bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA signature in various cell types of mouse spermatogenesis: Evidence for stage‐specifically expressed miRNA‐221, ‐203 and ‐34b‐5p mediated spermatogenesis regulation
Authors: Smorag Lukasz , Zheng Ying , Nolte Jessica , Zechner Ulrich , Engel Wolfgang , Pantakani Dasaradha Venkata Krishna 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBackground informationRecently, it became apparent that microRNAs (miRNAs) can regulate gene expression post‐transcriptionally. Despite the advances in identifying the testis‐expressed miRNAs and their role in spermatogenesis, only few data are available showing the spatiotemporal expression of miRNAs during this process.ResultsTo understand how different miRNAs can regulate germ cells differentiation, we generated a transgenic mouse model and purified pure populations of premeiotic (PrM) cells and primary spermatocytes (meiotic cells). We also established spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) culture using relatively simple and robust culture conditions. Comparison of global miRNA expression in these germ cell populations revealed 17 SSC‐, 11 PrM‐ and 13 meiotic‐specific miRNAs. We identified nine miRNAs as specific for both SSC and PrM cells and another nine miRNAs as specific for PrM and meiotic cells. Additionally, 45 miRNAs were identified as commonly expressed in all three cell types. Several of PrM‐ and meiotic‐specific miRNAs were identified as exclusively/preferentially expressed in testis. We were able to identify the relevant target genes for many of these miRNAs. The luciferase reporter assays with SSC (miR‐221)‐, PrM (miR‐203)‐ and meiotic (miR‐34b‐5p)‐specific miRNAs and 3′‐untranslated region constructs of their targets, c‐Kit, Rbm44 and Cdk6, respectively, showed an approximately 30%–40% decrease in reporter activity. Moreover, we observed a reduced expression of endogenous proteins, c‐Kit and Cdk6, when the testis‐derived cell lines, GC‐1 and GC‐4, were transfected with miRNA mimics for miR‐221 and miR‐34b‐5p, respectively.ConclusionsTaken together, we established the miRNA signature of SSC, PrM and meiotic cells and show evidence for their functional relevance during the process of spermatogenesis by target prediction and validation. Through our observations, we propose a working model in which the stage‐specific miRNAs such as miR‐221, ‐203 and ‐34b‐5p coordinate the regulation of spermatogenesis.
Prediagnostic smoking and postoperative survival in lymph node‐negative esophagus squamous cell carcinoma patients
Authors: Lin Yongbin , Su Xiaodong , Su Hongyu , Lin Peng , Long Hao , Zhang Lanjun , Fu Jianhua , Rong Tiehua , Tan Zihui , Meng Yuqi , Ma Guowei 
Published: August 2012

Smoking is well known as a risk factor for esophageal cancer, but controversial as a prognostic factor. Moreover, evidence is scarce that a dose–response relationship exists. We conducted a retrospective study on the effect and dose–response relationship of prediagnostic smoking on the postoperative disease‐specific survival of patients with lymph node‐negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). We enrolled 643 patients with lymph node‐negative ESCC who had undergone esophagectomy between 1990 and 2005 at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sun Yat‐sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China. The patients' demographic, pathological, preoperative and cancer outcome data were obtained from medical records. These data were reviewed and analyzed using life table, Kaplan–Meier analysis and multivariate Cox regression. A significant reduction in 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates was observed in smokers with lymph node‐negative ESCC compared with those in non‐smokers. The 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates were 54% and 46% for smokers, and 67% and 64% for non‐drinkers, respectively (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that smoking was an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.008, hazard ratio = 1.404). Both log‐rank test (P = 0.065) and multivariate analysis (P = 0.091) showed no significant difference between the survival rates of light and heavy smokers. Prediagnostic smoking is an independent prognostic factor for patients with lymph node‐negative ESCC, but the dose–response relationship needs further investigation.
Systematic identification and characterization of porcine snoRNAs: structural, functional and developmental insights
Authors: Liu Nan , Xiao Bang , Ren Hong‐Yan , Tang Zhong‐Lin , Li Kui 
Published: August 2012

SummarySmall nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are 50‐ to 300‐nt non‐coding RNAs that are involved in critical cellular events, including rRNA/snRNA modification and splicing, ribosome genesis, telomerase formulation and cell proliferation. The identification of snoRNAs in the pig, which is a widely consumed commercial organism that also has important functions in medicine and biology, will enrich the snoRNA kingdom and provide evolutionary clues about snoRNAs. In this study, we performed a systematic identification of snoRNAs in Sus scrofa and obtained 120 candidate snoRNAs, 65 of which were predicted via sequencing from our constructed cDNA library. The others were obtained by computational screening. The primary structural features examined included the sequence length, GC content, conservation of common box motifs and nucleotide diversity. The results indicate that the primary features of H/ACA box snoRNAs are opposite to those of C/D box snoRNAs. Subsequently, based on chromosomal location and host gene determination, we assigned 91 snoRNAs to nine genome organization modes. Gene duplications and translocations are considered to contribute to the high abundant organization in evolution. Functional information about our novel snoRNAs, such as putative targets, modification sites and guide sequences, was predicted by orthologue alignment. A comparative analysis of predicted targets and possible modified loci on U6 snRNA and 5.8S and 18S rRNAs among five species revealed that targets of snoRNA are conserved among species. Furthermore, we performed a quantitative analysis of six representative snoRNA genes in two pig breeds during different developmental stages. Interestingly, all six snoRNAs from one breed expressed in a similar pattern over the tested time points; however, these same six genes had different expression patterns in the other pig breed. Specifically, expression of all six snoRNAs declined significantly from 65 to 90 days post‐coitus (dpc) and then increased slightly during adulthood in Tongcheng pigs, whereas the expression of the same six genes increased slowly from 65 dpc until adulthood in Landrace pigs. This expression pattern suggests that most housekeeping, non‐coding RNAs from a single pig breed may be similarly expressed during development. Our study adds to the knowledge about the snoRNA family by providing the first genome‐wide study of porcine snoRNAs. The comparative analysis of snoRNAs from different pig breeds gave us evolutionary insight into the function of snoRNAs.
Effect of osmotic dehydration on dielectric properties, microwave vacuum drying kinetics and quality of mangosteen
Authors: Therdthai Nantawan , Visalrakkij Teerada 
Published: August 2012

SummaryMangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.) with and without osmotic dehydration (OD) in sucrose solution was dried by microwave vacuum drying at 1200, 1440 and 1680 W. Because of water loss (49.12–49.98 g 100 g−1) and solid gain (9.31–11.62 g 100 g−1) during OD, dielectric constant, loss factor and loss tangent of mangosteen were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) to 24.82–25.12, 11.52–14.18 and 0.47–0.50, respectively. With the decreased initial moisture content and the modified dielectric properties, drying time of osmotically dehydrated mangosteen was shorter than that of mangosteen without OD. Moreover, an increase in microwave power enhanced drying kinetics. With OD, Tg of dried mangosteen was increased from −7.01, −3.00 to 11.11–25.96 °C. Hardness and lightness (seedless part) were significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05). Structure of dried seedless mangosteen was well protected, resulting in the improved rehydration ability (P ≤ 0.05). Nonetheless, rehydration ability of the mangosteen containing seed was not improved (P > 0.05).
The effect of genotype and environmental conditions on grain physiochemical properties of Syrian durum wheat cultivars
Authors: Brennan Charles S. , Samaan Jihad , El‐Khayat Ghassan H. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe physical and chemical characteristics of five Syrian durum wheat cultivars grown under varying environmental conditions were investigated. Two cultivars were grown under irrigated conditions whilst two were grown under rainfed conditions in five different locations. A known cultivar (Sham‐1) was grown alongside the samples in all locations as a control. Test weight, 1000‐kernel weight, the degree of vitreousness, protein content, starch content, amylose content and starch pasting properties were determined for the samples. The effect of the environmental factors and their interaction (site × irrigation) showed that the irrigation factor was more responsible for physical quality variations than the site factor (for instance, site variation of the irrigated conditions was responsible for 61% of the total quality variation and 34% of total quality variations in the rainfed conditions). Starch composition was influenced more by site variations than irrigation, whereas cultivar factor mainly influenced starch quantity, chemical composition and pasting properties (for instance, variations were mostly affected by cultivar (63%) more than site (15%) in the irrigated lands). The interaction of cultivar and site demonstrated significant effects on the degree of vitreousness, amylose content and starch pasting properties.
Effect of grape dietary fibre on the storage stability of innovative functional seafood products made from farmed meagre (Argyrosomus regius)
Authors: Ribeiro Bernardo , Cardoso Carlos , Silva Helena A. , Serrano Carmo , Ramos Cristina , Santos Paulo C. , Mendes Rogério 
Published: August 2012

SummaryTwo groups of farmed meagre (Argyrosomus regius) sausages were studied regarding quality changes and antioxidant capacity during a 98‐day storage experiment at 2 ± 2 °C. Control sausages contained 3.9% (w/w) of inner pea dietary fibre (IPDF) and the other group contained 0.9% (w/w) IPDF plus 3.0% (w/w) of antioxidant grape dietary fibre (AGDF). The control and AGDF meagre sausages presented a high nutritional value, given their low caloric content, fatty acid profile, amino acid composition and high DF content. Both products were remarkably stable over storage time. The AGDF had an effective antioxidant capacity, proven not only by the radical scavenging activity (90.0–91.0% vs. 82.1–85.4%) and reducing power (8.13–9.10 mg ascorbic acid equivalent g‐1 vs. 4.16–4.24 mg ascorbic acid equivalent g−1) measurements, but also by the lower thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) values (0.78–1.10 vs. 1.50–2.08 mg malonaldehyde kg−1) over storage time. AGDF seemed to present antimicrobial effect, since on the 63rd day (beginning of significant microbial growth), the control sausages had more than 3 log CFU g−1 and AGDF sausages much <3 log CFU g−1. The sensory assessment pointed to some loss of textural quality, more accentuated in the AGDF sausages.
Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Thai propolis extracted using ethanol aqueous solution
Authors: Siripatrawan Ubonrat , Vitchayakitti Waranya , Sanguandeekul Romanee 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe potential of using propolis collected from Thailand as a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agent for food applications was investigated. The propolis extract was prepared by using different ethanol aqueous solutions, including 30%, 40%, 50% and 70%. Total phenolic content (TPC), phenolic compound and antioxidant activity of the propolis were determined using Folin–Ciocalteau method, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, respectively. The antimicrobial ability was tested against Staphylococcus aureus (TISTR 118), Salmonella enteritidis (DMST 17368), Escherichia coli (TISTR 780) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) using disc diffusion technique. The major phenolic compounds found in Thai propolis were rutin, quercetin and naringin. The TPC and DPPH radical scavenging activity increased with increasing ethanol concentration in the solvent. Propolis extract showed antimicrobial activity, in terms of inhibitory zone for S. aureus and limited growth underneath paper discs, against all tested bacteria.
Effects of gamma irradiation on starch digestibility of rice with different resistant starch content
Authors: Shu Xiaoli , Xu Jianwei , Wang Ying , Rasmussen Søren K. , Wu Dianxing 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThree rice cultivars (RS3M, RS4H and RS5L) differing in resistant starch contents but similar in genetic background were chosen to study the effects of gamma irradiation on starch physicochemical properties and digestibility. Irradiation increases the resistant starch content in all the three cultivars and in a dose‐dependent manner in rice with low‐resistant starch content (RS5L). Irradiation decreases apparent amylose content and gelatinisation temperature and changed the starch granule structure, while increasing V‐type crystallinity. Starch enzymatic hydrolysis rate was reduced following irradiation, and the effect of irradiation on reducing starch digestibility was negatively correlated with resistant starch content. Treatment with gamma irradiation has therefore a potential for increasing resistant starch content and producing low digestibility of starch in common rice.
Combined effects of lemon essential oil and surfactants on physical and structural properties of chitosan films
Authors: Peng Yong , Yin Lu , Li Yunfei 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of lemon essential oil (LO, at 0.5%, 1%, 2% v/v film‐forming solutions) and surfactants (Tween 80 and Span 80 at 0.1% v/v film‐forming solutions) on physical, optical and structural properties of chitosan (CH) films. The films were formed by casting method. Results showed that the incorporation of LO provoked a decrease in water content, water vapour permeability (WVP) and mechanical properties. Less transparency and higher total colour difference were observed in CH–LO composite films. The addition of surfactants significantly increased WVP and solubility in water of CH–LO films. The film containing Tween 80 showed lower mechanical strength and higher transparency. The morphology was different depending on the LO contents and surfactant types used. Tween 80 improved the stability of LO in the film, whereas Span 80 promoted the movement of oil droplets to the film surface.
Stand‐replacing fires reduce susceptibility of lodgepole pine to mountain pine beetle outbreaks in Colorado
Authors: Kulakowski Dominik , Jarvis Daniel , Veblen Thomas T. , Smith Jeremy 
Published: August 2012

AbstractAim  As climate change is increasing the frequency, severity and extent of wildfire and bark beetle outbreaks, it is important to understand how these disturbances interact to affect ecological patterns and processes, including susceptibility to subsequent disturbances. Stand‐replacing fires and outbreaks of mountain pine beetle (MPB), Dendroctonus ponderosae, are both important disturbances in the lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta, forests of the Rocky Mountains. In the current study we investigated how time since the last stand‐replacing fire affects the susceptibility of the stand to MPB outbreaks in these forests. We hypothesized that at a stand‐scale, young post‐fire stands (< c. 100–150 years old) are less susceptible to past and current MPB outbreaks than are older stands.Location  Colorado, USA.Methods  We used dendroecological methods to reconstruct stand‐origin dates and the history of outbreaks in 23 lodgepole pine stands.Results  The relatively narrow range of establishment dates among the oldest trees in most sampled stands suggested that these stands originated after stand‐replacing or partially stand‐replacing fires over the past three centuries. Stands were affected by MPB outbreaks in the 1940s/1950s, 1980s and 2000s/2010s. Susceptibility to outbreaks generally increased with stand age (i.e. time since the last stand‐replacing fire). However, this reduced susceptibility of younger post‐fire stands was most pronounced for the 1940s/1950s outbreak, less so for the 1980s outbreak, and did not hold true for the 2000s/2010s outbreak.Main conclusions  Younger stands may not have been less susceptible to the most recent outbreak because: (1) after stands reach a threshold age of > 100–150 years, stand age does not affect susceptibility to outbreaks, or (2) the high intensity of the most recent outbreak reduces the importance of pre‐disturbance conditions for susceptibility to disturbance. If the warm and dry conditions that contribute to MPB outbreaks concurrently increase the frequency and/or extent of severe fires, they may thereby mitigate the otherwise increased landscape‐scale susceptibility to outbreaks. Potential increases in severe fires driven by warm and dry climatic trends may lead to a negative feedback by making lodgepole pine stands less susceptible to future MPB outbreaks.
Diagnostic criteria in IBS: useful or not?
Authors: Mearin Fermín , Lacy Brian E. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThere are a number of reasons to establish the accurate diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): to relieve patient uncertainty; to avoid adverse effects of unnecessary medications or treatments; to avoid unnecessary diagnostic procedures and surgeries; to conserve limited healthcare resources; and, of course, to initiate the most appropriate treatment. However, making the diagnosis of IBS remains difficult because it is clinically heterogeneous, no biological marker to detect it exists, many other diseases share the same clinical manifestations and it is often difficult for both physicians and patients to accept the uncertainty of a symptom‐based diagnosis. Different diagnostic criteria have been developed during the last 4 decades but none have proved to be an ideal method of accurately diagnosing IBS. Just as importantly, physicians are frequently unaware of published guidelines or consciously ignore these diagnostic criteria. Most clinicians still believe IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion and not a positive diagnosis based on history, physical examination, use of published diagnostic criteria such as the Rome III criteria, and the absence of alarm features. In the sections to follow we will address the inherent difficulties of diagnosing IBS, highlight the importance of symptom‐based diagnoses to help reign in soaring healthcare costs, and discuss future strategies that may enable a more cost‐efficient diagnosis of IBS.
How does an Ethiopian dam increase malaria? Entomological determinants around the Koka reservoir
Authors: Kibret Solomon , Lautze Jonathan , Boelee Eline , McCartney Matthew 
Published: August 2012

AbstractObjectives  To identify entomological determinants of increased malaria transmission in the vicinity of the Koka reservoir in Central Ethiopia.Methods  Larval and adult mosquitoes were collected between August 2006 and December 2007 in villages close to (<1 km) and farther away from (>6 km) the Koka reservoir. Adult mosquitoes were tested for the source of blood meal and sporozoites.Results  In reservoir villages, shoreline puddles and seepage at the base of the dam were the most productive Anopheles‐breeding habitats. In villages farther from the dam (control villages), rain pools were important breeding habitats. About five times more mature anopheline larvae and six times more adult anophelines were found in the villages near the reservoir. Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles pharoensis were the most abundant species in the reservoir villages throughout the study period. The majority of adult and larval anophelines were collected during the peak malaria transmission season (September–October). Blood meal tests suggested that A. arabiensis fed on humans more commonly (74.6%) than A. pharoensis (62.3%). Plasmodium falciparum‐infected A. arabiensis (0.97–1.32%) and A. pharoensis (0.47–0.70%) were present in the reservoir villages. No P. falciparum‐infected anophelines were present in the control villages.Conclusions  The Koka reservoir contributes to increased numbers of productive Anopheles‐breeding sites. This is the likely the cause for the greater abundance of malaria vectors and higher number of malaria cases evidenced in the reservoir villages. Complementing current malaria control strategies with source reduction interventions should be considered to reduce malaria in the vicinity of the reservoir.
Population dynamics of the invasive weedLupinus arboreusin Tasmania, and interactions with two non‐native pollinators
Authors: GOULSON D , ROTHERAY E L 
Published: August 2012

GoulsonD & RotherayEL (2012). Population dynamics of the invasive weedLupinus arboreusin Tasmania, and interactions with two non‐native pollinators.Weed Research52, 535–541.SummaryThe factors that determine which plant species become invasive weeds are not well understood and there have been few studies of population dynamics in the early stages of invasion. Here, we examine changes in population size, pollinator visitation and seed set of the tree lupin,Lupinus arboreus, in Tasmania between 1999 and 2010.Lupinus arboreusis a native of California that has become a major environmental weed in New Zealand and Chile, but has not yet become a serious weed in Tasmania. Our data suggest that the main pollinators ofL. arboreusare honeybees and the bumblebee,Bombus terrestris, which invaded in 1992. There was no clear evidence for an impact of the arrival of bumblebees.Lupinus arboreuspopulation size increased by 76% between 1999 and 2010, despite weed control programmes. Populations appeared to be unstable; 43% of populations detected in 1999 were extinct by 2010, but this was more than offset by establishment of new populations. Inland populations tended to be smaller and were more likely to go extinct, compared with coastal populations, and some coastal populations had increased fourfold in 11 years. Large populations in 2010 tended to have higher seed set than smaller populations. The overall rate of increase suggests thatL. arboreusmay become a major environmental weed in Tasmania. Control of expanding populations is likely to become more difficult if, as we observed, seed set increases with population size.