity assessment for rice false smut disease are not very sensitive as the ball quality and also the impact of false smut on filled grain number and grain‐filling were not under consideration. Here, a precise assessment method to evaluate the severity of the disease was developed. The ‘yield representative’ (YR) based on ‘mean floret wt.’ and ‘filled grain %’ was simulated for the precise disease severity assessment of rice false smut disease. The single floret weight envisages major yield components irrespective of the type of panicle. Correlation between YR and major yield attributes was studied, and it was observed that YR had significant correlation with ‘filled grain %’ (0.77–0.95) and ‘single spikelet weight’ (0.88–0.98). Significant negative correlation of YR was observed with the chaff percentage, false smut ball number and ball weight. This YR‐based methodology was utilized to assess the disease severity in nine rice cultivars. The disease severity in those nine cultivars was evaluated by the already existing methodologies also. The disease severity measured by the present technique was compared with the disease severity assessed by the old methodologies. The procedure adapted here for disease severity measurement was found to be more informative and useful. It was observed that in case of mild infection, the false smut was enhancing yield attributes. The high‐yielding rice varieties Savitri and Gayatri were found to be tolerant to false smut and may be used as resistant donors.
Effects of Epoxiconozale and Pyraclostrobin Fungicides in the Infection Process of Hemileia vastatrix on Coffee Leaves as Determined by Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Honorato Júnior Jaime , Zambolim Laércio , Duarte Henrique Silva Silveira , Aucique‐Pérez Carlos Eduardo , Rodrigues Fabrício Ávila 
Published: April 2015

AbstractCoffee is the most traded commodity in the world, and Brazil is its largest producer. Coffee leaf rust, caused by the biotrophic fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is the most important coffee disease, reducing coffee yield by 35–50%. This study aimed to use the ratio of variable and maximum fluorescence of dark‐adapted tissue (Fv/Fm) as a parameter to differentiate presymptomatic tissue from healthy tissue during disease development in plants sprayed with pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole after 4 days postinoculation. Visual severity was considered as an indicative of apparent disease and true severity as an indicative of both apparent and non‐apparent disease. There was a significant linear relationship between the areas of true severity and visual severity, and for each additional unit in the visual severity, there was an increase of 1.53 units on the true severity. For the epoxiconazole and pyraclostrobin treatments, coffee leaf rust symptoms decreased according to both visual and Fv/Fm images. Pustules on the leaves sprayed with epoxiconazole were smaller in size than those on the leaves of non‐sprayed plants but bigger than those sprayed with pyraclostrobin. The reduction in Fv/Fm values at the pustule epicentres present on the leaves of plants sprayed with epoxiconazole, and pyraclostrobin was greater than those of the non‐sprayed plants. This finding was expected and reflects the importance of these fungicides in prohibiting the progress of coffee leaf rust. The photosynthetic capacity of Coffea arabica was affected by H. vastatrix infection, and the Fv/Fm parameter was able to show this effect before the visual symptoms were noticed.
The relationship between consumption of beverages and tooth wear among adults in the United States
Authors: Okunseri Christopher , Wong May C. M. , Yau David T. W. , McGrath Colman , Szabo Aniko 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectivesTo investigate the prevalence and severity of tooth wear (TW) and its relationship with consumption of beverages among adults in the United States.MethodsThe National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey data for 2003‐2004 was analyzed. TW was defined as “wear on at least one surface of at least one examined tooth.” Drink/juice consumption was ascertained via a Food Frequency Questionnaire processed with Diet*Calc software to obtain the average daily consumption frequency for all queried drinks and juice categories including milk. Survey‐weighted descriptive and multivariable analyses with interaction terms were performed.ResultsOur study sample consisted of 3,773 adults (aged 20 and above). Eighty percent of the subjects had evidence of TW, and soft drinks were the most consumed beverage. Significant interactions between the effects of age, gender, and race/ethnicity on TW were found (P < 0.001). After adjustment for demographic factors, consumption of fruit drinks was found to be significantly associated with the severity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.32 and 1.42], but not prevalence of TW. However, this trend was reversed for grape juice consumption (OR = 0.34, 0.41).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that a substantial proportion of adults had evidence of TW, which was affected by demographic factors in a complex way. Fruit drinks consumption in adults was associated with the severity of TW, but not with the prevalence of TW after adjusting for demographics. These findings are important for the development of appropriate treatment guidelines, public policy, and programs aimed at reducing TW in adults.
Effect of oral administration of probiotics on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and stress‐related indicators in Holstein calves
Authors: Zhang R. , Zhou M. , Tu Y. , Zhang N. F. , Deng K. D. , Ma T. , Diao Q. Y. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThis study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and stress‐related indicators in dairy calves. Twenty‐four neonatal Holstein calves were randomly allocated to three treatments: a basal diet with no supplementation (control), the basal diet supplemented with 1.7 × 1010 CFU per head per day (CFU/h.d) of L. plantarum GF103 (LB group) or the basal diet supplemented with a mixture of L. plantarum GF103 (1.7 × 1010 CFU/h.d) and B. subtilis B27 (1.7 × 108 CFU/h.d) (LBS group). Dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversation ratio (FCR), apparent digestibility of nutrients and stress‐related indicators were measured in this trail. The result indicated that no significant differences were observed in DMI or ADG (p > 0.05), but the FCR was improved in the LB group over the first 12 weeks (p > 0.05). The apparent digestibility of nutrients was not altered by probiotics in week 6 (p > 0.05), but the apparent digestibility of total phosphorus was significantly greater in the LB and LBS groups in week 8 (p > 0.05); additionally, an increase in the apparent digestibility of crude protein was detected in the LBS group (p > 0.05). Oral administration of L. plantarum alone improved the T‐lymphocyte transformation rate on days 58 and 62 (p > 0.05), while adding the mixture of L. plantarum and B. subtilis increased the T‐lymphocyte transformation rate (p > 0.05) but decreased the content of cortisol on day 58 (p > 0.05). No significant differences were detected between the LB and LBS groups in growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients and stress‐related indicators (p > 0.05). The results suggested that oral administration of L. plantarum improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility and relieved weaning stress in calves, but no additional effect was obtained by supplementation with B. subtilis.
Recurrent 3‐day cycles of water deprivation for over a month depress mating behaviour but not semen characteristics of adult rams
Authors: Khnissi S. , Lassoued N. , Rekik M. , Ben Salem H. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThis study aimed to investigate the effect of water deprivation (WD) on reproductive traits of rams. Ten mature rams were used and allocated to two groups balanced for body weight. Control (C) rams had free access to drinking water, while water‐restricted rams (WD) were deprived from water for 3 consecutive days and early on the morning of day 4, they had ad libitum access to water for 24 h, similar to C animals. The experiment lasted 32 days, that is eight 4‐day cycles of water deprivation and subsequent watering. Feed and water intake were significantly affected by water deprivation; in comparison with C rams, WD rams reduced their feed intake by 18%. During the watering day of the deprivation cycle, WD rams consumed more water than C rams on the same day (11.8 (SD = 3.37) and 8.4 (SD = 1.92) l respectively; p < 0.05). Glucose, total protein and creatinine were increased as a result of water deprivation. However, testosterone levels were lowered as a result of water deprivation and average values were 10.9 and 6.2 (SEM 1.23) ng/ml for C and WD rams respectively (p < 0.05). Semen traits were less affected by treatment; WD rams consistently had superior sperm concentrations than C animals; and statistical significances were reached in cycles 5 and 8 of water deprivation. Several mating behaviour traits were modified as a result of water deprivation. When compared to controls, WD rams had a more prolonged time to first mount attempt (p < 0.001), their frequency of mount attempts decreased [6.8 vs. 5.2 (SEM 0.1); p < 0.001] and their flehmen reaction intensity was negatively affected (p < 0.05). Water deprivation may have practical implications reducing the libido and therefore the serving capacity of rams under field conditions.
Education of Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Slovenia
Authors: Schmidt Majda , Brown Ivan 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn the Republic of Slovenia, the concept of inclusion was formally codified with the adoption of the Placement of Children with Special Needs Act (2000, 2007), which calls for inclusive education of students with special needs in settings as close to their homes as possible. Despite numerous innovations, Slovenian legislation still maintains a dual education system. Some students with special needs are educated separately from age peers in special schools/institutions (specialization), while others attend regular schools along with age peers (inclusion). This dichotomy results from thinking that many children with special needs (especially those with intellectual disability) are not able to achieve at the standards set for their age peers, that schools have not provided adapted programs to accommodate lower expectations of academic achievement, that many Slovenian school teachers do not have suitable skills and knowledge appropriate for educating children with special needs, and that most schools lack the capacity and resources that permit teachers to focus on children with special needs. Strategies for bringing about needed changes in practice are required, and some of these key strategies include: enforce the legal provisions enabling children with special needs to receive appropriate schooling; institute prevention processes of the improper placement of children with disabilities; constitute a strategic plan for effective inclusive education of children with intellectual disability; comprehensively monitor and evaluate education practices and inform education policy‐makers of findings; and involve special schools and institutions in the implementation of inclusion of students with intellectual disability in regular schools.
Evaluation of the Effects of Different Fermentation Methods on Dough Characteristics
Authors: Balestra Federica , Pinnavaia Gian Gaetano , Romani Santina 
Published: April 2015

AbstractDough characteristics as affected by different preferment types and fermentation times were evaluated. A dough type was obtained with yeasted stiff preferment (60% water), fermented for a long period (biga‐type dough – B) and another one made with a semiliquid preferment (100% water), obtained with sourdough and fermented for a short period (poolish‐type dough – P). The doughs obtained were compared with a standard dough (direct dough – D). During the first 60 min of fermentation, pH, titratable acidity, volume, empirical and fundamental rheological properties and gas cells number were evaluated. During fermentation time, all doughs underwent structural changes related mainly to an increase of resistance to the extension and a decrease of area and extensibility, with a noticeable change in volume and pH. Between all samples, B dough was the stiffest reaching the lowest volume (44.3 mL), the highest storage modulus (G′ = 10,982 Pa) and resistance to extension (31.78 g).Practical ApplicationsThis research provides practical information regarding how different fermentation methods (biga type, poolish type and direct method) can influence textural properties, pH, volume development and inner structure of doughs. During fermentation time, all doughs underwent structural changes depending on the fermentation methods used. The modifications are related mainly to an increase of resistance to the extension and a decrease of area and extensibility, with a noticeable change in volume and pH. Results indicate that different fermentation methods affect the dough characteristics. This information would be of benefit to the bakery products industry to optimize the main dough characteristics choosing the appropriate fermentation method, depending on the bakery product to realize.
Masseter moment arm as a dietary proxy in herbivorous ungulates
Authors: Varela L. , Fariña R. A. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe moment arms of jaw muscles and the hypsodonty index (HI) have been widely used to infer diet preferences in extinct species. Here, we intend to evaluate the use of the masseter moment arm and HI as dietary proxies in herbivorous ungulates and analyse its relations to diet preference, habitat selection and two continuous variables: percentage of grass in natural diet (%Grass) and annual precipitation (PREC). Masseter moment arm (Mm) showed a strong correlation to diet preference and %Grass but not for habitat selection and PREC. Contrarily, HI showed similar correlation with diet preference and %Grass but also with habitat selection and PREC. The results show that Mm predominately reflects adaptation to tougher, rich in grass diets, while HI, as previously found, indicates adaptation to the wear effect of both diet and environment. This approach has been useful in identifying the habits of two extinct very large Pleistocene South American ungulates. Macrauchenia patachonica, an extinct litoptern, is interpreted as an open‐habitat high browser and Toxodon platensis, an extinct notoungulate, as a grazer.
Substratum preferences of the invasive killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus
Authors: Kobak J. , Jermacz Ł. , Dzierżyńska‐Białończyk A. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe ability to select appropriate substratum in a patchy environment is crucial for food availability, reproductive success, anti‐predator defence and resistance to other environmental dangers. Therefore, even euryecious invasive species may exhibit clear substratum preferences, contributing to their success in novel areas. We used 24‐h pairwise‐choice experiments to study substratum preferences of the highly invasive freshwater Ponto‐Caspian gammarid Dikerogammarus villosus (Amphipoda, Crustacea). We tested its preferences for stony substrata of various grain diameters (2–124 mm), macrophytes differing in structural complexity (Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton nodosus, Stuckenia pectinata) and zebra mussels. We hypothesized that: (1) gammarids would select substrata adjusted to their body size and offering maximum protection; (2) mussels would be the most preferred substratum except in high densities, which lead to deterioration of water quality; (3) large gammarids would displace smaller conspecifics to worse substratum. Our results showed that large (>9 mm) and small (<7 mm) gammarids preferred stones >6 cm and between 6 and 8 cm, respectively, with relatively large empty spaces among particles (4–9 cm). Small gammarids selected complex plants, particularly M. spicatum, whereas large individuals also preferred less complex forms with large leaves (Pot. nodosus, Pot. perfoliatus). Small gammarids exhibited higher affinity for natural macrophytes than large individuals. All gammarids preferred stones over plants. Contrary to most of the published data, gammarids selected stones more often than dense zebra mussel colonies and did not discriminate between low density mussel and stone habitats. Oxygen depletion seems to be the factor distracting gammarids from mussel habitats. Thus, they seem to select mussel colonies only when alternative hard substrata are missing. Differences in substratum preferences between size classes were not pronounced, but small individuals switched to the less preferred habitat in the presence of adults, probably avoiding cannibalism and competition.
Hidden diversity in the freshwater planktonic diatom Asterionella formosa
Authors: Van den Wyngaert S. , Möst M. , Freimann R. , Ibelings B. W. , Spaak P. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractMany freshwater and marine algal species are described as having cosmopolitan distributions. Whether these widely distributed morphologically similar algae also share a similar gene pool remains often unclear. In the context of island biogeography theory, stronger spatial isolation deemed typical of freshwater lakes should restrict gene flow and lead to higher genetic differentiation among lakes. Using nine microsatellite loci, we investigate the genetic diversity of a widely distributed freshwater planktonic diatom, Asterionella formosa, across different lakes in Switzerland and the Netherlands. We applied a hierarchical spatial sampling design to determine the geographical scale at which populations are structured. A subset of the isolates was additionally analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Our results revealed complex and unexpected population structure in A. formosa with evidence for both restricted and moderate to high gene flow at the same time. Different genetic markers (microsatellites and AFLPs) analysed with a variety of multivariate methods consistently revealed that genetic differentiation within lakes was much stronger than among lakes, indicating the presence of cryptic species within A. formosa. We conclude that the hidden diversity found in this study is expected to have implications for the further use of A. formosa in biogeographical, conservation and ecological studies. Further research using species‐level phylogenetic markers is necessary to place the observed differentiation in an evolutionary context of speciation.